Chapter VII: Repeat and Rescue
“Your sister!” Jean Grey yelled out standing abruptly from her black and leather high backs office chair, starring down at her soon-to-be husband.
“You never once mentioned having a long lost Sister Scott,” She continued furiously to the man she had love for many years and hopefully many more to come. Unable to fully grasp the idea that her husband, the man she thought-no believed told her every secret, every detail of his life was suddenly not the man she knew. He had secrets not even the wonderful Ms. Jean Grey new about.
“Jean, it is not Scott’s fault that he has kept this part of his life from you. For the last fifteen years he and I have both believed Rogue to be dead. We thought at the time, that it would be best for all parties involved to let Scott’s past die with Rogue,” Charles Xavier told his heroic X-Men. At his words Jean retook her seat amongst her colleges, sitting silently until Xavier finished telling what she knew was to come.
Xavier sighed in contempt at his young pupils. All three he has known for all of their adult lives. Knowing all their fears, dark pasts, and even their dreams and because of this he has considered them over all his children. Looking now at Scott he silently asked for the permission to continue on with the tale that the other two were dieing to know. With a curt nod of his head Scott agreed, folding his handsome hands under his chiseled and refined chin, waiting for Xavier’s view on the episode he would rather forget, if possible.
“Fifteen-well almost sixteen years ago I was contacted by a young girl of maybe fifteen then. At first when she told me of her situation I did not- could not believe her. That is until I received copies of some of her father’s most prized work. Documents and photographs of the conditions and experiments placed upon Scott and another unknown mutant confirmed her story. She had said the next time we had spoke that her adopted father Nathaniel Essex or as he is more famously known Mr. Sinister, was performing barbaric procedures on both Scott and the other mutant present at the time,” He stopped then and looked at the faces of the two women present. Both completely unaware of the conditions Scott had lived in before his arrival at Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.
Jean was starring intently at her fiancé with a look of compassion and disbelief. Ororo however was refraining from crying over the life her best friend had been through.
“It took me longer than I had intended to gather my resources and by that time Rogue was in a near panic. Apparently Sinister had found out about our little plan of action and was planning to remove Rogue from the facility as soon as possible. Her fear however did not concern herself, but in that of the futures of her brother and the other mutant. I immediately set out to extract Scott and the unidentified mutant from Mr. Sinister. However by then I was almost to late, everyone had obviously evacuated the facility taking documents and all the research with them. All that remained behind was Mr. Sinister and Scott. Sinister believed Scott held the evolutionary key to the perfect mutant and with him the end of the mutant species. Nevertheless, in the end Sinister’s dieing breath was wasted on his horrific need to wipe out the mutant genome and Scott was hence forth placed into my custody,” Xavier finished with a sad smile on his aging features.
“It took us days to bring back Scott’s eye sight with the help of his newly equipped visor created by Forge. But during those days all Scott did was call for Rogue, allowing no one to help him during his obvious time of need. I searched for her using Cerbro for weeks on end and unfortunately all I ever received was the normal static I get when searching for someone who has already past on to the after life,” Xavier summed up awaiting for the normal onslaught of questions by the female portion of his elite secret team.
“Well her being with Magneto explains why you could not locate her Professor. His ability to deflect your mutant power is widely known,” Ororo deducted from the tale she had just been told.
“Yes I have thought of that theory myself. But the only way for Magneto to successfully block Rogue’s mental wavelengths would be to hide her within his hideout. The idea alone in lunacy and I cannot phantom seeing Magneto locking up a girl for fifteen years. Eric is incapable of doing something that uncivilized and crude,” Xavier countered.
“Professor I have known both you and Magneto for along time and I believe that you and I both know what Magneto is and is not capable of. And Magneto, Professor, is capable of anything he sets his mind to, even murder,” Storm reminded her long time father figure.
“If that is the case then Storm, then why would Magneto want to show her now? After so many years of having her hidden away, it just doesn’t make sense,” Jean conducted curiously as she removed her bright green eyes from her fiancé stone hard features.
“That Jean is the million dollar question,” Xavier replied.
A silence stretched across the room as each person divulged into his or her own thoughts on the situation.
“We have to find her,” Scott announced breaking the deep thoughts of the others as he stood from his own black, leather chair.
“Scott, what makes you think we can find her again? The Professor has been looking for fifteen years and hasn’t ever found her. Why would now be any different than before?” Jean asked him.
“Because Jean, Magneto will let her out again, especially since he knows that we will go looking for her. But personally she’s my sister and it’s about damn time she came home, Scott replied to this soon-to-be wife and walked, still clad in his black, leather uniform, out of the debriefing room, leaving behind two stunned X-Men and a very proud Professor.
“Have you people ever noticed that every time you make a plan, ya’ll make it sound so easy? Yet it never ever turns out that way,” Rogue said mainly to her self than to the people in the two seats ahead of her.
“And wouldn’t you think she would learn to keep that trap of hers shut? But I’ve noticed it never turns out that way,” a very green and slimly Toad told an indigo blue Mystique in the front seat of the unmarked black van he was driving.
