The first thing Rogue became aware of when she regained consciousness was the sound of voices from somewhere directly to her right. Years of training kept her body in check, remaining perfectly still to maintain the illusion that she was still unconscious. Fighting the urge to open her eyes and look around, she instead concentrated on making out what the voices were saying.
"I still think we should have her in a more secure location. Who knows what she's capable of?"
Rogue frowned internally. That voice sounded familiar.
"The restraints here in the Med Lab should be more than adequate, Scott. I doubt Rogue presents much of a threat at this point."
The speech of the second man marked him as older and well-educated. Gentle pressure against her wrists and ankles confirmed what he said, as Rogue realized she was strapped down to some sort of hospital bed. Resisting the need to check the constraints resistance, Rogue forced herself to keep listening. After a few moments of silence, she realized they'd stopped speaking. She froze, straining to hear sounds of movement. Maybe they'd left?
"You can stop pretending now, Rogue," the older voice said.
Hesitating for just a split second, Rogue reluctantly opened her eyes. Beside her, a bald man in a green suit was sitting in a bright yellow chair. With a sense of dread, Rogue recognized him as Professor Xavier from television. His eyes were warm and Rogue was tempted to dismiss him as an immediate threat. However, numerous warnings from her mother echoed in her head and she reminded herself that the man was a powerful telepath. Looking at Xavier's companion, Rogue recognized the man from the military base who had blasted the crate that knocked her and the red-headed woman unconscious. He was still in his uniform and he didn't look happy at all.
Rogue's mind worked furiously to come up with a plan of action. Going for something basic, Rogue paused for a moment before letting out a laugh. This seemed to make Scott even less happy.
"What's so funny?" he asked hotly.
"You," Rogue smirked. "You knocked your own teammate out."
Scott's face flushed red and Rogue congratulated herself on her hit.
"I knocked you out too, didn't I?" he snapped.
Rogue tried to shrug within her straps. "Still funny."
Scott fumed. "I suppose you think genocide is funny too, is that it? Is that why you were--?"
"Scott that's enough," Professor Xavier broke in. Laying a restraining hand on Cyclops' shoulder, he waited for him to calm down before turning back to Rogue.
"Please, allow me to make some introductions. My name is Professor Charles Xavier, and this is my associate Scott Summers. I believe you two have met."
Rogue smirked again and Scott grit his teeth. Xavier spoke up before they could start bickering again.
"Rogue, I would like to ask you a few questions about last night."
Rogue remained silent. Xavier sighed.
"Rogue, I honestly don't expect you to confide anything in me. But I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if I didn't at least try to find out what made you hate humans so bad."
Rogue frowned. "What?"
Xavier's eyes were sad as he looked back at her. "Rogue, do you honestly think that genocide is the answer?"
Now Rogue was thoroughly confused. "What the Hell are you talking about? Ah don't know anything about genocide unless you're talking about what the humans have planned for us."
"You don't honestly expect us to believe that it's just a coincidence that you just so happened to try to steal three quadraphasic hollow point missile heads three days after robbing Pharm-Tech?" Scott scoffed. "What exactly were you going to use those missiles for?"
Rogue glared at him. "Maybe we were just disarming the humans so they couldn't use those damn missiles on us!"
"Then why did you break into Pharm-Tech?" Xavier asked.
Rogue's eyes sparkled with repressed anger. "We were freeing mutants you self-righteous prick."
"Then why set the big jailbreak for the next day?" Cyclops demanded. "Why not release them that night when you had the chance?"
"Because we wanted to make sure the news was there to destroy Kroker's credibility. What's the point of releasing them in the dead of the night so the bastard could deny they were ever there?!" Part of Rogue's brain was screaming at her to stop talking before she gave away more information than she should, but Cyclops had tapped into a part of her that felt a passionate need to defend the woman who had raised her as her own for fifteen years.
"So you didn't take anything?" Xavier asked softly.
