Authors Note: Thanks to all the comments I have been getting on this story, it has really helped, especially with this chapter. I had a total writers block with the last part of this, my mind just went totally blank on how Rogue was to take on old One-Eye and Badger. That and I... tweaked Rogue's accent a bit, it makes it more fun to write as it gets stronger.
Just on another note, I think Jamie is so cute! I couldn't resist putting him in like this, I think he's a sweetie, even if the other New Recruits find him annoying when he tries to tag along. See? There are some advantages in being the youngest.
Thankies (yet again for some) go out to...: The funny Romy master (mistress?), ishandahalf (My bunny is no longer on crack thank you, I made it switch to alcoholism 'cause being addicted to drugs is just bad); EmeraldKatsEye; adrenaline addict; GothinkStrawberry (Which I really like the name by the way, but does that make you a black strawberry?); unearthlyangel89; jade (Yes the Acolytes will show up in a few chapters); Neurotic Temptress; Freak87; Chica De Los Ojos Cafe; simba317; Z-BUTT911; bored247; T.; and janey. Thanks for all the support people.
----
Chapter Three: Know Thy Enemy: X-Men
Xavier's School for the Gifted.
Bayville.
A shadow of a figure floated over Bayville, highlighted only by the moonlight on her cape. Quickly finding her target the Black Piece dropped down right in front of the gates of Xavier's School for the Gifted. Bringing up the memory of the blueprints she had studied the other night Rogue quickly spotted the so called security of the facility and smiled. Several minutes later of manipulating her way around the sensors she found herself on the roof of the mansion. With her stolen powers and years of training the security system was easy enough to get pass as Rogue swung herself off the roof and into the nearest window that she was happy to have found left open. These fools had no idea how open to danger they were.
Hovering above the ground so no one would hear her footstep the two toned mutant looked around her surroundings, again recognizing it from the blueprints in her room. The attic had been converted into a bedroom, filled with personal items hidden between great amounts of plants, a single figure asleep in her bed to the far side of Rogue's entrance. Floating over towards them she identified the mutant as Ororo Muroe, Storm, weather manipulator. Rogue stripped off one of her gloves and ran it down the African woman's face, feeling the distinct pull of her powers as the weather witch's life force poured into her.
Taking enough so Storm would not wake up until tomorrow morning at the earliest Rogue floated once again over to the door, shooting a smirk back at the unconscious figure as she exited the room. Flying slowly down the halls so her heels wouldn't make a sound on the wooden and carpeted floor Rogue sorted through the memories of Storm, using them with the plans of the mansion she had seen to find her way around as she threw the white-hairred mutant into one of the cells in her head, blocking out her screams. Following the set of corridors she paused at one door and opened it silently to peer in.
Inside the tan coloured room two separate beds separated the sleeping girls halves, their own personal items scattered around in various places. Rogue made a face under her hood at the bright coloured posters as she made her way into the room, standing over the bed of one of the four mutants she had to take out first. Kitty Pryde. The young brunette mumbled in her sleep before phasing half way through her mattress, leaving only her face, lowers arms and feet revealed. Smirking at this the Black Piece pushed a fingertip against Kitty's forehead, holding it there for a moment before phasing through Kitty and her bed and moving onto the other girl.
As she phased through the floor with both ShadowCat and Jubilation Lee locked soundly inside their cells in her head Rogue made her way confidently towards Xavier's room, once the powerful telepath was out of the way the house was hers. Keeping her senses open for the local Wolverine - Wolvie apparently to Jubilee - who according to the stolen memories of the three females spent a lot of the night awake and wandering the mansion if he wasn't in the kitchen drinking. Phasing through everything in her way the Black Piece paused before the last wall between her and Xavier's room, making sure her mental walls were as strong as ever.
Stepping through the wall Rogue didn't waste any time, marching quickly to the bed before thrusting out a hand onto the bald man's face. His eyes flicked open at the last second before her skin made contact and Rogue got his last action at full force, a warning cry to Logan.
"Shit." Muttering under her breath Rogue's heels clicked heavily against the wooden floor as she rushed to the door, the sound of another set of footsteps rushing towards her.
