Perhaps all too soon the metalic orbs Rogue was riding in came to a halt. Slowly, the top opened and she emerged. She glanced around. She turned to her left and noticed John. He had just extinquished a flame. He was wearing an orange uniform; one Rogue had never seen him in actually. Sher heself wore a tight fitting black uniform. Around her waist was a brown belt that held various small weapons. Her long hair was pulled back into a pony-tail.

She turned as Piotr stood from the last orb. He transformed into his metal form then glanced to the center where the largest orb had landed. It opened and the five acolytes arranged themselves on either side of it. Why? Rogue wasn't sure. Something Magneto wanted them to do. No one would see, no one would care, but if that's what he wanted… why not amuse him.

Once past them, Magneto turned to look at them. "I shall be in the city, watching. Now, get out of sight before the X-men get here."

They nodded, and he rose into the air and flew off.

"Rogue." Piotr said, coming up next to her as they made their way away from the orbs.

Rogue looked up at him. "What?"

He shifted, his hand now flesh. "I want you to absorb some of my powers. You shouldn't be fighting without any."

"But Ah will be, Ah've got mine." She didn't want to weaken him before a fight.

"And they'll have theirs, and they won't have to be up close in order to use them. I'll be fine Rogue. Take some." He said firmly.

"But-"

"I'll just make you."

Rogue sighed. "Fihne, think about ya're powers." And with that, she made breif contact. Piotr Froze, stumbled, then gathered himself together. "Sorry."

"Don't be." He said simply.

"We can wait here." Sabertooth said as they came to a pile of wooden crates. He climbed up onto them and peered around, obviously waiting for something. Pyro climbed up behind him but didn't look for anyone, just sat down and let out a spurt of fire and began to shape it.

Sabertooth growled. "Can't see anything, too much stuff in the way. Someone go check it out, and don't be seen."

Rogue shrugged. "Want meh ta? Ah'm the smallest?"

"Yes." Gambit said, shortening his bowstaff to put under his trench. "But Gambit's the sneakiest."

"Ya got that right." Rogue muttered.

Remy frowned. "Cher, Remy never said he was anythin' he wasn't."

"Cept' sincere."

"Now dat's not true." Remy replied defensively, now facing her fully.

"Oh, it's not?" Rogue stiffened. "Sure didn' seem like that while ya were kissin' that woman."

"I was drunk!" He closed his eyes, calming himself. "Cher, I t'ink she spiked m'drink."

"Of course she did." Rogue rolled her eyes.

"Rogue, why would I do summin like dat when we were on a date," He stepped toward her, "an' I'd jus' found out dat I could-"

"That's enough!" Growled Sabertooth. "I don't want to be hearing about you're personal lives, and I'm sure Magneto wouldn't appreciate the arguing! Gambit, go check things out. Rogue, just shut up." He growled.

Rogue glared at Sabertooth but said nothing. Piotr put a comforting hand on her shoulder before moving over to a crate and sitting down. Rogue moved over and sat down next to him, examining her gloved hands.

Not long after that Remy returned. "Dey're here. Gambit left dem a greeting card." Just then there was an explosion. Remy carelessly jumped onto a crate, sitting on it, lax, his cards in hand.

Sabertooth merely grunted in response to Remy's statement.

Just then, all the metal in the area (which was a lot) started shifting, lifting, moving, rearranging. John saw this as his cue to emitt large flames and set the further back crates on fire. Rogue rolled her eyes and Piotr got to his feet, completely covered in metal. Rogue stood up too and put a hand on her hip, glaring toward the X-men she could now clearly see, and were now looking at them. Sabertooth sent a growl in their direction. Remy decided to remain seated, calmly shuffling the deck of cards, not even looking at the X-men.

Gambit lifted his demonic eyes to finally glance the noble X-men then lifted a card as well, which he quickly charged, threw toward them, then proceeded to throw more. Immediately the X-men dove for cover, all but Beast who'd choosen that moment to lunge himself at Sabertooth. Prepared, Sabertooth jumped back, ready to attack, a viscious grin on his lips.

Remy got to his feet, placing them on the ground and Rogue and Piotr decided to get down from the crates then as well. John, however, was satisfied with his spot. He did, however, choose to kick a nearby, flaming barrel toward the X-men. The one known as Spyke launched himself away from it. Rogue decided, with him now seperated from the group, she'd take care of him. John seemed to have a handle on the telekinetic, now shaping a huge unknown form in the air, like a monster, to attack her.

"Hey Spikey!" Rogue called. Spyke turned around just in time to receive a heel in his side. He fell onto his side, hard, 'oofing' as he hit the asphalt.

Rogue lifted her leg in an axil kick, aiming for Spyke's ribs, but he'd lifted an arm and had aimed a spyke at her. Thinking quickly, she triggered Piotr's mutation and her body shifted into metal, deflecting the weapon.

Spyke rolled out of the way of her foot and it met the ground, cracking into it. It was then that the rain started. Rogue looked up, glanced over, then noticed John glaring toward a flying woman with dark skin and light hair.

"That's right Auntie-O! Show that fire ant whose boss!" Evan whooted with amusement. Rogue looked at him annoyed.

"Sorry sugah, at the moment, Ah'm boss."

