Disclaimer: Obviously this still isn't mine.
Chapter 39-Grief
Logan was moving through the snow the moment the pain within his head had subsided. He could smell Stryker up ahead of him. Logan didn't even breathe as he brought three of his claws up into Stryker's armpit. The military man howled in pain, stumbling backwards into Logan.
"You weren't thinking of leaving without saying good-bye, were you?" hissed Logan.
"Let go of me!"
"I don't think so. You and I have some unfinished business to attend to." In the distance an alarm went off, echoing throughout the snowy valley. "What the hell is that?"
"That, my friend, is the sound of the dam breaking. Any moment your friends will be drowned out of the underground base forever. There's nothing you can do for them now—come with me, Wolverine, and I'll tell you everything you want to know about your past. I have the answers—not some mutant children," spat out Stryker. "You're not like them."
"No, but I'm nothing like you, asshole." Logan turned Stryker around to face him as he stuck another set of claws into Stryker's other armpit. "If we die, so do you." Logan tossed Stryker to the ground and grabbed the helicopter chain from the snow. With quick movements Logan anchored the injured man to the wheel of the helicopter and then turned to run back inside the base.
Meanwhile:
Rogue slowly sat up with some help from Bobby. She glanced around the jet in horror, realizing how close to death they had just come. With a deep breath she turned to stare at the open walkway that St. John had disappeared out of moments earlier. He was right. She couldn't just sit here and do nothing.
Scrambling to her feet Rogue ran over to the walkway and shut it, before turning towards Bobby. "We hafta do somethin'."
"Like what?" asked Bobby shaking his head slightly. "We aren't exactly intimidating mutants. We can't just walk into that base and expect the humans to run for cover."
"Ah was thinkin' more along the lines of a rescue mission," murmured Rogue. She gently pushed past the blonde teen and took a seat in the pilot's chair.
"Oh boy, you're crazy, Rogue. You don't even know how to fly this thing."
"Do you?" Rogue sighed as Bobby shook his head once more. "Then Ah guess now's a good as time as any ta learn how ta fly, don't ya think?"
Gulping, Bobby took the seat beside Rogue and eyed the controls in front of them carefully. "We're gonna be in so much trouble later."
"If we don't die in the process," replied Rogue wryly. She gave Bobby a reassuring smile and moved her hands to hover over a set of buttons. "So which one do ya think turns this baby ohn?"
At the Same Time:
Stryker struggled with a weakened arm to pull the chain off of him. He was nearly free when a sharp pain shot through his brain. "No! It's…impossible!" choked out the military man as he tried to stay conscious. The pain intensified as Stryker began to convulse out of control.
In the White House the President clutched his skull, praying to God that the pain end. He opened his mouth in a soundless scream, cursing Stryker and mutants worldwide in the same breath.
Back in Bayville Principal Kelly dropped to the ground of his office, howling like there was no tomorrow. Both hands were on either side of his head, trying to drown out the noise, but to no avail. Kelly vowed to make all mutants pay if he managed to live after this moment.
Elsewhere:
Jean limped along the hallway with the help of Scott. Her mind felt heavy with extra burdens, but she brushed away her fears the second she and Scott came across Ororo leading the pack of missing teens. Both groups glanced down the adjoining hall where a somewhat familiar door stood.
"It's the Professor," said Jean in surprise after using her mind to probe what was beyond the doorway. "Jason has him stuck in an illusion still."
"I thought you said Magneto and Mystique were supposed to be putting a stop to that," murmured Scott with a frown.
Jean sent her mind back towards that of the Professor's and gasped. "He's still hooked up to Cerebro—but this time he's targeting all the humans."
"I knew we shouldn't have trusted them," muttered Ororo darkly. She turned to Kurt. "I need you to teleport me inside so we can get the Professor out alive."
Kurt gulped. "Alright, but just so you know I want a bigger allowance for this."
"You've got yourself a deal." Ororo reached a hand out towards Kurt and the two quickly vanished in a puff of smoke.
Ororo blinked in surprise as she and Kurt came face to face with a small girl wearing nothing more than a nightgown inside of Cerebro. The Professor was nowhere to be seen.
"Hello. Who are you?" asked the girl.
"Is she real?" asked Kurt in a hoarse whisper.
