Revised Edition
Chapter 18, "Never Give Up"
A\N: Yes, I know, I've gotten out of character for the X-men. I'm sorry! *cowers* I'll try
and make up for it ok? And for those who love to see a little Ro/Lo (Storm/Wolvie) togetherness,
this chapter should be to your liking. :) Also, because I love Xtreme Rogue, but there's no
real way I can basically skip around 50-60 comic issues just for my purposes, I'm going to change
how Rogue recieved all the other powers. In other words, its Rogue from UXM #350 (like the rest
of this fan fic), but with the powers she "regained" after absorbing Z'Cann.
#Telepathic comunication#
{thought}
*The woods near the mansion*
"Where on earth did that man get to?"
A soft thud behind Storm caused her to spin around. She hadn't seen Logan for four days now, and
while that wasn't usually out of the ordinary, with Rogue still in the MedLab, no one had expected
him to leave the mansion. Despite being vastly different, Logan and Rogue had a trust and almost
sibling relationship at times. Seeing no one behind her, she turned back around and came face to
face with a rather wild looking Logan. His hair was dirty as could be, and the white tshirt he
had worn four days ago was still present, although it was torn and dirty as well.
"Why ya lookin for me 'Ro? Th' kid wake up?"
"What? Oh...No. We were just a little surprised at your leaving that's all."
"We?"
Ororo sighed. "Alright Logan, I was a little surprised at your leaving. I know that you
and she are close."
Logan huffed, but didn't deny it.
"Joseph did wake up though..."
Logan leaned against a tree, looking straight at Ororo. "So?"
"So? That's all you have to say?"
"Yep."
"Logan, you must have forgotten he saved Jean and probably Rogue."
"Oh, really? Then why is th' kid still not awake eh?" When Storm averted her gaze, he continued.
"Ya don't know any better than Hank or Chuck, do ya? Nobody here can help 'er, and don' tell me
that a few o' ya haven't given up on 'er. I know better."
Storm looked back at him. "Others may have, but I have not Logan. Like you, I know she's a
very strong young woman...and more than likely much smarter than most of us give her credit for."
"Damn straight."
#Ororo?#
#Jean? What is it?#
#Its Rogue...the scanners hooked up to her are going nuts. You and Logan may want to come back
here NOW.#
Seeing the far away look on 'Ro's face made Logan aware she was in telepathic contact with someone.
"What is it 'Ro?"
"Something's going on with Rogue, Jean wants us to return as soon as we can get there."
That had Logan's attention. "Then what th' hell are we waitin' for darlin?" Storm had no time
to answer, for Logan was already headed towards the mansion in a sprint. Taking to the skies,
Storm followed Logan's path to the mansion.
*Rogue's mindscape right around the time Storm started looking for Logan*
Rogue stood, looking around her mind. She had gotten the place "cleaned up," but she couldn't
return the ghosts to behind their blocks until the collar was removed. Sinister was still
shadowing her every move, watching her closely. This observation had Rogue about to snap.
"You know this won't stay this way don't you?"
Rogue looked at the ghost-like form of Sinister, her green eyes narrowing. "What's that supposed
t' mean?"
"I mean that your mind won't stay as simple and clear as you have it right now. Once they take
off that collar, it will be worse."
"Ah'm supposin' that collah ya tampahed with has somethin' t' do with it?"
"As a matter of fact yes. I've been toying around in here," he gestured to her mindscape,
"and things have changed a bit."
Rogue's attention was caught immeadiately. "What do ya mean 'changed?'"
"Take a look for yourself."
Cautiously Rogue did take a more thorough look around her mind. Noticing a crack in a barrier that
the professor had set up for her after she had joined the X-men, she pressed gently against it.
It gave. Memories of a horrible sort from her childhood started to flood around her, causing her
to cry out. Within moments she was drowning in them, reliving every pain she had endured but
then forgotten. That was when the moniters outside when nuts...
"What th' hell is goin' on wit her damn it!"
The hold Scott had on Remy's arms was about to give, and he gave a pleading look to his wife for
help. But Jean had her hands full. She was holding both Logan and Bobby back from Hank, the
professor and herself with her telekenesis, but that was not going to last long.
Hank rubbed a hand over his face. "I'm sorry Gambit, but we honestly have no clue. I was
sitting at my desk when the moniters started going off."
Gambit's red eyes narrowed, "You said dat chere would be ok."
"We thought she would be Remy. The professor tried contact with her again after the moniters
went crazy, but her mind is even more unreachable than ever."
Logan was about to make a lunge for Beast when the moniters exploded sending metal, glass and
other components flying at the X-men.
Jean had a shield thrown up quickly, but that wasn't fast enough. Glass was imbedded in the
walls, and a rather large piece had managed to get stuck in Logan's arm. Psylocke was unscathed
due to Angel's protecting wings around her, but Warren wasn't so lucky; a few pieces of the metal
had gotten stuck in his back where his wings didn't cover. Other X-men stood, gently picking
out pieces of metal or glass from arms, legs, or other appendages. It wasn't until Scott asked
her if she was ok that she noticed the blood running down her left leg. Hank payed the other
X-men no heed as he immeadiately started check Rogue's vital signs. She was still alive, and
aparently still as healthy as she had been before the moniters exploded.
