Finally, chapter ten! Sorry for the delay, but senior college is tough!
The news reports seemed to be pouring in from all over the world. Professor Xavier had the satellite feed on in the Blackbird, and everyone was gathered around the console. Storm had put the stealth jet on autopilot to join them. A reporter was talking. The scene was Germany, Bavaria to be exact, showing what was left of the Chancellor's home.
"This is the scene now," she was saying, "just hours after the Chancellor's house was demolished in a massive explosion. Official reports now confirm that the Chancellor was home when the attack occurred.
"We now switch scenes to Paris, where the Prime Minister's residence was destroyed." The video showed another house in flames. "And in Great Britain, also, the House of Parliament was decimated by a huge blast. Several members of the House of Commons were in the building when the explosion occurred." Even more video from London showed the streets around Parliament lined with debris. Ambulances and firefighters were all over as well as the police.
Xavier shook his head slightly. "It's begun," he sighed. "We cannot help those who have lost their lives," he continued, "but we can be sure to help protect those in danger now."
He flipped the communications switch on his console.
"Xavier to Scott."
"Go ahead, Professor."
"Is the strike team ready? How many people do we have?"
"We've got almost everyone here at the Academy. That's a total of seventy. We've heard the reports coming in. We'll need more than what we got to cover every major official that we need to cover."
"Yes, Scott, I agree. I will contact Hank McCoy. He can get some mutant help around the world. They will listen to him. He'll know who to put where. I'll also contact President Cockrum and let him know we're ready with a task force to combat Magneto. I will suggest that he allow some of you to cover government officials. You should be prepared to cover the President yourself, Scott."
"Yes, sir, Professor."
Professor X cut off the comm switch and turned to Storm. "How long until we reach San Francisco?"
"Within half an hour."
"Good. That will give me time to contact McCoy and the President. I suggest we head directly for Worthington Industries, Storm. There is a landing pad on the roof that should support the Blackbird."
"Yes, sir," she responded, and headed for the pilot's chair.
Rogue and Misty had departed the bus station and had hailed a cab to take them to Worthington Industries. Now en route to her destination, Marie started having second thoughts again. Her past experiences flooded her memory. She was silent for most of the trip, opting to stare out the window rather than talk.
Mystique noticed how silent the girl was, and was sure there were second thoughts racing through Rogue's head. What if we get there and she changes her mind? she thought. She snickered to herself. Then I'll have to take out the bastard myself.
The trip took a while. Traffic downtown was heavy. It was nearly evening before the cab pulled up in front of the Worthington building.
"Here ya are, ladies. Worthington Industries. Looks like they're about to close," the cabbie said.
Misty handed him a wad of cash. "It doesn't matter," she said. "We're friends of the owner. Thank you."
The two women stepped onto the curb from the cab, which sped off rather quickly. Marie was looking up at the building's top floor. Misty joined her gaze for a moment then looked at her. "Are you ready for this?" she asked.
Marie thought for a moment with her head still tilted back. She lowered her gaze to the ground before she spoke. "I . . . uh . . .Misty, I'm not sure anymore."
Misty turned Rogue to face her. Rogue's eyes were still looking down. "Look at me," Misty commanded.
Rogue slowly looked at the woman. Mystique put her hands on the girl's shoulders. "You can do this. The bastard deserves it. He was playing God and look what happened. Your boyfriend is dead. It's his fault. If he hadn't 'invented' a 'cure,' your boyfriend would still be here. Magneto would not be running around with a group of rogue mutants attempting to kill people again. Warren Worthington Jr. has to die."
Has to die. The words echoed in Marie's head. But wouldn't she be playing God if she took this man's life? She stared at Misty in silence. Undaunted by the silence, Misty turned the girl toward the door of the building and walked her inside. Rogue mechanically moved her feet as Misty gently nudged her forward.
