Chapter 21: The final Missions

Rogue entered the mansion. She could not remember a time when she had been this exhausted. She wanted to sleep, just take a little nap even. That might do her some good, but she couldn't, not yet anyways. She had to find Amara.

Rogue wandered the halls and almost walked into Jamie. "Rogue!" He threw his arms around her and she almost screamed.

"Ahh, Jamie!" His face fell and he looked scared. She felt bad; she hadn't meant to scare him. "Jamie, Ah'm sorry, Ah'm jus' badly bruised an' really tired."

"Oh, I'm sorry Rogue. Are you going to be ok?"

She smiled down at him, "Ya, nothin' that Dr. McCoy, Logan and sleep can't fix." She told him. He smiled and then she asked, "Jamie, have ya seen Amara?"

He nodded, "Yes, our job on this mission was to help Dr. McCoy. Amara should be down in the med bay." Rogue was confused. As far as she knew the only thing down in the lab with Dr. McCoy were the drugs the four groups had collected. Jamie sensed her confusion so he started explaining. "Kurt and I were able to convince some people to come back and see Dr. McCoy for testing. We almost lost a girl named Emily. Dr. McCoy is doing everything he can to get the drug out of her body"

Rogue understood now. The two entered the elevator and headed down to the med bay. Rogue decided to ask Jamie if he knew more about this Emily and anyone else. "Did this Emily take all the pills Jamie?"

Jamie shook his head. "No, there was one left in her box. Rebecca had three left in hers."

Rogue sighed. They would pull through. As they entered the room she looked around. There were a good twenty cots lined up. 'Well, we could make a whole other wing down here,' she thought. Just then Hank turned around and saw her looking around the room. "Rogue, how good it is to see you made it back, but I must say it looks like you sustained quite the injuries." He motioned to her stitched head and bandaged wrists.

Rogue sighed, "Actually Hank, it's the bursin' that hurts the most. However Ah'm not here for medical attention, yet anyways. Ah'm here for Amara, is she here with ya?"

Amara walked down the hall towards Rogue. She had been near the back tending to a little boy who had just fallen asleep. She looked at Rogue and then turned to Hank, "Tommy's asleep now. I think his fever finally came down. Oh and Sarah says she is hungry."

Hank chuckled, "Well at least we know they are feeling better. Amara, Rogue requires your assistance." Amara looked at Rogue and then back to Dr. McCoy. He smiled, "I will be fine Amara. I have a feeling this is more important."

"Are you sure Dr. McCoy?"

"I am positive."

Amara left the med bay with Rogue and Jamie took her place. When they were in the elevator Amara said, "So what's so important that you need me? I know it's not a training session."

Rogue gave a little smirk, "No, it's not trainin'. It's a mission for y' and y' alone." Amara looked at Rogue and followed her outside to the back of the grounds. Rogue continued, "Ya know when ya do a bad job on a report an' ya don' want anyone t' know, so ya burn it?"

"How do you know that? Did Tabitha say something? Or Jubilee, or…"

Rogue stopped her, "Hun, everyone knows everythin' around here."

Amara looked sheepish, "So even the professor knows?" Rogue nodded and Amara looked at the ground. "Oh, am I in trouble?"

Rogue let out a humph. "No Amara, Ah actually need ya burnin' skills." She stopped and pointed to the packages laid out on the lawn. "Ya see these?" Amara nodded and Rogue continued, "Inside o' these packages are 1000 boxes o' the drug y' and Gambit collected two an' a half days ago."

Amara's eyes popped out of her head. "1000 boxes, in all these packages! That's a lot. There must be at least 100 of them here."

"There are 150 actually." Rogue told her.

Amara looked at them and then at Rogue, "I don't understand, why do you need me?"

Rogue took in a deep breath and then tried her best to explain. 'Man leading was tough' "Amara, the only way to get rid of this drug safely is by using hot liquid. That would be you."

"I can't Rogue, there are too many. I'm sorry."

Amara turned around but Rogue caught her and looked her in the eye, "Amara, y' throw fire balls all day and when ya get a bad mark y' burn it up. Ah know that the other seniors think that y' and the other new recruits don' know what y' are doin', but that's not what Ah see. D' ya know what Ah see?" Amara shook her head. "Ah see lot's o' power, jus' lack o' control. T' be an X-Man ya have t' have control. D' ya want t' be an X-Man Amara?"

Amara looked at Rogue and said, "Yes, of course I want to be an X-Man."

Rogue gave a nod, "Good. Here is y' firs' lesson an' mission in one. Each o' these boxes contains a bad grade, a C- or lower. Ah want ya t' turn 'em in t' ash."

