[Exceptive: Making or being an exception]

Wally opened the door. "You had better be here for a really good reason," he said tightly.

Gambit fingered a card. "Both of ya in dere?"

"What's it to you?" Wally said.

Shine came and pulled his arm. "Wally, relax, he's here to help."

"What?" Wally said.

"How did you know dat?" Gambit seemed annoyed he hadn't gotten to explain himself.

"Why else would you follow us?" Shine said. "But...how did you follow us?"

"Well, Gambit get lucky," Gambit said. "I see dis guy dress like a Spider outside and I threw a card at him. Den I ask if these two crazy people had talked to him. Then he ask me if I an X-men, and I say I am. Then he hung me upside down, and I had to explain whole story...den he said to come here."

Shine snorted.

"But why would you help?" Wally asked.

"Well, I figure da two of you may be a lot of things, but you ain't guilty," Gambit flicked his card. "And if you ain't, den who is? Someone causin' troubles for us. And I figure, best person to ask is person who get framed. So.. what enemies you make?"

"Other than you--" Wally began.

Shine elbowed him.

"I'm actually glad you asked," she said. "Because I've been thinking the same thing."

"So we're just going with this?" Wally said.

"Well, we didn't have a guy who explodes things on our roster," Shine said. "And I do miss it, you know, after our last mission. Are we in a position to turn down help?"

"And we're sure this is really him?" Wally said.

Gambit made a card explode.

"I'm sure," Shine said.

"Let's start with dat," Gambit said. "You sure dat wasn't Wolverine?"

"I'm sure," Shine said. "And I think also the Professor was not himself, less sure about him though he's always been a little hard to read for me. These professor types are always in their own head."

"Funny 'cause he's usually in other people's." Wally said.

"You think it Morph?" Gabmit said. "But, dere's two."

"Yes," Shine said. "Two." She pulled a pen and paper out of her bag. "I only know of three shapeshifters it...Ape wouldn't be involved."

"You don't waste any time," Gambit noted. "But da only other shapeshifter I know of is--"

"Mystique," Shine said. "The one who framed you." 

Silence.

"Stop dat." Gambit said.

"This is her process." Wally began to enjoy this. "Try to keep up, Gumbo."

He got a glare in response.

Just then, Gambit's communicator buzzed.

"Gambit?" It was Rogue, "Where are ya? We've gotta talk."

"Before you answer that," Shine held up her pen. "I wouldn't. Wolverine has been captured. His communicator is probably compromised, and that could be anyone. I thought about it more, and assuming they went missing yesterday, whoever spoke to Rogue couldn't have been them, or if it was, it was under duress."

"So what? Just ignore it? What if it's important?" Gambit said.

"She can say it, then," Shine said. "If it's a trick, and you answer, we're in big trouble."

Gambit didn't like it, but unfortunately she had a point.

"Gambit?" Rogue tried again. "Durn you! Answer!"

"That does sound like the real Rogue," Wally admitted.

"Wait," Shine said.

Rogue spoke again. "If you're not answering because you don't want us to know where you went, this is not the time! We got trouble. Kurt sniffed out the rat around here... I'm not sure I should say any more in case someone else is around. But just get your tail back here! Or meet us in the city. We've got to find them!"

"Now do I answer?" Gambit said.

"All right," Shine gave in. "But don't say where we are, just in case."

Gambit pressed his button. "Chere?"

"Oh, there you are! Where did you go?!" Rogue went to angry real fast.

"Long story. Who da rat?"

"You ain't gonna like it, but it's Morph," Rogue said. "And...someone else, an old friend...Mystique."

"Two for two, Shine," Wally said, giving her a thumbs up.

"Oh no." Shine slapped her forehead.

"And how did da preacher find dis out?" Gambit was curious.

"I don't know how, but Mom--I mean, Mystique broke down and came clean. Kurt sure has a way with making people confess. Must be the catholic thing."

"Hey, he should become a priest," Wally joked.

Shine kicked him.

