True Lies

Chapter 35: The Sunshine

By: Michelle2

Note: This fanfic takes place 1 ½ years after X-men 2. While I enjoyed the various films since X-men 2, I always envisioned my trilogy as the sequels. The imagination is awesome.

True Lies is the third part of my trilogy. Part 1: The Truth Hurts. Part 2: Sweet Little Lies.

As always: I don't own the characters or make money off my fanfics. I enjoy having fun.

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Lord Magnus's Palace

Talia Josephine ran through the hallways of the palace. "Billy. Tommy." Her voice echoed throughout the hallways until she reached their room. "Get up. Get up."

Billy peeked from beneath his covers. It was enough for her to spot him and jump instantly on his bed. "T.J."

"Get up. Get up. Mutti says get up," she beamed, and then she leaped onto Tommy's bed. "Get up, Tommy."

Tommy sat up, and she wrapped her arms around him. "Hey, T.J."

"I missed you," Talia said.

"What about me?" Billy asked.

"You're not my favorite," Talia replied.

Wanda stood in the doorway. This was all she wanted. Her children.

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Krakoa Apartments

"Momma. James. That you?" Rogue walked out of her room, only to find her brother stealing beer from the fridge. "Kurt, what are you doing here?"

"Unfortunately, I am here to talk to James. Where is he?" Kurt said, taking a swig of beer.

"I don't think he's home yet," Rogue replied. "And you should know that already since you are drinking his beer—at 5 a.m., I might add."

"I like to poke the bear," Kurt smirked. "So, you are alone?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Kurt peeked around the apartment. "Augustus didn't stay the night?"

Rogue sighed. She moped around the apartment until she found the couch and plopped down. Kurt remained quiet, while she roamed like a mindless zombie. He just drank beer and waited for her to explain what bothered her. "Do you know what my name is?"

Kurt shrugged. "You prefer Rogue, but isn't it something like Marie?"

"Yeah, something like that." Rogue took a deep breath. "Augustus said my real name, and I freaked out. I don't remember ever telling anyone my full name."

"I don't tell everyone my full name," Kurt replied.

"Because the name Darkhölme is legendary," Rogue replied. "If it wasn't for Momma and James, Lord Magnus wouldn't have been able to save Genosha."

"Yes, well…I have to report back to the palace," Kurt said, tossing the empty beer bottle in the trash. "Tell James to call me."

"Yeah, sure," Rogue replied. He bamfed out, leaving her alone with her own thoughts.

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Lord Magnus's Palace

"I'm starving," Billy exclaimed as he piled pancakes on his plate.

Tommy's reaction to breakfast was no different. The two teenagers scarfed down pancake after pancake, much like she and Pietro did in their teen years.

Talia Josephine was another case. She drowned her pancakes in a syrupy sea. "Look it."

Wanda was content at that moment. She had everything she wanted—her children.

Having her father, twin brother, and younger sister were wonderful, but there was nothing like hearing her children wake in the morning and laugh and play in the hallways. Lonely were her days before…before…

You know this is wrong.

Silence.

You know.

Leave me alone.

Wanda.

You will not take them from me again.

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She was upset when she opened the door. Emil knew his motorcycle benefited him more than anyone else. Henri and Mercy had to drop his mother off at her French Quarter home on their way to Mercy's family's home. Celeste Lapin may have been the sister of the king of thieves, but as a mother, she could be a deadly assassin.

"Hi mom! What took ya so long?" Emil replied. She didn't look amused as she walked through the door.

"How fast were ya drivin'?" she fussed rather than question. "Are you tryin' ta git yaself killed?"

"Relax, mom. I just got here like two minutes before ya did," Emil replied. He dug through the cabinets in the kitchen.

Celeste tossed her keys and purse on the counter. "Ya know I don't drink, so don't be botherin' lookin' for no booze."

Emil sighed. "I'm gonna go down ta de Quarter then."

"Emil!"

He knew that tone. He had to face her, but he gazed out the window at the streets that called his name.

"Alcohol ain't gonna make everythin' be better."

"Why didn't ya tell everyone about the cancer comin' back?"

