Voices' Warning: Vengeance
Charles felt a little guilty for lying to Rogue. He had informed her that Irene, her former foster mother, was very difficult to locate, due to her human brainwave patterns. The truth was that he found her almost instantly, due her very abnormal, very mutant, brainwaves; he waited two weeks. The majority if her brainwaves were for the most part just like any other mutants, but some seemed to enter he mind from an unknown source, as opposed to exiting. Charles reluctantly decided that he should talk to Ms. Adler directly. Rogue was still reeling from all of her victims taking over her mind, and didn't need the added stress of finding out that her foster mother had been a mutant, and was apparently hiding from her, since she was nowhere near Caldecott County. In fact, she was on the outskirts of Tucson.
Due to her distance from the rest of the city, Charles had no problem landing the helicopter he'd taken to see her right in her backyard, about sixty feet from where she was sitting: on her back porch, not paying any attention the scorching heat or the sounds of the helicopter that landed just in front of her. Charles maneuvered his wheelchair down the ramp of the helicopter and through the sand to Irene's back porch.
"Welcome, Professor Xavier. I've been expecting you. Please, come inside."
Charles had been suspecting that the wave patterns that seemed to be drawn to her mind gave her some sense of what was going on in the world around her, or more likely, what was going to happen, citing that he couldn't track the source. He'd only encountered such a phenomenon around an old enemy of his that was also a powerful telepath. He would sometimes be able to tell what was to happen just a few minutes into the future, and every time, Charles sensed the same waves that he detected entering Ms. Adler's mind at almost all times. Charles himself had also predicted a few things in his sleep, mostly about what conditions he would wake up under.
"'Charles' will be fine, Ms. Adler," Xavier said once she had closed the back door. She went to a chair, avoiding all obstacles. She couldn't have lived in the house too long, yet she had quickly memorized where everything was in her new house.
"'Irene', please." She began to pet the cat that had jumped onto her lap. "I assume you have already deduced just what I'm able to do."
"Well, you do seem quite prepared for my arrival," Charles noticed the cup of tea that was waiting for him on a nightstand, where the chair that was normally there had been removed to accommodate Charles' wheelchair.
"It has been a while since I've entertained. I want to make sure you're as comfortable as possible."
"Well, you've succeeded, and I thank you." Charles moved into the spot where the chair used to be and placed down his tea. "I assume that since you knew of my visit, you also knew why I was coming."
"You've come to talk about Richard," she said calmly.
"I would normally never question the way that someone raises their child, and I can certainly understand why you didn't tell her what happened to him, but if he is willing and able to sneak into my mansion to deliver this letter," he pulled the document out of his coat pocket, "and with what happened to him in that asylum, and your sudden disappearance once he shows up; he has become somewhat of a concern of mine."
"Trust me," Irene said, "he'll be far more than that soon enough."
"What do you mean by that?"
She momentarily looked as though she was regretful she had said that. She proceeded to tell him about the way that Mystique had found them, what she'd seen him do, power-wise, and how he'd found Rogue. It turned out that Richard had the ability to detect mutants and identify their powers, though he didn't know what the power was until he'd been told or shown by a mutant with that power. After he confirmed what signals a specific ability gave off, he could identify other mutants with a similar power. Charles remembered the five-year period where Magneto seemed to be testing hundreds of recruits, nearly all of which quit after being "tested" against Scott or Jean, or especially Wolverine, when he was around. It was after those tests stopped that Charles decided it would again be safe enough to start teaching inexperienced mutants.
After the mutant identification, came his sensitivity to thoughts. Richard wouldn't ever let Irene be alone with Rogue until he was sure that she had grown fond of the girl. At first, Mystique had ordered the girl removed the house, as she was nothing but a burden on them. After Irene started to think of Rogue as more of a daughter, he would leave Rogue to her, as he left for days on end, not telling anyone where he was going. Being alone allowed for Irene to predict the girl's future. Once Irene had predicted Rogue's unique manifestation, it was determined that she would have to get used to covering herself. They started this as soon as possible, because Irene was having trouble predicting when this power would emerge. Richard didn't strenuously object, though he said it was unnecessary.
