Something's Wrong (open)

[Rose North]

Rose nodded in agreement. The Nightmares had both the schools and his technology, a lethal combination. But he hadn't seen the human's technology yet. But considering it was one of the reasons they could compete with mutants, it was bound to be something spectacular. "How do you suppose they manage to stay on even ground with us? If anything, I would say their technology is even more advanced then your own and the schools." Apocalypse had his alien technology, which he hadn't created but simply learned to manipulate. And the much of the school's technology came from technopaths. The humans had to build what they had from trial and error.

She sighed when he announced the three wouldn't be enough. They needed Bobby to make this happen. "I'll go talk to him." She turned, running off to catch up to the sulking man. He had a pretty good head start, but before long she was right on his heels, slowing to a walk to walk in silence behind him for a few moments. Finally though, she spoke up. "Bobby?" She paused for a moment, sighing. She wasn't good at these kinds of things.... "You shouldn't take what she said personally..."

[bobby]

"It will indeed be a formidable opponent. That I'm certain." Apocalypse said in agreement.

He had to admit that the humans were coming far in their technology, but her personally his his own bidding on the combination of tech that Cain had. He didn't want to tell Rose this, but he had yet to figure out the full potential of the alien technology he had. If Cain could work his way through it with enough time as he's had it, it will most likely be like humans trying to break into Alcatraz and come out alive. The odds were there, but barely. While Rose ran off to find Bobby, Apocalypse used the time to get to know their new partner in the group.

Bobby was so angry he didn't even know how fast he was walking. In fact he had made it almost to the main hall by the time he heard footsteps behind him. They had finally entered the main room, the fireplace burning brightly and giving off enough heat to warm the place. When Rose finally talked to him, he didn't turn to face her, just stared at the fireplace.

"How can you defend her Rose? You heard what she said, every word. She acted like we don't do anything around here."

[Rose North]

Of course Rose had heard what Merfonde said, but unlike him, she didn't let it get to her. Not to mention... A lot of it was true. With a sigh, Rose crouched in front of the fire, her gaze staring at the flames with a distant look in her eyes. "To her, we really don't do all that much..." She didn't look up as she spoke, just focused on the flames. She stared down at her hands then, dark matter gathering at her fingertips. "She works herself to death every single day to make even the smallest difference. And even when she's in critical condition she gets right back up and keeps moving. She's never allowed herself to have a home, a family, or even a single friend, because they'll tie her down. She'll begin worrying about their safety or her own instead of the world's." She closed her fingers, the dark matter vanishing.

Finally, Rose looked over her shoulder to stare at Bobby. "Every aspect of her life revolves around protecting everyone, both human and mutant. Even if it means sacrificing her whole life so that we can have one." Merfonde had never taken even a few minutes to catch up with an old friend, or give a call to a family member to see how they were doing. She'd never just lay in the sun and relaxed, or been able to call one place home. "Even when she's beaten down to a point where most of us wouldn't be able to stand she'll get right back up and keep fighting until she's dead." Rose sighed, turning back to the fire. "Did you see them? Her scars." She paused for a moment, before finally deciding he could know, if only to understand just what kind of a person Merfonde was.

"Did you see the one on her neck? The one that looked like it'd been sliced. That's why she owes me. Someone tried to decapitate her, and if I hadn't been there she would have been killed." A short pause. "Even though she'd been critically injured, she was back on her feet as if nothing had happened. I've seen people with injuries like that before, you don't get back up from them." Rose finally rolled back to her feet, turning to face Bobby fully. "To her, we do nothing. Because no matter what happens, she will see something through to the end, even if she's already half dead, she'll get right back up and keep fighting, when no one else would be able to muster the strength."

Finally Rose shrugged, smiling softly. "So what if she has a bad personality? You're not the only one that wants to hit her just for saying hello."

[bobby]

"You make it sound like she's some sort of hero." he continued to watch the fire, the flames reflecting in his eyes, "She's a human who thinks mutants are just animals to be hunted. I've seen it enough times to know that."

He looked to her as she continued to talk about Merfonde, almost as if she respected the woman. He was about to tell her that she should've just let Merfonde die, but he shut that part up. He was angry, but he would never truly wish harm or on anybody.

"If she thinks that the only thing us "wannabe heroes" would do is get in her way, then why don't we just send her on the mission alone?"

