Disclaimer: Marvel owns all X-Men related things, thought I own this fic and the general concept for it.
Rating: Rated M for language and mature subject matter.
For ROMY AMV fans: If anyone is interested, go to YouTube and search for Rogue Gambit videos. Anything by "karebare89" was made by myself. I have made 5 videos for ROMY. Three are from Evolution, two are slideshows of images. Hope you guys check 'em out.
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"Cyke, what's your status?" Wolverine asked through the headsets as he and Storm made it to their designated location in the tunnels on the far east side.
"Jean and I are just about there," Cyclops replied as he checked around for any of the Marauders before he and Jean continued.
"Beast, you and Angel?"
"Ready and waiting. No sign of the enemy."
"Cajun?"
"Colossus and I are ready."
"Marvel. Are you and your men set up?"
"Were stationed and good to go."
"Good. So if any of you realize we aren't alone, you know what to do," Wolverine concluded, turning back to his watch.
It was silent for moments between Storm and Wolverine, keeping to their mission. Storm was tense since they left the mansion, and Wolverine had a hint as to why.
"Logan," Storm started, "What if we are not able to stop this attack?"
Wolverine was a bit taken aback by the question, considering Storm was normally a very positive leader in missions. He did not falter though, "What do you mean? You honestly think we would ever let innocent people be hurt?"
"I'm just terrified about Evan. This is why I wanted him to stay with us at the mansion. He was safe with us. It is too unpredictable down here," Storm replied, slumping a bit and resting against the tunnel wall.
Wolverine turned back to her and saw how distressed she looked. It was kinda like being with Rogue; the girl was always worried and troubled and he was usually the one she talked to about what was going on that made her feel that way… that was before the Cajun came around. 'Why am I the sensitive guy that the women wanna talk to?' He said to himself, before speaking again.
"I wouldn't worry too much about them. They've been able to get by like this for years and I'm sure they'd have escape routes they can take in case of attacks like this. I doubt that they were expecting it to be fellow mutants that would launch the attack, but what can you do with power-hungry megalomaniacs?"
Storm's back was still turned to the wall and she only seemed more worried at the statement. She shook her head and raised a hand to her temples, rubbing them to ease the stress.
"And besides… none of the X-Men would allow that to happen. We'd die before we let them be hurt," Wolverine concluded. He heard Storm's gasp at his statement, the movement of her cape as she stood off from the wall, but the air of the tense situation did fade, as she knew he would never let that happen to his teammates. But it reassured her enough to get back and focused. She stood to face her end of the tunnel. Not another word was said.
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"The rats in dese sewers are horrible creatures, do you not think so, comrade?" Colossus asked his teammate as a small rat ran by his feet and around the corner. It went unnoticed however, "Gambit?"
"Wha…? Sorry Colossus… kinda distracted. What was dat?" Gambit replied, barely turning his attention away from the end of the tunnels.
"Are you all right? You seem rather… well, distracted," the muscled man continued, forgetting his prior question.
"I's nothing. Guess I jus' feel kinda bad 'bout makin' Rogue stay at de Institute. She seemed like she was startin' to get excited t' go on missions again," Gambit answered, avoiding what he was really thinking about. 'Why de hell did I have to get dragged into 'dis position again?'
"I'm sure she understands, comrade."
"Hope so," Gambit said before he noticed something move near the end of the tunnel, "Colossus, look," he whispered back.
Colossus came around Gambit and looked down the tunnel. He as well saw someone moving around the corner; it was hard to see a face. Gambit switched to his headset, "We have movement in the north end of de tunnels."
Wolverine came back over the set, "Any ideas as to which of them it is, or if it's a Morlock?"
Gambit checked again, but the figure was already down and around, "Dey've moved out of range. We're gonna follow 'dem."
"Keep us informed. Over and out," Wolverine said before the signal cut out.
With that, Gambit and Colossus moved down the tunnel to follow the shady figure, enough that they wouldn't be seen by them. As they got around the corner, they saw the figure move into a raised tunnel, about 4 feet above the side of the sewers as water poured out of another tunnel at the opposite end of the tunnels. As of yet, all they could tell was that whoever it was, they were female.
