Authors Notes:

Authors Notes: Dum da daaaa. And thus, with this chapter it will take another six months before the next one comes out. ;-P I blame it on the fact I am now back learning, in Graphic Art now…. So between classes and art on DA… writing has kind of left me… but as always with my promise, I will continue slowly, and this will get finished one day…

Not happy with it… but here it is…

Chapter Nine: 'Turn of the Rogue'

Bayville High.

"All right," Mr Redetzke called out to the students surrounding the bus. "Double-check your spelunking gear. Make sure your packs contain a hard hat, spiked boots, rope, compass, rations, lamps, candles and matches. Remember, there are no sporting good stores in the Tapo caves. Oh, and I had better not see any game toys."

"Aw, come on! I just got a new game!" One of the students voiced what all the others were thinking as they all pulled out their own handheld game players.

"So he threw off you game by sticking Rogue in the simulation. What's the big deal?" Jean asked, her and Scott passing the school buildings and making their way to the bus.

"Me fouling up isn't the problem." He snapped, his eyebrows lowered behind his glasses. The earlier Danger Room session this morning was the topic, or the person that was placed in it as their enemy more specifically. The program was a rescue mission, to get past the guards and get the hostage. It was assumed by the team leader that it was Storm handcuffed and out cold in the fake building, it turned out to be a computer generated form of Rogue. Having touched Scott's face the digital version of her went on to knocking Kurt off his feet with a kick to the chest before Scott called an end to the simulation.

"What then? Because he chose Rogue?"

"Exactly. She's our friend, yet we have to pretend she's the enemy in battle simulations. How are we going to convince her to join if we're training to fight her?"

"Hey," Stopping him Jean placed a hand on his shoulder, "It was only a simulation Scott. No one is going to stop being friends with her." Before grabbing his arm in hers and tugging him towards the bus.

Arriving in time to catch the last of their teacher's instructions the two were set to securing the snowmobiles to the trailer that was to be attached behind the bus during their field trip.

"Jean," Scott called out from on top of the trailer. "Tie that down over there."

"I got it. This trip oughta be fun."

Watching the couple from inside the weight room of the gym of Bayville High Rogue pushed down one of the horizontal blinds to watch them, her martial art training paused when she unsuccessfully tried a new move and ended up on her butt. Spotting movement from the then open blinds she had taken a peek out of curiosity and after closing them and only using her fingers to make a wide enough gap to watch through she kept her eye on the couple, hoping to pick something up of them.

A moment later without turning from her targets she raised her voice to the new person in the room. "It's not nache to sneak up people lahke dat Mystique."

"Yes, but I doubt many can do that to you." The disguise of Principle Darkholme replied.

Shooting a look over her shoulder at the normally blue mutant Rogue returned it to the Xavier's students outside without a word, a slither of light peeking through the blind she held open playing across her exposed skin from her normal workout clothing.

"I do have something you might find interesting."

Letting out a snort of breath at the older woman's comment Rogue let a touch of a smirk onto her lips. "With yah, dere's always a prahce. W'at is it?"

"That there is." Dropping the bag that was in her hand the full baggage fell heavily to the ground. "Enjoy the field trip dear, it should prove most enlightening."

Glaring at the dark brown bag for a moment Rogue nodded, showing her acceptance.

"Just this morning," Mystique continued. "I overheard them discussing their simulation battle exercises, with you as the target."

"Really?" Her eyebrows shot up at that. Had she given herself away? She couldn't of, she was a much better actor and spy then any of the mutant kids she was watching. Maybe it was a coincidence, or just dumb luck. But then again, there was never coincidences in a thief's life.

"Really." She confirmed with a dark smile before leaving Rogue to herself.

Looking back out as Scott and Jean Rogue's face darkened as she muttered to herself. "Damnit."

"Jean," Redetzke called as he walked up to them as they were packing the last of the bags into the bus. "Bad news."

"What?"

"Seems administration won't clear your time off for the field trip, something about too many absentee days in your file."

"Woah," Scott cried as he held a hand up. "Wait a second! Those were all approved."

"If they just call Professor Xavier, he'll-"

"I wish we had the time Jean, but they've already filled your spot. I promise, we'll clear this up when I get back. Hey… I'm really sorry." Redetzke interrupted, not looking happy himself at the decision.

"Yeah, well, have fun." She said half-heartedly, taking her bag from the pile in the bus before moving off.

"Oh man, that stinks! Who filled her spot?" Scott asked.

"New student." Redetzke said before addressing the rest of the group. "Ok junior geologists, let's pike in. We're behind schedule."

