Disclaimer: I still don't own this.
22-Prisoner
A soft breeze filtered through the dungeons, awakening Rogue from a sleepless slumber. She groaned as she struggled to her feet. A stone floor was hardly the best place to sleep. Rogue glanced over at the Senator in his cell. He had moved to stare out the barred window.
"I never thought that I would see the day when I would become what I feared the most," he murmured upon noticing Rogue moving closer to the bars that separated them from each other.
"We aren't all bad," she whispered hoarsely.
The Senator gave a dry laugh. "I guess not considering the fact that you're a prisoner too."
Rogue sighed. "Senator, the world is only afraid of what they cahn't understand. No one cares what it's like for us. Fear is what separates the humans from the mutants. If you were ta lock us up, it would be the Holocaust all over again. You would become no better than the Nazi's. Is that really the best way for you to go?"
"I honestly don't know anymore. This Magneto is a source of evil…and yet, I must believe that he is a mutual enemy for both humans and mutants."
"He is, sometimes it takes us mutants longer ta realize that fact. But other times his words make more sense than those ushering peace. The world isn't ready for mutants yet. Ah don't know if they ever will be."
"I don't think our world will ever be ready," replied the Senator leaning his forehead against the window bars. Rogue silently watched as the Senator's head molded to fit through the bars.
"Humans shouldn't become mutants to accept us, they should already have compassion in their hearts," continued the Senator as he slowly, and painfully pulled the rest of his body through the bars of the window. He turned around to glance back at Rogue who was still inside her own cell.
"Ah think this might be one of the few times Ah agree with ya, Senator," said Rogue calmly.
"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I don't think I should leave you here to face that man alone. From what I've heard, you're in more danger than I am."
Rogue gave the Senator a tiny smile. "Ah probably am, but don't worry, Ah cahn take care of mahself."
"I want to help you…" the Senator's words trailed off as footsteps could be heard in the distance heading down towards the dungeons.
"Then do meh a favor, Senator. Find Professor Xavier in Bayville…he ahn his X-Men are the only ones who cahn help you…ahn maybe meh. Ah don't know what they're capable of. Ah've only ever fought against them. Go, now, before they cahn catch you." Rogue closed her eyes, fighting back the tears as the Senator disappeared from sight.
"What the hell?" cried out Sabertooth jerking the Senator's cell door off its hinges. He rushed over to the window in time to see the Senator disappear into the ocean below. The tawny colored beast glanced over at Rogue. "You help him escape?"
"Does it really matter?" shot back Rogue, her green eyes flashing with anger. "Ah thought Ah was the one y'all wanted!"
Magneto spoke as he entered the dungeon, motioning for Sabertooth to leave. "You are the most important mutant in the world, Rogue. Your powers are proof of that. You could have been invincible…unstoppable…immortal."
"Forgive meh for not jumpin' for joy over here," snorted Rogue derisively. "You're gonna kill meh, aren't ya?"
"Naturally. My powers will be transferred into you, and then you will become a martyr for mutant-kind."
"Ah don't care about other mutants. Ah only care about mahself…why cahn't you people just leave meh alone?"
"My dear Rogue, this is the only way for peace."
"Yeah, well the Senator didn't look too hot before he jumped out the window. What happens if he dies? If your stupid machine doesn't work?"
Magneto raised an eyebrow at Rogue before turning to leave as well. "I guess we'll find out, won't we?"
The X-Mansion:
Professor Xavier studied the four mutants in front of him carefully. Logan. Ororo, Jean, and Scott were silent. Rogue was missing. Senator Kelly was still gone. Mystique and Sabertooth were most likely with them. And Magneto was oddly quiet.
"It's a goddamn calm before the storm," growled Logan pulling a cigar out of his pocket and lighting it up. For once, Ororo didn't chide him for his lack of respect for the rest of the group.
"Rogue must be important," murmured Ororo thoughtfully. "Her powers could be a great asset if used in a particular manner."
Jean frowned. "Who would Magneto want Rogue to drain? The Senator? I'm sure he could kill Senator Kelly himself if we he really wanted to."