Rogue turned wild eyes on him. "Maybe we did. Maybe we took his money so that he couldn't fix his torture chamber of a lab."
"Are you certain that's all you took?" he prodded gently.
Doubt flickered in Rogue's eyes for a brief second. Mystique hadn't told her what was in the files she'd downloaded, but Rogue didn't want to admit that she didn't know what her mother had taken. Falling silent, she just watched Xavier and Scott.
"Rogue," Xavier began carefully. "I'm going to tell you some things. I don't want you to respond right now, and you're free to believe me or not, but please just listen." He took a deep breath. "We know that Dr. Kroker was working on a biochemical serum to use against mutants. Those chemicals, properly re-formulated, would be a powerful biological weapon, effective only on the human population." He looked Rogue in the eye. "Those missile heads you were trying to steal would have allowed someone to detonate the chemical and cause an outbreak that could have killed every human on the east coast."
Rogue struggled not to let her emotions show on her face. "Ah don't believe you. You're lying, Mama always told me you were a liar."
Xavier's eyes held a touch of pity. "I don't expect you to believe me. Perhaps, you would believe your teammate?"
Rogue's heart sank and her stomach turned. Was it true? Had Wolverine known?
Xavier watched her sympathetically. He nodded to Scott, who began releasing the straps that held her down. Rogue sat up slowly, her eyes staring off into space.
"Rogue, from what little I know of your powers I dare say you have all the answers you need. However, like me, you seem to be adverse to invading others' privacy whenever it is avoidable." Rogue kept her head down. Xavier reached over and placed a hand on her arm. "Being partners requires a lot of trust. Let him earn yours by telling you the truth voluntarily. Ask him Rogue. Give him a chance."
Rogue slowly raised her head. Looking into Xavier's kind face, she found herself nodding. "Okay," she said quietly. She felt so numb and confused; she didn't even stop to wonder why Xavier was being so reassuring or why he seemed to care about her trust in Wolverine.
Xavier smiled encouragingly. "If you would like, Rogue, I would be happy to talk with you, if you ever need a sympathetic ear."
"No, thanks, but Ah can't. Mama wouldn't . . ." she trailed off. Unshed tears burned her eyes. Rogue felt like someone had yanked her world out from under her. She looked up at Xavier. "Ah have ta go. Ah need ta think." She slid off the hospital bed and left the room, walking aimlessly down the hall.
"Child, are you all right?"
Startled, Rogue snapped out of her reverie. Looking up, she recognized the woman who had spoken as the one who called the wind, back at the military base. Her long silver hair was in sharp contrast with her dark skin and the overall effect was a regal aura that commanded respect.
Storm looked at her in concern. "Rogue? Are you all right?" she asked again.
"Everyone keeps askin' me that," Rogue mumbled. "What the Hell do you want?"
"We only wish to help, Rogue," Storm assured her gently.
The fact that she insisted on continually using her name grated on Rogue's nerves. It was one thing when the world's most powerful telepath managed to get inside her head and destroy years of hard training, but listening to one of his precious X-Men using dime store psychobabble really pissed her off. Taking a deep breath, she schooled her features into a cool mask of indifference and fixed Storm with a level gaze.
"Look, weather witch. Ah'm not stupid. Ya'll don't wanna help me. Ya want me to go home and tell mah mama what a bad person she is. Ya want me to stop bein' such an evil villain and find a way to peacefully coexist." Her eyes narrowed. "Well, it's not gonna happen. Ah'm not gonna help you take down mah mother just because your boss knows what buttons to push."
Storm looked at her closely, a concentrated look on her face. Whatever she was looking for, she must have found it because she nodded and offered Rogue her bare hand.
"What?"
Storm's gaze did not waver. "Touch me, Rogue."
Rogue looked at her. "Are you serious?"
Storm smiled serenely. "Rogue, I cannot ask you to trust me because I have not given you any reason to. However, I want you to understand, to believe, that we only want to help." She turned her hand palm up. "I am on my way to check on your friend Wolverine. I would like to face him knowing I did all I could to assure your comfort."