Celeste half-smiled. He knew why. "It is Christmas. Supposed to be a time of joy. Besides, Jean-Luc knows everythin'. Wit Remy in town, we just wanted to focus on the good."

"I know."

"I worry 'bout ya, Emil," Celeste said, trying to comfort her son. "Ya ain't gonna find ya a good woman sittin' in a bar on Christmas."

"Mom, don't start."

"What?" Celeste asked. "Ya cousin Remy found himself a good girl. Rogue and him make a good pair."

"She's too good for him," Emil admitted. "And dey can't even kiss wit'out her puttin' him in a coma."

Celeste smirked. "Sometimes it ain't about physical relationships, Emil. True love more den dat."

"Did ya hear dat in one of them cheesy, romantic Christmas movies?" Emil stared out the window.

Then, he saw it. He heard his mother's reply but didn't catch a single word she said. A red light engulfed the French Quarter and all he could do was stare.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

Emil sat up and looked around the room. The cell was barren like others he'd been in, but then again, he was a good thief. Good thieves don't get caught.

Mom? He didn't see her. Why? He was just there. In her house. Talking to her. Cancer. Remy. Christmas. Those things made sense, but not this. No, not this. Where was he?

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Genosha Casino

Penthouse Suite

Remy jumped when he heard the gun cocked. He had fallen asleep in the living area when he realized Emil was still out. But when he heard that gun, he knew BellaDonna was behind it. "Damn, Bel," he said, trying to wake up. He shouldn't have drunk that much. "Either shoot me or put that thing away."

BellaDonna chose the latter. "Where's Emil?"

"Bedroom," Remy pointed in that direction.

"I checked the entire suite before waking you," she replied. "He's not here."

Remy thought for a moment. How long was he out? Emil was supposed to be there, but Remy didn't remember anyone coming in. Okay, he drank too much and probably didn't hear a thing, but still. Emil should have been back by now. "He's not here?"

"No, and neither is the drone," BellaDonna replied.

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Wolverine sniffed the air, and Natasha Romanoff pulled out her gun. "You feel it too, don't ya, Darlin'."

"Don't call me, Darling," Natasha replied, but he was right. There was something in the air. "And you are right. Something just…"

Wolverine glanced at his surroundings.

Emma Frost leaned on Cyclops, as Beast checked on her. Whatever hit her affected her hard. "I lost him. I don't understand it," she explained to Cyclops and Beast. "We were connected."

Captain America talked to Nick Fury on a communicator. "I haven't seen Strange."

Sharon Carter just stared. That is what Wolverine focused on.

"What the hell is that?"

S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

Logan sat upright in the bed; he was hooked to monitors. His claws were extended, but they lacked metal.

"I was wondering when you were going to wake. You had me worried." Her blue hand affectionately touched his wrist.

He knew better than to trust her, and his movements were swift. He pinned her against the wall, aiming his strange new claws at her throat. "I want answers."

"James."

"Don't play games with me."

"That's your name," she replied. "James, please…"

Logan looked into her eyes. There was no way to tell if she was lying or not.

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

Rogue arrived at her workstation exhausted and confused. Too many thoughts ran through her mind. Some memories she was familiar with, but others…others seemed to come from someone else.

"How was the museum?" Agent Drake asked.

Bobby was a good friend of hers. He made her feel welcome when she came to the mansion. He introduced himself. Created a rose made of ice.

"Welcome to Mutant High."

They even dated.

"Rogue. Rogue."

"What?" Rogue looked around the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier. For a moment there, she felt like she was in another world.

"Are you alright?" Drake asked.

Rogue nodded. "It was just a long night."

"Well, it is going to be an even longer day," Special Agent Lucas Bishop said.

Bishop's presence in the drew others from her guard in the room, including Augustus, who refused to acknowledge her.

"Where are Agents Howlett and Darkhölme?" Augustus asked as Bishop set up. Images of three familiar suspects haunted Rogue's dreams.

"Med-lab, and that is all you need to know. I am managing this case," Bishop barked. "We already have one of the human suspects in custody. Emil Lapin is being interviewed as I speak." As he continued, Rogue zoned out.