Just as the door opened to show a battle ready Wolverine Rogue let Jubilee's powers free, hitting the man directly in the face. He let out a roar as his claws slid back up into his forearms and he raised a hand to his eyes, momentarily blinded by the pyrotechnic light show. Rushing through him with Kitty's powers she felt others in the house that were awoken by the sound climbing out of their beds to investigate.
Quickly throwing herself through a wall Rogue barely missed getting spotted by the optic blaster know as Scott, who in turn was followed by the other household telepath. As he passed a hand shot out of the woodwork and pulled the red-hairred into the next room, but she was out cold before she could see her attacker. With the second telepath's powers now part of her own Rogue came out of her hiding place and wrapped her cape tightly around her form before crawling up the wall to the ceiling. Resting there for a moment she watched several other students of the house run below to the Professors side Rogue smirked at the sound of footsteps on the floor above her. Calling on one of her new powers she phased up through the ceiling.
With both of her gloves now off and shoved into one side of her corset Rogue wrapped her fingers around the ankles of the two teens running pass her. Both mutants fell face first to the floor, out cold before they even made contact. Passing them through the floor Rogue pulled herself up onto the second story and crept down the corridor.
As she rounded the corner Rogue held back a scream as three claws buried themselves into her foot. Pushing the pain into the back of her head she looked down at a crouching X-23 who growled up at her. Returning the growl at tenfold the clone of Wolverine went flying back from a well placed punch to the jaw, snapping her head back from the force and sending her crashing through a wall.
Wincing as she looked down at the three slits of holes in her boots Rogue exhaled loudly as she felt X-23's powers kick in, healing her foot and preventing any more blood loss. Too bad Ah can't heal leather. She though as she stared in disgust at the damage to her shoe, wiggling her foot a bit to get a better look at the cuts.
A whiff of sulfur and an audible 'bamf' sounded next to the fallen female, a slim dark blue figure crouched over her. Nightcrawler. Floating up to the distracted 'demon' Rogue eyed his tail as it waved behind him, as if it had some mind of its own. Snatching hold of it a pair of yellow eyes turned accusingly at her before they rolled up into his skull and Kurt joined his fallen team mate. That was four from four, now for some fun.
Approaching steps paused the Hellfire member in her place, sniffing at the air with her new enhanced senses but she cursed mentally, the smell of sulfur overpowering everything else. Spinning in her stride Rogue morphed into wolf form, her fur black unlike the red of the owner of the powers. Trotting down the hall she lifted her snout to try and get a hint of the next person, almost seeming to pull back her lips and bare her fangs in a smile as she ran towards Angel.
Warren on his part was just leaving the youngest member of the households room, checking on the young Jamie who remained sleeping despite the paranoia of the rest of the mutants. As he walked back to join Logan and Scott downstairs he paused at the sound of growling, having been around the X-Men long enough to know it was neither Wolverine or X-23.
"Rahne? Is everything all right?"
Moving towards the sound who he thought was his fellow team member Angel stopped at the sight of the wolf before him. It definitely was not Wolfbane. As well as darker in fur so it blended perfectly into the shadows a long white streak ran down through the canine's left green eye. Before he could move the wolf leaped at him, changing in mid-flight to land on him and pin him in human form. A touch of a finger to his forehead knocked Warren out for the rest of the night, but not before he got a shot of the black clothing she was wearing.
Dusting her corset off of suspicious black fur Rogue climbed off the blonde man, moaning lightly in discomfort as she felt something push at her upper back from her shoulder blades. Not wanting to fight the transformation she pulled the back of her cape to one side and allowed it to fall over her shoulder, covering one half of her body but still keeping her hood securely in position. As her new wings sprouted from her back Rogue entered the door Warren just left, closing it quietly behind her.
Tangled up messily in his bedding Jamie had somehow wrapped his limbs securely into his sheets, his mouth open a touch. Smiling gently down at the young boy Rogue swept her eyes around the rest of the room to make sure there was no one else and knelt by the boy's bed. A cry of surprise outside the door brought the Multiple out of his sleep with a snort, his eyes still half closed with sleep as he looked to the female beside him.
"Are you an angel?" He asked as he rubbed one eye with the side of his fist to get rid of his blurred vision, trying to decided whether to try and wake himself further or give up and fall back to sleep.
