The next day, Dr. Kroker whistled as he walked down the hallway towards the main computer room. Today Professor Xavier would help him convince the public once and for all that those nasty mutant experimentation rumors were completely false. He smiled to himself. With the media off his back, there would be very little left to slow down his plans.
"Gentlemen," he said cordially as he entered the room. "Are we ready for our esteemed visitors?"
"Everything's ready, Doc. The suppression collars will keep the mutants' powers suppressed and make them virtually undetectable, even by telepaths," the first man said confidently, leaning back in his chair and putting his hands behind his head.
Dr. Kroker looked disapprovingly at the man's slouched position, but quickly let it go. Nothing could spoil his mood today.
"Excellent," he responded, pleased.
As the doctor left the room the other computer maintenance worker looked at his companion.
"Um, don't you think we should have mentioned what happened last night?" he asked nervously.
The other man brushed him off as he straightened up.
"What, that we both fell asleep? What good would it do? We'd just end up losing our jobs. Besides, nothing's missing and nothing's wrong. It's not like we're in some sort of union or something. Kroker could fire us if he wanted to." He shook his head. "We deserve to keep these jobs."
The other man looked doubtful, but he nodded.
"Yeah," he said finally. He turned back to his monitor. "Yeah, I guess you're right. No harm, no foul."
"Look at him, coming out to greet us as though we're old friends. He's hiding something, I know it," Cyclops muttered.
"The timing is rather ironic. It's almost as if he knew we were getting ready do a reconnaissance mission on his precious lab," Jean agreed. "One more night and we wouldn't have needed his permission for this little visit."
Professor Xavier held up a hand.
"Careful, my X-Men. I've been requesting a friendly tour from Dr. Kroker for months now. If he is willing to allow us access freely, we must take advantage of it. However, a spider's web is no less dangerous for a fly if the spider personally invites him, so don't let your guard down."
Their whispered conversation was cut short as Dr. Kroker approached them. A swarm of media followed behind him, their faces eager and expectant like sharks after a garbage boat.
"Welcome, Professor Xavier," Dr. Kroker announced, heartily shaking Xavier's hand. "I'm so glad you could make it."
"As am I, Dr. Kroker," the Professor responded politely. He gestured behind him. "This is Scott Summers and Jean Grey. They're here with me to dispel these . . . rumors."
"Mr. Summers, Ms. Grey, welcome. If you'll all just follow me." Gesturing inside, Dr. Kroker led them into the building, his demeanor radiating confidence and good will.
As they walked up and down the hallways, listening to Dr. Kroker ramble on and looking into this room and that, Professor Xavier and Jean continually scanned the building telepathically. Dr. Kroker watched them carefully out of the corner of his eye, recognizing their concentrated looks as signs that they were using telepathy. Smiling to himself, he led them through the whole building enjoying their failure to come up with anything against him. He was so confident, eventually he even led them to the normal basement.
"And this is just the basement, basically used for storage and not much else," Dr. Kroker finished. He was just about to turn and suggest that they return to his office for refreshments, when he noticed Xavier's eyes light up. His pulse quickened slightly as the Professor turned to him.
"What about the level below this one?" Professor Xavier asked casually.
Dr. Kroker's perfect smile wavered. "I'm sorry? Professor Xavier, this is the lowest level of the building. I assure you—"
Suddenly all the lights in the building started flickering erratically. All around them, the electronics seemed to grow brighter, before shutting down completely. Cyclops and Jean immediately took up defensive positions around the Professor. Before anyone could say a word, the floor beneath them began trembling.
"Dr. Kroker?" Cyclops turned to face the Doctor.
"I - I'm not sure what's happening," Dr. Kroker said hoarsely.
In the dim light provided by the few small windows on this level, Cyclops could see the Doctor panicking. His precious facade had crumbled and Cyclops had a feeling he knew why the good doctor was scared. His suspicions were confirmed as a large explosion sounded from somewhere close by. Suddenly there was a gaping hole in the floor of the basement. Within seconds several mutants started flying, jumping, and crawling out, their daylight deprived skin almost glowing in the dim room.
"No," Kroker whispered.
"People everywhere were shocked to discover today, that the rumors surrounding Pharmaceutical Technologies about mutant test subjects are true. Dr. Preston Kroker's invitation to Professor Charles Xavier to tour the facilities had a devastating effect on the Doctor's business, as the infamous advocate of mutant rights discovered the presence of the mutants hidden in a secret basement. The X-Men, a team of mutants often seen in corroboration with Professor Xavier, were on the scene aiding in the evacuation of the distressed test subjects."
Mystique smiled as she watched the chaotic scene on the news. Wolverine snorted.
"Aren't you pissed the X-Men are getting credit for this little revolution?" he asked.
"Mr. Jackman, if the X-Men wish to take credit for this, that is their prerogative. That will only make it even less likely that anyone will trace the stolen information and funds back to me," Mystique responded.
"I thought all champions for mutant rights liked to get credit for their heroic actions."
