Chapter 18: Going Rogue
Rogue didn't know where she was. She listened around her, hoping to find some way to tell where she might be. She remembered what had happened to Kitty. Mystique had stabbed her in the shoulder, something she could not stand. As of the moment, her thoughts were clouded. She was beyond tired, and her eyelids were drooping. She realized she was tied to a metal table, and even through the thick, warm leather suit she could feel the cold metal of the operating table. At least, that was what she believed she was on. But she couldn't be completely certain on that.
I need to find some way to get out of here, she thought. This is madness. Kitty is somewhere out there, bleeding. I don't even know if she's still alive, but she must be. I know that for sure. I would never leave my sister behind. She's still out there, and she's scared, wondering where I might be. I have to hurry, break free of these restraints, and get the heck out of here!
"So, you're the one they call Rogue," came a voice. It belonged to a male, seemingly from the South. After it came a medium-pitch female laugh, and Rogue nearly recoiled as she realized who the laugh belonged to: Mystique. "You see, I've been monitoring you for a while. You and your friends. Katherine Pryde is your best friend, it seems, and according to Mystique, you've even counted her as your sister. Now, that's just sweet of you. But here's the thing: she'll be dead soon enough."
Rogue attempted to yell at Stryker through the gag, but she was unable to do so. Mystique laughed again and said to her, "That gag will prevent you from speaking, Rogue, so please don't tire yourself attempting to do what you cannot. You must understand that you are the only one who can kill your sister. Kitty must die, you know that. If we are to destroy the X-Men and bring through a new age for the Brotherhood, this must work, do you understand me, Rogue?"
No, I don't understand you! Rogue thought in her mind. I will NOT kill my sister! She needs me to help her right now! She's hurt, thanks to you, you freaking monster! When I get out of these bonds, I will freaking kill you for what you have done!
"So where do we begin?" came Stryker again.
"The electrocution," Mystique replied. "And then the brainwashing process. It shouldn't take too long, however. All that matters is that Kitty wakes up in time, and that sees the children in the room far down the next hallway. You will find her then, Rogue, and you will tear her heart out of her chest."
She walked over to Rogue and removed the gag from her mouth. "I WILL NOT KILL MY SISTER!" she roared. "YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A FREAKING MONSTER, MYSTIQUE! I WOULD MUCH RATHER KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!"
Mystique laughed. "If only that were possible," she said. "But right now, we need to go back over our plan. Or do you think we've made enough of an impact on the young girl's mind already, William?"
"I think so," Stryker said.
Mystique was about to place the gag back in Rogue's mouth, but then hesitated and threw it away. "Ah, who cares? You should be able to take the pain, I'm sure. You just need to fight it, do you understand me? Fight the so-called pain and make sure you fail, because if you fail, you'll become our soldier, and the rest of our plan came remain in effect!"
Rogue felt the shock throughout her body, and she screamed in deep pain. There had been no other warning given to the fact it was going to happen. Stryker had seemingly just pulled the lever or whatever he'd pressed, pushed, or pulled. It was so painful.
THIS CAN'T POSSIBLY END SOON! she thought. She was thinking her thoughts as if she was yelling them, due to the pain in her ears. She felt blood dripping from her nose suddenly, and she wondered why that was. PLEASE, OH PLEASE, GOD, DON'T LET ME DIE HERE! I NEED TO LIVE, I NEED TO SEE THOSE I LOVE AGAIN, PLEASE JUST ALLOW ME TO GET THROUGH THIS! I NEED TO WIN THIS, BECAUSE IF I DON'T, THEY'LL FORCE ME TO FIND AND KILL KITTY! I CAN'T DO THAT! AAAAHHHH! IT HURTS SO FREAKING MUCH! PLEASE MAKE IT STOP! GOD, PLEASE HELP ME! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANY LONGER!
Her pain intensified. She could no longer think clearly, as she screamed louder than ever. Blood had stopped dripping from her nose, but the amount that had already dripped was now dry. Her mind was broken, she realized. She was failing, something she'd hoped would not happen… PLEASE, GOD NO…
And then the pain stopped.
Rogue took a few minutes to breathe. Tears poured from her eyes, cascading down her cheeks. She could not believe what she'd gone through. Nothing came clearly to her in her mind anymore. It was all muddled, and though she attempted to think, nothing came. She forced a small sound out, and it was a strained, constricted gasp, as if someone was holding her throat down. She didn't know why she'd let loose that sound from her throat and through her lips, but she had.
