Disclaimer: Well, I decided to take some classes on hacking (yes, they do have those) to learn some new tricks; I'll let you know how they go…

A/N: Well, it's been less than six months, meaning that it hasn't been that long since I last updated. This makes me happy. Anyway, enjoy, and let me know what you think!

"…"- conversation

'…'- thoughts

(…)- extra facts/actions (some)

'blah…' -telepathy/what people say mentally

Chapter 58: Rogue's Chronicles: Rescues, Part 2

Hallway #19, Asteroid Evolution, Orbit of the Moon, Milky Way Galaxy- May 17, 1:29 AM

Rogue, Torpid, and Lucas, meanwhile, were running towards the first hallway on their list of rescue: hallway #19. Lucas was leading with Torpid and Rogue right behind him. Once they reached hallway #19, Lucas disabled the defense system and Rogue used her abilities to copy Kitty's phasing powers so they were able to phase through the door. Once inside Torpid backed up in shock as she saw and heard the screams of the mutants who were imprisoned in the cells.

Rogue noticed this and, kneeling in front of Torpid, said, "Don't worry sugah. We're goin' ta free them and find tha rest of tha Morlocks; okay?" On getting an affirmative nod from Torpid, Rogue grinned and, moving forward, she told Lucas, "Okay, Lucas. We need ta rescue these poor mutants as quickly as possible; got it?" On getting a nod from Lucas, she gave the signal. While Torpid watched the door, Rogue and Lucas ran towards the two cells in the hallway.

Rogue stopped in front of her cell and saw with shock that Laura was inside, screaming. 'Damn Apocalypse for making tha younger mutants go through this too,' Rogue thought, angered at his callousness. She studied the bars and on noting that electricity was zooming across the bars smirked. Calling upon Ray's powers, she closed her eyes and absorbed the electricity, reveling in the feeling of the bolts of lightning running through her body as they recharged her energy reservoir in the process. Once she had completely absorbed all the electricity Rogue opened her eyes and, using her super strength, rammed the bars, smirking when they gave easily under the force she applied.

Rogue ran inside and, kneeling in front of Laura, saw that her visor was close to cracking into pieces. 'Must be from tha battle a few days ago,' Rogue thought, frowning at the thought. She then moved so that she was behind Laura and moved her hair so that she could see the collar clearly. Then, copying Scott's ability, she shot a concentrated beam of energy at the collar, carefully making sure that she didn't burn Laura. Once done she blinked, willing Scott's power back into her subconscious, and gently removed the collar, throwing it behind her with enough force to shatter it as well as leaving a sizable dent in it. She then moved so that she was in front of Laura and, making sure to control her powers, took off her glove and touched Laura's face, glowing white as she transferred energy to Laura, repairing Laura's visor in the process.

Laura opened her blood red eyes, now behind her repaired blue visor, and gasped on seeing Rogue in front of her; she was even more shocked at realizing that Rogue was touching her face and wasn't draining her of anything. "Rogue?" Laura whispered, wanting to make sure that what she was seeing was what was real.

Rogue smiled and replied, "It's meh, sugah. How are yah?" When she saw that Laura was speechless, she chuckled, noting that she was still shocked that she had control over her own powers. "Don't worry; Ah have control now."

Laura merely stared at Rogue, whom she looked up to because she knew Rogue never gave up on her dream of eventually gaining control over her powers. "But… how?" she asked, expecting something that was along the lines of Rogue's control being short-lived.

However, when Rogue smiled at her again, life in her eyes, Laura realized that Rogue had total and complete control over her powers. It wasn't a fluke; it was permanent.

"Later, sugah. Right now, we need ta go and help Torpid and Lucas outside," Rogue said, removing her hand from Laura's face and placing her glove back on. She then helped Laura to her feet and led her to the main hallway, where she saw a tall man with a goatee supporting someone she recognized instantly.

"Aaron!" Laura exclaimed as she ran forward and knelt in front of Aaron, noting the scars on his face. "My god, what happened?"

"It seems tha' yer friend was involved in some pretty heavy fightin'," the man spoke, causing Laura to look up. What surprised her about the man was that his eyes held the same comfort and knowledge that Xavier's held whenever she looked into them. She watched as the man put Lucas on the ground gently then stood up again.

Rogue ran up to them and, pulling off a glove, knelt in front of Aaron, placing her hand on his cheek as she began the healing process. "What happened, Lucas?"

The man – Lucas, Laura corrected – answered, "Ay entered his cell and saw tha' he was badly hurt. Ay freed him and after reassuring him tha' Ay was on yer side brought him out; but seems tha' he fainted on the way." Lucas looked at Rogue, as if expecting punishment for letting Aaron faint.