“You can not screw this mission up like the last one Rogue, we can not afford another failure,” Mystiques smooth seductive voice echoed calmly from the place next to their get-away driver Toad.
“It’s not like we haven’t already gone over this plan a thousand times already. Maybe this time you could call the X-Men up and tell them to please not interrupt this mission we’re on because we can’t afford another failure. I mean look on the bright side then we could skip a step or something,” Rogue mocked to her supposed leader but as she spoke a rather horribly covered up snort from Toad left the car in undesired conditions, the tension between the two women could be cut with a knife.
“If you screw this up, being left behind for the X-Men will be the least of your worries. This Rogue isn’t an abandon warehouse on the outskirts of nowhere. It’s a known lab filled with guards and scientist who wouldn’t mind having a pretty thing like you as part of their collection,” Mystique warned as she crossed her legs with delicate ease before turning back around to face the front of the car.
Rogue sat quietly for the rest of the long drive to the facility, fuming over Mystiques words that spoke the truth of this mission in volumes. Eventually the van stopped just out of the building’s parameter, taking a small amount of Mystique’s power both made their way towards their destination.
Instantly Mystique transformed her self into that of one of the many security guards, dressed in the olive green uniform that was required of them all, Mystique motioned for their advancement.
“Ya know Raven that’s a really good look on you,” Rogue snorted out sarcastically as they maneuvered towards the entrance.
“It’s Mystique you silly stupid girl and you better remember that or you’ll be left here to rot,” Mystique hissed out through clinched teeth in clear annoyance with her partner.
“Sheesh lighten up blue it was only a joke,” Rogue retorted as she smiled sweetly to the guard at the main doors of the building.
“So just the main labs and the officer’s offices correct?” Rogue asked not even looking at the now squat janitor beside her.
“I thought we went over this information a thousand times, how many times must I remind you?” Mystique asked as she pushed along a large trashcan she had acquired as soon as she entered the building.
“Until we leave of course,” Rogue smiled at her as they came to the automatic lift that would take them down to the lower levels. Rogue pulling off a duster from the trashcan and twirling it about. As they entered the lift Rogue shifted into that of an elderly janitor dressed in the same blue uniform as Mystique.
“You know Mystique if this whole terrorist thing doesn’t pan out at least you know your really good at pushing around garbage,” Rogue told her with a droopy smile she had managed to create and another twirl of her duster.
“You better watch it princess or you just might find yourself in a situation you can’t get out of,” Mystique told Rogue with a raised eyebrow and a evil grin only she could manipulate within each new form she took.
It took only a few minutes for the lift to make its way down to the lower “Non-Existent” labs. The lab themselves wasn’t what Rogue had expected. Instead of the cold gray walls and eerie green lightening it was sterile and blinding white.
“You work your way to the left and I’ll work my way to the right and we will meet in the middle when we are both finished,” Mystique ordered to Rogue who nodded in understanding.
Rogue made her way past white-coated lab personal, past people pushing carts, people with metallic clipboards and uniformed guards dressed in the same olive green as all the others.
Opening the first door she found her self in a medical room filled with cabinets that had an array of medical supplies in them. Taking out the small pouch hidden under her clothes, Rogue removed the tiny dotes and placed them about the room in unnoticeable spots.
Moving quickly Rogue moved to the next room. Inside a mousy looking woman typed furiously upon one of the five computers with in the room. The woman looked up from the computer to acknowledge who she believed to be an elderly old janitor and then quickly returned to her work.
Sighing in relief Rogue pulled out one of the dusters she managed to snag off of the trashcan Mystique had acquired. As Rogue pretended to dust the room she placed dots all about the room. Eventually the woman left in the same manner she was working in, hurried and rushed. As Rogue herself was about to exit she noticed the computer screen still had images on it that depicted the skeletal structure of a human. However as Rogue peered closer to the computer she noticed that the skeleton had many abnormalities. Taking a seat in the chair the mousy woman had just left Rogue began to read off the information about the strange diagram.
Name: James Logan Howlett
Code Name: Wolverine/ Weapon-X
Age: Unknown
Sex: Male
Mutation: Healing abilities and bone claws
Additional Information: Metal surgically graphed to his skeleton making him nearly invincible.
Last Known Location: Laughlin City, Canada
The description was all too familiar, the name stuck out like a sore thumb. Thoughts and images of her one time lover ran ramped through her mind.
How many mutants go by the name Wolverine? How many of them have a middle name of Logan? They couldn’t possibly have him here; he’s safe at Xavier’s right?
Panic started to rise within her as she quickly clicked out the screen, terrified of the images of Logan’s skeletal structure. Not wanting to know how they even were able to determine that he was indestructible. However an icon to the left hand side of the computer screen caught her eye. Clicking on the icon she was amazed at what she saw.
VACCINE-X: THE MUTANT CURE
Thinking quickly Rogue began to print the pages she had seen, fearful of what they might mean as she waited patently for them to print off. However as she waited the familiar sound of Rogue’s need to leave screeched up and down every hallway and every room of the large building.
