Juggernaut would likely have killed all of the X-men fighting him, if they had not been able to dodge and, then, if he had been able to see them.

But they couldn't dodge forever.

Rogue attempted to punch a hole in the wall, trying to find a way out of the dungeon-esque room.

But she was only finding more dirt. This was not the right part of this lair.

Scott tried to keep Juggernaut distracted. Jean tried to yank his helmet off with her mind...but though it was looser than before, she couldn't see it well enough to aim right.

It would have been bad, but Shine found the room in the nick of time and used her sword to light it up.

No one knew she could do that yet, and the brilliant, gold-ish light stunned them.

It also distracted Juggernaut, luckily, or they'd have been toast.

"Eh, you again? You're supposed to be locked up," he called at Shine.

Shine looked a little out of breath, but she came closer anyway.

For all she was tired, she walked a like a queen to her throne, and Scott found it annoying almost that she was not afraid.

Rogue figured Shine was probably actually afraid but unwilling to show it to Juggernaut... If only it was so easy for Rogue to hide it. She was starting to panic, and not just because of that.... She wasn't sure how long Ms. Marvel was going to keep quiet. Perhaps, at some level, the other woman knew that Rogue was in danger and that coming out now would only get both of them killed, so she was leaving her be. But how long would she be content to do that?

"Miss Likstar," Jean called, "stay away. We will defeat him."

Shine didn't pay her any mind.

"Cain," she spoke steadily enough, though tired, "what are you doing?"

What a question.

"Trying to destroy the X-men," Juggernaut replied, like she was dumb.

Xavier sat up from where some debris had pinned him under his chair. "Rogue," he said into her mind, "help me."

Rogue slowly moved that way. Jean looked over too and began to move things with her mind.

It was a wonder Xavier wasn't crushed, considering they hadn't seen what happened to him.

"Why?" Shine held Juggernaut's attention.

"Because I hate Xavier," Juggernaut said.

"Why?" Shine kept on.

"Because he's... I...I don't have to explain it to you," Juggernaut said. "He ruins everything, that's all."

"Do you know," Shine said, "that killing Xavier is not going to make your father love you any more?"

Juggernaut glared. "Don't talk about my father! How did you know about that? Did Xavier tell you?"

"Xavier has told me nothing about you," Shine said. "But I do know something of what it feels like to never be good enough for your father... I was never good enough for mine either. It's horrible, isn't it, Cain? It's not fair. Why should a sibling get preferential treatment? Especially over money. What a stupid reason, don't you agree?"

"Well, yeah..." Juggernaut was having a hard time keeping up with her.

"And is it stupid to blame someone for what someone else wanted?" Shine inquired. "Should I blame you in turn? Should you pay for what your father did? Should you pay for Xavier's mother dying?"

"What? That wasn't my fault," Juggernaut said.

"Yes...it wasn't," Shine said. "It wasn't his fault either."

"Of course it was! Anyway, I never liked him," Juggernaut said.

"Yes, well, that is not an excuse," Shine said. "You lost your mother, didn't you? He's lost his father. Now you both have lost both. Hasn't there been enough pain, Cain? Does there need to be more? You're already even. It's been 50 years or so. You have unimaginable power, can do whatever you please, and all that's making you miserable is this hatred you feel for your step brother? Is that all there is to give your life a purpose? Who is Cain, if he doesn't hate Xavier?"

"You're trying to confuse me," Juggernaut said.

"You're confused already," Shine said. "Why help Sinister? What does it get you? It's all hatred and nonsense, Cain. Adding more evil will never make your gift more acceptable to God. And killing the good brother never made the bad brother any more loved... In fact, God loved them both. He spared Cain's life after Cain killed Abel, just out of pity and compassion. Cain didn't repay that mercy very well. It was always Abel's fault, wasn't it? He shouldn't have been so good. Cain wouldn't have hated him so much. A pretty excuse for all of us who just can't earn our acceptance."

"Stop it!" Juggernaut took a step towards her. "I'll crush you like a little bug, you hear me? Like the annoying, pesky fly that you are."

"One more step my way and you can kiss that power good bye," Shine said. Her eyes gleamed suddenly. "I'm trying to offer you a way out, Cain. While you still have it. Take it or leave it. That stolen magic of yours will burn you out in the end, for what gives you life can also take it away. And you'll die. You can live in fear of that your whole life, or you can let it go. You can hate your whole life, or you can have joy. You can be rejected because of your evil, or you can be accepted because you repented. The choice is yours and only yours, and Xavier cannot keep you out of all the good things you would have if you reached out for them. And Xavier's absence will never make you able to take them. Is he in your way? Or are you in your way?"

"Stop trying to mix me up." Juggernaut looked upset. "I know what I want."

"You've never known what you wanted," Shine said. "That's clear as day. So what do you want? Cain, tell me."

Her voice was stronger now.

"She's crazy," Scott began. "He'll kill her in one swipe if he gets any closer. And she wants to have heart to heart chat? Now is not the time. She ought to use her summoning power and take the helmet right off his head--"

Gambit suddenly covered his mouth. "Will you shut your trap, Cyclops, before he remember we're here?"

