Who owns Naruto and X-men? Not me.
Italics - not speaking English
Underline - thoughts
Chapter 4: Rogue Encounter
It was just after dark, a vent in the air duct rattled and moved as a figure in black jumped down to the ground. He growled, this was all too easy. The defenses were laughable and easy to penetrate by anyone who knew what they were doing. Sniffing the air, he detected a scent he was rather familiar with as a lovely serene voice called out from the shadows.
"Impressive, you got pass the automated defenses by using the air vents," said Storm as she revealed herself. She raised her hand and smirked, "But you won't get past me!"
A window blew open and wind came rushing in but the disguised man had already jumped back into the air vents. Storm called off the wind and chuckled a little.
"Testing me, hmmm?" she questioned with the tilt of her head as she rose into the air. Lighting started to dance around her as the clouds above the mansion gathered to her call.
"Alright then, it's time you remember why they call me Storm!" she exclaimed as she commanded the clouds to release rain and funneled it into the air vent via the exhaust on the roof. The man turned and saw the water rushing at him. He tried to crawl faster but in vain as the water caught him instantly and washed him all the way down into the Danger Room.
He groaned as he hit the ground, water spreading across the floor. Storm had already made it into the Danger Room control room by the time he washed in.
"You look a little flushed," she said in a teasing tone, "and the forecast isn't good."
The man jumped towards her but a blast of freezing snow sent him to sailing into the wall. The frozen surprise he just received began to freeze the water on him and nearly incased him in ice.
"Now that," he said as the ice began to solidify, "was cold." With a grunt he broke the ice and smirked up to Storm.
"Then let's warm you up," came the cool reply. A small cannon emerged from a panel and began to fire at him. Razor sharp claws of metal emerged from his wrist as he ran to the machine and jumped on top of it. He buried his claws into the cannon which disabled it but gave him quite the shock for his trouble, blowing him across the room and ripping part of his outfit.
He looked back up at Storm in the control room and taunted her, "Gotta connect first! Got any other party tricks?"
A machine popped up from the center of the room and extended appendages with rotation blades at the end of each. It then started rotating at full speed. The man was quick to react and jumped out of the way of pain. Having enough of the thing, he ran forward and buried his claws into the bottom of it, cutting off its power supply. He moved to take it down bit by bit when a commanding voice came over the intercom.
"Stop! It is, at the moment, as much as we can afford, Wolverine," said the Professor with a sigh.
The man smirked and retracted his claws back in, "Hey when I give a demo," he said taking off his mask revealing the satisfied face of Logan, "I give a demo."
"Is that demo as in demolish or demonstration, I mean what was the point?" asked Scott as he was confused about why they needed to watch Logan go to town on the Danger Room. Jean herself had a skeptical look about her. Kurt watched the whole thing hanging upside down from his tail, enjoying some popcorn while it happened. Kitty just kind of kept to herself and watched while sitting beside Naruto who was just smirking.
Storm continued to observe the controls as she addressed his question, "The point, young Cyclops, was to teach you something about finding the weak points of sophisticated security systems." She began a replay of Wolverines' break in on a monitor as the man himself emerged from the elevator.
"That's right bub, and I'd say ours needs a little work," said Wolverine as he walked over to Storm to observe his actions. Nightcrawler was pretty impressed with Wolverines' demonstration.
"That was tight, I give it two thumbs up," he said with a smile. Jean grinned at him because he was hanging upside down making it look like he was giving two thumbs down.
Logan passed Naruto and saw his smirk, "Something funny, whiskers?"
Naruto kept smirking and nodded, "Last time you tested the defenses, you made it in within 5 minutes." His smirk widened into a full grin.
"You're getting slower, Old Man," he said in his native tongue. Wolverine growled and walked on past him making sure to keep his comment in mind for when they have their eventual spar.
"The vents were pretty easily breeched," Logan said when he reached Storm, "Gonna need to fix that. Maybe electrify them or install poison gas sprayers."
"Wolverine," said Storm in a chiding tone and giving him a look of disapproval.
He crossed his arms and sneered, "Alright, alright. Knock out gas then."
That was all Kitty could take as she hugged herself and shivered. Naruto, what with her being so close to him, noticed this and asked, "Something wrong, Neko-chan?"
"Is it just me or is anyone else like seriously freaked out about all this?" she asked looking around the room. Everyone was giving her a confused look.
