***
NOTES -
* means Wolverine speaking to Rogue in her mind
' means Rogue speaking back
***
Long auburn hair with two
shocking white streaks, chocolate brown eyes, young features. That was
what the girl looked like, the girl that Magneto had called the martyr
--- the girl's name was Rogue; Actually it was Marie, but everyone called
her Rogue. Rogue was a special kind of girl, that much she knew ... Rogue
was different from all the other mutants, Rogue understood what she was
going through, unlike everybody else, even Magneto, her dear mentor, had
no idea how she felt.
She was the sort of kid everybody
made fun of, because of her scaly blue skin; Everyone was afraid of her,
even the mutants made fun of her ... she never had friends, she was always
alone, that was until Magento --- Erik, had taken her in. Erik had named
her Mystique, the name Mystique was so much more unique and mysterious
then her regular name ... Raven.
Mystique continued to hide
behind the tree as she watched Rogue talk with two people --- one was a
girl, the girl wore a long, bright yellow jacket; Jubilee was the girl's
name, along with the long yellow jacket she wore a pair of old sunglasses
on top of her black hair. The other person Rogue was talking to was a young
man, he had some sort of stick with him, and his eyes were a bright color
red ... Remy LeBouf was his name if Mystique remembered correctly, everyone
called the young man Gambit. Mystique liked watching Rogue, watching Rogue
was interesting ... Rogue was interesting. Mystique's yellow eyes narrowed
as she watched Rogue mess with a scrap of metal that was around her neck
--- the dog tags, Mystique reminded herself.
The dog tags Rogue wore around
her neck religiously was given to her by Wolverine. The same man that had
stabbed Mystique and left her for dead; That was why Mystique was here.
At first Mystique had gone by the academy to watch the girl, why watch
the girl? Because the girl --- Rogue --- was the link to Wolverine. Get
Rogue, and Mystique would have Wolverine --- Mystique wanted Wolverine,
she wanted to kill him for what he did ... first he left her for dead,
and then he injured Sabretooth and then the worst thing Wolverine had done
was save the girl, that one action got her mentor --- Erik --- sent to
that damn plastic prison. Mystique wanted to kill Wolverine, but once Mystique
started watching Rogue, she got addicted. Rogue was beautiful, she had
such young features, but Rogue's brown eyes showed an old soul --- a old,
lost soul. Rogue was lost ... lost without ...
Wolverine, Mystique
said to herself in disgust as she watched Rogue continue to touch the dog
tags as if they were the most precious things to her in the whole entire
world. Mystique didn't understand why Rogue was so --- sad, over such a
hard and cynical beast as Wolverine. Wolverine didn't care about anybody
but himself, he had promised to take care of Rogue and then he had left
--- Mystique had no doubt in her head when she knew that Wolverine was
a calice sort of person, he cared about no one. But Rogue had fooled herself
into believe that Wolverine cared about her just because Wolverine had
saved her, given up his own life and then gave her his dog tags --- his
only link to his past. Mystique sighed, Wolverine was no good for the girl
--- what was good for the girl was the brotherhood. The brotherhood would
be able to teach Rogue how to understand her mutation, really understand
her mutation, Mystique would tell her the truth about her mutation, Mystique
wouldn't tell Rogue the false crap Charles Xavier told her.
Mystique watched the red
head otherwise known as Dr. Jean Grey come out and beckon for Rogue to
come in; Mystique closed her eyes, Rogue didn't belong here ... she belonged
with the brotherhood and if it was the last thing Mystique did, she would
get Rogue to become one of the brotherhood --- and if Rogue refused, then
Mystique would do what she originally planned to do --- kill her.
*****
"Rogue, are you okay?" Jean
asked softly, Jean's eyes twinkling with concern. Jean wasn't one to pry,
but Jean had seen how lost Rogue was looking lately, and to think it all
started the day Logan left. Jean had some sort of an idea what was bugging
Rogue, and Jean would bet her life that Rogue's problem started with a
L and ended with a N, but Jean wouldn't say that aloud of course.
