Sorry it has taken so long to do another chapter. I'm trying my best to get it finished but not to rush the ending. I just wanted to say thank you to every one that reviews my chapters i really think it's lovely.
Rogue began to stir, she knew she was conscious but did not have the energy to open her heavy eye lids, so she just lay there, against a cold hard surface, struggling to catch her breath. She knew she shouldn't be just laying here, she could understand that she was probably in serious trouble but she just did not have the energy to care, all her wanted right now was to fall back into the deep dreamless sleep she had just woken from. But that was proving impossible as the pounding inside her head was getting stronger and sharper with every second. Rogue tried to take a couple of deeper breaths as she felt like she was choking or being choked, but nothing helped, in fact she was feeling worst with every second. With the little energy she could muster from deep within, she managed to raise her aching right arm slowly up too her neck where she felt a metal collar fasten tightly. Pathetically she tried tugging at it but she was too week and her arm flopped uselessly back to her side. Rogue's left arm was broken she was sure of it, the pain was intense, her ribs too where damaged some how. Infact she was in horrific pain all over her poor body, she wimpered as the darkness took hold of her again, and she was thankful.
The next time Rogue woke, she managed to open her tired eyes, but immediately closing them as the bright florescent lighting strip burnt her eyes, once the stinging had subsided Rogue began to open them little by little, bit by bit, getting use to the brightness of the room until she was able to look at the ceiling above her, which was very much like the infirmary back at the mansion, the memory of which hurt, so she concentrated on the white plastic tiles with large strip light over head, running the length of the ceiling, if she listened she could hear them faintly buzzing around her. Rogue turned her aching head to her right attempting to make out the room she was in, She realised that she wasn't on a hard floor, but a hard mattress on a very low bed in a white clinical room, no furniture, no colour, no natural light, and no warmth, but the thing that stuck her the most was the fact that there was no visible door. She knew this place, she had been here before, or somewhere very much like it.
"shit" she whispered, utterly devastated.
"I have managed to get a location on Rogue and it's as I feared she has been taken to an underground labourites used by the government. It's situated just out side of Glendale" the professor voice was calm and collected as he delivered this news to the awaiting team. "Now, we don't know any thing about these people so I would beg of caution, and be alert for any thing. You'll find Rogue at the deepest part of the facility, but I fear I can not make a connection with her, and I'm afraid she is in great danger so you must hurry"
"Professor how do you know where she is?" asked Scott
"I have a person working in the government top secret offices that sympathise to the mutant cause, they feel what is being done to Rogue is wrong and have offered this information to help"
"Can you trust them?" asked Storm wary
" Yes, I am positive we can" the professor reassured them
" Well what are we waiting for!" snapped Remy from the back of the war room "lets go!"
"Ok people, you've heard the Professor lets go get Rogue back" said Scott
Rogue was conscious again, but this time she did not want to open her eyes, because she feared what she might see surrounding her. She was in pain, her arms burning, like red hot pokers where being ran up and down them over and over again. She could sense the people around her, she could faintly hear their muffed voices, but still she didn't open her eyes.
"Ok, that is the last one. All we can do now is sit and wait for the results, bandage up her arms will one of you, we don't want her bleeding to death on us now" said one of the voices, slight amusement in his tone. "then get her back into the observation room"
"Do we need the collar again Sir?"
"No, she'll be pretty weak anyway and we need her powers to absorb the new strands" the first man replied.
Rogue could feel the movement, underneath her as she was moved into another room. The pain was getting worst, the heat had slowly moved up her arms and into her chest, burning her from the inside, it took all her effort and concentration not to cry out in agony.
Rogue was left all alone in a dark room while she endured the torture. For days she suffered in silence, never making a sound, never letting her captives know that she was in agony because she was stronger than them, stronger than this!
"Rogue?" said a voice so soft and sweet "Rogue, stay with me baby, we're coming"
"Remy" she whispered, "where are you?" Rogue opened her eyes, hoping to God Remy would be in room but he wasn't, she was still alone and still in the white room. She was curled up against the cold hard wall, trying desperately to get something cool against her burning skin. Tears pricked the corner of her eyes as she thought about the situation she had found her self in yet again. 'why did ah leave, ah was safe!' she cried to her self. For the past few days she had thought about Remy, imaging him here with her in this room, watching over her and keeping her safe. It helped her take her mind off all the pain and hurt that she was going through and she'd give anything to have him here. But then Rogue's sceptical mind kicked in, the side of her brain that talked sense. He dumped you, and now he was with his soon to be wife and child, there was no place for Rogue in his life anymore, so maybe she was better off here, alone, away from people so she could suffer on her own. She had always thought of the Xavier Mansion as her home, but it was too good to be true. No one could be as lucky as her, to find lovely friends and supportive boyfriend, a great teacher and a happy life all in one place. She should have known she was not good enough for it, and would be taken from her some day. She was a freak, the things she could do, the power she had was not normal even for a mutant. Maybe she didn't deserve a normal life, maybe this was it.
