Disclaimer: Okay, still don't own X-Men and I'm defiantly not making any money off of this so no one sue. You won't get nothing but a headache. And I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or any of it's references or quotes or anything else you recognize from elsewhere. Oh, but I do own Ebony and the story idea and probably any characters you don't recognize. Yay me. And I don't technically own Sakura and Eric. My friend Megan does. So let's all thank her. Everyone together, THANK YOU MEGAN.
Authors Note: Everyone, y'all need to go and read Mercury Dream's stuff. It's really, really, really, really, really good. (Did I mention really?) A Rogue's Touch and All Grown Up are my favorites but the others are all really good as well. So go read her stuff to. Now, quickly! Oh, and if any of you didn't already know, Ishandahalf has posted a fic that you all need to go read too. And sorry for the wait y'all. Been busy this past week.
And as a farther note, I know I said I wasn't going to be answering reviews anymore, but there is one I just have to address. Ambrosia, buy a clue. If you have a problem with my writing than stop reading alright? And don't send a fucking review for a story if you haven't already finished reading what's already posted up. Besides, if you "don't like my style" then why are you still reading it anyway? And why in the hell are you telling me I screwed it up later on? Constructive criticism I can take in strides, but just bitching, I don't really wanna hear. If you don't have anything positive to say, or non contradicting, then don't say anything okay? And I don't even know if you're still reading this story, and quite frankly, I don't really care, but I had to get that off my chest.
And thank you Megan, (whatever on the review board) for sticking up for me. It was much appreciated. And to everyone else who sent reviews begging for updates. After reading those two from her I thought seriously about pulling the story and saying to hell with it. You guys made me feel really good and appreciated, so I want to make you feel the same. Thanks to everyone and once again, I am so sorry for the lateness of my update.
'text' internal speech
dreams
Wandering Souls
Chapter 34: Never piss off mutants, and people with guns.
Madison's wrists ached and her shoulder throbbed as they tossed her into the cold glass and tile cell. But it had all been worth it to see the look on those bastards faces when they realized that the woman who had destroyed some of their best, most highly trained men, was just that. A woman. Not a female mutant, or a former military agent like some of her friends, but a woman, no more than twenty. 'Shirt's true,' she thought, pulling herself to her feet and applying some pressure to her shoulder wound. 'Girls do kick ass.' She surveyed her surroundings and cringed. The cell was cold and white save for the glass door looking out to the middle of the large round room. It held a cot, toilet and ventilation shafts but no more.
"They really should fire their decorators," she muttered as she walked over to the cot, easing herself onto it. "Or at least higher the Fab Five." Her head was spinning from the combination of blood loss from the entry wound as well as the vials they'd drawn to determine if she was a mutant. She slumped against the wall, resting her forehead on it's cool surface, wishing she had a healing factor or something to help ease her pain and fatigue.
'How are you young one?' the voice from before rung in her head.
'Like hell,' Madison replied, closing her eyes. 'So, you're a telepath huh?'
A mental chuckle reverberated in her mind. 'Among other things. You are not like us.'
'No I'm not,' Madison replied as she opened her eyes and peered around the room, looking for anything to bandage her shoulder. Finding nothing but the thin bed sheet, she had to settle, tearing off a strip and wrapping it under and around her armpit, synching it tightly with her teeth.
'Then why are you here?' the other woman prodded.
Madison's eyes went cold as she thought back to the figures Sakura had shown her earlier that day. The number of deaths this virus would cause was unthinkable. She wasn't a saint, she knew that. Never tried to say otherwise. And a lot of people had died at her hands, but never anyone innocent. Sure, at the mall she'd threatened to kill the child, but she'd been bluffing. She'd never kill a child. And this virus wouldn't be as picky about it's victims as she was. 'Business,' was her reply before she slammed up her own mental shields.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The X-Men all sat silently in the rec room, a noticeable tension in the air as Jamie's cartoons blared on the screen. No one had been happy when the team returned, sans Rogue and Remy, including the team itself. A sudden roar of motorcycle engines was heard and Kitty jumped to the window while everyone else looked around in confusion.
"It's them," Kitty exclaimed, as she rushed to the door, followed by the mutant heard.
Everyone, adults included, made it into the foyer as Rogue burst thru the doors, Remy, Sakura, Tony and Eric at her heels, determination on her face.
"Done already?" Logan asked, watching the others warily.
"No," Rogue replied standing before her friends in black leather and weapons, reminding more than one of Selene from Underworld. "We have a problem."
"What is it?" Meranda asked, scanning the group. They all looked tired and more than one looked worried.
"We had a complication," Eric stated, his hand never leaving Sakura.
"They got Madison," Rouge stated. "And we need yawls help ta git her out."
"Why didn't you, like, get her out while you were there?" Kitty asked.
"Cause it's suicide going back in there right now," Rogue stated, looking around the room, her eyes settling on Tony. He stood off to the side, his fists clenched as this sides, his eyes closed, worry and anger etched on his features. Her heart went out to him for a moment before she returned her attention to the X-Men.
"Who exactly has her?" Hank asked, looking at Rogue steadily.
"The government. A base outside of the city," she answered, watching the different looks that passed over her friends faces.
"What the hell were you doing there?" Logan growled, glaring at the group.
"We were completing a mission," Sakura replied steely. "Which has yet to be completed. And DON'T growl at me bitch."
Everyone looked at Sakura in shock as the loud SKINT of Logan's claws were heard. "I'm sick of your attitude." Logan began taking a step towards Sakura. Sakura's reaction was swift as she pulled her 10mm automatic from her holster and pointed it at his head.
"And I'm sick of your fucking temper. Why don't you take fucking yoga or some shit," was her icy reply.
Rogue sighed impatiently and stepped between the two warriors. "We don't have time for this."
Eric took a moment to pulled Sakura back and gently took the gun from her slackened hand.
"Remain calm." he said quietly in her ear.
"Yeah you're beginning to remind me of Madison." Tony added with a ghost of a smirk on his face. "It's kinda of a turn on actually."
Sakura's face froze in a mask of horror and her glued herself to Eric's side. "Dirty." she hissed. Eric's eyes took on a hardened look and he arched an eyebrow.
"I just meant the attitude." Tony grumbled as he took a step back, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Rogue rolled her eyes over at the group before turning back to the x-men. "We need y'alls help. If we don't git her out there's no telling what they'll do to her."
"Of course Rogue," Charles calming voice said as he wheeled forward. "Perhaps if you explained the situation a bit we'd be of more assistance."
Rogue took a deep breath and went into her explanation, recalling the events from earlier that evening. Meanwhile, Tony, Eric and Sakura gathered at the far end of the room, speaking softly amongst themselves.
"So what's your problem?" Tony asked Sakura. "I thought you were all Zen like?"
"She's worried," Eric stated, rubbing Sakura's back.
"I am worried. We should have never gone in till we knew all the information," Sakura paused and took a breath before continuing. "There has to be something else going on there besides just virus testing. With that kind of military presence it's the only thing that makes sense. I should have known about it."
"It's not your fault," Eric said sternly, looking straight into her eyes.
"Information's my job," Sakura stated simply. "I should have known."
"Madison's a big girl," Tony stated, anger growing in his eyes, mixed with fear. "It's not your fault she doesn't listen to a fucking word anyone says. And believe me, when we get her out of there I'm kicking her ass till she learns."