"Now begins the main process," said Stryker.
Rogue felt her mind go numb, and her head began to hurt. She heard liquid dripping on the floor, a pen drop on the ground, a clock ticking, her heart beating…What was happening to her?
She tried to think of her friends and family, because she knew they would give her strength…
But suddenly, she could not think of them.
She thought of the X-Men only, and how they were her enemies. She thought of a young girl named Katherine Pryde, alias Shadowcat, the youngest member of the X-Men. In her mind, she was told she needed to kill her, that she could not exist any longer…
"Now go," said a voice far off in the distance. "Get up, find her, and kill her."
Rogue turned her legs sideways, let them touch the floor, and then sat up, turned her body sideways, and stood. She walked forward, not knowing where she was going as she did so, but it seemed she now had a mental compass not even she could direct.
"Kill her," said the voice again. Rogue noticed it was feminine. "Go, and kill Shadowcat. She must not be allowed to exist any longer."
Rogue simply nodded. In her mind was only one word:
KILL.
Logan, Piotr, Bobby, and Alison were at the bottom of the stairwell, which they realized had brought them to a lower level. Logan's mind was on finding the kidnapped children, but it was more on the fact that Kitty and Rogue were out there somewhere, and he didn't even know where! He needed to find them soon, he believed. Piotr, Bobby, and Alison thought the same, as Piotr and Bobby were in love with Kitty and Rogue, respectively, as well as being their friends, and to Alison, they were her sisters.
"I really just hope we can find them real soon," said Alison.
"The children?" Bobby asked. "Or Kitty and Rogue?"
"Well, the children, too, but mostly Kitty and Rogue. They're my sisters, I can't leave them behind, you know what I mean? If I do that, I don't think I would forgive myself."
"Try not to be overdramatic," Logan told her. A small smile crossed his lips. "But I know how you feel. I count you all as my greatest friends, and Alison, even you, Kitty, and Rogue as my daughters. I love you three, because you remind me of the daughters or sons I dreamt about when I was younger. I wish I could fall in love with a woman and stay that way, but for some reason, I am unable to do so. I'll live longer than all of you, and that would be my only problem. But I don't care. I'll remain with all of you until the very end. We'll find them. Just don't stop believin'."
Alison smiled.
"I love that song," she said. "There are times when I use music to calm me down. My mother used to sing me lullabies until I fell asleep, because she thought they'd keep away all the bad things in the world. And she was mostly right. There haven't been many bad things that have happened to me. Being here—well, not here, exactly—allowed me to meet new people and become friends with others, something that wasn't as easy back home."
"I know what you mean," Logan told her. "That's why I referenced Journey just a minute ago, of course." He chuckled a little. "This world is so strange. It's filled with prejudice, destruction, evil…Why can't there be more good in the world, I wonder?"
"Because sometimes, you need to bring the good into the world yourself," Piotr said. "At least, that is all I know. I'm not sure if I'm right or not, so don't judge me if I am wrong."
"Don't worry, Piotr," Alison said. "You're right. In a world filled with so much pain, evil, and darkness, you have to find some way to turn on the light. I'm not sure who that is, but I'm just going to go ahead and say it depends on whatever one of us thinks."
These are some smart kids, Logan thought. I'm glad I've gotten the chance to meet some of them. This world is strange, but what matters is that I'll be going through this with those I love. I love all these kids as if they're my own, and now all we have to do is save two others. And the whole rest of the school, and the Professor.
The stairwell ended, and they found themselves in a hallway. It was dilapidated, they saw. But at the end of the hall, Logan saw what looked to be an elevator. He wondered if it still worked, possibly. He walked toward it, with the others follwing him closely.
"This is strange," Logan said. "What could this elevator possibly lead up to?"
"Up," Bobby said. "Or down."
Logan rolled his eyes. "Yes, I know that, Bobby, but I meant—"
"Well, well, well," came a voice. Everyone turned around to find John, AKA Pyro, standing at the end of the hallway. Alongside him were a large man wearing a half-dome helmet over his head and face and crimson armor, and a small, thin man whose tongue kept flitting in and out of his mouth. It made Alison feel sick. "Oh, you don't know these guys, do you? These are Juggernaut and Toad. We're here to stop you."
"Stop us from what?" asked Bobby. "What is it you want, John? Why are you really here?"
"Stop asking questions!" Juggernaut commanded. "We will crush you traitors now!"
