Disclaimer: I only own Rose, Henry, and Lilly. The rest are property of Marvel.
A/N: Welcome to the seventh chapter of The Next Generation where our heroes will continue to fight for their future and the survival of all mutant kind. So without further ado, I turn it over to Rose. Enjoy!
"There's another issue we need to deal with," Rose informed Charles Xavier as she stood in front of his desk with Logan standing behind her. The young silver cheetah raised a gloved hand to her temple. "I doubt Magneto will keep his word when it comes to letting me control my body until the week is up. In other words, there's no telling when he'll use me as a weapon to fight you."
"Couldn't we just take the chip out?" inquired Jean.
Rose shook her head. "It will disrupt any and all machinery you attempt to use."
"Then we won't use a machine," she replied. "The professor and I will go in ourselves."
"Except the chip blocks your powers," the silver cheetah reminded the red head.
"Perhaps," agreed Charles thoughtfully causing the two girls to look at him curiously. The professor had his elbows propped on top of his desk with his hands linked together. "If I know Erik he made the chip powerful enough to withstand my gifts so even if I amplified them with Cerebro it would prove pointless. What he does not realize, however, is that there is a mutant more powerful than I am who I believe will be able to locate and remove the chip from Rose's head without leaving any permanent damage."
"Me?" murmured Jean. "Are you sure, Professor?"
Charles nodded once. "Of course, though the decision is Rose's to make."
Everyone turned to stare at the teenage mutant who felt as if the choice was obvious. After all, it's either I refuse and continue to live on as a puppet or take the risk and if all goes well I can become a real X-Man instead of a temporary one.
"Let's do this."
~ 2048 ~
"That doesn't sound good," muttered Kurt, his spaded tail swished back and forth nervously as the sounds of battle echoed outside. "How much longer can zey last out zere?"
"I don't know," admitted Rose. She had returned to sitting on the stone slab and staring at her husband's face. "Unfortunately all we can do now is wait and hope Logan will finish the job."
"Good thing he's not the only one we can rely on back there," noted Kitty causing Rose to glance at her quizzically. Shadowcat smiled before flinching in pain as her wound continued to bleed. "He's got you too."
~ 1987 ~
The silver cheetah took a deep calming breath as she lay back on a hospital bed.
"Are you sure about this?" asked Jean for what must have been the fourteenth time.
"Relax, you got this," Rose assured her. "You're an X-Man. Trust in yourself."
"Thanks," the red head murmured, raising her hands. "Here goes."
~ The Next Generation ~
A few hours later Logan and Charles were waiting outside the operating room for Jean to announce whether or not the procedure was a successful one.
"How much longer is it going to take?" grumbled Wolverine as he paced back and forth.
"Patience, my friend," urged Xavier. "As far as I can tell Jean is nearly finished."
"It's just why did she have to take a risk like that?" he demanded. "I mean, I know she doesn't want to be Magneto's puppet but she could lose her life! Then I'd lose her and the kids…"
"She hasn't experienced any of that yet," Charles reminded him gently. "Besides, weren't you the one who constantly remarked how strong she is?"
"Yeah," he confirmed grudgingly as the doors finally opened to reveal a tired but smiling Jean.
"The surgery was a success," she informed them.
Logan sighed with relief. "Can I see her?"
Jean cocked a dark eyebrow but nodded and opened the doors further so he could pass through them. Wolverine strode into the room and over to the bed Rose reclined on.
The young mutant had been facing away from him but turned her head at the sound of his heavy footsteps. The smile she gave him was dazzling. "Now I really owe you one."
"Ya feel alright then?" Logan inquired.
"I've never felt this good my whole life," she replied, contentedly. "Jean says I should be up and about in a couple days so hopefully that pompous bastard won't make his move before that because I have a score to settle with him."
