A/N: I don't take much credit for this chapter, seeing as a couple of lines and circumstances stem from the 90's cartoon. See if you can spot them… and enjoy!

-

Chapter 17:

-

"Thousands of mutants all over the country have already been registered into the government files… Who knew there were so many…"

"We've been duped," Ororo announced, crossing her arms at the newscast. "Thousands of unsuspecting mutants registering themselves to be killed. You know those files will go straight to the sentinels mainframe."

"Not after we set their production back a few years," Logan countered.

"That was just one base," Ororo said. "There could be more of them out there, and these government trusting mutants are just making themselves targets."

"We are so close to war I can almost smell the blood of mutants already," Scott piped up.

"Close?" Logan scoffed. "Four-eyes, we are IN it right now! You missed a lot while you were taking a dirt nap. Shoulda stayed there, if you ask me."

"Logan," Jean said through her teeth. "May I have a word?"

-

Jean sighed as they stepped out onto the balcony of the mansion, overlooking the tennis courtyards and the gardens.

"You have to stop doing this," Jean said, shaking her head with frustration. "This feud between you and Scott…"

"It's just feeling a little like old times around here," Logan muttered. "What, with everyone being back. Not to mention what happened when you were Phoenix."

"It would be best if you forget what happened between us while the Phoenix controlled me," Jean said, gazing her big doe eyes up at Logan desperately. "You have to understand, that wasn't me…"

"Excuse me," Logan frowned angrily, not meeting her gaze. "For a minute there, I thought it was real. Another side of you, sure, but it was still you, so don't feed me that crap."

Jean looked at him with great sorrow.

"I'm sorry…" she faded out and didn't finish. In her unease she began to fiddle with a finger on her left hand. On that finger, was a gold ring.

"Have you two set the date yet?" Logan said, pointing to the ring. Jean frowned, and sighed in shame.

"August fourteenth," she replied.

"That soon, huh?"

"We of all people should know that it's now or never."

Logan nodded understandingly. Jean started for the door, but was stopped by Logan's low voice saying her name:

"Jean?"

She couldn't bear his tone. She couldn't stick around for a moment longer, lest she make the same mistakes with him again. It was time.

"I-- I have to go…" she whispered, her throat clenching through her words, making them almost impossible to force out. "Scott… he's waiting for me."

Logan sighed and looked out the window.

"That makes two of us."

Jean decided it best to pretend she didn't hear that, and hurried out the door without another word feeling more terrible inside than she had ever felt before. She had done the right thing… she knew it. She couldn't lead him on anymore. It was only fair to let it go. Fair for them both.

-

"Mr. President, the mutant community is in an uproar to the 'search and destroy' technology that has been sighted all over the New England and Southern states. These 'sentinels' have a body count of over two hundred, all possessing the mutant X-gene. What is your reaction to this so-called 'mutant massacre'?"

"Well, my concern is great as though I were a mutant myself. The mutant community can rest assured that this is not an act of the government, but of a private, separate party that will face serious consequences once they are found. We are doing our best night and day to track down the suspects we have, and won't rest until this matter is put to an end."

"Yeah, except their military can't do nothing against them," Kitty commented to Piotr, pointing at the presidential press conference broadcasting on the rec room television. Thankfully, it was one of the few rooms that had survived the sentinel attack. Piotr hummed his obliging agreement, while concentrating on whatever he was drawing in his sketchbook. Frowning at his lack of interest, Kitty sought conversation elsewhere. She turned her attention to Rogue, sprawled out on a nearby armchair.

"What do you think, Rogue? Think the president's behind the sentinels?"

"I figure if he was, he'd of passed the Registration Act. Beast worked with him, even. He's not in on it."

Remy entered the room gallantly, with his head high and his strut obvious.

"It is Gambit's opinion dat some project dat big could not have escaped Mr. President's notice. Maybe it not his fault, but I wouldn't let him completely off da hook. But politics bore Remy to death… Chere?"

He turned on his heel to Rogue, and leaned over the back of her armchair to stare her upside-down.

"You. Me. Pool?"

Rogue rolled her eyes.

"Just so you can see me in a bathing suit? Dream on."

Kitty giggled, but stifled it quickly out of respect. Remy was by no means discouraged.

