April 1, 2001
It had been almost three months since Teller reopened his bar. However, business had been very slow to pick up since no plans had been made to make the economy better. Xavier supported him as much as he could, but there was so much that even the Professor could have done. Instead, Teller dipped into his savings and did the best he could to attract people back inside. Because most of Salem center knew them to be mutants and partially responsible for their takeover, they did not want to enter. In the meantime, Teller advertised and soon found himself a few richer patrons that were a small group, but ones that did not like Ellis.
Logan sat in his usual spot at the counter one night, drinking some beer. If he had to be honest with himself, he missed the place and was glad to be back. It had been a few years since he was seated there, sipping a beer and enjoying the music. Things were different now, in a sort of shell-shocked way that he did not want to recognize. The circumstances are practically the same, but the characters were not. Teller employed people from the mansion to do menial work still, although they were getting younger and younger, and he controlled them better than he did with Vinnie Paul. Logan had to admit too that Teller could be cruel, crash and rude when he wanted to be, although this time, he was kinder and gentler.
On the other side of the counter, Rogue wiped down the dust that settled thickly and constantly since they had been gone. Bobby and Colossus were repairing windows (an almost daily task) and Teller was settling with some random DJ what he wanted for the night. There was no bouncer yet (Logan knew he was pegged for it though) and nobody guarded the back rooms that used to be the most revenue for the bar, with enough girls and booze to make a man happy. Teller was still working on that too, wishing it always to be the old days, when it was easier to be a mutant.
"Hey, kid, get you a Coke?" Logan asked Rogue while she was working.
Rogue turned to Logan, the cloth in her hands. "Not now, sugar. Maybe later. Need a refill on the pitcher?"
"Not yet." Logan looked at the almost-empty jug. "Got any news from town?"
Rogue frowned. "Nothing more than the usual."
"What's that mean?"
"Just what I said. People here are unhappy, they don't want to be here and they want Ellis back. They feel like they're stuck here without help and it's against their will."
"Nothing new there, kid. The only way we can work that is through rumors and showing them the truth."
"You can't just tell them?"
"People thrive on word of mouth. The more negative something is, the more people believe it. Right now, they've been led to think that we're the bad guys and that makes rebellion thrive."
"And we're using Ellis' tactics against him?"
"Right, kid. We'll tell ya when and how."
"Well, I think Bobby got something started."
"What?" Logan seemed taken off-guard, he was that surprised by the revelation.
"Yeah, he was talking with someone down the road," Rogue recounted in a bashful manner. "They were just chatting and all and Bobby said something about the camps. Not too many people know about it. Bobby got asked what it was like and he described it in detail. He said that he saw them firsthand and he told that person about what he witnessed."
"He could have endangered himself and everyone else," Logan spat out, trying to calm his temper. He was almost blind with rage that a kid – a teenager even! – disobeyed orders to keep his mouth shut.
"But he didn't," Rogue protested. "Nobody's bothered us. People have been pleasant or more so than they've been. I think the town might warm up someday, if we follow along with the rules."
"War doesn't have a set standard or has rules," Logan countered. "You use whatever you can against your enemy to win. Most of the time, it ain't pretty."
"Well, I thought it brave of Bobby."
"And I think it's foolish. Tell him to zip it or he'll deal with me. If he's asked about the camp by someone in town again, he can tell all he wants to stick with the story. If that's a spark, I think we'll go with it. I'll talk with Hank and the Professor. We might need to ring in Roger as well."
Rogue's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yeah." Logan had calmed down by then when he realized that there was a bright side to this. "But if Roger is coming, you better listen to him. You might not be lucky next time around. I'm just wind compared to Roger."
"Is it true he can make fire out of his hands?" Rogue asked, curious and fascinated all at once.
"Bigger than what your little imagination can picture," Logan confirmed. He took another sip of his beer, admitting to himself quietly that he was enjoying his conversation with Rogue, even if she was annoying, flirty and very worldly.
In many ways, Rogue reminded Logan of Danielle in that aspect and that was what made their relationship more paternal than anything else. However, he could not possibly fall in love with Rogue. True, she was about the same age as Danielle when she caught Logan's attention. However, she seemed more like a child than Danielle, who had gone through so much more than Rogue at an early age, and she needed more protection than anything else. Bobby protecting Rogue was going to get them both killed. Bobby also had a bad temper and often acted without thinking. He was also cocky and had an ego that was too easy to bruise.
No, it was good just to keep the kid within sight and hope that she doesn't get into trouble. If the relationship grew and was done right, Rogue could be Bobby's controlling factor anyway. Good enough for Logan. He had enough of drama and pity parties when Danielle was that age and younger.
