A/N:

WARNING: This is the second update of the night. So back it up one if you haven't already. Thanks~

I don't own X-Men... Still...


"Now, presumably, his objective is to mutate the world leaders at the UN Summit on Ellis Island," Scott summarized.

"He doesn't know his machine kills," Ororo added in a quiet voice. "And judging from what the Professor saw, if Magneto gave Rogue enough power-"

"He could wipe out everyone in New York City," I finished.

"Alright. We can insert here at the George Washington Bridge, come around the bank just off of Manhattan, and land on the far side of Liberty Island."

"What about harbor patrol?" Logan asked reasonably. "Radar?"

"If they have anything that can pick up our jet, they deserve to catch us," Scott side, smiling towards me.

"Don't doubt my handiwork, Logan. Hank and I know our way around machinery," I chuckled.

With our plot coursed, we suited up. My uniform was the standard X-Men leather; a jumpsuit that ended an inch or so below the standard uniform's neckline so that I could actually breathe in the thing. My leather gloves were already complete with three slits on each hand, the stitching reinforced around the slits.

I grinned when Logan began to complain about them after zipping the uniform to the collar and finding it harder to breathe.

"You actually go outside in these things?" he questioned dubiously, straightening his gloves.

"Well, what would you prefer? Yellow spandex?" Scott asked, concentrating more on the controls than conversation.

"Easy on the throttle, there," I cautioned. "She wants to go, you don't have to force it."

I glanced at Logan as he extended his claws, slicing through the gloves. I chuckled at his paler-than-usual expression.

"Still scared of flying?" I guessed.

"There's the bridge," Scott said over me. "I'm taking her down… Storm, some cover, please."

The weather witch's eyes clouded over and a thick bank of fog rolled in around us. Scott flipped a switch on the overhead controls and the night vision across the windshield activated, lighting the buildings red against the darkened sky. Scott brought us closer and closer to the water and I stood, walking up to him beside the controls.

"Go down a bit further. Don't worry about the engines, they're designed to be water resistant. Cut the power in three, two, one," I counted off, guiding the jet downwards through Scott. The jet, much to Logan's visible relief, didn't lurch downwards.

We exited the jet quietly, standing on the banks of Liberty Island. I glanced up and down the statue, not sure what I was looking for.

"The torch," Scott announced. I focused my eyes on the torch and, lo and behold, there was the machine. The green color of the machine's outer shell was off only slightly, close enough that any night patrol would probably ignore it.

Glancing at the others, I motioned for Scott to take the lead. He obeyed and we began walking to the gift shop at the base of the tower.

We walked up to one of my worst enemies: metal detectors. I scowled at the sight of them. Before I had the misfortune to walk through it, I stopped short, also stopping Logan, who was behind me.

"What?" he growled. I pointed at the device.

"Metal detectors," I sighed. I flexed my right hand, releasing my claws, and cleanly sliced one of the posts, cutting the internal wiring and rendering the machine useless. "There's no point in setting off unnecessary alarms."

Scott only smiled, laughing under his breath. The others turned away as Scott began to walk forward. This time, Logan paused just as I did.

"There's someone here," he said quietly. Scott glanced around.

"Where?"

"I don't know," Logan responded to Cyclops. "Keep your eye open."

Whoever it was, they were in the mansion. They are our enemy. I didn't say anything earlier, but Cerebro had been sabotaged. I fixed the problem, but someone knows how to get through our security, I thought, directing the mental warning to my group. Scott, Jean, and Ororo all nodded at me with a serious expression on their faces. Logan narrowed his eyes and continued walking.

"Logan," Scott called quietly. The feral turned a corner, disappearing from sight. "Damn it."

"Stay together," I ordered under my breath. Logan came back. "Anything?"

"I know there's someone here, I just can't see them," he reported.

On instinct, my lip curled back. I twitched my wrists and my claws came out as I attacked Logan, tackling him to the ground. The real Logan joined the fray, much to my annoyance.

