Yay! Update time!! So I finally figured out where this whole ball of wax is 'a rollin…Real plot! And even though there is slim to nil by the way of any shippiness (Be it Romy, Lancitty ECT…) I promise that there will be some.  I also will try to have the next chapter up later this week…Due to living in Canada I have yet to see season three…so umm…I'm creating an Alternate timeline after "Self Possessed"…I'll explain more if you want…

Thank you to DarkAngel66 and Flame 31 who were kind enough to be my first reviewers….More I say….I will write if you fan my fragile writer's ego!

Now on with the story….

 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Three

Most teenaged girls would beg for a whole day of shopping at their local mall.  Retail therapy to soothe their hormone charged souls. But only the threat of an extra 'training' session with Logan had gotten Rogue to join in on the suburban safari lead by her preternaturally perky roommate Kitty Pryde. 

It had seemed the lesser of two evils to the goth but now stuck in the pastel wastelands Rogue was having second thoughts.  With a sigh and a roll of her eyes she surveyed the store critically, maybe under all this pink there's something decent? She mused gloomily.

"It's pink that's what's wrong with it." Rogue smirked hearing the annoyance dripping from a disembodied voice-she could definitely sympathize.

Ducking her head around the corner Rogue could see the voice's owner shaking her head at her unseen companion. The goth lit up-it looked like she had found a fashion soul mate-the girl was maybe five foot five but most of that seemed to come from the heavy soled combat boots she wore; shiny chestnut curls were cut severely short and pinned away from a pale elfin face.

Almost like Kurt without the fur, Rogue thought about her adopted brother briefly before admiring the girl's tight, black long sleeved shirt-she had cut thumb holes so that even her hands were covered. Covering up is good, Rogue frowned as the girl's friend moved into view, he looks fam...

All the blood drained form the goth's already pale face as she recognised one of Magneto's Acolytes.  Ducking out of view Rogue stayed in earshot.

"Remy think you'd look très jolie in dis Asli." Without looking Rogue knew the Cajun had a smirk on his handsome face-she could hear it in his voice.

"I don't care." the girl-Asli replied, "I don't do pink. End of discussion."

But Gambit didn't seem to be taking the girl's hint-Rogue leaned forward to watch the action, "Mebbe you should show a little more leg petite..." Gambit waved a short, frilly, pink dress at Asli.

"Mebbe Asli should shove her boot up your ass." Shot back Asli's answer in a perfect imitation of his Cajun accent.

Rogue snickered liking this mysterious girl; at least she was showing Gambit who was boss.

"Such foul words from such a pretty mouth-you wound Remy petite." Rogue watched Gambit clutch at his heart in mock agony.

Asli looked ready to kill the Acolyte but stopped and smiled at a man approaching them from outside the store.  Rogue watched in horror as the girl walked towards yet another Acolyte with warm familiarity.  "Pitor…you may have just saved Remy's life.  Fifteen more minutes and we'd be eatin' Cajun tonight."

"He would be no good for a meal," Colossus replied with his usual precise and measured English as he eyed Gambit, "Maybe a soup?"

It took a second then Asli and Gambit laughed.  "Dat's the first time Remy's heard you tell a joke homme. Ya'll been holdin' out on Remy."

"The big guy's telling jokes and I'm shopped out," Asli frowned at the bags surrounding her feet, "I think we should head out boys."

Rogue didn't wait to watch the Acolytes leave; she headed straight to Kitty's dressing room and pounded on the door-because unless her ears had deceived her Magneto had found another solider for his army.

**************

"Can you describe the girl you saw with the Acolytes Rogue?" Professor Charles Xavier leaned back in his wheelchair and watched the Gothic student.

Rogue nodded and addressed the answer to both the Professor and the Wolverine, "She looked like a teenager about average height, grey eyes, really short dark brown hair-she kinda looked like Kurt-but without the fur ya know?"

"Did you hear her name Stripes?" her gruff self defence teacher asked.

"They called her Asli…" Rogue shrugged raising an eyebrow when Logan paled, "Do you know her?"

"I think so-not too many Asli's out there," he shook his head, "This doesn't seem right Chuck.  If this is the girl I know I can't see her working for Magneto. Not willingly anyway."

"But she fits the description Rogue gave us?" The Professor asked.

The feral man nodded slowly as if it pained him to do so, "Yeah, it's been a couple of years but it sounds like her."

"So what are ya'll goin ta do about this? " Rogue asked not liking the sadness lurking around her instructor's eyes-she knew it hurt him to think a friend could work for his enemy, "Ah mean is this Asli dangerous?"

"I wouldn't suggest going after her with more than an old fashioned Calvary," Logan groaned, "Her mutation affects technology and has been making her living as a top notch hacker…"

Rogue lifted an eyebrow, "Better than Arcade?"

"She's the one who got me inside info on Weapon X," Logan growled, "Cypher in her element makes Arcade look like and amateur…shit…" Logan shook his head, "I should have thought of it sooner Chuck."

"What Logan."

"I know Bucket head is blackmailing at least one of his other Acolytes-the Tin Man using his mutation against him…Asli…Cypher was once apart of the Weapon X program herself…she has adimantium implants in her body…"

Rogue sucked in a breath knowing just how ruthless Magneto could be when he wanted something, "She wouldn't stand a chance against him…"

"Rogue will you excuse us?" the Professor asked the girl quietly; he didn't want this new threat to frighten her or the other students.

The Goth shot both grown-ups a disappointed look but shrugged, "No problem."

She could feel both sets of eyes riveted to her back as she exited the room shutting the door softly behind her.  "Stripes isn't going to like being sent out like a kid Chuck."

"I know Logan," The professor grimaced, "It was more for the benefit of the other students.  We don't know how much a threat this Cypher poses as an Acolyte…"

Logan starched his head, "I really don't know Chuck.  The implants they put into her increased her agility and speed as well as her memory, hearing and vision-all to make her a more effective spy.  It's been a couple of years….Asli was never a fighter but with a bit of training she'd be a handful even for me.  If Bucket head is smart he'll put the effort into her."

The Professor shook his head, concern lighting his eyes; "Why don't we take this one step at a time," the professor templed his hands under his chin, "There is little we can do until Magneto reveals himself and his new recruit to us."

With those words the tension level in the room rose-but the Professor was right there was nothing they could do.