Ashes to Ashes

Jim Steinman--Heaven Can Wait

Hank looked at the computer screen, rubbing his forehead. Eight months... he thought to himself. Kyle has been here eight months and the professor's ability is fading fast. At this rate, it's only going to last another couple of months. He might be able to read emotions now, but he certainly can't read thoughts. And I doubt he can communicate telepathically.

Leaning back in the chair, he closed his eyes to shut out the glare from the computer. What is it I know about Kyle so far? he thought. Or at least, what can I conclude about his ability. Kyle absorbs abilities from Mutants who die or who have a near death experience. Although, if the person does turn out to live, Kyle loses the ability. At least, that's what I can conclude from the experience with Remy... Kyle can only keep the abilities he gains for about a year...maybe a little less.

Distance must have something to do with it. The person who dies can't be too far away. No, I don't know this for a fact, but I'm sure mutants have died in other parts of the world and Kyle doesn't seem to be absorbing their powers...

Hank opened his eyes and reached into his desk drawer for his aspirin. No matter how he looked at this problem, no matter how he tried to turn it around, he had absolutely no answers. All he could do was pray that when Charles abilities had completely faded, that no mutants with any "uncontrollable" powers died anywhere near Salem Center.

Nobody seemed to notice as the dark haired, dark eyed man entered the bar. The lighting in the bar was dim, even though it was daylight outside, and the man was wearing dark clothes. He looked over the bar carefully, scrutinizing each and every patron. His gaze stopped and rested on a young, nondescript woman, sitting quietly and nursing a drink. Nodding to himself, he noted the empty stool next to her, walked over and sat down.

She turned to look at him. Pale complexion and light, watery-blue eyes. She wasn't ugly, but she wasn't beautiful either. She had taken note that he had chosen to sit next to her, even though there were several empty seats.

Perfect, he thought, giving the woman a quick, friendly smile.

He played the game carefully, as he'd done so many times before. Start with a smile, say hello, act very very casual. Let her actually start a conversation, which she did, fairly easily. He wasn't a bad looking man, and when he wanted to, he could be very charming. He wanted to be charming today.

Within an hour he was buying her drinks. The air around them was charged with tension and he knew that his was not the same as hers. It didn't matter.

Within two hours, she agreed to leave with him. Gulping down the last of their drinks, they left the bar and got into his car.

He drove away from the town, out to the middle of nowhere. The girl stopped talking at one point, and just stared at him, looking nervous and happy at the same time. "I-I've never done this before," she finally whispered.

I'll bet you haven't, he thought. The need was growing now, stronger with each passing moment, the all consuming hunger that had been burning in him for as long as he could remember. "Don't worry, Babe," he said, reaching out and putting his hand on her knee. "I'll take care of everything." And you'd better be good. This is the last time, I want to enjoy it.

He drove out to the middle of nowhere and parked the car at the end of a small dirt access road. He'd been scouting this spot for two days and knew it was deserted.

"Why are we here?" the girl asked. "I thought we were going to your place."

"This is my place," he murmured, reaching out for her.

A cold finger of fear ran itself up her spine. He could feel it, and he was glad. Fear always made it better...so much better.... "Uh...um...I'm not so sure this is a good idea," she stammered.

"Sure it is, babe," He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She struggled for a moment, then relaxed a little. He knew she was still frightened, but playing along with him, looking for her chance to free herself.

Closing his eyes, he leaned over and kissed her, hard. She began to struggle again, trying to fight him. Go ahead, babe, he thought, as he slowly began drawing from her.

For a few moments, they struggled, then she slowed down. "Wh...what's happening?" she murmured, starting to feel lightheaded and weak.

Oh this is good, he thought, pulling back and looking at her. It was always good, this feeling that overtook him as he drained the energy, the life force from someone. Too good in fact, as he had discovered over the years. This ability of his was addicting. No matter how hard he tried to stop, he just couldn't. Within a few weeks, he'd start to get irritable and tired. I'm a vampire, he thought. And energy vampire. I don't just like this feeling. I need it. The faster he drew, the better it felt. Taking a deep breath, he pulled her even close and began draining her energy as fast as he could. She gave a short gasp, a small jerk, and a whimper.

Much quieter than she had come into the world, she left it.

