This is a rewrite. Just trying to make the story flow better, but there's no significant changes . . . not really

Notes: I don't own any of the characters except 1 which is owned my friend, mel, that is Vawn. do enjoy and pliz R/R!

Italics are Marie's thoughts.

Angel. Chapter 4

" Marie?"

Marie opened her eyes slowly and found herself looking into the worried eyes of her friend.

" You okay?"

Marie closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and muttered, " No."

" Marie, you gotta keep on moving. Get up! Get going! C'mon. Why don't you come out with me to town? Shopping?"

Jubilee tried to make it sound as tempting as possible.

" Jubilee, I killed someone," she replied flatly, expecting that to explain everything.

" It was self-defence."

" No. I murdered someone. Y'know? Heart stop, breathing cease? Dead?"

" C'mon Marie. You know that's not true."

But it was to her. It was her first mission with the X-men. She had trained for three years, improving every day. She had meditated hard to learn to control her power. After practising with plants and other small animals she eventually learned to curb her absorption power so that she could touch others. It was an achievement she valued the most. She had deeply missed the casual touches that people didn't value. Marie sighed. She had persevered in the complete sense, getting tougher as well as more mature. She was learning to cut off all of her emotions so she would never have the chance to be hurt again. She was growing physically and mentally. Now all the hopes she had, all the aspirations and limits she had set for herself crashed around her.

Hope for the best, but expect the worst.

She watched her friend walk to the bedroom door looking defeated. She turned away as the door closed quietly behind Jubilee, and let out another sigh. She was silent. Silence was always comforting. No changes. She knew she had to get up but she didn't have the willpower.

An hour passed. Marie looked up to the ceiling and reflected on what she had done. She felt guilty. It was her first mission and she had lost control of her powers. She had managed to leave the victim lifeless in approximately 1 minute flat. She closed her eyes and the scene played over in her head once more.

Magneto had managed to escape from his plastic prison a year ago. The way he did remains a mystery. He reunited with his ever faithful Mystique and she helped him to gain maximum strength yet again. The Brotherhood was back.

Marie knew about her future victim long before they met because somehow, the part of Magneto that remained in her was connected to his subconscious. Many of his present thoughts came to her in dreams and delusions, the same sort of thing happened with the Logan part of her. However, with the ability to curb her powers, Marie was able to guard her mind from any lingering subconscious thought in her mind.

Besides this barrier, Vawn was introduced in a nightmare. She had three large spikes protruding from her arms and the backs of her legs. She could fly without the aid of wings and had limited telepathic capabilities. Her eyes glowed with a slimy green colour and she was cold to touch, probably because of her cold heart.

Vawn haunted her dreams through the connection of Magneto's subconscious. She terrorised Marie's mind causing her to wake up shaking and drenched with sweat. Through these restless nights Marie found out more and more about Vawn. Her origin, her powers, her limits, her weaknesses. But Marie did not tell anyone else about her dreams; she did not want anyone to know that she couldn't manage. Marie's one goal was to be invincible.

Floods of emotion swamped Marie as she tried to piece together what had happened two nights ago. There was a break-in. Sabertooth led the Brotherhood to the Cerebro, their intention was probably to destroy Professor X's useful way of tracking them down. A few minutes later the X-men appeared on the scene.

Scott cut them off in their path with a highly intensified beam. A fight followed, Sabertooth hunted Storm claiming she owed him a scream. Mystique wrestled against Jean's telekinesis powers.

Scott was suddenly tackled from the back and received a powerful blow from some sort of energy source. He flung round to face his attacker and was found looking at a mutant he had never encountered.

" Who are you?" he said out loud in total confusion.

"Someone you won't have the opportunity to meet again," she said in a low raspy voice. She grinned and jumped in the air. She remained suspended for a second entrancing him with her elegance. A purple light flowed from her wrists and collected in her hand as a ball. She smiled slyly and threw the ball with perfect aim, hitting his chest, flinging him to the floor. Scott felt a sudden energy rush through his body followed with complete paralysis. His eyes were open and he could see and hear but could not move a single part of his body.

" Scott!" Jean cried out in shock. Mystique took advantage of the lapse of concentration on Jean's part and leaped on her. A fierce battle ensued, mainly with Mystique throwing all the blows.

That was when I recovered from my temporary shock and tried to attack the phantom from my dreams. She did not recognise me but I knew everything about her. The places were she was vulnerable, the way in which to punch her so it would have an impact. Then, a surprise attack I had not anticipated struck me to the ground. She stood still for a moment, gathering any remaining strength."

" I lay there as she approached me. Her eyes seemed to hypnotise me. She stood there, her eyes locked on mine, concentrating hard. I knew what she was doing. She was searching my mind to see where I might know her from. She could not break through my mental barriers though, and in frustration hissed, " Now it's your turn.""

" I quickly reacted and pulled off my glove. Without hesitation I placed my hand in hers. I was amazed by the surge off power that shot through me. I screamed as I struggled to let go. She did screamed too but not in horrendous agony. I realised that it was not I who was holding on but the strength of the connection; I couldn't reel my power in! She finally collapsed lifeless before me and I crumpled down beside her, pleading with her to wake up. I realised that everyone was silent and all that was heard was my pitiful sobbing. I mourned for her death, it was I who caused it."

Marie let one more tear slide down her cheek before making a silent resolution and getting out of bed. She slipped on the nearest piece of clothing to her and rushed to the professor's office. She burst in and found Scott and Jean in mid-conversation with the professor. She looked around in confusion.

" Scott, you're alive. I thought . . ." she choked on the words.

" Would you like a seat Marie?" the professor asked politely.

Marie sat down and returned Scott's friendly smile. The professor nodded in Scott and Jean's direction and they made their way out.

It was explained to her what she already knew. Explaining all about Vawn. She was an old mutant with a bitter and twisted life behind her. She had the power to paralyse victims temporarily, which was what happened to Scott. After the professor gave all the information he had, he explained to Marie who now had her powers, her memories, and her personality in her, whether or not she wanted to use them to her advantage. That was her choice.

" Marie, you have the power. You can harness that. You don't have to give me a decision now. Take a few days off and relax. I know it's hard but things like this happen. It was the first time you had to take the life of someone else, but it will not be the last time."

Marie was silent. She could almost feel the new power running through her veins.

I've got to carry on. Never give up.

" Professor. I've made my decision I want to use what I have for the best. The past is the past and that's behind me. I don't . . . I don't want to be known as Marie anymore. My name is Rogue. Marie's was then, Rogue is now."

The professor gave her a look of acknowledgement and smiled gently.

" Welcome, Rogue. Now try get some rest. Your training resumes tomorrow."

Rogue left the building, buoyant with hope for the future.

It's time to move on and evolve into the future.

Shelooked forward totomorrow when she would begin training on her powers and techniques to unlock the memories of Vawn in her head. It was another beginning, a new day.