"Mystique told us that Creed is the one who blackmailed her," Rogue said, "and Morph. He's got Logan and Xavier both. If they're alive, we dunno where they are. We looked the one place, and they weren't there--could be anywhere. So we have to find the other two instead. Maybe he went after them. They've been chipped."

"What?" Shine yelped.

"Chipped?" Gambit asked.

"One of their bags, she said," Rogue said.

Shine dumped her bag on the floor, and Wally started looking through his really fast.

Shine suddenly found a smaller device, but not nearly as small as in the future time's when she'd been chipped, and held it up.

"This tech is so ancient," she said. "I hope it's not a bug too, or we're really dead."

"She sure sang," Gambit couldn't help but say.

"She wouldn't say any more," Rogue said. "Now where are you?"

"Well, you not gonna believe dis--" Gambit said.

Shine shot him a look.

"--but I'm already in da city, jus' a different part," Gambit said instead. "I jus' keep lookin' on my own."

"That's not safe," Rogue said. "We all need to regroup."

"Can't talk now," Gambit said.

"What? Don't you dare hang up on me--"

But Gambit hung up, so to speak.

"Now what?" he said.

"Creed." Shine glared at the chip. "Of course...he was on my list of suspects... Actually, I didn't have that many more suspects. My only other thought was someone we hadn't met but wanted to screw with the X-men anyway."

She shook her head. "I never should have provoked him."

"Ah, it's not your fault." Wally felt much better having a target. "Now how about we go find him, and I can punch him?"

"No, no," Shine said. "He'll use them as leverage if we do something that predictable. If I know Creed--" She stood up. "--he'll keep them alive just long enough to lure the other X-men to find them--and us... Well, Wally, we may rejoice. We've been cleared without having to do anything."

"I'm still mad," Wally said, "but I'll feel a lot better after we catch this guy... So what's the plan, Captain?"

Shine smirked. "First, let's get out of here before we lead him to it. I hear Central Park is a nice place to get lost in. And then we have to find our friend. He can't be far."

"Actually, I'm here." Spiderman stuck his head in from the window. "I heard trouble. Someone blow something up in here?"

Gambit's jaw dropped.

"Oh, yeah, we took your advice," Wally couldn't resist saying real smugly.

"Oh, hi again," Spiderman said. "See? I was serious. They were here."

"Here I thought dat was a joke," Gambit said saltily.

"Spiderman," Shine said, "we've been wired." She held up the chip. "You think you could figure out if this is a bug or just a tracking chip for me?"

"Let me see." Spiderman took it.

"It's not too different from the ones I use," he said after a moment. "I'd say it's just a chip."

"Then we can use it," Shine said smugly. "Can we go for a walk in the park?"

"I'd more of go for a swing, but sure," Spiderman said. "I do love a good mystery..."

* * *

"Did he say where?" Storm asked Rogue.

"No, 'cause that would have been too helpful!" Rogue was still in a dander.

"Did he say why he left?" Jean asked.

"No!" Rogue said.

"You sure we should have left those two alone?" Hank asked Scott. "If they break out, they could do anything."

"They couldn't get out of that room," Scott said. "It only opens from the outside unless you have a special wristband. I couldn't risk them turning on us because of leverage."

"I just feel so awful," Rogue said to Storm in a lower voice. "We tossed them to the wolves."

"We didn't know," Storm said, but she felt just as bad, "or that our friends were missing."

"I'm sure they're okay," Rogue said. "I mean, Wolverine could survive anything, and the Professor's smart."

"Indeed," Jean said. "I am only ashamed I could not tell it was not them."

"But the device hurting you prevented it," Storm said. "It was not your fault."

"How did they time that?" Jean said. "Morph swore he didn't know it would hurt me when it went off."

"Perhaps Creed is smarter than we thought," Storm said.

"This kind of plan really don't seem like him," Rogue said. "Too tricky."

* * *

Mystique and Morph had both been locked in one of the holding rooms. Scott didn't trust them, and no one else did either. 

