Out in the Cold
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Rogue had stood still for she didn't know how long without making eye contact with Alkalai Lake. Most of her memories were there. All painful, morbid, and stuck in her head. She didn't want to be here. In fact she shouldn't have come at all. She knew this was all about her. Her presence here only guaranteed they got what they wanted. It was the same as putting ones hand in an alligator's mouth. Foolish.
"I'm not an animal." She whispered to the air before sighing. She was an animal … in a way. Before she was even bought to this place she had killed people. She had stolen their money if need be. Those combative behaviors were only enhanced when she was imprisoned. Even now she could feel her body tingle with the rage of a caged animal. She wanted to kill. She wanted to hurt knowing she was nowhere near above doing it. Rogue had killed Zero to protect Remy and she was sure she'd have to kill again.
Deciding to rest her legs she took a seat on the snow thinking what was wrong with her besides the fact that she was waiting in below freezing conditions about to go blindly into a trap to save her family and those assholes (Scott) who kicked her out of her home. Why did killing people not phase her? Why didn't she regret it? Why did she feel so … what is the word to describe it? The sensation of ones senses heightening to the point where the tiniest of movements can set her off.
This place made her crazed. She didn't want to be here, but she had to be. Over the past few months she felt normal. She worked. Had a family, a home to call her home. She wasn't suspicious of everyone who crossed her path like some passive aggressive bipolar mental patient. But the moment she was here again her blood boiled leaving her heart cold. She was capable of anything here. Just the thought of being strapped, muzzled, and tortured again made her want to …
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Storm flew fast, but carefully. It was highly probable that there were still some Stryker agents afoot. When she got there she noticed the mansion had gone into Decon 4. The place was sealed. Although there were some strategically placed cars in the vicinity of the mansion no doubt waiting to see if anyone else would come back.
Looking around she saw the hanger was also closed. She'd have to open it from the inside so she flew into the ocean waters that battled with the hanging cliff. After the Mystique incident the Professor thought it wise to have another way in and out, thus the underwater passage.
A deep inhale, dip, and strokes later she had come to an air pocket. Pulling herself out the water she noticed a few of the kids had survived and held up here.
"Storm!" A purple head mutant with a purple scar over her right eye ran towards her.
"I am glad to see that you're alive Ms. Braddock."
The girl instantly placed her hands on her hips and glared, "The names Psylocke."
"Of course it is," Storm sighed, "How did you all make it down here?"
"When the mansion was under attack by the Deadpoop guy I grabbed as many of the younger students who weren't ready to fight and ushered them down here. I bust as many security cameras as I could along the way. No telling if those creeps would try to watch them."
"Reasonable thinking Ms. Psylocke."
Her smile returned to her face, "No that you're here those this mean that everything's ok again?"
Furrowing her eyebrows, "I'm afraid not. I have come here to take the Blackbird to rescue our friends."
"All by yourself? Storm are you nuts!"
"No, Rogue will be with me."
"And Gambit?" Psylocke blushed.
Rolling her eyes, "I do not know where he is."
"So let me get this straight, Not that you and Rogue aren't some bad bitches, excuse my French, but between the two of you you plan to save the almighty Logan, the elderly Professor, pigheaded Scott, Jean, Kitty, Beast, Kurt, Aimara, and Tabatha? That sounds stupid to me."
"I must do what is needed little one."
"Then can I go."
"No. It's …"
"To dangerous." Psylocke finished for her, "Have you forgotten that besides Jean I am the only one with telepathic and telekinetic powers? I also won three martial arts tournaments last year. I'm qualified! And two months older than both Kitty and Kurt."
"She has a point," Bobby said making his way through the crowd, "You need us."
Storm considered for a moment. They had a point. Two people to save nine. If anything went wrong it would be over and done with, but she didn't want to risk the team.
"I can even use cerebro to find Gorgeous … I meant Gambit." Psylocke said trying once again to not blush.
Pacing, "I still don't know …" She was interrupted by the sound of water splashing. She turned around ready to strike when she saw Even.
"Auntie-O!" he exclaimed dropping his groceries on the floor to give her a big hug, "I thought that jerk got you too!"
"I am glad that your safe Evan."
He nodded before placing the bags on the tables, "Hey Psy they're still out there. There's even more than last time. I had to travel in the sewers a bit longer than I liked."
"I understand Evan and now that you're back Bobby and I can go kick some Deadpoop ass!"
"My answer is still no to the both of you." Storm reminded them.
"Chilax Storm," Bobby said, "Besides I'm all healed up and ready to go. Plus I am actually on the team remember? And I have an idea of just the person to search for on cerebro besides Psy's crush."
She had to hurry and they refused to budge, "Fine. Let's go." She said going to the door in the left corner along the west wall, typing in a code, and waited for the seven titanium doors and lasers to move out of their way.
Once the passed the doors they closed behind them then they took the steep stairs that lead to a closet in the lower levels that held old XMen sweaters. Pushing the floor opened Storm signaled for them to pause. She didn't hear anything.
"Psylocke is there anyone up there?"
She closed her eyes to concentrate. She searched for thoughts along the sub layers before opening her eyes, "It's clear till we get to the main hallway. It appears that the focus of people are still trying to get into cerebro. Good thing Logan and Beast outfitted it personally with security."
Storm nodded before they each quietly climbed out and opened the door. True to her word all the security cameras in sight had been destroyed. They wound their way around till voices could be heard.
Voice one: We still can't get passed it without losing a few men of our own.
Voice two: We will get through soldier. Get back in place.