He looked to her then, seeing her smiling. It only upset him more and he looked back towards the fire. How could she be smiling about this? He trusted Merfonde about as far as he could throw the mansion, and no doubt he'd be watching her through the whole time thinking she'll betray them and leave them alone, like lambs to a slaughter.

"He really did love you, you know." he couldn't help but worry about Ian then, "He told me once that you gave him the strength to keep going , like he could run laps around the world until eternity ended." he smiled a bit, but it soon faltered, "When you died...it was like he just stopped trying. Alex tried to convince him to keep his promise, but he couldn't find it in himself to run anymore."

[Rose North]

Rose shrugged. "She's more of a hero then I am." Most people would argue against that, but Rose wasn't up for arguing. Bobby didn't get it at all. He was so set on her being a bad guy that he didn't care what Rose had to say. "Why does it have to be 'She's a human', or 'You're a mutant'? Why can't you see it as just a person, stopping other people?" Her smile slowly vanished. "She's not the one that hates mutants. You're the one that hates humans." Most mutants hated humans, it wasn't a secret, and most humans hated mutants. "I know you'll deny it, but why are you so set against a human coming? Do you really think that just because Cain is a mutant he's our problem? That there aren't humans out there that are capable, and willing, to stop him?"

Rose turned away, taking a few steps back towards the stairs that lead to where Apocalypse and Merfonde her. Bobby had to decide then and there. If he was willing to put his pride aside and fight along side a human, or if he'd be arrogant enough to refuse to come based on 'species'. "We want you to come. But if working with a human is to degrading to you, then don't bother showing up."

She stopped when she reached the doorway, hearing what he had to say about Ian. She didn't turn back to look at him, just lowered her gaze to the floor. "...." She already knew what he was saying. You think she didn't know that he'd loved her? That he would have done anything to keep her by his side? "I was an idiot for asking him to stop Cain. I wish I'd never put that weight on his shoulders."

"When I died, I learned a harsh truth. I can't live a peaceful life. Even in a new body, with no one to know who I used to be, I thought I might be able to finally settle down, live a life where I didn't have to worry about anything but graduating from college, or finding a good paying job. I thought I could settle down, and let the real heroes worry about the world." She paused for a moment, slowly looking over her shoulders at him, a sad look in her eyes. "Reality is cruel. Wherever I go, I will always be fighting. I'm not meant to watch from the sidelines. So to let people be close to me... To let people love me... I will always be in danger's path. And if I can spare others from that same fate, I will." She took a step away, turning her back to him once more. "I'm going to talk to Professor Xavier when he wakes up. To make Ian forget he ever knew me.. And if the Professor won't do it, I'll find a telepath that will. I never want to see him on the battle field again. It's not where he's meant to be."

[bobby]

He sighed, realizing she was right. He was brought up in this place to help bring peace between mutants and humans, and here he was being one sided

"I'm sorry Rose, you're right. It's just...nobody has seen humans the way I have. Nobody's ever chased after you wanting to string you up, or throw you in prison and watch you rot just for being a mutant." he turned and looked to her as she began to walk away, "Yeah, I'll come with. Ian's my friend after all."

When she heard her talk about Ian that way, it almost made his heart shatter. If she only knew how much of a hero Ian thought she was. He always talked about her, but now she was wanting to have him forget? He quickly ran up to her and gently took her arm, looking at her for understanding.

"Wait. So you're saying after all you two have been through together, you're going to make him forget? I understand you want him to be safe, and believe me I appreciate your way of thinking but, to make him forget everything? Even you? The only reason he's here is because of you, and if he forgets you...he'll forget us. Is that really worth it?" he took a deep breath, knowing he couldn't change her mind, "I'm not asking you not to, just think about it before you make a final decision ok?"

[Rose North]

Rose smiled a little, the action small, almost unnoticable. "You should watch Merfonde more carefully. She doesn't think you're any different then her because of her power. And she doesn't go after mutants with out a motive. If you live your life without harming others, you won't even know she exists. But when you decide to take lives, she will stop you, whether you are human or mutant."

