Disclaimer: Everything, in the story is the property of someone who isn't
me.
Distribution: Sure just let me know where it's going.
I'm hoping today to change all my chapters round so that Aurora becomes Ororo and so on, I should soon have a beta reader, I hope. To those people who requested the NC-17 version; I'm sending them today. If I can I will get them all out, but I'm only sending the relevant chapters, so please come back here to review, please! Or just e-mail me.
Back to our story, The bad guys, are taking out officials who are against mutants, and Pyro's being groomed by Magneto, however he's about to develop and unhealthy fixation with Rogue.
* * *
Pyro lay on his bed. Twice, she had taken his powers twice. Bitch! There was no way she was going to get away with it. He just wasn't sure what he going to do about it. She didn't even need to touch anyone now. She just did it from a distance. When he had told Magneto, the older man had been worried. After all, if she was able to get this far, to steal powers from a distance, who knew what else she might get.
Pyro knew what it was like to have all your power pulled out of you, so did Magneto; it was not a pleasant experience. It wasn't like Magneto's helmet. The Professor accessed minds. Rogue's power was physical, not mental. There was no reason why it shouldn't grow to proportions dangerous to them.
Something would have to be done. Magneto was sure that her power wasn't to the stage where it was a danger yet, and that meant whatever they were going to do it would have to be soon. The Professor was not stupid he would see the potential in her . . .except that he would see potential for good. Magneto saw potential danger.
* * *
Rogue sat in the Professor's office . . .again. This was getting to be a habit. She was about to start her training. The Professor apparently had high hopes for her. She was just nervous. She had not forgotten the damage that she had been able to do in the past, she less than anxious to find out what else she could learn to do.
She cast her mind over the last few days. She was happier than she had ever been in her whole life. If someone had told her four months ago, that she could be as happy as she was now she would have thought that they were absolutely crazy. Every minute she spent with Bobby seemed to make her love him more. And she didn't even think that that was possible. And he loved her. Rogue smiled with out even knowing she did it. Then the Professor closed his desk drawer and turned his attention to her, "Rogue. In understand that you must be very nervous about this. I know that in your past you have, through no fault of your own, hurt people you care for. Well, this is not that. This is using your power for the side of good. It would be a waste not to at least try and see if you can harness your power."
Rogue nodded, "I want to help in any way that I can."
The Professor smiled, "Good, I'm glad. Now, you have already gone some way to control. Why don't you tell me exactly what happened when you pulled John's power from him without any skin contact?"
Rogue took a deep breath, "Well, when Bobby and Pyr . . .John were fighting, I wanted to help. They were going to keep it up until one of them was dead; I didn't want that for either of them, especially not Bobby. I pressed the red button in the centre of my disk and I took it off.
"I tried to get close enough to touch John, thinking I could stop him. They were using their powers against each other and I couldn't get close enough to John. Then . . .I felt something; like I was already draining him. It wasn't nearly as strong as it is when I touch, but then I reached out and . . .pulled. The feeling was the same strength. I just kept pulling until he fell and then I stopped so that I didn't kill him."
The Professor thought for a second, "It seems likely that this new strength was acquired because of your fear for Bobby's safety. It means that we have to find a way for you to harness that power."
"But Professor, I can't even practice. I mean who's going to be the guinea pig? There's no other way, is there?"
He shook his head, "You could practise on an animal, but it would be different and cruel in any case. I was proposing that I be your subject."
Rogue was horrified, "You want me to practise on you? I couldn't. We don't even know if there would be long term side effects, especially if I did it more than once."
"Rogue, that is my risk and one that I'm prepared to take. I have faith that you will be able to stop, and that I will be fine."
"Professor, I couldn't. I wont. It's too dangerous."
Professor Xavier leant on his desk, looking very grave, "Rogue, we need every mutant to help us. The ones that we really need are those with an offensive power. Kitty for example, she could be incredibly useful in covert ways, but if it came to fighting, her powers are limited. You on the other hand, have the potential to be very powerful and to help others by using it.
"If you hadn't used your powers one of the two young men would almost certainly have died, maybe both. Others die because we don't have those who can fight. I am planning meetings with several others, including Bobby; he also has an offensive power, to consider joining the X-men, at least in certain circumstances. This is not about just me or you, but others. I am asking you to try. That is all, just to try."
Rogue hesitated, but she nodded.