Remy LeBeau's eyes always intrigued her. She could get lost in them. She did. She loved him. Where was he? "Remy."

"You have something to say Agent Darkhölme?" Bishop demanded. All eyes were on her. That was the problem with being the youngest Darkhölme in the guard. Because of her mother and brother, everyone expected more from her.

"Remy LeBeau…The suspect…I saw him at the art museum last night," Rogue replied.

Augustus glanced at her and then spoke. "He was there. So was the wife."

"I want video feed from the museum pulled at once," Bishop said. "That means now, Agents Darkhölme and Roegrig."

Rogue didn't argue.

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Interrogation Room

Genosha

Director Emma Frost watched Emil Lapin's movements and scanned his thoughts as he was integrated. He was telling the truth, but that didn't make sense.

"Look, homme," Emil argued with Agent Summers. "I ain't knowin' what ya talkin' 'bout. I don't know what Genosha is or how I be here? De last thing I remember is bein' with my mere and talkin' ta her."

Agent Summers presented pictures of Emil in front of him. "So you have no explanation of you in these pictures at the airport. This is you, isn't it?"

"Oui, but I…" Emil shook his head.

Emil Lapin was just as confused as they were; Emma Frost could see the last memories in his head. He was with his mother in New Orleans and then the red light… "Scott," she said. "A word."

Agent Scott Summers packed up his file and stepped outside with her. "Any read on him."

"He's telling the truth."

"How?" Summers held up the file. "We have evidence of him exiting the plane in Charles Xavier Airport."

"But nowhere else, except when apprehended by the Sentinel," Emma reminded him. "I see his thoughts from his last moment, Scott. He remembers nothing about the Sentinel or how he got here. He remembers being in his mother's home."

"That doesn't make sense," Scott replied.

"For some reason, I think that is important."

Scott sighed and cracked the door to the integration room. "After you."

"Thank you," Emma Frost replied, but when she opened the door, the interrogation room was empty.

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

New York

Fury placed his hand on his head as he sat up in the med-lab bed. He didn't know how he got there.

"Good to see you awake."

The voice was familiar, but it wasn't who he expected. "Natasha."

"In the flesh," she replied. "You took quite a shock. I was worried you weren't going to wake in time. The Genosha authorities picked up Emil Lapin."

He felt on guard and confused. He was in the Helicarrier, but Natasha Romanoff was on the ground until with the other Avengers and X-men. "Where am I?"

"Med-lab," Natasha replied.

"City."

"New York."

That wasn't right. None of this was right. "What about Genosha? What happened there?"

Natasha Romanoff studied him. She was good at keeping her facial expression from betraying her intentions. "We didn't leave for Genosha yet."

Fury sat up. "What about Wanda Maximoff?"

"What are you talking about?"

Fury looked around the room. He had been in many compromising positions over the years, and he had to know who to trust. "Natasha, do you trust me?"

She folded her arms, staring at him. He knew that look. "Depends. Should I trust you?"

"Tell me how I got here. I want all the details…"

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

Interrogation Room

"I'm telling ya de truth," Emil Lapin argued. "Last t'ing I remember is bein' in de Quarter wit my mom."

"That's not what I have file. Says you arrived in Genosha two days ago after stealing a bracelet from two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in New York," Agent Alex Summers replied. "Our Sentinels captured you after that bracelet failed."

"I ain't got no clue what ya be talkin' 'bout, homme," Emil replied and continued to argue.

Director Frost shook her head. She saw the memory as clear as day, but now Emil Lapin was missing and his memory of how he got here didn't make sense.

"Did you track him, Director Frost?" Senior Agent Scott Summers asked.

"His memories," Director Frost replied, her voice monotone. "He's last memories are of his mother in New Orleans."

"The records, or what we could find on him, says his mother is dead," Scott showed her. "Cancer. Five years ago. Have you found him yet?"

"I'm in his head. His mother is alive, and he is worried," Director Frost said, concentrating harder. He was near. "He talked to her about his cousin Remy and his girlfriend."

"Director Frost."

She lost her train of thought. "Don't you see we are busy."

