Disclaimer: The X-Men & other characters belong to Marvel Comics & are used without permission. The story belongs to me.

Note: I wish they'd show an episode featuring Pyro. Then I'd know what his character is like and how he talks. Oh, and this chap ain't about St.John.

What Happens Now?

by:

kojie

==

Chapter Fourteen

==

"Lucky seven? I absorbed your memories," Rouge said, remembering. "Something big's gonna happen, and I doubt it's gonna be a happy reunion party."

She absorbed my memories? Gambit thought, confused. Ohhh...So that's what her powers are. Memory absorption by skin contact...

"We're gonna be doing some kind of mission, aren't we? And we're going to help Magneto?" Rogue asked angrily. "So, tell me, Remy, is it a 'do the mission or your friends die' kind of thing?"

Remy was taken back when she said 'Remy', but he was annoyed at her for revealing his real name. "Look, cheré, I ain't gonna lie t'you. I got no idea what Magneto has planned for us, but I seriously doubt it's gonna be 'do the mission or your friends die' kind of thing," he mimicked, "but I'm tellin' ya...it's not gonna be an easy ride."

"We've had rough rides before," Scott said quietly, stepping forward. "I'm in."

Logan was unsurprised, but impressed nonetheless. A true leader...

"Then, I'm in, too," Jean declared, looking determinedly at her best friend. Scott smiled at her. They were in this together. Nothing could split them apart, now that they knew how important the other was to them.

"Um...if Storm and the others are out there, then I'm coming," Kitty said, joining Scott and Jean.

"Me too," shouted Lance, who quickly ran over to Kitty. "I can't let you go there all by yourself," he said, grinning. His impulsive move lightened up the mood a little bit, as everyone smiled.

Kurt pondered....where are they going anyway? Would they be able to come back again? Was he going to see his parents again? They must be worried sick about him by now. Kurt shook his head. These were his friends. And like his parents and Amanda, they accepted him when no one else did. He owed it to them...

He teleported by their side, "I think you already know that nothing in the world can stop me from coming."

All this time, Remy was staring at Rogue, wondering, half-hoping...

"Fine. Ah'm in," Rogue said, as if pretending she didn't care. She already knew the feeling of what it was like to lose her friends, and she just didn't want to take the chance of that happening again.

"Okay, then..." Remy said, counting the volunteers. "There are six of you. Guess that leaves Banshee--"

"Whaddaya mean Banshee?" Logan growled. "Old man can't fight even if his own life depended on it."

"Hey!" Sean said. "Now that was uncalled for."

"I was in the rescue team before One-eye here even opened his mouth," Logan continued, ignoring him. Scott raised a brow.

"Alright!" Kurt exclaimed. "The original X-Men are in!"

==

Meanwhile, somewhere in the deserts of Arizona...

Pietro, also known as Quicksilver, got off the pod, and ran towards near the edge of a cliff, overlooking the "military" base below. He traveled down the steep cliff in his unsurpassed speed; any other man would've fallen and died. He ran up and over the metal fence surrounding the base, defying gravity once again. Oh, how he loved that feeling. To feel powerful, to feel superior...

He sped around the base, looking for a way in. The guards he passed thought it was just the windy desert.

There was a door that slid open. Pietro went inside. Stupid people.

Three minutes later, he had circled the entire inside of the building taking more than enough pictures of every main sector, and was already waiting outside in his pod. Sure, he could've spent more time inside, but Magneto had told him to just go and see what's really happening, to confirm his suspicions. Besides, the building had "mutant detectors". Big ones.

The pod began to move. Time to report.

==

Sean Cassidy was torn about the whole thing, whether he himself should go or not. After all, Magneto, Erik, had requested for him to go. It was flattering, considering how powerful Magnus had become. Sean looked at Moira. His fiancé, his love. He had his pride; it had been a while, but he could fight. Probably not as...fierce as Logan, but he could fight. He knew he'd be a good asset to the team. But then again, it would be unfair to Moira if he were to volunteer, risking his life for people he didn't even know...

"Hey, wait a second---I want in, too!" Bobby suddenly protested. "I-I've done enough to be in this team. After all that's happened, haven't I proved myself to you guys yet?" he asked them, a hurt look on his face.

"Bobby," Moira said soothingly, "You heard him, didn't you? Only seven people can go."

The whole scene reminded Kitty of a mother comforting a neglected child. Even if they had no idea where they were going, or if it was going to be dangerous or not, Kitty couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Logan felt sorry for him too...but he also felt like he wanted to puke.

He sighed. "Could we take the helicopter and follow? Would that work?"

Remy thought for a moment. "Dunno. Y'see, we're goin' to outer space...to an asteroid base that Magneto built."

"Another one?" Jean asked, surprised.

"Mm-hmm," he replied.

"Sorry, kid," Logan said to Bobby. Bobby frowned. He didn't like being treated the young kid who couldn't go with the "professionals". He was in the previous rescue mission, wasn't he? He piloted the helicopter safely from the monster Sentinel. How can he not come?

Jean couldn't help but hear Bobby's thoughts. He was so upset.

Suddenly, Jean got an idea. It could work...

"Um, Gambit, what if two people shared a pod?" she asked uncertainly.

Remy scratched his head. This whole thing was taking way too long. They had to leave soon. "Uh...maybe it could work," he said finally. "After all, the one who calls himself 'Blob' actually fit in one."

Bobby's hopes raised.

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Oh, and...Banshee never met Storm and Logan in this universe. (He met Logan a coupla chaps ago, of course.)

Man, I had the hardest time writing this chap. I couldn't decide which characters to pick! So many cool characters... seven is way too small a number. Why did I have to pick seven?? I was prolly half-asleep when I finished that last chapter.

And....I know normally Wanda would've been all like "I'M COMING SO I CAN HAVE REVENGE ON THE ONE MAN WHO ABANDONED ME WHEN I NEEDED HIM THE MOST AND NOTHING IN THE WORLD CAN STOP ME FROM DOING SO!!"

But like I said on a previous note, it'd just be weird since I never really focused on her anytime during the whole story.... but then again, neither did I focus on Quicksilver.... eh, never mind. One of the many flaws of this fic:P