"But what if she's not even there?" Sakura challenged. "What if they've moved her? What if she's not in the state anymore? How are we supposed to find her?" They all paused for a moment, no one wanting to say what they were all thinking. Finally, Sakura put words to their fears. "What if she's dead?"
"So you're fucking giving up on her already?" Tony bellowed, bringing a silence to the rest of the room as all the X-Men turned to look at them.
"There's a big difference between accepting the possibility and just giving up," Sakura's voice turned cold as she glared at him.
"Doesn't look like it to me," Tony replied, cracking his knuckles. "Looks to me like you're turning your back on her."
"Do you honestly think I could? That I could even imagine my life without her in it?" Sakura yelled back at him. "She's my sister! How could you even fucking imply that?"
"Well, you tell me. When they took you Madison wasn't snuggling up next to me like you are with your lap dog." Tony stepped forward and yelled down into Sakura's face. "She had us busting our asses to get you back. Now I'm wondering why she bothered."
Anger flared in Sakura's eyes, and before anyone could stop her, her fist connected with his jaw in a hard right hook. Tony's head shot to the side as everyone watched on in shock. Rogue took a step forward to mediate a little too late as Tony backhanded Sakura hard across the face. She took a step back, bringing her hand to her lip and pulling back bloody fingers. Eric moved forward, anger clear across his face as he made a move toward Tony. Sakura's hand shot up stopping him in his tracks. "No," she said calmly, her eyes never leaving Tony. "He got what he wanted. Now we can focus on finding her right?"
Tony looked at her in shock for a moment, fear replacing all the anger that had dwelled in the chocolate brown orbs. "I can't lose her 'Kura," he all but whispered, looking down at his friend. "She's all I've got."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Madison sat in the middle of her cot, eye's closed and legs tucked under her, deep in meditation. The pain in her shoulder had increased since being thrown in the cell and she had grown more and more lightheaded from blood loss. A loud beeping drew her from her meditative state and she opened her eyes to her favorite interrogator walking confidently thru the door, an evil smirk on his face.
"Well, well," he sneered at her, hatred in his eyes. "It seems that I have a few questions," he began to pace before her as she eyed him coolly. "You see, I thought that those tests would answer some of these questions as to how you got in here Miss O'Brian, but it appears they've only intrigued me more. Especially since you're human."
"Well what do you want a cookie?" she asked sarcastically, fighting to keep from lashing out and killing the man. She was in no condition at the moment to do much damage so she stayed where she was, trying to think of what Sakura might do in a similar situation.
"Actually I want some answers," he growled, stopping leaning over, inches away from her face. "Like, for starters, who sent you here?"
"Sent?" she asked, her voice filled with forced innocence. "Why would someone do that? I mean, it's not like you're hiding anything here."
His face grew red with anger as he eyed her. "You will tell me what I want to know," he stated, moving away from her and motioning for the two guards in the hallway to grab her.
"And here I thought torture was against the Constitution," she growled as the men hauled her to her feet, making a point to pull on her injured shoulder.
"So is this facility," he replied cockily. "But look around," he stopped before her and spread his arms. "The Constitution doesn't apply."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Some state of order had returned to the Xavier Institute after the fight. The younger members of the team had been sent off to bed, and John had returned to nursing Amara who had broken her ankle earlier that week. This left Cyclops, Jean, Nightcrawler, Shadowkat, Spyke, Scarlet Witch, Colossus, Jubilee, Storm, Wolverine, Ebony, Beast, Rogue, Gambit and Alito Dei Draghi sat at the table in the War Room as Professor X pulled up information on the base before them.
"There is a way to find her," Charles said as he turned back to the group. "But to do that I'd need a mind signature. And I'd need her here to get a feel for her brain waves."
Everyone looked slightly disappointed when a sudden laugh broke out and everyone turned to look at Rogue, who was now clutching her sides.
"Chere?" Remy asked leaning over and placing a hand on her shoulder.
She stopped laughing and looked at him with her now crystal blue eyes. "Hey hot stuff," she smiled and winked at him before turning back to the Professor. "And I'm not your chere."
Everyone looked at her in shock when Tony finally spoke up. "Maddie?"
"Oh do not talk to me bitch," Rogue turned and glared over at the bald thug. "Don't think I didn't see you backhand my sister! You're lucky I don't fly over there and pummel your ass with Rogue's new super powers." She glared at him menacingly before once again turning to the Professor. "So, you need my brainwaves huh? Well here they are. Do your thing."
"Some friends," Jean said coolly, glaring over at Rogue's body. "I wish I had friends who took control every time they wanted something," she added sarcastically.
Before anyone else could speak, Madison was glaring over at the telepath with Rogue's gothic face. "You think I could just take control without her consent? Or that I would?" her voice was dangerous as she clutched the side of the table, trying desperately to control her anger, bending the steel with Rogue's massive strength. "She's the one that let me out. Told me to come out so the Professor could get a bead on my mind. So don't even pull that holier than thou attitude with me you little red headed bitch, cause believe me, you wouldn't like where it led."
"Jean's eyes grew wide with shock and anger. "Why you little," she began before the Professor cut her off.
"Jean!" he said sternly. "Enough." Jean blushed, looking down at her hands, while Charles turned his attention back to Rogue's body. "Madison I presume?" he addressed the girl.
"At least I used to be," Madison replied, leaning back in the chair and popping Rogue's back. "Now I'm just a piece of who I was. And the keeper of Rogue's mind and power."
"So you're here so the Prof can get a reading?" Evan asked.
"Pretty much," she replied, her eyes never leaving the Professors. "While you all were talking she figured it out and came to get me. I can't stay that long though."
"Why not?" Kitty asked curiously.
"Cause I'm not meant to," she replied simply. "This body was built for Rogue. Same goes with her mind. That's why mommy over there had so much trouble holding back the masses during those training sessions. But the other psyches don't understand that and keep fighting for control. If they ever took over completely for too long, then her brain would break down under the pressure and she'd either die or suffer permanent brain damage. And if she dies then you know what happens to all of us."
"Well lets get started then," Charles said, placing a hand on either side of Rogue's head and closing his eyes as she did the same. The room fell into silence for a moment as the telepath concentrated. At the same instant they both opened their eyes, Rogue's normal emerald orbs returning to her.
"Was it enough Professor? Can ya find her?" Rogue asked anxiously, exhaustion plain on her face.
He gave her a comforting smile and patted her hand reassuringly. "Yes my dear, I can." With that he turned and headed for Cerebro.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Never in her life had Madison wished for death, until now. Her eyes rolled back into her head as she swung slowly from her wrists. Her shoulder had been downplayed by the throbbing in her temples as well as her other wounds that her interrogators had been more than happy to inflict. At least six of her ribs were cracked and her right arm was obviously broken, making her hanging state ten times more painful. Blood seeped from a large cut in her forehead as well as her shoulder, and the lightheadedness and urge to sleep made her believe she had at least a mild concussion. Her normally pale skin was quickly turning black and blue and purple in some areas.
"Who were the people with you?" the man before her asked again. This had been going on for over an hour now and they still hadn't learned anything from the bleeding girl before them.
She fought the urge to cry as the pain from her questioners last blow vibrated thru her body. She managed to open her eyes and glare at him thru her blood soaked lashes. "The Scooby's," she choked out in a hoarse voice, earning her another slap across the face. She bit her lip to keep from screaming.
