Title: Awakening, part 2
Author: IceAngel8
Disclaimer: No characters here are in my possession, except for Linda.
Author's Notes: This is AU and if you don't like how I deal with things, don't read the fic. I do not write Rogue's words as if she has really speaking it, because I do not have time to add her southern accent to her sentences. I am not trying to make her sound any different, though. Everything she says always sounds southern to me, in my head and in my writing. I hope it is the same for you ;) I also deal with Rogue's power in my own way and if you don't like it... leave it.
Feedback: I would really love it, as much as I love chocolate fudge ice-cream! tee hee
*This part is longer than the first part, so read it and enjoy. The next part should be out by Tuesday night, or earlier!*
Part 2
Linda walked down a long corridor on the second floor, going to her new bedroom. She had just finished dinner with all the other teenage mutants and had met another teacher and mentor, Hank, codename Beast. He was a chemistry teacher in the high school and Linda wished she would get into his class. He seemed like the type of teacher to give interesting, insightful and yet educational lectures, and was very friendly with children.
There had been Scott, Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, Spike and Jean, the pretty redhead she had met earlier. There were more children but Linda didn't remember any of their names, but they all had been nice and supportive of her moving into the Institute in the middle of the school year. Scott, the leader of the X-Men, had impressed her with his handsome face and his shy, yet comfortable smile. She felt an instant connection with Scott and had spent the entire evening chattering away with him, realizing that they both had much in common. Jean had sat across from them and Linda hadn't missed the hurt expression on her face when Scott had completely turned his attention away from her, instead choosing to talk with the new girl.
Jean had looked a little stunned and Linda had immediately figured out that she was the popular girl of the school, always going out with the hottest guys, going to the top parties and dressing in trendy, designer label clothes. Jean probably never had any competition from a girl before and now that Linda had arrived, it seemed like Jean would have to work on her flirting skills a little more. Linda smiled to herself; Scott was certainly a nice catch. How come Jean hadn't dated him? Katherine, whom everyone called Kitty for short, had told her that Jean and Scott were like sister and brother, but that at one point a romantic relationship had seemed to be in the future for them. Kitty didn't provide any further information as to why that romance had never occurred and Linda hadn't pried.
Linda yawned, tired from all the day's activities, especially her Danger Room workout. She just wanted a hot bubble bath, some hot chocolate and a nice warm bed. Tomorrow she would get a ride to her new high school with Scott and afterwards, a personal tour of Bayville High with him. She hoped Jean wouldn't be riding in the car too, because then she would really ruin things between Scott and her. As much as Linda liked Jean and wanted to build a friendship with her, she liked Scott far more. The young mutant turned the corner, only to bump into Kitty, who had run right through a wall at top speed.
"Oh, hey, sorry about that. Didn't mean to bump into you, really, I wasn't watching where I was going." Kitty mumbled, giving Linda a cute lopsided smile. "So, uh, how do you like it here?"
"The town is a little boring but this place is looking up. The Danger Room is all high-tech and the bedrooms are so grand hotel pent suite, you know?" Linda said, sounding very much like the city girl she had been and would always be.
"I can show you around if you like. There's a great mall here; it's got everything! Sears, Macy's and a bunch of other stores. And they got the best Italian food there! It's like, delicious, way better than any other." Kitty said.
"Well, I like Macy's. It's got all the designer brands. Anyway, are there like shoe stores? A CD store?" Linda asked, as they began to walk down the hallway.
Kitty clapped her hands, giddy with excitement. "I told you, it has everything! A movie theater, a large gym complex, including two pools and exercise rooms, dozens of stores, restaurant, fast food places and these little ice cream, pretzel and cookie booths. If I don't have homework, then I'm usually hanging out over there. There are really no amazing clubs here in Bayville and I'm not even legal age to get into one."
Linda felt even more tired at seeing Kitty so energetic and perky. But the mall sounded pretty cool, like the malls had been back home in New York City. She felt a pang of longing at the thought of her old hometown and the many places that Sarah and she had went. Every weekend there was something exciting going on. One afternoon they had visited the Museum of Natural History and gotten lost, wandering around an area that was hardly crowded, a few people here and there that they had glimpsed in staircases or staring intently at magnificent paintings. Sarah and her had wandered around for what seemed like hours, but was only about forty or so minutes. Linda remembered Sarah's slight panic when she had joked that they would be spending the night, there in the museum, along with all the mummies and skulls in the Egyptian exhibit. When they had gotten out, following a group of chattering tourists, and into the bright sunshine, the girls couldn't stop laughing about their experience. Linda missed that, being with her best friend, doing ordinary, fun things, creating memories. But she could always create new memories, with mutants like herself, couldn't she?
"So, we'll go after school on Friday, okay? We'll need to ask the Professor first, see if he has anything planned for us, but I don't really think he does. And if he lets, we could ask Scott to drop us off at the mall or get Kurt to teleport us there. You saw Kurt, the blue furry guy, at dinner, didn't you?" Kitty asked, her brown ponytail swished in time to her step.
Linda nodded, smiling, her thoughts only of Scott Summers. He was absolutely handsome, she thought, picturing that casual mop of auburn hair, the carefree easy smile and the way he seemed to be staring straight into her soul behind though ruby colored glasses. She knew why he wore them and that if he didn't, that soulful, intelligent gaze would have killed her, instead of making her appreciate and like him more.
A pale, sullen looking girl closed the door to her bedroom and turned in their direction, heading for the library. Linda smiled at Rogue, who she remembered from dinner. Linda had commented on Rogue's southern drawl, which the other mutant hadn't liked, because she'd thought that Linda had been mocking her.
"Hey, Kitty... uh, Linda?" Rogue said to them when they approached. "You girls going to sleep or something?" she asked, rubbing a gloveless hand over her arm in thought. "I'm going to the library, I need a book for my history class. The assignment that leech gave us is a killer."
"Hey, Kitty just told me about this cool mall you got here. We're going Friday, if the Xavier guy gives us permission. You wanna come with us?" Linda asked the southern girl, hoping she would take the invitation and join them. She really liked Rogue, who in a way reminded her of Sarah, who had also dressed up in punk/gothic clothes, going for the original, authentic appearance.
Rogue was just about to answer back and tell them she would go along, when the ground shook violently, groaning loudly, and sent fear racing through her heart. She knew immediately that it wasn't the fake ground shaking that the Danger Room had, because everything that happened in the Danger Room, stayed there. It had been designed specifically for that; for students to be trained there and for the room to contain all their powers and not let them damage the house.
"What's happening?" Kitty yelled as she held on tightly to Linda. They both were pale and frightened and Linda looked a little bit green, feeling nauseous from the shaking of the ground and her earlier session with Wolverine and Storm.
"I got no clue. It might be Lance and the Brotherhood boys playing pranks-" Rogue's voice was abruptly cut off as the ground rolled, sending her straight into Kitty and Linda. Her bare hand scrambled for purchase, before she could hit the ground and got herself a bloody nose or maybe a concussion, and touched something smooth and soft. With a sickening feeling, Rogue realized that she had just knocked Linda unconscious by making skin-to-skin contact.
