AN: Hey everyone! After what some of you have said, I think it's time to end this fic…so this is probably going to be the second to last chapter. I know exactly what I want to happen, but the science mumbo-jumbo had really got me stuck! But I figure you guys don't really care too much about the specifics…right?!? Anyway, I'll probably be computerless this summer but I'll have my trusty fanfiction notebook with me to write my next fic, a trilogy. It's tentatively named Deal With The Devil: A Prayer Answered, the second installation will be Déjà Vu, and the final one will be called Discontent. My one shot Dance With My Father Again, was kind of a prequel to them, so give that a glance if you want to see what's going on in my little future world I'm creating. I'm a Romy supporter 100%, with minor RoLo and Kurtty. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give anything away, but check out my profile come Autumn for new fics! I'll probably continue with the update a week if you guys think that worked well? Oh well…here goes nothing!

Honor and Consequences By: The Sphinx Minx

Chapter 19…When Sometimes It's Not Enough

"Kitty, pass me the metal analyzer please."

She sighed, "Detector of alloy for Dr. McCoy."

He turned from the lighht, "What's wrong Kitty?"

"I just feel so useless!"

"I know what you mean. We can't rebuild the light, it's impossible without a fully working specimen, the plans Mystique provided aren't enough, we needed that light! But we have to make do without it, and I can't help but feel the answer is under my nose, like I'm missing something!"

Beast continued tinkering and almost didn't notice as Joseph and Gambit entered the room deep in their conversation. His jumbled thoughts continued;

-Just something that will pull Rogue to the surface-

-There's something you don't see everyday, those two conversing normally-

-Something that will give her psyche the boost it needs-

-it's amazing what people can do when facing a crisis-

-oh, the alloy detec- I mean the metal analyzer is done-

"What does it say Kitty?"

"Ummm, you know that thingy that boosted the girls powers? Well says here that the box around the lightbulb you found is made of two metals," she grabbed the book from in front of Hank and flipped through the pages, "'the metals don't react in nature unless "their molecular structure is compromised by an outside instigator equaling their mass times the speed of light squared.' Wha-??"

Hank grabbed the book back and ran his large finger under the line Kitty had been reading, "it means the light is created when the metals are forced to react against each other, and that only happens when some form of energy is forced on them."

"Why don't textbooks just say that…" Kitty grumbled, "ok so when an energy, like what? Light or something?- is shot through them, they react, causing that other weird colored light. And…" she picked up a print out on the analysis of the metals which stated their individual properties and uses "…anyway, looks like the professor was wrong…there's something you don't see everyday…the light isn't just used to boost power, some part of it represses the brain while the power is increased, cuz the brain would try to counter balance the damage…wow…these guys thought this through…"

She hesitated, trying to get her brain around it all before continuing,

"So it looks like the psyche is stopped by half of the metal in the box while the other half godzillas the powers. The psyche should also be boosted along with the mutant factor, but they stopped that from happening, which is probably why Carol has such an easy time taking over."

Kitty stopped again and pointed to the heap of metal on the table in front of her, "There's somekinda compound in that box thing surrounding that light. The light just, like, activates the stuff and when it shines through the other side of the box, it's dangerous." She looked over at Beast, lost in his thoughts again.

-the metal is the key, and the light that causes the reaction-

-I can't believe those two aren't ripping each others heads off just out of frustration-

-but how can we control the metal and light?

-although we should be thankful they're not-

-half the metal compound is used to boost power in the brain and the other half to repress the brain, how the hell did they get the balance?-

-they must be talking about Rogue, the only thing they have in common-

-we need to get rid of the part that represses the psyche, but without the light it doesn't seem possible-

-they must be pretty pissed off they didn't notice sooner about Rogue-

-I don't think there's anything I can do-

-but there was nothing they could do-

-there has to be something I can do!-

-they probably wish they could do something-

-good God-

"JOSEPH! GAMBIT! Get over here!"

The two men looked mildly surprised at Beasts sudden outburst but obliged. Gambit had been leaning against the wall and shifted his weight back onto his feet as he followed Joseph over to Hank.

"What is it?"

"Joseph, can you pull individual metals from compounds?"

"I don't know…I've never tried."

"Remy, can you charge something but not blow it up? Just activate a dormant energy?"

"Duno, never tried either."