"Don't look so down Scotty, a girl would almost think yah didn't lahke spendin' tahme with 'er." A voice said behind him before he turned to find Rogue standing there, her trench coat pulled tight around her body to try and keep out the cold. "And after dat slow dance at Matthew's party, Ah thought we were friends."

"You're Jean's replacement." He said more than questioned.

Raising an eyebrow at his wording Rogue narrowed her eyes at him as she crossed her arms over her chest, "'Jean's replacement'? Mah, yah sure know 'ow to get a girl's 'eart beatin'." Giving a roll of her eyes before she walked past him and to the bus door.

"Wait." He called out, reaching out to place a hand on her covered arm. "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that.

Looking at him for a moment as if she was judging if he was sincere or not a smile crossed her lips and she gave his hand a light squeeze, keeping hold of it in her own. "Save meh a seat next to yah 'nd yah forgiven."

"Deal." He said, his own smile in place now.

As the bus navigated its way around the curvy road of the mountains it was full of the teens chatter, spread out around the automobile and making the most of the space as there was only few of them. A totally opposite reaction to their happiness Redetzke looked out glumly at the weather.

"Oh, wonderful, it's starting to snow."

"Yeah! Fresh powder!" Paul called out from his seat.

Turning his head enough to catch their eyes the teacher spoke up again. "This isn't a snowmobile trip people, too much of the white stuff means we turn around."

Several grumbles and complaints went around with that as the kids calmed down a bit more, not looking so happy now, the thought of going back to school sobering for all.

"Dis is whah Ah don't do snow."

"You Southerners are all the same." Scott teased her.

"Do yah even know any other Southerners?"

"That's beside the point."

This got a smile out of her dark purple lips before the bus began to slide on the road, the motion shoving her against him.

"Sorry."

"It's ok." He reassured her and helped her into an upright position again. But it didn't last for long as the large vehicle continued to skid across the slippery surface, causing several cries of panic and for the students to try and brace themselves against anything they could to stop them from falling from their seats.

Rounding a particularly sharp corner the back wheels lost traction completely, the end sliding out towards the edge of the road and the edge of the cliff side. More screams started and using this as a distraction Scott forced down the window, lowering his shades and narrowing his eyes to allow a small beam of optic energy out. Cutting easily through the snow and dirt a makeshift barrier encircled the road edge, making the bus skate right into and begin to tip towards the cliff before it settled back on all four wheels.

"You ok?" As Scott raised the window again he turned to find Rogue a bit shaken from the experience. "You're shaking." Placing a hand on her should to confirm it, it moved around so his arm lay over her shoulders.

"Dis be whah Ah don't lahke snow." Swallowing heavily she hated to admit it wasn't all acting, the idea of having no control over the situation was something the thief in her didn't like. "Bon save." Rogue whispered to him.

"It's ok," Giving her a one-arm hug as the rest of the bus started to calm too. "I'm here."

This got a snort of laughter and a roll of her eyes. "Oh oui, da big strong man to protect little ol' moi?" His own laugh getting out at her battering of eyelashes.

"We're heading back." This was meet with complaints as he tried the key, yet the bus refused to start. "Ok, ok people. Now who wants to get out and push?"

"Mr. Redetzke," Rogue spoke from her seat next to Scott. "Whah not take our snowmobiles to the cave 'nd wait out da weather dere?"

"Yes, love that idea!" A random student yelled.

"Sounds good to me"

"Let's do it!"

Dropping his face into his hands Redetzke let out a groan before opening the doors and letting the teens rush out and race to the snowmobiles. Following after them he gave a yell as they had already started to undo the strapping on them. "Two to a snowmobile! Nothing stupid now! Take care on them! Try and partner up with someone who has some sort of experience with them!"

Moments later the bus of teens were riding up along the mountain slopes, each with their own helmet and pair of goggles to protect against the weather. Revving her engine to pull up next to Scott at the front Rogue raised her voice to be heard, the ends of her hair flapping out of the bottom of her helmet and almost hitting the blonde girl behind her.

"Test yah mettle tough gahy?" She taunted with a smile to match.

Hearing this the girl behind her suddenly tightened her hold on Rogue's waist. "What? No. No racing! No!"

"You're on!" Scott yelled back and pulled ahead suddenly.

With each twist and bend in the road they changed positions until Rogue cut ahead in front of him and went completely off the track, racing up a higher bank to be overhead of him and Paul. Still neck and neck as the bank ended a gunning of the engine flew Rogue's snowmobile into the air and landing in front of his on the road. As the continued to push the limits Paul shouted several things in not the best of language to Scott as the girl behind Rogue mentioned she though she was going to be sick.