Amara looked at the boxes and said, "Ok, I will try, but what happens if something goes wrong?"

Rogue looked up to the sky and Amara raised her head to look up too. "Storm 'ill take care o' any emergencies. Now, are you ready t' burn some boxes full o' bad grades?"

Amara fired up and put everything she had in to as many boxes as she could. After two hours Amara had turned fifty boxes to ash. She wobbled a bit and then sat down. "Rogue, I think I'm spent for the day."

Rogue looked at the boxes and then down at Amara. "Good work kid."

Storm floated down from the sky, "Well done child. Rogue is quite right; you all need more of a challenge."

After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon and juice Amara Rogue and Storm headed back outside to continue the task of destroying the boxes. Amara took out another fifty before almost collapsing.

"Ya know Amara, y' can take a break when ya need t'. We need ya walkin' and active, not in the med bay," Rogue informed her.

Amara smiled t Rogue and asked, "Did you take a break on your mission?"

Rogue looked at her and sighed, "No, but Ah didn't use mah powers. Ah had t' be always on mah guard, listenin' for guards, alarms, footsteps that didn't belong t' the team." She took a swig of her water. "Y' are exhaustin' yourself by usin' your powers. Why don' we take care o' the rest o' the boxes tomorrow?"

Amara tried to protest, "But Rogue, there are only fifty left! I can do it."

"Nope," said Rogue. "Your energy's too low. Ya need t' recharge an' t' do that ya 'ave t' get rest."

The girl looked at Rogue, "So if I take a nap I can come back out and toast these bad grade boxes?"

Rogue looked at Storm. "Child, Rogue just doesn't want you to wind up in the med bay. She has spent many a time in there because of over using her powers. Do you understand?"

Amara looked at Rogue and then to Storm. "Yes Storm I understand."

The three came inside and Amara was swarmed by Sam, Jubilee and Jamie. "So, how'd it go?" Sam asked. 'The New Recruits had placed bets on how many boxes Amara would toast today. Sam said 30, Jubes said 60 and Jamie said 50.'

"It went fine I guess. It gets rally tiring. It's not easy becoming an X-Man."

Amara started to head for the stairs when. Jamie asked, "Amara, how many boxes did you get rid of today?"

"Why Jamie?"

"Oh we are just wondering how you are doing," lied Sam.

"Oh," said a tired Amara, "I got rid of 50 more. I hope to get rid of the other 50 tomorrow. Night guys." With that Amara headed off to bed and Jamie got handed fifty dollars.

Amara fell asleep almost instantly when she flopped on her bed. She started replaying the last two days in her head. The return of the X-Men and Brotherhood, Rogue coming to find her in the med bay, how the patients were doing in the med bay, and how much stronger she could feel her powers becoming just by toasting fifty thick packages a day. She hadn't realized how important focus and control were until working with Rogue. No wonder Jamie liked working with her.

Rogue on the on other hand was not having very much luck sleeping. She tossed and turned. Something was bothering her but she couldn't figure out what it was. The base was gone, Magneto had seen to that. Creed was now behind bars along with Wiser, they had been on the news so she knew that wasn't it. She had told Hank the good news about the drug and that all the people in the med bay should be getting well as long as none had taken all fourteen pills. Amara was doing very well with destroying the packages so why couldn't she sleep?

"You miss him," Jean's Psyche said.

Rogue ignored her and attempted to push her back.

"The FOH won't give up that easily" Scott's psyche said.

Was that it? Was Rogue worried about the FOH? Capt. J. Russell had said she hoped they would fall with their leader behind bars. Creed however had threatened Rogue on Maui saying he would have all of Bayville and NYC attack the institute if she hadn't played along with him. Would all his supporters attack the mansion now that he was captured? Surely not, they didn't know who had caught him. So what was keeping her up?

She got out of bed and cringed. She was sore all over. 'Maybe Ah should o' gone t' the med bay.' She saw a shadow by her window. "Remy," she whispered.

He popped in and pouted, "What gave Remy 'way Cherie?"

She pointed to her lamp and the curtain. "Y' shadow. Why are ya up so early?"

"Why aren't y' asleep?" he replied.

She gave a small shrug, "Can't sleep. How 'bout y'?"

He looked at Rogue and said, "Remy jus' worried 'bout his Cherie." He walked over to her. She kept her eyes locked on his. He wasn't lying, his eyes held a certain amount of concern in them.

"Ah'm fine Remy, jus' can't sleep, that's all."

He looked at her and shook his head, "Dats no' all, tell Remy what botherin' ya."

Rogue sat down on her bed and leaned back a bit. Remy sat beside her and put his arm around her waist. "Ow!" Remy seemed surprised and removed his arm.

"Cherie, what's wrong?"

