The Rogue's Cut

Rogue stood near the holographic map, arms crossed, eyes scanning the topography of Stryker's dam. The tension in the air was as thick as molasses, and every muscle in her body felt coiled, ready to spring. This was personal. For all of them.

"Alright," Storm said, her voice calm and clear, "this is a topographic map of the dam."

Rogue's gaze followed the projection, pinpointing the spillway. The damage Stryker had caused... she felt it in her bones. The nerve of that man, invading their home and now holding the Professor.

Rogue swallowed her emotions down, keeping her focus on the mission.

Logan stepped forward, the gruffness in his voice betraying his frustration. "This is the spillway," he said, pointing. "You see these density changes in the terrain? That's a tire tracks."

Wade, standing just a little too close to Rogue, leaned in with a smirk. "So that's where the entrance is. Classic bad-guy activity. Honestly, Stryker's leaving breadcrumbs here."

Rogue couldn't help but roll her eyes at Wade's cocky delivery. Always with the jokes, no matter how dire the situation. But it was his way of dealing with the tension, so she let it slide. Logan, though? He wasn't as amused.

Logan gave Wade a sharp look, then continued. "Yeah, that's the entrance."

Rogue studied the map closer, her sharp mind piecing together the plan as she spoke. "And this shows the depth of the ice covering the ground." Her finger traced a path on the hologram. "Now, this is recent water activity. If we go in there, Stryker could flood the spillway."

"Bad news," Logan muttered. "We don't want to be in there when that happens."

Storm turned her gaze to Nightcrawler. "Can you teleport inside?"

Kurt shook his head, apologetic. "No, I have to see where I'm going... otherwise I could wind up inside a wall."

"How about you Wade, didn't you say your teleporting stamina is kinda full?" Rogue turned to her oldest son.

"Well, kinda, I could do it now, but—"

Rogue shot him a dry look, cutting him off. "Could you get all of us in there? Or just yourself?"

Wade winced, his grin faltering a bit. "Well, not exactly all of you... unless y'all wanna be turned into being jellyfish thingy or have you inside outside of yourself. I could do a couple at a time, but it'd be better if the first ones that I teleported had a super healing power, just in case."

Logan took charge again. "Alright. Rogue and I'll go in first with Wade. If we don't end up... uh, jellyfished, then Wade could teleport Nightcrawler after that Nightcrawler could bring in the rest. If that didn't go well, Mystique, you'll shift into Wade and create a distraction and open the door from inside. He wants Wade so bad, you might be our best chance of keeping him occupied."

Mystique nodded coolly, already shifting her stance like she was preparing to dive into the role.

Logan continued, laying out the rest of the plan. "Colossus, Shadowcat, and Nightcrawler will focus on rescuing Cyke and other the mutants that might be detained there. Storm, Pyro, and Iceman, you'll hit the possible secondary entrance, here." He pointed to another area on the map. "Keep your distance. Don't let it turn into a close combat unless you have no choice. We only need a distraction there so the security would be more lax inside."

Rogue felt Storm's eyes on her and nodded. She trusted them to handle the front. But this wasn't the part of the mission she was most concerned about.

"Magneto, Jean, Rogue—you're going after the Professor, Mystique will also join in after she done her first job. He's priority. Wade and I will track down Stryker in the meantime."

Then, Logan turned to Ken and Laura, who had been unusually quiet so far. Rogue didn't miss the way their bodies tensed, ready for a fight. "You two," Logan said, his voice stern, "are staying here on the jet."

Rogue saw the sparks of rebellion flash in both of their eyes. Ken's lips parted like he was about to protest, and Laura's small hands clenched at her sides, claws itching to make an appearance. Wade, of course, shot them a look. It wasn't the typical big-brother-protective look; no, this was the mischief look. The I'm totally going to teleport you two later even though I'm not supposed to look.

Rogue's suspicion flared up instantly. She knew that glint in her son's eyes all too well. She didn't say anything for now, but she made a mental note to keep an eye on him. Wade was a wildcard, and while his heart was in the right place, his methods were…well, unpredictable at best.