"Kill them," Pyro ordered. "I'm taking you on, Bobby. We have to finish this. Are you ready?"
Bobby nodded, albeit reluctantly.
Alison prepared herself for the battle with Toad. Piotr and Logan would be battling Juggernaut together, as they were the best-made for it. Toad licked his lips and said, "Ready to dance, princess?"
"I guess," squeaked Alison. She was scared of the Mutant in front of her. He definitely resembled a toad, she thought, with his face and his tongue being the main factors. She looked inside herself to find courage, and she thought, It's showtime, Alison. Just do it. She balled her fists, and she went right at him. He hopped toward her.
Bobby and John prepared themselves and raised their hands up in the air. Fire and ice clashed, the flames coming closer to Bobby than the ice was to John. But Bobby thought, I have to keep doing this. I can't give up. I have to do it, for Rogue! She was in his mind as he put more power and energy into the attack, sending a good amount of force back at John, who growled at him and almost began struggling with his concentration.
Alison leapt out of the way as Toad jumped at her, and she quickly blinded him as the ugly Mutant whirled back around, leaving him to scream out in pain. "What the heck did you do to me?" he exclaimed. "What is this crap?"
"You know, just some flashy lights," Alison retorted. "Helps me to keep my eyes off your face." She smiled as he yelled at her in protest. "Getting butthurt doesn't help anything, boy."
Toad seemed to have something in his throat suddenly, and he spat a glob of what looked to be mucus at her. It burned as it hit her arm. She screamed, and quickly swat the glob off, but it had already burned through the leather and burned her arm. She held that spot for a moment, then dodged out of the way as Toad leapt at her once more.
The Juggernaut reared up and began running right at Piotr and Logan. The floor beneath them shook as his large feet hit the floor. "Time to crush you maggots!" he roared.
"Will you stop using that stupid accent, Cain?" Logan asked. "You're American, not Australian!"
"How the heck do you know that?" asked Cain.
"Because you're the Professor's brother!" Logan told him. At this, everyone stopped what they were doing to watch. "Cain Marko, half-brother of Charles Xavier, has a problem with speaking in different accents. It's just stupid. Act like your old self, will you?"
Juggernaut roared at Logan and ran at him with full-force. Logan didn't think he would run so fast and was hit by the Mutant bullet train, sending him into a wall. He felt his left arm break, and his right shoulder shatter, but moments later, they came back together. He got back to his feet.
Piotr punched Juggernaut as hard as he could, and the Juggernaut roared in pain as the shockwave of the punch broke something.
"Colossus, remember that if he gains any momentum, he won't be able to be stopped!" Logan yelled to him. The only person I think could do such a thing is Kitty, because she could catch on to him and phase him through the ground. The Professor and Jean could knock him out with their minds if the helmet came off. He sighed. Of course all the good guys have to be missing.
Piotr nodded at Logan, and he attempted to punch Juggernaut again. It failed, but Logan leapt at Cain and stuck his adamantium claws through the armor. Not even the thick leather armor, which could stop a normal blade, he was sure. But it could not stop adamantium blades, which cut right through, entering into his body a small amount.
Cain gasped, and he looked to Logan, who smiled. "Sorry, bub, your luck's run out." Logan motioned to Piotr, who punched Cain in the face as hard as he could, knocking him out. Logan's claws slid out of his body with ease, and he looked around at the others.
Alison was nearly done with Toad. Frustration shone upon her face, but determination shone in her heart and movements. Toad flipped out his tongue, which wrapped around her arm. But Alison had a plan in mind. She concentrated, and Toad screamed in pain. He was blinded by a flash of multicolored light, and she pulled him toward her.
A kick to the jaw took him out, his head banging hard against the floor. His tongue became limp and hit the floor, as well, still elongated.
That left Bobby and John. Their duel was taking much out of them, with sweat trickling down their faces like water off a vertical surface. But John was the only one weakening, his hands trembling, his legs wobbling, his eyes wavering, and the rest of his body shaking. Gasps of pain came from within, and he groaned.
"See ya, Bobby," said John, putting one last ounce of strength into his blast of fire, only to be knocked back by an unexpectedly powerful blast from Bobby. The blast knocked him into the wall behind them.
He gasped in pain and exhaustion. He looked to Bobby and said, "How is that possible? I've always been stronger than you."
"Sorry, Pyro," Bobby answered. "Just because you're good at something doesn't mean you're the best at everything."
John closed his eyes and gave into unconsciousness.