Inside, the security guard asked their business and if they had an appointment. Unsettled by their answers (and lack of the same), he foolishly turned his back on them to check his appointment list. Instantly Mystique lunged on him and delivered a blow to the back of his neck that sent him sprawling unconscious. Rogue stared at her in disbelief.
"Self defense," she mused. "He wasn't going to let us in. Come on. We've got a mission to perform."
Rogue was still staring at her. Misty knew why.
"Self defense class? Karate? I take care of myself." She grabbed Rogue's sleeved arm. Come on."
They headed toward the elevator.
On the forty-second floor of Worthington Industries, Warren Worthington, Jr. was watching the news reports cascading in. Deep inside, he felt responsible for what was happening. If the cure had worked the way it was supposed to have worked, none of this would be taking place. Magneto would not exist as a powerful mutant, and none of his minions would be out again for world domination. He had a sinking feeling that they may come after him eventually for inventing the vaccine. He looked at his watch. Nearly six o'clock. He pushed the remote's off button and the large screen went blank. Rising from his seat behind the executive-size desk, he proceeded to file papers into his briefcase. The elevator ping caught his attention. Probably just Charlie making the first evening rounds, he thought.
"Good evening, Charlie," his voice rang out.
No answer, which was unusual. Charlie normally answered immediately. He closed the briefcase.
"Charlie?"
Still no answer. Lifting the briefcase from the desk, he turned toward the door. The appearance of two women at the door startled him. One was nicely dressed; the other was wearing some sort of gang-like jacket and had a white area of hair flowing down her face. He felt the fear in his gut.
"Who are you?" he asked. "Where's Charlie?"
The nicely dressed one answered the question, smiling. "We gave him the night off. We have business with you, Mr. Worthington," she said, walking casually into the room. Worthington backed away from her approach as he saw he other woman timidly follow behind the other. The door to the lab was just a few feet behind him. If he could make it there, he might be able to escape.
"What kind of business? I don't know either of you."
"No, I suppose not," the first woman said, "but you'll understand when you hear our story." She stopped advancing. Worthington was almost to the door. Obviously they hadn't noticed it. The first woman turned to the second one. "Tell him," she said.
Warren, Jr. looked at her. She looked at her companion, looked at him. She spoke.
"My name is Marie. I'm a mutant."
Fear slid down from his head and ran through his body, pitted in his stomach. Oh, god, he thought. They're here to kill me. He clenched the briefcase in front of himself like a shield though mentally he knew that was probably no defense against them. Marie continued.
"You killed my boyfriend."
Even as the words came out of her mouth, she felt the tremble in her body. You killed my boyfriend echoed in her head. Suddenly the vision of Bobby laying on her bed, looking at her with agony on his face, a death agony she still remembered, became clear in her head. The word she just spoke took on new meaning. Her purpose for coming cleared. Second thoughts left her mind.
Warren stared at her, an inquisitive look appearing on his face. "I killed your boyfriend?"
Marie's voice was stern. "What you did to me killed him. I took your so-called cure. I thought I could now have a normal life." Her voice trembled and Warren noticed it. The girl was upset and angry. "But it wore off. I was holding him when it happened. I absorbed his life-force. He died in my arms and it's all because of your damned cure." She took a step toward him.
He turned and bolted for the lab door, catching both women off-guard. He was through and had securely locked it before they were able to stop him. He leaned against it and breathed out, feeling safe.
On the other side of the door, Misty was slamming hard against it to no avail. The double bolt was too strong. She looked at Rogue. "There's another entrance. Let's find it before he gets away." She grabbed the girl by the arm again and literally pulled her along until Marie could regain a semblance of balance.
The Blackbird had settled on the roof's helicopter pad. It was almost too large for the pad and Storm thought she heard the building's upper supports groan at the weight of the craft. She lowered the tail ramp for disembarkation. Each team member scanned the area for signs of any danger before proceeding to the control room and elevator. Warren III was speaking.
"Dad's office is on the forty-second floor. If he's here, that's where he'll be. The lab is just off his office."
