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Say My Name- Chapter Five:

Rogue felt groggy as she opened her eyes to an unfamiliar place, an unfamiliar ceiling. She blinked rapidly as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. She wasn't in the cell anymore. No, she was in a bedroom. A nice one. Actually the biggest nicest one she'd ever been in. The bed she was laying on was comfortable, the blankets soft and luxurious. She was wearing a lavender tank-top, matching gloves and blue jeans. The floor was caperted red, with gold trim along the walls. There was a closed door and-

There was a window nook!

Standing, she hurried in bare feet over to it, climbing up the short step into the nook. She was kneeling in front of the window as she peered outside. She saw a luscious green yawn, plenty of greenery. And the sun! She hadn't felt sunshine on her face in- well, she didn't know how long. She hasn't tried the door yet, but she had no idea where she was and she could see outside. Actually, see freedom, at her very fingertips.

She examined the window pane.

"It don't look bugged," she muttered before she unlocked the window. With bated breath she pushed it open and- nothing, no alarms, no sirens. Rogue stifled a delighted giggle; she was just a hop, skip and a jump away from freedom.

She stuck her head outside, glancing downward, trying to gauge the fall.

"Rogue, please, that's hardly necessary," a worried male voice insisted from somewhere behind her. Managing to not startle, or fall out of the window -

'And was that his doing?' - Marian turned her head around to see Charles Xavier sitting in the open doorway of the room.

"Why don't you come down from there and we can have a proper chat," he added and now she could see the insufferable smile on his face. Had the door been open a moment ago? Had she just not noticed him or was he using his telepathy against her?

"Where's Magneto?" she asked warily, not moving a muscle.

"Erik is perfectly safe and healthy. As are you, Rogue," he said calmly, as he ventured further into the room, the door closing behind him, seemingly on its own. "I have quite a bit to catch you up on. Why don't you take a seat?" he asked, gesturing toward the bed.

Marian felt her eyes narrowing as she stayed kneeling exactly where she was, if only to prove to herself she could, that he wasn't controlling her.

"Very well," he sighed, moving a few inches further into the room.

"Where's Magneto?" she repeated, it was the only thing she cared for him to tell her.

"S.H.I.E.L.D's custody," he answered.

"No," she cried out, turning to face him fully. "What did you do?" she demanded bitterly.

"Actually, my dear, it's what we did," he said and Rogue felt her eyes widen.

"I didn't do nothing. I serve Magneto," she declared strongly.

"Not as far as the U.S. government is concerned," he corrected. "That letter, which as far as anyone is concerned, Mr. Carlyle included, was an earnest innocent exchange between father and daughter, where you asked for forgiveness and showed genuine remorse for your actions in the Brotherhood. Coupled with your assisting me prevent nuclear fallout from Magneto's attack and it wasn't difficult to convince them you deserve another chance."

Rogue felt her heart skip a beat. She'd lost time. Like Erik had when Xavier held him captive in Queens. Erik was right, he'd done the same thing to her from the first moment he'd met her in person. Glancing around the room, she realized it was a cage. Prettier than most, but still just like all the others she'd been forced to endure.

"Only if you choose to see it as such," he said.

Rogue felt her eyes narrowing further, now knowing he was reading her thoughts. She wasn't going anywhere because he wouldn't allow it. So, she took a deep breath and plopped down sitting cross legged in the window nook.

"Thank you," he smiled, pleased he had her full attention. He rolled further into the room. Not too far, but far enough to allow the door to close behind him, allowing them privacy.

Hah. Privacy.

"So, this is Westchester?" she guessed.

"It is indeed," he smiled. "The President has wisely chosen to incorporate the X-Men's operations under S.H.I.E.L.D's jurisdiction," he explained.

"Ya mean, ya sold out," she summarized, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Erik said the same thing," he lamented. "I wish either of you can see what I'm trying to accomplish here. Our planet is a shared one. For mutants and humans. A partnership with the U.S. government is a necessary step, a necessary compromise," he said.

