A/N: Only three chapters to go!

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Rogue took a deep breath as the Blackbird's doors opened. Her head whirling with the sudden change. She felt as if she had been jerked out of her life. The beach, which first felt like a dream, now felt like her real life, for she recognized neither that cold gray place nor all the pale faces that soon would be staring right at her.

She naively believed that to learn that everyone at the mansion was safe would subside the heavy weight on her shoulders, when, in reality, it seemed to be exacerbated. There were so many unanswered questions that the thought of asking them out loud would make her stomach ache coldly.

She turned her face to Remy when his hand slid down her back and stopped on her shoulder inviting her to get closer, making her feel safe. Even though, she could not return his smile.

She touched the hard and cold ground with her bare dirty feet as she got off the Blackbird. Only then she realized it was cold. It had been a long time since she had felt the hair on her arms bristle with the cold wind. She used to like the feeling; now she bitterly realized that even that had changed.

Cyclops, Wolverine and Shadowcat led her to where everyone in the mansion clustered as they waited for her return. She felt anxious and exposed for being targeted by all those looks. Even Gambit's presence did not seem to cause any astonishment; all eyes turned to her. Rogue was used to being stared at, even by the mutant residents at the Institute. Looks of pity, of fear. She tucked the blanket tighter around her body.

Among all those looks, she met Kurt's eyes, and he hesitated. It was obvious he wanted to get close but kept his distance. She saw Xavier's subtle nod and Storm's smile. She expected them to go speak to her, but to her surprise, Gambit and she were immediately escorted to the locker room, where they could take hot showers.

In the locker room, Rogue shrank from her reflection as she was not ready to see what others were staring at. Dropped her blanket somewhere on the ground and took her time to get undressed. Locked herself inside a stall and, with numbed fingers, switched on the shower, letting the hot water fall on her aching body. She stood there for several minutes. Her eyes either closed or out of focus. It felt good, she thought, though not enough to ease the tightness in her chest. She could not wash her thoughts away. She closed her eyes tightly and was started at the light knock on the door.

"Anna?" only one person called her by that name. "Everything alright in there?"

Only then she realized her fair skin was speckled with red. Emerged from her daydreaming and began to rub her dirty hair. "Y-yeah. Jus' need a few more minutes."

When she finished, Gambit was no longer there. On the bench she found sweats, a t-shirt, underwear, socks, sneakers, a hairbrush, and her then indispensable gloves there for her. She smiled at Kitty's kindness. Only she would be that caring.

Rogue stepped out of the locker room and found Remy talking to Kitty, his arms crossed and leaning against the wall. He was also wearing gray and black sweats, the standard training uniform.

"De doc's waiting" he said, sliding his arm around her waist when Rogue came near. She kept her hands inside her pockets in order to warm them up, the same pocket where her gloves were.

"You look much better already, Rogue" said Kitty. She excused herself and left with a naughty smile like she was aware that staying would make her the third wheel. Rogue knew she would be later plied with questions.

"She's lying, right?" Rogue asked as soon as the other girl had moved away enough not to hear her.

Gambit sneered. "Yeah, definitely."

She elbowed him in his ribs. "You should lie too" then she was serious again "What were you guys talking about?"

"Kitty was telling me about... everyt'ing she thought I should know" he said, remembering Kitty blabbering about all kinds of subjects, she did not even stop to breathe. "Think she's counting on me staying."

Rogue could not help but feel soothed by that thought.

In the infirmary, Dr. McCoy greeted them with a warm smile. His light blue eyes, however, were not as radiant as usual as he seemed anxious.

They were both examined and the small cuts on their feet were taken care of, so was the cut on Remy's hand. They underwent various tests because they had entered a foreign country illegally, without precautions nor care. Hank inquired them about what they ate, where they slept, anything about their routine that could be relevant.

"Your health is impeccable" assured Hank, speaking to the both of them, who were each sitting in a bed. "Once I have the results to the other exams, I'll be able to provide you with additional information, but as I said, everything seems to be as it's supposed to."

"But..." Rogue started to say, hesitant. "What about mah powers?"

Hank shook his head covered in blue fur. "I'm afraid I can't tell what's become of your powers, Rogue. You don't seem to have gone through any physical changes."

"Maybe it's in mah head" she suggested.

Hank nodded. "I'll let the Professor know. He may offer more conclusive answers. Well, I'll analyze these samples" the vials of blood in his hands.

"Hank?" Rogue called but when he turned to her she hesitated "And… Apocalypse?"