"I always bothered me," she continued, "why I could never predict when her power would emerge, but I knew it had at least a little to do with him."
"How did you know that?"
"Because I could never predict anything that he was involved with in some way, and I certainly couldn't predict anything about his future. I've had my ability since I was thirteen, and I never saw anything from the five-year period he lived with us. I never predicted that after his third year, he'd find Rogue, and I certainly never saw that mental institution. And I didn't find out until yesterday how he connected to Rogue's power."
"What happened yesterday?"
"Richard paid me a visit," she said more casually than she told the story. "He has gotten much better at finding mutants since he went in."
"You said he used to have to be within two hundred feet of somebody. How did he sense you from Bayville?"
"I told you about the device that Mystique gave the institution. It was a prototype stolen from a government lab, and the reason it wasn't the final incarnation was its method of stopping powers. The final model, which I'm glad to say there are very few of, negates mutant powers as they are trying to be used. It's like the mutant part of their brain is in a coma. But the model they put on Richard restrained that section. When he tried to use his powers, it was like his mind was trying to lift a weight. It's no different than if you told Ms. Grey to lift an immovable object every minute of every day for four years. Imagine what she'd be able to do today."
"And about Rogue?"
"The reason I couldn't when her ability would emerge was because he stifled them. He knew long before I did what her power would be, and how little control she'd have over it, so he simply… hid it from her own mind. It was only a matter of time before she found them. That's why her power emerged at that dance, not during some hectic moment." She folded her hands in her lap. "With the way she reacted, I think he was right."
"Right about what?"
"He should have been there. His method of mind-control can go far deeper than most telepaths can imagine: miles into the unconscious. He could have helped her gain control in ways either of us can't even speculate." She paused. "He told me that my very first prediction was one of him. But, the instant he walked up to Raven that day, and I recognized him, he immediately erased those memories. As I understand it: it took you several days and much strain to pull Ms. Grey back into sanity, and erase all of those memories of her friend dying." He tone almost seemed smart, as if she'd been hiding something before. She seemed like an entirely different person. "In fact, you nearly had a heart attack while trying to cap her powers."
"Who are you?"
"Oh, I'm still very much myself. I'm just not in control." She was moving her head and hands as though she could see: looking then reaching. "Do you know where he got that information?" Charles shook his head. "From you." Charles' look of shock seemed to amuse her. "Why do you think it took you so long to decide to come here? While he was holding you off, he walked around every inch of your mansion, he got to know every detail of your security system, and he had extremely detailed conversations with all of your children, Mr. McCoy, Wolverine, Storm, and even you. Everyone except for Rogue. None of you will remember them, of course. You're quite lucky Jean won't remember their conversation; it was most interesting. Certain things were brought up that you may not like her knowing. Don't be surprised, though, if she seems to be able to pick up thoughts a bit more clearly from now on."
"Why is he doing this?"
"He has his reasons."
"You can stop referring to yourself in the third person. I know you're controlling her."
"You don't understand, Charles. He's not controlling me right now; he's controlling me from yesterday. He scripted this conversation, and I'm just acting it out. He knew how you'd react, what you'd ask, and what you'd be thinking about during this conversation. You're acting of your own free will, but your free will is limited to the way your mind works. He knows how you think inside and out, all of your kids, too. After the last two weeks of conversations, he won't need to directly control them. He can simply make something happen, and they'll give the responses that they'd naturally make." She leaned forward. "During this whole conversation, all I've been doing was providing a planned external stimulus. And you've been giving the answers he knew you would"
"What I've been saying has been planned?"
