The Rogue
Author's Note: Thank you all so much for being so patient! I know its been a while since I updated… I got a bit of writer's block, not really knowing how to end DeVillago's evil plan.
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After freeing the gagged politicians, Rogue, Cyclops and Wolverine split up to cover more ground. Cyclops had gone to the press conference/media room to find it empty. As he walked in cautiously, his hand on his visor. The foldable chairs were scattered around, as if there had been people there that went into panic.
Papers were strewn about, and the podium on the stage was tipped over. The White House logo on the wall had been ripped. Five cat-like marks marred the walls.
' Sabertooth' Scott thought.
As Cyclops turned around, he was shocked to find a large fist making its way towards him. Scott barely dodged it and it hit the wall, creating a rather large hole.
Victor Creed smirked smugly, showing off a large set of yellow teeth. " Didn't think you'd make it through the explosion, One-eye."
Cyclops ignored his taunting and pressed a button on his visor, blasting Sabertooth back towards the far end of the room. Cyclops was about to leave, when he heard insane laughter coming from the fallen body. Victor sat up, shook his head and grinned.
" You can't get away that easily," Victor said. " If I can't have my family, I'd rather have your hide!"
Cyclops recalled the woman that Rogue had brought out from the labs. " Victor! I think I may be able to help you with your wife!"
Victor scowled. " Liar! You murdered my wife!"
" Blink is safe, but she's been drugged," Cyclops explained as he maneuvered his way, dodging the feral man's attacks. " DeVillago had her locked in the lower levels-"
Victor stopped his attacks and stared at his enemy. Hope flared up within him. " How do I know you're not lying?"
Scott took his hand off of his visor and walked up towards him, at arms' reach. " I'm not."
Sighing, Victor nodded. " I'd help you, but DeVillago's got a remote that can control the devices he's planted on our spines…"
Scott frowned. " Remote… does he have it with him?"
Victor nodded. " It's the same remote as the one that controls his X Zero machine…"
Gunshots were heard and they were getting closer. " Victor, distract the S.W.A.T team. I'll inform the group that you're with us."
"For now…" Victor added, still frowning. " Once I get my wife back…"
Scott nodded in agreement and began to sprint towards Rogue's location, projecting his thoughts, knowing Jean and Rogue would relay the information to everyone else.
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Wolverine stayed behind and tried to keep most of the 'normals' from getting to Rogue and the rest. He began swatting and slicing the guns from the S.W.A.T team, making most of them run in fear. He found a cabinet containing antique china and used it to prevent more people from getting too far inside the White House.
*If you see Sabertooth, it's okay. He's one of us. *
Wolverine growled, hearing the information and wondered who got Victor to agree with working with him. He opened on of the doors and found a large room full of documents and videotapes. It looked like a large video library.
He saw some movement at the corner of his eyes. Something big. He unsheathed his claws with a loud SNIKT that echoed throughout the room.
" Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. You know, you don't have to play so hard to get."
Logan growled, knowing who was taunting him. From the shadows, a blue, scaled woman appeared, with an eerie smile on her face.
" Mystique."
" We meet again. You know, the last time we met… really… touched my heart. Literally."
Mystique's smiled turned into a scowl as she went into a defensive stance. " You should have just let it go, Wolverine. You could have saved all mutants from being tormented just as you have…"
"Shut the hell up," Logan said, remarkably calm, despite his threats.
They circled each other and Logan was suddenly caught off-guard as she delivered a kick to his chest, pushing him towards one of the shelves, knocking it down. It created a domino effect and began tipping the other shelves as well.
Logan shook it off and stood up, dodging the kick that Mystique had been aiming for his head. As Logan turned around to face the blue woman, he found himself staring at Rogue. His instincts were screaming at him to move, but he just wasn't reacting. All he could think of was how beautiful the woman was. Her auburn hair, her emerald eyes.
" It seems I've found your weakness," Mystique said in Rogue's voice.
Logan closed his eyes and braced himself for what would be the hardest thing he'd have to do in his life. 'Rogue' went into offensive and began kicking and punching him in a position that Logan knew Rogue couldn't bend into.