Her agent nodded but continued. "Sorry, director, but Special Agent Howlett just woke up."

"What about him?" Summers asked.

'He's gone in some sort of berserker rage. He even attacked Agent Darkhölme."

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

Rogue swiped her I.D. Agent Anna Marie Darkhölme appeared on the pad, clearing her entry to the control room. Augustus followed her; his silence made her uneasy.

"We need to access the video from the art gallery last night," she said.

Augustus sighed. "You act like I don't know what I am doing."

"I don't even know you."

"Wow, you're that delusional," Augustus said, logging in his access code. "We go out for…what…two months, and you don't know me. I thought that was what we were doing by dating."

"Just access the video feed from the art gallery."

"Fine." Augustus typed away. He knew what he what he was doing, like a good thief would do. It made sense really. Why her mother would set her up with him. "Here's the footage from last night."

Rogue scanned the multiple screens. "There he is."

"He doesn't appear on the cameras long," Augustus noted. "And he rarely faces in their direction."

"He knows how to avoid them," Rogue replied. "Can you track him?"

"It's not my specialty, but I can try."

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Lord Magnus's Palace

Wanda watched as her sons play on the floor with Talia. She laughed and giggled as they interacted with her. All she wanted…her children.

Kurt stood placid faced beside the door. He was observant of everything going on in the room, but this wasn't the man she knew. It was the imposter holding a place in her world. But there was some backstory here. He recognized that Talia was his daughter, but even her five-year-old little mind knew he wasn't all there.

Wanda walked over to him. His eyes focused on her but took glances at the children. "Something troubling you, Princess Wanda."

"You remember anything?"

"Not sure I understand what you mean."

"Us. You remember us."

Kurt looked down and sighed. "Princess, I…" But when he looked up, he seemed lost, as if he didn't know where he was.

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

He ran through the hallways of the Helicarrier. He didn't know how he got there, but for once, he was trying to escape a maze with all his clothes on.

"Agent Howlett"

He heard them calling but did not recognize the name. No, Howlett was his name, but he did not feel connected to it like he should. He was Logan. Just Logan. That was what was familiar.

"Agent Howlett, we are trying to help you."

He recognized faces, but they did not look the same. Where was he? Where was he?

"Agent Howlett!"

"James, stop!"

That voice sounded familiar.

Scott Summers was not the person he wanted to see, but there was something about him that he could trust. Not that he wanted to admit that.

Scott Summers and Emma Frost stood before him. He no longer had control over his body. Damn telepaths.

"Agent James Howlett," Emma Frost said. "I think we need to have a talk."

"And why the hell should I trust you?"

Because you don't have anyone else.

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

"I lost him a few blocks after he left the museum," Augustus said, as Rogue leaned over the chair.

"He couldn't have just disappeared," Rogue sighed.

"There are over a million mutants living on the island, Rogue," Augustus reminded her. "He could be anywhere."

"Facial recognition scans?" Rogue shrugged. How was she supposed to track down a man who knew how to beat the system.

"I can try," Augustus replied. He typed, entering the information and points for analysis. 'What's wrong, Rogue?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're acting weird lately," Augustus said. "We were moving forward in our relationship and you hit the brakes."

"That's not true."

"Is it?"

Rogue shook her head. "I…I…"

"Well?"

"I don't know how to explain it," Rogue sat down next to him. He let the facial recognition scan do its job. "Augustus, the last day or two I've been seeing images in my head."

"Nice excuse," Augustus shook his head, and turned back to the computer. "That happens when you absorb people, Rogue."

"No, No. You don't understand. It's like I have a whole different life."

He focused on his work.

"I see that guy in my head," Rogue blurted out. "Like he's the man of my dreams."

"Wow. Really." Augustus stared at the screen. "Are you done now? I get it, Rogue. It's over."

"Augustus, I'm trying to be honest."

"Brutally honest."

"Don't be like this. I don't understand what I am feeling right now."

"Rogue, I…"

Her phone rang and rang and rang. Augustus stared, not sure what else to say to her. She had no other words for him either, so she answered.