The man let go of her body, letting it slump forward in the car. For the first time in a month, he felt...alive. Energy flowed through him, her energy. He looked down at her. I'm sorry it had to be like this, but I just had to feel it one more time.

Pushing her body back in the seat, he opened the glove compartment and pulled out a gun.

His last thoughts were not of salvation, but of curiosity. I wonder what hell is going to be like?

Putting the gun in his mouth, he pulled the trigger.

Frowning, Gambit stood on the lawn, leaning on his crutches and watching the softball game taking place only a few dozen yards away from him. It was obvious by the way he was watching Rogue round the bases that he would have given just about anything to be able to join in.

"Hey, Remy, something wrong?" Kyle asked, coming up from behind him.

"Nothin' getting rid of dese casts won't cure," Remy commented, smiling at the boy Sure I got rid of one of de arms..." He held up his free right arm, which had only been fractured and released from it's cast the day before. "But I still got de other arm and my leg to contend with. "Whatcha been doing that's keeping you away from all the fun?"

Kyle smiled. "Uncle Hank was showing me algebra," He shrugged. "I must have had a glazed look on my face, because he took pity on me and told me I could have the rest of the afternoon off."

"I never could stand algebra myself," Remy said, reaching into his shirt pocket for his package of cigarettes. "Don't let Hank fool you, Kyle. There is no algebra in the real world. It's a conspiracy cooked up by a bunch of adults t'make childhood more miserable. Dey tink it will make the transition from childhood into adulthood easier if'n dey give you a little misery. But don' go tellin Hank I tole you dis. It's top secret stuff. Dey would revoke my membership in de world of adults if'n dey knew I was tellin' you this"

Kyle laughed. "Okay, Gambit, it'll be our little secret."

"Good." Remy lit up his cigarette. "Why don' you join in the fun?" he asked. "Nothin' stopping you."

"I mig...." Kyle began and suddenly stopped.

Remy looked over at him. "Are you okay, little man?"

Kyle closed his eyes for a moment, his mouth half open. "I-I.." he began and stopped. Something was happening to him, he felt like all his energy had drained out of him, and he wanted it back...he needed it back. His eyes fixed on Gambit. Suddenly he wasn't seeing his friend anymore, he was seeing Gambit as a source... a source of something he desperately needed.

"Kyle, you look really out of it," Remy said, his voice laced with worry. "Are you sick?"

Kyle's eyes narrowed. NO! part of his brain screamed. no, you can't do this!

It didn't matter.

All reason had left him.

Slowly, Kyle reached out and took a hold of Gambit's right arm, the one that didn't have a cast on it. Remy made no move to stop him. "Kid, maybe we ought to get Hank," he suggested. "You look really...."

He stopped suddenly, as all the energy inside him seemed to be pouring out and into Kyle. It wasn't a slow process either, it was happening fast...too fast. "K-" he began.

Kyle's eyes were glazed, his breath coming in short gulps. Part of his mind was screaming at him to stop stop stop before it was too late, but he couldn't. He needed this...he needed it badly. Gripping Remy's arm tighter, he pulled even faster.

Trying stop him, Remy made one last effort to try to charge up the crutch he was leaning on. A small fizzle and then nothing. Slowly, his body pitched forward, falling from his crutches. Kyle hung onto his arm, gripping tighter and tighter falling to his knees as Remy fell to the ground. God, Remy thought. I never knew it would happen like this! "I-I thoug..." he began, and stopped. Giving one last hiccup, Remy's body completely relaxed.

Only when Remy was completely quiet, did Kyle let go of his arm. Standing up, he took a step backwards, feeling delirious and charged. The energy from Remy was coursing through him, along with his ability. Oh WOW! he thought, This feels gr-

His thoughts stopped abruptly as he looked down at Remy. "Oh GOD," he whimpered. "Oh God, what have I done?"

He looked around, frantic. He and Remy had been half hidden by a small grove of bushes. No one had seen what Kyle had done. He shook, still feeling the power, still feeling the energy, repulsed now, because he knew how he got it. "no.." he whispered. "nononononononono...."

Shaking, he clenched his fists. I KILLED HIM!"amed, at the top of his lungs. "MY GOD, I KILLED HIM!"

Turning, he ran as fast as he could.