Mystique turned to look at Wolverine. "Mr. Jackman, there are those who would disagree with your summation of my work." She smiled. "There are even those that would try to argue that we are the bad guys. Suffice it to say, I've always found that it is to my advantage to avoid taking any . . . credit, for my actions."
Wolverine arched an eyebrow, but before his could respond, they were interrupted as two women entered the room. Wolverine easily identified the first woman as Mastermind, but the other was a blond he didn't recognize. Then he picked up her scent.
"Rogue?" he asked in surprise.
At the sound of her name, the blond turned to look at him. Walking over to the couch, she closed her eyes and collapsed onto the cushions. Slowly, familiar white streaked brown hair replaced the blond as her body shifted back into her original form. Wolverine took one look at her exhausted features and went over to sit with her.
"You okay?" he asked, concerned.
Rogue didn't open her eyes. "Ah'm fine, Wolverine. Just tired."
When Wolverine didn't say anything Rogue sighed. "Ah had to hold the same form longer than Ah expected while Ah waited for Mastermind to come out of the building," she explained. "Controlling other people's powers isn't that easy."
"Why didn't Mystique go herself?"
Rogue rubbed a hand over her face. "Too risky. Jean Grey and Professor Xavier are powerful telepaths and they've had run ins with Mama before. She didn't want to take the chance that they would link what happened today back to her."
Wolverine thought about that for a moment. "Why wouldn't they be able to recognize you and link you back to Mystique?"
Rogue laughed mirthlessly. "It'd take more than a telepath to make heads or tail of mah head. With all the bits and pieces of people Ah've absorbed in the past crowdin' mah head Ah'm lucky Ah can find mah own memories and thoughts."
Mystique glanced over at her daughter.
"Let her be Wolverine," she said firmly. "Rogue is capable of innumerable absorptions and she has used my powers many times. She is perfectly all right."
Wolverine wasn't convinced, but before he could offer his opinion of Mystique's parenting skills, Mystique turned away from him to greet Mastermind. The two embraced briefly before immediately beginning to discuss business. Wolverine frowned and turned back to Rogue. Watching the mutant recover from exhaustion he couldn't help but wonder how hard Mystique worked the young woman.
"I'm getting bored. What the Hell are Mystique and Mastermind talking about, anyway?" Avalanche complained. Lining up his shot, he sunk the seven ball in the side pocket.
"What does it matter? She never uses us anymore anyway," Blob commented. "She just sends her precious daughter and the outsider now." He shoved another spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. "We should have gone with Sabretooth like Sabre and Post," he mumbled through the frozen dessert.
"Hey, at least she doesn't use you as food," Toad ranted. "She needed my powers, but instead of taking me she just had her vampire daughter suck them out of me."
"If you have a problem with the way Mystique is running things, maybe she should just send you back to prison."
At the sound of the voice, everyone turned around. Mastermind stood in the doorway looking disdainfully around the room.
"At least we didn't let ourselves be captured by that Dr. Frankenstein!" snapped Avalanche.
Mastermind rolled her eyes. "You fool. It's not even worth explaining to you. Just tell me where Rogue is."
"Oh, of course. Where's Rogue? She's the only one who gets to do anything around here. Just because—" Toad trailed off as the room around him wavered and changed. Suddenly, he found himself in a lake surrounded by trees. Looking around in confusion he found himself staring into the reptilian eyes of a giant alligator. Toad screamed as the alligator opened its mouth showing rows of razor sharp teeth. Suddenly, Mastermind materialized inside the alligator's mouth.
"When I ask you a question I expect an answer. Where is Rogue?"
"She's outside on the training course!" Toad cried. Instantly, the illusion of the alligator was gone and Toad found himself once again standing in the rec room. He collapsed in a nervous heap to the floor as Mastermind left the room.
Rogue breathed heavily as she turned the corner of the track. She was exhausted, but Mystique frowned on anyone being lazy. Rogue winced as she felt a stab of pain in her side. Slowing down, she jogged to the end of the track. Quickly, she began doing basic stretching, trying to keep her muscles from tightening up.
"No rest for the wicked, eh?"
Rogue turned and saw Wolverine swaggering over to her. Alcohol rolled off of him in waves and Rogue raised an eyebrow.
"Ah should warn you that Mama doesn't like people bein' drunk when they're supposed to be workin'."
"I'm not working," Wolverine grinned. "How about you?"
"Ah'm always workin'." Rogue sighed and did a few last stretches.
Wolverine frowned as he watched her. Damned healing factor was already killing his buzz.
"Why aren't you kickin' back with the rest of the Brotherhood?" he asked, resigning himself to being sober again.
"They don't like me," she answered simply. "Ah'm Mama's favorite."
"Sure doesn't seem like it, the way she works you like a dog," Wolverine commented, flopping onto the grass.
Stunned, Rogue snapped her head around to look at him. The hurt in her eyes was almost palpable and Wolverine instantly regretted his quick words.
"Hey, I didn't mean it like that. I just—"
Before he could finish, an illusion of Mastermind appeared before them. "Rogue, Wolverine. You're both wanted in the meeting room. Now." As quickly as it had appeared the image vanished. Rogue turned without a word and walked back to the house leaving a pensive Wolverine to pick himself up and follow behind.