Laura and Ken exchanged a glance, almost too innocent, and she could tell they were in on whatever Wade was planning. Rogue raised an eyebrow but held back from confronting them. It could be another harmless thing Wade had with his siblings to made the occupied.

Ken huffed. "Fine," he muttered, crossing his arms in defeat.

Laura didn't say a word, but Rogue could see the frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior.

She wasn't happy, but Wade's look had done its job.

Rogue's gaze narrowed, suspicion again creeping into her mind. Wade was planning something.

She could see it in his eyes—the subtle smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth, the way his shoulders relaxed just a little too much. He was up to something, and knowing him, it probably involved Ken and Laura in ways that would make Logan furious.

But she kept quiet for now, deciding not to push it. Yet.

Logan gave the group one last sweeping glance, satisfied that they all understood the plan.

"Everyone got it?"

Wade grinned and saluted dramatically. "Aye aye! Captain!"

-

Rogue stood by as the plan set into motion, her mind focused on what lay ahead. She glanced at Wade, who was cracking his knuckles with an exaggerated grin, obviously looking forward to his role in the plan. Logan had made it clear: Wade would teleport them in first, and she and Logan would be the guinea pigs for Wade's stamina.

"All right, kid, you ready for this?" Logan asked, tightening his gloves.

Wade shot a mock salute. "Aye, aye, Cap'n. First stop, my old holding cells!" He winked at Rogue, and she narrowed her eyes, feeling that familiar twinge of concern.

As the group gathered near the jet, Rogue spotted Ken and Laura, lingering by the entrance, both looking way too casual. Wade, of course, gave them another mischievous grin—yep, he's definitely planning something, she thought.

Wade took a deep breath and grabbed onto her and Logan's arms. "Now, if you feel your body in the inside start to came outside or your skin suddenly dissolve, don't freak out too much. The last person I accidentally turned into to be like jellyfish wasn't that mad. But then again, it was me… so—"

Rogue gave him a half-amused, half-worried look as the shadows of Wade's teleportation power enveloped them. The next second, they were inside the facility.

"Still human? Not goo?" Wade asked, grinning like he'd just pulled off a magic trick.

Rogue patted herself down, then checked Logan. "Seems like it. We're good."

Logan sniffed the air, his usual gruffness kicking in. "Let's move."

Wade exhaled dramatically. "Phew! First hurdle, no jellyfish. Teleportation muscles still intact, folks. I am going to get Kurtie-pie now!" As he gone in a spoof.

"Don't get cocky, kid," Logan had growled at Wade just before he vanished, leaving Rogue and Logan alone in the eerie silence of Stryker's facility. Not long after, Wade comeback with Kurt, looking a little dizzy.

Wade let out a small cheer under his breath. "Oh yeah! Still not jellyfish, still awesome."

Logan grunted. "Quit the theatrics, Wade. We've got work to do."

Wade mock-saluted. "Yes, sir! No fun on the job, sir!"

Rogue smirked despite herself, but her focus was still razor-sharp. They didn't have time to waste. Kurt's nervous energy hummed in the background, but he quickly composed himself, getting ready to teleport the others in.

"You ready, Kurt?" Rogue asked, her Southern accent softened by concern.

Nightcrawler nodded, his usual nervousness melting away in the face of duty. He glanced at Wade.

"Do you vant me to bring back everyone?"

Wade gave him a thumbs-up. "You got it, Bamf Buddy. One round-trip teleport for the rest of the team, but I can't came tho, I want to save my teleport abilities in the fight."

Kurt vanished with a faint bamf, leaving Rogue, Logan, and Wade waiting in the silence of the base. It was eerily quiet, the kind of quiet that made Rogue's skin crawl. This places awaken bad memories in her head.

"You did good, Wade," Rogue said softly. "But no funny business with Laura and Ken, okay? I've seen your look at them before. Be a responsible big brother for once."

Wade gave her an innocent shrug. "What? Me? Funny business? I'm offended by these baseless accusations! And I am responsible! I got the talk with Uncle Vic about it already!" But that glint in his eyes was unmistakable.

After a while, Kurt returned with the rest of the team. As they regrouped, Logan quickly went over the plan again, giving everyone their final instructions.