"Who do you work for?" he asked this time.
"Watchers council," she replied again. The whole interrogation had gone on like this, her giving a variety of BS answers, mostly references to Buffy or La Femme Nikita.
"Why won't you cooperate?" he asked softly, leaning forward, inches away from her face.
"Why do you keep hitting me?' she asked back, tasting the blood in her mouth, not for the first time that night.
"I have my orders," he stated as if that was all the answer he needed to give.
"It's your duty," Madison filled in understandingly. "And protecting them is mine."
"there's no honor in what you do?" he seethed, glaring at her. How dare she compare herself to him? He was a soldier. He fought for truth and freedom. She was just a lowly, good for nothing thief and murderer .
"But there's so much honor in beating a woman to death," she hissed back, keeping her face down, glaring at him thru her lashes.
"Do you know how many good men you killed tonight?" he barked back at her.
"Yeah and they didn't stand a chance fighting me and my little knives with those big automatic weapons," she replied, sarcasm dripping from her every word, her eyes burning with anger.
"You had guns," he pointed out, leaning against a table.
"Do I now?" she asked pointedly. "Did I have a whole room full of ammunition on me when you all took me down? At least I was more humane to my victims."
"What the fuck does that mean?" he growled, rising to his feet.
"IT was quick. And over before they realized," she looked directly at him now, giving him a good view of her bruises and cuts and the funny angle her arm was at. "If you people had one ounce of humanity in you, you'd have put a bullet in my head over an hour ago."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The jet was tense as it flew towards the military base outside New York City. Ebony and Storm at the controls. Charles had remained behind with the younger students, keeping in contact with the team thru their comm links. He'd found Maddie with Cerebro and urged the X-Men to hurry.
Rogue and Gambit sat in the back with Sakura, Tony and Eric, who were all silent as they mentally prepared for what they may find. Sakura flipped her lighter idly while Remy shuffled his cards.
"I still don't know why we're helping them." Cyclops grumbled to Jean. He didn't trust these people. But then, he'd always had trouble trusting those outside his black and white, good guy, bad guy mentality.
"Cause," Tony spoke up, more than sick of this guys attitude. "We know something you don't."
"What?" Scarlet Witch asked, looking over from her seat next to Spyke.
"That base contained information and samples of the Legacy Virus." Sakura said, fingering her split lip gently and shooting Tony a glare.
"Oh, my stars and garters." Beast almost whispered while Ebony, Storm and Wolverine all visibly paled.
"Like, what's the Legacy Virus?" Shadowkat asked.
"Bad." Rogue replied as she leaned against Gambit, still tried from earlier.
"It be a genetically engineered disease, dat target's us p'tite," Gambit elaborated.
"Does Chuck know about this?" Wolverine growled.
"Well, why do you think he was in such a hurry for you to go get her?" Eric asked evenly.
"I still don't see why we're helping you," Cyclops challenged. "I can see why you need it, especially with the leadership you had. But I don't see why we're doing it."
"God you're a stupid fuck!" Sakura sighed as she glared at him. "You think you could have done a better job, oh mighty leader," her voice dripped of sarcasm but her tone remained the same.
"Well I would have at least made sure that my team had all the information and knew what they were getting into," he yelled back at her, his hand instinctively reaching for the dial on his visor.
"Just shut the fuck up," Tony growled, sounding scarier than Wolverine. "Before I do it for you."
"Well gee Scott," Rogue spoke up, glaring daggers at her fellow teammate. "Ah'd love ta see ya give us information that ain't there."
"He still would have tried," Jean spoke up for her boyfriend. "And since when are you on the opposing team?" she glared over at Rogue.
"Hey guys cool it," Ebony barked out into the back. "This isn't helping anyone. You can have your pissing contest later, but right now we have a mission to complete."
"We're coming up on the base," Ororo said as she began to click a few of the controls. "I'm at the landing coordinates Charles gave us."
"Good, let's get this done," Wolverine growled as he rose and the women landed the plane. "Now I know we have some conflicting opinions, but right now, this is my law," he grinned wickedly.
The members of Alito Dei Draghi all looked at him, before turning to Rogue. "Jus' go with it," she whispered, knowing their time constraints.
Her mother on the other hand, had other ideas. "Your law? And who was the one to leave the military last? And which one of us has been in this base before?" Ebony crossed her arms over her chest and challenged.
"Uh, we don't have time fer this," Rogue yelled exasperated. "Let's just git it done and y'all can argue later."
"Fine, let's get this done then," Ebony growled, still glaring at her former husband.
"Alright, here's the teams," Wolverine stated, ignoring her icy stare. "Team one will be Storm, Cyclops, Jean and Eric. I want you guys taking the North entrance. Team two is Beast, Spyke, Scarlet Witch and Tony," he began as Sakura interrupted.
"And me," she stated simply.
Wolverine gave her a challenging look before Tony stepped up. "Hey, we may be following your laws, but we're playing by our rules."
"And I know that base better than anyone here," Sakura continued for him. "We're together."
"Fine," Wolverine growled before continuing. "You guys are on the East entrance. Team three, Ebony, Nightcrawler, Colossus and Gambit on the west wall. And finally, tame four is me, Shadowkat, Jubilee and Rogue will be on the south. Any questions?" He paused for a second before continuing. "No questions, okay good. The what are you waiting for." He then began to move, the group breaking into their teams and heading towards the base silently.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"How long do you want this to go on?" Madison's interrogator continued, having lost all patients with her. "If you tell me what I want to know, and all the pain can go away."
By this time she'd taken so many hits her mouth was too swollen and dry to speak. She just glared at him instead, focusing her anger and hatred on the cocky young man in front of her when the alarms began to blare. "Here comes trouble," she choked out. The guards spun around as the door flew off it's hinges, revealing Scarlet Witch framed in the doorway, her hands raised and blue energy crackly between her fingers. Spyke appeared at her side in an instant, bone spikes flying out at the soldiers in the room as they entered. Beast quickly followed and last, Tony and Sakura.
Time slowed for Sakura as she looked at her friend chained up to the ceiling. The scars on her back began to sting as flashes from her past came back to haunt her for a brief moment before time speeded back to normal.
Madison saw her chance and took it, pulling herself painfully with her arms and launching a side kick into the man's face sending him flying back. The other soldiers were down as Tony and Beast raced toward Madison, carefully lowering her down so Beast could look her over. Sakura stood froze for a moment, her eyes finally falling on the soldier Madison had kicked. He lay dazed on floor.
Sakura growled savagely and moved forward, grabbing the man by his shirt front and hauling him halfway up. She drew back her arm and slugged him across the face with all her might, almost losing her grip on him in her fury. Her vision hazed red as her focus narrowed to the sound and feel of her fist making contact with the man's flesh. She barely felt the bones breaking or the man's gurgled screaming.
Madison was in bad shape. Beast could tell already she had a broken radius and possibly her ulna as well in her right arm. The bruising around her eyes and mouth were hard to look at, accented by the several cuts that covered her face. The bruise forming at the side of her temple suggested that she may have suffered severe head trauma as well as the knot at the back of her head and the laceration near her hairline. Her eyes were glazed and rolled slightly back into her head and she cringed every time she breathed. He lifted the tatters of her shirt gently and examined her chest, noticing the discoloration as well as the odd angles that several of her ribs seemed to be in. He pulled back a hand from her shoulder and noticed the blood staining his blue fur. He turned her over gently and found the bullet wound. "They're broken. As is her arm and I'm sure she has a concussion. And it appears she's been shot thru the back, but I can't seem to find an exit wound, which means I'll have to remove it surgically. We'll have to be careful when we move her and we need to do it quickly," he looked over at the pool of blood that had formed beneath where she'd been tied. "From the looks of it, she's lost quite a bit of blood."