"You boys feel like trying something new?"

This is SO boring!

What did you expect? To immediately get your life back? This isn't cup-a-soup Rogue, just add water, instant perfection!

Oh for cryin out loud! You're pretty deep in the crackerjack box aint' ya?

Rogue regretted beating back Carol, she would love to continue kicking her annoying blonde butt. It made such a difference knowing that the nag wasn't actually Carol, there was no guilt when she eventually was destroyed. Rogue just prayed she would be. Rogue decided to ignore Carol as she continued to rant and try to focus on waking up. She had hoped Phoenix or Psylocke would have appeared to guide her back, but so far nothing. As she wandered around the plane, Carol's voice followed, taunting, teasing, haunting her.

"Yes sir, of course I understand, but do you suggest forcing students at your school to wear badges identifying them as potential mutants is really advisable? Um hmm...yes...um hmm. Yes but-....no but....um hmm...Sir do you study the Second World War at your school?"

Xavier looked up from his desk when Beast entered; he waved him in as he continued his conversation. He saw how anxious Beast was and ended the conversation with a promise to call the principal back that left the man on the other end of phone less than enthusiastic.

"Hank, I hope you're bringing me good news."

"I think so Professor, but I'm afraid there's a bit of a risk..."

"Hey chere...Ol' Remy knows you can hear me," Gambit glanced behind him to see if Joseph was in earshot, "Beast's got dis crazy plan to help you, your buddy Joseph isn't too happy 'bout it, t'inks it's too risky, but I know you trust Beast..n' me. N I guess Joe-Clone over there, you trust him too." Gambit shifted in his seat beside Rogue's bed and continued "so I guess dats dat...but you know...dere are risks, 'n no one seems t'be too keen t'promise anyt'ing. Kitty, she try to explain it t'me, but got confused and started talkin 'bout Einstein. I got de gist though...Rogue, if something goes wrong...if I can't control de...if you can't come back...Rogue I know you can hear me, n I know we had our problems, but...I don't know why we only do dis to each other when deres some big crisis, but I love you with all my heart, n I wish it was enough, but it's not."

"Gambit! Are you ready?"

"Yeah, I'm comin'"

He walked over to the lab table set up next to Rogue's bed. It had a clump of metal and a few instruments scattered around it. There was only Xavier, Joseph, Beast, Gambit, and of course Rogue in the room; Xavier didn't want an audience to witness this in case it went wrong.

Beast moved the metal in front of Joseph, "try to separate them; we need to ensure that the metal hindering the mind is removed before we inflict the light on Rogue."

Joseph nodded and raised his hands over the alloy. For ages nothing happened but then a small grinding sound could be heard. Everyone's eyes were glued to the clump and no one noticed the beats of sweat that had started to form on Josephs brow, he was struggling to pull apart the bonded metals. It was a much more difficult than separating two magnets, as people supposed it would be like. He reached into the core of the metals and focused on counteracting the metals natural desire to bond. It had to be done slowly, deliberately, and delicately. Eventually, after what seemed like hours, he gave a final gasp and the metals suddenly split in two.

Everyone stared, awestruck, at Josephs accomplishment. They had been convinced he wasn't able, that they were asking too much, but as he collapsed in a chair they happily realized they were wrong.

Beast turned to Gambit, "your turn."

"Dat's quite an act t'follow, no?"

Xavier gave a little smile "we have every faith in you Remy,"

Remy couldn't respond, so he watched silently as Beast worked with one of the metals as he addressed them "We tried to use regular light energy but it doesn't affect the metal, only the compound of both, so we decided that using the dormant energy in the metal would be the perfect way to project the metals effects over Rogue. That way, there would be no other side-effects that may be caused by using other energy. Gambit, we need you to charge the metal, but try to prevent blowing it up, we don't know what effect that would have and frankly we don't want to think about it."

"Stop tryin' t'make dis sound simple Beast," Remy joked half heartedly.

"When you're ready Gambit." Xavier prompted as he nodded toward the metal.

Beast had placed it on a steel stand with thick steel walls to direct the light only at Rogue, not the other inhabitants in the room.

Gambit placed his fingertips on the large metal chunk and it started to glow.

AN: Oh I'm so evil for stopping here, and even more evil for going so long without an update! I'm sorry! I hope to finish it within the next few weeks, I'm sorry!