Disclaimer: X-Men and its characters do not belong to me

Disclaimer: X-Men and its characters do not belong to me. Anything that seems to vary from the original is most likely on purpose.

Chapter Four

Rogue sat next to the Professor in the cockpit of the Blackbird. She watched him pilot the plane in silence. At first, she had been a bit nervous, flying with him. But a few minutes after take off; her fears were put aside. Just because he can't walk, she mentally scolded herself, it doesn't mean he can't do other things. He's not a useless old man. They had been flying for over an hour already, with no word from the professor about where they were going, or why.

"Not to sound rude," she began, "but you said you'd explain on the way, so… explain."

"It's a rather complicated matter," he said. "I'm not permitted to tell you most of the details."

"Okay, I guess. But what can you tell me?" she asked.

He flipped on the autopilot. "We're here."

* * * * * *

Remy sat in the office with the Beast and Professor Xavier. Neither of the men were talking, which made him wonder. Wasn't that the purpose of this visit? Rogue was gone, and the more time they wasted sitting there, the less likely they were to find her.

The door opened behind him, and Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, and Logan filed in. But it didn't make him feel much better. The X-Men would find her, at least that's what the Beast and the professor seemed to think. But still, he couldn't help being a bit doubtful about their ability. He never would fully trust anybody to do something; he felt in the most control if he was doing it himself. He knew that being part of the team meant trusting the others, but he found that a difficult task. In his business, no one could be trusted. He'd learned that the hard way.

Logan looked at the professor and frowned. "What now?" he asked.

"It appears Rogue has gone missing," the professor replied.

"What?" Remy turned to look at him. There was panic in his eyes. They're pretty close, he could just be overreacting, he thought to himself. But somehow that didn't seem like that was the case.

"Did she run away?" Logan asked.

"Professor Xavier shrugged. "I have no idea. Did you talk to her recently?"

"Yeah, a little while ago. She was upset about something and came to me for advice. I don't know if it helped her out, but she seemed to feel a little better."

"Hmm." The professor's bald head crinkled, as if he were thinking hard. Remy felt like something touched his brain, then passed by. A moment later, he relaxed. "She doesn't appear to be anywhere near the school. I'll have to use Cerebro and then you can…"

He was cut off by Kurt teleporting into the room. "What's going on?" he asked. "How come class was canceled?"

The professor motioned for him to sit down, which he did eagerly. "It appears one of the students is missing."

Kurt's eyes widened. "Which one?"

"Rogue."

Kurt frowned, looking puzzled. Remy gave a slight shudder. It made him look even more demon-like. "But I thought she went somewhere with you."

The professor looked at him oddly. "No, I haven't seen her at all today. The only ones who have been really engaged in any sort of conversation with her were Logan," he looked over at him, who just shrugged, "and Remy." He responded with a shrug of his own.

The adults exchanged glances. "Mystique?" Storm asked. "She did manage to survive our last encounter."

Jean nodded. "But Magneto's in jail, so who is she working for?"

The professor turned to Cyclops. "You and Storm take the Blackbird to the prison. Make sure Magneto's still there." They nodded and went off.

Professor Xavier was suddenly stern and businesslike to the boys. "Jean, prepare Cerebro. You and Logan shall go once I find her location. Beast, remain here with me. We must not alarm the other students."

"But what's going on?" Remy asked, feeling more confused than ever, and more worried. "Who's Mystique? And what happened to Rogue?"

Professor Xavier chose that last question to answer first. "I believe she's been kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" Kurt stood up abruptly, clearly shaken by the news. He had come under the assumption that the school was a safe place for mutants. "By who?" The professor shrugged.

"But why?" Remy asked, standing also. "What would anyone want with Rogue?"

"Now it was his turn to be looked at oddly, but this time not just by the professor. All except Kurt were looking like he had suddenly grown an extra head.

"Didn't Rogue ever tell you what her powers were?" Both Remy and Kurt shook their head. "Oh, dear."
"She should know better than that," Cyclops said. He and Storm were standing in the doorway, in their X-Men uniforms.