* * *
Rogue stood in the centre of the office. The Professor was sat in front of her in his wheel chair. She took a deep breath, and reached out to him. Rogue closed her eyes and focused. She must have stood there for six or seven minutes until she felt a kind of heat spreading slowly through her. Rogue centred on the feeling and pulled.
Before she was sure what had happened, a noise started in her head. At first, she thought that other students must be running and yelling down the hall outside the office and she didn't realise where it was coming from. She opened her eyes, the Professor looked fine so she kept pulling. After a moment, the noise got louder. So much louder, that she stumbled and almost fell. She stopped concentrating and put her hand to her head. "Rogue? Rogue, are you okay? Rogue?"
There was no pain. It didn't hurt her; it was just like someone was yelling at her from inside her head. They were yelling, but it sounded like a mumbled yelling. It took her a few seconds to realise that the noise was many voices, they were all speaking, or . . .thinking. She was hearing everyone's thoughts. From the sound of it, it was everyone in the entire school. Rogue shook her head and looked at the Professor who was himself looking shaken, "I . . .think it worked."
The Professor nodded a little breathlessly, "I think you're right. I take it you suddenly got a taste of my power?"
Rogue nodded, "I'm still getting it. How do you think straight with that noise in your head all day?"
"It came on slowly as I grew up, and I learned to block it out and control it. Do you realise that now for the first time in years I don't hear a thing?"
Rogue smiled, "Sorry."
"No. I don't think I could get used to it, but I'd almost forgotten what silence sounded like. It's surprising, it's like being in a crowded room and having a conversation, you're aware of others but you don't really hear them. In fact I have to focus to pick one out of the din."
"I don't envy you Professor."
He met her eyes and smiled, "I don't envy you either."
* * *
Rogue knew that this little power boost wouldn't last too long, and she couldn't help but be glad. The Professor may be used to it but she wasn't. It was noisy, though she could hear one at a time if she was near to the person, she learned this when Bobby met her in the hallway.
"Rogue! Hey, everything okay? How did it go?" At least that's what his mouth said. His thoughts were more like, 'God she is so beautiful. No wonder I love her so much. I wonder if it's too early to suggest a trip to the bedroom?'
Rogue tried to force herself not to giggle, "It went good. Can we go back to our room and talk about it there? It's kinda private, I don't want everyone in the school knowing about my training."
Bobby nodded, "Sure. But you're okay?" Rogue watched his face as his thoughts carried on, 'Just because she wants to go back to the room doesn't mean you're getting any. She's just had a stressful training session, there is no way she's going to be in the mood.'
Rogue took pity on his and took his hand, leaning over and whispering in his ear, "I thought maybe you and I could . . .relax. What do you think?"
Bobby's grip on her hand tightened, "Yeah, we could do that." She forced down her giggles as she listened, 'Yes! He shoots he scores, she really is perfect.'
Rogue opened the door of their room and let him pass before shutting it behind them.
* * *
They lay on the bed about forty minutes later, "So how did it go? Really?"
Rogue looked into his face, she couldn't hear anything but the sound of his voice, she was kinda glad, it might have been a bit of an invasion, "It went well. It really did. I got a taste of the Professor's power cause I managed to drain it across the room."
Bobby was surprised, "You drained the Professor? Isn't that dangerous?"
"That's what it thought. But he gave me this speech about the greater good. It convinced me."
Bobby was about to say something but instead he just went pale, "You mean you had the Professor's power when you saw me in the hall?"
She looked up into his face and smiled cheekily, "Yep. And who has a filthy mind then?"
Bobby blushed, "Oh God. So embarrassing."
"That you want me? Not embarrassing. Flattering."
Bobby grinned, "Hey, imagine how it feels to always think like that."
She smiled, "Who says I don't?"
* * *
They were curled up together on the downstairs sofa. It was the only room in the house where everyone could meet to do homework, watch TV, or just hang out, without being cramped together, so close they could barely move. The news was on. The blonde newscaster was talking about a hurricane. Bobby had one arm draped around his girlfriend's shoulder as he read his psychology book. Rogue had finished hers earlier in the day during a free period and was curled to his side listening to the TV.
