X-Men

New Powers, New Responsibility

Three graves. Three lives. Three mentors.

Scott Summers, Jean Grey and Charles Xavier had each given something to the Charles Xavier's School For The Gifted. All three of them were there for someone when a problem arose, be it personal or just to get something off their chest.

Marie D'Ancanto, or Rogue as she was known to her friends, placed a rose each on the base of their graves.

" You know," said Rogue in her Southern Belle accent. " There was a time when I was ready to run away from this place..." She turned to Xavier's grave. " 'Cause I thought you were mad at me for using my ability on Logan."

Rogue shivered. She remembered what had led to that. Logan had been muttering and mumbling in his sleep. Rogue had entered his room to check if he was all right. After a few minutes of being in his room, Logan had suddenly roared and lunged at Rogue with his claws out. The claws had gone through her.

After life started to leave her body, Rogue had done what only choice there was. Removing her glove, Rogue reached out for Logan's cheek and, upon contact, her ability kicked in.

You see, Rogue has the ability to absorb the memories and skills of humans and the mutant abilities of mutants. However, if she holds on for too long, she kills them.

She held onto Logan until the scars and wounds disappeared. However, the students had heard Logan's calls for help – for Rogue, not himself – and had got a witness account of Rogue's ability...along with Storm and Cyclops.

At Lunch that following day, Bobby had came up to Rogue and had told her to leave. It wasn't until later that people had found out that a shape-shifter was on the premises.

A breeze came from nowhere. But Rogue knew where it had really came from. She placed her gloved hand on the hand of Ororo Munroe, who was also known as Storm.

" Everything OK?"

Rogue nodded, kissed her gloved fingertips and placed it on each of the graves. She looked at Ororo and, as if Xavier had sent a little power to her, she knew what Ororo was going to say next.

" It's time."

Danger-Room. 14:45PM.

Along with Logan, Storm watched as Rogue limbered herself up for the task ahead. Already, the one-to-one sessions had got Rogue through three out of the seven areas. But Logan was still concerned.

" I know she's gone through this a few times, Storm, I was just wonderin' if you were sure that she's ready for this one."

" Listen, Logan, what happened to Rogue was tough for her and I just want her to get settled into her new powers. Believe me, I know what it's like to..."

" Alright!" Growled Logan, a little louder than he would have liked. " Just don't go too hard on her."

Storm directed her attention to Rogue and called across to her.

" Are you ready for this, Rogue? I'll just warn you again..."

" D'ya have to? That takes all the fun out."

Logan smiled at this remark. Jean had said that, after the Statue of Liberty incident, Rogue had briefly taken some of his qualities. That incident is how Rogue had aqquired that cute white streak in her brown hair.

However, that was nothing compared to what had happened to Rogue...recently.

The lights dimmed and the steel area was replaced by a virtual simulation of a random location. Rogue found herself rising in the air, above Logan and Storm, on the roof of a building with the letters D-A-I-L-Y and a big steel instrument, followed by B-U-G-L-E. Every now and then, she saw strands of webbing hanging from gaps.

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, an inhuman black figure swung in and knocked her off the building.

" Rogue!" Shouted Logan, reflectivly.

However, instead of hurting herself on the ground, a new area of her brain kicked in and Rogue found herself defying gravity and flew through an alleyway and knocked the figure off the building, watching it vanish, just as it reached the ground.

Rogue stood on the building, just as it started to retract back into the ground. The surroundings dissolved back into the steel area of the Danger Room. She almost laughed as she saw Logan's face – not totally believing what he had seen – but cleared her throat and stood in front of both of them, wating for their results.

" Very impressive, Rogue." Knowing Logan hadn't entirely got the use of his voice yet, Storm directed her attention to him. " Don't you think Rogue's done well, Logan?"

Logan opened and closed his mouth for a comment, which wouldn't come out. Instead, he just patted Rogue on the back and carefully brushed her hair from her face.

Storm looked up to the invisible control-room and told Warren – AKA Angel – to activate the next simulation.

" Now, this simulation will test your strengths." Storm gave Rogue a smile. " I know you can wing this one."

Rogue smiled at the kind words and jumped onto the platform, which rose upon Storm's command to Warren. The surroundings changed into an almost destroyed version of a street in New York with blown out windows and a large chasm, revealing pipes and waterworks. She looked in front of her, thinking she'd see a reasonably good challenge.

However, Storm had other ideas. For three try-outs, Storm had made Rogue face Mystique, Juggernaut (which Rogue had addmited was a tough one) and an ally injected with Stryker Serum, which had been Nightcrawler.

This time, however, Rogue had to face-off against a huge robot, which was known to the X-Men as a Sentinel.

Without warning, it brought its foot down, almost before Rogue could take off. But, somehow, she managed to and, like some annoying flying insect, Rogue flew around the automaton and, as it went to swat her, she evaded...straight for the head.

Storm and Logan looked away as sparks shot from it. A loud crash echoed through the room, followed by the body of the Sentinel. They looked around and gave a sigh of relief as Rogue walked on the back of the Sentinel.

" Now, you've done enough, I think." Said Storm. " We'll carry on your training tomorrow, OK?"

Rogue nodded and, extending an arm, invited Logan to loop his through hers.

" Care to escort me to dinner, Logan?"

Logan cleared his throat, smiled at Rogue and wrapped his arm around her. Luckily, she was covered in the X-Men uniform.

" And I promise you, the fair city of New York, that we'll be free of that web-swinging freak and his gang of super-powered mates outta this town."

Most of the kids, along with Hank and Storm, were watching Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson berate a certain friend of theirs once more.

" Poor Spidey, eh?" Sighed Rogue. " Although, I don't many people are listenin' to Jonah much anyhow. After all Spidey's done for the city." She counted them off on her gloved fingers. " Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman, Venom, The Lizard and The Shocker."

" Yeah." Agreed Bobby. " What next? A guy who can control electricity? Or a serial killer, who creates carnage wherever he goes?"

" Plus, there's something about a guy in cheery – not to forget patriotic – colors that puts a little..." Rogue looked at Bobby, who was obviously showing worry and jealousy. " Bobby, relax, there's only one guy for me. Besides, there's only one shiver I want down my spine and that's..." She dabbed him playfully on the nose. "...you."

After two helpings of tea, thanks to the cooking of Hank – AKA Beast – who had decided to stay on after the unfortunate deaths of Xavier, Scott and Jean, Rogue had spent some time with Bobby before having an early night.

However, her dreams weren't at all peaceful. From the time of the incident to now, Rogue had recieved flashbacks, what-ifs and nightmares.