The X-Men: Darkness Surrounding - Part 1

Author:  AeLonwyne

Disclaimer:  Rogue and the X-Men are the property of Marvel

  When Rogue awoke, Ororo and Piotr were still in the room. Storm had dozed off and Piotr had remained on the edge of the bed, but now held an electronic notepad intent on the files he was reading.

"What'cha readin' Petie?" Tapping a button, the screen went blank and he turned to her. "Only some research my friend. How are you feeling this morning?" Rogue sighed and looked at her hands. "Ah'm not sure how Ah'm feelin shug'. Ah guess a good word would be frustrated. Ah thought you destroyed Belasco." She told him voicing a fraction of the many thoughts racing through her head. "Ah just wanna know why he's hauntin' me now? Again?"

"Do not worry Rogue. If he has returned we will stop him once again. And again if necessary." The two friends remained silent for a time, each one picking their brains in search for some answer or clue to the meaning, if any, of the dream.

Presently Storm began to rouse, still looking the picture of poise and calm. Sitting up a bit straighter she looked at Rogue. "How do you feel, Rogue?" "A bit confused. Very frustrated. On the whole of it, better." Stifling a yawn Storm nodded. "Perhaps its nothing more than a dream." "Gawsh Ah hope so." Piotr stood and headed towards the door. "I will get us something to drink, I will return shortly."

"Hopefully we will have nothing to attend to but relaxation today." "We can only hope shugah. Ah suppose I should get dressed here in a bit. Though heaven knows Ah rather hide in bed today."

   * * *

After a time, the door opened and Piotr re-entered carrying a tray with three steaming mugs. A mug of tea for Ororo, coffee for himself, and cocoa for Rogue. "I felt you would appreciate hot chocolate more than coffee as chocolate seems to be a cure-all for women." Ororo smiled over her tea, and Rogue couldn't help but giggle. "Thank ya Pete hun.' Ah could use a good cure all." She smiled as she sipped the warm liquid.

"Thanks for hangin' out in here while I slept guys. Ah'm feeling much better now. So will you two get lost?" She said with a smile and a wink. "Ah wanna get dressed." Ororo, and Piotr smiled. "Of course Rogue. We will see you downstairs shortly." Storm said rising from her chair. Piotr followed Ororo out into the hallway closing the door behind them.

Rogue placed her mug on the table near her bed, and climbed out. She strode over to the closet and searched through it. She pulled out a pair of black wide leg pants, and a green leotard. She quickly dressed, tied her hair into a tight braid, and grabbed a pair of green gloves before flopping down on the bed once more, and finishing her cocoa.

Down stairs in the kitchen Piotr and Ororo joined the other X-Men currently in residence, for breakfast. Logan and Bobby were arguing about eggs. Jean was cooking pancakes. Kurt and Kitty were setting the table.

"Do either of you know if meine schwester will be joining us for breakfast?" Kurt asked. "I think she will shortly." Piotr replied. "She had a rough night, so we shall see." Hank bounded in just then nearly bowling over two of his friends. "Ah salutations, and good morning my friends. How fare you all?" He was greeted with a chorus of mumbled responses. "Bobby. Might I have a word with you?" Hank asked.

Bobby often called Iceman, on account of his power to form and manipulate the solid forms of precipitation, turned towards his friend. "Uhh. Why Hank?" He asked cautiously. "I want to discuss the glue I found on the door handle of my lab." The blue furred scientist said showing his large hand with patches of missing fur. "Uhh. Hank. friend.can't we just. uh. uh.Aaahhhh!" Bobby bumped past Wolverine, and barreled out into the hallway screaming, "I didn't do it this time Hank! I promise." Hank leapt and followed him shouting all the way. After the two were no longer in earshot every one began to laugh.

Just as everyone began to sit down for their meal, Rogue sauntered in. "Hey y'all. Mmm smells good." She smiled and took her place at the table. "Glad you decided to join us Rogue." Jean smiled. "Thank ya Jean. Though what made you think I wasn't gonna? " Rogue asked, drinking down some O.J. "Oh, it was mentioned that you had a rough night." "Ahh, yes that. Well, nothing too catastrophic. Kurt would you pass the pancakes?" "Ja klar." He answered passing the platter. ~Rogue, anything I can help with?~ Jeans telepathic voice said inside her mind. ~ 'Doubt it shugah. Just a bad dream ~ Rogue replied sending her thoughts outward, knowing Jean would pick them up. Jean nodded and set upon her eggs.

   * * *

Caderahn sat upon his thrown, in the midst of the abandoned citadel he now claimed as his own. Once more he watched the object of his affection. He loved absolutely everything about her. Her hair, the curve of her lips, the sway of her hips when she walked. All he needed was to get her, to lure her. Yes lure her. As long as Shreah and her people did their job it would all work out very nicely. He planned on having a wife before the week was out.

   * * *

"Ah'm gonna go out for a movie, anyone else care ta join me?" Rogue asked swinging a set of keys around her gloved finger. "Sure" Bobby answered. "I'll come" Logan said. "Great." Rogue said with a smile. "How 'bout you Storm?" "No thank you Rogue. I have some things to work on here. Enjoy yourselves though." "Okie dokie shugah. See y'all later then. Come on boys, lets get outta here."

A cooling breeze blew past the three friends as they walked down a busy New York street. Two men, one woman. To any observer they were normal. They were human. The word mutant wouldn't enter the equation. Dangerous might, and often did.

"Anythin' you two wanna see in particular?" Rogue asked. "Something funny." Bobby replied. "Don' matter." Logan said. "Gawsh you two certainly are helpful." Rogue said with a smile. "Ah guess we will jus' have to choose when we get there."