"Oh right, it's just me? Great," she in a low tone. A warm arm wrapped around her shoulders causing her blush.
"Ma, don't worry about it, Neko-chan. You'll get used to it sooner than you think," he said in a cheery voice making her feel warm inside.
Kurt nodded, "Yeah. Relax Kitty, you'll be fine!" He teleported right next to her startling her.
"We're right beside you," he said as he teleported one more time to the other side of Naruto with his tail holding the bowl of popcorn out to her. "Popcorn?"
She jumped out of Narutos' hold with a cry due to Kurts' rather aggressive teleporting. Kurt noticed her reaction and gained an apologetic look.
"Oops," he started with a small laugh, "Sorry, next time I'll honk before I port."
Kitty crossed her arms, kind of irritated that Kurt caused her to jump from Narutos' warm arm.
"Whatever," she said with a sigh bringing her hands behind her back, "Look guys, it's late. If it's no biggie to you I'm gonna like drop out." She then phased through the ground presumably to go get ready for bed.
Kurt gained a sad expression on his face, "Ah, she's fully not into the fuzzy dude. Not that I really blame her."
Jean walked up and gave him a pat on the back, "Aw, she just needs time, Kurt. She'll come around."
"Yeah so don't worry monkey-boy," said Naruto pushing himself off of his seat, "I'm sure you and Neko-chan will be the best of friends soon."
Kurts' eye twitched at his given nickname by Naruto. Scott had told him that Naruto gives them all nicknames sooner or later, it was just part of who he. Kurt wasn't ecstatic over "monkey-boy", but he figured he could do worse.
The elevator doors opened and Professor Xavier emerged with a stern face, "X-men, we have an emergency. Scott, get the Blackbird prepped for launch and since it's the weekend assemble the full team."
That got Narutos' attention, Kitty and Kurt haven't been out in the field yet so it was interesting that the Professor would want the full team.
"Yes sir," said Scott as he stood up straight and stern, "What's the mission?"
"Boy scout," Naruto mumbled under his breath getting a snort from Kurt.
Ignoring Narutos' comment, the Professor explained that Cerebro had detected a new mutant in Mississippi that was highly disturbed at the moment.
"Our mutant is a danger to herself and possible others as well," he said with a sigh, "X-men, we have a rogue on our hands."
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It had only taken them about 15 minutes for everyone to get suited up. Naruto stood in the chamber, staring at the Blackbird as if it were challenging him. Cyclops and Nightcrawler were already inside getting the jet ready for takeoff with Storm while Wolverine and the Professor discussed the rogue mutant.
"And you're sure you couldn't tell what kind of powers she has," asked Wolverine as he put the last pack on the jet.
"I'm sure. Her mind was... erratic, even for a mutant. I couldn't even pinpoint an exact location," admitted the Professor.
Wolverine let out a frustrated snarl, "I don't like going in blind."
"I know, old friend. I wish I could tell you more but all I know right now is that she is scared," Charles said in a calm voice.
Wolverine sighed, "Well lets go bag her and tag her then." He made his way onto the jet, "Come on, whiskers. Staring at it isn't going to change anything."
"Maybe if I stare really hard, I can make it disappear," replied Naruto not taking his eyes off of the Blackbird. The Professor chuckled.
"I wish you wouldn't, Rush. We need the Blackbird," he said as he followed Wolverine.
Naruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath but just before he took a step onto the jet he heard his name called.
"Narut- oops, I mean Rush!" yelled Kitty as she and Jean came out of the elevator. Naruto turned around and saw Kitty running toward him stopping a few steps away.
"What do you think?" she asked doing a twirl for him to show off her uniform. Naruto grinned and gave her a thumbs up, "Very nice, Neko-chan! It suits you."
Kitty smiled and said with a blush, "You don't look half bad yourself." It was true, if his normal clothes made Naruto look cute, then his X-men uniform made him look... dare Kitty think it... hot.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head and gave Kitty a huge smile, "Thanks!"
Ok, he still acted cute even when he looked hot.
Jean walked up behind Kitty and put a hand on her shoulder, "Come on you two, it's time to go." The engines of the Blackbird started to warm up and Naruto froze. Jean sighed and turned to Kitty, "Mind helping me get him in the Blackbird?"
Kitty was confused, Jean had to do this when they left Illinois to come to the mansion a few days ago.
