Okay, that's it. No apologies this time around. Apparently, I'm a slow updater in the summertime. Its just something I'll just have to live with (well, school starts again in three weeks, so I won't be living with it for very long but...yeah.) My last year, ladies and gentlemen, in community college. Hurrah! Now, if the UC's will only take me, things'll be perfect. I'm sure you all really, really care about that.

Moving on, thank you so much for the reviews! You guys are so great. I'd compose/sing a song about you to show my gratitude, but I don't sing so well. I'd serenade you guys with my saxomaphone, but its rather difficult to be heard across all those miles. I'd overblow terribly. But thank you!!!! ^_^

The Freedom Capter
Chapter Nine: Staring at the Sun

For what felt like a long time, no one moved. There was an unsettling silence, like that void of sound between the last tick of a time bomb and the subsequent booming explosion. Enemy eyes met each other, cautious, wary, cold, and careful; bodies, tensing, as if readying themselves for another small scale war. Everyone searched for an advantage.

Up in the trees, Mystique was crouched, one sinewy arm holding the trunk for support while balancing both herself and a very large gun tied to a make-shift belt around her waist, another hand raising a small pistol. Her face, blue and smooth as ever, was expressionless, betraying no true emotion, save for the watchful flicker of her yellow eyes.

Below her, and thankful to not be alone, the two x-girls waited. One of them was nervous, though just vaguely, not wanting to combat the mutant Diana without the support of a whole team. Evil adults, as a general rule, tended to take their fights to a lethal level, and the 'kill or be killed' plan of attack wasn't quite Kitty's forte. She didn't show it, though, just straightened her back and kept her chin up high, ignoring the brown wisps that clouded her sight momentarily.

"Rogue," She whispered under her breath. "Lets just stay calm. The guys'll be here in a minute. If we can just keep quiet. You know, like stall them or something until we've got a full team."

"Stall?" Rogue answered, narrowing her eyes even further. She snorted.

"Yeah. Don't make any crazy movements. Let's not provoke-"

"What the hell do you want?" Rogue called out to the blue, older woman. Kitty raised a hand, then dropped it, sensing that somehow, Rogue had decided to not go along with the plan. Her feet stepped back of their own accord when Mystique jumped down from the tree in one powerful leap, landing before them, still aiming the little gun. And Rogue showed no sign of retreating either.

A mother and daughter reunion, and both were stubborn as hell. Kitty nodded to herself. "Great."

*******

"Well?" Rogue ignored the gun, pushing her way into Mystique's face. "Ah asked ya a question." Anger was running through her body like a slow burning fire. To see that face again, that damn blue arrogant face that had been haunting the back of her mind since their history together had been revealed to the world, oh, it made her furious. She wanted to slam her fist straight through that icy composure.

Shadowcat was worried about her choice, but Rogue wasn't particularly inclined to care. Though well meaning, the younger teammate had forgotten that it was Rogue who held seniority, who got to make the call and she was making it as she saw fit. The guns, dangerous as they were, wouldn't be used against them anytime soon. Had Mystique wanted to kill her adversaries, they'd already be dead, before they even realized someone was watching them. No, she had something else in mind and Rogue wanted to know what it was.

"What are ya doin' here?"

An eyebrow arched. "I could ask you the same thing. From your conversation, I gather you're here to sneak into Golden's base of operations, yet your appearance and lack of organization scream 'children on a hiking field trip'. Frankly, I'm embarrassed for you. Xavier's built up quite the reputation, you're expected to be efficient. Tsk. Tsk." Now, an arrogant half-smile turned her red lips.

"Screw you." Rogue hissed.

"Is that anyway to speak to your mother?"

The goth tilted her head, offering her own sardonic smile. "Screw you, ma'am."

Mystique paused, rubbed her ear, and then tucked her gun away somewhere under the folds of her white, clinging dress. She shook her head. "And you said you weren't my daughter."

"Ah ain't your pawn. Whether you adopted me o' not, Ah ain't gonna be some checker piece you jump over ta yoahself ahead. So far as Ah can see, you're outnumbered and outmatched right now. Ah suggest you answer mah question. Why. Are. You. Here."

"Yeah. Why are you following us?" Kitty asked, because if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

"I'm not."

"Oh, right. I totally forgot, like, everyone goes out to the middle of nowhere patch that surrounds a Nazi clubhouse during the summer."

"There ought to be enough room in that vacuous head of your's for sense" Mystique snapped, sneering a bit at the brunette. "But since there isn't, let me clarify something: not my world, nor any other, revolves around your pathetic lives. I was informed early this morning that Golden had finally selected a mutant candidate for their plans. Naturally, I have to stop them." She scratched her ear.

"Sure. Mystique the Crusader." Shadowcat mumbled.

"I do what I must for the cause." Was the sharp reply.

