Chapter Eight: Stryker's Plan
And here's Chapter Eight! Before we get into the actual chapter, I'd like to share my thoughts on how Mystique could be Rogue and Kurt's mother:
I know I said in the beginning that I was ignoring anything from the prequel films, but even I can't deny that there were some things that could tie in with the original trilogy. For example, First Class revealed that Mystique's aging process is decelerated, meaning she can stay biologically young for a long time. With this in mind, I believe that she had Kurt in the 60's or 70's, then adopted Rogue years later (they could have met when Kurt was a child and Rogue was a toddler, perhaps; more on that at the end) before she ended up living with the D'Ancantos and Kurt went back to Germany, both somehow forgetting about their mother. After all, in Evolution, there's a mutant called Mastermind that can alter memories, which he'd done to Scarlet Witch, so maybe something similar happened in this case? I know, it probably doesn't make sense, but I tried! It was difficult because the prequel films seemed to confuse the ages of the characters.
0001234: Cool! Good to know that bit of trivia is true! And thanks!
Laura201112: Thank you for your feedback!
thewriternextdoo: True, we never do find out exactly how Bobby's parents felt, but that was how Bobby took it (and how I took it). I'm glad that you like Rogue and Jean being friends, 'cause I like the idea of them being close (however close you want to imagine). And yes, Scott was a big part of their so-called rivalry in Evo, but it was also because Rogue disliked how perfect and popular she was. It wasn't until she used her powers on her in Power Surge that she truly understood her (at least, that's how I see it). And oh boy, when we get to THAT part of the story... Well, Rogue does have a bit of a bigger part in that scene.
Hope10: Sadly, not this time around (unless you wanna count her flying the Jet), but you'll get to see her fly (and demonstrate some enhanced strength) in the opening of the next story!
Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men.
Later that night, the mutants had set up camp. Kurt sat on the grass a few feet away from where Logan, Jean, and Ororo were talking with Magneto and Mystique. Rogue, now wearing a navy blue X jacket, walked over and sat next to him.
"Thank you," she said, smiling a little.
He smiled back. "Bitte schön," he said.
A few months ago, Rogue couldn't speak German, but thanks to Magneto's psyche, she understood that he was saying, 'you're welcome'. They both watched the older mutants.
"Can you hear what they're saying?" she asked him.
He smiled a bit mischievously. "I could take a closer look."
"His name is Colonel William Stryker," Magneto informed the X-Men over the campfire, "and he invaded your mansion for one purpose: he wanted Cerebro. Or enough of it to build one of his own."
Jean frowned. "But that doesn't make any sense. Stryker would need the professor to operate it."
"Which I think is the only reason why our friend's still alive," said Magneto.
"Oh, my God," whispered Ororo, the realization dawning on her.
Logan looked at the two women's horrified faces. "Now, what are you all so afraid of?" he asked.
"While Cerebro is working," said Magneto, "Charles' mind is connected to every living person on the planet. If he were forced to concentrate hard enough on a particular group, let's say, mutants, for example – he could kill us all."
"Wait a minute," Ororo spoke up, narrowing her eyes at Magneto. "How would Stryker even know where to find Cerebro in the first place?"
To the X-Men's surprise, Magneto actually looked a bit guilty. "Because I told him. I helped Charles build it, remember? Mr. Stryker has powerful methods of persuasion. Even against a mutant as strong as Charles."
Jean sighed, shaking her head. "So who's this Stryker, anyway?"
"He's a military scientist," Magneto explained. "He spent his whole life trying to solve the 'mutant problem'. If you want a more intimate perspective, why don't you ask Wolverine?"
Jean looked at Logan, who had a distant look in his eyes.
"You don't remember, do you?" Magneto questioned him. "William Stryker, the only other man I know who can manipulate adamantium. The metal on your bones. It carries his signature."
Logan closed his eyes. "But the professor –"
"The professor trusted you were smart enough to discover this on your own," interrupted Magneto, smirking. "He gives you more credit than I do."
"Why do you need us?" Ororo asked suspiciously.
Magneto looked up at Mystique, who had been standing obediently beside him, not saying a word. "Mystique has discovered plans of a base that Stryker's been operating out of for decades."
As Magneto talked, Mystique stared deeply into Logan's eyes, which creeped him out.
"We know that's where he's building the second Cerebro," Magneto continued. "But, we don't know where this base is, and I believe one of you might."