"Not on mah coat yah not!" Rogue snapped before concentrating on the road ahead of her again. It wasn't her first time on a snowmobile, nor was it that different from a four wheeler she had raced on back home when the LeBeau kids got bored of riding their bikes down the streets of New Orleans and took the new toys to a rural track. Of course this just caused even more competition between the highly competitive family and for Tante Mattie to yell at them all when they came back and tracked mud all through the house.

Taking the more riskier route that made up of several jumps and sharp corners Rogue was leading as Scott decided it was his turn, taking one particular slope and using it to launch his snowmobile into the air, getting a huge gain on Rogue's. Spotting the cave in front of them both pushed their transport to the maximum, the engines working hard as they neared their spot and skidded in next to each other. Once stopped Rogue's passenger leapt from the bike and proceeded to throw up against the wall of the cave.

Tugging off her helmet and snapping off the goggles Rogue shot a grin to Scott as they fell to the seat behind her. "'ow 'bout we call it a draw?"

Getting off his snowmobile after a shaky Paul stumbled to the side of the cave and rested his back against it Scott made his way over to the still seated Rogue. "How does a Southern gal like you learn to handle a snowmobile?"

"Let's just say Ah'm full of surprahses." She answered with a wink.

The rest of the class eventually got their way to the same cave, giving Rogue and Scott time to talk as the shared the seat of her snowmobile, Paul to regain the use of his legs and Rogue's passenger to empty her stomach. Once all there and with the snowmobiles lined up outside Redetzke called the group together and arranged everyone to get their flashlights out.

"Ok, we're stuck here, might as well make the best of it. So, in review: Metamorphic rock. Question: What has altered it from its original state? Answer: Heat, pressure or chemical change. It was one thing, now it's another. A mutation. Ok, over here, someone point out examples of other igneous rock formations."

Catching movement out of the corner of his glasses Scott suddenly realized they were one member short, casting a quick look around as the class moved off his spotted a sole flashlight moving against the walls deeper inside the cave. Moving off after it he flicked his own light on, still able to hear the class talking before it became nothing more than a dull echo.

"How about that Mr. Redetzke?"

"Exactly. Rock forms from very hot, molten material. It's deformation usually a result of stress, not weathering this far into the cave. And here you'll see indications of drapery formations."

Spying Rogue wandering around the rock formations he called out to her. "Where you going?"

Looking over her shoulder at him she gave a smile. "Come on, yah really want to be stuck at dis bore fest?" Grinning before running off out of view.

"Rogue, wait!"

"Ne pas être un Scott si carré, loosen up a bit, 'ave some fun." (Don't be such a square Scott) Her voice floated back to him but he still couldn't see where she went as he followed after her.

"What?"

"Nope, not tellin'. Yah just 'ave to Google is later to see what it means." She continued to taunt him and this time it was followed by a laugh that bounced off the rock walls.

Racing ahead to try and catch up Scott paused in his step at the sight he came onto. The bluish colouring of the walls held some sort of glittery metallic sparkled for them, all of this being reflected by the large underground waterfall at the end of the passage, water vapour mist floating up into the air and creating an almost mystical cloud around the base of the pure clear falls.

"Wow."

"Cool, 'uh?" Rogue asked as she appeared from the shadow next to him, scaring him enough to take a step away from her but she grabbed the edge of his dark green coat, pulling him back close to her body. A nod of her head motioned down to the ground for Scott to see a steep drop right at the tip of his toe. "Watch it Scott. Can't take yah back in pieces, da school would throw meh out."

"Thanks." He said before realizing how close they were really standing, seeming to sense this she took a step back and looked around the cave, changing the subject.

"Now ain't dis better dan listenin' 'bout rocks?" Dropping down she sat right on the edge of the cliff, her feet resting over the edge and swinging ever so slightly in the air as a few small stones fell to the river below them.

"Be careful."

Raising her face to his Rogue gave him a soft smile, "Ah won't fall. Yah need to relax more sugah, chill out, not everything needs to be so serious or dangerous." Then patted the spot next to him, as if testing him to take the risk.

"No, no," Holding his hands up in front of him Scott took another step away from the drop, the recent memory of what would of happened if she hadn't grabbed him still too fresh in his mind. "I'm fine standing, away from the cliff."

Shrugging a shoulder Rogue couldn't keep a teasing smile from her face. "Suit yahself."

"Hey, everything all right?" A voice called out and made both turn to spot Paul behind them. "Redetzke's looking for you."