Images filled her head, of a training session in the Danger Room with Wolverine and Storm, a picture of Scott and a little fondness that came with it, a strong pang for New York City and her best friend, Sarah. Then there was one solid image, of that girl Sarah, smashing through a window, knocked through it by some invisible force and headed directly for the ground, where she landed with a deadly thud. Rogue screamed, clutching at her head, willing to erase the picture from her mind. But she still saw it, saw Sarah lying motionlessly on the ground, as if dead... and maybe she was dead, Rogue simply didn't know.
"Rogue, Rogue, what's wrong?" came Kitty's voice through the thick cloud that seemed to be surrounding Rogue. "Listen to me... I saw it happen. Linda's out cold but I think she'll be okay. And you better move closer, there might be more tremors."
Rogue nodded and glanced towards Linda's, who was now a part of her, as everyone that Rogue had touched ever since she had come into her power. Suddenly, she realized, that Linda hadn't been mocking her southern accent and that she genuinely wanted to be friends with her and Kitty. Rogue noted that Linda felt attracted to Scott, like she had at one point, and smiled. This girl was better than she had thought.
"What did you see?" Kitty asked, curiously as they sat huddled by the wall, Linda safely cradled between them.
"It's all kind of confusing, you know. Just a blur of memories and feelings, and her mutant power. It's really strong..." Rogue said, not wanting to tell Kitty much about what Linda thought. They were Linda's private thoughts and although she had shared them with Rogue, not consciously of course, Rogue wouldn't be telling anyone what she saw and felt. It was too personal and she would want the same kind of respect, too.
"I would test it out if I were you, Rogue. I mean, you probably won't get into any trouble either, everything's a mess because of this unexpected earthquake." Kitty said nonchalantly.
"I can't do that, Kitty. Are you using you're head here or not?" Rogue said snappishly, narrowing her eyes in frustration. "I don't even know what her damn power is first of all! All I feel is that she's very powerful, like Scott and Jean."
"This is once in a lifetime opportunity, Rogue! I know she's my friend and all but you've got to do this! I mean, doesn't it hurt you to sometimes see us using our powers and know you can't use yours unless you want to do us damage? Look, Linda is unconscious already. You can't wake her up. You might as well go for it."
Rogue's heart thumped nervously as she contemplated Kitty's words, knowing that the brown haired mutant was right in some ways. Linda was already unconscious and Rogue had her powers and memories, for at least another five minutes or so. And somewhere in Rogue's mind, she knew that she wanted to use Linda's powers, because as Kitty had said, it hurt her to see the other mutants doing something she could definitely not do. Well, she could, but it would mean doing damage to a fellow mutant, a fellow roommate at the Xavier Institute. The man in the wheelchair, wiser than any person Rogue had ever known, had taught Rogue on her first day, to never deliberately hurt another mutant if they haven't hurt you. But that rule only applied to good mutants who didn't abuse their powers, like Magneto, Mystique, among others.
"So are you doing it?" Kitty asked, looking at Rogue and then down at Linda. "She might awaken soon and you won't get another chance."
Rogue nodded her head, willing herself to not feel guilty. She smiled at Kitty, "Yes, I am going to do it. Let's see what her power is." Rogue held out her hands and concentrated, dwelling deeper into Linda's presence inside her body. Images and memories, thoughts and smiles, laughter and tears flashed by in a blur, until Rogue felt the undeniable tug of another mutant's power. Her hand shot out immediately and a wall of energy spread out from her hands. It was crackling, bursting with energy and little thunderbolts inside. Kitty and she stared at it amazingly. It was like nothing they had ever seen.
"What does it do?" Kitty asked, still intently gazing at the large energy field that blocked the other half of the hallway. "It's huge."
"Very powerful, too." Rogue said and casually flicked her hands outward. The wall of energy pushed itself backwards and trapped the small table the held the phone within it. "Oops, let me try to get the phone out of the way." she said, concentrating a little more harder, expecting the energy field to move further down the hall. The table blew up instead, taking the phone, stacks of post-it notes and pens and pencils with it. Kitty and Rogue yelled, ducking to avoid being hit by debris. A leg of the table, it's end razor sharp, whizzed past Rogue's head and she stared wide-eyed at it.
"That's it; no more." Rogue yelled, closing her eyes in fright, frustration and yet awe that Linda possessed such a incredible power. When she opened them, no traces of Linda's power, except for the destruction of the table and phone, remained. The huge field of energy had disappeared and Rogue could finally see the rest of the corridor clearly, when before it had looked like an underwater palace through Linda's power.
"That girl is powerful. Maybe more than she can handle." Rogue said, bonelessly sliding to the floor. She was exhausted all of a sudden, feeling drained of energy. "I can't handle her mutant abilities either, Kitty. It's too strong, for both of us. I think... I think you should get the professor." Rogue managed to mumbled, hoping desperately that Kitty had understood her, before Rogue succumbed to unconsciousness.
"Rogue!" Kitty yelled, scared now that she was by herself. The ground shook every ten or twenty seconds, making the hallway more dangerous for them to remain in. But how could she drag two unconscious girls out of here by herself? Suddenly Kurt's face popped into her head and Kitty called out his name, "Kurt! I need you here, Kurt! I'm near my bedroom, in the west wing hallway!"
Instantly Kurt appeared, with his trademark trail of pungent smoke. Kitty smiled at him in relief, happy beyond words to see him there.
"Kurt, Rogue touched Linda and she absorbed her memories and mutant power. Rogue said she was too strong for her to handle and now they're both knocked out cold. And the earthquake is making this hallway even more deadly to stay in. Help me, please. We need to get out of here."
Kurt nodded, glancing over where Rogue and Linda lay, both seemingly asleep. But he knew that the longer Linda stayed unconscious, her memories and mutant power trapped in Rogue's body, the less chances she had of surviving. Rogue was unconscious too but she wouldn't be the one harmed in the end. It was Linda they had to worry about, as well as awakening Rogue so that the process of returning Linda's power to it's rightful owner could be completed.
"All the X-Men are gathering in the Danger Room. Wolverine and Beast are scouring the mansion for anyone injured or who can't get through debris. The Professor heard you calling me. Now I have to teleport you down there and go help Ororo. She was out by the pool with a few kids when the earthquake struck." Kurt said and Kitty nodded, trying to not let her fright overwhelm her.
Kurt and her quickly went over to the girls and linked hands. Kurt smiled at her reassuringly before they all disappeared in his teleporting smoke. Kitty felt a little woozy as they whooshed through time and space, where she had no body, no structure, only her mind and soul. Moments later, the four of them landed in the Danger Room, right on the training grounds where several other mutants, including Professor Xavier, were already milling around. Amara, codename Magma, looked frightened out of her mind, her naturally mocha colored skin pale.