"Who do you think yoah foolin'? Ah been inside yoah head. You do what you can for yo'self." Rogue insisted, still glaring. "An' if you think yoah gonna interfere with our mission, yoah wrong."

The hard features of the blue mutant's face softened almost imperceptibly. "We haven't had a chance to talk since it happened. I'm sorry you found out as you did, Rogue. As difficult and unlikely as it must seem to you, we were working in your best interest, Irene and I. We still are."

"Like hell-"

"She knows what will happen before it does, Rogue. She foresaw your change of heart towards the X-men. If we had so desired, it would have been simple to steer you away from the situations which led you to them. My motives may seem selfish to you, my tactics harsh, but we are fighting a war and I have no tolerance for those who would oppress us. That is why I am here. Search my memories for that truth."

Rogue paused, then dropped her head with a groan. She wanted so much to hate the woman before her now, but the angrier she got, the more she felt like the rebellious daughter. The more she was forced to admit that Mystique, Risty, her mother, or whoever she was, she truly did care about her, and about all the mutants born into a prejudiced world. That much, at least, had diffused across the skin of their bare hands. Rogue didn't have to like it, she didn't have to like her, but she neither could she ignore what she knew.

She looked over to Kitty who'd taken the whole scene in with wide eyes. "Where are th' guys? They shoulda been here by now."

"Um..."

"We are here." The three of them turned to see Colossus, shimmering, blinding them with his reflective layer of metal. Rogue raised a hand to cover her eyes.

"How sweet." She told Shadowcat. "Its our knight in' shinnin' armor."

"Stand back," he told the girls. "I'll take care of this." Colossus advancing like a steam-roller, crushing the leaves, flowers, rocks, and unfortunate fauna that lay on the forest floor. He reached Mystique and grasped the unyielding woman by her wrists, locking them behind her back so that she could not get away.

"Steel?" She said. "Magneto's updated his tools. Impressive. Though lacking a certain...finesse."

Colossus looked to the girls for instruction. But before Rogue could respond, Gambit stepped out of the woods too, twirling a stick between his nimble fingers. "Oh, Chere, dat breaks m' heart." He over exaggerated a sigh. "Den again, I s'ppose I c'n forgive da insult...after all, its just one lackey to another, non?" He motioned to put his arm around Rogue's shoulder.

And just like that, the window to Mystique was shut. Rogue frowned, noting the subtle change, the tightening of her fists, the heartless detachment washing over her like a shower. Of course, not even noticing these alterations could have made sense of the tumble and movement her eyes witnessed just seconds later, so much blurred action that ended up in a reversal of positions. Mystique was free, the small gun now pointed at Shadowcat's head, while Colossus himself seemed to wonder how she'd pushed him away so smoothly.

"The games are over. There's work to be done here." She stated, simply.

Rogue wasn't sure how to react, but as it turned out, that didn't matter much. Gambit did the acting for her, focusing his red gaze to the gun, until it began to glow a brilliant pink. Mystique growled and hurled it at the boy, then grabbed his shoulder as he dodged the flying object and shoved him roughly to the ground, pinning him there with the heel of her boot.

"You underestimate me." She spat.

"No, you underestimate us." Rogue answered, placing her bare hand beside the blue face. "Let Remy go."

Mystique scratched her ear and glowered. She spoke to Gambit. "You're pathetic. If you touch my daughter, there will be nothing left of you for Magneto to control."

"Ah ain't kiddin', Mystique." Rogue repeated, insulted that her command would have been ignored. "O' you an' Ah'll be sharin' a lot more'n history." To emphasize her point, she pressed her hand against her face, just enough to weaken the elder, who jerked back, a step away from all of them.

"Ah could've done more damage than that." Rogue continued, offering her gloved hand to Gambit, who used it as leverage and jumped up to a standing position. "But Ah didn't. Ya said you were comin' ta stop Golden. For the moment, there are people who bug me more than you."

"How touching."

"Are ya gonna help us or not? Its a yes o' no question an' needs answerin' awful quick if we're gonna have ta build you a cage while we do our business."

"Um, Rogue, are you sure this is good idea?" Kitty asked.

"Yes."

Mystique rubbed her hand together and something -pride?- came and went in the blink of an eye. "Funny. That's just the question I had planned on asking you four." She scratched her ear.

***********

Yellow pages. White ones. Green-tipped, red-laced, black and white. Red flipped through the pages of the phonebook quickly, as though she were watching a kind of demented, nonsensical flip-book. The buzzing in the corners, and back, and front, and sides of her head was getting steadily stronger, making it difficult to read. Not that she thought she'd learn anything by reading the book.

At the kitchen table, Alma and Julie were playing Old Maid, smiling and joking like old maids themselves. Content, she imagined, in their lives. So utterly peaceful and sweet. Their prejudice towards mutants was understandable in that context, when one thought of the turmoil and havoc the mutant crisis brought to their small town.

