Chapter 31: Stand Off
It took some time before Rogue got the handle of driving the motorcycle, but as soon as she had it under control she sped down the deserted nighttime streets. There weren't very many people outside, either, as everyone was glued to their television sets.
She could see the lights of downtown up ahead, and no doubt the Blackbird was hovering up above the scene somehow, searching for Remy. The thought made her slow down, coming to a stop in a dark side street, the only light coming from one nearly burnt out street lamp. She couldn't let the other X Men know she was here. They'd stop her, and send her back immediately. Rogue kicked out the bike stand, and dismounted the bike.
There was an explosion then. The stand-off had continued even now, but it was coming to an end, they said. That end was not good for those trying to get Remy. The glass doors of the bank shattered and Remy ran out. He had two submachine guns that were firing red, glowing bullets that exploded on contact. As he ran down the steps then along the sidewalk Wolverine appeared behind him, only to take an exploding round to the chest, which knocked him back. Remy disappeared around a corner, leaving fire and wreckage behind him.
Rogue took off the helmet, gazing wide eyed towards the bank. Something was happening, and it couldn't be good. Leaving the bike behind, Rogue took to the shadows, running along alleys and side streets towards the scene. If she knew anything about Remy, she'd be finding him in the dark places where he could easily hide.
Her outfit was completely black. She'd put on one of the bodysuits she typically wore during training, and a black jacket. She decided against her X Men uniform. If something happened to her, she wouldn't let herself be traced back to them.
Ahead of her in one of the alleys a familiar form dodged around a corner. A police car screeched to a halt and tried to spin around, only to be flipped by an explosion near the front right wheel. The police officers tried to scramble out before the fire spread to the gas tank.
Rogue skidded to a stop as the car flipped over. She barely had time to process what had happened before the car exploded, sending shrapnel and fire everywhere. Thinking quickly, Rogue dodged into a side alley in the same direction that Remy had left in. There was barely enough room for two people to walk shoulder to shoulder, and the brick wall blurred past her as she raced down the alley, hoping to get to the end in time to see where Remy had gone.
He hadn't gone anywhere. Remy was pressed against the wall, the guns in holsters strapped to his thighs. He held two clips which had started to glow with the red energy which usually charged his cards. The police hadn't made it here yet, so he had time, just not a lot. He looked over at Rogue as she came out of the alley and frowned.
"I's not safe fo' yo' heah, p'tite... Remy got work ta finish."
Rogue whirled at the sound of his voice before rushing over to him, without much thought. She noted that he was carrying guns, and seemed ready for war.
"Remy, what happened? What are you doing here, why didn't you come back to the institute?"
Her head spun; there were simply too many questions to ask at once. But he could answer them later. She reached out a gloved hand to him.
"Come on, we have ta get outta here before the rest of the police find us!"
Remy shook his head, loading the submachine guns one at a time.
"Sorry, p'tite, Remy's eyes been opened, now. He see dat de world needs a lesson. We is de superior race. Dey need ta know dat."
A helicopter buzzed by the top of the building and whirled around to face where Remy and Rogue stood, a chain-gun mounted to it's underbelly. "Drop the weapons or we will have to use force!" Remy just fired a volley at the helicopter, which exploded and fell to the ground before the pilot could get a shot off.
"Now get outta heah! I's not safe!"
Rogue covered her face with her arm as the helicopter fell, expecting an explosion to rip through the streets at any minute. She looked up at him, worried and confused.
"Ya know that's not true! It's like the Professah taught us, people are just afraid of what they don't understand. These people," she nearly shouted, gesturing at the policemen, civilians, and innocents that populated the city around them. "They don't deserve this! Listen, we need ta get ya back home. Ya aren't thinkin' straight."
Her hand grasped his arm, expression urgent and pleading.
His arm tensed and he dropped the gun back into it's holster, as if to surrender... Instead he pulled away and delivered a vicious backhand to Rogue.
"Dey is sheep! Dey ain' even fit ta-"
Remy's rant was cut short, and the other gun fell to the ground. A metal dart with black feathers protruded from Remy's neck. He weaved a bit unsteadily then collapsed in a heap. That's when a similar dart found it's way into Rogue's neck as well.
The force caused Rogue to spin, catching herself against the brick wall. Her eyes welled, but not just from the pain. What had happened to him? This wasn't like him, he wouldn't do any of this. Rogue didn't have much time to lament over the situation before she felt the prick in her neck. Vision darkening and her body becoming weak, Rogue slid down the wall and crumpled to the ground.
Everything was black. Rogue returned to consciousness slowly, listening to her surroundings carefully. Her limbs felt too heavy to move, but she forced her body to cooperate. She was lying on hard concrete floor, and opening her eyes, she realized she was within some kind of holding cell. The walls and floor were the same gray color, and the bars were made from an odd material - not metal. With a faint groan, Rogue pushed herself into a sitting position, vision clearing to look across the hallway.
The cell opposite to hers held Remy, strapped to a table by metal bands. Some equipment beeped next to him, and several IV drips flowed into his arms. He was still unconscious.
And that was all. Rogue laid back down slowly in defeat. There was nothing she could do now, they were both captured. She didn't think they were being held by the police - this prison seemed too nondescript, and what kind of holding cell wouldn't have the typical metal bars? It must have been an FoH holding facility. What would they do? If they discovered the potentials of her power, would they get the same idea as Trask? Or merely kill her, or keep them here like this forever? And what would happen to Remy? He was wanted by law enforcement too, now, and they'd take no risks in letting him escape again. And there was nothing she could do.
There was one thing, she remembered, though it hadn't worked the last time. But there was no choice.
Wearily, Rogue lifted a hand to her head, removing her earrings one by one. She could feel Carol immediately. She was more pronounced now, but still small from her time in repression.
'What an unfortunate position you've gotten yourself into.'
'And are ya gonna get us outta it?'
Carol paused. 'What makes you think I'd help you?'
'Because ya don't want ta die, either. An' ya don't want them testin' me anymore than Ah do. Now, Ah want ya ta help us.'
'"Us"? As soon as I get near LeBeau, consider him as good as dead.'
'Ya got no reason ta be angry with him. He's not workin' for Trask, he's his enemy now. Ya got nothin' ta gain by killin' him.'
'I don't believe you.'
'But ya would gain somethin' by revengin' yaself on these people.'
'What are you saying?'
'Get us outta here, don't hurt him, and ya can have ya way with the people holdin' us.' Rogue gripped the earrings in her hand. 'Ya know if ya try ta take over without my permission, Ah'll just send ya back. And if Ah let ya take over and ya try ta escape, ya know the Professah will find ya again. Take ya chance now ta get revenge, or ya'll never have it again.'
Rogue's body lay still for some time as the two thought together, weighing each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Some time had passed before a banging, rattling noise echoed from the prisoners' holding cells.