The Professor immediately rolled his wheelchair over to where Kitty kneeled beside Rogue and Linda. He had on a pair of gloves and took out another, heavier pair of black, leather gloves out for Rogue. He slid them onto her bare hands and patted her gently on the shoulder. Rogue didn't stir and remained motionless on the ground. Linda, too, lay still beside her. The Professor looked at them both worriedly.
"Kitty, tell me what happened." He said, staring at the pretty teenager with expectance in his blue eyes.
She nodded, "Well, the earthquake struck unexpectedly and Linda, Rogue and I were talking in the hallway when it happened. None of us were prepared. The ground underneath Rogue rolled and she smashed right into us and accidently grabbed Linda's hand. It was an honest accident. Rogue did not mean to hurt Linda, I'm pretty sure. She probably just grabbed onto something out of habit, to not get hurt by the fall."
"You're right, Kitty. Rogue is well aware of the damage her power can inflict on another mutant and she knows she must only use it in dire emergencies. Although Rogue didn't mean for Linda to become her victim, she did and now they are both unconscious. Did Rogue say anything, well, before she passed out, perhaps?"
Kitty nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Professor, in fact she did! Rogue said the power was too strong for her to handle. She said it felt like Jean and Scott's powers, strong and deadly and out of control, but not as much as Jean and Scott of course. They've got control over their mutant powers. What I don't understand is how Linda's power can be so pronounced when she came to the Institute with absolutely no knowledge of how to use that power. I mean, that is what she came for isn't it?"
"You are all here to master you're powers. No one will ever have perfect control over them, either. Onto the other matter, then. I believe Rogue took quite more than usual when she made skin-to-skin contact with Linda. Also, Linda was not aware of Rogue's powers and she did have not any mental resistance against Rogue when they touched. You, as well as the rest of the children here, understand about Rogue's abilities and you all have rather some resistance against her mutant power. It is in your subconscious, Kitty, and you do not realize it until the event has actually happened." The Professor said and Kitty understood him, nodding her head to show him she did.
"But this can be fixed, can't it?" she asked, biting her lip in frustration as she glanced at the two girls lying on the cold, metal ground of the Danger Room.
"I will do everything I can, Kitty, to have them back to normal. But it might take awhile. I'll speak to Rogue, mentally, try to awaken her and then the process will begin for Linda's memories and power to be returned to her. But first, please do retrieve some blankets for the girls. The ground is too cold to be lying upon. They're over in the storage bin by the elevators. See if you can get someone to help you, perhaps Kurt; I don't want anyone else getting separated from the group."
Kitty sighed, her mouth set in a firm line, but she turned around and headed for the storage bin. Hank had arrived with another small group of students, who all thankfully looked unharmed and was helping them onto available chairs, or the ground to sit on. Neither Jean, Scott, Kurt or Spike were with Hank's group, though, and Kitty began to worry. There had been several students who had gone out for a swim after dinner, claiming they needed to work off the many calories they had just digested, and that Ororo had gone along with them outside, acting as their chaperone for the evening. Kitty vaguely remembered Jean joining the small number of students in the pool and that Scott had trailed out afterwards, perhaps not to swim but to watch the girl he secretly adored from afar. Ororo and they had all been outside, completely vulnerable, especially in the pool, against the earthquake. Kitty's stomach tightened and she felt nauseous.
"Breathe," she told herself, trying to calm down her frazzled nerves. "They'll be here soon. It's nothing to worry about," she continued, walking around in semi-circles until the knot in her stomach lessened. She quickly dashed over to the storage bin, that was three times her sizes and bulky, because of all the essential things the Professor and other teachers at the Institute had stored inside. There were blankets and several clothing items, flash-lights, notebooks, writing tools like pens and pencils, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Beside the bin stood a mini refrigerator, where they stored canned and packaged food.
Kitty quickly grabbed three thick blue blankets, a mini-size package of chocolate chip cookies and a bottle of Poland Spring Water. She didn't know how long they would have to remain in here and her stomach was already growling, although it had only been about a half hour since dinner. The Professor was waiting patiently for her when she brought him the blankets.
"Sorry I took so long, Professor. I just got kind of distracted about something." she said, offering him a tiny smile. He smiled back at her.
"It's all right. Well, settle down then, we'll begin with the girls. I told Hank to keep the rest of the kids entertained while I do the procedure, so there won't be any hasty interruptions."
Kitty spread her blanket out onto the floor and sprawled on it, opening her water bottle and taking a sip. The water was cool and refreshing, soothing her parched throat. She tore open the package of cookies and popped one into her mouth, savory the chocolate goodness of the cookies. Charles gave her another smile and then focused on Rogue and Linda. He touched his temples, eyes closed in concentration, reaching out towards Rogue's mind.
// Speak to me, Rogue. This is Charles Xavier and I need you to answer me. You have to awaken, child, for you're sake and Linda's. She cannot be restored to her old self if you keep her trapped in you're mind and body, Rogue. Please, listen to me. Try to answer me back. Rogue. //
// Professor? Is that you? There's so much confusion in my head. I'm mistaking her thoughts for mine and her power seems to be draining my energy. That's why I can't wake up. Every time I try to open my eyes, I can't, it feels like someone's covering them with their hand. You have to help me, Professor. I can't handle all her thoughts and her power by myself. Please help me. I'm stuck here. //
// All right, Rogue. I will lessen you're burden. Try to relax, don't think about me, or Linda, or anything to do with mutants and powers. Just think about a happy memory. Concentrate. It will hurt, but only a little. Do you hear me, Rogue? //
// I hear you. //
// All right then. Conjure up a memory of yourself being happy and excited. Don't think about anything else. It will take a few seconds, at least. //
The Professor focused on the swirling images and thoughts inside Rogue's mind. He couldn't really decipher anything he saw, but from what he did, he knew that Rogue was under a lot of pressure. She had obviously held the touch longer than a second, because her thoughts were mingling with Linda's and making it all a big unexplainable blur. The Professor gently tried to still Linda's presence in Rogue, slowly but surely separating the two girls' thoughts and memories. Kitty saw Rogue stir on the blanket, her fingers twitching and eyelashes fluttering a little. She sat up straighter and watched Linda and Rogue intently.
Rogue felt like she had a migraine in her left temple. There was a horrible pounding in her head, making it unbearable to concentrate on anything else. She groaned, her hands instinctively covering her eyes from the overhead Danger Room lights. When she opened them cautiously she saw the Professor and Kitty staring at her with concern.
"Did you do that? I feel like my head's gonna burst," Rogue grumbled, wincing as the pounding continued. Her eyes hurt from the lights and her mouth felt dry, parched. "Give me your water bottle, Kitty. I need a drink, badly." Kitty handed her the water and Rogue immediately gulped it down, feeling better at once as the refreshing cold water rushed down her throat.
Rogue suddenly sent the water bottle flying, spraying it's contents, as she keeled over in pain, clutching her head. The Professor instantly bent down towards her, holding her against him. He seemed to know what was happening, while Kitty was wide-eyed with worry and fear. "It's all right, Rogue. Let it leave you. You'll feel much, much better. Come on now, I think Linda's stirring. Just relax; don't fight it."