Or rather, she was relaxing, trying to take in what was going on in the world, ' . . .and in breaking news, Senator Porter Mitchell, was found dead in his hotel room. . .' Rogue's interest was aroused, he had been one of the major speakers against mutants, vicious with it too, 'He had been stabbed seven times in the chest with his own silver letter open. According to police sources, this incident is not at present being officially connected to the recent murders of other officials across the country. But there are similar circumstances that are being investigated.
Congresswoman Ruth Andrews was murdered four days ago, found in her car, she had suffered severe head injuries from a tire iron.
In New York, a Judge was crushed to death by a car last week.
And a minister was found to have been stabbed, in his own home, with a knife from his own kitchen only two days ago. No fingerprints have been found on any murder weapons or the bodies or the car. There have been no witnesses or any other physical evidence. The investigation is ongoing.'
Rogue thought. Bobby felt the change in her body as she tensed up, "Hey, what's wrong?"
"That news bulletin. A senator was killed. Others as well."
Bobby frowned, "Bad. But what's bothering you about this specifically?"
"I was on the internet a few days ago and I was looking at a list of officials who want something heavy done about mutants. At least two of those people were on the list. I just glanced but two definitely were."
Bobby caught on quickly, "You think that's why they were killed?"
"Yeah . . .but . . .worse than that."
"How so?"
She turned and looked at him, "A letter opener, a kitchen knife, a tire iron and even a car. What are they all made of?"
Bobby sighed, "Metal, Magneto maybe?"
* * *
Bobby knocked on the door to Logan's room. Rogue was stood with him. They wanted another opinion. They wanted to know if they were jumping to conclusions. Logan would give them a straight answer, he came to the door quickly, "Hey. What's up?"
"You got a minute?" Rogue asked.
"Sure," he stepped back from his door and they went in, "What's this all about?"
Bobby indicated to Rogue, she took a breath, "We were just watching the news. There was a bulletin about four officials murdered over the last week." She hesitated.
"And . . ?"
"Well . . .they were all anti-mutant. And they were all murdered with something metal. We may be massively jumping to conclusions here, so I thought maybe you'd give us a straight answer. Any chance Magneto could be behind this? He came here looking for files on officials around the world against mutants; we know he didn't get them, Ororo told us, but this just seems to be a big coincidence."
Logan thought, "All four against mutants? You sure?"
Rogue nodded, "I was on a web-site a couple of days ago. It's a site saying how all mutants are evil and how we should all be controlled. There was a list of official supporters at the end. I remember that at least two of the people mentioned were two of those murdered. I don't know about the other two."
Logan shrugged, "If you're right . . .if there are just the two . . .well you know what they say. Two's a line. More is a pattern."
The three of them left the room and headed for the library and the computers.
* * *
Logan leaned back in his chair, "Well, all four of them that you said are there. I think you may have hit on something here Rogue."
She grinned, "Well if only two of us had noticed, it would have been a line. If three of us notice . . ."
Logan interrupted, "Yeah, yeah, a pattern. Okay, time to go and see the Professor."
* * *
"How long before Professor Xavier notices?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't already put the pieces together."
Pyro looked worried, "Doesn't that mean that he'll try to stop us?"
"Of course he will, but we're not going to let him. This is for the good of all mutants' kind. He will have to learn to see that one-day. But it does mean that you will have to be prepared to come more into the forefront. Are you ready Pyro?"
He hesitated but thinking back on the way that he had been run out of his home town he nodded firmly, "I'm ready."
Magneto smiled, "Are you sure?"
"They would kill us all if they could. And anyway, they are over."
Magneto raised his eyebrows, "Yes?"
"Well, if there was an ant nest in the garden no person would think twice about pouring bleach down it. Because the person would know that, the ants were an inferior species. Well . . .compared to us, human beings are inferior. We are the next stage of evolution, we are metaphorically, pouring bleach down on ants."
Magneto smiled broadly, "I like that. I like that very much."
Pyro smiled, "I got the theory from your whole 'god among insects' thing."
Magneto put a hand on Pyro's shoulder, "I like to know that I'm inspirational."
* * *
Professor Xavier sat in his office. With him, Scott, Ororo, Kurt, Rogue, Bobby, and Logan. He was worried. He couldn't believe that he hadn't noticed. All could do was thank God that Rogue had. He looked around at the faces surrounding him, "Of course we are not certain. But I don't really doubt that Rogue is right." He looked over to Scott, "There is one way to be positive."
Scott nodded and opened the door, "I'll go, and check."
