Author's note. The way I've been pumping these chapters out has left me with a little problem… I've run out of fully written chapters… however I'm working on new ones as we speak. What this means is while I rebuild my chapter cushion, there will be a general slowdown in the pacing of chapter posting. Sorry about this the slowdown shouldn't be too bad probably around one to two chapters a week…
Author's note 2 By the way I was checking the stats and i've reached over 4500 hits and I have over 75 reviews! You love it! You guys (and gals) really seem to love it! I must be doing something right! Please carry on reading! And review! Let me know what you think of the little twists and turns
Authors note 3 This story is slightly au in the origins of one character being different from what was established in X-men evo and that it borrows characters from another universe… this is actually anti Xavier but more anti Jean. I loved the marvel comics and fox kids Jean but evo Jean needs to be dragged out back and shot. So I'm giving fair warning for Jean fans it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Also, as I've said before this is anti Xavier but some readers may find Xavier's actions a little harsh. The thing is there is a precedence for his actions… in x-men –1 Xavier actually used his power on his lover (voight) to try to stop her from leaving him… and Xavier is not above playing outside the heroic guidelines he set down for his x-men, as witnessed by the story behind sage and the mystique series
This chapter is a bit of an insight chapter it gives the readers a look at the characters in this story
Shadowcrew Evolution
By Deathsheadx
Chapter Twenty One: Power SurgeSomewhere…unknown.
She ran across the rugged plains how long she had been running for she had no idea…
She wanted freedom from the endless nightmare suddenly she heard a growl and a dark figure jumped at her… she screamed and fell back tumbling down a hill
She scrambled upright and looked around where was she?
Then she noticed the door she debated going through it but then she heard the growl again and saw the dark figure coming towards her she panicked and dived through the door…
Bayville high"So Shiro how's the containment suit holding up?" Asked Lance
"It is… amazing!" said Shiro "I…I look human again! Do you know how long it's been since I've seen skin instead of flames? I know it's artificial but still…"
"Its like Kurt when he first got his image inducer I hear he was especially happy about being able to fit in… just remember…"
"I know," said Shiro "trying to fit in should not define me…besides even with me looking normal I don't think I would fit in after spending 11 years locked away"
"True that you have no modern style… say where's your sister?"
"She is enjoying having boys drool over her…"
Lance looked round to se Leryu talking to some football players…
Elsewhere"I can't believe it I finally get to do normal stuff again!" said Mary Jane to Laynia
"You miss going to school?"
"Well yeah! Don't spread it around but I love school I love drama class especially I wanted to be an actress!"
"And you could still be an actress…"
"Yeah right! Not likely, I'm a walking sonic time bomb!"
"With time you will master your powers…"
"I hope your right…"
Tabitha brushed past and ran ahead to meet a blond haired girl
"Yo Felicia," said Tabitha
Felicia smiled "how you doing Tabby?"
"Doing great! I was wondering there's an under 18 club night down on 8th street you wanna go?"
"When is it?" asked Felicia
"Friday…" said Tabitha
"I'll…oh hell no… what the f#ck is she doing here?" Snapped Felicia
"Wha?" Said Tabitha but Felicia was already on the move she grabbed Mary Jane and spun her around
"FELICIA?" Gasped Mary Jane
"What are you doing her bitch?"
"There's no need to get rude!"
"You invaded my space MJ, and you stole him from me… and you have the nerve to tell me not to get rude?"
"I didn't steal him! Now back off!"
"He was mines MJ! Peter was mines we could have been together right now but he betrayed me for you!"
"What? Felicia come on!"
"He dumped me started dating you and sold me out to the cops MJ! Its all your fault my mom lost her company and we were forced to move and now you're here to finish the job!"
"Peter told me it wasn't like that!"
Tabitha caught up with Felicia "you know each other?"
"Yeah MJ here was supposed to be my friend but she stole my boyfriend from me and made him betray me to the cops…"
"You were committing crimes! Peter had no choice!"
"Yeah right! Before when I stole stuff I always put it back the next day it was a game I played with my boyfriend I commit a crime he would try to catch me, heck I hadn't stolen anything in months!"
"So…you still love him?" asked Tabitha quietly as she dragged Felicia away
"No… that ship has sailed you know who I love…don't worry about the past…the point was what is she doing here?"