Rogue cried out in pain. "It hurts... too much... Professor...make her leave, please make her leave." she cried out, eyes closed against the tide of pain she fought. Suddenly Rogue went slack in Charles' arms and he worriedly gazed down at her.
"Rogue? Rogue?" He asked but the teenager didn't respond. "She's fallen unconscious. Kitty, check on Linda. If she isn't waking up, we'll have to get them into the lab."
Kitty kneeled beside Linda on her knees, her lips tightened together in frustration and anxiety. Would Linda die, on her first day at the Xavier Institute? No, Kitty told herself, erasing the thought from her head. She shook Linda's shoulder, got no response and tried again, this time shaking her a bit more forcefully. Like a miracle, Linda stirred, her breath quickening. Kitty felt a surge of hope and shook her again, saying as she did so, "Come on Linda! Please wake up, just please wake up!
The other mutant girl's eyelids fluttered and then finally opened, revealing her mysterious green eyes. Linda groaned, as if just awoken from a deep sleep. She stared at Kitty in confusion, her eyes a little bit hazy from the affect of Rogue's power. "What's going on? I can't remember anything."
"Don't worry, you're fine. The Professor's here. You just had a small accident but you're fine. The Professor will explain things a little better okay? He's with Rogue right now but he should be done when she regains consciousness." Kitty said, smiling down at the beautiful mutant. Even in her traumatized state, Linda's tired green eyes shone, little flecks of gold in them. Her dark brown, almost black, hair complimented her naturally tanned complexion, and her smile brightened up her entire face. Kitty felt a little envious. There was only one other mutant in the Institute that was as beautiful and alluring as Linda. Jean. With her red hair, compelling green eyes and pale, rosy skin, she stood out in a crowd.
"What kind of accident? And why is Rogue unconscious? Was she with me when it... whatever it is... happened?" asked Linda, closing her eyes for a brief second and then opening them. Kitty was suddenly aware that Linda hadn't regained all of her power back from Rogue and that she was still experiencing an outer body feeling that always came with Rogue's touch.
Kitty sat still for a moment, contemplating the thought. Was Linda strong enough to withstand Rogue's touch? How was she able to be awake while Rogue still possessed some part, even small, of her? Kitty turned to the Professor, who had gently set Rogue back down onto her blanket. He was watching her intently, his blue eyes focused and determined. Rogue lay as still as death.
"Rogue's mutant power is to steal human's memories with her touch. She can also steal mutant's memories and they're powers if she touches them, too. That is why she must always cover her skin. Anyway, there was an earthquake and Rogue stumbled into us. She accidently grabbed you're hand and you blacked out, as everyone who Rogue touches, does. Rogue also fell unconscious, saying that you're power was beyond what she could handle. Kurt Wagner, another mutant student here at the Institute, teleported us here. Right now, the Professor is trying to wake Rogue up. She needs to be awake for you're full memory and mutant power to be returned, or otherwise, both of you can die. What I don't understand is how you awoke so quickly while she is still in an unconscious state."
Linda nodded and smiled weakly at Kitty. There was a persistent pain in her head, not extreme but enough to ensure her that she was in pain. She also couldn't remember much, of anything, because things seemed to be blurs in her head... images seemed to slowly drift by and thoughts and memories were all a big jumble. Linda shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable on the hard cold floor when suddenly she noticed a sort of emptiness inside herself. She shivered, both from the cold and void she could feel clearly now, inside her skin. It was as if something were missing, a piece of a puzzle that needed to be completed. Linda's whimpered, feeling on the verge of tears.
"What has she done to me? I feel empty inside." Linda cried out, gripping the blankets with clenched fists. "What has she done to me?" She yelled, rising from her lying down position. She stared accusingly at Kitty and the Professor. He immediately rolled his wheelchair over to them and gently pushed Kitty aside. The brown haired girl understand and stepped behind the protection of his wheelchair.
"Linda, it was all an accident. Rogue did not intend to hurt anyone here! She knows that perfectly well, it was the reason she came here, to learn how to accept, live with and learn about the power she holds inside. When the earthquake struck, she was pushed and grabbed you're hand, to make sure she wouldn't get hurt in the fault. Yes, Rogue should have been wearing her gloves at all times, but we really cannot blame her for removing them at night. None of us knew this earthquake would strike, as normally there are no earthquakes in New York State, except for Avalanche's power." The Professor paused, waiting for the information to sink into Linda's head, and then continued. "You feel a missing part of yourself because that missing part is you're mutant power and you're memories. When Rogue awakens, they will be returned to you. I pray that you do not feel any hostility towards Rogue, for she had no control over any of this."
The angry words that Linda had wanted to shout seemed to die in her throat when the Professor finished telling her of what had occurred. Instead she felt pity and sorrow toward Rogue, whose power forbade her to ever touch another person, human or mutant. Linda knew that if she had Rogue's power, she wouldn't want to live and that life without any contact would appear useless and saddening. Linda respected Rogue now, of being brave, courageous and keeping her chin up throughout everything she had already faced and would face in the future.
"Will it always be like this for her?" Linda asked softly, laying back down again as a wave of exhaustion passed over her. The emptiness in her soul still felt foreign and completely wrong, but Linda didn't recoil from it. She knew now that some small fraction of her being resided in Rogue temporarily and that eventually it would be returned to her.
"I'm afraid so. Unless Hank or I create some sort of device for Rogue to wear that will enable her touch another person again. Every mutant's power reveals itself when they hit puberty and when Rogue was in the early stages of becoming a teenager and going through the bodily functions of puberty, her power was activated. Ever since then, she has been covering her hands to protect humans and mutants alike. No one is invulnerable to her touch."
Linda nodded, chilled to the bone at the reality of Rogue's power and what came with it. She felt a deep sadness well up inside of her but pushed it aside, knowing that Rogue wouldn't want pity. She squeezed her eyes shut, from the pain in her head, and tired to drown out the sounds of the Danger Room.
"Can I go to sleep? My head hurts, a lot... and I feel too tired to sit up." Linda said, her words coming out slowly, as if she were speaking underwater.
"Yes, you may sleep, but do not fall into a deep, slumberous sleep. You'll need to awaken at once if Rogue wakes up before you. The exchange can only happen if you both are conscious." The Professor said and Linda nodded lightly, before she went slack, going to sleep instantly.
"Professor, how come she awoke while Rogue had her power? Shouldn't she have been like out cold?" Kitty asked, sitting down beside the sleeping girl and looking up at her mentor with curious eyes.
"It is quite extraordinary indeed, Kitty. I think perhaps because Linda's mutation made her power stronger and that perhaps she did have resistance against Rogue. Neither girl knows it though."
"Oh," was the startled girl's answer.
"Well, Kitty, these two seem to be in stable condition. I'm going to go around and check up on the other students, see if Ororo's group has been brought in yet. You contact me, telepathically, if the slightest thing happens. All right then. Good luck,"
~~~
Author: IceAngel8
Disclaimer: No characters here are in my possession, except for Linda.