"Good. Thank you 'Angel'," the Professor said, taking position in between Wolverine and Storm. Warren III followed them.
In the lab, Warren, Jr. had straightened himself and was getting ready to try to leave when the two women burst through the lab's hallway door. He backed up, realizing that he would not escape the way he came because of the bolted lock on the door. He would not be able to open before they reached him. Fortunately, though, there were a lot of lab tables between them. Catching him wasn't going to be easy.
Misty smiled anyway. "Going somewhere?" she asked slyly. Her expression changed to one of anger. "I don't think so."
Warren tensed, waiting for her to pounce like a cat on a mouse. Instead, the woman calmly leaned against one of the tables. She looked at the fingernails on her left hand while her right crossed her chest.
"Then again, this isn't my fight," she said. She pointed to Marie, nodded her head in the girl's direction. "It's hers."
He turned his eyes to Marie who was standing in the doorway blocking any means of escape. He was holding the briefcase again like a shield in front of him, watching her. Her steps were slow and deliberate, eyeing him as she slowly removed the long glove on her left arm. She tilted her head slightly to the right, and then straightened it.
"All I have to do," she was saying, "is touch you. I can drain the life right out of you."
Fear filled him. He walked backwards until he felt the door on his back. He glanced at the other woman off to his right. She stepped back toward the open door to block his exit. He slid along the wall with Marie approaching from his left. Misty was enjoying this scene.
"That's it, Marie," she seemingly sang out. "Make his fear last. Make him panic before death."
Marie glanced at her briefly, but it was long enough for Worthington to get two table widths between them. Misty shook her head. "Thought you were better than that, girl. Look where he is."
Marie crouched slightly, started walking toward him again. "I thought you were going to help."
"I am. Don't I have the door blocked?"
Suddenly and without any warning, the bolted door to Worthington's office shattered, blowing fragments into the lab. All three ducked, sheltering themselves from flying debris, one with a briefcase and two with their arms. When the debris stopped, all three parties looked toward the now shattered door and noticed a man standing there holding several knives in each hand. Rogue recognized him immediately, as did Misty.
"Logan?" Marie said.
"Yeah, kid."
"Rogue," said a familiar voice.
"Professor?"
"Yes, Marie, it's the Professor."
Warren looked befuddled, and then knew who he was looking at. Oh, no. More mutants.
"Marie," the Professor was saying, "you must not do this."
"I have to, Professor. He killed Bobby. It's his fault Bobby's dead."
Storm stepped into the room. "No, Marie," she said. "Bobby's not dead. He's alive. Logan and I reached him in time. He's going to be okay."
Silence. No one said anything. Marie's thoughts raced. These were people who trusted her. They had never lied to her before. Yet something inside would not let go of that vision in her bedroom. She glanced at Worthington, then Misty, and returned to look at Storm, Wolverine and the Professor. She turned to Misty.
"What should I do?" She asked the question in general, not particularly at any one person.
Wolverine snarled, his claws still out. "Don't ask her, Rogue. That's Mystique."
Rogue shot him a look then glared at Misty in disbelief. "No." She shook her head. "It can't be, Logan. I would have known." She turned to Worthington, her eyes seemingly searching for an answer anywhere in the room.
The Professor spoke. "Rogue, she's deceived you. Let us help you."
She turned to face him. "No. You think I'm making a mistake. How do I know you're not lying now to protect him? What he did killed Bobby!"
Calmly and almost patronizingly, Storm said, "No, honey, it's okay. Bobby's okay."
Rogue shook her head, eyes down, as though afraid to look in the woman's for fear of seeing the truth. "No, you're lying. He deserves to die. What he did to me isn't fair." Tears fell from her eyes to the floor.
Softly, the Professor called her name. "Marie."
Marie shook herself and stomped her foot, head still down. "NO!" she shouted, sobbing. "Shut-up! I don't want to hear anymore!"
