Convergence. Chapter 4: The Attack

A week and a half later…

Friday night at the X-Mansion brought an alert status, but the recent quiet allowed for a small relaxation of the rules. Both Scott and Professor Charles Xavier had been attending a hearing in Washington, and Jean took it upon herself to come up with a problem so she'd have an excuse to talk to Rogue. She wanted to explore the possibilities of this new friendship, but they hadn't had much interaction since the chance meeting at the cemetery. Rogue had been avoiding everyone, and Jean was surprised as she found herself disappointed.

She walked casually towards Rogue's room, running through her mind the excuse she had come up with. Her intentions fell as she noticed Gambit approaching the same room, a single red rose in his hands.

Gambit smirked as he watched Jean approach the same door he was headed toward.

"Big plans tonight, Gambit?" Jean asked, matching his smirk.

Gambit's grin only widened. "More dan you, chere. But we let Rogue choose who to spen' her Friday ev'nin' wit', non?"

Jean matched his smile as Gambit softly knocked on Rogue's door. They waited a few moments before Gambit knocked a second time, this time a little louder. As no acknowledgment came yet again, Gambit turned his eyes to Jean, then back to the door. Quietly, he put his hands on the doorknob and turned to find it unlocked.

Uncomfortable with the thought of entering Rogue's room uninvited, Jean waited hesitantly outside the door as Gambit pushed it open.

"Cherie?" Gambit called, entering the room.

Opening her eyes, Rogue titled her head down towards the door. She was floating in the room, apparently meditating. "Don't you know how to knock, Swamp Rat?"

"Remy knocked twice, chere," Gambit said smoothly as Rogue floated down to stand in front of him.

Rogue raised her eyebrows in disbelief, but didn't say anything.

Gambit presented the rose. "For you," he said with a flourish.

Rogue smiled softly as she accepted the single flower from Gambit, and turned to place it in the small vase that sat on her dresser. Instead of turning around, however, she caressed it idly, gently.

"Roguey?" Gambit asked, moving toward her slowly, placing his hands on her shoulders and massaging lightly as she kept her back towards him. "Some'ting wrong?"

Rogue sighed heavily. She had been purposely avoiding the others in the mansion, including Gambit. When she did see them, she either ignored them or snapped at them, and she figured the rose was Gambit's way of making a peace offering, even if he knew he didn't do anything to piss her off this time. She knew he deserved an explanation, and slowly, she turned around to face him.

"I'm changin', Remy," she said finally, softly, not quite meeting his eyes.

Jean perked up from her spot in the doorway, apparently forgotten by Gambit. To her trained mind, the events of recent weeks and their chance meeting in the cemetery all made perfect sense in light of this admission. Rogue's mutation made the least amount of sense to all of them, but especially to Rogue herself.

"Rogue?" she asked cautiously, entering the room.

Gambit silently cursed himself for forgetting that Jean stood within earshot. He glared at her, if only for effect. "What you mean, chere?" he asked, turning his attention back to Rogue, slightly baffled by her unusual openness.

Rogue knew she should be upset with herself that Jean had overheard her admission. Ultimately, that would mean she'd blame Jean and yell at her, but the sudden desperation she felt at admitting what was going on pushed the thought to the background. If Jean had heard this much so far, then inviting her into the conversation could prevent the woman from saying anything to Hank or the Professor. And if not, she'd beg Jean to keep silent if she had to.

With a glance back at Gambit, Rogue sat on the edge of the bed, motioning for Jean to enter and close the door. As she entered the room, Jean used her telekinetic powers to close the door behind her, not willing to turn her head away from the troubled mutant.

"Mah mutation's mutatin'," Rogue said finally, glancing at her hands, unwilling to face the expressions on her friends' faces.

Remy stood stick straight, unsure of how to take the news. His brow furrowed in confusion.

Telekinetically dragging a chair over from the corner, Jean sat down and pulled Rogue's gloved hands into her own, forcing Rogue to meet her eyes. "How do you know, Rogue?" she asked, her voice conveying nothing but concern.