Tony sat on the other side of her, holding her gently as the big blue guy looked her over. Madison fought back the pain as she turned her face towards him. She was safe now. They had come and gotten her.
"Kill 'em baby." she whispered hoarsely. Tony's gaze hardened as he looked across the room, Sakura was pounding on the man in question. Tony gently laid down Madison and stood, his body trembling with rage. Sakura didn't hear or see him coming, but suddenly she was yanked away.
She twisted to see Tony as he pulled a gun from his belt and leveling it on the soldier, fired a single round into the man's head. He looked down at Sakura who stood, stoically, her face splattered with the man's blood and covering her clenched fists.
As Tony left her, Madison turned back to the blue man, her memory blurring on his name. All she remembered was he worked for Xavier. "There's others," she struggled, her voice dry and strained. "Like you."
"I know my dear, but rest now. The others will save them," Henry comforted her as he easily and gently lifted her in his large hands, cradling her against his chest like a broken doll. "Let's worry about you now, shall we?"
"Sounds like a plan," she murmured as she moved closer to his warmth, realizing for the first time how cold she really was.
"Come now, we'll get you back to our jet," He moved towards the doorway where Evan and Wanda stood watching Tony and Sakura and the events unfold before their eyes. "Come children," Hank said quietly, noticing the unconscious state Madison had slipped into. "There's nothing more to see here." They nodded numbly and moved to follow him.
Sakura and Tony just stared at each other for a long moment. Slowly he reached up a hand and wiped a spot of blood from Sakura's cheek. "Come on kid," he whispered. "Let's go get your man," he turned and headed for the door, not ready to tell her that the guy was dead long before he put the bullets in his head. Sakura shook her head slowly, clearing the rage induced haze her mind had slipped into before following quickly, training and instinct taking over as the moved down the hall towards the exit, Evan calling to everyone over the comm links they'd been given that they had her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rogue looked on at the room before her in horror. All along the walls as far and high as her eyes could see, glass cages held her fellow mutants. Her stomach churned at some of their conditions, especially the small children who tried to huddled in the corners of the cells.
"Come on kid," Wolverine whispered next to her, looking down at his little girl. "Let's get them out."
Rogue nodded and went to work with the others. They'd met up with the other two teams farther back and had joined together to continue their sweep. Rogue went into action with the others, flying up to the highest of the levels, landing on the ridge and hitting a few of the soldiers closet to her. Bullets fired at her and bounced off her now invulnerable skin. She smirked and flew at them, knocking a few off the ledge and pulling out her 45's, aiming for two soldiers heading towards her. She stood facing one of the cells, raised her arms to her sides and took aim, firing from both at the same instant, striking both of her opponents in the knees. The two men fell and their guns fell from there arms and over the edge. Rogue smirked and fired again, taking out the next wave. She looked around, noticing her friends fighting as well, trying to save the prisoners. Her eyes caught a soldier sneaking up behind Kurt who was busy fiddling with the lock pad. She took aim and fired, hitting the guy square in the leg as he took aim for the back of Kurt's skull. Kurt jumped in shock and turned to see Rogue holding the flaming pistol. He nodded at her once in thanks and returned to his work. 'Guess seein' this can even change the gentlest of souls,' she thought as she moved down the line, punching her fist into the lock pad and pulling the wiring, opening the doors. Most of the prisoners could make it out on their own, leaning on the wall. But some had to be helped. Those who were able helped her, but a few she had to carry down to the bottom herself.
She had the last of the children in her arms, cradling him close as she flew to the bottom floor where Jean and Kitty were shuffling out the captives thru the doors. "Are you an angel?" he asked, his voice as small as his food deprived body.
"No sugah Ah ain't no angel," she smiled at him, "But Ah am here to save ya." She landed gracefully and joined the group, handing the child off to Ororo. "Do they have her?" she asked looking around at the others.
"Oui ma chere," Remy answered, sending several charged cards at some oncoming attackers.
"They're already at the jet," Meranda said sending red hot fireballs at a group with one hand, and a sonic wave into another group with the other. "Hank's tending her," Meranda paused and looked at her daughter, seeing for the first time, just how grown up she was. "She's pretty banged up."
Rogue stood in shock for a moment, trying to digest the news. Madison was one of the strongest people she knew. All of Alito Dei Draghi were. And several of the X-Men as well. She wasn't sure how to handle this. Suddenly a strong hand landed on her shoulder. She looked up into Eric's calming amber eyes. They were both silent, but neither needed words as he slowly nodded at her. "Let's go check on her then," she stated as they headed towards the exit. "And lets not leave them anything to identify," she added looking at Remy.
"What ever y' wish mon amore," he breathed, charging the wall as they left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
They all entered the plane, having gotten all the captured mutants to safety. Rogue looked around, her eyes settling on Sakura who sat numbly in a seat near the middle of the plane. Eric quickly moved to her side and the two whispered in hushed tones as Rogue moved towards the back, following her mother while Wolverine and Storm moved to start the plane and the others fastened in. Remy moved to her side, taking her hand and squeezing it as they made their way to the back, stopping next to Tony who leaned against the wall, watching Hank work anxiously.
Meranda lay stretched out on one of the back seats that converted into a bench. Tubes and IV's ran from her arms and throat as portable monitors monitored her breathing and vitals.
"He had to put a breathing tube in after we got her in here," Tony whispered as he watched the large, blue furred doctor work. "He said her lung collapsed. One of the broken ribs punctured the lining or something," he sighed and wiped a hand over his face. "They had her tied up by a broken arm. Her body's black and blue and her face," his voice caught for a moment as he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on the side of the plane.
"It'll be okay sugah," Rogue said comfortingly, wrapping an arm around Tony's and resting her head on his shoulder. "She's a fighter. No one tougher, ya know that. Besides, Ah'm sure she's not done makin' yer life hell yet."
A small smile touched Tony's face as he looked over at the woman he loved. Missing the normal fire that shown in her eyes and the passion in her voice. "Life hasn't been hell since I met her." He paused and looked back over at Rogue. "You know, she acts all tough and I let her, and she'll deny it if you ever bring it up, but she's a lot nicer than you think. You know, when she sleeps at night, I have to touch her. Otherwise she wakes up and does this cute little whimper thing," he chuckled softly.
"Yer lyin," Rogue teased, knowing he wasn't. "She loves ya, y'know," she whispered to him, looking up at his chiseled face.
"Yeah, well it's more than mutual," he stated. "He any good?" he nodded his head towards Hank.
"One of the best," Rogue stated confidently.
"Good, cause if he's not and she dies, there's going to be two dead bodies in the morning," he added coolly, his eyes never leaving Madison.
"Ya don't mean that Tony," Rogue sighed pulling away and looking at him, her hands on her hips.
"The hell I don't," he stated, moving away from her and taking a seat near Madison, watching intently as Hank and Meranda worked, Jean coming back to help.
