Chapter 16: Hana

Rogue turned to Kitty, "Kit, tell meh what automated sensors are runnin' and shut 'em down please."

"Sure thing Rogue. Ok we like have motion sensors, live video streaming and possibly an audio feed as well."

"Possibly?" grunted Logan. "We can't do possibly Half-Pint. If they can hear us we are screwed. Now is there or is there not an audio feed?"

Kitty was starting to bounce with a jumble of emotions. Storm looked at Logan. "Wolverine, you scared her."

He just let out a grunt and Rogue said, "Yeah right. See this bounce? This is the bounce o' someone enjoyin' hackin' a computer system while getting ready to kick some guard's ass, an' than phase through a wall t' hack another system an' download info." Kitty squealed and Rogue smirked, "Told ya."

"So what do you have kid, I'm getting board," Mystique informed them.

"Um, so like we do have audio but it is going in 5, 4,3,2,1, gone."

"Are you sure Shadowcat? We can not afford to make mistakes." Storm knew that Rogue and Mystique were going to be entering the lions den any minute.

"Yes Storm, it is down and we are now cutting motion sensors in, 4,3,2,1, off."

"How can y' tell Kit?"

"Um the section on the screen under power, motion sensor system is: OFF"

Bobby laughed, "Nice Kitty, what next?"

"Ok, now I am cutting the video feed in, 5, 4,3,2,1, cut! Ok people, that is only the external perimeter. I need to get inside to do everything else. I don't want to start cutting internal systems from here. That will give us away if what I did hasn't already."

"Good work Half-Pint. Now, shall we go greet our new friends?" asked Logan,

They all piled out of the jet and headed towards the base. It didn't look like there was anything there except for wires and cameras. 'Shit, where is it?' wondered Rogue. Rogue and the rest of the team looked at one another. "Underground," all except Rogue said.

"Ya, but there's got t' be a door somewhere." She looked around and said, "Spread out!"

The team did just that surrounding the wiring and cameras. "Storm, can ya get a bird's eye view for us?"

Storm raised herself into the sky and looked over the mostly invisible base. "Rogue, if you go to your left you will find a gate."

"A gate Storm, are ya sure? There's nothin' but wires that Ah can see."

"Kid trust Ro. Now go left," instructed Logan.

Rogue stepped to her left a few feet. 'A gate, she's got t' be kiddin'. Then again Ah ain't the one in the air.' "Rogue stop!" called down Storm. "Look closely and you should see a slightly larger gap between the two lines of wires by your right hand."

Rogue looked closely and put her right hand out. 'Huh, wha' d' ya know, a crease in the wires. This is the end of the gate.' "Storm, where's the front?"

"Keep following the wires to the left until you are almost at the next camera Rogue."

Rogue did so. "Ah got it. Kitty, is this shut off?"

"Too late if it isn't kid, now let's move!" yelled Logan.

Rogue opened the gate and they all entered through it. They hadn't bumped into anyone. They had been outside the perimeter for a good two and a half minutes. Someone should have noticed that their system had been hacked into by now.

"Somethin's not right here," Rogue said.

"What are you talking about; everyone must be downstairs or on lunch. This is…"

"Cake." Logan and Kitty finished for him.

"Just like a reminder Bobby, the last time you said something was like cake, you got plastered."

Bobby looked at Kitty and Logan, "Oh, ya, right. So where is everyone?"

Rogue had wandered away from the arguing group and moved towards the centre. Mystique and Storm followed taking either side of the hardly visible building. Rogue listened closely her ear almost against the wall. She could hear footsteps on what seemed like metal stairs. She jumped back and Logan made a dash for the guards that made their way out of the door that Rogue had just jumped away from.

"Cake huh bub!" Logan yelled as he tossed a guard over his left shoulder.

Bobby winced as he heard the guard hit the ground. THUD! There must be thick metal underneath where they were standing. He iced over an oncoming guard and one that was heading for Kitty who was already dealing with a guard in front of her.

Mystique had done a round off kick hitting one guard in the chest and knocking him back into another guard. 'Idiots.' She thought.

Storm had the wind pick-up and had two of the guards fly back to the wiring.

Rogue was taking on two guards at once. She ducked as the one on the left threw a punch at her. While she ducked she kicked the other guard in the gut. The second guard toppled forwards towards Rogue and she flipped back out of the way. The guard that had thrown the punch wound up punching his fellow guard in the head.

Logan was taking out guards left right and centre. CRASH! SNAP! THUD!

"Jus' tell meh when!" Rogue called out. She put all her body weight on her right side and slammed into an oncoming guard. He temporarily lost his balance and Rogue knocked his legs out from under him and heard a CRACK!

Suddenly she was grabbed from behind. She struggled and went to throw a back kick when the guard whispered in her ear, "When."

Rogue tried to turn around but was held tight. "Is it really you?" Rogue struggled again trying to twist her way free. She looked around at the pile of guards. She saw Kitty phase as two guards came running at her from opposite directions and collide. Kitty then stepped back.

She saw Bobby freeze a guard that Logan had thrown at the beginning of the fight who was starting to come to.

She saw Storm casing freezing rain and pelting a group of four guards.

Logan was threatening a guard asking where he would find the person in charge.

She did not see Mystique. "A simple yes woulda done jus' fine." Rogue said.

"I'm sorry," Mystique said

"For what?" asked Rogue beginning to think she probably shouldn't have asked.

"This." and Mystique threw Rogue hard against the ground.

Rogue felt her head hit the ground and the last thing she heard was, "STRIPES!"