5 February

Bug. –n. 1. also called a true bug, hemipteran 2. any insect or insectlike invertebrate 3. any microorganism, especially a virus 4. a defect or imperfection, as in mechanical device, computer program, or plan; glitch 5. a. a person who has a great enthusiasm for something; fan or hobbyist b. a craze or obsession 6. a. a hidden microphone or other electronic eavesdropping device b. any of various small mechanical or electrical gadgets, as one to influence a gambling device, give warning of an intruder, or indicate location 7. a mark, as an asterisk, that indicates a particular item, level, etc. 8. the five-pound weight allowance that can be claimed by an apprentice jockey 9. a telegraph key that automatically transmits a series of dots when moved to one side and one dash when moved to the other 10. a joker that can be used only as an ace or as a wild card to fill a straight or a flush 11. a label printed on a certain matter to indicate that it was produced by a union shop 12. any of various fishing plugs resembling an insect 13. a bedbug –v. 14. to install a secret listening device in (a room, building, etc.) or on (a telephone or other device) 15. to bother; annoy; pester

"How are you today?" Ororo asked Rogue. While Rogue had been trying her best to avoid everyone, she somehow still managed to stumble into her team leader.

"Fine," Rogue mumbled.

Ororo contemplatively studied her for a moment. "I would like to try an exercise with you," she said.

Rogue barely managed to stop herself from asking bitterly, "After yesterday's fiasco?" No one acted like they blamed Rogue for slowing them down, between red and blue teams, but Rogue knew that it couldn't be the case. When Scott asked them to pull their punches, he didn't mean to stand uselessly on the field to be blasted away by the opposing team.

Instead, Rogue said nothing. She wouldn't have a choice if Ororo wanted to train Rogue up.

Ororo gestured down the hall, expecting Rogue to follow. She did. "Kurt offered himself to help you," she said. Rogue couldn't tell if she was being vague on purpose. "He explained to me that you were afraid of your powers." She flicked her blue eyes in Rogue's direction. Soft and friendly. "You should not be afraid. We are your friends and your teammates. We wish to see you succeed."

"Y'all realize that if Ah use mah powers, yer comatose," Rogue said bluntly. Still, she followed Ororo to the elevator leading down.

"Temporarily incapacitated," Ororo corrected her. "That could leave you in the distinct advantage in a fight."

"Ah don't see how, Ororo. Ah feel like when Ah touch someone, Ah'm hurtin' them. That's not advantageous. That's cruel." Rogue didn't want to mention that even after contact, the memories stayed. Rogue could flip through Cody's entire childhood on demand. She could even conjure up some of Alison's personality points and adopt them as her own. She didn't have control over Alison's powers anymore, but the rest stayed well enough.

"Alison mentioned nothing to me about your conflict in the hall the other day," Ororo said. "If you had hurt her, I doubt she would have kept it to herself."

That gave Rogue pause. Ally did like to complain when things weren't perfect for her.

The elevator door opened to an expectant Kurt. He broke out into a smile. "I'm glad you came, Rogue!"

Rogue grumbled incoherently. "Yer sure about this, Kurt?" she asked.

He nodded. "As I'll ever be. We want to help you, Liebchen. You can't hesitate on the field. If you know the limits to your powers, you'll feel more confident in yourself." He turned and walked toward the Danger Room.

"Another simulation?" Rogue asked.

"No," Ororo answered. "The Danger Room will be off."

"We want a secure place for you to practice," Kurt explained.

"Practice?" Rogue echoed.

"Ja. Being me!"

Rogue groaned inwardly.

"I will be around in case you need help," Ororo said.

The door to the Danger Room opened, admitting the three of them.

"Why would Ah need help?"

Kurt shrugged. "It's not easy being me." A joke? He turned to face her, his arms out and open. "Ready to try?"

Rogue felt a mounting panic, looking between Ororo and Kurt. "Yer serious?"

"Ja, sehr," Kurt said. He reached out, grabbed her hand with both of his. "It's not going to be as bad as you think. Versprochen."

Rogue looked away and took a deep breath. "Okay. Let's do this, then." She took her hand away solely to pull the glove off. Holding the extra glove in her still gloved hand, she tentatively reached her hand out to Kurt. She held his hand, feeling his surprisingly soft fur on his fingers, holding on for a few seconds. He went down, but Rogue caught him before he fell completely. Granted, she didn't do a fantastic job at catching him, as he outweighed her, but at least she tried.

It took Rogue a moment to realize touching him didn't create an instantaneous fight in her head. She straightened up and regarded Ororo curiously. "Ah'm not losin' control," she observed.

Ororo nodded. "That is good. Now try learning his power."

Kurt's memories didn't bombard Rogue's conscious, but she could recall relevant information that was at the forefront of his thoughts with ease. Kurt teleported. With just a thought, a little concentration, she did her best impression of Nightcrawler. She crossed the room within a moment. The energy drain was startling. When Kurt teleported, it wasn't the most pleasurable feeling. She felt temporarily squeezed, as well as wrenched from the place she stood to get to the new space. It created a slightly nauseating feeling in the pit of her stomach. Not unbearable, but noteworthy. The accompanying stench of sulfur and brimstone didn't help the uneasiness.

It took Ororo a moment to catch up to Rogue's new position. "Good job!" she praised.

"Yeah," Rogue agreed uneasily. She concentrated again, returned to Ororo's side. The nausea didn't increase any, but her energy levels dropped rather sharply. Teleporting was tiring! Still, Kurt's consciousness didn't fight her. His powers didn't backlash. She had conscious power over his mind.