"It doesn't make sense," agreed Scott finally speaking up. "None of this makes any sense."
"No," said the Professor with a sigh. "It never makes sense at first. Magneto hasn't made many moves in the last few weeks. In fact, he hasn't done much since Rogue was found."
"Maybe we should get a hold of Destiny," suggested Jean. "Rogue kept babbling on about her…I bet she has some kind of idea as to what's going on."
Scott looked ready to say something more when the doorbell rang, disrupting the small group. Logan made a face as he moved towards the office door with the others on his heels.
"I got it!" announced Bobby sliding to a stop in front of the large oak door. He pulled it open and gave a strangled cry of shock as a soaking wet Senator Kelly fell into his arms.
"You've gotta be shittin' me," muttered Logan as rushed over to help Bobby hold the Senator up.
"I came…for help…please…the girl…is in…danger…" the Senator gasped out the words as the mutants herded him down the hall and into a small medical lab.
"Senator, can you tell us what happened to you?" asked Ororo as the older man was lifted onto the bed.
"He turned…me into…a mutant...he will…kill…the girl….so sweet…so innocent…and so…brave…" His eyes fluttered shut, as his breathing became ragged. Ororo glanced down at the Professor and together they set about setting up the lab equipment. Scott, Jean, Logan, and Bobby stood by the wall and out of the way.
Magneto's Headquarters:
Rogue didn't turn her head as the door to the dungeons opened and someone slipped inside. She had a feeling she knew who it was. Rogue continued to stare at the brick wall of her cell, her back still leaning against the bars.
Finally, Rogue decided to break the silence. "What d'ya want?" she demanded.
"I came to see how you were," answered Mystique softly.
Rogue snorted. "That's rich."
"Rogue, I never wanted any of this to happen…you don't know what this is doing to me." Mystique's words pleaded with Rogue as the shape shifter clutched the bars. Rogue jumped to her feet and whirled around to face the blue woman.
"Ya know, Ah think Ah have a pretty good idea how ya feel 'bout this whole thing. You have one obligation, Mystique, and that is yourself. You don't care 'bout anyone but your own goddamn skin."
"That's not true, Rogue."
"Isn't it, though? If ya really cared about meh, then why did ya give meh up at birth?" snapped Rogue darkly.
Mystique jumped in surprise. "Excuse me?" she asked.
"Ah know the truth, Mystique. Ah know you're mah mother. Mah birth mother."
"How…how do you know that?"
"Destiny."
"No, no, no…why would she tell you that?" murmured Mystique to herself, backing away from the cell.
Rogue narrowed her eyes. "It's amazin' how ya cahn just hand meh over to Magneto. Sentenced ta death by mah own mother. That's gotta be one for the record books."
"You don't know anything about me, Rogue. You don't know what my life has been like. When you were born, you were normal…how could I raise you like that? I'm no good with kids. I never have been, and I never will be."
"You lied to meh from the very beginning, didn't you? That wasn't Jeanie in New Orleans tryin' to attack meh, was it? It was you! You betrayed meh, Mystique! Ah trusted you. Ah believed in you. Ah stayed in the Brotherhood long after Ah found out you were mah mother. But all along, Ah've been a fool. A goddamn, stupid fool!"
"Rogue—"
"Ah hate you! Ah hate you! How could you do this ta meh? Why? Don't you love meh? Ah'm your daughter!" screeched Rogue grabbing the bars of her cell and shaking them. Mystique averted her eyes to the ground with tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry. I really am sorry…you're my daughter, Rogue, but you have to understand--"
"Ah don't want to understand! Ah want mah life back!" Rogue lapsed into silence watching as Mystique wiped away tears from her face. There was no turning back now.
"If I could change what I've done, Rogue, I would. You have to believe me."
"You better hope that Magneto really does kill meh today, 'cause if not, Ah'm gonna make your life a livin' hell from here ohn out," vowed Rogue bitterly. Mystique looked up, and for the first time in her life saw her daughter for who she really was.