"Stick to the plan," Logan said, his voice gruff but steady. "Mystique, you take Wade's place and distract the guard befor joining Rogue, Jean, and Magneto. Kurt, you handle the teleportation. Storm, Pyro, Bobby—you're on distraction duty. Colossus, Shadowcat, and Nightcrawler—you three work on getting the captured mutants out of here. Magneto, Jean, Rogue—you're with me to rescue the Professor. Wade and I will track down Stryker."

Wade gave her an exaggerated grin and saluted. "Catch you on the heli landings, Mom."

And with that, Wade vanished into the shadows with Logan, leaving Rogue with an uneasy feeling in her chest. She sighed, knowing her son too well. Rogue hope that at least Logan knew what to do if something happened or Wade's antics flare up again.

The air inside the facility was heavy with tension as Rogue, Jean, Mystique, and Magneto pushed deeper into the complex. The plan was clear—rescue Xavier and get the hell out of there. But Rogue's instincts were tingling, something wasn't right, and she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that things were about to go sideways. Especially with Magneto here. Didn't trust that old bitch ever. He tried to kill her son and her once.

And then, they did.

As they entered the darkened control room, where they believed Xavier was being held, the familiar hum of an optic blast echoed through the chamber. Rogue barely had time to react before a red beam cut through the air, smashing into the wall beside them, sending shards of concrete flying.

"Scott!" Jean gasped, horror washing over her face as she recognized him instantly.

But it wasn't the Scott Summers they knew—it was a brainwashed, cold version of him, his eyes glowing fiercely behind the visor that controlled the raw power of his optic blasts.

Without a word, Scott fired again, this time aiming directly at Jean. She barely managed to raise a telekinetic shield in time, the energy of his blast rippling against the invisible barrier with a deafening crack.

Magneto, ever the opportunist, took advantage of the moment. "So, Xavier's loyal dog has been unleashed," he sneered, summoning metal debris from the shattered walls and hurling it at Cyclops.

But Scott was fast—faster than Rogue expected. He pivoted, blasting the debris into molten shards before they could hit him.

"Magneto, stop!" Jean's voice was strained as she struggled to maintain her telekinetic barrier under the relentless pressure of Scott's attack. "He's not himself!"

Rogue's heart raced. She knew Jean was right. This wasn't Scott—this was Stryker's twisted version of him. But that didn't change the fact that he was trying to kill them.

"We don't have time for this!" Rogue shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. They had to get to the Professor before it was too late. But Cyclops wasn't giving them any room to breathe.

Suddenly, the blast from Scott's visor intensified, cracking Jean's shield. She gritted her teeth, sweat beading on her forehead as she fought to hold it together. But Rogue knew she couldn't keep this up forever.

"Jean!" Rogue called out, stepping forward. She glanced at Magneto, but something about his stance seemed… off. His gaze flickered, just for a moment, towards the shadows at the edge of the room. He was up to something.

"Hold him off!" Magneto ordered, but there was a coldness in his tone—a detachment that Rogue hadn't heard before.

And then, in the middle of the fight, he and Mystique vanished.

"Wait—Magneto?!" Rogue shouted, but he was gone, leaving her and Jean to face Scott alone.

"Jean!" Rogue turned to her, urgency in her voice. "Can you handle Scott?"

Jean nodded, though her expression was strained. "I'll try to break through to him. But go! Find Magneto—he's up to something."

Rogue hesitated for a moment, torn between her instinct to help Jean and the nagging feeling that Magneto had his own agenda. But Jean's determined gaze told her all she needed to know. She trusted Jean. She had to.

"Be careful," Rogue said, her voice thick with concern, before turning and sprinting after Magneto.

But she couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at her as she left Jean alone with Scott.

-

Jean's breathing was ragged, her telekinetic shield flickering under the relentless onslaught of Scott's optic blasts. "Scott, please," she pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion. "It's me—Jean. You have to fight this!"

But Scott's expression remained cold, his mind locked under Stryker's control. He unleashed another devastating blast, and Jean had to pour every ounce of her strength into deflecting it. Her shield cracked again, and this time, part of the force slipped through, sending her crashing back into a control panel.