"I'm fine." Rogue replied
quickly and a bit harshly. Rogue winced when she realized how she sounded,
it wasn't her fault --- the Wolverine in her made her act mean and snappish
sometimes; Ever since the day Rogue absorbed Wolverine, he has been inside
her head, she had also taken on some of his more interesting traits as
Jean had put it one day .
"Are you really?" Jean said,
narrowing her eyes. "Rogue, I know you miss Logan, and it's completely
understandable. Considering the fact that it was Logan who saved you, and
as we know about your mutation --- you don't just absorb a person's mutation,
you absorb their memories, which must make this harder on you." Jean replied,
smiling softly, trying to comfort Rogue.
*Who the hell does she
think she is?* Wolverine's voice echoed in Rogue's mind. *Just because
she has some Ph.D. or whatnot she thinks she can assume what you're going
through Rogue, she can't. I can. Don't let her assume Rogue.*
Rogue shook her head at the
voice of Wolverine, she hated when this happened. Wolverine was in her
head,
he was like her second conscience, and he always spoke when he pleased,
incredibly like the real Wolverine. "Jean I appreciate --- "
*Tell her off.*
Rogue shook her head again.
"Jean, look I appreciate your concern and all but I really doubt you know
how I feel. You have no idea how it feels to be isolated your whole life,
you get to touch people everyday and I on the other hand --- if I touch
someone, I can easily kill them. And the one person that cared about me
the most is gone, and I have no idea where he is, and he's always in my
head, and I can feel his pain, his fear, his anguish and I have his nightmares
and I can even hear him! So like I said, I really doubt that you have one
ounce of understanding, because you don't feel him every night, you don't
feel his pain every night, hell you don't even care that's he's all alone,
so if you'll excuse me." Rogue smiled small and walked away from Jean.
*That's my girl.* Wolverine
said in a hushed tone in Rogue's head. *You did good 'kid.*
Rogue sighed, ignoring Wolverine's
voice, right now she didn't want to listen to anybody. Rogue hated the
feeling of isolation in her body, although she had friends IE: Gambit
and Jubilee, Rogue felt so lonely and it was mostly because Logan wasn't
around. He was supposed to come back, but he hadn't ... it had been close
to a year since the last time Rogue had seen Logan and every day he wasn't
back Rogue came upon the conclusion that Logan wasn't coming back --- he
didn't care about her. No one cared.
*I do.* Wolverine's
voice chimed in her head. *Kid listen, I got things to take care of,
but believe me I'll be back ... I promised to take care of you, and I am
a man of my word. I just need to know about my past, I have to find out
who I am.*
Rogue sighed, she walked
into the room she shared with Kitty and Jubilee; Rogue threw herself down
on the bed as she absentmindedly messed with the dog tags that were around
her neck. 'I hate you sometimes' Rogue said in her mind.
*Why?*
'Because you left me.'
*Kid, I'm with you, a
piece of me is around your neck.*
'I like Remy.'
*The cajun guy?*
'Yeah'
*You like him more then
me?*
'Well you're not here'
*Not an excuse.*
'Shut up'
*Yeah, you definitely
act like me sometimes.*
Rogue half-smiled, she buried
her face in the soft pillow, blocking out Wolverine's voice. Right now
she didn't feel like having a conversation with the Wolverine inside her
--- God, if anyone heard me talk like that ... Rogue knew that if
people found out she had been having conversations with Wolverine, the
Wolverine that only existed in her head, they would think she was crazy.
But she wasn't crazy, a part of Wolverine was in her head, she absorbed
his memory and now he was in her head, just like Magneto was in her head.
Magento along with her first boyfriend ever Cody was in her head ... she
had three personalities in her head but only one of them actually had a
conversation with her, only one of her personalities would actually stand
up for her, even though he couldn't be heard. Rogue sighed, well at least
in her mind, she had Logan with her --- but soon that wouldn't be enough.
*****
Mystique watched Rogue sit
in the community room reading a book; This is the perfect time to get
her, Mystique said to herself as she transformed into Gambit. Mystique
fixed the shirt she was wearing before walking into the academy and up
to Rogue. "Ah, good day chere." Mystique said as Gambit, a smile playing
with his features.
Rogue looked up. "Oh hey
Remy, what's up?" Rogue asked, putting down her book.
