A/N: Despite the fact that the X-men are taken from the comic books, I have decided to give them the black battle suits from the movie, just picture them more subdued like something they could wear without getting stared at. It just doesn't seem right, to have them run around Seattle wearing bright coloured spandex.

THE X FACTOR
rogueangel82

The cloudless sky was striped with colour, as if the atmosphere itself was on fire. The setting sun blazed brightly on the horizon in a final goodnight. A low roar of a jet engine pierced the peacefulness of the scene, yet any one who was to look up in search of the source would find that it had long since gone. Scott Summers glanced around the cabin of the X-men's Blackbird jet, after setting the controls on autopilot.

The team sat in silence, gazing around them in complete calm. Flying across country in a high-powered jet on a mission was an everyday occurrence for them. They were all decked out in the various X-teams battle suits, black leather with the X logo branded in one place or another.

"Penny for your thoughts Oh husband of mine?" A soft voice questioned from behind him, his wife breath brushing his ear slightly.

"Hmmmm?" Scott murmured, drifting slightly out of his thoughts.

"You have something on your mind," Jean said, "It doesn't take a telepath to tell that."

"It's nothing," Scott said, "I just keep thinking that something doesn't make sense. Mutants have completely disappeared off the radar for years. Why would someone risk all that by braking into Trask. Why now?"

"I get what your sayin'," Wolverine stated glancing across at the team leader, "It doesn't make much sense does it. I can't help thinkin' what if it ain't mutants." At the blank looks of his team mates Wolverine sighed, "Haven't any of ya been watchin' the news? What do you think has been goin' on in Seattle."

"Transgenics?!" Betsy exclaimed, "No one has confirmed or denied the existence of these transgenics. 'Sides why would one want to brake into Trask anyway." Elizabeth aka Psylocke flicked a strained of black hair from her face before continuing, "There's nothing a transgenic would want to get from Trask, its genetics department went under when mutants disappeared, no business no income."

"I suppose that's why the Professor sent us," Jean said leaning back into her seat, "To figure it out, and make it make sense."

"I suppose it would be easier if we knew what was stolen," Rogue muttered, "And its not like we can go in to Trask and get another copy, the security would be off the charts after what happened. Ya all I think we're at a dead end, what exactly are we gonna sit 'round twiddlin' our thumbs until someone comes forward and claims responsibility?"

"The Professor told us to wait in Seattle and keep an ear to the ground and he'll contact us when they have something." Scott said.

"Sounds like real fun," Wolverine muttered.

"And what do we do in the meantime?" Betsy asked, leaning back into her seat.

'I guess we'll have to see when we reach Seattle." Scott said. With that turned his attention back to the controls, absently wondered what was awaiting them in Seattle.

Max closed her work locker and sighed, she'd had a number of long runs and more bips then she could take. If anyone were to bother her right now she could not be held responsible for the consequences. "Hey Max," Alec said sitting down besides her. Dear god someone must really be taking pleasure in her misery.

"What do you want Alec?" Max questioned turning to fix a glare on the other X5, which he completely ignored.

"I was just wondering if Log-boy had finished going over those files we got him the other night?" He said arching an eyebrow at her.

"Why do you care," Max mumbled leaning back against her locker.

"Well its not like Logan to go after corporations like Trask," Alec shrugged, "I was just wondering what was behind me risking my life for," At her look he shrugged, "Fine what warranted me climbing around on pipes for."

"You didn't have to come," Max said, "As I recall I told you to leave." Sighing she shrugged, "I have no idea what was in the files, I haven't spoken to him yet."

"Trouble in paradise huh Max?" Alec smirked,

"Shut up," Max snapped, "'Side we're not even like that." She turned away just in time to miss Alec mimic of 'We're not even like that'

"Alright people, remember were we parked," Scott called as the X-team followed him out of an abandoned warehouse. Behind them, the Blackbird flickered and disappeared as the onboard cloaking device kicked in. The paused together at the end of an ally, glancing around to see if they had been spotted.

Scott dropped immediately into leader mode. "We are going to have to spit up, and find a place for us to stay. We don't know how long we're going to be in Seattle." The others nodded in acceptance. "Wolverine and Rogue you two head that way," He pointed in one direct, "Jean, Psylocke and I will go in the other. Watch out for Sector patrols. Jean will have telepathic link with us all, but keep your com's on just in case."

"Somehow I doubt we're gonna find a place worth stayin' in," Rogue said glancing around, "They'll probably have ta pay us to stay." She sidestepped a pile of boards that doubled as someone's home. "It's kinda sad," Rogue commented, "The pulse put so many people on the street, no countin' how many lives its claimed. Yet because of it, us mutants are safer then ever."

Wolverine glanced sideways at the younger mutant, arching a thick eyebrow. "I suppose," he said, "It did set the government back in tracking us. Not to mention that people begun to forget about us in favor of their own misery."

It was some time later that the team was together again. The hotel suite they had acquired was actually not that bad, which was a good thing considering the price they paid for it. Betsy flopped back on one of the beds, sighing long and loud. "I hear Spain is beautiful this time of year." She commented listening to the rain pounding the glass windows. She sat up looking at the others "We can't really be going to sit around?"

"We need to know what was taking from Trask," Scott said, "So we can track down who did it. And find out if they are indeed mutants. This could be a good chance, though. To find out what good old Trask has been up to... We're going to have to try and get in."

"I'll go," Jean offered, "With my telepathic ability I'll have a better chance of getting in, then the lot of us would."

"What if you're discovered?" Scott argued

"I could go," Rogue stated turning away from the window, not looking overly pleased with what she was about to suggest. "If I'm discovered I'd have a betta chance of fightin' my way out. Jean?"

The other woman nodded reluctantly, clearly understanding what she was getting at. Rogue quickly pulled off one of her leather gloves. "Sorry Sugah," Rogue muttered, reaching her hand out to touch the redheads check. Jean gasped, her back arching as she felt everything she was being pulled into Rogue's deadly touch.

The southern belle stepped back mournfully, her jade eyes filled with regret as Jean slumped unconscious into her husbands waiting arms.

"Go," Scott stated, "Before it wears off."

A/N: I was just watching DA season two, and realized that not ones during to whole season did anyone other then Max and OC mention that Logan was Eyes Only. In fact in FN, while talking to on the video link to TC HQ, he still maintained that he just 'worked' for Eye Only. Don't know why I mentioned that, just felt like it.

P.S There is no Wolverine/ Rogue romance going on. As a fan of the comic that idea is just sick.

Betsy's comment on Spain a quick moment of the place in which she died.