"Not even close," replied Ororo as her eyes turned white. "I'm gonna cool things off, Kurt, so don't move." A sharp wind pierced through the bodies of the three visible beings inside the circular room. Following it came a mixture of sleet and snow.
The girl shivered and wrapped her arms around her body, trying to ward off the sudden drop in temperature. "Stop it!" she cried out. Ororo cocked her head thoughtfully as the wind began to blow stronger. The girl gave out a shriek and vanished with the wind. Ororo let go of her control over the weather just as the Professor and Jason appeared.
The Professor blinked in surprise and quickly tore off the helmet on his head. Wordlessly he turned in his seat to see Kurt and Ororo staring right back at him with relief in their eyes.
"I think it's time to get out of here," announced Kurt as an alarm sounded throughout the base. The room trembled in reply, and a chunk of the ceiling came crashing down, barely missing the Professor. Time was running out.
Outside:
Magneto chuckled as he and Mystique made their way outside. Sitting tied beneath the helicopter was William Stryker, and it seemed the man was still convulsing from the results of Xavier's mind control.
"It is most unfortunate that you will die here, Mr. Stryker. At one time I might have considered you a worthy opponent. Now you are nothing more than a mere insect about to be crushed to death." Magneto waved a flippant hand, causing the chains to unravel from the helicopter and carry Stryker to a nearby piece of wall. The moment Stryker was latched tightly against the cement wall Magneto boarded the helicopter along with Mystique.
"We should be out of here in no time," said Mystique flipping switches on. Magneto took a seat beside her and moments later the helicopter was in the air. Mystique glanced up from her controls and did a retake in surprise. She exchanged a look with Magneto before turning back to the shivering figure of the mutant Pyro.
"It seems your daughter wasn't a hopeless case after all," murmured Magneto thoughtfully. Mystique smirked and lowered the helicopter once more.
This time when the helicopter rose into the sky, St. John stood inside looking out at the base for the last time. This was where he belonged.
Back Inside:
Scott hurried as fast as he could with the Professor in his arms. In front of him the rest of their rag tag group was running at a fast pace towards the spillway. Everyone had some idea what the alarms meant. The dam was breaking, and they needed to get out before it was too late.
Just as the group reached the spillway entrance, the large doors began to shut. Scott glanced over to the side to see Logan pulling his claws out of the control box.
"Trust me," started the older mutant, "that ain't the way out. I know a better one." Turning on his heels Logan motioned for the mutants to follow him down another hallway. The group ran faster, breathing in relief as they were led outside into the crisp air and white snow.
Logan cursed, his eyes staring at an empty helicopter landing pad. "Shit! It was just here! The 'copter was just here!"
"Now what do we do?" asked Kitty clutching Kurt's arm. Jean opened her mouth to speak, but instead turned to glance up into the sky. A small smile formed on her lips as a rush of wind hit the group. From the trees rose the blackbird, if not a little precariously. The giant jet hovered in the air a brief second before turning in the group's direction and flying towards them. Then, just as suddenly as it had taken off from the ground, the jet quickly landed on the ground hard, sending snow flying every which way.
"I knew she had it in her," murmured Jean to herself. The red head took a deep breath to calm her churning mind and began the trek towards the jet. Behind her she could sense Logan picking up Jamie in his arms as the rest of the group ran towards the jet.
Ororo was the first one on the jet, rushing over to Rogue's side as Bobby set about getting the rest of the teens seated and buckled. Ororo placed her own hands over Rogue's gloved ones, and spoke in a soothing tone of voice to relieve the shaking girl.
"It's okay, Rogue, you can let go now."
Rogue nodded once and slowly let go of the controls. Her body continued to shake from the shock and fear of being up in the air and trying to control something so large and powerful. "Ah don't like flyin'," she murmured after a moment. "Ah don't ever wanna fly again."
"At least not without a few lessons on how to work this thing," replied Scott as he and Kurt helped the Professor into the co-pilot's seat.
"No flyin' ever again—ever. Ah wasn't meant ta fly. Ah'm meant to be ohn the ground." Rogue allowed Bobby to help her out of her seat and towards her own, still muttering about it being unnatural to be in the air like a bird.
Meanwhile, outside Logan walked over to a slab of cement, still holding Jamie in his arms. Tied down to the cement was William Stryker. The military man looked up at Logan as he approached.
"I have the answers, Wolverine; I have all the answers you'll ever need."