Logan glared at him. "Don't you…"

Jean put a restraining hand on his arm and walked over to Cyclops. "Scott, what happened?"

"The Blackbird's gone," he replied.

A mix of worry and relief passed over the professor's face. "Well, we won't need Cerebro then, we can simply track that." He turned to the boys. "Rogue has the power to absorb the strength and memories, and, in the case of mutants, their powers, of anyone she touches. It's an extremely dangerous ability, one that separates her from even mutants. Already it has been used for not very good intentions."

Remy took a moment to let this sink in. It did explain why she seemed so isolated and secretive. He felt slightly hurt that she hadn't told him from the beginning, even though they weren't really good friends. But he couldn't really blame her. It must be hard to be different from everyone.

The professor sighed, still contemplating what to do. "Well, Storm, Cyclops, take one of the cars then. My private jet is a bit cramped, but it should prove useful. The tracking device for the Blackbird is already in there. Jean, L-" he hesitated. "Wolverine, change into your uniforms and go right away." Wolverine nodded grimly, not seeming to mind his X-Men name, even though it did give him horrible reminders of his otherwise blank past.

"I'm coming with you," Remy said, following them out the door.

"No way kid," Wolverine growled. "You'll get yourself killed."

"Stay here with the professor. We'll take care of everything," said Jean, in a much nicer tone. They left him standing there, as they opened a secret door, like the one Mystique had used to get to the Blackbird.

I'm coming whether they want me to or not. He slipped under the door, just as it closed.

* * * * * *

Rogue looked down and gulped. The professor hadn't even landed, and he didn't seem like he was going to. She could see a wide grass field many feet down below but not a single soul. Then again, maybe not. Rogue saw a small speck coming towards them at a great speed. It grew larger and she realized it was a woman, flying through the air. She wore a black leotard with a bolt of lightening down the front, and a black mask around her eyes. Her blonde hair flew behind her like a cape.

The professor pulled off her glove. "Wait until she's close enough. Whatever you do, don't let go until I tell you."

"But, why do I have to…"

"Now!" A trapdoor opened and she fell. For a moment, Rogue thought she was going to die. A rush of air blew past her, as the woman flew under her. Frantically, she grasped her arm with her bare hand. Letting go was the last thing on her mind.

* * * * * *

The professor's jet wasn't cramped, not at all. To an average person, meaning one whom didn't have nearly as much money as he did; it was like flying in a limo. There certainly was plenty of room for two people… and one stowaway.

Remy watched from under what he assumed were the passenger seats. Jean Grey and Wolverine were in the cockpit. Jean was piloting, but she kept glancing at Wolverine. She could tell how worried he was about Rogue. Letting go of the controls with one hand, she patted him on the arm.

"We'll find her," she said softly.

Wolverine said nothing, just flashed her what Remy believed was a grateful smile. From his position, which was rather cramped, he couldn't tell. Up until today, Remy hadn't thought Logan cared about anyone but Rogue. Clearly he was wrong, very wrong. Remy tried to stifle a laugh. He couldn't imagine the rough Wolverine having feelings for the beautiful, kind Jean Grey. It certainly seemed to be an odd couple to him. So odd, that he couldn't keep his laughter in. He guffawed loudly.

Logan sniffed the air. He'd been so preoccupied with Rogue's disappearance, and Jean's presence that he hadn't thought to look. His claws lashed out, but he paid no attention to the pain he'd gotten so used to, knowing that it would heal again.

He walked over to Remy's hiding place and growled at him. Remy gave him his best confident, cocky grin, trying to ignore the fact that those claws were just inches away from his face. "Get up!"
Remy obliged him. Only when his back was turned did he deem it safe to heave a sigh of relief. The danger Wolverine had warned him about didn't seem so terrible in comparison to Wolverine himself.