The others all looked at him puzzled, "The files on the officials were hidden in the room that Scott used to share with Jean, we decided that it would be safer than a safe, which would be the first place Magneto would check. He's apparently getting better at anticipating my moves."
Ororo started pacing the room, "As much as normal people sometimes annoy the hell out of me, if they are just being murdered, we have to do something to stop it."
Kurt immediately backed her up, "We can not allow people to be killed in cold blood, simply because they believe something different."
The Professor nodded, "I agree of course. But actually doing something is not that easy. We can not track Magneto himself, and he may be doing this alone. But I can search for John and Mystique to try and discover him."
Scott came back into the room, he looked furious, "They've somehow got them."
The Professor sighed in a weary way, "Very well. I will use Cerebro to try and find . . .whoever I can. Rogue?"
Rogue whose mind had been wondering to where they could be hiding brought her eyes back up, "Yes?"
"I want you to try again. We need to bring down the amount of time it takes you to access that power of yours. If we can do that, you will be joining the others on a mission. You too." The Professor looked at Bobby.
Bobby, who had been looking at Rogue as she frowned was surprised, "Me, Professor?"
"Yes, I was going to speak to several of our older students over the course of the next few weeks to ask them to begin training; to learn to help us. We are short of allies and I'm afraid our time is running out. I would ask them all to go on this mission but they are not yet in enough control of their capabilities. You are. You have always had a firm grip on yours."
Bobby nodded slowly, "Okay. I guess I could help."
The Professor turned back to Rogue, "I will be back to help you as soon as I have done in Cerebro."
"Professor? Wouldn't it be quicker if Rogue started on me? You can focus on Cerebro and Rogue can try me." All eyes in the room turned to Logan, "What? I've had the life sucked out of me twice what's a few more?"
Rogue blushed, "I don't want to hurt anyone."
The Professor nodded, "I know that Rogue, but you wont. Granted it isn't an especially pleasant feeling, but you can stop when you realise it's getting too much. We need all the help we can get."
Rogue nodded and gripped Bobby's hand tighter, "How soon do you think someone out there will connect the mutant related dots?"
The Professor shook his head, "It won't take long, and when they realise, they might be angry enough to pass that law.
* * *
Distribution: Sure just let me know where it's going.
I'm hoping today to change all my chapters round so that Aurora becomes Ororo and so on, I should soon have a beta reader, I hope. To those people who requested the NC-17 version; I'm sending them today. If I can I will get them all out, but I'm only sending the relevant chapters, so please come back here to review, please! Or just e-mail me.
Back to our story, The bad guys, are taking out officials who are against mutants, and Pyro's being groomed by Magneto, however he's about to develop and unhealthy fixation with Rogue.
* * *
Pyro lay on his bed. Twice, she had taken his powers twice. Bitch! There was no way she was going to get away with it. He just wasn't sure what he going to do about it. She didn't even need to touch anyone now. She just did it from a distance. When he had told Magneto, the older man had been worried. After all, if she was able to get this far, to steal powers from a distance, who knew what else she might get.
Pyro knew what it was like to have all your power pulled out of you, so did Magneto; it was not a pleasant experience. It wasn't like Magneto's helmet. The Professor accessed minds. Rogue's power was physical, not mental. There was no reason why it shouldn't grow to proportions dangerous to them.
Something would have to be done. Magneto was sure that her power wasn't to the stage where it was a danger yet, and that meant whatever they were going to do it would have to be soon. The Professor was not stupid he would see the potential in her . . .except that he would see potential for good. Magneto saw potential danger.
* * *
Rogue sat in the Professor's office . . .again. This was getting to be a habit. She was about to start her training. The Professor apparently had high hopes for her. She was just nervous. She had not forgotten the damage that she had been able to do in the past, she less than anxious to find out what else she could learn to do.
She cast her mind over the last few days. She was happier than she had ever been in her whole life. If someone had told her four months ago, that she could be as happy as she was now she would have thought that they were absolutely crazy. Every minute she spent with Bobby seemed to make her love him more. And she didn't even think that that was possible. And he loved her. Rogue smiled with out even knowing she did it. Then the Professor closed his desk drawer and turned his attention to her, "Rogue. In understand that you must be very nervous about this. I know that in your past you have, through no fault of your own, hurt people you care for. Well, this is not that. This is using your power for the side of good. It would be a waste not to at least try and see if you can harness your power."