"She's at the institute she's a mutant…"
"Oh that's great she screws up my life in New York now she's come to take away my happiness here! She hasn't been making any suggestions to you about being more than friends has she?"
"What? No!"
"I wouldn't put it past her,"
"You seem awfully hung up on her yourself you sure that you're thing with peter is over and I'm not a place holder?"
"What? Why on earth would you think that? I know I'm a little, well irrational but her arrival in New York was the beginning of the end of my life there, she brings up bad memories…. I'm over peter, I'm just not over her…you're the girl for me Tabby,"
"I mean we're moving awfully fast just the other day I was crushing on the elf and now all I can think about is you!" said Tabitha "I thought I was 100 hetro! To fall in love with you so quickly is startling!"
"And you've had the same effect on me," said Felicia with a light kiss
At a school assembly, interim principle Holmes presents Jean with the MVP award for her performance in soccer as Jean starts her acceptance speech, she begins to hear everyone's thoughts. They become overwhelming and she freaks out, knocking over the awards table and yelling.
The voices stop suddenly and Jean realise everyone is staring she makes a joke about losing her head and finishes her speech.
After assembly Lance catches up with Kitty "yo Kitten," said Lance with a smile "walk you to chemistry?"
"Why thank you kind sir!" said Kitty with a giggle
"Lance man that's a little oversweet!" Said Pietro "any sweeter and I'll get diabetes!"
"Shut up Pietro!"
"Shiro you in chemistry as well?"
"Yes I am I will be in chemistry…"
"I do not understand the need for all this schooling," groaned shatterstar "I mean we should be learning how to relieve foes of their heads!"
"That's a very vivid idea star but we have to at least learn some of this stuff we'll never know when it comes in hand."
"How so Freddy?"
"Well I've got home economics so I can learn how to cook… I mean which do you prefer raw meat or a honey roast ham and potato dinner?"
Shatterstar started to drool
"I see you agree," said Freddy
"Is there anyway I can transfer from biology to home economics?"
"We'll see what we can do," said Freddy "our home-ec teacher is a gourmet chef she'll teach you how to cook meals you wont believe…trust me star you're going to love it"
Somewhere…unknown.She found herself in a room with wall to wall screens on the screens was a woman being shot and falling to the ground dead "mama noooo!" Screamed a little girl
The scene changed and a man was running.
He was carrying the little girl in his hands they were almost to freedom when shots rang out once more. The man fell to the ground and then the shooter appeared…
It was professor Xavier
"Ah there you are," he said to the little girl "I'm going to take you and mould you into the perfect little soldier…"
"You shan't have her!" said the dark figure with a roar lunging forward Bayville high"Jean?"
"Yeah Scott?"
"What happened out there? Are you okay?"
"Pfff. It was nothing Scott," said Jean blowing the incident off "hey you going to Duncan's party later?"
"I don't know Jean…" said Scott
" Come on Scott, it'll be fun! Do it for me?"
"Well… okay," said Scott in resignation.
"Great!" Said Jean walking away
Chemistry"You know its all your fault," said Lance "you really got me into chemistry."
Kitty grinned, "was it the stink bomb we made in Northbrook?"
"That would definitely be the point my obsession started…hey look fresh meat!" said Lance pointing to the new chemistry teacher
"I'm McCoy, your chemistry teacher I will also be your new gym coach. Okay first things first close your chemistry books, you're not going to need them."
"Wha?" Frowned Lance "why?" He blurted out.
"Because today we're going to be making stink bombs," the class cheers. Kitty and Lance grinned.
"Should we use our own recipe?"
"Hell yeah!" said Kitty
-----------
Later at the partyScott and Duncan were playing ping-pong. Jean gets frustrated at the fact she was being ignored and stops the ping pong in midair before dropping it she drags Duncan away to talk to him.
"Jean what was that for?"
"Stop it Duncan! Stop trying to make me choose between me and my friends!".
"Most of your friends are dorks Jean they don't appreciate you! Not like I do!"
"My friends are not dorks Duncan! Thet---" Jean stops mid retort as her mind was assailed by the thoughts of others. She shoves Duncan out of the way and takes off running outside.
Scott is standing out on the balcony when Jean rushes out.
"Jean?" He asks as he steps towards her, but she hits him with her Telekinesis and knocks him off of the balcony.