Not that she condoned prejudice. Fights happened because people were unwilling to see the others side, when they willingly blinded themselves to the truth. And life had obviously made the two women stare at the sun too long.

"Recognize any name, Red?" Alma asked while placing a card flat down on the table.

"No." There was no progress in her recovery, only the buzz, and the confusion that occurred whenever something she thought nearly came to life -a pencil almost floating to her hand, the unclasping of her bracelet when she needed a reason to put the phone book down. All just coincidences, or mistakes of vision. Common, she assumed, with head injuries. She bent over and lifted the piece of jewelry from the ground.

"Well, we've got to keep trying. We have to find your family somehow. They're probably worried sick."

"Actually, I've been thinking about that." Red shifted uncomfortably, rubbed her eyes and then let her hands fall into her lap. It was awkward to ask such a question of two kind ladies but... "Um, have the police been notified in case my parents go looking for me there?"

She frowned as Julie looked away, almost guiltily, and Alma turned around to take a large gulp of her water. The ice clinked against the empty glass as she settled it down again on the table. "Well," Alma responded, slowly, as if she were hand-picking each and every word. "As a matter of fact...no. No, they haven't. But, you see, Julie went down to the police station early this morning, after the doctor had just seen you, to file a report and...and...she...uh..."

"I saw a mutant!" cried Julie. "A demon mutant. He stepped out of the station and poof, his skin melted away, and his eyes turned around, and he grew claws! He was all blue and demonic and he and this horrible child pranced away to join their devil-worshipping tribe around the corner. I know I shouldn't have let it bother me so much, after all, they walk among us daily. But, oh my, it was just so horrific. And the air smelt of brimstone and hell. The police just let them walk away. I realized then that they've gotten to the police, Red, darling. We can't go there anymore." She lowered her voice to a hush. "It isn't safe."

Alma nodded, quite serious. "And as for the hospitals, the one here was tainted a long time ago. You see, several years ago, this nice gentleman became Chief of Staff. We all thought he was so sweet, until the mutant problem broke, and we discovered his secret -he's a freak too! We haven't been there since then. Nope, my son wouldn't allow it. You saw our doctor, Dr. Lucas Rivers, from the human only clinic a few blocks away."

"Oh." Red answered, uncertain. She had a strong feeling the women were telling the truth, or at least the truth as they saw it.

Smiling again, eager to change the subject, Alma said. "There's something else. My son, the one I mentioned, well he's coming to town today."

"He visits her every week." Julie said. "Such a sweet boy."

"We're sure that he'll know what to do with you."

Red grinned back, though her head was growing full of sound. "I can't wait."

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

His teenage teammates were tired, hungry, and sick of shuffling through documents until it felt as though they'd been slamming their heads against concrete for hours. Their eyes were growing blurry from strain, from watching one web site meld seamlessly into another, and another, and another, without offering any bit of new and valuable information to consider. Shirts were untucked, hair had become a playing ground for idle hands, and their focus was crumbling.

All except for his.

In any normal situation, Scott Summers was neat, crisp, and clean, a regular poster boy for all things good and responsible. His character was marked often by a cool, slightly detached, level-headed sort of sense. It was a strength for the X-men commander. Though, every now and then, a villain would notice this, and perceive it as a possible weakness. Give him an interest in the case too personal, and he'd fall apart.

But they were wrong. In losing his touchstone, the female he'd almost considered a partner in leadership, Scott had not fallen. The longer he felt her absence, though only a matter of hours thus far, the more determined he became. His eyes turned analytical, studying everything that passed before them, made careful by the desperation. He managed to keep track of everyone else around him, and himself, and like the sheep dog on a crowded field, nipped at their heels to keep them in line. His clothing was perfectly neat, aside from the rolled up sleeves, and the top buttons of his shirt opened. Whatever was running through his head, whatever emptiness he entertained without the link to Jean, it didn't show.

He just had to find her.

"Okay," he said at last," I've got something that looks promising. A site, anti-government, claims that WCB news station received over six different amateur videos of the riots yesterday. They were given with the assumption that WCB would report the news in a fair and unbiased way. The site's claiming that it didn't happen, though. They think the station deliberately made the mutants appear to be the aggressors."

"Its sounds like another battle between the pro-mutants and anti-mutants. How does this help us?" St. John wondered aloud.

"The videos. Maybe, if we can get access to them, one will show us what happened to Jean.

Jubilee wasn't convinced. "They're obviously not on our side, though. I doubt they're just gonna let you prance inside, take the tapes, and get outta there. Its kinda counterproductive to the whole brainwashing propaganda plans."

"Yes, I know."

"So...vhat now?"

"We take the tapes." Scott stated plainly, as if he were surprised they even had to ask.

"But...how?"

The leader kicked his feet up on the desk, so that he could tilt his chair back, just a little. He scratched his brow. "You guys know, if there is ever any way to do something within the rules, that has to be the way you choose, even if its harder. And sometimes, when it isn't in the rules, you just have to let it go, right?"