Rogue nodded, "I want to help in any way that I can."
The Professor smiled, "Good, I'm glad. Now, you have already gone some way to control. Why don't you tell me exactly what happened when you pulled John's power from him without any skin contact?"
Rogue took a deep breath, "Well, when Bobby and Pyr . . .John were fighting, I wanted to help. They were going to keep it up until one of them was dead; I didn't want that for either of them, especially not Bobby. I pressed the red button in the centre of my disk and I took it off.
"I tried to get close enough to touch John, thinking I could stop him. They were using their powers against each other and I couldn't get close enough to John. Then . . .I felt something; like I was already draining him. It wasn't nearly as strong as it is when I touch, but then I reached out and . . .pulled. The feeling was the same strength. I just kept pulling until he fell and then I stopped so that I didn't kill him."
The Professor thought for a second, "It seems likely that this new strength was acquired because of your fear for Bobby's safety. It means that we have to find a way for you to harness that power."
"But Professor, I can't even practice. I mean who's going to be the guinea pig? There's no other way, is there?"
He shook his head, "You could practise on an animal, but it would be different and cruel in any case. I was proposing that I be your subject."
Rogue was horrified, "You want me to practise on you? I couldn't. We don't even know if there would be long term side effects, especially if I did it more than once."
"Rogue, that is my risk and one that I'm prepared to take. I have faith that you will be able to stop, and that I will be fine."
"Professor, I couldn't. I wont. It's too dangerous."
Professor Xavier leant on his desk, looking very grave, "Rogue, we need every mutant to help us. The ones that we really need are those with an offensive power. Kitty for example, she could be incredibly useful in covert ways, but if it came to fighting, her powers are limited. You on the other hand, have the potential to be very powerful and to help others by using it.
"If you hadn't used your powers one of the two young men would almost certainly have died, maybe both. Others die because we don't have those who can fight. I am planning meetings with several others, including Bobby; he also has an offensive power, to consider joining the X-men, at least in certain circumstances. This is not about just me or you, but others. I am asking you to try. That is all, just to try."
Rogue hesitated, but she nodded.
* * *
Rogue stood in the centre of the office. The Professor was sat in front of her in his wheel chair. She took a deep breath, and reached out to him. Rogue closed her eyes and focused. She must have stood there for six or seven minutes until she felt a kind of heat spreading slowly through her. Rogue centred on the feeling and pulled.
Before she was sure what had happened, a noise started in her head. At first, she thought that other students must be running and yelling down the hall outside the office and she didn't realise where it was coming from. She opened her eyes, the Professor looked fine so she kept pulling. After a moment, the noise got louder. So much louder, that she stumbled and almost fell. She stopped concentrating and put her hand to her head. "Rogue? Rogue, are you okay? Rogue?"
There was no pain. It didn't hurt her; it was just like someone was yelling at her from inside her head. They were yelling, but it sounded like a mumbled yelling. It took her a few seconds to realise that the noise was many voices, they were all speaking, or . . .thinking. She was hearing everyone's thoughts. From the sound of it, it was everyone in the entire school. Rogue shook her head and looked at the Professor who was himself looking shaken, "I . . .think it worked."
The Professor nodded a little breathlessly, "I think you're right. I take it you suddenly got a taste of my power?"
Rogue nodded, "I'm still getting it. How do you think straight with that noise in your head all day?"
"It came on slowly as I grew up, and I learned to block it out and control it. Do you realise that now for the first time in years I don't hear a thing?"
Rogue smiled, "Sorry."
"No. I don't think I could get used to it, but I'd almost forgotten what silence sounded like. It's surprising, it's like being in a crowded room and having a conversation, you're aware of others but you don't really hear them. In fact I have to focus to pick one out of the din."
"I don't envy you Professor."
He met her eyes and smiled, "I don't envy you either."
* * *
Rogue knew that this little power boost wouldn't last too long, and she couldn't help but be glad. The Professor may be used to it but she wasn't. It was noisy, though she could hear one at a time if she was near to the person, she learned this when Bobby met her in the hallway.
"Rogue! Hey, everything okay? How did it go?" At least that's what his mouth said. His thoughts were more like, 'God she is so beautiful. No wonder I love her so much. I wonder if it's too early to suggest a trip to the bedroom?'