Logan sighed, and he said, "Well, that's finally over. Let's get out of here. We need to find Kitty and Rogue. The other kids, too. Now come on."
"What about the Professor?" Alison asked.
"Jean, Storm, Scott, and Kurt are on that," Bobby told her. "That's my guess, at least."
"And you're right." Logan sighed. Then he sniffed the air, and his eyes widened. "Wait a minute."
He walked over to another hallway and ran down it, leaving the others to follow him. He saw an elevator, strangely out of place, and he wondered what exactly it would lead to.
He hurried into it, with the others following his every move. He looked at them strangely, having never seen such a thing happen before. No one had ever followed him like that. He felt grateful for them.
Looking around, he found the button that would allow them to go upwards. He pressed it hesitantly, and they began rising. He looked to Alison and observed her arm. The burn wasn't bad on the surface, but he needed to make sure the wound didn't become infected, which he couldn't do without much help later on.
Then he looked to Bobby, who was still shaking from his fight with John. "You okay, Bobby?" he asked.
"Yes," he replied. "It's just—I've never done something like that before, and I'd rather not do it ever again."
"Understandable," Logan said. "I once fought an old friend like that. His name is Sabertooth. At least, that's his name now, and that's what we'll call him from now on. He was a good friend while he lasted, but now…he's nothing more than another enemy."
The elevator finally stopped.
"Well, we're here," Logan said. He allowed Alison to get off the elevator first, then Bobby. Piotr was after that, and Logan finally got out. "Hey, Piotr," he said, and Piotr turned to him. "You did a great job down there. Couldn't have asked for a better teammate. Before you and Bobby's girlfriends, of course, and Alison." He smiled.
"Thank you, Logan," Piotr said.
"Thanks," Alison said, having heard them. She blushed, feeling a little shy.
The hallway they were in now seemed familiar to Logan, and the smell he believed he remembered was stuck in his mind. He found himself at the end of the hallway at a door marked "DO NOT ENTER."
Logan sighed, and he sank his claws right through the door, then had Piotr tear it off its hinges. When it was done, everyone's mouths dropped open.
Xavier sat in his wheelchair, staring at them incredulously. A beautiful young woman lay at his feet, a bullet wound in one of her legs. Logan recognized her as Emma Frost. A young man sat in a wheelchair of his own, slumped over, a bullet hole in the back of his head. And Magneto lay on the floor, still unconscious.
"Professor!" Alison exclaimed. "Oh my God, we thought we'd never find you again!"
"Hello, children, Logan," he greeted them. "I was hoping you would come." A smiled crossed his lips. "Logan, I believe you remember Emma Frost?"
"I do," Logan said. "What happened, Emma?"
"It's my fault, Logan," she said. "I gave Magneto information on everything, and I feel remorse for it all. I didn't know he would do something of this scale, though."
Logan nodded. "All right," he said. "Well, we're getting out of—"
Magneto stirred suddenly, cutting Logan off. The villain got to his feet after a minute of feeling around. He saw Logan and the teens, as well as Xavier and Emma. "What happened?" he demanded.
"Erik, you were drugged," explained Xavier. "Stryker shot you with a cure for your mutation."
"A cure?" asked Piotr. "Is that even possible?"
"Yes," Magneto replied. "I'm not sure how. But I want my revenge on him for that."
"Don't, Erik," Xavier said. "It's not worth it."
"Not worth it?" Magneto said. "You're a fool, Charles. I don't care for what you might tell me. Now, where is Mystique?"
"She's betrayed you," said Emma. "She's working for Stryker now."
Magneto growled, and then he turned around and began leaving. "I must deal with her," he said. He looked down at Jason Stryker and said, "What a pity."
He quickly left, leaving the others behind. Bobby looked to Professor X. "Aren't we going after him?" he asked. Professor X shook his head. "Why not, Professor? He's dangerous!"
"It is not worth it," Professor X said. "We must go, however. I sense something is about to happen. Logan, would you mind helping Emma up?"
Logan did so, and he allowed Xavier, who used his mind to control his wheelchair. But first, he stopped to look at Jason Stryker. He remembered the young man, and he wondered what had happened to him. Though he had a hunch on who his killer was.
"What happened, Professor?" he asked Xavier.
"William Stryker shot and killed his own son," he replied solemnly.
Alison gasped. "That's horrible!"
"Yes, and it is even more unfortunate that we leave his body here. That is for the investigators to find it and use it as evidence to William when they question him in court," Emma said.