"Does he do this like every time he gets on the Blackbird?" asked Kitty.
Jean nodded, "Yeah, it is kind of his weakness. Naruto likes to keep his feet on the ground." Kitty giggled that someone like Naruto would have a fear of flying.
She went and put her hand on his arm giving him the puppy look that always made her dad cave, "Come on, Naruto. I wanna sit by you on the way there if that's ok."
Naruto creaked his neck down and looked at her light blue eyes. He sighed and mustered his courage, "Ma... o-ok, Neko-chan."
Kitty giggled and halfway dragged him onto the jet setting him down on one side and she right across from him. Before she could sit down, Naruto had already buckled himself in and gripping the armrests. Kitty only giggle at his antics, this was kind of fun to her.
Jean closed the door of the Blackbird and found her seat in front of Kitty. Naruto took some deep breaths and looked up front. Nightcrawler was in the pilot seat while Cyclops in the copilot seat.
"Oi, oi! What's blue wonder doing in the driver seat?" he asked in an uncharacteristic high voice.
Cyclops turned back and looked at Naruto calmly, "He's flying us to Jackson."
"What?!" yelled Naruto as Nightcrawler smiled mischievously.
"Hold on to your butts," said Nightcrawler in his native language as the Blackbird lifted off and blasted forward.
"Goddamnit!"
"Naruto, language."
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Ten minutes into the flight, Naruto had managed to calm down and was now sitting in his seat with his eyes closed just focusing on breathing. Cyclops had explained to Naruto that Nightcrawler had already gone through the training programs and flight simulators that were required in order to pilot the Blackbird. This somewhat eased Narutos' mind, but he knew from experience that passing the simulations and training was a far cry from the real thing.
"Stealth mode is stable. Leveling off at 10,000 feet," said Nightcrawler as he glanced at the monitors in front of him.
"Steady," nodded Cyclops, "Now hold it right there and... you got it!"
He gave the blue boy a thumbs up, "Nice job, Kurt. You'll make a pilot yet."
Kurt smiled at the praise Scott gave him and leaned back with his hands behind his head bringing his odd feet up to hold the handles. Scott cocked an eyebrow and mumbled under his breath, "Or maybe not."
Shaking his head he turned back to his monitor then faced the Professor, "I've logged our flight plan with the FAA, we're cleared through to Jackson. We'll take the van from there."
Professor Xavier nodded at Scott with a smile, "Good. You're picking up logistics quickly, Scott." Cyclops turned back around with a small smile on his face.
Kitty leaned forward and whispered to Jean, "Scott seems so like together. So cool and... he's kind of cute."
"Cute?" asked Jean with a cocked eyebrow, "Stiff maybe, exacting definitely but..." She paused and brought her hand to her chin. "Hmm, you know from a certain angle..."
She then turned back to Kitty, "Hey wait a moment, I thought you had your eye on someone else."
Kitty gave her a confused look and Jean smirked, "Don't play dumb, Kitty. I don't have to be a mind reader to see that you are into a certain whiskered faced blonde."
Kitty glanced over at Naruto who was still focusing on his breathing before leaning back with a blush and looking anywhere but Jeans' emerald eyes, "L-like, I have no idea what you are talking about."
Jean giggled and gave her a wink, "Sure you don't. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."
Kurt, what with his bigger than normal ears, had heard everything between the two girls and looked back at them with a unreadable expression. It kind of hurt that the newest female mutant who kind of accepted what he really looked like wasn't into him. Kurt faced forward and put on a resolute look. Maybe if he showed her that he was braver than Naruto, she would change her mind.
With this thought, Kurt teleported from the inside of the Blackbird to the nose of it. For the first few seconds, everything was going fine. He could see into the cockpit and tried to wave at Kitty from the outside but the winds almost instantly overpowered him and sent him barreling forward. Acting on instinct, he ported back inside but the momentum from the wind continued through his port and he ended up flying right into Kittys' seat who gave a small shriek when he did.
"Kurt, the Blackbird is not the place to be fooling around," chided the Professor in a stern tone, "You frightened Kitty."
Kurt stood up with his hands behind his back and gave Kitty an apologetic look, "Sorry Kitty." Kitty shivered and unbuckled her safety belt.