"Jeeeeaaaaannnnn!" Yells Scott as he plummets to the ground.
"Scott? SCOTT!" Gasps Jean and she's able to get a grip and catch him right before he hits the ground
Scott finds himself hovering over the pool
"Hey Jean you okay?" Asked Duncan coming out to check on Jean
Jean drops Scott and he ends up in the pool.
---------
"What's happened?" asked Kevin looking at the thoroughly wet Scott when he arrived at the institute
"It's not worth talking about." Murmured Jean
Just then Tabitha and Felicia walked in. to the shock of the xmen
"W-whats everybody staring at?" Asked Tabitha. Just then Wolverine walks in pops his claws to grab an apple, then leaves. Xavier raises an eyebrow. "What? Its cool Felicia knows we're mutants!"
"Of course she knows we're mutants, she's one of Lance's allies!" Said Scott "why did you breach our security like this?" he snapped before storming off
"What? Oh come on! I thought we're supposed to be open to fellow mutants and all that jazz but the moment she steps foot---"
"Tabby its okay… don't worry about it, see you at school?" Tabitha nods mutely and watches Felicia leave
Inside Xavier sighs and looks at Tabitha. "Tabitha there are obvious reasons why we have to schedule visits. Security is one of them…" he says
"But what's wrong with letting her come to the institute? So what if she's friends with Lance and co I'm friends with Kurt! Besides she hasn't participated in any fights against the xmen! It's not fair! Its always Tabitha don't do this, don't do that!" I bet baldy would treat jean this way! She thought
"That's not true!" said Jean "he doesn't treat me any different!"
"You…you read my mind? Who gave you permission to snoop?"
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to! It just happened!"
"My mind is private red! You got that bitch!"
"There's no need to get rude! I said I was sorry! Just because you don't want anyone to know that you and Felicia are in a lesbian sexual relat---oops I didn't mean I don't...I…"
Tabitha looked at Jean murderously. "Thanks a lot Jean rip my secrets from my mind and broadcast them to the world!" Tabitha turned round and stormed out.
"Jean are you okay? You're usually more guarded than this…"
"I'm just tired professor I just need a good night's sleep."
----------------
Somewhere…unknown.
She was falling…no that wasn't correct she was sinking the ground was swallowing her up
Everything was going dark when she felt strong arms pull her out of the ground
"Wha? Who? Scott?" She gasped
"Hey Rogue…"
----------------
The next day at Bayville highNext day at track tryouts, Duncan and Scott were participating in another testosterone-athon. Duncan trips up Scott, knocking off his glasses.
McCoy throws Duncan off of the team and helps Scott up.
Jean loses control again, using her TK to send her javelin flying through the air uncontrollably. The javelin hurls towards Kitty and some other girls getting ready to run a race. Lance is watching Kit from the stands nearby and sees the javelin coming. He causes a tremor that knocks the girls off of their feet and the javelin passes by just above their heads. Kitty looks round Lance smiles and waves at her, and then shrugs.
Kitty frowned was Jean really so brazen?
Under the bleachers Tabitha and Felicia were in a passionate kiss. They broke apart "you know lets get out of here… you want to come down to the carriage house?"
"The carriage house?"
"Yeah I discovered it the other week it's a little way off from the main institute but its in good shape… place hasn't been lived in for years…"
"Would… you know Xavier not want me on his grounds?"
"I discovered a hole in the security grid, we can sneak in and what he doesn't know won't hurt him!"
"Sure why not," grinned Felicia "lets bail!"
Meanwhile Jean is causing more chaos. She hurls shot-puts out in random directions. McCoy and Scott stop them from harming anyone
"Is it me or is something wrong with Jean?" said Lament
Annabelle tensed "I think she's having a surge…"
"A surge?"
"Her power-levels are increasing and she can't control it."
"Well I best stop her from harming anybody," said Lament "a telekinetic chop should do the trick…"
Lament tries to take her out but subconsciously Jean lashes out telepathically taking down Lament
"Lament!" gasped Lance
Annabelle rushed over striking at Jean with a telepathic jab Jean collapse and Scott and Laynia rush Jean to the car to get back to the Institute.
"Annabelle why won't she wake up?" asked Todd
"Her mind… her mind isn't in her body!"
"What is she?"