I rolled away, dragging the imposter with me into an alcove. The real Logan lifted the imposter and held him against the wall. The imposter clicked his tongue before ducking out of Logan's grip, counterstriking Logan's side.

By the time they were sufficiently confused, the rest of the team had appeared. Scott readied his laser and both Logans paused, their hands up in protest.

"Wait!" they shouted in unison, forcing him to pause. The imposter jumped up and slashed at a cable above, setting a metal wall crashing through and separating the team. Logan and I still faced the imposter; the rest of the team was on the other side of the wall, unable to do anything.

The imposter, still in the air, twisted and kicked Logan across the chest. The two exchanged blows, not letting me get a swipe in edgewise. After a while, I realized that I wasn't sure which was which: Mystique or Logan.

Finally, I heard a feminine exclamation and I assumed the Logan that had just been attacked was Mystique. The real Logan brought his claws down, slicing cleanly through Mystique's claws, before aiming a punch towards her stomach. Mystique ducked under his free arm, escaping the blow. She ran, turning a corner and leading Logan away.

I heard fighting on the other side of the wall and felt at odds with myself. The team or Logan? Which came first?

Deciding quickly, I sliced my claws through the metal wall, set on regrouping with the majority of the team.

Logan has a uniform now. He's part of the team whether he likes it or not. He can take care of himself. It's time for me to take care of the team, even if it might would some egos.

I almost sighed at the damage done around me. Storm and Scott were nowhere to be seen, although I heard someone I assumed to be Scott groaning behind yet another metal wall. Jean was facing off against Toad, the slimeball. I grimaced, invading his mind easily.

Holding him trapped under my mind, I walked up to him. Jean's confusion melted away when I sheathed my claws, pulling my fist back. I released my arm, landing a very solid, painful sounding, blow against the back of the other mutant's head. His eyes rolled back into his head and I checked his pulse. Yep, still alive.

Scott appeared, one hand at his temple, and I chuckled.

"Alrighty, then," I smiled cheerfully. "Logan and Mystique should be just about-"

A metal wall slid away, revealing Logan. Scott's hand immediately went from his temple to his visor and Logan raised his claws jokingly.

"Hey, hey. It's me," he grinned.

"Prove it," Scott dared, smirking. Logan paused for half a moment.

"You're a dick," he said in a serious tone. Scott stared at the man for another second before shrugging his hand away from his visor.

"Okay," he nodded. I scoffed.

"I could've told you that," I reminded the two boys. I was ignored masterfully.

"Hey," Ororo's voice rang our from above us. I glanced up, recognizing her scent and relaxing.

"It's her," I confirmed, smiling up at Storm.


I stared up at the stairs, chuckling to myself. I was surprised when Logan's gruff laugh echoed my own.

"What is it?" I asked curiously.

"Just like old times, eh?" he asked before beginning to climb the stairs, leaving me completely blank.


"Everybody get out of here," Logan ordered. I moved towards him. Correction: I unsuccessfully tried to move towards him. From Logan's posture, I guess he was in a similar state of immobility.

"What is it?" Ororo asked, quick to the point.

"We can't move," I answered, narrowing my eyes. The metal around us began to creak and I winced, feeling a pull on my bones. Logan and I were dragged forcefully to the wall, pinned by our metal skeletons as strips of metal came alive and began attacking the rest of the team.

Ororo was pinned flat to the fall, a clamp of metal holding her neck to the cold copper wall. Scott and Jean were trapped looking directly at each other, both unable to move as Magneto floated down into the room.

"Ah, my brothers. Welcome," he greeted, sounding rather unwelcoming. He glanced towards myself and Logan. "And you. Let's point those claws of yours' in a safer direction."

The metal holding my arms curled away and my arms moved of their own accord, staying only when my fists pointed directly into my chest at an angle that hurt my wrists. The metal bindings curved back, trapping my arms against me. Glancing at Logan, I grimaced as his position changed likewise.