Rogue sighed and took her hands back. "Ah just know. Ah feel it. In here," she said taking a gloved fist and pressing it into her chest. "Even now," she said softly, glancing at Jean and then Gambit, "Ah can feel ya' in here," she said, pointing to her head.

Gambit knelt in front of her, commanding her gaze. "Why din' you say som'tin'?" he asked, the concern in his face masked by an angry tone in his voice. It was, afterall, their way.

"Because Ah thought," she started, scoffing at her own ignorance. "That it'd lead to something good. Control," she admitted. After a moment, she turned eerily towards them both, and continued. "But it's not. Ah feel that now."

An awkward silence descended amongst the three of them, and Jean and Gambit shared an uneasy glance.

Finally, Jean straightened in her chair. "Why don't we let Hank run some tests?"

"Ah don't want anymore tests," Rogue cried, unable to hide the desperation she felt from her voice. "Ah'm tired of this," she said, shaking her head, imploring both Gambit and Jean to understand. Tired of her mutation, tired of the life it forced her to live, and tired of the unpredictable nature of it all.

Jean glanced at Gambit, and he at her. They both heard the unexpected plea in Rogue's voice, and neither knew how to help their friend. Finally, Gambit turned back to Rogue. "Chere," he said softly, grasping her hands. "Remy know you be tired. But please, see Hank tomorrow? For me?"

Gambit's red on black eyes dilated slightly with his plea, and Rogue couldn't deny those eyes. Finally, she nodded. "Ah will," she said, glancing away. She didn't take her hands from his, however, and Gambit willed himself to be strong enough for the both of them, squeezing gently in a show of support.

They sat like that for a moment, a dismal silence descending upon them, before Rogue finally composed herself into the strong X-Man they all knew she was, even if, Jean mused, it was all an act to stay in as much control of her unusual mutation as she could.

Taking her hands back from Gambit, Rogue glanced at the two who happened in on her this evening. Standing from her bedside, she smiled. "Now, what brings y'all here to my room tonight?" she asked, her moment of truth and to some, weakness, covered by familiar gusto.

Gambit smiled. "Well, chere," he said, "Remy t'ought he'd spend his Friday evenin' wit' you."

Rogue smiled, but then glanced at Jean, a question written on her face.

Jean smiled and threw her excuse out the window. "I just thought I'd stop by and make sure our conversation the other day wasn't forgotten."

Jean didn't expect the warm smile she received from Rogue in response. "Scott will be back in the morning, right?"

Jean nodded.

Rogue smiled and glanced at Gambit. "Sorry, Swamp Rat," she said with a smile. "Ah think Ah'd like a little girl time while Ah got the chance."

Jean smirked as Gambit scowled. "You sure?" he asked.

Rogue nodded. "It ain't often Ah get the chance. Go on and meet Logan wherever he is. Ah'll save tomorrow night for yah," she finished with a smile she knew Gambit wouldn't be able to resist.

He returned the smile, but knew his plans were defeated. Raising his partially gloved hand to Rogue's face, he gently caressed her cheek, emitting empathy that washed over Rogue. "Remy gonna hold you to dat, chere," he said finally, with a smile.

Rogue returned the smile. "Ah'd expect nothing less."

With as much flourish as he appeared, Gambit left the room, leaving Jean and Rogue standing in a moment of awkward silence.

"I can't believe you chose me over him," Jean said finally, sitting back down in her chair. As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she flushed, not believing she actually uttered that statement out loud.

Rogue flashed Jean a smile. "Like Ah told Remy, it ain't often Ah get the chance for girl talk. So," she said, flopping back down on the bed, "what now?"

Startled by the question, Jean studied Rogue for a moment before realizing she'd probably never really had much of a girls' night out before. She kept her distance from most of the others on the team, and her frequent moodiness meant others kept her at arms' length as well. A smile crossed Jean's face before she spoke.

"Well, what do you want to do? Go out? Stay in? Chat?"

"That's it?" Rogue asked, a hint of disbelief, glad Jean caught on to her inexperience. For all her training, her naïveté shone through when it came to interpersonal situations. "That's all a girls' night is?"

Jean paused for a moment. "Well yeah," she said, before taking on a devilish gleam in her eyes, "but we can talk about things that we don't talk about with our guys."