"Come ma chere," Remy said softly, pulling Rogue close to him. "Let him be wit his grief hahn. And let de good doctor do his work."
Rogue sighed and leaned against Remy, letting him lead her towards the seats at the front of the plane as they headed back to the mansion.
Authors Note: Everyone, y'all need to go and read Mercury Dream's stuff. It's really, really, really, really, really good. (Did I mention really?) A Rogue's Touch and All Grown Up are my favorites but the others are all really good as well. So go read her stuff to. Now, quickly! Oh, and if any of you didn't already know, Ishandahalf has posted a fic that you all need to go read too. And sorry for the wait y'all. Been busy this past week.
And as a farther note, I know I said I wasn't going to be answering reviews anymore, but there is one I just have to address. Ambrosia, buy a clue. If you have a problem with my writing than stop reading alright? And don't send a fucking review for a story if you haven't already finished reading what's already posted up. Besides, if you "don't like my style" then why are you still reading it anyway? And why in the hell are you telling me I screwed it up later on? Constructive criticism I can take in strides, but just bitching, I don't really wanna hear. If you don't have anything positive to say, or non contradicting, then don't say anything okay? And I don't even know if you're still reading this story, and quite frankly, I don't really care, but I had to get that off my chest.
And thank you Megan, (whatever on the review board) for sticking up for me. It was much appreciated. And to everyone else who sent reviews begging for updates. After reading those two from her I thought seriously about pulling the story and saying to hell with it. You guys made me feel really good and appreciated, so I want to make you feel the same. Thanks to everyone and once again, I am so sorry for the lateness of my update.
'text' internal speech
dreams
Wandering Souls
Chapter 34: Never piss off mutants, and people with guns.
Madison's wrists ached and her shoulder throbbed as they tossed her into the cold glass and tile cell. But it had all been worth it to see the look on those bastards faces when they realized that the woman who had destroyed some of their best, most highly trained men, was just that. A woman. Not a female mutant, or a former military agent like some of her friends, but a woman, no more than twenty. 'Shirt's true,' she thought, pulling herself to her feet and applying some pressure to her shoulder wound. 'Girls do kick ass.' She surveyed her surroundings and cringed. The cell was cold and white save for the glass door looking out to the middle of the large round room. It held a cot, toilet and ventilation shafts but no more.
"They really should fire their decorators," she muttered as she walked over to the cot, easing herself onto it. "Or at least higher the Fab Five." Her head was spinning from the combination of blood loss from the entry wound as well as the vials they'd drawn to determine if she was a mutant. She slumped against the wall, resting her forehead on it's cool surface, wishing she had a healing factor or something to help ease her pain and fatigue.
'How are you young one?' the voice from before rung in her head.
'Like hell,' Madison replied, closing her eyes. 'So, you're a telepath huh?'
A mental chuckle reverberated in her mind. 'Among other things. You are not like us.'
'No I'm not,' Madison replied as she opened her eyes and peered around the room, looking for anything to bandage her shoulder. Finding nothing but the thin bed sheet, she had to settle, tearing off a strip and wrapping it under and around her armpit, synching it tightly with her teeth.
'Then why are you here?' the other woman prodded.
Madison's eyes went cold as she thought back to the figures Sakura had shown her earlier that day. The number of deaths this virus would cause was unthinkable. She wasn't a saint, she knew that. Never tried to say otherwise. And a lot of people had died at her hands, but never anyone innocent. Sure, at the mall she'd threatened to kill the child, but she'd been bluffing. She'd never kill a child. And this virus wouldn't be as picky about it's victims as she was. 'Business,' was her reply before she slammed up her own mental shields.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The X-Men all sat silently in the rec room, a noticeable tension in the air as Jamie's cartoons blared on the screen. No one had been happy when the team returned, sans Rogue and Remy, including the team itself. A sudden roar of motorcycle engines was heard and Kitty jumped to the window while everyone else looked around in confusion.
"It's them," Kitty exclaimed, as she rushed to the door, followed by the mutant heard.
Everyone, adults included, made it into the foyer as Rogue burst thru the doors, Remy, Sakura, Tony and Eric at her heels, determination on her face.
"Done already?" Logan asked, watching the others warily.
"No," Rogue replied standing before her friends in black leather and weapons, reminding more than one of Selene from Underworld. "We have a problem."
"What is it?" Meranda asked, scanning the group. They all looked tired and more than one looked worried.
"We had a complication," Eric stated, his hand never leaving Sakura.
"They got Madison," Rouge stated. "And we need yawls help ta git her out."
"Why didn't you, like, get her out while you were there?" Kitty asked.
"Cause it's suicide going back in there right now," Rogue stated, looking around the room, her eyes settling on Tony. He stood off to the side, his fists clenched as this sides, his eyes closed, worry and anger etched on his features. Her heart went out to him for a moment before she returned her attention to the X-Men.
"Who exactly has her?" Hank asked, looking at Rogue steadily.
"The government. A base outside of the city," she answered, watching the different looks that passed over her friends faces.
"What the hell were you doing there?" Logan growled, glaring at the group.
"We were completing a mission," Sakura replied steely. "Which has yet to be completed. And DON'T growl at me bitch."
Everyone looked at Sakura in shock as the loud SKINT of Logan's claws were heard. "I'm sick of your attitude." Logan began taking a step towards Sakura. Sakura's reaction was swift as she pulled her 10mm automatic from her holster and pointed it at his head.
"And I'm sick of your fucking temper. Why don't you take fucking yoga or some shit," was her icy reply.
Rogue sighed impatiently and stepped between the two warriors. "We don't have time for this."
Eric took a moment to pulled Sakura back and gently took the gun from her slackened hand.
"Remain calm." he said quietly in her ear.
"Yeah you're beginning to remind me of Madison." Tony added with a ghost of a smirk on his face. "It's kinda of a turn on actually."
Sakura's face froze in a mask of horror and her glued herself to Eric's side. "Dirty." she hissed. Eric's eyes took on a hardened look and he arched an eyebrow.
"I just meant the attitude." Tony grumbled as he took a step back, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Rogue rolled her eyes over at the group before turning back to the x-men. "We need y'alls help. If we don't git her out there's no telling what they'll do to her."
"Of course Rogue," Charles calming voice said as he wheeled forward. "Perhaps if you explained the situation a bit we'd be of more assistance."
Rogue took a deep breath and went into her explanation, recalling the events from earlier that evening. Meanwhile, Tony, Eric and Sakura gathered at the far end of the room, speaking softly amongst themselves.
"So what's your problem?" Tony asked Sakura. "I thought you were all Zen like?"
"She's worried," Eric stated, rubbing Sakura's back.
"I am worried. We should have never gone in till we knew all the information," Sakura paused and took a breath before continuing. "There has to be something else going on there besides just virus testing. With that kind of military presence it's the only thing that makes sense. I should have known about it."
"It's not your fault," Eric said sternly, looking straight into her eyes.
"Information's my job," Sakura stated simply. "I should have known."
"Madison's a big girl," Tony stated, anger growing in his eyes, mixed with fear. "It's not your fault she doesn't listen to a fucking word anyone says. And believe me, when we get her out of there I'm kicking her ass till she learns."
"But what if she's not even there?" Sakura challenged. "What if they've moved her? What if she's not in the state anymore? How are we supposed to find her?" They all paused for a moment, no one wanting to say what they were all thinking. Finally, Sakura put words to their fears. "What if she's dead?"