Author's Notes: This is AU and if you don't like how I deal with things, don't read the fic. I do not write Rogue's words as if she has really speaking it, because I do not have time to add her southern accent to her sentences. I am not trying to make her sound any different, though. Everything she says always sounds southern to me, in my head and in my writing. I hope it is the same for you ;) I also deal with Rogue's power in my own way and if you don't like it... leave it.
Feedback: I would really love it, as much as I love chocolate fudge ice-cream! tee hee
*This part is longer than the first part, so read it and enjoy. The next part should be out by Tuesday night, or earlier!*
Part 2
Linda walked down a long corridor on the second floor, going to her new bedroom. She had just finished dinner with all the other teenage mutants and had met another teacher and mentor, Hank, codename Beast. He was a chemistry teacher in the high school and Linda wished she would get into his class. He seemed like the type of teacher to give interesting, insightful and yet educational lectures, and was very friendly with children.
There had been Scott, Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, Spike and Jean, the pretty redhead she had met earlier. There were more children but Linda didn't remember any of their names, but they all had been nice and supportive of her moving into the Institute in the middle of the school year. Scott, the leader of the X-Men, had impressed her with his handsome face and his shy, yet comfortable smile. She felt an instant connection with Scott and had spent the entire evening chattering away with him, realizing that they both had much in common. Jean had sat across from them and Linda hadn't missed the hurt expression on her face when Scott had completely turned his attention away from her, instead choosing to talk with the new girl.
Jean had looked a little stunned and Linda had immediately figured out that she was the popular girl of the school, always going out with the hottest guys, going to the top parties and dressing in trendy, designer label clothes. Jean probably never had any competition from a girl before and now that Linda had arrived, it seemed like Jean would have to work on her flirting skills a little more. Linda smiled to herself; Scott was certainly a nice catch. How come Jean hadn't dated him? Katherine, whom everyone called Kitty for short, had told her that Jean and Scott were like sister and brother, but that at one point a romantic relationship had seemed to be in the future for them. Kitty didn't provide any further information as to why that romance had never occurred and Linda hadn't pried.
Linda yawned, tired from all the day's activities, especially her Danger Room workout. She just wanted a hot bubble bath, some hot chocolate and a nice warm bed. Tomorrow she would get a ride to her new high school with Scott and afterwards, a personal tour of Bayville High with him. She hoped Jean wouldn't be riding in the car too, because then she would really ruin things between Scott and her. As much as Linda liked Jean and wanted to build a friendship with her, she liked Scott far more. The young mutant turned the corner, only to bump into Kitty, who had run right through a wall at top speed.
"Oh, hey, sorry about that. Didn't mean to bump into you, really, I wasn't watching where I was going." Kitty mumbled, giving Linda a cute lopsided smile. "So, uh, how do you like it here?"
"The town is a little boring but this place is looking up. The Danger Room is all high-tech and the bedrooms are so grand hotel pent suite, you know?" Linda said, sounding very much like the city girl she had been and would always be.
"I can show you around if you like. There's a great mall here; it's got everything! Sears, Macy's and a bunch of other stores. And they got the best Italian food there! It's like, delicious, way better than any other." Kitty said.
"Well, I like Macy's. It's got all the designer brands. Anyway, are there like shoe stores? A CD store?" Linda asked, as they began to walk down the hallway.
Kitty clapped her hands, giddy with excitement. "I told you, it has everything! A movie theater, a large gym complex, including two pools and exercise rooms, dozens of stores, restaurant, fast food places and these little ice cream, pretzel and cookie booths. If I don't have homework, then I'm usually hanging out over there. There are really no amazing clubs here in Bayville and I'm not even legal age to get into one."
Linda felt even more tired at seeing Kitty so energetic and perky. But the mall sounded pretty cool, like the malls had been back home in New York City. She felt a pang of longing at the thought of her old hometown and the many places that Sarah and she had went. Every weekend there was something exciting going on. One afternoon they had visited the Museum of Natural History and gotten lost, wandering around an area that was hardly crowded, a few people here and there that they had glimpsed in staircases or staring intently at magnificent paintings. Sarah and her had wandered around for what seemed like hours, but was only about forty or so minutes. Linda remembered Sarah's slight panic when she had joked that they would be spending the night, there in the museum, along with all the mummies and skulls in the Egyptian exhibit. When they had gotten out, following a group of chattering tourists, and into the bright sunshine, the girls couldn't stop laughing about their experience. Linda missed that, being with her best friend, doing ordinary, fun things, creating memories. But she could always create new memories, with mutants like herself, couldn't she?
"So, we'll go after school on Friday, okay? We'll need to ask the Professor first, see if he has anything planned for us, but I don't really think he does. And if he lets, we could ask Scott to drop us off at the mall or get Kurt to teleport us there. You saw Kurt, the blue furry guy, at dinner, didn't you?" Kitty asked, her brown ponytail swished in time to her step.
Linda nodded, smiling, her thoughts only of Scott Summers. He was absolutely handsome, she thought, picturing that casual mop of auburn hair, the carefree easy smile and the way he seemed to be staring straight into her soul behind though ruby colored glasses. She knew why he wore them and that if he didn't, that soulful, intelligent gaze would have killed her, instead of making her appreciate and like him more.
A pale, sullen looking girl closed the door to her bedroom and turned in their direction, heading for the library. Linda smiled at Rogue, who she remembered from dinner. Linda had commented on Rogue's southern drawl, which the other mutant hadn't liked, because she'd thought that Linda had been mocking her.
"Hey, Kitty... uh, Linda?" Rogue said to them when they approached. "You girls going to sleep or something?" she asked, rubbing a gloveless hand over her arm in thought. "I'm going to the library, I need a book for my history class. The assignment that leech gave us is a killer."
"Hey, Kitty just told me about this cool mall you got here. We're going Friday, if the Xavier guy gives us permission. You wanna come with us?" Linda asked the southern girl, hoping she would take the invitation and join them. She really liked Rogue, who in a way reminded her of Sarah, who had also dressed up in punk/gothic clothes, going for the original, authentic appearance.
Rogue was just about to answer back and tell them she would go along, when the ground shook violently, groaning loudly, and sent fear racing through her heart. She knew immediately that it wasn't the fake ground shaking that the Danger Room had, because everything that happened in the Danger Room, stayed there. It had been designed specifically for that; for students to be trained there and for the room to contain all their powers and not let them damage the house.
"What's happening?" Kitty yelled as she held on tightly to Linda. They both were pale and frightened and Linda looked a little bit green, feeling nauseous from the shaking of the ground and her earlier session with Wolverine and Storm.
"I got no clue. It might be Lance and the Brotherhood boys playing pranks-" Rogue's voice was abruptly cut off as the ground rolled, sending her straight into Kitty and Linda. Her bare hand scrambled for purchase, before she could hit the ground and got herself a bloody nose or maybe a concussion, and touched something smooth and soft. With a sickening feeling, Rogue realized that she had just knocked Linda unconscious by making skin-to-skin contact.