"Just like stay away from me," she said as she got up to move to the seat behind Naruto who through the entire exchange kept his focus on his breathing with his eyes closed.
Wolverine, who was trying to get a small nap in, cracked his eye open and muttered under his breath, "Kids."
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Shadowcat sighed as she walked down the alley with her team that consisted of Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Rush.
"So does this like bite or what?" she asked out loud more to herself than anyone.
Wolverine still answered her question regardless, "The Prof said that the girls mind is confused and difficult to pinpoint. So keep looking." He opened a nearby dumpster and gave a sniff.
Naruto shook his head, "I doubt she'd be in a dumpster."
Wolverine closed the top of it, "Just covering my bases, Whiskers." He started down the alleyway before stopping to sniff the air some more.
Nightcrawler went up to Wolverines' side and asked, "What? Got a scent?"
Logan nodded, "Yeah, I smell fear." He then took off down the alley with the three teens right behind him. Naruto contemplated jumping to the top of the buildings to get a bird's eye view but changed his mind when the alley ended emptied into a residential area.
'Probably should keep to the ground here,' he thought as jumping from house to house to risk waking some local residents.
The group turned down another alley, this time surrounded by wooden fences when they saw a young pale girl being helped up by an older woman. The girl turned and saw them running towards her and took off, her glove being slipped off by the woman he held her hand.
Running by the woman, Wolverine spoke up, "That's gotta be her." Nightcralwer and Shadowcat followed with Naruto pulling up the rear speaking to the woman as he passed by her with a smile, "S'cuse us!"
Upon hearing Narutos' voice the woman gasped and dropped her stick but Naruto didn't think anything of it and continued forward.
The girl jumped the fence and screamed at her pursuers, "Please! Leave me be!"
Nightcrawler noticed the sheer terror in her voice and ported in front of Logan.
"Wolverine, wait," he said stopping Wolverines' chase, "She seems to be terrified by you!"
Naruto, who overtook Shadowcat after hearing the girls' cry, came up to stand beside Nightcrawler putting a hand on his shoulder, "The Blue Wonder is right. You should let us handle this."
Nightcrawler smiled up at Naruto for supporting him and Naruto gave him a wink. Wolverine sighed and pointed at Nightcrawler, "Ok, kid. Just don't mess up, ok?"
Nightcrawler grinned and gave Wolverine a salute, "Yes sir." He went to take off after the girl before Wolverine spoke up again, "I'll go find the Prof. And squirt?" Nightcralwer paused and turned back to Logan. "Put on your best face, no sense in freaking the poor kid out more than she already is."
Nightcrawler gave him two thumbs up and activated his holotransmitter to put on his civvie disguise and continued after the frightened girl.
Naruto gave a small laugh and followed him before Wolverine called out to him, "Keep an eye on the elf, Whiskers!" At this point Kitty had caught up and rushed past Wolverine to follow Naruto, "And half-pint here too!"
Kitty stopped and turned to give Logan a annoyed look, "Hey!" But Logan had already headed off to find the Professor. She turned back and continued towards Naruto, irritated by Logans' comment.
Nightcrawler ported onto a swing and greeted the girl, "Good afternoon, miss." The girl turned and gasped at Kurt's sudden appearance.
"Please, don't be frightened!" he said and ported onto the bird bath near her.
She took a step back and asked, "What do you want?" Her southern accent was evident in her voice.
Kurt hopped off the bird bath and took a step towards her, "To help you. We are the good guys, especially me."
She crossed her arms and gave Kurt a raised eyebrow before a voice called out from above them, "Monkey-boy is right, Shiro-chan!" She looked up and gasped as a Naruto fell down from the sky in front of her beside Kurt landing in a crouch.
He stood up and gave her a grin, "Yo!" Naruto turned to Kurt, "Good job getting her to listen, blue wonder!" Nightcrawler smiled sheepishly as Naruto turned back to the girl.
"So Shiro-chan, why did you run away from us?" he asked with the tilt of his head. She took a step back from him and replied, "Why were you chasing me?"
Nightcrawler spoke up, "We wanted to talk to you."
She looked at Kurt who gave her an honest look, "I was like you once. Alone, unsure of what I was. Afraid to show my face, can you believe it?" He ran his hand through the side of his hair and gave the girl a charming smile.
Naruto chuckled at Nightcrawlers' words and nodded at the girl, "Look, we just want to help you if you'll let us. Come on, what do ya say?" Naruto smiled and offered his hand to her.