"We'll fill you in soon, Rogue" he said elusively, looking uneasy. "Now, try to get some rest" and left the room.

Gambit sat down next to her. "Everyone's very friendly" he said, but Rogue was too tired to decide whether it was mockery or not.

"Ah'm done in."

He touched her face with his bandaged hand, rubbing his thumb on her cheek. She held his hand with her two hands. "It hurt?"

"Non."

Then they turned their faces towards the door when the Professor approached. "I hope I'm not interrupting" said in an apologetic manner, a kind smile on his face. "How are you two feeling?"

"Exhausted and starving" she answered for them both, looking down at her hands lying on her lap.

"I apologize in advance for keeping you here a little longer. You may sit down, Rogue" she sat without questioning. Xavier turned to Gambit, who was now standing. "You don't have to stay. This may take a while."

"I'll stay" Gambit said, more harshly than needed, crossing his arms over his chest.

Xavier nodded. He suspected that would be his answer. He turned to the girl again, however, he avoided her eyes. "Rogue, I need you to relax and close your eyes."

"What for?" Gambit questioned, severely.

Xavier did not take it personally, he smiled at the young man and replied in an amicable tone. "Rogue has absorbed two dozen personalities while in trance" he paused. He presumed Rogue was up to speed with past events. Seeing as she did not react, he continued. "And then those powers were taken away. For that reason, I'd like to scan her mind in order to know how the personalities are behaving."

"I don't feel any presence inside mah mind" she told the Professor.

"Such an invasive method seems uncalled for, all you need t' do is ask her" said Gambit.

Rogue failed to notice what Gambit, who was an excellent reader, did right away: how the Professor's features hardened with his words. He said nothing as there would be more propitious opportunities.

He could have obviously asked, the Professor thought to himself bitterly. In truth, he had to make sure that there were no remnants of Apocalypse's psyche in Rogue's mind. Anything that could be used against them. Repressing his emotions, Xavier collected himself. "Shall we begin, Rogue?"

"Sure, Professor" she agreed as she closed her eyes.

Gambit stood there wordlessly, even though he believed there was something shady about that situation.

For ten minutes, with his arms crossed and his jaw hard, the young man did not take his eyes off of the scene unfolding. He barely moved, only shifted the weight from one leg to his other leg.

Rogue was perfectly still, barely breathing. She did not look asleep; she looked dead. Xavier was also motionless, his eyes shut, brow wrinkled.

When Rogue opened her eyes, Gambit knew it was finally over.

She seemed to wake up from the dead, breathing in deeply. Clearly it took a toll on her. Gambit recalled when Xavier invaded his mind, how painful that was.

"Well?" her voice was weak and her throat dry.

"I found no trace of any personality other than yours" said the older man, deep in thought, and, somewhat relieved.

"What about her powers?" Gambit asked, keeping his defensiveness. Rogue was glad he asked the question before she did.

"I didn't find them."

She recalled their first days on the beach when Gambit suggested that Apocalypse might have taken her powers away along with all the others. No one else lost their powers, but Rogue had been the vessel.

"An' what does dat mean?" questioned the Cajun.

"I'm not sure yet" Xavier said, pensive and weary.

Gambit noticed Xavier wished to leave but there were more urgent questions. "Why did you try to get into my mind? Dat nearly killed me."

"There was no time for me to be polite and ask for your permission. I accessed your mind as subtle as I could, as I was well aware of your mental blocks, Gambit. That was the only way at the time. You two had to be warned to stay away" his voice growing tired.

Gambit insisted. "But if everything's fine," he said in an ironic tone "why weren't we rescued earlier?"

Xavier massaged his aching temples as he drew away. "We'll enlighten you about everything in time" his tone showed he would not allow that interrogation to go on. He left.

Rogue had never seen the Professor evade in such a way. Could have sworn she saw his hands shake. The Professor had always presented himself as collected and wise, someone to trust and advise in any situation. At that moment, however, he appeared nonplused, as though struggling with a decision. She first thought that Gambit was unfair to put him against the wall, but thinking it over, his questioning was anything but unfounded. Gambit had no reasons at all to blindly place his trust in Xavier.

Gambit was quiet for a few moments, considering the situation. Decided that, for the time being, he would keep it to himself. Did not want Rogue to worry.

Getting into a character, Remy offered her his hands and pulled her up and into his arms. "Come on... I'll get us something to eat" said as he kissed her on the lips.

They bumped into Kitty on their way to the kitchen, and she promised to bring them food.

"I'll finally get to see your bedroom, huh?" he murmured in her ear.

"And where are you going to sleep, Cajun?"