Flicking a look over her shoulder at her new black wings Rogue shook her head at Jamie, her soft smile still set on her lips so not to scare him. "No, quite the opposite." She held a hand out to his face and lightly brushed her fingered down his cheek. "Yah tahred, ain't yah?" A nod of a reply. "Don't worry, Ah can help yah go back to sleep and not have to worry 'bout what's goin' on." Pressing her lips against his forehead Rogue carefully lowered the unconscious boy down to lie in his bed before heading back to the door.
Walking back out into the hallway a gasp from one of the three females brought Rogue's attention to the group of four standing over Warren's body. Looking over to identify them and their powers she started to move towards the teens, making the small group back away from her but also activate their powers. A rain of small explosive orbs, fireballs and spikes came hurling at the absorber, only to have her jump up onto the ceiling and hang there as the attacks blew past to destroy the wall at the end of the hall.
Dropping from her spot Rogue covered the face of the blonde pyrokinetic teen with her palm, holding on until she heard a moan then released the girl to the floor. She teleported out of the way of several more spikes only to appear behind the shooter in his exoskeleton of bones and wrapped her hand around to cover the only exposed skin on his face. Kicking backwards and high Rogue's heel made contact with the fire creator to send her dazed and to the floor, becoming equally comatose like her friends a moment later.
Rogue turned her head towards the last girl, only to find her whimpering in the corner and trying to make herself as small as possible. Rolling her green eyes she spoke up.
"Look kid. Only one touch, that's all Ah need, then Ah'll leave yah alone. Ah ain't goin' to hurt yah."
"Excuse me."
Glancing over her shoulder and away from the teen girl Rogue raised her eyebrow at the almost ape-like beast covered in blue fur. It wasn't the colouring or his fuzziness that surprised her, more the intelligence woven into his voice. Rogue half expected him to be some sort of English or Shakespearean teacher with that tone.
"Yes?" She answered.
He moved a touch closer to her, to stand within leaping range. "Excuse my rudeness, but may I ask who you are and what you need with our students?"
Shifting her weight to one leg and resting a bare hand against her hip Rogue clocked her head to one side, seeming to ponder his question. "Well, Ah can't tell yah who Ah am, but Ah can tell yah what Ah need. Lahke Ah was tellin' Danielle here, Ah just need one touch, then Ah'll be out of yah way."
"I am sorry, but I cannot allow that. You seem to be a danger to the occupants of this house."
Nodding her head Rogue sighed. "Yah right, Ah am a danger, but don't worry, everyone will wake up in a few hours. Ah promise. But Ah got a job to do, so either attack meh now or leave meh to take care of this girl here first, then yah can attack."
"Very well." With that Beast let out a roar and leaped at the hooded figure, knocking her off her feet with a grunt.
Returning the growl partly out of mild anger but also from the pain in her now broken wings from the force of the hit Rogue dug a foot into Beast's stomach and launched him backwards into the missing wall from three mutant's attacks. As her wings retracted into her back Rogue floated to her feet and held a hand out, lifting the blue furred mutant out of the wreckage and towards her, holding him tightly in place so he could not attack her again.
"With anyone else, yah would of stopped them. But not with meh." With a wave of her fingers Beast's form closer, dropping instantly to the floor as her fingertips brushed pass his fur to connect with the skin underneath.
Suddenly the world went still for Rogue, the bodies that littered the hall disappeared, all sound from others gone. She was alone. Frowning in concentration she scanned the mansion for its occupants but found none, widening her search Rogue could not sense anyone beyond the houses walls either, as if everyone in the world had vanished. Apart from her. All alone.
In the back of Rogue's mind something triggered, bringing up information she had memorized the night before and it made her growl deep in her throat. Danielle, Mirage, capable of projecting others fears so vividly it made them believe it was real. In Rogue's case, to be alone, forever.
Shooting out a hand in the last place she saw her the Black Piece snatched the mutant teen by her neck, a strange gurgling sound coming from the frightened girls throat as the illusion faded. Rogue 'tsk'ed at her and waved one finger in a disapproving manner, her fingers tightening around her neck. Danielle's head lolled forward as her energy drained from her body, landing partly on top of Boom Boom as Rogue allowed her to fall.
Wiggling her fingers in a form of wave to the pile of unconscious mutants Rogue teleported to her next targets in the library below.
