Five

Clouds sped by as Scott glanced out the window for the tenth time since the Blackbird had taken off; it was a nervous tick. Scott had been given few details when the Professor had told him to get the team suited up for battle, if there was one thing Scott Summers didn't like in life it was facing the unexpected.  Why were the X-Men suddenly rushing to the aid of the mutant hating humans who carried enough fire power to protect themselves? 

Shaking his head with a snort Scott crossed his arms over his chest, "I don't know why we're bothering to check this out-I doubt Magneto is crazy enough to try and kill all of the Friends of Humanity."

"Not like they wouldn't do the same to us if they could," Kitty muttered with uncharacteristic bitterness earning a confused look from Kurt.

The fuzzy blue mutant made a face for his friend's benefit, crossing his yellow eyes then returning to a more serious pose; "What's wrong Kitty? You and the tin man have a fight?"

Betraying her nervousness Kitty's eyes strayed to the hulking form of Piotr and she wondered if he would still be considered her boyfriend; she had seen him leaving and had followed him to the 'Hood House.  It was very clear that the Russian had met with Asli while he was there-it was the only reason the X-Woman could think of that would explain the tears she had seen in his eyes as he left. Kitty's common sense told her that if it had been a fruitful reunion Piotr would have taken time to talk to her about it, after he had stormed into Professor Xavier's office with news of an attack planned for this night. 

The only other thing that kept Kitty from over analyzing the soap-operatic situation she found herself in were Asli's scruples; what ever the hacker's plans were Kitty was sure they didn't include settling down with Piotr any time soon.  She wouldn't have encouraged Kitty to love the invulnerable mutant if she planned to encroach-as far as Kitty knew Asli wasn't the type to backstab over a man.  If it was a question of her own safety or the safety of 'her people' Kitty knew there were no rules but Asli was too honorable in her own way to steal someone's man.

"Kitty?" This time Kurt's voice was loaded with concern as Kitty snapped out of her thoughts.

Blushing and pushing a stray hair from her face Kitty offered her best friend a wan smile, "I'm okay Kurt…Just a lot on my mind you know?"

He nodded his shaggy blue head, "Ja, I can't believe Rogue has gotten herself into something like this…I wish she would have come back after New York."

"Me too," Kitty laid a comforting hand on his shoulder and looked out the window-in less than twenty minutes they would arrive in Washington DC.  It was a date with destiny that none of the X-Men could keep waiting.

***************************

"Of all the things ole Bucket head has lost o'er the years," Pyro grinned as he adjusted the settings on his flame thrower, "I bet what he misses most is his mind…You listening to me Sheila?"

Cypher jumped out of her reverie as the Aussie's foot came perilously close to her shin; she moved out of the way allowing her eyes to black, "I'm not in the mood for your jokes today John."

"Shhhh!" the strawberry blonde grinned manically at his partner, "Not while we're in uniform girl…It's Pyro." His face fell into a solemn expression of concern, "You sure this is gonna work?"

"Have I let you down before?"

Pyro shook his head and offered Cypher a genuine smile-it amazed him that this mere girl was willing to take Magneto head on when the male Acolytes had just accepted their lot.  Kinda makes a man want to prove himself, he thought watching Cypher scan the crowds around the convention centre with her high powered binoculars.  He shrugged knowing she was keeping track of him from the corner of her eye, "Not yet, but you are one crazy chick…what ever happens Pyro'll back you up."

"Oh gods," Cypher pulled her eyes away from the crowd to give him a dramatic eye roll; "Now I know I have to get you out of here…you're starting to talk like Gambit."

The fire wielder returned to his usual manic grin with fervor, "You think it'll impress the ladies?"

"Not as much as you paying attention would impress me." The tone was clipped but Pyro could see the smile edging Cypher's lips-it made him laugh-she was one pretty girl when she stopped frowning in concentration.

"I see them," Cypher's voice pulled Pyro out of the brief fantasy he was entertaining about the hacker, himself and a very see through, wet, white t-shirt; "Shade has Surge and Cobra in position.  It's a go.  Remember follow orders until I give the signal.  No do not fire on the X-Men-they're here to help up this time.  All I need you to do is keep Sabertooth busy while Surge powers me up."