They turned right, and then heard footsteps behind them. Scott, Jean, Storm, and Kurt were hurrying toward them.
"Professor!" Scott, Jean, Storm, and Kurt all exclaimed at the same time.
"Hello," he greeted. "It is good to see you all again. Is this all we have?"
"At the moment," Logan said. "The other kids are either in hiding or are here. Kitty and Rogue were with us, but they were separated from us by a trick from Stryker."
Xavier nodded. "Keep walking in the direction you are, Logan, we're near the other children. I just sensed it. I cannot sense Mystique or Stryker, however, most likely due to precautions placed around their lab."
"I would love to give Stryker a piece of my mind," said Logan. "He would deserve it for all this."
"Don't let those thoughts control you, Logan," Jean told him. "Darkness will consume you if you allow them to go any further."
Logan sighed and nodded.
"It is good to see you again, Professor," Kurt said.
"It is good to see you, as well, Kurt," Xavier replied. "We shall talk more of this, but for now, we must keep our minds, ears, and eyes open for anything to come."
Logan thought about those words. But he realized there were only two things he could think of at the moment. Kitty and Rogue. And another thought: Where are they?
The sounds of children's screams reached their ears, and they hurried toward the sound, hoping it would bring them an answer to where Kitty and Rogue were, and hoping they would be able to find every single child.
Stryker saw what was happening. He couldn't freaking believe it! Wolverine had screwed with him for the last time, he believed. The fact they were allowing Magneto to leave without battling him was surprising enough. But what was more was the fact they had just met up with another group of Mutants.
"What in the name of God are you up to?" he said beneath his breath. Without turning around, he asked Mystique, "I need you to kill someone else for me." But there was no answer. "Raven, I said something to you. As your superior, I must tell you that you are to listen to me, and to me only!"
He whirled around, and he found evidence of her departure. In bold, red letters across the back wall. It read:
"GOODBYE, YOU PIECE OF SH—"
When he finished, Stryker gnashed his teeth. He slammed his hand into his drawer and pulled out a special handgun. He would go out there and get her himself.
But then something caught his attention on the monitor screens, something that made him smile.
Kitty woke. Her blue eyes opened slowly, and she wondered where exactly she was. She realized there was dry, crusted blood on one side of her head, and she remembered the fight between she, Rogue, and Mystique. The battle had ended for her when she felt the knife tear into her shoulder's flesh. She remembered the horrible pain, and even blacking out.
Where was Rogue now? She wanted her back so badly. Her sister was out there somewhere. Mystique must have taken her somewhere, as Rogue most certainly wouldn't have left her here, at the foot of the Sentinel.
She slowly got to her feet, and then felt her shoulder. The wound was no longer bleeding, but she felt the dried blood all down the sleeve of the X-suit, as she had taken to calling it now.
I need to find Rogue, she thought. She needs me right now. I have no idea where she is, and I have no way to track her, mostly because I'm not Logan. I wonder where he and the others are, as well. Oh, this is madness! And it's not even Sparta! For God's sake, Stryker, why did you have to do all this crap to us? The Brotherhood is still around, too. Mystique deserves my wrath for what she did to us!
Kitty sighed, and she looked around. She was still in the weapon room, and she wanted to find the exit. Fortunately, there was one not far from her. She went toward it.
Looking around as she exited the room, she found herself in a hallway. There were no more doors around her. At least, not to her left, or in front of her, nor on the wall she was nearest. But then she looked down the right side of the hallway, and she found a room with light floating out it. She was drawn to it, for some reason.
Her thoughts were still on Rogue as she entered. She looked around the room, and she saw suddenly many children behind a glass wall. She realized they were the children from the X-Mansion, and she ran to them. She didn't recognize any of them, but she still needed to make sure whether or not they were okay.
But as soon as she touched the glass, she was shocked. She yelped in pain, and then stood a little farther from the glass. "Are you all right?" she asked one of the boys inside. "I'm Kitty, I'm one of the students at the mansion. Can I help you at all?"
"Help us out of here," said the boy. "Please, I…We—" Fear came into his hazel eyes, and Kitty tried to follow what he was looking at. She knew it was behind her. Then she heard the door behind her slam shut.
Kitty whirled around, and she found the one she'd been looking for: Rogue.
"Rogue!" Kitty exclaimed. "Oh thank God, you're okay!"