Back at the X-Mansion:
"It seems that Senator Kelly was indeed speaking the truth," announced the Professor gravely.
"Magneto actually turned him into a mutant?" asked Jean sinking down into a seat. They were back in the Professor's office, trying to formulate a plan.
Ororo nodded. "He now has the power to change his body into any shape…unfortunately, his body cannot handle the mutation. His cells are falling apart. The Senator is dying."
"You can't fix this, Chuck?" demanded Logan with a deep frown.
"I'm afraid not," replied Xavier. "The mutation is unnatural—brought about by radiation meant to trigger mutations in normal human beings. Magneto has no idea that human cells cannot handle the effects, thereby breaking down immediately."
"So what does this mean?" questioned Scott running a hand through his hair nervously.
"It means," murmured Ororo, "that Magneto is planning on turning all humans into mutants, but unknowingly he will be killing them."
"Great, so what does the old tin can want with Rogue?" Logan voiced the question on everyone's minds.
Xavier closed his eyes as he answered. "Magneto is going to transfer his powers to Rogue so that she will utilize the machine. From what I was able to gather from the Senator's thoughts, Magneto became very weak turning Senator Kelly into a mutant…to use the machine long enough to radiate the entire planet could very well kill him."
"You mean he's going to kill Rogue instead, using the machine?" gasped Jean, her hand going to her mouth in shock.
"Yes. Rogue was used by the Brotherhood. They kept her on their side long enough to gain her trust, and now her loyalty will be repaid with death."
"This mean we're gonna have a Magneto type barbecue tonight?" asked Logan, his eyes lighting up at the thought as his claws popped out of his knuckles.
"We must save Rogue and put a stop to Magneto and his machine. Logan, you, Ororo, Jean and Scott will go after Rogue and Magneto," directed Xavier.
"Where to?" murmured Scott.
"From what the Senator can remember, you will be headed towards the Statue of Liberty," answered the Professor. The mutants stood up, ready to leave, just as Bobby burst into the office, gasping for breath. The blonde teen was soaking wet.
"Kelly's dead," he announced.
"Then we don't have much time," said Xavier.
Brotherhood Boarding House:
Kitty and Lance were seated on the porch swing, each as quiet as a mouse. Lance hadn't said a word since Rogue had left with Mystique. He hadn't even so much as looked at Kitty since she showed back up at the boarding house.
The rest of the Brotherhood was out. Toad had gone off to pickpocket people shopping at the mall; Fred had gone out to eat at a local bakery; and Pietro, well, no one was quite sure where he had disappeared to, but Lance had a hunch he was out looking for his dad.
"Lance, I know this is like really hard on you right now. But you can't blame yourself. Rogue made the ultimate decision to leave," said Kitty softly.
"Yeah, but she made that decision because of me," replied Lance leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
"I know. The X-Men are going to find her, you know?"
"I know, but it should me saving her…not the X-Men."
Kitty nodded absently. Truth be told, she felt like crap. It was partly her fault too that Rogue had gone off into the trap with Mystique. If anything happened to her, Kitty would never forgive herself. All she wanted now was to make peace with Rogue and get to know the southern girl.
"You all right?" asked Lance looking over at the petite brunette. Kitty gave him a small smile as tears slid down her cheeks. Lance swallowed back his own tears and pulled Kitty into his arms. Too much was happening at once.
"I love you, Lance," whispered Kitty into his shirt.
"I love you too," murmured Lance into her hair. And finally Lance let go of Rogue in his heart. There was nothing left for him to do…except maybe kill Mystique. But that could wait until he knew Rogue was safe and sound. Because no matter what, Lance would always consider Rogue a member of his team.
The Statue of Liberty:
Rogue sat still, there was no use in fighting…she was stuck. A metal collar was wound around her neck, and her arms were securely fastened behind her back. Magneto had complete control of her now.
"Set her up," ordered Magneto glancing over at Sabertooth. The other mutant grabbed Rogue by the shoulders and pushed her over to the large metal contraption resting atop the torch of Lady Liberty. Rogue felt the binding around her wrists loosen. Sabertooth quickly and efficiently tied her wrists to the metal handles that Rogue would be forced to use to start up the machine.
