Fic On Hold: Enforcer R/NC-17
May, 2004 I decided to start this. Since it's got the thing of "On Hold" it's obvious it never got finished. *shrug* It's another of those big assed plots that I come up with but never finish. Maybe because I'm fickle, maybe because fb'ers are fickle. And probably because I had tons of stuff to do at that time.
Title: Before It Happened: Enforcer Part One Section One
Author: Rhion
Rating: R - NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Men 'verses, the X-Men themselves and whatnot. Any charicters that are not recognizable as such belong to me and the myths I borrowed them from. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: AU, 7 yrs after the first movie, but the revolution started 20yrs before the movie. Enforcers are the last stand, political climates are hot-hot-hot, hate abounds (as usual), and a utopia may never be found other than within ourselves.
Feedback: Do koalas eat eucalyptus? Or do kangaroo's jump? willow2005 at yahoo dot com
A/N: Oh god… big ass plot bunny- BIG ASS PLOT BUNNY! *cries ** headdesk* Why me? Oh why meeeeee??!! This thing is gonna be HUGE I can just feel it. Like I don't have a RL out there that is demanding some coursework be done, and a man-unit to feed dinner…but nooooo this giant fucker decides to latch on while I'm not even reading anything that should've triggered this bunny. Oh- wait…I know what got this thing kicking… That Final Fantasy 8 game I used to play but haven’t touched in several years, and Ransom's Tiger By The Tail. But both those were -ages- ago.*sigh * This won't be chaptered, it'll be -sectioned- and if I like the response and the bunny stays and demands more, there will be more big-assed sections to come. Also if anyone liked Loki from my last fic Today's Triad he is making a return in this one and so is Sygun (who was very, very briefly mentioned in the same fic.)
If you recognize the names from any mythology courses you may have had then you are correct, I pulled them from Norse mythos, Loki god of chaos and Sygun his wife. Can't for the life of me remember what she does but she's a kick ass warrior and pretty level headed. And some Welsh/Irish ones like Bran and Brawen. Loki is Rogue's guardian (how he found her may be mentioned/explored, I've got no fuckin' clue, later) and has become her father in many ways since she was a little kid when he found her. So she calls him 'da' a lot and their relationship is father/daughter, commander/soldier. Pretty straight forward. For this section of the story Rogue is young, but has also been training most of her life (like the Seeds in FF8, the main heroes are kick ass mercs but all around 17 or so.) Also a 'roo means kangaroo, and a joey is a baby one. By Loki I may have to write a whole set of notes on who is what, does what etcetera if I don't mention it fully in the fic- it would take to long to find ways to explain it in the following pages otherwise.
(Intro)
The X-Men had fallen before they ever started. What few students of Xavier's were left alive after the first wave of attacks on them by the American government, joined their strength to Eric Lensherr's. No world utopia where both homo sapiens and superior could live in peace seemed to be in the works, the governing bodies of most modern countries had either gotten rid of their mutants, or in some cases become ruled by them. In both kinds of countries slavery - whether it was mutant or human - was running rampant. There were a few out there though - Australia, Canada, a now free of British rule Scotland and Wales, as well as Norway - that attempted to keep everything equal. Mainly by being laid back and giving aid to both parties.
But it didn't always work too well even in those easygoing countries. And their people did not care much for the way both species were being treated elsewhere.
That's why there were Enforcers.
Enforcers were a form of special forces, they ran black ops missions, rescue and recover, anti-hate, and trained militias interested in co-habitation of humans/mutants in the 'occupied' countries. Some were better at their jobs than others, some did it out of hate for the oppressive nature of the new governments, and others just did it because they had nothing better to do.
The only country with a large number of these Enforcers was Australia - hell it was the only one with anything that had a large enough population to pull one out of every 500 citizens to train for -possible- application to the Enforcers.
This is the story of some of their number.
