A/N: I'm surprised at how much this episode stirred away from my initial plan for it. But I think it came together quite nicely, let me know!
Nothing could stand in her way, and certainly not the iron gates leading onto the long driveway that formed a full circle in front of the big, creamy colored mansion. She stepped past what twisted remains of its bars hung off a single hinge on one side, the other wing was discarded on the ground a dozen feet away.
Mystique let the giant remain in the front as they advanced across the Xavier's Institute's unnecessarily widespread grounds. When laser beam cannons and web shooters emerged from the ground on either side of the lawn, the Juggernaut became their primary target, and she barely needed to do any dodging, whereas he didn't seem affected by the assault to begin with.
He pushed the tall glass door in, rather than open it, which resulted in shattering it. Shards of glass crunched under his enormous feet as he stepped into the grand hall and at last, stopped to look around.
"Where are you, big brother?" he asked loud enough that his voice nearly echoed in the emptiness of the big room.
As if in response to his question, a few more cannons emerged from panels hidden in the walls. They were not unlike those outside, and their attempts on affecting the giant were equally futile, except this time Juggernaut actually approached them. He tore them out of their sockets with the ease of opening a new bottle of water and looked around again.
He scoffed with a smirk. "That the best you've got? I would expect something better from daddy's favorite than a mere tickle" his voice was colored with both venom and eerie satisfaction.
"All this time you couldn't even acknowledge that I'm talking to you and now you've become conversational?" Mystique rolled her eyes, her arms still crossed across her chest. The man didn't spare her more attention than giving her a very brief, dirty look. "Complete the objective and then you can do whatever the fuck you want" she said, completely confident against the giant, even though her head hardly reached his waist and his forearm alone had probably more raw muscle than her entire body.
He didn't seem impressed with her confidence, still.
She sighed in frustration and rolled her eyes. "Your beloved brother is probably cowering in his office, that way" she boldly threw her right arm out towards a corridor. Whether Xavier was really there she didn't know, but what she knew for a fact is that it's where she can find the Cerebro.
The walls holding the door to the berau suffered when as Juggernaut's patience was running out, so he blasted through the wall, leaving a pile of debris littering the floor around the large opening. The woman thought that if the ceilings weren't this high he would probably punch them open just for the sheer reason that he can, she rolled her eyes again.
She expected the angry groan when he found the room empty. She walked in through the hole after him and looked around briefly, then she pointed at a fall, sturdy bookshelf built into the wooden wall.
"There's a room hidden in there" she said.
Pulling the fragment off the wall proved hardly more difficult than anything he'd gotten past so far, and a second later books fell and littered the floor with loud, hollow thuds. The small, square room on the other side of the wall lit up with white light automatically, making her eyes sparkle when they laid upon a helmet that sat just below the big, switched off screens.
Just as she unfolded her arms and stepped forward, Juggernaut stepped in front of her.
"He's not here."
"I can see that" she snapped back.
"You said he'd be here."
"I said 'probably'" with that she started walking again, but the giant's hand grabbed her in the middle. She grunted at the feeling of her ribs being squeezed together as he lifted her up. "Let me down, you moron! What are you doing!?" she hissed as loudly as she could with this little air in her lungs. Struggling against him was useless and she realized it almost immediately, instead shifting her firm, angry eyes to his small face. "We had a deal!"
"A deal?" he chuckled. "No. You just thought we had a deal."
"You stupid- I flew you out here for a reason!" she groaned, once again letting her fists hit against his exposed skin, to no effect. "You were supposed to get me Cerebro and then you can go after your brother!"
"What? Oh, this thing?" he smirked with fake surprise as he turned to face the small, hi-tech room. He only needed to take one step to reach his other long arm and grab the metal helmet. He held it up in his fingers for her to see, but just beyond her reach. "Funny how you thought I would hold my end of a deal I never agreed to" saying so he dropped the helmet into his palm, and squeezed it.