But Rogue said nothing back to her. She looked up at Kitty, and Kitty noticed her eyes were completely gray. The blue irises could only just barely be seen, and Kitty felt fear in her heart. This wasn't the Rogue who had become her best friend and her sister in the past month or so. This was someone completely different.
"Rogue, are you okay?" Kitty asked. She slowly began walking toward her friend. "Rogue, it's Kitty. Please listen to me!"
Rogue started walking toward her, and Kitty smiled, only for the smile to quickly leave as Rogue punched her across the face. A sound of pain escaped Kitty's lips, and looked back to Rogue incredulously. She tried to think of what could have happened to cause Rogue to do such a thing, and then it all clicked in her mind: Stryker had brainwashed her.
"Rogue, stop!" Kitty yelled. "Please! I don't want to fight you!"
But Rogue came toward her again, and Kitty stumbled backward, only for another punch across the face. Her lip split, and blood trickled down her chin. She spat some of it out.
I need to stop this, Kitty thought, her thoughts clouded, as she was holding back tears. There must be some way for me to stop Rogue from doing this. I can't hurt her, though. I WON'T hurt her.
Rogue punched her again, and she felt all the breath go out of her, as it was her abdomen that was hit. Kitty looked back at the children, and she saw many of them were trying to look away. She couldn't blame them, as she hoped for it to end, as well.
Rogue took hold of Kitty's shoulders, kneed her in the chest, and slapped her across the face. Tears streamed from Kitty's eyes, wishing none of this was happening. She knew this wasn't Rogue. This was a monster created by Stryker, and Mystique, too, she realized. She'd fought them and kidnapped Rogue. She must have tortured her into doing this. There's no other way this could be possible. Mystique did this, and so did Stryker! I'll kill them for this!
Never had such a thought entered her mind before, and she was very surprised by it all. But the thought left her mind as Rogue threw her to the ground and stomped on her back.
"Please stop, Rogue!" Kitty cried. "I can't take it anymore, stop this!"
"It won't stop," Rogue told her. But her voice was monotone, emotionless. Kitty wouldn't have been able to tell it was her if the Southern drawl wasn't still in there somewhere and she didn't see who was attacking her. "I must destroy you. You are a thorn in my side."
Kitty was kicked in the face, and she cried out in pain. Blood dripped from her nose.
Rogue picked her up, and threw her to the ground again. Kitty looked to her sister and saw her take her right glove off. Her eyes widened, and she tried to get away from Rogue before it could happen. But it didn't work. It was too late.
Rogue touched her throat, and Kitty felt her life-force being forced from her body. Kitty struggled to get free, to no avail. But then she was thrown into the forcefield, and Kitty felt a horrible shock throughout her entire body. She screamed out in horrible pain. Her lips trembled, tears still coming.
"FIGHT BACK!" Rogue roared at her. She picked Kitty up again, throwing her into a wall.
Kitty's vision flickered. Soon enough, she would go into unconsciousness from the pain, or she would die. At the hands of her sister. It was a thought she abhorred. But she wasn't sure what the outcome would be right now.
Kitty heard voices, and she recognized one of them as Alison's, another as Logan's, one as Bobby's, and another as Piotr's. She felt hope in her for a moment. "What's going on?" came Logan's voice. "What's got all these children so scared?" Kitty saw Logan appear at the forcefield. He saw Kitty, and he yelled her name. "Kitty! Kitty, what's happening?" He looked to Rogue, saw the white streak in her hair. "Rogue, what's going on?"
Rogue turned to him, and Logan saw her eyes, realizing what was happening: Stryker had brainwashed Rogue. He touched the forcefield, only to be shocked by it.
"What's going on?" Alison asked.
"Rogue's been brainwashed by Stryker," Logan explained. "She's beating Kitty, and Kitty looks like she's near death. We have to do something."
"What?" Bobby asked.
But then they heard a scream. Logan turned around to see Rogue standing on Kitty's right hand.
"WHY WON'T YOU FIGHT BACK?!" Rogue yelled at her. "FIGHT BACK!"
"I won't…fight you," Kitty wheezed, "because…you're my sister. I love you, Rogue. You're the sister I never had, the one who took care of me when I needed you. You helped me through the thunderstorm, past the Sentinel…If you're going to kill me, then go ahead. Just know…" she coughed, and blood hit the floor "…that I won't leave you behind…no matter what happens."