Rogue nodded at the explanation and said, "Don't worry, Lucas; it ain't your fault. Aaron gets his powers from absorbin' tha good emotions from around him but because he was exposed ta bad emotions he's very weak. Yah did fahne." Rogue finished healing Aaron and, standing up, put back on her glove and went over to talk to Torpid.

Aaron's eyes slowly opened and as they did, focused on Laura, who was watching him intently. "Laura! Are you okay?" Aaron was expecting a nod but not the fierce hug that Laura gave him as she leapt forward, making sure to be careful with him. Lucas, sensing they needed time alone, left to go and talk to Rogue.

"Ah'm so glad you're okay," Laura muttered, glad beyond belief that one of her best friends wasn't dead. Aaron slowly returned the hug, reveling in the fact that he was hugging his crush and didn't have to worry about her response; after all, she had initiated it, so it had to mean something; right?

Aaron and Laura broke the hug and began to talk, with both of them getting to their feet, and then walked over to the group of three near the door, hands entwined. After Rogue explained what was going on, including Apocalypse's being back in the living flesh, she told them they had to be quiet in the hallways. Laura and Aaron nodded, both ready to help in any way possible. Rogue then phased the five of them through the door and they moved onto the next hallway.

Hallway #17, Asteroid Evolution, Orbit of the Moon, Milky Way Galaxy- May 17, 1:37 AM

Upon reaching hallway #17, Rogue and Lucas had developed an efficient plan: he and Aaron would rescue one cell's occupant, Rogue and Laura would take the other cell, and Torpid would stand guard. It was with this game plan that they entered the next hallway to the screaming of its two occupants. Nodding, they spilt, with Rogue and Laura ending up in front of the cell that contained Mark.

"Ready, Laura?" Rogue asked having decided to forego her gloves because she knew that quick movement was crucial. It was with this spirit that Laura pressed a small button on the side of her visor, releasing a powerful stream of white energy in the form of stars at the bars, causing a collision of energies. Laura's won out and the electricity soon gave out to reveal the charred remains of what once was the door to Mark's cell.

Rogue, nodding at Laura's success, quickly moved into the cell and held Mark still, motioning for Laura to go behind him and get rid of the collar. Laura followed Rogue'e telepathic instructions and, concentrating, sent out an intense beam of energy in a thin beam of light at the collar, taking care not to harm Mark. When she had finished she stopped the beam and, reaching down, took off the collar and threw it at the back wall, taking heart when she heard it smash into pieces.

Rogue quickly healed Mark and with Laura's help removed him from his cell. Once outside Mark opened his green-blue eyes and asked, "Que pasa (What's wrong)?"

Rogue started at the Spanish and, not really having learned it, searched through her mind for someone who understood it. She surprisingly landed on Pietro, who it seemed knew a multitude of languages due to his quickened ability to pick up things much faster than normal people and mutants. "Hey, Mark; don't worry. Ah'm here to rescue yah and make sure yah're in shape to face Apocalypse and help save tha world. 'Kay?" Rogue looked at Mark's face and had to grin at the incredulous look on his face, signaling that he was shocked with the question content.

Mark nodded enthusiastically and opened his mouth to say something but quickly turned his attention to the girl across from him, who was moving away from Aaron.

"Get away from me, you psycho!" Opal screamed, trying to shoot bullets out of her fingertips but finding to her horror that she couldn't do anything; her powers weren't working. She had just been told that some weirdo Apocalypse was back by a strange adult with a goatee and some boy that she vaguely remembered seeing a few days ago during that big battle at the mutant prep school; how was she supposed to react? Joyfully?

Mark stood up straight, knowing that he had somehow been completely healed, and, closing his eyes, concentrated on sending vines out of his fingers at the girl, restraining her long enough for Aaron to heal her. When Rogue tapped him on the shoulder, signaling that Aaron had done his job, Mark opened his eyes only to meet the angry gray eyes of the girl, who was now up in his face.

"Why the hell did you do that?" Opal demanded, not liking the fact that this mutant, who had come out of nowhere, had held her down with plants so that the other guy could heal her; that wasn't right in her book.

Mark shrugged and replied, "You were hurt and needed help; I knew Aaron could heal you and so I just held you down so he could do his job." He then stared into the girl's eyes, feeling a challenge coming on. "Besides, it's not like you could've made it out of the cell on your own, si (yes)?"

The girl narrowed her eyes and replied, "I was handpicked for the Brotherhood by Magneto himself; of course I could have gotten out by myself. What do you think I am; dumb?"

