Helping Hands
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So far they helped Magneto collect enough Metal X to fill up a small basketball court. Rogue had taken to making sure she always went with them. Also from what Jean read, Magneto wanted her and Gambit to get along. And she would do just that, but at a snail's pace.
At the moment she was at school standing next to Principle Kelly of course. The man was trying to make her leave. In truth she thought it more likely she'd get expelled for hurting her principle and thrown in jail for attempted murder.
"Today," Kelly started, "Will mark a new change for Bayville High school. As you have read in the newspapers several schools will be undergoing the Sentinel project. We will be guarded around the clock from the mutant menace. An example is the girl at my side.
But I am not a cruel man. Mutants who register with the Sentinel will fully be welcomed back into our school with open arms for if they use their powers the sentinel will … teach them a lesson and I want Ms. Darkholme here to be the first to register electronically on this data pad." He said waving it around for them to see.
Rogue took it from him, looked it over, dropped it on the ground, and stepped on it. Kelly glared at her as she walked away from him. She glared back. She knew this was just a trick to permanently keep tabs on mutants. She wasn't stupid. The Sentinels would arrive within the hour. As long as she didn't use her powers she would be fine.
Afterschool she was about to get on her motorcycle when the ten story Sentinel bent down to speak with her, "Mutant register please."
"No." she said kicking up the kick stand.
"Registering will be safe for your kind."
"And messing with me and my friends want be safe for your kind." She said eyeing the machine.
"Explain."
"It. Won't. be. Safe. For. Robots. Such. As. Your. Self." She said slowly enunciating each word.
"Negative."
"Whatever," she said placing her helmet on, "You can tell your maker and the rest of your buddies to fuck off. Bye." She said revving the bike's engine and heading off. She could feel it's eyes on her as she slipped out of sight.
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"How was school Roguey?" Gambit asked taking her backpack from him.
"Same as always except for the Sentinels of course."
"Where you headed. To take a shower?" he asked far too hopefully for her liking.
Sighing, "No sugah. I'ma have Logan reconfigure te danger room. We need to know how ta take down the Sentinels. It will only be a matter of time before they attack."
"Makes since."
Since she walked ahead of him he did not see the roll of her eyes as she turned to face him with almost a kindness to her face, "Maybe we can hang out later taday?"
His face brightened. She really did like him, but that was beside the point. She needed to find a way to touch Magneto and Pyro was still suspicious of her. He's probably watching from afar even now. Jerk.
"Hey like Rogue you got mail." Kitty said handing her hers as she headed to Logan in the bottom layers leaving Gambit alone for a while. Once downstairs she talked to Logan and he agreed. He said he's have the new simulation ready for testing by tomorrow. As he spoke she opened her mail.
She smiled as she noticed Pyro had outstayed his visa by six years and had yet to apply for citizenship in America. He would be getting a paper that will have him deported soon just as she planned. He also wouldn't be allowed back in for at the least a month since he left while being underage. Perfect.
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Pyro was pissed as he flew back home to Australia. He had been gone for so long. Why would they question him now? A part of him thought Rogue was at fault since he seemed to blame everything on her lately, but truthfully that was impractical. Between school and XMEN business she'd have no time.
More likely it was Logan. He may had stared at Amara's butt and complemented her in front of him once and the man took it personal. No doubt this was revenge. He could imagine Logan dancing around his room as he flew home. What was he going to say to his grandma? That is if she's still alive.
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Trask growled as he reclined in Nick Fury's chair. He had been tracking a metal substance to combat Magneto for years. Something strong enough to withstand the blow of other mutants as well as being insusceptible to Magneto's powers.
"All the mines we've checked for the substance that was first incidentally found by Captain America in the early 1940's has been futile." Trask ground out as Fury staied out the window.
"Do you know why you're here Mr. Trask?" Fury asked.
"To rid the world of mutants."
"Not all mutants are bad."
"Of course." Trask said sarcastically eyeing the pictures on Fury's desk. One was of his daughter graduating from Yale. The other was of Logan and Captain America and the last was of the XMEN in Cairo after the defeat of Apocalypse.
"A mutant nearly destroyed us all." Trask said quietly eyeing the picture with venom.
"And a mutant stopped him." Fury reminded him, "Do you believe in ying and yang?"
Trask considered for a moment, "There will always be good and bad."
Fury nodded, "I believe in balance. Life works that way. The antelope eats the grass and the lion eats the antelope and time kills the lion, restarting the cycle over and over again."
"Are you going to keep quoting Lion King or are you going to get to the point."
"My point Mr. Trask," Fury turned to leer at him, "Is that Apocalypse may return and us weaker humans cannot destroy him even with our Sentinels. Mutants are now the top of the food chain Trask. If we rid the world of all of them we are done for. The animals who survive this world are the ones who adapt.
Your job is simply to rid the mutant population of its bad apples. Such as this Magneto fellow. I know it' shard for you, but leave the XMEN alone. Your job is solely to capture Magneto for now. Capture not kill. And now that that's said. Get out of my office."
Trask did as he was told even though he didn't agree with Fury. As he stomped back to his chamber to work on his beloved machines Stacey, his sexy Russian red headed secretary, handed him his papers.
