...Look! I finally updated. I think you should throw me up in the air while singing 'for she's a jolly good female!'

12. Firecrackers

Third Person

With the information obtained from Rogue, Mystique set about aranging a meeting. Disguising her voice as Bean Bag's, she mad an emergency call to Ken, telling him that they had been attacked by mutants.

Soon after, the Brotherhood and their 'add ons' were ready to see Ken two days from then.

Rogue's POV

California. I looked out the window; everyone we passed seemed to be showing half the skin on their body. I was wearing my leather gloves and long pants. I had decided to wear a T-shirt for comforts sake, but that left me with a few inches of bare skin. I was hot.

Marina leaned forward and turned on the air conditioning to full. She had long ago taken off her shirt and was sitting comfortable in a blue bathing suit top she had underneath.

"Are we there yet?" Toad asked, shifting in his seat.

"Almost," Mystique replied in her icy voice.

Five minutes later we pulled into an indoor parking lot of a tall business building. I thought it was a stupid move to park in the same building we were to meet Ken in, but why would Bean Bag park else where?

Mystique changed shape so she looked like the dirt man himself. Marina and Mystique were to go up to the office. Toad, John, and I had to keep watch in the parking lot. John wanted to go with them, but there was no way the two professionals would let a junior go with them. Toad, however, was fine where he was. I had the suspicion that just like me, he didn't want to be in the Brotherhood.

John was looking down a hallway and I suddenly realized that I had a chance off escape. Keeping an eye on John I walked slowly towards the parking lot exit. I had almost reached the door when Toad stepped silently in front of me. I was scared, but I stared into his frightening yellow eyes, trying to look tough.

"Please," I whispered.

Toad continued to study me silently, but he broke the gaze to glance over at John. To my surprise, he stepped away from the exit and walked a few feet away, not looking at me again. I pushed the door open and quickly moved down the concrete steps.

What met me on the next landing took my breath away. Five men with guns were standing there, pointing their weapons at me. A sixth man came up behind me and grabbed me around the waist. I don't like being thought of as weak, but at that moment I could think of only one thing to do; I screamed. The door one floor up smashed open and John came down the steps and into view.

"Crap!" he shouted when he saw the men. To my dismay, instead of helping me, he ran back up the stairs.

This meant that the men had to chase him, and they dragged me along with them. I heald my breath with hope. Surly the team had re-grouped and would have enough strength to save me. They had indeed re-grouped, or at least three out of the four had, I couldn't see Marina anywhere.

When Toad saw me, his tongue shot out, striking one of the men, but before he could get any more, John yanked him into the car. Mystique shoved her foot onto the gas pedal and the car shot off, leaving me behind.

Marina's POV

I smiled with grim satisfaction as I wove through the people on the streets. I always knew Magneto-that old coot- would mess up, and I was proud to be there to see it. Mystique would give me a good talking next time I saw her. She could plainly see that I hadn't done anything to help her out. Of course I'm not a member of their team so she can't really blame me. I entered a mall and found a payphone. It was time to make a collect call.

"Yes?" came an accented voice on the other line.

"Remy, this is Marina."

"Ah. Mon Cherie. How can Remy assist his favorite femme?"

Rogue's POV

I couldn't believe that I was locked up in another room. This time I was in a phone-less, computer-less, bed-less, office, instead of a phone-less, bed-less, bedroom. I couldn't figure out what had gone wrong, but my best guess was that Ken had been warned that we were coming. I gave up trying to figure that one out and went back to not believe that they had just abandoned me. Even John, the very guy who was implying that he liked me, left me here. Only Toad looked like he was going to give me a hand. By the look of things, they left Marina as well. Was she captured? Dead?

I wandered to the window and looked out. The office was at least ten floors up; there was no way I could get out through there. I turned to the desk and began rummaging through it. Every drawer was empty.

There was a loud bang that sounded like a firecracker had gone off outside the door. It flew open, pieced of broken wood flying across the room. I threw my hands over my head to protect my face. I caught my breath when I looked up and saw who my rescuer was. He stood casually at the door, his red eyes taking me in.

"How?"

"Marina say she needed Remy's help, so I come running. Come now." Remy put a hand on my shoulder and led me out the door way. In the next room, two guards lay on the floor. I wasn't sure if they were alive or not, but I didn't want to stop and find out, I was just happy to be alive myself.