Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men. I do own Rose, Henry, and Lilly.
A/N: Welcome to the fifth chapter of The Next Generation, the sequel to Her Only Wish. So without further ado, sit back and enjoy. Here goes!
"Will Logan be alright, cher?" Remy asked Kitty as he stood off to the side with his arms wrapped around Rogue's waist. "I mean, how do we know it actually worked?"
Kitty spared a moment to glare at the Cajun, her brown eyes hardening. "I think I would, like, know if it hadn't worked. He's back there. So, like, stop questioning me and let me concentrate. This isn't easy, you know."
Rem's eyes widened as he raised his hands up in surrender.
"Vill Herr Logan be alright, Frau Rose?" inquired Kurt from where he squatted beside his wife. He stared up at the silver cheetah worriedly.
Rose nodded as she sat on the edge of the stone slab Logan laid upon, her golden eyes never leaving her husband's face. "He can do it. He will do it. He has to."
~ A Few Hours Earlier ~
"Are you absolutely certain about this?" Rose asked Logan, pulling him aside the second she got the chance.
"Here I thought ya were all for this plan," the wolverine replied, frowning as he watched Rose chew her bottom lip. "Ya don't think I can do it, Goldilocks?"
Rose shook her head. "No, it's not that."
"Then what is it?" demanded Logan. "What's wrong, Rose?"
Rose sighed and looked up at her husband with glistening cat-like eyes. "I've already lost Henry and Lilly; I don't want to lose you too."
"Ya should know better than anyone ya can't get rid of me that easily," he reminded her gently as he raised a hand and placed it on her cheek, brushing away the tears that had fallen. "I'll come back, I promise and I've never broken a promise before, have I? Especially one I've made to my girl."
"No, you haven't," she agreed, leaning into his large warm palm. "I just…"
"Have a bad feeling about this?" he guessed.
Rose nodded before locking his eyes with hers. "Look, I know you can do this just be careful and try not to do anything stupid."
~ 1987 ~
Nothin' stupid, huh? mused Logan as he glanced at the younger version of his wife who was standing beside Magneto despite the fact that she was the one currently in control of her body. Watching the two of them made Wolverine want to pull the metal bastard's throat out but he had promised the future Rose he would behave himself so he glanced down at Charles instead. "So what's the plan, Chuck?"
"The first thing we need to do is gather intelligence on our enemy," replied the professor, his hands folded thoughtfully in front of him.
"You'll be needing Rose then," said Magneto matter-of-factly. "She excels at reconnaissance."
"Won't be a problem," Rose assured them as she crossed her arms against her chest. "Just tell me where and I'll get you what you need."
Now that's the Goldilocks I know, thought Logan, smirking.
Yes, she is most impressive, Charles agreed before turning his attention back to Rose and Magneto. "From what I have learned from Logan, there is a facility several hundreds of miles north of here where they are currently holding Master Mold. I need you, dear Rose, to find out as much as you possibly can about the facility and the people working there over the next few hours and report back to me."
"Got it," said Rose as she stared at Magneto. "Anything else?"
Magneto smirked. "That will be all for now, Rose. You may go."
The silver cheetah nodded once before striding out of Charles's office. The sea of students that had gathered in front of the door parted as she waded through them, giving the young mutant both looks of fear and hatred as she passed them by.
Though Rose held her head high, Logan could see the lines of tension in her shoulders as if she was forcing herself not to break down and cry. Once she was gone, Logan's blue eyes flashed to Magneto who was snickering quietly. "Somethin' funny, Magneto?"
"Why? What will you do?" Magneto inquired, mockingly. "Rip my throat out?"
"Believe me, I would," Logan assured him.
"What's stopping you then?"
"I made a promise to my girl."
~ 2048 ~
"Rose, can I speak with you for a moment?" Emma murmured into her best friend's ear.
Rose sighed and stood up. She placed a quick kiss on her husband's lips before following Frost off to the side away from everyone else. The silver cheetah leaned against the wall and crossed her arms. "What's wrong now? Besides the whole world going to shit, I mean."
Emma smiled slightly. "And here I thought I was the psychic."
Rose did not smile back. "So? What is it?"
"I made contact with Warpath," She told her as she ran a hand through her hair. "He said that sentinels are on their way here."
