Chapter 30: Breaking News
The Professor dispatched a team the next day, without Rogue in the line-up. As soon as the Blackbird got even close to where he believed the FoH facility was, though, they were flanked by F-18s and forced to turn around by order of the United States Air Force. This wasn't good. The Professor continued to try to use his contacts to find ways to free Remy, but after a little more than a week, it wasn't necessary. Kitty came running through the wall into the room she shared with Rogue, shaken visibly.
"Omigod omigod omigod! Rogue! You'll never believe what happened, you have to come!"
Before Rogue could question it Kitty grabbed her hand and pulled her to the living room, using the short way, a la phasing. What was on the screen, all the students gathered around, was a Breaking News Report, the kind they interrupted programs for.
"This just in," said the anchorwoman, "Mutant criminal Remy LeBeau who hospitalized three high school students last week has escaped from the holding facility where he was being kept. A Friends of Humanity spokesman said that it was because they had underestimated his powers and didn't have adequate funding to handle the magnitude of his abilities. He should be considered highly dangerous, and always armed. Any object he touches can be turned into a high-powered explosive. If anyone sees Remy LeBeau please get to a safe place and contact the authorities."
She paused as the camera changed angles and she turned. "In related news, the President has boosted the grant to the Friends of Humanity, and also given funding to build more mutant holding facilities. A White House spokesman had this to say,"
The scene switched to a man standing behind a podium with the Seal of the President of the United States.
"It has become clear to this establishment that the mutant threat is far greater than we suspected. Since powers usually manifest in the teen years they can amplify the usual stress and angst, creating powerful, unstable individuals who must be closely monitored. A new bill proposing that mutants be required to register their names and powers with the government is being put through the Senate as we speak."
The video clip ended and the camera returned to the anchorwoman. "The protests that usually follow these bills are nearly non-existent. Only a few mutants and supporters protested earlier, but most have given up by now. This bill is expected to pass with an unprecedented landslide vote. We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. Stick with Channel 5 for breaking news in this mutant conflict."
Rogue felt her entire body going numb as the story unfolded. It looked as if the registration act was closer than ever to being passed, and the social prosecution she and Remy had faced last week in school was just the tip of the impending iceberg. But Remy was free, and that small fact alone made her heart swell. Without saying a word to Kitty, Rogue ran back to her room and waited, trying not to think of the world that was crashing down around them.
He'd come back, wouldn't he? Hours passed, and there was no sign of him, not even a call. He must be on the run, in hiding. She needed to find him. Her conversation with the Professor days ago resurfaced in her memory and inside she was raging.
She had the power necessary to help Remy within her mind, but she couldn't reach it. And the Professor, possibly the one man who was able to help, refused. In her anger she failed to see his logic. If he wouldn't connect her mind with Carol, then she would have to take measures into her own hands.
Rogue sat in the middle of her bed, recalling her training with Logan. He had included a lot of philosophy with their study of martial arts, and had even taught a introductory lesson to meditation. Perhaps she could use it not to get in touch with her own mind, but with those within it. Rogue glanced at the door, hoping Kitty wouldn't be returning soon. She took a deep breath; it was her only choice, and it was for Remy.
With a hesitating hand, Rogue removed one earring, and then the other. Nothing so far.. Perhaps she had more control over Carol than she thought. She heard the ticking of the clock, closed her eyes, and started to let her mind drift.
She wasn't sure how much time passed. It was a long time, she knew, and with no apparent results, Rogue wondered if this would work. That's when she felt it.
'What do you think you're doing?'
The voice was small, faint, but it sent a chill through Rogue's being.
'I asked you a question.'
Rogue had no idea what to do. Carol wasn't exactly someone she could chat with.
'Ah.. Ah want to know how ya use ya powers.. and how ya control mine.' Might as well get straight to the point.
She could feel Carol laughing; there was no sound to it, but she got the distinct impression that she was amused. For a few moments there was no reply, but then it happened. She could feel Carol slamming against her mind, against the weakened shields Rogue's earrings maintained, only being a few feet away from her head. Rogue was caught off guard, the pain clouding her senses. She couldn't hold Carol back.. she'd take over again..
Fist clenched around her earrings, Rogue forced her hands to her forehead, wincing against Carol's raging entity, which was screaming...
She must have passed out, because when she opened her eyes it was much darker outside. Hastily, she put her earrings back on, but the throbbing remained. Mentally, she reviewed her memories, her abilities, and found nothing.. She had failed. Her eyes began to well before she forced her attention on the situation at hand. Remy was out there, and she'd find him, with or without Carol's abilities.
The next day there was nothing but news on. They'd found Remy, and he was locked up in the Bayville City Bank & Trust. He had 37 customers and 12 employees held hostage. The street outside of the bank, the cameras showed, had several charred remains of cars strewn about. It was about 1 pm.
"The stand-off has persisted for four hours all ready, and police have yet to receive any demands from the mutant fugitive. They are unsure of his motivations, though some speculate he is simply out to destroy the world that rejected him. Wait a second, what's that?"
It was Remy. He shoved one of the glass doors open and suddenly there were several red streaks shooting through the sky. Two of them hit the tops of buildings and sent the sharpshooters plummeting to the street below, buried in rubble. The others slammed into police cars, officers jumping clear as they exploded in flames. Wolverine came into the living room and grabbed Bobby Drake away, then Scott and Jean. He was assembling a team to go after Remy.
Rogue ran downstairs, having heard the entire thing on the radio. What was Remy doing? Was he so enraged that he was going around attacking public places, simply to get revenge? That wasn't like him.
Rogue rushed into the living room, looking at Logan leading team members away. Her face was expectant. But he didn't say anything to her.
"Logan, Ah'm goin', aren't Ah?"
Logan stopped and looked at her, then shook his head. "Sorry, Stripes, Chuck said no. This is just going to be a quick pick up. He all ready has the go ahead to rehabilitate Remy here, as an expert in mutant psychology. We just have to get to him before the cops hand him back over to the Friends."
"But-"
But, Logan would have none of it. With a gruff expression, he turned his back on her and went to see the team off. Rogue hung back, stung. Even if there was nothing she could do to help, she wanted to at least be there for him. And now they were denying her even that comfort. Rogue waited until the Blackbird had taken off before marching into the garage and surveying what she found.
Logan would put her in level ten every day for a week if she took his motorcycle, but Scott.. he wasn't as tough. His bike wasn't as big, and seemed easy enough to ride. Fitting herself with a helmet, Rogue got on and started it, accidentally peeling out of the driveway.
