Disclaimer: The characters of X-men belong to Marvel or should I say Disney now? Those people are taking over the world!
Well this old thing has been sitting on my computer for almost 4 years I think. Found it when I was deleting some old files and decided to give it a shot in before deleting it. It's part of a big ass story I'd come up with as a continuation arc of the evo series with a focus on my fave character, Rogue. I wrote like 3 chapter of the first 'super episode' before writers block hit and stopped me from continuing. As I reread my work later I started remembering most of the plots I had planned for the story and wanted to find out if it was any good. So you guys be the judges.
Kitty Pryde a.k.a. Shadowcat found herself practically skipping down the corridors of the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, located in the outskirts of the town only known as Bayville. She couldn't help herself. Tomorrow morning she would be embarking towards the wonders of a college life, not that she hadn't already experienced it since she would be now starting her second year at the New York University. And while there were people who dreaded the start of term week, Kitty Pryde was one of those rare few young minds who actually awaited it.
It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the summer, because she in fact did enjoyed being among her second family, the X-men, after one long year of lodging in campus at the NYU. Seeing them all united under one roof again gave her a thrill. But there was a different feeling that thrilled her more and that was the independent feel that college life gave her. That thrill. The one you get when you finally realize you are your own boss. Thus she was now yearning for the end of today to give start to the day known as tomorrow.
She and Kurt had their entire baggage ready by mid-day. Well she had to practically push Kurt off the couch to get him to do his because she just knew that he'd likely leave it off as the last thing to do for the day and like most times, he'd forget or would find himself too tired at the end of the day to even worry about it. And thus, the fiasco that was day 1 of college last year would most likely repeat itself again.
She sighted as she struggled and dragged her heavy luggage down the halls of the mansion, recalling the wonderful times and memories she had here when she was 16 and an X-man. She still was, just not an active member, what with college and part-time jobs. Life of a young adult couldn't get any busier.
She remembered clearly being excited the first day of college for the senior members of the team, Scott and Jean. After the whole Apocalypse nightmare, they were worried that no college would accept their applications, them being publicly known mutants and all. But miraculously, the professor managed to find a University run by an illustrious doctor that besides being pro-mutant, was actually interested in having both straight- A's students in the campus, were he promised they would be accepted and respected as the heroes they were.
Kitty had never seen Jean happier than when the professor revealed the good news, for everybody knew her dream was to actually acquire a PHD in psychology among many other subjects. The girl had ambitions, that was true. And if Jean was happy, guess what? Scott was happy too. So when the awaited first day came, a blanket of nervousness had fallen atop the usually composed teenagers. Kitty could still see how Jean had fuzzed about every single detail.
"Did you pack your bags Scott? We won't be coming back to the mansion for a long time since we are lodging. If you forget something important then it will be lost"
"Scott your shirt is crumpled. We want to set a good example so go change"
"Scott we are going to be late, hurry up"
Kitty giggled at the memory of a frustrated Scott Summers as he went from here to there, fixing anything that Jean might have found out of place. And what was worst for him was that Bobby never got tired of bringing up the subject of how "whipped" Scott was that day.
After heaving her luggage down the stairs, Kitty finally reached the foyer were she deposited the last of her bags besides a great big pile of hand bags, backpacks and suitcases which contained her entire shoe collection and wardrobe, her make-up, her drum-set (courtesy of Rogue), her new set of books and last but not least, her most valuable companion, her shiny new laptop; courtesy of Charles Xavier as a start of term gift.
Seeing her work for today was done, she dusted her hands and looked around the elegant foyer of the mansion. A frown decorated her face as she notice the lack of "Kurt luggage" in the room.
"Urgh, that boy! Nothing gets through that thick head of his" she said exasperated as she made her way towards the recreational room were laughter and shouts could be heard.
I bet he is goofing around with Bobby and the others, not even worried on the least.
And sure enough,Kurt Wagner was among the crowd in the recreational room, laying in the couch with Bobby Drake and Jubilation Lee, who were both laughing uncontrollably at something playing in T.V. In the floor there were three Jaime's rolling around the carpet and clutching their guts in laughter. Rahne Sinclair, Roberto DaCosta, Amara Aquilla and Ray Crisp were in the big couch, eyes on the T.V. screen and grins decorating their faces. Samuel Guthrie was standing behind their couch, one hand in the frame of the couch the other around a coke can which he was drinking from. Most of its contents seem to have fallen on his Xavier Institute shirt.
Kitty approached the merry group of teenagers, coming just behind the German mutant to surprise him.
"Kurt! What are you doing lounging around! Tomorrow is our first day of term and you haven't even taken down your stuff. I don't want last year to like, repeat itself."
The blue mutant jumped off the couch in an instant and turned wide-eyed towards the petite brunette. His lanky but built 5.08 figure towering over her 5.02. Dark blue fur covered his body which was only clad in a white undershirt and some shorts. Bangs of his short dark hair that barely hid the glowing amber orbs that were his eyes along with his twitching tail, accentuated his demonic outlook. Yet still from the way he cowered behind the furniture, it seems her shouts reversed the whole demon boy effect.
"K-Kitty, I really did made my bag zis time and I vas about to take zhem down but zhen Bobby came and said he vanted to show me somezhing and—"
"Hey man, don't include me in one of your lover's quarrels" Bobby Drake snickered as he turned to grin towards the now giggling Jubilee.
Immediately Kitty's face turned an embarrassing pink color as she glared towards the troublesome pair that were grinning and giggling right now. And although Kurt's face was covered in blue fur, one could tell he too was pink under it.
"Will you guys ever grow up? I mean that was like, a long time ago" Kitty spat exasperated.
"We just never get tired of remembering, right Jubes?" Bobby said as he looked slyly towards the Asian girl besides him.
"Yup" responded the girl while she popped her bubble gum and snuggled in the couch. Her eyes back on the screen and a goofy smile making its way up her face.
It was then that Kitty turned her attention to the T.V. and finally noticed what the whole group was finding so amusing.
It was not amusing. At least not to her.
In the screen of the 42 inches T.V., what seemed to be a home video was being played. Kitty recognized it as one of those goofy music videos Evan used to make. She didn't even know those were still in the mansion, and right now she wished they weren't.
In the screen, a 14 year old Kitty Pryde was glaring at a gothic brooding 15 year old girl known only as the Rogue. Both young girls seemed to have been arguing about something from the way they were trying to glare each other to death. Kitty recognized the particular discussion as the time when she said she was trying out for a Dracula play that was showing off in school. She remembered how the resident Goth of the Mansion had insinuated that she was far too preppy and too much of an airhead to even look the part. That had gotten her so angry towards the Goth that a rivalry started and from then on; it was a battle of glares, tripping feet and "accidental" pushes between the Rogue and her. And Evan seemed to have caught almost every single moment and turned it into a stupid music loathe fest video!
"Oh man look at Kit's face. She's practically boiling eggs" guffawed Ray as he pointed animatedly at the screen were a young Kitty Pryde was in the verge of exploding, her pink shirt plastered in cafeteria mystery meat after a not so subtle push in the back by a passing Rogue. A triumphant smirk showed in her features when Kitty's outraged shriek resounded all around the cafeteria.