"No, you only have the answers to part of my past. There's another part that I don't know about—and that's the part I'd rather find on my own. You say you made me into a weapon, well, I have a feeling that I have a bigger role in someone else's life," replied Logan with a straight face. "And I think I owe it to myself to find out if I can still have that part of my life in the future."
"You're nothing without me, Wolverine!"
"I'll take my chances, fucker." Logan shook his head and shifted Jamie onto his back as the two turned their backs on Stryker, heading towards the jet. Logan took a deep breath and for the first time in his life felt free from his sins of the past. The most important thing now wasn't finding out who he had been before he became Wolverine—it was finding out the truth about Rogue. Whether or not he was really her father, Rogue needed someone in her life to be a parent. And Logan wasn't about to let her down like everyone else before him.
On the jet Logan found nothing but chaos. Ororo was desperately trying to get the jet to start up again. Jean and Scott were moving around trying various options and controls, but nothing seemed to be working. Logan glanced down at Rogue who seemed to still be catching her breath.
"Hey," started the southerner suddenly, "where's St. John?"
Jean glanced up and instantly knew the Aussie's whereabouts without having to probe the grounds. "Magneto."
Rogue closed her eyes and sat back in her seat wearily. It was all her fault. St. John had gone to the enemy because she had driven him towards it. All those months of trying to get him on the side of the Brotherhood, and now that he was... all Rogue could feel was remorse for everything she had ever done. She wasn't sure that she would ever feel right about her self ever again—not after this.
Jean sighed wearily as well. Her head hurt, her heart hurt, and her entire body felt like it was shutting down of its own accord. Around her she could sense the fear, the despair, and anger welling up inside her friends. She barely comprehended the fact that the Professor was murmuring to Scott, saying they needed to get to the White House straightaway to fix the repercussions of today's actions. Jean leaned back against a wall of the jet, her mind constantly buzzing.
Outside, she could feel the dam breaking. She could sense the water itching to be free. She could sense two lost souls still inside the underground base. And Jean could sense another soul watching, waiting. Her eyes fluttered shut briefly, allowing the thoughts within her mind to swirl to the surface. She couldn't stay in control for much longer—and if she did lose control all hell would break loose. With a deep breath Jean opened her eyes and glanced back towards the ramp leading off the jet. There was only one way to make everything right.
Rogue snapped out of her reverie as a single personality in her mind swirled around anxiously. With a chill running down her spine Rogue turned and locked eyes with Jean. The red head lowered her eyes, but not before Rogue had seen a small spark of fire within them. Wordlessly the southerner watched as Jean turned and limped painfully towards the back of the jet. Rogue's lips parted slightly, but her mouth was too parched to speak. She knew exactly what Jean had planned—she didn't have to be a mind reader for that.
Struggling to form a coherent word, Rogue finally whispered, "Jean."
Scott glanced down at Rogue with a small frown before realizing that Jean was missing. His face paled as he turned to run towards the ramp. "Jean!" He pounded on the metal door as it shut in his face. "Jean, come back here!"
"What's she doing?" demanded Logan glancing out the front window as Jean limped through the snow. The slender teen raised a hand in the air, lifting the jet off the ground, and bringing the controls to life.
"We can't leave without her!" shouted Scott running back towards the front.
"I'm not in control here!" replied Ororo, tears forming in her eyes.
Kurt closed his eyes and then opened them in fear. "She won't let me use my powers!"
Rogue hopped out her seat, screaming. "Jeanie, you cahn't do this! It's too dangerous!"
The Professor closed his eyes, his voice speaking for Jean. "There's no other way. We must continue the fight for peace. I know what I'm doing…you have to trust me. Scott, I just want you to know that it's always been you. I've always loved you…and I will never stop loving you." The Professor woke from his chance, his face falling at the meaning of Jean's words. She was going to sacrifice herself for the chance of peace between mutants and humans. She was giving up everything for the sake of others.
"Jean!" Scott screamed hoarsely as the jet rose higher into the air, and Jean put out another hand to prevent rushing water from engulfing her.
Rogue shook her head and took a step back as Jean's voice whispered inside her mind. "You're the only one who knows what I've been going through. You're the only one who can understand that if I stay I'll hurt the ones I love. I can't control who I am, Rogue, just like you can't always control who you are. Thank-you for letting me in, I won't forget it."