How is she now? Logan had to wonder. It seemed like forever since he had seen Danielle, although it was maybe three years. What is she doing? What is she thinking? Is Mae still with her? What about Michael?
There were too many questions that needed answers. All Logan knew was that Danielle had been shipped out of the capital and that her picture was planted on most of the major newspapers south of their border. Some of them filtered up north too, shots of her in the most casual positions. The most recent had been her touring some of the camps. Logan obsessed over them for so long that he memorized every facial feature on each page and even tucked them away in the couch cushions. She appeared distracted, tired and even sad. She appeared blinded by all of the lights in her face and how she was the object of attention.
The only thing Danielle managed to get put in the papers other than her pictures was a sentence repeated throughout each media outlet. Peter Ellis constantly let everyone know that she had no comments to make. However, at one point, one nosy reporter questioned Danielle on how she felt about the camps, since she was rumored to be a mutant herself and nobody within the Ellis administration had confirmed nor denied the fact.
"I wish everybody nothing except peace," Danielle managed to say before Peter ushered her away.
That phrase rocked the rest of the country. Everyone was speculating what she meant and why. It was even said that Leon Ellis was meticulous and did not allow too much information about his wife to be released, which allowed so much to be talked about. Rumors of whether or not she was a human spread too, which added fuel to this particular fire. The people of Salem Center always had a nasty word to say, but because they loved the dictator so much, anything he did was met with approval. Her secret was safe for now.
"Logan? Are you there?" Rogue peered into Logan's dreamy eyes. "What's going on?"
Logan snapped out of his daydream, taking another sip to cover his tracks. "Nothing."
"Do you want to talk about her?"
"How would you know it was a woman?"
"I've seen that look in my dad's eyes when my mom disappeared. He always thought about her and imagined her in front of him. He misses her, I'm sure."
It was then that Rogue got quiet, her hands still holding onto the cloth. She had a past she didn't like talking about, Logan figured. All he knew about her (other than her childish relationship with Bobby) was that she was picked up down south by Mystique and that her home had been destroyed and her family killed. It was a tragedy that could not be helped. It just took time to get past it and that was what Logan would have said had she not turned around and continued her chores.
Teller was soon on the other side of the counter, telling Rogue to get going. He turned on the TV above their heads when she disappeared and switched it to a news station. With the Black Serpents now in charge, it was nicer to have almost uncensored reporters telling the people what they needed to hear. Granted, some of it was in code and usually sent by Roger, but that did not matter to those who ached for the madness to end. This also came in handy when news from south of their borders filtered up and came with mixed news, all of them contradicting the other.
"It has been said that the Ferris brothers have been assassinated," one newscaster said when Teller found the right channel, standing near what appeared to be the New York/New Jersey line. "Although there have been reports that Peter Ellis had been involved in this investigation and might be a key suspect, it has been confirmed through the Ellis administration that Henry Jones Mitchel, a Vietnam veteran, was directly to blame. More details at six."
Immediately, Teller turned off the TV. "Well, I should have known," he started. "Old Chameleon is stirring the pot again. Good riddance to those brothers though. They were more than a pain in the ass."
"Instigators, I take it?" Logan questioned, pouring himself more beer.
"More than I thought," Teller confirmed. "Witch burnings all over again, I'm telling you. They were starting up the new laws about shooting on sight and no trials."
"I kind of figured as much."
"They were also the powers that tried to be behind the throne. They knew who Danielle was. They were the ones who were bickering with Peter Ellis there about the succession and such, claiming mutant blood had taunted the line. Ugly business, Logan. Very ugly."
"Any chance we have at picking her up?"
"Roger is still working out the details. It's all about the timing. Be patient, Logan. It might take a year before we see her again she'll be back in your arms and begging for mercy before long."
Logan ignored the sarcastic comment. "When?"
"She might do it on her own," Teller said. "Roger might just pave the way for her and she'll flee. I can't say it enough, Logan, but be patient. It won't be long now."
"You all keep saying that."
"Well, Logan, patience isn't your strongest suit. Start making it."
Logan allowed his left middle claw to make the gesture he thought was best to reply to Teller. Finishing up his drink, he turned around in his chair. While the nightlife was quiet for now, a few people entered and commented on how much the place had changed. Rogue was soon making them welcome and setting them up at a table and asking for their order. Colossus and Bobby continued their work on the windows and soon moved to the DJ table, starting up the radio. Teller had since vanished, possibly to his apartment upstairs for whatever reason.
Flashing lights and slow music reminded Logan of too many good things, memories that he had to hold onto for the time being. The only thing he could do was watch the action, hope the kids were doing the right thing and drink. He always hoped that he would forget, but he found out that he remembered too much more…and that was a problem that he knew he would have to face and very soon. He only hoped that he would be able to hold his resolve until then.