Images filled her head, of a training session in the Danger Room with Wolverine and Storm, a picture of Scott and a little fondness that came with it, a strong pang for New York City and her best friend, Sarah. Then there was one solid image, of that girl Sarah, smashing through a window, knocked through it by some invisible force and headed directly for the ground, where she landed with a deadly thud. Rogue screamed, clutching at her head, willing to erase the picture from her mind. But she still saw it, saw Sarah lying motionlessly on the ground, as if dead... and maybe she was dead, Rogue simply didn't know.
"Rogue, Rogue, what's wrong?" came Kitty's voice through the thick cloud that seemed to be surrounding Rogue. "Listen to me... I saw it happen. Linda's out cold but I think she'll be okay. And you better move closer, there might be more tremors."
Rogue nodded and glanced towards Linda's, who was now a part of her, as everyone that Rogue had touched ever since she had come into her power. Suddenly, she realized, that Linda hadn't been mocking her southern accent and that she genuinely wanted to be friends with her and Kitty. Rogue noted that Linda felt attracted to Scott, like she had at one point, and smiled. This girl was better than she had thought.
"What did you see?" Kitty asked, curiously as they sat huddled by the wall, Linda safely cradled between them.
"It's all kind of confusing, you know. Just a blur of memories and feelings, and her mutant power. It's really strong..." Rogue said, not wanting to tell Kitty much about what Linda thought. They were Linda's private thoughts and although she had shared them with Rogue, not consciously of course, Rogue wouldn't be telling anyone what she saw and felt. It was too personal and she would want the same kind of respect, too.
"I would test it out if I were you, Rogue. I mean, you probably won't get into any trouble either, everything's a mess because of this unexpected earthquake." Kitty said nonchalantly.
"I can't do that, Kitty. Are you using you're head here or not?" Rogue said snappishly, narrowing her eyes in frustration. "I don't even know what her damn power is first of all! All I feel is that she's very powerful, like Scott and Jean."
"This is once in a lifetime opportunity, Rogue! I know she's my friend and all but you've got to do this! I mean, doesn't it hurt you to sometimes see us using our powers and know you can't use yours unless you want to do us damage? Look, Linda is unconscious already. You can't wake her up. You might as well go for it."
Rogue's heart thumped nervously as she contemplated Kitty's words, knowing that the brown haired mutant was right in some ways. Linda was already unconscious and Rogue had her powers and memories, for at least another five minutes or so. And somewhere in Rogue's mind, she knew that she wanted to use Linda's powers, because as Kitty had said, it hurt her to see the other mutants doing something she could definitely not do. Well, she could, but it would mean doing damage to a fellow mutant, a fellow roommate at the Xavier Institute. The man in the wheelchair, wiser than any person Rogue had ever known, had taught Rogue on her first day, to never deliberately hurt another mutant if they haven't hurt you. But that rule only applied to good mutants who didn't abuse their powers, like Magneto, Mystique, among others.
"So are you doing it?" Kitty asked, looking at Rogue and then down at Linda. "She might awaken soon and you won't get another chance."
Rogue nodded her head, willing herself to not feel guilty. She smiled at Kitty, "Yes, I am going to do it. Let's see what her power is." Rogue held out her hands and concentrated, dwelling deeper into Linda's presence inside her body. Images and memories, thoughts and smiles, laughter and tears flashed by in a blur, until Rogue felt the undeniable tug of another mutant's power. Her hand shot out immediately and a wall of energy spread out from her hands. It was crackling, bursting with energy and little thunderbolts inside. Kitty and she stared at it amazingly. It was like nothing they had ever seen.
"What does it do?" Kitty asked, still intently gazing at the large energy field that blocked the other half of the hallway. "It's huge."
"Very powerful, too." Rogue said and casually flicked her hands outward. The wall of energy pushed itself backwards and trapped the small table the held the phone within it. "Oops, let me try to get the phone out of the way." she said, concentrating a little more harder, expecting the energy field to move further down the hall. The table blew up instead, taking the phone, stacks of post-it notes and pens and pencils with it. Kitty and Rogue yelled, ducking to avoid being hit by debris. A leg of the table, it's end razor sharp, whizzed past Rogue's head and she stared wide-eyed at it.
"That's it; no more." Rogue yelled, closing her eyes in fright, frustration and yet awe that Linda possessed such a incredible power. When she opened them, no traces of Linda's power, except for the destruction of the table and phone, remained. The huge field of energy had disappeared and Rogue could finally see the rest of the corridor clearly, when before it had looked like an underwater palace through Linda's power.
"That girl is powerful. Maybe more than she can handle." Rogue said, bonelessly sliding to the floor. She was exhausted all of a sudden, feeling drained of energy. "I can't handle her mutant abilities either, Kitty. It's too strong, for both of us. I think... I think you should get the professor." Rogue managed to mumbled, hoping desperately that Kitty had understood her, before Rogue succumbed to unconsciousness.
"Rogue!" Kitty yelled, scared now that she was by herself. The ground shook every ten or twenty seconds, making the hallway more dangerous for them to remain in. But how could she drag two unconscious girls out of here by herself? Suddenly Kurt's face popped into her head and Kitty called out his name, "Kurt! I need you here, Kurt! I'm near my bedroom, in the west wing hallway!"
Instantly Kurt appeared, with his trademark trail of pungent smoke. Kitty smiled at him in relief, happy beyond words to see him there.
"Kurt, Rogue touched Linda and she absorbed her memories and mutant power. Rogue said she was too strong for her to handle and now they're both knocked out cold. And the earthquake is making this hallway even more deadly to stay in. Help me, please. We need to get out of here."
Kurt nodded, glancing over where Rogue and Linda lay, both seemingly asleep. But he knew that the longer Linda stayed unconscious, her memories and mutant power trapped in Rogue's body, the less chances she had of surviving. Rogue was unconscious too but she wouldn't be the one harmed in the end. It was Linda they had to worry about, as well as awakening Rogue so that the process of returning Linda's power to it's rightful owner could be completed.
"All the X-Men are gathering in the Danger Room. Wolverine and Beast are scouring the mansion for anyone injured or who can't get through debris. The Professor heard you calling me. Now I have to teleport you down there and go help Ororo. She was out by the pool with a few kids when the earthquake struck." Kurt said and Kitty nodded, trying to not let her fright overwhelm her.
Kurt and her quickly went over to the girls and linked hands. Kurt smiled at her reassuringly before they all disappeared in his teleporting smoke. Kitty felt a little woozy as they whooshed through time and space, where she had no body, no structure, only her mind and soul. Moments later, the four of them landed in the Danger Room, right on the training grounds where several other mutants, including Professor Xavier, were already milling around. Amara, codename Magma, looked frightened out of her mind, her naturally mocha colored skin pale.