Mystique had asked to be locked in a room alone, and Scott had declined this wish, mostly because only one of the rooms had nothing in it to toy around with, and that was this one.

It was pretty dark in there still. Only a few backup lights were back on. And it was cold, then stuffy.

Morph spent most of his time muttering to himself about how he'd betrayed his friends.

Mystique found it grating. She just wanted out.

* * *

Central Park was quite lovely. 

"Just like in Echanted," Shine said. 

"In what?" Spiderman said.

"It hasn't been made yet," Shine said, "but it's a great movie."

Spiderman gave her an odd look. "You never said that you were from the future, lady."

"It's a remarkable blessing that you were from the past," Shine said. "Spiderverse was in my time, but you seem to be a little further back...or it's not consistent. Which is more likely, if you didn't remember me..."

"Or," Wally said, "our little adventure was outside of time because we hit so many different places, so his time is irrelevant."

"What?" Shine said.

"What?" Spiderman said.

"Can we focus?" Gambit said crossly. "Now dat we here, what are we doing?"

"We're waiting for Creed to find us," Shine said. "We make him come to us, obviously. Then your friends will catch up to us, and we can find out where Logan and Xavier are, or we can go get them once Creed is not a problem." She tugged her hair. "Only problem is if he has backup. With Mystique out of the way, I don't know if he does, but if he promised the FOH a crack at the X-men, he might. Our biggest problem is that he now knows where that house is."

"So we're dead," Wally said.

"No," Shine said. "I think I miscalculated before. I thought Creed would go there, but now I see, he's far too scared of mutants to actually go to that house, where you'd have the advantage. He could send other people there, but he may not wish to risk it being a bust. Luring you to him is his normal MO--and his comfort zone."

"Okay," Spiderman said. "He's a coward, got it. And he won't be expecting me." He gave him a thumbs up. "So that's where we nab him."

"Exactly," Shine said. "And we're counting on you, Spiderman, to take whoever comes off guard...so get out of sight. Why is your costume so easy to spot, dang it? If you wore green, you could blend into the trees.

"I'll just try to look like a kite. It's Central Park." Spiderman swung up into some trees.

"You go try to look like a tourist," Shine shooed Gambit. "We have to be alone, or look alone, when he shows up, or this will never work. You can blend in sort of, so act like you don't know us. Shouldn't be too hard. You've been practicing it for weeks."

That jab didn't go over so well. But there was no real answer for it.

"Gambit can't imagine why," was his best attempt.

"Is it weird that him being here is the hardest thing for me to accept today?" Wally said.

"Let's just not kick a gift horse," Shine said. "We had better try to act dumb and unsuspecting."

https://youtu.be/Nym5stAJAt8

[Rescue Me-- One Republic]

Shine stuck the tracking chip in a tree, and then they began to just sort of walk around one of the large fountains.

But after a while, it seemed like nothing had happened.

"Maybe he's too chicken," Wally said.

Shine put her hands together. "Okay...here's what we have to do," she said. "One of us will have to go look for Logan and Xavier, and one will have to stay here as bait."

"What? No way!" Wally said. "We're in this together."

"Together but independent, hon," Shine said. "If we don't, it might be too late. Plus if one of us distracts them, they wouldn't think the other would have gone off. We could get the drop on them. Once the other X-men find us, it will be easier to split up. But I'm afraid we're pushing our luck by not going after the two prisoners now."

"Okay, so I go after them," Wally said.

Shine shook her head. "I can find them better, faster, with my gift, and a woman is going to raise less alarm if she's seen walking around."

"And be more of a target," Wally said.

"I'll deal," Shine said. "I can call in Jubilee and Kurt for backup once I find the spot."

"You can't go alone," Wally said. "If I have to be bait, you take one of the others with you."

Shine turned.

Then she motioned Spiderman and Gambit over.

After repeating her idea to them, she said, "Gambit, can you? I'm sure you want to find them anyway."

Gambit did, but why would she ask him?

"You want Gambit to come wid you?" he said.

"Yeah, not who I thought you'd say either," Wally said.