Falling back into her seat Rogue stared wordlessly out the window as Jean closed her eyes and lowered her hands, letting the water swirl over her. Tears streamed down her face as she brought her gloved hands up to her mouth, choking back a sob. Here was yet another soul she had influenced, another person that she owed a great deal of gratitude for never giving up on her, and now that person was gone. Rogue wasn't sure if she would ever find a way to one day show the world how grateful she was to have found someone who shared Rogue's fear of ultimate power without treating her any different.
Scott let loose a loud sob as Logan pulled the teen into his arms, taking the angry punches without a word. Ororo lowered her head as tears streamed down her face while the Professor brought a shaking hand up to his forehead. Bobby's own face was tearstained as he reached down and pulled Rogue into his arms, letting her cry into his jacket. In the back Kurt and Kitty held onto each other as Jubilee rocked Jamie in her arms. Both Rahne and Sam wiped away tears, neither one quite believing that Jean was really gone.
A small whisper was the only thing heard as Kurt recited a familiar prayer. "'The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.'"
The White House
The Next Day:
President McKenna recited the words of his speech to himself as he made his way towards the Oval Office. He needed to find the right tone of voice to reach out to the public and let them know that everything was going to be okay. But the President hardly believed himself. Outside the White House human protestors were shouting about the bombing of a mutant safe house, while other protestors were angry that all mutants hadn't been locked up yet. It was a madhouse outside and inside now.
"Annihilation? Do we really want to use that word?" asked the President as he and his aide entered the Oval Office. The President smiled at the reporters and camera crew inside the office as he took his a seat behind his desk. He took a deep breath and waited for his cue. Then, he began to speak, looking directly at the camera, reading his speech from the live feed.
"Yesterday we experienced a threat greater than we have ever known before. Our very way of life was threatened. Today I sit before you to say that we have been given a moment—uh, did we just lose the feed?" President McKenna glanced up as the room darkened, but the camera man, the aides, and the reporters were all stock still. Lightning flashed outside, indicating a storm brewing. McKenna glanced out the window before turning back towards office. Something was off. He jumped to his feet as lightning flashed once more to reveal seven figures in the room, six of which were dressed in black uniforms of some kind.
"Who are you?" demanded the President angrily. His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the blue demon that had attacked him days earlier. "What do you want?"
"Only a minute of your time, Mr. President. Yesterday was a most unfortunate event that should not have happened," said Professor Xavier from his seat in the wheelchair. "Yet, it could have been prevented had you not let your fears run away with your judgment. By placing your trust in William Stryker you have helped set forth into motion a war that has been brewing for years. It will take a lot of work from both sides of this war to bring peace and civility back to our nation. Rogue, would you be so kind as to hand the President the file?"
President McKenna watched fearfully as a young teen with white stripes in her brown hair stepped forward and placed a thick blue folder atop his desk. "What is this?" McKenna opened the folder and flipped through a couple of pages. His eyes widened as he lowered himself down into his seat. "Where did you get this? And how?"
"I know a girl who walks through walls. This file comes from the personal computer of Mr. Stryker. He has been planning the wipeout of the entire mutant race long before even you knew about mutants, Mr. President. And yesterday he almost succeeded. It is with a grave heart that I cannot say that our side is innocent either. There are mutants out there who believe there can be no peace between humans and mutants. They will stop at nothing to become the dominate species—they will use their powers for ill reasons. But do not make the mistake of thinking that all mutants are like that.
"This is a dangerous time, Mr. President. The road ahead will not be easy; already there have been losses on both sides of the battlefield. You are right to say that we have been given a moment, but what you choose to do with that moment is up to you. Mutants will never go away, and neither will the hatred that comes along with being…different. But we want you to know that no matter what happens we won't go away either. This world is big enough for all of us, Mr. President. Please do not make a decision that you could come to regret in the future."
"We'll have our eyes on you," added Wolverine gruffly. The President stared down at the papers on his desk as lightning flared through the skies. When he glanced back up the mutants were gone, and everyone in his office was staring at him; waiting.
His next choice of words would decide a new course for the nation.
Bayville Mansion:
"Look at this place," murmured Kitty as she kicked over a broken piece of wall. "I think that used to be our room."
"How cahn ya tell? It all looks the same ta meh," replied Rogue making a face. She reached down with gloved hands and sifted through some rubble. She sat back on her heels, surveying the destroyed grounds of what had once been the mansion.