Rogue glanced away from him, a sour expression on her face. He wasn't going to convince her of that. Once again, she wished she'd been at Magneto's side when everything went down. Maybe then, together, they could have-

"You have to understand, I couldn't fake Erik's death for a second time. And Magneto intended to kill every last human being on the planet. He had to be stopped, as did any who would have aided him," he said pointedly and she held in a breath. "Thankfully, you were already in S.H.I.E.L.D's custody before the battle began. Protected, if not from Magneto, then certainly from yourself," he said and she rolled her eyes at his condescension.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, frustrated.

"Rogue, you are a young woman who has seen more cruelty in a few short years than most experience in a lifetime. I want for you what I want for all mutants, to give you a chance to be better. The choice is yours," he added.

"Is it?" she asked bitterly and he held her gaze, his expression unapologetic.

"From this moment on, yes, it is. I understand if you consider my actions a violation. However, it was necessary to protect you," he repeated, almost like a broken record, almost like if he said it again and again she might actually feel the same. "I've handled the details, Rogue. The stage is set and with it your one chance to escape lifelong imprisonment. The rest is really up to you."

"Okay," she said, not really knowing what else to say. She was still a prisoner herself.

"Again," he sighed, "only if you choose to see it that way. This is your home now, Rogue, and will be as long as I am your legal guardian. As such, you are free to explore the mansion to your heart's content," he said.

Rogue blinked as she slid off of the window nook, getting back on her feet. Cautiously, keeping her eyes on him, she circled him as she got to the door. Turning the knob in one hand, it opened easily, pushing the door open. Turning her head, glancing behind her, she saw a long hallway with more bedrooms, she assumed.

"What if I try to leave the grounds?" she asked.

"I'll have to inform S.H.I.E.L.D you've run away. You'll be hunted and taken back into custody," he answered.

"Thrown back into a cell, ya mean," she said, her hands balling at her side.

"The choice is yours," he repeated as he adjusted his chair, and joined her at the door

She kept her eyes averted from his gaze. Charles Xavier was Magneto's greatest enemy, maybe even more so than humanity. Who else had stopped him at every turn? Who else had opposed his dreams for mutantkind, and prevented him from delivering them all to the land of milk and honey?

"But at far too high a cost, Rogue. He would have killed your mother, her husband, every human you've ever known. Is that truly the world you want to live in?" he asked her.

Marian rolled her eyes. She wasn't really on board with the killing. It was more about preventing anyone else from killing her. And Magneto seemed like the man who could offer that protection.

"There are better ways, Rogue. I'll never be able to convince Erik. But please, allow me the opportunity to instruct you," he said, his earnest tone giving her pause.

"Fine, I'll look around," she relented and she listened to him let out a happy huff.

"Would you like a tour?" he asked.

"No," she said, shaking her head, as she turned out fully into the hall, leaving him there. She actually hurried a bit, wanting to put some distance between her and her new-

She just needed some distance, was all.

A while later, Marian was sitting at a computer. She didn't know whose computer it was, but it was hooked up to the internet and she was able to Google as many things as she wanted. She found out about what she missed while in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s custody and everything about the aftermath of the attack that the Professor had gleaned over.

'Lordie, he had me under his spell for a right while,' she thought annoyed. At least three months.

From what she could tell, some of the others were still cleaning up from some sort of party that had gone on earlier that week. She didn't know the details and she didn't really care. Though a bunch of them had said hi to her, like they were friends.

'Kitty, Bobby, Kurt,' she recited in her mind. They all thought she'd been here on her own volition. And she figured the Professor would erase anyone's mind if she told them otherwise. Wasn't worth chancing Xavier getting annoyed with her and throwing her back to S.H.I.E.L.D. At least here she could try and do something.

And her first priority, her only priority, was making contact with Magneto.

'But how do I do that?' she asked herself, as she scrolled through a website's chat, that pertained to Magneto and his incarceration. She blinked, was that an address where people could send him mail? 'Yes!' she exclaimed in her mind, looking over the address and committing it to memory.