"Even that question just now." Charles, for the first time in a while, was panicked, and any response he'd give was to be expected. "Goodbye," Irene said. Richard was right: that's what Charles had been planning to do: leave. He needed to get back to his students. Charles quickly got back to his helicopter and took off.
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"Kitty," Scott called. She looked up from her laptop.
"Yeah?"
"What was the name of that guy Rogue's all worked up about?"
"Richard… something. Lasted name started with a P. Why?"
"I think he's on the news."
Kitty closed her laptop and walked into the room where Scott was facing the large TV. "More than eight months ago, Richard Prenson, now considered a mutant, escaped from the Washington Psychological Center, and medical prison, which is known for its very strict policies and frequent power shortages. Rumors say that Preson was abused by Dr. Hendrich, who frequently denied him food, exercise, and any kind of entertainment. During one of the blackouts, Prenson viscously murdered Dr. Hendrich: mutilating him beyond recognition.
"Prenson's escape was kept confidential until recently, when he attacked Viktor Creed, a federal fugitive, here in Bayville. Investigation reveals that Prenson claimed he was defending himself against a man fitting Creed's description and two other mutants before being arrested. Five years ago, descriptions of mutant powers sounded fantastic enough for Prenson to be considered legally insane.
"Prenson is believed to still be in Bayville. He is said to be Armed and Inhumanly Dangerous: a status first used for Viktor Creed, but this is what a security camera caught when the two met." The video was short, showing Richard being thrown into an alley by Sabretooth. After that, Richard simply stared him down for a few seconds, after which, Sabretooth started to ruthlessly claw at himself, focusing most of his self-mutilation on his neck and above. Once he tired himself out, Viktor just leaned up against a wall, bleeding. Richard had been down at the bottom of the screen, waiting. Once Sabretooth stopped, Richard picked up a large pipe, and stalked toward the defeated animal. The screen went to static just as the swing started. The camera switched back to the anchor. "The security guard went out to investigate, thus making him unable to replace the tape on the outdated security system. Once again: citizens are told to avoid this man," a close up of Richard overtook the screen, "at all costs. If you see him, it is recommended to get a good distance away before informing authorities. After the break…" Scott turned off the television.
Several of the other team members had walked in during the report, others during the footage. Several gasps erupted, mainly from the previously benign form of Richard starting a violent swing at Sabretooth's head with a pipe right before the footage ended. Those that had fought against Creed found it worrying that someone who could do that was just walking around the city. Quickly surveying the room, Scott found that Rogue was not among them.
"Does anybody know where Rogue is?"
Kitty answered, "She's been upstairs since school got out, going through that package she got."
"What?"
"You didn't know? She got a huge trunk in the mail. Got here like a minute after the Professor left. She's kicked me out of the room."
"Who was it from?"
"Didn't say."
"Then why did you accept it?" Scott nearly screamed. "We can't take risks like that!"
"It's just a bunch of her stuff from her childhood," Kitty said, annoyed at the implication of her being that irresponsible. "I phased through it. It was all books and pictures and some jewelry. Nothing to be afraid of." Scott was, of course, not going to stop worrying.
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The rest of the team was thinking that Rogue was sad or in some sort of shock since she found out that Richard was in fact alive. Any feelings of aggression towards Irene was wiped away by the fact that the person who had been like a brother to her for three years was alive and well. In truth, she was ecstatic. The thing that made her seem detached and distant was the constant screaming of three of the people she'd absorbed. Magneto, Mystique, and Sabretooth had been yelling at her, warning her against ever coming in contact with Richard. She'd learned much about Irene and Mystique's relationship since the shape-shifter had started yapping about Richard in Rogue's head. Though all of Mystique's memories had been available when Rogue absorbed her, most of what she'd been reliving had been about her life as Ritsy.