Pyro nodded and squared his shoulders making sure his fuel pack was on comfortably-this was going to be a long day.

***************************

"Gambit?" Rogue laid a gloved hand briefly on her partner's shoulder as he scanned the air above the convention centre looking for any sign of the X-Men charging to the rescue.

At the contact all of the thief's attention turned to Rogue, making her feel uncomfortable under his gaze, "Oui, Chère?"

"Have you ever had to kill anyone before?"

It was clear that her question caught him off guard; Gambit's normally arrogant face was filled with regret and sadness, "Once.  Dis was before Bucket-head hein, back in Naw'leans dis homme challenged Gambit to a fight…I didn't mean for it to happen but…de homme died all de same and Gambit became a wanted criminal."

Rogue nodded understanding exactly what Gambit had felt; it hadn't been too long since she too had accidentally taken the life of some one else, "I didn't mean to kill Carol…but this…" she waved to themselves indicating the slaughter Magneto wanted them to wreak, "I can't do this."

 "I know you can't Chère," Gambit's voice had gone soft and Rogue cursed herself for not being clear enough about how a relationship between them would never work out; "Just stay close to Gambit…mebbe dat invulnerable skin of yours will come in handy hein?"

"We're going to have to kill Magneto to stop him aren't we?" Rogue's voice was quiet and deadly earnest but it wasn't really a question.

Gambit's shrug was typically Gallic as he nudged Rogue-Cypher had spotted her crew and made her signal, "You got enough blood on your hands Chère…let Gambit and  Cypher worry 'bout dis one."

Crossing her arms over her chest Rogue waited anxiously-Remy's words had been far from reassuring.

***************************

Narrowing his eyes Magneto watched as Graydon Creed exited the convention centre entourage in tow, "You're son is doing well…aren't you both proud?"

The evil glares thrown at him from both Mystique and Sabertooth were well worth making the comment.  It pleased him that both parents had no particular fondness for their offspring-it made destroying the future human despot that much easier for the master of magnetism.  As if hitting a cue Creed stopped just in front of the garish building that normally held trade shows but in these hard times was also housing hate rallies.

Concentrating Magneto made the wrist bands he had given his 'soldiers' contract-the silent signal to attack the human mob.  Almost instantly, a ring of fire appeared and cut Creed and his inner circle from his well wishers-burning a few much to Magneto's satisfaction.  With a smile he lifted himself into the air; it was time for him to make an appearance. Cries of pain and anguish coming from the humans wafted upwards to him-Magneto could think of no finer victory march. 

As he began his descent Magneto was knocked aside by a familiar red beam, "X-men!" he clenched his teeth with anger-how had Charles known his plans this time?

***************************

"Shit!" Cypher swore as she watched Cyclops' ruby optic blast hit Magneto square in the chest, "Since when does one eye play the fucking cowboy?"

Pyro shrugged helplessly as he moved his containing flame to encircle both Mystique and Sabertooth and shouted to her over the din, "I dunno but you'd better do what you were doin' while they've made us a distraction!"

Rolling her eyes and growling Cypher took off at a run towards the alley Shade and the others had holed up in to wait, taking care to dodge the refuse and weapons the Friends of Humanity were throwing her way.  Cypher had never thought to be grateful for her enhanced reflexes until she had to duck a flaming bottle being tossed at her head. 

Panting she pulled herself to a stop at the alley only to be met by Cobra wearing a trench coat and a very large smile, "Two minutes…You're out of shape.  You didn't even have any real obstacles."

"If we survive this…" Cypher offered the snakelike mutant a wry grin, "Remind me to hit you.  For now I'll settle for a glare."

"Rogue must be rubbing off on you," Surge interrupted the banter Shade standing at her back his dark glasses firmly in place, she cast a quick look at the carnage behind Cypher before turning to her old teammate, "Are you ready?"

"Hey, hey!" Cobra lifted a hand, "First things first. "He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small plastic device, "Voila, no metal parts in it…enough plastique to blow half a block.  You stick arm it here," he pointed out a small blue button, "Then stick it to his back and get the hell outta dodge in one minute."