"Not funny guys. That stain took forever to get out. And the smell it left totally ruined my day"
The new Recruits and Kurt ignored her as they continued laughing and the phasing mutant found herself glaring at everyone, annoyed by their amusement
"Oh Oh check this one out" almost shouted Roberto as he stood up.
"The comeback of the Kitty" stated smugly Amara as another scene played out. A humming Rogue was making her way towards the institute's girl's bathroom, toiletries in hand and not even noticing a snickering Evan as he trailed behind her with the camera. Just as she was about to reach the open bathroom, rushing footsteps resounded from behind camera.
"Out of my way Evan!" shouted a young Kitty as she pushed past him, phased through the unsuspecting Goth and slammed the door right in her face. The surprised Rogue fell on her butt by the impact, rubbing her now sore nose with an outraged look.
The entire recreational room burst in laughter and Kitty couldn't help but join them as the familiar memory came to mind. She remembered Rogue being particularly nastier to her the entire week preceding that event. And the visible bruise that decorated the Rogue's nose didn't help matters.
"Mein Gott, so zhat's vat happened to Kitty's side of zhe room" Kurt exclaimed as Evan filmed an angry Rogue tearing off N'Sync posters off the pink walls. A can of spray-paint could be seen in her hand before the scene was cut to one of Kitty and Rogue arguing over the radio.
"Man is hard to believe you guys are best friends" Jamie sighted after a hard laugh. His clones having been absorbed back since they were taking up to much space and were starting to bump and tumble things.
"Yeah, hard to believe" whispered Kitty more to herself than to Jaime. She thought of her friend an all that she had to endure the past four years after the defeat of the mutant Apocalypse. Everybody thought that everything was going to be fine since their biggest threat was defeated and Magneto no longer thrived in disrupting the peace that had settled down in Bayville.
Everybody went off with their lives, following their own agenda. Scott, Jean, Kurt and herself were in college. Most of the new recruits were expected to graduate the next year. Well all except Boom Boom who went off to "find" herself in one of her crazy road trips. One of the most unexpected changes ever was when the Brotherhood joined S.H.I.E.L.D. to become some government funded freedom fighting force under the command of none other than Nick Fury. Even the great Master of Magnetism hadn't been sighted for the last 2 years, seemingly reevaluating his ideals. In few words, everyone changed for the better good.
But Rogue, Rogue got the sucky part of it all. Having been the last one in contact with the mammoth mutant Apocalypse, she got cursed with a series of nightmares that tormented her to no end. Kitty still remembered the few nights she spent in their old room, how she would wake up to a sleepwalking Rogue opening her door. And what creeped out Kitty the most was that she would always do the same actions over and over again every single night, wandering towards either the professor's or Ororo's rooms. Just guarding she would say. From what? Kitty didn't know.
The Professor and Ororo were starting to become worried because her lack of rest started showing off in her academic record. Kitty had the bad feeling that these nightmares were just the building of some great big event that would surely end up bad for Rogue. And she got her confirmation that unforgettable day, the day of 'the accident'.
Of course, no one talk about 'the accident' anymore. It was taboo. After a few sessions with the professor, he managed to repress the nightmares and any overwhelming emotions that might have been caused by 'the accident', boxing them deep within her mind and hoping that this time Rogue would finally have peace of mind. After those, and Logan's new Yoga sessions along with special training to help her take things off her mind, it was like a new Rogue was born. A change that finally did her good, Kitty thought.
"Kitty? Kitty are you zhere? Earth to Kitty…" a voice brought her out of her reverie as she shook her head and turned to the origin of said voice, to find two brilliant golden orbs staring right at her.
"Uh, sorry Kurt got lost in my thoughts. Did you say something?" responded Kitty while she rubbed her tired eyes. The day's chores and college preparations were starting to fall on her and she was starting to feel tired.
"Oh nein, just that I saw you daze off zhere, thought somezhing vas vrong vhen you didn't seem the slighzest bit phased by seeing your half-naked younger self running after Rogue zhat day she swiped your clothes off zhe bathroom"
"Half-naked?!" She noticed that what Kurt said was true and that the recreational room's T.V. indeed depicted said scene while clones of Jaime seem to shower the room with laughter. "Hey Kitty, I didn't know you owned Pikachu underwear" mocked one of the Jamie clones.
"Oh no, end of movie night. It's almost 11:30 and I know all you guys have morning danger room session. WITH Logan AND Rogue might I remind you?"
Sounds of groans and protest filled the room as she turned off the T.V. and one by one, the high scholars started getting off from their slumped comfortable positions in the couches or the floor.
"Hey who says it was easy being an X-man? Now off you guys go, go to bed. Tomorrow is a very busy day. And don't you think you are like, off the hook Kurt. Don't even think of touching the bed before you like, take down your luggage"
"Ja Fräulein" muttered Kurt as he tiredly dragged his feet upstairs but then seem to think better and 'bamfed' out of sight, leaving behind the acrid smell of brimstone.
"Ack, putrid man" commented one of the recruits as they passed the cloud of smoke and made their way towards their bedrooms.
Making sure everything was in order, Kitty turned off the room's lights and headed off to bed herself. The tiredness caused by the day making her lids heavy enough to close more than a few times during her trek. When she reached her side of the room she dove into her bed, not bothering to undress since she was planning to be asleep in a few seconds. But that plan was going to have to be put in lay-away because her hearing was starting to pick up soft whimpering. She sighted tiredly as she sat up groggily on her bed and looked towards her roommate who lay tangled in her bed coverings, twisting from side to side every few moments.
"Ugh not again" she whispered to herself as she stood up and made her way towards her friend's bed. Rogue's slightly long auburn hair lay tangled all around her. The unusual white stripes that usually framed her face now lay pasted to her sweaty forehead, while her face twisted in features of pain and discomfort. Kitty noticed that there was slight moisture under the long lashes of her troubled friend.
"Rogue, wake up, you are dreaming" she tried to wake up her friend by shaking her slightly by the shoulders. But the girl simply twisted away, mumbling unintelligibly.
"Rogue, c'mon wake up, I'm telling you, everything you see, is not real" she yet again tried but instead got muttering out of her. Kitty then leaned her ear close to her friend's mouth to see if she could hear or understand what she was saying. Maybe it might give her a clue to what her friend has been dreaming the past few nights.
"'nocent……not meh….please…don't……believe…..don't leave…. innocent"
Kitty frowned at the mumbling for she couldn't put most of it together thus it didn't make sense to her. She started shaking Rogue again by the shoulder but this time with a little more strength. It was frightening her that her friend wasn't responding as she kept twisting and mumbling each time getting more violent and louder.
"Don't leave……please, don't leave…meh don't…..don't leave"
"Rogue I'm here. I'm not going to leave you, I just want you to wake up please, just wake up" she started pleading her as she noticed that her friend had started writhing. She had half a mind to get up, run to the professor and tell him everything that had been happening in the past two weeks but just as she was about to stand up, Rogue's hand came out of nowhere and grabbed her arm.