Mark stared into her eyes and suddenly laughed, startling all those who were watching. "You've got spirit; I'll give you that, chica. But, you'll have to prove it to me later, 'kay?" He stuck out his hand to get agreement to his suggested bargain. However, when the girl didn't move he frowned and said, "Listen: if you don't help us then the whole world will be destroyed. What's more important: your pride or the world?"

The girl, eyeing the outstretched hand, grunted and took it, saying, "Fine; I'll help you out only because I want a world to exist so that we can duke it out. I'm Opal."

Mark shook the hand and said, "Fair enough; I'm Mark." It was then and there that a spark was lit, that flickered with every breath the two young mutants took; Rogue just couldn't wait to see what came of it. She then explained how to move through the halls and, after getting agreement from them phased them out of the hallway and into the next one.

Hallway #25, Asteroid Evolution, Orbit of the Moon, Milky Way Galaxy- May 17, 1:50 AM

The next hallway was hallway #25 and on entering Rogue spilt her team up into the groups from the last hallway, adding Mark and Opal to guard duty with Torpid. Lucas and Aaron took the first cell and on looking inside saw the prisoner screaming in pain, his nose a bit larger than a usual nose. Lucas closed his eyes and, concentrating, sent out a beam of pure psionic energy at the bars, making sure that the intensity was higher than what the electricity contained. After a few moments the electricity sputtered and died, leaving the bars unprotected. Lucas then attacked with his telekinesis, stretching the bars wide enough so that he and Aaron could step through.

Once inside they saw the prisoner, who had his head to the ground in a vain attempt to lessen the pain that was flashing through his mind. Giving each other a silent signal, they moved into position, Aaron kneeling in front of the prisoner, holding him still as best he could and Lucas telekinetically moved the mutant's hair so that he had a clear shot at the collar. Concentrating, Lucas sent a small, precise psionic blast at the collar, not letting any stray thoughts into his mind as he did so.

After a few minutes, Lucas smiled when he heard the metallic click that signaled that he had officially decimated the collar to pieces, resulting in the twisted metal pieces on the ground of the cell. Lucas opened his eyes and nodded to Aaron, telling him to do his thing.

Aaron nodded in reply and, concentrating, placed both hands on the prisoner's face and let his powers take over, the good emotions surrounding himself and his patient in a brilliant white aura. Aaron focused on the emotions and good vibes he got from his family and Laura, his teammate whom he had a major crush on, and the memory that he drew most strength from was when she had hugged him a short while ago. It took Aaron longer than usual to heal this prisoner, as he found massive physical and mental damage on him; Aaron was determined to get rid of it all so that his mutant could help them in the final battle that was going to happen.

Aaron opened his eyes when he was done, reveling in the feeling of having just finished a successful healing. The man's eyes opened and on seeing Aaron in front of him recoiled, backing up until he was up against the wall.

"Calm down," Aaron said, trying to calm the man but failed, as the man looked around wildly, his eyes looking for something he knew. On seeing nothing, he did the only logical thing he could think of: he bolted.

Lucid ran from his cell and out into the light of the hallway, and looking either way realized with a start that he was surrounded by metal. He was too busy to notice Torpid bolting over, a wide grin covering her face. Lucid almost fell down when he felt something hug him and looking down saw Torpid giving him a tight hug. "Torpid, where are we?" Lucid asked, relieved to know that one of his favorite pupils was alive and well.

Torpid looked up and motioned to Lucid what was going on, telling him all about Rogue, Lucas, Mark, Opal, Aaron, and Laura. She also told him that Rogue's boyfriend Remy had gone to rescue the others, including the other Morlocks. Lucid nodded, taking it all in. He just couldn't believe that the X-Men, whom Evan spoke of highly, were working with the Brotherhood and Acolytes to defeat some ancient being named Apocalypse.

Lucid listened to all Torpid told him, shocked at the depth of the battle into which he and the other Morlocks had been dragged. "Fine, Torpid, we're in this big battle; now what?" he asked Torpid, who stomped her foot and signaled him her answer.

"Oh no, there is no way that I'm fightin' an ancient Egyptian mutant!" Lucid protested, trying to finagle himself out of a possible death-scenario. However, he backed right into Lucas, causing Lucid to jump back in surprise.

"Ay know how ye feel, umm, is it Lucid Torpid?" Lucas said; turning to Torpid to make sure he had the man's name right. "Lucid, Ay was one of the four Horsemen of Apocalypse but then Rogue," here he pointed to the Southern beauty, who was working on opening the other cell with Laura's help, "showed me tha' Apocalypse tricked me; he's planning on turning the entire world into one where mutants rule. However, in the process we'll all die. We won't be needed; if he had it his way we wouldn't be livin' right now. We need yer help; ye need tae help convince the other Morlocks tae join with us and fight; are ye with us?" Lucas said appealing to the loyalty he knew the Morlocks shared.

