Learning To Live Again
Revised Edition
Chapter 12, "Unknown Terror," aka "Screaming"
Author Notes: This takes place around a week after Ch. 11. So far, the story lacked action, and I decided to spice it up, and maybe draw a few new readers!

The distinct sounds of screaming could be heard even 5 miles away if you were paying attention. It wasn't just one scream…oh no, no, no. More like the scream of a dozen or so voices, screaming out in pain, anger, and fear. As the X-force jet got closer, the team members could see the pile of ruble which has been Xavier's School for the Gifted only an hour ago. A few X-men could be seen scattered about the lawn outside. For the most part, those who had been outside weren't hurt too badly. As Mystique kneeled down by Gambit, asking where Rogue was, she felt a sharp pain in her heart when the Cajun started sobbing. Wolverine was up and digging frantically to find Jean Grey, and so was Cyclops. Soon, various mutant "superhero" teams were searching for fallen friends, family, and former teammates. The air was heavy with magnetic energy, making moving aside some pieces aside very difficult.
Finally, Nightcrawler found his half-sister, Rogue, under a huge pile of rubble. She was hurt badly despite her invulnerability, making it obvious that whoever or whatever did this knew his or her "opponents." Once all X-men were accounted for, they were flown to Muir Island so Moira McTaggert could keep an eye on them. Jean, Rogue and Joseph were the 3 who were injured the absolute worst, causing them to need life support systems just to survive for the time being. Others like Logan, Storm and Gambit were able to move around after a couple of hours or so. The mysterious thing was, no one knew for sure who did this, or even where the attack truly took place. Logan said the attack seemed to come from under the mansion, while Beast, who had been in his lab under the mansion said the attack came from above. The other various teams looked at each other in confusion and curiosity.

Originally, they had thought maybe Joseph was the one who did this, but Gambit and the others who could repeatedly said that Joseph had been hurt while trying to save Rogue and Jean Grey who'd been in the den, where the mansion seemed to have been hit the hardest.
2 weeks later, with the combined efforts of all the doctors or 'nurses' present, Jean awoke. Something was keeping Rogue in a comatose state, and no one could understand it.
Once she was feeling well enough, Jean tried a mind scan, but was soon knocked out of Rogue's mind by the Kree shielding Rogue had absorbed from Ms. Marvel.
"I don't understand…I was just making sure everything was ok, and then her mental shields activated for no reason at all." Jean looked up at the other team members from where she was sitting.
"So ya can't help her?" Gambit looked at Rogue, wishing she'd wake up.
"I'm sorry Remy. If her shields won't let me through, we can't find out what might bring her back to us." Jean reached out and touched the Cajun's arm lightly.
Gambit sighed and slumped into a chair beside Rogue's bed. "Merde…when I find out who did dat t' her…" His red eyes blazed as he spoke… "Dey gonna regret ever messin' wit' Gambit's girl…"
Logan nodded. "Anyone wanna take me back t' the mansion? Maybe I can sniff 'em out…"
"That's probably not your smartest request Logan. For all we know whoever, or whatever did destroy the mansion has moved in, so-to-speak…"
Everyone looked at Scott as if he was crazy.
"Uh…mon ami, ya SURE ya weren't hit in de head?" Gambit questioned.