Stargazing - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Cat Smith
Last updated: 01/02/2007 02:01:11 AM

Chapter 13

Bishop pulled at his new outfit. It was a Shi'ar uniform, similar to Remy's. It was strange, after wearing the clothes Deathbird had supplied to him for so long, to be wearing the uniform of her enemy. It was stranger still to think he was going to Earth to see the X-Men again after so long an absence. Seeing Gambit again was good, and Bishop wondered why the X-Men had reacted so badly to his admission. Yes, he had done a terrible thing, but they had known that. Not to mention the fact that they had taken people in who had done evil things in the past. Bishop shook his head. He was just trying to take his mind off Deathbird. He didn't want to think about it. He was as sure as Lilandra that she was still alive, but unsure as what to do about her. Looking up, he was releived to see Remy approach.

"Mornin', mon ami. How y' feelin' t'day?" Remy's look was innocently curious, and Bishop wondered at it, at how much Remy had changed whilst still remaining the same man.

"I am not too bad." He looked sideways at his friend. "I am looking forward to seeing our home planet again. I have missed the Earth."

Remy shrugged. "Dis is m' home planet, as much as Earth." Bishop stared at him in shock, and he grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, f'rgot t' mention dat I'm half Shi'ar, didn' I? Well, I am. M' mother was a Shi'ar warrior, m' da assumably a human, t'ough no-one seems t' know who or what 'appened." He shrugged, and started walking down the corrdior where Bishop had been waiting. "What d' y' say we go find de ship and Carol?"

As he followed, Bishop asked about their pilot.

"Carol Danvers. Oui, _de_ Carol Danvers. She's a good woman, an' a fantastic pilot. Don' worry about it. If anyt'ing goes wrong, she'll get us out of it." They strode into the hanger, and Remy smiled at the blonde stood there. She turned and smiled, blue eyes dancing. She walked over, her outfit her own rather than a Shi'ar uniform, made up of tight black leather pants and a long sleeved red top, a zip running diagonally across it.

"Nice outfit, chere," Remy smiled, as he shook her hand.

The blonde shrugged, and played with a strand of hair. "I figured if I'm going home, I might as well dress the part." She spun around, laughing, then smiled at Bishop. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

"Carol, Bishop. Bishop, Carol." As they shook hands and appraised each other, Remy noted with relief that they both seemed to like what they saw. "Have y' checked out de ship, yet?" When she shook her head, Remy started off. "Shall we?"

The ship was a little smaller than the last he had commanded, enough quarters for fifteen people. It had a bridge that had new technology throughout, and Remy was impressed by what he saw. Bishop seemed to be tinkering with various keyboards and dials, and Carol was apprasing the navigation. She turned aroung, smiling, and leaned back against the control pad. "Seems good to me. Guess I'm ready when you two are."

Remy smiled half heartedly. Walking up to him, Carol put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright, Remy? Aren't you looking forward to seeing the X-Men again?"

He glanced at her for long enough to know that she was serious. No-one seemed to understand the way the X-Men had felt towards him when they abandoned him to die. "Non, chere. I'm dreadin' it. I don' wanna see dat dey all hate me." He knew he was sulking, but couldn't stop himself. He also knew he was being irrational, but didn't stop that either. "I know some of dem do, but... I don' wanna hear Stormy say it, I don' wanna-"

"Remy, you can really whine sometimes, you know that, chum?" Carol smiled as startled red eyes flashed up to meet hers. "I know you've had a hard time, but I know the X-Men too, remember? They were my friends, especially Logan. And all of them forgave Rogue for what she did to me. For a while, they even had Magneto as a teacher for the New Mutants. They're a forgiving bunch, and they'll forgive you, okay?"

For a few seconds, Remy merely stared at her, then he smiled. Carol's no-nonsense way of talking certainly had its advantages - like waking him up out of his stupor. He had a mission to do, and who knew? It might even turn out alright in the end. Settling down in the Commander's seat, he flicked the switch that would put him through to the control room, where Lilandra was waiting.

"Well, chere, we're ready if you are."

The Majestrix smiled at him, and nodded her head quickly, a very birdlike gesture. "Alright. Good luck, my friends - we are counting on you." She nodded at the man at the control's beside her, and a countdown commenced. Remy checked that Carol was at her control's, that Bishop was sat down - at weapons, Remy noticed with a sardonic smile. Gripping the arms of his chair, Remy watched as the doors in front of the ship opened to reveal the expance of stars before them. The countdown finished and the ship began to move slowly. Gliding out of the hanger easily, they continued at the same slow speed until they were five hundred kilometers from the space station.

"Ready to go to warp, Remy," Carol informed him.

For a few moments, Remy just enjoyed the veiw of Chandilar before them, and felt a fierce and unexpected ache to see the blue and green globe of Earth again.

"Take us home, Carol," he whispered, and they went.