Disclaimer: The X-Men are owned by Marvel, not by me. I'm not making any money from this, just hopefully an interesting story.
Summery: Rogue has a dream about a happier time, or is it a nightmare?
A Dream of Better Times Part I: "End Game"
She was so weary. Thank God the battle was over, for now anyway. She collapsed onto her poor excuse for a bed and was asleep almost immediately.
The dream made her smile. Such an innocent time, the past. So happy, so free. Funny how she could call that time "free". Back then, so-called normal people persecuted mutants out of fear and hate. Not to mention she had her own problems; unable to touch another human being, unable to hold hands, unable to kiss, unable to do anything a normal woman could do. But she didn't want to think of all that now. She just wanted to enjoy her dream.
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It was summer, and all the X-folk were out enjoying the day. Rogue was on the volleyball court, Logan and Bobby on her team. They faced off against Remy, Storm and Beast. It was Rogue's serve.
"Here it comes, y'all. Easy point." she drawled, her tone confident. After all, her team was ahead by three.
"Mas non, chere. You over estimate yourself." the Cajun smirked, and was rewarded by her scowl.
Logan chuckled deep in his throat, "Watch yerself, Gumbo. Or you'll be eatin' the ball."
"I would agree with Logan, my Cajun comrade." Hank chimed "It seems unwise to anger a lady such as our dear Rogue."
To prove their point, Rogue served the ball violently. It flew over the net and struck the ground at Remy's feet, exploding with a resounding "Pow!" Gambit jumped back, a look of shock on his face.
" I believe that is end game" Ororo smiled, and picked up the tattered remains of the volley ball.
Rogue had the grace to look sheepish. "Sorry. Ah guess Ah got a li'l carried away." She looked at Gambit apologetically, and his expression said she was forgiven.
"So just one question." this came from Bobby. "Who won?"
Both teams began to attest to their victory, but were interrupted by the Professor's mental intrusion.
"X-Men, to the War Room! Quickly!"
When they were all finally gathered into the War Room, the Professor turned on the television, without a word. The news was on.
"...the all out assault on Washington came as a shock to citizens and politicians alike. The army of mutants, lead by the mutant terrorist known as Magneto, stormed the Nation's Capitol just moments ago. Taking the city hostage..."
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Rogue turned in her sleep. Her voice crying out in weak protest. "No! No not again! Not again!"
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"...the President has been ordered to release a statement. We take you now, live, to the President of the United States..."
The screen flickered. Rogue, and the rest of the X-Men, watched it intently. She wondered if they, too, had this strange feeling of dread inside. On the screen the President nodded to the camera, then began his statement.
"...My fellow Americans, I come before you under dire circumstances. I have been instructed to inform you all that not only has the city of Washington been captured, so have various notion capitols around the world..."
"How could this happen?!" the outraged voice belonged to Scott. Rogue thought he looked so distraught. He was probably worried about Jean and the others who were away. The Professor held up his hand to silence him, and the President continued.
"...as my last act as president, I do here by..." the president paused, swallowed, then looked back at the camera, with a look in his eyes that made the foreboding knot in Rogue's stomach tighten. "...beg the forgiveness of all the people of this world." Those in attendance chattered in confusion. The camera swung around, landing on Magneto. He looked puzzled, took one step forward, then there was the briefest flash of light, before the camera shut off. Only white sound aired on the screen.
In the War Room the X-Men had gathered closer together. Rogue side-stepped to Remy, who put an arm around her shoulder. All eyes were on the Professor. And after a strained silence uttered only a few words.
"Magnus, what Hell have you brought upon us?"
************************************************************************
"No! Please! This can't happen! Not again! Ah don't.....!"
************************************************************************
"Professor? Tell us what has happened." Storms blue eyes were pleading.
His shoulders slumped. He'd never looked so sad, so lost, or so old to Rogue. "It.....is the end, my X-Men."
His cryptic words rang true. The could all feel it. It really was the end. What phrase had Storm used? "End Game". Yes that seemed just right. It was end game, for all of them. Remy's hold tightened on Rogue's shoulder, and she turned into his embrace.
"How?" The question had hung on all their lips, but only Bobby, the joker, the trickster, had managed to give it voice.
"The missile they launched, was a new proto-type. Untested, and with good reason. It was believed that, once detonated, the radiation would travel outward on a shock wave, which would span the entire globe before dying out, infecting all life on earth." The elderly man looked down, defeated. "The effects.......will be genocidel."
Rogue clutched Remy desperately, shaking with the fear of imminent death. He held her close, pressing kisses to her hair.
"How long we got, Chuck?" Rogue looked to see Logan holding Ororo in his arms. His posture was defiant, but his eyes held the same fear as the rest of them. He was being brave for the woman he loved. The woman he loved, and who loved him. Strange how being faced with death put so much into perspective for people.
"Mere moments I'm afraid." the Professor looked up, tears in his eyes. "I love you all, my children. No father could be more proud."
They all responded in their own way. Rogue could only manage tearful nod, then buried her face against Remy's chest.
"Je t'aime, cherie! Je t'aime!" She could hear his voice breaking as he pressed kisses to her hair and shoulders. Anywhere but her flesh.
"Oh Gawd, Remy, Ah love ya too!" Tears flowed down her cheeks. She could feel the world around her begin to shudder. Time was up.
"Rogue!" Remy lifted her face to his and their lips met, just as the shock wave struck them down.
to be continued...