He shrugged again, this time smirking.

Rogue breathed in as she walked in and jumped on the tidy bed, whishing she could only fall asleep. Remy sat down and put her feet on his lap. They heard a hollow sound and smelled a strong odor of sulfur. It was not long until Kitty stepped in through the door and Kurt opened it right after. The girl was holding a large tray.

"I didn't know what you guys'd want, so I got—"

"Everything in the fridge?" Rogue added with a smile, which Kitty reciprocated.

"I told you" whispered Kurt.

"Put a sock in it, Kurt" Kitty said as she lay the tray on the bed. "Come on, elf" but he hesitated.

Rogue walked up to her brother and hugged him. "I'm glad to see you, Kurt."

"So am I, Rogue" he said with fraternal affection and tears he tried to hide.

"Come one, Kurt" said Kitty again as she left the room through the closed door, pushing the elf out with her.

"Guess I could crash right here" said Gambit with a mouthful, laying his head on his crossed arms. She lay down next to him to be taken in a kiss. Her stomach complained so she sat up to eat.

Kitty came back a few minutes later, again through the door. She stopped short with her eyes wide open as she realized she should have knocked first. As they did not seem to mind her interruption, she was back to normal.

"I was asked to show you your room, Gambit. And, Rogue, the Professor wants you to know he wants to talk to you first thing in the morning to bring you up to speed."

Gambit scowled. Rogue asked the question that was also on his mid: "Why wait?" it was evening, there was plenty of time for a meeting.

Kitty shrugged her shoulders. She really did not know.

Kissing Rogue good-night, Gambit followed the younger girl. "Petite, would you be kind enough to take me to your Professor?" he asked as they walked down the hall. "It's important that I speak to him before the day ends" Kitty obligingly led him on.

Rogue hid in her room, lying comfortably in her bed. Her head still spinning with questions. She had thought that once she was back in the mansion all of her doubts would be put to rest; nonetheless, there she was just as in the dark as before. Maybe Kitty could help.

"In which room is he?" she asked right after the other girl had gotten in through the door again. Sometimes Rogue wondered the reason for someone who could be intangible would choose to run through doors instead of walls. Putting the thought aside, she waited for an answer.

Kitty giggled. "Second door to the right on the boys' wing" she murmured as if telling a secret.

"Thanks, Kitty."

"Anytime" she said, then suddenly looked uncomfortable. "So... are you, like, together? You two look pretty serious."

Rogue had been preparing herself for the inevitable girl talk. "Yeah, we are."

"Well... I have homework to do" and headed to her desk.

"Kitty?" the girl turned around. "And… the situation with… you know… Apocalypse?" her question was grave.

"The Professor will tell you everything tomorrow. It's okay, there's no imminent danger" Rogue opened her mouth to speak but closed it when no sound left her lips. Kitty smiled, sympathetic. "Nobody blames you for what happened, Rogue."

Rogue's eyes began to mist and she nodded her head as a thank you.

Rogue could not sleep as she wondered why Gambit did not return after Kitty had shown him his room. Rogue had been wrong about Kitty asking her all kinds of inconvenient questions. In fact, Kitty had been abnormally quiet. Was she paranoid or was everyone tiptoeing around her?

Taking a peak at the other bed, in which Kitty slept soundly, Rogue kicked up her blanket, got out of bed and snuck out of the room. Since Gambit did not go see her, she would go look for him. Second door to the right, she repeated her mental note.

It was not late but the mansion was quiet. There was not a curfew, however, the students knew better than to stay up past midnight on a school night. There were always a lot of responsibilities waiting for them the next morning.

"Where you think you're going, Stripes?"

Rogue took such a huge fright that she felt like a cartoon character when their souls literally jump out of their skin. "What the fuck, Logan! You almost gave me a heart attack" she cursed, her hand on her chest, as if to ensure that her pounding heart would not slip out of her mouth.

"Watch your mouth, kid" his authoritative paternal tone of voice would always make her disconcerted. "So? Where're you going?" he insisted on an answer as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Ah was gonna grab a bite" she said petulantly. She was furious at Wolverine for standing guard outside her room. She could kick herself for being that predictable.

"Oh really? Why don't I keep you company then? I'm dying for a burger" she crossed her arms, angrily. "You're looking for the Acolyte" it was not a question.

"Will you stop calling him that? Yeah, it's obvious Ah was gonna see him."

Logan breathed in deeply and loudly, resembling a bull. "You're home, Rogue. You don't need him anymore. You don't have to feel tied down to that Acolyte. Any debt you might think you have—"

"Debt?" she echoed furiously. "That's what you think this is about, Logan?"