"Well we knew they'd find us eventually," Rose pointed out. "How long?"
"A few hours at most," replied Frost.
"Let's hope that Logan finishes the job by then."
"What if the Sentinels get here first?" her best friend asked.
"That's easy," Rose told her, her cat-like eyes shining. "We fight. After all, this is war."
"It's that simple, huh?" muttered Frost. "So we fight, then what? We're all sl…"
Emma broke off as Rose's eyes widened right before Kitty let out a piercing scream. The telepath spun around to see Wolverine flailing around on the stone table with his metal claws unsheathed.
"Damn it," groaned Rose as she flashed to her husband's side and leapt on top of him, pinning his arms down. She spared a glance at Kitty who was bleeding heavily from three deep gashes in her forearm. "What happened?"
"I don't know," Kitty admitted as she fought to regain control. "I told him to think peaceful thoughts."
Rose gasped as one of Logan's arms broke free of her grip and grazed her side with his claws. "I don't think he's taking your advice."
"Obviously not," Kitty agreed through clenched teeth.
Rose found herself grinning despite the situation as she pushed Logan's arm back down while her side stitched itself back together. The silver cheetah then laid her forehead against the wolverine's. "Calm down, Logan. You promised me you wouldn't do anything stupid, remember? Please, Devil-horns."
~ 1987 ~
"Release him, Erik," commanded Xavier.
"He attacked me, Charles," Magneto reminded him calmly. He had utilized his power of magnetism to manipulate Logan's adamantium skeleton, stopping the wolverine in his tracks.
"Yes, but you goaded him." Charles pointed out. "Now, release him."
"As you wish," Erik replied amiably, freeing Logan with a wave of his hand. "I have other matters to attend to anyway."
Magneto swept out of the office causing the students to scatter like cockroaches.
"Cocky metal bastard," grumbled Logan as he sheathed his claws. "What I wouldn't give to wipe that smug look off his face permanently."
"That may be, but you can't let Erik get to you like that, Logan," Charles cautioned him. "Not with so much at stake."
The wolverine nodded though not without a good deal of complaining.
Xavier wheeled over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know what I'm asking of you is hard, my friend, but you must be patient if you wish to see your wife and children again."
~ 2048 ~
"I got him," Kitty whispered as tears continued to stream down her cheeks.
"He's finally calmed down too," Rose murmured, releasing her hold. She stepped off the stone slab and went to Kitty's side. Kurt had already started cleaning the wound with a rag and some water. "How bad is it?"
"Bad," muttered Kurt as he removed the rag to show her.
Rose glanced up at Kitty. "This may hurt, but bear with me. I need to see just how bad you're wounded."
Kitty stared back at her former mentor with surprisingly calm brown eyes and nodded. "I trust you. I always have."
Rose smiled slightly before returning her attention to the three gashes in Kitty's arm. She touched its edges and checked inside the cuts causing the shadowcat to cry out in pain. After a few more seconds, the silver cheetah pulled her hand away; her fingertips were covered in blood.
"Vell?" demanded Kurt, watching Rose closely.
"Keep putting pressure on it," Rose told him as she took off the coat Logan had given her. "Does anyone have a knife?"
"Remy does, cher," Gambit handed her his pocket knife.
"Thanks," murmured Rose as she started cutting her coat into strips. She then had Kurt move aside so she could bind Kitty's arm. "There. That's all I can do for now. I'd cauterize the wound but I'm afraid you might pass out. It's just too bad that we don't have Resonance, she could have healed you. All I can do is destroy."
Kitty shook her head. "That's not true and you know it."
"Katzchen's right, Frau Rose," agreed Kurt. "You saved her life. You've saved all our lives more times zan I can count."
"Let's just hope I can help save all our lives this time too," muttered Rose.
~ 1987 ~
"This is ridiculous," stated Rose bluntly. "I don't need any help. Besides, stealth missions are usually easier when it's only one person. Also I don't need a bodyguard."
Logan fought back a grin. "Oh I have no doubt that you can handle yourself."
"Then why?" inquired Rose as she fixed her ponytail.
"Chuck says it would be better if I came with ya since I have knowledge about the facility that you'll need," he told her.
"And you can't just tell me what you know now?" the silver cheetah replied, cocking a golden eyebrow.
