"I still don't understand." Genesis said as Rogue led him through the S.H.I.E.L.D base. "Why do they want me?"
The pair arrived at the end of the hallway. A heavily barricaded door stood in front of them. Rogue hit a few buttons on the side panel and the door opened, allowing them access. Amara and the armed S.H.I.E.L.D agents where already waiting for them.
"I know you don't understand." Rogue said as she turned to him. "We haven't exactly told you everything, Genesis."
Rogue took a seat on the bench across from Amara. She patted the area next to her, suggesting he should sit. Genesis took the hint and did so.
"We weren't lying when we told you that some people where going to try to hurt you. These people are called Shi'ar, their advanced aliens."
"But why?" Genesis asked insistently. "I haven't done anything wrong!"
Rogue felt a stab of sympathy for the boy. He really had no idea.
"Genesis, you know your a mutant right? You don't have powers yet but one day you will."
Genesis nodded.
"Sugar, the last time someone had powers, like the ones your going to have, he used them to do bad things. We barely stopped him in time. These aliens are just afraid of you doing something like that."
"I wouldn't!" He protested.
Rogue gently used her glowed fingers to brush some of his hair to the side.
"I know that." Rogue assured him. "Me, and the Professor know that, and S.H.I.E.L.D will eventually. Your a good boy, I can tell your adoptive parents raised you right. We won't let anything happen to you."
Rogue smiled at him before turning to the compartment above them and pulling out some crackers. She set them down next to him in case he got hungry.
She proceeded to leave when she was stopped at the door.
"Why are you doing this for me?" He asked.
Rogue turned back and grinned. "Your a mutant, even if you don't have your powers yet. We're X-Men, we believe in using our gifts to protect our own. That, and I don't believe in killing a mutant for what he might do. Get some sleep."
She shut the door behind them and sealed it, locking the two inside until the conflict was over.
Rogue walked down to the main room the X-Men where using to prep Magneto was down there, giving orders and advice. Teaching the best strategy. Rogue continued on to one of the smaller sub-rooms to the side. She walked into it where the Professor was waiting on her.
"Genesis is in the safe room down below with Amara." Rogue informed him.
"Good." Professor Xavier nodded as Rogue sat down on the floor. "Now if we can get your powers to cooperate you and Magneto will be out heaviest hitters. And from the looks of it we are going to need all of the fire power we can get."
"I think I have a theory." Rogue said. "About what happened earlier, in the Nest."
"Go on." Xavier encouraged.
"This time instead of the fragments and psyches taking over, it felt a lot more like I was slipping into Kitty's psych. Sub-consciously of course. There's something else. Ever since that incident, if I concentrate real hard I can almost feel the individual psyches in my mind, when their quiet. Which is very odd, normally I can only fell them when they're causing ruckus."
"Any psyches in particular?" Xavier asked.
Rogue nodded. "Magneto's is real easy to find, Kitty and Kurt are a little bit harder, but not by much. I think it's easier to sense and feel the psyches when I'm emotionally connected to the people."
Xavier nodded thoughtfully. "It's quite plausible. Do you think you could try and "slip" into the psyches again?"
"I could try."
The two sat in silence as Rogue first cleared her mind and meditated. Which was difficult given the current circumstances. She had so much on her mind, the Shi'ar, Genesis, the possibility of the students being injured. Still Rogue in-haled and ex-haled. Trying to clear her mind of any thought.
Darkness clouded over Rogue's mind as she finally managed to relax. She could feel the thick fog, ans she could practically see it. It covered every inch of her head. It wasn't exactly threatening, but gave off an eerie feeling.
Rogue searched through the fog, trying to find a psych. She concentrated harder and harder. Still she only felt fog. Deciding to switch tactics Rogue turned her thoughts to metal.
Kitty's psych had been so easy to find and slip into when Rogue thought deeply on something that was intimately connected to her psych. She should be able to do the same with Magneto.
Rogue didn't think deeply this time. She just concentrated, if she thought too deeply as she had with Kitty she would slip into the psych without learning and feeling.
Rogue breathed. Just thinking of metal, what it felt like to Magneto. He could feel it change temperature. He could feel it against cloth or wood or skin, and even when it was dry or completely soaked.