"Wolverine," Rogue sighed. "Ah almost forgot." She looked at Storm's hand, then shook her head. "Ah can't leave him here."
"If he is well, he will be released within the hour," Storm promised.
"Why should Ah believe that?" Rogue scoffed.
Storm arched an eyebrow. "I believe I am offering an answer to that question."
Rogue still looked suspicious. "Ah don't know . . ."
Storm held her hand up between them. "Then find out."
Rogue watched her carefully, as she removed one of her gloves. Slowly, she reached her hand up and touched her bare skin to Storm's. Her powers kicked in and Rogue quickly pulled back after a few seconds. Storm swayed a little on her feet, but did not fall.
"You'll feel a little woozy for a minute, but Ah didn't take much," Rogue said, reaching out to steady her. Learning what she just had, she didn't feel very steady herself.
Storm nodded and closed her eyes as the dizziness washed over her. When she stood straight up again, Rogue made sure she could stand on her own and then let go of her.
"Tell Wolverine, Ah'm in the park," Rogue called over her shoulder as she ran out of the mansion, her newly acquire memories guiding her.
Storm watched her go with the peaceful sense that she had done the right thing. Taking a deep breath, she turned and left to find Wolverine.
Wolverine groaned as he regained consciousness. His eyelids fluttered open and he had to blink a few times to focus. As he took in his surroundings, he was somewhat disturbed to find everything tinted in pink. Moving to sit up, his arms and legs met with empty air. Disoriented, Wolverine shook his head. As his mind processed what was happening he realized he was floating in some kind of a pink cylindrical force field.
Releasing his claws, Wolverine swiped at the wall of the force field to no avail. With a roar he began dragging his claws over anything he could reach, trying to deactivate the force field.
As he futilely struggled to escape his pink prison, the door to the room opened and a black woman with flowing white hair entered. She walked over to where Wolverine floated in the force field.
"Hello, Wolverine," she said pleasantly. "How are you feeling?"
Wolverine stopped slashing long enough to fix her with a glare.
"How do you think I'm feeling?" Wolverine snapped. "What's with the de-masculinating force field?"
"The anti-gravitational chamber's first use is healing, Wolverine," Storm pointed out, suppressing a smile. "You were injured quite badly, I'm afraid."
"I'm fine, no thanks to you. I heal fast, I don't need your lousy cage to help me."
"Yes, I see." Storm pulled a chair over from one of the nearby desks. She still felt a little weak. Wolverine watched her closely.
"If you want to help me, why not let me go?" he asked.
Storm smiled serenely. "Soon, Wolverine. First, I must ask you what you were doing at that military base."
"What were you doing there?" he countered.
"We were there to stop you," Storm replied easily. "Mystique is not known for having . . . admirable goals. I'm surprised you share her ideas," she responded levelly.
"It's just a job," Wolverine muttered. "Nuthin' personal."
Storm shook her head sadly. "I wonder, does Rogue feel the same way?"
Wolverine's eyes widened. "Where is she?! What have you done with her?!"
"Calm yourself, Wolverine. Rogue is fine, she had a talk with Professor Xavier."
Wolverine's spirits fell. Professor Xavier. The leading voice in peace avocation between humans and mutants. The thorn in Mystique's side. Wolverine sighed and closed his eyes. He didn't even want to think about the effect the world's most powerful telepath would have on Rogue. When he opened his eyes again, Storm could see his resignation.
"I need to see her," he said simply.
Storm nodded in understanding. "She said to tell you she was in the park."
Standing and walking over to the controls, she turned to face him. "I do not believe we have anything to fear from you." She flipped the switch and Wolverine dropped to his feet.
"Not today," he said softly as he left. Steeling himself, he set off to find Rogue.