Cypher nodded accepting the 'gift'; when taking down a mutant terrorist who could control metal it helped to have a creative bomb maker in your corner.  "Thanks, you guys gonna fight the good fight?"

"I'll stay here with Surge while she recovers," Shade's voice was flatter than normal-if Cypher hadn't known better she would have thought he was concerned.

"And I can't wait to show off my mad skills," Cobra flashed a fanged grin and shed his coat to reveal his black body armor, "Somebody has to show that French fried hick up and I aim to do it."

Cypher couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm, she hoped it would be contagious; "Time's wasting Surge…do it."

***************************

Flying above the crowd Rogue kept an eye out for both the debris launched by the mob and the odd low charged card tossed out by Gambit to disperse the rowdier element.  Chaos had ensued since the moment Cyclops had hit Magneto with a blast, with a few of the X-Men attacking the Acolytes and even more of the Friends of Humanity attacking both teams.  A tingle at the back of her neck told Rogue to duck and she obeyed without question as a large steel beam whizzed by her propelled by Magneto's will.  As she turned the Goth could see where it was aimed-Kurt's unprotected back.

"Shit!" Rogue stretched out her body and dove towards her brother putting herself in between the blue teleporter and serious injury; the impact didn't even make her flinch.

Before she could recover Kurt spun to face her there was pain in his yellow eyes, "Rogue? I will not fight you."

Pushing him down to avoid another Molotov cocktail Rogue laughed lightly, "Don't worry your fuzzy blue arse! We're turning against Magneto."

"You are?"  Millions of questions were reflected in his sincere eyes.

A shadow passed above them-Magneto-he was escaping.  "Not now." Rogue hugged him quickly and launched herself into the sky to chase the master of magnetism.

***************************

Charging another card Gambit aimed it lazily at a nearby humanist with a furry pot belly, Mebbe he won wear tank tops no more? He mused as he pulled himself out of the reach of the fist aiming for his pretty face, "Hey! Watch de goods mon ami! Gambit works hard to be dis pretty."

"It shows…" Gambit turned to see Cobra's wide fanged grin as he tail swiped two more militants who were attempting to rush the mutants, "Cypher told me you spend more time in the bathroom than her and Rogue combined."

A good natured laugh erupted from Gambit's throat in the midst of bedlam Cobra was still making jokes, "Speaking of…you seen ma Chère anywhere Fangy?"

No sooner had he spoken the words Rogue flew overhead chasing after Magneto while the man busily tossed hunks of metal and steel at the impervious teenaged girl.  "Merde!" Remy swore under his breath and pulled out his new metal-free bow staff-it had been Magneto's gift. 

"You gonna go rushing to save the damsel in distress?" Cobra lifted an eyebrow.

Gambit's look was intense enough to burn a hole through rock, "If it'd keep Rogue safe and happy I'd die for her."

Turing his back Gambit prepared to leave-he couldn't let Rogue die, not while there was a chance.  All his life Remy Labeau had run when things got hard, kept a piece of himself from everyone around him-even his adopted family-but not any more.  Every cell of his body was there to do Rogue's will and if she was best served by his untimely death than Remy was more than ready to comply.

"Cypher thought you'd say that." Cobra replied from behind the mutant thief-Remy didn't even see the young man's hands as they moved forward a thin needle uncapped and ready.

The world dark grew dark around the edges and all of Remy's limbs felt like they were made of lead.  He didn't even notice when his body hit the ground.

***************************

Craning his head Piotr watched Rogue take off into the sky after Magneto, "Is she like completely crazy?" Kitty appeared at his arm phasing through the pieces of flaming trash being thrown at them.

"Rogue's new powers make her as invincible as I am." Piotr pointed to his organic metal arm, "She will be okay."

Kitty nodded accepting his words, Piotr knew more about being invulnerable than she did. "Shadow…" Kitty's COM link fizzed to life then a puff of smoke erupted from it as it died a quick death.

"What the?" the valley girl began but Piotr's hand on her shoulder halted the words.

Just as she had that night in the research lab and again in the basement of her childhood home Cypher was floating in the air her eyes blazing black fire and skin glowing.  Her short curls swirled around her head like a dark halo-never had Kitty seen such a perfect embodiment of an avenging angel.  "What's she gonna do?"