"Why are you doing this, Mystique? What happened to Lensherr?" Logan asked, hoping to stall the woman until he got into 'stabbing reach'.
" Erik was too soft. Rogue should have died more slowly, more painfully-"
Logan narrowed his eyes and cursed what he was about to do. He rushed the woman, tackling him between one of the shelves. Before the woman could stand up again, Logan ran to the shelf next to it and tipped it over as quickly as he could.
Mystique screamed, not having enough time to move away. Logan stood as the papers and the dust settled. He sighed, thankful that he hadn't seen Mystique in a Rogue disguise underneath the rubble. It would've hurt him more than anything.
He had promised to protect the girl.
'And by God, I'm going to keep that promise…'
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Rogue followed her gut instinct and it led her towards the gardens, where Jean and Ororo were located. She knew that the two women had succeeded in finding the machine, however…
" Hello again, my dear."
Rogue felt that chill run up her spine once again. She slowly turned around and found DeVillago, holding what looked to her like a box, and Ricky.
" Richard."
"Maman…" Ricky replied, his voice betraying his brave façade. Rogue couldn't stand seeing her son so helpless. "He knows."
Rogue gasped inaudibly, clenching her jaw. DeVillago knew of Ricky's mutation. Rogue tried to scan the area for Jean and Ororo. She found them just beyond the bushes.
" Uh uh, no funny stuff, my dear," DeVillago said, flipping the box open and revealing a button. " One false move, and I will detonate the X Zero 2. Right now, its beam is locked onto young Richard here. If you do everything as I say, I can revert its target."
Rogue glared at the man, still silent. She called on Jean and told her a plan. Suddenly, Logan, Scott and Sabertooth came out. They stood there, watching what was about to happen.
Rogue took a deep breath and stepped forward. They all heard something powering up and found the machine protruding from DeVillago's plane.
" Technology is fascinating. My custom-made jet is so… useful," DeVillago gloated.
" Don't do this DeVillago!" Cyclops yelled. "We can help you…"
" My father was killed my a mutant hating human. I'd rather die than be locked up with those… things!" He screeched, his finger lingering on the button.
" NOW!"
Ricky was suddenly lifted off the ground, far above DeVillago's reach. Rogue began running for the remote, but Devillago began to push several buttons. Victor began to writhe in pain, twitching on the ground as the device on his spine began to electrify his nerves. Logan snatched the remote from DeVillago who took out a gun.
Logan didn't care and shut off Victor's device, leaving him unconscious on the ground.
" You really think that thing is going to stop ME?" Logan asked gruffly.
DeVillago shrugged. " Its not an ordinary gun. Watch."
Time seemed to freeze as DeVillago switched his aim from Logan to Rogue. Ororo, Jean and Ricky screamed for Rogue to move, but she seemed to be rooted to the ground. Scott's eyes widened, as did Logan's, however he was the one out of the two that ran in front of Rogue.
" SCOTT!"
As Scott fell from the bullet wound to his stomach, he had managed to aim at DeVillago's head, which rendered him dead. Another gun went off, and this time hit Rogue on her shoulders as she was vulnerable.
" MARIE!"
The S.W.A.T team was suddenly all levitating with Ricky and Jean's telekinesis. Their guns fell to the floor, at the feet of one raging Wolverine.
Ororo suddenly flew in, with the unharmed President in her arms.
" Cease fire!" he ordered. " These people just saved the United States of America. I don't think it would be right to repay them by killing their members, do you?"
Marie had tears in her eyes as she held Scott in her arms, using her lap as a pillow for his head. Scott's breathing was labored and choppy, but he managed to smile, even in his pain.
" Well, I think I may just have lost a couple of pounds," he joked, making Marie laugh slightly. She placed her finger on his mouth, ignoring the pain in her shoulder.
" Save your energy," she said. " Thank you for saving me."
Scott smiled again and raised his arm to touch her face. Marie took his hand and planted a kiss on it, her tears falling on his chest.