He turned with a dazed 'Wha?', and then Rogue's metalic fist ramned into his face, knocking him out cold. She bent over him while letting the metal on her fist recede. She touched his face, let her finger linger, then pulled back, putting a hand to her head.

Regaining herself, she turned toward Storm who was currently aiming for John. "Hey Weatherwitch!" Rogue yelled out as she ran toward her, gaining her attention. Rogue immediately lifted her arm and let a series of spikes shoot out of her arm at the woman.

Startled, Storm's eyes widened and she bolted upward into the sky, out of the way.

Elsewhere, Remy was whipping cards at a disoriented Lance. "Can't concentrate while yo're running?" Remy taunted.

Lance skitted to a halt and clenched his fist, trying to trigger his mutation, but immediately had to dodge an explosive card. The explosion was too close though and for a second he couldn't see. Remy took this time to whip out his bowstaff, run at him, and whack him in the back with it.

With a grunt of pain Lance stumbled forward. He whirled around just in time to see the staff come down on him again. He lifted his arms and it hit his forarms instead of his head.

"Stupid Cajun!" He growled.

Remy merely laughed and brought the staff around and down, now hitting toward Lance's ribs. Lance wasn't able to block this and was forced hard onto the ground. "You-" He rolled away as the staff arched downward for his chest.

Jumping to his feet, Lance invoked his mutant powers and the ground began to shake. Remy moved his feet apart and bent his legs for balance, but the ground under him gave an abrupt jerk and he was downward onto his back.

The rumbling didn't stop even then and rocks were beginning to hit him. Swiftly, he reached into his pocket, grabbed a card, and threw it at Lance. The following explosion, right at Lance's feet, sent him hurteling back and the ground stopped shaking.

Remy got to his feet and looked at Lance, who laid dazed, on the asphalt.

"Ha! Hit the Toad, win the prize!" Todd taunted.

Piotr thought little of the battle. He didn't want to be fighting, but the fact that he didn't even like the Brother Hood made it easier. However… Kitty was an X-man, and they were fighting the X-men. He hoped she was alright.

In response to Todd's words, Piotr picked up a long, metal beam and hurtled it at Toad who shrieked. He jumped into the air and landed on the moving beam, ran across it, and used it to launch himself at Colossus.

"Miss! And you're body slammed!" Todd yelled, before landing on Piotr's chest… to no avail. Piotr would have raised an eyebrow, but didn't. Had this kid actually thought he'd be able to bring him down that easily?

Toad laughed nervously as he realized what he'd done, but Piotr ignored it and grabbed the back of his uniform, lifting him up and to the side.

"A strong one eh?" Piotr turned to look to see who'd said that. No way he'd miss that kid. The Blob was standing not too far away, a smug look on his face. "Let's compare."

Todd whimpered. "No, uh, we-w-we can talk about-" Piotr flung the toad-boy away from him and as he did he heard Blob's shout. Piotr turned back to look at him and then he felt the impact. He was thrown back onto the ground, and slid into the side of a building.

Piotr, dazed, put his hand to his head and rubbed it. A moment later, he felt gentle hands touch his shoulder. He looked back. "Katya?" He questioned, but before he got an answer she'd phased him through the wall and pulled him into the building.

"Sorry." She muttered, then phazed him through the ground, then unphased. She stood up, looked at him guiltily, then phased out.

Well, at least he knew she was alright. Now, to get himself out of that position, his fists trapped within the asphalt. He could manage…

Wanda, Scarlet Witch, Magneto's daughter, stood, watching the chaos unfolding before her with very little interest. His lackys meant nothing to her. All she wanted to find was Magneto. She wanted to find him, and kill him, and that's exactly what she was going to do.

Turning to face away from the fighting, she looked carefully at the rest of the city. Her eyes found its target, Magneto. He was atop a large building overlooking the pier where they were fighting.

Clenching her fists, Wanda moved toward her father, the area around her quacking under the pressure of her powers.

Storm had noticed the teen, and now followed catiously, looking for whatever it was Wanda was looking at. Following the gaze, she saw the culprit of the current fiasco. Erick Magnus Lenshur.

"There! It's Magneto!" She called out into her communicator.

Hardly a moment later, the ground began to shake.

Knowing what this meant, Remy ran for the orbs. He didn't want to get caught up in the crossfire that was going to follow.

Reaching them he saw Piotr, John, and Sabertooth get to theirs. He glanced around. "Where's cherie?!" He questioned.

Piotr turned, looking for her.

"It doesn't matter, getting in!" Sabertooth growled.

"No! Not wit'out cher!" He replied, turning on his heel. Piotr seemed to have the same intention, and he too turned around.

"Idiots!" Sabertooth growled as the orb closed around him.

"Dere!" Remy pointed. Rogue was frozen in place, her fist posistioned in a halted punch, right in front of Jean.

Both Remy and Piotr hurried toward their captured commrade, but something wirey grasped their limbs. Their orbs were attacking them, grasping them, and swallowing them up. Once inside, the orbs took off, leaving Rogue behind.

Once again, so sorry about the delay. like I've said before, very little motivation nowa days with X-Evo off the air and TONS and TONS of stuff to do. Sorry that I'm not going to reply to all the reviews. Next time maybe, but I know it won't get posted today if I choose to do that annnnd... that wouldnt' be good... I don't think. Blarg. Crysala