* * * * * *

Rogue held tightly to this woman's arm. She resisted for a moment, then all of a sudden stopped. Rogue felt a wave of power flowing into her body. It scared her; she wanted it to stop. She tried to scream, but only a croak came out. She was sucking the energy from her. Ms. Marvel, that was her name. Carol Danvers. She was her. Rogue could feel her in her mind, screaming, clinging to the part of her still left in her own body. The Rogue in her wanted to let go, but also knew that she faced sudden death if she did. Ms. Marvel strained for her body; she wasn't scared at all. But she couldn't go back, she was trapped. She fought with Rogue in her mind. She controlled Rogue's body, but she did too. She kicked and punched the air, fighting a losing battle.

Ms. Marvel was insane with rage. Rogue tried to stop her, to regain control. But her strength and confidence were giving out, and she was slipping further and further into the back of her mind.

* * * * * *

Jean expertly landed the plane in the middle of a grass field, or as Remy put it, "We're in the middle of nowhere!"

Jean looked at the Blackbird's tracking device. Two dots, one red and one green, flashed almost on top of eachother. "This is the place all right. But I wonder where…" her voice trailed off. Wolverine and Remy followed her gaze. Hovering in mid-air was the Blackbird. And not far away was…

"Rogue!" Remy flung open the door of the plane and jumped the few feet to the ground. Wolverine and Jean chased after him.

"Rogue!" he called. But she didn't hear him. She was writhing in the air, holding her head in her hand like she was in agony. Another person was there too, he could see Rogue hanging onto her arm. But this person was lifeless. Rogue screamed. The woman's arm slipped from her grip and plummeted to the ground. Jean raced towards her, using her telekinetic powers to keep her from hitting it, just in time.

Wolverine and Remy continued calling for Rogue, but she ignored both of them. With a scream of rage, she charged at the Blackbird. She clenched her fist and punched a large hole in the glass. Then she grabbed the pilot by the shirt.

Remy squinted his eyes to see who the pilot was. He gasped. It looked just like Professor Xavier.

Logan snorted. He was looking at the pilot too. "Mystique," he murmured. There was no doubt about it; he could smell her, even from where he was. This was confirmed when Rogue flung her out of the plane. Before she hit the ground, she transformed into an eagle and flew far away. No one would be able to catch her now.

Rogue's body was exhausted from the use of Ms. Marvel's powers. So was Ms. Marvel. Her anger began to calm and her presence was not quite so vivid, as if she were drifting off to sleep. Rogue tried to seize this opportunity to regain control of her body, but the day's events had tired her too. She collapsed on the floor of the Blackbird.

* * * * * *

Mystique slipped inside an abandoned warehouse, miles from where she had been.

"Ms. Marvel has been gotten rid of, as you wanted."

A dark figure loomed in the shadows. "And the girl?"

"Most likely she went back to Xavier's school."
"Who knows what he might do with these new powers she's obtained."
Mystique gave a hard laugh. "Knowing him, he probably won't let her use them."

"Perhaps. But be more careful next time. Remember, you still owe me. Were it not for me, you wouldn't be alive."

Mystique nodded grimly. She touched her chest where Logan's claws had left a deep scar. She did owe this person her life.

"Now, we must go to step two. Must not get anyone get in the way of my plans. His eyes glowed. He laughed a cold, evil laugh. "Ready?"

A grunt came from behind him. Another tall figure stood there. His muscles were large, one could tell even in the darkness. His eyes were angry, hungry for blood, for revenge. They peeked out through the dome he wore on his head. He was ready, more than ready.

* * * * * *

Remy sat in the back of the plane with Rogue, while Logan piloted. Jean was ahead of them in the Blackbird. With her powers, she was able to hold the glass together long enough so she would be able to withstand the altitude during the trip.

Remy glanced at Rogue. She was unconscious in his arms. He smiled at her. He felt bad about the ordeal she had been through, and guilty about leaving her by herself. This was somewhat silly of him, because, if that were so, he still wouldn't have known. But he still felt that way. Pulling her glove back on, he sighed loudly. He cared about her, which was strange to him. He'd never really cared about anyone that way before. But that hardly mattered, when her body kept him at a distance.