OLD ACQUAINTANCES

Ah was so angry Ah didn't notice where Ah was headin' until Ah flew over Houston. It was pretty obvious that it was Houston 'cause it was pretty near demolished seein' as all major cities 'round the world were. Sure it's been a couple a years since Apocalypse, but nobody seems ta have the resources to fix anythin' like this, probably 'cause the humans rallied together ta get all these facilities ta get rid of their 'mutant problem'. So Ah'm finally headin' north and it's almost dawn, so Ah land in some field in what appears ta be Kansas. Good, can't beh too far then. After wonderin' 'round aimlessly hopin' ta find out where Ah'm at Ah find the road. There aren't any cars drivin' 'round, but that is pretty much normal 'specially for the fact that the sun just rose, even farmers wouldn't beh drivin' 'bout these parts unless they wanna beh hastled 'bout mutants. Guess that's good 'cause Ah stick out like a sore thumb in this costume. So Ah'm walkin' fer what Ah'm guessin' is just a lil over an hour when Ah hear somethin' comin' down the road, so Ah turn 'round ta see what it is. It was a lil red sports car drivin' real fast and Ah'm surprised they saw meh, but Ah guess they did 'cause just as they were passin' meh they slammed on the brakes and ended up a ways in front of meh. The guy in the driver's seat turns 'round and Ah can't quite make out his face from where he's at. But then he gets out of the car and walks over ta meh. No way, there is no way that could beh him. Ah guess he recognizes meh too 'cause he smiles so big Ah could'a swore Ah saw his mollars.

"Rogue?"

"Scott." Then he runs up and gives meh a hug that lifts meh off'a mah feet and spins meh 'round laughin'..

"Guess ya'll not mad ta see meh than, sugah?"

"Now why on Earth would I be angry to see an old friend? How long has it been anyway?" Then he places meh back down.

"Been a while Scott. Ya'll headin' west?"

"Yep. We're going to Thatcher."

"Colorado?"

"Sure is. Want to join us?" He raises his hand towards the car as two people get out. First is a blond man who is 'bout the same size as Scott, and then a woman who is very pretty even from this distance, but she has green hair. Ah turn back ta Scott.

"Ah wouldn't want ta beh a burden." Ah drawl out with a grin.

"You could never be that Rogue." Then he carefully puts his hand on the small of mah back and has us walkin' towards the two standin' next ta the car. Ah'm still in shock that Scott would come anywhere near meh. What happened ta him?

"Rogue, this is my brother Alex and this is Lorna Dane. Alex, Lorna, this is Rogue."

We all shook hands and exchanged our pleasantries and got inta the car. Alex and Lorna sat in the back, which Ah think they were both happy 'bout. They seem ta like one 'nother real well, but ain't copin' ta it. After a while a' talkin' with Scott, who bah the way is havin' way too much fun drivin' like a manic, we really aren't tellin' each other nothin'. Ah get sick of tip toein' 'round the subject and decide ta get blunt.

"Why ya'll headin' this way?"

"There is another mutant settlement up this way. Found some information that lead us to Thatcher."

"Are ya'll crazy! It's gotta beh a bloomin' trap. There's facilities up this way that experiment on mutants."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Of course Ah am. That's whay Ah'm headin' this way. Found out from one of those facilities."

"Why are you going there then. You will only get caught."

"Ah'm a survivor Scott. Ah can handle mahself. Ya'll of all people should know that bah now. Otherwise Ah wouldn't have made it this far. Besides, Ah got mah reasons." Then, out of the blue he takes one hand off of the wheel and puts it on mah gloved one and says, "I understand." without even lookin' at meh, and takes it back just as fast. Too weird.

"Scott, what happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"To the others? Whay ya'll alone? Where's Jean? She in Thatcher?"

"No. Jeans dead Rogue." Ah couldn't tell what he was feelin'. He only spoke monotone with a blank face, like he couldn't feel nothin' no more. But then he looks at meh for a second just ta say, "I watched her die."

"When?"

"That day they came into camp. After we led the others out I went back for here. You were already gone and so was Wolverine. Jean couldn't hold her own any longer, there were too many sentinels. I tried to help her but she used what little energy she had left and shoved me hard right back out of the gates. The next thing I knew, one of the gas tanks exploded near where she was. Just as it happened she, she told me 'I am sorry Scott. I will love you always.' through out telepathic link."

"Ah'm sorry sugah. Ah had no idea. They dragged meh away ta some home base ta use meh for some stuff Ah'd rather not go through 'gain."

"Yeah, well they were hot on our trail so everybody split up hoping that would help. I stayed behind as long as I could to make sure everybody got to a safe point before they split up. They probably thought I died too."

"So that's how ya'll found ya brother?"

"Yeah, it was pure luck. We both thought the other was dead when we were kids you know. From that plane crash, but he found me pretty messed up trying to get out of Canada."

"So where did ya'll get the car?"

"We found it a few days ago in Tennessee. Nice though isn't it?"

"Yeah sugah, sure is."

"It really is good to see you Rogue."

"Ya'll too."