She saw something in Rogue's eyes, which seemed to be returning to normal. But then they returned to the way they had been before, clouded by the brainwashing. Rogue took hold of her right leg. Kitty closed her eyes, not knowing what would happen next. Rogue twisted it sharp and hard, and there was a SNAP! Kitty screamed in pain, and everyone knew the leg was broken.
Logan couldn't take it anymore. He roared, stabbed his adamantium claws into the forcefield, and watched the glass crack and break. There was a shock coursing through his body, but he didn't care.
The glass shattered, and Logan and the others ran to where Rogue stood over Kitty, the latter of whom was sobbing as a result of the horrible pain she felt in her body.
"I'm sorry for this, Rogue," Logan said. He punched her across the face, knocking her to the ground. He walked over to her, and she began coughing. She looked up at him, and he found her eyes were normal again. He realized she was back to normal, as well.
"Logan, what happened?" she exclaimed. "Where—" Her eyes widened, and she looked to Kitty, who was now staring back at her. "Oh my God. What have I done? I'm so sorry!" She began sobbing. "It's all my fault!"
"It's not your fault," Kitty told her, trying to smile. "I won't blame you for anything."
Rogue looked to Professor X, and though she was happy to see him, she did not feel like smiling as a result of the recent events. She also saw Jean Scott, Storm, Kurt, Alison, Piotr, a woman she did not know, and last but not least, Bobby. "Why did this have to happen?" Bobby asked.
"It was Stryker," Logan said. "I want to find him and kill him for this."
"It's not worth it," Xavier told him. "We must get Kitty and the children back to the Blackbird. We cannot waste any time. I am unsure if Magneto is still around, but he and Stryker are our only troubles as of this moment."
Alison went over to Rogue and handed her the glove she'd taken off. Rogue gladly took it. She put it back on, then looked back over to Kitty. A memory returned to her mind, and she realized she'd dreamt of these events. To her horror, they'd come true.
"Kitty, do you want me to carry you?" Logan asked. "Either Piotr or I."
"No," Kitty replied. "Alison, could you support me?"
"Yes," said Alison.
"And Rogue?"
Kitty's voice snapped Rogue back to reality. "What?" she asked, choked up still.
"Could you help support me on my right side?"
Rogue wasn't sure why Kitty would ask her, especially after what she had just done. She shook her head. But Kitty persisted.
"Please, Rogue?" Kitty asked. When Rogue shook her head again, Kitty said, "I have faith in you."
Those words snapped Rogue back, and she finally gave in, taking hold of Kitty's right arm. Alison took hold of her left. The support helped her to not have to put weight on her broken leg.
"Are you all right, Katya?" Piotr asked.
"I'm fine," Kitty replied. "I'm surrounded by all those I love, and that's what matters." She smiled against the pain. She looked over to Rogue. "I'll never blame you for this, Rogue. This was Stryker's fault, and you know it. You are still my sister, no matter what happens."
Rogue thought about this, and she smiled a little. But she still felt horrible.
"Let us go," Professor X said. He looked to the other children. "It is all right, young ones. We are safe now." He seemed to tell them something telepathically, as well, as many of them seemed to blink and slowly nod suddenly without much emotion, something Jean had only seen once, during her training.
The team and the children turned around, and they began walking out. Kitty saw the woman she did not know being helped along by Scott. She believed she would find out who she was soon enough.
All that mattered right now, however, was that she and her sisters were safe, as well as all those she loved. She hoped nothing came between them again.
Stryker saw everything that had happened, and he gnashed his teeth. He took out a gun from one of his drawers. He walked out of the control room and hurried to his special lift. He got into it, hoping it would take him to his destination quick enough.
As the lift took him upward, he thought, This madness has to end. I wanted Wolverine dead, but instead, I've been forced to deal with all of these other Mutants. This madness needs to end. And it will end. Tonight.
The lift reached its destination, and Stryker found himself on the outside of the compound. He walked to one of the corners and waited for the X-Men to appear. Then he would carry it all out. He would finish it all.
Pain erupted throughout his body suddenly, and he heard a voice say, "Hello, William."
Magneto entered his line of vision, with Mystique and other members of the Brotherhood behind him. Stryker wished to speak and tell him of Mystique's betrayal, but it didn't matter. "Yes, I know of Mystique's 'betrayal.' But she was afraid of you, and so she only did such things to give you satisfaction. But it doesn't matter. Our contract is terminated, and we'll leave you alive…only for the Wolverine to kill you. I sense he's on the move, and I believe you know Rogue did not kill Katherine Pryde, to your chagrin."
