The southerner wilted under Magneto's gaze. He was so seasoned, he didn't seem the least bit bothered by how he'd just had to speak to his own daughter, his own flesh and blood. And that bothered Remy. 'How callous is he, really?' He thought, standing in silence. He didn't think it wise to underestimate the man in front of him, especially with Xavier dead. The older man stared at Remy but said nothing.

"Uh..." He began, angry he was at a loss for words in front of Erik Lensherr, of all people.

"You were here," Magneto stated, his patience thinning.

"Ah didn' mean to, Ah..." He exhaled through his nose. "Would'cha... Remy mean, make Rogue absorb... Wanda, like you said?" He tried to sound informative, as if Magneto didn't know precisely how Rogue's powers worked. The man stared at him pointedly, but made no moves to move. Remy forced himself to continue. "That could kill Wanda, or Rogue. Don' wanna think what woul' happen if-"

"Do you take me for an idiot?" There was no question in the legendary mutant's voice. Remy stood and waited for him to continue, his hands jittering. "That I am so cruel I would kill my own daughter punishing her?" He said nothing. The look on the man's face didn't convince her. "She is my daughter, Gambit." His face hardened. "She is headstrong, and that is dangerous with her... Abilities." He noted the pause.

"Ya wanted to scare her..." He filled in, relaxing slightly. Magneto narrowed his eyes.

"She cannot go after Rogue like that. The work Blindspot has done is delicate, and it could not only inconvenience me but seriously harm her." Mentions of Rogue being harmed sobered Remy up the way he wanted it to. "If that was any indication of how she plans to serve my team, she should just leave now." He had nothing to say to that, a million questions behind his lips. "I'm glad that you take your assignment to Rogue seriously." The words hurt the New Orleans native. He was starting to care, but he had been appointed to watch over her.

If she ever came through the end of this, she would hate him for lying and deceiving her. Interfering seemed unwise, but he couldn't help how he felt. He'd let enough happen, he couldn't watch the man sacrifice Rogue's sanity. And he didn't believe that he wouldn't if Wanda pissed him off enough. Remy shifted from foot to foot, words still failing him.

"Don't question me again." There it was, a peek at the monster within. Remy had seen some evil himself, so it didn't scare him as much as he wanted it to. He kept his composure, his face even.

"Yes, sir." Magneto watched unflinchingly as he exited the training room.

The two girls stood together in the massive tub. Most of the mens' accommodations at the Muir island base were plain. Efficient. But the women's chambers were classy and created as though they had some thought put in. Marbled and gold detailing, high thread count towels. It was comfortable. Both Rogue and Sam sat relaxing in a hot tub after their training session. Rogue was still disturbed by Wanda's behavior, and the other girl had been instructed to watch over Rogue as well. 'Gambit will only be able to be trusted to a point. Until he's eventually fed up...'

That was an easy enough task. Sam had the luxury of making the girl fond and close to her through memories. It was easy having a mutation that dealt with memories. If she wanted, nobody would remember her. She never left a trail anywhere. But nobody knew her either. Her friends and enemies, employers all forgetting her. It took a toll on the young girl. All she wanted was a friend.

She felt guilty, giving the girl fake memories of their friendship. Their relationship, which was so dear... But, for now, she had what she wanted. A friend. She moved Rogue's hair out of the way of her back, lathering. She tingled from the touch. She was the only mutant or human alive like this that she could touch. It made them closer than most.

She almost reminded Rogue of someone, someone who's face was just outside the frame of Rogue's mind. So familiar. So close... 'She was small,' She thought. 'Tiny. Like Blindspot...'

"Rogue?" She looked up and met her friend, her hair slicked back. "Something the matter?" She moved closer through the water when Rogue sighed.

"Sorry, Ah've been having a lot of deja vu." She chewed her lip. 'I was told to patch up any lapses in her memories...' She thought, watching as Rogue leaned her head on her arms. "Just weird feelin's, I can't explain or chase... Ah sound silly, dont' Ah?" She searched her friend's face for the answers. Sam shook her head slowly, her fingers still on Rogue's back.