Rogue tried to force herself not to giggle, "It went good. Can we go back to our room and talk about it there? It's kinda private, I don't want everyone in the school knowing about my training."
Bobby nodded, "Sure. But you're okay?" Rogue watched his face as his thoughts carried on, 'Just because she wants to go back to the room doesn't mean you're getting any. She's just had a stressful training session, there is no way she's going to be in the mood.'
Rogue took pity on his and took his hand, leaning over and whispering in his ear, "I thought maybe you and I could . . .relax. What do you think?"
Bobby's grip on her hand tightened, "Yeah, we could do that." She forced down her giggles as she listened, 'Yes! He shoots he scores, she really is perfect.'
Rogue opened the door of their room and let him pass before shutting it behind them.
* * *
They lay on the bed about forty minutes later, "So how did it go? Really?"
Rogue looked into his face, she couldn't hear anything but the sound of his voice, she was kinda glad, it might have been a bit of an invasion, "It went well. It really did. I got a taste of the Professor's power cause I managed to drain it across the room."
Bobby was surprised, "You drained the Professor? Isn't that dangerous?"
"That's what it thought. But he gave me this speech about the greater good. It convinced me."
Bobby was about to say something but instead he just went pale, "You mean you had the Professor's power when you saw me in the hall?"
She looked up into his face and smiled cheekily, "Yep. And who has a filthy mind then?"
Bobby blushed, "Oh God. So embarrassing."
"That you want me? Not embarrassing. Flattering."
Bobby grinned, "Hey, imagine how it feels to always think like that."
She smiled, "Who says I don't?"
* * *
They were curled up together on the downstairs sofa. It was the only room in the house where everyone could meet to do homework, watch TV, or just hang out, without being cramped together, so close they could barely move. The news was on. The blonde newscaster was talking about a hurricane. Bobby had one arm draped around his girlfriend's shoulder as he read his psychology book. Rogue had finished hers earlier in the day during a free period and was curled to his side listening to the TV.
Or rather, she was relaxing, trying to take in what was going on in the world, ' . . .and in breaking news, Senator Porter Mitchell, was found dead in his hotel room. . .' Rogue's interest was aroused, he had been one of the major speakers against mutants, vicious with it too, 'He had been stabbed seven times in the chest with his own silver letter open. According to police sources, this incident is not at present being officially connected to the recent murders of other officials across the country. But there are similar circumstances that are being investigated.
Congresswoman Ruth Andrews was murdered four days ago, found in her car, she had suffered severe head injuries from a tire iron.
In New York, a Judge was crushed to death by a car last week.
And a minister was found to have been stabbed, in his own home, with a knife from his own kitchen only two days ago. No fingerprints have been found on any murder weapons or the bodies or the car. There have been no witnesses or any other physical evidence. The investigation is ongoing.'
Rogue thought. Bobby felt the change in her body as she tensed up, "Hey, what's wrong?"
"That news bulletin. A senator was killed. Others as well."
Bobby frowned, "Bad. But what's bothering you about this specifically?"
"I was on the internet a few days ago and I was looking at a list of officials who want something heavy done about mutants. At least two of those people were on the list. I just glanced but two definitely were."
Bobby caught on quickly, "You think that's why they were killed?"
"Yeah . . .but . . .worse than that."
"How so?"
She turned and looked at him, "A letter opener, a kitchen knife, a tire iron and even a car. What are they all made of?"
Bobby sighed, "Metal, Magneto maybe?"
* * *
Bobby knocked on the door to Logan's room. Rogue was stood with him. They wanted another opinion. They wanted to know if they were jumping to conclusions. Logan would give them a straight answer, he came to the door quickly, "Hey. What's up?"
"You got a minute?" Rogue asked.
"Sure," he stepped back from his door and they went in, "What's this all about?"
Bobby indicated to Rogue, she took a breath, "We were just watching the news. There was a bulletin about four officials murdered over the last week." She hesitated.
"And . . ?"
"Well . . .they were all anti-mutant. And they were all murdered with something metal. We may be massively jumping to conclusions here, so I thought maybe you'd give us a straight answer. Any chance Magneto could be behind this? He came here looking for files on officials around the world against mutants; we know he didn't get them, Ororo told us, but this just seems to be a big coincidence."
Logan thought, "All four against mutants? You sure?"