"I'll still win," Stryker gasped. "This…isn't over!"
"Of course it's not," Mystique said. "Goodbye, Stryker. For now."
Magneto released him from his hold, and then left him there. Stryker heard voices, and he realized the X-Men were coming his way. Though he knew the children were with them, he heard no sounds of laughter. He supposed it was because of the "horrible" event they'd just witnessed. He smiled at that fact.
Kitty, Alison, and Rogue were talking softly to one another, though Rogue tried to remain silent in parts.
"What do you think we should do when we get back?" Kitty asked.
"I'm not sure," Rogue replied.
"Rest, if you ask me," Alison said.
They continued talking, and Logan smiled, happy Kitty hadn't allowed the event to completely change her life. He didn't know how they would tell her parents about all that had happened, however.
Suddenly he stopped in his tracks. He sniffed the air, and he thought something was familiar.
"Wait a minute…" he said.
Stryker revealed himself, holding the gun at Rogue. The bullet would not harm Logan, meaning there was no point. But he would kill Rogue for her inability to kill Kitty.
In the shock, everyone froze, and Rogue closed her eyes waiting for the gunshot. Waiting to die.
The trigger was pulled. She heard the gun go off, Logan yell, "NO!" And she felt nothing.
Slowly she opened her eyes, wondering what had happened. Then she looked in front of her, finding Kitty there. She looked to her sister's chest and found blood there, the gunshot wound visible through the leather. "Kitty!" Rogue exclaimed. Kitty's eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she went limp in Rogue's arms.
Rogue lay Kitty on the ground and attempted to stop the bleeding.
Logan ran at Stryker, roaring at him. He stabbed the villain in the armpit, and blood splattered the ground. Stryker groaned. He closed his eyes and fell to the ground.
"He's not dead," Logan said. "He'll live. He deserves so much worse." He ran to Alison and Rogue, who were looking over Kitty's body. "Let me take her," he told them. He picked Kitty up in his arms and said to Xavier, "We need to get out of here. We need to get Kitty to a hospital."
Xavier nodded. He motioned for Logan to hurry toward the Blackbird, which Logan did, Alison, Bobby, Rogue, and Piotr not far behind. Soon enough, they reached it, and not far from them, they found other plane-type machines.
"Jean, Storm, you two know how to fly planes such as these. Load them up with children, if you can. If there are still more, then I want you to find one, as well, Scott," Xavier explained. "Do you all understand me? The Blackbird cannot hold everyone. Logan, Kitty, Alison, Bobby, Rogue, and Piotr, you shall stay with me. Kurt, go with Storm."
Everyone understood his instructions and hurried to follow them.
Once onboard the Blackbird, Logan lay Kitty down on a table. He heard footsteps behind him, and he turned around, only to find Magneto there. "What in the name of God do you want?" Logan snapped.
Magneto did not answer, instead lifting his hand upward. Logan turned to see the bullet come out of Kitty's chest, and then drop to the floor of the Blackbird. "It is my way of telling you, 'Thank you,' Charles. But we are still enemies, nonetheless. Our battle is not over."
"I know, Erik," said Xavier.
Magneto walked off, and Logan looked to Xavier incredulously. "What the heck was that?"
"He came before I even knew what was happening," Xavier explained. "But that matters nothing. Put the Blackbird on autopilot, and then we can return to helping Kitty."
Logan nodded. He hurried to the front, turned on the Blackbird, and waited for the others to appear. The Professor was now examining the bullet.
Logan quickly took off from the ground, waiting for Jean, Scott, and Storm to go first with the other children, and as soon as they were in the air, he asked Xavier, "Where are we going?"
"To the hospital," Xavier replied. "The nearest to the Mansion."
Logan nodded, set the coordinates, and put the Blackbird on autopilot. He hurried back to Kitty, whom Rogue and Alison were looking over, while Piotr held her hand and Bobby just watched. Logan patched up the gunshot wound as well as he could, which would have to hold until they reached the hospital.
Rogue wasn't sure of anything at the moment. In her mind, she thought, Things are supposed to happen for a reason. But this happened for no apparent reason. None whatsoever. I don't even know how I can remain her friend after this. First, I nearly kill her, and then, due to my hesitation, I allow her to take a bullet for me and nearly die! What kind of friend am I?
She could barely think any longer. Her mind was so tired. She closed her eyes, feeling tears seeping through her eyelids, still wondering why it had all happened, and fell asleep, hoping for at least one thing to be peaceful for once.