"Not at all," She said, a little somberly. She flashed a big grin after. "It's Wanda, isn't?" Rogue sighed. The events early had been so strange and uncomfortable. She saw the girl as her friend but there was no warmth in her eyes. She looked crazed, desperate to stop Rogue. 'From what?' Sam huffed. "You mustn't pay her any mind. Her powers, they're just really intense."

Rogue didn't seem placated by the answer, but she didn't push further. She looked at her reflection in the water. 'Who am I...' "C'mon!" Sam splashed the other mutant playfully, covering her bust. "You said you'd shoot fireworks outside, remember?" Her face softened, ignoring the thoughts that had been plaguing her lately.

"Oh, yeah. Right." She smiled, something to occupy her than worries. "I'll go once we dry off."

Logan knew he smelled something. The trail was leading him to Kitty and Rogue's room. Ouch. He inhales, his chest feeling tight suddenly. He's stopped counting the days she's been gone. All he cares about when she's back, because that was up to them. Luckily, Jean finally caught something. Something that coincided too well with Fury's news from a few days ago.

'Canada,' Logan thought, haunted by his own twisted memories. The thought of more children being subjected to what he and Laura had been made him feel hopeless. But it was for them and for Rogue he shouldered on, determined to help them. He would. He knocked, knowing Kitty was likely passed out from exhaustion. It was past midnight.

"Ugh, come in..." He opened slowly, poking his head in. No matter how much he prepared himself on the walk, he wasn't prepared to see the mattress empty. Made. Undisturbed for over a week. Kitty seemed to have the same realization as her eyes adjusted. "Mr. Logan?"

"Hey, Half-Pint." He he said gently, studying her face in the dark. 'Eyes still puffy.' He thought, holding in a sigh. "I know it's late, but Jean's on to something. And-" He continued sniffing, making it silently through her room.

"Something the matter?" Kitty asked, rubbing her eye.

"Smelled something," He growled, making it onto the balcony. "One of those Acolytes." Kitty's blood ran cold. 'Could he mean-'

"Peter. Whatever. Why the fuck was he here?" He looked expectantly at her. If they had plans to force Kitty to help them, they would have to blow through him first. Just the thought made him lose touch with his humanity, that he had failed Rogue...

"Mr. Logan?" Kitty's voice was quiet. He retracted his claws and turned to her, he'd almost given into the rage and it wouldn't have been productive.

"I'm here, Kit." She turned towards her window.

"I don't have, like, a pre-established relationship with him... Or anything," He growled in response preemptively. "But I sense that... He is not like the others. Not self serving, I don't know... I know it doesn't mean much..." She thought of his face when Magneto took Rogue. Definitely conflicted. "I feel like maybe he wanted to tell us something, but he couldn't." Logan sighed. Kitty always had time to see the good in people. He would die defending that.

"You think too much of people, Half-Pint. Best thing about you, makes me worry though. Go get Elf up and get changed." He eyed their window, his fist curling. 'Get some more locks for that damn window...'

xxx

Scott stared at the massive, War Room monitor and tried to make sense of the information Jean had found. She was constantly on Cerebro. It wasn't as bad at first, not until they realized from Fury the extent of Magneto's plans. Now, every waking moment was sent hoping, praying they used a power. Somewhere they could be found. Finally, clusters of mutant signatures began appearing near Calgary.

"The labs with the Weapon-X children," Logan sighed, Kitty beside him. Kurt's tail flicked anxiously, rubbing the shoulders of his X-Suit.

"So, Rogue is in Canada?" Scott wrinkled his nose. He didn't want to get Kurt's hopes up, but he didn't want to show how little control they all had of the situation.

"Most likely, what Jean is finding are these secret, fanatical meetings Magneto's been throwing." The blue mutant scratched his head in confusion. "Mutant pep rallies, I can already imagine..."

"So, vhat are all the flares she's seeing?" It wasn't adding up. Everyone else seemed confused. Scott and Jean looked at each other helplessly.

"We think Magneto's getting the mutants in attendance to touch her." Logan explained tiredly. He knew Kurt was having a rough go of it, but he was an adult. And he considered the girl his sibling, he had to know. "Just adding to her cache of abilities." He tacked on thickly. Kurt threw his hands on his head.

