Hello people. Yes I'm back from vacation and still working. Hope you enjoy the latest chapter!

Chapter 6: Solemn Hour

Five months later…

Black night shrouded structures and snow as dark clouds obscured the celestial bodies. A building was situated strategically among a large cache of warehouses in the gloomy cityscape, grime and smoke from factories adding to the darkness.

There were no lights on in the low slung building, but it wasn't deserted. A shift of movement below the metal overhang could be seen and the figure of a man continued his slow pace, his weapon poised and his eyes scanning the grounds around. He didn't think to search the shadowed sky.

A flicker passed over the the pale ghost of the covered moon and the small outline descended swift and silent. The man on patrol never heard a sound until he felt cool hands on his neck. A bolt of pain and a swift blink of lights saw the man out cold on the floor, a shapely figure standing over him.

Rogue pulled her gloves back on. The work Sinister had been doing with her was painful, but it managed to supress the worst of the absorption. She sidled over to press herself flat against the wall, running over the information that she had taken. She had what was necessary, she just had to wait for her partners to arrive.

While she waited, she contemplated the now familiar and unlimited strength that was running through her limbs. She experimentally lifted from the ground a few inches and hovered. Rogue lapsed into her mind and called out.

"Carol? Y'all right up here?"

Materializing from the gloom of the back corners of her mind was the image of the young blonde woman around Gambit's age. Her blue eyes looked on Rogue mournfully and shrugged.

"Fine I guess. Not much has changed since I'm still imprisoned, like I was for years anyway. It's just your pain that I experience now and it isn't my body. You almost did me a favor."

Rogue trembled with rage. Even if it was no difference for Carol, Rogue felt sick every time she thought about what Sinister had made her do.

Rogue still had nightmares about being chained down and being forced to absorb the fiery girl entirely. It was an utter violation of their minds and bodies, but they had been helpless to stop it. Now Rogue had Carol's powers and a permanent brainmate.

"Carol, Ah'm…you know Ah'm sorry. Terribly sorry for what happened."

"It wasn't your fault. It was those…monsters, creatures that did this to both of us. Especially that sick Sinister." The psychic image of Carol snarled. "I'm not happy about the arrangement, but what can I do? You aren't the enemy here."

Rogue felt the sadness as Carol's impression faded away and she returned to reality. She didn't have much time to dwell.

There was a faint blast of pink light and a 'blink' noise was heard and two people appeared. The first was a girl with pink skin and pupiless green eyes, and the second was Archer. Both were dressed the same as Rogue was: synthetic black with armor at the arms, legs, chest and shoulders. Both carried quivers over their backs and Archer had a long bow made of metal almost as long as his wingspan.

Archer nodded to her. Over the earpieces that the three teenagers wore came instructions.

"Nightshade operatives, enter phase two. Enter at the predestined area and make your way to office five. Seven floors down, third door on the right. Dispose of guards, disable security, make no noise. Phase three in ten minutes."

Archer stepped up to the wall. He pulled out a palm pilot like device and scanned the schematics. With a nod he placed his bare hand against the steel. It wobbled almost like silk and they could see the room beyond the wall. Archer's mutant power was able to manipulate the strength and stability of molecular bonds. With just a touch the molecules of steel began to slowly drift apart, allowing the three operatives to pass through silently as ghosts.

They checked around the room. To the untrained eye it just looked like a typical office building, but they knew better. They could spot the hidden cameras, the motion triggers, and the small laser generators along the floor border.

"Nightshade operative 16 take the motion triggers, 9 has the lasers, 26 shall disable the cameras. Phase three in eight minutes."

Rogue lifted from the ground and floated to the cameras. Using her inhuman strength she crushed the camera lenses and pried the backs open, pulling out the wires. Archer sent bolts into the tiny motion triggers from his longbow, while Nightshade 9 did the same with her pink javelins into the laser generators. In less than thirty seconds all security was eliminated.

They made their way to the private elevator, also knocking out any clue to their being there. It moved slowly downward as they counted seven floors. The doors slid open to reveal a tall and dark shape.

Without hesitation or even a noise the three lunged and had it pinned, weapons out. When red eyes glinted at them from their captive they slid off and Gambit rose to his feet, unfazed by their sudden attack.

