Betrayal - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Valerie Jones
Last updated: 01/02/2007 02:01:11 AM

Chapter 4

"This code is quite amazing." Hank McCoy watched the translation process over Gambit's shoulder.

"Oughtta be. T'ieves been working on it f' three hundred years."

"Really? Given the highly mathematical nature, I would have thought it was newer than that."

Gambit gave him an odd look. "Mathematical? It's jus' words."

Hank chuckled. "Yes, words. But manipulated through matrix inversions in two languages. Well, except for these arbitrary conversions. You just have these memorized?"

"Oui." Gambit finished the translation square he was working on and filled in another portion of the message.

Bishop watched him silently. He didn't understand the math Hank was talking about either, but he knew something about codes. And this one was pretty complicated, at least for deciphering by hand. Not that he really cared about the code itself. He was just trying to distract himself while he waited to find out what message the Witness had planted in his head. It could all be over in a couple of minutes, if the message was the warning he hoped it would be. Could he have been wrong all along, and Gambit had survived the attack on the X-men for some other reason? Or would this perhaps be a part of the trap?

A sound from Gambit brought his attention back to the present. It might have been a laugh, but Gambit's expression was dark. He was staring at the results of another round of translation.

"Problems?" Hank asked.

"No. It's jus' -- No." The piece of paper slid from between his fingers.

Hank picked up the sheet. "Is this finished?"

This time Gambit did laugh, but it was a broken sound. "Oui, it's done. I even signed it."

Hank looked at the page to see what had upset Gambit so greatly. His eyebrows arched as he read, but he did not comment.

"Hank?" Professor Xavier watched them from the far side of the table. The other X-men were gathering from the farther corners of the study, sensing that the job was done. "Will you read the message please?"

"Ahem. Of course, Professor." Hank glanced up at the assembled X-men. "It's pretty short. Here goes." He looked back down at the paper in his hands. "`This is the beginning. Build the code. Gambit.'"

"That's it?" The professor's gaze shifted between Hank and Gambit.

"I'm afraid so," Hank answered. Gambit said nothing.

"But who killed the X-men?!" Bishop slammed his fists down on the table with the sound of a thunderclap.

Gambit looked up slowly. "You de one wit all de secrets in y' head, Bishop. You tell me."

Bishop paused, taken aback. The Professor gave him an appraising stare. "I think that might be a very good idea."