"Vhat?!" Kitty shook her head, short locks cut above her shoulders, now.

"Is he crazy?!" She screeched, her voice rising with every word.

"I know." Logan agreed. "He's completely lost it." He stood from the console abruptly. "We need a plan." His mind was equally torn in two over Rogue and the other children being experimented on and bred into killers. 'I hope I can save you both.' His eyes landed on Laura, his shadow. She'd been few of words but always at his side. He knew he had practically reared Rogue, to see her in enemy hands was shredding him.

"Laura," Her eyes met his. "We need to talk."

He took the girl to the roof and explained what Nick had same to him. He'd assumed that she'd listened, but he wanted her to be sure. To understand. 'They're like...' He couldn't bare to look at the blank look on her face. What could she say? Years had passed and she was still chasing normal. She always would be, just like him. "They're hurtin', Laura. They're just like you."

Her eyes narrowed. "Don't want them," She said quickly, her eyes scanning the school grounds.

"They need our help." Logan insisted, determined to teach the girl real love and empathy.

"They can't be helped." He looked into the girl's dark eyes, pools of nothing. "They're broken. Like me." He inhaled.

"You are not broken, Laura." He responded sharply. He took a breath and checked his tone. "They bent you, a lot. All out of odds. Both of us." His eyes softened. "But we're not broken. And neither will they be, because we're gonna help them." Laura doesn't look convinced. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be okay for them, for us too."

"Will Rogue be broken?" The inside of Logan shattered like glass. They all knew it. The longer she spent feeling memories were hers, how long until they were? Would removing her become traumatic at some point? Will she forget her feelings? Will she always pine for the memories, her extraordinary powers. 'I can't doubt, not now. Rogue would want the truth. End of story.'

"She'll be bent, too." He answered, his voice shaking. He looked wistfully over the campus. "Never broken."

The one eyed woman moved seamlessly through the crowd unnoticed. She pulled the fabric close to her. Night time in Canada was brutal, but she should've expected as much. Callisto used to spend her days in the sewers. That was, until her people were murdered. The Morlocks never picked a side in the eternal conflict. Those that were too old, too young, or had no offensive abilities hid underground. Out of sight.

And as if that wasn't bad enough, they were slaughtered down there by other mutants. The memories haunt her. She never sleeps more than an hour, if she could, she'd dream of revenge.

Still, it hurt the independent woman to hear of Xavier's demise. He had insisted on many occasions she and other Morlocks stay with him. They never accepted, but she never forgot. Now, to hear that Magneto is active, she knew she needed to investigate. With Charles dead, she knew big things were coming. All mutants knew. It was the humans who were in the dark. Charles was the only thing keeping Erik from doing a lot of things.

She stared up at the makeshift stage, carefully stacked scrap metal fashioned for the job. Up there stood Magneto, dressed in purple and red as always. He had no helmet, but curiously long hair. Beside him was a mutant of two toned hair, one she was certain was an X-Man. She began to feel uneasy. 'Storm would allow this?' She thought in disapproval.

Behind them were more, shifty mutants she didn't recognize. "Charles Xavier is gone. But his dream, his influence lives on." He looked into the eyes of scared, expecting mutants. People like him. "Together, we will outlast them all."

"Didn't Charles Xavier preach about peace, tolerance?" Callisto stepped forward, removing her heard to reveal dark, disheveled hair. The crowd burst into an uproar as Magneto watched, Rogue anchored beside him. He held up a hand and the crowd became quiet.

"Dear, nobody knew better what Charles preached about than I." He answered evenly. He was aware of the bloodbath in the sewers, and he took it into consideration. Callisto crossed well toned arms and looked around her.

"Okay, tell us. What can you do that Charles couldn't?" She wouldn't let vulnerable mutants fall for his manipulation. The following smirk sent a chill down her spine. She hugged her cape closer. He placed a hand on Rogue's back and behind him, Remy glowered. Callisto eyed the girl, barely an adult and far too young to even be in league with Magneto.

