A/N:
Woah, sorry about the huge unplanned hiatus... I didn't mean to do that... To make up for it, I'm posting the final three chapters tonight, so go nuts and through a party...
Sorry, I'm really tired o_o
I don't own anything cool -.- So no X-Men...
Someone stirred beside me. Curious, I too opened my eyes, examining my surroundings after a moment's panic.
I recognized the black upholstery of Jean's sedan, the streetlights muted by the tinted windows. My eyes moved to my left, where I saw Logan, just beginning to wake up.
"You're awake, I see," Jean said briskly, glancing over her shoulder. I winced.
"I couldn't stop him. Magneto controlled both Logan and myself with a flick of his wrist. I managed to knock his helmet off for a moment, but it wasn't enough to break into his mind and release us," I said, glancing around myself. "Where's my bike?"
"Strapped onto the back of the car."
"Good. Pull over," I requested. Jean sighed but obeyed. I leapt out, Logan moving to follow. I slammed the door in his face. "No. I won't allow this. Go back to the mansion with the others. I'm going to Cerebro and straight out. You'll only slow me down, soldier."
"Korena," Charles said, a disapproving tone in his voice. "If Magneto's helmet prevents us from locating him, there is no doubt in my mind that he has shielded Rogue as well."
"I agree. That's why I'm going to look for Sabretooth, or Mystique, or Toad. They probably won't be as closely guarded," I clarified. Charles still looked uncertain, but seemed to accept my decision. I unhooked my motorcycle, setting it down on the ground.
"I'm going with you," Logan insisted. I mounted my bike, already revving the engine.
"Good luck catching up. I'm not waiting for you." True to my word, I released the brake and leaned forward.
With the speed I was dragging out of my bike, the mansion appeared in a matter of minutes. I kicked down the kickstand before rushing out of the garage and to the elevator.
Ding!
I strode out of the elevator, pushing through a crowd of students waiting outside of the Danger Room.
"Oi! All of my classes are dismissed today, tomorrow, and the day after! Spread it around!" I called out to the group. The students began to shuffle, talking excitedly amongst themselves.
Coming upon the eye scanner, I knelt at the lens, praying it would accept me.
Three… Two… One…
"Welcome, Raven," the voice called out. I stepped through the sliding doors, scowling as a scent hit my nose. Two scents, actually. One of them was undeniably mutant; the other was just as surely some type of sabotage.
I sighed angrily, walking to the hidden control panel. I pressed gently upon the seamless panel and a drawer slid out, revealing the more delicate controls of Cerebro. Wires of all different colors crisscrossed around and below a tube of normally transparent, bluish liquid. The only difference was the addition of a new part, something that hooked into the wires connecting the main tube, that dyed the relatively clear liquid black.
This was a clever attempt… If it had been Charles by himself, he wouldn't have been able to sense the… Whatever it was. If that had gone straight to his head, the result could have been devastating to both the professor and his abilities.
I gripped the new addition, gently pulling it away from the equipment around it. I plugged the correct wire back into the main tube and the black cloud slowly began to clear away from the blue liquid. When it was completely cleared, I slid the drawer closed and sat at the machine's central control.
I took a deep breath, clearing my mind before lifting the light helmet over my hair. The usual echo of voices sounded in my ears and I looked for thoughts I recognized.
Marie… Marie… Nope. On to the next one… Victor… Sabretooth… Not there… Mystique… no… Damn it, I don't know what Toad's thoughts feel like… What the hell? Is there no one that isn't shielded?
I let the machine power down. I was losing time, and the trail was getting cold. The sooner I left the better, especially if I let the Wolverine inside me take control.
The doors slid open and I was hit with a wave of thoughts from the other X-Men, as well as a voice I almost recognized, as if I had heard it before but hadn't paid enough attention. It seemed an important detail, but it wasn't at the time.
Curious, I followed the thoughts of Jean, Charles, and Logan to the med bay.
"The machine emits radiation that triggers mutation in ordinary human beings," Charles informed us. We, with the exception of Storm, were gathered in Charles' study to discuss Senator Robert Kelly, our newest and most helpless patient.
"But the mutation is unnatural. Kelly's body is rejecting it. His cells began to break down almost immediately," Jean reported.
"What effect does the radiation have on mutants?" Scott asked, glancing irately at Logan. The feral continued to pace anxiously, his jacket slung over his shoulder.
"It appears to have none. But I fear it will seriously harm any normal person exposed to it."
"So what does Magneto want with Rogue?" Logan asked, saying aloud what we were all wondering.
"I don't know," Charles admitted, sounding impatient with himself. I bit my lip, trying to piece together the pieces.
"Wait a second," I said aloud, thinking. "This machine… It draws it's powers from Magneto with a price, right?"
"Yes. In fact, it nearly killed him," Charles said, nodding as his mind followed my thoughts.
"Then we know what he wants, don't we?" I asked rhetorically. Logan looked up, disbelief in his dark eyes.
"He's gonna transfer his power to Rogue and use her to power the machine," he realized. I met his eyes before we both looked at Charles.
"Cyclops, find Storm and ready the jet. Jean, find Logan a uniform. Raven, have you-"
"I'll check Cerebro once more. If Magneto's about to make his next move, it will probably be harder to keep everyone shielded," I decided.
"Whoa, wait a minute. He's not coming with us, is he?"
"Yes, he is."
"I'm sorry, Professor, but he'll endanger the mission. And if-"
"I trust Logan with my life, Scott. Even if he doesn't remember it, he has decades of training etched into his muscle memory. I'd consider the mission endangered if he wasn't with us," I interrupted. Charles nodded at me in agreement.
"I wasn't the one to give the train station a new sunroof, pal," Login cut in. Scott turned, a dangerous calm in his shaded eyes.
"No, you were the one who stabbed Rogue in the chest," he countered.
"Scott," Jean warned.
"Hey, why don't you take your little mission and stick it up your-" He quieted when Ororo opened the door, a distressed look on her face.
"Senator Kelly is dead," she reported. The room quieted and I clenched my fist.
"I'm gonna find her. Scott, Logan, settle this," I ordered, stalking out of the door.
"I know where Magneto's going," I announced, scaling the ramp of the X-Jet. "Liberty Island."
A/N:
Wait for the next one in like ten minutes ;)
^.^ Susie ^.^