"Rogue."

"Yes, Professor," she said, clicking the web browser to close the window.

"Finding your way around alright?" he asked as she looked up at him.

"I'm fine. I was catching up on current events," she said.

"Yes, of course," he said, nodding. "Dinner is being served, if you're hungry," he said.

"Yeah, okay," she said as she stood up and walked over to join him.

"And although you feel as if you've just woken up a short while ago," he said as they exited the room together. "It is mid-afternoon and I would advise you to try and get some sleep tonight. You have classes in the morning," he said.

"Yes, Professor," she said, a reflex born of a lifetime of watching and using certain safety coping mechanisms. He glanced up at her, the look in his eyes told her he was wary of her sudden acquiescence. 'What else am I supposed to do?' she asked in her mind, her tone a bit defeated, fighting to ensure not a single other thought popped into her head. She watched him dismiss his suspicions as quickly as they had crossed his features.

"It's pasta night," he informed her with a smile. "Do you like Italian food?" he asked.

"I had some when I was in New York. It's alright," she shrugged. She had to keep up this mental game in public, it seemed. She didn't want to consider if she would have to do the same, even in private, but she'd do whatever she needed.

Whatever was needed.

"Well, Hank is an excellent cook. I think you'll enjoy this," he said pleasantly.

Magneto sat in his plastic nightmare of a cell, sorting through the various correspondence he received on a near daily basis. Some were ridiculous, pathetic sapien women declaring their love, asking for his hand in marriage. Some were desperate attempts at inspiration, anti-human fairy-tales, telling of his escape and how Magneto, Master of Magnetism would rise again to make every human on the planet suffer for his current incarceration.

All were sadly what he had to fill his time with. And despite the mind numbing content contained in most of the letters, he did read them.

Time.

Time was his warden and plastic were his shackles.

'How far the once mighty have fallen,' he lamented as he picked up the next letter. Magneto felt himself blink twice as he took in the handwriting. He knew this- 'Marian,' he thought, as he pushed the pile to the further side of his desk, giving his full attention to the letter in his hand.

The letter read:

Dear Magneto,

My name is Marian Carlyle. You probably don't remember me. I was only in the Brotherhood for a short time and we never met face-to-face. I'm called Rogue. You're probably wondering why someone as unimportant as me is writing to you, the leader of the Brotherhood. Professor Xavier thought this exercise might help me make sense of things.

The last three months are such a blur, I can barely remember what happened. I know you launched an attack on the West Coast and you almost killed all those humans. Morally, I had no choice but to help Professor Xavier stop you. Guess that earned me a little saving grace with the higher ups in S.H.I.E.L.D. Because I ain't locked up in solitary confinement like you are.

Instead, I've been given this chance to be an X-Man and work for Professor Xavier and S.H.I.E.L.D. I'm still processing everything that happened, it's all such a blur. It feels like one minute I was sitting in a cell, trying to take my daddy's advice, be a good girl and waiting to go to the land of milk and honey. And the next minute I'm sitting in a mansion in Westchester with Professor Xavier telling me not to stay up too late because I've got classes in the morning.

I still don't know how to feel about it all. I guess I'm going to give this a chance. I don't really know what else to do. I don't think I got any better options. I am grateful I ain't in the same kinda cell you are. Sorry, if that was mean. I want to be a good girl, but I don't really know how to do that from where I'm at now. I guess I just need to do whatever Professor Xavier tells me to. And he told me he's going to help you prepare your defense. With the ways things played out, I guess both of us are stuck taking his advice.

Before I was told I was joining up with the X-Men, I was in solitary confinement myself. The worst part about it is the time. How slow it goes, how little you have to do with it. All you can do is think and think and think. It's enough to drive anyone crazy. What got me through it, the only thing that got me through it were my daddy's letters.