Gambit shrugged. "Not much,
Remy was thinking you might want to go for a ride with him?" Gambit said
in his usual third person sense. "It's a beautiful day out you know, Remy
would be pleased to have you ride with him." Gambit replied, still smiling.
Rogue pushed herself up.
"Why not? It's not like I'm doing anything exciting here." Rogue said,
she grabbed her coat.
"Well let's go then mademoiselle."
Gambit said, walking off.
"Hey where are you two going?"
Jubilee asked, running up to Rogue and Gambit.
Rogue turned to Jubilee.
"Remy wants me to take a ride with him." Rogue replied, smiling.
"Can I come?" Jubilee asked,
messing with her jacket.
"No!" Gambit said quickly.
"Remy wants to be alone with Marie." Gambit said, shooting Jubilee a look.
"Oh fine." Jubilee pouted.
"I'll just go hang out with Bobby, maybe talk him into freezing something,
see you two later."
Rogue watched Jubilee run
off, Rogue smiled and followed Gambit out of the academy, Rogue stopped
briefly when she felt a weird vibe being radiated off of Gambit. 'Logan,
what's wrong?'
*Don't go*
Before Rogue could reply
to Wolverine's plea she felt herself being pulled into a car by Gambit.
"Remy ... "
Gambit got in the car, he
started it and sped off. "So tell me chere, you miss Wolverine? Remy see
it in your eyes, you look sad, very sad." Gambit replied. "Mademoiselle
is too beautiful to be sad." Gambit said softly.
Rogue smiled. "Thanks Remy.
Yeah I miss Logan, I know he needs to find out who he is, I guess I just
didn't expect him to be gone this long, you know?" Rogue replied, looking
down at her black gloves.
Gambit nodded. "Did you hear
that Erik got out of prison? He escaped." Gambit replied, turning a corner.
Rogue stared at Gambit oddly.
"What did you call him?" Rogue asked.
"Magneto." Gambit replied.
"No you called him Erik,
why would you call him Erik?" Rogue asked suspiciously. "Remy, stop the
car, stop the car now."
Gambit sighed. "Well chere
I guess this is the end of our drive." Gambit stopped the car and transformed
back into Mystique. "Hello dear child, I could never call Erik Magneto,
it just doesn't sound right." Mystique replied, pulling something out.
Rogue froze. "Mystique."
Mystique nodded. "Yes, I
guess your good friend Wolverine didn't kill me after all. Rogue I am going
to give you a simple choice --- join the brotherhood. Erik can teach you
how to control your mutation, Erik can show you the way. Charles doesn't
understand that humans and mutants can not co-exist, it would be
the end of us. They want to rid of us because we are different, they can
not understand us, and what they can't understand they want to destroy."
Mystique replied.
Rogue pulled at the door
handle. "I would never join the brotherhood." Rogue spat out.
"Too bad." Mystique replied,
before putting the needle that was in her hand in the back of Rogue's neck.
"Too bad."
Rogue whimpered when she
felt the needle prick her at the back of the neck and a few seconds later
Rogue was out.
*****
Scott paced back and forth.
"So let's put together all the pieces. Jubilee told us Rogue left with
Gambit, but then Gambit told us he's been with Bobby and Kitty all day,
and we still have a missing Rogue." Scott said, mostly to himself as he
continued pacing.
Jean replied. "That's what
we know so far. Storm, any thoughts?" Jean said turning to Storm.
Storm thought for a second,
before looking up. "Mystique."
Scott nodded. "Oh, it makes
sense now. We knew that Mystique was still alive, we were just waiting
for her moment to attack us. It's been almost a year since the last time
we saw her, I thought she had given up on getting us back."
"She has Rogue." Jean finally
said. "But why Rogue? I understand what Magneto wanted with her before,
but that's over with, the machine isn't even together anymore. What could
Magneto possibly want with Rogue?" Jean asked, looking at Scott.
Storm sighed. "Logan. Mystique
is using Rogue as bait to lure Logan to her, because she wants Logan."
"But why?" Jean asked.
"Because Logan left her for
dead." Scott replied. "Mystique must want Logan for what he did before,
and let's not forget that Logan saved Rogue, which sent Magneto to prison.