"Gawd," Rogue cried as she threw her arms up into the air and gave a roll of her eyes. "Can't get 'way from school even for a minute." Standing from her seat she brushed off the back of her coat that she had been sitting on and made her way pass Paul.

"Yes, we're everywhere." He said as his hair darkened and body slimmed down to that of a females, a dark business suit replacing the warm clothing he had on the trip and Principle Darkholme stood in his place. Walking confidently forward with her head held high she peered down her nose at the male teen through her glasses. "Hello Scott, are you more surprised to see me?" Once again her form changed, this time into the white dress, red hair and blue skin of her natural body. "Or me?"

Stepping back in shock as she advanced on him Scott found himself at the edge of the cliff again. "Principal Dark- You're Mystique?"

"Something Professor Xavier neglected to tell you. Nice of him, wasn't it? You have no idea what he's been hiding from you. Let me fill you in. You X-Men are nothing but puppets for Charles Xavier, and I am a sharp blade cutting your strings, just so I can watch you fall." Pushing a palm forcefully against his chest she sent him backwards over the drop.

"Scott!" Rogue screamed as she raced to the edge, stopping to glare at her supposed ally. "Are yah insane! Yah can't kill mah target! Wait 'till Mag's 'ears 'bout dis."

Waving off the threat as if it was nothing Mystique smiled over at her. "There are plenty more X-Men where he came from. Imagine it, poor little Rogue having to witness her friend's death. It will only increase their sympathy towards you." Once again she shifted shapes, returning to the blonde teen from before, holding a hand out to her. "Come on, let's rejoin the other and break the tragic news."

Shaking her head with narrowed eyes Rogue tugged off a glove behind her back. "Ah don't think so, Ah'm breakin' our agreement." Grabbing hold of Mystique's hand she dug her nails in, making sure the other woman wouldn't be able to pull away and gritted her teeth as a swarm of memories flooded her mind.

"No!" Her scream echoed through the cavern as Mystique resorted to her normal body as she lost consciousness, falling back against the ground in a heap.

Shaking her head to try and clear it as a range of different memories pushed at her mental walls Rogue tugged her glove back on before stumbling to the edge and looking over it, shoving back the name Destiny and Michael as she spotted Scott just hanging on to a ledge below her. "Scott! Hold on!"

Looking around to try and find something to help her get down to him without breaking an ankle or making the tiny outcropping collapse beneath her weight Rogue dug through her coat, producing her collapsed down bo-staff. Tempted to cross herself as the memories of church from her childhood of being raised in the mixed Catholic-Voodoo LeBeau family came back to her Rogue launched herself over the edge, digging the end of the smaller version of the staff into the wall and using it to slow her decent. It didn't help that much as even with it she landed hard enough to knock her breath out of her body.

Shoving it back into one of the many pockets of her coat she snatch hold of both his hands in hers, leaning back in her crouched position and using the right leverage to lift his heavier form up next to her. "Gotcha!"

"Thanks for the lift Rogue." Scott said as he pulled himself the rest of the way. "Where's Mystique?"

Playing the part of being clueless to Mystique's real identity she asked. "Da wanna-be Principle? She's out of it, Ah zapped her." A sound above them of rock scraping against rock made both shoot a look upwards and for Rogue to reconsider her statement as a large boulder dropped towards them. "Or maybe not!"

Leaping to the side their momentum sent them over the ledge, dropping down the shaft into the icy water below them. Sinking deep Scott grabbed hold of her hand and half pulled her to the surface as she swam behind him. Breaking the surface both gasped for breath as the strong current swept them up, shooting them right towards what seemed to be a solid wall in the darkness.

"Hang on to me!" Scott yelled and once he felt her arms wrapped around his neck from behind he raised his glasses, the red beam shattering the rock surface and revealing an even deadlier drop as they rode upon the top of another waterfall, ten times bigger than the one they had been watching before.

"Hang on." He muttered again as she clung to him tighter and as the reached the very edge of the stream he snatched onto a rock ledge skirting the waterfall, using their combined weight to swing over to a lower outcrop just below them. The moment of relief was quickly lost again as unlike the last landed they were on this one did collapse beneath them, a scream getting out from both during their fall until they hit the ice bridge that spanned the gorge hard, leaving both sprawled across the surface as it began to crack.

First to move and get to her hands and knees Rogue raised her head against the harsh mixture of wind and snow to find Scott hardly moving, a dark mark quickly appearing across his forehead. "'ang on Scott, everything's goin' to be ok… some'ow." Cupping his face in her hands before moving to gently cradle his head.