In the middle of their area to search Bobby let out a yawn and stretched, almost hitting Ray in the head with an iced up fist. Batting the offending limb out of his way Berzerker smacked Iceman across the back of the head, a touch of his powers behind the hit and caused a mild electrical charge to run through the frozen X-Man.
"Hey!" Iceman cried in pain as he clutched the back of his head.
"Well watch where you're waving those limbs IceCube!" Ray snapped back, being woken up in the middle night did not go down well with the teen, nor did getting stuck with the resident ice maker. "This is ridiculous, there's no one here! Badger and One-Eye have lost it."
"Well what about the Professor?"
"Hey, with how old he is something had to give out sooner or later." Before Bobby could respond a well known sound came from behind them in the corner of the room. "'bout time you got here Kurt!" Ray shot a look to Bobby before continuing. "Was about to bolt IcePick's head off."
"It's IceMAN!"
"Looks more lahke IceBoy to meh."
Both boys froze - double so for Bobby - at the voice before slowly turning around to where they expected Nightcrawler to be, instead they came face to... well cape with a shadowed figure. With their jaws dropped open and eyes wide it wasn't until Rogue raised a hand out from under her covering and aimed it at them did it snap both out of their daze. Reacting on instinct both shot their hands up and let loose their powers.
But they never reached their target. Instead the floor seemed to tilt for Berzerker and Iceman, sending them tumbling backwards to the wall as their own attacks came back at them. With a cry of shock both boys rolled out of the way of the ice chunks and electric bolts. Berzerker tried to push himself back to the carpet but 'fell' back against the wall, as if that was the new floor.
Taking her time to stroll over to the boys Rogue moved easily across the ground, her own balance of gravity normal compared to the one she placed on the two, making the book lined wall their new floor. At least until she released them. Pulling out two books from one of the shelves she threw them at their chests, activating Leland's powers deep inside her mind to weigh down the hardbacks and pressing Iceman and Berzerker securely onto their backs.
"Now yah boys wouldn't be tryin' to hurt or run from little ol' meh, would yah?"
"Let us go bitch!" Ray spat, struggling against the book on his chest that felt like the entire X-Men's jet upon his ribs.
A flash of green energy flickered into view of the boys from under the strangers hood, her hint of a smirk replaced with her drawing her lips back in a form of a snarl.
"Just for that," She growled, pure anger in her voice, "Ah'm goin' to make sure it hurts." Her fingernails digging into the side of Ray's face as her palm made contact. A scream of pain came from his throat as Rogue increased the pressure on his face, a loud 'snap' sounded as she broke his nose.
Bobby's eyes went even wider in shock to almost perfect circles as he watched his friend go limp, an extra layer of ice automatically forming itself over his body to instinctively protect him. He watched as Rogue loosened her grip, allowing Ray's gravity to return to normal and slip off the wall to the floor. His breath caught in his throat as she turned her eyes on him, she was now close enough for Bobby to see inside of the hood and catch a glimpse of her white hair against pale skin.
"Yah scared of meh, Ah can smell it."
"Well, not every day someone breaks in here. We're normally trying to get out." Came out of his mouth before he could even comprehend what he said. A quick and nervous smile shook on his icy lips.
The woman's expression softened a touch, increasing to do so until the smirk had returned and she appeared calm again. Her fingers raised to his face and Bobby flinched away, only to come in contact with her other hand. Instead of being met with the violence of Ray's attack her palm just rested upon his cheek.
"If yah corporate Ah won't hurt yah. Lower yah ahce field."
Bobby slowly nodded his head as he let his protective layer melt away back into his skin.
"Ever been kissed before sugah?"
He opened his mouth to say 'yes' but Rogue raised an eyebrow from under her hood, stopping Iceman in his answer. His lips moved a few times in silence before his mouth closed again and he shook his head.
Leaning towards him Rogue paused just in front of his face, "Thank yah for not fahghtin' lahke yah friend there." Before pressing her lips against his in a kiss, but Bobby was not awake to experience the last of it.
Allowing Iceman to fall to the floor Rogue turned to the doorway of the library, relaxing the increase of mass in the wood of the entrance to keep the others out. They had reached the door not long after Berzerker's scream, but Rogue wanted to keep the last four in the mansion out until she had taken care of Iceman. A red glow from below the edge of the wood was quickly followed by the door being blasted off its hinges. As the four males entered the room Rogue activated the same trick she did on the two boys at her feet.
