Nathaniel Essex's Lab, Thursday Mar. 14th 8:47 pm

Scott glared hatefully at Mr. Sinister, a suppression collar around his neck. He was sequestered in a damp cell covered in stone, hidden in the dark and ominous research lab. "Please, Mr. Summers. Don't look at me like that..." He seemed to get some twisted pleasure out of toying with Scott. "You know you're my favorite." It drove him mad. He tried not to let him see that.

"My team is coming for you." He said, his jaw set. "Before you get to do whatever it is you're planning to do." Mr. Sinister nodded, his hand on his chin.

"Well, that is the idea, my boy." The color drained from Scott's face. "You are my favorite, most genetically perfect mutant, but..." He sighed, his eyes glinting. "It's not you that I'm after. Though, I should take a few fresh DNA samples while you're here..."

Scott tugged violently on the collar inhibiting his powers. "Sinister!" He spat angrily. "What do you want, huh?" He showed sharp teeth in a smile,

"It's simple. I want Jean."

"She isn't here." He responded quickly. A look in Sinister's eye sent a chill down his back.

"Ah, but Remy's gal..." He placed a hand on his chin. "Rogue? She's appeared through her, no?" Scott shut his eyes and muttered a prayer.

"You want to provoke them through me? Hope that she shows up? Terrible plan, Sinister. They work in tandem, if Jean isn't in control..." The light reflected off of Ruby Quartz glasses. "She won't come." Sinister burst into laughter immediately. "It's the last thing I'd ever want."

Sinister chuckled. "Aw, but it's not up to you, Scott. She would've rather taken a dose of the Legacy Virus than leave you to me. I'm counting the seconds until she shows up, Scott. And so are you." He scowled at the mutant, admitting to himself grudgingly that he was right. 'She's probably tracking me with Cerebro herself... Rogue. Don't do it. Don't come!' He thought desperately. 'It's a damn trap...'

Xavier Institute, Thursday Mar. 14th 7:41 pm

"Laura. Elf. Half-Pint. Erik. Rasputin. Ice. Gambit. Frost will be the team." Logan ordered in the hangar as the X-Men scrambled to get ready. Kitty met him with a worried look, her short hair tucked behind her ear.

"Where's-"

"Meditating." He answered, his eyes suddenly hard. Kitty chose not to comment, seeing the suppression collar in Logan's hands. She shut her mouth in a grim line. "Keep getting ready, Katherine." He ordered, his voice a little softer.

She obliged, falling into line with the rest of the team. Rogue phased through the ceiling of the hangar, her face serious. Logan placed his hands on his hips.

"You ready?" 'As I'll ever be...' Rogue thought, her mind drifting to Scott. 'Hang on...'

"Yes." She forced herself to answer. Logan saw the split second hesitation and placed a hand on her back as they headed toward the jet.

"It's just like any other rescue mission." He said, refusing to meet her gaze. Rogue grimaced. Except it wasn't. Her face soured when Remy filed silently on the X-Jet, distancing himself from the rest of the team.

"Why is he-"

"Told him to come." Logan answered simply, heading towards the X-Jet.

"You-"

"He's not working for Sinister, Rogue. Not anymore. Trust me, I did the research." Her frown didn't fade. "Frankly, his powers are close to Scott's and we're not in the shape to turn down any hands." He said firmly, his brow creased as he set the X-Jet settings.

"Logan, I can mimic everyone's powers on the tea-"

"So I should just bring you?" He growled. Rogue clamped her mouth shut and Logan sighed. "Look, I told him to come and explicitly protect you." He told her, watching the shock fade to rage.

"You what? Ya passed me along to him like the sisterhood of the travelin' pants?!" She screeched.

"My healing factor's gone, Rogue." Silence between them as everyone else filed on. "I'd be lucky to heal a paper cut." He turned and looked seriously into her eyes. "I'll protect you. All of you, but... I could go down for good. Any minute." Fear grabbed of Rogue's heart. She hadn't even thought of Logan getting a critical injury in his condition. His healing factor wasn't likely to ever come back. She chewed her lip.

"Don't come," Rogue begged, suddenly revealing her claws. "See? I've got your powers, your instinct. You can stay-"

"No, Stripes." He said, smiling sadly. "You know I cain't. So help me rest easier and let him protect you." Her gaze dropped to the ground. She knew why he was doing it. And she understood. But she couldn't reconcile with Remy coming on a mission, even to rescue Scott. She wished he were there, she knew he'd agree. Even stuck with Sinister. "Look, whether you forgive him or care aside... He's guilty. Real guilty."