I guess that's the real reason I'm writing to you, sir. Professor Xavier said the exercise might help me. But I'm hoping sending this out might help you. I've been where you are and I know how exhausting it all can be. Plus, I'm sure the food sucks. Oh, they're making you eat with plastic forks, ain't they? I hate those. They break so easily, the knives never cut through the meat all the way and then you've got little bits of plastic stuck in your food. Oh, they're the worst. I am so sorry.

Magneto, sir, it might not be as dignified as you've used to, but back home when all I had was plastic, I usually ate with my fingers. It ain't proper, but I doubt you've got company sitting across from you. So, who's going to know? I'm sure you've got a sink, right? You can wash your hands before and after and just enjoy the meal, as much as you can. You won't have to eat plastic. That's all I'm saying.

Anyway, thank you for reading this. I hope it helps pass the time, even a little.

Warm regards

Marian Carlyle

Marian was sitting at a table by the pool; five playing cards in her hand and a stack of chips at her little corner of the table. Across from her sat Logan and Kurt. They were playing poker, the river was in the middle of the table, the blinds set and the bets cast. Kurt thought he had a winning hand with two queens and Logan knew he didn't have a good hand, folding after the fourth card had been placed in the river. Now, it was just a matter of closing out the hand.

"Ha," Kurt laughed as he laid down his cards.

"Oh, wow, Kurt," she said, feigning surprise. "That's a mighty good hand ya got there," she said, seeing the queen she expected and its partners out in the river. Logan let out a huff, seeing through her. Kurt was none-the-wiser and reaching forward to claim his prices, the pile of chips. "Before ya do that- I think I should lay my cards out-"

"Rogue!" she heard the Professor call out and she turned to see him sitting just outside the door to the patio most of the X-Men were enjoying on this nice summer day. "Come with me to my office immediately," he ordered.

"Can I finish the hand first?" she asked.

"No," he answered firmly and turned away from them all, heading back inside.

"Saved by the Professor, elf," Logan chuckled as Marian stood.

"What did you do?" Kurt asked, happily collecting his winnings. His tone was light, he didn't see any problem getting out while the going was this good.

'Oh lordie,' she thought, realizing what this was. Her pulse pounded. Her lack of an answer caught Logan's attention, but not the others.

"That bad?" Logan asked and she nodded; it wasn't just the professor and Jean she had to watch out for. "Then you shouldn't keep him waiting," he advised.

"Ah-huh," Marian agreed, running in and catching up to the Professor. His expression was wintery as they walked to this office. He took his place at the head of his desk and she sat across from him. "You found out about the letter, huh?" she asked.

"Nicholas Fury brought it to my attention," he said dryly. "I then, thanks to your wording, had to take the credit," he said, clearly displeased. "You've been here for two months now. Do you dislike my school?" he asked.

"No," she answered honestly. Kurt and Logan were alright. The food was better than she expected. She mostly got to hang out and play video games with Bobby. It was nice. The nicest place she'd ever lived.

"Then why would you jeopardize that by contacting him?" he asked.

"I sent that out the second night, I was conscious again. I was still mad at you for controlling me for as long as ya did," she explained. "I get it, now, that you did me a favor. But I was- Erik was nothing but nice to me too-"

"Nice?!" he exclaimed. "Rogue, what Erik did to you was irreprehensible. He weaponized your emotions, your attraction, your very past against you for his own selfish gains. And the fact that you clearly can't see that is all the more reason you need to be protected. As long as you are in my care, you will be unmolested. And any interactions you have with either men you've referred to as daddy will be closely monitored," he spat disgustedly.

Marian sat for a moment as she tried to digest what the Professor was telling her. But she had only heard one thing.

"Erik wrote me back?" she asked.

"Yes, of course he did," he huffed, before he reached into his desk's top drawer and pulled out a letter, almost slamming it onto the desk.

"Can I read it?" she asked, her fingers itching to reach out and take it.

