3

A limo pulled up in the street and the back door opened. A cat that was sat waiting and staring at the limo began to approach. The cat transformed into the blue mutant known as Mystique. She got in the car and closed the door.

"What happened?" Mystique demanded of the woman sat besides her. "I thought you were keeping an eye on her! I thought you were able to predict when he'd come and keep her hidden?"

The other woman, Irene, stayed facing forwards and sighed. "My visions do tell me when he will come, but I cannot prevent everything that happens." She said, "By the time I knew he was there, it was too late."

"What will happen to her now?" Mystique asked.

"She has not completely left our lives yet. She will be back. However, the future we planned for her has now been altered." Irene said.

"What will happen to her now?" Mystique asked.

Irene shuck her head, "She is in a position where she has many options a head of her. There are too many roads for her to take for me to be able to predict which outcome is most likely to occur."

"Great!" Mystique said, folding her arms, "so we've lost her to Magneto forever. All that time, all that investment spent hiding her away. Keeping her away from him blown in just one moment. What do we do now? What do we do to get her back to us?"

"I'm afraid, until she determines what her next move is, there is not much we can do. We could plan to intercept one path, however, if she chooses another, it would dramatically effect how she views us and will hinder us rather than help us." Irene said.

"You best figure this out Destiny! Figure out a way for us to get our daughter back." Mystique said.

Irene nodded, "First, we must wait for her to make her choice. Then, we can plan accordingly."

xxxxx

Rogue woke up to a banging on her door. She opened one eye, remembering when she saw the metal in the room where she was. Sort of. Magneto never actually did tell her where abouts in the world she was. But she'd just gotten used to not asking. Irene and Mystique would grad her all over the world anyway if they needed her.

"Yeah," Rogue called out.

"Get up, now." Came the growling voice of Sabretooth.

Rogue smirked and crawled out of bed. She grabbed her bag and went to her walk in bathroom, locking the door.

"Did you hear me mouse?" Sabretooth stated more than asked.

"Ah-huh. You're just gonna have ta wait till I'm finished gettin' ready pretty kitty. Why don'tca find a ball of wool or somethin' ta play with while ya wait?" Rogue asked.

She was sure she heard a growl and then Sabretooth stomp away. But she wasn't going anywhere in her PJs. She was sure, from meeting the others last night and from Magneto's armour that if she showed up not dressed in active wear she'd be in trouble. She pulled out a dark green one piece that had light green on it in places. It wasn't much, but it'd have to do. She'd worn this sometimes when she'd done jobs with Mystique. She pulled on her black boots and brown jacket as well to complete the look.

There was a second knocking on her door. This one less heavy. Rogue went and opened the door this time, finding herself looking up into at the tall man before her.

"Well, good mornin' sugar. And how you doin' today?" Rogue asked, leaning against her door frame.

The tall man did not look happy.

"You must attend the meeting on time or Magneto will become upset with you." He said.

Rogue was sure she saw… a flash of concern enter the man's face. She was a bit thrown off by this. She never really got concerned looks from anyone. That was anyone outside of her mamas.

Rogue snorted though.

"That bucket head don't scare me handsome. Especially not when I got you around." Rogue said, winking at him.

The Russian, she picked up from his accent, became uncomfortable and began walking. Rogue followed after him. His feet made a lot of clanking noises as he walked.

"Ain't you worried about bein' late yourself?" Rogue asked, "that is, if I'm already late."

"I will endure. You do not know the rules or the way of workings here. I do not believe it fair for you to be punished for what you do not know." He said.

Rogue looked down at her feet. She felt… kind of uncomfortable. He hadn't said he'd face a punishment, but he'd implied it. But, he'd still come to get her so she'd miss out on a punishment. That was… sweet of him. She didn't really know how to handle sweet, self sacrificing men. At least, she didn't think he would be getting anything out of making sure she was close to on time. She hadn't meet a lot of good men like him in her life so far. Her normal reaction was to flirt and make a big deal how he was sweet on her because he cared, but… she'd seen the way he'd become uncomfortable at her flirting two days in a row. She didn't want to really push him away if he was going to be an ally and help her like he was.