"It's nothin' just bad bruisin'. Jus' keep ya slimy Swap Rat hands t' ya self." She looked away from him for a second and then looked and asked, "Remy, d' ya think Ah'm leader material?"

Remy wasn't quite sure how to answer this one so he said, "Is dis a trick question Cherie?"

Rogue smacked his covered arm. "No, Ah'm serious! Ah sent out four groups t' collect a deadly drug, an' Ah took both the X-Men an' the Brotherhood in t' battle. Hell Ah even brought Mystique on the mission. Ah know Scott wouldn't of…"

Remy cut her off, "Rogue, Rogue, y' make a great leader. Shades jus' t' stupid t' see dat sometime' ya need de outside 'elp. Non, de base is ruined, de men are behind de bars, y' teachin' de petite 'ow t' use her power t' become a' X-Man." He smirked and then said, "Ah tink tat make y' a horrible leader."

She slapped him again and said, "Shut up Swamp Rat." Her eyes fluttered closed. "Ah missed ya," she whispered and she fell asleep leaning on Remy.

The sun came shining through the window blinding Rogue as there was a knock at her door. "What?" she groaned. It seemed like she had only just fallen asleep.

"It's like breakfast time," came Kitty's voice.

"Kitty, Ah'm tired. Tell 'em Ah ain't comin' down."

Kitty shuffled outside of Rogues door and then said, "I was like told that like wasn't an option. You have to like eat before you take Magma out back to finish off the packages."

Rogue groaned again, "Fine, Ah'll be down shortly. She gently slid off of Remy, took some fresh clothes out of her closet and had a quick shower. She then got dressed and headed downstairs.

Almost everyone was at the table with the exception of Remy, Scott and Jean. "Where are Scott an' Jean?" she asked.

"Where's Gumbo?" came a 'I've only had half my coffee' voice.

Rogue didn't say anything. Instead she grabbed a blueberry muffin, orange juice and grabbed a mug for coffee. As she ate she heard Sam, Jubilee and Jamie whispering. They looked over towards her and then glanced at Amara. Rogue rolled her eyes and then called down the table, "Hey Amara, think you'll get rid o' all those boxes today?"

Amara looked at her, "I think so. I have done fifty a day, so this should be the last bunch, why?"

"Oh no reason, jus' that ya have some bets bein' placed at your end o' the table's all."

Amara looked at the three others. "Is that why you wanted to know how many boxes I trashed yesterday Jamie?"

He nodded and said, "But it was Sam's idea."

Amara glared at Sam. "Fine, I want you to choose a different kind of bet."

Sam looked at her and said, "What kind of bet?"

"How long will it take me to finish off the last fifty boxes?"

Sam smiled, "Ok, who's in?" There were calls from all over the table. "One hour" "One hour twenty-five minutes" "Two hours to the second."

Once the girls were finished their breakfast Rogue and Amara headed out back to met Storm. Storm looked behind them. "You have drawn quite the crowd today. Do I dare ask what happened at breakfast?"

Rogue just turned to the crowd, "Alright ya pathetic bunch o' losers, ya'll are gonna learn a valuable lesson in respect. Ya are gonna watch Magma destroy the packages that hold the drug that could o' killed ya! As for y' Sam an' Jubilee, y' are gonna see how hard ya got t' work t' be considered an X-Man." She then turned to Magma, "Are y' ready?"

Amara nodded and fired up. She put everything she had into destroying the boxes and more. She could feel the power flowing through her and after one hour and forty- five minutes the boxes were ash.

They looked at the crowd. They seemed slightly stunned. Amara was wobbly again and Storm helped her to the ground. Rogue addressed the group, "Any questions?"

Sam and Jubilee looked at one another and then Sam said, "Why aren't you teaching us?"

Rogue looked at him slightly taken a back. She then said, "'Cause Logan's trainin' ya, that's why."

They heard Logan grunt in the back of the crowd, "Kid, whenever I'm not here feel free to give them this kind of work out."

Scott and Jean had come out side to see what all the fuss was about. When they saw Magma destroying the last of the boxes and the amount of force she was using they were shocked. They had always placed the new recruits at the bottom of the chain, but never took the time to know them. After seeing Jamie's avoidance skills in the DR and now Magma's strength they felt badly. Scott walked over to Rogue and said, "Rogue, you make one hell of a trainer and a leader. Thank you."

She looked at him and said, "For what Scott?"

"Opening my eyes to new things. I hope the professor will make you a leader again sometime." Scott then walked away leaving Rogue speechless.

The professor smiled. He knew that he had made the right decision.

A figure came up behind Rogue and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Tries bien Cherie tries bien." (Very good darling, very good)

The End