"Don't leave me!" and the desperate shout made her turn to her now wide awake friend who was staring at her with tearing frightened eyes. Kitty then turned her gaze towards Rogue's bare arm and hand, which was clutching her arm. Her clothed arm.
Thank God. She thought but then her eyes flittered towards an intriguing glowing runic tattoo that hugged and adorned most of Rogue's tensed left forearm. Worry filled her mind immediately.
"K-Kitty….w-what happened? Why…Why are ya…" But then Rogue trailed off as she too noticed at what was her friend looking at. She quickly let go of her and hid her shaking arm under the covers.
"S-sorry, guess ah did it again, uh?" Rogue said sheepishly while she tried to straighten out the mess that was her hair. Her right hand was shaking while her entire left arm remained hidden under the thick dark green covers. Sweat was coming down her forehead and down her back. She could now feel the uncomfortable way her pale green pajama top was practically plastered all over her cold back.
"Rogue, this is starting to get repetitive, and really, is starting to worry me. I think we should tell the professor bef—"
"No!" shouted Rogue in sudden anger but then her features soften as she looked down at her trembling sweaty hand. "Sorry…but Kit, Ah- Ah really don't wanna go through that again. Ah know it did me good the first time but these nightmares, they are different than the last ones"
"Rogue how are they different if your writhing and shouting and-and that thing is glowing again!" Kitty started pacing around in frustration, her hands beginning to wring at her hair. Then she turned her now wide open eyes at the nervous looking Rogue.
"Rogue I don't want last time's events to happen again. You kept me from telling the professor the nightmares were affecting you last time but this time I'm not going to sit and watch while you lose your mind all over again!" The last words said in a louder desperate voice, making Rogue winced at the meaning behind them. She knew Kitty was referring to the accident. The accident that made her dropped out of college and remain here in the mansion as the professor's assistant. Nobody ever talked about the accident anymore mainly because some facts were still questionable, while others were far too emotional and out of place for even Rogue to explain. She preferred not even remembering the thing ever happened, but Kitty's harsh words brought a few of the memories to her mind again.
Kitty seemed to notice the pained look on her friends face and regretted mentioning the accident. She walked over and sat by the bed while she gave her trembling friend a soft hug.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have. The words slipped out of my mouth-I didn't--…Is just sometimes it frustrates me! When I go back and think I could have saved you a whole lot of pain and instead off helping you keep your secret I should have…I should have done something. I don't want it to repeat itself all over again, and that like last time, it ends up being my fault"
"Kitty is not ya fault. It was meant to happen"
"No, no it wasn't, and Rogue I'm sorry but this time, I'm not going to remain on the sidelines. I'm not stupid Rogue. I can see the symptoms, it's happening again and this time I intend to put a stop to it before it harms you or anybody" She suddenly got up and started making her way towards the door.
"Kitty wait, please don't leave"
Rogue's slightly desperate tone made Kitty freeze as she clearly remember Rogue shouting her something like that just before she woke up. She turned her face towards her friend who still remained in bed.
Rogue gulped and looked down at her hands, fumbling with a stray string at the edge of her cover. The glowing in her arm seemed to have dissipated.
"Kitty just trust meh, it isn't like last time. Last time Ah remembered vividly t-the visions and all, but this time…this time Ah never seem ta remembah the dream itself. The only thing that remains from it is justa feeling. Ah just wake up and feel…lonely" She raised her head to see that her friend was back besides her. Kitty's eyes were now filled with a strange depth of sadness.
"Rogue you were shouting me not to leave you, to believe something. I really don't understand these new dreams but the one thing that I know about them is that you always do that. You always shout out not to leave you and then…then you wake up, like this, with that thing glowing. Now I'm no expert in psychology but repetitive dreams mean something. Last time's event confirms it"
Rogue sighted and started to rub the tips of her fingers along her forehead while she thought out Kitty's words. Seeing the slightly tortured look on her best friend, Kitty started feeling a small ounce of pity and guilt on the inside of her stomach.
"Look Rogue, I'm probably going to kick myself tomorrow for this but, your right, this is your decision. You call it how it looks. But if I hear this problem persist I'm taking this in my own hands and believe me I'll know because I know you and I'm going to be calling you everyday I can to check up on you. Just because I'm going to be a few hundred miles away doesn't mean I'm not going to keep contact with my best friend" Kitty's stern face turned into a smile making Rogue herself smile back slightly from under her white bangs.
"Now go get yourself some water in you and then off to bed. My bedtime is way due by now, and I need to be rested for tomorrow's trip" Kitty said as she yawned her way towards her bed.
Rogue got up; put on some tattered gloves that were draped on her night table and made her way towards the door of the bedroom, the last thing she saw was her friend burying herself among her pink covers. But Kitty didn't sleep until she heard Rogue come back to the room minutes later and finally settled herself on her bed were her breathing turned to even breaths in a matter of seconds. Her thoughts went out to what just happened a while ago.
I hope I made the right choice.
000 ROF 000
Roberto DaCosta laid in bed. The warm rays of the morning sun filtered through the blinds that covered the bedroom's windows, falling on him and energizing him in that very special way only the sun's warmth could. He could already feel the energy running through him, filling him for the day to come. The chirping of the early birds outside calming his nerves, and making him enjoy more the unusual silence that fell in the mansion at the early hours of the morning. Right now was the most perfect and tranquil moment ever…until the booming sound of hoarse screams, electric guitars and loud drums combined in a symphony of hard core rock, filling the entire mansion with sound in an instant and making him and Ray, his roommate, bolt up the bed with thumping hearts and irritated wide-open eyes.
"Shiiit, she does it on purpose" groaned Ray Crisp as he rubbed his irritated, sleep crust filled eyes while trying to breath evenly and calm his booming heart. "I'm going to die of heart or blood pressure problems if this keeps up"
"Ugh man, just consider yourself afortunado you aren't one of the girls. They get full frontal surround sound since their rooms are on the same wing" answered Roberto while he rubbed his eyes and hopped out of bed, wearing only a pair of burgundy boxers.
Just as they were finishing dressing up and grabbing their school bags they heard a few loud knocks at their door.
"C'mon, git yer butts off t'bed and dress up quickly. Y'got danger room session in 10 minutes" a gruff voice growled at them from the hallway, continued onward and knocked at the door besides them.
As they made their way out, following a bleary eyed Bobby with a slightly slumped Sam, they heard the shouting voices that could only mean one thing. Kitty and Kurt were late.
"Kurt get your lazy ass off bed, were like going to be late for our first day…again!" Kitty Pryde's shrill voice resonated throughout the entire west wing of the Xavier institute for gifted youngsters. If somebody had remained in bed after the cacophony that resounded throughout the mansion a few minutes ago, they sure as hell were wide awake now.
"God, not even Rogue's stupid alarm gets him up. I was in the kitchen and still I heard it." The boys heard the pacing brunette mutter when they passed Kurt's bedroom door in the hallway.
"The model of a grouchy wife" Bobby made the mistake of snickering and commenting a little too loudly because the petite X-woman turned in a matter of seconds and launched him the deadliest, coldest glare she could manage in her soft young features.