"No… it's trapped in jeans mindscape! We've gotta get Jean to let go!"
"Shadowcrew follow the xmen back to the Xavier institute!" snapped Lance
Carlton manorRex drops down out of the ventilation shaft into the medi bay he looks around and makes his way over to the patient in the medi-bed he looks down and stroked rogues hair "you're such a pretty fille shame I gotta kill ya… he pulled at a dagger and swung down…"
The Xavier instituteThey take her to a lab. Xavier asks Scott to leave as items begin to fly about the room by themselves. "Deming! Whisper! Activate emergency protocol seven!" Yelled Wolverine…
"Understood!" said Dr Deming "okay this way kids!" She said to the gathered new mutants
"Aren't we going to help?"
"No, protocol seven is to remove you all to safety," said sister whisper she ushered them to the hanger and they boarded the newest iteration of the x-jet, the blackbird and took off wait
"Where's Tabitha?" she asked
"She was still at school," said doctor Deming
"Nuh-huh!" said Jubilee "she was playing hooky with her friend Felicia she was down at the carriage house!"
"What? She's still on the grounds!" said Dr Deming…
"We can't turn round," said sister whisper "but tom should be on the grounds still…tom… this is whisper,"
"What is it whisper?"
"New mutant boom-boom is still on the institute grounds!"
"She was supposed to be at school!"
"She was being truant see if you can find her!"
"Got it!" said tom…
---------------------
Somewhere…unknown.
Rogue looked round she could see people she knew Lance, Freddy, Todd…Jean, mystique, Kurt… and Cody
"What's going on?"
"We're just ghosts Rogue, fragments that you've collected." said Cody
"Ghosts? Wait I'm dreaming aren't I?"
"In a way, yeah." said Freddy "this is just a mechanism for your subconscious to communicate to you…"
"Wow Freddy you're almost sage like…"
"I was never dumb Rogue people just kept saying I was and I started to believe them but enough about me… its time for you to choose."
"Choose?"
"You can continue to run Rogue or you can take a stand and face the future no matter how painful it is… said mystique."
"I…I'm not sure I understand."
"Rogue you've absorbed me, Logan and sabertooth that mean within your genes is the power to self heal…you've already healed up physically you should be awake but you're running from reality you don't want to face the real world so you're stopping yourself from wakening up…"
"Ah'm afraid." said Rogue
"But most of us will be there to back you," said Lance "the real us out there and we fragments are now part of you in here…"
"There isn't much time Rogue you have to choose…" said Cody
"I…" began Rogue unsteadily "I choose to stop running," said Rogue softly
---------------------
"What the hell is going on?" said Tabitha in surprise as she sees the Shadowcrew storming the institute grounds…
"I say we find out!" said Felicia racing after them into the institute she and the others arrive in the medi centre what she and the others saw as the entered surprised them… waves of psionic energy were bleeding off of jean
Xavier tried to reach Jean telepathically. He had to calm her down, get her under control before something terrible happened…
Just then Jean suffered another power surge, which blasts the lab and knocks Xavier into a wall. Felicia is also sent flying and smacks into an expensive scanning equipment that electrocutes her…
"Felicia nooooo!" Yelled Tabitha grabbing her "oh s#it she smells like cooked pork oh jeez please don't die!"
The Shadowcrew scatters as debris goes everywhere quicksilver grabs the unconscious Lament and Tabitha manages to grab the badly electro burned Felicia…Sunpyre grabs her brother and drags him away as well
"I cant get a clear telepathic grip!" said Annabelle suddenly she screams out and collapses to the floor
"Oh no." said Xavier shakily
"What's wrong Xavier?" said tad carter
"Annabelle and I attacked at the same time it allowed jeans baser emotions access to her powers, now we're not dealing with an uncontrollable girl, we're dealing with an enraged uncontrollable girl governed by her darker instincts!"
"Rita teleport in and stun her!" Yelled Avalanche
"Got it!" said spiral she started to conjure but screamed out mid sentence as one of her arms snapped back at an awkward angel…
"She broke my araaaaaaa!" Screamed spiral as another arm yanked back and snapped followed by two more
"Enough!" roared shatterstar leaping forward his sword outstretched to stab Jean
"Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaannn!" Yelled Scott in horror Jean spun round and a telekinetic blast shot straight through Shatterstar's gut
"Star!" Yelled avalanche "damn you Scott, look what your warning caused!"