The world tipped for Wolverine, Cyclops, Havok and Cannonball, sending them falling backwards out of the room, down the hall and against a wall. With a growl Logan grunted for the three boys to get off him, being he was the one that landed on the bottom which in itself was lucky for the others otherwise they would of been crushed by the adamantium laced mutant. Once they got their limbs untangled the four found themselves in the same predicament that Bobby and Ray experienced, they could no longer walk on the floor as they knew it.
"Cannonball, get her." Cyclops barked, quickly summing up the situation and who's powers would be the most useful.
With a nod Cannonball launched himself at Rogue from where she stood at the doorway they just fell from. Eating up the space between them abruptly he found himself suddenly froze in mid-air just before his target. Shooting a smirk at him Rogue tapped a fingertip against Sam's forehead, his body dropping to the true floor.
"Shit!"
"Language." Cyclops counted automatically, not even aware of what he said.
Havok's eyebrows shot up at the scorn, "Language? Watch my language! Wrong situation for that warning bro!" His eyes flicking away from Scott to Sam's body lying lifeless on the carpet. Raising his hands Alex let loose a long blast of red energy from both of his palms.
"Wait!" Cyclops grabbed at his brothers hands, pulling them away from the woman but was not fast enough to prevent the attack. Concern for her welfare wasn't the main worry in the X-Men leaders mind, more the fact that he did not know what her powers were and if she could turn an attack back against them.
Both force blasts hit her head on, one hitting her upper chest as the other struck Rogue's face, making her head snap backwards and her hood to fall back. A low gasp came from her lips as she closed her eyes for a moment, absorbing the new energy with the aid of the Black King's powers, just boosting her own power levels. As the new strength filtered through her body a pleasant tingle flooded her limbs before she returned her vision to the last three awake in the house. With a smirk firmly in place Rogue walked towards them.
Logan popped his claws free after having retracted them during the fall so not to injure any of the students. Pressing the flat of his feet against the 'wall' to launch himself into an attack at the intruder him as well as the brothers found an increased pressure upon their chests, holding all three down firmly and forcing the air out of their lungs. As one very accustom to pain Wolverine continued to struggle against the invisible hold on him, but it only seemed to aggravate the problem as more and more force was placed upon his sternum until he heard a faint cracking sound.
Pausing in front of the three males she brushed one chunk of white hair off her face and looped it behind her ear. Looking over the trapped X-Men Rogue's eyes finally landed on Havok.
"Since yah attacked meh first it's only fair Ah take yah out first." Her announcement caused Alex's eyes to widen and breathing to pick up as Scott struggled against his hidden bonds.
"Don't touch him!" He ordered.
"Don't worry One Eye," Rogue leant forward until her face stopped just in front of Alex's, her vision flicking over to Cyclops, "Yah'll get yah turn next." Before brushing her cheek against Havok's.
As his brothers body slid to the floor Cyclops struggled to pull free again, fighting to try and bring his hand up to his glasses and let this bitch taste the power behind a full, non-filtered blast. His anger towards the situation clouding his mind to give him a selective memory, completely forgetting the lack of damage Alex's powers did against her.
A disapproving sound came from Rogue's throat as she shook her head slowly at him, able to see his plan with the aid of her stolen telepathy. "Now yah know that won't work, yah just saw yah brothers attack didn't hurt meh so what makes yah think yah power could? Yah fahghtin' a losin' battle Scotty." Her smirk took on a more savage appearance. "Ah'm unbeatable."
"Let me go and I'll show you true power!" He snapped and let loose a growl that would do the clawed mutant next to him proud.
"As temptin' as that is, Ah got better thahngs to do, so Ah'll make dis quick." Snatching a handful of his shirt Rogue pulled Scott off the wall and towards her with little effort. He's not that bad to look at. A bit of a boy scout, but cute. Making the most of the situation Rogue locked her lips against his, his body going rigid in shock. Smiling against his skin at the reaction she got out of him Rogue released her control over her true powers, keeping her eyes on his face as his energy drained into her.
Dropping Cyclops's body to the ground with a satisfied sigh she smirked over at her last target. "Looks lahke just yah and meh Wolvie."
