Warning: This is more of a filler. Contains the plot from 'Day of Reckoning parts 1 and 2', 'Day of Recovery', 'The stuff of heroes'.
Logan was missing and everyone was on edge.
He'd set out to deal with an apparent skirmish of the Sabertooth variety, which lead the warring duo to the town sewer's. Of course, the suspicion rose at the man's actions, particularly with the assumption that he did not act alone, not that he was stupid, but he would never pass up an excuse to battle with Wolverine.
The Professor had received a call earlier in the day, calling him away from the mansion. This in itself was not alarming but people were worried that he should be absent at a time like this. They were relieved when he returned later that night and announced that Jean needed to practise her telepathy, using Cerebro.
"Everyone else, I need you in the danger room. We do not know what is happening. You must be prepared for anything."
When Scott tried to argue, he was dismissed. "These are my orders Scott. Please see that they are fulfilled."
The strangeness hadn't ended there.
Storm and Hank were tasked with tracking Logan, while the Brotherhood team were made to join ranks.
Kitty chose to be direct. "What's going on, Lance?"
"I don't know. Mystique won't tell us anything."
"Wait, she's back?" Rogue caught hold of his comments.
He nodded. "Yeah, it's recent but I take it she hasn't made contact?"
Rogue half snarled. "Why would she? It's not like Ah'm her child." She motioned to Kurt.
"Look, none of us know what's going on, but I suggest we follow orders." Scott's words cut the discussion and for the next few days, they were kept busy.
That is until Logan's last location was discovered. The teams were divided and sent to separate locations, with different agendas. Rogue's team were dispatched to an abandoned construction site. It reminded her of the time the Brotherhood hijacked Mystique's big reveal to Kurt. It all seemed so long ago.
They split up upon arrival, searching all four corners. It was all clear. Either they had been mis-informed or they had walked into a trap.
Rogue noted the metal spheres, reminiscent of Magneto's most common form of travelling, but before she could alert anyone else to their presence, she was grabbed from behind...
XxX
The rest of the team weren't so lucky. Magneto's Acolytes were in full force and weren't holding back.
There was no thought to secrecy or containment until the ground below started shaking.
"Lance, knock it off!" Kitty yelled her voice even higher than normal.
He yelled in return. "It's not me!"
He'd stayed near Kitty and reached for her as the ground below their feet literally started splitting, causing everyone to fall below, into the darkness.
At the same time, Pietro made a quick escape, evading capture.
From there it was chaos.
Those that fell landed on a metal platform within an underground factory and were captured. The ones that had escaped went into hiding, unaware that Magneto had orchestrated the whole event. News crews were there to see the damage done as giant robots attacked the captured mutants over the next few days.
People were turning against them, the police were after them and oh, someone had set the mansion to self-destruct, enabling news crews to get first hand views of the school and reveal to the world it's 'true purpose'.
Plans were made for recovery missions when they learnt that Mystique had impersonated the Professor. She was keeping his location secure to use as leverage for control over the teams. The only trouble was how to get to them.
They had arranged a meeting point and were fighting over who was going to lead the hunt, when a man stepped out of the shadows. They questioned him over his allegiance, thinking he was on his own.
"Why should we believe a thing you say?"Mystique snarled, snootily.
He smirked, raising his hand to click his fingers, sending the signal for at least two dozen armed men to surround the group.
"Now, I can't get involved officially, but I'll give you guys a clue. It's up to you to set things right." He turned to go. "Oh and I think this person belongs to you." He gave a nod and one of the men reappeared, with Rogue by his side.
"Remember, not a word."
XxX
There was no time to question Rogue's subsequent disappearance and reappearance. Not when they had friends in need of their help.
The teams worked well together to release their teammates but at the last moment, Scott left Mystique trapped, when she refused once again to divulge the Professor's location. There was little time to celebrate as their powers were required. Juggernaut had been released. The Army couldn't restrain him and his path of destruction was growing steadily.
For Rogue's part, the fight was personal. This man had hurt her mother and may well have hurt her father.
The focus was to remove his helmet and get close enough to drain him and incapacitate him enough so that he could be captured again. How he got out, no-one knew or was taking the time to decide.
It took all their combined strength and as Rogue fought one on one, she felt his raw rage develop. It would be so easy to destroy him, came the errant thought, but that wasn't what they were about. Their way was to preserve life when they could. They were not killers, despite what the public thought.
So it was with restraint that his powers were used against him and he was recaptured without too much destruction, much to the surprise of the people watching this battle. The very people who were meeting to discuss the course of their lives. Rogue found the irony amusing, but then there was a part of her that was attracted to the dark material. The others would never understand this appreciation, making it another barrier between them...
XxX
They'd found the Professor through the information Rogue had obtained from Juggernaut. He'd been called to base and the pair had been switched with Mystique acting as go-between.
Charles was greatly relieved that all were safe, despite their public outing. But now the real work had to begin. Integrating his pupils with the rest of their peers, teaching them how to overcome the abuse and ignorance. Defending their beliefs and rights to exist while ensuring they continued their education, along with maintaining their relationships with non-mutants.
He heard of the intervention that had removed Rogue from the majority of the conflict and he was grateful. Further digging revealed that her rescuer was a man called Nick Fury. He was known to Logan and had links with numerous organisations that were secretive in nature. Nick was also a practical man, eager to lend his hand to the people with good odds of survival. However, it still caused a moment of alarm that he'd been involved. Charles summoned Rogue to his temporary office.
"I'd like to discuss what happened."
"All I know is one minute Ah spied the metal orbs, the next Ah found myself in a locked room."
She'd consented to further analysis and the memories matched her words. He looked at her thoughtfully. "Did he tell you why you were brought there?"
She shook her head. "He said it was a favour to an old friend but he wouldn't say anymore. And as he made no attempt to hurt me, can we not just be grateful?"
"You're right of course, but if you remember anything else?"
"Ah'll let you know."
She was relieved to be away. The last few days were a mix of confusion, from not knowing where she was, to being spoken at by the guy Fury, who was known to Logan in some capacity. She really didn't think he was the friend, though.
And now that peace she craved would be put at risk by the loss of their anonymity.
The shunning had already begun. It wasn't so bad for her as she couldn't say she'd been sociable with many people. Except for Risty Wilde. She'd been the new transfer at the start of the year and they had clicked really well. But since the sentinel attack and subsequent outing, she'd disappeared.
It was probably for the best that she had vanished. At least this way, she wouldn't get the rejection.
She heard Jean talk how her teammates were ousting her now or deliberately ghosting her. Duncan had claimed to accept her powers, as long as she used them to help his academic prowess. Rogue almost felt sorry for her, until she saw the girl with Scott. They were looking closer than ever and everyone was whispering how great of a couple they'd make. As though there had never been anything between them.