Rogue nodded, "I was on a web-site a couple of days ago. It's a site saying how all mutants are evil and how we should all be controlled. There was a list of official supporters at the end. I remember that at least two of the people mentioned were two of those murdered. I don't know about the other two."
Logan shrugged, "If you're right . . .if there are just the two . . .well you know what they say. Two's a line. More is a pattern."
The three of them left the room and headed for the library and the computers.
* * *
Logan leaned back in his chair, "Well, all four of them that you said are there. I think you may have hit on something here Rogue."
She grinned, "Well if only two of us had noticed, it would have been a line. If three of us notice . . ."
Logan interrupted, "Yeah, yeah, a pattern. Okay, time to go and see the Professor."
* * *
"How long before Professor Xavier notices?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't already put the pieces together."
Pyro looked worried, "Doesn't that mean that he'll try to stop us?"
"Of course he will, but we're not going to let him. This is for the good of all mutants' kind. He will have to learn to see that one-day. But it does mean that you will have to be prepared to come more into the forefront. Are you ready Pyro?"
He hesitated but thinking back on the way that he had been run out of his home town he nodded firmly, "I'm ready."
Magneto smiled, "Are you sure?"
"They would kill us all if they could. And anyway, they are over."
Magneto raised his eyebrows, "Yes?"
"Well, if there was an ant nest in the garden no person would think twice about pouring bleach down it. Because the person would know that, the ants were an inferior species. Well . . .compared to us, human beings are inferior. We are the next stage of evolution, we are metaphorically, pouring bleach down on ants."
Magneto smiled broadly, "I like that. I like that very much."
Pyro smiled, "I got the theory from your whole 'god among insects' thing."
Magneto put a hand on Pyro's shoulder, "I like to know that I'm inspirational."
* * *
Professor Xavier sat in his office. With him, Scott, Ororo, Kurt, Rogue, Bobby, and Logan. He was worried. He couldn't believe that he hadn't noticed. All could do was thank God that Rogue had. He looked around at the faces surrounding him, "Of course we are not certain. But I don't really doubt that Rogue is right." He looked over to Scott, "There is one way to be positive."
Scott nodded and opened the door, "I'll go, and check."
The others all looked at him puzzled, "The files on the officials were hidden in the room that Scott used to share with Jean, we decided that it would be safer than a safe, which would be the first place Magneto would check. He's apparently getting better at anticipating my moves."
Ororo started pacing the room, "As much as normal people sometimes annoy the hell out of me, if they are just being murdered, we have to do something to stop it."
Kurt immediately backed her up, "We can not allow people to be killed in cold blood, simply because they believe something different."
The Professor nodded, "I agree of course. But actually doing something is not that easy. We can not track Magneto himself, and he may be doing this alone. But I can search for John and Mystique to try and discover him."
Scott came back into the room, he looked furious, "They've somehow got them."
The Professor sighed in a weary way, "Very well. I will use Cerebro to try and find . . .whoever I can. Rogue?"
Rogue whose mind had been wondering to where they could be hiding brought her eyes back up, "Yes?"
"I want you to try again. We need to bring down the amount of time it takes you to access that power of yours. If we can do that, you will be joining the others on a mission. You too." The Professor looked at Bobby.
Bobby, who had been looking at Rogue as she frowned was surprised, "Me, Professor?"
"Yes, I was going to speak to several of our older students over the course of the next few weeks to ask them to begin training; to learn to help us. We are short of allies and I'm afraid our time is running out. I would ask them all to go on this mission but they are not yet in enough control of their capabilities. You are. You have always had a firm grip on yours."
Bobby nodded slowly, "Okay. I guess I could help."
The Professor turned back to Rogue, "I will be back to help you as soon as I have done in Cerebro."
"Professor? Wouldn't it be quicker if Rogue started on me? You can focus on Cerebro and Rogue can try me." All eyes in the room turned to Logan, "What? I've had the life sucked out of me twice what's a few more?"
Rogue blushed, "I don't want to hurt anyone."
The Professor nodded, "I know that Rogue, but you wont. Granted it isn't an especially pleasant feeling, but you can stop when you realise it's getting too much. We need all the help we can get."
Rogue nodded and gripped Bobby's hand tighter, "How soon do you think someone out there will connect the mutant related dots?"
The Professor shook his head, "It won't take long, and when they realise, they might be angry enough to pass that law.
* * *