Kitty phased through the fence, still annoyed by Logans' comment, "Half-pint? I'll show him." She saw the girl standing there with crossed arms as Naruto reached his hand out to her.
"She doesn't look that tough," she huffed as she went to tackle her.
The girl gave Naruto a confused look before looking down at his hand then back to his friendly, blue eye then to Nightcrawler who nodded at her.
Nightcrawler saw movement behind the girl and gasped then cried out, "Kitty no!"
But he couldn't stop Kitty from tackling the girl to the ground. Memories flashed in her mind, memories that weren't her own. She knew how to break out of the this hold and immediately did so pushing the girl off of her to stand and flee.
Naruto stepped forward grabbed her by the shoulders, "Oi, calm down Shiro-chan! It was a mistake!" But the girl flipped out and reached out to his face with her ungloved hand, cupping his cheek.
For half a second nothing happened then she felt it as flashes of memories came forward, a flash of blonde and red hair, flying through the air in a car, the feeling of absolute loneliness and despair, a bald man in a wheel chair, the invasion of her inner thoughts, the warm feeling that came from deep within.
She peeled her hand off Narutos' face as he went down to one knee breathing heavily. A bright emerald glow began to envelop her entire body and the fear she felt the entire night came rushing back full force and then some. Taking a few steps back, she held her head as the emerald glow began to get stronger and stronger before she let out a cry into the sky and instinctively jumped onto the nearby house putting a dent in the roof then the next house doing the same then the next until she was out of sight.
Naruto had never felt so drained in his entire life, even after spending a full day in the Danger Room he would still have some energy left but not now. He felt the dark embrace of unconsciousness calling for him and he reached out to Nightcrawler grasping his wrist getting Kurts' golden eyes to meet his darkening blue ones.
"Listen blue wonder... ha.. ha... you need to follow Shiro-chan and make sure she doesn't hurt anyone, including herself," he said in a strained voice. Nightcrawler looked back at him uncertainly, "But Rush, what about you?"
Naruto winced and fell forward but kept himself propped up with his arms, "Don't worry about me, damnit! Just go before you lose her!"
Nightcrawler looked from Naruto to Kitty who looked back at him with wide, teary eyes. He looked back at Naruto and nodded before standing up, "Ok. Shadowcat, stay here with Rush."
Nightcrawler then disappeared in a poof to follow the frightened, dangerous girl leaving Kitty alone with the drained blonde. Naruto collapsed to the ground face first.
Kitty cried out to him, "Naruto!" She crawled forward and turned him so that he was lying on his back with his head in her lap. He cracked his eyes and looked up at Kittys' worried eyes wet with unbroken tears.
"Ma, Neko-chan, "he whispered shutting his eyes and gave her a small grin, "You're pretty comfy, think I'll nap here." Then darkness took him.
The tears started to stream down as she shook him, "Naruto? Naruto!" But Naruto had passed into blissful sleep leaving a freaked out and scared Shadowcat behind.
She took some deep breaths to calm down and started to talk out loud, "Come on Kitty, think! What would Wolverine do? I mean, besides dice up half of the landscape." She looked back down to the passed out blonde in her lap and stared at his face for a moment before a thought came to her.
"Wait, the Professor can read minds right?" she said looking toward the direction Wolverine went earlier.
'Maybe he can hear my thoughts!' she hoped as she stared to call out with all of her might.
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A few blocks away, Professor Xavier sat with a look of concentration on his face holding his head. Cyclops, Storm, and Jean stood around him waiting for whatever information he can find out when he suddenly spoke up after a few moments of silence, "Odd. The trail seems to have gone suddenly cold, I can no longer read Codys' brainwave patterns."
"But if he is gone then-" Jean started but the Professor interrupted her before she could jump to conclusions, "Then it may simply mean that the effect of transference is simply temporary. Our problem now is how to find the girl."
"Try about ten gardens due west," came a deep voice as Wolverine hopped the fence onto the sidewalk.
"Kurt and Whiskers are trying to keep her from bolting," he said pointing in the direction he came from. The Professor turned his chair around to face Wolverine and started, "Then we mus-" but was interrupted when he heard a panicked mental cry.
'Professor! Professor!' he heard Kitty cry frantically. The volume of her thoughts caused him to wince, "Kitty! Kitty? Not so loud!"
