At first they were few red spots. Nothing noticeable in the endless corridors of the factory. After all the place was built to hold giants, and a giant itself was so how could anyone see some red spots ? Again if someone would, would they care ? They would probably think they were some lights or just reflections of steel. They wouldn't pay attention, they wouldn't report to the manager about strange sightings. How wrong they were. As those red spots were to become their death. Their choice, their funeral. The spots began to move. At first it was just a inch move to the right then to the left. Later they started to move in larger area. Within few minutes they moved out of the dark and appeared to be a part of a giant head. The eyes; cold and heartless. Seconds later the rest of the body appeared. It was a giant indeed standing more than twenty feet the robot walked slowly along the floor. Before anyone saw it, it was already too late. Some people started running away fearing to be crushed by the giants feet. One man slipped on a patch of oil on the ground. When he turned around to get up all he saw was giant foot on top of him. His shriek of death broke the silence. Like magic from behind of the giant appeared five more walking behind it. They didn't even notice the small creatures who were their creators under their feet. Bones cracked and innocent people screamed as they died under feet of their own creations. Only after the leading robot felt something hitting it's face that it looked down. In front of itself it saw a man holding a gun shooting at it. The robot lifted its hand and fired at the solider. He didn't even have time to scream before he turned into dust. The robots stopped and they all lifted their hands and fired at the roof over them. The top was blown away and engines started in their feet. As they lifted of Joe kneeled down in front of what used to be his friend. He didn't see a thing left from him. Besides dust. He looked up to see the robots leave into the air. Now in the morning sky they were nothing more than few red spots.

Later...

"Bobby" "Bobby ?" #Bobby ?#.

"Oh yeah hi Jean didn't notice you here."

"That must have been hard I called you three times. What's wrong ?"

"Wrong ? Nothing's wrong why did you ask ?"

"C'mon Bobby I can see...."

"You didn't read my mind did you ?"

"Of course not I can see for myself as a woman."

"They always say that." mumbled Bobby.

"It's true. Now tell me what's wrong."

"Well it's just.... that.... you know Rogue and all."

"Yes I heard from Storm that Joseph had found a way to go around her powers. The two haven't been seen till yesterday. Do you think.... ?"

"I know. Jean honestly I thought more of Rogue. For me it seems like she just said yes to Joseph because she could have sex with him. She doesn't care for Remy at all, after all these months, after all he's been through with her. I can see he loves her Jean. But when she could touch Joseph she just dumped Remy like a piece of garbage. In my eyes she's.... you know what."

Jean didn't reply for some time as if thinking about what Bobby has said. Finally she spoke. "I agree with you Bobby. For all these months I tried to be negative about the whole thing. But with the situation growing more and more tense. I think Rogue did a wrong thing. Trust me she and Joseph will not hold long together. But then when she will be alone again there will be no one else there for her. I think everyone hates her around here now. At least the ones who don't mind Remy. They will not admit it but they do. I feel sorry for Remy though...."

"Yeah me too. Rogue led him into a dead alley."

"Let's thank God it ended just like that it could be a lot worse."

Later on the day

Remy exhaled on his cigarette enjoying the last moments of it's existence. He threw the remains of it on the ground and stepped on it with his sliver boot. He thought about Rogue not for the first time in this day. Few days ago he would have loved this woman. Now ? He didn't care. He was a man and he could get a woman if he wanted to. He didn't need Rogue. She had been playing games with him ever since they came back after Onslaught. At first he decided that he would do anything to get her back. But then Magneto seemed to be interested in her as well. It was then when he noticed that Rogue had been playing games with him. It wasn't about love anymore. He knew it then but he wouldn't admit it, even to himself. He loved her so much he didn't see, that she didn't care about what he felt. Now the charm broke. He understood Rogue would be with a man she could touch, a man she could have sex with. It had been her desire ever since her powers manisfestated. And he just wasn't the guy. Magneto was. ^To hell with them^ thought Remy. He would back off let the two play with each other, he had his pride. Besides he knew they were going to leave the X-Men anyway. He kind of liked being free again. He thought about all these women out there.

Then just like magic he felt movement in front of him. He didn't have to look up to know it was Rogue. Lifting his eyes he put on his best poker face.

"Uh hi Remy."

"Hi." he said with no expression on his face.

She cleared her throat before speaking making sure she had his attention. "Look Remy about you and ah, Ah think it's ovah. Ah'm sorry it turned out this way but it just did."

Remy smiled a little. She still had the guts to come and apologize to him. "Rogue save it for someone who cares. I don'" he said. He got up from the bench and walked past confused Rogue.

"But.... Remy.... Ah just want ya to know I'm sorry."

"We are all sorry Rogue." said Remy with a melodramatic voice. He pulled out a cigarette and lighted it as he headed for a assembly in the War Room called in by Cyclops. He saw Rogue fly over him but he didn't pay attention.

"Gambit ? We need to talk."

Remy turned around to see Betsy standing behind him. "Not now Bets we 'ave a meetin in de War Room."

"I don't think so Cajun we need to talk now."

Gambit rolled his eyes. "What 'bout ?"

"Gambit I know what you did."

Remy's heart began to beat faster, but his face remained the same. "I did what ?"

"Gambit you know what I'm talking about. When I went into your head..." Betsy was interrupted by Cyclops who walked past them.

"Everyone in the War Room, now." he said with a firm voice. Betsy wanted to tell Gambit all she had to tell but she didn't want to risk it in front of Cyclops. She had to be sure again.

"We'll talk again later." she said with a cold voice.