Mystique screamed in fury. "DO YOU EVEN REALIZE WHAT YOU JUST DID?! YOU-!"
She never finished as he threw her aside like a rag doll; she bounced off the bookshelf and dropped to the floor unconscious. Juggernaut looked down at her limp body with disgust before discarding the crumpled helmet on the floor beside her.
"You're pathetic" he muttered before turning around and heading deeper into the mansion in search of his stepbrother.
xXx
Ororo continued to watch on CCTV as Juggernaut advanced across the halls, but Mystique was no longer with him from the moment he left the office. Since they only had cameras in the common areas they didn't see what went down that she disappeared from sight.
Storm straightened up and looked at the two teens that were there with her. "Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, we need to know what's the situation. Be discrete."
The two confirmed with firm nodes and Kurt grabbed Kitty's arm, teleporting them away. As soon as they disappeared she closed her eyes and focused.
xXx
*Professor, do you have a read?*
Charles adjusted the helmet with a serious expression. *Hardly. The makeshift shield he's wearing on his head might not be remotely as impenetrable as his old one, but I'm afraid it might just be enough to stop me from rendering Cain unconscious.*
*We'll take care of that* the woman's voice responded in his head. *Nightcrawler and Shadowcat are checking up on Mystique. I'm sending them down to you with the report. Until then we'll be following Juggernaut's progress.*
*Yes, thank you.*
A concerned voice spoke up from behind the man; "There will be a lot of damage to the Institute by the time this is done."
"It's nothing I haven't included in my expenses, Jean" the man turned his head and sent a humorless smile to the red-haired girl standing by Cerebro chamber's locked door. "It's worth investing in peace of mind."
"But are you absolutely sure she won't try breaking in again another time?" Grey asked.
"I think she will" the man responded truthfully. "But not using Cain. And not until she somehow learns that Cerebro is still in tact."
Grey's shoulders slightly slumped at the thought that this is all to assure only temporary and fragile results. But then again it was the preferable option over risking Juggernaut being used against them at a time when they would not be ready. Perhaps when they would be far enough not be able to come back in time to save the day. One less threat to worry about was still better than it looming over them endlessly.
It was just a matter of getting over with it, if nothing more wholesome.
*BAMF* and two teens appeared at the bridge that connected the door to the midsection of the ball-shaped chamber.
"The helmet is totally crushed into a tight ball and Mystique's like, unconscious in your office" Kitty reported.
"Ja, but she seemed to be coming around already" Kurt added.
"But why did she go for the quick access room first?" Jean asked.
"I can only presume that Mr Tolensky never told her about what I showed him, despite what we thought" Professor Xavier responded, a hint of appreciation for the boy in his voice.
"But does it mean that, like, we don't need to carry out the rest of the plan?" Pryde asked.
"If we don't, it'd be a benefit of trust that Mr Tolensky will continue to keep his silence. However, I don't think it's wise at this point" the man responded.
Indeed, after a defeat, today Mystique may become so angry that he will end up telling her the Cerebro isn't what she thought just to have a moment of peace.
"Get in your positions and be ready. We will execute the plan nevertheless."
xXx
*Team B, Mystique's left the office and is coming towards the hall.*
"On it" Scott responded firmly, he and Rogue scurried along the underground tunnel.
xXx
*Team C, Juggernaut's headed right at you. Shadowcat is on the way to join you.*
"Got it, Aun- I mean, Storm. We're ready for him" Evan reported back before shoving the Link back into the belt of his uniform. Indeed, the sound of steps heavier than they ever heard them was becoming louder behind the corner.
He and Fallen nodded at each other, both withdrawing to the staircase that curved up towards the higher floor.
xXx
Mystique grunted in anger, pain and frustration, her palm placed to the ribs that may or may not be broken. She was furious with the Juggernaut and her frustration over the outcome of this entire situation was so intense that she would love to punch something and wreak some havoc on her way out. She would, if not for how much her head was pounding from hitting against a shelf when he threw her aside.
