You guys requested it, and I'm postin' it, just for you!!! I think that this story has more potential than I originally thought, so I'm going to continue it. Please read my other stories, because I feel that they're better examples of my writing! As I thought that no one would read this, I made a pact with myself to do shout outs. So, shout outs will appear at the end of the chapter.
Disclaimer: Taineyah does not own any of the characters. They all belong to Marvel comics, with the exceptions of the agents on the MPS.
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Emily twirled a streak of white hair around her finger as the team approached the car. Four additional agents and a full SWAT team. Obviously, that "anonymous" caller was someone very trustworthy. Emily picked up her video camera to make a record of what they'd find inside. On their team, Emily was the "techie," assigned to look after computers they found during their investigations, and any digital recordings that they had to make. Of the six agents present, Kathy was the only one who was X-gene negative and, therefore, in charge of the operation. Kathy took the warrant from Harry Carroll and started towards the building, the agents in tow and the SWAT team positioning themselves appropriately for a fight.
The security window slid open and Mark Johnston's eyes widened.
"Sir, we have a warrant to search the premises. Please unlock the door or we're going to have to use force." Kathy's demeanour was cool and calm, as always.
Johnston's face fell. "By force, you mean that gang of gun toting nuts, don't you?"
"Sir, the SWAT team will only be used if you refuse us entry."
Johnston closed the security window and, for an instant, Emily wondered if they were going to have to use the SWAT team. Just as Kathy cast a glance over her shoulder, the door swung open, allowing the team entry.
As was his usual role, Harry stayed next to Johnston, ensuring that the suspect didn't escape. Harry was the team member with the best chances of stopping someone that tried to run. His ability was to release a cloud of paralysing pheromones at will, which would stop anyone in their tracks until he released the neutralising pheromones that would allow the person movement again.
The first thing that hit Emily about the interior of the building was the smell. Sweaty, unwashed human. There was definitely something off in this place. Every step she took in, the smell got that much more powerful, and was joined by another powerful aroma. Rot.
All of the agents were gagging by the time they'd taken ten steps in. The place was dimly lit and the building felt filthy. There was no visible filth. It just seemed dirty. Emily remembered other disgusting places she'd been. The Brotherhood boarding house, for one.
She allowed her old identity of Rogue to filter forwards in her mind and allowed the training she'd had as an X-man to take over. She'd used this technique before to get through disgusting and horrifying situations. As Rogue, she had been strong and alone, capable of handling any situation and mentally making fun of anyone weaker than herself. She had believed herself stronger then. Stronger than she was now.
She was taping the interior of the building as she walked. As soon as she remembered that, she swallowed back the vomit that was creeping up her throat and began to speak.
"It smells really bad in here. There's somethin' rottin' and Ah can smell people. That, as you know has nothin' ta do with mah mutation. Anyone can smell it."
Emily opened the first door to her left with a gloved hand. She walked in, and was disgusted to see a metal table with restraints. Various nasty-looking devices lay on a trolley next to it. One of them, she recognised.
"That collar there, it's a genetic inhibitor. Ah've encountered that device before. It's an extremely painful method of blocking a mutant's...Ah mean, an X-gene positive individual's abilities." Her commentay continued as she described exactly what she was seeing, in case the picture didn't come out clear.
She heard the wail of a siren. The medical team had arrived. She was glad. From the looks of things, they were going to need the medics.
She felt like crying as she opened the door to the next room. It was her responsibility to go through first, getting an undisturbed picture of the potential crime scene and she was scared of what she might find. The other agents were moving behind her, labling items as they went. As she entered the second room, Emily cried out.
"Mah God!" There was a man lying on the table in this room. His entire body was covered in iridescent scales, but despite their shimmer, they had no gloss. The man was breathing, but Emily could barely believe he was alive. Large portions of his scaly skin had been torn away completely, while others were hanging like flaps.
She called for the medics, who came rushing in to help the man. Unable to watch, she moved on to the next room. Then the next. She went down the entire hall this way, most of the rooms having dead or dying mutants lying on the stainless steel tables.
She turned the corner at the end of the hall and the stench became so overwhelming that she nearly vomited. There were bars along the walls of the hall and, as she got closer, it became apparent that this hall was used for holding mutants. Large and small mutants were visible in the cells.
"Kenneth!" she called, and one of the agents came rushing up behind her. "Get these cells open!"
Kenneth was incredibly strong, the result of his "X-gene positive nature." He started tearing the
cell doors off as Emily passed them with her video camera.
