Remy took a quick survey of the area. The signal had led to an agricultural community not far from the mansion. Their targeted area was a small and apparently abandoned farm. The fields were overgrown with weeds.

It was the barn that drew his attention. Unlike the other buildings on the property, the barn had solidity to it that the others lacked. It wasn't obvious to the casual observer. The red paint was pealed and chipped and the wooden siding was rotten. Yet, he could feel the vitality emanating from it.

Apparently, Cyclops agreed for he gave the hand signal to close in. The team broke into the trios assigned and surrounded the barn. Remy watched Wolverine enter. He silently counted to ten before following aware that Storm and the others would do the same.

He scanned the dim interior, thankful for his excellent night vision. The empty stalls and pens didn't surprise him. It would have been too obvious and easy. He scanned the tattered hayloft through several of the missing planks. Dust and bits of hay were the only occupants.

Wolverine's low grunt caught his attention. He turned in time to watch Logan drop through a trap door in the far corner. He rushed to pursue in spite of Cyclops' furious hiss.

The trap door was the covering for a slide type shaft. He slid down effortlessly. He pulled out two cards in readiness when he hit the bottom.

His eyes barely adjusted to the light when he was blasted off his feet. He charged and threw the cards in the direction of his attacker. He rolled to his feet and watched the explosion blow Harpoon into the far wall. Remy looked around the room while he kept track of Harpoon's progress.

The small area had the look of a bomb shelter. Several generator powered lamps hung on the walls giving their cement gray coloring an eerie metallic type appearance. Long tables sat in one corner of the room covered with beakers and test tubes.

A deep growl drew him to the opposite side of the room. Wolverine was fighting the potent affects of Vertigo. The dizzy making Marauder was centralizing her mutant powers to subdue him.

Remy withdrew more cards and advanced on Vertigo. He dropped to the floor in time to avoid the barbecuing affects of another one of Harpoon's energy bolts.

Wolverine jumped up and pinned Vertigo with a shout that vibrated the room. His claws pinning her head. "Suggest you stop it if you don't want to be a vegetable. No tellin' what these will sink inta if I start to keel over." He emphasized the threat by cutting through a thick strand of her hair.

Since Wolverine had the upper hand, Remy concentrated on Harpoon. He swung back around to where the Marauder was unsteadily gaining his footing. He charged Harpoon weaving toward his target effectively dodging the bolts sent his way.

Remy was aware of his teammates entering the fray. If he wanted to finish Harpoon for himself he had to move quickly. He lunched himself at the Harpoon when he reached striking distance. The force of the blow knocked them both to the ground. Remy used his elbow as leverage to ensure he would be the man on top. The rolling stopped and he chopped Harpoon's windpipe. He jumped to his feet and watched dispassionately as the Marauder writhed and choked in agony.

"Ah'll take it from here, sugah." Rogue grabbed Harpoon and pulled him to his feet.

"Here Rogue. I believe these will be useful." Storm handed Rogue some restraints. She turned to Wolverine. "I have one for her as well."

"I handle it Storm." Jean sent out a physic pulse toward Vertigo. Vertigo went limp under Wolverine. "She will be unconscious for awhile."

"What is this place?" Joseph asked.

"I don't know but Marauder's are never far from Sinister's side. The tracking device should be around here somewhere. Fan out and search the area."

"Don't like it." Wolverine growled. "It's too easy."

"I have to concur with my aggravated teammate." Hank shifted through the papers on the lab table. "These documents are notations of experiments." He paused and searched the various chemicals. "However, the data doesn't compare to the nature of the chemicals and supplies seen here."

"Are ya thinkin' this is ah trap?" Rogue asked him.

He gave her a nod of approval. "I believe we have been set up."

"You are correct Dr. McCoy. This has been carefully arranged."

Scott's body tensed with recognition. His focus shifted to dark clothed figure with a red diamond in the center of his chest. "Good of you to join us, Mr. Sinister."

Nathan Essex AKA Sinister rose one black brow majestically in response to the sneered mister. "Ah, Summers, good of you to join me."

