The Rogue
Author's Note: Hey everyone! Thanks for the reviews, I was seriously worried whether or not this story was getting boring… its going to get better soon! I hope…
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Scott sat patiently in Xavier's office as the X-team assembled in the room. Many of them were not present due to their duties as either being teachers, students or medical personnel. Scott figured he'd have to inform them later.
" So, what is this all about?" Ororo asked, as she sat on one of the chairs. Her hair was slightly damp from the exercises that her class was doing. " Please make it quick, Jubilee's filling in for me, Lord knows what she'll do to a meditation class…"
They laughed at the thought of Jubilee leading a serene class that encourages calm actions. Scott shook it off and began the meeting.
" I'll make it quick," Scott reassured the weather goddess. " Ma- er… Rogue has just informed me that she will attempt to retrieve her memories with the help of the Professor."
" That's great… why are you telling this to us?" Bobby asked. " I mean, we all knew that she would try someday or another…"
Scott nodded in agreement. " However, ten years is a long time, Bobby."
" That is correct," Xavier continued. " We may have to prepare ourselves for a change in our dear Rogue."
The group was silent. They hadn't considered about the changes that may occur. Rogue was already so dear to them, would she change and become someone they barely know about?
" So… is she going to begin now?" Kitty asked as she looked around. " Can… can we stay?"
Xavier shook his head. " No, Rogue will need to concentrate and I'm afraid too many people will just distract her." His expression suddenly changed. " However she will not start right now… I believe there has been a mishap on the roof… she may need time to recollect herself."
Jean nodded as Xavier explained the situation to her mentally. As the rest of the X-team filed out of the room, Scott stayed and sat on one of the larger chairs that faced Xavier's mahogany desk.
" Was there something else you'd like to add?" Xavier asked. Scott had his mind shut off from the telepath to protect the information he had within his mind. Xavier respected his decision, knowing he was only protecting Rogue's privacy.
" Marie thinks she may have had a child," he replied as he sighed in frustration. " What did they do to her? What were they trying to accomplish?"
Xavier sympathized with the man and smiled. 'They make a good pair' he thought to himself. 'The fearless leader and the timid soldier… they do say that opposites attract'.
He had a theory about Scott's harbored feelings towards Rogue since he had first warmed up to the untouchable woman. Somehow, he had a feeling that the two were going to be each other's strength and they would be an unbeatable team. Now, he had a feeling that the theory was proving itself to be right.
" I shall call her. She must be anxious to get her past back."
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Underground labs: Area 42
DeVillago sat patiently as his team busied themselves with plans and devices. They had bugged every clothing they had bought for their 'Trojan Horse'. The boy- Richard Adler, as the Rogue named him- was code-named 'Hypno' for his mutation and they knew the boy as useless… until now. The Rogue had been the boy's only contact ever since he was born. It was normal for him to be impatient when it would come to a reunion.
"So when can I see her?" Ricky asked, his hazel eyes flashing bright blue as his patience wore off. " You're tricking me aren't you?"
DeVillago smiled as he saw the boy on the screen, frowning at the cameras.
" I assure you, my boy… we're merely waiting for a signal"
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Johnson, the spectacled officer watched the screen intently as he aligned the GPS satellite. Sweat covered his brow as he tried his best to somehow find a flickering signal. Suddenly, as he typed quickly, the screen zoomed into a more detailed map with a flashing red dot appearing.
" Sir?" he said,
General Austwit, who was drinking a cup of coffee, placed it down and stood over the soldier.
"Where is this?" he demanded, looking at the soldier intently.
" Westchester, sir. Xavier's School for the Gifted," Johnson replied.
General Austwit knew where the school was; his son had just been accepted to that particular school not so long ago. His expression hardened as he thought of the situation more deeply.
" Inform DeVillago," he barked. " I'll accompany Philip Nate to the conference room."
Johnson saluted and ran towards the opposite wing. He reached the white conference room and gasped for breath. The room, full of scientists, calmed down as soon as he had ran through the sliding doors.
" May I help you?" DeVillago asked.
" We've located the Rogue, sir," Johnson informed the now smiling scientist. " She's in the 'Xavier's School for the Gifted in Westchester, sir!"
DeVillago nodded in approval and dismissed the young soldier.
" Iz it pozzible zat ze gurl haz controlled ze device?" Dr. Krauss wondered out loud.
" No sir,"
The group turned towards the new voice and found General Austwit with a blindfolded blond man, who looked no more than 30.
" General?" Dr. Stevenson said, encouraging him to continue.
" My daughter, Stacie…" he started, tears threatening to fall. " She was accepted to that school, not too long ago… It's a place for mutants."
A gasp filled the room. " What should we do?" " If there's a school of mutants-" " Who knows what sort of-" The conversations soon began and the room was out of control. The scientists began to worry about what sort of trouble would arise if the Rogue did remember all the experiments done on her.
" We should have erased her memories like we did project Wolverine," stated one of the more elderly scientists. " You don't see him around, do you?"
" Dr. Jenkins," DeVillago said. " If we had erased her memories, she would surely be one of the terrorists threatening the government. Now, I want 147 back here, the rest of the mutants will not be taken."
" She is all we need."
The woman nodded, translating everything he had said in her mind. Whatever he had just said was heard differently in her ears. All we need is 147 to defeat any problems in our way. She is all we need
" Now, General Austwit, please bring our 'bait' here," DeVillago said as he looked at the emotionless man. Austwit nodded and did as he was told.
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Ricky settled in his white cell and hugged his knees. He knew he was being watched. His mother had taught him everything to survive, to escape… however things were not looking good. His mother had also taught him to know when to lay low, when to strike and when to be alert and aware. Right then, he knew that it was a time to be aware and to somehow figure out what was going on.
'Act Dumb, be wise' was what she always said to him. Ricky had kept his other abilities secret and used them to his advantage at most times.
He missed his mother and was tempted to use his telekinesis to bust him out of the lab. However… he didn't have enough information to know whether he would have a clean getaway.
'So much for being Houdini,' he thought sadly.
" So they found her?"
Ricky's ears twitched as he heard the conversation just outside his door. He made no outward change, but concentrated everything he had on his sense of hearing.
" Yea'. They found th' Sheila somewhere in N'York," replied one of the Australian guards. Ricky had known him to be quite a blabbermouth and proved to be quite useful to Ricky when he needed information.
" Wow, high standards," commented the other. " Why's Phil here?"
" I dunno. 'eard it was t'get the rest o' the plan on," replied the Aussie. " He's gonna help th' Sheila t' remembe' 10 'ears o' pure bliss!"
They laughed at the crude comment and Ricky fumed remembering the instances when the guards would return his mother battered and bleeding.
'Don't worry, mamma. Once I'm out of here… I'll never let them touch you!' Ricky thought.
She was the reason that he was never abused. His mother would always protect him. Somehow, not even the restraining collar they had latched on stopped her when she was mad. Everyone in the lab, even the scientists themselves were quite afraid of her when she was in 'protective' mode. The powers they had forced her to absorb had made her the perfect weapon and add on her deadly skin: she was even more deadly.
Suddenly, he heard the laughter cease and the shuffling of feet began louder. His cell door opened and he saw one of the guard smile at him.
" Come on kid. It's time to pack. We're going to see your mom."
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Author's Note: Okay to make things clearer: Rogue doesn't really know about Ricky yet. She just has a feeling that she has a son. Next chapter, we'll see Rogue as she remembers her son… so sad…