A sound of breaking wall reached her from far end of the mansion. Good, the least he can do is to fuck up the place.
As far as her plan went however, she had nothing left to do here, seeing how Xavier doesn't even have what she wanted anymore. She was just about to reluctantly leave when she heard a familiar voice behind her back;
"Mystique?"
She turned around, hardly less surprised to see Rogue than the girl seemed to be to see her. However she did know that Rogue was the only one of Xavier's students that remained at the mansion.
"What are ya doin' here?!" the teen asked, now a harsh, accusatory tone replacing the surprise in her voice. She descended down the grand staircase watching her cautiously with the green eyes.
She met her gaze firmly. "Nothing anymore. I'm disappointed to see you within these walls though" she scoffed bitterly.
"Same goes to ya" the girl responded harshly. "Why is everythin' destroyed?" she glanced at the shattered front door and shifted her eyes towards the corridor where a gaping hole replaced what used to be a doorway to the Professor's office.
"I was looking for something" the woman responded under her breath, annoyed expression once again curving her sharp brows.
"Lookin' for somethin'?" Rogue's eyes met her again critically. "Lookin' for what?"
"Like you care."
After a moment of holding her gaze, the girl looked away as if too ashamed of looking into her eyes. "...Yer right, Ah don't" she responded in a low voice before turning around and climbing up the staircase again. "This entire unspoken feud between you an' Xavier? Ya can all die in it for all Ah care."
Watching her ascend away from her made Mystique shift impulsively. "If you don't care then why do you side with him?" the woman called after her. "Instead of your own family?"
The girl stopped at the top of the staircase and looked back at her, sadness pooled in her green eyes. "Ah'm not sidin' with anyone, but here at least Ah'm not bein' constantly lied to."
"Maybe you are."
"Maybe. But Ah don't know that. But what Ah do know is that ya DID lie to me. Even if mah impression of Xavier's an' his people could be wrong, mah impression of ya is clearly not."
She turned away to leave again.
"I can fix that!" Mystique called out, a hint of exasperation underlined her voice. "I can prove my honesty to you. If you stop ignoring and avoiding me, and give me another shot."
Once again, Rogue stopped and looked the woman up and down without any real hope. "Don't get meh wrong, Ah wish ya were the mother Ah once knew. But Ah don't think she's in there anymore."
"Let me prove you I can still be that person!"
"An' what if ya fail?"
For a moment the woman seemed to struggle against herself, before finally locking her eyes with her again and responding in a firm, low voice. "Then you can never speak to me again, if that's what you wish for. And I won't try to make you."
Rogue took a moment of silence, however the woman could see the struggle in the way she clenched and unclenched her gloved fists. Finally, she seemed to snap past her defenses.
"Fine."
Mystique's eyebrows twitched with surprise.
Rogue took a deep breath. "Fine" she repeated. "One last chance."
"So, you will come home with me now?"
"...Ah don't know 'bout that yet. Besides" Rogue met her yellow eyes with a defeated gaze of her own. "If Ah decide to trust ya- am' Ah mean if- then ya could use someone on the inside, right?"
The woman's eyes sparkled with interest. "I see…" a smirk curved her lips, one without a shred of warmth. It was rather one of mischief as well as suspicion.
The teen started moving back down the stairs. "So are ya goin' to tell me what ya came here for?"
Mystique's gaze drifted to every exit from the hall. "Where's everyone? The Professor? The other two?"
"Storm's trainin' Forge. Xavier's doin' some business, don't ask meh" she shrugged unenthusiastically. "So?"
Mystique seemed to consider this another moment before finally responding. "I came here to get Cerebro. But it doesn't matter anymore. The bloke I brought in to help destroyed it."
"Destroyed it?" Rogue asked baffled. "How did ya get into the undergrounds?"
"The undergrounds?" the woman scoffed with confusion.
"Ya don't know 'bout the undergrounds?"
"Of course I know about the undergrounds" she rolled her eyes. "But there's only the hangar there, isn't there?" her eyes narrowed curiously.