"Thank you." Rogue muttered out, remembering the manners Irene had taught her.

"You are most welcome." Colossus replied, attempting to smile at the girl.

Rogue attempted to smile back. She… wasn't used to being kind. She hoped it wouldn't come back to bite her in the arse or that no one else would know she was attempting to be nice. Nice was weakness Mystique had always told her. But… why did it feel so right being nice? Uncomfortable, yes, but… right. Well, when it came to him.

Colossus lead Rogue to the meeting room where the rest of the team were already assembled.

"I said to arrive on time." Magneto said.

"Not ma fault the pretty kitty ran off without meh." Rogue said, folding her arms and glancing at Sabretooth who growled back at her.

"Enough!" Magneto snapped, slamming his hands down on the desk that was in front of him.

"Not a mornin' person?" Rogue asked, her attention now brought back to Magneto.

"Not one more word out of you," he said, pointing a finger at Rogue, "or I'll send you straight back to Mystique." He thought, towards the end of last night, there had been progress. He must have guessed wrong.

Rogue placed a finger on her lip and made a show of looking like she was thinking, "Hmmm, but then, wouldn't you lose out there too." Rogue said.

"Frankly, I am beginning to wonder how much your co-operation is worth." Magneto said.

Rogue moved and took one of the only seats in front of Magneto.

"Well, if ya want ma co-operation, sugar, then how's about you start the meetin' already. We're all here waitin'." Rogue said.

Magneto slowly sat back now, glaring at Rogue. Rogue noticed his helmet was off and she guessed that she could probably do a quick reading of everyone's thoughts while they were here. She hadn't done so last night because she was tired and she just couldn't pass up playing with the men. She knew it was probably a mistake not to read their minds and put pleasure before business, but she was already breaking a lot of rules she'd been taught anyhow.

So, Rogue began to drift. She headed straight into Magneto's mind and found him thinking about her. He was wondering how to control her and stop her from embarrassing him in front of his men. It was embarrassing to have some teenage girl walk in here and make him look not like a threat while he was leading.

On the other hand, he did not want to scare her away. He knew of her and her powers. He thought they were amazing and could even rival his own if she was trained correctly. He thought that he should try and do whatever it took to keep her under him and as an ally rather than an enemy.

Magneto noticed Rogue entering his mind and picked up his helmet, placing it on his head. He glared at Rogue where she just smirked.

She next entered Sabretooths, not finding much there. He didn't like her. His gut told him not to like her. He wanted to make her bleed and hurt. She'd have to keep a close eye on him, Rogue thought.

Pyro was thinking about the cartoons he was missing and didn't have much interesting to say.

Colossus, on the other hand, seemed to actually be a big, friendly giant. She was almost touched that he was thinking about her. Worried about her. He didn't like her attitude. He thought of it as lowly and not womanly at all. He almost wanted to not think of her because of it. Let her suffer her own fate. But at the same time, he didn't want to see her hurt. He, somehow, would feel guilty and more of a monster than he already felt if she was to get hurt.

Rogue left his mind, not wanting to remain in there for much longer. She'd felt weird before around him. She wondered why he cared about her like that. None of the men she'd meet had ever had thoughts like that.

She…almost wanted to get to know him more. To be the nice woman he thought she wasn't. Maybe she'd spent too much time with Mystique, but the woman had kept her alive when it came to great risk. This was a risk too. She'd just have to see how things went.

Then, she entered the final head in the room. Only, to find her access denied. Rogue glanced quickly at Gambit. He had some form of shield up that was protecting him from her entering his thoughts. That was interesting, Rogue thought, smirking to herself. She would have to learn what his abilities were soon.

Magneto began. He started to explain Rogue's background. How she'd been brought up by the mutant terrorist, Mystique and hidden away from him.

"Wasn't Mystique originally on your side?" Gambit had asked.