A wave of her hand and suddenly Logan found himself falling to his knees on the wooden floor, his chest heaving in relief from the release of intense pressure. He grit his teeth as his ribs pushed back out again to their normal position and his breastbone pulled out of his heart and lungs. Taking no more time he launched himself at Rogue with a roar, all six adamantium claws aimed at her chest.
Throwing her body backwards Rogue twisted around and caused Wolverine to go flying over her shoulder, dropping down to crouch on all fours as he landed on the wood behind her. Grinning as adrenaline pumped through her body her green eyes took on a red glow before they burst out in Cyclops optic blast.
Wolverine growled as he took the full attack against his chest, throwing him backwards into and through the hallways wall. Picking himself up and ignoring the deep burn marks that quickly vanished as his skin and muscles began to regenerate shads of wood splinters fell from his form. Rogue kept her crouched position on the floor, her muscles visibly twitching in her arms in anticipation of the next attack. And Logan didn't disappoint her.
Catapulting towards her again Wolverine found himself back on the ground, resting on his back after being tackled around the waist. Rogue grinned down at him as she sat upon his waist, hands resting on his wrists as she pinned him with her superior strength.
"Looks lahke Ah win Wolvie. Ah expected more from yah, a challenge. Yah just disappointed meh. If yah can't beat meh, how yah expect yah kiddies to? Yah X-Men are so pathetic against a real threat." Rogue's face distorted to one of pure disgust and anger. She was sick of never finding a rival that could push her to her limits, one that would actually make her break a sweat. "Tahme to pay up, loser."
Wolverine's claws slowly slid back into his skin as his eyes rolled up and his eyelids closed as he felt like his actual soul was being sucked out through his wrists and into this girl. What made it worse was her words, the attack against his skill hurt more than any physical attack. So many years of experienced only to be beaten by a 18 year old girl in under five minutes.
As his body went limp Rogue climbed off the final target on her list, reaching back to pull her hood back over her head. Any joy she had gained in playing with these mutants was permanently lost for the rest of the night. Not even 20 and she had just taken out an entire mansion full of mutants - who were all powerful in their own ways - in less time than it took her to fly here and she felt... empty.
Sighing she walked towards the halls that lead to the hidden elevator that would take her to the security center where she could destroy the surveillance taken of her. Rogue was used to these sudden emotion changes in her, she could be perfectly happy one moment and go into a blind rage the next, only to feel like crying her eyes out a second later. It was just one of the stresses behind being an energy vampire and a trained hardened killer.
Reaching her destination and not bothering to open the secret door Rogue phased right through it and the elevator, dropping down the shaft as she shorted out the lifts electronics, making it completely useless for its owners. Slowing her decent she forced the doors open to the lower hidden levels of the mansion, striding down the metal hall.
Kicking open the door of the security room the metal door went flying into one of the control panels, instantly destroying that section and sending fragments of metal and electrical wire flying around the room. Rogue thrust a hand into the remainder of the controls, using ShadowCat's powers to fry the rest of the electronics as a dark cloud of smoke began to form at the top of the room.
Stepping back to avoid a shower of sparks from burning her cape Rogue teleported up to where she started her mission, on the roof of the mansion. The first signs of a soon to be intense migraine echoed in her temples as she pointed her toes and her feet left the surface, allowing her to hover in midair.
Angling her body towards home Rogue pulled her gloves back on. "Ah need a strong drink." She muttered before thrusting her arms back violently against her sides, shooting off across the sky.
----
Authors Note: Just two stupid little questions I thought of the other night and wondering if people know or have an opinion on them. Both are about the X-Men movies, not Evolution or the comics.
First off, does anyone know if the student shown in the first movie (I have the second one on DVD but cannot find the first one by itself...) playing basketball when Logan is being shown around the mansion, who used his powers, is Quicksilver? Or maybe the kid who could run across water? This question has been bugging me for awhile so any knowledge on it, such as the character name on the credits will be nice.
Second, in X2 when Mystique is looking up where Magneto is on Strykers computer I'm sure we all spotted our favourite Cajun's name up there above the Master of Magnetism. My question is, does that mean Remy, the Prince of Thieves, has been (gasp) captured or in jail? Or is it just a profile on him, after all the LeBeau name is famous in New Orleans, as well as 'The White Devil'... just something to think about...