Rogue rolled her eyes. "Are you really giving me this 'forgive him for you', crap? Who are you? Kurt?" He chuckled darkly.

"Not at all. Never forgive or forget. But..." His face softened. "Take it from experience. Protection borne of guilt, you'll almost never find any better." 'Accept his protection, Stripes so I can breathe a little easier.'

He hadn't expected Rogue to take to this easily. He felt good knowing she scrutinized the motives of the people around her, it was unfortunate but very necessary. She tossed a secretive glance back at the mutant. His hair had faded to normal but his eyes were still a haunting red. She heaved a sigh.

"Okay. Fine. I'll try." He smiled.

"Jus' trust me, Kid." Rogue ambled toward the back of the jet, keeping a great distance between her and Remy.

"Yeah, I'm tryin'." Her gaze wandered to Remy but dropped suddenly when he moved. 'Dont' expect no thank you, neither.' She thought angrily, wishing Remy would just disappear. At least, that's what she told herself.

"Are you okay?" Kitty whispered, her eyes locked suspiciously on Remy. She snorted, reminding them both of high school.

"Who me? Why wouldn't Ah be?"

Nathaniel Essex's Lab, Thursday Mar. 14th 8:47 pm

"Oh, Scott. I have something that can make even you perk up." Mr. Sinister began, holding clawed finger up. He snapped his fingers twice.

"Doubt that..." Scott mumbled to himself, his head leaning in his hand. He had resigned to sitting until Sinister decided to mess with him or his team showed up. He wasn't worried about them coming, he was worried about them getting hurt trying to save him. 'I could never forgive myself...' He thought, worriedly. 'I don't know what he's up to. I don't like it.'

Out appeared a girl with a shocking resemblance to Rogue. If Scott wasn't certain of Rogue's hair color, even through shades of red he could tell her hair was a little too dark. Mr. Sinister must've cloned her from the DNA sample he acquired all that time ago. Scott suddenly felt light-headed, shaking his head in horror.

"What the fuck have you done..." He whispered in shock. "How could y-"

"I call her Marian." He interrupted, grinning. "But you should also meet Madelyn. She might be a bit more your type." Out appeared the red headed twin of Jean Grey. There she stood, only missing her Phoenix outfit. Scott considered himself an expert of all things Jean Grey, but he could tell no difference between this clone and her. It drove him wild. He let out a strangled yell as he tugged at the bars of his cage.

She was wearing a long, fishtail gown that draped behind her. Her long, red hair was styled just like Jean's. She stared at him with a blank look, unmoved by Scott's emotion. "I can't wait for you to see everything that I've been up to." Scott grit his teeth rabidly.

"Touch her or Jean and I'll-"

"You'll what?" Sinister held his hands out and waited. Scott shut his mouth and wracked his brain for a way out of that cage and out of that collar.

'There has to be one...' He thought. He was going crazy. He hadn't been able to see Jean of his own volition for over two years. It was killing him. He tried to move on. To be happy. But all he wanted was her, and Sinister was parading her in front of him. He tugged on the collar until his knuckles were white, staring miserably at him. "I swear to god..."

"I love it when you're angry." Was all Sinister said, ushering the two clones out the room. Scott felt sick when he thought about the experiments and other things Sinister was probably doing to them. Scott hung his head helplessly. The collar wouldn't budge. All he could do was just sit there. 'Definitely not a fan of being kidnapped.' He remarked to himself, thinking of how good it'll feel to blast Sinister once he got it off.

The lab disguised as a lighthouse began to shake, violently. Scott frowned but Sinister grinned. "And right on time."

"Sinist-" Frozen chunks of wall blasted inside at them. Scott baulked when he saw Remy of all people standing in the following hole, cards in his hand. "Wh-"

Rogue appeared behind him, a raging look on her face. If Scott didn't know any better, he would've sworn he saw something in her eyes...
"Rogue!" He shouted. "Wat-"

"SINISTER!" She cried. He watched helplessly as the team appeared behind him. Emma already had a hand on her head, eyeing Sinister with disdain.

"I'm quite sick of all the trouble you cause." She sneered, attempting to probe the man's mind. She didn't find much, realizing he himself was a strong telepath. 'Damn him, of course he would be.' She thought, her face pinching. Sinister grinned at her.