"Find something funny Drake? Aren't you supposed to be like, getting your butt whipped in the Danger Room?" She didn't even gave him the chance to answer, because in a matter of seconds she had phased through the door and phased back, dragging a bewildered half dressed Kurt by the tail and roughly down the stairs.
"Kitty vhat the—" was the last they heard of him before he and Kitty disappeared out of sight.
"Man, can you say whipped?" snickered Ray as he and Bobby began making fun of the two X-men on their way towards the danger room.
When they finally entered the immense metal doors that marked the entry of the famous Danger Room, a group of scowling girls glared at them. Each and every one of the girls had either their arms crossed over their chests or were bleary glaring in slouchy tired postures with their yellow and black recruit uniforms looking even more disheveled than ever. The boys just stopped their conversation and laughter and looked around the wide metal room, spotting three tired angry girls, a stretching Jamie, an unamused Rogue and a growling Wolverine.
"Yer late. I said 10 minutes an' yet, ya boys found a way to still arrive late. Move yer butts before I change my mind and make this a battle session"
Mutters of "Aww man" and a few sarcastic "Great" ranged among the four young men as they made their way over towards the rest of the team while Rogue started her stretching routine and Logan went to prepped up the controls for the danger room session.
"You guys made us waste 5 extra minutes of our morning" hissed an angry Jubilee as she, Amara Aquilla and Rahne Sinclair started their warm up stretching for the exercise to come.
"Yeah, well not our fault" muttered Ray as he cricked his neck and stretch his arm to the front, feeling the blood start running like electricity on his veins.
"There was a slight "diversion" on the way. Seems like blue boy developed some latent immune powers to resist our favorite morning alarm, and adding our resident pokémon-underwear fan to the mix, we just had to stop and watch" said a grinning Bobby as he doubled over and grasped the tips of his uniform boots, feeling that small dip of stretching pain in his leg muscles.
"So after all that hustle yesterday they're still going to end up late? Kitty must be pissed" commented Amara while she helped Jubilee do her arm warm ups.
"You know, those two are going to end up together, I can just see it" Jubilee half-whispered half-giggled while her best friend Bobby Drake and Ray agreed smirking evilly at their own devious thoughts of what the two X-men really were doing.
"Guys you better not let Rogue catch you talking about your theories or she'll practice her moves on you guys instead of the punching bag. And believe me when I say ouch"
The group of gossiping recruits turned to the small young man that was nervously looking from them to what seemed an oblivious Rogue practicing back flips a few meters away. Although his young features had developed to a slightly more mature look in the past 4 years, and to the amusement of some of the boys, the skinny short 16 year old boy didn't shaved the small bits of facial hair that had sprouted from his chin as a result of puberty; Jamie Madrox still looked liked the small youngest kid among the others and thus wasn't often included among their conversations or taken seriously.
"And you would know how? Oh right you tend to follow our dear instructor everywhere, with that big crush on her you seem to have." the Berserker mocked in a playful manner, making young Jamie scowl and blush in embarrassment.
"Shut it Ray, leave Jamie alone. Ye guys are sometimes so insensible. An' besides I can think o' some other people with wanderin' eyes" said Rahne Sinclar while looking smugly at the one known as the Iceman. Said person just avoided the Scot girl's eyes and looked around the room in a lackadaisical manner.
"Are ya guys gonna talk about crazy theories and stupid crushes all day or are ya ready to exercise"
The comment made all the recruits jump and look towards the two-toned southern girl clad in black sweats, green shirt and a black Xavier's institute jacket over it to cover her bare arms. Her shoulder length hair which in the hours of the night was drenched with sweat and tussled was now combed into a pony tail, with the white bangs framing her face. A face that was right now looking annoyed at the bunch of teenagers. Before anyone could say something, Logan's voice emerged from the intercom hidden somewhere in the room.
"Trainin' session s'ready Stripes, start anytime y'want"
"Now's a good time. Now remember boys an' girls, keep those powers at bay. This is a completely no powers self-defense class an' Ah don't want to drive some teenaged chunk remains of you guys to school…again" The recruits winced while Rogue made her way towards the center of the room, a good 5 meters away from the group of recruits.
"Goal of the session, land a blow on meh" And with a clap of the hands the danger room machinery came alive and the recruits were off.
An hour and a half later, the group of teenaged recruits came out of the metallic room, drenched in sweat. Some of them slightly bruised but nothing seriously painful. All of them were a tired mess and would have been filled with joy at the idea of going to bed right away but sadly they knew they couldn't. It was their second week back at school not to mention their last year for most of them and with recent mutant sentiments that were shared by most of their classmates they really couldn't afford playing the bad tardy students.
"Ewww, I'm all sweaty. I seriously need a bath" said Jubilee as she made her way towards the girl's bathroom.
"Me too" added Amara as she followed Jubilee but then seemed to realize something. There was only one bathroom over by the girl's wing of the mansion. If Jubilee was going there then… Amara noticed that the Asian girl was thinking among the same lines. A moment of silence fell between them as both of them watched each others movement, preparing to sprint to a run at any moment.
"Dibs on th' bathroom" yelled a Scottish accented voice and a second later an auburn furred wolf was running at full speed towards the east wing of the mansion.
"Hey wait! No fair, no powers!" yelled Jubilation Lee as she and the Brazilian princess besides her sprang to a run.
"Speak for yourself girl" and a moment later a fiery woman sprang in a faster pace after the Scottish werewolf.
"Hey!" Jubilee turned her gaze towards the sparks that were itching to come out of her hand. She grinned mischievously and threw her hands forward. Plasmic brightly colored fireworks started exploding all around the metal hallway, screeching here and there, but to her disappointment, none of them hit nor slowed down the other two girls as they disappeared down another hallway that led towards the stairs and elevators.
"Aww man these powers suck" her face fell and the tiredness of the training session caught up to her, slowing her jog to a defeated drag walk.
The boys all looked at each other after witnessing the spectacle and shrugged.
"Gym shower room?" asked Bobby.
"Gym shower room" responded Roberto, Ray, Sam and Jamie and together they made their way up towards subbasement 1 were the Gym was located.
Rogue watched the students go and sighted wearily.
"What's the matter Stripes, tired after that tiny session?" taunted the Wolverine, coming out from behind after making sure the room was in perfect condition.
"Nah, nevah" there was a slight pause in which they both just looked at the space outside the Danger Room, where the recruits were standing a few minutes ago. "Logan, Ah feel old"
Logan suddenly looked at her and even though her back was to him she just knew he had a look of disbelief on him.
"Yer telling me darlin'? Now what would make ya say that?"
"Nothing, is just that sometimes…sometimes Ah wish Ah could be that carefree, ya know? Have that, well young spirit again an' just enjoy da moment? I wish Ah could still do that" she finished in a slightly bitter voice.
"Who told ya y'can't? You've made an awful lot of improvement and yer emotions are very stable. You've become a whole new person. Someone who's in control and managed to master almost everything I taught ya"
"Not enough control"
Although Logan managed to catch the small whisper thanks to his enhanced hearing, he decided to ignore it and just watched the troubled southerner in silence. After a few silent seconds, Logan thought she wasn't going to continue their conversation, but to his surprise she turned on her heel and looked him straight in the face.
