(Normal POV)
Rogue's hand was on the door in about three seconds, but before she could open it Charles hand crashed on top of hers.
"No Rogue, wait." He put two fingers to his temples and closed his eyes.
The seconds ticked by, and with each one passing the group was growing more anxious. Finally Charles spoke. "It's not us they're after."
Rogue gave a sigh of relief out. 'I wonder who they were really after.' She thought briefly but almost immediately dismissed the question, now was not the time. 'I'll ask Charles later.'
Rogue had more important things to worry about now. "We're not the only ones to pay area fifty one a visit today, but we do have to leave now." Charles tone of voice was commanding, this was not a suggestion, but an order and one that couldn't be questioned.
With that he opened the door and the trio made their way back to the jet.
Halfway down the corridor Charles suddenly stopped and jerked Rogue and Erik back. "They've altered course, and toward us!"
Rogue's eyes went wide. "Can't you get inside their heads and make them stop?" She was already beginning to panic.
"You don't understand there are almost fifty soldiers coming, I don't have enough time to stop all of them." Charles put his finger to his temple and closed his eyes.
"Then let me do the rest." The untouchable women and British man turned to the German metal bender.
He raised his hand and the hallway ceiling behind the three came crashing down.
Charles winced before nodding. 'He must have realized what little choice we have, at least no one was hurt.'
"That should stall them." Erik left out 'though I'd much rather crush them'.
Once again the three made their way towards the jet. 'Almost there.' Rogue thought to herself as Erik bended the gate back. Suddenly a loud screeching noise caused Charles to cover his ears, breaking his concentration.
"Get to the jet!" He hollered. Still crouched down on the ground. Rogue knelt to help him up just to be knocked down by Erik, who had used the metal on her suit to push her to the ground. 'What the hell?' Rogue didn't have to wait long for an explanation.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Three shots rang out, all directed at Erik who deflected them.
Six more shots sped towards the X-men, from all different angles. Soldiers were rushing towards them. "Ahhh!" Erik grabbed his sides in pain as little red droplets tricked down.
He had not been able to deflect the last bullet.
Rogue's eyes widened as she rushed to keep him steady.
"ENOUGH!" Charles screamed at the top of his lungs as the soldiers froze were they stood.
"Get him on the jet, I don't know how long I can hold them!"
Rogue nodded as she slung her arm around Erik's waist, careful not to touch the wound.
(Rogue POV)
Erik winced as I sat him down on one of the benches near the radar screens fummbleing for a first aid kit.
"No, get the jet started." He whispered. Of course! what was I thinking? I started the emergency takeoff sequence. Charles better get here soon.
"Rogue take off I'm on board!" Charles hollered at me. I hit several buttons before pulling the lever all the way down. Time to go back to the mansion, but first I was going to patch up Erik.
"Have you altered everyone's memories? The soldiers I mean." I asked Charles as I retrieved the first aid kit.
"Yes." He slowly took his seat in the pilot's chair.
I paused. "Who else was in the facility?" The million dollar question! Was it Magneto? Was it the Russians? Was it Al-Qaeda?
"A government conspiracy organization."
"What?" I placed the first aid kit beside Erik, who was currently sitting on the bench of the control area toward the back of the jet.
"Your telling me we were chased and shot at because some government conspiracy yahoos figured they'd pay area fifty one a visit?"
Erik chuckled and Charles smiled. "Yes, Rogue." Clearly they found this amusing though I didn't, Erik was shot for crying out loud!
I shook my head as I turned my attentions to Erik's wound. I gently ran my fingers across the leather of his suit. The bullet just grazed his mid stomach just below his chest. Ouch.
I retrieved the hydrogen peroxide and a cotton ball, disinfectant seemed like a good place to start. I sighed angrily when I noticed his suit was in the way.
"Unzip the top half." He raised his eyebrow, causing me to feel a warmth in my cheeks.
Ignoring my blush I tried my best to look stern. "I need to get to the wound and your suit is in the way."
He had that suggestive smirk on his face, as if to say 'are you sure that would be the reason your telling me to take my clothes off?'
"We can wait until we get back to the mansion." He still had the smirk on his face.
I put my hands on my hips. "Eri-k we won't be at the mansion for another four hours, and I need to disinfect the wound now." I put emphasis on the now. I'd be damned if he got an infection because we thought we'd wait until we got back to the mansion.
