Crystal:  Well, they've got to eventually make it to Africa, but in the meantime…

Blix:  Great sense of smell, Blix!  Of course there's trouble whenever Carol is around!  Lol.

SilAng:  I've been checking, but haven't seen Chapter Two, yet.  Let me know when you post.

Snoob:  I agree with you about loving this part of Rogue's history.  I think it's one of the reasons why I've always loved her character.

Chicken:  If you can hold on for a couple more chapters then maybe I can make your wishes come true.  Lol.

Girl#1:  Aw, that was sweet.  Thank you so much.

Wapps:  Thank you so much.

Cassandra:  Just got to love Carol.  Lol.

Vegeta:  Yep, more people are going to die before this story is over.  I haven't really decided whom, yet, though.  (However, I do have a couple ideas.).  I guess we'll both just have to wait and see.

Chapter Eleven

War of the Minds

Part One

"I think we should go back to the mansion," Rogue murmured, peering out into the disappearing day, the sun's rays dipping over the horizon, casting peachy-red light across the countryside.  "It's been a couple days," she added.  "I'm sure whoever ransacked the school is gone by now.  Maybe we can locate Xavier or Storm."

The night of the explosion Logan had lost his transmitter during their tumble down the hill.  He had managed to telecommunicate with the professor, but the connection had been weak.  Since then, he hadn't been able to catch Xavier's attention.  The link was closed off.

Logan hesitated.  Did he want to take the risk?  Did he have much of a choice?  Where else can we go?  Logan sighed.  "Alright, but any sign of trouble and we scram."

Rogue smiled.  "Deal."

Part Two

Logan led the way into the desolate, abandoned school.  The sound of his heavy footsteps echoed down the empty corridors, announcing his arrival to the ghosts of the hauntingly still mansion.  Rogue trailed behind him, stepping softly as if afraid to disturb the memories secured in the building's walls.

Wordlessly, they entered the elevator and descended down into the former world of the X-men.  "This is weird," Rogue muttered as they strolled into the mainframe room.  "Kind of creepy.  There should be people here."

Logan grunted his agreement, picking up a strange mechanical box.  "I don't know what the hell to look for."

Rogue, giggling, ambled over to a row of computers and picked up a microphone.  "Gee, maybe all this equipment will help," she teased, flashing him a dazzling smile before turning her back to him, focusing on the gadgets before her.

Logan grinned, watching her as she typed commands into the computers.  She was stunning, capturing him in her web of innocence and charm.  Yet, he refused to analysis his feelings; instead, burying them inside a brick wall deep in his subconscious.  No sense in opening that can of worms.

A couple hours slipped by before Rogue cheered in triumph.  Logan, cigar clenched between his teeth, eyeballed her with raised eyebrows.  "What do you got?"

Rogue swiveled around on the chair.  "I've got a lock on Storm's transmitter.  See, all that education and training paid off."

"Ok, so where is she?"

"I don't have an exact location, but somewhere near Paris."

"What they hell is she doing there?"

Rogue shrugged.  "Beats me.  For all we know she could've been captured and the captors took her to France."

Neither of them voiced their real fear: what if she, too, were dead?  Another casualty of the pointless war that raged around them.

"Can you communicate?"  Should you try?  What if it's not her on the other side?

"I can try while you grab me a bite to eat.  I'm starving."

Logan, reluctant to leave her alone, hastily left hell bent on returning as quickly as he could.  He came back from the kitchen with a soda and box of Wheat Thins: minus his cigar.  As he strolled briskly into the room, Rogue leapt off her chair and rushed to him, snatching away the food.

"I managed to send out a signal.  I got a Morse code response."  Rogue ripped open the cardboard box and tore into the bag, digging her hand in to retrieve some crackers.  "Storm is on her way.  She'll be here in fifteen hours."

"How can we be sure it was her?"

Rogue sighed, losing her excitement.  "We can't."

They scrounged up some pillows and blankets from the bedrooms and retreated back to the sublevel.  Both felt too exposed in the empty mansion; instead seeking minor comfort in the control room.  They laid out their bedding on the floor and lay down, staring up at the ceiling.

"I never imagined us having a slumber party," Rogue joked.

Logan snorted.  "If you want to call this a slumber party."

"It's been a hell of a couple days," she said, switching gears.

"Yeah."

"Logan," she rolled onto her side to look at him.  "How old am I?"

"Seventee-no, that's not right.  You're…well…twenty-one now.  Why?"

Rogue shrugged, brushing off his puzzlement.  "Just making sure you knew."

Logan sat up, twisting his upper body towards her, and stared openly at her.  "I don't treat you like a kid, Rogue.  I'm well aware of your age."

