Lady Farevay – Yowza! That'll do most nicely. Your debt has been repaid. Also, out of curiosity, you said that you found another story with the Trio. Mind telling me which one?

Ishandahalf – Quite right, effort is bad. Laziness is good. So you see the conundrum I'm in, since it requires a lot of effort to write this.

Thanks to Spiffythefaery for the beta work provided for the low, low price of absolutely free!

"Past the point
of no return
the final threshold -
the bridge
is crossed, so stand
and watch it burn . . .
We've passed the point
of no return . . ."

- Christine & The Phantom

Cerebro.

The massive machine that resided in the lower levels of the Xavier Institute for the Gifted. A machine that possessed technology far more advanced than most people could comprehend. A machine so powerful that it could control the functions of an entire house, with enough energy to spare to run a train station. A machine that could hook up a telepath's mind to every living being on the planet.

A machine that was empty.

"Not one word Raven," Charles Xavier muttered as he, and the rest of the staff, looked at the vacant space.

Everything had gone according to plan. A Danger Room session, with specific emphasis placed on Rogue, was currently running, with Forge at the controls. The rest of the teachers, connected through a telepathic link had snuck up on Cerebro, expecting to catch their local ghost.

But the ghost was not there.

"What do we do?" Ororo asked, her hands clenching and unclenching nervously.

"What can we do but wait?" Xavier replied.

"I don't understand, we did everything like we were supposed to. How could it not have worked?"

"Because it was a dumb plan. Doomed to failure from the beginning," Raven replied darkly.

"Enough, I don't want to hear it," Xavier snapped. The past few months had begun to wear on his patience. It would not take much to push the gentle man past the breaking point.

"Fine. You won't hear anything from me. But you'll hear from him."

Xavier turned and glared at Raven icily. Without another word he wheeled away, followed by the other teachers, minus Remy.

The Cajun looked at the empty machine, his burning gaze sweeping through it. He couldn't have been wrong. The Phantom would be here. He knew it. There was something they missed, Remy was certain of that. But, whatever it was, he could not find it.

Slamming his fist onto the metal lined walls, he cursed.

The door to the Danger Room hissed as it slid open and out stumbled tired but happy mutants.

It was Friday - the opening of the school play. The Danger Room session took everyone's minds off the upcoming performance, in addition to setting the trap for the elusive Phantom. With a scant three hours to go before the performance, those involved in the play rushed off to get cleaned up and over to the school.

The last person out of the Danger Room was Rogue, who was wearing a large grin, pleased with the way she had performed during the training session. By the time she had emerged, the hallway leading to and from the Danger Room was empty save for one person.

Remy stood quietly, leaning idly against a wall.

"Remy! See what Ah did?" she asked proudly. Remy hesitated before answering. None of the students knew about the trap, and none of them were supposed to know that Forge was supervising the session. All that said…

"Non. Remy was helping de Professor with something."

"Oh, then let me tell you what happened," Rogue said as she launched into her tale. When she finished Remy flashed a grin and put his arm around her shoulders, gently guiding her towards the body of the mansion.

"Dat's impressive chere," Remy replied absently. His thoughts were obviously elsewhere - a fact that Rogue noticed.

"Remy? What's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Remy," Rogue's voice quickly gained an edge. He sighed and slowed his pace to a full stop. He turned to look at Rogue straight on.

"Rogue, take care of yourself tonight."

"Take care of myself? Ah ain't saving the world, Ah'm acting in a play. Although since John is in charge of the explosives…" A glare from Remy silenced her.

"Just be careful. Something doesn't feel right. Remy never forgive himself if anything happened to you."

"Alright. Ah'll be careful," Rogue replied with a solemn look. The two stood in silence for a few moments.

"Ah better get moving, otherwise Ah'll be late. See you after the play!"

"No, no, no. That won't do at all. Taryn, could you make Rogue look a bit less like a vampire and more like a person who has blood in her face?" Boles said with a critical eye as he oversaw the makeup. The brunette nodded and set to work.

"Now, could someone explain to me why Scott looks like a zebra?"

"Mr. Boles, unless you understand the delicacies of makeup, stop criticizing."

"All right. No need to get so snappy. Just making sure everything is alright," he replied as he meandered over to the occupied Trio. "Tell me boys, how does everything look?"

Bobby turned his head to look at the teacher.

"Could be better. Everything is working except for this damn explosive package. The other four are working fine, but this one is going off at random."

Boles raised an eyebrow. "Ah, but how often is Johnnie setting them off?"

Kurt frowned. "That's the problem. He's not."