"I got de security system down here shot. Nightshade 13 is getting' t'rough de mainframe's blocks an' passwords."

The four arrived in office five where Nightshade 13 had her hands spread over the master computer, her lips and eyelids twitching in concentration. She sighed and retracted her gloved hands. The screen requiring a password and voice id vanished. A black screen replaced it momentarily with white letters and numbers scrolling rapidly down before that too gave way to the main page.

Rogue stood by the door with the other two she had arrived with, guarding. Gambit drew out a USB drive and began to download the files on the computer. Smooth sailing so far.

Suddenly alarms began to blare and red lights flashed. The earpieces crackled again. "Mission compromised. Abort."

"Chere Dieu." Gambit growled but didn't stop what he was doing. The operatives could hear pounding footsteps over their heads but they didn't move or panic. At last the USB drive was full. Gambit yanked it out but by now the guards had reached the hallway. They wouldn't get out without a fight.

They all pulled up facial masks, adjusting the eye specs. Night vision clicked on. They all fell to the sides of the room. It swung open and they sprang like hunting cats. Knives flashed and guards fell with cleanly slit throats. Even more were coming.

Gambit tossed the drive to the pink girl. "Take de technopath an' complete de mission." She obeyed, throwing a spear of light that teleported their hacker out of the room with a blink, and then vanished herself. Gambit, Archer, and Rogue were left behind to make it out as best they could.

Rogue darted into the hallway, disregarding the bullets that were colliding with her steel hard skin. Picking up a guard in each hand she mercilessly bashed their heads together and let them fall. Blue-white bolts flashed by her, bringing rubble crumbling from the ceiling.

Gambit lunged out. He pulled out three metallic spheres from a belt pouch and tossed them. They glowed like tiny suns before lighting up the hallway and detonating with roars. He dropped down as bullets whizzed by his head. He stuck out his hand as another round fired on him. They sizzled before splitting apart. He felt the breeze of another bullet just miss his right hip but it tore through the pouch that held his spheres. They clattered over the metal floor and left him weaponless. Nearly. He hated using this particular application of his powers, it hurt like heck, but the alternative was being shot.

"Down!" he ordered. Rogue shot backwards and Archer pulled back into the office. Summoning all of his strength, he let the power of his kinetic energy spread through his body. Instead of letting it out he held tight to it and felt it pulsing inside of him. With a yell his eyes glowed and the light spread over his skin before exploding outward in waves of searing energy, pounding the guards backward and pulverizing the concrete walls around them. He could feel his feet lift an inch or two from the ground before he collapsed down again, his energy all used for now.

The hallway was clear. Without hesitation Rogue swooped forward and seized him under the shoulders and flew for the elevator, Archer on her tail.

Instead of waiting for it to take them up, Rogue simply smashed up through the ceiling and carried the boys up the shaft.

Gambit was still weak, but he managed to pull out of his other pouch a metal tube. Pulling it in half he tossed it into the main floor area and smoke poured out, shielding them. Rogue set them down and smashed through a wall as they ran behind. They ran full tilt into the shadows of the tall warehouse buildings that lined the alleyways.

Another figure stepped out of nowhere and that familiar ringing touched their ears. The sound of footsteps behind faltered, slowed, and then they heard thumps as bodies hit the concrete ground.

"What are ya doin' here?" Rogue inquired of Genesis.

"I was the back up plan. Here they come again."

Did these guys ever give up? The four were backed up against a wall as more of the guards poured around the corners, and they were surrounded on all sides. Only one way out now.

"Hold on to your lunch." Rogue grabbed her friends and threw herself into the dark sky, feeling the wind of the gunshots just missing them.

Rogue struggled to gain her air balance, having the compromising weight of three young adults clinging to her and messing with her flight pattern. At last she was able to balance out as they held on to her as best they could as she shot off over the buildings. They were home free. She frowned; no, they weren't. The Rogue shook her head and flew off.

The buzzing. The night sky vanished and they were back in the training simulator.

The HYDRA officials seemed pleased with the outcome. The Nightshade operatives left. With new powers everything had changed. There were hours spent in developing and controlling their abilities, simulation tests, and worst of all, pain conditioning.