"So you're fucking giving up on her already?" Tony bellowed, bringing a silence to the rest of the room as all the X-Men turned to look at them.
"There's a big difference between accepting the possibility and just giving up," Sakura's voice turned cold as she glared at him.
"Doesn't look like it to me," Tony replied, cracking his knuckles. "Looks to me like you're turning your back on her."
"Do you honestly think I could? That I could even imagine my life without her in it?" Sakura yelled back at him. "She's my sister! How could you even fucking imply that?"
"Well, you tell me. When they took you Madison wasn't snuggling up next to me like you are with your lap dog." Tony stepped forward and yelled down into Sakura's face. "She had us busting our asses to get you back. Now I'm wondering why she bothered."
Anger flared in Sakura's eyes, and before anyone could stop her, her fist connected with his jaw in a hard right hook. Tony's head shot to the side as everyone watched on in shock. Rogue took a step forward to mediate a little too late as Tony backhanded Sakura hard across the face. She took a step back, bringing her hand to her lip and pulling back bloody fingers. Eric moved forward, anger clear across his face as he made a move toward Tony. Sakura's hand shot up stopping him in his tracks. "No," she said calmly, her eyes never leaving Tony. "He got what he wanted. Now we can focus on finding her right?"
Tony looked at her in shock for a moment, fear replacing all the anger that had dwelled in the chocolate brown orbs. "I can't lose her 'Kura," he all but whispered, looking down at his friend. "She's all I've got."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Madison sat in the middle of her cot, eye's closed and legs tucked under her, deep in meditation. The pain in her shoulder had increased since being thrown in the cell and she had grown more and more lightheaded from blood loss. A loud beeping drew her from her meditative state and she opened her eyes to her favorite interrogator walking confidently thru the door, an evil smirk on his face.
"Well, well," he sneered at her, hatred in his eyes. "It seems that I have a few questions," he began to pace before her as she eyed him coolly. "You see, I thought that those tests would answer some of these questions as to how you got in here Miss O'Brian, but it appears they've only intrigued me more. Especially since you're human."
"Well what do you want a cookie?" she asked sarcastically, fighting to keep from lashing out and killing the man. She was in no condition at the moment to do much damage so she stayed where she was, trying to think of what Sakura might do in a similar situation.
"Actually I want some answers," he growled, stopping leaning over, inches away from her face. "Like, for starters, who sent you here?"
"Sent?" she asked, her voice filled with forced innocence. "Why would someone do that? I mean, it's not like you're hiding anything here."
His face grew red with anger as he eyed her. "You will tell me what I want to know," he stated, moving away from her and motioning for the two guards in the hallway to grab her.
"And here I thought torture was against the Constitution," she growled as the men hauled her to her feet, making a point to pull on her injured shoulder.
"So is this facility," he replied cockily. "But look around," he stopped before her and spread his arms. "The Constitution doesn't apply."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Some state of order had returned to the Xavier Institute after the fight. The younger members of the team had been sent off to bed, and John had returned to nursing Amara who had broken her ankle earlier that week. This left Cyclops, Jean, Nightcrawler, Shadowkat, Spyke, Scarlet Witch, Colossus, Jubilee, Storm, Wolverine, Ebony, Beast, Rogue, Gambit and Alito Dei Draghi sat at the table in the War Room as Professor X pulled up information on the base before them.
"There is a way to find her," Charles said as he turned back to the group. "But to do that I'd need a mind signature. And I'd need her here to get a feel for her brain waves."
Everyone looked slightly disappointed when a sudden laugh broke out and everyone turned to look at Rogue, who was now clutching her sides.
"Chere?" Remy asked leaning over and placing a hand on her shoulder.
She stopped laughing and looked at him with her now crystal blue eyes. "Hey hot stuff," she smiled and winked at him before turning back to the Professor. "And I'm not your chere."
Everyone looked at her in shock when Tony finally spoke up. "Maddie?"
"Oh do not talk to me bitch," Rogue turned and glared over at the bald thug. "Don't think I didn't see you backhand my sister! You're lucky I don't fly over there and pummel your ass with Rogue's new super powers." She glared at him menacingly before once again turning to the Professor. "So, you need my brainwaves huh? Well here they are. Do your thing."
"Some friends," Jean said coolly, glaring over at Rogue's body. "I wish I had friends who took control every time they wanted something," she added sarcastically.
Before anyone else could speak, Madison was glaring over at the telepath with Rogue's gothic face. "You think I could just take control without her consent? Or that I would?" her voice was dangerous as she clutched the side of the table, trying desperately to control her anger, bending the steel with Rogue's massive strength. "She's the one that let me out. Told me to come out so the Professor could get a bead on my mind. So don't even pull that holier than thou attitude with me you little red headed bitch, cause believe me, you wouldn't like where it led."
"Jean's eyes grew wide with shock and anger. "Why you little," she began before the Professor cut her off.
"Jean!" he said sternly. "Enough." Jean blushed, looking down at her hands, while Charles turned his attention back to Rogue's body. "Madison I presume?" he addressed the girl.
"At least I used to be," Madison replied, leaning back in the chair and popping Rogue's back. "Now I'm just a piece of who I was. And the keeper of Rogue's mind and power."
"So you're here so the Prof can get a reading?" Evan asked.
"Pretty much," she replied, her eyes never leaving the Professors. "While you all were talking she figured it out and came to get me. I can't stay that long though."
"Why not?" Kitty asked curiously.
"Cause I'm not meant to," she replied simply. "This body was built for Rogue. Same goes with her mind. That's why mommy over there had so much trouble holding back the masses during those training sessions. But the other psyches don't understand that and keep fighting for control. If they ever took over completely for too long, then her brain would break down under the pressure and she'd either die or suffer permanent brain damage. And if she dies then you know what happens to all of us."
"Well lets get started then," Charles said, placing a hand on either side of Rogue's head and closing his eyes as she did the same. The room fell into silence for a moment as the telepath concentrated. At the same instant they both opened their eyes, Rogue's normal emerald orbs returning to her.
"Was it enough Professor? Can ya find her?" Rogue asked anxiously, exhaustion plain on her face.
He gave her a comforting smile and patted her hand reassuringly. "Yes my dear, I can." With that he turned and headed for Cerebro.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Never in her life had Madison wished for death, until now. Her eyes rolled back into her head as she swung slowly from her wrists. Her shoulder had been downplayed by the throbbing in her temples as well as her other wounds that her interrogators had been more than happy to inflict. At least six of her ribs were cracked and her right arm was obviously broken, making her hanging state ten times more painful. Blood seeped from a large cut in her forehead as well as her shoulder, and the lightheadedness and urge to sleep made her believe she had at least a mild concussion. Her normally pale skin was quickly turning black and blue and purple in some areas.
"Who were the people with you?" the man before her asked again. This had been going on for over an hour now and they still hadn't learned anything from the bleeding girl before them.
She fought the urge to cry as the pain from her questioners last blow vibrated thru her body. She managed to open her eyes and glare at him thru her blood soaked lashes. "The Scooby's," she choked out in a hoarse voice, earning her another slap across the face. She bit her lip to keep from screaming.
"Who do you work for?" he asked this time.
"Watchers council," she replied again. The whole interrogation had gone on like this, her giving a variety of BS answers, mostly references to Buffy or La Femme Nikita.
