The X-Men: Darkness Surrounding - Part 11

Author:  AeLonwyne

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

 "Banshee please respond, this is the blackbird, we request a response please." Storm said into the mike, for the third time. All she got was static.

"Something must be wrong. They should have responded." Kitty spoke up from Storms left.

Jean sat to Ororo's right, her eyes closed, looking to the outside world asleep, Ororo knew differently. Jean was conducting a psi-scan, trying to find an answer.

"ETA two minutes." Bobby announced from the co-pilots seat. Jean opened her eyes, "Something is wrong. You're right Kitty. I can sense Jubilee, Sean, and Paige, but not Rogue."

"I told you, you should not have left a bunch of…"

"Can it lady!" Logan interupted Mystique's current tyrade with a growl. "It ain't the time for coulda shoulda's and what not!" Mystique opened her mouth to speak again, but Logan popped the claws on his left hand, and stepped forward. "Don't try me. I said can it." Mystique's yellow eyes glittered in the light of the cabin, as she glared back at him. "Sit." He growled at her. She swallowed, licked her lips then flopped back down into her chair.

Minutes later the X-Men followed by Mystique descended the foot ramp into the bowels of Gen X headquarters. Wolverine lead the way to a service elevator. They stopped at each floor to check for surprises, that may be hidden. When they finally got off the elevator, Jean took point and lead the way to what ended up being Jubilee and Paiges room.

Paige stood frozen near the closet, while Jubilee's feet were just poking out of a hole in one wall, while yet another wall was just gone. Sean, (Banshee) was laying unconscious on the floor, ugly red blisters swollen on his back. "Who's there?" Paige demanded.

"Only us child." Storm replied gently, coming to the girls side. "What has happened here?"

Paige's relief at recognizing the X-Men was obvious. "Some… some strange guy came and attacked us and then took off with Rogue."

"Who?" Mystique demanded.

"What the heck is she doing here?" Jubilee asked from where Nightcrawler was helping her up.

"Never mind," Jean answered, turning back to Paige. "Please tell us about the man who attacked you and kidnapped Rogue."

Paige recounted what happened the others saw to Jubilee and and Banshee's wounds. Jubilee had only a few minor scratches, and bruises, with a possible concussion, but was other wise alright. Sean had yet to regain conciousness, but it seemed that he would very soon. Bobby disappeared and then reappeared with a med-slab, for the injured Banshee. Beast carefully placed him on the stretcher, on his stomach to keep him from further pain.

Before they left the room Jean scanned Jubilee, Sean, and Paige for any psychological damage, and found none to her and the others relief. Though neither did she find any physical or other reasons for Paige's lasting paralysis. Jean sighed, she hated magic. It was so unpredictable, so many variables, and there wasn't a thing she could do about it. Why can't magic be scientific? Jean smiled inwardly at her musings. She was beginning to sound like Hank.

"Whoah!" Paige Guthrie's startled cry brought Jean back to reality. All at once the young girl crumpled towards the floor, only Jean and Storm's quick reaction kept her from hitting her head on it. "I guess the magic or whatever it was just wore off." Paige muttered.

"So it would seem." Ororo agreed. "How are you feeling? Can you stand?" Paige tested each of her limbs, and found them all to be rather stiff. Carefully she tried to stand up again, managing to get halfway up, before her legs gave out.

"Guess not." She answered. Storm helped her to sit against the bed.

Jean walked across the oak floor to where Jubilee was talking to Kurt, and waited patiently for a chance to speak. "How are you feeling?"

Jubilee looked at her "Tired, bruised and really pissed off." Jean smiled.

"Well if you weren't feeling such, I'd be wondering what new power you possessed that let you contain it."

Jubilee smirked. "So what are we going to do about finding Rogue?"

Jean looked at Kurt. "You aren't doing anything, liebchen. You have helped enough, and it is appreciated."

"Hey! No way! I'm not gonna be left behind. I want to help, besides I wasn't able to keep Rogue safe, I screwed up. I'm coming!" Jubilee's eyes looked angry and sad all at once, and her bottom lip quivered with barely contained emotion.

"Jubie hun, you did help, believe it or not. You know we all get knocked down on the job now and then. Don't stress. Besides we'd let you come if you didn't have that concussion." Jean soothed.

"But with it, there is too much risk for you getting hurt much worse." Kurt added.

Jubilee pouted. "Fine. But you didn't answer my question. What are you going to do about finding Rogue?" Jean and Kurt shared a worried glance.

"I don't know." Jean whispered.

Mystique watched in silence. Taking in everything she heard, surveying all the damage, and put together as many bits of information together to complete the picture the story, as she could. There wasn't much. The sorceror had gotten her daughter as she had always feared he one day would, and then made a clean break.

Where could he have gone now? There really weren't enough clues to make any conclusions. The young blonde haired girl, was the only one who had remained conscious the entire time Caderahn had been there. There had to be some clue to give them a direction, anything.

"Guthrie! I need to know exactly what Caderahn said."

"Caderahn?" Paige asked in confusion.

"The man who took Rogue. He is a sorceror named Caderahn. Now tell me." The X-men in the room turned and stared, but Raven didn't care. "Please." She whispered. "And don't leave anything out." She added almost rudely.

"Well when he first spoke, he said… uh… My sleeping beauty, um, let us… let us … forsake this…"

"Unfitting locale." Mystique finished.

"Yes, that's it." Paige said nodding, but looking confused.

"Raven?" Kurt asked. Mystique swallowed hard, and took a deep breath.

"The line is from a version of the Sleeping Beauty I used to tell Rogue when she was a toddler, and we were living in Germany." There is a castle, that is supposed to be lost in the Schwarzwald."

"Schwarzwald?" Jubilee asked massacring the word.

"The Black Forest." Kurt translated for her, smiling at her attempt with the name.

"Oh."

Mystique coughed, bringing back their attention, and resumed her explanation. "It is rumored to be the actual location, where Lady Rosenknopse was held in her slumber, till her prince rescued her. The castle is cloaked by magic, I have been there."

"You're telling us that Sleeping Beauty was real? Not just a fairy tale?" Jubilee asked incredulously.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Fairy Tales always have some truth, some real life incident that they are based on. With all that you have seen, and experianced in your lives to ignore this would be folly, and prove you all idiots." Raven stated, her anger growing rapidly at the thought that these, her only allies might dismiss this lead.

"We do not intend to ignore it Mystique. Do you believe Rogue is there?" Storm asked.

"Yes. I am almost certain."

"Then that is where we look next."

"This place is very difficult to get to, and the magics surrounding the place will most certainly interfere with your planes instruments we will not be able to fly the whole way there. We will have to walk some." Mystique informed them.

"That is not a problem. As soon as we are sure that Banshee will recover, and be alright we will depart. Jean? Will you please go to the infirmary and inform the others, as well as check on Sean's condition?"

"Of course."

    * * *

"She expects us to believe that?" Bobby asked in amazement. "I know it sounds rediculous but it is all we have. There are no other clues." Jean answered. "As far fetched as it seems we must go." Colossus agreed.

"Ye must be going. The lass must be rescued. Jubilee and Paige can play candy stripers for a few hours, go find Rogue." Sean spoke up from where he lay.

"Could we at least take you to the mansion, or Muir Island?" Jean asked.

"Nae, tis no need. Emma and the others will be back in the morning. Feel free to take any supplies you may need."

"Thank you Sean." Kitty answered warmly.

"Just do me one favor, let me know when you bring the lass home."

"Of course."