"This is a stupid plan," she spat out glaring at Magneto. Both Sabertooth and Mystique ignored her.
"I'm sorry that you think so," replied the leader.
"D'ya honestly think you'll get away with this? D'ya think that once everyone becomes a mutant they'll revere you as some kinda saint? Ah bet they won't. Ah bet those poor people are gonna want ta kill ya for what you're doin' ta them."
"It is most unfortunate that you will not be here to see it, then," chuckled Magneto in amusement.
Rogue smiled. "Hey, Ah may become a martyr today, but Ah'll be seein' you down in hell before long, Mags."
"Foolish child." Magneto turned to his lackeys expectantly upon noticing a fog beginning to grow around the statue. "Get moving. The X-Men are here, I will not have them stop me."
"We'll handle it," promised Sabertooth as he and Mystique retreated back down towards the observation bay in the statue's head.
"I'll handle the Wolverine," murmured Mystique. "You can have the weather witch."
"I smell two more."
"Let Magneto handle them, I won't be bothered by teenagers."
Sabertooth paused inside the observation bay to watch Mystique disappear down the stairs, her shape shifting as she went. He would wait here. There was no use looking for a fight…that wasn't his job. He needed to be close by to make sure Rogue didn't die.
Mystique made her way down the stairs and into the base of the statue. Coming through the front doors were four of the X-Men. Wolverine stepped in front of his teammates, his claws pointing straight at Mystique as she shifted into Rogue.
"Is this who you're looking for?" she murmured with a small chuckle before returning to her naturally blue form. "That's a shame, Wolverine. I thought we could catch up on the old times."
"Only thing I'm gonna catch up on is your death," growled Wolverine swiping at Mystique's head. The blue woman easily ducked the swipe and sent a powerful kick at the back of his knees, knocking him on all fours.
Storm, Jean and Cyclops edged past the feuding pair and towards the staircase leading up to the observation deck. Storm went first, motioning for the younger ones to follow slowly.
Sabertooth was ready for Storm the second she placed her foot onto the top step. He wrapped a large hand around her neck, lifting her off the ground. Storm tried to pull Sabertooth's hand away from her neck, to no avail. She could feel the claws digging into her skin, warm blood trickling down Sabertooth's fingers.
"Cat got your tongue?" he hissed with satisfaction as he watched the dark skinned woman gasp for breath. "Too bad. We could have been good together, you and me."
"Not…in…this…life…time…" shot back Storm, her eyes going white. Sabertooth narrowed his eyes as he slowly realized what she was going. But by then a strong wind was gusting through the observation deck and thunder rumbling in the sky, supported by flashes of lightning. Sabertooth glanced out into the sky, noticing for the first time how close he was to the outside.
Magneto noticed the brewing storm with disgust. His lackeys were useless. The gray haired leader turned to look at Rogue. She had tears streaming down her face as she struggled to break free from her bonds.
"Please," she begged in between sobs, "please don't kill meh! Ah don't wanna die! Ah'm not ready yet! Oh gawd, this cahn't be happenin'! Help meh! Someone help meh!"
"I'm afraid your time has run out, m'dear. Don't fear, the pain will go away and all you will feel will be freedom—freedom from your curse, Rogue. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"No! Stay away from meh!" shrieked Rogue trying to back as far away from Magneto as possible.
"I'm sorry, Rogue. Forgive me," murmured Magneto gripping her face with his bare hands. Rogue tried to pull away, but she could already feel herself draining the master of metal. With a strangled cry Rogue's eyes widened as her mind was clouded with images from Magneto. The older mutant finally let go and stumbled to the base of the machine, watching wearily as Rogue unwilling let loose his powers of magnetism. Her hands clamped down on the handles of the machine, starting it up. The rings around her began to spin faster and faster as Rogue tried with all her might to break contact with the machine.
