Summary: The three acolytes (Remy, Piotr, St. John), have moved into the Xavier Institute. Despite being a great addition to the team, their shady pasts are what keep them out at arms distance. (AU: DoR never took place and the acolytes' reasons for staying with Magneto are different than the show.)

Disclaimer: I am sad to say but I do not own X-men, marvel, or any of its associates

Author's Note: The plot is really picking up and I couldn't hold this chapter any longer. Even though I should be sleeping early and preparing for practice tomorrow, I felt that it was a crime to keep my fellow readers waiting for this chapter. Sadly, Wade isn't in this chapter, but don't fear the next chapter features a cameo by Wade.

"Hello readers, Wade 'Shut the Fuck Up' Wilson here, to give you your daily dose of Deadpool. Well, technically I'm not Deadpool yet, but you get the point, hehe."

Nevermind, I guess that's your cameo for this chapter.

Chapter 5: The Ace in the Hole

Logan groaned in agony as he watched the new recruits stumble helplessly through the danger room course. His hand twitched angrily as it begged him to claw out his eyes. The three acolyte boys snickered behind the controls. Due to their injury, Logan felt it was important that they do something productive and helping him watch over the new recruits was on the top of his list.

"Damn't ice pick, it's a team effort..." grumbled Logan.

Remy bit his bottom lip as he saw the ever vigilant Wolverine let his guard down around the three. Wade's words seemed to echo in his head and he couldn't decide what was worse, Logan or Wade. Neither was a good choice to piss off, as Logan would kill first and ask later and Wade most likely wouldn't hesitate to decapitate the three.

"Tha's the idea sparky, now make sure ya hit them robots an not one of ya mates," yelled John over the intercom.

Technically, Remy knew that he had a major advantage against Logan, considering that Logan's skeleton was laced with adamantium and Remy could easily charge it. The problem with that solution is that he didn't know if Logan could survive the explosion and he didn't know if he could stomach the idea. He was a thief before anything else and the only thing that he would never steal was a life, that was a code of ethic that he followed to the point.

"Great team work..." commented Piotr.

"Great team work? What game are ya watchin' Petey? That was obviously a flagrant foul," argued John.

"Hey, you two idiots, eyes off the game and on the recruits before you have to go back to Hank with stab wounds," growled Logan.

Remy's eyes met with John's. He knew that John's power gave him an advantage since it was long range, but Logan's healing factor was probably strong enough to brave through it. He glanced over to Piotr who could easily overpower the smaller man and could handle Logan's claws.

The only fault in having Piotr handle Logan is that he was too slow, or he was considered too slow, for the cagey Canadien. Also with their injuries, it would prove to be losing battle for the three. Wade had royally screwed them over and Wade probably knew it too.

Five more days was all they had and Wade left them neither an address or a proper meeting place. The only clue that they had was the pier, which could leave them with a numerous amount of locations.

Remy was brought out his pondering by the raucous laughter of his eccentric friends. He took one last glance at the annoyed Logan before returning his focus on the ongoing blunders of the new recruits.

"Mon ami, at least dey made it to da finish line."

"But how many times do ya think ya can die, huh bub?" asked a disappointed Logan.

"With you mon ami, as many times as ya wan'," said Remy.

~&~

Journal Entry 37
12 February, 2006

It has been over a month since I have last seen my family.
Even though my presence among them would have threatened them,
I feel as though I should be with them. The cell seems to grow smaller
with each passing day and all the tests that I am put through gets more
and more difficult to handle.

I feel my health is failing, but the professor claims that the side effects
are natural amongst my kind. I still do not know what he means. My kind?
Are there others just like me? I fear that I may not make it out of this
ordeal alive. Hopefully, this journal describing my plight sees the light of day.

Piotr Rasputin

~&~

"Four more days mate, how are we gone get ol' Howlett down?" asked John.

"Ah've been tryin' to figah out a way to take him down but..." frowned Remy.

"But what?"

"The plan always seems to have a lot of holes in it. We in deep," said Remy.

The boys huddled around the a table in the library of the institute. All of them fanned through several books at a time, studying the best way to attack. John lazily flipped another page of his book.

"How bout blitzkrieg?"

"John, the problem with that is that we need to be quick," said Piotr.

"But it relies on unexpected attacks."

"Unexpected and lightning fast attacks Johnny. Study history more," said Remy, "Stop looking at war books John, find a book on psychology."

"Why? They are so cool!" exclaimed John.

"If you know what's going on inside of your enemies mind, then it is easier to catch them off guard," answered Piotr.

"We're not gonna find that in here," said John, "Ol' Wolvie got a complex mind, he's an amnesiac... and he's old. Oi say we watch him."

"Ya know, dat's not a bad idea," said Remy as he snapped his book shut.

"It's not?" asked Piotr incredulously.

"T'ink bout it, we students rahte?" the other two nodded curiously, "Then, James won' 'ave a problem wit' us watchin' him."

"Can we go to Jersey first?" asked John sheepishly as he showed Remy the charred remains of his book.