"Remy and Logan are the only ones I talk to," Rogue said sadly.

Jean grasped Rogue's gloved hands in her own. "Not anymore," she said, her smile fading into one more of comfort than an impish gleam. She willed Rogue to believe she had a friend in the least likely of places, and willed Rogue to trust her.

Rogue thought for a moment, and realized after years of allowing no one but Remy or Logan to get close to her, she was actually looking forward to this new friendship. She smiled at Jean and took her hands back. And, being as that her middle names were Bold and Brazen, she had the perfect plan. "Ice cream and sex."

Taken aback by the comment, Jean studied Rogue for a moment. Despite what she knew of Rogue's personality, she wasn't expecting her to be so open and forward. She was also a little apprehensive, wondering if the "sex" part of the conversation would be one-sided and a little too personal for this new relationship.

Rogue laughed, rose, and walked towards her closet. She turned around to face Jean, a hint of a challenge in her eyes. "'less you're not up for it."

Jean smiled fully and stood from her spot, accepting the silent challenge. "I'll meet you in the garage in fifteen minutes?"

Rogue nodded, clearly excited at the evening's prospects. She knew she'd taken Jean by surprise with her comments, and that's the way she intended it—to keep Jean on her toes and see if the woman was really up to the task of being her friend. She wouldn't be surprised, however, if Jean reneged on her offer by the time the night was through.


"X-Men."

The mental call penetrated through the air.

"Come to Washington immediately. There's a situation."

Rogue glanced up at Jean from behind her ice cream sundae, a hint of disappointment crossing her face. Though all they had really talked about so far was the weather, their last mission, and the work Scott and the Professor were attending to in the capital, she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

"We'll finish this another time," Jean said softly, before rising from her seat and leaving her own ice cream sundae melting in its bowl.

Rogue followed Jean, and decided on her own tactic. "Jean, sugah, why don't you contact the others and tell them we'll meet them there. If it's that important, we'll get there faster if Ah fly us."

Jean nodded and proceeded to communicate telepathically with Storm, while Rogue paid the bill.

Stepping outside, Rogue glanced at Jean's heavy jacket. "You might want to button that up," she said absently, zipping up her own coat. With a nod from Jean indicating her call had been received, Rogue took flight and picked Jean up, flying them in the direction of the distress call.


The situation was dire indeed. Scott and the Professor were attending an informal party of sorts, given by senators sympathetic to the mutant cause. Various lobbyists were also invited and in attendance.

Suddenly they found themselves cornered in the room by a band of supposed terrorists wearing blue uniforms with red insignias on their chests. Scott and the Professor were vastly outnumbered, and the surprise evening attack caught everyone off guard. The two X-Men were trying their best to keep everyone safe, but some kind of shield prevented the Professor from effectively using his telepathy, and Scott could only do so much without his usual combat visor. He mentally cursed himself for forgetting to bring it with him on the trip.

A thunderous charge came from behind the two X-Men leaders, and a wave of relief washed over them as they recognized the arrival of Rogue and Jean.

"The Blackbird will be here soon," Jean said, taking up a position with Scott and the Professor to help defend the senators and lobbyists.

Rogue, meanwhile, flew straight into the mass of blue uniforms and started swatting them away like flies. "Get them out of here!" Rogue hollered, indicating the mostly defenseless humans.

Jean created a one-way telekinetic field around the door that allowed the soldiers to be knocked out, but not rush back in, while Scott acknowledged Rogue's command. Following a path created by Rogue's swatting, Cyclops began leading the senators and lobbyists away from the blue-clad soldiers and into the streets so they could scatter. Rogue effectively held off the attackers, and Cyclops blasted when and where he could, his primary objective being to keep the people safe.

As they reached the outside, Rogue watched the Blackbird land out of the corner of her eye. "Took ya'll long enough," she hollered, keeping up the fight against the attackers.

"Seems like you're doing just fine, darlin'," Logan called back, unsheathing his claws and jumping into the fray, the others close behind.