He tried really hard not to flare up. "I know his type, Rogue. I know the kinda effect he has on naïve girls."

"And that is what you peg me for?" at that point she did not even care whether she was yelling.

"By the way you're behaving, yeah."

"You don't have a clue about what happened on that beach."

"Care to enlighten me, Rogue?"

"Isn't it obvious?" as soon as those words were out she knew they were the wrong words.

Logan's eyes glared at her so intensively that she was almost afraid. "If he forced you into—"

"Logan!" she cried with a look of disapproval. "Quit treating me like Ah was some love struck little girl."

"Then, stop acting like one! Like you were thankful."

"Ah am thankful!" she said with eyes full of tears. "He's saved my life. He could've turned his back on me and let me die on that beach, but he didn't" she sniffed. "I'm not an idiot, Logan" he, at last, realized his words were insulting. "I didn't leap at the opportunity to touch. I've had a lot of time to think about it and that's why Ah know Ah love him."

Definitely not the comeback Wolverine saw coming. He let his guard down, although he was still unconvinced. Few weeks did not seem to be enough for falling. She was behaving like a weak-minded teen and he was not about to sit there and watch.

"Ah'm scared" she confessed as she leaned back against the wall, and winced. "Ah'm so scared that mah powers will come back."

"Cause he would walk out on you?"

"No" she answered back as she turned to look at his face. "Ah'm not afraid of losing him for that. Ah'm afraid of not touching him again, missing out on a normal life with him."

"We don't get to lead a normal life, Rogue. You should know better."

She shook her head in disapproval. "You really don't get it, Logan."

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"Too late for that" she said as she straightened up. "May Ah go now?"

"You can go back to your room."

Rogue awoke before dawn. Unsurprisingly, she did not sleep a lot. In a way, she could breathe in relief for having survived a terrible night. Still, she was furious at Logan. And why did Remy not go see her? He might have known Wolverine was making the rounds, but if there was someone who could easily sneak around Wolverine that would be Gambit. Wolverine's sense of smell was sharp but a thief could easily get in through the window.

She got up and went to the bathroom, took a shower and put on her sweats again. As she left the room, she ran into Kitty and Kurt who spoke in a low voice. When they saw her they said that the Professor was expecting her in his office.

Rogue went down the stairs and walked down the hall. Once again she had the feeling the mansion was too quiet. When she knocked on the door of the Professor's office, the chattering she heard behind the door suddenly ceased. The door was opened and she stepped in slowly, looking around her. Only the older members were present, which weirdly included Magneto.

Much to Rogue's bewilderment, Gambit was there was well, standing on a corner, with a long face. She slid him a questioning look but he did not reciprocate. On another corner, there was a woman Rogue did not know. As no one introduced her, Rogue thought it would be awkward to ask.

She sat down, bare handed, nervously cracking her knuckles. She had always felt oppressed by the imposing bookshelves and the massive chair into which she was now sinking. Once again she fixed Remy with a look, looking for support, but he stared at another direction. Had never seen his face so dark. Wished to talk to him, ask him the reason he had vanished the night before, although she had a feeling most of her questions were going to be answered soon. The shiver that went up her spine felt like a bad omen.

"We called you here, Rogue, because we owe you some explaining" the Professor started saying. "Ever since Magneto foolish stood up against Apocalypse by himself, a fact Gambit confirmed you are aware of, Apocalypse seemed to have weakened considerably, so much so that he hasn't left the confines of his pyramid since the occurrence. It's been a month, during which we feared retaliation. Although we cannot know for certain whether Apocalypse is planning a counterattack. The truth is we're not sure of anything at this point. We devise every step of the way with caution."

"Quit stalling, Chuck" Wolverine's deep voice reverberated through the room. "Tell 'er what that lunatic told us."

"Who?" Rogue asked unable to restrain the obvious question.

"Destiny."

"Ah haven't seen her in years" she murmured to herself. If Destiny was involved, the fact the X-Men did not go to their rescue earlier started to make sense. If she saw the woman now, fragile and precociously aged by her burdens, maybe Rogue would not recognize her.

"She was preoccupied with you" continued Xavier. "She claims to have seen two distinct futures. In the one with the best outcome, you would stay away until Apocalypse was defeated" the pieces were coming together, she thought. "That is the reason we didn't rescue you weeks ago. Nonetheless, you are here now and we fear that Apocalypse will try to reach you."

"Why the hell would he do that?" she asked in a morbid voice.

