Enjoy!

Rogue's eyes shot open.

She looked wildly around as her senses took in the sights and sounds around her. The low rumbling of the engine of the jet filled her ears as she lay on a bench in the back.

Blinking, she frowned.

Where was she, what had happened?

The seat under her cheek rumbled and she heard muffled talking. Still confused, she tried to wait for her mind to clear.

Putting her palm in front of her face and against the bench, she pushed herself up slowly, breathing deeply. The sun shone brightly over the fluffy clouds. Taking a few deep breaths, shook off the sleep that still clung to the edges of her mind.

It seems up here, above the earth, problems could be forgotten.

Her body ached slightly as she tried to stretch her back. Her ruby red glasses lay next to her forgotten.

She had kept them just in case Scott's power came back again.

Her eyes shot open in a gasp. Raising her hand uneasily, she stared at her hand to see the burn from the fireball still there.

Panicking slightly, she tried clenching her fingers, only to feel the skin start to itch. She stared at it intently. It wasn't disappearing, it wasn't even supposed to be there in the first place.

Her mind whizzed by with all the possibilities, she's particularly vulnerable to fire, or her healing is slow to take care of this. Maybe her nerves were burnt as well and…and

And maybe her powers were going away.

Closing her hand in desperation, she tried to enjoy the pain, pain she hadn't felt in so very long.

Someone cleared his or her throat, and Rogue hastily looked up from her hand, placing it palm down in her lap.

Emma sat across from her, simply staring at her. Some problems can at least be forgotten.

Emma smiled slightly, 'Enjoyed your nap?'

'Wonderful dream I had, you were buried fix feet under' Rogue briefly smiled.

Emma chuckled, 'nasty little tongue you have'.

Rogue bit back the even uglier comment she had, instead looking at her watch, 'How much longer?'

'About an hour I would say.'

Rogue laid her head back against the wall of the jet. Closing her eyes for a moment, she so wished she was somewhere else right now.

Opening one eye, she croaked, 'Go away'

Emma practically giggled as she grinned like a Cheshire cat. 'You can't touch me darling.'

Rogue looked around, seeing students asleep or up in the front seats with the teachers.

No one was really in hearing distance except for Logan, but from the look on his face, his senses were on overload from the jets and would be unable to discern anything else.

Rogue stared at her burned hand in her lap. The burn still ached from trying to clench her hand.

Shifting again she looked up to see Emma staring at the occupants as well.

Bobby and Kitty was napping, head on each other's shoulder, while Pete simply stared forward.

Joy. Rogue leaned forward, one elbow lay on her knee, and the other braced on the seat. 'What do you want Emma?'

Emma shrugged, 'light conversation with a dear old friend' Realizing Rogue's impatience, she cut to the chase, 'Why Alkali?'

Rogue drew in a small breath, 'there's a replica of Cerebro there. Stryker built it a while go.'

'How come we never heard about it?' Emma furrowed her brow.

Rogue gave her that look, 'I was never really going to tell you if I could help it.'

Emma smirked and nodded in acceptance of Rogue's lack of trust in her.

Rogue sighed as she folded her legs under her. She was dressed in simple black pants and a basic white tank top. One of the green X-men jackets keeping her from freezing to death, and black boots on her feet. Grabbing one of the black rubber bands that tied the clothes, she quickly put her hair up in a tight ponytail.

Emma followed her movements, her mouth simply tightening around the corners. 'So you want me to use Cerebro to find your Scott Summers?'

Rogue looked forward to see people giving the two of them wary glances. Logan was completely still, as if struggling to keep himself from stalking around.

Emma watched Rogue smile resting her back against the wall of the jet.

Emma frowned at Rogue's nonchalance, 'I'm still confused. How do you figure Scott Summers is connected to the journals.'

Rogue bent down to the knapsack she had found on board, shifting through it, she produced the journal she had procured off of Gambit. Riffling through it, she found one page and handed it to Emma.

Rogue silently watched as Emma read the passage, frowning at the passage. Looking up, she waved the book around, 'it's a description, so what?'

Rogue sighed, grabbing the book out of her hand, 'look at the date on that passage. That was written over thirty years ago.'

Emma suddenly leaned forward, 'so? It describes a mutant, orphaned at a young age. This description fits many mutants'

Rogue looked up, 'Scott and his family had been in a plane crash, his brother Alex and he were the only survivors when they were able to fall out of the plane before it burned. He was orphaned in Omaha Nebraska until he was a teen. Professor Xavier took him in.'