'Speak slowly please, order your thoughts' he continued mentally trying to calm her down.
'It's Naruto! She hurt him. She did something to him, I don't know what to do!' she told him, her voice sounded very upset.
'Stay where you are Kitty, help is on the way,' he replied and turned to Logan, "Wolverine it's Rush, the rogue has his mind and his abilities!"
Logan growled and extended his claws, "This is my fault, I shouldn't have left them alone like that."
He quickly jumped the fence and made his way toward Naruto and Kitty. The Professor contacted Kitty again, 'Kitty, did you see which way the girl went? If she has Narutos' abilities then I won't be able to pick up her brainwaves.'
'No I didn't,' came a low reply, she had been too busy worried about Naruto, 'But Naruto sent Kurt after her so she wouldn't get away!'
The Professor gave a sigh of relief at Narutos' quick thinking then called out to Nightcrawler, 'Nightcrawler! Kurt, can you hear me?'
'Professor?' came a reply, 'Professor is that you? This is really weird.'
'Yes, Shadowcat said Rush sent you after the mutant. Have you located her? he thought back.
'Yes, she is heading towards a graveyard just outside of the area,' Kurt thought trying to show him the way with his memories.
The Professor nodded, 'Keep following her Kurt but do not make contact again! With Narutos' powers, she could be very dangerous at the moment.' He then ended the mental connection and turned towards his team, "Nightcrawler has followed the rogue to a cemetery a few blocks from here. He is to remain in the shadows and keep me informed if she moves again. You three go on ahead, I'll guide you there."
The three looked at each other before Cyclops ran off with Jean following him and Storm taking to the air leaving the Professor alone by the van ready to direct his X-men.
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Kitty just sat in the yard running her fingers through Narutos' hair as he breathed in and out, a clear sign that he at least was alive. She felt lousy though, if it weren't for her stupid action Naruto wouldn't be like this right now and they might've been heading back home. She looked down and gazed at his peaceful face with a sad expression on hers.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. This is all my fault," she whispered to him, "Maybe I'm just not cut out to be an X-man."
"Nobody is cut out to be one at first, half-pint. It takes time."
Kitty gasped as Wolverine jumped off the fence and walked over to them. He went down on one knee and put his fingers on Narutos' neck then leaned and put his head on Narutos' chest before leaning back up.
"Well, pulse is fine, breathing is normal, and his heart rate is strong," he said, "Probably just needs to sleep it off."
Kitty let out a sigh of relief and stood up when Wolverine bent down and moved to carry Naruto on his back piggyback style. He turned back towards her and looked her in the eye causing her to look away.
"What did you mean this was your fault?" he asked carefully.
She looked down, "Kurt had managed to calm the girl down enough for Naruto to come in and get her to listen to them. Then my stupid self came in trying to prove something and messed it all up."
Logan regarded her coolly before slugging Naruto on his back and groaning as he stood up, Naruto wasn't exactly the lightest person around.
"Look, mistakes happen. Trust me, I've made more than my fair share of them," he started as he walked out of the back yard. She followed him and listened to his words, "The important thing is that you learn from them and don't let them change who you are."
She nodded as the two and their unconscious blonde made their way towards the Professor. Kitty swore that she would learn from this and resolved to learn all that she could about being an X-man so that she wouldn't be a burden to the team.
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Mystique had followed the girl from the suburbs to the cemetery in the shadows, careful not to let Xaviers' team spot her. After watching her jump around with that strange glow she absorbed from the blonde, she stopped as the glow disappeared and she sat down on the ground with her head on her knees. She had been like that for some time now.
'Just one more scare and she'll come running into my arms,' she thought as she watched the girl. But just as she was about to make her move, a boy just appeared out of nowhere and walked up to the girl. She sneered, this boy was one of the ones that were with Xaviers' pet animal.
Kurt had watched her for awhile now as she ran and jumped all over the cemetery in wonder at the power she had gotten from Rush. But soon the glow faded and the girl had curled up and sat there, had been for awhile now. Kurt knew the Professor wanted him to keep his distance but he couldn't, not while she looked like that.
So he made his way out of the shadows to her. When he reached her she looked up and gasped but Kurt quickly stopped her, "Wait! Please? I'm sorry my friend frightened you, it was an accident."