"I couldn't let him kill her!"
"Who said he would kill her? Shadowcrew crash and burn!"
"Got ya!" said shooter firing full force smashing into jeans shield Wanda started to hex bolt Jean when she hit the ground quicksilver hit her with a rapid series of punches
"Jean!" Yelled Scott
"Kid hold back," said Daryll "they're subduing her!"
"They're killing her!" yelled Scott firing off an optic blast hitting quicksilver in the leg causing him to stumble
"SUMMERS!" roared Kitty "forearm quickly before she…"
"Too late." snapped Jean as her eyes flashed and she unleashed a colossal telekinetic burst that ripped through the side of the institute sending prime and darkstar flying into the woods
"Oh hell no!" snapped Kitty as she was flung telekinetically against a wall
"I hate you!" screamed Jean in anger
"Feelings mutual bitch!" snapped Kitty
Jean telekinetically flung Kitty against another wall Kitty was too dazed to fade… Pietro rushed in to grab Kitty but due to the blast to the leg he was slower and Jean managed to hit him in the gut with a piece of debris in her rage. She turned to Kitty and a large piece of the collapsed ceiling levitated into the air and hurtled towards Kitty
"Kitty noooo!" screamed Lance struggling up
Suddenly there is an explosion as something smashed through the debris into the ground creating a fair sized crater
"Who the?" Asked Wolverine as everyone looked at the crater
A singular figure walked out of the crater dressed in only a hospital gown
"I don't believe it…" said Xavier…
"Rogue."
Flashback to earlierRex swung down with his blade only to have his swing stopped he suddenly felt weak he looked down and to his horror he saw his attack was stopped by rogues hand and she was draining him… in desperation he pulled out his gun but Rogue opened her eyes there was a red flash and moments later Rex's body minus the upper half of his torso slumped on the bed. Rogue stumbled out of bed heaving and coughing her eyes swirled different colours as her body seemed to go through a state of flux suddenly she felt it, the need to be somewhere… with a roar she shot into the air
And now Rogue stood before the xmen and the Shadowcrew in the wrecked medibay however it was not the Rogue they remembered. She had changed. Her hair is long, her brown hair has darkened its almost black her irises had changed to green cat like irises and pupils and she now had slightly pointed ears her fingernails were like cat claws and her canines were more prominent
"R-Rogue," said Kitty in surprise
"Ah'm sorry ah was so blind Kitty," she said softly. She turned to Jean with a snarl "as for you bitch…." she lets rip wit a focused blast of Scott's optic blast, Laments kinetic blast and Shane's photon blast it smashes into jeans barely erected telekinetic shields with tremendous force sending Jean smashing into a wall…
Jean roared in anger and throws debris at Rogue, but Rogue moves with Pietro's speed she slams her fists into Jean with the augmented strength of the blob
A true power struggle is going on before the Shadowcrew and x-men's eyes Jean with her vastly increased psionic might versus the powerhouse Rogue has become. Every mutants she's ever tapped powers were at her disposal. Slowly Rogue began to overwhelm Jean physically she moves too fast for Jean to track subconsciously, she is augmented by Sabertooth, forearm and blobs strength she teleports out of the way of jeans attacks with Kurt's power Jean is becoming disorientated in the back of her mind she realises she is loosing no she screams sending out a telekinetic wave but what happens next surprises Jean, Rogue teleports and lets rip with jeans own telepathic power it wasn't strong as jeans normal or enhanced telepathy probably due to Rogue having only lightly absorbed Jean before but it stuns Jean for long enough for Rogue to make physical contact "gotcha bitch!" Yelled Rogue in triumph "its over!"
The telepathic maelstrom calms down and Xavier gets a strong reading of Rogue's emotional state hate. Pure unadulterated hate for him. Rogue turns to Xavier "did you get what you want?" she said in a strangely spooky tone
Xavier looks at Rogue in shock she had felt him read her in a panic prepares to do battle once more
"Whoa!" said Rogue raising her hands "I wont kill ya today chuckles!" said Rogue with a snarl "Ya took everything from me Xavier…everything from me for your damn dream… I swear by all that's holy I will make it my sole goal in life to tear your dream down and then… when all said and done, your dream ashes beneath my feet, then I will come find you and kill you!"