Emma shook her head, 'this doesn't mean anything. He's alive, he's not alive, first how why are we searching for him, how do you know he's alive, and what does this have anything to do with the first mutant.' she tossed the journal back, Rogue deftly catching it.

Rogue shifted a bit, before glancing at the others sitting in their seats and preparing for the descent.

Turning back, she saw Emma's eyes widened in understanding.

'You don't know do you? you don't really know?' understanding dawned on Emma.

Cackling, she leaned back, 'so you have them all on this merry chase, because you managed to convince them its all in that little journal of yours, but you really don't have anything to go on. Oh this is too good.'

Rogue raised an eyebrow, challenging her, ' I know what I know. I'm sure of it, and you won't say anything.'

Emma's mouth tightened, 'I think I require some compensation.'

Rogue laughed bitterly, 'Compensation? I've almost been set on fire, skewed with a bo staff and…oh yeah…had my brain fried by none other than you;'

Emma stared at Rogue for a long time, shrugging, 'you could have easily defended yourself.' But her eyes narrowed as Rogue stared at the journal.

'Right?' Emma asked skeptically.

Rogue looked up, 'don't trouble yourself Emma with anything but the little gift I hand you' she muttered.

Suddenly feeling the plane shift, both glanced up to see Storm preparing for descent intp the Canadian wilds.

Rogue gave one last glance at Emma, 'not a word''

Slowly making her way up the narrow aisle, she softly brushed Logan's shoulder before continuing up to where Storm and Hank sat.

'How is everything looking?'

Storm took a quick survey, and as she prepared some more, 'The strip is clear. We will be landing in ten minutes.' Glancing up at Rogue, 'how are you doing?'

Rogue thought about her hand instantly, but suppressed the thought as quickly as possibly, 'Just fine. I have to ask you guys for a favor.'

Storm and Hank gave each other uneasy glance.

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Magneto marched down the hall, 'you worthless boy'

Pyro sullenly flicked his shark lighter off and on as he followed him down the hall.

'And you two, how disappointing.'

Quicksilver and Scarlet witch stopped just behind Magneto.

Magneto slowly smiled turning to his minions, 'I will forgive you for your failures, if you get me those damn journals.'

Pyro hesitated, 'we aren't sure where they went though…' bracing himself.

Magneto frowned for a moment, 'she'll go to the only other cerebro in existence…alkali lake. It seems we will never escape that place.' He muttered as he stared forward.

Pyro frowned, 'Why would they be looking for Cerebro?'

Quicksilver started cackling, 'are you an idiot? Cerebro is a one man war machine. It can amplify any telepath's powers ten times.'

Pyro's mouth curled in disgust, 'I'm talking about what they are searching for' he hissed.

Magneto rolled his eyes, 'It seems an old acquaintance of yours is still alive and kicking. And they just realized how important he is to them. At least she has. Irene wasn't that stupid after all and has trained the girl well.'

'So shouldn't we go after them?'

'No, no, everything has been arranged as far as that is concerned. No I have something else I hope I can trust you with.'

Scarlet Witch interrupted their musings, 'and Gambit?'

Magneto touched the glass, 'He's Sinister's boy. Let him deal with the situation.'

Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Pyro gave each other nervous glances. They knew Sinister's idea of punishment, and none of them would wish it on their greatest enemy.

Not even a traitor like Gambit.

'What about the journals?'

'Not important anymore, we have everything we need right here' Magneto's eye twinkled.

All three looked through a giant window.

'He will be pleased.' Pyro smirked.

There lay the girl, her black hair in sharp contrast against the white environment.

A breathing pump and heart monitor indicating her body was still alive.

As the adults stepped down the ladder from the jet, Rogue followed slowly behind.

When she finally stepped foot on the ground, she looked up to see a stunning landscape, cold, gray, but so very vibrant. Her breath taken away by what surrounded her, she wondered if what had happened over eight years ago could really take place here.

Kitty stepped up next to her, and together they walked closer to the edge of the area.

Rogue stepped up to the very edge, where a sheer drop led to the lake, sparkling and radiating like a mirror.

Kitty whistled, 'that's a long drop'

Rogue moved even slightly closer, sending rocks and dirt scattering well below them.

She gazed down for a long time, before lifting her head and looking over the vastness of what had played such an important part in all their lives. This was Alkali Lake. This was where the end of the x-men started, Jean Grey buried under water, only to be resurrected again months later. This was where Scott Summers had died; Logan lost his memories, and each and everyone one of them feared to tread.