"Ah, Emma Frost." Logan stepped aside and unsheathed his claws. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

"Where's Chuck, bub?" He snarled. Mr. Sinister waved his hand dismissively.

"Oh him? What would I want with that weak telepath? I gave him to Onslaught!" The room went dead silent.

"N-No..." Kitty began, clutching her face.

"That would mean... Charles..." Erik fell to his knees. His eyes were wide. 'H-He's devoured him by now, hasn't he?' "No..." Mr. Sinister shrugged.

"You know I find Scott far more interesting." Scott was clutching the bars of his cage, spitting as he pulled futilely.

"Face me, you coward!" He screamed. "You like me so much, take me out of here! See what I do to you." He hung his head helplessly. "Everyone, please! Go find the professor! He needs you more!" He hung his head and burst into sobs suddenly. "The professor..." Rogue shook her head.

"We're getting you back, and then Sinister is gonna show us where Onslaught took him." Rogue sent Sinister a dark look, her claws emerging. "Right, Sinister?" He sneered back at her. Kurt ported quickly into Scott's cage and back out.

"There! Velcome back, man!" Kurt cheered with a grin. Kitty ran over to disable the device around his neck but Scott fell to the ground in a heap, screaming. All the color drained from Rogue's face as Jean screamed in her mind. She staggered but fought the psyche. 'Don't lose control, Rogue.' She thought, feeling Logan's eyes on her.

"Scott!" She screamed, remembering her time with those collars on Genosha. 'Sinister is always one step ahead of us!' She thought angrily.

'This is what he really wants, Rogue.' Emma told her worriedly, her eyes anxious. 'To draw her out. You can't let him. You know the results will be catastrophic.' Rogue clutched her fists tight. She was Rogue, after all. Not Jean, as much as she was indebted to her. She chose when she sat in, and she wouldn't let her now. She crashed to Scott's side, staring at Sinister with a blank and murderous stare.

"Stop it." She demanded.

"If Katherine Pryde disables the collar with her powers I'll stop his heart." Erik stood, his eyes ablaze.

"No you wouldn't," He snapped, pulling the metal from all around them. "You won't shut up about how important his DNA is." Sinister grinned.

"But wouldn't I?" The clones of Rogue and Jean appeared, causing everyone to start screaming.

"W-Who are they? This is messed up?!" Bobby screamed at the perfect replicas. 'This guy is Dr. Mengele. What the hell has been going on here?' Kurt looked between his sister and the girl Sinister introduced, his mouth slack. He couldn't help but feel bad for the clone, she looked so much like Rogue it scared him. He shook his head in disbelief.

"Mein Gott..." He uttered quietly.

"He's... Provoking you..." Scott grit out through clenched teeth. He forced himself to his knees, panting. "This bastard... He..." Rogue struggled to ignore the searing pain in her head as Jean screamed and shouted. 'Devour him, Rogue! Why are you blocking me out? I'm fine! It's me, Jean. I will burn his DNA into a million big bang reactions of pain. His suffering will create galaxies, create life. Just let me out, Rogue.' Her reaction to the clone was violent to say the least. She wiped her hand over her sweaty face, scared of what Jean would do when she showed up.

"D-Damn it..." Rogue growled.

"You deny Jean the chance to meet her equal? My Madelyn Pryor?" He laughed. Piotr shook his head.

"You are sick, just like your name." He spat, shaking his head. "Let her rest." Sinister's eyes grew cold.

"Rest? Was she resting when she appeared to terrorize me?" He cried, his voice rising. "I will tame her, and harness her power for mine own!" He was surprised when Scott started chuckling. Then laughing. Before long he was howling with laughter. Rogue and Kitty looked down at him worriedly.

"You think anyone can ever control Dark Phoenix? I almost hope she comes. She would burn you alive." He snarled venomously. Sinister crossed his arms.

"I guess we will see." He looked at Rogue smugly. "I'm sure it won't be long until she comes to investigate things herself." Rogue raised an arm.

"I'm tired of hearin' yo-" She froze when Logan drove his claws through Sinister's shoulder, his eyes blind with rage. 'You desecrated Jean's legacy...' He thought rabidly. Sinister looked down at Logan in shock, then frowned. With a grunt of effort, he swung his arm forward and sent a piece of scrap metal hurdling towards him.

"LOGAN!" Rogue screeched, her feet not carrying her fast enough.