She had made it around to the aisle that Warren, Jr. was standing on. "It's not fair," she said, reaching out with her left hand. Mystique watched the scene intently.
Wolverine appeared behind Worthington. He positioned himself between the man and Rogue. "Life's not fair, kid," he said, retracting his claws. Warren headed for the other side of the room away from all of them. Mystique still blocked the door.
Rogue looked up at him with clenched teeth through her sobs. "Yeah, Logan? Really? How do you know what's fair and what's not? Huh? You don't know anything about my past."
She jerked slightly when she heard the SNIKT! of the blades extracting from his hands. He held them up before her. "These tell me life's not fair, kid. I'm stuck with 'em. Forever. I'm stuck with an adamantium skeleton. Forever. I regenerate. I can't die. Forever. And I've died and I've died and died. Over and over again. But I don't. I come back. My body heals faster and faster. I feel all the pain. But I can't die! And there're times I want to. I wanted to die on Alcatraz when I had to…take Jean's life. Somehow, a part of I guess what you call my soul died when she did. But I go on living."
Her sobbing had stopped. She was listening intently. Her heart turned sympathetic.
"How do you deal with the pain? I..I can't deal with the pain, Logan."
"You gotta be strong, kid. You have to move on." He paused. "Storm's telling the truth. Bobby's okay. I carried him to the infirmary. He's gonna be fine."
The tears started afresh. "Really?" she asked.
"Really."
Rogue's shoulders slumped to a relaxed pose, no longer defensive. "I almost did something terrible," she cried.
A thought that was not common to him entered his mind. He retracted his claws and held out his arms. "C'mere, kid," he said as compassionately as he could.
Rogue was impressed and touched by his gesture. She took two long strides and embraced him being careful not to touch his flesh with her bare arm. The Professor and Storm smiled. Warren III had entered the room and was approaching his father.
Misty appeared frustrated. "Damn all of you," she declared. "You little wimp," she addressed Rogue. "If you won't take him out, I will." That said, Misty's appearance changed abruptly. Suddenly there was no longer a well dressed woman standing in the lab, but a blue-skinned mutant. As soon as she changed to her natural appearance, she lunged at Warren Worthington, Jr. Storm was still by the Professor at the shattered door. Wolverine had just broken his embrace of Rogue and bared his claws. Angel was out of position, too, and would not reach his father in time.
The only one who had the slightest chance was Rogue. It wasn't Wolverine who broke the embrace, but her. She screamed, "NO!" and turned and leapt across a lab table toward Mystique. Rogue caught her in mid air with a cross body tackle that sent both women to the floor. Angel reached his father and pulled him back to where the Professor and Storm were. Wolverine watched from his vantage point a table away. Both women rolled after hitting the floor and came up into crouching stances facing each other. Wolverine started to move toward them. Rogue stopped him.
"Back off, Logan," she commanded. "She's mine." Logan noticed she barked the order without ever breaking eye contact with Mystique. He nodded and slowly backed his way to the Professor. "She's all yours, kid."
Mystique's eyes never broke contact with Rogue's while listening intently to every word that Wolverine said. She learned long ago not to take her eyes off the opponent she was facing. But then, looking at the young girl before her, she figured she did not have much of an opponent.
"Oh, please," she chided, "don't tell me you figure to take me. You're a mere child." She slowly moved to her left in a circular motion.
Rogue copied her movement to the right. "I'm not a little girl anymore, Mystique. I've grown. My powers are greater than they ever were."
Mystique smiled. "So are mine."
Rogue shook her head. "But yours are the power of illusion. That won't do you much good in a fight."
"A fight?" Mystique stifled a laugh. "With you? You've got to be kidding."
"I intend on taking you down."
The blue woman shrugged her shoulders. "Then I guess I have to teach you a lesson in respecting your elders…and your betters."
Rogue smiled. "You're not my 'better.'