"How do you know?"

"Two reasons. One, if John was doing it, half the school would be burned down."

"That's right Boles-y," John chipped in.

"And two, ve gave John a lighter to play vith during the testing to make sure he didn't interfere."

"Hm. Well keep an eye on it and make sure that you've got it under control. If necessary use your powers to prevent a fiasco."

"You realize what you're doing?" Bobby questioned, with a bemused look.

"Keep you three from making sure all hell doesn't break loose? I'm quite aware that has a snowball's chance in hell of happening. But so long as I ask, I meet the school obligation."

That said, Boles turned around to get a glimpse of Webber's face. "I'd appreciate it if Webber did not look like an orangutan!"

"It's cold out here! Can't we go in?" Jamie whined as he stood in line to enter the auditorium with the rest of the Institute's occupants, minus those who were in the play.

"Now, now Jamie. We mustn't go in before they are ready," Hank chided lightly as he read the playbill.

"Why not?" the young boy replied indignantly.

"Because then we'd spoil the surprise that lies in store for us," Hank said, never lifting his eyes from the play-card. Jamie huffed and jammed his hands into his pockets.

"Professor, can I go wait with Logan and Remy?"

"Not while they're smoking." Jamie scowled and muttered to himself that life was really unfair.

Standing as far away from the ever growing line of people, Logan and Remy indulged in their tobacco tainted pastimes. Given that the mansion was a smoke free zone, they had to take every opportunity to catch up on their addictions.

Where Logan took long, slow drags on his cigar, Remy was quick and jittery. The feral man's keen eyes picked up on this unusual behavior.

"Something bothering you Cajun?" Logan asked. Remy shot a glance towards Logan, who pulled his cowboy hat over his eyes.

"Non."

Logan said nothing in return, raising an eyebrow and shooting a pointed gaze at the cigarette glowing red between Remy's fingers. Remy noticed what was drawing Logan's attention and withdrew the kinetic energy.

"Something's been bothering me all day. Not sure what it is, but Remy got a bad feeling about dis."

"About what exactly?"

Remy frowned and shook his head. "Not sure. Dat's the problem. Remy knows something bad's gonna happen. Just not sure what."

"Relax. You're just concerned for Rogue, and how she's gonna do. All that yapping she's been doing about being worried with her performance is getting to you."

"How'd you know about dat?"

"You ain't the only one she goes to for advice," Logan paused as he took another drag on his cigar. "And I'll tell you what I told her: she's gonna be just fine. Stripes reacts better under pressure than anyone I've ever seen. So just relax."

Remy nodded, hoping the old man was right. But he was still unable to shake the gut feeling he had that something was going happen - something bad. Before he had any more time to linger on his feeling, he noticed Jamie was waving them over. It was time to go in.

As the audience slowly made their way to their seats, Rogue stood on the edge of the stage, looking out on the crowd. From her vantage point she could see them, but they could not see her. Her emerald eyes took in the sight before her, and she cursed under her breath. Although she was unwilling to admit it to anyone, save Remy or Logan, the prospect of her acting in front of people frightened her. And until now, she hadn't realized just how many people would be watching.

"You'll be fine," Scott said as he joined her. Rogue gave him a weak smile. He returned it with one of his own.

"Thanks."

"Listen, I wanted to apologize."

"Apologize? For what?"

"Jean. I know she's been a bit rude and mean to you but she doesn't mean it. It just – she had her heart on getting the lead this year. She can't take her anger out on Boles, so you were the next option."

"Still doesn't justify everything she's done."

"No, it doesn't."

There was a long pause.

"Listen Scott, even though Jean's been a pain in the ass, you've been really nice to me over the past couple of months and Ah appreciate it."

Scott grinned and placed a hand on Rogue's shoulder. "We're friends. At least I'd like to think so. You deserve support, and whatever Remy can't give you, you can come to me for. That's a promise."

"What would Jean say to that?"

"Doesn't matter." Rogue gave Scott another smile, this one was genuine.

"Ah, there you two are. My little stars!" Boles exclaimed as softly as he could. "Are we all set for the big moment?"

"Yes," both replied simultaneously. Boles grinned, his face reminiscent of the Cheshire Cat.

"Alright. Scott, what's your first line?"

"Um. 'Tis better as it is.'"

"Excellent, excellent. Rogue, what's yours?"

"The whole thing? Or the first line?"

"First line."

"'My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty.'"

"Good, good. Well, we seem to be all set on the actor's front. Now I just have to see if our stagehands are ready before we begin."