"I have Legacy." He answered. Her cheeks were pink and flushed from the cold. Her (rapidly) growing hair becoming wavy, teasing the shoulders of her green Acolyte uniform. Remy had taken it upon himself to replace her makeup, her dark colors made no more sense. She left her lips bare, and her eyes shrouded in just a little mossy eye shadow. She looked like a different person, and thanks to Magneto, she was.

"I don't think that's her name." Callisto responded with hostility. Remy moved, like water to her side. Piotr was beside Magneto, both staring straight ahead.

"Then you are mistaken. You seem to think that I am in this for myself, not the millions of million mutant lives in need." The one eyed woman yawned.

"Mistaken? Good one." She leaned in close. Piotr moved to grudgingly intercept her, but the man moved his metal arm back. "You don't have a selfless bone in your body. And if you think I don't recognize a compromised person when I see one," She shared a long look at Rogue, then back at the man. "You are very, very mistaken."

Now, it seemed Rogue's serenity had been broken. "Ah don't appreciate being referred to like Ah can't think for myself." She narrowed her eyes, examined Callisto. "Who the heck is she?" Her mouth hung open in disbelief.

"Wha-"

"She assumes to know me, and makes assumptions about you." Magneto explained, his face smug. "She is in league with the X-Men." Rogue's face became fearful. Callisto's heart dropped. 'Dear god, Erik. What have you done to the girl?' Remy watched in fascination as Rogue seemed afraid the mention of her old family. 'Dis is getting too trippy...' He thought, his expression glum. 'They'll just die when they see her and...' He stopped thinking, that was the only solution he'd found.

"She shouldn't be here." She says, her face grim like she doesn't want to fight. But she will. Callisto shook her head in shock.

"Rogue, it's me. Callisto-" Piotr gripped her, a frown on his face.

"Escort her out and see to it she does not come back." Rogue watched grimly as he took her out of sight of the camp. Remy watched, almost in disbelief that Piotr listened. He thought about his sister in Russia and whistled. He made a note to steal something valuable pawn it for his sister's care. 'He ain' like me, he don' deserve dis.' He tried to figure out how Callisto looked familiar, but something told him it was better if he didn't remember.

The lean woman struggled and thrashed against Piotr, all in vain as he dragged her away. Magneto looked back towards the crowd as if nothing had happened. "Legacy's ability is your ability. Show them." Rogue slowly took her hood down, looking at the massive group of mutants. People just like her. She hovered slowly, tree stumps forming in the ground into trees.

Then, it began to rain lightly. The ground shook as fireworks erupted behind her. "With just one touch, you are part of history. Part of the Legacy of mutantkind." He levitated his helmet in front of him. Soon, the sky was lit with bright purple beams coming from Rogue's hands. Remy watched, shocked by the beautiful display. It was almost as stunning as she was, illuminated in the air like some sort of angel.

Wings were on her back, Logan's bone claws on her hand. Pink tendrils glowing from her forehead. She really was like some mutant messiah. He had never seen anything like it, and Remy LeBeau had seen a lot. "Join me. Touch her. Join in this fight, the one that Charles Xavier died fighting." They all stared up at Rogue. They had all known and seen powerful mutants, but they'd never seen anything like this.

"Yes," Someone called out from the crowd. Remy and Magneto looked around, Pietro and Wanda behind them. "I'll do it." Someone reached a bare, dirty arm in the air.

"Me, too!" Another voice declared.

"Me!"

"I want to!"

Soon the crowd was shrieking, crying up to Rogue.

"Take it!"

"Touch me!"

"Legacy!" Remy watched in astonishment as the crowd of mutants kneeled. They got on their knees and bowed to both Rogue and Magneto. 'Dis is...' Rogue hovered, just watching as the they all cried for her. 'What... Why? Why me?'

"They need you, Anna." Magneto turned to her, noting how ravishing she looked in the moonlight. It was the first time he ever saw someone who looked like they should be beside him. Pietro looked the part, but he never acted it. Wanda was beautiful, but she never seemed like she wanted to be there. But Rogue, taking up the mantle of every mutant's powers she came across, it was perfect.

Remy noticed the stare Magneto was giving her, like she had all the answers. "Dey ready to transfer powers, boss." He added the boss in case he was annoyed he'd interrupted his admiring.

"Yes. Legacy, come. Let's get you fortified."