Metal was closely linked to electricity, which he could also control. Not only control, but gain energy from. Hitting him with a lightning bolt would pump him full of energy if he could re-direct it. Or he could draw power from the Earth's magnetic field.
Drawing electricity into his body felt like Rogue absorbing someone. The excitement, the thrill, and adrenaline.
Rogue grinned to herself as she finally felt Magneto's psych in the fog that clouded her mind. Gently she clutched it with her mind. Rogue was careful not to pry, just tugging gently. His psych offered no resistance as it opened fully, allowing Rogue to enter and merge it with her own mind more stably.
Rogue opened her eyes as she levitated a pen that was on the dear by table to her. Gently peeling off the metal coating before the plastic dropped to the formed a little metal ball and let it float just above her palm.
She looked up to the Professor to see his reaction.
Xavier was pleased to see it work, but Rogue could make out faint traces of disapproval, probobly because it was Magneto's power she had taken.
"How long did it take?" Rogue asked.
Xavier glanced at his watch. "Just under three hours."
Rogue's eyebrows went up in surprise. "That long?"
"With practice you may be able to accomplish it faster." He offered.
Rogue sighed and nodded. "Yeah, we'll have to put it on the to-do list."
Xavier wheeled his chair around to the door. "I have to help Erik prepare the students and check on Genesis. Do you feel as though you have a good grip on the psych?"
Rogue nodded. "Yeah it'll stay in place."
"Good, it would be best if you could access other psyches as well."
"Rogue! Rogue!" Bobby's screaming could be heard all over the base as the door opened.
Rogue was sitting Indian style on the floor, meditating.
"The Shi'ar ship just materialized, everyone else is suiting up for the fight."
She opened her eyes and sure enough Bobby was already ready in his space suit. Rogue nodded as she got up.
"Where is everyone else?"
"Main hanger." Bobby said as he lead the way down the hallway.
"I can't believe I'm not going to be apart of the front line." Bobby said as the they approached the main hanger.
Rogue stopped and grinned. "Your not?"
"No. Your boyfriend put me back with the new mutants." Bobby growled. "Hey, maybe you could talk to him, convince him to put me up there with you guys!" Iceman suggested hopeful.
Rogue shook her head as they joined the others. "No. Bobby, you where put in the back line as a surprise tactic. If any of the Shi'ar get past us, we need you there it ice them. Think of it as a special position."
Iceman scowled. "Back up duty."
"Exactly." Rogue said. "Xavier and Magneto know what they're doing, and frankly I agree with them. You would be best suited for second line."
Bobby joined the new mutants that where suited up as well. Rogue took note that everyone was fitted with a space suit that would work with their powers, thankfully Magneto had the time to throw these together. Each suit was well designed to each individual mutant.
Iceman was still scowling as Rogue joined Magneto and Xavier.
"Rogue, good you're here. How may psyches have you accessed?" Xavier asked.
"Three. Magneto's, Kurt's, and Kitty's."
"And you're certain you have control?" Magneto asked.
Rogue nodded. "Yeah."
"They all know the plan?" She gestured to the new mutants.
Magneto nodded. "Yes. I would not allow them to participate if I did not believe they where ready."
"Open the doors please Erik." Xavier said. "Rogue you will be accompanying Erik and I when we confront Lilandra."
Rogue put up a thick blue magnetic shield to protect herself from the cold realm of space. The wide and powerful doors opened with a creak.
Magneto wrapped a magnetic shield around Rogue's to protect the Professor and levitate the three up to where Lilandra and her warriors where waiting. Rogue noticed the Shi'ar weren't wearing suits. She didn't recall being able to breath in space as one of their gifts. No, their abilities consisted of super-strength, speed, stamina and durable skin. They where probobly using some sort of technology.
"Lilandra we will give you one last chance to stand down." Magneto said.
"Or risk igniting a war with the X-Men." Rogue finished.
"Although we are hoping it will not come to that." Xavier said quickly.
Lilandra's expression unfazed and determined.
"It is regrettable you won't give up the boy." She started. "War it is."
The hanger of the Shi'ar ship opened. Six warriors in full armor stepped out and joined Lilandra.
Rogue put up a sound blocking barrier as she turned to Erik. "I have the first four warriors if you take Lilandra and her guard." She offered.
"Agreed." Magneto said. "That leaves Charles with two telepathic targets."
"Try not to kill anyone!" Xavier said as Magneto and Rogue assumed attack position.