^I'm sure we will^ thought Remy as he entered the War Room. Everyone was sitting around the big table. Rogue with Magneto, holding hands. ^Oh please^ He sat down beside Beast and Jean and grinned as he leaned to Hank asking what this was about. Hank answered with a shrug. He looked at Cyclops who was getting ready and he could feel all the eyes on him. They all knew. They pretended not to notice Magneto and Rogue holding hands but Remy could almost feel the dead air between everyone. Some of them were on his side and thought Rogue had done wrong. Some hated him and were happy for her to be with Magneto. But none of them showed it. The X-Men were good at hiding their true feelings. Totally ignoring them all Remy leaned back in his chair, pulled his legs on the table and lighted another cigarette. Cyclops gave him a look of disapproval but didn't say anything.

When everyone was settled Scott stood up and started talking. "I called you in here because we have a matter to discuss. Few weeks before Jean and Remy had ventured to a military camp to see if the Nimrod program is still indeed running like Cable suggested. But what they found was someone else. The man was calling himself Bastion. Jean says she cant mind probe him and mutants powers don't seem to work on him. But worse he has started a organization who we may think is in connection to the government. It's called Operation Zero Tolerance...."

Scott was interrupted by a loud crashing noise. "What was that ?!"

Sentinels snuk up on us and we were not warned ?" asked Angel.

doesn't matter now. Let's get moving people !" shouted Scott.

Everyone got up and started running for the door. Out of the corner of his eye, Remy saw Rogue and Magneto leave together. He went of by himself. He was about to go outside through the door when a giant hand smashed right through the door and the floor, just inches away from Remy. ^Damn, I've got to watch out^. He quickly jumped outside meanwhile throwing few cards at the robot to get it's attention. The Sentinel turned around and faced Remy. He gulped as he saw the robot towering above him. He could be barely seen in the shadow. The Sentinel lifted it's hand and fired at Remy, who quickly jumped out of the way throwing more cards, which still did no good. The robot slammed it's hand down to where the Gambit was standing. Remy grabbed on to its hand but a sudden pull upwards sent him flying in the air. He landed like a cat on the ground behind the Sentinel. Before the robot turned around Remy was ready to fight. His hands were lighted up flowing with kinetic energy. He jumped on to the Sentinel's hand which was on the ground again. Pulling out his stick he whacked the robot on the head. It did no good but it turned around to face Gambit. That had been all he's been waiting for. He changed his stick with full power and threw it into Sentinel's mouth. Not waiting a second more he jumped off to the air knowing he only had few seconds before the stick would explode. An instant before his feet touched the ground he heard a explosion behind him. The Sentinel was torn into pieces. Gambit smiled and leaned back on the stairs. He lighted a cigarette and grinned as a Sentinel head landed beside him.

He looked over to see how the rest was doing. He could only see Magneto and Rogue. They were not a good pair together. They seemed to be... tired ? Then he saw Joseph go down with one punch from the Sentinel. Rogue screamed and threw herself at the robot. It punched her as well and she fell to the ground unable to stand up. The Sentinel lifted it's hand. She wouldn't get up in time.

While Remy was thinking that he was already running towards them. He ran and ran faster praying he wouldn't be too late. He threw few cards at the robot but they did no good. Once a Sentinel had a destruction program running it couldn't be stopped. He was few steps away from Rogue. He jumped in the air pushing her away from the line of fire. Out the corner of his eye he saw a ray of energy coming his way. He pushed Rogue with all his strength and she bounced away. He didn't make it. The ray stuck him in the chest. It felt like fire burning inside. He screamed in pain. Then came the second ray which threw him to the ground. He couldn't even make a sound. His body was crippled and he was loosing his breath. He saw a red ray cutting the Sentinel in two and knew Cyclops took care of it. He tried breathing but his lungs were not responding. Few seconds later he saw Rogue bending over him. She put his head on her lap and leaned over him.

"Sugah ? Are you okay ?"

No response from Gambit gave her the answer. Beast leaned over him to check his pulse. He stood up his face showing no feelings. "Rogue he's dying."

"What ?! You gotta do somethin' !"

"I can Rogue the injuries are too great."

Remy heard them talking but he didn't recognize any words. The world was becoming blurry in front of him. He didn't even feel pain anymore. He made his last effort to speak but couldn't get a word out of his mouth. Instead his body responded and he started coughing up blood. He heard someone scream and thought it was Rogue but wasn't sure. Before him he saw white stairs. ^I'm going to heaven ?^ he thought. He heard voices calling him from both sides.

"Remy don' die please !" Rogue shouted into his face. Everyone else was standing around them knowing there was no way for Remy to survive.

"C'mon Remy !"

Remy walked up the stairs. He felt no pain at all. He felt sudden comfort. ^Maybe this is heaven^ He smiled as he saw a figure standing next to a big door. Suddenly fear over came him. He didn't want to die. With all the strength he had left he pulled himself back. He managed to open his eyes. Weak smile appeared on his face. He saw Rogue over him, few tears in her eyes. The rest was standing behind her but he couldn't recognize them. He tried to speak. He felt as if someone was pulling him from behind but he ignored that.

"....R..rogue..." he managed to say. Blood leaked from his mouth.

"....R..rogue..." he said. Blood started flowing form his nose.

Suddenly black filled his vision. Something pulled him back with great force. He didn't feel pain but he didn't want to go either. He tried resisting but the force was unresistable, it pulled him no matter what he did. He understood he was dying. He couldn't see anymore, or hear. He felt a little touch on his hand. He tried smiling but he couldn't even feel his face anymore. It was not there. And then he was gone....

What is it that, leaves scars forever, pulls people apart and also can bring them together. What is it that strikes out of the sudden when you last expect it ? What is it ? Death.