Rogue didn't walk with her friends anymore. After the memory wipe they were much more scrupulous in concealing the bond between them. The memory erasing hadn't been completely efficient, so several of the teens were able to keep some remenants of themselves: a face from the past, a favorite food, and if they were truly lucky, their own name. Not much, but whatever it was it was always kept locked away like a precious jewel.

Footsteps as soft as a cat's approached and Gambit was walking beside her. Not close, but near enough.

She looked over and saw him watching her strangely. He hesitated before he spoke quietly in his deep voice. "Rogue, can I talk ta you fo' une minute?" she was confused but she followed him discreetly down a side passage and into a small storage room.

Gambit honestly didn't know what he was going to talk to her about. Ever since they had lost their memories and she had been forced to absorb Carol, an odd sensation had been building inside of him that he was unfamiliar. Lately, he felt even more protective of Rogue. He had always deeply cared for his first friend but he had never felt such an urge to throw himself in front of her in every training session. It was irrational and totally unnecessary what with her invulnerability, plus she would be furious with him if she believed he thought her incapable of handling herself. Yet he couldn't deny the compulsion or the pitching in his stomach every time he looked at her now. It was a pleasure now, to take in her shapely face, porcelain skin, full lips, and pale jade eyes. Gambit shook his head. All his training was meant to prepare him for any situation, to never be caught off guard. Nothing such as this had ever been addressed.

"Rogue…" he stuttered out as she watched him in confusion. He took a deep breath to continue. "Rogue, lately Gambit's been feelin'…well, I can't explain it much, but…"

That was as far as he made it. There was a rumble of footsteps and voices. Not the voices of the mutants.

They both ducked into the darkest corners and remained absolutely still, eyes narrowed and faces lowered to reduce the risk of reflected light. Shadows flickered by the half open doorway and the tread of footsteps passed them by. They filed down the stairway at the end of the hall and moved below them, entering into what they knew was a conference room. The voices began to drift upward through the small ventilation grate in the floor. They sounded agitated and even panicked. The two mutants looked at each other, exchanging glances of confusion and curiosity. They both drew closer to the vent without making a noise. Rogue knelt down and Gambit bent over her. They were startled when they heard a voice that they all knew but hadn't heard in years. The thick accent and cold authority was unmistakable. If the Supreme Hydra was here this must be very important. Rogue felt a rush of hate before the words meant anything to her.

Viper was furious. "It's over I tell you. This project is compromised." More confused looks exchanged.

Vyce's shocked voice was heard next. "How is that possible? No operative has ever escaped or even been out of the facility yet. We are positive no money has passed in revealing this location."

"There wasn't." Viper growled. "It was a snooper. The tip to S.H.I.E.L.D. was supposed to be anonymous but we were able to retrieve some information. It seems an extremely powerful telepath in New York state detected the manifestations of our mutants and decided to dig. He pinpointed our location and reported to Fury. SHIELD will be here in mere hours, five at the least."

Vyce was nearly in a state of panic, Rogue and Gambit observed as they eavesdropped. "What now? All other transports are out and we wouldn't be able to get the operatives out in time while still containing them from escape. Plus having to copy records and then destroy all base files and information…"

Viper halted him. "There isn't a way, but we must keep SHIELD from retrieving any records, or worse any of the mutants."

Again Vyce asked, "How?"

Rogue and Gambit leaned in, listening with bated breath. What new fate awaited them?

Viper paused, then her replied with steel in her tone. "Terminate the project. Completely. Blow the base and make sure that SHIELD finds no one. Alive at least."

Rogue met Gambit's red eyes. They were terrified, just as her's must be. Only one thought crossed her mind. "No. Not again." Rogue could hear her heart beat quickening and her vision growing blurry with panic. She could hear the screams again, and smell the coppery stench.

Gambit seized her arm and pulled her to feet despite her trembling knees. He wasn't much better himself, but the overwhelming protectiveness he felt for Rogue was defying his fear. Like last time, if they wanted their lives they would have to fight for them.

"C'mon Rogue chere." He muttered shakily in her ear, careful not to brush her skin. "We c'n do dis, jus' like de las' time. We have ta find Archer an' Genesis. We gotta warn de ot'ers."

Rogue inhaled. She found courage in his near warmth and familiar scent, her mind at last settling enough for her to think straight. She nodded and he pulled her from the room. They tiptoed around the corner, beginning to hear the HYDRA officials ending their meeting. As soon as they were clear they took off, running as swift and silent as hunting wolves, wary of bumping into any guards.