~ 2048 ~
"Why are you smiling?" wondered Rose aloud as she continued to watch her husband. "You wouldn't be if you could hear how loud it is outside. You need to hurry, Devil-horns. We're not going to be able to hold out much longer. Please, Logan, defeat Master Mold for our future and for all mutant kind before it's too late."
"It already sounds too late," murmured Kurt darkly.
Rose bit her lip and leaned forward to touch Logan's forehead with hers. "Logan if you can hear me, it's now or never. I know you can do this. I love and miss you so much so save the world and come back to me already."
~ 1987 ~
"Yeah, that's pretty much what I expected," said Rose dryly as she once again found herself in Charles Xavier's office a couple days after Jean Grey had removed the metal chip from her head. "And he plans to enact his idiotic scheme this afternoon in Washington D.C.?"
"Yes," confirmed Hank McCoy. "According to the information you recovered, Magneto is going to turn Master Mold on today under the pretense that he wants to demonstrate to the top brass of the country the force that will be able to rid society of the pestilence known as mutation."
"And instead he'll make humans hate mutants even more thus sending us into a war that will devastate the world in less than a century," the silver cheetah murmured. "So how are we all going to get there in time?"
Hank glanced at Xavier with a knowing smile before returning his attention to Rose. "It may not be as fast as you but we do have a plane that can fly us there in no time at all."
~ The Next Generation ~
"Okay, it's official," announced Rose, gripping the edge of her seat tightly as they made their way to D.C. in the X-jet. "I hate flying."
"Me too," admitted the wolverine from where he sat across the aisle way. "But at least once this is all over, I can get back to my time."
"You got people waiting for you there?" she inquired.
"Something like that," he replied vaguely.
Alright then, thought Rose as they rode in silence the rest of the trip and reached D.C. an hour before Magneto's demonstration. Time for some payback.
~ 2048 ~
"Zey're getting closer," noted Kurt unnecessarily as something knocked loudly on the door to the sanctuary. "Vhat do ve do, Frau Rose?"
Rose did not reply for there was something even more pressing on her mind. If they're already here then that means…Emma? Emma, respond! Emma, come on! Respond, damn it!
"Rose," whispered Kitty bringing the silver cheetah back. "They're, like, gone, aren't they? And now we're trapped. If they, like, break through it's all over."
"No, it's not over," Rose assured her former mentee. "Not yet."
~ 1987 ~
"We've missed you at the strategy meetings, master," Rose informed Magneto as she flashed behind him. "Though clearly you've been busy with your own plans."
"Ah, Rose, what excellent timing," replied Erik with his usual smirk as he turned to face her. "I was thinking you would make the perfect tool to use against Charles and his precious children."
Magneto then raised his hand but after a few moments his smirk turned into a sneer. "You little bitch! What did you do?!"
"Asked a new friend for a favor so I would no longer be forced to do your bidding," she told him. "Now stop this madness before you drag us ] into a war where we all lose."
"Or what?" challenged Magneto. "You'll make me?"
"Oh no, not me," Rose said with a smile of her own. She then disappeared before reappearing in the same spot, holding Magneto's helmet which she destroyed with her vibration powers. "He's all yours, Professor."
"You will regret your betrayal," Magneto warned her.
"I hope you enjoy being controlled," she shot back as Xavier took over his body. That's part of the problem solved. I wonder how Wolverine is doing.
~ The Next Generation ~
"Need a hand?" the young silver cheetah inquired as she hurried over to where the rest of the X-Men were destroying Sentinels.
"Only if ya can destroy that giant computer over there," Logan replied as he shredded a Sentinel with his adamantium claws.
Rose flashed over to where the wolverine had gestured to. Okay, I'm guessing simply destroying this thing won't stop Master Mold completely. Besides I'm almost a hundred percent sure this isn't the main computer so even if I demolish this one, I won't be doing any true damage. Unless…that's it!
The young mutant gasped before looking around for Hank who she found in full beast mode taking down a Sentinel. "Hank, I need your help. I think I've figured out a way to finish off Master Mold once and for all."