"Why won't you cooperate?" he asked softly, leaning forward, inches away from her face.
"Why do you keep hitting me?' she asked back, tasting the blood in her mouth, not for the first time that night.
"I have my orders," he stated as if that was all the answer he needed to give.
"It's your duty," Madison filled in understandingly. "And protecting them is mine."
"there's no honor in what you do?" he seethed, glaring at her. How dare she compare herself to him? He was a soldier. He fought for truth and freedom. She was just a lowly, good for nothing thief and murderer .
"But there's so much honor in beating a woman to death," she hissed back, keeping her face down, glaring at him thru her lashes.
"Do you know how many good men you killed tonight?" he barked back at her.
"Yeah and they didn't stand a chance fighting me and my little knives with those big automatic weapons," she replied, sarcasm dripping from her every word, her eyes burning with anger.
"You had guns," he pointed out, leaning against a table.
"Do I now?" she asked pointedly. "Did I have a whole room full of ammunition on me when you all took me down? At least I was more humane to my victims."
"What the fuck does that mean?" he growled, rising to his feet.
"IT was quick. And over before they realized," she looked directly at him now, giving him a good view of her bruises and cuts and the funny angle her arm was at. "If you people had one ounce of humanity in you, you'd have put a bullet in my head over an hour ago."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The jet was tense as it flew towards the military base outside New York City. Ebony and Storm at the controls. Charles had remained behind with the younger students, keeping in contact with the team thru their comm links. He'd found Maddie with Cerebro and urged the X-Men to hurry.
Rogue and Gambit sat in the back with Sakura, Tony and Eric, who were all silent as they mentally prepared for what they may find. Sakura flipped her lighter idly while Remy shuffled his cards.
"I still don't know why we're helping them." Cyclops grumbled to Jean. He didn't trust these people. But then, he'd always had trouble trusting those outside his black and white, good guy, bad guy mentality.
"Cause," Tony spoke up, more than sick of this guys attitude. "We know something you don't."
"What?" Scarlet Witch asked, looking over from her seat next to Spyke.
"That base contained information and samples of the Legacy Virus." Sakura said, fingering her split lip gently and shooting Tony a glare.
"Oh, my stars and garters." Beast almost whispered while Ebony, Storm and Wolverine all visibly paled.
"Like, what's the Legacy Virus?" Shadowkat asked.
"Bad." Rogue replied as she leaned against Gambit, still tried from earlier.
"It be a genetically engineered disease, dat target's us p'tite," Gambit elaborated.
"Does Chuck know about this?" Wolverine growled.
"Well, why do you think he was in such a hurry for you to go get her?" Eric asked evenly.
"I still don't see why we're helping you," Cyclops challenged. "I can see why you need it, especially with the leadership you had. But I don't see why we're doing it."
"God you're a stupid fuck!" Sakura sighed as she glared at him. "You think you could have done a better job, oh mighty leader," her voice dripped of sarcasm but her tone remained the same.
"Well I would have at least made sure that my team had all the information and knew what they were getting into," he yelled back at her, his hand instinctively reaching for the dial on his visor.
"Just shut the fuck up," Tony growled, sounding scarier than Wolverine. "Before I do it for you."
"Well gee Scott," Rogue spoke up, glaring daggers at her fellow teammate. "Ah'd love ta see ya give us information that ain't there."
"He still would have tried," Jean spoke up for her boyfriend. "And since when are you on the opposing team?" she glared over at Rogue.
"Hey guys cool it," Ebony barked out into the back. "This isn't helping anyone. You can have your pissing contest later, but right now we have a mission to complete."
"We're coming up on the base," Ororo said as she began to click a few of the controls. "I'm at the landing coordinates Charles gave us."
"Good, let's get this done," Wolverine growled as he rose and the women landed the plane. "Now I know we have some conflicting opinions, but right now, this is my law," he grinned wickedly.
The members of Alito Dei Draghi all looked at him, before turning to Rogue. "Jus' go with it," she whispered, knowing their time constraints.
Her mother on the other hand, had other ideas. "Your law? And who was the one to leave the military last? And which one of us has been in this base before?" Ebony crossed her arms over her chest and challenged.
"Uh, we don't have time fer this," Rogue yelled exasperated. "Let's just git it done and y'all can argue later."
"Fine, let's get this done then," Ebony growled, still glaring at her former husband.
"Alright, here's the teams," Wolverine stated, ignoring her icy stare. "Team one will be Storm, Cyclops, Jean and Eric. I want you guys taking the North entrance. Team two is Beast, Spyke, Scarlet Witch and Tony," he began as Sakura interrupted.
"And me," she stated simply.
Wolverine gave her a challenging look before Tony stepped up. "Hey, we may be following your laws, but we're playing by our rules."
"And I know that base better than anyone here," Sakura continued for him. "We're together."
"Fine," Wolverine growled before continuing. "You guys are on the East entrance. Team three, Ebony, Nightcrawler, Colossus and Gambit on the west wall. And finally, tame four is me, Shadowkat, Jubilee and Rogue will be on the south. Any questions?" He paused for a second before continuing. "No questions, okay good. The what are you waiting for." He then began to move, the group breaking into their teams and heading towards the base silently.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"How long do you want this to go on?" Madison's interrogator continued, having lost all patients with her. "If you tell me what I want to know, and all the pain can go away."
By this time she'd taken so many hits her mouth was too swollen and dry to speak. She just glared at him instead, focusing her anger and hatred on the cocky young man in front of her when the alarms began to blare. "Here comes trouble," she choked out. The guards spun around as the door flew off it's hinges, revealing Scarlet Witch framed in the doorway, her hands raised and blue energy crackly between her fingers. Spyke appeared at her side in an instant, bone spikes flying out at the soldiers in the room as they entered. Beast quickly followed and last, Tony and Sakura.
Time slowed for Sakura as she looked at her friend chained up to the ceiling. The scars on her back began to sting as flashes from her past came back to haunt her for a brief moment before time speeded back to normal.
Madison saw her chance and took it, pulling herself painfully with her arms and launching a side kick into the man's face sending him flying back. The other soldiers were down as Tony and Beast raced toward Madison, carefully lowering her down so Beast could look her over. Sakura stood froze for a moment, her eyes finally falling on the soldier Madison had kicked. He lay dazed on floor.
Sakura growled savagely and moved forward, grabbing the man by his shirt front and hauling him halfway up. She drew back her arm and slugged him across the face with all her might, almost losing her grip on him in her fury. Her vision hazed red as her focus narrowed to the sound and feel of her fist making contact with the man's flesh. She barely felt the bones breaking or the man's gurgled screaming.
Madison was in bad shape. Beast could tell already she had a broken radius and possibly her ulna as well in her right arm. The bruising around her eyes and mouth were hard to look at, accented by the several cuts that covered her face. The bruise forming at the side of her temple suggested that she may have suffered severe head trauma as well as the knot at the back of her head and the laceration near her hairline. Her eyes were glazed and rolled slightly back into her head and she cringed every time she breathed. He lifted the tatters of her shirt gently and examined her chest, noticing the discoloration as well as the odd angles that several of her ribs seemed to be in. He pulled back a hand from her shoulder and noticed the blood staining his blue fur. He turned her over gently and found the bullet wound. "They're broken. As is her arm and I'm sure she has a concussion. And it appears she's been shot thru the back, but I can't seem to find an exit wound, which means I'll have to remove it surgically. We'll have to be careful when we move her and we need to do it quickly," he looked over at the pool of blood that had formed beneath where she'd been tied. "From the looks of it, she's lost quite a bit of blood."