Rogue closed her eyes. Genesis might be able to hear her thoughts if she projected the urgency hard enough. In her mind's eye she was back in the misty purple field and though she couldn't hear, she knew that her mind was calling to the telepath.

The familiar curvy figure materialized from the gloom, concern etched on her pretty face. "Rogue, what is it?"

"No time now. Where's Archer?"

"I think he returned to his cell." Rogue felt panic again. That would most likely be where the hitmen would strike first.

"Meet me an' Gambit there as soon as ya possibly can. It's life or death." The gold eyes widened but she didn't question, merely vanishing again back into the mist.

Rogue was jerked back as Gambit yanked her to a halt. There was despair on his face. Rogue looked and saw what he was seeing.

The other mutants were all gathered in the mess hall, eating while they had time. None of them noticed the subtle shadows slinking into the room, headed by two more distinguished figures: a pale man with long blonde hair and a red suit, and a smaller reptilian man with a red spec over one eye and a long green cloak.

Inside the mess hall Omega Red and Gauntlet watched the oblivious young mutants with cold amusement. Gauntlet sniffed the air and grinned as he muttered to his companion. "I do love a nice, challenging hunt, but there's nothing like a slaughter to clear your head and keep you on edge."

"The orders are clear. I shall begin." Omega Red growled as he stepped into clear view of the mutants. The teens all looked up with confusion written on their faces. It didn't last long.

With no prelude, long whip-like tentacles of metal shot from Omega Red's wrists. They twined around the neck of the nearest boy, snapping it so quickly they hardly knew what had happened before he slumped to the ground. Once they knew, they were swift in the uptake.

Metal benches and tables clattered to the floor as the condemned mutants fled as fast as they could. Guns fired and several of them fell to the ground, dead in a second. The doors slammed open and they thundered out in a stampede. It was every mutant for themselves.

Gambit dragged Rogue to her feet and plunged into the fray, heading for the holding cells. There were blasts as more guards rounded the corner. One of the mutants shot a blast into the guards but they began to swarm him. The two could hear his scream as they fled.

Throughout the base the mutants were making desperate bids for escape, but they wer far outnumbered and trapped. Some would fight, but none could withstand for long.

They swept around the corridors and skidded panting into the hallway where they slept. A guard stood there with his gun trained on an open door; Archer's room.

Before Gambit or Rogue could do anything, three things happened at once. The trigger pulled back, the guard screamed and slumped to the floor, and there was a yell of pain from the room.

Genesis stood over the guard, panting as her fingers flew to her temple and she wobbled from the strain of the psychic blast. Gambit ran to catch her while Rogue swung around the corner. Archer was alive, but a red stain was spreading over his shirt from his shoulder. His blue eyes flew to her.

"R-Rogue, w-what's going on?" She pulled him to his feet.

"It's now or never. We get outta here tahnight or we die tryin'." The full reality of what she had said hit her. They would be free tonight, one way or another.

"C'mon you all." Gambit called and the four fled the room. They had to get out, but they didn't know the way. They stopped where four hallways opened in front of them.

"Dis way." Gambit took off down the right hand hall, the others coming up behind.

"How do you know where to go?" Genesis asked as they twisted through the maze of dark corridors and hallways.

"I don'. Gambit's just goin' wit' his gut. Now keep runnin'."

They rounded another corner and skidded to a halt, spying a familiar face. The technopath blonde was crouched in the corner, blood clotting on her leg and her eyes blank. Her hands were knotted together and pressed to her damp forehead. Her voice was near insane and she seemed to be muttering along to a grim song.

"Sanctus Espiritus, redeem us from our Solemn Hour.

Sanctus Espiritus, insanity is all around us."

Rogue knelt next to the trembling girl. "Come with us. We can escape, we can be free." Her lifted eyes were now desolate and there was surrender in her voice.

"No escape." She rasped. "I can never be free. Leave me, let them come for me." She turned away and continued to sing in a voice choked with sobs.

"Sanctus Espiritus, is this what we deserve, can we break free –

From chains of never-ending agony?

Rogue watched the girl in despair, then rose and continued with the others. Before they were out of ear shot she could hear the girl call faintly.