As Scott saw to the safe retreat of the senators and lobbyists, Jean and the Professor finally made their way out of the building. The X-Men were all engaged in close combat with a battalion of blue-clad soldiers, and to their surprise, several mutants they had never seen before seemed to press forward and enter the battle with the attackers, holding their own against the X-Men. In fact, they were doing better than holding their own. As the blue-clad soldiers began a retreat, the mutants stepped forward and pressed an advantage on the X-Men, pinning them into an alley. The situation was difficult, and the team had to draw back and regroup to form a new plan to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the new mutants and exploit the latter.

"Rogue," Cyclops called, taking his visor from Storm and affixing it to his head, "take care of the flying one. Storm, Jean, follow the men and make sure they don't start advancing again. Wolverine, Gambit, see if you can get to the mutant in the center. I'll cover you."

The new strategy proved fairly effective. Rogue easily handled the flying mutant that provided distractions for the others, while Storm and Jean kept an eye on the soldiers. Wolverine and Gambit, however, had difficulty with their mutant.

Wolverine growled, frustrated that his brawling style of battle wasn't helping. "We can't get close enough to him to do anything!"

"What do you suggest, Cyclops?" Storm called, landing into the grouped X-Men.

Rogue glanced at Wolverine. "Ready to fly, sugah?" she asked, flying over to him. She knew that with her invulnerability and his healing factor, they'd be able to get close enough.

Logan nodded as Rogue picked him up, ready to fly.

"Watch the hands, Chere," Gambit called, covering his concern with a subtle innuendo. He knew from his previous attempt at an assault that this new mutant had tentacles that flew from his wrists like whips and laser beams that shot from his hands.

Rogue gave him her best southern-charm smile. "Just keep him distracted Swamp Rat, and we'll take care of the rest," she said, before flying away with Wolverine.

"You heard her, now do it!" Scott called, firing a shot at the large mutant that had so far kept them all at bay.

Gambit, Storm, and Jubilee followed his example and kept up the attack on their adversary, while Jean used her telekinesis to shield them from the tentacles and laser beams.

The Professor's mental abilities were still hindered by some unknown force, and he made his way back to the Blackbird to advise the battle as necessary.

Rogue dropped Wolverine off at the base of this new mutant, large enough to completely dwarf the ageless X-Man, but vulnerable enough to feel the cuts of the adamantium claws at his abdomen. Rogue flew in behind the mutant and began fighting him with severe blows to the head, dodging his flailing hands and the laser beams and tentacles shooting from his palms and wrists.

"Jean, Storm!" the Professor called over the comm link. "The soldiers are advancing again!"

Storm and Jean broke their defensive positions to engage the soldiers, but realized too late that their own offense served as a distraction from the new mutant. With the telekinesis out of the way, and after a few successful defensive hits from Jubilee, the tentacles hit their mark, effectively taking out Cyclops and Gambit.

Turning his attention to his abdomen, the mutant swatted Wolverine away like he was little more than a mosquito. He focused on the flying being around him, trying to catch a grasp on her trajectory.

Noticing the damage the mutant inflicted on Cyclops and Gambit, Wolverine deflected easily, and Jubilee, Storm and Jean engaged with the blue soldiers that had begun advancing again, Rogue decided it was up to her alone to stop this new mutant. Continuing to dodge the mutant's arms, she removed her gloves.

"Allright sugah, let's see what you're really made of," she said, grasping the mutant's face with her bare hands.

Moments passed as his memories, torments, desires, power, and anger became her own, and he faltered under her grasp. The fighting finally ceased around them, but the two of them didn't notice. Eventually, the strain was too much for the mutant and he slumped to the ground. With a scream, Rogue released her grasp and flew skyward, beams of light shooting from her palms, willing the mutant's memories to dissipate quickly.

After what seemed like an eternity, but was really only a few moments, Rogue began the descent back to her friends. Managing to control the light beams from her palms by closing her hands into fists, she wordlessly took stock of the situation.

The mutant that Rogue absorbed lay unconscious on the ground. Beast and Jean were wheeling Gambit and Scott into the Blackbird on gurneys. Despite her own mental acknowledgement over their wellbeing, she hadn't the composure to ask about them.