"I think being bait is kind of dangerous," Shine said. "I want good backup here. Spiderman is our secret weapon one no one will be ready for. And bonus, if they have anything that can stop mutation, it will be useless against him and you, babe. It makes the most sense."

"Dang, she's good," Spiderman said. "I'm game for it. Spinning a web for a trap is kind of up my alley."

"I guess it makes sense," Wally said.

"And think, more numbers are likely to show up here, if he has backup," Shine added. "You are much better at fighting groups than I am."

"All right, fine, you win," Wally said. "But just...be really, really careful."

He frowned at Gambit. "And whether you like her or not, you'd better have her back."

"Hey, it go da other way too," Gambit said.

"I'll try to protect you," Shine said saucily.

"But, Shine, aren't you going to have to...you know?" Wally said.

"I think it wasn't going to be avoidable," Shine said. "But I'm fairly certain he's not gonna tell anyone else. And now that this is settled, we're wasting time." She kissed Wally, then she motioned to Gambit. "Let's move it, Cajun. Losing daylight."

She walked off.

"Don't boss Gambit around," he grumbled, following.

"Talk about a disaster duo," Wally said.

"Yeah, I don't really get him." Spiderman was hanging upside down. "So, what do you want to do while we're waiting? Charades?"

"Well, unless you have a robot game, I don't really know," Wally said.

"The only robots I sense are...those." Spiderman suddenly bounded up. 

Wally looked.

Some big, very 80s looking metal robots were flying over the park.

"Shine, you'd better get mister Frenchman out of here fast," he muttered.

* * *

Shine saw the robots too.

"Ah, no!" she said.

"Sentinels." Gambit tried to get her to get down, but she shoved him away. "Don't touch me!"

"Gambit was trying to--"

"No, I mean don't." Shine's eyes suddenly lit up gold. "You'll get in the way. I have to focus."

"What...?" Gambit frowned.

Shine looked around more.

The Sentinels were coming this way.

"I thought they said they were gone," Shine said.

"Dere always a few holed up somewhere," was his helpful tip.

"Ugh! Supervillains!" Shine muttered. Then she held out her hand. "Well, nothing for it now."

A doorway of light opened to their side, out of sight of most people.

"What's dat?" Gambit asked.

"A mystic doorway that can bend space and time," Shine said. "Think of it as a fancy shortcut to anywhere on the globe, including where Logan and Xavier are, thank goodness. They're alive! Now get in there."

"What? You get in," Gambit said.

"I can't. If I go, it will shut. You have to go first," Shine said. "But if you want to stay here and fight those things one-handed, go ahead. I can only keep it open for about 20 seconds, maybe 30 if I strain."

She winced.

Gambit had two options and liked neither, but he had to risk it. He warily jumped into the doorway.

Shine followed.

The other end shot them out into what looked like an old train tunnel.

Gambit hit the wall because he'd jumped a little too hard.

Shine landed on her feet smoothly.

"How did you do dat?" Gambit asked, as the door clicked shut.

Shine looked around, eyes gleaming again. "A gift."

"What, some machine you got?" Gambit said.

Shine laughed. "Nope. I'll explain later, okay? Logan is close... One problem, I can't find more than one person at the same time. Unless they were right next to each other. We'd better tread carefully. I doubt this place is really stable."

She looked behind them. There were some lights along the wall, but up ahead, it was pretty dark.

"I guess I'll need a light," she said. "All my tricks on one day, so anticlimactic."

She pulled her sword out of midair.

Three powers in succession was just too much for Gambit.

"You a mutant!" he said.

"No, I'm not," Shine said. Her sword lit up. "All my power comes from this, you could say. Please, keep your head. I didn't bring you so you could freak out. You're here because Wally wouldn't let me go alone. Keep quiet."

She started walking.

Her annoyance with him at least served to make him try harder to get a grip.

But of course...he couldn't help but replay the last 3-4 weeks and wonder how many times she could have...

"You had dat da whole time?"

"I never leave home without it." Shine sounded like she was being coy, but also serious.

