Dec 31

I woke up this morning, feeling rather disoriented.

It took me a few minutes to realize that I was in my "new"

room, clear across the country from where I'd awakened the

day before...

I also knew it was New Year's Eve.

I got up, and padded into the bathroom, and decided that I was

going to make a trip to Bath & Body Works over at the mall in

Salem Center. Peaches 'n Cream wasn't my idea of a good smel-

ling bath.

I dug out my favourite amber and sandalwood bath goodies, my

makeup and a few other odds and ends that I stored in the

armoire.

A hot tub of water helped ease more of the soreness out of my

muscles, letting me feel "humanoid" again. I washed my hair,

and debated what to do about that annoying white stripe.

I wound my hair up, and secured it with a pair of silver hair

sticks, decided against makeup, and pulled on a loose black

velvet shirt, jeans and combat boots before heading downstairs

to grab breakfast... I overheard someone mentioning a 'holodeck'

in the basement.

I knew by now, that there was a "Star Trek" style computer in

the mansion. I decided to ask it where the 'holodeck' was, and

immediately received instructions on where to find it...

It didn't take me long to make my way to this technological

wonder, and then asked it to run a custom programme...

Viola!! No more silly white stripe!

Later that morning...

I emerged a couple of hours later, with a satisfied smile on

my face. It was nearly lunchtime, and it was time to face the

others...

Yes, I was nervous.

Ororo, and the others were waiting to use the 'holodeck' for

some sort of training exercise. They were dressed in those

outlandish blue and yellow costumes, in varying styles.

When they'd seen me that morning, I'd had that ridiculous white

stripe running down the middle of my head, and now, everything

was a lovely auburn, with nary a strand of white to be seen...

Remy stared at me, "Rogue??"

I'd glared at him, [The name's Anastasia. Lady Anastasia to you,

Slick.]

I don't know why I fell into mindspeak like it was second

nature, but I did. Something about it just felt more 'natural'.

But I couldn't believe that a batch of 'super heroes' were

dressed in the worst "oh, shoot me now" outfits I'd ever seen.

Not only that, they were worse than tasteless, and I just

couldn't keep my mouth shut...

[What gives?] I had 'said', giving them all a withering look,

[Ye lot so eager to be shot at?]

Good ol' Scotty had stood there like a stump while Logan and

the others chuckled after a moment. He just didn't get the

joke, "I don't understand where your levity is called for,

Ro... Anastasia."

[Look in the mirror, hotshot,] I continued, "Computer. Create

wall mirror: 8'x15'."

[Take a look at yerselves...] I told them as I pushed them into

the holodeck, going into costumer-mode, Yer practically weAnang

neon signs that say 'shoot me'. Blue and yellow? Come on!!! And

big "X" logos? Spells 'target' to me... The only people I see

around here with taste are Storm, though those logo's gotta go,

and maybe Kwannon and Lorna, they've got the good sense to wear

actual armor...]

I was just starting my tirade when Logan put a hand on my

shoulder, "Calm down, darlin'. You got a point. And while

yer at it, why don't you share yer ideas?"

Kate and Jubilee looked excited...while Scott, Remy, and Warren

looked worried. I couldn't resist giving them my trademarked

"evil grin".

Lunchtime...

I had made my suggestions for new, improved outfits. Armor

protection for those with no innate defenses such as Jean,

Ororo and Amanda, and costumes that didn't rip or tear for

Warren or Logan, or something that was immune to ice/cold

for Bobby, unstable molecules for Kitty, that would phase

with her, for example.

I'm pretty proud of my idears... I guess I'll go ahead and make

a note of what I cooked up. But first let me tell you what I

created to wear, since Kitty and Ororo insisted that whether

or not I was still "Rogue", I was still a going to have to

work out in the Holodeck.

I couldn't argue with that logic, not the fact that I had no

idea how to use the powers I'd inherited with this body...

Anyway, I would up with pieces-parts of Storm's old costumes,

the strapless jumpsuit and belts from her punk era, the high

boots from her first costume, Longshot's "leather jacket" from

his Australia days, and shoulder high gloves and silvery bracers.

I decided to top it off with the black domino mask from the old

Ms Marvel outfit I'd found in the back of Rogue's closet.

The outfit was all unstable molecules, armored, almost all black,

and plenty of pockets and a utility belt for 'stuff'. Perfectly

suited to me.

Now all I had to do was learn to fly.

And get used to being invulnerable and juggle Ford Explorers...

I managed to get through their impromptu training session, with

a minimum of fuss. I didn't bother to try flying, but stayed on

the ground, fending off different groups of the X-men so Hank

could "watch" me on that "Cerebra" dingus of Cueball's.

My main strategy was to dodge the energy blasts, and I knew the

psychics couldn't read me, because the Professor couldn't, and

then to physically tackle those who got close enough to me...

What I had on my side, was my elusive Sight-gift. Knowing when

and where the attacks were coming from, and what they would be;

but what they had on their side were vAnaety, experience and

numbers on their side...

But I had the ingenuity of someone who's never played by the

rules, and the ability to absorb powers it seemed...and because

I understand mind powers the best, I started with Phoenix....

She literally fell into my grasp when I tossed a nice, round

rock and hit her in the temple at just the right time. I

brushed my hand against her cheek...for some reason, physical

contact has always made mindlinking easier for me.. gaining

the insight via that mindlink I temporAnaly established with

her and my telepathy to turn their worlds upside down...that

was in conjunction with my Sight-gift, knowing somehow what it

took to stop each and every one of them.

In the minutes I was linked to Jean, I learned a great deal

about my own mental abilities, things that would probably

take me weeks, if not months to fully utilize the techniques.

But practice them, I would!

I looked up, then, to see the Professor in the control booth,

a look of consternation on his face, though Hank's look was

one of satisfaction...

Apparently, I'd done well on my first "test"...in "Bones"

book, anyway.

I'm still a fencer and fairly decent martial artist at heart,

and I don't think they were expecting that from someone

they knew as a brawler...