"Do ah look old to ya?" the sudden question left him suddenly unbalanced although on the outside he didn't show it. "Ah mean, Am Ah getting wrinkly and all—"
"Darlin'—a grin breakin in his face— besides me, ya probably look like a toddler. What are ya 24, 25?"
"21 Logan, Ah can't beli—"
"See, 21, that's what, A puppy? C'mon kid, yer barely outta the zit phase" he grinned shaking his head in amusement at the outrage showing on the spunky, two-toned haired girl.
"Well, besides a sack of ancestry lahke ya, who wouldn't? Ah bet ya could have even baby-sat the Professah in his early years"
Logan's grin fell and he narrowed his eyes towards the now smirking girl.
"Care ta settle this over a session? I got just the right one in mind" his voice lowered in a threatening way as he and the Rogue stared each other out. After a tense moment of silence a grin broke on Rogue's face as well as in Logan.
"Nah, Ah can't. Ah'll have to owe ya that one though. Gotta get ready to take the kids ta school"
Logan only smiled as he watched her go. "Have fun" he called out.
"Oh lotsa fun" he heard her sarcastic reply before the sound of her footstep disappeared out of hearing distance.
000 ROF 000
When Rogue entered the kitchen, some of the recruits (the boys) were already there making each their own breakfast. They still had about an hour an a half to make it to school and that gave them enough time to enjoy their meal and still do some last minute homework or something. The remains of Kitty's and Kurt's messy breakfast told her they had gone in a hurry, and having already said their goodbyes yesterday, they must have rode off in Kurt's jeep as soon as possible.
Rogue made her way towards the refrigerator to take out a box of frozen waffles and a carton of milk. She smiled at the sight of the milk in her hand. Ever since Evan went his own way, with the morlocks, most of the X-men didn't have to suffer a morning without milk for their cereal, or that special cup of coffee some of them needed to survive the day. She remembered the many times she would scream at the spiked mutant for hogging all the milk. The smile turned into a sad frown when she remembered the sad side of Evan being no longer with them. Sure he was a pain in the ass sometimes but still, he was an X-man. Part of the family. Her family. And now he was who knows where out there, running a different life maybe, for no one had heard of him in the past two years. Not even Ororo. He went his own way it seems. Everyone did.
Kitty and Kurt were at NYU, studying to become somebody out in the world. Kitty was majoring in computer science and programming while Kurt, to her surprise, was studying theological theories and studies of the different beliefs.
Jean and Scott, the senior members and usually the heads of the team, were in some fancy college in Seattle, both of them making the most out of the gift of education that was miraculously offered to them.
Ororo Munroe and Henry McCoy didn't really move from the mansion, but they were away on business, somewhere in Cairo Egypt. And although it was a business trip, the professor had sent them there too as a small vacation break after the long years of work they had served at the mansion. So they probably weren't going to be present in the Institute for a long time.
The recruits were gone half the day because they were attending school so that left her, Logan and the professor the only occupants of the mansion for most of the day. Sometimes it felt lonely.
"Are you done with the milk chika, I seriously need a bowl of 'Fruity Pebbles'" a female voice made her snapped out of her reverie and look at the Asian face of Jubilee, who stood with a stressed expression against the counter, fumbling with the tabs of the cereal box.
"Yeah sure, here" she said after serving herself a glass of milk. The black haired girl who had her damp hair, styled in a low ponytail sighted tiredly while she started mixing the milk with her bowl of cereal. Rogue was about to ask her what was bothering her when loud explosions and battle cries filled the room. She turned to look at the youngest resident of the mansion who was sitting eating pancakes at the large table, eyes glued to the hanging T.V. which was now depicting a gory and very violent show where from what she understood, people with incredible 'powers' battled for survival against monsters and dinosaurs on a secluded hidden savage Island. If they survived the ordeal they got to battle one of the previous champions. It was basically a lot of fake violence cooped up with lots of people screaming in a 30 minute cheap waste of time.
"Ooh 'Blood Fest' is on, cool" that was Bobby whom along with Jamie and Ray practically lived off the show every morning. The violence and the scantly clad heroines attracted them to the show like magnets. Roberto and Sam on the other hand were a little more mature and although she would catch them taking a peak or two at the show when the half-naked warrior women entered the screen, they still thought it was a bunch of unoriginal crap made to entertain feeble minds.
"Aw c'mon, you can practically see the wires on that guy. He isn't really flying at all. I mean I can make a better job than he's doing" criticized Roberto while taking a bite off his buttered toast.
"Dude those are not wires, they are spider webs" replied an annoyed Jamie without even batting an eye. He was the biggest fan of the show. Never missed it, thus whenever Roberto got in critic mode, he would get annoyed that somehow they were 'dissing' one of the coolest thing in his life, as told by him. Sam on the other hand chose to keep silent most of the times since he just chatted with the girls or read the paper.
"Hey Rogue, do you think the people in there, you know on the show, have real powers. I mean, you know maybe they're like us and they're using their powers to entertain people. Maybe they're not hated there, unlike us"
Rogue raised an eyebrow to the 16 year old boy, lots of rather cruel comments like "Kid, get real" or "Are you serious?" crossed her mind but she chose to remain silent, taking a sip of her fresh milk and planting on a puzzled face and muttering a small "Maybeh". Out of all the people in the institute, Rogue was the softest towards Jamie. He being the youngest and the one who got excluded the most, even though he was older now. She sympathized with him since she didn't really have any friends either in her younger years. Well that was until the X-men came and became her family. Kitty being the closest thing to a best friend she ever had.
"Sorry to burst your bubble multiple boy but newsflash, one: the world hates mutants and two: those are just cheap b-list actors that would do anything for money. Even if it meant parading around in corny outfits in a jungle set shouting here and there"
Jamie's face fell but then turned into a scowl as he looked towards the primly sat Amara who was feasting on some French toast.
"You're just jealous that green haired chick looks better than you, even in a goofy outfit. And she has better powers to boot" a smirking Jamie said in a coolly manner.
Before Amara could lunge at Jamie, Charles Francis Xavier made his entrance in his wheel chair, wheeling through the kitchen door. One look at the T.V. and at the gaping boys made him shake his head and sight, making his way over to the Goth who was already finishing her bowl of 'Oatmeal Oats'.
"Good morning Rogue, kids" he said in a pleasant manner.
"Good morning professor" everyone replied automatically.
"Ya kids better hurry up, wouldn't want to be late f'r school now" said a gruff voice, making everyone look towards the buff silhouette of Logan leaning against the entryway from which Xavier came with seconds ago.
"Just a second, the show is almost over. The space gladiator, Magnetrix is about to kick serious Iron as—err behind" corrected Jamie before the Professor would notice. But he was already frowning at the space woman's clothing.
"Is it just me, or is that not Magnus's usual choice of cloth" muttered the professor to Rogue who just looked at the screen in scrutinizing confusion.
