AN: Well, I know some people aren't updating because FF.nets search is down, but fair is fair, I said I'd update every Friday…so at the risk of sacrificing reviews, I'll keep my word. Although I didn't have time to proof read so please excuse any typos
T: It was very chivalrous of the guys to help out wasn't it? It wouldn't have been very nice if Wolverine had let Storm fall from the sky and go splat though…J
Caliente: Ok, thanks for the loan of UBER, I felt it suited the situation, but the time has passed and I realize I have to let it go…it's ok…I'll be alright…just update! I sympathize, I'm having writers block. Can't figure out how to end this fic! Uh-oh
Remy's Ange: Apoc hum? That would have been cool, but no go I'm afraid. Beast gives an explanation to the eyes soon though.
Ishandahalf: I guess if you're the X-Men nothing freaks you out anymore! And because I try to be unpredictable (the whole sphinx minx thing) Rogues amplication of powers will not actually effect her absorbtion…don't worry I'll explain all in the next few chapters. But it would have been no fun if she just sucked up everyone in a 5 mile radius! And I hope you're happy, can't get the X-Men TAS song out of my head…du-du-du-duuu-du-du-dum-dum! O boy. I have to go read February 15th, I haven't read it in ages, sorry!
And same as last chapter…
Email me at simplydevilish85@hotmail.com with paragraphs, or situations, or quotes involving RoLo and I'll do my very best to add them to my fic and of course you'll get credit for it. And because I'm feeling nice, that goes for all you Kurtty fans as well! They can be from comics or things that you've thought of yourself. I'll take anything, don't be shy! You could stick it in a review if you wanted as well.
Some things to be aware of…
telepathy
thoughts
emphasis
Honor and ConsequencesBy: The Sphinx Minx
"So," Warren said, "anyone have a clue what is going on?"
"Well" Jean said slowly, she glanced at Rogue "I thought I felt something…never mind…it would appear that everyone's powers have been effected in some way. But it seems the women were affected differently from the men. We seem to have had our power boosted, but you men seem to have regressed in control."
"Great," muttered Scott, "we're 15 year olds with out any control again?"
"Pretty much, some of you, such as Warren, never really had any control to lose, so they weren't effected, others, such as you Scott, feel the power is uncontrollable."
Remy spoke "I felt de same way, a complete overload. But why have the belle's
passed out?"
Ororo spoke this time "because whether we realize it or not, we have some mental wall between our powers and our minds that prevents us from being consumed by them. I would lose my sanity if I were not able to block out the call of each and every aspect of nature. I would hear every raindrop, feel every cloud, the sensations alone would be overwhelming"
"Likewise with us telepaths" Betsy nodded, "even though I lost my telepathy, I still remember having the mental walls to block the constant stream of thoughts we are bombarded with. When Jeans power was boosted, the barriers weren't strong enough, when mine were boosted, I didn't have any barriers, so we were not prepared. And…well…you saw what happened, it's very frightening to be knocked out of your own bloody head."
"So why hasn't Rogue awakened?" Warren asked
Jean replied, speaking mostly to Remy, "Rogue has a similar situation to us telepaths. She must form a barrier between the people she's absorbed and her own consciousness, but…" the redhead frowned and looked at Betsy who continued;
"Rogues not a telepath. When our powers went on steroids, she shouldn't have had a problem controlling the other consciousness. She isn't in constant touch with them. They are only residues; there is no reason why they should suddenly overpower her. But we could be wrong, she could be unconscious because her body is trying to control the absorbing ability. It could be trying to balance itself."
Jean spoke again, "the problem is that we can't know for sure until she wakes because Rogue's mind is impossible to scan."
"Her absorbin' ability is defin'tly more powerful. I touched her arm n she absorbed my power through de material, it felt like I hadn't changed at all. I hardly felt a difference"
"Neither did I." Joseph spoke for the first time. The team turned to look at him, almost forgetting he was there. He continued "when the light hit me, I felt a wave of pain, but I didn't lose any control."
Wolverine replied "well, bub, how much control do you reckon you had?"
"I reckon I have enough to stop that admantium from flying into my hands."
"Stop it! Both of you! Joseph, there is no need to threaten Logan," Storm snapped. Scott broke in "Wolverine, refrain from the comments, they aren't helping." Wolverine turned his attention to Phoenix,
"Jeannie, what are we gona do with Rogue? We can't stay here with her in this condition."
"Not to mention the fact that we don't know what other effect that light had, who caused it, or why." Scott said, eyes still closed, red still burning furiously behind the lids.
Jean replaced the ruby quartz glasses on his face with his Cyclops head gear.
"Honey, I've put on your fighting glasses, they're stronger and should be able to counter any blasts. Don't forget, you aren't more powerful, you've just lost control."
Scott winced, "you're really great for a guys ego, you know that?" As he spoke, Scott slowly opened his eyes, blinked, and opened them properly. The red behind the lids faded. "Alright, everyone to the jet!" Remy stepped toward Rogue and reached to pick her up. Joseph took the hint and left to pack his clothes. But after he disappeared down the hall, Remy didn't move."
"What's wrong Cajun? 'Fraid she'll drain you?" Wolverine questioned, puzzled at Remy's actions. Why scare Joseph away if you're not prepared to step up?