He unzipped the top half of his uniform...slowly. I rolled my eyes and dabbed the wet cotton ball onto the wound, trying to ignore his finely toned muscular chest. Hm, I don't think it needs stitches and I had Jean in my head so I was pretty sure of that.
He winced. "Sorry, that sting?" I asked. "I've been through worse." He mumbled, avoiding my eyes.
I knew. I knew all too well.
There was a silence until Charles spoke. "Well your first mission and you've already torn your uniform Erik." Charles teased lightly.
"You should see how many times Logan came back with his uniform torn to shreds." I smiled as I fondly remembered my friend. Ah dear Logan, how I missed him.
"Logan?" Charles and Erik both said at once. "Yep, Charles you may have heard of Wolverine." Logan was always a good target for gossip at the mansion, it didn't take a telepath to see that.
"A feral mutant with heightened senses, a healing factor, an adamantium metal skeleton, complete with metal claws and a temper."
"Ah yes, sounds like a bad fellow to get into a fight with." Charles commented. I smiled. "Did I mention he's indestructible? Time can't kill him, nothing on this Earth can, except me of course."
I mumbled that last part. "Well then Rogue, it's a good thing he's made a friend out of you." Erik commented. "Yes for his sake." Charles agreed.
"Yes for his sake." Where had I heard that before?
I gave a small smile I took out the gauze and tape. I replayed what Charles said again. 'Where had I heard that before? Feels like deja vu.'
I continued to tape up Erik, but my thoughts were still elsewhere. As I got up to put the first aid kit back I looked at the com station. Why did Storm's name suddenly pop up? 'I wonder...could I search through her memories?' I tried to dismiss the thought.
No that was a breech of privacy! 'But still it's not like I was going to be looking at her deepest darkest secrets.' My mind reasoned. Maybe just a quick peek, if it's personal I'll get out of there. Satisfied, but beginning to feel slightly guilty I took my seat next to Charles and closed my eyes.
A memory of Storm as a child in egypt popped up, no that wasn't it.
A memory of teenage Storm pushing Cyclops into a river, nope.
A memory of teenage Storm looking at beast and having a crush on him, crap no defiantly not it. (Don't worry Storm, your secret is safe with me.)
This was gonna take a while.
It took me about 2 hours before I finally found it. It was her memory of the night Stryker had attacked the mansion, Storm and Jean had gone to pickup Nightcrawler.
"Let's hope her cooperates."
"Yes for his sake."
My curiosity was satisfied, but the guilt was still in my stomach. I had abused my abilities. It was like a telepath abusing their gifts. 'Though I'm sure if you asked them they'd say otherwise, not every telepath has the same definition of "abuse".' Even the great Charles Xavier had used his gifts for not so noble purposes. I recalled memories of him using his telepathy to guess a girls favorite drink so he could hit on her with his lame pickup line, "groovy mutation".
'Someone really should warn him not to use that line on girls from this time, cause' he's likely to get slapped, or worse.'
My thoughts were interrupted when the comm link went off. I quickly put on my earpiece and hit the X.
"Rogue here."
"Rogue." The professor's voice sounded angry. "Are you and the others alright? We heard news the facility was attacked." The way he said that last bit gave away his unspoken question. Translation: Did you do it and what the hell were you thinking? I said not to destroy the facility!
"Yes professor, some government conspiracy idiots decided to pay area fifty one the same time we did."
There was a minute of silence. "Did everyone make it out alright?"
"Erik was grazed by a bullet, it's not serious but he's otherwise unharmed."
"And did Charles...
"Yes, he altered everyone's memories, no one is aware the X men were involved."
"And the information?"
"We got it."
"Good, now if you'd be so kind as to alter course to upstate New Jersey, I need Charles to speak to an old friend for me." I didn't ask what was going on despite my curiosity.
"I'm receiving coordinates." When I looked at the screen I drew a sharp intake of breath. I knew that area.
Momma's mansion. We were going to see Irene Adler.
Normal (POV)
Rogue brooded for the next hour. Fury was building up fast. Her adopted mother had been kind to her growing up and Rogue loved her, but that's what made her betrayal hurt like hell.
Rogue had lived with Irene since she was four, until she turned sixteen and was sent away to live with Irene's human sister.