The park was peaceful as usual. The sun was bright, the trees were doing their best to dance gracefully in the breeze. The beautiful surroundings didn't do much, however, for the young woman sitting on the park bench. Huddled up, her knees tucked against her chest, it wasn't hard to believe her world was crumbling beneath her. When she heard footsteps approaching, she couldn't even raise her eyes to meet the man who had, in such a short time, had such a profound effect on her previously simple life. For a few moments, he just stood there.
"Did you know?" Rogue said finally, breaking the silence.
Wolverine didn't need to ask what she was talking about. Professor Xavier had no doubt put everything together and figured out what Mystique was up to. The fact that Rogue suspected that he had known as well made him uneasy. He was unsure as to whether she suspected he knew because Xavier had suspected he knew or if she was getting something from what she'd absorbed from him. In light of this doubt, Wolverine decided honesty was best.
"I suspected," he said quietly.
"What was your job?" Rogue asked woodenly.
"I was hired to get you into the military base and steal the missile heads."
"If Mama went outside the Brotherhood to get you, you had to be needed for a special skill. What was it?" her voice almost broke as the last word came out. Part of her screamed that she didn't want to know.
"That base is top secret, even among the big boys. I have . . . experience . . . with all things "top secret." He popped his claws to emphasize his point.
Rogue looked him directly in the eyes. "Did you know mah mama was plannin' genocide?"
Wolverine returned the stare. "I didn't know when I accepted the job."
Rogue watched him a few minutes longer before nodding slowly. Finally, she sighed, breaking the tension that had been steadily building. Wolverine walked over and sat down next to her on the bench. Rogue stared down at her knees.
"Ah never asked." She took a shaky breath. "Ah always just did what Ah was told."
Wolverine reached an arm around her and Rogue let her head rest on his shoulder. He sighed. Emotions weren't exactly his strong suit.
"Hey, it's okay," he tried to comfort her.
Rogue pushed away from him. "It's not okay! What am Ah supposed to do now?"
"What do you want to do?" Wolverine asked logically.
Rogue looked at him like he was insane. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Wolverine looked confused.
"Ah can't just tell Mama Ah won't be a part of the Brotherhood!" Rogue insisted, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Then be a part of the Brotherhood," Wolverine came back helplessly.
She shook her head miserably. "Ah don't wanna spend mah life tryin' to kill an entire race. Ah know they hate us, but Ah have too many people inside mah head, too many different views. Ah can't live with pointless murder."
"What do you want to do?"
A tear slid down Rogue's cheek. "Ah don't know. The Brotherhood always gave me purpose." She turned a tortured gaze to him. "Ah have no purpose without them."
"Then maybe you just need a new purpose," Wolverine suggested.
Rogue snorted as another tear escaped. "Like what?"
Wolverine raked a hand through his hair and let out a deep breath. "Look, I'm the wrong person to talk to about this. I mean, basically, I just kinda try and find my past and survive to see my future." He thought for a moment. "You could try to control your powers."
Another tear trickled down her cheek and Wolverine found himself with a strange urge to reach out and brush it away.
"But where will Ah live? How will Ah live?" Rogue rambled. "Mama's always provided for me. Ah've never gone out on mah own." She sniffled. "Ah don't know how."
"Why can't you stay with your mom?" Wolverine asked, snapping his attention away from her tears.
Rogue took a deep breath. "Ever since she took me in, Mama's trained me to be a part of the Brotherhood. Ah just don't think she'll be happy if Ah tell her Ah don't want to be a member anymore."
"Well she's got to make a decision then. You're a person, not a weapon," Wolverine insisted.
Rogue looked at him in surprise. She laughed a little through her tears. "That was very deep for a hired thug."
Wolverine shrugged. "To tell the truth, I surprise myself sometimes," he admitted.
They both laughed. Rogue nodded. "Okay," she said taking a deep breath. "Time to go tell Mama."
Wolverine nodded, but inside he was already picturing the blue terrorist's reaction. Shit.