"Nah, the main Cerebro chamber's there" Rogue said as if the woman's words were amusing. "Thought ya'd come better prepared."
Vicious hope, suspicion and sheer hunger ignited in the woman's catlike eyes. "Is it…?"
"Look, Xavier is a lot of annoyin' things but he's not stupid enough to leave somethin' like that lyin' around in his office, as Ah suppose yer talkin' 'bout that tiny piece of electronic crap that receives info from the actual Cerebro" she pointed at the broken-in office door. "The real thin' though wouldn't be so easy to waltz out of here with."
"Take me to it" the woman snapped, before adding in a softer tone. "Please. You agreed to give me a chance. First of all let me show you that I will use it for good."
Rogue's eyes analyzed her for a moment longer before her shoulders slumped with defeat.
"Ya better be, 'cause if Ah do it an' ya turn out to be lyin', Ah won't want to stay with ya ever again, an' Ah won't be welcome here either."
xXx
The spikes bounced off of Juggernaut's body like rubber balls, whether they landed on his reinforced suit or bare skin, and the electric gun didn't seem to do much more than tickle him when the bullets latched onto him and discharged.
Evan and Fallen danced around him in this fruitless assault, and he just flailed his arms around groaning as if there was a particularly annoying bee trying to get a clean shot. Neither of them backed off though, trying to use their speed and small height to sneak around the giant whenever he made an attempt on grabbing or kicking either of them.
It didn't take long, until Shadowcat fell right through the ceiling over his head; she latched onto his shoulders for a short moment to grab the man's makeshift helmet by one of the many uneven edges and then continue to quickly descent right through his body along with the troublesome piece of garment.
Juggernaut roared with anger.
He didn't even catch a glimpse of Kitty before she was already gone through the floor, so instead he lashed out on the two teenagers that already annoyed him beforehand.
"Good to go" Fallen reported immediately over her X-Link. Jean's voice just started to sound in response when the small device was knocked out of her hand and she stumbled to a side. Juggernaut's hand just barely feathered against her forearm but it was enough to shove her to the ground, given the sheer force of his actual strength.
She realized the shock-gun she used disappeared too, but she quickly noticed it by the wall. She pushed herself backwards rapidly before Juggernaut's other fist would actually meet her and punch the life out of her.
Evan was immediately in front of her, launching a series of spikes at the man's face. "Eat it!" he yelled. While the attack didn't do any real damage it sure obscured the man's view and drew angry groan out of his throat.
Fallen reached for the weapon another three feet away and jumped to her feet, aiming above kneeling Daniels' head and managing a well-aimed shot to the man's thick neck. It bothered him like a bee-sting, he grunted and clasped his hand over it. Thanks to the proximity she was able to send the next one just by his eyes, successfully taking his attention away from looking where he's groping for them.
Then he suddenly jerked, and not due to the electricity released from the stick-on bullets, but due to something else entirely. The giant roared, both his hands now grabbing onto his small head as he fell to one knee.
With a baritone scream drawing from his throat, he swayed back and forth in this position, nearly falling onto the two teens.
Evan felt Fallen's hand clasp on his shoulder and urge him backwards. They both scurried away a few feet and watched the man's apparent agony for a short moment before he collapsed and became completely still.
xXx
Professor Xavier found it hard to breathe and cold sweat broke on his forehead, but finally he was able to draw air into his lungs with more ease and he slowly removed the helmet with slightly shaking hands.
Jean took it from him immediately and replaced it on the stand. "Did it work, Professor?"
"Yes… But I will need to keep watch in Cerebro to make sure he stays unconscious until we can send him back to Stokes. You received a report from Cyclops?"
Grey nodded seriously. "He said everything went according to plan, he went to join Forge to keep tabs on the situation."
"Very well."
xXx
Rogue watched Mystique attentively while the woman analyzed the circular, metal door and the access panel for a few moments before turning her gaze to the girl. "I'm good with retina and fingerprints, but a passcode-"
"That Ah happen to know."
