Xavier wakes up. It is early. About 7:00 AM. Usually he can sleep until 9:30. He is bothered. He gets up and takes a shower. He gets out of the shower and gets dressed. He puts on his lab coat and heads for his office. He gets his charts and walks to a cell. There is a girl sitting in the corner.

"Marie?"

"Don't call me that."

"Sorry, Rogue." says Xavier.

"What do you want?"

"I'm concerned about you, Rogue. You don't socialize and that isn't good. Do you want to end up like the psychos in Solitary?"

"I don't care."

"Why?"

"I can never feel what it's like to touch another person. What's the point of talking to anyone? I told you Rogue we are working on a cure for you. But I'm not worried about your mutant ability, I'm worried about how you're coping with it. What you're doing isn't healthy. You need to speak to people, so you can get your problems..."

"You are such a fuckin' hypocrite, you know that?"

"Would you like to explain yourself Rogue?"

"You tell everyone that they need to be around people and all you do is stick that Kasady guy in the hole."

"Some people just can't be around people."

"Like me." Rogue starts to tear up.

"Would you really like to take a visit to the hole?" Xavier asks.

"I deserve to be there."

Xavier walks to his office and pulls out a transfer order. He presses the intercom and calls the orderly.

"Please transport Ms. Mar.. uh Ms. Rogue to Solitary Confinement."

The orderly unlocks the door and Rogue is put in handcuffs. She walks down to the end of the hall and they turn the corner. Xavier goes to the end of the corridor to check up on a new arrival. He had been the5re about a week but no one knows what to do with him. He is a little German mutant boy.

"Guten Morgen," he says in his heavy German accent.

"Good Morning, Kurt. Guten tag?"

"Gut."

"Good, Good. I was wondering if you would mind taking another try at the Cerebro Kurt. How

about it?

"Nien."

"Just once Kurt."

"Nien."

"Please will you do it Kurt. For me?"

"Ja."

"Great. Come with me."

Xavier opens the door and Kurt steps out. Xavier doesn't need handcuffs because he isn't being held. The government didn't know what to do with a blue German fuzz ball. They walk to another wing of the institute. They come to a door with a big lock on it. Xavier scans his hand. The door opens and the take a seat in the room. There are two headsets on the table. Xavier takes one and puts it on. Kurt reluctantly puts his on.

"Ready?"

"Ja."

"Cerebro, start program."

The door closes and the lights go out. Light fills Kurt's mind. He is walking in the Alps. He can see for miles of the beautiful countryside. Xavier approaches him. He looks at the horizon.

"This is where you came from? It's beautiful."

"Yeah I was born in..." Kurt stopped. "I'm speaking English?"

"Yes I had Cerebro implant an English translator in your mind. You will be able to speak it from now on."

"Wow. So what is this Cerebro, Professor?" Kurt asks in his still heavy German accent.

"Well Cerebro is something I've been tinkering with to see the true nature of people. I can see you don't belong in a place like this."

"I don't know Professor, I kind of like it here."

"In the simulation?"

"No, the institute. I've never had people waiting on me like this."

"Yes it does have it's benefits. Well I guess we could work something out."

"That would be great."

"Maybe you could be my assistant?" Xavier jokes.

"Sure Professor."

"Really?"

"Sure."

"Well you're hired."

"So how do we get out of here?"

"Cerebro?" Xavier says.

"YES PROFESSOR?"

"Would you exit the program please."

"WITH PLEASURE PROFESSOR."

The Alps disappear and the lights come back on. The door opens. Kurt staggers a little bit.

"Kurt you should go and get some rest. We have been walking around in your mind."

"Yeah good idea Professor."

Kurt leaves the room.

"Cerebro lock up when I leave the room please?"

"YES PROFESSOR."

Xavier walks out of the room. The doors close behind him. He walks down many corridors and comes to an elevator. He goes through the whole process and exits the elevator. The chess table is still set up but there are no players. Henry McCoy and Bruce Banner are in their rooms probably sleeping after the long game. Xavier walks to the Observation Desk. He checks the monitors. Rogue is in the corner of her cell. Xavier is looking at the scream and he panics. He runs into the hole.

"Rogue!" he yells.

Xavier rushes to her cell and bangs on the glass.

"Rogue!"

He hopes he isn't right. He pulls out his keys and opens the door.

"Rogue!"

He runs to her and lifts her up. Her wrists have been slit. The blood is still warm she's still alive.

"Medic! Medic!"

He rips his shirt and ties it around her wrists. He picks her up and puts her onto the bed.

"Rogue, please don't die on me. Rogue, please don't die."

The medics arrive and put her on a stretcher. They get bandages around her wrists and rush her out of the room. Xavier is standing in the hall in disbelief when he hears a faint laughter. It is coming from Cletus Kasady's cell.

"I guess she didn't like my speech...Ha Ha Ha!"