"Only recently.  Just last week you were handling me with kid gloves just as always.  Yet, ever since I voiced my opinion about stealing a jet you've been treating me like an adult."

"It was then I first noticed," he admitted.  "You found your voice.  Never before would you've stood up against Xavier or the other X-men.  You established yourself that day.  I'd never been more proud of you."

"You were proud of me?"

"Hell yeah, kid."  He winked at her, a sign that the "kid" was a tease.

Rogue gazed at him and he slowly grew uncomfortable with her emerald eyes penetrating him.  He cleared his throat, glancing away.  "We should probably get some sleep."  He settled back into his pillow, willing Rogue to do the same.

"Logan," she murmured sultry.  He then felt her hand slide up his chest.  "Will you hold me?"

Logan hissed as her fingers danced back down his chest, dangerously close to the waistband of his jeans.  He snatched her wrist, pulling her away from him.  "I think it would be best if I didn't," he croaked hoarsely.

"But Logan," her tone was sweet and innocent.  "I feel so isolated."

Logan sighed and drew her to him.  Maybe he had read too much into her actions.  Surely Rogue wouldn't hit on him.  He allowed her head to rest on his shoulder and one of her arms drape over his chest.  "G'night, Rogue."

"Night Logan."

He awoke to a weight sprawled across him.  It took him a moment to wake enough to realize Rogue had slipped a hand down his jeans.  Only his boxers served as a barrier between her groping fingers and his hardening manhood.  Logan involuntarily bucked his hips before his mind was able to absorb what was happening.  He instantly flung her off, growling.  "What the hell are you doing," he barked.

Rogue's lips curled into a devilish smirk.  She leaned into him, her lips centimeters from his ear.  "It's called seducing," she murmured throatily.  "Generally in order to have sex."

Logan snapped back, utterly stunned and suspicious.  "What the hell has gotten into you?"

"Hopefully soon it'll be you."  She giggled impishly, obviously amused with her answer.

Logan couldn't believe his ears.  This had to be a twisted dream.  There was just no other…he gasped.  Her eyes!  They're blue!  Why hadn't he noticed before?  "Carol Danvers," he snarled, jumping to his feet.

Rogue laughed and casually stood up.  "Carol…Marie…what's the difference?  We're one in the same now.  That's what she gets for taking my life!  Now, tell me, you enjoyed it, didn't you?  You liked us touching you."

"Shut up," Logan snapped.  "You're not her.  And you're not allowed to have her!"

"And what are you going to do about it, Wolverine," Magneto's scratchy voice spoke from her lips.  "Save her?  How?  The only way to kill Miss Marvel is to kill your precious Rogue."

"No," the Logan in her screamed.  "I won't let you!"

Logan nearly stumbled back at hearing his own voice escape her mouth.  He quickly recovered and grabbed her, shaking her.  "Damn it, Rogue, snap out of it!  Fight back!  I know you can.  Lock the others away.  Come on, Marie, come back to me!"

She shrieked and struggled against him, but he hold on desperately, watching in terrified amazement as her eyes flicked from blue to green over and over as the two conflicting women fought for domination.

Blue eyes.  "Let go," she screeched, flinging him away.

He flew back and crashed into the computers.

Green eyes.  "Logan," she cried out.

Blue eyes.  "She's mine!"

Green eyes.  "Stop it!  Stop it!"

Blue eyes.  "You shouldn't have killed me, Rogue!"

Logan raced towards her.  "Damn it, Marie, you can do this."  His anger past the boiling point, but he was furious not at her but himself.  He couldn't do a damn thing to ease her torment.   

Rogue suddenly collapsed against him, sobbing hysterically.  She clutched at his shirt, clinging to him desperately.  Logan embraced her, stroking her hair and murmuring into her ear.  "You're ok, Marie.  You're safe.  Everything's going to be all right."

Yet how could it be when her attackers were in her head?  Logan realized this horrible truth, but refused to say it aloud.

Rogue peered up at him through her tears.  "I can't stop them," she cried.  "They're so strong.  They're driving me crazy.  Carol wants me dead.  She's trying to kill me.  She wants control of my body."

"She can't have it," Logan proclaimed.  "It's yours and no one else can take it.  We won't let them."

Rogue sniffed, gaining reign over her emotions.  She wasn't allowed to be weak anymore.  She needed to remain calm and strong.  Logan was right.  This was her body and she sure as hell wasn't going to let someone rob her of it.

End Chapter Eleven

Sorry this chapter was so long.  I hope you managed to get through it.  Lol.  And I know there'll be plenty of typos, but I don't have time to proof read.  I'm doing this from school because my computer at home crashed.  Sorry!