Blue sphere's of electrical energy charged around Rogue's hands as she branched off from Magneto and Xavier. One of the aliens went for their long spear and moved on Rogue a few of the others followed.
Rogue, deciding to waste no time threw electrical bolts of energy at them. The shi'ar seemed unfazed, they where probobly using technology to block the magnetic energy. Upon realizing this Rogue teleported close to a few with a what looked to be guns and phased through them. Sparks flew as one attempted to fire his gun.
Rogue smirked when it wouldn't work. 'Let's try this again.' She said as she threw more electrical energy at them. The ones she had phased through screamed in pain. Rogue focused as she gripped the iron in their bloodstreams taking hold of the metal and re-versing the iron flow. Several of them started to bleed from the nose as they fell unconscious and limp.
Rogue glanced at Magneto's side battle, wondering if she should phase through his enemies as well. He appeared to be holding his own battle two of the Imperial Guard and Lilandra. Rogue shook her head and decided against it. The Master of Magnetism wouldn't have any trouble adapting to the technology they where using and turn it against them.
Being so caught up in watching Magneto's battle Rogue had altogether forgot about the Shi'ar warrior with the spear.
Clunk!
Rogue jolted forward as the side of his spear attacked her from behind. Somehow it had forced it's way through her barrier. Rogue winced as she strengthened it and tore her eyes away from the battle to face her attacker.
Rogue teleoprted above the alien and delivered a swift kick across his face before teleporting again, this time to his side and punching his abdomen. Rogue teleported right before his fist made contact with her.
This time she grasped onto his spear and yanked it right out of his hands. It was made of some form of metal. Rogue used it to whack him across the face before pitching his weapon into space, far out of sight.
The alien hissed and hit a few buttons on his wrist.
It ignited a device on the soles of his feet, jettisoning him away from Rogue and the battle.
'Where in the hell does he think he's running to?' Rogue asked as teleported again, this time in front of him.
The Shi'ar warrior almost hit her, thankfully he only phased through, shortening out his technology and leaving him defenseless. He couldn't run. Rogue used what thin metal she could find on his uniform and tightened every bit of it. The warrior gasped for air as it suddenly became difficult for him to breath. Eventually he stopped fighting and fell unconscious.
With four of her aliens out of the way Rogue turned her attentions to her teammates. Everyone had their hands full. One of the Shi'ar that Magneto was supposed to be handling had broken off from Lilandra and was battling the New Mutants.
Rogue winced as Bobby got a nasty kick to the stomach. Her fists curled as she longed to go over their and teach the children a lesson on kicking alien ass. Rogue glanced across the moon where Lilandra and her guard were battling Magneto. She once again looked from him to the New Mutants. They seemed to be handling their own alright, having difficulty of course, but they where managing.
Rogue sighed angrily as she realized the best course of action would not be helping her students. No, her battle was with Lilandra.
Blue smoke ran all over the surface of the moon as Rogue teleported close to Magneto's fight.
Lilandra's guard was using a metal spear as a weapon. Rogue seized her opportunity as she took hold of the metal and wrapped it around the guards wrists before dragging him closer to her. Lilandra and Magneto seemed oblivious to his disappearance. Rogue gave the Shi'ar a solid punch to the nose before using her magnetism to fling him across the moon, towards the New Mutants.
"Erik!" Rogue called out. "I need you bind her arms together!"
Magneto looked towards her, unsure what she was planning. His wrist flicked as he summoned metal from the S.H.I.E.L.D base and brought it to Lilandra's arms, then he crossed them over each other, not unlike a suit that was used in mental wards to keep patients from hurting themselves or others. Then some metal moved to her feet, holding them in place.
Rogue moved to float beside Magneto.
"Dammit Lilandra. Why can't you let this go?" Rogue asked. "I get it that your concerned for you Empire, but are you that afraid of a child that hasn't even manifested yet?"
Lilandra glared angrily at Rogue. "You know perfectly well that there is much to fear from the boy." She snarled with disgust."Why are the mutants so selfish as to not give up one member of their species?"
Rogue glared right back at her. "Would you do the same? If the weapon you created had had Shi'ar DNA instead, and he was a member of your species would you kill him?"
"Yes." Lilandra said quickly, without any thought.