(Australia, 2010 Compound One, Commander's Office - Section One of Enforcer Series)
"Listen I couldn't care -less- if you fucking drop from exhaustion, you -will- get this mission completed! That guy used to be one of the X-Men and we -must- get him to a safe house!" Loki's boots clunked down on the desktop as he shook his head and cursed at the person on the other line. "Fuck that! Just use all that -training- you got and get him outta there mate! Alright alright! Sod it! Gods, I guess if I want a job done right I either have to go myself or send a woman. Ok here's the deal - I'm going to send Sygun, she'll provide extra support and backup. You have three days." Slamming the cell phone shut Loki looked up and glared until he caught sight of his youngest protégé. "Ah! My little chocolate! C'mere to papa my lil' joey."
Unfolding a surprisingly tall and muscular frame from his seat, Loki towered over the young well-covered woman who jumped into his arms for a hug. "So how was my joey's first mission, hmm?" Plopping a quick kiss on his adopted daughters' auburn and platinum waves, he had to wonder at how fast she kept growing. It seemed just yesterday that she was little enough for him to pick up and carry. Loki had not known she was going to become a mutant when he found the little girl that Rogue had been, hiding behind a dumpster, dirty and looking like an angel nonetheless. He regretted not a moment of the time he had spent raising her, other than when she manifested. Such a burden to be an alpha level absorber. Skin contact was nearly lethal for most people, making even the bravest of souls keep their distance, but this was his child for all intents and purposes, and Loki would never deprive her of anything. So hugs, little touches and kisses dropped on her head were given often, since he was the only person who would touch her.
"Oh da, it was fine. Just a minor pick-up. Girl was supposed to have been the child of an X-Man. Named Jubilee, loud and yellow were my first and last impressions. She's still in processing." Pulling away from her putative father she looked up into color shifting eyes, and yet again thanked who-ever-was-out-there for his finding her.
"OK then, but still I say lets go get some sushi in celebration- my treat." Basking in her father's attention Rogue walked out with him feeling like she was on cloud 9.
(Three days later..)
The emergency lights were flashing on and off, sirens wailing in the compound. People running about in controlled chaos, Rogue skidded to a stop looking around for someone who might know what the situation was. Grabbing a random member of personnel she had to yell to be heard over the noise.
"What's going on? Are we under attack?"
"Recovered mutant on rampage. Alpha level enhanced regenerator. He got loose killing one of his rescuers, injuring others. We need to contain."
::Rogue- we need you. Get down to level 3 stat!::
::On it, Sir.::
Jogging to the nearest stairwell and dashing down several flights of stairs she came into what seemed like another world. Bodies littered the floor, some looked like they'd live others didn't. Especially the one backed up to a wall holding his guts in bloody hands, sitting in an ever-growing pool of sanguine blood.
::Da!? Where-:: Her transmission cut off when she was tackled from behind by a large heavy man. Pinned to the ground she looked up into hazel eyes that burned with fear.
Trying to make her voice soothing she attempted to calm the obviously frightened man down. "Hey, you're OK, you're safe. We aren't going to hurt you." Very little of it seemed to get through and she wondered if she'd really have to touch this guy, she wasn't so sure she wanted him in her head.
He started sniffing at her and rumbling deep in his chest, and while he didn't pull away, he did slacken his hold on her. "It's alright. Shhhhsh sugar…Calm down. C'mon calm down." Slowly she got a hand free as he kept staring and taking in her scent. Rogue touched her now free, gloved hand to his face, causing him to snap his eyes back up to hers. "Hey. Could you let me up now?" The words didn't appear to register, but he was much calmer and the fear had abated in his eyes somewhat and he was almost relaxed.
Suddenly he tensed up again. Looking over his large shoulder she could see her father, holding a tranq gun, a look of dread on his face. Rogue could tell Loki wanted to remove the threat to his daughter, but also to redeem the rescued mutant.
::Da, I got it under control. You're making him tense up again. Just back off.::
::Rogue- this isn't good. Look what he's done already. I don't want to remind this guy of where we found him - but you're my child and my first priority. If he doesn't pull back from you, I will shoot.::
Sighing quietly, she looked up at the man's face. "Sugar, you really need to let me up now. C'mon, lets go. C'mon you're safe with me." The meaning of the words themselves still wasn't getting through, but her body language - quiet and submissive while still strong - did appear to make sense to him. Now allowed to pull away from him - still with a long, iron-strong hand locked about her wrist - Rogue stood up.