"Mom, now's not a good time….Okay…Okay…Calm down…I will meet you at the infirmary."

Augustus sighed. He knew better than to say something stupid. "Is she alright?"

"It's James," Rogue replied. She was shaky, her head spinning. "He's having one of his rages. She's worried."

"Go check in on her," Augustus replied. "I'll call you if I find anything."

"Okay," Rogue turned to leave and paused. "We still need to talk about this."

"We will…go to your mom."

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Lord Magnus's Palace

"Close your eyes," Talia fussed at William. "No peeking. No peeking."

William complied, but he was nervous. "Don't poke out my eyes with that thing."

Thomas laughed. "I can't believe you are trusting her with eyeshadow."

William tried to relax as Talia swept the eyeshadow across his eyelid. "What color are you using, Talia?"

"Red!" Talia said. "Now, SSHHHH! No talking."

"She's got you looking like a clown or something off the Hunger Games."

"I look like Jennifer Lawrence!" William smiled.

"No," Thomas replied. "More like Ronald McDonald."

"What? Let me see!" William opened his eyes and ran to the mirror.

Talia turned her attention to Thomas. "Your turn."

"What are you going to do to me?" Thomas asked.

"Paint your nails," Talia replied.

Thomas talked her as she painted, and in the corner of his eye, he noticed his mother with Kurt. "You like living with your daddy, Talia."

"Yeah, and Ms. Ororo and Uncle Wolvie and Aunt Rogue and Aunt Lorna," Talia said. "Now, don't touch. You gotta let them dry."

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

"Director Frost, you realize how tricky this is. Agent Howlett has never had a stable mind, and if it wasn't for Lord Magnus, he wouldn't be a part of S.H.I.E.L.D."

"I know his thoughts, Agent Summers," Emma replied. "Like Emil Lapin, his mind is not entirely his own."

She was confident when she walked in. Logan didn't like that, but then again, she was reading his mind.

"You gonna tell me where F*** I am," Logan said.

Emma smirked. "What were your last memories?"

"Genosha," Logan said, eyeing her as she walked around him. "But then you knew that. You're a telepath, like Charles. If you're gonna impress me, you got ten seconds."

Wolverine sniffed the air, and Natasha Romanoff pulled out her gun. "You feel it too, don't ya, Darlin'."

"Don't call me, Darling," Natasha replied, but he was right. There was something in the air. "And I think you are right. Something just…"

Wolverine glanced at his surroundings.

Emma Frost leaned on Cyclops, as Beast checked on her. Whatever hit her affected her hard. "I lost him. I don't understand it," she explained to Cyclops and Beast. "We were connected."

Captain America talked to Nick Fury on a communicator. "I haven't seen Strange."

Sharon Carter just stared. That is what Wolverine focused on.

"What the hell is that?"

"See anything you like, Darlin?"

"Agent Summers and I were not on your last mission," Emma said, though the memory he had was clear as can be. "Raven is worried about you."

Logan shook his head. "Raven and I are nothing. I'm trusting you for a reason, Darlin."

Emma studied him. "You don't remember this."

"Don't Shoot Him! Not Yet."

Agent Howlett heard the voices again.

"Wolverine?"

"Where are you?" Agent Howlett hollered. No one was going to mess with his head.

"Who are you talking to?" Fury asked. It was just the two of them walking down the hallway.

"Well, I Must Admit. This Is Certainly The Last Place I'd Expect To Find You."

Agent Howlett shook his head. He heard that voice before. It brought pain and suffering. When did he hear it last?

"How Long Has It Been, Fifteen Years? You Haven't Changed One Bit. Me, On The Other Hand, Nature."

He stared down the hallway. The last time he heard that voice he saw the ice, but not here in this old sorcerer building.

"Agent Howlett?"

SNIKT

James extended his claws. He was going to tear his way through reality if he had to.

"Agent Howlett?"

James looked at his claws. They were bone. That didn't seem right. He turned to Fury. He knew him, but something didn't sit well with him. Why didn't he call him Logan? Wasn't that his name?

"Agent Howlett?"

"I can smell them," he said. They had a strange scent. Otherworldly. Was that it?