It wasn't until after she was living at the institute did she learn that her Momma was the famed "Destiny". The mutant who told you your future for a hefty sum. It certainly explained why she lived in a huge mansion and never worked.
It had hurt to know your mother wasn't who you thought she was, and it hurt even more to find out she only adopted Rogue because she knew her mutation would be deadly and useful.
It was a perfect example of how family was dangerous, you tended to get hurt by your family members often, and when you did the fact that you loved them hardly counted for anything, and it made it hurt worse.
'Just like with Logan, one minute he's promising to take care of me, the next he's off and about searching for his past, then when he finally comes back, he runs again when precious Jean gets married off.'
But deep down Rogue could hardly blame him, and despite the knife that twisted in her heart each time she saw him walk out the door she still loved him.
She didn't want to blame her friend so she turned her thoughts back to Momma Dearest.
'Damn her!' Rogue mentally cursed as she inhaled deeply through her nostrils. 'She tried to use me, she knew I would find out-
"Rogue." Charles spoke kindly.
She tried her best not to glare at him. "I can feel your anger radiating off of you."
"Yippie for you." She snapped a little more harshly than she meant. "Rogue clearly something is bothering you, would you like to talk about it?"
"No."
It was a short leave it at that answer. Charles looked like he wanted to say something else, but was busy landing the plane. Destiny's mansion hadn't changed a bit.
'Still big, still had horse stables, still had a huge pool, still had a greenhouse, just as I remember it.' Rogue thought as her anger grew.
Destiny was walking toward them. Charles lowered the ramp and unbuckled, and Erik, despite the bullet wound stood up to greet Destiny.
Rogue on the other hand stayed buckled in. She squeezed her eyes shut as her pain began to leak out of her heart.
She could hear the footsteps come up the ramp, along with the tapping of Destiny's cane.
Destiny smiled as she came aboard the jet. "Charles Xavier, what a pleasure to have you in this time, and Magneto too." Destiny gave a wicked smile as she called out louder.
"Come now Rogue, is that any way to greet your mother?" She asked.
"Most daughters would at least say hello."
'She is not my mother, she is not my mother.' Rogue repeated to herself as she tried to breath. 'I can feel everyone's eyes on me, that's defiantly not helping.'
"J-Just...tell Charles what he needs to know so we can leave." Rogue struggled to get the words out, almost chocking on them.
"Very well...my daughter." Rogue tried desperation to block her words out. 'Don't snap, don't make a scene in front of Erik and Charles. Don't cry.'
"Well Destiny I have a feeling we should continue this conversation outside."
The footsteps left and went down the ramp.
"Rogue." Erik'd voice was gentle. She opened her eyes slowly to find him sitting beside her. "What's wrong? Shouldn't you be happy to see your mother?"
"No!" She spat angrily. "Destiny only adopted me to use me. She saw into the future, she knew I would be able to kill with touch, and she thought that was valuable!"
"She sent me away to her human sister 5 years ago knowing that my mutation would come out the first time I kissed a boy." She whispered. "She knew it would scar me, and she did nothing to prevent that."
Tears were blurring her vision now. "She doesn't care about me, and I loved her."
A single tear rolled down her face. Erik gently reached his hand out and wiped it away. Rogue froze. Erik saw the look on her face and withdrew his hand.
"I'm sorry, I'm just not used to someone touching me." Another tear rolled down her face. "Most people are so scared they don't even come near me." Erik wiped that one away too, but this time his hand stayed there and cupped her cheek.
Rogue couldn't help but smile. "How long has it been?" He asked gently. "About four years since someone's touched me...until today."
"Was it skin contact?" Rogue bit back more tears as she remembered the statue. "Yeah, your older self was the last person to touch me up on that statue."
He frowned."No one's touched you since? Not even if they have gloves on?" I shook my head.
"Charles you idiot." I heard him whisper. "No it's not his fault." I choked out. "Rogue I know it must have been so painful, so don't pretend it wasn't. I don't see how Charles could let this go."
"He had other things to worry about." I reminded him. He didn't respond, just rubbed her cheek with his thumb until they heard footsteps on the ramp.
Then he removed his hand and moved out of the pilots chair.
I had to do some research for this one, anyone know if Destiny had other kids?