Running from the Past

Chapter One: Bad Day's Training

Hey, everyone, I came up with a new story idea set in X-Men Evolution. This was takes place after the events of Self-Possessed. It will about 14 chapters and I already have it outlined. So, I hope you enjoy.

It had been several weeks since Rogue had recovered from the incident where her powers raged out of control and she almost died. She was getting back to her old self or so everyone thought. Today would be her first official training session since the incident and she was nervous and was physically better but she still didn't feel fine mentally. She did manage to hide it well enough, but if the professor knew her true feelings he didn't say anything.

She changed into her uniform although she procrastinated and normally was the first to take on the dangers of the outside obstacle course, but today her heart just wasn't in it. She was doing her best to get herself together because it was Logan who was instructing, and he never cut anyone any slack especially her, seeing that she was his star pupil. While the others relied on their powers to get out of a situation, Rogue preferred good old fashion combat skills. Logan always told her that she couldn't always rely on her powers to get out of trouble. Sometimes a punch to the face would do it.

After the incident where her power raged out of control, though traumatizing, it did show her what she was actually capable of. She just wished she hadn't learned certain things about her family tree. Although she didn't mind Kurt being her brother, she hated the fact that Mystique was her mother, not after all the horrible things that woman had done to her over the last two years.

One thing she was glad about was having a family in the X-Men. Things at the mansion got a little crazy sometimes, but she got along with most everyone. After putting on her boots she slowly opened the door to her room and walked into the hallway. Kitty had already gotten ready and was gone before Rogue even got herself out of bed. She stayed under her covers until the very last moment until there was no choice but for her to get up and get ready for the day.

"No time like the present," she said to herself right before the elevator opened.

Right when she entered she saw Jean running towards the elevator and held the button to stop the doors from closing.

"Thanks, Rogue," Jean said, stepping into the elevator. "We're so glad you're back." Jean smiled at her, but Rogue felt awkward not wanting to talk about her not so little breakdown.

"It's just to get back t'trainin'," Rogue said trying to act confident, but by the expression on Jean's face told her she might not be buying it. She just hoped Jean was reading her mind again. Last time she did it, Rogue wasn't happy about it, but it wasn't really Jean's fault. That was the time she lost control.

"Then you're okay now?" Jean asked, but Rogue didn't want to discuss it.

"Ah'm fine," Rogue said, but in truth she was lying.

Even though the elevator ride lasted all of a few minutes, it seemed to last forever. Rogue felt uneasy about being in close quarters with Jean. She didn't want to be around most telepaths, especially one who might find out she had a crash on her boyfriend. She didn't want Jean finding out about that.

Finally, they reached the lower level so she could get out of that little metal box. They both entered the briefing room adjacent to the danger room to find out about the morning's training exercise.

Logan was heading the session and waited until all his students were in attendance before starting the briefing. Rogue was only half listening as Logan spoke, but this was a standard rescue mission with Kurt being the victim. Trapped into a power dampening cage the team had to work their way across the course to reach Kurt before the timer hit zero.

The four young X-Men consisting of Jean, Kitty, Evan and, of course, Rogue took their positions in the danger room as Logan started the program. The started at five minutes. This would be the longest five minutes of the day. Jean served as team leader in this session, so she gave the commands that Rogue only half heard.

She did her best to avoid the traps but one blast barely missed her and Evan put it out of commission with one of his spikes. Kitty did well, taking out two being able to get close enough to short them out by phasing through it.

The clock read just under three minutes and they were even half way across the room. Six guard holograms appeared and this is the moment Rogue should have shined and did dodged several shot and was able to do a kick to knock one of the guns out of one the guards hands, but the gun went off as it crashed onto the ground and hit Kitty. It was only set for stun, but she was out of the game.

Rogue continued on with the help of Jean who levitated the rest of the weapons and put them out of commission. Rogue dropped kicked two more the guards with only one remaining. The last one stood over her and changed form, turning into Mystique. Rogue froze after that not being able to move. Evan hit her with a Spike while Rogue just lay on the ground.

The timer again hit just under one minute and time was running low. Jean saw the cage Nightcrawler was in and hit it with a psionic blast but the shield wall appeared and redirected the blast onto her. She cried out in pain as the timer ran out. The only X-Men left standing was Evan as the program ended and they all left in an empty room.

"You failed," Logan's voice came over the com. "So you all will have to do it over again tomorrow."

Groans came from three of the young X-Men while Rogue just sat there ashamed of herself for her failure. As they all left the danger room Logan approached Rogue who was looking like she wanted to kick herself for freezing up like that.

"Can we talk?" Logan asked and looked despairingly at him. She wanted to say no, but how could she.

"Ah screwed up today," she said in a sullen voice. "Seein' Mystique in the hologram did somethin' to me."

"Sorry that happened, kid. I didn't know about that when we started, but there's somethin' else. You didn't seem focused, not like you usually do."

"Sorry, ah guess my first day back and ah..."

"Somethin's bothering you, and I need you to tell me what it is," he said but she turned away.

"It's nothing," she said, looking towards him. "Ah'm just a little rusty is all."

"Are you sure that's all it is?" he asked but Rogue sensed he knew she was hiding something.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Logan," she said and walked off.

This ends the first chapter, but there is more to come. Please vote and comment and let me know what you think.