"You do?" the woman looked at her curiously.
"Of course" the southerner scoffed. "All of us here do."
She rolled her eyes and punched in a few numbers. The door slid open revealing a large, circular room, complete with the round bottom of it. The only walkable surface was a metal bridge that ran from the middle of it to the door where they stood.
Mystique stepped in, glancing over the metal panels that filled the globe-shaped walls, then she looked at the control station set up at the end of the bridge, in the center of the room. Another helmet laid there, one not unlike the one she already almost had in her hands before Juggernaut made it useless.
She walked across the room, the heels of her boots echoed against the metal. Her slender fingers gently slid across the curve of the cold helmet.
"The funny hat isn't enough to work this thin', ya know" Rogue said as she watched her from a few feet away. "Ya'd need this entire room. Ah don't think yer ready to carry it out on yer back, are ya."
The woman's yellow eyes shifted to her absently. She could see the emotions boiling in there; satisfaction from finding the technology, conflict over not knowing how to obtain it, the urgency to act quick. Her fingers still lingered on the helmet as if she wasn't ready to let it go until she figures out how to possess it for good.
Suddenly an alarm sounded, so loud and piercing in the quiet, empty room. Red light switched on and started flashing in a nauseous manner.
[[WARNING. ATTEMPTED UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS. INSTANT AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED.]]
The robotic voice boomed so loud that Rogue needed to shout to make herself heard;
"AH DON'T THINK YA SHOULD'VE TOUCHED THAT!"
"HOW TO TURN IT OFF!?"
"HOW WOULD AH KNOW!"
[[WARNING. ATTEMPTED UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS. INSTANT AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED.]]
"YOU KNEW HOW TO GET IN HERE!" Mystique shouted in frustration.
"BUT NOT HOW TO USE IT!" Rogue responded, her hands clasped over her years. "ONLY TELEPATHS CAN DO THAT! AH WASN'T TAUGHT HOW TO DO ANYTHIN' WITH IT!"
[[FAILED TO RECEIVE AUTHORIZATION. SELF DESTRUCTION INITIATED. 30 SECONDS.]]
"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?" Mystique groaned.
[[25 SECONDS.]]
"WE BETTER GET OUT OF HERE!" Rogue shouted gesturing towards the door.
The woman stared at the control setup looking for any obvious button or any plug to pull, but it seemed like there was nothing.
[[20 SECONDS.]]
"COME ON!" Rogue yelled again.
[[15 SECONDS.]]
Groaning, Mystique followed her to the door.
[[10 SECONDS.]]
As soon as they ran out, Rogue hit a button at the door. It began to slide closed just as the voice started counting down.
[[5… 4…. 3…]]
The doors clicked closed enveloping them in almost silence.
Two seconds later they could hear what sounded like blows, crumbling and clinking of metal against metal. Mystique stared intensely at the door until it all went completely quiet.
Rogue stopped by her side with an inquiring look before once again punching in the code. The door opened, revealing a smoking, broken wreckage; the metal panels fallen to the bottom of the round room and piled up like dominos, torn, thick cables hung off the top, and the bridge having broken off at the base, lay in pieces amongst it all.
Mystique gave out a frustrated roar.
Rogue just stared at the smoldering piles of metal below with empty, numb gaze.
The girl only came back alive when the woman approached the elevator and forcefully punched in the button. In response to the girl's questioning stare she said;
"There's no point staying here anymore. They probably got some kind of information that it blew up" she said through her teeth. "Let's leave."
Without a word, Rogue followed her into the elevator, then out and into the grand hall. Mystique strutted ahead of her with anger, but stopped when she reached the broken glass door and didn't hear Rogue's boots on the glass behind her. The girl stopped a dozen feet behind her, still looking numb.