"Don't forget us. Don't let our memories die here in the dark." Rogue stifled a cry as the girl vanished behind them. She had lived this nightmare for nothing. Rogue skidded to a halt and the others turned to her and stared.

"What are you doing Rogue?" Archer asked frantically.

Rogue's face was hard with resolve. "We can't just let them do this. We have ta do somethin'."

"Rogue, there's only four of us, and they will know how to kill us. The only thing we could do would be to die here beside them. Then no one will ever know and will never avenge them."

Rogue thought. An idea came to her and without enlightening the others she disappeared back down another passage. Without question they followed.

"The Supreme Hydra said that people were comin', that's why they're doin' this. If we can preserve some evidence then they'll know." The others said nothing but followed. It was the least they could do for their fallen fellows.

They were able to find that cursed laboratory where each had been experimented and tested on. Rogue hastened to the computer and began to hack into the system as the others looked around for hard files. Rogue began to download the files of the mutants, but when she reached those of her and her friends she hesitated. The mouse moved over the desk and deleted the four files. She pulled out the hard drive and reached to the floor. A solid punch drove a deep hole into the linoleum and she placed the hard drive inside. Swiftly, she covered the hole again in the rubble and hoped that whoever these people were that they would look for evidence carefully.

The others had found where they kept the files of the mutants but the storage space was empty.

Rogue joined the other three. They had done what little they could, and now they had to escape. A fierce longing to find the sky that she couldn't remember coursed through her veins and Carol became restless in her mind. "Let's go," declared Archer.

Suddenly the doors to the lab hissed open. They all whirled ready for guards. Instead they were met with the smirking red gaze of none other than Mr. Sinister. Under his arm was a bundle of folders stuffed with papers; the mutant files.

Carol growled like an animal in Rogue's head as he crossed the room nonchalantly and picked up one last file lying on the table. Without a word he turned back around to leave the room. At the last moment he turned and stared at them with a smug and truly sinister expression on his face. "Pity, wasting so much valuable mutant blood. Yet, they are in charge of their possessions and there are many more fish in the sea. I wish you five luck and I hope to see you very soon."

That snapped it. Rogue felt a rush of pain and vertigo as she was flung into the far recesses of her own mind. Carol had taken over.

Controlling Rogue's body, Carol lunged forward with every intent of crushing every bone in Sinister's body to powder. Unexpectedly he raised one white hand. From it came a yellow blast that knocked her backwards into the floor. She crashed down and created a woman shaped crater. Archer didn't hesitate to blast a javelin of unstable molecular energy toward Sinister. It caught him square in the chest and burned a hole right through him. They all stared in amazement as it sealed right back up again. He sneered at them. "You will have to do better than that."

Carol/Rogue snarled again and lunged. This time she got hold of the front of his lab coat and knocked him rolling to the floor. The files scattered about. Carol twisted about, trying to get a firm hold on the man who had worse than killed her, but before she could a searing heat assaulted her nerves and she rolled away with a scream.

Before they could fathom it Sinister was back up, the files in his arms again, and the door hissing shut. He leered at them one last time before it shut.

As he disappeared Carol lost control and Rogue became owner of her body again. She flew forward and pounded on the door. It was sealed shut and even with her superhuman strength she couldn't break it down, only bending the metal plating with her furious efforts. She then flew to the other door while Archer and Gambit tried to blow the former down to no avail. The second door was impregnable as well. Rogue could hear footsteps echoing closer on the other side.

"Trapped!" Archer whirled around, desperately searching for any way to escape.

For a moment Rogue was at a loss and exhausted and sank to the ground. "We can't give up here. We're so close. So close…" She could feel the answer tugging at her mind, just out of reach. She grabbed for it but it wouldn't be had. Her head bowed, defeated. In the ten years that she had been here she had never given up entirely. Not through the massacre, the training, the experiments, the memory loss, none had ever been enough to break her. Now though, so close to freedom that they had only dreamed of for long years, she felt her heart beginning to crack. Maybe they should lie down, should give in to defeat…

Warm arms wrapped around her and she shuddered. It was an entirely new feeling, this feeling of care and protection that now surrounded her.

"You can' give up now chere. Gambit's here. Ya promised ta read him dat book, and he promised ta show Rogue his city. We're here wit' you, don' give up."