She stopped when he grabbed her arm, but refused to look at him. She knew it was a somewhat selfish thing she was wanting to do, but what choice did she have? "Don't you think I know that?" She sounded angry, if only because she was covering her true feelings with it. "I'll have them create fake memories, so he stays at the school, but everything about me will be gone." It was obvious, she already had the entire thing planned out. "If he remembers me, he'll keep following me into battle. Before now, he's always been lucky to escape. What about when that luck runs out? I don't want him to get killed just because of his feelings for me!" She finally looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears. "I don't like doing it, but it's the only way to keep him alive. He's not a fighter. What choice do I have? You think he'll listen to reason?!" No, Ian wouldn't stay out of the fighting if she asked him to. He'd understand why she was asking him to stay away, but he'd never listen. "You think, that as long as he remembers me, he'll be able to stay away?"

[bobby]

"I'll be sure to remember that."

He smiled a bit, feeling better about their conversation. The smile faded when he heard her voice, thinking she was angry, but when she looked at him he could see the tears starting to fall, he could tell it wasn't anger. He didn't know what to say about it, so he did the next best thing at that point. He walked up the stairs and wrapped his arms around her, feeling she needed a hug at that point, and a hug from a friend was just as good as family.

"He doesn't fight because of you, Rose, there's lots of reasons he fights. He may not look like a fighter, but he does what he can, and that's enough I think."

He continued to hug her for a while before giving her one more squeeze and letting her go. He knew he couldn't stop her, but he could always hope she changed her mind. He was more worried about her and how she would really feel if he forgot her. He didn't know about her, but if someone he cared about didn't remember him, it would tear him apart.

"Just be careful, whatever you do ok, and just make sure he still remember's Sky and Cain. They're still after him, and they will be until either they die or he does." he stopped, remembering just then he was talking about her family, "I'm sorry, Rose, I didn't mean...you know...

[Rose North]

When Bobby came in to hug her, dark matter shimmered into existence, keeping his hug from reaching her. Why she did it... Well it was mainly the topic they were on. She was telling him that she was going to make one of the closest people to her forget everything about her after all! She didn't want someone else trying to feel the gap that would soon be in her heart.

"I know. But he'll follow me, we both know that. I can't do what needs to be done if I have to worry about his safety. And if I can't do it... What do you think is going to happen? What if I'm killed again? He's already had to go through my death once already. He'd never recover from a second..."

When he mentioned Sky and Cain, her expression hardened. "I'll handle them." What she was saying.... Would she really kill her own sister? "I'll do whatever is necessary to make sure they won't ever go after him again." Whether it be persuasion... Or death. "They aren't my family anymore. This body's at least. If I can convince myself of that, I won't have any problems doing whatever is necessary."

[bobby]

"Just be careful ok? Ian's not the only one that worries about ya."

He sighed when the barrier blocked his chance to comfort her, but he just shrugged it off and started down the hall towards the meeting room. He kept a slow pace so Rose would be able to catch up so he can keep talking to her.

"So when this is all over, with Sky and Cain I mean, will you have him get his memory back, or will you ask for it to be permanent?"

He had to admit the thought of Ian not remembering Rose but everybody else would be a little odd. What if he fell for somebody else at the mansion? Or what if he ends up going on missions and adventures anyway? He didn't want to tell Rose that, but he knew that just because he'd forget one person, wouldn't change who he is.

"When you do face those guys though, don't forget everybody that's got your back. You're not the only one affected by all this." he looked to her, smiling sympathetically.

He began to wonder about where they will be going. Apocalypse, him, Rose and Merfonde going onto an island filled with some of the meanest and heartless mutants to ever walk the earth. When he thought about Merfonde though, he couldn't help but look to Rose again.

"You do know we'll be useless with Merfonde around. That perfume of hers cancels out mutant powers, but even that's not good enough for a full island, and we wouldn't be able to do anything."

[Rose North]

Rose sighed, dropping the barrier when he gave up on trying to hug her. Right now she just didn't want to be touched, though she'd already made that pretty obvious. His question though... On whether she'd have it reversed after left her thinking. Would she have it reversed? Finally... She shook her head. "I'd rather not. To stop a monster, you must become one yourself. I never want Ian to remember me, and know the things I did for his freedom. I want him to be oblivious, to never know just what was sacrificed." She sighed, running her fingers through her hair. "Besides, the wars won't end with them. I can never live a peaceful life, I will always be in the front line against every enemy."