"Yeah, sure." Jubilee answered; John and Kurt nodded in agreement. They were a bit puzzled. Was it really time for another lecture on right and wrong?

"But sometimes, you gotta be a little more Batman than Superman. I've poured through these files, the sites, everything, and most are useless. She isn't at any hospital, school, police or fire station, no one's filed a report, hung up fliers, or anything like that. These videos are the only lead we've got right now. Breaking in this library was wrong, all our hacking was wrong-"

"Especially Kitty's." Kurt whispered.

"-And breaking and entering into, and steal from, the news station will be really, really wrong. But we're dealing with dangerous people, and if Jean's with them, we need to move as fast as we can."

"You know," John said, "I always thought cooperating with the X-men would be a venture unto the wholesome and pure side of things."

"I'd like for Jubilee and Pyro to remain here, to become as well versed on Golden as you possibly can while I'm gone."

"What? But-"

Cyclops swiveled around in his chair. "Kurt, I have to take you with me to get inside, but you're presence will be highly limited. I don't want to hear any objections. One of us has to do this. It going to be me." He paused. "This is a serious crime and I want you guys involved as little as possible."

St. John opened his mouth to complain but thought better of it. He wasn't scared of the leader, no, more like surprised by respect. While simply joke material for the Aussie, breaking so many laws was a serious, troubling matter for Cyke. He was making a sacrifice for the team. Putting them before himself.

Magneto, crazy, controlling Magneto who clung to his power over them, forced them into the position of servants, would never do something like that. They were just throw rugs to him. Powerful, valuable pawns, but pawns nevertheless.

These X-men were something else. No wonder Gambit had fled with one wrapped around his back. No wonder he stuck with her, when he could have easily escaped on his own. Their goody-goody habits were annoying, but their loyalty was contagious. John didn't know if it was worth anything, but he wished then, as he sat and listened patiently Scott to describe the plan, that he too was a real X-men.

*********

"Well?" Rogue asked, growing impatient. She dropped to a knee, looking over Gambit's shoulder as he studied a map carefully. The sun was growing brighter, and the air around them had taken on a thick, suffocating quality. One of Mystique's maps was spread out over the bumpy, rocky dirt, while the Cajun plotted the best ways to enter the building, save the hostages, and get inside the Golden computer system. Rogue cast a shadow over the blueprints, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Ain't you s'pposed ta be some super thief? Where's th' magical talent you always braggin' about?"

"I'm tryin'." Gambit wiped the thin coat of sweat building up around his forehead. It was getting unbearably hot. "Gettin' in not da problem. Its gettin' the hostages out safetly."

"We don't even know how many there are," Shadowcat reminded them.

"Mais, dey all gotta come out, whether dey number in da ones o' tens."

"There will be casualties." Mystique called to them. She was looking over the place like a predator studying its prey. It was like an ice bath pouring down Kitty's spine. She'd hate to be on the receiving end of that look. The look that was almost terrifying enough to make her pity the evil Nazi terrorists.

Rogue came over and sighed. She had lost a considerable amount of that cool, walking dead look, the heat having replaced it with an appearance that trended towards the 'Tomato with Hair' style. The two angry green stones set inside the tomato were narrowed in annoyance and Rogue approached her brunette friend. "Did ya see the way she looks at me?" Rogue whispered low. "Like she's got any right ta be protective."

"I don't know...I'm looking at you too, Rogue." Kitty said. "It shouldn't be surprising. You're like turning this really bright red. Like those spinning strawberries at the carnival."

With concern, Gambit tore his attention from the blue print. "Chere? Maybe da fair-skinned maidens should go sit somewhere mo' shaded?"

Rogue, evidently not in the mood for pampering, refused. "How 'bout all the Cajuns do their job o' go ta hell."

"Only if I c'n take you wit' me. Etern'l damnation is no fun wit'out a partner."

"Funny, I thought eternal damnation was havin' you for a partner."

Gambit looked around. "See how she dotes on me? Mias, I know its a challenge, girl, but try an' hold back dat affection. Dere's no place fo' it on da battle field. Much as I like t'inkin' o' you, my minds needs t' stay on dis job we got."

Mystique was like an old fashioned bully, cracking her knuckles from the corner, clearing her throat occasionally to inform the rest of the world she was still around. Only she wasn't exactly cracking her knuckles, it was more like polishing the very large, very deadly gun in her possession. Whenever Remy strayed too close to Rogue, even to carelessly fiddle with her gloved fingertips, Mystique's presence seemed to grow. He knew enough to keep his distance from the Southern Belle.

Until, that is, the Southern Belle caught on to the exchange, sucked in a sharp breath, and threw her arms around Remy LeBeau's head. She squeezed him, nearly joking the Cajun, as if daring Mystique to try and intimidate her. But no protest, violent or otherwise, escaped her lips. She just ignored the situation.