Rogue closed her eyes as tight as she could to block out the harsh light, but also trying to stem the flow of tears. She was exhausted, mentally and physically, maybe she could find the strength if she had something else to live for but she didn't, not any more. She wanted to die more than anything else.
" From the data we have collected it is very bad news" Doctor Evans said seriously to Carol Danvers in the medical office next door to Rogues cell. "It looks like all the DNA strands that X has been subjected to over the past few years have been rejected completely by her body"
"What does that mean?" Carol snapped
"It means… well if she was a computer, the last course of Strands we gave her has wiped her hard drive, leaving her at the factory settings" he stammered. Dr Evans was afraid of Ms Danvers, as she was a very powerful person in the US military. She raised a perfectly shaped eye brow in reply.
"Subject X is losing her powers. But she is retaining her original absorption ability"
Ms Danvers ran her hand across her tired perfect face "It is not a total waste, we can start again from fresh" she paused for a second "get it ready for surgery, we'll start with the self healing strand like before"
"But Ms Danvers, to begin giving her surgery of any kind could prove very dangerous for her, maybe if we waited…."
"No!" she snapped " We have two weeks until my boss starts expecting a fully working weapon and heads will roll if he does not get what he asks for, do you understand me?" She was inches away from Evan's face, her expensive perfume filling his head.
"Yes Ma'ma" the Dr replied, quickly exiting the office to begin getting ready for the surgery. What else could he do?
The government facility entrance was deep in the center of Glendale forest, hidden away by hundreds of dense trees and foliage. The perimeter was surrounded by high electrical fences and sharp barbed wire, but was no deterrent for the x men, who once the fence had been blown apart by one of Gambits charged cards, walked carefully over the sparking remains. In the center of the complex was a tiny crumbling building, from the out side it looked like nothing, an old derelict shell, but they knew it was the entrance to the under ground labs.
"Right through there team" Scott pointed out small building.
"Holt, your under arrest" came a shout from behind them. The team turned around to see about 20 armed military personal stood pointing their guns at then.
"Ah, the fun part" said Wolverine, his sharp claws appearing from in between his knuckles. "it hardly seems fair" he turned to smile at the rest of the team, "lets finishes these and get Rogue" he said before slashing the chest of two soliders.
Rogue could feel a presence in the room, she was no longer alone. As fast as she could manage she pulled her self up off the floor, staggering to her feet, using the wall for support. She had decided in the last couple of days that if they were to come for her again she'd put up one hell of a flight!
"Sweet heart you look rough, here let me help you" said a cold female voice. She bent down and grabbed Rogue under her arm pulling her upright her feet just slightly touching the floor. Rogue let out a cry. "Yes that'll be your broken ribs or may be your broken arm, I don't know. But you did have to be punished for running away" she held Rogue tightly by one arm breathing into her face. "And if you think you'll just heal your self, no harm done then your wrong. That collar around your pathetic neck will prevent you from using you powers, oh wait… no, no sorry I am mistaken. You no longer require the collar my dear, you see you no longer have any of those abilities, what a shame, you'll have to heal like a normal person now and not like the freek you are" She grabbed hold of the metal collar and pulled it loose.
She let go of Rogues arm and she quickly dropped to the floor, letting out another small scream as the pain racked her whole body. She was breathing hard and fast trying to get enough oxygen to her dizzy head but this was hurting her so intensely. Using her fingers she pulled her exhausted body slowly across the glossy floor, like a wounded animal she craved the protection of something against her back. She managed to get to cell wall and lent against it's cool surface before loosing conscious again.
Three hours later when she opened her eyes she could see more clearly, and she was alone. The pain hit her straight away, why couldn't she stay a sleep then at least she would not feel this. She tried to stand but the emense pain from her broken bones was too much to bear so she just sat there tears rolling down her cheeks. The room was silent apart from Rogues cries of pain and her weeping. She looked around in despair no windows to escape from, and four solid wall surrounding her. And she didn't even have her powers, she was lost, and alone. "Oh Remy" she whispered "please find me"
At that moment a door in the wall opened and in walked a very tall, Strikingly beautiful women, long blonde hair pinned tightly to the back of her head, she was dressed in white overalls.
