Power Train

            After dinner, Logan had told Rogue to meet him in the Danger Room at 8:00 for their first training session.  So now Rogue stood in the Danger Room waiting for Logan.  She paced back and forth in the large room, her patience wearing thin.  Sighing she glanced at her watch and frowned.  It was 8:30.  Logan was late.  Logan had never been late for anything.  "Where are you Logan?"  Already she had finished her warm-up exercises, thinking that maybe Logan had forgotten, or got preoccupied with something, but she could only wait for so long.  "Ten more minuets.  If he's not here in ten, I'll go."

            "Hey Stripes, you ready?"

            Rogue spun around and gaped at Logan.  "Your late?  Where were you?"

            "Nowhere important," growled Logan as he walked in.  It was obvious that he was in no mood to talk, so Rogue quickly dropped the questions that were forming in her mind.  Logan was finished his warm-ups then turned to face her, " We're going to start with the mental training first.  This is going to be the hardest part of your training.  It is also the most important.  Any questions?" Rogue shook her head, "Good.  First, you need to remove your gloves," Rogue obeyed.  Logan smiled reassuringly and extended his bare hand, "I need you to relax, take deep breaths.  Clear your mind of all thoughts.  Focus only your powers.  The more focused you are, the more control you'll have over your powers.  As soon as you're ready, grab my hand."

            Rogue closed her eyes and focused.  Slowly her mind cleared, her breathing became deep and regular.  Rogue opened her eyes and grasped Logan's hand.  She winched reflectively, as fear of her powers washed over her.  But then, nothing happened.  Rogue slowly opened her eyes and looked at Logan.  He wasn't withering in pain, or crying out as his life force was sucked away.  No, he was just standing in front of her, smiling proudly.  That was when realized that it was true - she could control her powers.  It was no longer just a dream but instead a reality.  Rogue smiled as thoughts raced around her head, "I'm not absorbing his powers.  I'm not hurting him.  Now I can really be normal.  I can touch without hurting people."

            Suddenly voices raged in Rogue's head as her powers kicked in.  Logan gave a small gasp as she absorbed his thoughts, memories, and powers.  She could feel his thoughts and voice joining the other psyches.  Rogue released Logan's hand and staggered back, grasping her head from the immense pain.  Somehow, Rogue managed to filter out some of Logan's thought and memories as she tried to push the psyches behind the mental wall.  The voices now grew louder, and suddenly blackness seized Rogue.

            Around her was blackness.  It was like a void.  Rogue could see things around her, silver wisps of smoke that seemed to just hover out of her reach.  Rogue had seen this place before, when she had lost control and had been in a sort of coma.  Then it had happened again, in her dreams, when she would absorb people.  Every time she had watched the person's memories and read their thoughts, all in the safety of her mind.  It was almost like watching a movie   Now Rogue could feel Logan's thoughts and memories washing over her.  The memories started to flash around her, starting with the most strongest and most recent.

(Flashback)

            Logan was standing outside in the gardens.  Around him the scents and sounds of the garden reminded him to be thankful of his mutant ability of enhanced senses.  Logan had just finished dinner and was trying to sort though his thoughts about his journey up north before going to find his training with Rogue.  He had always found the gardens to be a relaxing place.  Somehow it always seemed to calm him down, no matter what.  Suddenly an intoxicating scent caught his attention.  Glancing around he quickly found its source, Ororo.

            Ororo Munroe had long been the object of Logan's affection, and although he knew it would never work out, he still found himself attracted to her.  Something about the way she messed with his sense seemed to appeal to him.  Ororo was standing a few feet away, busy planting a bright red flower.  Her eyes seemed to glow strangely as she created a small wind to help clear the dirt away.  The wind also was also causing her scarf to blow away, freeing all her white hair to stir about.  Logan smiled at the sight of her; she really was a beautiful woman.

            Logan caught the scarf before Ororo turned around.  He smiled as she looked around, confusion all over her face.  Logan smiled and walked out from behind the bush that was hiding him from her view, "Hey, Ro.  What's that?"  Logan said, motioning to the plant.

            Ororo jumped in shock, letting loose a small gasp.  She faced him angrily, hands on her hips and shook her head, "Logan!  Honestly, we should put a bell around your neck.  Why don't you make yourself useful and help instead of scaring me to death."  Logan walked over, grabbed a trowel, and started digging.

            Ororo smiled then glanced back over at the plant, "It's called a Fire Rose.  The tribe I that I use to live with would use them for medicine.  In the summer the plant will bear fruit that make the best jam."  She turned and smiled at him, "I'll have you try it sometime.  I think you'll like it."

            Logan watched as she placed the plant in the hole, then filled up hole with dirt.  Using her powers, she created a miniature rain cloud over the plant.  Logan stood up and offered Ororo a hand, "It smells familiar, but I can't seem to place it."

            Ororo smiled knowingly, "I use it to make my perfume, should have known you would recognize the scent."

            "Course I'd recognize the scent.  Though it smells better on you."

            A strand of hair fell into her face, "Can you believe it?  I lost my scarf.  You haven't seen it by any chance have you?"

            Logan smiled and pocketed the scarf, "Haven't seen your scarf…"

(End Flashback)

            Finally the memory ended.  Rogue smiled at the memory, they would make a cute couple.  Suddenly, Rogue felt an icy cold hand touch her.  She gasped and looked around her.  The silver smoke was all around her, making a soft rustling noise, like a whisper.  Rogue suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of fear - these where the psyches.  Before Rogue could panic, she felt two hands grasp her roughly and wake her from her sleep.

            Rogue opened her eyes to see Logan hovering over her, "Rogue?  You all right?"

            "Yeah," Rogue groaned, "I'm fine."

            Rogue slowly got to her feet.  Pain shot though her entire body.  Not the usual pain that came from using her powers, no this time her whole body hurt.  She shook uncontrollably, drenched in a cold sweat.  Her legs and arms felt completely useless.  Even breathing hurt.  Rogue glanced at the ring, "This ring must have caused it."

            Then it hit her, the voices.  They were gone!  She could no longer hear them.  Maybe the ring caused her pain, but it got rid of the psyches.  It really was going to be a cure.  She would never have the voices screaming in her head day and night.  They would finally be gone forever.  Already Rogue could hear the voices starting to act up again, "Ok, so maybe its not a total cure, but still.  Its defiantly a start."

            Logan stood next to Rogue, a worried expression on his face.  He offered her a hand, which she gladly took, and walked her over to a nearby chair.  Rogue sat down slowly, the pain causing her to wince with every movement.  Logan looked her over for injuries before speaking, "Are you okay?  You must still be recovering.  Maybe we should stop for tonight…"

            "No.  No, I'm fine Logan.  I wasn't ready for your persona, that's all," Rogue lied.  For some reason, Rogue was afraid that if she told Logan the truth he would make her give up her newfound control.  Rogue just couldn't stand the thought.  A great swell of pity over took Rogue; she had never lied to Logan before.  It made her feel rotten.  Slowly she climbed to her feet.  "How long did I hold on for?"

            "About ten minuets, not bad for you first time.  Are you sure your okay?"  Rogue nodded slowly, "Fine, lets continue.  Last time you relied on the ring too much.  Also you lost control of your focus.  This time I want you to really focus.  Whenever your ready Rogue."

            It was well past midnight by the time Rogue returned to her room.  She and Logan had practiced until her head hurt so bad that she couldn't see straight.  Slowly and painfully she dragged herself to bed, just barely making it before collapsing.  Rogue lay down and closed her eyes.  She could hear Kitty's deep, rhythmic breathing.  Eventually her mind cleared, breathing slowed, and sleep took her.