"Da ladies can' keep their hands off t'day." Gambit said to Rogue after the blue lady sauntered off. She pushed him away and brushed away her bangs.

"Will ya drop it with the dumb jokes."

"I would if I didn't know you were smilin' on da inside."

"Sugah, that's just cause Ah'm plannin' ways ta painfully shut you up."

"So you admit t' fantasizin' 'bout me? Da clouds have broken at last."

"Yoah legs'll be joinin' 'em soon if ya keep that up."

"A leg femme, are we?"

"Ugh. An' what are you, Remy? An anyt'in' wit' breasts? 'Cause Ah'm sure KFC can satisfy all yoah perverted needs."

"Non. Tried dat already. Too greasy."

Rogue smacked the back of his head, rolling her eyes in the process. "Ya disgust me, Cajun."

"Keep dat up, Chere, y' gon' give me brain damage."

"Ya say that like its a bad thing."

"You right. All it means is sponge bathes fo' da rest o' my life, care o' a sweet Southern fille. Hit me again. I'm feelin' masochistic anyway."

"Sheesh," Shadowcat said, interrupted their surprisingly fast volley. The words rolled off their tongues like a language all their own, with a comic speed borrowed from Abbott and Costello. "How long can you guys keep that going?"

"Keep what goin'?" Rogue asked.

"The whole banter thing."

She shrugged like it wasn't important. "Remy'll spew out immature babble 'til the sky falls in, if ya let him. Ah'd let him go on, but that ego's already hoggin' up so much o' our space, Ah didn't think we could stand ta loose a square inch o' breathin' room."

"Not one inch." Remy agreed, jokingly. They fell back into the work before them then, as if they'd never been distracted at all. It was rather amazing; as though they'd been a couple for months and not just a day or two. Apparently, the relationship was a nice fit. They were met, in each other, fault for fault and strength for strength.

But Kitty hadn't given up her suspicions just yet. She looked over at Colossus, who was communicating with Scott and the gang back in Eureka.

"How are they?"

"Cyclops is acting on a lead he's found." His Russian-accented voice was deep and powerful, reflective of his body and nature. A gentle rumble. Kitty smiled wide, feeling comfortable with his tone already.

"That's great. We could really use Jean." She didn't say it, but she was thinking about Mystique and how something didn't quite feel right. The blue mutant had never been fidgety before, nor was she open to working with partners she believed were inferior to herself. Yet here she was, doing both. Why? A telepath could easily assuage any worries.

"What the hell is dis?" Gambit groaned loudly, attracting attention. "Da symbols at da bottom o' da map aren't normal, an' dere's no legend. Anybody knows what it means?"

"Nope."

"No."

"Naw," Rogue answered, slyly. "But Ah know Mystique does."

****

The cracking of thick branches beneath her white, hard boots was reminiscent of crunching bones. She distinctly recalled fingers flattening, thinning, breaking as she applied pressure to the hand of a geneticist in a tiny, secluded Alabama research facility. She wasn't as inhumane as the memory suggested; the man in question, a Dr. Jervins, had been working for a government agency on a powerful, dangerous weapon that could kill so many people.

The gun pressed against her thigh as she walked, and elicted a smile. Powerful weapon, indeed.

She was elegant in her movements, like a queen who knew she commanded the greatest army in the world. It was, Mystique thought, the same regal posture Rogue had adopted. She carried herself in true Darkholme fashion, though she probably wouldn't acknowledge it.

Rogue.

Her daughter.

Mystique wasn't the mothering type. She never passed through a department store and stopped to admire the toddler section, cooing at the tiny clothes. Hell, she'd born two creatures of her own flesh and blood and never thought twice about leaving them behind. Her lifestyle didn't allow for children. They were complications of the worst kind, because they never let go. Once a child recognized a mother's face, she was forever known to him, even if that face shifted constantly.

Imagine the irony then. She'd finally found a reason to play parent, built up a life with Irene and Rogue, kept them quietly in a small Mississippi town while she did her jobs elsewhere. She finally gave to the child everything she had to offer an offspring, watched her grow and learn and gradually discover her own greater purpose. Only to find this little girl was more similar to her than she'd ever imagined. The little girl had isolated herself, denied Mystique as Mystique had denied the others. Rogue had convinced herself she didn't have a family. That she was alone, unwanted, forgotten, though none of those were true.

I promise you this, Irene had told her all those years ago, as they both stared at the toddler, she's going to be her mother's daughter. Sometimes seers were just damn annoying.

"Mystique?" The voice had a certain low, raspy quality, and a cautious tone that spoke of youth. He may have been an expert thief, but the Cajun was very much a boy. If he was already a mercenary, that did not bode well for the kind of man he would become, once he'd faced the true hardships and struggles of life and aging. Perhaps it was a foolishly mundane, maternal instinct to despise the smoking, untrustworthy, womanizing boy a naive daughter fancied herself attached to, but Mystique indulged that loathing.

