Marvel owns the X-men, Marauders, Sinister, ( who I swear is my boss in human form ) and everyone else you may know in
this story. This said, now I don't have to worry about being sued.

The Cold Hearted Truth
Part Three
Kaleidopy

THE MANSION

" Storm, stop!" Scott yells through the howling winds. He closes his eyes, and mentally calls out to his wife. " Jean get down
here. We need help, now."

" Ororo, please."

" She left him to die!" Storm glares at Rogue, noticing the woman was flying right at her. " Lightning, obey your Mistress." She
sends a lightning bolt right at Rogue, knocking her to the ground.

Angel was the first to help Rogue to her feet, the Southerner wasn't hurt just winded. " Sugah, Ah swear ta ya that Ah nevah
meant ta do it. Remy controlled mah thoughts. When Ah gained control, Ah went to the professor ta help me locate Remy. Ah
was going after him. Ah swear."

" She's telling you the truth, Storm. She was leaving on her own to find Remy when I got home. She begged me to help her
locate him." Xavier tries to convince her.

Angel sneaks behind the weather witch only to be blown back by the winds that Storm commanded. "Warren, do not taunt me.
I will not be held responsible if you try to attack me again."

" Darlin, don't do this. You ain't gonna help the Cajun one bit if you loose control." Wolverine grabs her arm and shakes her
several times until she calms down. " Ro, you know Rogue will never hurt Gumbo. She loves him and you know it too."

Looking around at the damage she has caused, Storm lowers her head before looking at Rogue, " Forgive me Child,"

" Heck, Storm," Rogue flies over to the older woman. " Ain't like Ah nevah done nothin like this 'fore either." She pats Storm on
the shoulder. " How 'bout ya and me go find the swamprat?"

" I would like that."

" Intruders," Wolverine shouts before the alarm sounds.

" Now what!" Scott shouts as he runs for the door. " Move it people."

Angel, Rogue, Storm, Jean and Wolverine follow behind Cyclops, only to stop dead in their tracks at the man waiting for them
once the door opens.

" Isn't anyone going to say, welcome home."

" Bishop!!"







SINISTER'S BASE

" Open your eyes, son."

Gambit moans softly but remains semi unconscious.

" Obey me!" Sinister looks down at his patient, who slowly opens his eyes.

The second Gambit realizes who is standing over him, he inhales deeply. He tried to speak but no sound would come.

" I seem to be making a habit of saving your life," Sinister checks the monitor. " What is it now, three?" He places his hand
around Remy's throat. " Your voice will return after the medicine has time to reverse the damage of the Antartican air you
inhaled." He angrily speaks. " You have paid a high price for defying me, haven't you, child. You turned on me to join Xavier's
group. When you really needed your so-called friends, they left you to die."

" Rogue,.didn'," Gambit speaks painfully.

" Ah yes, Rogue." Sinister begins to chuckle. " The same woman who put you in a coma, fled without checking first to see if you
would live or die, and when she does return to the fold, she brings back with her the X-men's worse enemy, of course de-aged
and claiming memory loss." He points an accusing finger down at Gambit. " You know it might have helped your case if you
pulled that one in Antarctica." Essex smiles to himself. " They welcome Joseph with open arms, knowing full well that if he is
Magneto, he could regain his memory, and destroy them all." He suddenly changes the tone in his voice. " Where is their
compassion for you, my boy?"

Remy closes his eyes, he didn't want to be reminded of the past. He tries to shut out Sinister's gloating.

" And what about Storm? The one you call Sister," Sinister continues. " She remains still in the mansion pretending that you do
not exist. She too has turned on you." Essex notices Gambit's reaction to Storm's name, the cajun turns his head away to hide
the shock. Sinister quickly yanks Remy's head back to glare down at him. " Oh no Child, you are going to hear the truth, every
last word. You are going to know how your betrayal of me has gained you nothing."

" Dey be friends," Gambit's voice trails off. He inhales deeply. " Don' hurt dem."

" What's the old saying, with friends like them who needs enemies." Sinister says. " The X-men have ruined you, Remy. They
have you practically begging on your hands and knees before me for their miserable lives!" He says nonchalantly. " You
disappoint me." He glares even harder. " The X-men have been a thorn in my side for too long. I plan to rid myself of their
nuisance."

" Y'...hurt.. dem, Sinister."

" You are threatening me now, child. I am amused. You are in no condition to even attempt a threat. " He pats Remy's cheak
slightly. " You are suffering from Pneumonia caused by those that you are trying to protect. I do believe your fever is effecting
your reasoning."

" Essex,......don'."

" This defending of the X-men is disgusting and tiresome. It is not the X-men who have come to your rescue, it is Sinister."
Essex calms his voice and even sounds soothing. " Have I not always been here for you Remy? Has not Sinister been the only
one who has not tossed you away in your many hours of need? Am I not here for you, now?"

Remy closes his eyes again. What could he say? Essex was right.

" Son,"

" Not... y'.. son,."

" LeBeau, as far as you are concern, I am your father." Sinister sits down on the bed. " Your mother died giving birth to you, as
for your father, the man blames you for that death and wants nothing to do with you."

Remy shakes his head trying to deny what this man is telling him.

" I have the medical records to prove what I am saying." Essex begins, " Your father signed adoption papers over to the
authorities, but I saved you and raised you as my own for the first three years of your life, until an associate betrayed my trust
and stole you. I tracked him to New Orleans, but you were no where to be found. It took me years to locate you again, another
reason my former associate earned my wrath."

" Y' killed...him?" Remy whispers harshly.

" Killed, is too strong of a word," Essex's eyes suddenly starts glowing, before he gives an evil laugh. " He became a subject for
my research. Fitting punishment for taking what is mine," He notices Gambit was about to protest, Sinister places his fingers
over Gambit's lips to silence him. " You are mine, child. I know it and so do you." He removes his hand. " I will see that the
X-men pay dearly for what they have done to you."

Looking up at the scientist, Gambit's pleading eyes speak for him.

" So you do want to beg me for their lives? And what are you prepared to offer me in return for this favor?" He began to
chuckle again. " You know what I desire, don't you!"

Remy closes his eyes, dreading the one word that Sinister's ears demand to be address. Remy nods his head.

" Xavier has defiled you!" Essex almost screams in an outraged voice. He notices Gambit was trying to get up. Sinister simply
places his open palm over Remy's face. " Sleep my boy, and heal." A mist engulfs the patient, sending him back into
unconsciousness. Sinister sits on the bed for several minutes staring down at the young man laying in the bed. He suddenly knew
he was not the only one conscious in the room.

" My, my, my," A voice comes from behind him.

" Victor, I have killed better men than you for spying on me," Sinister stands up and faces the intruder.

" Don't get excited, Essex," Sabertooth walks over to where Gambit lays asleep. " Had to see this for myself." He starts to
laugh. " And the X-men call me heartless! I should take lessons from them."

" Join the Marauders in the war room, Creed. " Sinister orders him. He turns his attention back to Gambit. " It seems Xavier is
involved in his life a lot more than I first thought.. I must thank him personally for the trouble he has cost me.

Sabertooth raises his eyebrows surprisingly." You want the X-men taken alive?"

" I want them dead, especially Xavier." Essex glares at Sabertooth. " But before they die, I want them to know exactly who is
responsible."

" Ha! Ha! Ha!" Sabertooth laughs hard as he heads for the door. " This is going to be fun, just like the good old days."