"I want to say no. I want to burn the damn thing," he said. "But I promised you, Rogue, that you are here of your own free will and that includes allowing you to make mistakes. And reading this letter, I warn you, it is a mistake. Engaging him at all, allowing him any more of your time and energy, is very ill-advised. For your sake, I am begging you, discard it," he said strongly before he pushed the letter forward, within her reach.

"You gotta understand, Professor," she said, taking hold of the letter, pulling it to her chest. "When I was all alone in that cell, knowing Erik was out there, still caring about me. It was the only thing that kept me going. What if I'm that for him? I can't abandon him. He didn't abandon me," she said. She watched the Professor take a very deep breath.

"You have a very kind heart, Marian, and men like Erik will use it against you, if you allow them to," he said. "If Erik asked you to do something for him, would you?" he asked.

"I don't know," she shrugged meekly, clinging to the letter. "Did he?" she asked.

"No, not this time," he said gravely. "But if you keep engaging him, he will," he said.

"It's my choice?" she asked tentatively.

"Yes, it is," he said, almost reluctantly.

"I'll be in my room," she said, standing, nearly fleeing from his sight before he changed his mind and forcibly changed hers. It was her choice after all, that's what he promised and she-

She really wanted to read this letter.

Dear Marian,

You have my gratitude for your thoughtful letter. As you can imagine, I receive no shortage of correspondence. Most of which is utter dribble, I endure them for lack of want of a better use of my time. Your letter, however, was such a breath of fresh air I felt compelled to draft a response. It's so rare to engage with someone of interest from my current position. I have no idea if they will allow me to send this to you, Marian. It will be my first request to do so. And I do hope the words don't smudge in transport. All they've given me is a pencil.

And even if this merely surmounts to my exercise for the day, still I thank you for the brief distraction. Both in reading the letter you wrote and in my attempt to reply. As a result, time has passed.

Speaking of time, though yours in my Brotherhood was short, I'm certain you served me to the absolute best of your abilities, and for that I thank you. As for the one whose service you've fallen into, I've known Professor Charles Francis Xavier for a very long time. Longer than you've been alive, I suspect. And while Charles is many things; a headmaster, a teacher, a general. What he is not, is prudish.

Guard your thoughts, Marian. You will have no secrets from the man I once considered my oldest and dearest friend, despite his obstinate claims to the contrary. Be wary of his partnership with S.H.I.E.L.D, humanity and our oppressors. But yes, though I am behooved to admit it, following Charles example, becoming one of his X-Men is likely your most desirable prospect. I, myself, am allowing him to craft my defense as he sees fit. He has far more patience for humanity and its courts than I ever did.

And if I ever do manage to get out of this plastic nightmare, as unlikely as that is, rest assured, you're on my short list of those to contact for re-recruitment. You're empathetic words have earned you a small place in my heart. I will think of you often, Marian. Particularly, when I'm served finger food. You're quite right, I do have a sink and your suggestion was most helpful for several of my meals.

With the notable exception of when mashed potatoes or apple sauce are on the menu. Despite the fact that my table is permanently set for one, I cannot. No, I will not allow my standards of etiquette to fall so low as to shovel the slop up with my fingers. The spoon will suffice and it's far less likely to break than the fork, as long as I am not overzealous with my portion.

And you're quite right on another point you made, Marian. It is just time; time to sit, time to wait, time to allow one's thoughts to drift endlessly. To reminisce on the past and to think of better days. I do wonder what food stuffs you slopped up with your fingers, little girl. Mashed Potatoes, perhaps? Alas, I shall wonder.

Thank you again for your kind words. I wish you nothing but happiness in this cruel, cruel world we live in, Marian. Take whatever advantages you can and don't end up in a cell like mine. You are Homo-Superior and you deserve more.

I do hope you'll write again. You have certainly followed your daddy's advice. You are a good girl, Marian. Your words are a comfort and I will come to them often in my loneliest hours.

Warmest regards from your friend,

Magneto; The Master of Magnetism

CHAPTER END!

Hey folk, we're still holding at the events of Ultimate X-Men #39. Nothing past #40; New Mutants has occurred yet.