" Don't cry, baby." Scott whispered. " I'm not dying… I can't… not until you and I are married; and you give me 12 kids."
Marie laughed again and nodded. Ororo had piloted the Blackbird and landed it closer to the White House. Logan carried Victor to the Blackbird as Scott was placed on a stretcher and wheeled into the jet. Rogue sat beside his sleeping form and held his hand in one of hers. Ricky sat next to Marie and held her other hand, leaning into her arm for comfort.
" Papa is going to be alright, right?" he asked. " How is Jamie?"
Marie sighed and looked at her son lovingly. " Scott is going to be fine, and your brother is probably just waiting for you in back- back home."
It felt great to finally say it. Home. She ruffled her son's hair and sighed contently.
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Logan sat in the co-pilot's seat, looking back at Marie once in a while. Ororo patted his hand for comfort and he nodded at her.
" I'll be fine," he said. " I'm staying. "
Ororo smiled, as if she had already known. " Charles would be delighted. "
" Yeah."
" I'd be delighted as well," Ororo added softly, looking at Logan.
'Maybe it won't be so hard…' he thought.
Jean overheard their conversation and sighed to herself. ' Yes… it will… but I'll get over it.'
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In the Medlab, Marie sat beside Scott, praying he'd be all right. Ricky and Jamie were in their room in the boys' dorm, leaving Marie in her large room by herself. Since Jamie was pretty much abandoned by his parents, he had given Marie an adoption form that legalized Jamie's part in the family.
Scott began to stir in his bed. Marie knew he had just opened his eyes, even though he was still wearing his glasses.
" Hey Shugah," Marie said lovingly, brushing a stray hair from Scott's eyes. " How are you feeling?"
Scott smiled. " Hey baby… better. Now that I can see you again."
Marie leaned in and gave him a small kiss and tried to sit back down, only Scott placed his arm around her waist, pulling her towards his bed. She sighed and sat down on the bed beside him.
" I wasn't joking back then, Marie," Scott said, caressing her knuckles with his thumb. " I love you, and I want to spend eternity with you- and our 12 kids."
Marie laughed and nodded. " I'd love to marry you, Scott… but 12? I mean… I'd settle for 4, but 12?"
They began to laugh and the doors opened to reveal their friends, rushing to see how they were faring. Ricky and Jamie stood beside Scott's bed and grinned at them.
" Hey dad!" Jamie teased.
" I need nicknames for you two!" Scott said playfully.
Xavier smiled at the scene and congratulated Marie and Scott telepathically. ' They deserve to be happy.'
"So, when is 'Grandpa' Xavier going to get another grandchild?" Jubilee teased.
Marie playfully smacked the teenager and gave her a teasing 'soon' look. Marie spotted Logan in the back of the group; as they all went to Scott to see how he did, Marie took the time to go to her 'hero' and smile.
She looked up at his sad eyes and gave him a small kiss. " Thank you, Logan."
" It's nothin' darlin'. After all, what kind of a brother would I be if I didn't look out for you?" he said.
Marie giggled at his face. " You're my hero, Logan."
" And you're my darlin'. I love you, shoulda said it earlier… but-"
Marie shook her head. " It's in the past Logan. I thought I was 17. I was still a child, you did the right thing…" she said, holding his hand in hers.
" God, how long did I pray to be able to hold your hand-" Logan choked, his eyes brimming with unshed tears.
" I love you too Logan, I always will, but I'm not the one for you. You'll see," Marie said, looking at Ororo's direction. " Someone's waiting for you."
Marie gave him a hug and Logan didn't hesitate to reciprocate it. He held her tight, wishing they could stay that way. He reluctantly let go and stared at her.
" Let go of the past," Marie said. " Go to your future."
He nodded and turned around. Marie watched as he joined Ororo, just watching as everyone teased Scott. Marie smiled softly to herself and turned back to the crowd. As she made her way back to her fiancé and her two sons.
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Author's Note: I'm not sure if that was one of my best… but I liked the ending… sorry all you Logan/Marie fans… but at least I didn't hurt him too much.
STAY TUNED FOR THE WEDDING/EPILOGUE!