"What are you waiting for? You were supposed to go with me, weren't you?" the woman barked. As the girl met her eyes but didn't respond, she softened; "I'm sorry. I'm just angry, but not with you. Come on, darling. Let's go home" she held out her hand to her, but the girl didn't even flinch to accept it.
"Ah'll stay" she said low.
"What?"
"Ya could use someone on the inside" she responded. "If Ah chose to trust ya, Ah'll be that someone. It's not necessarily a promise."
Mystique's hand faltered and her shoulders slumped slightly. "...Right" she said, as if a part of her was disappointed that she chose not to come. But then she shoved it far away, and nodded firmly. She walked over to her and - after moment's hesitation - put a hand on her shoulder. "I appreciate what you're doing, darling. I appreciate that you give me another chance too. More than you think."
Rogue just stared at her silently. After a moment of lingering, the woman let go and slowly turned around before turning into a ravel and taking flight out the broken door.
The girl stood there for another long and agonizing moment, staring numbly at where the woman disappeared, the warmth of her hand slowly fading from the top of her shoulder.
Steps slowly approached her from behind and another, larger hand was replaced where Mystique's was before.
"You did it" Scott said low.
xXx
"Alright everybody, settle down please" Professor Xavier asked when everyone gathered in the living room that evening. The chatter - mostly regarding that day's events - quieted as everyone turned their eyes to the man. He smiled warmly at his students. "First of all I just wanted to say that I am very proud of how all of you performed today. Everyone had their part to play and it goes without saying that everyone played it well. Whether it was planning, diversion or backup, you proved that you can work together as a team."
Most everyone beamed slightly at the prize, except for one girl who curled up on the couch and didn't meet anyone's eyes. The man addressed her directly;
"Rogue. Yours was the most difficult part to play" as he said so, she lifted her gaze to meet his with slightly troubles, surprised look. "I'm aware it was difficult, all the more reasons why I wanted to personally thank you for sticking with us at a time like this. I believe I speak for everyone when I say we appreciate what you did today."
"That was totally awesome!" Kitty nodded.
"You did amazing, sister!" Kurt beamed at her proudly, and she didn't even have the focus to correct him not to call her that.
"This entire plan wouldn't make any sense if you weren't a part of it" Evan agreed, also smiling widely.
As everyone broke into 'yeahs' and 'of courses' in a messy chorus, Rogue was too distracted by the general warmth of everyone's tone to respond. A small impulse urged her to tell them that a lot of what she said to Mystique wasn't even acting, but then a small part of her wanted to take the appreciation for what it is. She chose to stay quiet, her only acknowledgment of the situation being her eyes that nervously moved between the smiling faces.
"Now, fixing the damage done to the Institute will take a few days, and it's probably for the best that we don't interfere with construction workers too much" the Professor picked up again. "This is why I insist that you do go to a camp after all."
Kitty lifted her hand, hope and worry in her blue eyes. "But Iron Back already like, started."
Professor Xavier smiled but it was Ororo who responded; "We'll make our own camp."
"You mean just us?" Scott asked.
"Me, and all of you" Monroe smirked. "Professor we'll be staying to overlook the repairs."
"I can get down to fixing the defense system right away" Forge got up from the armchair and rubbed his hands together. "That dude left nothing of some of the canons though so I will need-"
"Actually" Professor Xavier lifted his palm to stop the young man's flood of words. "I insist that you come along with everyone."
Silvercloud seemed to think he's not the addressee of these words at first because he looked around, as if searching who it was about. "What?"
"I insist" the man repeated with a warm, slightly amused smile. "You did a great job setting up Danger Room today and showing everyone how to utilize the quick routes around our Institute, but I do have people who can provide me with and mount the new canons. You can take a rest with everyone else."
"Sending a nerd like me away from civilization and electronics is hardly a prize for performing well, you know" Forge said in a slurred plead.
"I'm afraid I won't take a no for an answer" Xavier's smile widened slightly as well.
More than half of the gathered lot bottled a laugh at the distressed look on Forge's face.
To be continued in a bonus part of this episode.