CHAPTER 7:
CHURCH
Rogue ducked behind a Toyota truck. She had three rubber bullets and a smoke grenade left in her arsenal. As well as Wanda's powers, prayerfully.
Tonight's mission was to infiltrate and get intel on the FOH and how they operate.
How did it all go wrong, reader?
Simple, the X-Men loves jumping the gun.
Let's rewind.
Stuffed like sardines in the war room, Rogue leaned against the farthest wall, near the egress door.
"We're all together, Rogue. Would you like to share what is going on?" Scott asked from the front of the room, arms crossed. Like all the other jacked heroes in the world, Scott's t-shirt tightened around his arms, showing off each muscle. Cute, but not her type.
All eyes turned to her.
Rogue twirled her finger with a roll of her eyes. She breathed, "A church downtown hosts the FOH rallies or get together." "My plan, an easy intel mission. Two people video a live feed to the mansion and a van on standby."
"You suggest who for the inside?" Logan asked, usually the muscle and planner of the group. Now, he takes a step back and allows Scott to take control of the X-Men since the team is out of high school.
Rogue's eyes fell on Sam Guthrie and Tabby Smith.
Sam is perfect for the job because he comes from a small mining town in Kentucky. Doesn't get more American than that. A simple backstory of mutants taking over their careers to regular folk can quickly get the FOH on board. While Tabby's father is known in the criminal world, Rogue's sure the FOH heard the name and will welcome her with open arms.
All will go well if the X-Men stays calm and patient.
Xavier rolled alongside Sam, resting a hand of encouragement on his shoulder, "You don't have to go if you aren't ready, Samuel. We can have someone—"
Rogue could see doubt hidden in Sam's golden-brown eyes. Xavier is right. It is up to him because if he can't perform or play along, then he and Tabby could quickly die in the grip of the FOH before Rogue and or the others can get to them.
"If yah can't do it, then we will put in Bobby," Rogue said regrettably. Bobby Drake, an ice mutant from Boston, is a jokester. She learned from Kitty; he doesn't take anything seriously. Unable to see him in action, she's nervous about throwing him out in the field when he could easily ruin it for all of them. The Brotherhood isn't the only ones putting their lives on the line against the FOH. The X-Men have a stake in this fight. They could lose everything again.
Sam shook his head.
"No, no. I'm good to go," Sam reassured.
"Great. The rally is tomorrow night. We will be over to go through the plan y'all determine."
Logan perked a brow, "Ya lettin' us run point?"
"Ah'm lettin' y'all come up with a plan. We gotta make sure we have the same cover story for them two."
"Stay the night," Xavier exclaimed.
The room fell silent, shocked by the suggestion.
"Excuse me?"
He repeated, "Stay the night so we can all be on the same page."
"I have to agree." Storm said from her chair beside Dr. McCoy.
Rogue glanced around the room to her friends and members, "Fine. We can stay. Ah ain' forcin' them if they don't wanna stay."
"Kitty, please show Wanda, Tabby, and Rogue where they will stay for the night. Boys, if you could follow Evan."
Rogue couldn't believe it. The number of times she said she didn't want to have a sleepover at the X-Mansion, here she is, agreeing to one.
Later in the night, a group of the X-Men, plus herself and Wanda, sat in the conference room arguing.
"Wanda and Ah will be in the van overlooking everythin' goin' on the inside," Rogue snapped in annoyance. This meeting and strategy not going anywhere.
"And it has to be you two?" Cyclops mumbled, crossing his arms, trying to show off his biceps. "Why not an X-Man with you?"
Wanda rolled her eyes.
Scott complains and knit-picks everything when he isn't involved. Rogue believes that he is called a perfectionist. She is also a perfectionist, and two of those don't mix well with one another.
"Do yah not trust us, Scott?" Rogue growled.
"No, I don't," he replied. "How did you find out about the FOH?"
Rogue settled deeper into her chair, "A,h have people in every political office in Bayville. There ain' a thing Ah don't know 'bout."
"This ain' getting us nowhere," Logan said, stepping into the conversation.
He, Logan, holds a respect for the x-men. As much as she hates to admit it, he also has her affection. No matter what his history is with her family. He is the best at what he does. He gets the job done, no questions asked. It isn't his fault, and the X-Men can't keep up with her and her Brotherhood.
It might have to do with the fact an unloving mother, Raven Darkholme, taught her.
One thing Scott forgets, they're fighting for the same freedoms. Rogue does it differently. She doesn't go out of her way to protect humans. If the choice is between humans and or mutants, then she will choose mutants each time.
"Half-pint (Kitty) and Stripes (Rogue), get the van. Lance and Cyke will walk perimeter. The rest are on standby." Logan scanned the room, daring anyone to go against his authority, "Any questions? None, good night."
Out of the room first, Rogue needed air and a moment to herself.
When she needs Remy most, he's off dealing with the Guild. Shocker.
Finding herself near the pavilion above the waterfall, Rogue leaned her elbows on the wooden railing, enjoying the wind peppered against her face.