"And you never say nothin'."

"The way you're reacting, I'll stand by that decision," Shine said. "Focus. Logan, Xavier? Remember?"

"I will, but you are explaining dis later," Gambit warned.

He had a few cards ready to go.

Shine led the way as the tunnel turned into a more run-down one. It had been abandoned ages ago, from the look of it. Some rats skittered away from the light.

Shine made a face. "This reminds me of Orochimaru's lairs... I better not see a snake."

"Gambit jus' gonna ignore dat one," Gambit said.

Shine suddenly stopped. "There." She pointed to a part of the wall. "That's fake, like a screen or something, I think."

"Right," Gambit said.

Shine used her sword to cut through it.

On the other side, she found a FOH symbol sprayed on one wall.

"Bingo," she muttered. "Now, where are they holding you...?"

Gambit took a look at it--and got a few more cards ready.

"Before we go in," Shine said quietly, "I'm going to call in Jubilee and Kurt. I think there won't be many people in there, but four of us ought to be a good amount to handle them and also rescue the guys."

"Fine." Gambit didn't object to backup.

Shine backed up and made another doorway. "Come on, Kurt, understand," she said.

* * *

The X-men were just flying over the city, and nearing Central Park, where Jean's best guess at Gambit's location had been, when she announced that he seemed to be gone.

"Or I'm too tired to pinpoint him..." she said.

"The plane isn't picking him up either," Hank said. "Or...no, there he is, but he's...miles away. How is this possible?"

Jubilee looked at Kurt.

Then she hissed, "He found them."

Kurt nodded.

"Peculiar," Storm said. "But what could it mean? Should we head that way?"

"I don't know," Hank said. "Perhaps there is someone like Kurt down there."

He wan't too far off. Guess you had to be pretty smart to be a doctor/inventor.

Suddenly a purple rectangle flashed in the wall of the plane next to Kurt.

"Is time!" he said. "Are you coming?"

"What is that?" Rogue said, jumping back.

"What?" Scott and Jean turned to look back.

Jubilee got out of her seat and dived into the door before they could stop her.

"Jubilee!" Storm dove after her before anyone could stop her.

"Don't!" Kurt tried to go after and stop her, but he just went through.

"Kurt!" Rogue went after him.

Then the door vanished.

 A few seconds later, Hank said, "All their communicators just appeared in the same area as Gambit's."

"That settles it. Go that way, now!" Scott said.

"I'm adjusting as we speak..." Hank was bit annoyed.

* * *

Seeing four people wasn't what Shine expected.

"Ew, why's it so dark and musty?" Jubilee cried.

"Shh!" Shine warned.

"What? Miss Likstar?" Storm was stunned.

"Gambit!" Rogue saw him. She angrily flew at him and fake swatted at him. "This is where you are! You didn't tell us!"

"Now don't be mad, Chere." Gambit ducked. "Gambit not know if it you or a copy, had to be careful."

Rogue stopped. "Oh...I never even thought of that..."

She turned to Shine. "Are...you okay?" Really embarrassed.

Leave it to Shine--she didn't look uncomfortable at all.

"I'm fine," she said. "I think I've found Logan. All of you weren't supposed to come, but 6 are better than 4 if you can be quiet. The FOH are behind this." She pointed at the symbol.

"We had figured..." Storm said, also awkwardly.

"So this is good, right?" Jubilee made a fist. "We can rescue them, and it'll all be fine."

"Ja, I'm glad," Kurt said. "How did you track...? I mean, vith..." He glanced at Gambit.

"Yes, he knows," Shine said. "And, no, I'm not going to explain."

"Explain what?" Rogue asked.

"Nevermind." Gambit surprisingly backed Shine up. "We better hurry before dey catch on."

"I suppose," Storm said.

"Anyone have a light?" Shine asked. Her sword was gone.

Storm lit her hands up again. "It's so dark...and narrow..." She glanced uneasily at the small tunnel.

"You gonna be okay, Sugar?" Rogue asked.