The Professor immediately rolled his wheelchair over to where Kitty kneeled beside Rogue and Linda. He had on a pair of gloves and took out another, heavier pair of black, leather gloves out for Rogue. He slid them onto her bare hands and patted her gently on the shoulder. Rogue didn't stir and remained motionless on the ground. Linda, too, lay still beside her. The Professor looked at them both worriedly.
"Kitty, tell me what happened." He said, staring at the pretty teenager with expectance in his blue eyes.
She nodded, "Well, the earthquake struck unexpectedly and Linda, Rogue and I were talking in the hallway when it happened. None of us were prepared. The ground underneath Rogue rolled and she smashed right into us and accidently grabbed Linda's hand. It was an honest accident. Rogue did not mean to hurt Linda, I'm pretty sure. She probably just grabbed onto something out of habit, to not get hurt by the fall."
"You're right, Kitty. Rogue is well aware of the damage her power can inflict on another mutant and she knows she must only use it in dire emergencies. Although Rogue didn't mean for Linda to become her victim, she did and now they are both unconscious. Did Rogue say anything, well, before she passed out, perhaps?"
Kitty nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Professor, in fact she did! Rogue said the power was too strong for her to handle. She said it felt like Jean and Scott's powers, strong and deadly and out of control, but not as much as Jean and Scott of course. They've got control over their mutant powers. What I don't understand is how Linda's power can be so pronounced when she came to the Institute with absolutely no knowledge of how to use that power. I mean, that is what she came for isn't it?"
"You are all here to master you're powers. No one will ever have perfect control over them, either. Onto the other matter, then. I believe Rogue took quite more than usual when she made skin-to-skin contact with Linda. Also, Linda was not aware of Rogue's powers and she did have not any mental resistance against Rogue when they touched. You, as well as the rest of the children here, understand about Rogue's abilities and you all have rather some resistance against her mutant power. It is in your subconscious, Kitty, and you do not realize it until the event has actually happened." The Professor said and Kitty understood him, nodding her head to show him she did.
"But this can be fixed, can't it?" she asked, biting her lip in frustration as she glanced at the two girls lying on the cold, metal ground of the Danger Room.
"I will do everything I can, Kitty, to have them back to normal. But it might take awhile. I'll speak to Rogue, mentally, try to awaken her and then the process will begin for Linda's memories and power to be returned to her. But first, please do retrieve some blankets for the girls. The ground is too cold to be lying upon. They're over in the storage bin by the elevators. See if you can get someone to help you, perhaps Kurt; I don't want anyone else getting separated from the group."
Kitty sighed, her mouth set in a firm line, but she turned around and headed for the storage bin. Hank had arrived with another small group of students, who all thankfully looked unharmed and was helping them onto available chairs, or the ground to sit on. Neither Jean, Scott, Kurt or Spike were with Hank's group, though, and Kitty began to worry. There had been several students who had gone out for a swim after dinner, claiming they needed to work off the many calories they had just digested, and that Ororo had gone along with them outside, acting as their chaperone for the evening. Kitty vaguely remembered Jean joining the small number of students in the pool and that Scott had trailed out afterwards, perhaps not to swim but to watch the girl he secretly adored from afar. Ororo and they had all been outside, completely vulnerable, especially in the pool, against the earthquake. Kitty's stomach tightened and she felt nauseous.
"Breathe," she told herself, trying to calm down her frazzled nerves. "They'll be here soon. It's nothing to worry about," she continued, walking around in semi-circles until the knot in her stomach lessened. She quickly dashed over to the storage bin, that was three times her sizes and bulky, because of all the essential things the Professor and other teachers at the Institute had stored inside. There were blankets and several clothing items, flash-lights, notebooks, writing tools like pens and pencils, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Beside the bin stood a mini refrigerator, where they stored canned and packaged food.
Kitty quickly grabbed three thick blue blankets, a mini-size package of chocolate chip cookies and a bottle of Poland Spring Water. She didn't know how long they would have to remain in here and her stomach was already growling, although it had only been about a half hour since dinner. The Professor was waiting patiently for her when she brought him the blankets.
"Sorry I took so long, Professor. I just got kind of distracted about something." she said, offering him a tiny smile. He smiled back at her.
"It's all right. Well, settle down then, we'll begin with the girls. I told Hank to keep the rest of the kids entertained while I do the procedure, so there won't be any hasty interruptions."
Kitty spread her blanket out onto the floor and sprawled on it, opening her water bottle and taking a sip. The water was cool and refreshing, soothing her parched throat. She tore open the package of cookies and popped one into her mouth, savory the chocolate goodness of the cookies. Charles gave her another smile and then focused on Rogue and Linda. He touched his temples, eyes closed in concentration, reaching out towards Rogue's mind.
// Speak to me, Rogue. This is Charles Xavier and I need you to answer me. You have to awaken, child, for you're sake and Linda's. She cannot be restored to her old self if you keep her trapped in you're mind and body, Rogue. Please, listen to me. Try to answer me back. Rogue. //
// Professor? Is that you? There's so much confusion in my head. I'm mistaking her thoughts for mine and her power seems to be draining my energy. That's why I can't wake up. Every time I try to open my eyes, I can't, it feels like someone's covering them with their hand. You have to help me, Professor. I can't handle all her thoughts and her power by myself. Please help me. I'm stuck here. //
// All right, Rogue. I will lessen you're burden. Try to relax, don't think about me, or Linda, or anything to do with mutants and powers. Just think about a happy memory. Concentrate. It will hurt, but only a little. Do you hear me, Rogue? //
// I hear you. //
// All right then. Conjure up a memory of yourself being happy and excited. Don't think about anything else. It will take a few seconds, at least. //
The Professor focused on the swirling images and thoughts inside Rogue's mind. He couldn't really decipher anything he saw, but from what he did, he knew that Rogue was under a lot of pressure. She had obviously held the touch longer than a second, because her thoughts were mingling with Linda's and making it all a big unexplainable blur. The Professor gently tried to still Linda's presence in Rogue, slowly but surely separating the two girls' thoughts and memories. Kitty saw Rogue stir on the blanket, her fingers twitching and eyelashes fluttering a little. She sat up straighter and watched Linda and Rogue intently.
Rogue felt like she had a migraine in her left temple. There was a horrible pounding in her head, making it unbearable to concentrate on anything else. She groaned, her hands instinctively covering her eyes from the overhead Danger Room lights. When she opened them cautiously she saw the Professor and Kitty staring at her with concern.
"Did you do that? I feel like my head's gonna burst," Rogue grumbled, wincing as the pounding continued. Her eyes hurt from the lights and her mouth felt dry, parched. "Give me your water bottle, Kitty. I need a drink, badly." Kitty handed her the water and Rogue immediately gulped it down, feeling better at once as the refreshing cold water rushed down her throat.
Rogue suddenly sent the water bottle flying, spraying it's contents, as she keeled over in pain, clutching her head. The Professor instantly bent down towards her, holding her against him. He seemed to know what was happening, while Kitty was wide-eyed with worry and fear. "It's all right, Rogue. Let it leave you. You'll feel much, much better. Come on now, I think Linda's stirring. Just relax; don't fight it."