~&~

Journal Entry 41
16 February, 2006

I no longer feel that this is best for my country, anymore. It has come to my
attention that they are using my ability to construct a durable soldier. If they
succeed, I think that the Russian government will declare war.

I overheard from my guards that there is an American based, government
funded organization with the same intentions on building the perfect soldier.
Even though it's been over a month, I just now found out that their are others
within this facility.

I thought that I was suffering from some ailment, which was the explanation
for my metallic transformation but I realize that the illness that I am experiencing
is from the experimentation that I am put through.

They do not seek a cure, I am now certain of that and my recent discoveries show
that they are seeking a way to exploit the abilities of 'mutants'. I truly hope that
this journal reaches human eyes, if I die.

Piotr Rasputin

~&~

"How bout we knock his block off after his training session?" asked John as they watched Logan run through a highly difficult danger room program.

"Ah doubt we can limp our asses down in tahme for him to get him," said Remy.

"We only need to knock him out right?" asked Piotr.

"Oui, but his reflexes are too quick," Remy commented as he pointed to Logan taking out a handful of robotic tentacles.

"But he doesn't deem us a threat," said Piotr.

"True, it'll be easier to approach him," agreed John.

"The problem isn't approaching him, it's knocking him out. If I do it, I'll kill him... maybe" Remy's eyes stayed on the dangerous man.

"Oi can do it."

"Fire won't knock him out and Piotr needs tahme to get into his metal form."

"We need to think of a plan fast Remy, we only have three days left," Piotr reminded them.

A smirk started to form on Remy's face. His eyes glowed dangerously as the smirk turned into a full blown grin and an idea became apparent in his eyes.

"We don' need to knock him out..." Piotr and John stared at Remy confused.

"Care to explain, mate?" Remy didn't answer John as he limped his way out of the control room.

~&~

Journal Entry 43
18 February, 2006

The professor finally came clean about me being a 'mutant', but he did not confirm
that they are trying to build a perfect soldier. The only thing he said was that it
would not matter at this point if that were true or not, since I probably will never
live to see it.

He claims that if I were to enlist in the army, I would be a great soldier. The nature
of my mutation allows me to not only increase my strength and my resistance to
damage, but the professor has told me that my metallic form allows me to function
without the requirement of oxygen, food, or other human necessities.

A general came by later that day, he spoke to the professor and said that I am no longer
required. He also said that he thinks I know too much and I should be 'taken care
of'. With my genetic sample already in their clutches, it seems that I have become
nothing but a liability to them. I write one last time, good bye...

Piotr Rasputin

~&~

Remy sat in Hank McCoy's lab, as he plugged a flash drive into the main computer of the Xavier institute. With the speed of a professional thief, Remy hacked into the highly confidential files of the Mansion of all the mutants.

"Whoops, clumsy me... How odd, that our files got deleted," laughed Remy as he 'accidentally' deleted the acolyte boys' profile strengths and weaknesses.

He grinned as every file appeared on the screen and just as quick as it appeared, was quickly downloaded into the flash drive. Watching out for his prey or anyone that could catch him, Remy smoothly, or as smoothly as an injured thief can, slipped out of the lab and sauntered back towards his room.

John sat bored as he toyed with the cap of his lighter. Piotr thanked Remy silently that he had arrived. John looked with anticipation at his Cajun companion and ceased playing with his lighter.

"Where've you been, mate?" asked John.

Not responding to the pyromaniac, Remy instantly went straight to his bed and pulled his laptop from underneath. He pulled the flash drive from his pocket and uploaded all the data onto his computer.

John and Piotr peeked over Remy's shoulders to find the data of all the institute residents. One by one, Remy pulled a mutant profile and silently read each member's strengths, weaknesses, etc...

"What are you looking for?" asked Piotr.

"A way to take him down, what else... found it!"

"What you find?" asked John.

"Rogue," grinned Remy.

Even though all the residents had briefly explained their power, none of the boys had really paid any attention to them. They only had one objective on their mind since day one and that was to take down Wolverine.

"Wha's the sudden interest in the shiela?" asked John suggestively.

"I's not her, but her power. Mistah McCoy is a smart homme and lahke all smart hommes, dey got to record everything. Look at her power..."

"I don't see what is so special about her Remy," said Piotr as he quickly read through her profile.

"True, at first glance i's nothing special. Her power is to steal other powers through touch, but Ah see opportunity. See, she can' control it."

"How's that help us, mate?"

"Mistah McCoy was kin' 'nough to record the fact dat every mutant dat has ever come in contact wit' her 'as fallen unconscious..." Remy grinned, "... includin' Wolverine."

~&~

AN: Oh my God! You didn't think I was going to write a story with Remy without it including a healthy amount of Rogue conflict did you? (hehe Rogue conflict)

"Boo! Bad pun. No one likes puns."

Shut the fuck up Wade. Don't make me delete you.

"Don't make me shoot you like I did the Hulk."

Who will write the story then, smartass?

"Me!"

You think you could do a better job?

"Of course, I could be all angsty too!"

Well anyways readers, expect the next chapter to happen between two to four weeks.

"Hey we're not done with this argument!"

"Don't ignore me!"