Chapter 6 – The modern Medusa
"Before I came back to the school, Rogue had a few problems." Charles stated carefully. He didn't want to upset the Wolverine.
"What sort of problems, Chuck?" Logan demanded, getting up out of his seat.
"Logan, sit." Commanded Charles.
"Sorry, Wheels."
"No, I understand that you care for her. We all do." Charles eyed Logan warily. He knew of the radical realisation Logan had come to about Rogue. "She completely absorbed a woman, killed her Logan." Logan's sucked in breath was the only noise that could be heard in the office.
"Carry on Charles, please."
"Her name was Carol Danvers or Miss Marvel to us in the mutant community, it happened about six months after Alcatraz. Rogue hadn't known that the cure was wearing off and Carol was the X-Men's newest member. Marie helped Carol and they became close but unfortunately there was an incident in the danger room."
"What sort of incident?" Logan was on the edge of his seat, trying to calm down his fuming temper. Why was he not informed of this 'incident'?
"Rogue was still training with the X-men, as you know her hand-to-hand combat is some of the best anyone in the institute has ever seen. All of the X-Men (including Rogue and Miss Marvel) were in the danger room completing one of the hardest simulations there is and well... something happened."
"What happened? I need to know!" Logan was pacing now; he needed to know what happened to his Marie.
"Miss Marvel had the abilities of flight, super strength and invulnerability. Rogue needed a boost onto the top of one of the buildings so she asked Miss Marvel if she could take her up there. Miss Marvel held onto Rogue's un-gloved hand and halfway between the ground and the rooftop, Marie's powers activated. Rogue couldn't stop how quick the absorption was."
"So, Marie has this woman in her head?" Questioned Logan.
"Yes and for three months Rogue and Miss Marvel had a battle in Marie's head and finally Marie won. She retained the abilities of Miss Marvel, as well as her and Carol coming to a sort of agreement." Charles said proudly. "She is a very powerful mutant, there were no telepaths at the time and she still managed to lock Carol away."
"Wow, anything else happen?" Logan chuckled; he believed that Carol was the end of the story. However, from the Professor's grim expression this was not all that happened to the young girl.
"Yes Logan, after absorbing Carol, Marie found out that she could use every other mutation she had ever taken." Charles' stoic expression sent shivers down Logan's back, why was he so upset?
"What exactly does that mean Prof?" Logan asked.
"Well, firstly, we thought the Phoenix was powerful but after testing Rogue's blood and analysing it, we can see that she is probably the strongest mutant that has ever lived – and I'm not talking brute strength. Hank believes that when it comes to classing Rogue, you can't. She's off the scale Logan and that means she is dangerous: very dangerous."
Logan was silent for a few moments; he was trying to process the information. "How dangerous?"
"She could kill everyone in this mansion with one thought." Charles stated matter of factly. "She's the modern Medusa, one look and anyone in the institute stands still – afraid one wrong move will have them in the med lab."
"So, what powers does she have?"
"Obviously Carol's, magnetism from Eric, Bobby's powers (there are too many to list), pyrokenisis from John, Piotr's powers as well as my powers. She accidently touched me when I, Jean and Scott first came back to the mansion."
"What...what about my mutation?" Logan was worried his Marie would have to live through watching everyone she loved die. It wasn't fun.
"Yes, she has your feral senses and can release her own set of bone claws but she doesn't like the claws that much." Charles smiled at the memory of Rogue having a hissy-fit about her claws.
"What about-"Logan started but Charles cut him off. "Yes, she has your healing ability and she is absolutely fine with it. I have had many sessions with her about her state of mind – she is doing well Logan."
"Okay, okay. So, she went crazy for three months, possibly is the most powerful mutant in the world and she has a lot of powers. Anything else?" Logan hoped there wasn't.
"She can touch now, once I came back to the mansion we worked on her meditation and she found the switch. Also, she is the leader of the X-Men now, just so you are aware." Charles went back to his book as he believed that Logan would want to digest all this new information but Logan had other ideas.
"That's great, but what I don't get is why she is the only person other than you that knew I was coming back and that it wasn't 'out of the blue' as many have called it." Logan was persistent alright.
Charles once again put his book down. "I've been having premonitions for the last four months, all about the end of the world as we know it. The only other people I could tell had to be telepaths – it would injure others if I tried to show them through a mental link – so I knew that it was between Rogue and Jean. As you now know, Jean is still vulnerable so it had to be Marie."
"No one else knows?" Logan asked.
"No, and they won't until the time is right. Logan I need you here so that when I send Rogue on missions to gather information we still have a second in command. Scott is too busy helping Jean to hold the responsibility and I can't force Ro to take on the roll when I know she and Hank are trying for a child – it has to be you."
"Missions on her own? Is that a good idea? I mean sure Chuck I'll look after the X-geeks, but are you sure Marie will be okay with that (she hates me at the moment) and is she okay to go on her own to these dodgy places you will be sending her to."
"She doesn't hate you, she just feels betrayed. Oh and she is very capable of going on her own but I can't risk letting anyone else know about this – it's too dangerous."
"Okay, but if anything, I mean anything, happens to her or even one hair on that perfect head of hers is out of place...I will do some serious damage to your precious mansion." Logan growled.
"I understand but nothing will happen." Charles said calmly.
Logan got up off his seat and as he opened the door he heard Charles. "Oh and Logan?" Logan looked around, "Never threaten me in my own home again."
Logan left the office and laughed all the way down the hall, Wheels always had to have the last word. Unbelievable!