Mystique and Mastermind were deep in conversation, but they both fell silent as Wolverine and Rogue filed into the meeting room. Mastermind smiled at Rogue in greeting and nodded at Wolverine. With one last glance back at Mystique, she turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.
"Ah, there you are," Mystique said briskly. "Sit down, we're going to go over the next phase of the plan."
"Damn woman, that's not scheduled to go down for days yet. Why don't you give your kid a break?" Wolverine cut in.
"Wolverine, let it go, Ah'm fine," Rogue protested hotly.
Mystique narrowed her eyes at Wolverine.
"I hired you because you had a reputation for being the best," she said in a low voice. "Are you telling me that you can't handle the job?"
Wolverine didn't back down. "Oh, I can handle it. I'm just saying, Rogue—"
"Do not concern yourself with my daughter, Mr. Jackman. Unlike you I have no doubts about her ability to handle this job," Mystique dismissed him.
Wolverine glared at her, but Rogue laid a placating hand on his arm.
"Please, stop."
Wolverine fought down the urge to argue. Rogue was obviously uncomfortable with the subject and the last thing he wanted to do was make things worse for her. Relaxing slightly, he nodded.
"Fine." He turned to Mystique. "All I'm saying is that both of us need to be operating at our best for what we need to do. Stress is a weakness and we can't afford that." He looked Mystique in the eye. "Give me three days. I'll work with Rogue and make sure she's up to everything we'll be facing."
As Mystique listened to Wolverine's suggestion, her mind began to churn with new ideas. She'd watched with interest as Wolverine seemed to calm down at Rogue's touch. Though she had often used her daughter's powers to achieve a goal, she'd never considered feminine wiles to be in Rogue's artillery. She would have to keep her eye on the Wolverine and her daughter. Emotions often turned out to be useful bargaining chips.
"Rogue has already been briefed on the mission, Mr. Jackman, and she has been in training her entire life. What exactly do you propose to teach her."
"How about how to relax?" Wolverine suggested wryly.
Mystique looked amused at the suggestion that laziness could be considered a trainable skill.
"Very well, Mr. Jackman," she said finally. "You may have your three days. Just remember, it's up to you now to make sure you're both ready in time.
"Fine." Wolverine turned to Rogue. "Can you show me a room I can sleep in?"
Rogue stared at him uncertainly. He hadn't slept here before. That coupled with the spontaneous, but heartfelt, concern he'd just expressed for her had her feeling confused. Automatically seeking guidance, Rogue looked over at Mystique who simply nodded. Turning back to Wolverine, Rogue shrugged and then led him out of the room into the hall.
Neither said anything as they walked to the upper level. Wolverine watched her out of the corner of his eye. She was clearly exhausted, but to her credit she tried not to show it. He had the unpleasant suspicion that Mystique was encouraging Rogue to push herself too hard and to simply take energy from others instead of resting up to restore her own. Either way, Wolverine wasn't about to go on a mission with someone who looked like they could keel over at any second.
Rogue gestured to a room ahead and they both walked in. She turned on the light and Wolverine saw that the room was sparsely furnished. The walls were a plain white and the bed had a plain green blanket with matching sheets.
"It's not much, but it should do." Rogue commented. She rubbed her face with her gloved hands. She felt like hell.
"Why don't you have a seat?"
"Ah should go back down to the training course. Mah muscles feel tight, Ah need to work them out."
Wolverine walked over to her. "I have a better idea. Take your shirt off and lay down on the bed."
That got her attention and Rogue looked at him incredulously. "Excuse me?"
"I said, take your shirt off and lay down on the goddamn bed," repeated patiently.
"Do you have a death wish?" Rogue asked wide-eyed.
"Do you want your muscles to be too sore to do your job?" he countered.
Rogue was silent as she considered his proposal. She still looked doubtful. Wolverine sighed.
"Hey," he said. "We need to work together, right?"
Rogue nodded slowly.
"And to work together we've got to be able to trust one another, right? We need to know we've got each other's backs." She smiled a little at his pun. Wolverine smiled a little back. "Look, I'm not gonna molest you. Just trust me." Finally, Rogue nodded.
Wolverine turned his back to give her time to take her shirt off and lay down. Then he turned around and reached into his back pockets, removing a pair of black leather gloves. Putting them on, he walked back over to the bed. Rogue was lying down, her hair pulled to the side watching him closely. Wolverine carefully climbed onto the bed, placing one leg on either side of her. He could sense she was still very nervous and he kept his weight off her. Slowly he began to massage her shoulders. After a few moments, he could feel her relax a little. Taking his time, he worked his way carefully down her back, paying attention to every muscle. Methodically, he worked each knot out until her muscles all loosened under his touch. As he finished her lower back, he considered going lower, but quickly decided against it. Listening carefully, he heard her steady breathing and knew she'd fallen asleep.
"Thought that might work," he murmured. Getting up off the bed, he carefully pulled the blanket out from under her. She didn't even stir as he covered her up. Smiling to himself, he quietly left the room.