"Uh, Mr. Boles. Could we please not have the explosions at the end?" Rogue pleaded, for the final time. After two months of begging, she was tired of it. But she felt it was in her best interest to try once more.

"It'll be fun. A fantastic new combo. Like dinner and a show. Instead, it'll be a play and fireworks." Rogue rolled her eyes and Scott sighed.

"That wasn't an attempt to convey hidden disgust at our project, was it?" Bobby asked as he and Kurt slipped in behind them, with John in tow.

"If Ah want to convey my disgust, it won't be hidden," Rogue replied.

"Wouldn't expect any less from you. Now from Sir Boyscout, well, that's another story."

"Not tonight Bobby."

"Alright. We just wanted to stop by and wish you both luck."

"Do my ears deceive me? A polite comment from the Trio? The apocalypse is upon us!"

"Shove it Summers. Even we aren't complete jerks."

"Jerks, yes, but not completely. Just…mostly," Kurt chipped in with a grin.

"Anyway, we just wanted to say break a leg. Literally in your case, Scott."

"Thanks," he replied dryly.

"Just remember guys, this can't be half as bad as being blamed for gluing a toupee to Professor Xavier's head."

"Do I want to know?" Rogue moaned as Bobby and Kurt walked off.

"Probably not," Scott replied.

"Remember mates, we'll be watching," John declared as he produced a lighter from his pocket. Flames erupted from the small item to and surrounded John, blocking him from sight, the only evidence of his presence being his loud cackling. When the flames died they revealed John, who looked dumbfounded.

"Uh. If anyone asks I vanished just then." He scampered off. Rogue smiled and Scott shook his head in disbelief as Webber and Lance took the stage.

The curtain dropped, ending the first half of the performance. While the audience began to mull about and stretch their legs, it was pandemonium back stage.

"Has anyone seen that damn handkerchief?" Kitty spat.

"John had it a minute ago," Kurt replied offhandedly as he took a screwdriver to the malfunctioning explosive. During the first performance it had sparked violently, nearly searing Duncan's face.

"Oh God no," Kitty cried out as she took off in search of the pyromaniac.

"Bobby, unfreeze my sword!"

"I didn't freeze it Lance."

"Oh crap."

"Scott, put this on."

"But I don't have to wear the hooded cloak until the last scene, Taryn."

"I know, but there's a tear in the costume and I want to see how large it is."

"John, give me the handkerchief!"

"The hole in this thing is huge!"

"Hurry up and fix it!"

"Bobby, dim the lights. Everyone, five minutes till the curtain goes up!"

"Give me the handkerchief!" Kitty shrieked. Her only answer was maniacal laughter.

Rogue blinked, attempting to quell the tears that were forming in her eyes. Tears that were not present from sadness or emotion, but rather a very large spotlight aimed directly on her face.

She heard the tap of Scott's feet as he walked onto the stage. Although he could not be seen given the fact that the entire stage was plunged into darkness, he was wearing a long hooded robe that covered his face. Slowly he approached, letting the sounds of his footfalls signal the audience that Rogue was not alone. His foot slid into the edge of the spotlight. His voice deep with passion and rage, he began his dialogue.

Rogue frowned mentally as she and Scott carried on with the scene. There was something different about the way he was delivering the lines. It was much more potent than what he had done in practice, much more vibrant, with more feeling. Rogue chalked it up to the rush of actually being on stage.

"He found it then. I never gave it to him. Send for him hither, and let him confess a truth," Rogue said.

"He has confessed," Scott replied, in accordance with his lines.

"What, my Lord?"

"That he has."

"How, unlawfully?"

"Aye."

"He will not say so."

"No, his mouth is stopped. Honest Iago has obtained order for it."

"My fear interprets then, what is he dead?"

"Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge had stomach for them all."

"Alas he is betrayed, and I undone."

"O strumpet, weepest thou for him to my face?"

"O banish me, my Lord, but kill me not."

"Down strumpet."

"Kill me tomorrow, let me live tonight."

"Nay, and you strive."

"But half an hour, but while I say one prayer."

"Tis too late." On cue the spotlight blinked out, completely covering the stage in velvety darkness. Rogue waited for the signal that she should scream – Scott gently laying a hand on her shoulder. There was a light padding behind her as Scott moved over to approach her. A tingling sensation went up her spine as she felt Scott get closer.

She gasped suddenly as she felt pressure on her uncovered neck. Pressure that came in the form of a cold, bare hand.

Kitty stood on the side of stage, waiting for her cue. After Rogue's scream, she was supposed to call out to Scott before going on stage.