"You are just a failed experiment. If you really knew about your past, what kind of person you were, the work that we did together...People don't change, Wolverine. You were an animal then, you're an animal now. I just gave you claws."

James' head spun. The memories poured in like a fountain. One after one, they drown him. He couldn't stand it. He couldn't.

"I NEED BACKUP!"

Logan stood firm. "I don't remember a lot of things, Darlin, but that sounds like me."

Emma took a deep breath. She believed him, but she wasn't sure why.

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

Emil Lapin vowed to himself that he would never drink again. Okay. He would drink again. But next time, he would listen to his mother when she said he didn't need to pick of skanks in a bar on Christmas night because this was the craziest dream he ever had.

First, he climbed out of an interrogation room and crawled through air vents.

Then he faced a three headed janitor and knocked him out with a broom. He kept the broom. It was the closest thing to a bo staff he could find. But the three heads were just weird. Double vision would have made more sense, but three heads. What the hell did he drink?

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Genosha Casino

Penthouse Suite

"Where the hell is he, Remy?"

Remy rolled his eyes. "How de hell am I suppose ta know?"

"He's ya cuzin."

Remy looked around Emil's equipment. His laptop and projectors were in the suite. Flash drives littered the table. No one else was in the room, not even room service. "I know he's my cuzin."

"Can ya track him…or de drone? BellaDonna demanded.

"What ya t'ink I'm tryin' ta do?"

Their arguing didn't help their situation, but Remy knew telling BellaDonna that wouldn't have influence, nor did it help them find Emil.

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

New York

When Natasha Romanoff reentered her director's room, she was hoping to tell him he was off his rocker, but there was still a part of her that believed him. "I completed the research you suggested."

Fury stared at her with is good eye. "So what you find?"

Natasha tossed folders one by one on his bed. "Steve Rogers. Ninety year old man. Dr. Stephen Stange. Died in a car wreck. Charles Xavier. Died in Genosha."

Fury did not seem pleased by her revelation. He stared, placid faced and thinking way too much for her liking.

"You haven't given me any reason to believe what you told me," Natasha reminded him.

"No, I haven't. You just have to trust me." Fury said. "Like I am trusting you. I don't know where I am or how I got here, but I know this is not where I belong."

Natasha stared at him, as if studying him. He knew she was thinking about what he said. Both their trains of thought were derailed by Barton's entrance.

"We leave to meet the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in Genosha in an hour. Director Hill wants to know if you are up for the task?" Agent Clint Barton asked them.

Fury glanced from Natasha to Barton. "Does it look like I up to the task to you?"

Barton smiled. "I'll tell her there is no need for concern."

When he left the room, Natasha said, "You sure you are up to this? After our last meeting with Agents Howlett and Darkhölme, you ended up here."

"I'm sure," Fury replied. He climbed out of bed. "I have a few things to discuss with them."

Natasha smirked. "Like what?"

"Like the fact I just talked to a dead man." Fury replied. "Got your attention now?"

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

Logan stood helpless to her mind powers. He'd seen what Xavier could do, and while she was not as powerful as he, she was capable of holding control over him for as long as she wanted.

"You gotta listen to me, Frost," Logan said. "Something ain't right here, and you know it. You gotta believe me. Just ask me anything. You can read my mind. You know when I am telling you the truth."

He waited. How long exactly? That didn't seem to matter. But she asked the right question.

"Why were you in Genosha?" Director Frost asked. "Tell me from your own words."

Logan nodded. "Professor Charles Xavier called me to come to Genosha. We were meeting the Avengers to find the Scarlet Witch."

"Who?"

"Wanda. Wanda Maximoff." Logan grunted. "You can look at me crazy all you want, but I am not the one who lost my mind."

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Lord Magnus's Palace

Kurt stared at her, his eyes golden and hypnotizing. That was part of his charm. When she looked into his eyes, she didn't feel like a freak or an outcast. She felt free and alive.

"Princess, I…"

She didn't want to hear what he wanted to say. Perhaps, there was a part of her that still loved him. He gave her a beautiful little girl.