~00~
Roger watched through the binoculars from his position. His house hunting in San Francisco yielded an apartment across the street from Danielle and Mae and that seemed to be a relief. Forsaking Canada for now and leaving Scott in charge of his cabin (and running to the border and back), he decided that he was going to be bold and dare himself to stare at his wife when he could. It was eye candy surely, but it also calmed him down and allowed him to sleep at night. She was alive and that was all that mattered to the maser spy now.
When he heard the door open behind him, Roger turned around, putting the eye piece back on a nearby table. He folded his hands into each other like in prayer and stared at the woman who appeared before him. She was an ordinary maid, dropping her equipment to the floor without ceremony and walking over to take a seat next to Roger. She was calm and collective, but her tension was evident and enough to cut through.
Mystique.
"How goes it?" Roger asked. "I assume they're still settling in?"
"And ready to go," Mystique confirmed. "Mar is most anxious to be rid of her brother."
"All in good time." Roger unfolded his hands. "We won't have a good shot at anything until Ellis comes back from Mexico and makes his next move. He's still vacationing and has been controlling his hands carefully, although I'm sensing an undercurrent of doubt."
"And Peter Ellis?"
"Still small, comparably speaking. He hasn't even lifted a finger in the Ferris brothers case, but has been trying to gather his own army. In the meantime, the leftover generals are at the ready, although they're very bored."
"Can't make up his mind, I take it?"
"Of course. Old Peter Ellis won't be himself if he didn't."
"When does he plan to move north?"
"I assume this month. It's only the first of April. There's enough time for him to start his spring campaign."
"We'll be ready."
"We usually are. Now, how do you think we can get Mae, Danielle and Michael out of here?"
"Distraction, I think. If we can cause enough trouble for Ellis all along the Canadian borders, then he'll have no choice but to pay attention."
"I agree."
"Furthermore, Roger, Ellis needs to be out of sight and too busy to see his own wife, son and sister. Once he is and security is lax, I can get them out of there. After that, they're going to be on their own in order for their tracks to be covered."
"I can take care of that," Roger promised. "I'll have a line of men ready to get them back to our side. I'm sure Scott and Alex would love me."
"But I have to warn you, Ellis is more powerful than you think." Mystique seemed serious. "He may appear like he's weakening since we've taken the northern side of the country and have Canada on our side. Right now, he has sympathy. Millions of people may be hungry, tired and scared, but not enough are motivated and more are too frightened to come out of their homes. We need more than rumors, Roger. We need time and more people. By next April, I am hoping that the deal with Mexico will make the country fall to its knees and we can stand in to help."
Roger rubbed his scratchy chin. "You have a point. You think the Mexican lands taken will lead to mutiny?"
Mystique did not seem surprised that Roger managed to get the news. Ellis had indeed taken over most of Mexico, smashing through with his armies behind him and claiming the capital to be his. He was now lounging on the beaches, claiming to be touring them with his mistress. Nothing new, Mystique figured. The man was a hard worker and got what he wanted, but he was also another politician who took too much advantage over the position he had.
"It might," Mystique finally said. "I would need more information. Think I can do a little more spying and less cleaning?"
"I would need a replacement maid." Roger frowned again. "I don't have too many people who would take your place, so this will be tough. I'll message Jubilee first though. Ellis is keeping her as a prized mistress down in Mexico. Let's see if she'll pretend to be sick and come back up. I can make her a new identity then."
Mystique nodded, standing up. "Good. Are we settled?"
"Except one more thing," Roger answered. "Tell Mae…"
Looking into the master spy's eyes, Mystique noticed that Roger faltered. He was breaking down, she noticed. The time away from his wife, his stepson now locked away in relative safety back in New York and handling the whole Black Serpent charade was taking its toll. Mystique knew that Chameleon was out there somewhere and was helping in the best way he could. However, it was Roger running the parade and it would be him that would die from exhaustion if he didn't slow down.
"I
"I'll let all of them know to have a little hope," Mystique decided to finish. "You, on the other hand, need some sleep. Want me to post someone at the door?"
Roger waved Mystique away. She obeyed, picking up her belongings and heading out. In the lobby downstairs, she told another Black Serpent man to watch out for Roger and make sure that he was still in good health. Then, she headed across the street and back to work. On the way back up to the suite though, she thought. Like Ellis, they needed a strong successor in order to keep the momentum. However, unlike Ellis, they didn't have as much as a following as people thought. A year could change everything, the shape-shifter decided…and this year would be the beginning of the end of Ellis and his cronies.
Everything will be better than it ever was and then some. That must Mystique could promise herself this time. It'll be the end of the hatred and bigotry and the time for equality and love. I cannot allow it to go on like this anymore. This will either end a lot of people or it'll end me and Hank. I just know it.