"I don't think Magneto could top that ass" commented Bobby before realizing in the presence of who he was and laughed nervously "Not that that matters, he he"
"Alright bub, enough T.V. Off to school with y'guys" growled Logan practically kicking the boys out of the kitchen.
"Well duty calls" Rogue sighted and got up, fetching the van keys from the key hanger and waving goodbye to the professor as she pushed-shoved past Logan.
"Remember y'got a Tai Chi session after you comeback"
"Yeah, yeah" she said without even looking at him and in a matter of steps she was out the door.
The recruits were already mounting the long dark blue Toyota Hiace in which Rogue always drove them in to school. They were a little cramped up but they all 10 of them fitted in.
"Hey Roguey, gonna let me drive today?"
"In your dreams Drake. Ya probably crash us against a tree, they way Ah see you ride that ice of yours"
"She's got a point there" said a smirking Jubilee as she buckled up and started taking out her usual car ride supplies which consisted of a strip of strawberry flavor bubble gum and her trusty yellow IPod. And by the sounds of the loud techno-pop music coming out of it, Jubilee was unreachable for the rest of the trip. Bobby made a note of getting back at her later.
After a very loud and bustling car ride Rogue was glad to finally reach the destination and drop off the group of teenagers at Bayville high school. A chill ran down her back when her eyes roamed over the peach colored building. She had been glad when she finally graduated from that place since her last 2 years were a nightmare, given to the 'friendly' way the rest of the student population treated her and the X-men. She hoped that the recruits were faring better, but her thoughts were put to rest when just as she was making her way out of the school parking lot she noticed something happening.
000 ROF 000
All the recruits had made their way inside the building. That is all but Jamie Madrox who stood alone like an outsider, unnoticed or simply ignored. True, even if he wasn't a known mutant, he still thought he would be unpopular. He wasn't as tall as Sam, or as suave and charming as Roberto. He didn't possess the inner confidence and slick manner that Bobby Drake had or the muscles and tough exterior that Ray always emanated. He was just Jaime Madrox. Just plain, short and skinny Jamie Madrox. The boy who had a crush on junior cheerleader, Sheila Desoto.
He watched as a sandy haired young man placed his arm around her, only to have it shrugged out. He knew who that was. Everybody did. The ones who didn't know who Josh Matthews, star of the Bayville High Football team was, really lived in another galaxy. Jamie knew Josh liked Sheila, and it seemed everything Josh wanted Josh got. Right now he watched as Sheila and her clique walked away from Josh Matthews and his friends who were all laughing at Sheila's refusal to whatever Josh said. The athlete just shrugged it off and followed another skirt. Jamie's eyes then followed Sheila as she met up with some other boys and made her way into the building.
Oh how he wished so many times he could be like them; cool, popular, normal… Lost in his own thoughts and dreams he didn't notice Josh and his friends come over towards the bench he was currently sitting on.
"Watcha looking at Madrox?" asked Josh Matthews in a hushed voice, making Jaime jump out in surprise.
"N-Nothing"
"That so? 'Cause my boys and I were just walking when we notice you looking at Desoto. Were you looking at Desoto, Madrox?"
"N-No, I wasn't" he lowered his face, playing abstenmindly with a stray cord from the edge of the long sleeved, lime green shirt.
"Hey maybe he was hoping to catch a glimpse of her y 'know Josh. It gets awfully drafty this autumn mornings, and that little cheerleader skirt sure doesn't cover up much" hushed a black haired senior, clad in a gray sleeveless DC shirt, with the Varsity jacket over it, covering his bare shoulders from the breeze.
"Yeah and him seating here all alone in the dark makes one wonder what's he really up to. Peeping at young innocent girls in the confines of the bushes. I would never have suspected it. What about you Josh?" said another jock clad in a dark blue shirt and the team's jacket.
"Nope, never would have known. I didn't know you peeped at Sheila, Madrox"
"No, that's not it. I would never peep at her!" suddenly shouted Jaime, blushing from embarrassment.
"Would you look at that, boys? He got all red and all. Seems he's got a crush on our sweet little Desoto. You like Sheila Desoto, Madrox? You actually think you got a chance with her? I mean look at you, all gangly and thin, not to mention short. Don't really want to offend you but I don't exactly picture you being with a woman, ever. Makes me wonder if I'm making a mistake" muttered Josh in a mock pensive manner while rubbing his chin.
"What are you talking about?" asked a confused and slightly disheveled Jaime.
"Maybe is not Desoto you were looking at. Maybe……you don't even like women at all. I mean I've never seen you with one, not even one of your freako friends from your mutie institute and that's saying that counts. Could you possibly, I don't know, be into something else…men perhaps? Do you find me attractive Madrox?" suddenly asked Josh as he shoved his face in front of Jaime's who in a matter of seconds backed away forcefully…and fell on his butt at the other side of the bench. Laughter filled the air as the three jocks fell into a bout of laughs.
"Well who would have thought we ever met a gay mutant. That's a first for me, although Drake could possibly classify too"
"I'm not gay!"
Suddenly the laughter stopped as a fuming red Jaime made his way to his feet, dusting his clothes with shaking hands.
"What's that you said Madrox?" asked Josh in a threatening manner.
"I said I'm not gay. And I-I've been with women. L-lots and lots for your information"
The jock's scowl slowly turned into an amused grin, as he looked at his companions in disbelief.
"You heard that boys, little boy says he got game. Yeah well what in the world could possibly make me believe you?"
And to Jaime's relief the answer to Josh's question came in the form of a voluptuous woman clad in tight ripped jeans and a dark green tank top that accentuated her curves and gave quite a view of her assets. A brown worn out leather jacket protected her bare arms and shoulders from the cold while her hands were clad in black leather gloves. Her green eyes glinted in a mischievous manner as she looked at Jamie and made her way over in a sensual walk. If it wasn't for the unusual hair Jaime wouldn't have recognized her for her face was free of the purple eye shadow that framed her eyes most of the time.
"Well hello hello, who might you be gorgeous?" asked Josh as he and his friend turn to face her. "Haven't seen you around that's for sure"
"Well that's because Ah don't go here. Ah was merely visiting to see mah guy"
At this comment Josh's eye brows lifted. And when Rogue made her way over to a silent gaping Jaime his eyebrows practically disappear behind his sandy haired locks.
"Sugah you left in such a hurry last naight Ah think ya took some stuff by mistahke. Imagine mah surprise went Ah found this— and to Jaime's surprise and Josh bewilderment Rogue took out a pair off wrinkled dark blue boxers (which Jaime recognized as the results of Jubilee's last prank on the Iceman) out of her jacket pocket—right by mah bedside"
"…..I-I'm sorry?....Babe?"
"Yeah well ya should beh. Ah think ya took mine. Ya know that little red thing you gave me on mah birthday. Ah really lahked that one" pouted Rogue in her over-exaggerated southern accent. Meanwhile the jocks' jaws seemed to have gotten stuck on the floor as they heard with wide eyes the incident.