Lucid eyed Lucas, not sure if he should trust him, and looked to Torpid for reassurance. Torpid eagerly nodded yes, wanting one of her mentors to help free all of the other mutants. Finally, Lucid sighed and said, "Fine, I guess you're right. I'll help you in this fight." Lucas, grinning, offered Lucid his hand, which, after a push from Torpid he took and shook.

Meanwhile, Rogue and Laura had just broken through the other cell's bars and once inside Rogue gasped in shock; in front of her was Pietro Maximoff, self-proclaimed speedster extraordinaire and current boyfriend of Lexie Howlett. Rogue soon got over her shock and, nodding to Laura, she got ready to heal Pietro as soon as the collar was off and Laura got ready to take off his collar.

Laura quickly did her job and as soon as the collar was off Rogue touched Pietro's face, transferring her energy to him, doing her best to heal him quickly before he woke up. However, Rogue had forgotten about Pietro's sped-up nervous system, due to his powers, and so was still holding on when Pietro's sapphire eyes opened and alighted on her, widening as he saw where her hand was.

"Damn-get-your-hand-off-me-Rogue!" Pietro exclaimed, immensely relieved when Rogue quickly removed her hand. However, it took him a moment to realize that Rogue had been touching him without any protection on her hands. "Rogue, how come you don't have gloves on and how come I'm not in la-la land?" Pietro asked worriedly, thinking that maybe it wasn't Rogue in front of him and that it was really Mystique, come to trick and torture him.

"It's really meh, Pietro," Rogue whispered, making sure to keep her voice low in case someone was walking by the hallway's main door. "Ah just have control over mah powers; tha's all." She looked at her hands, smiling, and Pietro could sense in the smile that she did indeed have control over her powers.

"Well, umm, I guess congrats are in order," Pietro said, getting to his feet and brushing himself off. He then looked at Rogue and, cocking his head to the side, said, "Why are you here, anyway?"

Rogue sighed and as she explained what was going on, Pietro had trouble taking it in; the expressions on his face ranged from utter bewilderment to disgust to fear. When Rogue got to the part about Erik having changed Pietro snarled and said, "No way in hell-did-he-change. For God's sake, he put Wanda in an insane asylum when she was six because he didn't want to have to deal with her emerging powers. He treated me like shit for all of the time I spent with him; hell, when he got tired of me he gave me to a foster family so he wouldn't have to be reminded of our mom; Wanda and I were the reminders of all that he had once stood for and all he lost. Why in the hell do you think-he-cares-about-us, huh?"

Rogue looked at Pietro the whole time he was ranting, noting how there were the beginnings of tears in his eyes. When Pietro had finished Rogue stepped forward and, placing her hands on Pietro's shoulders, saying, "Ah know it's hard to believe, Pietro, but your dad really has changed; Remy and Ah spoke ta him ourselves. He wants to help yah all; all three of yah." Rogue then left the cell, Laura following, leaving a stunned Pietro in the cell.

'Three of us?! Anya's dead; Wanda and I were the only children dad said he had… Wait. Who was she, the one who's dating hard-nosed Summers' younger brother… Polaris. She has the same powers as dad and even has the same ability to float in the air using manipulation of magnetic fields… damn it! He had another kid and didn't tell us! He's going to pay…' Pietro's face hardened into disgust and anger and he rushed out of the cell, ready to find his father and make him pay. However, once he was at the door he realized with a start that he had no idea how Lexie was doing.

Rogue came up behind Pietro, surprising him when she said, "Wondering where Lexie is?" Pietro whirled around, angrily staring at Rogue. "Don't worry, Pietro; Ah know tha' yah and Lex are an item; Ah won't tell anyone. But, yah got ta be with us when we go ta confront Apocalypse; are we clear?"

Pietro glared at Rogue, having not expected this from her. Then, smirking, he crossed his arms and replied, "Sure, I'll help you guys; but on two conditions." Here his smirk grew to encompass his face. "One: you help me find Lex and make sure she's okay and two: you help me find out who my third sibling is; if this sibling really exists. Deal?" Pietro stuck out his hand for Rogue to take and just as she was about to take it he took it back, sticking out his tongue at her in his classical pose, stating that she was too slow. Rogue sighed and smiled, making a mental note never to fall for that trick again. She explained to Pietro and Lucid how to travel through the hallways, which took some effort as Pietro kept interrupting. Finally, Rogue took to telekinetically snapping his mouth shut so she could finish.

"Let's go!" Rogue said as she and her troupe moved out. Rogue, having released her hold on the speed demon's mouth, blushed furiously when she heard him whisper, "Oh, tell Remy that he did an excellent job of tutoring you in blackmail."