"I see your awake again" she said dropping a small tray of food onto the floor "you'd better eat, don't want you dying on us, not after all the effort we put into your creation, Plus we could do with your strength building up for the surgery the afternoon"
Rogue could feel her anger rising, 'creation' 'surgery' she was a person for gods sake how dare they!
"Who are you, you have no rights over me, you can't keep me here, it's illegal." she managed to wisper, using the little amount of energy she had left
"Hunny, no one cares for you so no one will notice you are gone, we can do what the hell we like" she smiled nicely, like there where discussing the weather!
"My friends…… they will" Rogue croaked
"your friends will not even be looking for you. You made it very clear you wanted to be left alone" she smiled at her, coldly.
"No…They will" Rogue couldn't manage to complete the sentence, she felt sick with dread and she was scared.
"Don't hold your breath sweets"
"Why me?" Rogue whispered, trying to hold back the tears pricking her eyes
"Awww Hunny don't take it personally, I'm very much like you too but I'm used for my strength, but you, your powers are endless" Carol said, like she was talking to a small child. She pulled up the top of her tight cotton pants and bent down to face Rogue on her level "your parents gave me the permission to use you. They knew what you we're from an early age, so they dumped you on your aunt. Once you powers had developed that's when she called us to come and collected you to start work, you see you are very valuable to us, we have never met another mutant that could hold on to DNA stands like you. Hell if I could absorb powers, I'd gladly put myself forward for these test, the power you will have!"
They looked each other in the eye, Rogue looked back in despair, hurt and anger at what she had heard. How dared they treat her like some lab rat, all just because she was born a bit different.
Carol stood up "your are our greatest weapon, that is once we have you back to your former power and strength and give you a bit more discipline. Can't have you running off again, you caused us a great deal of trouble and I'll not……"
The concealed door slid open and another person in a white coat walked in. this time it was a man, looking hashed and slightly worried.
"Ms Danvers, we have a serious situation!" he stumbled over his words "the compound has been breached"
"what!! She screeched spinning around on her heel to face the trembling man "tell me you are joking Evan!"
"I'm sorry Madame but it looks like they have breeched all security and are currently in the floors above, they'll be here soon, we need to leave. I have already started excavating and destroying the evidence" he was sweating with nerves, and could not look into Carol Danver furious face.
This was her time to act, if she didn't do anything, she'll be carted off never to be seem again. Rogue just knew it was the X men upstairs, maybe Gambit was with them come to take her home. The feeling of joy and excitement that gave her the strength to push forward from the wall and grab hold of Danvers leg just under her pants around her ankle.
She gasped as the energy followed from Carol to herself, so quickly, like her body had been starving and was trying to take as much as possible. Danvers let out a startled screen or pain and confusion. Dr Evan ran from the room leaving her behind with Rogue.
Rogue could feel her strength returning to her, it was time to let go of Carol but for some reason she could not do it, her hand would not realise it's grip. Panic filled her, if she did not let go, Carol would be dead.
She couldn't do it, she was killing her and there was nothing she could do about it. I dark fog began to creep over her eyes, blocking out all sounds then it took her vision and she fainted on the cold floor.
The facility was full of smoke and breathing was becoming difficult. The fighting had been intense but so far all the team has accounted for.
"Right split up, the Proffessor said she'll be down here on this level somewhere" said Scott.
The team split up and searched the many halls and passage ways.
Remy was running along a narrow corridor, all white. Each door he passed on the way he kicked open, but found nothing inside. His fustration was growing, he knew his time, Rogues time was running out. "Any luck yet" he shouted over the radio all replies came back as negitive.
After ten minutes of searching every room, he was beginning to lose hope. He reached the end of another corridor that looked just the say as all the rest, putting his hand on the handle he went to open it. It was locked, hope sprang into his heart. "please" he took out a card from his pocket and charged it up too the max, stepping out the way of the blast he threw it at the steel door. The explosion was tremendous, but it worked, it had blown the door clean off it's hinges. The thick black smoke filled the room so he could barely see a thing, finally when it parted he saw Rogue. She was lay on her front in the center of the room her arm out stretched holding onto a very still looking women with blonde hair dressed in a lab coat. She looked dead. A cry escape his lips as he ran over to her side. "Rogue, Rogue, I'm here sugar, please wake up for me" he slowly touched her ice cold face and throat with his gloved hand, he felt for a pluse. "oh thank god" he breathed out a sigh of relief, there was a tiny piece of life left in her. "hold on, I'm going to save you" He lifted her up it to his strong arms and as gently as he could carried her out of the room
"Scott I've found her, she's in a bad way, I'll meet you at the cars but hurry"