"You better close your eyes," Magneto continued as Sabretooth jumped down. The feral stalked towards Scott before wrapping one huge paw around the younger mutant's visor, snatching it away. Scott closed his eyes desperately, the alternative being to fire directly in Jean's face.

"Storm, fry him," Scott ordered. I sighed to myself as Magneto smiled, amused.

"Oh, yes. A bolt of lightning into a huge copper conductor… And I thought you lived at a school."

Magneto turned slightly away from us, his hand moving to the Bluetooth at his left ear.

"Mystique? Mystique?" he asked into the device.

"I've seen Senator Kelly," Jean said, desperation leaking into her voice and her scent. Magneto turned to her, an impressed smile gracing his features.

"So, the good senator survived his fall and the swim to shore. He's become even more powerful than I could have imagined."

"He's dead," Jean said harshly.

"It's true," Ororo jumped in, her voice quiet and serious. "I saw him die. Like those people down there will die."

"Are you sure you saw what you saw?" Magneto asked her, leaning in closer. He paced away slightly, sighing to himself impatiently. "Why do none of you understand what I am trying to do? Those people down there. They control our fate and the fate of every other mutant… Well, soon our fate will be theirs'."

"Help! Help me please!" Marie shouted, her voice filled with panic. I growled, deep in my chest.

"You're so full of shit," Logan spat. "If you were really so righteous, it'd be you in that thing."

"Help! Somebody help me!" she cried out again. I stared up at the source of the voice, unable to see her.

Magneto did not have a response, choosing instead to lift himself out of our makeshift-prison and leave us with our thoughts as he carried out his master plan.

"Please! Please somebody help me!" she shouted, her voice strained. Sabretooth began to growl at Logan and I bared my teeth.

"Victor, you asshole, if you are still in there, I'm going to kick your ass!" I shouted angrily, struggling against the metal that held me. He turned to me, a slight shadow of menace in his eyes.

"Scream, Tweetie," he growled. A jolt of surprise flash through me. Logan made the most of Sabretooth's inattentiveness to release his claws, straight through his chest and into the metal connecting behind him. Jean shouted out his name as he fell to the ground. Sabretooth walked over to him, now ignoring me, and I followed Logan's example. Ororo shouted my name as I too fell.

Ignoring the pain, I set my concentration on healing the neat rows of holes piercing my chest. I winced slightly as I breathed, my lungs slowly repairing themselves as Logan stabbed Sabretooth in the gut. I stayed down as the two continued fighting, getting up only when they left for the crown.

"Okay, that really should have been Plan B. Or C. Not Plan A," I grumbled, extended my claws once more as I walked towards Ororo. I freed the weather witch before moving on to Jean. When Jean was released, I turned to Scott.

"You're going to have to keep your eyes closed until Logan gets your visor back," I sighed, unable to find a suitable replacement. I was about to open my mouth to speak again when something hit the floor of the viewing platform. I glanced at it, unable to believe my luck. "Wow, talk about good timing. Thanks Logan!" I shouted to the sky.

I heard a grunt of pain and I chuckled, wrapping the visor around Scott's face.

"Okay, you're good. Let me get you… Out of that," I murmured, slashing the metal straps.

A new sound and resounding vibrations hit me. I turned to see Sabretooth, staring at me with that old hungry light. I growled again.

"Scott, if you could?" I asked politely. The younger mutant's hand shot up to the side of his face. Half a second later, Sabretooth went flying through the viewing platform's windows, propelled by the beam of red energy coming from Cyclops'… eye? Eyes?

"Thanks," Logan said, kneeling at the edge of the roof. Scott nodded at him.

"Don't mention it," Scott shouted. I looked up, now seeing Marie, trapped in the machine. The rings surrounding her moved so quickly that they were barely visible. Her hands looked as if they were glued to the two posts rising on either side of her and her face was twisted in pain.

"We have to get her out of that thing," I said, thinking. "Scott, can you hit it safely?" He looked up at the machine, his hand trained to shoot.

"The rings are moving too fast. I'll kill her," he declared.

"Just shoot it," Logan demanded.