"Of course... It's just a tunnel." Storm tried to sound brave.

She walked in.

"I forgot about that," Shine said. "But I wasn't planning on her being here... I'm sorry."

"Nah, she'll handle it," Rogue said. "Actually you might be the one in danger. You should probably stay back."

"Let her come." Gambit had no intention of not seeing Shine apply herself now. "She be fine."

Rogue gave him a puzzled look.

"Did...somethin' happen while you were gone?"

"Spiderman's helping Wally act as bait," Shine said. "In Central Park."

"Get out! We were right over that," Jubilee said.

"They'll follow us here," Rogue realized. "Oh, shoot, hang on--" She was about to press her communicator when Shine grabbed her arm.

"Don't," she said. "There's a good chance Creed or whoever is helping him has been spying on those transmissions. You can't just say whatever. Make sure you say Central Park is where you are, and do no mention that you're not there anymore. Got it?"

Rogue swallowed. "Right...got it..." She pressed the button.

"Hank...yeah, just land in the park. We'll be there. I think we found 'em."

"You're sure?" Hank replied. "Because the scouter says--"

"It's wonky," Rogue interrupted. "Just do as I say, all right? You'll find us by--"

"The big fountain," Shine said.

"The big fountain," Rogue said.

"All right, be there in about a minute," Hank said.

Rogue hung up.

"Miss Likstar, I hate to ask, but...are you some kind of former spy?"

"I'm trope savvy." Shine was cryptic. "And I got a lot of training in subterfuge while I was with the ninjas, sort of by osmosis... You never look at a wall the same way again."

"A wall?"

"Could be fake." Shine shrugged.

"Dat would explain de why, but not de how," Gambit muttered.

Rogue knew she was still missing something but didn't bother to ask again.

Storm was still nervously leading the way.

They were following her, but going slower. It was hard to see.

The tunnel seemed to have been for maintenance, not travel. Some signs of tools and whatnot were along the edge, but the FOH had made it into a makeshift meeting area, clearly only meant to hold hostages; it would be too suspicious to meet in it for their rallies.

It took a while to even go a short way thanks to how much rubble was lying around.

"I guess there was a cave-in," Shine said. "Must be why it was abandoned."

"Shh," Jubilee hissed.

Storm muttered something about spaces...

"She should go back--" Shine began.

Suddenly someone jumped out at her and yanked her into the wall.

The others all turned to attack--but it was...

"Ah, there you are," Shine said.

Logan looked stunned and pulled his claws away from her throat.

"Likstar...what are you doin' down here?"

"Logan!" Storm sounded relieved. "You're free?"

"Storm? Why are all of you here? this place isn't stable," Logan hissed. "Creed said they were going to rig it with explosives, and if any of you found us, they'd blow the whole thing."

Everyone gasped.

But Shine immediately recovered.

"In that case, we'd best find Xavier right away, so I can get him out of here. In fact, I'll do it. The rest of you, go."

"Are you crazy. You can't carry him!" Rogue said.

Shine smiled oddly. "I can get him, Rogue."

"We are not leaving you here alone," Storm said, grabbing her by the arm. "We must all think of a plan."

"I was going to dismantle the explosives," Logan said, "but I haven't sniffed 'em out yet. They might be up top. The Professor's here, but it's hard over the other smells to figure out where. You should get out while ya can."

"No can do," Rogue insisted. "Jubilee should. Kurt..."

"I think I can find the Professor," Kurt said.

Shine was eyeing the walls.

"There." She pointed at the end of the tunnel. "Behind that wall. Follow me, Kurt."

She jerked out of Storm's grasp and dashed down there, hopping over rubble along the way.

Kurt poofed after her.

The others were about to follow, but then a flashlight shone at them from the other end.

"Mutants!" someone yelled. "The X-men! They came! Give the signal."

"Oh no..." Shine turned. "Did I just do this?"

"No time," Kurt said. "Get Xavier. I get them out of here!" He poofed and grabbed Jubilee and poofed her out.