"And we'll be there to watch!" snapped Lance "Shadowcrew grab our wounded and lets go!"
As she turned to leave Rogue walked over to Scott and leant forward and whispered something… Scott started to tremble
"Tabitha give Felicia to me…" said Shane
"Promise me you'll help her!" Said Tabitha in tears…
We promise, she's Shadowcrew we look after our own
"Spiral you up for a teleport?"
"My arms are broken," she winced
"Don't worry we'll heal them but good when we get home." Replied lance
"Gadeevra you okay?"
"Loosing my guts is never a pleasant experience…"
"I'm coming with you I need to be with Felicia," said Tabitha.
"Fine." said lance
Kitty walked up to Rogue "you okay?"
"I…I'm cool," said Rogue. "Look I'm sorry for how I acted before,"
"What changed?"
"I stopped fighting the voices and took control I truly absorbed them the helped me see…"
"All of them? The bits you got from the crew, the xmen? Even Sabertooth's homicidal tendencies?"
"I jettisoned that part and the truly undesirable parts…which reminds me I'm kind of naked and feeling more than a little cold," Rogue suddenly shifted into a fully feral state.
"How did you do that?"
"I have control of the abilities I absorbed…" and with that the Shadowcrew left…
Half an hour later at Carlton manor
Tabitha sat in the corridor her face buried in her hands…
"You okay?" said Kitty
"I can't go back Kitty," said Tabitha with a sigh.
"What do you mean?"
"I go back I have to sit there and bare the fact that she hurt my Felicia, I'll have to play happy soldiers for Xavier… sure badger's—"
"Badger?"
"Wolverine."
"Oh…"
"Sure his crew might be trying to make sure we have options but what do you do when you have Jean and Scott hovering over you preaching Xavier's way… the way Scott and Jean act they act like being an xman is the way to go… you know Jubilee and iceman?"
"Yeah I've seen them around they'll be joining Bayville high next year won't they?"
"Yes but the thing was when they first came to the institute they only wanted control but now with Jean going on about how we must learn control and use our powers for good and Scott going on about how cool it is to be an xman all the talk about is getting promoted to the a team."
"To be honest there aren't many other options around," said Kitty. "There is a war in the making…"
"I know I know its just I cant face that…bitch and what she represents… she hurt people today if star didn't have a healing factor he would be dead… but the thing is I know that it'll be forgiven that Jean will go back to being miss popular preaching to the masses converting them to her cause the whole thing covered up because Xavier will claim they need unity and all the while my Felicia has to suffer through the aftermath of jeans rampage…if I go back I would try to kill her…"
"You're saying you want to join us?" said Kitty.
"I guess that's what I'm saying, I want to bring Jean down I want to hurt her and Xavier for hurting Felicia…"
"Well all I can say is I know the gang would welcome you…"
Rogue sat looking out a window.
"I am glad to see you awake child."
"Irene?"
"Yes dear you like the new look"
"You look young, really young!"
"I had cancer Anna"
"C-cancer?"
"Yes it was terminal but Essex cured me and rejuvenated my body how do you feel?"
"Alive. More alive than I felt before…I'm different Irene"
"I know. I foresaw it."
"Foresaw?"
"I'm a precog I see the future I knew that you would wake and when you awake you would begin your evolution."
"Begin?"
"Yes this is just the beginning when you're evolution is finished you will be in a vastly different position than you are now…"
"Ah wasted so much time on Xavier… on Scott."
"On Xavier…yes but on Scott… no."
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since what happened to you at the asteroid m site he has secretly been questioning himself questioning Xavier…sure he acts like the quintessential X-man but Xavier's actions towards you and your family have planted a seed."
"Where's mystique?" Said Rogue changing the subject
"On a secret mission for her father… come Rogue I think its time you became reacquainted with your family both past and present," she was lead towards the medi-bays "by the way nice job with Rex."
Rogue stopped still she had been trying to forget she had killed a man without a hint of remorse
"Rogue?"
"Why is it, it doesn't bother me anymore?" she murmured
"I'd say its because through filtering and absorbing the persona's of the people you've tapped you've gained a refined understanding of killing…" said Mr Sinister "you know what it is to kill, you are informed of the reasons and consequences of the act."