"Logan, no!" Scott shouted, but it was too late. Remy intercepted the shrapnel, shocking everyone as he spun he staff deftly and blocked Logan from harm. In a fit of rage and a shocking lack of restraint, Sinister drove the shrapnel through his former associate's shoulder. He stared into Remy's eyes. 'I made you...' He thought bitterly. 'And how you repay me is running to them? They abandoned you once, Remy. They'll do it again.'

"Traitors die." He snarled. Logan roared and swiped at the mutant but he faded out of his grasp, the stab marks on him healing. He frowned at them both.

Rogue leapt from Scott's side to Remy's, examining his wound shakily. 'He saved Logan's life...' She thought in shock. She tried to examine the wound he was clutching, her eyes worried. "Be careful." She urged before tearing from his side.

'She... She spoke to me...' He cast his glare at the ground, wondering what he had done to be worthy.

Rogue looked at Sinister threateningly as Erik descended up him with shards of metal. "Rid us of your presence." He said, exhaling when he seemed to be crumbled under piles of metal refuse. He appeared behind Erik, sending him careening into the ground. He snapped his fingers.

"Vertigo. Harpoon." He called. Kitty took the time to destroy the power inhibitor, setting Scott's powers free. He launched a full blast at Sinister who screamed as he collided with the wall. Soon, an unholy noise erupted into the lab, bringing everyone to their knees. 'No...' Scott thought, thinking of their battle in the Morlock Sewers. 'Does this mean... Sinister, he...'

Both Piotr and Rogue changed to iron skin, grunting under the pressure of the vertigo inducing noise. The remaining team huddled behind them. The small inuit appeared, his face, screwed in a rage. "YOU," He screamed, pointing a shaking finger at Piotr. "You..." Piotr wasn't proud of massacring Riptide, but he'd do it again if any of his teammates or Kitty were in danger. In a heartbeat. "I'll kill you!" He shouted, his long spear glowing an ominous yellow.

"PIOTR!" Kitty shrieked from behind him. She couldn't stand the noise, all she could do was huddle behind him.

Rogue touched him quickly, wincing audibly when the spear passed through them. 'Now I see how Kitty got stuck...' She thought, feeling it's awesome power. 'He has to go.' She thought of Illyana, Piotr's little sister. Her powers were more akin to magic. The dreams the girl had of fantasy and other dimensions, well, Rogue was sure they weren't just dreams. She was the key to more than anyone could realize. 'Think...'

The green sword appeared again in her hands. Piotr watched her in awe as she raced forward. Tears streaming down his face, Harpoon reached for another spear. 'Scalphunter...' He lamented. He had disappeared, leaving piles of ashes behind. He had been his mentor and his sole reason for being. And the X-Men took that from him. 'I'll kill them all...' He thought savagely, but his body wouldn't move. "W-Wha..."

He screamed as the ground dropped from below, a blanket of darkness enveloping him. "H-Hey! What's happening?!" He cried.

"You're being punished." A haughty voice responded. His blood ran cold. 'The telepath...' With a scream, Rogue slashed at him with the soul sword, shoving him back from her. Erik surrounded him in metal, grunting with the strain. This distracted Vertigo enough for Bobby to freeze the ground, causing her to fall forward. Harpoon busted out of the shrapnel, sending it all flying at Erik and Rogue. Both screamed.

"Watch it, Anna!" Erik cried, trying to control the pieces as they crashed around them. A piece collided with her forehead, leaving a bloodied cut in it's wake. Erik cursed to himself, peering at her face.

Scott crashed their side after, sending him a glare that made him back off. "I'm fine..." Rogue said sheepishly, ducking under both mutants' gaze. Harpoon rose with a growl from the metal, grabbing a spear and glaring at them. Scott blasted him through a window of the lighthouse and down the cliffs.

Vertigo had been screaming this whole time until something suggested she stop. "Hey!" Kitty took advantage and phased her into the ground, causing her to start shrieking. "You prepubescent cunt!" Scott placed a hand on Rogue's shoulder to delegate but she screamed in pain, causing him to frown. The Jean in her mind was becoming harder to control. 'D-Damn...'

"Are you alright?"

"You won't hold her off forever." The general scrapping ceased as everyone noticed the young baby in Sinister's arms. Everyone held their breath, waiting to see how he exploited the situation. 'He wouldn't...' Rogue thought. 'Harm a child?' "Don't you all want to know who's baby this is?" Silence. Rogue was shaking her head. Logan was growling, not liking anything he smelled. 'No... Why does he smell that way? What's happening?'