"I don't doubt it." Rogue said. "But your not seeing this from my and my friend's perspectives. You asked me why we are so selfish as to not give up one member of our species. I would be more than happy to explain."
"Please do explain why you dare to be so selfish." Lilanda hissed.
"I will. Look at this from the perspective of the mutant race. Think of what it means to be mutant on Earth. Mutants are hunted, outnumbered, and hated. My people are slaughtered every day at the hands of fearful others."
"Like the humans." Lilandra stated.
"Like the Shi'ar and humans." Rogue corrected.
"If it was you're own people that where vastly outnumbered by those that loathed you and hunted you every waking hour would you be so eager to give up members of your species?"
Lilandra was silent. Magneto floated closer.
"If I may add something."
Rogue turned and nodded. "Be my guest."
"What Rogue said was true about why we are so reluctant not give up a member of our species, however, there is something else I wish to point out. Lilandra we dare to not only because our numbers are few, but also due to the fact that their is not a mutant alive that doesn't have the right as evolved beings to live. This includes Genesis."
Rogue really was fascinated with the way he spoke. So firm and full of conviction, like a leader should be.
"He's right." Rogue agreed. "We are evolved, I'm not saying this gives us the right to rule over the Sapiens we at the very least have a right to live, even if people like you fear us."
Magneto smiled at her. "My thoughts exactly."
Lilandra's eyes where closed, contemplating what had been said. Silence filled the empty area of space the three took up. When she finally did open her eyes they where full of determination.
"If you would release me, Magneto." Lilandra said.
Magneto complied, seeing as she was no match, and let untangled the metal from her. Once able to move freely Lilandra addressed them both.
"I do see this from you're perspectives, and I understand what the mutant race means to you both. You have enlightened me."
"And?" Magneto asked. "Go on."
"Perhaps something could be sorted out in an option taken that allows the boy to live."
It was the closest thing Lilandra would get to saying that they might be willing to leave Genesis in peace.
"I will call off the attack and arrange negotiations with Charles." Lilandra said. "Providing of course that you two will take full responsibility for the outcome of this option."
Rogue's mind briefly flashed to what Moira had warned her about. Taking responsibility should Genesis cause death or destruction.
Magneto looked to Rogue, who nodded.
"We are prepared for that." Magneto said.
Lilandra nodded. "I will tell Charles. Thank you both, for opening my eyes. And Rogue, I do see now. The Shi'ar are willing leave you in peace." That was the last thing the Empress said before heading in the direction of her ship.
Rogue and Magneto watched Lilandra leave. She gently touched her fingers to her face, exhausted after wielding the omega energy of magnetism, and for the first time realizing how painful it was to move her muscles. Magneto touched her shoulder carefully. He observed her closely, quickly seeing that her legs where shaking slightly. It was not unlike the first time he used omega energy.
"Rogue." He said. "Let your barrier down. The battle is over, I can keep an electric shield up to protect both of us. Let go." He encouraged her lightly.
Rogue shook her head, determined to stay independent. "I can do it just fine."
Magneto took hold of her hand and brought her face to look at his. Rogue's eyes where lighter than usual, much like his. Her shoulder's where shaking now.
"Rogue, please understand. This is the first time you've used my power at a cosmic level for am extended period of time. You have my memories, do you recall what happened to me the first time I accomplished this?"
Rogue's barrier dropped. "You where knocked out cold." Her shoulders where trembling now. Magneto drew her closer and laid his other hand on the small of her back, supporting her.
"That's right. Do you remember the night of the concert as well? Do you remember that you lost consciousness after using all those mutations at once?"
"Yeah." Even her voice sounded like she was about to give out.
Rogue's eyes closed involuntarily, she was shaking all over now. In shock she grasped Magneto's arm.
It felt as though the whole world was fading out around her, and caving in at the same time. The pain radiating all over her body. It was getting harder for her to move.
"Erik?" She asked in panic.
"Anna, love listen to me. You've just controlled magnetic fields of extremely high densities. Your body is not at all accustomed to this. It is a normal reaction for your body to give out temporarily. Just relax. Your going to be just fine."
Rogue tried to give a nod as Magneto moved his arm under her legs quickly and gently wrapped his other arm around her neck, making sure to support it fully.
They where flying back to the base when Rogue finally let go and fell unconscious.
So what do you think? Good? Bad? OK?
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