::See da? Just get some of the floors cleared. I'm taking him through the back exit. I think he'd be calmer outside than in here. This is that one that you sent Sygun and Bran off to recover right? So anything that reminds him of that facility will make him freak. Just get the people out of my way, and I'll get him outside and calm.::
The thought was flavored by relieved amusement:: And just who is supposed to be giving orders little one? It'll be done, even if I have to go through and shoot rubbers at those who get in the way. Careful though - he's got some 'improvements', don't know if it’s from before or after he was an X-Man. Just remember joey- you are my highest priority and this guy…he's second. A close one. His recovery is paramount. Do what you have to.::
(Six days later…)
Thinking back to a few days ago, Rogue pondered on what would happen to that man. After she'd gotten him outside and calmed down, Loki had come back up with the girl that she'd recovered the week before. The man had gotten agitated and grabbed the girl - Jubilee, yeah that was her name - and run the same kind of inspection on her that he'd run on Rogue. Jubilee had taken it in stride, but a few tears had fallen from her large Asian eyes.
It was clear that they'd known each other from 'before'.
Before the general segregation of mutants and humans, before the world showed its true colors of hate and intolerance once again. But however they'd known each other it was plain that they had been close.
A soft crunch on the loose pebbles near her, alerted her to someone's presence.
Looking up she noticed it was Jubilee.
"Um.. Rogue? May I sit?"
Giving a simple nod to the slightly younger girl, she repositioned herself so that she could observe her.
"I wanted to thank you for bringing Wolverine back. He- he's not himself. And I don't know what they were doing to him, but-" a choked sob racked her slender frame "- but it was bad. Very bad. He doesn't really remember me. J-j-j-ju-st my smell I guess." Rogue wanted to reach out and hold the young woman, but wasn't sure if that was the right thing to do. Instead she made sure to catch Jubilee's eye, before leaning to wrap an arm around her.
"Well you and he are both safe here. You know that don't you?" a shaky nod against her shoulder and she continued, "And my da and I will make sure that it'll stay like that. He'll recover. Just give him time. Time is all we really have, even though there may not be much of it to go around, it's what we do with it. Got me?" Looking down into tear filled eyes Rogue kept her expression as open as possible. "How did you two know each other if you don't mind my asking?"
A deep breath followed by a slow exhale and she was told a story that was heartbreaking in the extreme.
"I was born 1998, in California, where for the first years I was raised in luxury. Then my parents, who were known mutant sympathizers, were killed while I was at a friends’ house. I was six, and had nowhere to go. So I took to the streets, and that is no place for a small child but I made it. I fell in with a bad crowd but I survived, then one day I tried to pick the pocket of the wrong mark. It was Wolverine. I was so scared that he'd hurt me, but he didn't. He took me in, fed me, clothed me, and raised me as his daughter along with his late wife’s child. He was running an underground railroad of resistance against the American government, taking refugees to Canada, training milita to combat the dictatorship of President Bush. The long and short of it is - they found out. I was sold off to a rich Frenchman w-wh-" she stopped and Rogue held her while she composed herself. "He liked them young. Real young. I got pregnant and miscarried when he beat me almost to death. In front of his 'normal' children. When I got the chance, I killed him. Well, I think he's dead. I hope he's dead. And even if he isn't, I made it so he could never do what he did to me to another girl ever. Then you rescued me. And now I have Wolverine back too. I need to help him. He's all I've got."
"He's not all you've got. You have us. This whole place - it's for everyone. Sygun? You know that woman with bright red eyes, silver hair, pointy ears and obsidian black skin? She's married to a human. He's not even an Enforcer. They have three children. The compound and all its attendant personnel - its all one big family. We stick together. We fight for and protect each other. Eventually, if you like, you could try out. It's not a requirement. Australia is a -free- country. And it doesn't segregate. Everyone can make their own way. But you will -always- have us. As long as there is breath in our bodies, and others to continue the fight for equality and safe harbor for those in need, you will have all the family and friends you need." Saying it for the millionth time out loud it finally didn't feel like a trite bit of propaganda. This girl would have a family. She herself had one now, when before she had none.
They sat together in companionable silence, watching the sun paint the dusky sky and desert with myriad colors.