The Cold Hearted Truth
Chapter Thirteen
Kaleidopy 

" Rogue, you can't keep this up. It isn't doing any good." Bobby yells at her as he freezes Blockbuster in a block of ice. " That should keep you out of trouble for awhile."

" Ah mean it Sinister," Rogue continues to pound on the unseen wall, separating her, the X-men, and the Starjammers from Sinister, Gambit and the Marauders. " If ya think this is going ta keep me from beating ya ugly mug in when Ah get mah hands on ya, ya better think again."

" Such beauty and anger all in one." Sinister watches her trying in vain to destroy his force field. He laughs as Rogue's temper is getting the best of her, not only is she using all her strength in a wasteful effort, but he was getting a good view of her powers to one day use as his advantage. A suddenly vibration rocks the force field, Essex quickly turns to see the source of that explosion. Cyclops was using an enormous amount of energy trying to crack the field. " After all these years Scott, surely you must know by now that I can not be defeated."

" We have defeated you more than once Sinister, and you know it." Scott continues to blast the force field. Stopping to see where his team is located, he spots Storm, Cecelia and Beast engaging Scrambler and Arclight in battle. Bobby was keeping his eye on Blockbuster and Wolverine was working with the Starjammers trying to break through Sinister's unseen wall, but none are having any luck. Scott knows their best chance stands with Xavier, Jean and Betsy. He looks around and asks no one in particular. " Where's Warren?"

" Took the trash out!" Logan shouts angrily as he glares through the force field at Sinister. " Yer making me mad, Sinister." He suddenly catches Gambit out of the corner of his eye. " Trouble!" Wolverine shouts over at Scott. " Hey Cyke, if ya gonna do something ya better hurry up."

Remy continues to glare at Sinister, who is occupied with Rogue and Cyclops.

Gambit creeps closer.

Sinister turns slightly once he hears movement coming up behind him, he quickly grabs Gambit before he could strike. " You ungrateful little imp, you dare take the side of my enemies?" He knew the force field would hold against the X-men's attack, so he turns his full attention to Gambit. " It seems that Sinister has been far too lenient with you." Grabbing Remy by the throat, he lifts him up in the air. " My Child, such harsh methods are not necessary, or are they?" He threatens almost instead of asking the question. " Don't force me to harm you."

Remy tries to break the hold Sinister has around his neck. He knew it would only be seconds before he would lose consciousness if he could not get his freedom. He knew he had to think of another plan and quickly.

" Resistance is futile, child." Sinister loosens his grip slightly after Gambit stops struggling. " Good, I am pleased that you have realized the error of your ways." He lowers Remy back to his feet. Displaying a fatherly emotion, Essex sighs deeply. " Why must you always test me, Remington. This rebellious nature of yours is quit annoying."

" All dis time y' been lyin' t' me 'bout de X-men," Gambit glares at him. " Y' de one who was pretendin' t' be Erik de Red at dat trial, weren't y' Father?" Remy tries to control his anger but he was not succeeding in the process. " Y' did all dat t' get me back."

" The X-men are beneath the feet of Nathaniel Essex, the mear thought of you even thinking you were align with Xavier was too great of an insult for me to over look. Do you actually believe I would allow my own flesh and blood to wallow with Xavier and his trash? " Sinister's rage continues as the near by Marauders watch " Sinister knew you would not come willingly, so the mockery of a trial was more than sufficient to achieve what I desired." He tilts his head in an effort to watch the X-men's progress. " Not only did I reclaim what is rightfully mine, but Sinister also made sure the X-men would not make a rescue attempt."

" Y' went t' all dat trouble f' not'in'," Remy's own anger matches Sinister's. " Y' can just pop outta here an' go meddle in somebody else life f' a change." He says. " Do us bot' a favor and go bother Magneto."

" Double or nothing says he's unconscious when we get back to the base." Riptide whispers.