As they neared their theater of choice, an alarm sounded further down the street. "Let the boys in blue handle it." Bobby said continuing on towards the theater. Rogue caught his arm. "Don't think so hun' take a look see." Bobby followed Rogues gaze and saw a couple of mutants he absolutely disliked. Wolverine had already taken off running.

   * * *

Mortimer Toynbee kicked at the metal doors of the safe. It took him two tries but he got them open. The bankers cowered behind their counters, and desks. Fear was obvious on many a face. The Toads new teammates were busy frightening and fighting the police and patrons.

A rather large woman in gleaming armor, stepped up behind him. "Bout time Toad. Come on lets hurry. The boss man, and the lady wont be thrilled if we get ourselves caught." "Get caught? Yeah right." The Toad laughed and grabbed as much loot as he could hold. Arclight did the same. "Hey! You two gonna save me any?" The owner of the voice swirled in to the room laughing. Riptide immediately set upon the loot within the safe. "Why don't you leave it for the owners?" A voice growled from behind them, followed by the sound of metal sliding out of metal. *SNIKT* The three mutants dropped the loot they had held, and turned ready for action.

"Wolverine!" "S'right bub. Come on." He replied with a sneer. "He's only one X-Man." Arclight observed. "Wrong." A honeyed, southern voice called out. "He ain't jus' one Arc' hun'" Rogue corrected as she and Iceman entered the bank. "Ah believe we still owe you for the tunnels, you up for payin' the debt boys?" Bobby nodded, and Wolvie grinned. "Ah guess so. Go!" "Too bad X-Men. 'Cuz you won't get the chance!" Riptide howled then began laughing as he spun wildly. His costume held a multitude of projectiles, such as shuriken, tiny knives, and spikes, which began to fly whenever he spun so fast. His weapons hurtled through the air hitting X-Man and citizen alike. Iceman threw up an ice shield behind him to keep the deadly objects from hitting anymore people.

Rogue launched herself into the air and at Riptide, intent on taking him out. Riptide however spun out of the way,throwing the extra spikes in her direction. "Come here ya twister from hell. Ah won't hurt ya. Too much." "We know you wont." A voice cried out, then the Toad slammed feet first into Rogue knocking her through the wall of ice, the banks glass doors, and across the street. Rogue rose quickly, launching immediately back into the fray.

The Toad was already leaping at her again, when Rogue reached the banks safe. Reacting quickly, Rogue grabbed him by one leg and swung him around throwing him into the wall. The Toad did not rise again.

Bobby was getting sick and tired of fighting Arclight and Riptide. They were responsible for the death of many a Morlock, some years back. They were killers to the core, and without conscience. Arclight charged him, and he
stepped to the side, a solid club of ice forming in his hands as he did so. Bobby swung the club connecting with a satisfying smack against near the base of the woman's skull. Arclight slumped to the floor and did not move.

Wolverine snarled as he brought his claws up in front of his face. His claws acting like a shield, catching several of Riptides projectiles. Wolverine flicked his wrists, and sent the projectiles back the way they came. Logan sniffed the air, and knew that Rogue and Iceman had come up behind him. Riptide whirled faster, trying desperately to put some room
between himself and the foe. The three X-Men advance slowly, almost as though they were toying with him. Wolverine grinned savagely and leapt. In the same instant realizing he was out numbered, Riptide pressed a button near his waist, causing himself and his fallen teammates to disappear. "Chicken." Bobby muttered under his breath. After checking to make sure that no civilian was injured they left quickly vanishing into the crowd.

   * * *

"Ah dunno 'bout you two, but Ah really don't feel like a movie anymore." Rogue told her companions. "Aww come on Rogue. Let's see one anyway." Bobby answered, pulling her towards the theater and its lobby. "What do you think Logan?" Rogue called over her shoulder. "Don't care. Why not?" He replied following them in. "Gee you sound terribly enthused." Rouge teased. "You know me darlin' I'm the life of the party. Or so I been told." Logan responded.

Two hours later the three emerged from the movie theater talking about which part they liked best. At least two of them were anyway. Their encounter with three of their most despised enemies, seemingly forgotten. They descended a set of stairs, and boarded a subway train.

   * * *

The TV was on, and Bobby was surfing from station to station. Undoubtedly not processing what he was seeing, before moving on. He suddenly he stopped on one of the many news programs. Images of himself, Logan, and Rogue fighting the two former Marauders, and one former Brotherhood member flashed across the screen. The reporter was explaining how the three mysterious mutants arrived on the scene, and stopped the would be robbers. "Hey guys! Get in here!" Bobby shouted. Rogue. Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, and Jean all hurried into the room. "For once the media isn't making the X-Men out to be the bad guys." Bobby told them. "Well Ah'll be." Rogue murmured. "That all ya wanted ." "Shhh." Storm interrupted. She grabbed the remote and turned up the volume. "Ten more bodies were found today. This time behind Middle-Wood Home for Children. Among the dead are four children, all around the ages of nine and ten. The children were rumored to be mutants. This brings the current death count to seven-teen. It is said that this is the work of a European cult known as Feirdras. Though no official word has been given. On another front."

Storm turned off the television and looked at her friends. Jean looked stricken; Rogue looked sick, as did Nightcrawler and Colossus. Wolverine and Bobby looked angry. Though Logan looked as though he was about to hit something.

"I was hoping that I would not have to make this decision so soon. Though it would have had to be made eventually. I will be dividing you into two teams, for fact-finding missions in regards to Feirdras. Colossus, you and Jean will fly to Denver to check up on a lead there. Rogue you and Wolverine will fly to Mississippi. The rest of you will stay here till the others return."

"The Professor, Scott and myself have been following Feirdras for the last two weeks, and were deciding a course of action if and when necessary. However things have obviously leapt ahead dramatically. Those of you leaving, please be ready to do so in one hour."

To be continued...