"I don't know." Pitor's reply was drowned out by the sound of metal sheets being peeled off a nearby building.

As the two X-Men watched from below the sheets flew towards Rogue enveloping the Gothic mutant and pulling her out of the sky with a thud, "Rogue!" Kitty let out a yelp and rushed to her former roommate's side with Piotr hot on her heels.

"Anyone get the name of that bus?" Kitty let out a sigh of relief when Rogue groaned as Piotr twisted the constricting alloy away from her body.

No sooner did Piotr free the Goth than Kitty was wrapping her arms around her friend and pulling her into a bear hug, "Don't ever scare me…"

"Look!" Kurt teleported to them and pointed to the sky.

All three heads swiveled upwards where Rogue had been battling Magneto-now it seemed that in his haste to finish Graydon Creed he was unaware of Cypher floating behind him.  They watched enthralled as the hacker attached something to his back being careful to begin moving away from the Master of Magnetism as soon as it was done.   "What the hell is she doin'?" Rogue asked rubbing her head gingerly.

"I don't know." Kurt moved to his sister's free side.

Even from the ground you could see the strain on Cypher's face as she pushed herself to get far away from Magneto.  "A bomb!" Kitty gasped catching sight of the small package stuck to Magneto's cape.

Pitor and Kurt readied themselves to protect the girls from the blast when a streak of ruby fire cut across the sky hitting Cypher and sending her hurtling back towards the elder terrorist.  Time slowed down and stretched thin like a knife point as Cypher was pushed back by Cyclops' signature energy blast, even as Kitty and Rogue shouted as him to stop. 

BOOM!

The explosion came in an ear splitting cacophony, but no one on the ground could believe their eyes.  Once the smoke cleared Rogue, Kitty, and Piotr searched the sky but there was no sign of either Magneto or Cypher.  Tears welled in Kitty's eyes but for Rogue and Piotr tears would never be enough.   

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MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I DID IT! AT LAST I DID IT! THE BIG CLIMAX!

I don't own the song "In the End" it's Linkin Park's

Linkin Park – In the End

It starts with one...
One thing,
I don't know why,
It doesn't even matter how hard you try,
Keep that in mind,
I designed this rhyme,
To explain in due time,
All I know,
Time is a valuable thing,
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings,
Watch it count down 'till the end of the day,
The clock ticks life away,
It's so unreal,
You didn't look out below,
Watch the time go right out the window,
Trying to hold on,
Didn't even know, I wasted it all,
Just to watch you go,
I kept everything inside,
And even know I tried,
It all fell apart,
What it meant to be,
Will eventually be,
A memory of a time, when ,

I tried so hard and got so far,
But in the end,
It doesn't even matter,
I had to fall,
To lose it all,
But in the end,
It doesn't even matter,

One thing, i don't know why,
It doesn't even matter how hard you try,
Keep that in mind,
I designed this rhyme,
To remind myself
How I tried so hard...
In spite the way you were mocking me,
Acting like i was part of your property,
Remembering all the times you fought with me,
I'm surprised it got so far,
Things aren't the way they were before,
You wouldn't even recognize me anymore,
Not that you knew me back then,
But it all comes back to me,
In the end...
You kept everything inside,
And even know i tried it all fell apart,
What it meant to me, will,
Eventually, be a memory of a time when,

I tried so hard and got so far,
But in the end,
It doesn't even matter,
I had to fall,
To lose it all,
But in the end,
It doesn't even matter,

I've put my trust in you,
Pushed as far as I can go,
For all this,
There's only one thing you should know,

I've put my trust in you,
Pushed as far as i can go,
For all this,
There's only one thing you should know...

I tried so hard and got so far,
But in the end,
It doesn't even matter,
I had to fall,
To lose it all,
But in the end,
It doesn't even matter

Star-of-Chaos – Remy in leather pants…very distracting…although…I would write faster if I had Johnny Depp tied to my bed. *Hint. Hint*  I'm glad you enjoyed that scene…I thought it was kind of cute myself.

Ish – Huzzah! You're writing me novels now! Yay! You know your HUGE reviews make up for the fact that I have maybe 5 loyal readers…Come on…did you see that coming?  Did I tease you enough?