Cursing to her self Rogue grabbed the finished documents and hid them within the confines of her uniform. Rushing out of the room she immediately made eye contact with Mystique who was making her way towards the lift that would lead them to their escape.
“Did you set that alarm off?” Mystique accused Rogue as both of them changed into guards and took off up into the lift.
“NO! Every time an alarm sounds it usually means one thing Mystique! That the leather clad wonders are waiting just outside those pearly gates to help make our grand escape!” Rogue hissed out to her in clear frustration at the idiocy of it all.
“Well it doesn’t really matter now, now does it?” Mystique mocked as the lift opened and they sprinted towards the exit. Ten paces away they both transformed back into their original forms, unfortunately for them at this time a small squadron of guards were also exiting the same doors as they were and they immediately took aim.
Running as quickly as they could a rain of gunfire fell upon them, bullets hailed down like metal rain as they tried to dodge each one. Reaching the door that would lead them to safety Rogue felt the undeniable pain of a bullet piercing not only her left shoulder but her back as well.
Letting out a scream of agony and nearly falling to the ground from the blinding pain, Rogue pushed herself to continue on, terrified of what being captured by these brutish guards might mean.
Slowly Rogue followed the path in which Mystique was taking. Guards started to pour out of the facility and into the front court yard. Bullets and searchlights followed them as they ran across the great expansion of the yard. That is until the recognizable beam of red light shot through the sky like a beacon.
Changing directions Rogue instead started to make her way towards the owner of the light. Not even being noticed by Mystique who was already ten paces ahead of her, Rogue dared not look back as she once again tried to escape the clutches of her psychotic owner.
Lumbering barely up the side of a small incline Rogue forced her self not to fall into the darkness that her body was so willingly ready to do. Blood flowed like a sticky river down her back, plastering her uniform to her cold and clammy form.
Finally in the distance just a few yards away Rogue finally caught a glimpse of the team her brother belonged to. The two woman that he was with before were there along with a strange man dressed predominately in blue.
“Slim!” She screamed out as another round of bullets fell upon her another one piercing her right leg, making Rogue collapse to her knees.
Looking up Rogue searched for Scott’s running form towards her but only saw the battle raging on. No one could hear her over the ringing of bullets and sirens and shouts from both parties.
Using whatever strength she could muster Rogue stumbled the few yards towards where she hoped her brother would be. Coming up on them she smiled in relief as they stopped their own attacks to look at her. The large man who Rogue believed to be dressed in blue, which turned out to be blue, started to make a defensive attack on her. However the red head that attacked Rogue earlier stopped him.
“Beast it’s alright, she’s Cyclops sister,” the red head said.
“Where’s Slim?” Rogue asked as she slowly approached the three X-Men.
“Looking for you,” the red head replied a small cut lightly bleeding over her right eye.
“We gotta get out of here,” Rogue told them with authority she knew she didn’t have.
“Yes Jean I believe our young friend is quite right we can not hold off this many guards for too long. You might as well tell Cyclops of our discovery and lets go home. Charles and I have tea time in about an hour,” the blue man who was called Beast said so very sophisticated that it took Rogue by surprise.
“Your right Beast, Storm start the Black Bird we’re moving out, Cyclops is already retreating back,” the woman Jean said as the she continued to defend the large black jet behind her.
The white haired woman had disappeared upon the lift leading up to the jet and only seconds later did Rogue hear the sound of engines coming to life.
“Come now, let’s get you inside the jet before Cyclops has a conniption,” The blue man said with a soft smile that Rogue strangely enough thought was quite charming.
As Rogue followed Beast into the jet she was amazed at its luxury and high-tech equipment. Leather seats in pairs of two lined each side of the spacious jet each with it’s own small looking headset and small computer.
“Wow,” was all Rogue could say as she took a seat on the left hand side of the plane.
“Yes it is quite over the top, but that is how Charles likes it I suppose,” Beast said with that charming smile again.
“How is Xavier anyways?” Rogue asked out of curiosity.
“You know Charles as well?” Beast said in astonishment.
“It’s been along time since we last spoke but I always wondered what became of him,” Rogue said solemnly as she continued to look about the jet.
“Well he is quite anxious for your homecoming that is for sure,” Beast said reassuringly as he stood waiting for the arrival of the others.
It did not take long for Jean and Slim to coming running up the plank. Both physically exhausted from defending the Black Bird. However as Scott noticed Rogue sitting on that leather seat all thoughts of sleep and a good shower escaped his mind.
“Rogue,” Scott choked out as he walked towards his long lost sister.
“Slim,” Rogue said as she stood near tears and made her way into his arms. As he rapt them tightly around her Rogue let out a hiss of pain. The sudden remembrance of being shot three times coming back as she was over come by the pain and quickly fell into the darkness her body craved.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
alrighty this one is sappy but oh well....lol. Alot of pulling some of the clues together, kinda like getting part of the story straight. And alot of dialog.
Chapter End Notes:
so sappy or what? Next chapter gets interesting. Promise.