Now Rogue became interested in what was being said. She'd not been too thrilled that Magneto was discussing her and her past with the others when she knew nothing about them. But she'd stayed quiet, figuring it'd help to know how much Magneto knew about her. Or, at least, what he'd be willing to admit he knew. This, however, was new information for Rogue.

"Indeed. Yet, Mystique still refused to let Rogue come anywhere near me. Even when I commanded her to make you a part of the Brotherhood, she still refused." Magneto said, eyeing Rogue.

Rogue had raised her eyebrow at Magneto now. It was obvious he knew she didn't know this. She was waiting for answers.

"I did let it go for a time as I did see some reason behind her actions. In Mississippi, you had a guardian who would move you and keep you from harm. You were learning and flourishing there. We feared if you were brought here all of that progress would be lost. I had created a machine that would enhance a mutant's abilities. I asked Mystique to hand you over then, yet, she betrayed me and thought against me. After her decision to deceive my wishes, I decided to take matters into my own hands and brought you to Bayville myself." Magneto said.

Now Rogue was biting her tongue. There was so much there that had been revealed about herself that she didn't know about and it was making her angry. She was used to Mystique deciding things for her. What she'd wear, where she'd go, who she'd touch, where she'd live. But she really was becoming sick of being dragged around blindfolded. Now, here she sat in front of some man who said that he had a plan with Mystique all along for her and she didn't have the slightest clue what that plan was or is and she felt like such an idiot.

Plus, she was also finding herself questioning everything now. If what Magneto was saying was true? Was Mystique really working with him from the beginning? If so, then why had she never heard of him before? Why had she never mentioned this? Why had she kept her in Mississippi? Who were the Brotherhood? What threats were there to her?

Magneto saw the anger in Rogue's eyes. Saw her fists tighten. He smiled inwardly as he realised that he'd just found something that could possibly work to keep Rogue loyal to him and turning her back on Mystique.

"So what did you want with me?" Rogue asked, keeping all of her questions inside. She was going to get her answers, whether that be by force or not. She just didn't want to make a show of herself just yet and question Magneto in front of his men. It would be embarrassing if they knew she knew so little. It already was slightly embarrassing to have this man smirk at her, seemingly, knowing more about her than she did.

"You're a powerful mutant Rogue. You all are." Magneto said, raising, "Yet, despite your incredible abilities, you have all had to remain in hiding due to humans. Humans who would rather see us locked in cages than acknowledge us as their superiors. Well, this will soon end!" Magneto said, "I plan to expose mutants for who we truly are and show the world who threaten to alienate us that they will not be able to do so."

Rogue's eyebrow rose as she followed Magneto around the room. She never did get why adults liked to act so cryptic and all. Why did he not just get to the plan of the how?

She did think about what he was saying though. Even she knew that mutants weren't known of. At least, not by the mass majority. She wondered, if they knew about mutants would she have to continue hiding? Or would it become more difficult to walk around like normal?

"So, your sayin' humans would never accept us?" Rogue asked.

This placed the attention back on her. Besides Gambit, it seemed she was the only one willing to question Magneto.

"Indeed. As soon as they know of your abilities in particular, they would have you locked away and experimented on." Magneto said.

"Right," Rogue said, rolling her R. "Then why do we wanna make ourselves known?"

Magneto came around the table, stepping closer to her. "We do not deserve to live in fear of what the humans may do to us. We will be revealed to the world and show that we will not tolerate being treated like animals! We will show them we are not to be messed with."

"Right, so it'd be a fight every time we step out the door?" Rogue asked, now resting her face against her hand.

What she was hearing was not what she wanted. She wanted to be able to walk around free. Why was the world trying so hard to stop her from doing that?

"We will be the first to begin the change. The first to lead mutant supremacy." Magneto said.

"Ah-huh, gotta say, I don't much fancy fightin' the whole world every time I step out ta buy a bottle of milk." Rogue said.