Her attention was distracted by a fizzing noise next to her head. Bolts of electricity skittered over the explosive device as it began to activate.

"Kurt!" She yelled as softly as she could, attracting the attention of the Trio. The three boys tore across the stage to deal with the problem. A beam of ice erupted from Bobby's hands, in an attempt to smother the device before it could erupt and unleash its innards. He was too late.

In a brilliant flash of light the fireworks jammed into the box exploded, scattering the colored lights backstage. The one malfunction should have been the end of the problem, but the entire system of fireworks had been rigged up to fire simultaneously. Once the first box malfunctioned, the rest of the system followed suit.

Boxes of explosives all over the stage went off, dispelling all the darkness for a brief moment with vibrant color. During the burst of light all anyone could see was Rogue looking up at the hooded figure behind her. When the burst of light dissipated, and darkness returned to the stage, Rogue screamed.

"Get away from me!"

"Rogue!" Kitty screeched. "Get the lights!"

Kurt nodded and with a flick of his wrist the lights burst into existence.

On stage Rogue stood facing the hooded figure. Her hands went up to grab the hood and she threw it back to reveal the face of the person on stage with her.

The lack of the hood did not show the person's face. For that face was already covered by something else, something more sinister, more foreboding. A helmet completely obscured the person's head, hiding it from the light. A helmet that Rogue knew well, that of the Phantom.

"What's going on?" Boles asked. "Who is that?"

"Kurt, get Rogue. John, trap him!" Kitty ordered. John was already one step ahead. A steady stream of flame shot out towards the two on stage, and began to revolve around them, sufficiently trapping them.

Kurt vanished in a cloud of smoke, only to return a second later.

"Too hot. I can't get in without burning myself."

"What are we going to do?" Kitty moaned as Lance came up next to her to look at the flame.

"What can we do?"

Inside the column of fire Rogue looked at the Phantom.

"What do you want?"

"Like before Rogue, I want you," the Phantom replied, his tone ominous, his eyes burning with intensity. The column of fire surrounding them gradually died away.

Along the edges of the stage Rogue's friend's crept up, ready to rush the unwelcome actor. Behind his helmet the Phantom saw this and smirked.

"This is neither the time nor the place to hold this conversation. I suggest we go somewhere that is more conducive to that end." The Phantom's eyes glowed and the active lights in the auditorium blew out, plunging the entire theater into darkness. Rogue screamed, not the staged scream she had rehearsed, but a real one, one that shivered the audience's spines.

The lights that had not broken earlier burst into life to spill light across the stage. The lights revealed that the stage was vacant, with no sign of either Rogue or the Phantom.

"What's going on?" Ororo asked, bewildered.

"Where's Rogue? Is she supposed to disappear?" Logan asked.

"No. Something is definitely wrong," Hank replied.

As the audience mulled over what had just happened another surprise came for those still watching. A loud crash resounded above the stage shocking those in the theater, and completely frightening those on stage.

The crash was followed by the most horrific scene that anyone could imagine. Falling from the rafters, with a metal wire securely fastened around his neck, was the body of Scott Summers. Wire snapped and the body twirled back and forth, spinning effortlessly. His ruby-quartz glasses covered his eyes, hiding whatever look was on his face when the metal cord prematurely ended his life.

"Oh my god! Scott!" Jean cried as she rushed on the stage, with Lance a step behind her.

The audience echoed Jean's cries as terror and fear overtook them. Logan and Hank leapt to their feet and rushed forward, pushing their way through the crowd. Ororo began to weep in her seat as she looked upon the body of her first student. Professor Xavier could do nothing but look on in complete horror.

Remy slowly rose from his seat to get a better look at the stage. He was numb. Scott was dead and Rogue had vanished. He tried to make his way to the stage but found that something was impeding his progress. Looking down, he was shocked to find a blue skinned hand grasping his sleeve.

"Come with me," Raven breathed.

"What?"

"There is no time. We must hurry."

"What are you talking about?"

"I know where they are. I know where he is taking her," Raven said. Remy's frantic gaze fell upon her face, eyes burning with intensity.

"You've known all this time and said nothing? Can Remy trust you now?" Raven looked back at him, and met his gaze without flinching.

"You must. There is no time. Come!"

Raven and Remy took off at top speed, heading out of the theater. This should have gone unnoticed given the pandemonium that was going on, but Kitty noticed Remy taking off at full speed, with Raven leading the way.

Frowning she turned and faced the Trio, who were looking at Scott's body in complete horror. Tapping Bobby on the shoulder she whispered into his ear.

To be concluded….