"Because he needs you to feed him with more powers" said Xavier unceremoniously. "When he sent you away, he didn't know that he could use you again. We suspect that he might know it now, and we fear he finds out about your returning. Although we are confident that he doesn't as Mesmero has been held prisoner."

"Prisoner, huh? Thought you were de good guys" scorned Gambit.

"We are not particularly comfortable with the way some things turned out" said Xavier, defensively. "Mesmero is dangerous. We had no alternative."

"We could have killed him" said Magneto. "But I was the only one in favor of it" said as though to affirm the X-Men were indeed the good guys.

Gambit did not buy the act, he could not after knowing what Rogue was about to find out.

"Well," Xavier went on "we don't know of any candidate who could work for Apocalypse. For this reason, we don't have much time. We must take him down once and for all. We'll only have one shot. If we lose the battle, we lose the war."

"Ah won't hide anymore" Rogue asserted as she fought an internal battle. The thought of being a puppet in Apocalypse's hands again made her feel cold inside.

"We never expected anything different from you, Rogue" said Xavier.

"Ah'll do what it takes to defeat this monster I helped to raise" she said as if to reassure herself, struggling not to succumb to fear.

"You are not to blame for his rising, Rogue" said Storm, who had kept to herself until then.

"It's not about blame" said Rogue. "Ah was instrumental in his ascension; I know it for a fact. How can Ah help? You guys have a plan?"

Xavier breathed in deeply before offering a reply. "Yes. And we would never call upon you if there was another way, but we do need you, Rogue."

Rogue was getting more and more distraught. The suspense killing her. "Need me how?"

The quietness was gloomy.

Rogue looked around, panicking. They seemed to have forgotten she was even there. "Won't anyone tell me what the hell is going on?" she spoke up.

"Our plan" said Xavier "involves you baiting Apocalypse into the chamber where he will be imprisoned. We need you to put him to sleep again."

McCoy took the floor. "There is a prophecy... we uncovered three rings, which united to one specific mutant, will make said mutant strong enough to get close to Apocalypse. With his or her bare hands this mutant will debilitate the villain and so imprison him.

She closed her eyes, completing the puzzle. It could not mean what she was thinking. It could not.

"You are the key, Rogue" said Xavier. "You are the mutant of the prophecy."

Remy hung his head, his eyes shut, cursing his powerlessness.

Xavier picked up a small wooden box and opened it. "These are the rings."

Rogue held the box and noticed that every ring had a different shape. A scarab, a scorpion and a snake. Her fingers hovered over them, not daring to touch them. She closed the box with a thud.

"Maybe it isn't me" said, denying what she already knew.

"It is you."

"How am I supposed to weaken Apocalypse with mah bare hands when Ah don't even have mah powers? Are these magical rings by any chance?" she was holding onto a loose excuse before the growing crack on the ground opened up and gulped her.

"You can't do this to her!" Remy yelled. He had kept so quiet that everyone was startled by his burst of words. Logan slid his claws out. At first glance, Rogue thought he was about to attack Gambit, but soon realized he actually agreed with the Cajun, and that was his way of showing it.

"Do what?" she questioned furiously, between her teeth.

On the corner, the unknown woman, who was so motionless that looked like a mannequin, seemed to magically come back to life. "Your powers will be awakened" she spoke in a low hoarse voice.

Rogue looked up – had forgotten about the woman – and watched her closely. She had dark hair and cold blue eyes. A subtle accent hard to distinguish. Her proud posture made her look arrogant and petulant, her gestures were mechanical.

"This is Sage" said the Professor. "Sage's mutant abilities include boosting latent mutant powers."

Rogue looked down at her own hands; her head spinning in circles. "Ah... Ah need time to think" said as she stood up.

"Of course, Rogue, we don't demand and immediate answer. Just remember we do not have a lot of time at our disposal. Your own life is at risk as long as Apocalypse stays alive. You have twenty-four hours to make a decision" he said as if it were his last breath.

"Leave her alone" Gambit spitted out before going after Rogue. Logan also walked out.

With his hand on his forehead, Xavier lowered his head, tired and full of doubts. "This isn't right" he murmured. "Rogue will have to pay the price... she'll lose the most. I feel like a general sending innocents out to a war" backed off from the table and stopped in front of the window. "May I be alone, please?" his voice was incisive.

Rogue will sacrifice herself for all of us, he thought to himself, reflecting upon the events that culminated in that moment. If anything goes wrong, she might not survive.

Rogue had been a plaything in Apocalypse's hand and now she would be in his.

To be continued…

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