A whiff of stale beer and cheap cigars made her nose scrunch.
"How 'Ro finds yah appealin' is beyond me."
Ignoring her, Logan offered her a beer, "Ya found my think' spot."
She waved off the beer, "Ah thought the danger room was yah thinkin' spot."
"That's where I go when I don't want to think."
Rogue understands.
The feeling of being free of thought is lovely. Too bad this life causes her to think about the next step every waking moment. Sometimes she's thinking in her sleep.
"Yah come out here for a reason?" She wanted this conversation to move along.
"Haven't talked to ya since Miami."
Rogue shrugged, "A,h never go out of my way to come here and show face."
"And yet, ya standin' before me."
Logan does this thing where he plays a father figure, trying to convince her to stay for good. She thinks he's joking each time, but a gritty voice tells her he isn't. Each time, she laughs it off and moves on with life.
Let's go over why that isn't the best idea in the world,d reader.
No matter what she does for the X-Men or how much she feels like she fits in, the X-men will smile to her face but treat her like the enemy. They will prepare themselves for the betrayal while feeding her laughs and friendship. The Brotherhood won't ask her to change. The moment she becomes a member of the X-Family, her mother will make her life a living hell and her brand-new teammates. She's happy.
So, thank you, she'd rather stay where she is.
"Ah'm only here for mission purposes. Ah don't like y'all. Y'all don't like me, simple."
"What makes ya think—"
Rogue refrained from rolling her eyes. "Y'all used me and Wanda in a Danger Room simulation without our knowledge. Yah questions our ability to protect the innocent if yah ain' by my side every few seconds." through her peripherals, she glanced at him, "Let's get this straight. Ah only care about putting; down this FOH organization. Once that's done, we will return to hating yah and yah lil' X-Men."
"Ya gonna hate 'Ro too?"
"We have a different kind of relationship."
"Like?"
He's funny if he thinks she will spill their past and present relationship. That would involve talking about the Inner Circle. If that is the case, then the Kings and Queens of the Circle will make her do some things the X-men think she already does, which leads to the Circle being on the X-Men's radar.
Cause and effect.
They do not want to be on the Circle's wrong side.
"Talk to yah fiancé Logan and have a good night."
She didn't even give him a final look. On her way to her guest room, she shoved past Scott on his way over to talk to logan.
"Any information on who she works for?" Scott asked Logan.
Logan sipped his beer and shook his head.
"No, but I have a hunch it ain' for Mystique."
Sam hates church. It isn't against God in whom he believes. He hates the people who claim to love. Hypocrites, all of them. One minute they preach love thy neighbor, but the moment he loses his father, they learn he's a mutant, shunned. Mama struggled to take care of 10 kids. Ten kids, by herself. She needed her community, and they turned their backs. Spat anger and hate, saying he was a devil here to take away regular folk's jobs. A load of bull.
He tried making money to help his mother. No one else was gonna do it.
Tabby linked arms with him, snatching him back to reality.
"Nervous?"
He glanced down at her.
She looked up, her blue eyes intrigued by what he had to say.
"A little; it's my first field op."
She shook her head, "Xavier gotta get yall out the house."
He smirked and shrugged, "Ah'm okay with stayin' at the mansion."
"Don't worry, handsome, ya gonna do great." Tabby poked her head around the broad shoulder of the guy before them, "Look alive, we're next."
They stepped up the bouncer. Tabby smiled ear to ear.
The man, covered head to toe in FOH gear, glared at them. His brow pierced, and his arms were massive. Must be a gym, bro. Most gym bros complain about everything that goes against their idea of being an 'alpha male.'
"Ain' never seen ya two before." He grumbled, crossing his arms.
Sheesh, someone get him a book to read if he can read.
Sam comes from the backwoods of Kentucky, yet, he knows how to speak correctly.
"My boyfriend and I go to BAU. We saw your poster," She nudged Sam, "don't stand there, hon. Show him the poster."
Sam let go of her, rummaging through his pockets in search of the poster they don't have.
"Let them in, Tyler; we accept all people." A gentleman said from behind Tyler, the bouncer.
The way he carried himself unnerved Sam.
Tyler sighed and stepped aside for Sam and Tabby.
Before following, Sam and Cyclops made quick eye contact before the doors shut.
Inside the elaborate Cathedral, each pew was packed, with small spots here and there. Sam must give credit where credit is due. The FOH knows its target and exploits it. College students are figuring themselves out before they become bill-paying adults. They're easy to manipulate. The FOH does it well. Preach ideas of mutants taking opportunities from hard-working athletes and elastic achievers. If you're different, do things out of the ordinary, you aren't welcome.
It worked, reader.
Students and some professors filled the church.
Hypocrites.
"Welcome, friends," The man had his back on Sam and Tabby. He walked down the aisle, arms spread, "I am your host for the night's proceedings, Cameron Hodge."
Since the host is distracted, Tabby grabs Sam's jean jacket, pulling him toward an empty pew. "Turn on your camera," She whispered.