"Oh yeah, erm…right. Shall I bring it back,…t-today?" squirmed Jaime as he noticed Rogue's face getting nearer and nearer his by the seconds. It wasn't that he was afraid of her powers but rather of her closeness. Ray was right; he did have a crush on Rogue if not a small one and right now her proximity was setting off all kinds of alarms and senses as he could feel his body heating up. Rogue's mouth was now by his ear, her warm breath bathing it and tickling his inner ear.
"Ya better" whispered Rogue, loud enough for Josh and his friends to hear her. She then straighten up and left him with a "See ya t'night Sugah" her silhouette disappearing somewhere in the parking lot.
"Who would have thought" whispered one of the jocks in awe as his eyes searched for the southern brunette over the crowd of cars that was the distant parking lot.
"Tell me Madrox, how could a guy like you score with someone like her?" asked Josh in an annoyed slightly angered manner.
Jamie seemed to collect himself after the event, shouldering his bag pack, dusting his clothes of dust one more time and smirking towards the blondish jock.
"It's the charm Matthews" he said triumphantly as he walked away towards the building, leaving the jocks dumbfounded. He couldn't wait to tell Bobby what happened. He knew the news would make the Iceboy scream to the seven heavens for the rest of the day. Besides, he had to give the guy his underwear back.
000 ROF 000
Later that evening, Rogue sat in the roof of the institute, guitar in one hand and telephone in the other. After the Jaime act she had gone back to the institute to meditate with Logan and tune-up her senses. Logan then got to spar with her and 'settle the score' about her morning taunting. Cliff-notes version, Logan wiped her ass all over the training simulation.
"Damn it, Ah didn't know he'd take it that seriously. Mah butt s'still screaming and Ah probably gonna have to eat standing tonight" complained Rogue to the telephone.
*That's what you get when you become a Wolvie girl. Do you know how many arm and back pains I had to like, nurse when Logan taught me self-defense. I mean, I could have been better off if a crook robbed me. You know, I still remember the wonderful feeling of flying, wind in my face and all that crap…and then BAM! Glorious pain of my face slamming in the floor after one of Logan's mortal flips. He should be sued, you know*
"Well Kit the man was worried you might get abused or something over at NYU. Ah mean you being a mutant and all"
*Rogue, how was I going to get a harder beat than one of Logan's, from a college guy? And besides you were there with me and all, so nothing could have gone wrong*
Rogue grimaced as she remembered her time with Kitty at NYU. Best friends and room-mates all over again. Only now they were legal adults and independent. She and Kitty had most of the best moments of their lives rooming and partying together over at their little apartment in the campus. That is until the incident. The unseen accident that took away her studies and her newly acquired happiness. Rogue would still wince with the mere thought of it.
"Ah saw her Kitty. Today at mah Tai Chi session with Logan, Ah saw her again"
*Who, what are you talking ab— oh her? You saw her? Did something happened, any trouble?* came Kitty's suddenly worried voice.
"No, nothing big and serious. Ah was just doing some meditating exercises to calm mah mind after, you know, the morning thing Ah tolda ya about, and then Ah saw her in mah mind. Ah memory Ah think. She was smirking in that way Ah used to hate, like she's the hottest thing to come to earth since Coke. And then… then she just vanished among the clutter of mah mind. Ah think she influenced me to do that thing with Jaime, Ah mean Ah would have never…"
*Oh C'mon it wasn't that bad. Poor Jamie has been having it hard from the start. It's good to know those guys aren't going to be like, bothering him and stuff*
"Yeah, in a way she did good. If not in her own obnoxious look-at-me Ah'm a star way. Look Kit, Ah gotta go. Ah think Ah hear someone coming and Ah've been hiding from Amara and Jubilee the whole day. Girl you don't know how persistent those girls get when it comes to details. Especially if it is as they say 'major gossip material'. Catch ya later bookworm"
*Yeah well back at ya drop out*
Rogue just chuckled and turned off the talk button on the pink phone. Kitty's horrible pink cell phone which she had left behind to talk with Rogue so they wouldn't hog the institute's phone line with their calls. Rogue was already getting a major itch to get a spray can and give it a paint job.
"Man I'm going to kill Matthews!" an angry voice followed by the hard slam of something piqued up her curiosity. She stationed her guitar and crawled the roof in her hands and knees all the way towards the back of the mansion were the commotion seemed to originate. There, in the basketball court, she could just make out the silhouettes of Bobby sitting on the hard cement of the court watching Ray angrily shooting hoops. Ray's face was contorted in rage as he launched an electrically charged basketball with all his might from half-court. The ball slammed into the board, down in the rim of the ring and ricocheted off to the side were it would have been lost in the large gardens if it weren't for Bobby's last minute ice ramp.
"Hey man, you gotta calm down. You can't let him get to you. That's what he wants. Look I know Matthews is an asshole and all, but he just wants us to make the first move so that we end up looking like the bad guys" Bobby said as he dribbled the ball, took aim and shot the ball. Almost not making it, the ball was aided by a mysterious icicle that came out of nowhere.
"Don't you think I know that?! Look the guy just obviously noticed we are too much for him, that's why he's making these new tricks. I mean did you see what he did to the girls? How he humiliated Jubilee?!" Sparks were coming out of Ray's hand as he yet again charged the singed ball and let it fly, this time smacking into the board and rebounding right into Bobby's hands.
"Yeah, I know" Bobby's voice suddenly turned so quiet and icy that Rogue had to strain her ears to catch what he was saying. "Jubes may be a pain in the ass, but what he did…I'm just going to say, what goes around comes around, and he better watch his back because when you mess with an X-man, you mess with all of them" hands trembling, he took a shot and just as the ball passed the hoop, instead of bouncing off the floor, it chattered in pieces. The insides of the ball were frozen solid.
Rogue raised an eyebrow at the actions of the unmentioned leader of the recruits. Bobby was usually the jokester, never taking anything serious. Nothing fazed him and for him to be actually serious about something then something was going on. Now she really didn't want to be the one to blab or tattle but if she learned something in the past, is that stuff like this is stuff that at least Xavier should know. Too bad she didn't have the courage to speak for herself.
"Yeah, but do you actually believe Briggs and his bullshit lies? There's no such thing as a mutant neutralizer. I mean 'Null-a-Mutant'?! Please, the little dipshit is puking lies" said Ray as he and Bobby made their way towards the backdoor entrance. Since the ball was obviously dead, there was nothing else to be doing out in the court.
"Yeah Ray, but you forget that his father is a member of that new organization-what's-it-name- the Pals of Humanity?" said Bobby in a slight worried tone. "What if it's true? What if those crazy asses are really developing some kind of poison against us? I can just see it now, mutants are going to get abused everywhere and if we try to defend ourselves then it'll be all our fault. Think what Josh and his idiots could do with something like that? We got to be careful, Bayville High is no church"
Ray seemed to become pensive for a moment, going over Bobby's words and the possible truths in his crazy assumptions. What if Popsicle boy was right? With the way the people looked at them lately, he could just feel the 'love' they'd get when Briggs brings over his daddy's new toy. But that's if Briggs is really saying the truth and knowing that prick he was probably bluffing just to tick them off.
Well I was about to rip his face, powers or no powers, after the stunt he and Matthews pulled off in math class with Jubilee, so he probably did made it up.