"Mr. Trask."
"Yes Stacey?"
"Your operatives have checked a few mines as it is they found them stripped."
"Stripped?"
She handed him a photo of four metal balls and the blur of the Blackbird, "It appears he has beating us to them."
Trask crumpled the picture in a ball with his fist. Magneto had beaten him once. But not again. He instantly went to make the Sentinels with a plastic polymer. They'd still be lethal, but twice as breakable. It'd be worth the risk in his eyes.
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Stacey left Trask to his work before going into Fury's office making sure to lock the door behind her.
"Nice of you to join me Widow." He acknowledged her as he rifled through a stack of papers on his desk.
"He took the bait."
Fury smiled, "Just as I planned."
She nodded as she removed her white shirt and beige pants to reveal her spy uniform, "I will watch him from distance now."
"You do that Widow. I want to know what's going on in that mind of his."
"Yes sir."
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"The mine we're traveling to is in Minot," Magneto said briskly as his Acolytes followed him, "Charles would not approve since a school is now located on top of the mine. We must move fast before Logan sniffs us out."
"There aint no need ta worry bout Logan." Rogue said walking down the steps after him.
"Go back ta bed Anna." Gambit told her knowing she wouldn't listen.
She ignored him, "If yall are leaving then I'm coming."
"You are not coming girl." Magneto said.
"Fine. I'll let yall go then wake Logan up and with the Blackbird we'll head yall off. Is that what yall want?" she challenged. Magneto knew she was right.
"Fine then, but she is your responsibility." Magneto said to Gambit with a flick of his cape. The group headed outside. Rogue had never traveled by floating ball before so Gambit insisted that she'd go with him.
She was startled when the dark ball instantly brightened. Gambit was holding a charged card between them, "How'd ya know we were sneaking out Roguey?"
'I know cause I have a tracker implanted in you and security cameras are everywhere in the mansion' she thought to herself before shrugging, "I don't sleep well remember. Besides I thought it would be nice ta spend some time with you without Logan threatening your life."
Laughing, "I ain't afraid of Logan."
She laughed before her face instantly grew hard, "You should be."
"I'll be the judge of that. Cold? We could snuggle."
"I ain't cold." Rogue turned her back to him.
He pulled her to him, "Why must you be so difficult?"
"Why do ya like me being difficult?" she asked saucily.
"It makes the chase all the more fun."
She smiled back at him before snuggling further into his chest. Quiet settled between the two for a while before he spoke again.
"Anna?"
"Remy."
"I've noticed that this being leader… it's changed you somehow."
"In a bad way?" she asked trying to remove herself from his chest but he held fast.
"It's not necessarily bad. It's just that you're stressed all te time. Thangs aren't as easy as they once were. You're always on edge. You sleep less. Eat less. It's not healthy for you. I know you're trying though. I just wish I could help in some way."
"You're here with me aren't you?"
"Only because it's convenient to Mags. How about we take a break ok. Go to Mardi Gras with me. Will dress up this year. Have fun …"
"If I say no will you kidnap me again?"
He grinned in the dark.
"I'll take that as a yes." She sighed before she felt the ball make contact with the ground.
"Someone's here." Sabertooth nose rose higher in the air."
"Where?" Pete asked seeing nothing.
"One smells like cheap suits. The other," he whiffed again, "Has perfume on."
"Are you sure you aren't smelling Rogue." Magneto asked.
"He aint," Gambit answered before she could say something, "Anna doesn't wear perfume."
Nodding, "Stay alert. The side entrance is but a few yards from here."
They made it into the mines easily but unnerved. Magneto must have felt it to because he left Sabertooth outside to stand guard. Rogue was also on look out within the cavern along with Gambit. Pete was busy carrying the Metal X while Magneto kept barking off orders. That is until they heard Sabertooth scream and the mine began to shake.
Magneto flew ahead of everyone to escape the falling carbon particles first. Topside he saw Sabertooth bleeding in a crumpled heap along with five Sentinels. He smirked, "Do you think you can defeat the Master of Magnetism?"
As the others reached the top Magneto extended his hands as if reaching for the heavens before clutching his fist. The Sentinels stood where they once were as if nothing happened. Magneto couldn't believe his eyes as he tried again and again.
"My powers … they don't work on them." Magneto said looking at his hands as if they sprouted extra fingers.
Gambit pushed Rogue back in before narrowly avoiding a proton blast from the metal giant. Colossus ran to one of them and picked it up. Easily tossing it a few hundred yards before moving to the next one. Gambit was flinging his cards since he couldn't get close enough to touch them in person.
Rogue on the other hand was powerless without contact from her fellow mutants so she stayed low trying to make her way towards Sabertooth to see if he was still alive. Raising her hand to the line of his neck she felt his weak pulse.
"I thought cats always land on their feet." She said in an almost chastising voice which made him growl at her before blacking out again. It would take hours for him to self heal. Touching her watch she activated the panic button. Her friends would be here soon, she looked to see Colossus fall once again in his normal state, or maybe not soon enough. Which left two and a half Sentinels between herself, Gambit, and a panicking Magneto.