Summery: Rogue has a dream about a happier time, or is it a nightmare?
A Dream of Better Times Part I: "End Game"
She was so weary. Thank God the battle was over, for now anyway. She collapsed onto her poor excuse for a bed and was asleep almost immediately.
The dream made her smile. Such an innocent time, the past. So happy, so free. Funny how she could call that time "free". Back then, so-called normal people persecuted mutants out of fear and hate. Not to mention she had her own problems; unable to touch another human being, unable to hold hands, unable to kiss, unable to do anything a normal woman could do. But she didn't want to think of all that now. She just wanted to enjoy her dream.
************************************************************************
It was summer, and all the X-folk were out enjoying the day. Rogue was on the volleyball court, Logan and Bobby on her team. They faced off against Remy, Storm and Beast. It was Rogue's serve.
"Here it comes, y'all. Easy point." she drawled, her tone confident. After all, her team was ahead by three.
"Mas non, chere. You over estimate yourself." the Cajun smirked, and was rewarded by her scowl.
Logan chuckled deep in his throat, "Watch yerself, Gumbo. Or you'll be eatin' the ball."
"I would agree with Logan, my Cajun comrade." Hank chimed "It seems unwise to anger a lady such as our dear Rogue."
To prove their point, Rogue served the ball violently. It flew over the net and struck the ground at Remy's feet, exploding with a resounding "Pow!" Gambit jumped back, a look of shock on his face.
" I believe that is end game" Ororo smiled, and picked up the tattered remains of the volley ball.
Rogue had the grace to look sheepish. "Sorry. Ah guess Ah got a li'l carried away." She looked at Gambit apologetically, and his expression said she was forgiven.
"So just one question." this came from Bobby. "Who won?"
Both teams began to attest to their victory, but were interrupted by the Professor's mental intrusion.
"X-Men, to the War Room! Quickly!"
When they were all finally gathered into the War Room, the Professor turned on the television, without a word. The news was on.
"...the all out assault on Washington came as a shock to citizens and politicians alike. The army of mutants, lead by the mutant terrorist known as Magneto, stormed the Nation's Capitol just moments ago. Taking the city hostage..."
************************************************************************
Rogue turned in her sleep. Her voice crying out in weak protest. "No! No not again! Not again!"
************************************************************************
"...the President has been ordered to release a statement. We take you now, live, to the President of the United States..."
The screen flickered. Rogue, and the rest of the X-Men, watched it intently. She wondered if they, too, had this strange feeling of dread inside. On the screen the President nodded to the camera, then began his statement.
"...My fellow Americans, I come before you under dire circumstances. I have been instructed to inform you all that not only has the city of Washington been captured, so have various notion capitols around the world..."
"How could this happen?!" the outraged voice belonged to Scott. Rogue thought he looked so distraught. He was probably worried about Jean and the others who were away. The Professor held up his hand to silence him, and the President continued.
"...as my last act as president, I do here by..." the president paused, swallowed, then looked back at the camera, with a look in his eyes that made the foreboding knot in Rogue's stomach tighten. "...beg the forgiveness of all the people of this world." Those in attendance chattered in confusion. The camera swung around, landing on Magneto. He looked puzzled, took one step forward, then there was the briefest flash of light, before the camera shut off. Only white sound aired on the screen.
In the War Room the X-Men had gathered closer together. Rogue side-stepped to Remy, who put an arm around her shoulder. All eyes were on the Professor. And after a strained silence uttered only a few words.
"Magnus, what Hell have you brought upon us?"
************************************************************************
"No! Please! This can't happen! Not again! Ah don't.....!"
************************************************************************
"Professor? Tell us what has happened." Storms blue eyes were pleading.
His shoulders slumped. He'd never looked so sad, so lost, or so old to Rogue. "It.....is the end, my X-Men."
His cryptic words rang true. The could all feel it. It really was the end. What phrase had Storm used? "End Game". Yes that seemed just right. It was end game, for all of them. Remy's hold tightened on Rogue's shoulder, and she turned into his embrace.
"How?" The question had hung on all their lips, but only Bobby, the joker, the trickster, had managed to give it voice.
"The missile they launched, was a new proto-type. Untested, and with good reason. It was believed that, once detonated, the radiation would travel outward on a shock wave, which would span the entire globe before dying out, infecting all life on earth." The elderly man looked down, defeated. "The effects.......will be genocidel."
Rogue clutched Remy desperately, shaking with the fear of imminent death. He held her close, pressing kisses to her hair.
"How long we got, Chuck?" Rogue looked to see Logan holding Ororo in his arms. His posture was defiant, but his eyes held the same fear as the rest of them. He was being brave for the woman he loved. The woman he loved, and who loved him. Strange how being faced with death put so much into perspective for people.
"Mere moments I'm afraid." the Professor looked up, tears in his eyes. "I love you all, my children. No father could be more proud."
They all responded in their own way. Rogue could only manage tearful nod, then buried her face against Remy's chest.
"Je t'aime, cherie! Je t'aime!" She could hear his voice breaking as he pressed kisses to her hair and shoulders. Anywhere but her flesh.
"Oh Gawd, Remy, Ah love ya too!" Tears flowed down her cheeks. She could feel the world around her begin to shudder. Time was up.
"Rogue!" Remy lifted her face to his and their lips met, just as the shock wave struck them down.
to be continued...