"Um…is it alright if I call you grandpa?" Said Rogue quietly
Mr Sinister's eyes widened then he smiled "I would be honoured Anna… but I must go and check on Felicia," said Mr Sinister walking away.
"You don't know how happy you just made him."
"What do you mean?"
"Years ago his whole family was torn asunder he's only now started to regain them… to hear you call him grandpa acknowledges blood ties and gives him hope for the future."
"Wow he's that big on family?"
"He's immortal dear he hates being alone…"
Irene opened the door to the medibay where the Shadowcrew had gathered along with Tabitha
"Any news on Felicia?" said Tabitha
"Doctor Essex is checking on her right now he promises she should heal up fine… now then I just wanted to reunite the Shadowcrew with a formally lost member…" Rogue entered the room.
"Hi ya'all," said Rogue softly "I guess I was pretty stupid running with Xavier."
"Heh we all make stupid mistakes every once in a while," said Todd "I'm just glad you're back"
"You're not gonna run again?" said Freddy
"Nope this time I'm here to stay I wont let myself mess up again!"
"Then we're cool," said Freddy he grabbed Rogue and hugged her "welcome back!"
As he put Rogue down she was confronted by Kitty…"Kitty she said I—"
Kitty held up her hand "I told you once I was willing to be your friend I always meant that and now I think I'm going to get a chance to prove it…" she offered Rogue her hand.
Rogue grinned and took Kitty's hands in her own and shook it "I'll like that," she said.
"So…Rogue, that was quite a display back at the institute you got control over your powers?" Asked Lance
"No," sighed Rogue "it seems I only have control over the powers I actually absorb…"
"I'm sorry. Looks like there's still a long road ahead for you," said Lance. "You know I don't think you've been introduced to the new members of the Shadowcrew…"
The Xavier instituteJean lay in a bed looking out a window
Xavier turned away to see Wolverine walking towards him "Logan?"
"How's she doing chuck?"
"She's horrified at her rampage."
"It was quite expressive," said Wolverine. "How are we going to explain what went down, what she did?"
"We don't."
"What? Chuck come on!"
"Do you want to tell the others that the girl they look up to lost control and went on a murderous rampage?"
"I… surely wouldn't honesty…"
"I'm not saying we deny she lost control of her powers in fact I'm not saying we deny people got hurt… I just think that the others know that at one point Jean actively reached out and hurt people, even though they are the enemy, would not do us any good…"
"Fine, but you've got to let tad work with her anger issues its obvious she's been repressing and he is a certified psychiatrist…Chuck I don't think Tabitha's returning."
"Boom-Boom has gone?"
"She was leaning that way before we had a feeling she would bail she's anti establishment and that means she was chafing under our restrictions chuck?"
Another one I lost another one…why do I keep failing? Why can't I keep hold of them? Thought Xavier in despair
Sinister looked at the girl regenerating in the nutrient bath when the doors burst open and Lydia hardy stormed in
"Hello Lydia," said doctor Essex
"What happened to my daughter?" screamed Lydia…
"She was caught in a telekinetic explosion that sent her into an electrical device causing a massive surge which basically flash fried her. I'm currently healing her body"
"I should never of brought her to this backwater town I should never of trusted you with her life look where its ack!" Gasped Felicia's mom as she was grabbed and lifted up by Sinister his hand around her throat
"It would do you well to remember that it was I who managed to save you from jail…" snapped Sinister "you seem to forget who it is your family is beholden to…me."
"I…I…please don't hurt me!" whimpered Lydia
Sinister ignored her cries for mercy "it was I who saved your grandfather in world war one! It was I who helped him flee Germany and start a new life in America…it was I who saved your mother from the genetic cascade that nearly killed her, it was I who helped you and your daughter to escape the Kingpin's wrath! It was I who instructed you to come to Bayville…so your daughter can be cultivated… so she can be saved from the same condition that nearly killed your mother! And you dare question my instructions? My judgement?"
"I'm sorry my lord," said Lydia gasping for air…
"Your daughter will survive this… she will heal, she will be stronger than before… and when the evolution comes she will be on the winning side… once the kingpin knew her identity he would stop at nothing to procure her to use as leverage against her father, leverage I now have! Her father will give me what we need and with it my plans will move forward!"
End of Chapter Twenty One