Disclaimer: I don't own this stuff. Who do you think I am, Stan Lee? Sheesh. And I'm not making any money off of it either, so there.

Request: Any tips/requests on plot and writing technique are more than welcome. Criticism must be constructive, or I'll blow up your house plants.

Had to put in my version of how Rogue gets her powers. Also had to introduce Gambit to Evolution in my own special way. Hope you enjoy. Please Review.

SSJ Rogue

Professor Xavier sighed heavily as he wheeled slowly away from Cerebro. He had been picking up intermittent mutant signatures around Bayville for the last week, but they were so faint that he could never get a fix on them. These shadows, as he had dubbed them, were a source of real concern for him. There appeared to be a mutant with full control of their powers, impressive mental shields and an unknown agenda wandering the streets with his students. He needed more information on this mutant if he was going to recruit him/her or, if need be, protect his students from this newcomer.

By this time he had reached his study to find Rogue waiting for him. He had scheduled these weekly late night sessions with her to help her try to deal with her powers, perhaps control them, but as they had progressed it had become more and more apparent that she needed help just suppressing all of the different memories and personalities that she had absorbed.

"Hey, professah," she greeted him. "You look tired, mebbe I should come back later."

"That won't be necessary, Rogue," he assured her, motioning her back to the sofa she had risen from. "I have merely been trying to ascertain the whereabouts of our mysterious new mutant. There is no need for us to postpone our session."

"Thank ya, professah."

"Now, how have your 'guests' been behaving?" He always referred to them as that. He found that it helped her to be more relaxed and receptive to his help if he labeled them something non-threatening, rather than as the intruders they were.

"They're all real quiet and under control, except for him. He keeps trying to talk me into lettin' him take ovah my body. Says he has powers I wouldn't believe and he can use 'em to help." She looked up at him pleadingly, her distress plain in her voice. "Ah really think he wants to help professah, but I can't just let him take ovah."

Professor Xavier nodded in understanding. He had kept Rogues secret ever since she had come and confided in him, asking for his help in controlling these voices in her head. Only one still gave her any trouble. While she had been with the brotherhood Mystique had sent Rogue on a special mission. She had tricked Rogue into completely absorbing another person. The professor had so far been unable to determine whether this person had been a mutant or non-mutant human, but his presence in Rogues mind had prompted him to set up these sessions with her. She had let him into her mind on two occasions and he had found and quieted most of her mental shades, but this one had managed to elude him.

"I would like to speak with him Rogue, if I may. If he truly does wish to help us then perhaps we can come to some sort of agreement." At her horrified look the professor quickly clarified. "We will not under any circumstances allow him to take control of your body. It may be, however that he had powers which you now possess and would be able to access with his help. If such were the case, would you be willing to accept it? There are risks, and it is up to you to decide whether they are acceptable."

"If you think it'll be safe, then ah'll try," she said simply.

He nodded, his heart swelling with love and pride for the trust that she, of all his students, placed in him. He wheeled over to her side and placed one hand on her forehead, reaching out with his mind to touch her thoughts.

Instantly he was immersed in a soft white light that seemed to emanate from nowhere, illuminating a surreal landscape of floating islands stretching into infinity. He homed in on the closest of these islands, feeling the familiar aura that was his students mind, and floated down towards it. As soon as his 'feet' touched the surface the scene around him changed. He found himself in the pastoral meadow that was Rogues mind, the grass rolling on seemingly forever, rippling gently in a warm breeze. The sun shone down and warmed the land with clouds casting shadows here and there. Off in the distance he spied a lone figure standing on the crest of a hill. There was really only one person that could be. All of the others Rogue had absorbed were tucked safely away in the back of her mind, and she herself had never met him here.

Slowly he walked toward the silhouette, being careful not to startle them. As he drew closer he noted that this presence was much stronger and more substantial than any of the others he had encountered in her mind. He studied him (for he could tell by now that it was a man) very carefully as he drew near, scrutinizing this unwilling 'guest.' He was tall, but not unusually so, and he had spiky black hair that made him seem even taller. He seemed incredibly fit with a muscle tone that would put Wolverine to shame, and his stance and body language absolutely reeked of power and control. Very obviously this was a fighter, perhaps the greatest that Xavier had yet met. And he seems to want to help us, to help Rogue.

By this time Xavier had reached the hilltop the strange warrior was facing him, obviously waiting for him to speak first. "Hello," seemed like a logical place to begin. "My name is professor Charles Xavier. Rogue is my student. I assume that you two are acquainted." At this the figure smiled crookedly and nodded. "She informs me that you have offered to help her."

"Yes," his voice was calm, almost pleasant. "I've been watching your students fight through her eyes. They have some very interesting powers but I think I could help."

"What is it that you can do?"

"I could teach Rogue to use my abilities and powers. She would be more than a match for anyone that you might face."

"And what exactly are your powers?"

"I've been trained in the ancient art of Kaio Ken," he said proudly. At Xavier's puzzled look her sighed. "I can train Rogue and then she can demonstrate for you in your danger room. She will be stronger, faster and tougher than you can believe."

The professor nodded in understanding. "I have noticed that she seems much more resilient lately. Perhaps she is already tapping into some of your power."

"She's touched the edges, but there's still a lot I could teach her. I promise," he added quickly, "that I won't try take control of her body. I know that she fears that more than anything."

"I see." After a minute of deep contemplation, looking into the eyes of this stranger who seemed to genuinely want to help, Xavier came to his decision. "Very well. I trust you. Ultimately, however, it will be up to Rogue to decide."

Nodding in understanding the stranger turned and started to walk off. "Wait," the professor called after him. He half turned and cocked his head. "What's your name?"

"I am Goku."

He sat on top of the water tower gazing out over Bayville. Gazing, if anyone had been there to notice, directly at the mansion with the plaque out from proudly proclaiming it Xavier's School for the Gifted. His preparations were now complete and tomorrow he would begin. His employer had tracked him down, no easy feat in itself, and given him this job. His fee had been exorbitant but they had agreed on a quarter to start and the rest on completion of the job. He was here to soften up these X-Men. Once he was done with them they would be easy targets for those Marauders. He grinned into the faintly starlit night. The X-Men wouldn't stand a chance against him.

He stood up to leave, glancing once more at the estate where his targets lived and felt a pang of regret. Really he wasn't so different from them. Perhaps... He shook his head angrily to clear it. He was nothing like them. He was a professional and he would do his job. Resolutely he turned his back, his eyes seeming to glow a soft red in the darkness.