Pain shot through her body, but Jean refused to give up. She couldn't. Not when Scott was like this.

Summoning all her willpower, she pushed herself back to her feet, her hands glowing with the raw power of her telekinesis. "I won't let you hurt us, Scott."

With a fierce cry, Jean launched a telekinetic wave, slamming into Scott and sending him staggering backward. But instead of retreating, he fired again, and their powers collided in a violent explosion of energy.

The room shook as the force of their clash sent shockwaves through the facility. Jean's telekinetic blast met Scott's optic beam head-on, the two forces battling for dominance in a storm of red and glowing light. It was like the air itself was being torn apart by their powers, the walls trembling under the strain.

And then, in the middle of the chaos, something shifted.

For just a moment, Jean saw it—a flicker of recognition in Scott's eyes. His blast wavered, the intensity dropping just slightly. Jean seized the opportunity, pushing harder, her telekinetic energy overwhelming his optic blast. She reached out with her mind, trying to break through the brainwashing that held him captive.

"Scott!" she called again, her voice filled with desperation. "I know you're in there. Fight it!"

Cyclops' face twisted, the strain of the mental and physical battle tearing at him. And then, in a final surge of telekinetic energy, Jean broke through the barrier in his mind. His blast faltered, then stopped altogether.

Scott gasped, his eyes wide as he stumbled back, blinking in confusion. "Jean?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. "What… what's happening?"

But before either of them could react, the ground beneath them rumbled violently. The clash of their powers had cracked the dam.

Jean's eyes widened as the walls groaned under the pressure of the water behind them. "Scott, the dam—"

There was no time to waste. The crack widened, and water began to seep through. They had to get out. Now.

-

Rogue crouched behind a pillar, her heart pounding in her chest as she observed Magneto across the room. He was laser-focused, meticulously reconstructing Cerebro, his hands weaving metal parts together as though they were nothing more than toys. The moment she'd been dreading had arrived—he was putting his plan into action. Charles Xavier, trapped in his wheelchair and forced to target mutants around the world, was at the mercy of Stryker's son—some sick guy with a twisted ability to control minds.

Her gaze shifted, catching sight of Mystique creeping toward Stryker's son, her form shifting into that of Stryker. No doubt she was there to make sure Stryker's son did what Magneto wanted. Rogue's jaw clenched. She wasn't about to let that happen.

As Mystique slinked away, Rogue saw her chance. Moving like a whisper, she slid across the floor, the hum of Cerebro and the crackle of Magneto's magnetic energy masking her approach.

With one swift, practiced motion, Rogue sprang from the shadows, driving her hand into Mystique's side, her bare skin pressing against Mystique's exposed neck.

Mystique's eyes went wide, her surprise quickly turning to panic. But before she could make a sound, Rogue's powers surged. Mystique's abilities, her combat prowess, her shifting nature—it all came flooding into Rogue in a torrent of power and memories.

Mystique barely had time to react before her legs buckled beneath her, her body crumpling into unconsciousness.

"Good riddance," Rogue muttered, hauling Mystique's limp form behind a cluster of crates. "To think I trusted you… how stupid was I?" She pressed a hand to her temple as a rush of memories overwhelmed her—memories of a time when Mystique had been her foster mother. The betrayal stung deeper than any fight could.

Shaking off the emotions, Rogue's attention snapped back to the task at hand. Magneto was still completely engrossed in his work, the hum of Cerebro filling the room as he manipulated metal with perfect precision. This was her moment. She shifted into Mystique's form, her body instinctively mirroring the shape-shifter's physique as she crept closer to Magneto.

The energy in the room vibrated with Magneto's focus, but his concentration was so intense that he didn't notice her approach. Rogue's heart pounded as she reached out, her hand trembling as her fingers brushed the back of his neck.

Magneto froze.

The second her skin touched his, Rogue's power flared to life, his abilities flowing into her like an electric current. The force of it nearly knocked her off her feet—his mind was sharp, his control absolute. But she held on, gritting her teeth as the power transfer surged through her. His mastery over metal, his raw strength, his memories—everything he had gained over decades of fighting—it all became hers.

