1 February

Lack of Motivation.

Rogue really, really didn't feel like continuing on with the day. School was already bad enough, and the training exercises the red team went through weren't much better. Rogue was still sore from the workout on Monday and Storm wasn't giving her a break. As it stood, it was almost dinner time and Rogue hadn't started her massive amount of homework. Why was it that high school teachers sensed when other teachers were dropping projects, and worked as a team to best overwhelm students? Rogue wasn't sure she was going to find the time to do anything.

Ignoring her backpack and responsibilities, Rogue blundered through the hallways. Slow and steady, barely paying attention, so as to best waste her time. Maybe after she was full of food and the kitchen was clean, she would go straight to bed. She did have one more study hour before most of the projects were due, and in a pinch she might be able to ask Hank for his academic help. He may be a senior in that high school, but he was intellectually smarter than that. All homework was child's play to him, and he was taking all the most advanced classes the school had to offer.

Rogue was all in her mind, meandering through the hallways off pure routine, and she wasn't the only one. Alison managed to pop out of her room, with as much attention and care that Rogue was putting into her walk, at the precise moment Rogue walked by. They carelessly collided, and Alison's first reaction was to catch her unfortunate victim. Both ladies were without gloves, and it didn't take Alison long to realize her mistake.

Rogue's powers acted immediately, whether or not Rogue wanted them to. While she stumbled, she graciously accepted Alison's hand grabbing hers until her foggy mind processed what was happening. Alison's consciousness, her current thoughts first and foremost, and her powers flooded into Rogue's mind and body. Alison let out a startled cry, pushing Rogue's hand away more than simply letting go. It was her last conscious thought before she fell in a heap on the ground.

"Ally!" Rogue shouted, belatedly. She fell to her knees beside her unconscious form, but was unsure of how to proceed.

Alison's memories now floating through Rogue's head weren't much of a nuisance, unlike when Rogue had accidentally taken in the persona of people before. Rogue was able to focus more on whether or not Alison was okay, as well as her mounting panic, than Alison's last trip to a club or the school day she had experienced today. Seeing that Alison was still breathing was enough to send Rogue back on her feet in a desperate attempt to find someone to help her.

Who to call? "Storm! Ororo! Help!"

"Rogue?" Betsy asked. She had her door cracked open enough to step through. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, um … no. Ah accidentally touched Ally an' dropped her. Ah don't know if she's okay!"

"Hey, calm down," Betsy said soothingly. She reached out to lightly grab Rogue's shoulders, which were amply covered with a long sleeve shirt. "I'm calling the Professor. Take a deep breath, let's go back to Ally, and we'll help her out. Okay?"

Rogue nodded, taking great effort in sucking in the deep breath. She allowed Betsy to take the lead, following her with more alertness than she possessed all day. Xavier, Scott, and Jean weren't very far behind.

"What happened here?" Scott asked. He pushed the Professor down the hallway, pulling him to a stop within reach of Alison's body.

"Ah – Ah wasn't payin' attention ta where Ah was goin', an' she came outta her room so fast …" Rogue explained feebly.

"She will be alright," Xavier told the four students. His two fingers were at his temple, which appeared to be a more subconscious maneuver than anything. He soon relaxed both hands in a folded position on his lap. "Scott, if you would take her back to her room. Jean, would you be there for her when she awakens?"

"What if she doesn't?" Rogue asked. She felt the uncontained panic bubble up again. "Ah … Ah heard the first guy Ah touched after mah powers manifested is still in a coma in the hospital. It's been … it's been years, Professah."

"Rogue, I need you to concentrate."

Rogue blinked. Was Xavier not concerned about Alison's health?

"Rogue, please listen to my words. You now have, along with Alison's memories, her mutant powers as well." This was the first time Rogue touched a mutant. She didn't feel any different. Alison did something with sound to convert it to light energy. Rogue would have guessed Alison felt like a living battery, but there was nothing.

"You're glowing, Rogue," Betsy added. "The more panicked you get, the brighter the flashes of light."

"Alison has to be aware of her energy at all times. I need you to concentrate and get a hold of yourself," Xavier instructed gently.

Now that the two telepaths mentioned it, Rogue was aware of the white flashes she was causing. Just because she was aware of it, however, didn't mean that she could control it. Control issues were her main issues, seeing as an involuntary touch would cause a fiasco exactly like the one at hand.

"Ah'm not sure how, Professor."

"I can't tell you exactly how, Rogue. Learning how to control others' powers when you take them is a skill just as important as learning how to fight on an X-Men team," he explained to her. "What may work for one's mutant powers may not work for another."

"Ah thought Ah would feel somethin', if Ah had her power," Rogue said. Her mind felt a little sluggish, like she wasn't comprehending everything very quickly. "But Ah feel no different than before. Ah jus' feel … tired."

"Elisabeth, would you help Rogue back to her room?" Xavier asked.

"Uh, yes, Professor. I can do that."

"Thank-you, child. I will be going in to check on Alison. I sense she's stirring."

"Already?" Rogue asked. She couldn't muster excitement. The adrenaline rush was already leaving her energy levels behind.

"Already," Xavier echoed. His smile was small as he wheeled himself into Alison's room.

"Rogue?" Betsy asked, bringing Rogue's attention back to her. She gestured down the hallway. "Shall we?"

"Actually, Betsy, Ah'm fine. You can go eat dinner. Ah'll be down in a few. Maybe Ah can figure this power out a li'l bit."

"Good luck," Betsy said. She waved goodbye and turned down the hall. Rogue, in much the same state of mind as before, meandered back to her room. She tried concentrating on the light energies, but they were fading. Was it because she didn't have control of Dazzler's powers anymore or was it because there wasn't any sound in the hallways?