This could be Mystique's way of avenging Magneto, Mystique thinks if she
lures Logan in and destroys both Logan and Rogue, that she would be getting
revenge for Magneto." Scott replied, shaking his head.
"But we don't know where
Logan is." Storm replied.
"But Charles can use the
cerebro and find him." Jean replied, looking at Scott closely. "Scott,
it's the only way."
Scott sighed. "What makes
you think Logan would come back?" Scott asked; He stopped pacing and shrugged
when he caught the outraged but surprised look Jean threw him. "What?"
Scott said, not wanting to listen to the silent words Jean was saying.
Storm shook her head. "Because
he cares about Rogue. We've seen Logan's reaction when Magneto had her,
Logan cares deeply for Rogue and he would definitely come back, if that
is what it took to save Rogue. Scott, we don't know where Mystique would
take Rogue, Wolverine might ... " Storm was cut off quickly by Scott.
"Just because he has more
toned senses then us? Then why don't we just get a dog?" Scott said, scowling.
"Scott!" Jean said in a high-pitched
voice. "Stop it!"
"What?" Scott barked out.
"Stop acting like a little
baby." Jean said, shaking her head. "Even if Logan wasn't the right person
to help us, he deserves to know what is going on. Logan and Rogue share
some sort of connection and it would be wrong if we didn't tell Logan that
Rogue has been taken by Mystique. You're just being insecure Scott, which
you have no reason to be ... " Jean replied slowly.
Scott shook his head. "Actually
when you think about it, he has no right to know what is going on with
Rogue. He left, he promised to take care of her, and then he left, and
it's been almost a year since he called or wrote or anything and now you
two think we should call him? What right does he have to know what is going
on? I don't think we need Logan, he would just endanger the mission, we
can do this on our own. We can track down Mystique and do this ourselves."
Scott replied, he started pacing again.
Storm sighed. "Scott, this
is not a mission. Rogue is not just another student here, she is a friend."
"Exactly why we should do
this the right way and not Logan's way." Scott replied, nodding.
Jean glared at Scott. "Maybe
Logan's way is the right away." Jean replied, nodding at Storm.
Scott shook his head. "Or
maybe you just want to see Logan again."
"Stop it!" Charles said,
rolling into the room. "I refuse to let this team act this way. I've found
where Logan is, he's in Laughlin City. Storm, Scott I want you two to get
your gear on and take the jet to Laughlin City, here is the address of
where he is, I want you two to fill him in on what is going on and then
I want you to bring him back. No arguments." Charles replied.
*****
"What do you want with me?"
Rogue asked Mystique as she sat down in the chair. Rogue pulled at the
chains that tied her down and kept her on the floor. Rogue's hair was in
her face, and the tears made her skin feeling as if she was on fire.
Magneto shook his head as
he walked into the room. "Rogue, dear child, you still don't understand
do you? Charles believes that humans and mutants can co-exist with one
another, but see child that is where my old friend Charles is mistaken.
Humans can't understand us, they don't want to understand us, they just
want to get rid of us. They want to expose us, experiment us, point and
laugh at us, well the joke is on them. Rogue, we can dominate humans, our
fate can be theirs, we don't have to be the monsters they make us to be."
Magneto replied, he walked over to Rogue and bent down in front of her,
he brushed her hair out of her face.
"You're a monster!" Rogue
screamed. "Humans and mutants right now may not be able to stand united
next to each other, but one day they will and we will prove you wrong.
You say that humans are the villains, but what about what you did to Senator
Kelly?"
Magneto shook his head. "Sweet
child, I was making Senator Kelly into one of us."
"You killed him." Rogue spat
out.
"It's not my fault, he couldn't
stand his mutation." Magneto said, shaking his head sadly. "Rogue, you
were kicked out of your own home because your parents couldn't and wouldn't
understand that you were a mutant, they suddenly stopped loving you. What
does that say about humans?" Magneto asked, staring Rogue in the eyes.
"That's different." Rogue
choked.