She wanted to help but touching an already vastly injured Pete and Sabertooth might not be such a good idea. Looking around she noticed the balls they traveled in. Magneto could use those to defeat the Sentinels!
"Magneto!" she yelled at him ,but he was to far gone to ear her as he clutched his hands to his chest crying over and over, "My powers aren't working! My powers aren't working!"
Livid she ran over to the man and smacked him. He seemed to notice his face was hurt, but he was to busy sulking.
"Get ya head out of the clouds Mags. Look at all the other metal that ya can use! I spy some shinny metal balls over there," she pointed, "So why don't ya do us all a favor an act less like yer son and more like the powerful mutant you are!"
"You think I'm powerful?" he asked in a small voice.
She nodded, "Yeah, an we need yer help."
"Why?"
She tried her hardest not to just strangle the man, "Because we're weak and we need you."
"You aren't weak," he began to weep in his hands surprising Rogue, "You are mutants. I'm just an old man who plays chess in the park now."
Giving up she turned to see Gambit. He was nearly out of breath. His aerobics lacked finesse. His cards looked like a light bulb in need of a change. If she didn't do something soon they'd all be goners.
Yanking off her gloves she grabbed the side of the weeping man's face. When she was sure she took enough she turned round to see Gambit in the hand of one of the Sentinels. Rogue quickly turned the metal balls into huge spears to use against them.
The first sliced the head clean off the Sentinel that was holding her boyfriend (Friend ….) and the arm he was holding him with. With the other spears she pierced the other Sentinels until there were none left. Then ran to Gambit.
"Are ya ok?" she asked helping him out of the damaged hand that still held tightly to his person.
"I'll be fine," he said stumbling on the ground until he had her in his arms, "After a kiss."
Punching his chest, "Go see if Sabertooth can walk."
He grinned at her before walking off. As he walked she noticed the tall tale signs of pain. He too would need medical attention. Turning her eyes from his backside she ran to Pete.
"Pete?" she called ruffling his raven hair with blue highlights. She watched as he stirred a little under her touch before his eyes flew open.
"Behind you!"
She turned quickly. It appears that there was another Sentinel hiding about. Before she could attack it however it was struck with a burst of lightening causing a smile to touch her face if only for a moment.
"My family's here. Relax Pete," she said stopping him from rising before lowering her voice, "I know where ya family is at. I assume our truce will be over soon. I'll need ya ta communicate with me."
"How?" he asked relieved.
"Ya gotta birthday coming up right?" he nodded confused, "I'll have Kit throw ya a little birthday bash. Make sure ya use te gift that I give ya. Understand?"
"Thank you … Anna." He said before returning to the sweet bliss of sleep in her arms.
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Back at the mansion everyone's injuries were tended to except for Magneto since there was no manmade cure for humiliation. Rogue was glad Remy was ok. She stayed with him as he slept the day off. She also conversed with Kitty about Pete's upcoming birthday. Although she did go at it inadvertidly stating all the XMEN whose birthday's were coming up while incidentally mentioning Pete.
Kitty quickly decided to throw a party. Playing her part Rogue refused. Said parties were a waste of time. She knew Kitty wouldn't back down. They argued on and on until Sabertooth growled at them for some peace and quiet.
They left, but in the end she got what she wanted. Pete's birthday would be in fifteen days. She had that long too secretly save his family, find a way to let him know that, and come up with a way for him to communicate with her without getting caught.
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"Logan." Rogue said as she knocked on his door frame before entering, "Wanna take a ride with me?"
"Sure kid." He said placing his samurai sword back on its mantel before joining her outside. After an hour ride they stopped to eat at awing place.
"Got something on your minds?" he asked biting down on his greasy cheeseburger.
Sitting down the chicken wing she was nibbling on, "Everythangs going according ta plan."
"Meaning?" he arched an eyebrow.
"Meaning," she took a swig of lemonade, "that cause Magneto had a temporary mental breakdown I know where Pete's family is."
"You promised him his family back?"
"Yep," she smiled, "In return he's gonna spy for us fer a while. When it's safe he can either leave or join us. That's his call."
Trying to look angry, but failing, "That's rather deceptive of you."
Rolling her eyes, "Ya don't know the half of it."
Intrigued Logan relaxed back into his chair, "Well we aint got all day."
"Well here's the thing. I'm mostly only started dating Re … Gambit so that I'd have access into the Alkalai base and when he fell asleep one night I put a tracker in 'em," he almost chocked laughing, "So where he goes. I'll know it. I got Pyro deported cause he was suspicious of me and I kinda used reverse psychology on Kitty to make her throw Pete a birthday party."
"Why?" he asked confused.
"Cause I need ta find a way for him ta communicate with me without Mags finding out. I talked ta Beast. He said he might have something in a few days."
"Anything else?" he asked amazed.
"Not yet, but I'll let ya know." Rogue winked. A smile graced her face. She didn't smile as much as she used to Logan thought to himself. She was trying her best. Times were harder on her between school and mutant manners. Even he could feel something was amiss. He was positive the others did too, but for now he was happy to see her happy.
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