The woman levitated herself to the next tunnel, confirming that she was a mutant. Gambit desperately tried to remember which mutant had that capability, but he couldn't think of anything names. 'Damn it, why can't I remember?'
"Let's go," Gambit whispered.
He and Colossus were about to move forward until they each heard a soft click behind them and a high-pitched charging sound. Neither turned back to see what it was, but Colossus saw Gambit's wide-eyed and horrified reaction to the voice that came soon after, "Don't move, and you just might make it outta here alive… Gambit."
Colossus felt horribly confused, but did not move as all that was said from Gambit was, "Damn you, Scalphunter," hanging his head as if in defeat.
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She moved swiftly through the city, all of it a blur in comparison to what happened. She contained no control of who she was and watched as everything around her took place. She felt her heart beat at quickening speeds and she felt like she would be sick. She flew over most of the state, forced to follow as they moved down and under the city. She couldn't even warn them; that all of it was a set-up, an illusion.
"Try not to struggle so much. It'll all be over soon… for all of you," came Malice's voice, as she had called herself.
"Why are ya doing this to me?!" Rogue called back internally, still able to converse within her mind. None of this seemed real to her. Like another one of her nightmares, it reminded her of images people she had absorbed had seen
"It's what I do, hon. Don't take it personally," Malice replied sadistically.
She was forced to use other mutant's powers. She turned into a sewer rat to pass by her teammates and family.
"What's this all about? Why are we here?" Rogue retorted as she ran by Piotr and Remy and down further into the tunnels, feeling as though she should panic even more.
"We're here to make a statement; that mutants aren't are weak and 'equal rights' friendly as you X-Men have made us out to be. And we're gonna do it by eliminating the weakest of all mutants… those who hide from the world instead of controlling it like we mutants should," Malice stated, her voice dripping with a morbid happiness, one of self-righteousness.
Rogue nearly felt sick when she realized who she was talking about.
"The Morlocks?! You wanna destroy the Morlocks? Why would ya do that to ya own kind?" she exclaimed in demand.
Malice was happy to answer, "Destroy the weak to raise the strong. Humans have done it all throughout history. We're only doing what's in our nature. And if you're lucky, Rogue, you might be spared to help serve the cause."
She returned to her physical stature and continued through the tunnels, using levitation to move faster.
"How can you live with yourself?" Rogue snapped back.
"I don't… I live through others, as a guest of sorts. Get used to me being a room mate, hon."
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Wolverine waited several minutes for a reply from Gambit and Colossus. His concern grew as each minute passed and still nothing on their status. He eventually couldn't stand the tension and attempted contact.
"Gambit, how are you and Colossus?"
Nothing but static came over the talkie. Frustration grew in Wolverine and worry gre for Storm.
"Gambit!" Wolverine commanded an answer, but received none, "Why aren't they answering?"
"They could have been attacked," Storm replied.
"Maybe," Wolverine said, before switching signals to the X-Jet, "Charles, we have a problem."
The Professor replied soon after, "What is it, Wolverine?"
"The Cajun and tin man aren't respondin' to my calls. Can you find them?"
In the X-Jet, the students grew concerned from Wolverine's message. The Professor psychically searched through the tunnels for Gambit and Colossus' mutant signatures. He was unable to trace them.
"Strange. They are no longer within range of the tunnels. It's as if they've disappeared," the Professor replied, turning back to the other students, "Shadowcat, you and Nightcrawler should go to the north end of the tunnels, see what you can find out. And if either of you get into trouble, teleport out of there and back into the jet."
"We're on it, Professor," Shadowcat replied before exiting the X-Jet with Nightcrawler.
"Wolverine, Shadowcat and Nightcrawler are going to Gambit and Colossus' last location to see if they can find anything."
"You sure that's safe, Charles?"
"Nightcrawler should be able to get them out of any danger should they run into any."
"Alright."
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Sorry for the long delay. I'll try to update faster next time. School has been such a hassle lately. Only a few weeks left and I should be in a better state to write chapters. This chapter wasn't very well thought out, but everything after this is FULLY planned out in my head. It's disappointing, but it WILL be better next chapter. Please have faith in it.
Kk, read, review, comment, and suggest, but no flames please.
Until Next Time…