Dr. Nathaniel Essex flashed a smile that showed all of his pointy teeth. Kitty and Kurt shrank behind Piotr.

"Enough games, Sinister." Scott seethed, his fists shaking by his sides. "Give us that kid." Sinister shrugged.

"I could. He is yours." He shook with adrenaline, struggling to figure out the easiest way to disarm a telepath with a child.

"S-Scott..." Rogue began.

"Well, he was created from yours and Jean's DNA. Like the other clones. Your genes together, well... I hit the genetic lottery." Tears slipped past Scott's eyes. That Rogue noticed.

"We were supposed to have a family, you bastard..." All of the X-Men, even Erik lowered their gazes. "She was supposed to give me a lot of children. We were supposed to grow old together!" His face hardened. "And you try to drag her here? For this? It's a tragedy, Sinister." he folded his arms. "Give it up." It was too bad his plan just worked the way he wanted it to.

Rogue clutched her head. "Nnh, Scott!" He ran to her side. He knew, even lightyears away, Jean wouldn't be able to resist the bait. If half of what Sinister said was true... 'My child...' He thought, numb. 'Jean and I's child.' He never thought they'd be able to have her child. Suddenly he had a whole new reason of being. The offspring he thought he'd never get to have.

"It's okay." He said, his shoulders sagging. "If you can't keep her back." A tear slipped passed her eyes.

"I tried..." She whispered, her lip trembling. The temperature in the room spiked. The sound of a raging bird was heard as the flames licked off of of her. Jean appeared, her eyes already set on Sinister. She stood in her glory, the white and gold suit on her body. Her face was proud and angry.

"You wanted me, you got me." She said, an orange haze surrounding her. Sinister held his hand out toward Jean.

"Phoenix Of The White Crown." Her eyes narrowed.

"Explain yourself, Sinister. I grow impatient." She moved closer, watching as the mutant stepped back. Scott struggled to his feet and chased after her,

"B-Be careful!" He warned, weary of Sinister's tricks. "He's been trying to lure you here with me." She shook her head in annoyance.

"Is that it, Sinister? You want to see her again." Jean approached him and took the child from Sinister's arms, everyone watching helplessly. She looked down at the child and then back at him before making a fist. "We have way more pressing things to attend to." Mr. Sinister began scream as darkness enveloped him. 'What...'

"It's just you and me here, Sinister. Isn't that what you want?" He whipped around but he saw nothing but a black darkness.

"How?!" He cried out. 'I don't understand... She was supposed to lose control and I-'

"You will never, ever control Dark Phoenix." Dread washed over the mutant as Jean's malevolent face appeared, as big as the sun. Her eyes were white and her sneer cruel. "She will use your fear to sleep well tonight."

"NO-" Sinister fell to his knees, trembling.

"If you ever touch Scott again..." She smiled. "They haven't made a name for what I'll do." Jean turned stoically, the child calm in her hands.

"J-Jean..." She smiled sadly.

"I must take Nate somewhere he will be safe." She turned a dark look to Sinister, who laid cowering on the ground. "Nathaniel will always be chasing after him here... I must take him to another time. Where he will be safe long enough to mature into his powers and and maybe save them. I have already seen it." Her face hardened suddenly and her stare fell expectantly on Rogue. "The professor... He is in grave danger because of him." Her eyes flicked to Sinister.

"But how will we defeat Onslaught?" Scott begged. Jean shook her head.

"I'm not certain, but if he assimilates the professor we are all doomed." She looked down at the child in her hands and hugged him tight. "I'll return once Nate has been safely delivered. Then, we will face Onslaught." She turned to Rogue again. "Seek Piotr's sister. The world's counting on you." She disappeared before Scott could catch her.

"J-Jean..." He uttered as she disappeared in a flash of light. 'Our son...' Rogue placed her hand on his hand hesitantly.

"Are you..." He sighed.

"Yeah. Let's get back to the institute and try to draft a plan. You heard Jean." He clenched his jaw. Logan folded his arms, standing close to Kitty.

"Yeah, I'm willin' to bet we don't have long." He commented, wondering how Chuck was faring with a beast like Onslaught.

"But... What will we do with him?" Bobby said, staring at a still cowering Sinister.

"No time." Scott ordered through clenched teeth. Bobby cocked an eyebrow.