"What do you want?"

"Symbols on yo' map, dey handwritten -your's, I'd bet- but I don't know what dey mean. Dey located in several high security areas, I guess. Just wanted t' make sure dey weren't-"

"Computers with access to the main controls, according to my inside source. They were my first targets."

He reflected on that for a second. Turn the little wheels all you want, Mystique thought, they'll never run over anything imporant. "But all da hostages, dey-"

"As I said, there will be casualties. On both sides."

"Oh." He nodded, biting the tip of his pencil. She once killed a man with a pencil tip by jamming it through his heart. Again, not entirely as morbid and horrible as it sounded. Rather fitting, actually. A man with vampirical tendencies to drain money from accounts not his own had managed to steal ten thousand dollars from one Raven Darkholme. She'd tracked him down, naturally, retrieved her money and given the vampire an end he deserved: a wooden stake through the heart.

Immpatience seized her. Mystique was so sick of boys. The Brotherhood had severely worn down her patience. Never again would she voyage into the baby-sitting realm. "Is that all?" She rubbed her ear.

He looked like he wanted to say something sincere, but the look quickly faded. It replaced itself with a grin. "You don' like me, do you? Fo' da life o' me, I can't figure out why not. Haven't hurt da fille, haven't lied t' her, and hell, I prob'ly hate Magneto as much as you do. If anyt'in', you should be grateful. Rogue's trustin' me should be a good sign, non? Maybe she'll forgive you too."

She slapped him. It more of a reflex than anything else, though it left a vivid handprint on his face. Rogue wouldn't be happy, but then again it was time Rogue realize who she was working with, mother or not. "You're too easily distracted." She told him, seriously. "Just because I'm talking doesn't mean I can't employee any other muscles. You're fast, but you'll lose that advantage if you're not paying attention. Not everyone is as slow as you'd think."

"Dere are exceptions t' every rule."

She glared at him again. "Not this one: stay the hell away from me unless you want your genitals shoved inside your mouth and sewn up with a strand of your own intestines. And so help me, if you interfere with Rogue's greater destiny, there will not be words to describe your pathetic suffering."

And then she melted into the environment to wait for Gambit to finish his job so that they could all go home. The boy stood there a minute after she'd left, considering the silence. Afterwards, he too moved on to more important thoughts.

*********

It pleased Scott in some bizarre way to know that he could still be cunning and clever on the field. All that time of giving orders and keeping track of who went where and why, of coaching from the sidelines, he could still step into their shoes and do a good job. He hated the part of his past which had taught him those skills, but the fact was there hadn't always been a kind benefactor to guide and teach him. Life on the streets had been tough, and he'd had to survive. And it was pleasing to know that he could still hold his own.

If only Jean were around to share that with. To smile and laugh and tell him he took those Danger Room programs far too seriously and maybe if he allowed himself to try a game like everyone else instead of straight out training once in a while he wouldn't have to wait until he was robbing a news station before he knew that he was capable. That he deserved his position as leader.

Kurt got him inside building, but that was it. Scott had avoided and disabled cameras, snuck here and there, dodging people all on his own. And then he found it.

The room was black, and filled with gray, dusty cabinets which lined the space corner to corner. It smelled like musk and old books, or like an antique store, though its environment as a whole was harsh and cold. Everything had strong, sharp corners, straight down to the metallic desk situated in its center.

Scott sighed, realizing that he was in a rarely, if ever, visited storage facility. The web site had been correct in its assumption; whoever controlled the station didn't want those videos seen. Unfortunately, the x-men were out of leads for finding one of their own, and desperate times called for desperate measures.

His foot banged against one shelf with chipped white paint, leaving chalky remains on his pants. It brought a comforting image to mind, Jean mock-glaring at him because she'd spent two hours in the men's section of the department store picking them out and it had only taken him two seconds of carelessness to dirty them. He'd feel bad about it, of course, though he could never be sure that it was his own guilt he felt and not an impression left by Jean. A little bit of both, probably, since he'd programmed a mini-Jean into his head to ensure he did what he could to please her.

The first cabinet was locked, but easily opened by the manipulation of a wire. It screeched as he tugged on the handle, but eventually laid its files bare for him to see. It was something financial, matters that he didn't care about. He shut the drawer. The process was repeated, the second cabinet holding Lost and Found items from the late eighties, including a kid-sized New Kids on the Block belt and a Michael Jackson single.

Scott chewed his bottom lip. There wasn't time to conduct a full, thorough search. He'd have to find a more effective way to find the tapes. Suddenly, he noticed that one drawer was less dusty. Slapping himself on the head, and throwing in a silent 'Thank You', he jerked it open.

His heart sunk. A box, locked, and he didn't have the key. Cyclops took his trusty wire and worked to free the tapes, which were hopefully inside, but the end snapped off. He tried next to yank it open with his hands, but his best efforts were in vain. He picked up another, smaller box from the seventies lost and found, raising it, as though he were going to smash the lock in, and then sighed.