It took all of Rogue's willpower to keep them in check, even leaving her somewhat of a shell during her graduation. Scott and Jean had enough enthusiasm about the event to make up for her mental absence, though. However, another thing was dominating her mind at her graduation. There were times when she could swear that she could feel him. During her graduation, an image flashed in her head. He was watching her from the stands. She tried looking for him, but found only an empty spot. She wasn't able to tell whether it was real or not until it happened again. While she was sleeping, she had a dream of him talking to Kurt, then Scott, then a very long talk with Jean: all of them seemed to be running on autopilot, like they were talking zombies. Rogue couldn't hear what they were saying. Eventually, though, while he was talking to Scott, Richard seemed to look right at the spot that Rogue was dreaming she was in, and he left. Rogue figured it was just a random dream until Scott complained about his window being open all night and the almost ninety degree night air filled his room.
Ever since Richard had been taken, Rogue felt a heaviness on the back of her head. She assumed it was simply the pang of regret or sadness that everyone felt when they lost a family member or loved-one. It wasn't until after that dream that she associated it with Richard's presence, or more specifically, his proximity. However, she never felt right when that feeling went away, usually when she went to Los Angeles. Rogue was sure the reason she had felt so at home in Bayville was the fact that it was far closer to the institute that Richard was being held in. It was just a day before she'd received that letter meant for him that the feeling weighing on her increased significantly. During the dream and her graduation the feeling seemed to spread throughout her entire mind, and she saw him.
She held the necklace that had been lying at the bottom of the trunk. It had been lying on her chest when she awoke the day she found out he died. The day before, she barely had that feeling in the back of her head, and it made her feel unsettled, even while lying comfortably in bed. All of the day, though, she was feeling him approach. It wasn't until much later in the night that she saw him in her mind again, driving by the mansion. Though he was shortly too far away to see.
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"Hey, Wanda," Pietro called out. He was far more confident when approaching her now that her memories had been reworked, but he didn't know how good of a job Mastermind did. He was still afraid that if he asserted himself too much, she'd break through. "You know that it's still unsafe to go out? I mean, after that newscast, that Richard guy will probably want to speed up whatever he's planning on."
Wanda had taken surprisingly well to Pietro as the authority figure in the house. "I'm just going out to buy some shampoo. Shouldn't be more than fifteen minutes."
"Well… just be sure to hurry up," he said, his voice a bit shaky.
"Sure." She grabbed the keys to Lance's jeep, which had pretty much become a public automobile, and walked out the door. He was there, just as he had been described, standing less than six feet from the front door. Despite all of her instincts screaming at her, she didn't run back in the door. Her instincts here suddenly silenced.
"As I understand it," he began pacing, "your mind has recently been ravaged by a haggard old freak. Been having trouble holding yourself in check recently? Just wanting to leap across the room, beat your brother down? Not even bothering with powers?" She nodded. She didn't feel like she was in control of her response, even though it was truthful. "Having dreams? You're being dragged through a gigantic doorway, screaming at two figures you can't look straight at?"
She felt in control again. She felt her doubts about him returning. But, as he spoke; as he asked her those questions, she felt pieces of her mind returning to her. "Yeah, almost every night."
The stranger laughed, rolling his head. "Amateur," she could barely hear him whisper. "Do you remember me, Wanda?"
"No."
"We were in adjacent cells for nearly a year. We saw each other in the Rec. Yard, until I was banned. Do you remember the prisons? The institutions? Being dragged around on a collar?" Wanda put her hand on her head. Oily memories filled her head, and she was losing connection with her legs. She fell back against the door. "Tell me, Wanda. Do you remember?"
"No," she answered hoarsely.
"Do you remember why you hate you father?"
"No," she answered more sternly, feeling an unneeded anger she couldn't place, but it felt somewhat familiar.
The stranger smiled broadly. "Do you want to?"
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"Rogue," Kitty's voice echoed in her ear. "Rogue!"
"What," Rogue answered groggily.
"Get dressed. There's something happening at the mall!"
"Kitty, Ah don't care about a sale." Rogue put her head back on her pillow.
"I'm not talking about a sale. The Brotherhood is facing off against Magneto's new guys."