"Not a cave-in!" Storm's tone was terrified.

Rogue tried to help, but Storm was not listening to her anymore.

"We gotta get out of here." Rogue tried to fly her down the tunnel, but winds were picking up in response to Storm's panic.

"Nevermind, just get the Cajun out of here," Logan said.

Rogue was upset, but she did as he said.

Shine had portalled to Xavier while no one was paying attention.

He was without his chair and sitting in a corner. He looked a bit roughed up.

He wasn't conscious though.

Shine figured this was better for her anyway. She took his arm and made another portal.

She came out several feet down from where the others were dashing out of the tunnel.

"How did you...?" Rogue turned and saw her. "You beat us out here?-- Professor!"

"I think he's all right." Shine couldn't hold him up.

Rogue came and picked him up. "We have to go, but Storm and Logan are still in there."

"Would Logan leave her in there?" Jubilee asked.

"No, he won't," Shine said. "He'd get buried first... He might survive it, too, but she won't." She dashed back into the tunnel.

"Hey!" The people who'd yelled at them were in the tunnel. They had guns. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Jubilee and Gambit zapped them.

"I could have gotten them," Kurt said. "But I think I should get all of you out. Come." He took Jubilee and poofed outside the tunnel.

The sound of a loud bang! came from above.

"That was the explosion!" Rogue said. "Oh, no you don't!" She started to fly back in.

"Don't!" Gambit warned her. "It too late!"

* * *

Storm's panic got worse when she heard the sound of breaking rock.

Logan's attempts to drag her out were not working.

Angrily, he tried to clear some of the rubble away.

Shine reappeared in the hallway. 

"Are you crazy?" Logan said.

Shine felt tired. She'd portalled 4 times today... She might be able to do 2 or 3 more. But she might pass out if she did that.

"You need to stand close to her," she called. "Come toward me, hurry."

The ceiling overhead started to shake.

Logan managed to yank Storm closer. She was still moaning.

Shine focused--but then she suddenly felt like Rogue was coming closer...

She looked over.

Rogue was indeed trying to get to them.

Oh no! Shine thought. I can't make two like that...

Better to send Storm first.

She moved aside and put the portal underneath them.

Logan couldn't even really see what it was with all the dust flying around--he just knew he suddenly plunged to what felt like the center of the earth, and then he was outside.

Storm's head cleared as she saw light.

"What...just happened?" She sat up, shaking.

"I have no idea," Logan said.

Shine raced at Rogue.

The ceiling began to fall in over them. Rogue managed to catch part of it.

"Run!" she yelled.

"No, you need to run!" Shine actually wasn't sure what would happen if she didn't get them out of there, real fast.

She was just missed by another piece of tile and rock--and got to Rogue, who was starting to buckle under the wait.

"When I say now, throw it as hard as you can!" Shine said.

"What?"

"Just do it!"

Rogue grunted with effort.

"Now!" Shine opened the doorway under them.

Rogue threw it just enough so that it didn't come plummeting down after them, except for a few pieces.

They fell out onto the pavement outside the tunnel.

Kurt had grabbed Gambit in time to get him out, but they'd all assumed the two girls were crushed.

"Rogue!" Gambit cried.

Rogue blinked as a few pieces of rock fell into her lap. "What...? It happened again..."

Shine held her head. "Too much," she said. The world was spinning. She slumped over.

"Did she hit her head?" Jubilee asked.

"I think she's just exhausted," Kurt said. "I once passed out after I teleported too much in one day."

"She can teleport?" Logan said.

"It's out of the bag now," Jubilee said to Kurt.

"I vill not explain anything vithout her permission," Kurt said.

"I'm sorry, but does she have powers?" Storm said.

"Friends." Kurt pointed. "we still have company."

He had rescued the FOH members who'd been unconscious, and there appeared to be several more standing outside the tunnel, not looking happy that their prey had escaped being crushed.

https://youtu.be/tQwVKr8rCYw

["Surface Pressure"- Jessica Darrow, Encanto. I just thought this song fit too well with the scene.]