Psylocke

Rogue honestly didn't know what to say. There was Risty Wilde, her former best friend, standing right in front of her. But it really wasn't Risty. Not that Risty was actually real in the first place but still…

"May I come in?" Betsy asked. "Or should I set up camp out here?"

"Uh, yeah," Rogue swallowed hard. She stepped back. "This way…"

Rogue led her into the room. "Rogue what's wrong?" Kitty asked. "You look like…" She stopped when Betsy entered the room. "YOU!"

"Yes it's me," Betsy said nervously. "Betsy Braddock."

"Holy crap!" Ray's jaw dropped. "She looks just like…" A quick elbow to the ribs by Sam stopped him.

"These are the X-Men…" Rogue really felt like screaming now. "I gotta go…do…something." She left the room in a hurry.

Logan growled and took a whiff. He looked concerned. "Charles, did you…?"

"She is who she says she is," Xavier told him. "However I was not aware of her appearance."

"Obviously," Scott blinked.

"Yeah we could have all used a little warning," Kurt said.

"What do you mean? Do I have some kind of disgusting blob on me? I don't mean to be rude, but why is everyone staring at me like I've just run over somebody's cat with my car and then used it to make breakfast?" Betsy asked.

"I'm afraid it's a long story," Jean sighed. "Let's just say you remind us of someone."

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Normally running was the last thing Rogue ever did. But this was too much for her. The memories of Mystique's betrayal ran through her mind. She just couldn't stop thinking about them. They kept replaying over and over.

"Pull yourself together…" Rogue told herself out on the gazebo. "That's not Mystique…That can't be Mystique."

"What if it was Rogue? Would you kill her like you killed me?"

The voice startled her. She looked around to see who spoke. "Who said that? Who's there?"

Nothing. "Must be my imagination," Rogue sighed.

Then the bushes rustled.

"Come on out here!" Rogue said angrily.

Meekly Penny poked her head out of the bushes. "Oh it's just you," Rogue breathed a sigh of relief. "What are you doing out here? Scared me half to death."

Penny just whimpered a little and came towards her cautiously. "Let me guess, too crowded in there for ya?" Rogue asked. Penny nodded. "I know how you feel."

Penny came closer, accidentally slicing a few leaves from a nearby bush with her hair. "Well if I ever get stuck on gardening duty I know who to call," Rogue smirked. "Come on, don't worry I won't yell anymore.

"Looks like the two of us are two of a kind," Rogue sighed. Penny just blinked. "See I hurt anybody I touch too. Only it's a lot worse. Part of 'em is stuck inside me forever."

Penny blinked innocently. "You have no idea what I mean do ya?" Rogue looked at her. "Well that's okay. Most people don't really get it anyway. It's just so weird having all these voices in your head."

"Well I can certainly relate to that," Betsy walked up to them.

"Yeah well…" Rogue gulped. "Sorry about…before."

"The Professor and the others…" Betsy sighed. "They told me. About Mystique and well, everything. I really can't blame you for how you reacted. I'm just grateful you didn't deck me one. I mean that's what I would do in your situation."

"It's not exactly something I like to think about," Rogue grumbled.

"Look," Betsy said. "I'm not this…Risty person or whoever your mother pretended to be. Which apparently it was me. So much for a clean slate and a new life."

"How? How could she look exactly like you?" Rogue asked.

"Well apparently she had gotten into STRIKE'S files a while back," Betsy said. "My family had been supporters of STRIKE secretly for generations. She must have seen my picture or something and copied it. It's the only thing I can think of."

"Logically I know you ain't her," Rogue took a deep breath. "And it ain't fair or right to feel the way I do. But what she did to me…If you knew how she used me…It's just going to take time until I'm…"

A flash of a memory. Rogue and Risty at a school dance. Both gossiping and laughing in the school halls. Going everywhere together…

"You…You and her were close weren't you?" Betsy blinked. "You did everything together until…"

"You just read my mind didn't you?" Rogue snapped.

"It was an accident! I didn't mean…" Betsy tried to explain.

"Just stay away from me!" Rogue screamed as she ran off.

"Way to go girl," Betsy sighed. She looked at Penny. "Oh now I suppose you're going to blame me as well?"

Penny looked at her. "Well it's not like I can help it either," Betsy sighed. "I've always had flashes. I can't stop hearing people's thoughts sometimes. My brother calls me Betsy Butt In because I can't help but butt into peoples thoughts whether I want to or not."

Penny blinked. "Your mind is rather…Blurry," Betsy said. "I mean there's something there but I can't really sense what you are thinking."

Penny snorted then ran off. "Okay I got that message loud and clear," Betsy sighed.

Meanwhile Rogue had run off to another area outside. She shuddered as another strange series of unexplained thoughts raced through her head.

"Oh you're mad at her for looking into your thoughts by accident but you have no problem stealing my life and using my powers? You are some piece of work you little freak!"

"Shut up…" Rogue whispered. "Just shut up…"

"Rogue, are you okay?"

Rogue whirled around and saw Remy. He looked shocked. "Chere…You've been crying. What's wrong?"

"Oh, it's…Betsy or whoever she is I guess," Rogue decided to tell a partial truth. "Kinda brought up a few memories."

"You sure that's all? You've been acting jumpy the past few days," Remy frowned. "Don't think Remy hasn't noticed."

"I…I'm okay, really."

"No, you're not. Rogue, what's really bothering you?" Remy asked. "And don't lie to me."

"Can't lie to a liar huh?"

"Remy serious, Chere. What's wrong?"

"Remy…" Rogue looked at him. "Back on Asteroid M…When Magneto captured us. I don't think I got my extra powers through that serum. I think I got them when I killed someone…"