"Yeah, right." Cyclops told himself, dryly. He put the box back and lowered the top of his glasses just enough to blast the lock clean off.

The pile of video tapes was a welcomed sight. He crammed them into his sack and then cautiously stepped back outside the room. He snuck his way to near the entrance again. Leaning into the communicator, he whispered. "Okay, Nightcrawler. Come and get me."

*******
"I think I'd like to have short hair." Jubilee said, matter-of-factly. "My parents would never agree to letting me cut it, but I dunno. I feel like I'm entitled to something cool after this."

"After what? You're sitting here in a library talking to me. Not one of the more death-defying feats known to man."

"I'm waitin' around, is what I'm doing. You know how much energy its taking not to go help Scott?" She sighed and tossed her body to the table.

With a shrug, St. John pulled a pair of scissors from the desk. "These do?"

"Yeah. Hey, give 'em." She whined when he kept them out of reach.

"I'll do it." John declared.

"Yeah. Right. Like I'm gonna let you anywhere near my hair. You're a freakin' pyromaniac."

"So?"

"So? What do you mean so? I'm not interested in that charred look, all right? Maybe next season, when a head full of boiled brains can get me outta science class."

He looked mildly offended. "Listen, Kiddie, I don't just accidentally spread fires."

"Oh sure." Her gaze sparkled. "Think of it: you start off innocent enough. One snip of the scissors and a lock of hair tumbles to the ground. Oh, so flammable. But you resist. You start to cut faster, and the mountain of detached tresses is called your name. Pyro. Pyro. The lighter in your pocket is growing heavier and heavier and-"

"All right! I won't do you're hair."

"Ya think?"

"Hey, hush up for a sec, will you? I think I hear someone. That was fast."

They paused while the door swung wide open, and an angry, swollen man with massive hands and a giant, round head gaped at them in horror. The hawk-like appearance of his nose was heightened as his jaw dropped impossibly lower. "Damn kids! Breaking into the library! Wait'll the cops here this!"

"Will someone please tell me how come everyone always uses the same tired phrases? I mean 'damn kids' has been in use since Adam and Eve caught Cain stealin' goats, officer sir." Jubilee was calm and serene as she spoke. "Don't be afraid of originality, sir."

Ignoring them completely, the old man picked up the receiver and began dialing. He got as far as '91' was before he was interrupted. The phone exploded into flying sparks. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights when his gaze locked with Jubilee's. The teen smiled and winked.

"Lemme guess. Damn mutants, right?"

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

Summer stretching on the grass
Summer dresses pass
In the shade of a willow tree
Creeps a crawling over me

Over me and over you
Stuck together with God's glue
It's going to get stickier too
It's been a long hot summer
Let's get under cover
Don't try too hard to think
Don't think at all

I'm not the only one
Staring at the sun
Afraid of what you'll find
If you took a look inside

I'm not just deaf and dumb
Staring at the sun
Not the only one
Who's happy to go blind

There's an insect in your ear
If you scratch it won't disappear
It's going to itch and burn and sting
You want to see what the scratching brings

Waves that leave me out of reach
Breaking on your back like a beach
Will we ever live in peace
'Cause those that can't do
Often have to
And those that can't do
Often have to preach

To the ones
Staring at the sun
Afraid of what you'll find
If you took a look inside

Not just deaf and dumb
Staring at the sun
I'm not the only one
Who'd rather go blind

Intransigence is all around
Military still in town
Armour-plated suits and ties
Daddy just won't say goodbye

Referee won't blow the whistle
God is good but will He listen
I'm nearly great
But there's something missing
I left it in the duty free
But you never really belonged to me

You're not the only one
Staring at the sun
Afraid of what you'd find
If you stepped back inside

I'm sucking on my thumb
Staring at the sun
I'm not the only one
Who's happy to go blind

I'm not the only one...

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

1. Don't own the song. A big shock, I know.

2. I take the assumption here that Rogue would hold seniority over Kitty, even though Kitty joined the team first. I dunno, Rogue just seems a more natural fit for leader. Sorry if that bothers you.

3. Individual Responses:

Rogue LeBeau3: Keeanu Reeves? Um...moving on, ^_^ Something tells me we think alike. Thanks!

Panther Nesmith: Writing Mystique in protective mommy mode is addictive! You're right! We'll start our own support group for it, how's that? Anywho, thanks for the review!

Goldylokz, xxFleurdelySxx, fllnangel, Bunny Angel: Okay, I have a riddle for you guys. Here goes- what do you get when you cross a really cool person with a computer and fanfiction.net? A really awesom reviewer, like you! You guys are the best. Thanks!