"Great pep talk." He got out weakly, barely able to raise his head and look at her as she leant over his body. "You saved my life."

"'ey," She forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "W'at are friends for?" Noticing he barely staying awake her panic rose, "Scott, stay with meh." His head dropping to one side and resting against her arm as he blacked out. "Come on, wake up!"

Snapping her head up at the sound of a wolf growl Rogue echoed it right back, recognizing the animal's yellow eyes as it bounded down the slopes towards them. Grabbing Scott under his arms she started to tug him further out of the reach of the shapeshifter, yet this meant having to go further onto the weakened ice bridge. "Don't even think 'bout is Mystique!" She threatened, trying to ignore the falling rocks from the surface her and Scott were on.

Seeming to regain conscience during this Scott started to mutter, so low Rogue had to lean in to hear him. "X-Men… they're coming…"

"They are?" She asked, suddenly grateful to see her enemy team. "Great!"

"They… they can't… fine us." He continued.

"Figures!" Rogue snarled before a thought hit her. "Den we'll give dem something dey can fahnd. Open yah ahyes," Tugging his glasses from his face she carefully angled his head towards the sky, still moving the dead weight of the boy away from the approaching Mystique all the while. "Now!"

A beam of red sliced through the snow and wind up into the sky but the action took enough out of Scott that he passed out again, Rogue actually happy as he wouldn't see what she had to do next to protect them and she replaced his glasses.

"Some friendly advahce teach," She growled over at the wolf, standing up and slipped two fingers into her coat unnoticed, finding the hard edge of the object she wanted. "Don't mess with da Rogue!"

Flinging her hand out towards Mystique faster than the shapeshifter had time to register a sharp pain radiated from her shoulder as the force behind the hit sent her flying off the bridge, reverting back to being blue skinned from shock as a look to her arm showed a short yet deadly razor-sharp throwing knife imbedded in her flesh. A scream of rage and pain floated back up as she vanished in the clouds of snow.

Staring at where the woman had fallen from for a moment Rogue knelt back down beside Scott, cupping his face again as she checked for vital signs. Being around Assassins and Remy all her life made her accustom to both thrown and dodge any flying object she aimed or was aimed at her. Jean-Luc was very strict on having his children trained in fighting so they could stand their own against the Assassins but the throwing of weapons was a special skill Remy taught her.

The bridge continued to break apart around them, several extremely large cracks now showing across its surface as a gust of wind sent Rogue sprawling to the ground. Looking up and holding a hand over her face to prevent the high speed air whipping painfully at her eyes the X-Jet hovered overhead, the hatch open and with the form of Wolverine standing in it.

"Hang on!" He cried before leaping down next to them, throwing Scott over one of his shoulders as his arm encircled Rogue's waist before she could say anything, lifting them both up into the jet with ease as the winds of the plane finally caused the bridge to break and fall into the water below.

With Wolverine carrying Scott to the front of the plane for Storm to inspect his injuries Rogue collapsed next to one of the back chairs, pulling her knees up to her chest and taking the time to finally catch her breath. Noticing Wolverine stalking towards her she raised her head, her body finally losing its adrenaline rush and registering the cold environment once again, making her body shake and teeth chatter. "Is 'e ok?"

"He will be." Storm answered him, looking up from her patient long enough to focus on the girl.

Nodding her head Rogue was ready to let it drop to her knees as Wolverine stood in front of her. Looking up at him through her eyelashes she waited for what was going to happen next, reminding herself they only knew her as the kids friend from school, not working for Magneto, not their enemy.

"What 'bout you kid, you with us?"

"Look, no offence, mais mah answer's da same as Ah gave Scott. Ah can't abandon mah friend 'nd 'e's too stubborn to join, so no." She said gently but with enough force for it not to be argued.

Getting only a nod of his head in reply the clawed mutant returned to the plane controls. "We'll drop ya back of at Bayville."

Xavier's School for the Gifted.

Sneaking past the security of the household, ducking under cameras and around the triggers of the ground defences a darkened figure darted over the lawn before easily scaling the wall towards the boys wing of the building. Flinging herself up onto the balcony she was looking for a twist of her lock picking tools later it was open. The thick carpet cushioned her steps to perfect silence with her light step, gently making her way into the bedroom to the occupant of the bed.

Reaching a hand out she brushed his hair away from his forehead, exposing the bandage covering his skin before her bare fingers traced down his cheek. A soft smile crossed her lips as she stepped away and back towards her exit.

"Good to know yah ok sugah."

The whisper was light enough to not penetrate into his sleep and as he doze Scott had no awareness of the girl disappearing over the side of his balcony and in to the night.