Magneto placed both hands on the arms of her chair and leaned in. "Some mutants do not have the luxury to blend in as you and I do. Some mutants are persecuted based on appearance alone." Magneto said.

Rogue knew she was about to make some enemies in the room, but she couldn't stop herself as she shrugged, "Ain't ma problem."

Magneto stood tall, "Do you enjoy hiding your powers? Hiding what your capable of? You should rejoice in what your abilities allow you to do! You should be worshiped-" Magneto began to say.

"I don't much care what anyone thinks a meh." Rogue said standing up, "I ain't against mutants bein' treated like normal folk, but I certainly ain't willin' ta start a war when all I wanna do is go see what's out there."

Magneto had come to stand behind his desk.

"I offered you your freedom and you jumped at the chance of gaining it." He said.

"Yeah, and I think I might just continue ta jump at it." Rogue said, turning to leave. She was waiting, sure she would have to fight her way out, but she was surprised when she didn't see metal flying to restrain her. She couldn't see the men stood behind her willing to make a move against her. Well, not all of them. Sabretooth looked like he was dying to for a reason.

She did feel slightly embarrassed at having all of the attention on herself and Magneto, but it couldn't be helped. If she could just get out of there she'd be completely free, hopefully, and not have to worry about making a show out of herself one time.

"You said you would give our way a try. How does this sound when it comes to experiencing what is out there and coming to understand our way of seeing things?" Magneto asked.

Rogue glanced behind her, seeing that Magneto was now holding a piece of paper up. Rogue turned to take it from him, curious what he had to offer. She looked at the booklet he'd passed her and saw that it was a school.

"Ya wanna send meh ta school?" Rogue asked, raising her eyebrow as she glanced at Magneto from behind the booklet.

All of Magneto's men were looking at him in question now.

"Indeed." Magneto said, bringing his hands together and sitting back down behind his desk. "It will give you an avenge mutant's experience among the humans. You will also meet mutants there who are trying to hide in plan sight. You will be able to experience then how miserable their existence is and will most likely find your own to be rather difficult."

Rogue glanced down at the booklet in her hand again, curious. She'd never been to a public school before. Never. She'd seen what school life was like from TV shows and from brief memories of others, but they'd all seemed like good experiences to her. There might have been some kind of teenage drama every now and again, but it certainly didn't sound as bad as Magneto was making it out to be.

Rogue… felt rather shy at that moment. Normal girls would go to school. She definitely wasn't normal because she hadn't been to school. She did want to go. But… she was kinda nervous about it. Nervous about what it would be like. If she'd fit in there or not. She'd never been taught or trained how to survive a normal school day. A part of her wanted Mystique there to actually help her learn what school life would be like.

"What… is it you get out of this?" Rogue asked quickly.

Magneto had a knowing smirk on his face. He knew that what he was doing was a risk, especially with the type of questions she was asking. The way she was thinking of things reminded him of Charles' naivety. He would make sure, however, that she learned how cruel humans could be. He would make sure that she saw it his way. Besides, he knew, if all else failed, then he could simply require a telepath to alter her opinions. He knew that maybe difficult considering he'd only earlier experienced her in his head, feeling her telepathic abilities, however, if he locked her up like Mystique then he believed he would lose her just like Mystique. If he gave her this opportunity, however, to live a normal life and experience mutant suffering first hand, he may gain her alliance. That is what he wanted out of this. However, he didn't believe he could say this to her.

He moved to pull out a few more files from his top draw and pass them over to Rogue.

"There are a few mutants there that I would like to keep my eye on." He said, passing the folders to Rogue. "They live with a mutant who refuses to let them be who they truly are and use their mutant abilities. I would like you to learn as much as you can about them. Add more to their folders."

Rogue's face dropped at the large amount of files he pulled out.

"Ya want meh ta touch 'em?" She asked.

"No." Magneto said, "just observe. I believe you'll find that, even with their agreement to this mutant, Professor Charles Xavier, they still disobey him. They wish to use their abilities, but are forced to remain hidden by him. Watch them. See the agonies of their day to day life living under this man's rule. But do not make yourself known to be a mutant."