Beast raised a blue eyebrow and took the silver cheetah's outstretched hand. Rose then sped over to the computer and told him her plan.
"You want me to create a virus that will transfer to Master Mold and every computer it is connected to?" murmured Beast, impressed.
Rose nodded. "Can you do it?"
Beast grinned and winked at her. "Of course I can."
~ 2048 ~
"Shit," muttered Rose as the doors to the sanctuary burst open and three sentinels pushed their way into the chamber. I can't let them get to Logan and Kitty. I'll have to hold them off as long as I can. Come on, Devil-horns. Hurry!
~ 1987 ~
Looks like somethin's goin' on over there, mused Wolverine as he spared a glance at his wife's younger version who was standing beside Hank as he typed something into the computer. Whatever you're doing guys, do it fast. I don't know how much longer we have.
~ 2048 ~
Rose jumped off the stone slab at the nearest sentinel; her body thrumming with vibrations as she landed on the robot and grabbed its head causing it to explode. The silver cheetah then leapt to the next sentinel and was about to destroy it when a third mutant killing machine cracked its metallic hand across her head, sending her to the floor.
"Rose!" cried Kitty as Kurt continued the fight. "Rose, get up! Please, Rose!"
I can't move, realized Rose as blood began to pool around her head. My healing ability isn't working either. This isn't good. I have to protect them. I won't let it end here.
Silver Cheetah struggled to get to her feet just in time to witness Nightcrawler fall and the beasts turn on her. "Bring it on, assholes."
There was a flash of light as everything disappeared as if none of it had happened because, thanks to Wolverine and Rose's younger self, it never had.
~ The Next Generation ~
Logan's eyes shot open as he found himself lying by himself on a familiar bed in an equally familiar room. "Holy shit! It worked."
The wolverine threw off his blankets and leapt off the bed. He then gathered his clothing that was scattered across the room, got dressed, and hurried out the door to locate his family.
"Good morning, Logan," greeted Hank as he stood off to the side of the hallway talking to Ororo. "Something wrong?"
No, just the opposite, thought Wolverine. "Have either of you seen Rose or the kids?"
"Henry and Lilly are probably still downstairs eating breakfast," Storm told him. "As for Rose, she's either getting ready for class or conversing with Emma."
"Thanks," Logan grunted before making his way downstairs the same moment Henry and Lilly were walking out of the kitchen. Henry was making some silly joke causing his younger sister to roll her eyes even though she was obviously amused. Seeing his children after all that had happened caused the father to come to a stop. "Henry. Lillian."
Henry stared up at him with a smile. "Hey, Dad. What's up?"
Lilly crossed her arms, instantly reminding Logan of her mother. "You missed breakfast. Mom said she tried to wake you but you were sleeping like you were dead."
"Where is your mom now?" he asked.
"Why don't you try turning around and looking behind you?" suggested a voice he would know anywhere and never failed to send an electrical surge through his body. Wolverine spun around to see his wife standing on the stairs with her usual coy smile and Emma close behind her. "Good morning, Devil-horns. It's about time you woke up."
Logan did not respond instead he rushed up the stairs, wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her close, and kissed her passionately. After a few moments they broke away both breathing heavily while Lilly muttered something about getting a room.
"What was that all about?" murmured Rose, her cheeks flushed but before he could explain Emma relayed the information she had gotten from the wolverine's mind causing the silver cheetah's cat-like eyes to glisten with tears. "I knew you could do it. Welcome back."
"It's good to be back," he replied as they kissed again.
"Love you," she whispered as they separated for air.
"Love ya too."
A/N: And there you have it, we have finally reached the end of my own Future timeline. This chapter also happens to be a present for my silver cheetah on her 44th birthday, love you Rose! Look forward for the next chapter as I return to teenage Rose to see how her past changes after all that has occurred. Until then, read review and show the love!