" Triple it and I'm in," Scalphunter surveys the two that he and Riptide are watching. He almost decides to cancel the bet, but the anger that was masking in Sinister's face made him change his mind. It was very rare for Essex to display any emotions, and even rarer still for the Scientist to allow anyone to witness it.

" Your days of defying me are over Child," Sinister takes his time pacing around Gambit before he stops dead in front of him, staring straight into his face, Essex came straight to the point. " I have been more than patient while I allowed another to raise you as his own, but no longer will you deny or hide the gifts that are your true heritage." He suddenly yanks Remy's hand into his own. " You are going to learn to master these powers that you possess and you will use them as Sinister demands." He looks down at Remy, making sure that their eyes were locked on one another. " Your powers will manifest in the time allocated or I will experiment to know the reasons of your failure."

" Like y' did wit' Adam?"

Gambit knew almost instantly he just made the biggest mistake of his life. The look on Sinister's face when he mentioned Adam's name made him almost fear for his life. He tries to take a step away from the approaching scientist, but failed as Essex grabs both of his hands full of Remy's shirt and lifts him off the floor to force him on the same eye level contact as himself.

" Adam was already dead before I even thought of doing that autopsy." Sinister shakes Gambit in front of him when Remy refuses to make eye contact, he screams his outrage. " Look at me!" Essex knew his anger was beginning to over take him and he really didn't care, because this was a matter that needs to be settle, and settle it he was going to anyway he so desires. " I told you to look at me, do as Sinister commands." Remy reluctantly obeys his order, Essex's voice takes on a different dangerous tone that his son has never been a witness to before. " You are treading on ground that you dare not continue, child." His voice continues to hiss as he drops Gambit back to the floor, but not before issuing out a warning. " Do I make myself clear?"

Scott could not hear the conversation going on between Essex and Remy, but he knew from the look on his brother's face that Sinister was no longer toying with him. He knew from past experiences that Sinister had a bad temper, and with Remy's attitude at times, Scott knew he had to separate the two and fast.

Gambit, for his part, has no intention of letting anyone threaten him, least of all his father. He pulls out a small object and charges it, he quickly forces it into Sinister's belt. Backing away laughing, Remy sneers. " Do I make dis clear, Father?"

Sinister simply pulls out the object, studies it for a second until the energy disappears. " Your power level has dropped considerably since your abduction from my care. It should not be too long before you begin to feel the effects of the power drain." He tosses the object down at his son's feet and totally ignores Remy's sarcastic remark.

Remy blinks his eyes in shock. " What do y' mean, power drain?" A new fear was beginning to creep into the back of his mind.

" Do you actually believe the power potion that I gave you was out of the generosity of my heart?" Sinister cups his gloved hand under Remy's chin. " What Sinister gave you was for one purpose and one purpose only, to guarantee that you remain at your father's side." Essex smiles to himself as he watches the fear enter his son's face.

" What did y' do t' me?" Remy's voice trembles slightly as he fights to control his emotions.

" Don't you know, Remington?" Sinister's thumb begins to curess the side of Remy's face. " Has not your body already begun to feel the effects of withdrawal?"

" Wit'drawal?" Remy shakes his head in denial, he struggles as hard as he can to keep from losing it. He always knew Sinister wanted him but never knew the true reason until moments ago, learning that Sinister is his father was not a surprise to him because Essex has always favorited him above everyone else. He also knew his father had a dark side but it was never directed at him, until now. He slowly looks up into Sinister's eyes, searching for a reason to this madness. " Y' turned me...into an.. an..." He forces himself to say the words. " an... addict!"

" Not even you, my son are above paying the price for defying me." Essex begins to laugh. He no longer cared if his son knew the real truth or not, only the end results matter now. "And only Sinister possesses what you will soon crave. As long as you return to me, I will guarantee that you are denied nothing. Refuse me and suffer the consequences, and I assure you Child, it will not be pleasant."