Rogue shot up, noticing that it was well before dawn. She didn't question Kitty. However perky the younger girl was, she would be making such a joke at such an early hour. She quickly got into her uniform and met the rest of the team down at the hanger. Xavier was there to show them off. All three of the instructors were heading out with them.
The jet seemed strangely unnecessary, as they were out of the hanger a whole thirty seconds before in the parking lot of the mall where they'd first battle Wanda Maximoff. "Be careful," Scott said. "It seems a bit too quiet in there."
Wolverine was the first to approach the door. "Someone's talkin' in there. Ain't none of Magneto's kids, or the Brotherhood." Just as he finished saying that, an earth-shattering scream, unmistakably the voice of Magneto. The frame of the building shook.
"Everyone back," Scott yelled. They waited until the scream subsided and the building steadied.
"We should get in there before that happens again," Storm said. Jean took no time in breaking the locks holding the doors closed. At the end of the main corridor of the mall, there were two very visible silhouettes. Magneto was trying unsuccessfully to stand, ending up pitifully leaning backwards, resting on his knees. A tall man circling him. Slowly, the standing man turned his head to a spot on the wall; Magneto's eyes followed. Metal twisted and screamed until it finally, violently snapped. Scott put his fingers to his visor ready to stop the beam fragment from hitting the second man, but hesitated when he saw that the beam was heading for Magneto himself. It slammed into the old man, pushing him back, crashing him against the wall. Magneto screamed again, parts of the building beginning to break. Once the screaming stopped, they were finally able to clearly see Magneto in the light. The man that they were taught to fear above anyone else was doubled over, holding his stomach where the beam hit. He had four sharpened spikes run through his shoulders and his calves.
Richard got a good look at the beleaguered form of Magneto, and began to walk off, making a sideways glance at the X-Men. "Hey," Scott called out. When Richard didn't acknowledge him, Scott launched a low-power shot to knock him off his feet. Richard didn't falter or flinch, and Scott uncharacteristically missed by a wide margin. They raced to the end of the corridor, but he had disappeared by the time they reached the unconscious form of Magneto.
Shortly thereafter, Brotherhood members emerged from the shadows nursing wounds. The Blob was carrying Wanda, who hadn't awoke. The X-Men noticed that none of Magneto's new recruits were showing up.
"Where are the others," Scott shortly asked Lance.
"They're still unconscious back there, Pietro too" Lance calmly said back, not bothering to take the verbal offensive against Summers.
"Yeah," Fred said slowly, "and nothin's waking 'em up either. I tripped over the metal guy, and he didn't do nothin'."
"How did all of this start," Storm inquired.
Lance answered. "Wanda was going out, but just as soon as she left, she came right back in, only she'd gone crazy. She took all of us hostage, except Pietro, he managed to get away, and then she brought us here. She made us wait here for about two hours until Magneto showed up with his new goons. He didn't wait for an explanation, 'just told them to attack us, so we fought back. Wanda did most of the fighting, though. I was taking on the Cajun until this guy showed up, and we just passed out."
"Yeah, that's what happened to me, too," Toad chimed in.
"Me too," Fred said.
Beast stood, revealing Magneto's body to the Brotherhood, who took a step back. "We need to get Magneto to the mansion." He looked at Wanda, "Her too. I daresay I can provide better medical treatment than any of you." After exchanging a few looks, they relinquished her to the care of Beast. "She will be free to return when I have diagnosed her physically and mentally stable. At least as stable as she can get," he added quietly.
Far away, they heard the police sirens. "You best get home," Wolverine said to the Brotherhood.
"I don't think it wise for them to be out while that other young man is out there."
"Don't worry," Rogue suddenly said, "He's on his way out of the city." They looked at her questioningly. "He's going after Mystique now."
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Beta-Reader slot open. I hate seeing my stories where words are missing letters and the spell-check doesn't catch it.