"We can't leave them in there while we find the keys," she said to her camera. "Ah know it's in violation of protocol ta destroy any part of the scene, but these people are more important than any protocol." She knew that her superiors would feel the same.
Every cell contained a mutant with scars and half-healed wounds. She turned and watched Kenneth tear the cell doors off. A few of the mutants ventured out into the hall, but most seemed too weak to get off the floor, where their only bedding was rotting, filthy blankets.
Voice cracking, she continued her narration. "These people lie in 8 foot by 8 foot cells, more of cages, really. From the smell and appearance of these individuals, it is immediately apparent that they have not been given the opportunity to wash in quite some time."
She felt a gentle hand brush her hair, just at one of the streaks, and she whirled around, ready to warn whoever it was that they couldn't touch her, or they'd get hurt. She was face to face with an individual slightly taller than herself. Long stringy hair, too dirty to distinguish the colour, dangled across his face, obscuring Emily's view of his eyes. Fur that may once have been soft, but was now encrusted with grime and a substance that looked horribly like dried blood, appeared soot-black and matted.
He shook his head, tossing his hair back and she saw the familiar golden eyes. Then she noticed the tail. And the hands. The three fingered hands. It had to be...
Then he spoke, and she was sure. "Rogue." His voice was low and raspy, as though he hadn't used it in a long time, but it could only be him.
Tears streaked down her face and she embraced the dirty figure. "Kurt. Oh mah god. You're alive." Her voice was a virtual monotone, she was so shocked.
A tear trickled down his cheek, cleaning enough of the dirt and grime away that a streak of brilliant blue appeared in sharp contrast to the grey dust. "Rogue. You came for me. I do not know vhat took the Professor so long to find me, but I have never been more glad to see anyvun in my whole life."
At this, Rogue, who thought of herself solely as Rogue for the first time in years, burst into hysterical sobs. He didn't know. No one had ever told him. Though she felt that she should be holding him while he cried, she sank to the floor and he put his arms around her.
"What's going on?" Kenneth asked, rushing over.
Kurt looked up. "My sister has not seen me in a very long time." The reply was simple, and spoken calmly, belying the tears running down his face. "Und I have not seen her." His voice cracked on the last word.
Kenneth nodded, quietly took the camera from Rogue and continued her commentary.
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I just thought I'd take a moment to explain something. Some of you might be wondering why Rogue didn't take her "real" name, Marie, instead of Emily. The thing is, in the comic book, Rogue's real name is never revealed. There was one issue where she nearly told Gambit, but he told her that some things were meant to remain secrets. I recognise that many fans have accepted the movie-name, Marie, as Rogue's name, but I can't picture her as a Marie. Marie sounds too girly to me. Emily might sound too girly to some of you, but I used to know a girl named Emily, and she was a total tom-boy. Also, I chose the name Manning as her last name because she was Rogue the X-man until she decided to leave that identity behind for her own safety.
I'm sure that none of you truly felt the need to know that, but nyeah. I felt like telling you. And it doesn't spoil the story, because it won't ever be explained.
[l.m.]: I can't answer any questions regarding any known bad-guys, but there will be no RoLa whatsoever. I'm a Romy fan.
Beboots: I re-introduced him, just for you. Thanks for your positive feedback!
Rogue Warrior Spirit: Yes, poor Rogue. I feel bad for putting her through this.
LiLRogue: I will, thanks!
Rageful Jewel: Thanks for all your feedback!! I'm glad that you agree that things still wouldn't be perfect! I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your family member. And yeah, Rogue had it pretty bad.
Lucky439: Thanks!
ChaosCat: I'm glad you like my OCs. I worked pretty hard to make them not perfect, but still cool. And yeah, I was sad to kill off the X-men, more than you were to read them. I cried really hard!
ishandahalf: I didn't want her to be all government agentie either, but I figured she would do that, in a desperate attempt to find Kurt.
Neurotic Temptress: Writer's block: gone! And thanks for liking the way I paired Rogue up with Kathy Angel. I agree that it's sad, but it'll be a kinda happy ending....sorta...maybe....
Rogue15: Thanks much!!!
AG: Well, you now know that Magneto's dead, but what about Mystique and the Brotherhood and the Acolytes? You never know.....
Yumiko: Glad you liked it!
Eclipse: I'm really glad you like this!!!
LeopardDance: You think it could be a gem in hiding? I'm flattered!!!!!!! I hope you think the rest keeps up quality-wise
Diana: Inventive? Someone else must have done it! I never come up with originality! Do I? Have I broken the originality barrier? I hope so!!!
Please R+R
Tainz