She struggled to search for any signs of the compound; but all of it had been buried underneath rubble and water.

The hair on her neck rose, and turning around, found everyone watching her, Logan's face twisted in a grimace as he tried to avoid looking at the lake.

Storm slowly made her way up the cold grounds to where Rogue and Kitty stood. 'How do you propose we do this?'

Rogue stared down at the water. Piotr could turn to metal, Logan had claws and super healing, Storm controlled the weather…

Rogue jerked up and turned to Kitty. Kitty looked back, questioning her.

Kitty's eyes widened with understanding, 'oh no!'

Rogue grinned, 'you can phase through the water and ground.'

Kitty looked back at Storm for some help, but she too agreed Kitty was the only one to get through the water and metal structure buried underneath.

'You and Emma will have to do this part on your own.' Storm said.

Kitty looked back at Emma, and her mouth curled in disgust, 'Seriously, it's not my fault if she accidentally finds herself taking a flying leap.'

Rogue grinned although thinking of the gruesome image, 'try to do it after you guys get it done'

'I promise she will not be hurt while you're here' Kitty said solemnly before turning and walking away.

Storm and Rogue were left to stare after Kitty.

'Ten bucks says Kitty gives her a black eye' Rogue said seriously.

'I say Kitty dyes her hair blue while she's sleeping.'

Blowing on her hands a bit, Rogue turned to help the students set up their tents.

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'Storm told me you left. Thought this might be where I find you kid'

Rogue turned around, the giant board behind her was flipping to new destinations and times of all trains in and out of Westchester.

'Your not my father Logan, remember. You can't stop me.' she said bitingly.

Logan stood there, one hand on his hip and the other on the cigar. People around him just naturally shifted away. Giving him a self-imposed steel cage, for which people couldn't get too close. Except Jean.

'Don't intend to, but is this what you want Marie?'

Rogue had argued over and over again whether to take the cure or not, calling herself stupid in ten thousand ways. She snorted, 'You already asked me that before. You're not allowed to give me advice twice.' She lifted her arm and rolled up the sleeve, showing the bruise the needle left on her pale skin.

Logan drew a sharp breath, 'you did it…' he trailed off.

Turning back around, she stared up at the board, 'yeah, and I did it for a boy too. What are you going to tell me now Logan? As long as it's worth it, it was a good choice. Was it worth it to fall in love with Jean, was it worth it to see her love for Scott fade away just a little for you.'

Logan grimaced at the look. She had claws. 'Look Marie-'

Rogue suddenly turned around, 'look Logan' she stressed, 'running away, that's something you do, So run away Logan, I don't need you anymore...' she softly said.

Logan swallowed.

'Don't do this on a whim Marie; you took the cure, it doesn't mean you leave.'

Rogue stepped closer to him, 'It's Rogue, and I'm twenty Logan. What am I supposed to do, become a teacher at the school, watch all those little students become people of society, while I sit behind those mansion doors? The others look at me with distaste because I got it and they didn't.'

Rogue paused taking a deep breath, and another step forward, 'Did you know Bobby looked disappointed with me when I came back? Disappointed Logan. Who do you people think you are looking down at me? You pity me when I can't touch and you pity me when I have no powers.'

Suddenly Rogue shoved him in the chest, barely moving him, but nevertheless shocking him.

'DAMN YOU, DAMN YOU LOGAN, YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO STOP ME!'

She screamed at him, pounding her fists and kicking him, anything to leave a mark, just for a few seconds.

'You were supposed to stop me! You were supposed to tell me that it would be all right! Where were you when I needed you, I, not Jean, not Storm, me?' She said searching his eyes. She shoved him, hit him, tried as hard as possible to bruise him, make his pain last a little longer.

Rogue struggled against him, until she felt his arms around her, 'No…No Damn you. Damn it, you were supposed to be there!' She sobbed as Logan held her close. Logan realized he had nothing to give her. Nothing she was looking for anyway. This was what she needed.

'You're right kid. Maybe what you need isn't in this school.'

Rogue looked up, her eyes searching his for a moment. His eyes were so barren, as if he lost something important. Rogue's shoulders sagged, as she realized he was giving up on her to. But isn't that what she wanted. Rogue hands settled on his chest, feeling his heart beat steadily.