Her eyes blinked open to meet the eyes of a demon who was really an angel. The answer struck.

Leaping to her feet she almost smacked herself. The voices and footsteps were outside the door now and they could hear a hiss as they began to pry it open.

"Stay here. Ah'll be right back for ya." The southern girl rocketed up and smashed through the ceiling. Tearing metal and cracking concrete screeched in her ears. Why hadn't she been able to think of this before?

Suddenly she felt lighter and the air was less stale. The quickening of her pulse told her she was near the surface. Crashing up through one last floor, there it was. The sky was black with roiling clouds, but the air was fresh and there were no ceilings holding her back. For the briefest moment she reveled before plunging back down.

She burst back down through the hole to find her friends preparing to fight as the door groaned on its last effort before it broke.

"Let's go." Just then the door blew. The guards rushed in to face the fierce faces of four mutants. Like cornered beasts they had become wilder than ever.

Rogue shot forward and swept one man up, breaking his neck in her frenzy. They were scraping freedom and these men wouldn't take that from them. Gambit's fingers trailed sparking fire as his eyes burned like a bonfire, dealing out explosive destruction with Genesis beside him. The garnet-eyed woman's hair billowed out behind her as psychic blasts shot from her. Archer had drawn his bow and his icy bolts rained down. His shots were hectic because of his injured shoulder and they landed all over, melting the floors and starting fires.

They raked through the crowd of guards like scythes. They had almost won, but no one had noticed a single gunman sneaking around behind them. Gambit whirled to see the barrel aimed straight to his heart.

"Gambit!" Shrieked Genesis as she clutched his arm. The crack and bang was deafening and he felt the wet tear of the bullet right to his pectoral. The pain lanced up and he staggered back into Genesis' arms.

Rogue screamed and charged the man, sending him flying into the wall and cracking his head. She turned unable to breath.

Gambit was still awake despite the perfect shot to his chest. His eyes were slightly foggy as he looked down. The wound was there, but the hole was surrounded in light. It sparked and he could feel the bullet inside of him crumble and disintegrate. The fuschia glow flashed bright for a moment before it vanished, leaving only a red stained tear in his uniform. The other three stared until Rogue shook herself, her knees weak with relief. There would be time to puzzle over the mystery later. They weren't safe yet.

"Ya'll right?" Blearily he nodded and he stood straight.

"Then let's blow this hellhole." She seized them and took off up through the rough hole she had smashed above them.

The four breached the surface and found themselves on the roof of a building. Lightning cracked and lit up their surroundings as rain began to sheet down. The building was all on its own in a grassy and rockstrewn landscape rife with hills. They turned and heard the crashing of water behind them and looked out over the black and raging ocean.

"Run for it!" Gambit yelled in a shaky voice and the four ran for the edge. Shadows suddenly swept up and surrounded them. Gauntlet and Omega Red stalked forward, backing the four up to the edge closest to the ocean. Rogue peered over and saw that the building was right on the edge of the cliff. Sharp rocks and hungry waves waited below.

Gauntlet sneered. "So close, but this is the end of the line." He raised his blaster to fire and kill.

To his surprise, the girl with the auburn and white hair stood up straight, and the others followed her example. They all took a step back.

"You're right. This is the end." Simultaneously, they all fell backwards into the void.

Rogue closed her eyes and felt warm fingers closing over both her gloved hands as the wind rushed past them in their plummet to the rocks. She knew that all four were linked, together. There was a blast of wind force and then they felt the crash and sting of arctic water as the waves closed over their heads. They sank into blackness.

xxxXXXxxx

The hallways ran with blood. Viper surveyed the sight of a boy and a girl slumped against one another as their bodies leaned into the wall. Their eyes were blank and sightless. Her eyes swept over the rest of the carnage. A whole project gone to waste. SHIELD would pay for this.

Her aid approached her. "Lady Hydra, detonation of the base is in five minutes. We must get you to your transport."

Wordlessly she turned and followed him out of the building. She entered her aircraft which took off smoothly from the island. She stared out the window at the now abandoned building. A light flickered on the lowest floor before a roaring explosion tore the building to flaming shreds. A giant mushroom cloud billowed upward, the funeral pyre of the dead within.