"I'll kill her!" Scott repeated.

"What the hell am I thinking?" I groaned as a new idea came into my head. The rest of the team looked at me, out of my mental loop. "I can get up there. If I can get a shot at the rings, I can, in theory, slice the metal open and aim it away from Rogue. If I can't get a clean shot, or if Magneto's still conscious…"

"I got it! That helmet is what is protecting Magneto's mind, right?" I nodded at Scott's question. "If I get a clear shot, I can shoot it off without hurting him that much. Then Jean could concentrate on his mind and you can concentrate on breaking the rings."

"It won't work that easily," I said, shaking my head. Then, I glanced up, just as Marie cried out in pain. "Damn it, we don't have time! Okay, going with Scott's idea. Logan, I'm taking you with me. If Jean can't distract Magneto long enough, I'll have to help. It's up to you to get her out of this," I said to him, forcing him to meet my eyes. He nodded, his eyes serious, and I sighed.

Stay as still as you can! I ordered him. I took a deep breath before folding telekinetic energy around myself and Logan. I stepped closer to him, trying to diminish the energy I'd use, before pushing us upwards.

Up… And Up… And Up…

Finally, we were level with the machine. I dropped Logan inside of it, letting myself fall beside Magneto. I spun around before he could register my presence, aiming a kick at the side of his head. The blow landed and the helmet rang as it sailed away from him, plummeting downwards.

"You!" he shouted, disgusted. I grinned, already assaulting his mind.

Yes, me!

My mind wrestled with the older man's. Now that I understood just how organized his mind was, I danced past his mental defenses, tearing my way through each steel wall with my adamantium claws.

He reached out to stop me but I was the one in control now.

Images filled my mind: submarines, jets, swastikas, the smell of death, a younger Charles Xavier with… hair? And walking? My mind questioned if it was the same man.

You aren't in charge any- My smug thoughts shut down in panic as cold hard metal sealed itself around me. I recognized this trap. I had fallen into one disturbingly similar in Victor's mind, fifteen years ago.

Oh no!

I'm afraid so, Korena. Now, if I release you will you behave yourself?

I stared up at the real world around me. A smirk grew on my lips.

Distraction: success.

The wave of radiation that had been emanating from Rogue's prison ceased in a ripple, starting just as Logan's claws connected with Magneto's machine. I watched as a piece of the broken metalwork snapped back at it's master, hitting Magneto in the back of his head. He crumpled at the blow, falling to the grating below his feet.

"Logan! We did it! We- Logan?" My grin melted off my face at the almost unrecognizable emotion I sensed in his scent. Fear?

I looked up from Magneto's prone form to see Logan cradling the freed, yet unmoving, Marie in his arms. Her dark hair was now streaked with gray. I scrambled up to the machine, almost above me, and joined the two.

"Come on," Logan murmured helplessly. Marie did not stir. He stared at her, his façade slowly falling away, until he took his glove in his teeth, sliding his hand free. Gently, as if he was afraid that she'd shatter, he held her face in his hand.

Still, she did not react. Her power failed to pull Logan's away from him. A lump grew in my throat and I stripped myself of my gloves, placing my hand on her exposed collarbone.

Come on… Come back… I promised, didn't I? I thought, desperation rising. Logan cradled the girl to his chest, his breathing ragged. My hand stayed.

It was gradual at first, so slow I almost ignored it. I watched, both fascinated, disturbed, and shocked as a three inch long gouge appeared on my arm. It was soon joined by another, shallower cut. Then, my body felt like it was on fire. I was distantly reminded of the adamantium bonding procedure.

I felt myself fall to my knees, my hand staying locked against Marie's skin.

I felt myself begin to bleed, my uniform weeping scarlet.

I felt Marie gasp, awake. She pushed me away. I heard a muted thud- Logan hitting the ground. I fell slightly back, gasping and light-headed.

I think I smiled.

"I… promised…"


A/N:

This movie is soooooooooo short...

^.^ Susie ^.^