Tony sat on the other side of her, holding her gently as the big blue guy looked her over. Madison fought back the pain as she turned her face towards him. She was safe now. They had come and gotten her.
"Kill 'em baby." she whispered hoarsely. Tony's gaze hardened as he looked across the room, Sakura was pounding on the man in question. Tony gently laid down Madison and stood, his body trembling with rage. Sakura didn't hear or see him coming, but suddenly she was yanked away.
She twisted to see Tony as he pulled a gun from his belt and leveling it on the soldier, fired a single round into the man's head. He looked down at Sakura who stood, stoically, her face splattered with the man's blood and covering her clenched fists.
As Tony left her, Madison turned back to the blue man, her memory blurring on his name. All she remembered was he worked for Xavier. "There's others," she struggled, her voice dry and strained. "Like you."
"I know my dear, but rest now. The others will save them," Henry comforted her as he easily and gently lifted her in his large hands, cradling her against his chest like a broken doll. "Let's worry about you now, shall we?"
"Sounds like a plan," she murmured as she moved closer to his warmth, realizing for the first time how cold she really was.
"Come now, we'll get you back to our jet," He moved towards the doorway where Evan and Wanda stood watching Tony and Sakura and the events unfold before their eyes. "Come children," Hank said quietly, noticing the unconscious state Madison had slipped into. "There's nothing more to see here." They nodded numbly and moved to follow him.
Sakura and Tony just stared at each other for a long moment. Slowly he reached up a hand and wiped a spot of blood from Sakura's cheek. "Come on kid," he whispered. "Let's go get your man," he turned and headed for the door, not ready to tell her that the guy was dead long before he put the bullets in his head. Sakura shook her head slowly, clearing the rage induced haze her mind had slipped into before following quickly, training and instinct taking over as the moved down the hall towards the exit, Evan calling to everyone over the comm links they'd been given that they had her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rogue looked on at the room before her in horror. All along the walls as far and high as her eyes could see, glass cages held her fellow mutants. Her stomach churned at some of their conditions, especially the small children who tried to huddled in the corners of the cells.
"Come on kid," Wolverine whispered next to her, looking down at his little girl. "Let's get them out."
Rogue nodded and went to work with the others. They'd met up with the other two teams farther back and had joined together to continue their sweep. Rogue went into action with the others, flying up to the highest of the levels, landing on the ridge and hitting a few of the soldiers closet to her. Bullets fired at her and bounced off her now invulnerable skin. She smirked and flew at them, knocking a few off the ledge and pulling out her 45's, aiming for two soldiers heading towards her. She stood facing one of the cells, raised her arms to her sides and took aim, firing from both at the same instant, striking both of her opponents in the knees. The two men fell and their guns fell from there arms and over the edge. Rogue smirked and fired again, taking out the next wave. She looked around, noticing her friends fighting as well, trying to save the prisoners. Her eyes caught a soldier sneaking up behind Kurt who was busy fiddling with the lock pad. She took aim and fired, hitting the guy square in the leg as he took aim for the back of Kurt's skull. Kurt jumped in shock and turned to see Rogue holding the flaming pistol. He nodded at her once in thanks and returned to his work. 'Guess seein' this can even change the gentlest of souls,' she thought as she moved down the line, punching her fist into the lock pad and pulling the wiring, opening the doors. Most of the prisoners could make it out on their own, leaning on the wall. But some had to be helped. Those who were able helped her, but a few she had to carry down to the bottom herself.
She had the last of the children in her arms, cradling him close as she flew to the bottom floor where Jean and Kitty were shuffling out the captives thru the doors. "Are you an angel?" he asked, his voice as small as his food deprived body.
"No sugah Ah ain't no angel," she smiled at him, "But Ah am here to save ya." She landed gracefully and joined the group, handing the child off to Ororo. "Do they have her?" she asked looking around at the others.
"Oui ma chere," Remy answered, sending several charged cards at some oncoming attackers.
"They're already at the jet," Meranda said sending red hot fireballs at a group with one hand, and a sonic wave into another group with the other. "Hank's tending her," Meranda paused and looked at her daughter, seeing for the first time, just how grown up she was. "She's pretty banged up."
Rogue stood in shock for a moment, trying to digest the news. Madison was one of the strongest people she knew. All of Alito Dei Draghi were. And several of the X-Men as well. She wasn't sure how to handle this. Suddenly a strong hand landed on her shoulder. She looked up into Eric's calming amber eyes. They were both silent, but neither needed words as he slowly nodded at her. "Let's go check on her then," she stated as they headed towards the exit. "And lets not leave them anything to identify," she added looking at Remy.
"What ever y' wish mon amore," he breathed, charging the wall as they left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
They all entered the plane, having gotten all the captured mutants to safety. Rogue looked around, her eyes settling on Sakura who sat numbly in a seat near the middle of the plane. Eric quickly moved to her side and the two whispered in hushed tones as Rogue moved towards the back, following her mother while Wolverine and Storm moved to start the plane and the others fastened in. Remy moved to her side, taking her hand and squeezing it as they made their way to the back, stopping next to Tony who leaned against the wall, watching Hank work anxiously.
Meranda lay stretched out on one of the back seats that converted into a bench. Tubes and IV's ran from her arms and throat as portable monitors monitored her breathing and vitals.
"He had to put a breathing tube in after we got her in here," Tony whispered as he watched the large, blue furred doctor work. "He said her lung collapsed. One of the broken ribs punctured the lining or something," he sighed and wiped a hand over his face. "They had her tied up by a broken arm. Her body's black and blue and her face," his voice caught for a moment as he closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on the side of the plane.
"It'll be okay sugah," Rogue said comfortingly, wrapping an arm around Tony's and resting her head on his shoulder. "She's a fighter. No one tougher, ya know that. Besides, Ah'm sure she's not done makin' yer life hell yet."
A small smile touched Tony's face as he looked over at the woman he loved. Missing the normal fire that shown in her eyes and the passion in her voice. "Life hasn't been hell since I met her." He paused and looked back over at Rogue. "You know, she acts all tough and I let her, and she'll deny it if you ever bring it up, but she's a lot nicer than you think. You know, when she sleeps at night, I have to touch her. Otherwise she wakes up and does this cute little whimper thing," he chuckled softly.
"Yer lyin," Rogue teased, knowing he wasn't. "She loves ya, y'know," she whispered to him, looking up at his chiseled face.
"Yeah, well it's more than mutual," he stated. "He any good?" he nodded his head towards Hank.
"One of the best," Rogue stated confidently.
"Good, cause if he's not and she dies, there's going to be two dead bodies in the morning," he added coolly, his eyes never leaving Madison.
"Ya don't mean that Tony," Rogue sighed pulling away and looking at him, her hands on her hips.
"The hell I don't," he stated, moving away from her and taking a seat near Madison, watching intently as Hank and Meranda worked, Jean coming back to help.
"Come ma chere," Remy said softly, pulling Rogue close to him. "Let him be wit his grief hahn. And let de good doctor do his work."
Rogue sighed and leaned against Remy, letting him lead her towards the seats at the front of the plane as they headed back to the mansion.