"I thought you said you wanted meh to use ma powers?" Rogue asked.

"I want you to understand why mutants hide their abilities. To do that, I think it would be most beneficial for you to see first-hand how others are treated and see the consequences from their mistakes rather than risk those consequences yourself. And one more thing Rogue. Do not bring any trouble back with you. You may feel that you do not care for other mutants simply because you can hide easily among the humans, however, if you being trouble back to this base that will jeopardize our safety, I will not hesitate to destroy you. That, or send you back to Mystique where, I assure you, she will never let you walk the streets again. Do I make myself clear?" He asked.

Rogue nodded her head, finding herself once again interested in what this man had to say. She was also willing to do this, not just because she wanted to experience school, but because she wanted to stick around and find out what really went on between Magneto and Mystique. What were they planning to do with her and why. There were just so many unanswered questions being proposed here which was frustrating her, yet, it was also delighting her.

"We are your family now Rogue. What you do will affect all of us and vice versa. Keep your family safe and we shall ensure you have your freedom." Magneto said.

"Yeah, about that. If your plannin' ta out mutants anytime soon, then why-"

"A plan to reveal mutants for what they truly are will take time. I believe, in-between that time, you will come to see what and why it is we are doing what we are doing." Magneto said.

"And if not?" Rogue asked.

"Whether you agree with us or not, it will not affect what will be revealed. The mutant population is growing and increasing in numbers as we speak. It will only be a matter of time before everyone knows about mutants. Tressure this time you have while you are not persecuted for being a mutant as, very soon, you will lose it. Now, you are dismissed." Magento said.

Rogue raised her eyebrow. "That's it? Meeting's over?" Rogue said, noticing how no one else made a move to leave.

"I told you, you will have to earn my trust before I reveal all of my secrets to you. You've been given your first mission. I expect results sooner rather than later." Magneto said.

Rogue realised she was being kicked out and she wasn't going to stand there and argue against it. Besides, if she wanted to know what happened, she'd just read one of the Acolyte's minds later.

Rogue shrugged leaving for her room. As she walked, she began glancing through the paperwork she had been given. Her first mission. It was something she wanted to do for a long time, but never thought she'd be able to and she didn't have to get her head filled up with more voices. For a first mission, she had to admit that she really was looking forwards to it.

Xxxxx

"Gambit, a word before you leave." Magneto said.

Gambit stayed behind while the others left. Magneto rose from his chair and wandered around.

"I have a mission for you. I want you to follow the girl." He said.

"You mean Rogue?" Gambit asked.

He'd found that whole interaction between Magneto and Rogue strange. He'd thought Rogue had come and joined Magneto's cause willingly. Now, he realised, that wasn't the case. She'd just took Magneto's offer to get out from under Mystique. He could understand that. What he didn't understand was how Rogue didn't know what the world on the outside was like. He'd shrugged off her comment about not caring about mutants, like himself, who were attacked because they had visible mutations, but he still had so many questions about her.

He knew she'd been a sheltered girl, but just how sheltered? How was it she didn't seem to understand how the world worked? He thought Magneto's plan for her was a risky one, sending her out there to deal with humans directly when she seemed so inexperienced. It just seemed like too great a risk.

Now, however, he had an idea what his mission might be.

"Yes. She has had a sheltered life and is not accustom to how the every day world works. I want you to follow her. Ensure she stays out of trouble. Beware that Mystique is also a shapeshifter and could be anyone. She may try to lure Rogue back to her. I also want you to make sure that she does not fall in too closely with Xavier's lot. If Xavier realises she is a mutant he will try and recruit her. I have worked with Mystique and lost good contacts just to keep that girl hidden. I do not intend to see all of that sacrifice go to waste. Follow her. Do whatever you must to make her see the truth and come back to us safely." Magneto said.

Gambit nodded his head and then left. This was going to be interesting.