Four of us. 4.

Such a small number. Suck a trivial little digit that Jean was more than willing to subtract from.

Ororo was first.

Jean knew our fears, what sent chills down our spine and left us sweating and full of ominous terror. She had no qualms about using it against us.

Playing with us as she manipulated those around her.

No longer were Magneto's remaining minions fixed on fighting Jean. Instead they were helping her. Maybe not willingly, as Jean took metal control over them, but they were assisting her none the less.

That was how Ororo was buried, forced down into the earth as it actually opened up and swallowed her, assisted by a young woman, who's eyes were so glassed over that I wondered if she had any conscious thought at all that was her own.

None of us could help her. Just watch in terror as her claustrophobia was used against her in such a sinister fashion. Even when Storm broke through the earth on her own, I knew she was done for, her eyes wild and full of panic, her breathing so strangled that it must have been a blessing to her when she passed out from the terror she had just been through.

It was one thing to fight the Brotherhood. Another to fight Jean who was using them to her every advantage.

Enjoying herself as she stood off on her own, her eyes open with obvious excitement as she played with her new toys. Sending them our way.

That was when I decided it was time.

You see, when Xavier came to my room, he came so looking for a favor.

A wild card that he could use against Jean.

He gave me his powers.

I was against it at first, until he let me know that he could transfer them without me having to get any of his.. personality, memories, etc. Just the abilities along with the knowledge how to use them. I knew if anyone could do it, it would be the world's most mentally disciplined telepath.

He wanted me to block my teammates minds, not giving Jean the chance to distort our views or control us, read our minds or exploit us in any way. That is if she had gone that far off the deep end.

"But can't y'do that Professor?" I remember asking all those many, many months ago. My question causing him to tilt his head as he looked at me openly, allowing me to see the uncertainty that was filtering through his features.

"Yes. I can. But one never knows what the future holds."

So that is why I didn't stay behind with Scott, why I had to confront Jean no matter what. Why I pushed myself forward and tried not to look back.

Ever since Xavier had been injured I allowed my mind to protect the others, supplementing for his absence.

It was an odd experience.

Guarding so many minds, while trying to keep clear of the outer thoughts and emotions.

Yet, It came so naturally I barely even acknowledged I was doing anything.

Until Jean went Puppetmaster on us.

After that there was no reason to hold back any further. Bracing myself, I took a deep breath.. and then I opened my mind.

Not prepared for what happened next.


Voices surrounding me. Whispering. Yelling. Urging me. Emotions and feelings building up and releasing.

Hundreds of people. No more..

Growing, surging, breaking against the rim of my mind and then building up again.

Overwhelming is a word that I became acquainted with...

A woman angry that she had just burnt her last piece of bacon.

Can't even cook. Why do I have to be so pathetic?

Self incrimination...

A man miles away, paying a clerk in a grocery store, a young pretty woman that he unconsciously always went out of his way to see.

Why can't my wife look like that.

Guilt...

A young girl running around her neighborhood, enjoying the feel of her new jogging suit. The peace and quiet of the new day surrounding her. Until she realized she was being watched, and followed. And suddenly her solitude was broken. Especially when she was grabbed from behind.

No!

Terror...

A young mother nursing her newborn. Half awake as she looked down at the new life nestled in her arms.

Beautiful.

Joy...

A newlywed man looking down at his wife that was still sleeping soundly beside him.

I don't love her.

Regret...

A grandmother taking her last breath. Her grandson holding her hand. A small accepting smile exchanged between the two.

Goodbye.

Peace...

Louder and louder, everything twisting and melting together, shooting through my head.

Love, Anger. Hate.

Fear.

Pity.

Surprise.

And then control came in a blinding rush, walls built up and fortified, voices distinguished, silenced and muffled.

All this happening in a matter of seconds.

Using my new talents I broke Jean's hold on Magneto's people, ripping through her metal grip on them while at the same time turning them off, letting unconsciousness take hold of them as they fell to the ground. Not giving her any more minds to play with.

Bobby stopping in his tracks, Logan cursing loudly. Both looking around them until their faces landed on me. My fingers straining against my temples.

Logan realizing before Bobby what was going on as he looked down at the prone bodies and then back at me. His mouth slightly opened as he figured out what I had done.

But that wasn't all I have archived.

I had also gained Jean's complete and undivided attention.


"Watch Yourself!" Bobby shouted a warning at me, realizing at last what was going on. Jean was strolling toward me at a leisurely pace, her continence filled with an underlined hostility, her eyes darkening. Her hands reaching and pulling.

And then everything blurred.

And I, somehow had fallen on the ground, one hand on my knee as I tried to catch my breath.

Breathing ragged and hard. Gasps catching in my throat.

Looking down at the absurdly white snow, watching as it turned red. Droplets of blood leaving my nose.

"Rogue!" It was Logan that time, I brought my head upward, suddenly feeling lethargic and heavy. He was in front of Jean, his claws extended as he stood in her path resolutely.

"I knew there was a reason.." Jean was saying, looking at Logan with vague interest. "Why I couldn't reach your minds."

Tilting her head to the side she started scrutinizing him.

"But your little Marie is a little wasted right now."

I heard my name coming from her lips, echoing in the area.

Knowing that she wasn't supposed to know. Knowing that the only way she could have figured that out was if she was in his head.

Logan's head.

Bobby was beside me, trying to help me stand, uttering words that blurred into my ears, scattered through me and disappeared.

And Logan dropped. Landing hard on his knees. Jean taking two more steps toward him.

"What?!" He stopped. Took a deep breath and tried again. "What are you doing to me?" Logan yelled, his claws retracting as he grabbed his head and gasped with sudden pain.

Jean smiled then, a dismal thing that twisted her lips upward. Bringing her hand out she placed her fingers under his chin and forced him to look at her.

"You always wanted to know about your past.. well.. Welcome to your own personal hell Logan."

Leaning down further she came toward Logan, her lips hovering over his, at the last minute she stopped short, her hand flashing forward as it cracked against his cheek.

And then she must have intensified whatever she had been doing to Logan, for suddenly he was writhing on the ground, screaming and howling as he crashed widely about. Until he became silent, deadly silent. His eyes wide open with horror, as he re-lived, who knows what.

Shaking, I was leaning on Bobby for support.

"Stay here!" Bobby said with sudden venom. And that was when he started to change right before me, morphing into a crystalline structure, actually turning into a walking, supposedly breathing ice form that looked just as shocked as me that he had just done that.

I tried to say something to him but couldn't. Tried to speak but my mouth wouldn't move.

He was running toward Jean. Spraying ice in front of him. Circling her he continued what he was doing. Until she was frozen inside a thick layer of ice.

Bobby turned his head, looking at me with a pleased expression coursing through his features. He brought his hands out past his body, palms at an angle, his shoulders lifting with the movement.

"See that wasn't so ha.." But he never finished his words.

Ice shattered and erupted. Jean bursting out of it all.

A shrewd look from her sent Bobby flying, crashing back toward the gas station as he landed in front of a gas pump.

But she wasn't through.

And I saw what she had in mind.

But I could do nothing, I was paralyzed.

Fortunately Bobby too saw it coming, his premonition probably the only thing that saved his life.

Getting up he started to run, jumping as an explosion rocked the gas station, enveloping his escaping form as it spit him out of the other side of the road.

I wanted to scream. But couldn't. Wanted to help. But was unable to.

My moment of weakness letting Jean gain ground momentarily, as she held me in a firm grip with her telekinesis. Not letting me move or even speak.

Not letting me help Bobby or Logan.

All I could do was stand there and watch.