The rogue looked up at him then grabbed her head, "... You're... monkey-boy? That... that isn't the real you is it?"
Kurt looked at her with a sheepish expression then went to turn off his holographic disguise. Her eyes widened at his actual appearance and he rubbed the back of his head. From the shadows, a pair of blue eyes were in shock.
'Could it be?' wondered Mystique from her hiding place. It had been so long but she had not forgotten the babe she gave up. She shook her head, now was not the time, she had to focus on the girl!
The rogue got up slowly and cautiously eyed Kurt, "This is the real you?"
Kurt nodded and did a little bow, "Straight from Germany, the amazing Nightcrawler at your service!" The girl raised her eyebrows at his announcement and Kurt just sighed, "Remember when I said I was afraid to show my face in public? This is what I meant. But since I've met the Professor, everything has turned around for me! I can go to movies, to school, even the beach! The Professor has really helped me out, and I've even made some really cool friends!"
"Kurt is right," said a soft voice. Looking behind him, Kurt saw Jean walking up and stopped beside him, "We've all felt the way you do now. Scared and confused, it's tough to go it solo."
The girl looked at her before she could put a name to her face, "You're... Jeanie-chan. You're with them!"
She began to back away when Jean put up her hands, "Relax! If you know who I am then you'll know I won't hurt you!" The girl stopped and listened to her.
"Look, no pressure," she started pulling out some sort of device, "But if you want to talk, just contact me with this." Jean lifted the device with her mind and floated it over to the girl who grabbed it with her gloved hand.
"Latest fashion accessory, huh?" she said in a small voice.
"We all have one," came a serene sounding voice. She looked up and saw the white haired lady from before that was throwing lightning at her. She began to panic and back away, "Y-you! No, you won't take me!"
She ran as Cyclops dived for her but ended up in the mud. Nightcrawler ported in front of her to stop her, "Wait, what is wrong?"
"Just go away!" she yelled as she reached out with her ungloved hand. Nightcrawler ducked out of the way but his tail rose on instinct making contact with the girls' hand.
She let go almost as soon as she grabbed it and teleported on instinct. Nightcrawler stumbled back and fell to the ground on his rear.
"Kurt! Are you alright?" asked Jean as she rushed to his side. Kurt shook his head, it was like his brain went dark for a moment, "Yeah, just really tired. I feel like I've been porting all day."
Scott came up and put a hand on Jeans' shoulder, "Come on, she couldn't have gotten far."
Jean looked back at Kurt, "You gonna be ok?"
Kurt nodded, "Just need to rest for a moment. She didn't grab me nearly as long as Rush."
Jean nodded and followed Scott towards a mausoleum. Cyclops walked toward the entrance when in a poof the girl appeared in front of him. He gave her a smile but she looked at him then back into the mausoleum. She then shoved him onto the ground and the impact caused his visor to activate shooting his beam at a nearby power tower damaging it.
She backed up into the mausoleum when "Jean" appeared behind her looking very angry, "I tried to be nice! I really did but now you've forced my hand!"
"Jean" lifted her hand up at the girl but she teleported outside near Nightcrawler. He tried to move to her but stumbled, still weak from her brief touch.
She crawled backwards and stood up but ran into Storm when tried to grab her by the shoulders, "Child, what is it? We are your friends."
But the girl quickly made contact with her arm bringing Storm down, knocking her into a small puddle in a blast of lightning. Cloud began to form over head and the wind began to pick up.
Scott and Jean made their way over to Kurt with Scott asking, "Hey what's with the effects? Is... oh no."
The girl began to float into the air with her arms spread. The wind began blowing violently, rain and lightning crashing down. Jean put up a telekinetic barrier when a bolt of lightning hit the damaged tower causing it to sway and electrify.
"If the power line hit that water, Storm will fry!" he yelled as he and Jean rushed to grab Storm. He made it to Storm and grabbed her by the waist as Jean pulled all three of them into the air just in time as the tower came down right underneath them sending electricity everywhere. Nearby Kurt took cover in an open mausoleum, feeling near useless while he was so drained. Scott turned and looked at the girl as she started to glow emerald again. The weather really began to pick up then, trees were uprooted from the ground, lightning striking twice as fast, the amount of rain falling instantly doubled.
She groaned and cried out, "The power! I can't... control it! I have... I have to! AHH!"
