AUTHORS NOTE: Okay, just want to make something clear before I start, I'm not a hacker, but some of Chapter 4 has hacking in it, I got the ideas off of the hacking game by Introversion called 'Uplink'. (Buy it by the way, its some good shit), I don't know how to hack so I used the basics of the game. Don't blame me if it sounds stupid or wrong.
Dismal Angel 2010 - Episode 11
Chapter 1: Attempted Tracing
Jean Grey sat down at the computer console, tucking her hair behind her ears, she frowned at the monitor, "alright," she told herself, "I'm going to do it this time, I'm going to find out something this time," she tried to convince herself. She'd been at the computer all day and almost all of yesterday, hoping to find some information as to high profile robberies that had taken place two years ago around the time that Piotr' cousin Ivan had been asked to locate Remy LeBeau.
It was almost a long shot, really, but there was no telling what this kind of information would lead to, and right now, it was all that she could do to help. Remy wasn't showing up on any scans on Cerebro, and Jean herself was already beginning to lose hope there might be no way to locate the man.
But it was necessary. Locating Remy might be the only way to locate this mad geneticist who had stolen Hank's research. There wasn't much else to go on right now.
Jean turned as Rogue entered the room, the soft pat of her Sketchers upon the tiles was barely audible but Jean had been stuck in the silence of the War room all day that any sound as tiny as it was would have distracted her in an instant.
"Thought you could use some coffee," Rogue explained, she walked over, placing a cup down on the counter space next to the mouse Jean's hand was upon. "Find anything?"
Jean took a quick glance at her team mate. Rogue seemed childlike without a tiny trace of makeup upon her face. Her figure was less than flattered by the baggy flared jeans she was wearing and the oversized Yankees t-shirt she had pulled over a long sleeved shirt. Her hair was left loose, un-styled and probably un-brushed. Something about the way she appeared left Jean feeling she didn't care about looking good – only cared about finding out where Remy LeBeau was.
"Nothing – well nothing that would be worth anything to us," Jean sighed, "high profile robberies are usually covered up from the media to avoid publicity, especially covered up by the security firms who were handling the items stolen," she explained.
Rogue took a seat nearby, "What did you mean 'nothing that would be worth anything to us?" she asked.
"A few robberies took place in Louisiana, expensive artefacts stolen…" Jean explained, she took a sip of the hot coffee.
"Remy wouldn't have had anything to do with those robberies, he stayed away from Louisiana this last seven years," Rogue admitted softly, she stared at the print outs that Jean had made concerning the robberies in Louisiana. "Besides, Louisiana is where a Thieves guild headquarters is located, any thief could have done that," she pointed out.
"Good point," Jean sighed, "I don't know where else to look," She sighed.
"Have you seen Kitty at all today?" Rogue asked casually, "I can't find her."
"Oh, she's in the city, seeing a counsellor," Jean said, "she's still a little traumatised about her parent's death, the Professor thought it might help to speak about it with someone outside of the Mansion."
"That's a good idea," Rogue nodded.
"Hi, you two."
Rogue and Jean turned, Scott Summers had entered the room, in uniform, he'd obviously just ended a training session judging by the sweat glistening on his brow and tainting his hair, his uniform was slightly damp and torn ever so slightly.
"Hi," Jean smiled softly, she raised her head just a little as Scott leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips, "Danger Room?"
"Been training with the students," Scott replied, he ran his fingers through his hair tiredly, "Sunday afternoon training, remember?" he reminded.
"Oh, yeah," Jean realised and rolled her eyes at herself.
Rogue stared up at Scott, "how were they today?" she asked, generally the students were hers for the Danger room on weekday mornings, and it was something she was good at was leading them through training sessions, trying to build them into a team.
"They were fine, except from—" Scott began, but Rogue finished his sentence before he could.
"Monet," Rogue interjected.
"How'd you know?" Scott smirked.
"How else," Rogue gave a smirk also, "what'd she do this time?"
"Well…I asked the kids to do the exercise in a certain way and Monet undermined me and took over and convinced them to do it a completely different way…" Scott lovingly moved Jean's hair away from her face and gazed down at her for a moment.
Rogue tried to ignore the romantic moments between the two, she sighed and forced a brave face, "and did they get through the exercise?" she asked.
"Yes. They did, not the way I would have liked, they took the easier route, but in the end they did it…I guess I shouldn't complain but…Monet's lack of…respect leaves a lot to be desired," he sighed.
Rogue stood up, "Welcome to my world," she clamped a hand on Scott's shoulder, "it sucks, you're gonna love it," she put on a smile, "I'll see you guys later, alright?"
"Yeah, alright," Scott sat beside Jean.