But it was useless. Rogue felt her mind darkening as her life slowly drained out of her body. With one last bought of energy Rogue let loose a scream that seemed to penetrate the entire statue, inside and out. And then, Rogue felt herself close her eyes for the last time. She had lost the battle. The human race was about to be destroyed.
Down at the base of the statue, Wolverine and Mystique were still fighting. By now the two were covered in scratches and bruises.
"Give up?" taunted Mystique with a smirk.
"Not on your life lady," retorted Wolverine blocking punches with the palms of his hands. Just then, Rogue's scream echoed throughout the statue startling the two mutants. Mystique looked up with apprehension and fear slashing through her soul. Wolverine took the minor distraction to send his claws through her gut. Mystique's yellow eyes widened in surprise, and then clouded over as she dropped to the ground.
"Women," he muttered retracting his claws and turning to run up the staircase.
On the observation deck, Rogue's scream was louder. Sabertooth jumped in surprise at the pain and anguish of her voice, letting go of Storm. The woman dropped to the ground breathing in ragged breaths of air as Cyclops and Jean stepped onto the platform. Sabertooth was halfway out the window when Cyclops shot him with a laser beam, knocking the beast off balance and flailing into the waters below.
"Where is she?" called out Wolverine as he joined his companions on the observation deck. The X-Men looked out the windows and up at the torch. There they could see an unconscious Rogue, and a visibly weakened Magneto. Surrounding the torch was a bright light—the radiation was forming and gearing up to flow down and out across the world.
"We gotta stop the machine," stated Cyclops readying himself to blast the moving rings.
"No!" shouted Jean pulling his hand away from his visor. "You might hit her."
"Then what do we do?"
"Get me up there," said Wolverine.
"Are you crazy?" demanded Storm glancing at him sharply.
"That kid is gonna die if we don't stop her!" Wolverine locked eyes with Storm. After a minute she nodded reluctantly.
"I can start another wind, but I don't know if it will get you up to Rogue. I can't control it that way."
"Don't matter; get me close enough and I'll do the rest. Make sure the old tin can doesn't try any funny stuff," replied Wolverine wryly. He climbed out onto the ledge of the window as Storm started another fast paced wind. Wolverine was soon flying out into the sky and towards the torch. He shot down a fist, his claws extended as he sliced through one of the moving rings. The wind vanished and Wolverine toppled down in front of Rogue. The other two rings were still going strong, but Rogue was unconscious.
"Looks like your game's over, Tin Can!" hollered Wolverine raising his claws over his head. He frowned as he felt Magneto use the last of his powers to momentarily pause the X-Men.
"No," muttered Magneto desperately. "No." His outstretched arm wavered feebly as he exerted his energy into stopping Wolverine, but it was too late. Below him Cyclops shot another laser beam into Magneto's back, sending the old man reeling to the ground unmoving. Wolverine's arm went out and sliced another moving ring. It broke in half, and knocked the last ring off balance. Wolverine reached out and pulled Rogue into his arms to shield her from the exploding metal as the machine finally came to a complete halt. The bright light vanished, and the sky became dark once more.
Wolverine gathered Rogue close to him and quickly sliced her bonds free. He gently shook her, but she didn't move. Peering down closer, Wolverine realized that Rogue wasn't breathing.
"Oh no. No, no, no," he murmured to himself. "Come on kid, wake up. You can't die on us now. Rogue?"
But there was no answer. Rogue was gone. Wolverine shook his head, blinking back the tears that were threatening to form in his eyes. He tore off a glove and smoothed out her brown hair, that now sported two white streaks. He placed a hand on her cheek and prayed that something would happen.
After several long minutes Wolverine felt Rogue's powers jolt back to life. His own powers of healing flowed into Rogue, as well as his energy. Rogue's eyes widened in shock and she pulled away as the older mutant dropped to the ground unconscious.
Rogue looked around, her eyes full of fear. It was over. It was all over. And yet, Rogue wasn't happy. Her entire world had just crumbled before her very eyes, and she was alone once again.
A/N—Alright, so here's another update for the weekend. I'll try and get the next chapter up later in the week. Hope this one turned out alright. Enjoy.