Wordlessly, Wolverine attempted to hand her gloves back to her, but she didn't acknowledge his attempt. He watched as she kept her hands balled into fists and fought the emergence of the tentacles by placing her hands under her arms, her wrists thickening as the other mutant's powers struggled to surface. Though he nor anyone else would ever really understand the battle that occurred in her mind after absorption took place, he knew it was a difficult and delicate process that required her complete concentration. He also knew she had made the decision to concentrate first on subduing the mutant's powers. The images and memories she had absorbed would have to wait.

Wolverine tucked her gloves into his belt and followed her onto the Blackbird.

The rest of the team filed silently into the plane. Jean took up a vigil by Hank, assisting him where she could, and Xavier piloted the plane back to the mansion.

Seated silently near the back of the jet, Rogue continued to fight the demons within her, her hands and wrists crossed over her chest and placed snugly beneath her arms. She closed her eyes tightly, concentrating on keeping her mind in tact while subduing the new mutant's powers. She didn't notice Jean sit beside her and place a hand on her shoulder. Startled at the touch, she glanced at Jean.

"You saved our lives," Jean said after a moment.

Rogue said nothing, but since her concentration was broken, she decided to glance in the direction of Cyclops and Gambit.

"Hank says they'll be fine," Jean said softly with a smile, recognizing Rogue's silent attempt at asking about their friends.

Rogue nodded silently. She cautioned the removal of her hands from beneath her arms, though she still kept her hands balled into fists. Her wrists had returned to her normal size, but the skin had broken and bruised from where the tentacles tried to emerge. Cautiously, she opened one fist, and then the other, hoping that the laser beams were finally dissipating.

They had.

She glanced up as she noticed Wolverine walk up behind Jean. He offered her fresh gauze for her wounds and produced her gloves from his belt. She nodded her thanks and took the items from him, but she didn't meet either his or Jean's eyes as they saw the true condition of her hands and wrists. She wrapped the gauze around her forearms, then pulled on her gloves. Once again, she tucked her hands beneath her arms and turned to face the corner of the Blackbird. It was time to begin to figure out how control the additional psyche in her mind.

"She'll be alright too," Wolverine said quietly to Jean as she stood dumbfounded at what she had just witnessed. "Just give her time to get it under control."

Jean nodded silently, finally opting to be by Scott's side as Hank attended to both him and Gambit. She said a silent prayer for her new friend and longtime teammate though, finally understanding the implications of every single flesh touch and the pain it caused, especially to Rogue.


The phone rang early Saturday morning. Alison rolled over groggily in her hotel bed. "Hello?"

"We have to step up the training. There's been an attack."

Alison sat up in bed and stifled a yawn with her hand. "What's the plan?"

She heard a sigh through the other end of the phone, and worried about its implications.

"You're leaving within the week. The General will be here soon. We'll fill in the rest when you get here. How soon can that be?"

Glancing at the clock, she winced before responding. The sessions had been difficult, but she'd been making progress. She knew if they were stepping things up that quickly, she'd be spending every waking hour at the clinic. 'Even Saturdays,' she thought with a frown. "I'll be there within the hour."

She could hear his nod through the phone, and as they hung up, she absently wondered about David back in Utah. Classes would be letting out soon for the Thanksgiving break, and she wondered if she'd have a moment to go back and check in on her home and touch base with him. She scoffed at herself, realizing the futility of such thoughts. The mission had only just begun, and though she hadn't seen hide nor hair of anyone else save General Hawk, she was now remembering what it felt like to be a Joe, what it felt like to be at your country's every beck and call, regardless of the time of year. Without a second thought, she rose and headed toward the shower.


A/N:

No, I haven't forgotten this-thank you for those who are following. As I mentioned way back in Chapter 1, it will take some time, but I have no intention of leaving this unfinished.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Joe and X-Men characterization comes mainly from the cartoons, though some creative license has been taken on both accounts. Regarding dialect: As mentioned in chapter 2, I'm of sound mind that people shouldn't attempt dialect if they can't get it right all the time. And yet, I've found it's simply not right if I don't give it a try. So, with Rogue and Gambit, I have to try, because it really is such a part of who they are. Forgive me if I'm misstepped with any of it.

Constructive criticism is always welcome. Thank you again for those who have followed and for those who have reviewed.