The subtle threat underlining the words was not lost on Remy. "Wha' you wan', Essex?"

"Remy, my boy, why ever do you ask? I believe that you and your friends are the uninvited guests here."

Remy felt a chill as the oily voice washed over him. This man, no, thing, reveled in the pain of others. He was grateful he had mastered concealing his feelings. Sinister would be amused if he knew the fear that caused his heart to beat furiously. Only Sinister affected him so.

"Actually," he began, "There is something I would like to discuss. I seem to have collected some extra baggage."

"What kind of game are you playing, Sinister?" Joseph demanded.

Sinister ignored him and settled his gaze squarely on Cyclops. "I understand your school has been blessed with the presence of an attractive young lady."

Remy charged several cards and threw them at Sinister. "Leave her out of dis!" He raged.

The explosions made Sinister stumble but did not cause any damage. He straightened in regal style. "Is that the way of it then? I should have guessed but your attentions have been rather directed in the past." His eyes raped over Rogue. "If I had know little Miss Renden was capable of capturing your interest I might have decided on another direction for my plans."

"Drop it, Gambit." Scott ordered.

Remy shot Scott a searing look before obeying. Three charged cards fizzled harmlessly before falling to the floor. The part of him that knew Scott was right warred with the half that wanted to charge up the entire room and send it Sinister's way.

"Very wise of you, Summers." His predatory smile did not bode well. "I had originally thought to offer a trade but perhaps I was mistaken of the value of what I hold. I have always prided my ability to improvise."

"Only a fool would trade with you, Sinister, and X-men aren't anyone's fool." Storm's normally melodic voice had a hard edge.

"I grow weary of the banter." Sinister snapped his fingers. Arclight and Scrambler stepped from behind him.

Remy stared in horror at the sight in front of him. Kyler's limp form was cradled in Scrambler's arms. Her eyes were closed and her lips were slightly parted as in a deep sleep. She looked so very fragile.

Sinister removed Kyler from the power disrupting Marauder's embrace and held her by the neck letting her body dangle several feet above the ground. "I had hoped for a different ending to all this, however, things do have a tendency not to work precisely to plan when you X-men are involved."

"Release the other two and gather my papers, I can see no reason to leave anything behind." Sinister ordered of Arclight and Scrambler. "Do not worry." He lifted his arm slightly causing Kyler's legs to sway. His gaze swept the group. "They realize how precarious the situation is."

Remy fought for his self-control. The urge to rip Sinister apart in a mindless rage was overwhelming. He trembled with the effort of suppressing such dangerous emotions. Dangerous because Sinister could snap her neck before he could even throw the first card.

Scrambler crossed the small room to Veritgo's prone body. He slung her up on his shoulder like a sack of sugar. He carried her over to Sinister and took position behind him.

Arclight struggled for several moments trying to release Harpooner from the cuff like hand bonds that restrained him. "I can't get them off." She complained to Sinister.

"There is no need. Gather the notes." Sinister motioned for Harpooner to come to him. He waited with a bored air as Harpooner walked to place himself beside Scrambler and Vertigo.

"I'll take those." Arclight gave Hank a smug smile and tried to pull the papers from his grasp. He gave her a ferocious growl that Wolverine could be proud of before relinquishing his hold. Arclight stomped on the floor. Hank's excellent reflexes prevented the trembling ground from unbalancing him. Arclight raised her foot again.

"That is enough." Arclight shook her head in frustration over Sinister's command. She gave Hank a hateful glare before turning to join her fellow Marauders.

"It has been entertaining but I am afraid we must leave now." Sinister lifted his arm causing Kyler's body to sway again. His next words were directly solely at Remy. "Don't worry so. I am sure we will be able to reach some type of arrangement that will ensure the lady's release."

He extended the arm that was not burdened with his hostage and inclined his head in a mocking nod of farewell. Remy fell to his knees and roared his anguish as Sinister and the Marauders disappeared with Kyler.

To be continued