"The professor already tried," Logan growled.
"Once again, you think it's all about you," Magneto sneered. Then he looked above himself, causing Mystique and the X-Men to do the same.
Kurt was dangling upside down on a branch, clearly having heard their conversation. "Oh...hello." He waved innocently.
About a minute later, he was sitting on a tree trunk by the fire, with Jean kneeling before him.
"I didn't mean to snoop," he said apologetically.
"Just try and relax," said Jean softly.
She held up her hands on either side of his head and closed her eyes. Within seconds, she caught glimpses of Kurt's memories of Stryker's base. When she heard voices quickly overlapping one another, she jerked away, leaving Kurt and herself gasping.
"I'm sorry," she said. Logan and Ororo looked at her in concern, but she just said, "Stryker's at Alkali Lake."
Logan's eyes widened. "That's where the professor sent me. There's nothing left."
Jean shook her head. "There's nothing left on the surface, Logan. The base is underground."
After the revelation of Stryker's base, the X-Men went to repair the X-Jet. Well, Jean and Ororo checked the Jet, and Logan just lit a cigar. Jean walked down the ramp of the Jet to see Logan smoking his cigar just outside. "Hey."
"Hey," he said back.
"You okay?" she asked.
He blew out a puff of smoke. "Yeah."
"You sure?"
"How we doing?" he asked abruptly, turning to look at her.
Jean looked over her shoulder at the inside of the Jet and sighed. "Not good. It'll take four or five hours before I can get it off the ground."
"That's not what I meant." Logan took a step towards her.
She looked down. "Well, I'm worried about Scott," she admitted.
"I'm worried about you," said Logan seriously. "That was some display of power up there."
For some reason, she looked upset. "Obviously, it wasn't enough."
"Hey, hey," he said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Come on. All right?"
Jean took a while to gather her thoughts. "I still care about him. When we broke up, I was a little worried about what would happen between us. He's happy with Marie, the happiest I've ever seen him, but he's still my best friend."
"What attracted you to him in the first place?" he couldn't help asking.
She smiled. "He was – is, a good guy. Most girls usually go for the good guy, you know, instead of the dangerous guy."
"I could be the good guy, if that's what you want," he offered.
She smirked a little. "Logan, the good guy sticks around."
Instead of responding to that, Logan pulled her in for a kiss. She kissed him back, and they held onto each other almost desperately.
After what seemed like forever, they broke apart. He then said, "You didn't answer my question."
Jean remembered his question. Blushing, she said, "I was gonna ask you out when 'Ro and I got back from Boston. But then all this happened, and..."
He rubbed her shoulders. "Once all this is over, we can go out. Nothing too fancy, though. Hell, maybe we can sneak Scott and Rogue out and we can double date."
She nodded, smiling widely. "I'm sure they'd love that." Suddenly feeling shy, she tilted her head towards the Jet. "I should check on the Jet." She started heading back inside the Jet, likely to talk to Ororo. Then she added sweetly, "I'm really glad you came back, Logan."
He stared after her, a rare smile on his face.
Unbeknownst to him, Mystique had been watching them both closely.
"Excuse me."
She turned to her left to see Kurt. She immediately recognized him, but said nothing.
"They say you can imitate anybody," he said curiously, "even their voice."
"Even their voice," she confirmed, in his voice.
He took a step closer. "They why not stay in disguise all the time?" he asked. "You know, look like everyone else."
"Because we shouldn't have to," Mystique said simply, walking away.
Kurt just stood there, thinking. Like with Rogue, he couldn't help wondering why something was telling him that he should know this mysterious woman.
And there's Chapter Eight! Wouldn't a double date with the main couples be adorable? Unfortunately, we all know how this movie ends...
Some more notes about Mystique being Rogue and Kurt's mother:
Even if we don't get to see her, maybe Mystique knows Destiny in this version, too. Maybe Rogue's birth family either passed away or gave her up for adoption, and Destiny had a vision of what her mutation would be, and Mystique thought that she would be beneficial to Magneto for the conversion machine. So I think she adopted her before anyone else could, but she didn't want to get too attached, so she soon left her with the D'Ancantos, keeping an eye on her for a while. I mean, these people are evil and clever, so they had to plan everything out. Was it really a coincidence that Rogue ran away and met Logan, right before Sabertooth ambushed them?