Sam tapped the top button of his jacket, "here we are. Can y'all hear me?"
"We can see and hear y'all loud and clear," Rogue said.
Tabby leaned into Sam's rm, "The leader is very unnerving."
Cameron turned to the congregation. His lips parted into a dazzling smile.
Sam heard through his ear, "Fuckin' hell."
Rogue's eyes bulged out of her head.
She wasn't expecting her past to catch up with her so quickly.
A few years back, he and Warren were roommates. Cameron doesn't correlate with her past much.
Why is that significant?
Simple, reader. Warren and Cameron were roommates with Rogue's older brother, Graydon Creed. Moving away from the family tree, Graydon and Camron became radical in college, talking about the mutant menace and how they are nothing but diseases needing to be squashed. A bunch of bullshit, and many didn't listen. Someone did because the Cathedral is packed to the brim.
Beside Rogue in the surveillance van, Kitty removed her headset, "You know him?"
"Ah do."
"Should we call this off?"
Rogue shook her head. Allowing the past to dictate this mission could ruin all her plans. She can't have that.
Cyclops patched in, "You haven't checked in."
"Cause, yah look stupid talkin' to yah self." Rogue snapped.
The X-Men must keep their heads. If not, Cameron will expose them to higher-ups, and a war will start far before they have the evidence to take to the Circle.
Back inside the Cathedral, Mr. Hodge spewed typical and unoriginal hate speech. After his few minutes of fame and some of the listeners were out the door, he invited a group to the altar to have a more intimate conversation.
Of course, Tabby and Sam unwillingly walked with the group.
"Come, come, let me tell you a story." Mr. Hodge sat on the later steps, smiling. "I used to have a mutant roommate back in college. He wasn't menacing, as we assumed. He had blonde hair and blue eyes," his hands rummaged through his dirty blonde hair, making his point. "And then, his freakish wings flared as he attacked me. Why? I don't know. He didn't give me a chance to ask."
Rogue snorted through Sam's ear.
A student raised her hand, asking, "And what did you do to protect yourself?" with fear in her voice.
"Excellent question. Tyler."
The brute of a bouncer brought a crate over to the group. Sam leaned over some students to show the camera the military-grade weapons hidden inside.
"If you wish to protect yourself, by all means, take them." Cameron stood, "But if you want to fight for your freedoms and the freedoms of humanity, by all means, join the Friends of Humanity in protecting the human race from the abominations."
"Let's take them now while we still can," Scott said in the earpiece.
Sam and Tabby took a step forward when the church's double doors flew open. Stopped in his tracks, Sam turned to look at the man making his way down the aisle. He squinted. Something about him was familiar. The man stood no taller than 6'0. His hair was a dirty blonde, with a strong jawline and hollow amber-brown eyes.
"Pick up what y'all can, now, we gotta move."
A southern accent. A familiar southern accent.
Sam couldn't put his finger on it.
Cameron looked to the group, "Well? Who's with us?"
A few stepped forward, wanting a fight.
"Good job, y'all, pack it up," Rogue said in everyone's earpieces.
"We can take them now," Cyclops whined.
"No, we can't. We don't know what those weapons can do."
Cyclops didn't hear or chose to ignore Rogue because the doors to the Cathedral blew open, thanks to his concussive eye blasts. Sam lost visual of the mystery man and Hodge due to the commotion around him. Some students fled, afraid, while the girl from earlier and a few others stood beside Tyler, ready to protect themselves.
This isn't good.
So far, the bombings have been on the FOH. Guaranteed. Tonight, the destruction caused is by them. The X-Men. The ones who are to protect mutants and humans. Right now, they are scared out of their minds because Scott jumped the gun.
Ducked behind the Toyota truck, the fight moved outside, people screaming for help. Police cars stormed down the road to investigate the 911 calls. And yet, Rogue is pinned behind a truck while bullets spray toward her.
Damn, the X-Men are forcing her to use rubber bullets instead of real metals.
"Throw the smoke grenade on my mark," Wanda said beside her.
Rogue took a deep breath and chucked it up in the air. Wanda, using her hexes, maneuvered the container in the direction of the enemy. Rogue, with quickness, hopped over the hood of the truck. She wrapped her arms around Tyler, trying to pull him down. His elbow stabbed her in the back multiple times without much of a fight. Rogue took a deep breath, digging her heels into the ground to push him into a car. Disoriented, he wasn't prepared for a side view mirror crashing against his head.
It knocked him out, for now.
Rogue took a few deep breaths and stretched her back. She could feel the bruises forming.
Wanda ran over, shaking her head, "What a mess."
"Make sure yah get the footage from Kitty. Ah want a Circle sit down, immediately."
"And you?"
Rogue fireman pulled Tyler back toward the church with the rest of the FOH members, pissed.
"Ah am gonna have a wonderful conversation with my brother. But first, the X-Men have some explain' to do."
AN: No couples in this chapter, except a few honorable mentions. Who do you think the mystery man is?