"Hmm Ray, are you alright?"
Ray snapped out of thought only to notice Bobby was gone and he was standing alone in the patio with Jamie looking at him from between the backdoor entrance.
"Where's Bobby?"
"Oh he left ages ago, said your brain froze again and that this time it wasn't his fault" answered Jaime.
"Urgh, popsicle douche. Wait 'till I get my hands on him. Gonna teach him why you shouldn't mix water and sparks together" there was a slight pause before Ray took a breath and released it in a calming motion, and suddenly faced Jamie with a sly grin, swinging his arm around his shoulders. "So, Jamie, What's this I hear about our Roguey-Ro wanting to get under your pants? I just gotta know it all, and remember, Roberto would like a full report too"
And with that they parted into the institute, the sound of their voices becoming but mere whispers. Rogue had to retain her sudden urge to smack Ray silly. How dare he?! And Roguey-Ro? Puh-lease. But right now, she had more serious matters, like informing the professor about this interesting new invention straight from the FOH.
By the time she reached the Professor's office it was a quarter to seven. Dinner was to be served by seven so she had little time for discussion. She knocked on the majestically polished mahogany doors and like always Xavier invited her in through the wonders of his telepathy. Logan was pacing on the red carpet with a knotted brow while Xavier just smiled wearily at her. It seems they were in the middle of something.
"Ah can comeback later professor, if ya want too?"
"No Rogue, please stay. I can sense great turmoil coming from you child. Is something the matter?" said the professor in that calm voice of his that always seem to put her at ease. Every time he'd talk to her that way she would always feel this huge wave of peace filter inside her. As if he was there then everything would be alright. Rogue took a deep breath and started retelling the conversation she heard between Ray and Bobby, minus cussing of course.
After the long explanation and her own thoughts in the subject, the Professor remained silent; fingers interlaced, and thumbs holding his temple steady. Logan had stopped pacing and had gone silent in one corner of the room, seemingly in deep thought as well.
"Well?" she asked.
"Well I think this matter should be taken into consideration immediately, even though it's a theory. I don't want to take risks, given our past experiences. I shall send Logan to follow a lead I have in mind"
Logan suddenly raised his eyes to look at the calm wise man. In Rogue's opinion he should be itching to finally get out of here since the mansion has been like dead in action the last couple of months. The last exhilarating thing he participated in was the accident and he really didn't do much since he ended up unconscious in a matter of seconds, or minutes she really couldn't tell much. Memory was hazy.
"But Chuck, what about the kid? Ain'tcha gonna do something about that? I already promised her I helped her out and stuff, and it was kinda hard to do so too" the last he muttered, crossing his strong arms over his broad chest, looking kind off intimidating. Only Logan had the talent to make the smallest thing look intimidating, without even meaning to.
"Do not worry about that Logan. Rogue can take care of that while you are away. I am sure she won't mind, right?"
"Sure, whatever it is, Ah'll do it. Is not as if I have a busy schedule or anything"
"Thank you, Rogue. Well now that that's settled; Logan, I shall inform you of your mission after dinner. Right now I'm famished" and with that, he wheeled his chair out of his office and into the hallways.
"Uh, professor, one last thing"
"Yes, Rogue?"
"Erm, what exactly am Ah supposed to do?"
Charles Xavier lifted a smile and chuckled.
"Well let's just say you and our dear Jubilee are going to be spending the next evenings reading in the library" and with a last chuckle he was gone.
"Have fun kid" mocked Logan as he too left following Xavier to dinner while leaving a dumbfounded Rogue to her thoughts.
Great, just great.
000 ROF 000
Somewhere in the cold darkness of the night, in an archeological dig site in Cairo, Egypt; Men shouted orders in an Arabian language. There were several camping tents adorning the outline of the excavation site located in the middle of a vast desert. Some off them were already occupied by studying archeologists or laborers on break catching a few Z's. But there was still action in the digging site as late night laborers went here and there, working in uncovering the latest secret. A few weeks ago, a group of student archeologists had topped onto what seemed the biggest archeological find in the past decade.
While going through one of the famous archeological expeditions of the Cairo Studies of Egyptology Institute, they had found a series of underground tunnels that seemed to lead to what is believed to be the tomb of one of the many successors of Ramses II. According to some ancient Egyptian professional translators straight out of Oxford, the hieroglyphic in the tunnel walls said that inside the tomb of the beholder, there was an ancient mystical door that led to limbo. Some American corporate rich man found out about that and some supposed treasure and founded the expedition.
Until now, they really hadn't found nothing, but things were about to change.
A man in a dirtied turban and a poncho ran his way around the site and towards one of the tents in which a man dressed in dark brown pants, white open shirt and a brown hat sat, smoking from his pipe while examining one of the latest find which was a papyrus depicting what seemed to be the end of the world.
"Mr. O'Connell! Mr. O'Connell Serr, the boys, they faund somthink" almost shouted the exited man in an Arabian accent.
The man with the hat lifted his eyes from examining the ancient paper roll and raised one thick dark eyebrow in question.
"Serr, they think iss the dorr"
At the mention of the door, the man by the name of O'Connell stood up in a flash and made his way towards the latest drill zone. Once he got there he found a group of Arabian workers pulling at some ropes as they heaved up what looked like a 7 feet square stone tablet. O'Connell walked towards the nearest group of workers who were now trying to deposit the heavy piece of stone onto the sand covered floor.
"Careful now, we wouldn't want to damage Mr. W's goods now. Maybe this piece of crud is really the sodding door we've been looking for the past bleeding weeks" the man, who must have been around his 30's, spoke in a thick British accent.
After a good deal of effort, the stone tablet was set on the sand covered floor, raising a heavy cloud of dust on impact, bathing must of the workers with it's grains of sand.
"Hey hey hey, I said careful! Bloody hell y'can't get good help nowadays. Okay clean her over, I'll go call the boss and tell him we found his baby" and O'Connell had in mind to go on and do so if he hadn't felt something out of the ordinary. Sure, in the desert you could hear the occasional caw of some vulture or even the scuttle of insects and scorpions. There was always something to take your mind off and with the group of Rashid running around drilling; there was hardly anytime where silence prevailed. That is until now.
Rick O'Connell turned around to face were his men and the Rashid were tending the door but instead of seeing them following his orders and cleaning up the ancient artifact, they were thrown all over the floor and they all looked dead. Their green veins were very visible on they're now stone grey skin.
"W-What in bloody—" but he never got to finish expressing his surprise because a cold hand had clamped over his neck, gripping tightly and stopping the flow of breath and even blood from going down. He started feeling his pulse start to quicken around his neck were strings of burning pain stretched like a spider's web all around the area were the hand was. There was a hissing sound and icy breath fell on his sweating face making him look up—into the most exotic crystalline fiery eyes he'd ever seen. And right before he could identify more features of this strange entity he felt the iciness wash over his body, bringing acid burning pain into what seemed like every nerve and vein in his entire body. In a matter of seconds, his body numbed, his vision clouded and he knew no more. The last thing his soul managed to hear was but the deadliest hiss of a serpent speaking in a strange language.
"Net'jer a'nen"