"No, not at all. The minute
they found out that you were a mutant they were instantly disgusted with
you and they even forced you to run away, because all they did was throw
disgust at you. All humans are like that, and despite what Charles say,
the world will never change, the world will never be a land of tolerance
or fair judgment. Us mutants, are trapped in this world, why not make it
our world? Why not make this world our own? Dear Rogue, there is a war
coming ... join us." Magento said sternly.
Rogue shook her head. "Never.
You talk about this world belonging to mutants, but what mutants will be
left to rule this world, if we keep on killing each other? What good does
murder do us?" Rogue asked loudly.
Magneto sighed. "It saves
us. You and your friend Wolverine are born to kill. Your skin kills and
his claws kill and yet you have the nerve to stand up to me, a person who
is trying to show you a new world. I am trying to put together a new order
of mutants, a new brotherhood, together the brotherhood can make this world
safe for mutants to live in."
"With you alive, no mutant
is safe." Rogue replied.
Magento shook his head. "So
I am presuming that you will not be joining us?"
"Never." Rogue said, shaking
her head.
"Then you will die." Magneto
replied, walking off.
*****
Scott searched the bar, trying
to find any trace of Logan. "How can a person breathe in here?" Scott asked
as him and Storm pushed past some people to enter further through the bar.
"This bar is completely seedy." Scott complained.
Storm rolled her eyes. "What
do you compare it with? Plus this is not a bar." Storm replied. "Excuse
me sir, do you know where I can find a Wolverine?" Storm asked the bartender,
with a smile on her face.
Scott shook his head and
turned to the bartender. "Well?"
The bartender glanced at
Scott, shaking his head. "Depends the animal or the man?"
Scott chuckled. "He's both."
Storm smiled. "The man."
The bartender pointed to
a steel cage. "Wolverine would be in there, he's the one winning. What
kind of business do you have with the Wolverine? Whatever it is, I reckon
you leave the man alone, he's not the friendliest of men you know."
Scott turned around and stared
at Logan beat a drunken man up. "It's personal. We need his help with somebody."
Storm smiled at the bartender.
"Thank you for your help." Storm turned to the cage. "He's good."
"I didn't notice." Scott
mumbled.
Logan grunted as he watched
the drunken fool who thought could actually win him fall to the ground;
Logan smirked and turned to leave, but he froze when he saw no other then
Scott, or visor boy as Logan liked to call him, and Storm staring at the
cage. What the hell? Logan asked himself as he stepped out of the
cage. Logan grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat off his body, Logan avoided
the usual cagefighting fans and stalked right up to Storm and Scott. "What
the hell are you two doing here?" Logan asked.
Scott adjusted his visor.
"We came here for your help." Scott replied, dully.
Storm nodded. "Please listen
Logan, if it wasn't an emergency we wouldn't have come to you, but it's
very important."
Logan sighed. "Outside, we'll
discuss this outside." Logan sighed once more and walked outside.
Scott and Storm walked outside;
Scott rubbed his hands together. "Believe me Logan, you are the last person
I want to see, especially after you just left, leaving Rogue behind ...
" Scott stopped when Logan growled, a very audible growl.
"I thought you said this
was an emergency, well right now I don't see no emergency, well except
the fact that I'm two seconds away from ripping your throat out, so don't
push me." Logan said, throwing Scott a menacing glare.
"It's Rogue." Storm said.
Logan turned to Storm quickly.
"What about her? Is she okay?" Logan asked, worried.
Scott sighed. "We're not
sure. Mystique has kidnapped Rogue, and we just got the news that Magneto
has escaped from the plastic prison he was confined to, which means that
this kidnapping could be Magneto's plan." Scott replied. "Professor wants
you to come back to the academy and help us get her back." Scott replied
seriously.
Logan's mind raced, Magneto
and Mystique had Rogue? His Rogue? Oh no they didn't ... he was going to
kill somebody. "Let's go." Logan started to walk towards his truck but
stopped when Scott and Storm stared at him. "What?" Logan asked.
"The jet." Storm said, pointing
to a more updated and larger jet. "Let's go Logan, Scott."
Scott crawled into the jet.
"Coming Logan?"
Logan stared at the jet.
"Holy shit, seriously everytime I see you guys, you have more expensive
travel gear."