"It doesn't look like anything's salvageable," said Bobby joining the two girls.
Kitty sighed. "What do we do now? Go home to our parents?"
Rogue shook her head. "You're forgettin' that some of us don't have a family ta go back to. We cahn't just give up, cahn we?"
"No," answered Logan as he and Ororo joined the teens. "We'll just have to rebuild."
"In Bayville? Are you crazy?" demanded Kurt popping into the middle of the group. "Have you seen the scary protesters standing outside our gates? I'm surprised they don't have pitchforks out!"
The group glanced over to the wrought iron gates where angry protestors had set up camp. Keeping them at bay was the U.S. military. Apparently not very many people had been too thrilled to hear the President call for peace between humans and mutants. He had turned down offers of immediate round-ups of mutants, saying both sides had been cruelly tricked by a man following a sick path towards glory. As a peace offering President McKenna had sent the military to keep watch on the X-Men until the mutant team could go through the rubble of their one time home.
"It is a grave time for us now," sighed Ororo wrapping her arms around her body. "We've lost too much already. How can we move on from this?"
No one answered as a jeep drove through the gates. Rogue glanced up and gave a small sigh of relief as Dr. McCoy, Warren, Piotr, Roberto, Amara, and Ray stepped out of the military vehicle. Joining them was the small band of Morlocks from the sewers. Behind that jeep came another with Tabitha sitting in the passenger seat, looking lost for once in her life.
Ororo quickly headed over to Evan and clutched her nephew close in her arms as they cried tears of grief together. Callisto and Caliban ushered their Morlocks to stay close to Ray before heading over to Logan, Rogue, Kurt, Bobby, and Kitty.
Callisto eyed Rogue thoughtfully. "I knew you'd pull through," she announced. Rogue nodded absently as Caliban placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. Wordlessly he pulled her into his arms as more tears fell from her eyes.
"We have come to pay our respects," murmured the pale faced mutant, "to the one called Jean Grey."
Logan nodded sharply. "Then you came just in time. I think the Professor was waiting 'til everyone got here."
Rogue paused as Tabitha walked over to her. The two girls hugged, fighting back more tears. Tabitha pulled away, wiping her eyes. "Metal Head and Shifty-Eyes showed up again with the pyro and I knew I couldn't stay there anymore. I heard on the news about Jean…it's not true, is it?"
"Ah wish it wasn't," replied Rogue softly.
"That girl always had to do the right thing, didn't she? She never faltered…she never gave up. She just kept trucking along even when it was pointless. How's our fearless leader taking it?"
"Ah don't think Scott's ever gonna be the same again."
"Right." Tabitha nodded along with Rogue and gave her another hug before heading over to Amara and Roberto. Rogue smiled as the two girls hugged, neither wanting to let go of the other. It seemed now that bygones would be forgotten for a brand new start.
Together the mutants drifted towards what had once been the backyard. Already there were the Professor, Scott, and Jean's family. Rogue felt a stab of pity as she eyed the Grey's, remembering Jean's wish to be normal and back home with her family.
Caliban and Callisto joined Ray and the Morlocks as the mutants circled around a small memorial stone. Rogue looked up briefly as she felt a hand grip her own gloved hand. Jamie offered her a small smile as she squeezed back. Bobby stood on her other side with Logan beside him. Rogue glanced down at the ground, noticing Kurt and Kitty straying close to Jamie's side. Beyond them Jubilee, Tabitha, Amara, Roberto, Rahne, Sam, Piotr, Warren, and Dr. McCoy stood alongside one another to stare at the small plaque in the ground. Ororo and Evan moved to stand on the other side of Logan as the Grey's, Scott, and Professor Xavier closed up the circle.
"It is with a heavy heart that we come together to honor one of our own. Jean was always a special person, she was always willing to help others and lend a hand whenever possible. She was a smart young woman, and always striving to be optimistic no matter what. She was a friend, a sister, a daughter…and so much more.
"When she came to Bayville she came hoping that she could learn to control her powers so that she might one day do good in the world. She was always hesitant about her powers, afraid that she would hurt someone she cared for—or that she didn't have what it took to keep up with her fellow peers. And yet it seems that Jean has surpassed all of us by embracing her powers wholeheartedly for the sake of the world.
"We will never forget Jean as we continue the crusade in her name. Her sacrifice will not be forgotten, nor lost in the wind. Together we will stand against those opposed to peace and civility in the world. The fight will go in Jean's name. She wouldn't want it any other way."
