Mind over matter

I looked around again. There was nothing there, but I felt like I was being watched. I hadn't lived this long by ignoring feelings like that.

There was nothing there. I would have to wait. Until then, I had a job to do.

I placed one hand flat on the ground and tapped the ground with the other one.

Not good. Her mind was beginning to fray. I didn't have long.

There was movement behind me. I spun around.

Mystique was standing there.

"You have to help her!" She pleaded

"Who?"

"Rogue. The pain's killing her! You have to do something!"

I remembered that Rogue absorbed copies of people's personalities. That had to be what I was talking to. No wonder she was worried. If Rogue died, so did she.

Mystique was waiting for me to answer.

"Actually, I'm here to do just that. Where is she?"

"Follow me." Mystique raced away, with me close behind her.

We had be running for only a few moments when Mystique suddenly crumpled up and fell to the ground.

Before I could ask what was wrong, I was hit with the feeling that I'd just been shot with a rocket. I staggered a couple steps, regained my balance, and helped Mystique to her feet. "How long have those pain waves been going on?"

"Not long. That was one of the nastier ones. She must be getting worse. We have to hurry!"

We ran on. Periodically we encountered another pain wave. Eventually Mystique fell and couldn't get back to her feet. She had passed out from the pain.

I kept running. It was the only thing I could do.

Without warning something grabbed my ankle. I fell, hard.

"No you don't. That girl has caused me enough trouble. She dies."

I kicked the speaker in the face. There was a clang, and he let go.

I flipped to my feet.

"Not now, Magneto. Maybe later."

I ran on. And on. An eternity later, I found the end of Rogue's mindscape. I also found Rogue.

She was huddled in the corner of her mind, her eyes devoid of anything resembling hope.

I knelt down in front of her. "Hello." I said.

No response.

"You have something that belongs to me. I'm here to get it back."

A wave of pain rippled out from her form. Other than there was no response.

I braced myself. This was going to hurt a lot.

I plunged my hand into Rogue's chest.

We screamed in unison, an eerie two-part harmony.

Gritting my teeth, I searched for the spark I knew was there. After several agonizing moments, I found what I was after.

Clutching the spark that contained the power that Rogue had borrowed from me, I pulled my hand out of her chest, and plunged the spark into my own.

Wave after wave of excruciating pain tore through me. I screamed. It had been so long since I had felt this much pain.

I focused on forcing the pain into myself. I could contain it. My will was stronger.

I managed to contain it. I knelt on the ground next to the prone Rogue, gasping for air.

"You did well." said a voice from behind me.

I didn't even look up. "Stop by to see what was taking me so long?"

"No, I figured that you would need assistance. I hardly expected you to work so quickly."

"You can help me, actually. Rogue needs to get back the center of her mind. Could you help me with that? I'm a little worn out."

"Certainly." Charles Xavier stepped past me and lifted Rogue.

He vanished.

He reappeared almost instantly, without Rogue. "Time to go, I think."

I struggled to my feet, and the professor grabbed my shoulder.

There was a rush of something other than light and sound.

The professor took his hand off of my forehead. "I believe that Rogue will make a full recovery, thanks to you. Is there any way I can repay you?"

"Yes." I slurred as I fought to keep my balance. "Catch me."

I toppled backwards into darkness.