Rogue sighed and left the war room, out in the hall she remained a moment near the slightly ajar door, just taking in a breath and trying to gain some control of her emotions. Being around people who were madly in love certainly didn't help when she herself was yearning for Remy with all her heart. She found herself remembering how much simpler her life had been when she'd been fifteen and madly in love with Scott Summers and never able to say how she'd felt. Something that now merely qualified as a childish crush.
"Let me guess. You're thinking how much easier things would have been if you'd just gotten together with Mr Summers when you were my age as opposed to haven even gotten involved with Monsieur LeBeau in the first place…"
Rogue turned, Monet St Croix was standing nearby, arms folded, her long black hair braided and hanging over her shoulder, her brown eyes glittering in amusement.
"What is it with you and analysing everyone?" Rogue demanded, she headed down the hall, and Monet followed. "And how would you know about me and Cyclops anyway?!"
Monet merely smiled, and took the question in her stride, "the way you look at him and Miss Grey, it doesn't take a genius to see it, although I'm the only one admittedly who seems to have noticed. It's almost the same way that Mr Drake looks at you."
Rogue had almost forgotten about what Bobby had told her, about being in love with her. She'd pushed it out of her mind on the night of Valentines day to focus on the situation with Remy. But here it was now the sixteenth of February, two days later, and she hadn't even spoken to Bobby to apologise for how badly she'd behaved to the revelation, or to apologise for blaming him for Remy's demise. "What is it you want, anyway, Monet?" Rogue stopped halfway down the hall and turned towards the younger girl.
"I was wondering if I might be able to take over the Danger Room training sessions for you this week, you're clearly tired and would be risking our safety," Monet said flatly.
Rogue gaped at her, she wasn't sure how to react to his question, she finally opted to raise an eyebrow, "what makes you think I would trust you to continue training the students."
"You did yesterday morning," Monet reminded, "I just feel that I would be doing much more good behind the glass than in the Danger Room…I'm becoming incredibly bored with the training sessions, they're a bore, and there isn't a training session that isn't teaching me something I don't already know. I studied Danger Room strategy and Protocol before I even started sessions in there."
"Monet, you're sixteen, you can't just be allowed to take over the Danger Room sessions even for a week," Rogue headed down the hall again.
"Haven't you ever felt bored with the Danger Room, Rogue, knowing your invincible and can destroy any enemy in there, can never die from being hit…"
"I don't train for my own experience," Rogue stated, "I train for the others," she frowned, "I let you take over the Danger Room yesterday because I was in a bind and there were much more important things to be discussed."
"Yes, indeed, I have heard about the situation with the clone…that is quite remarkable…you must have been quite happy that he was not the real Remy LeBeau," Monet smirked.
Rogue lost her temper, she spun around and pushed Monet to the wall, "How do you know all this?!"
"Word travels fast in this mansion," Monet replied quite calmly.
Rogue yanked her glove off, "We'll just see about that…" she reached out to touch Monet's forehead, and came close, before the voice of Bobby Drake interrupted her.
"Rogue, what the hell are you doing?"
Rogue pulled her hand away, "nothing," she replied quickly, "I was teaching Monet intimidation techniques."
"Of course," Monet stated serenely in response to this.
Rogue slipped her glove back on, "Monet, go back to the upper levels, you know you're not meant to be down here without authorisation."
"Yes, Rogue," Monet replied with a respectful tone and left quickly.
When she was gone, Bobby and Rogue looked at each other. Bobby's eyes seemed almost empty, "what the hell was that all about?" he finally asked.
"You don't want to know," Rogue said, she sighed deeply and began to approach, "I was just on my way to find you," she said sheepishly, "I think we really need to talk, Bobby…"
Bobby looked at her, then away, he shook his head, "No…I really…really don't think we should. In fact, I don't think I really have anything to say to you…"
"Look, I know that you're mad at me…" Rogue began, she stepped towards Bobby, but he recoiled, turning his back on her.
Rogue became increasingly aware the air grew colder, and when she exhaled she saw her breath mist. Her arms tingled beneath her thick sweater, and her fingers stung. Bobby's powers were apparently being affected by his emotions, and currently it didn't seem like a good thing.
"Or maybe you're more than just mad…maybe you're just hurt…" Rogue gazed around the hallway, spiderwebs of ice were beginning to travel up the floor and up the walls. She realised she should probably amend the situation as quickly as possible before his powers did some damage. "I'm sorry, Bobby, I just…I overreacted…"
Bobby spun around and looked at her, eyes cold, glaring at her, "I don't want to hear it," He hissed, and turned, leaving quickly without giving Rogue enough time to respond.
Rogue sighed and put her hands to her head, "Well…that went…ugh."