Ishandahalf: You know, I do love the capitalizations in your reviews. They do so much for dramatic effect. :)
Oopps, Misty hasn't learned of new son-in-law just yet (how did I forget that?) Ha ha ha. And I totally love 80's music too. Even their pop music was good. (how come they had good pop music in the 80's? They got like Michael Jackson and Cyndi Lauper, we get Britney Spears and Attack of the Boy Bands. UGH! Anywho...)
Thanks a bunch for the review!

The Flying Pen: After you're review, I had to make sure my update was long enough....and I even ran spell check!!!! Just for you, Pen, just for you. ^_^ Thanks for the review!

Tabby: Ah, she loves the guild. Like I said, I'm giving the guild serious thought, but I still don't know if I'll be able to work it in. Thank you so much for your reviews, ^_^

Lil, Gaea, Takai, RogueLeBeau, Rogue Maverick: So like, I'm sitting in class and they start to tell me about why the world spins around and I said, obviously, its because of awesome reviewers! At least, its people like you who keep me going when inspiration is running low and that rerun of ER is looking really, really tempting... ^_^ Thanks!

Lace123: ^_^ Well, Rogue did want a family early on in the story. Now, can she handle it? That a whole other story. Or, I guess, actually, its not. It is this story. But the rest of the answer is in the next chapter, so stick around. And thanks!

Solitaire: Thank you, ever so much. Glad you liked those lines. I had a hell of a time figuring out what Kurt was going to say to Remy. : ) Thanks for the review!

Kanshisha Tenshi: I would love a Daredevil sequel...we don't get to see enough of Ben without that horrible, life-sucking tumor he seems to have grown on his side. ^_^ And as for Mystique's moment, well, she's here but don't think you know her all that well yet.

Neurotic Temptress: Oh sure, its all easy and fun to ask someone else to update. But where, might I ask, is yours? Okay, so it hasn't been two months. Two weeks can feel like two months if you want to read something enough! I've always thought Evo Kurt would be a protective brother towards Rogue -he seems to genuinely concerned about her welfare once he finds out. Thanks!

Fishlips, Rogue Warrior Spirit, Bettie-chan, Yumiko: You can't see me, but I'm smiling wide like a little kid holding up her mangled, unlegible piece of make-believe cursive writing, grinning like a fool because my parent (which would symbolize you guys) always pats me on the head and gives me encouragement to keep writing! So thank you, for reviewing, for being so very cool, and so very nice.

Makura Koneko: Um...I'm sorry? I am so sorry! Please don't hurt me! *looks around and realizes am still sitting in chair by computer* Er, I mean, here you go!

Girl Number One: I'm sorry you don't like Rogue. I mean, my Rogue. I try, I do! Hmmm. Maybe she's manic-depressive. Then again, come on, who could really control their emotions when riding around with Gambit? Thank you for leaving a review, criticisms are always welcome.

DoubleKidZ, AngieX, sheena, Nessie6: When I was in high school, my teacher was fond of the description: vanilla. It was a bad thing to her, because vanilla, she claimed, was plain and ordinary. Well, I disagree. Vanilla is classic, and so full of creamy goodness! Its got variations on its theme, but never loses it personality, never stops being wonderful. So, I say you guys are like vanilla, but I mean it in the good way!

Dark Elf3: Woah. Reread the story? :) Thank you! You are so v. cool!

howonderfulife26: Aw shucks. Hope I didn't accidentally kill you! That would be a bad thing. Yuppers. Thanks!

Anda: Oooh, she offers me food. :) Yippee! Interestingly enough, it is late night, and I do have a craving for gingerbread! How perfect is that?! Thanks for the awesome review!

Passionate Crow Rat: Uh oh, not another dead body! I don't have anymore room to put you in! Ahh. You'll just have to keep on living and reviewing, I guess. :)

The Tourniquet: :) Glad to know that a St. John fan would like my st. john (not to say I don't like him, its just tha, obviously, he's not my favorist because um, Remy, but anywho...) Thats so cool. Thank you! :) Two happy faces in one review! Hurrah!

ZetaBee: Thanks! Read on! Review again! Puleaze?

Elspeth1: I want to know what's gonna happen to them too! No seriously, I got it all up here *taps skull and head falls off* uh oh. Er, I mean, ah, thanks for the review!

The Goth Witch: Stay frosty... I like that. That's a cool slogan. Stay frosty. :) Stayfrostystayfrostystayfrosty. Yay! And so much fun to say! No officer, I haven't taken anything at all.

If I forgot you, I beg your forgiveness. Its getting late. Soooo late. And darn it all if that stupid Arnold won't stay off my TV screen!

By the way, just in case you happen to be wondering, no. Californians are not as wacky and stupid and desperately in need of rational thought as news coverage of the election would suggest. Or maybe we are, but we're usually better at hiding it. :) Can you say right-wing conspiracy? J/K (or am I?)

See ya soon! And this time, the next chapter practically finished, so I mean it!!

Questions, comments, coconuts? I can be found at Eileenblzr@yahoo.com