Remy paused, reluctant to tell, but he knew Wolverine could be trusted, especially when it came to Rogue. "No! I t'ink she pulled most of my power upgrade into herself when I caught her, but I can feel it buildin' up again, n I don't want to overload her, or shock her wit' too much energy."
"Easily solved bub, I'll take her, worse she can absorb from me is my healing factor, n that never did the darlin any harm." Remy flashed his trademark grin
"Merci" and left. Ororo moved to let Remy pass down the hall and smiled at Logan holding Rogue.
"Should I be jealous?" Wolverine looked surprised and before he could respond, she smiled and lifted a bag "Come, I have Rogues bag, we shouldn't waste any time."
As Remy walked down the hall toward the room to get his bag, and Wolverines, he remembered the hot potatoe game from earlier that day. He remembered her wink as they thought of the same trick. Her brass at taking the pilots seat. Her tears after her walk with Joseph. Her fiery temper when he called her his dishwasher. And now her unconscious body, perhaps her shattered mind. Maybe she absorbed everyone in the cabin at once and was overwhelmed, her conscious lost forever? No…no I can't t'ink like that. Remy was just heading toward the door of the jet when Logan appeared.
"JEANNIE!" he roared. Jean came running from the cabin, Remy quickly made to move from her path. When she reached the steps of the porch, she pushed off and flew to the jet. Remy ran in after her. When he arrived in the mediroom in the back of the jet, Jean was holding her hand near Rogues face, but shook her head, obviously frustrated. "I still can't get a proper reading."
"What happened?" Remy demanded.
Jean took Remy's hand and guided him to a seat. "Logan said that Rogue woke up, but was delirious. After opening her eyes, she smiled, then yelled and collapsed again. It's a good sign Remy, even if she is a little confused, She was probably having a flashback, which means she is starting to come to. We'll know more when we reach the mansion. You're welcome to stay with her during the journey.
"Merci, Jeannie" Remy thanked her. She rose, touched him on the shoulder and left, closing the door behind her.
(AN: I was going to end the chapter here…but I'm a nice author!)
***3 weeks later***
"Henry…any update on Rogue?"
"No Professor, but all the others seem to have returned to normal with a few exceptions. But everyone is getting used to the changes, Psylocke is enjoying her telepathy again. And everyone else has stabilized as well as could be expected." Henry McCoy responded.
"Thank you Henry."
As the mutant known as Beast left his office, Professor Charles Xavier sighed as he turned to face the window. To lose a member of his team…in such a manner…was heart wrenching for the great telepath. And to have been unable to help her control her power, his promise to her upon arrival? He felt he had almost completely failed this particular mutant. Almost.
Xavier comforted himself with the fact that the young woman known only as Rogue had found happiness at the mansion. She found acceptance, a family, and even love. All which would have been impossible if left in the cruel world. Her parasitic touch would have branded her one of the more deadly mutants, she would have been killed before leaving her teenage years. She certainly came into her own after being on the team for so long. She was force to be reckoned with on and off the battlefield.
But the nearly invulnerable woman has fallen to an unseen foe. For an unseen reason, from an unseen source. Indeed, as soon as his group of X-Men returned from the cabin, Xavier had ordered immediate updates on all satellites, unusual spacial activity, and knowing he was stretching it, any reports of unusual nuclear activity in the area. It is not a simple thing to cause an X-Gene to malfunction, or a mutant regress. There was no trace of anything unusual in any brain scans, making the search for the cause even more frustrating.
He almost would have thought they had dreamed it, or ate some funny Gumbo, had it not been for Rogue's inexplicable condition. Which was growing increasingly worrying by the day.
Since her arrival, she had not remained unconscious. She had awoken often, but different reactions each time. Sometimes she smiled, other times, cried, last week, she grabbed Remy's hand and whispered, "help me." Remy Le Beau was nearly going out of his mind with worry and frustration. Especially since each time Rogue's eyes opened, they were a different color. Henry McCoy kept reassuring Remy that he was studying her brain waves and the eye color change probably represented the next consciousness trying to take hold, but seeing as they were only residues…whisper psyches…there was no fear that one would actually win. Hank had even gone as far as to say, "perhaps she is facing demons from her past one by one and when she defeats them, will be at peace with them finally." He had been trying to reassure Remy, but his words had quite the opposite effect. The Professor had been told by Ororo the conversation between Joseph and Rogue and Xavier felt Henry's words, though well intended, may have reminded Remy of the pain Joseph caused, and the possible responsibility he may hold.
Remy Le Beau stood in the middle of the Danger Room, clad in his usual combat boots, dark pants and a white wife beater. He was wearing his uniforms head piece to keep the sweat and hair out of his eyes. He spun his bo staff. Gambit intended to have a hard workout. He found it was the only way he slept at night. He had to drive his body to exhaustion. He called to the computer
"Codename: Gambit. Password: 74837-728 Comput'r run sequence 343-567374"
As the Danger Room began to hum into action, another, gruffer voice, spoke. "Comp, this is Wolverine, password 78616, abort all programs.
Remy turned with a snarl "what do you t'ink you're doin?"
Logan replied "Jus thought you'd like to know the darlin's woke up."
Remy said nothing, just turned, grabbed his trench coat and ran from the room. Logan smirked, "that's what I thought…computer, this is still Wolverine, I think I'll give sequence 343-567374 a try."
AN: Ok that's it for this week, everyone, please review and don't be afraid to email me with RoLo Kurrty or any other pairings you would like to see!