She couldn't even makis his heart miss a beat, not like Jean, she thought bitterly. Slowly her right hand crawled up his chest, twisting her fingers around his tags. A present from Jean when she knew he would regret leaving it around Stryker's neck.

With a hard yank, the clasp broked behind his neck, and she felt his heart miss a beat. pocketing the tags, she lifted herself on her tiptoes.

Brushing her lips against his unshaved cheek, she whispered into her ear, 'these are mine, I'll bring them back when I'm ready.'

She set herself back on her heels, just staring at him. He raised his hand, and Rogue back away for a moment. Both realized in that moment Rogue was actually scared of him. With trembling fingers he continued to reach out, touching her cheek.

His hands were cold. That's all she would remember.

And then Logan walked away.

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Rogue sat at the edge of the tent, staring out at Logan. He stood against the black-inky sky just watching over the lake.

Rogue knew what he was watching, and her heart twisted a little bit. Looking down a moment, she stared at the piece of cloth she used to wrap around her palm. It was still painful.

She had seen him and her. She saw the two talking, and him saying something, half smiling in that charming way of his. She also saw her walk away, and the defeat in his shoulders…even she knew in that moment that her little crush was so very small.

He truly loved her. She had realized that night. And when she saw her walk into his tent, she squeezed her eyes tight and turned away. That was the inevitable end. The end of her hero she liked to think. She heard the stories after the phoenix episode, how he had carried her body so lovingly. She couldn't watch him, not then, not with the silence in her head. So she hid in her room, hoping for her hero.

Heroes, foolish creatures, they had the need to sacrifice themselves for stupid reasons.

Rogue watched as Logan snuffed out his cigar in his hand. Even she gritted her teeth at the pain he must feel.

Getting up and brushing the dirt from her pants, she took a deep breath.

Rogue stepped out of her tent, tying her hair back as she tried to keep herself from shivering.

Jerking back, she saw Emma standing right in front of her. 'Dear God Emma' Rogue said still in shock.

'I'm not doing it.' Emma snapped furiously.

'And evening to you too.' Rogue brushed past her.

Taking a cup of coffee Hank handed to her, she grimaced at the bitter taste.

Turning around, Emma was still standing there. Rogue sighed in defeat, apparently another fight was inevitable.

'Alright let's hear it.' Rogue said continuing to walk towards the edge of the cliff, away from the others.

Emma followed suit, as every teacher and student watched.

Rogue looked down again before taking another sip.

'If this thing doesn't even work, if it's been ruined by the water or collapsed?'

Rogue smiled, 'then you were right, and there is nothing more you enjoy then to be right.' Stepping closer to Emma, she looked her directly in the eye, 'but you'll do it anyway.'

Emma crossed her arms, 'and why would I do that?' Emma called out.

Rogue turned around, 'because you're curious.'

Rogue turned back around and walked into the back of the plane where Storm and Hank were staring at a screen.

Storm shook her head in disgust, as the news related more tragic mutant deaths.

Riots are escalating as more and more mutants are coming out. Magneto, a man not in the news recently, has offered sanctuary to all mutants.

In the Midwest, strange occurrences of locusts have spread across the fields, ruining crops that would have fed at least 60 of the population. Mutants are suspected of involvement.

Several mysterious cases of patients with sores and blisters have shown up severe symptoms. The cause is unknown.

Hank sighed as he cleaned his glasses, 'one problem at a time Storm. That's all we can do.'

Storm turned to see Rogue standing there. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the Screen. Meeting Storm's eyes for a moment, the depth of sadness made Storm almost choke up.

Turning off the T.V, Storm hastily grabbed several objects off a nearby table.

'Well Rogue, you're all set.' Storm said as she handed Rogue a phone and earpiece. Rogue placed the earpiece in her ear.

'We'll call you when we find him' Storm said as she turned on the phone and showed her the key card.

Logan walked up behind them, but Rogue barely spared him a glance, as the three discussed the rest of the plan.

'Hank's coming with me' Rogue declared as she hooked up an Ipod to the computer and started tapping away at the computer.

'I'm coming too' Logan said without question. Storm and Hank glanced at each other, but neither said a word, leaving it to Rogue to say anything.

Rogue suddenly stilled, staring at the ipod. Her mouth went dry.

Numerous reasons crossed her mind for why Logan should not come, but none of them she could truly voice.

After a long period of silence Hank cleared his throat, 'very well then, Rogue?'

Rogue jerked back, her head snapping up, 'yeah?...er right.'