"So we leave him here so he can screw us over again?" Every turned to him in shock.

"Not now, Bobby." Rogue tried but he pushed past her.

"Scott-"

"We can't trust a mutant like that in the institute. My team. My orders. We rendezvous at the institute and figure a plan to rescue the professor." Bobby crossed the space between them and grabbed Scott's leather jacket, jerking him close to him.

"You know he was behind the Morlocks! You know it! Ray, Evan-" Tears streamed down his face. "You bastard..." Scott sighed.

"Saving the professor is more important than revenge, Bobby." He said quietly, taking a moment to think of all the people who couldn't be there with them. "I'm sorry." He added finally. Bobby grudgingly released his coat, Rogue falling beside him quickly.

"Let's go..." She said, steering him towards the X-Jet. She squeezed the younger mutant's shoulder reassuringly. He was sure a hothead for having ice powers. Scott looked down at Sinister and thought about searing him then and there, but he ignored the thought. 'He'll have his day...' Everyone cleared towards the jet except Logan and Remy. Logan watched him carefully, making sure he didn't perceive any hint of double agency on his part.

His eyes were seething though, absolutely smoldering at Mr. Sinister.'That bastard...' He thought.

"Hey," Logan called out. "Ya comin'?" Remy nodded.

"Yes. Jus' wanna make some'tin' clear to him." A small smile spread on Logan's lips.

"Right." He disappeared outside.

"Remy..." Sinister snarled. He held the end of his staff in the mutant's face.

"Stay away from us. All of us." He began to snicker at his feet.

"Exactly what they'll say when they discover that you dropped that little Morlock off at their doorstep." His heart stopped. "I was going to tell them myself but how much fun will that be?" Remy jerked his staff away from Sinister. "Go. Go and play house with the X-Men. You'll come crawling back, Remy. Eventually."

He stared at him, thinking about murdering him. "Death would be too good for'ya, homme. It'd make me just like you."

"Just remember... Remember what your house of cards is sitting on, Gambit. What they will do to you for betrayal is better than what I could." Remy shrunk his staff and turned his back, exiting silently.

Piotr couldn't help but worry about his kid sister. At least, with Rogue touching her, she would be spared from being on the front lines of battle. It still kind of gave him the heebie jeebies, but he trusted Rogue. And Illyana was a little lady. She was old enough to make her own decisions and she wanted to help. Especially if she wanted to help get the professor back.

Aspirin, a glass of water, and a ham sandwich sat on the table beside her bed. "For after." Rogue said with a tired smile. Illyana nodded, it was like sleeping too long. All in all, not a bad deal to be able to stay safe at the mansion. Illyana was terrified of things that scared her brave brother. She smiled as Rogue lifted her hand. "You ready?"

"Yes, I am." She said, her Russian accent strong. Rogue gave her a grateful smile and clasped her hand in hers. Rogue shook slightly and the younger mutant collapsed into Piotr's arm.

"Ugh, there." Rogue said softly, placing her glove on her hand. Piotr lifted his sister with ease. "Thanks, Piotr."

"Of course. I shall take her to Hank." She watched as Kitty and Piotr disappeared into the mansion. Scott had been watching from the corner of the room, his arms crossed. He had heard Jean explicitly state for Rogue to do that but he wasn't sure how it would help the current state of things. 'Jean...' He thought, remembering her holding their baby. 'Why... Why do things have to be this way?'

"Do you know how her powers will help?" He asked after a while. Rogue swallowed and took a break from sifting through Illyana's memories.

"Her powers deal with different dimensions... I think Jean was insinuating we have to banish him somewhere he can't return from. Another dimension." She rubbed her head. "At least, that's what I think." Scott sighed.

"Be honest. What are the odds you think we can rescue Professor Xavier?" Her gaze dropped to the carpeted floor. She sighed.

"Without Jean? I'm not sure we'd have a chance." She locked eyes with him. "But now, I have hope." He smiled a little.

"Good."

'I just hope she doesn't...' Rogue didn't let the thought finish. She had to be positive, especially right now. They were counting on Jean, as usual. She looked into Scott's face and could tell with one look that he felt the same. He grabbed her hand hesitantly.

"It'll be alright." He said unsurely. If Onslaught released another catastrophic pulse it would be even more of an open season on mutants than it already had been.

"I believe in her." She tried to smile. "We all do." But they both knew Onslaught knew all of their deep, dark secrets. Every single one.