The thought of Ian falling in love with another girl had crossed her mind, many times. And though it crushed her to imagine it... It was what she wanted to happen. She wanted him to move on, to forget everything about her and live the life he'd been meant to have.

Mentioning Merfonde again seemed to lighten her mood, thank God for the change of subject. Rose shrugged, she'd already considered that. "We have to stay clear of her, obviously, and she will be staying clear of us. You won't be affected unless your within five feet of her. And Merfonde can fight wherever she wants, close or far ranged." She paused for a moment. "Though if you're really concerned about it, we could always ask her what she might have to negate the effects. Actually, I'm sure she'll have something to help us fight off the gas. Because I know for a fact she's going to use more then just the perfume to stop the Nightmares." She smiled a little. "Her perfume wouldn't be enough to stop everyone, but imagine what would happen if she tossed around a couple gas bombs of the stuff inside? It'd definitely take out a huge chunk of them."

[bobby]

"Then maybe it would be best if he just forgot the school all together." he looked to her, "Think about it, Rose, he may not remember you but you'll remember him and believe me I know how much that will hurt. It'd be best if you just had him forget the school all together. Have Xavier set him up in an apartment in New York or something."

He knew if he wasn't going to persuade her to do something else, he would at least try to help her make it to where she wouldn't have to watch him get that normal life. When she began to describe how Merfonde would probably set her attack on the base, he couldn't help but smile. He had the sudden image of her going rambo inside the island and picking up the pieces. He couldn't help but laugh at that thought.

"How about that, we have our own version of rambo going into enemy lines."

Though he was worried his own powers would be negated, he was glad to know that Rose had her own loophole in the plan. She must've known the bounty hunters more then he did. Almost made him wonder what it would be like to be part of them.

[Rose North]

"I don't know..." Rose looked down again. "He fits in here, he has so many friends and this has been his home for years. Having him forget me is one thing, but to take away his home as well..." She sighed. "I won't be living at the school when this happens. I have to continue living Lily's life, otherwise her- er, my family, would worry. I can't just vanish on them. But that doesn't mean I won't be there to help when you guys need me." Like they'd be rid of her that easily. She'd still be one of them, just wouldn't live at the school.

Rose raised both her eyebrows at what he said, a look of pure confusion on her face. "What the hell is a 'Rambo'? Or who?" She'd never heard the term before, but it must be some movie reference or other. That was what most people seemed to compare real life to, characters in movies or books.. "I have no what you just said." She wasn't exactly sheltered, but she wasn't all that 'educated' in terms like that. If only because she'd never paid any attention to them before now.

[bobby]

"Ah, so that's the plan then huh? Well, I hope you have fun with your new life."

He smiled, glad to know she had planned this fully, but also glad that she would be helping Lily have her life still. When she asked him who Rambo was, he immediately stopped in his tracks and looked at her.

"You're kidding. You seriously don't know who Rambo is? He's one of the biggest action heroes in movie history." he started walking again, shaking his head with a sigh, "I've got to start educating you in action films, ."

He had his head low as he walked past her, shaking it slightly as he did. He then looked back at her and smiled, showing he was kidding. All that they were going through right now, they could use some humor in all of this. He smiled and turned around, walking backwards as he talked to her.

"When we get back, and you go back to being Lily, you and I are scheduling movie nights. You can bring your...or Lily's friends to. It'll be fun."

He smiled before turning around and continuing down the hall to where the others were.

[Rose North]

Rose sighed. "Why does it seem like you're being sarcastic?" She rolled her eyes. Of course she didn't want to 'live' someone else's life! But she would have to at least find a proper way to fall out of touch with those that were close to the former host. "It's only until I can think up a decent way to fall off the radar. The friends will be easy, it's the family that I have to worry about."

His reaction to her not knowing who Rambo was was hilarious, but Rose only cracked a smile. "Do I look like I watch many movies to you?" She'd never had much time for them before now, so what were the chanced of her having seen the movie this 'Rambo' was in? "If he's so 'famous' how come even I haven't heard of him? You movie geeks are the only ones that would know who he is."

She fell silent again, smiling softly. Finally they were back in the hall of the Danger Room. Merfonde was leaning against the wall outside of it, eyes closed, arms crossed in a meditative way. Somehow though you just knew she was 'watching' you. Okay, maybe not watching but you knew that she knew you were there. She wasn't one you could sneak up on.