"Chuck also said that it would be a show of good faith if I went with you," he added. "We are supposed to be workin' together, after all."
Rose sighed. "Fine. Just, try to keep up."
This time Logan did grin. "I'll do my best."
~ The Next Generation ~
"This is it?" asked Rose, glancing at the wolverine. "You're sure?"
"Why? Ya doubt me?" He shot back as he dismounted his motorcycle.
"No," she assured him. "It's just, this place looks more like a bunker than a top secret facility where giant mutant killing robots are being made."
"Looks can be deceivin'," he reminded her pointedly.
"Fair enough," Rose murmured, sizing up the facility.
"So what's the plan?" inquired Logan, glancing at her sideways.
"There are too many guards," she replied, staring up at him. A coy smile played at her lips. "We're going to need a distraction."
Logan raised a dark eyebrow. "What kind of distraction?"
~ The Next Generation ~
Looks like the mighty wolverine isn't all talk after all, the young mutant admitted, albeit grudgingly, as she watched Logan set off a bomb she had given him before retreating into the woods surrounding the facility on his black motorcycle. She smirked and tapped the walkie talkie on the belt Xavier had given to her. "You actually pulled it off. I'm impressed."
"I take it they're followin' me then?" Logan grumbled back.
"Of course," she confirmed. "It was my plan, after all. Now all you have to do is lead them away on a merry chase while I sneak in and copy the data off of their main computer."
"That's all, huh?" replied Logan.
"Why? Is it too much for you to handle?" inquired Rose sweetly. She laughed as Logan growled unintelligibly at her. "I thought not. Now get back to work."
"Yes ma'am," the wolverine muttered, signing off. Yep, definitely same ol' Goldilocks.
~ 2048 ~
"Half an hour, huh?" asked Rose without looking at the telepath.
"How did you...?" murmured Emma before breaking off as she read the answer from the silver cheetah's mind. "Oh, right. I forgot about that enhanced hearing of yours."
Rose couldn't help but smile at the exasperation in her friend's voice. "Well you have had a lot on your mind lately."
Emma snorted. "That's an understatement."
Rose stared at her sympathetically and placed a glove hand on her shoulder. "Hey, it's going to be okay."
"How can you be so sure?" Emma's blue eyes searched her golden ones.
"Because I know the man I married," She replied confidently, glancing back at Logan. "He won't let us down."
~ 1987 ~
She's late, Logan noted as he waited at the rendezvous point, frowning. I hope somethin' didn't happen to her.
~ The Next Generation ~
That must be the main computer, Rose figured as she lay across a cluster of pipes lining the facility's ceiling. She hung her head over the side. From what the young woman could tell, there were three scientists: two at the computer and one at the monitors. Knocking them out won't take much… "Shit."
Just as she was preparing to spring, Rose spotted another figure emerging from the shadows.
"Mystique," the silver cheetah growled. What the hell is she doing here?!
~ 2048 ~
"I know you're afraid," said Rose as she stood before what remained of the New York team. "I would be lying if I said I wasn't too, but this is not the time to let fear control you! We are X-Men! We do not cower! We do not give up and run away even when faced with overwhelming odds! We stand our ground and we fight! It is the only way to give Logan more time. This is our last hope! Do not let those monsters decide our fate! Stand and fight with me, my brothers and sisters!"
Kurt, Remy, and Rogue cheered and pumped their fists in the air while Kitty smiled and remained focused on her work. Storm and Hank nodded in approval, only Emma remained silent.
"Emma?" Rose watched the telepath closely as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Are you with me?"
Frost opened her eyes and stared at her best friend. "I'm with you, Rose, always."
Rose nodded. "Alright then, here's the plan. Emma, Rogue, and Kurt, you three stay here inside the temple with Kitty. The rest of you follow me. We're taking back our future now!"
~ 1987 ~
Something's definitely wrong, thought Rose. If Mystique's here that means Magneto sent her. The question is why? I guess I'll just have to worry about it later. Right now I have a job to do.
The silver cheetah bit her lower lip, waiting for the scientists and Mystique to leave before silently dropping to the floor.
"So it is true that cats always land on their feet," mused a familiar voice from behind her.
Rose cursed softly before turning around. "Hello Raven."
A/N: And there you have it. Until next time, read review and share the love!