"We'll see," she said, appearing to momentarily relax. Suddenly Mystique swung a roundhouse kick right towards Marie's face. The girl dodged and Mystique turned completely around. Rogue grabbed the opportunity as the woman's back was to her to leap onto her and wrap her arms around the woman. Unable to shake her off, Mystique leaned slightly forward and lunged backward, letting her feet come out from under her. Rogue continued to hold on even though she was about to land flat on her back with Mystique on top of her. In the few moments before impact, she drew in a deep breath. And just in time, as Mystique's weight came crushing down on her as she collided with the floor. She tightened her grip instead of loosening it. Her left hand was still ungloved but nowhere near Mystique's flesh. Mystique arms were somewhat free and she proceeded to elbow the girl in the ribs.
"Let me go!" she yelled.
"No way!" Rogue groaned back. While maintaining her grip with her right arm and legs, she repositioned her left arm and Mystique saw that ungloved hand coming near her face. She grabbed it with her right which is what Rogue wanted her to do. A soon as contact was made, Mystique felt the energy drain start. Immediately she released the girl's arm. That encouraged Rogue to go for her face. Mystique continued to jab Rogue's left ribs with her elbow, trying to knock the breath out of the girl.
Rogue's hand made contact with the woman's right cheek and she clamped down. A scream from Mystique indicated what was happening. Her eyes were wide in agony as she felt the life energy draining from her. Behind her, Rogue's eyes were closed tight. She was feeling every bit of anger and fear the woman had inside. Memories from the woman flooded her mind. As the Professor and the others watched, Rogue's skin started to turn a light shade of blue, while Mystique's seemed to be paling. Soon the struggle slowed, as Rogue absorbed more of Mystique's power. It wasn't long before Mystique was white-skinned and Rogue was a deep shade of blue. She broke her grip on the woman and rolled her off to the side.
Slowly she stood to her feet, breathing heavy and holding her left side. The Professor and Storm approached her with Wolverine and Warren III bringing up the rear.
Grimacing, she said, "I think she bruised a rib."
Wolverine was the first to speak. "Great job, kid."
Taking a deep breath and breathing out while slightly bent over, Rogue said, "Thanks. I don't think she'll be a bother for a while."
The Professor spoke. "We'll have to get her to a mutant containment facility rather quickly before what you did wears off."
A sound behind Rogue had the girl turn. Kneeling next to Mystique with a hypodermic in his hand was Warren Worthington II. He looked up at them. "It's the vaccine. It'll keep her in this condition until you can get her to that facility. The effects will eventually wear off, but at least she'll be where she can't hurt anyone."
Storm and Logan exchanged glances. The Professor said nothing. Rogue turned around to look at them all. "Now what?" she said nonchalantly.
"We need to contact Scott and check on the progress of tracking Magneto," Xavier said.
"Magneto?" Rogue queried.
"He's returned, with a vengeance," Storm told her.
The Professor looked at her. "We'll brief you in the Blackbird on our way out."
"And Scott?" she asked.
Wolverine responded. "He's alive." He looked at her blue skin. "How long until that wears off?"
Marie held up her left arm and studied it, then smiled at Logan. "Neat, isn't it?" She turned her arm admiring the blueness. "I think I like it."
Logan rolled his eyes.
She put her arm down and grinned. "I'm picking. It'll wear off in a few hours." She paused. "Maybe a day. I really latched onto her."
The Professor stopped. "You know," he said, "if that lasts a day, we could use it to our advantage."
Storm was inquisitive. "How so?"
"I don't think Magneto knows that Mystique is loose. We could set up for them to meet."
Angel chimed in, "But we don't know exactly where he is."
The Professor looked at him. "But we have a way of finding out."
Storm asked, "Cerebro?"
Professor Xavier nodded. "With some minor adjustments. I could not get a fix on his location earlier." He turned to Warren II. "Can you handle getting the authorities here to take her into custody? And make sure word doesn't leak out who it is?"
Worthington nodded. "No problem."
"Let's go, team. We have a megalomaniac to apprehend."