Silence followed the Professor's words. A few sobs broke up the fray as one by one the students stepped forward to place a flower on the plaque in the ground. Scott was first with a single red rose in his hand. His face was strained as he watched the rose fall atop the plaque. Then he turned and walked away, back towards the destroyed mansion to grieve alone. Logan and Ororo went forward together. Ororo dropped down to her knees and tenderly touched the plaque before allowing Logan to help her to her feet again. The pair drifted away from the circle, holding onto each other tightly.
Roberto, Amara, and Tabitha placed their flowers on the plaque as a group. As they walked away Amara linked hands with Roberto and Tabitha slung an arm around the Princess's shoulder. Sam, Rahne, and Jubilee stepped forward next. Jubilee wiped away her tears as Rahne and Sam led her away. Ray and the Morlocks stepped forward one by one, followed by Callisto, Caliban, and Evan. The three turned away to join their Morlocks at a respectable distance away from the circle.
Warren, Piotr, and Dr. McCoy also stepped forward. Warren flapped his wings in a small tribute to the plaque as he bowed low to the ground. Dr. McCoy lowered his head to say a quick prayer as Piotr watched with a grim face. He turned and walked away without bothering to wait for his comrades. Watching him go Rogue had a bad feeling that the Russian teen harbored anger at his friends for doing nothing but hiding out in the sewers.
Kurt struggled to keep Kitty on her feet as they walked over to the plaque. Kitty broke down in sobs as she placed her rose on Jean's plaque. Kurt had tears in his eyes as well as he pulled her into his arms and carried her away. Jamie walked ahead of Rogue and Bobby, putting his flower on the plaque and patting it comfortingly. Bobby gave the small boy a small smile as he too placed a rose down on the plaque.
Rogue took a deep breath as she lowered herself into a crouched position beside the plaque. She wished she had been able to tell Jean that she truly considered the red head a friend. As she placed the rose on the plaque however Rogue felt a warm breeze caress her. The southerner glanced up into the blue sky with a tiny frown on her face as a single persona drifted in and out of her mind. Her lips parted in a small oh as Rogue turned to glance at the Professor. He too had a similar look on his face.
With a small smile Rogue turned to glance down at the plaque. "Ah'll be seein' ya again, Jeanie," she whispered softly, "ahn when Ah do Ah'm gonna prove that ya cahn always count ohn meh. Ah owe ya one."
Rogue got to her feet and ruffled Jamie's hair as she slipped an arm around Bobby's waist. Together the trio walked away from the plaque and back towards the ruined mansion.
Westchester:
Magneto stared out the window of his office, taking in the green trees swaying with a small breeze. Spring was on the mend, indicating that now was the time to start anew.
"We will train each and every one of our recruits to the best of their abilities," stated the aging leader sternly.
"Of course," agreed Mystique tipping her head to one side.
"My dear, we can no longer stand by and watch the X-Men take the reigns of mutant-kind. We must show to mutants everywhere that the Brotherhood will not sit idly and wait for peace. Mutants should…and will become the dominate species in the world. But in order to do so, you and I must come to terms with one another." Magneto turned to gaze at his longtime partner and lover. "We can no longer quarrel over glory and greatness, Raven. We must work together. We must combine our abilities and knowledge to turn the Brotherhood into an unbeatable team."
"I agree, Eric. The time for jealousy is long over. It's a new world out there…the war has only begun. We have plenty of time to prove exactly where we stand," murmured Mystique coyly. Magneto nodded and turned back towards the window.
"Your daughter has proven to be something of a disappointment, my dear. Not once did she stand up to fight the enemy at Alkali Lake. I thought you had trained her."
"I wouldn't count Rogue out just yet. She has something planned, I can feel it; and whatever it is you can be sure it will be big. Anger doesn't go away overnight—no matter what she claims to be feeling. And Rogue is boiling with anger at the world. I believe that Rogue is simply biding her time for the perfect moment to strike. Revenge is just a game for her."
Magneto felt a smile tug on his lips. "Then let the game begin."
A/N—Alright, I thought long and hard before posting this chapter...it took a while to display everything I wanted just right. Yes, Rogue has gone through a complete turnaround from the strong character I created, but you'll see why in the next chapter--which should be up later this week, so keepan eye out for it.