Bobby placed his hands on the floor to freeze the ground under the men. After they slipped the ladies rounded the corner. Storm electrocuted some while Psylocke used her psychic-knife to slash people along with a few notable martial art moves.
"Now that they're down how do we get in?" Bobby asked. The door to cerebro was guarded by to huge sharp edged gears that rolled back and forth and if you were lucky enough to get pass that there was three really thin laser fields on different timers that could cut through steel like butter. The first was timed at the beat of Beethoven's ninth symphony. The second was timed to Lady Lala's telephone and the last Beats personal favorite, Tchaikovsky's nutcracker.
"Simple." Storm cleared her throat, "Entering password."
"Please enter password." The mechanism said with its death traps still going.
"Belle. Rogue."
"Voice recognized. Welcome Storm. Password accepted. Security deactivated."
"How'd you do that?" Bobby asked.
"The password is the name of the person Beast and Logan cares for most. In Beast case it is his girlfriend Belle and we all know Logan would adopt the girl if he could. Do keep in mind however if the system isn't programmed to recognize your voice you'd still be locked out. Alright Psylocke locate Gambit."
Storm and Bobby watched as the blue tiles turned into a map of North America. Then the Pacific Northwest. Finally settled in a place in Canada, "I found him. He's in British Colombia."
"Ok, now look up X-23."
"X-23?" Psylocke asked.
"Oh you know female Logan."
She nodded before concentrating again, "She's on her way here. If we hurry we could intercept her with none the wiser. Then shoot over and get Gambit."
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"What's wrong Gumbo?" Jacques asked.
"Yer mother."
"But you just said she was real fine earlier today."
Smirking, "Oh she is fine, but she should be back from the store by now."
"Mommy didn't go to the store did she?"
"No."
"Then where is she?"
"I don't know."
"Why don't you know?"
"Cause I don't."
"Don't what?"
"Know."
"Know what?"
"Jacques." He hissed irritably.
"Gumbo." His son hissed back. Oh how he enjoyed peeving his father.
"I have an idea. How would you like to play with Maka again?"
"I'd love that!" Jacques bounced on his toes, "I even have her phone number just like you said."
"Good."
Within the hour he had his son at the reserve to be babysat and now that he's gone he would drag Rogue back from wherever she done ran to.
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"Wow nice place."Bobby said as they walked into the place. (the door was unlocked).
"I'm so jealous." Psylocke said sitting on the Italian leather sofa.
"We will wait no more than half an hour." Storm said watching X-23 sniff her way into the kitchen to come back with a sandwich and drinks for everyone. X-23 hated that someone dare take her 'father' away and Rogue. She would never admit it, but she felt a bond to the girl. Being imprisoned was not an experience everyone would truly know.
"What te hell yall doing here?" Gambit asked as he walked in on them snacking.
"Nice to see you to Gambit. I see you've taken after Logan in greetings." Storm said tartly.
"It's just that I'm surprised yall found where we live. Speaking of which have you seen Rogue anywhere?"
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Gambit nearly jumped off the jet to get to Rogue.
"Remy what te hell ya doing here?"she asked.
"I could ask you that." His face was as red as his hair.
"Look the Professor contacted me …"
"Ya coulda said something before ya left!"
"Ya weren't home what was I supposed ta do huh? Yell at ya from te house!"
"I'd probably woulda heard ya!"
"What's that supposed ta mean." She stepped closer to him.
"You screech louder then Siren and his daughter combined!"
"How dare you."
Glaring at Rogue, "Ya coulda called."
"I was a little distracted."
"Oh so you're too distracted ta call me, but not distracted enough ta leave our son alone!"
"I knew ya were coming home!"
"Something could have gone wrong Anna!"
Storm separated them both with a gust of wind, "Now is not the time for family disputes."
"He started it." Rogue said childishly as he helped her up.
"And I'll finish it to."
"Now that they're done arguing," Bobby spared them a long glance, "What are we gonna do now?"
"Psylocke where are they?" Storm asked.
"In her holding cell," rogue winced, "They are waiting for her to come. She is the one they want. Oh and Deadpool wants to kill him." She said pointing to Gambit.
"As long as we get Logan out we'll be fine." X-23 said extending her claws through her knuckles.
"Bobby," Storm turned to him, "I want you to freeze as much of the damn as possible. I assume the colder waters will expand when frozen and cause quite a few problems. If we're fortunate it might even knock down communications and security."
"Will do." Bobby saluted before heading off to complete his tasks.
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"It's cold out here at night but I love the stars. They make things. That's what daddy says." Maka smiled as Jacques held her hand on the blanket they were laying on.
"The stars are pretty, but I think I like what's down here more." he grinned back holding her hand tightly.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked.
He released the grip on her hand with one of his father's trademark smirks, "I'll show you one day."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
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"Why?" Jane asked as the blood rushed to her mouth.
Pulling his blade from her, "She's here. I don't need you no more. Besides I can't have you making mistakes like last time or helping Stryker out again."
She staggered before falling to his chest in a fit of coughs, "You … you … will never succeed. There is a safe word to stop you … I never told you this," she coughed again as her eyes glazed over as she smiled, "Stryker knows too and so does she although she doesn't realize it yet."
He glared at the woman. If she weren't already dying he would do far worse to her, "You lie."
"Not anymore." She coughed again feeling her lungs start to give way and her fingers numb, "I should thank you (cough) for releasing me." She slid off his body towards the floor in a pool of blood.
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Please Review
Sorry for the wait I wanted a winter break too LoL, hoped y'all had a good time during the holidays