She then disappeared with a poof, leaving the area. The skies cleared and Jean brought them down to the ground. Nightcrawler came out of his hiding spot and rushed over to where the others were. The three looked at each other then at the unconscious Storm who groaned. A soft whirring sound caught their attention and they looked over to see the Professor with Shadowcat and Wolverine who had an unconscious Naruto on his back.
Kitty rushed over to Kurt who had fallen to one knee and asked, "Are you ok?"
Kurt nodded, "Just worn out."
Kitty gave him a smile, "You know, you were pretty cool when Naruto sent you after the rogue."
Kurt returned her smile with a sheepish one of his own, "Well if being cool means that I have to feel like this every day, I think I'll pass."
Kitty giggled as the Professor came up to Scott who supported a waking Ororo. He turned to the Professor and asked, "What do you think happened to the rogue?"
The Professor sighed, "Ah, she's gone... somewhere. I can sense her mind again, but it is a jumble. Too chaotic, I can't trace it."
He gave his team a dark look, "But I strongly suspect the hand of another at work here."
"Hmm," said Wolverine who sniffed the air and growled, "Mystique. She can change her body but she can't change her scent."
Kitty walked over to the Professor with a ready look on her face, "Then we have to go after her!" She wanted this Mystique to pay for making their mission so difficult and ending up in failure.
The Professor shook his head, "No, there has been enough damage done today. The girl must come of her own free will or not at all and we must attend to our own for now."
As if waiting for him to address them, Storm groaned and opened her eyes. Scott helped her to her feet and steadied her when she swayed.
"Ma... You aren't comfy, old man," came a tired voice from behind Logan.
Wolverine sneered and let Naruto drop to the ground on his rear, "Oi! What you do that for?!"
"Sorry Whiskers, I didn't think you'd land hard with your head so full of air," smirked Wolverine.
Naruto stood up mumbling something about furry old men and surveyed the area. The cemetery looked like a tornado ripped through it. He whistled, "Man, looks like I missed the fireworks."
He nearly fell over when Kittys' petit body slammed into him giving him a crushing hug, "Naruto, I am like so sorry! I swear I won't do anything that stupid every again!"
Naruto regained his footing and brought his hands to Kittys' shoulders, "Don't worry about it Neko-chan."
Kitty looked up at Naruto to see his reassuring smile and just squeezed him tighter burying her face in his chest. She eventually got what she needed and ended her hug but swapped his torso for his arm, locking a death grip on him.
The Professor rolled up to Storm and asked, "How are you feeling, Storm?"
Storm brought her hand to her head and said, "I will be alright Professor, I just need some rest."
He nodded and turned to Naruto who Kitty still had in her grip, "And you, Rush?"
Naruto looked at the Professor and was about to say fine when his stomach let out a very loud growl, "I. Am. Starving!"
The Professor chuckled, "Well then, let us head home then everyone."
*****************
break
*****************
Mystique sat in her office with the newly dubbed Rogue. She had just finished explaining how she will be happy and safe during her stay at Bayville.
Rogue nodded, "Sure... thank you."
She then got up to leave but gave the disguised Mystique a second look. Mystique smiled at her and she got an unsure small smile in return. Rogue then walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
For a few moments, she just sat there leaning against her desk when some free paper clips began to float and dance around each other.
"The girl has great power," came a deep voice that seemed to echo, "She is a fine addition to our side."
Mystique smirked and let her disguise fall, "Yes, we were lucky to get to her first."
"Indeed," said the voice, his figure hidden in the shadows, "You're certain that any residual memories of the true X-men have faded?"
She nodded, "Positive."
"Good," he said. The window opened without anyone touching it and he moved towards it, seemingly floating. He stopped just before he left, "I will be gone for quite some time, Mystique."
Mystique cocked an eyebrow, "Where will you be going, master?"
He floated out the window and replied, "Northern Japan. There is an interesting rumor that I wish to investigate."
He then floated into the sky and out of sight. Mystique watched him go and gained an angry look on her face before dawning her disguise of Ms. Darkholm, high school principal. She sat down at her desk and opened the top drawer pulling out the picture of what looked like a blue, furry baby.
She sighed and put the picture away, burying the thought currently going through her mind. She needed to turn her attention to Rogue, not focus on something she had given up long ago. Still, a wayward tear broke from her eye as she left the office to see to her principal duties.
Peace out.