Hmm, can't believe it took me that long to add a new chapter!

Ok, there is no more hint on Rogue's pairing so far, sorry. The thing is, I had this chapter in my head for a long while, and I knew exactly what it would be like….except that the first part, that is the arrival of this new student at the mansion, ended up being much longer than I anticipated, and it felt only right to stop here. At least the next chapter is almost ready now….

Oh yeah, a couple more things: I was given the idea to add this very mutant to the story and to have her become friend with Rogue by reading Missmishka's stories. Go read her fics if you haven't so far (although those allergic to anything not ROMY should beware). That's some of the best based on the Evo universe I've come across so far!

The hints about her past though come straight from the comics. Still, the consequences will be different; those who read the Uncanny X-Men surely know what I'm talking about

Now on to the fic!

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They had ported back inside, on the balcony of the first floor which opened on the main entrance hall. The first thing that immediately caught both their eye and their ear was the commotion below them, as most students –some hadn't even changed from their previous outdoor session –excitedly surrounded who Kurt and Rogue both immediately pegged as their newest pier, although only the top of the head was visible from there point of view. Well, more precisely, only purple hair was visible from their point of view.

Following Kurt, Rogue run down the stairs and threw herself in the crowd, trying to make her way to the center of everybody's attention.

The first thing she knew is that it was a she, and almost as quickly, thanks to the thick accent permeating her melodious voice, that she was british.

"Nice to meet you."

It hadn't been that way when the previous kids arrived at the mansion during springbreak. Well, most of them weren't exactly new. Jubilee and Rahne had returned, thanks to the somewhat more peaceful climate surrounding the mutant issue. But the excitement increased tenfold  when the students learned from Jean and Scott that the part of the mansion that was still under construction was indeed designed to welcome more students, as the Professor was well counting on this somewhat peaceful political atmosphere regarding mutants' issues to convince more parents to allow their children to join the institue.

The girl over there was the first of these new kids to arrive, thus the cheerings that really started to get on Rogue's nerves. Gawd, kids! That's something she started to feel more and more; not exactly estranged, but like she didn't belong with the other kids, at least on some occasions.

Of course, Scott and Jean sure weren't kids anymore, but her nursing of the crush she had for Scott and her relationship-or lack of relationship- with Jean prevented her from becoming closer friends with them. And sometimes, she felt as if even they were too young, too careless, for her. Of all the students, only Kitty's, for some Gawd-knows-why reason, and Kurt's presence never had her feeling somewhat awkward.

Hell, she even felt awkward in front of Remy, although he hardly could be counted as a student. No, there must be another reason why….

"And you must be Rogue, right?"

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She felt herself ready to burst. First that damn little "accident" that had left her blind for many months and had delayed her coming there, until she miraculously heard of that surgeon who had found a way of implementing bionic eyes. Then her brother, who suddenly backpedaled from it all and finally let her come here on her own, giving her the lame excuse of an assignment that he couldn't refuse, and the vague promise of his coming as soon as possible. Knowing what his missions usually were, he couldn't have been more evasive. Arriving in the US, she had been escorted from New York by this girl, Jean. And now this, all those sounds ringing in her ears, all that commotion.

Not that Jean hadn't been friendly, not that she wasn't used to to attract peoples' attention. She had been a model after all, and at such a young age. But something about that Jean-girl was off. Or maybe it was her. She was in such a state, with everything that had happened lately, she thought maybe she would have a break down. And there was NO WAY she was going to stand in the middle of all those people with a mascara-smeared face. She was a girl and she had her pride, after all.

So instead she started to focus, trying to remember the pictures Jean had showed to her on their way to the Mansion, and to attach to them the names that Jean was currently giving her. Bobby, Rahne, Scott, Kitty, Sam…she then distinguished two more figures trying to make there way through it all. One she remembered the name easily by herself: Kurt. But she remained struck by the other, and for a second, forgot to fish for her name in her memory. The girl must have been about her age, but that wasn't what caught her attention, and made her immediately like her.

It was the emotions surfacing, the sensation that she could feel from where she stand, that, to some extent, mirrored her own. Among them, the sensation of not belonging here. And the strong, calm determination that lay under it all. A determination that she felt was as strong as her own. At least. I have just this feeling you and I are gonna be friends, Elisabeth thought, smiling to herself.

Forgetting all of Jean Grey still at her side, and marching towards the crowd, she extended her hand:

"And you must be Rogue, right?"

For a split-second, the girl seemed to tense, as if on her guard. But her demeanor changed quickly as she relaxed, and she took the hand that was offered to her, the green eyes never leaving hers.

"Yeah. And you must be Elisabeth." She released her hand, gave her a once-over and grinned. "Tell me, you wouldn't like to skip the rest of the presentations for now and head to your room, by any chance?"  A small growling was then heard, and Elisabeth was sure Rogue knew where that was coming from as the grin grew wider and she added "Don't worry, we will pick up with this whole introduction thing later…like, just after supper."

Elisabeth felt herself grin in turn:

"Sounds good to me! And…hey, you can call me Betsy"

She turned to get one of her suitcase, Rogue came to take the other one and they made their way through the remaining students up to the students dorm.

Now I'm sure we're gonna be friends.

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"I cannot believe it, we can see them! We can see them all! It is as if we were there yourselves."

"Did I not tell you I had everything under control?"

"Y-Yes, but…."

"And that things would go on as planned? And this is how it will remain. There is no cause for panic."

"Does that mean that we will send him to them as well?"

"Yes"

"But, my Lord, isn't your device already in place not enough? I-I mean, he is only human. A weak, versatile, human. Is there no risk for him to become a liability."

"This liability, as you call him, may well be our surest asset in case some of those mutants become to high a risk to act without leading them to us. I entrust you to make sure he remains properly informed all the time. Make him ready: he should depart in a few days."

"Yes, my Lord, things will be done as you bid."