********************************************************************** DISCLAIMER 1) This material is not used for monetary profit in any manner. It is done solely for enjoyment purposes, and as homage to the great stories and characters of Marvel Comics Group 2) All the characters, events, and locations portrayed within are recognized as property of Marvel Comics Group should they so wish. 3) This story has been written by Samy Merchi . Any commentary in the form of compliments or critique is welcomed, and eagerly hoped for. So go ahead and drop me a line telling me what you thought, okay? It'll make my day. ;) 4) This story is being archived at least at my fanfic page at . Previous parts can be found there if needed. ********************************************************************** ******************* * NOT YOUR LEADER * ******************* CHAPTER TWO: Graverobbing "Open coffin. Dead corpse. Cozy." Roberto whirled around at the voice, as did Douglock. They both saw a young woman crouching upon a headstone of a grave some thirty feet away. "Who are you?" Douglock simply asked in a monotone. "That's something I should be askin' you", she replied calmly. "I don't think the Bright Lady takes too well to grave-robbing. Which is reason enough for me to just sit here and watch", she grinned evilly. "You know Storm?" Roberto asked, leaving the coffin he had just opened alone for a while after just having pulled the top off and revealed the skeleton inside. His eyebrow was slightly raised, in curiosity, but not too much so. "Know her?" she grinned. "Let's just say she's been close to my heart." "I...see", Roberto commented flatly. "I must confess, I am slightly surprised. I would not have guessed an X-Man to just sit idly by while their graveyard was being desecrated." "Unh uh, Dark One", she replied. "Did I ever say I was an X-Man?" The grin widened a bit. Douglock watched silently at the exchange, as Roberto's eyebrow rose a bit higher. Then, he stepped closer to the girl, and extended his hand. "My name is Roberto Da Costa", he stated in a matter-of-fact tone. Not taking the hand, the girl jumped down from the headstone. "You can call me Marrow", she simply said in an almost-flippant tone, as she started silently towards the opened grave and its headstone. "Nice threads", she remarked flatly, jutting out a thumb at the skeleton in the opened coffin lying on the ground beside the grave. "A bit worn-out." "Designate: Douglas Ramsey has been deceased since 1988. It is to be expected that his attire not be in mint condition", Douglock explained. "Douglas Ramsey, eh?" Marrow asked, crouching beside the open coffin. She watched the skeleton for a while, before commenting, "Stupid name." "Keep your derogatory remarks to yourself, Marrow", Roberto commented, his patience slowly starting to wear thin. "I have work to do. Douglock...?" "Hold it right there, buster!" Roberto and Douglock whirled around again. Marrow did not bother, instead running a fingertip over Ramsey's breastbone, smirking a bit at the texture. "Weak", she mumbled to herself. "Sam!" Roberto spat out. "Droga! Of all the people..." "BOBBY?!?!" Sam stood there, at the treeline surrounding the graveyard, his jaw falling slack at the sight of one of his oldest, best friends desecrating the grave of one of their ex-teammates. "An' don' go forgettin' li'l ol' me, Bobby-boy" came a comment from the opposite side of the graveyard, spoken by a soft, husky Southern tone belonging to Rogue. Roberto cursed under his breath. He hadn't acted quickly enough to get away with his plan before being detected. "Who was it?" he asked with narrow eyes. "Grey? Braddock? The Professor?" "Logan, actually, sugah", Rogue replied, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "The smell of an opened coffin ain't somethin' he'll miss easy. The others are on their way too. Wanna tell us what the hell you're doin', Bobby?" she asked. "Unfortunately, no", Roberto replied. "Back off, Rogue -- Sam. I don't want to hurt any of you." "What the devil are you doin', Bobby, opening Doug's grave??" Sam asked, on the verge of being angry. Ironically enough, much in the same state as he had been when he had walked in on Doug and Warlock examining Roberto's corpse years and years ago. Roberto's eyes crackled in faint annoyance. He couldn't afford to lose a second. Every moment the others got closer, and the more he would have to face at any given moment, the less chance of success he would have. Sam was more invulnerable when using his powers. He would have to be taken out without warning. With a thought, Roberto absorbed heat from Sam's system, collapsing him wordlessly with cold shock. Seeing Sam collapse, Rogue immediately went into action. "Ah don't know what's gotten into you, sugah, but Ah ain't about to let ya beat on your friends!" she said as she flew thru the air towards Roberto, her fist in front of her, propped to slam right into Roberto's jaw. "So you're going to beat on me until I stop, eh?" Roberto commented sarcastically. "Great plan." He lunged forwards, and caught Rogue's charge, grabbing her front wrist with his left arm, and his right hand zipping over to Rogue's throat. With a quick motion, he tossed her over his shoulder, and onto the ground. "Lucky for you I'm wearing gauntlets", he commented briefly. "Ah'm not that easy to take down!" Rogue said, her hand suddenly snapping to grab Roberto's ankle while she still lay on the ground. "I know you aren't, Rogue", Roberto replied. "In fact, I really don't want to fight you. Are you certain I couldn't bribe you into joining me?" "Ah'm sure!" Rogue snarled, as she tossed Roberto clear off the graveyard, and into the trees framing the field. Breaking about half a dozen trees as he landed, Roberto groaned slightly. He was superhumanly resilient, but nowhere as invulnerable as Rogue. And he didn't want to hurt her. But if he knocked her away, she'd just fly back for seconds. He had to take her out. Take her down. That's the only way to get rid of her... With a thought from Roberto, everything suddenly went black for Rogue as he absorbed the light around her head. Using that brief moment of confusion to his best advantage, Roberto flew at high speed towards Rogue, and slammed into her like a freight train, his elbow smashing into her solar plexus. "UNGHHH!" Rogue wheezed, before collapsing from the blow, falling to the ground. Roberto caught his breath briefly, and glanced to the side to see both Marrow and Douglock just observing. Marrow with dry amusement at getting to see the X-Men beaten on, and Douglock with analytical anticipation, knowing perfectly well that if he tried anything, he'd just get his butt handed to him. "All right, now, Douglock", Roberto commented as he made sure Rogue was still breathing, and stood up. "Touch the skeleton." Douglock raised a mechanical eyebrow. "Is there some significance to the action...?" he asked. "DO IT!" Roberto snarled, the crackling energies surrounding his body growing more forceful. "No", came a regal and soft voice from above. "Do not heed his commands, Douglock", Storm said calmly, hovering some thirty feet above the scene, her hands crackling with blue electricity. "Roberto appears to have taken a leave of his senses. Stand back and we will handle him." 'We', as Roberto realized, looking around, included quite a contingent of X-Men. In addition to Storm hovering above him, Wolverine and Maggott were standing now at the treeline, Maggott checking on Sam's condition, and from the direction of the lake, Iceman was gliding in one one of his ice-slides, transporting Beast and Cecilia Reyes. "Storm", Roberto merely stated, trying to retain some semblance of patience after the constant interruptions. "Stay back, or you will get hurt. I will not be stopped." "We have heard that claim before, Roberto", Ororo replied in a steady tone of voice. "You have desecrated the grave of your former teammate. I assume you have a -very- good explanation for this and Sam and Rogue's unconsciousness?" Anger crackled in Roberto. They want to know. They want to know so they can do it and take all the honor, glory and gratitude. Well, it won't work. "I do", he replied, and walked slowly over to Douglock, motioning with his hand to the Phalanx. "Here. As you know, this is Douglock of Excalibur." Then, after beginning his speech and using it to inconspicuously get close to Douglock, his hand suddenly grabbed the arm of the alien, and he tossed Douglock straight into the coffin.