"Oh, Chere, as wonderful an idea as dat sound, alas, Gambit not dat clever as to coerce you into such. He simply meant billiards."

He lifted up a cue stick that he was holding in his hand as hopeful proof of his honesty.

Rogue evaluated his motives, squinting at him suspiciously. After a moment, she shrugged it away, even letting out a small smile.

"Why not."

-

"Mutant genecist Nathaniel Essex had this to say…"

"Mutants are a mystery, but that should only inspire more study. They are the birth of progress. We should harness their evolutionary gifts to the benefit of mankind."

"Are you suggesting testing on mutants? In order to turn them into slaves?"

"I am a mutant myself. I wouldn't promote something I feel would only enslave me or my kind. I only speak of helping our world."

Professor put his hands together in a ball under his chin, very deep in thought.

"Well, come out with it, Charles. What is on that broad mind of yours?" Erik insisted on knowing his friend's opinions of the worldwide debate that had been on every channel for hours. Every television in the mansion had it blaring out loud. Charles stared at the large screen inside the picture frame on the wall. His study had been moved underground in light of the ground level of the mansion's destruction. Charles's silence was deafening to his old friend.

"I know this man," Charles finally said. "I have met and talked with him on many occasions and I was assured that he was not a mutant at the time."

"So, he is a counterfeit. I'll be the first to admit it odd someone would lie into persecution but it's hardly a concern of ours."

"I took an interest after he had openly spoken of gems he had discovered in Korea that had profound effects on the mutant race. It seems ironic that those gems turn up here, bringing me back to consciousness and Scott and Jean back to life. And now he claims to have mutant powers himself."

"Kane Marko, one of my Brotherhood who calls himself the Juggernaut, also claimed to be human once, and to have come in contact with a magical red rock that made him the man he was today."

"It's just too coincidental," Charles said, staring at the unnaturally pale skinned, black haired man on the television. "Those gems are much important than I first gave them credit for."

"In mere hours they vote on the Registration Act…" Erik stepped up close to Charles's chrome desk. "And with thousands of mutants getting their powers returned after the Cure's failure, there will be chaos. It is as we feared, Charles… So what will be your next move?"

-

"Nice move, Chere," Remy commented after Rogue took another bad miss, losing terribly to Remy, who was, by no surprise, a pool shark. His teasing wasn't making concentration come any easier.

"Take another go at it," Remy offered. Rogue was happy for the charity, leaning over to line up another shot. A quick glance at her bent over position, and Remy took a chance and leaned down by her ear.

"Or maybe ya just need a li'l more incentive. How 'bout… the winner gets a kiss from da loser?"

Unable to concentrate with Gambit's tauntings, Rogue took another foul miss. Infuriated, she stomped her cue on the ground, making Piotr and Kitty jerk their heads up to pay attention.

"Damnit, that's cheatin'!"

"You forfeit then? Look like Gambit wins."

"Do you know what will happen when I touch you, lowlife?" Rogue said, getting in his face heatedly.

"Gambit is dyin' to find out," Remy smiled right back in that certain way.

Rogue growled furiously, stepping dangerously close to his face.

"Rogue, be careful!" Kitty shouted in worry, anxiously rising to her feet.

"It would serve you right if I gave you a kiss," Rogue threatened. "Wipe that cocky smirk off your face. Now, before I put you in a coma and make you join Carol for indefinite naptime in the medical lab, you'd best take your turn, Swamp Rat."

Gambit took a contented sigh in her face, looking at her as if he found her pitifully amusing. He took a gentle step back, and did as he was told.

But as Gambit leaned down to make another shot, Piotr smiled at Rogue, making his leg go steel-plated. Just as Gambit took his shot, Piotr stomped his foot into the floorboards underfoot, causing Gambit to lose his balance and the winning shot.

"Peter," Ororo said from the doorway. "Just because it's called a 'rec' room, doesn't mean you should 'wreck' it."

"Since when do you make jokes, Stormy?" Remy said with deep disappointment, tossing the cue stick onto the offending pool table.

"The Professor and I would like a word with you, Gambit," Storm informed him. "Quickly, if you please. It's important."

-

Please review.
Signed,
--RedRogue