Talia played on the floor with her older brothers.

She was real.

Talia was real.

"Wanda," Kurt hypnotic gaze bore into her soul. "You know this is not right."

It was Kurt's voice, but not his words. Damn Professor.

"Let us go."

"No." Wanda backed away. "No."

"You know this is not right."

The red glow in her eyes silenced them. She raised her hand to her temple as the lights flickered. "You will not take them from me again."

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

"Momma, I am sure James is fine. It is just a precaution," Rogue said.

Raven paced around the room. "He's not fine since that electric shock from that… that…human."

Rogue sighed. There was no reasoning with her when she was like this. She loved her mother dearly, but the woman drove her crazy.

The lights above them flickered. For a brief moment, Rogue wondered where she was and why she was in the room with Mystique. Mystique's expression expressed the same confusion, but when the flickering stopped, all was right…all…was…right.

"Director Frost knows what she is doing, Momma," Rogue said. She grabbed her mother's hand with her bare hand. "He's going to be alright."

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

The lights flickered above them. Director Frost stepped back, dizzy from the experience. Where was she? What was going on?

Logan stared at her, the lights clearly not bothering him. "Problems, Darlin'?"

Emma leaned on the wall, and the lights stopped the chaos. "It's just a migraine coming on. You can't imagine the stress I am under right now."

Logan smirked. He loved being right. "Nah, Darlin'. You just realized you're not in Kansas anymore."

Director Frost didn't reply. He was right. How the hell was he right?

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

New York

Natasha Romanoff boarded the jet. They left for Genosha in an hour.

"You sure you're up to this, Fury?" Barton asked.

Fury tossed his bag onboard. "Does it look like I up for it, Barton?"

Agent Clint Barton smirked and joined Natasha in the cock pit. "We all set to go?"

"Entering the coordinates now," Natasha replied.

The lights flickered, and she looked around the jet. Images of Clint's pale face in a casket filled her head. She spoke at his funeral.

"That's weird," Barton said as the flickering stopped. "We got enough power in this bird?"

"Yeah." Her voice was weak. Had everything Fury told her been right all along?

"You, okay?"

"Fine," Natasha replied. She tried to shake it off, but the images were still there. Clint was dead. Dead. "I'm just not looking forward to this long flight."

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Genosha Casino

Penthouse Suite

Remy felt BellaDonna breathing down his neck. The woman could get close and uncomfortable; it was one of her deadly specialties.

"Ya hovering ova me ain't helpin'." Remy said, typing password after password into Emil's computer.

BellaDonna backed off. "What's takin' ya so long, den?"

"Emil's a tech guy. He knows how to lock his computer," Remy explained. His cousin was good.

The lights flickered, and Remy paused his typing.

"I love you."

"Ah love you, too." She smiled as he took her hand.

Remy's watered. Where was she? Where was Rogue?

Then the feeling passed, and he continued to type.

"What's wrong with you?"

Remy shook his head. "The lights."

BellaDonna rolled her eyes. "It's probably the whisky."

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S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier

Genosha

Director Frost raised her hand to him and aimed. He knew what a spider bite was. Natasha Romanoff had one on her at all times.

"What do you think you're going to do with that, Darlin?" Logan asked.

She aimed the spider bite at him. "I am going to do what I feel is necessary."

"Director Frost," Agent Summers said. He stood by her side. "Agents Darkhölme want to see him."

"Bring them in."

Director Frost stared at Logan. Now, you have to trust me.

He nodded and watched as Agent Scott Summers walked in with Mystique and Rogue. Rogue held her mother's hand, telling her it was going to be all right, and that Director Frost would break him from this rage.

Director Frost smiled.

The agents froze in place, and Direct Frost turned, firing three taser disks, hitting Scott, Rogue, and Mystique. Logan watched as they hit the ground and reality returned to them. Then, she used the taser disk on herself.

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Lord Magnus's Palace

Do you really think you will get away with all this?

Wanda turned from Kurt's blank stare. Her children ran around the room.

"Haven't I already?

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Is it really 2024?

Wow!

It has been too long between chapter uploads.

Time to finish this beast.