Magneto gasped, his body stiffening as he tried to resist, but Rogue was stronger. His muscles twitched, and he thrashed under her grip, but it was no use. She was siphoning his power, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

"Not so high an' mighty now, are ya?" Rogue growled through gritted teeth, feeling Magneto's immense power surging through her veins. Her hands trembled as she held onto him, her skin burning with the sheer force of it.

The floor beneath her began to buckle and warp, the metal twisting under Magneto's uncontrolled energy. She could feel the rush of power—so intoxicating it almost overwhelmed her. But she didn't let herself drown in it. Not now.

Magneto collapsed to his knees, weakened but still conscious. His control over the metal in the room faltered, and parts of Cerebro clattered to the floor with a deafening crash.

"Step aside, Rogue," Magneto rasped, his voice low but steady. "You've been a victim long enough.

Don't stand in my way—not when I'm so close to erasing every last human from this Earth. They'll never hunt us again."

Rogue tightened her grip on his neck, her voice hard. "And here I was thinkin' Stryker was the biggest psychopath in the room." Her Southern drawl was dripping with venom. "You wanna wipe out every human? How are you any better than him, Magneto?"

Magneto managed a faint, cruel smile. "Better? I am better. Unlike Stryker, I fight for our future. Mutants will inherit the Earth, and you—" his voice dropped to a menacing growl, "—you're just too blind to see it."

Rogue's grip tightened even more. For a split second, the thought crossed her mind—she could end him right here. Drain him dry. She had his power. She could stop him once and for all.

But then she saw it—out of the corner of her eye, a flicker of movement. Stryker's son was still projecting his psychic influence, and Charles—he was trapped in the illusion, struggling against it.

She had to make a choice.

"Charles, hang on!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the hum of Cerebro's pulsating energy.

Charles Xavier, still trapped within the helmet, looked like he was on the brink of collapse. Sweat beaded down his face, his body rigid as he fought the psychic assault that had been plaguing his mind for too long.

Rogue charged forward, ignoring the metal groaning around her, and slapped her hand onto Stryker's son exposed neck. Immediately, the connection between Stryker's son and Charles snapped. Rogue felt a jolt—like someone ripping a cord out of an outlet. Charles stumbled, his knees buckling under the sudden release of pressure.

"Professor!" Rogue caught him just before he hit the floor, her voice filled with concern. Charles blinked, dazed, but she could see the clarity returning to his eyes.

"I—I'm all right," Charles stammered, leaning heavily on her for support. His gaze flicked to Jason's lifeless form, he couldn't stand Rogue powers that much, sadness etched into his features. But there wasn't time to grieve. Not now.

"We need to get outta here," Rogue said firmly, her eyes darting around the room. The cracks in the dam were widening, water now pouring in steadily. The entire structure groaned ominously.

Before Rogue could call for help, a soft bamf echoed through the chamber, followed by the familiar scent of sulfur.

"Rogue!" Kurt's voice rang out as he appeared next to them, his yellow eyes wide with concern. He glanced at Charles, then back to Rogue. "We need to go. Now."

Rogue didn't hesitate. "Get us outta here, Kurt."

Without another word, Kurt wrapped an arm around both Rogue and Charles, his tail swishing anxiously as he prepared to teleport. A moment later, the world blurred in a swirl of purple smoke and sulfur.

They reappeared on the jet, and Rogue wasted no time helping Charles into a seat. The professor gave her a grateful nod as he slumped back, exhausted but safe.

Rogue's heart still raced, her body buzzing from the adrenaline. But as she scanned the jet, something felt... off. Her eyes darted around the cabin.

Where the hell were her kids?

"Ken? Laura?" Rogue called out, her voice rising in panic as she searched the jet, but there was no answer. She spun around, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a folded note on one of the seats, her name scrawled on it in Wade's handwriting.

Her heart sank as she snatched up the note, her fingers fumbling to unfold it. The words written inside confirmed her worst fear.

Mom, don't worry! I got Ken and Laura. We're handling things on our end. Maybe show up for a family therapy session next chapter? Be back soon! XOXO—Wade, your loving son.

Rogue crumpled the note in her fist, her jaw tightening in frustration. "That little—"