Logan extended a hand towards Rose's arm as she turned, stony faced towards John. Logan kept a hand close to her arm in case she made a lunge for him. After a couple of seconds she burst out laughing. The sound of her manic laughter rang out loudly as she walked down the path and towards Jean who was waiting at the base of the steps into the ship. Rose continued to laugh raucously. When they were all in the safety of the ship and had taken off Storm was finally brave enough to interrupt Rose's laughter. "What's so funny?"

Rose pointed at John, still laughing. She finally managed to breathe "this guy," she imitated his voice "you know all the mutants you here about on the news? Well I'm the worst one." She fell about laughing and much to her shame; Jean broke into a slight grin. She was glad no one could see her smiling. She looked over at Storm, who was also grinning and trying to suppress a laugh.

"Dude, if you're the worst one then I'm a giant biscuit!" She laughed. She collapsed into a chair, shrieking with laughter. She finally stopped laughing and realised that a guy who was completely blue and had a tail was watching her.

"Would I be right in saying that you are Rose Grayson, also known as Rogan?" he said

Rose beamed "You would indeed."

"Your exploits are widely known where I come from."

"I can't quite pinpoint the accent. Dusseldorf or Munich?"

"Munich."

"Hey aren't you the incredible Nightcrawler?" she didn't wait for a response. "I saw your show in...I can't remember where it was but I saw your show once. It was awesome." She smiled sweetly at him. Rose turned towards Jean "did you get my message or is it just a fluke that you turned up?"

"no I got your message. That takes a lot of power." Jean smiled. She didn't look rounds but she could sense Rose's proud smile.

"yep it does." Rose said. Her smile shone through as she spoke.

"what happened at the school? We haven't been able to get through on the phone. We were about to go there when Jean got your message." Storm said.

"NO! don't go to the school!" Rose looked round to see who had said that. It took her a few seconds to realise it had been her that had spoken so harshly. "its not safe. Someone raided the mansion. Most of the students got away. A few didn't. we need to find them." Rose added in a quieter and more subdued tone.

"have you heard from Scott and the Professor?" Jean asked. She turned her head slightly so she could only see Rose out of the corner or her eye. She tried not to do that for too long though because it gave her a headache.

"Nothing. Haven't you heard from them?" Logan said. He looked worried.

Jean shook her head.

Something on the ship's dashboard beeped and flashed, trying to get their attention. It succeeded.

"we got something on our tail." jean shouted over her shoulder.

A voice crackled over the radio. "please drop your altitude and identify yourself." the message was repeated several times. They took no action. A fighter jet pulled up on each side of the ship. They pulled back and the light on the dashboard flashed and beeped louder and faster.

"I don't want to cause any alarm," Rose said looking straight ahead. Her eyes were wide and horrified. "but you might want to hurry up. I believe there is two rockets coming up behind us."

Storm and Jean looked down at the radar.

"don't you have any weapons on this thing?" Logan shouted.

"I think you'll probably find we are the weapons." Rose shouted back, jamming on her seatbelt. "buckle up kid." Rogue, who was sat behind them and had been the only one to ear this remark, frowned. Why would Rose be calling Logan kid?.

"they're gaining on us," Storm screamed "Jean is there anything you can do?" there was a few moments of silence. Rose closed her eyes and focused. Jean's power surged and on of the torpedoes exploded.

"there's another one."

"oh god." Jean muttered as the last torpedo collided with the back of the ship.

Logan turned to Rose. "Rogan can't you do anything?" he shouted over the sound of the rushing wind and screaming.

Rose looked like she could cry. Logan could instantly see that there was nothing she could do. Her skin kept flickering between its normal pale colour and a dark blue. Her eyes flicked from blue to yellow and back again. "I can't. I can't focus on anything. There's nothing I can do." She shouted back. The ship juddered to a halt, nose feet from the ground. Magneto stood supporting the ship. As Rose was thrown against her seatbelt she heard it tear. She tumbled down the length of the ship. Cursing as she went. She tucked herself into a ball as she shattered the front windscreen. She landed on her back at Mystique's feet. "hi." She said breathlessly.

"You ok down there?" mystique asked.

"Yeah fine. Just give me a minute" she coughed as she climbed to her feet "just a little winded."

It took a few minute but eventually she was able to breathe at her normal, abnormally slow and deep pace.

The ship was settled onto the ground and Rogue, John and Bobby spilled out clumsily. Jean, Logan and Storm stepped easily over them. When they reached the spot where Magneto, Mystique and Rose were standing. Mystique and Rose were huddled together in whispered conversation. They stopped abruptly when the others approached. Rose was smiling slightly.