Rogue cried out in pain. "It hurts... too much... Professor...make her leave, please make her leave." she cried out, eyes closed against the tide of pain she fought. Suddenly Rogue went slack in Charles' arms and he worriedly gazed down at her.
"Rogue? Rogue?" He asked but the teenager didn't respond. "She's fallen unconscious. Kitty, check on Linda. If she isn't waking up, we'll have to get them into the lab."
Kitty kneeled beside Linda on her knees, her lips tightened together in frustration and anxiety. Would Linda die, on her first day at the Xavier Institute? No, Kitty told herself, erasing the thought from her head. She shook Linda's shoulder, got no response and tried again, this time shaking her a bit more forcefully. Like a miracle, Linda stirred, her breath quickening. Kitty felt a surge of hope and shook her again, saying as she did so, "Come on Linda! Please wake up, just please wake up!
The other mutant girl's eyelids fluttered and then finally opened, revealing her mysterious green eyes. Linda groaned, as if just awoken from a deep sleep. She stared at Kitty in confusion, her eyes a little bit hazy from the affect of Rogue's power. "What's going on? I can't remember anything."
"Don't worry, you're fine. The Professor's here. You just had a small accident but you're fine. The Professor will explain things a little better okay? He's with Rogue right now but he should be done when she regains consciousness." Kitty said, smiling down at the beautiful mutant. Even in her traumatized state, Linda's tired green eyes shone, little flecks of gold in them. Her dark brown, almost black, hair complimented her naturally tanned complexion, and her smile brightened up her entire face. Kitty felt a little envious. There was only one other mutant in the Institute that was as beautiful and alluring as Linda. Jean. With her red hair, compelling green eyes and pale, rosy skin, she stood out in a crowd.
"What kind of accident? And why is Rogue unconscious? Was she with me when it... whatever it is... happened?" asked Linda, closing her eyes for a brief second and then opening them. Kitty was suddenly aware that Linda hadn't regained all of her power back from Rogue and that she was still experiencing an outer body feeling that always came with Rogue's touch.
Kitty sat still for a moment, contemplating the thought. Was Linda strong enough to withstand Rogue's touch? How was she able to be awake while Rogue still possessed some part, even small, of her? Kitty turned to the Professor, who had gently set Rogue back down onto her blanket. He was watching her intently, his blue eyes focused and determined. Rogue lay as still as death.
"Rogue's mutant power is to steal human's memories with her touch. She can also steal mutant's memories and they're powers if she touches them, too. That is why she must always cover her skin. Anyway, there was an earthquake and Rogue stumbled into us. She accidently grabbed you're hand and you blacked out, as everyone who Rogue touches, does. Rogue also fell unconscious, saying that you're power was beyond what she could handle. Kurt Wagner, another mutant student here at the Institute, teleported us here. Right now, the Professor is trying to wake Rogue up. She needs to be awake for you're full memory and mutant power to be returned, or otherwise, both of you can die. What I don't understand is how you awoke so quickly while she is still in an unconscious state."
Linda nodded and smiled weakly at Kitty. There was a persistent pain in her head, not extreme but enough to ensure her that she was in pain. She also couldn't remember much, of anything, because things seemed to be blurs in her head... images seemed to slowly drift by and thoughts and memories were all a big jumble. Linda shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable on the hard cold floor when suddenly she noticed a sort of emptiness inside herself. She shivered, both from the cold and void she could feel clearly now, inside her skin. It was as if something were missing, a piece of a puzzle that needed to be completed. Linda's whimpered, feeling on the verge of tears.
"What has she done to me? I feel empty inside." Linda cried out, gripping the blankets with clenched fists. "What has she done to me?" She yelled, rising from her lying down position. She stared accusingly at Kitty and the Professor. He immediately rolled his wheelchair over to them and gently pushed Kitty aside. The brown haired girl understand and stepped behind the protection of his wheelchair.
"Linda, it was all an accident. Rogue did not intend to hurt anyone here! She knows that perfectly well, it was the reason she came here, to learn how to accept, live with and learn about the power she holds inside. When the earthquake struck, she was pushed and grabbed you're hand, to make sure she wouldn't get hurt in the fault. Yes, Rogue should have been wearing her gloves at all times, but we really cannot blame her for removing them at night. None of us knew this earthquake would strike, as normally there are no earthquakes in New York State, except for Avalanche's power." The Professor paused, waiting for the information to sink into Linda's head, and then continued. "You feel a missing part of yourself because that missing part is you're mutant power and you're memories. When Rogue awakens, they will be returned to you. I pray that you do not feel any hostility towards Rogue, for she had no control over any of this."
The angry words that Linda had wanted to shout seemed to die in her throat when the Professor finished telling her of what had occurred. Instead she felt pity and sorrow toward Rogue, whose power forbade her to ever touch another person, human or mutant. Linda knew that if she had Rogue's power, she wouldn't want to live and that life without any contact would appear useless and saddening. Linda respected Rogue now, of being brave, courageous and keeping her chin up throughout everything she had already faced and would face in the future.
"Will it always be like this for her?" Linda asked softly, laying back down again as a wave of exhaustion passed over her. The emptiness in her soul still felt foreign and completely wrong, but Linda didn't recoil from it. She knew now that some small fraction of her being resided in Rogue temporarily and that eventually it would be returned to her.
"I'm afraid so. Unless Hank or I create some sort of device for Rogue to wear that will enable her touch another person again. Every mutant's power reveals itself when they hit puberty and when Rogue was in the early stages of becoming a teenager and going through the bodily functions of puberty, her power was activated. Ever since then, she has been covering her hands to protect humans and mutants alike. No one is invulnerable to her touch."
Linda nodded, chilled to the bone at the reality of Rogue's power and what came with it. She felt a deep sadness well up inside of her but pushed it aside, knowing that Rogue wouldn't want pity. She squeezed her eyes shut, from the pain in her head, and tired to drown out the sounds of the Danger Room.
"Can I go to sleep? My head hurts, a lot... and I feel too tired to sit up." Linda said, her words coming out slowly, as if she were speaking underwater.
"Yes, you may sleep, but do not fall into a deep, slumberous sleep. You'll need to awaken at once if Rogue wakes up before you. The exchange can only happen if you both are conscious." The Professor said and Linda nodded lightly, before she went slack, going to sleep instantly.
"Professor, how come she awoke while Rogue had her power? Shouldn't she have been like out cold?" Kitty asked, sitting down beside the sleeping girl and looking up at her mentor with curious eyes.
"It is quite extraordinary indeed, Kitty. I think perhaps because Linda's mutation made her power stronger and that perhaps she did have resistance against Rogue. Neither girl knows it though."
"Oh," was the startled girl's answer.
"Well, Kitty, these two seem to be in stable condition. I'm going to go around and check up on the other students, see if Ororo's group has been brought in yet. You contact me, telepathically, if the slightest thing happens. All right then. Good luck,"
~~~