Storm, Logan, and Hank stared at her, until she could feel her face go completely red.

She brought up the screen again. 'I am hoping to get in touch with my friend, she used to work in Cambridge as a researcher on ancient symbols. I was last in touch with her about sixteen months ago.' Rogue indicated her picture and information.

'Irene mentions the order several times in her book.' holding up the nano, Rogue gestured to it, 'I downloaded some data points and information on whatever I could find cross referenced in the journals and other information I had collected.'

Hank cleared his throat, 'I'm sorry...journals, you only had yours to look at and the one you procured off of Gambit.'

Rogue looked down for a moment, hesitantly before looking up nervously. 'er...right' She shifted behind her and brought up not one but two journals.

Everyone stared at her, 'Xavier had one in his library. I grabbed it the first day.' she smiled guiltly, as Storm stared at her in stony silence.

Swallowing her suddenly parched throat, 'so...uh...alright that woman had a tattoo on her wrist. It looked familiar because Irene mentioned it several times in her journal. I just didn't put it together until Gambit had mentioned something. In the whole fireball the mansion and Gambit chasing me, it didn't hit me until now. There is a group called the Order, their full name is the Order of the Apocalypse. I told Kitty this girl would be on our side if she ever woke up.' Rogue showed the symbol onscreen. 'I also discovered it on a webpage linked to a Dr. Essex. Now-' Rogue shuffled through some more papers.

Hank interrupted her, 'yes, I discovered some things about him and I highly suggest we make him a top prioority as well. An expert in mutant genetics, our young friend seems to be a protoge of his.'

Rogue nodded, 'right okay...Something tells me we find this mutant at the end of the yellow brick road, the problem is Magneto and this Essex are also on the same road and we are basically racing against time and them for the answers. We need to work fast.'

'We will look for Scott.' Storm finished.

Logan crossed his arms as he looked up with skepticism, 'what makes this mutant so dangerous.'

Rogue looked up at the screen at the symbol, the black ink practically glowing against the aged parchment, 'Irene calls him Apocalypse, says he could end the world'

Silence

All four glanced uncertainly at each other, none of them wanting to say anything more. They weren't allowed to think like that, not now.

Simply nodding at each other, all four parted ways.

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'I have a favor to ask.' Rogue asked Storm, as the two slowly made their way to the Jet. Grabbing the journals from her bag, she shoved them in Storm's hands. 'I need you to safeguard these. I know Magneto will do whatever he can to get this, and of all of us, you're the best at defending yourself against him.'

Storm nodded haltingly, 'I got it' Rogue looked back at the Lake for a moment.

'You understand Magneto and them are on your backs, get Scott as quickly as possible and get out of here, send the students away...and destroy Cerebro. It may have helped us now, but with Frost...' Rogue warned.

Both watched the ripples in the lake reflect the setting sun.

'He's alive Storm. I can feel him.' Rogue said with determination, before walking away.

The jet slowly lifted up from the ground, several of the students walked out of their tents and stared up in the sky.

Storm hugged the journal to her body as she held her hair back.

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Katherine rolled her neck as she scanned the chart. 'Vital signs haven't changed' she muttered, shuffling some more papers. She cursed Rachel at that moment.

Rachel traded shifts with her because Rachel had a date tonight, and Katherine as usual had none.

Tap tap.

Katherine looked up, seeing nothing but the darkened halls over the ledge. 'Getting paranoid Kat' she muttered to herself, 'and now I'm talking to myself' she continued.

Sitting at the nurse's station, she slowly rolled her chair out. She needed coffee badly.

Her shoes squeaked loudly on the vinyl floor. Her change jingled in her hand as she could only focus on the machine ahead.

A few feet away, she felt the chill on the back of her neck.

Turning around, there was nothing down the hall.

A few minutes later and she stood in front of the vending machine, her eyes glowing from the bright plastic.

SNKT!

Katherine heard it before she felt it. Looking down, she saw a red stream down her pink scrubs. Dripping onto her white sneakers. In the glass was the reflection of a horrific smile with blades for teeth.

She fell to the ground before uttering a sound.

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Hello, I apologize with the delay in the story. holidays, and writer's block had stopped me for a very long time, but I hope to finish this story eventually within a month or two. there just seems to be a lot more loose ends then I expected, oops. But makes for some cool fun. Not very much actions here, but I hope it gets some questions answered. although as I read this, I have questions myself. Damn, gotta work on that. Hope you enjoy it, and review! review! review!