Scott was shocked enough to be quiet.

"Once they held your life in their hands, and they gave it back to you," Shine went on, steady. "That's what God does every single day. He did it with the first Cain, and he'll do it with you. But how you use that mercy, that's up to you. Keep pursuing evil and it'll catch up with you, and not a soul on this earth will be able to stop it."

She held out a hand, slowly.

"Or...you can stop, right now, before it's too late. It's at the door, isn't it? You feel it, the fear that all this will go away."

Juggernaut looked around uneasily.

Shine was nothing if not somewhat convincing when she spoke like this, and Juggernaut was not the most clever person. He had a weak mind, easily manipulated and ruled only by hatred most of the time.

But Shine emitted such an aura of both firmness and compassion in her words, that his bullheaded anger was having a hard time standing up to it.

Xavier himself was finding this hard not to take seriously--especially since he never thought Cain would listen this long to anyone.

Cain began to feel something like fear, like his power might slip away any moment, and he might be left here, at their mercy again.

But a voice told him not to let himself be deterred. He'd get what he came for.

"I don't have to listen to you!" he raged, making Rogue jump and Jean wince.

"You don't have to listen to anyone." Shine never acted shaken. She kept her gaze steady. "And that is your downfall."

Chilling.

Juggernaut's anger cooled... She seemed so certain... What did she know that he didn't? Always everyone was afraid of him. Even the X-men had been at their wit's end. Like most bullies, being told he was certainly doomed by someone who seemed to have no doubt of it scared him, as much as he'd try to hide it, and he was close to snapping.

Shine, as if she knew this, took one step forward, and he flinched. Yes, Juggernaut actually flinched like a scared child.

"Hey, leave me alone!" he cried. "Dragon lady! What'd I ever do to you, huh? I don't even mean to hurt ya. I was going for the other girl."

"I won't do anything to you, Cain, if you go now." Shine pointed. "Leave. Now. Before I lose my patience."

"All right, I ain't staying around here anyway," Juggernaut said, relief evident in his tone. "I don't even want to anymore. You've spoiled the fun of it with all this preaching. I can kill them some other time."

He ran literally through the wall, making several holes.... The others finally saw light at the other end of them.

They all turned to stare at Shine, who let out a long sigh.

"Well, that's over." She looked at them. "What?"

"Did you just...talk Juggernaut into leaving?" Xavier said blankly.

"Oh, please," Shine said. "That was easy." She flipped her sword like it was making her arm sore. "He's just a bully. I'm good with scaring bullies. They can't handle confidence at all. It was close for a second though. I sensed the resistant. Where's Wally?"

"Uhh...he was still keeping Sinister busy, that way..." Rogue pointed down to the other end of this room, where a lot of wrecked stuff from Juggernaut was obscuring their view of how the fight was going.

"I'm finding him, then," Shine said. "Logan and Storm went to find Morph and Mystique, so if they succeed, better group up, don't you think? So we can all leave."

She walked away, not that quickly.

The X-men looked at each other.

"Are we useless?" Hank asked.

"I'm startin' to think that gal could talk her way out of a firin' squad," Rogue said. "Sheesh, you all right, Professor?"

Xavier was less all right for what he'd just witnessed than for any injury. "I'm fine, Rogue... We must all get away from here."

"Does anyone else smell smoke?" Gambit suddenly said.

It was much darker now that Shine had moved, but Hank pulled a flashlight out of Xavier's chair; it had some secret compartments. He shone it up, and they saw some smoke hovering overhead.

Rogue coughed. "That don't seem like regular smoke."

"The unusual flora around here may not be wise to inhale," Hank said. "I think we had better take the exit Juggernaut has unexpectedly provided for us, once we retrieve our friends."

"I get them," Kurt announced. "I think I can."

"Kurt, take it easy," Rogue said. "You still ain't recovered from before--you said so yourself."

"But I must try. Ve need to get them quickly," Kurt said.

"Oh, keep yer shirt on, Preacher," Logan suddenly cut across their voices. "We're here, and we even got yer mom."

"Oh!" Kurt tried to see her but couldn't.

"There's an exit back there," Morph called.

"There's one in here too, Sugar," Rogue said. "Juggernaut made one."

"We should take that one, then. The fire's worse back there," Storm said. She coughed.

"All right, but we need the other two to even get out of here," Logan said. "Where are they?"

* * *

Wally had no problem with Sinister up until the lights went out...but then he had some trouble.

Sinister seemed to be able to still either see or sense him, but Wally ran into some roots, and then the vines caught him by his ankles and pinned him back.

Sinister took his sweet time finding a candle and lighting it, so he could gloat.

"I don't know what you are," he said, "a mutant or what, but I think I'd like to find out."

Wally wondered if this was how the girls felt.

"Maybe we should talk about this," he said.

Sinister was already recovering from being punched. He hissed. "About your impudence?"

"You know, I get that a lot," Wally said. "But I gotta say, you remind me of this really unholy combination between Vandel Savage and the Joker. Like if the Joker went to Walmart and bought a Halloween costume, on sale, he'd look like you."

"Are you comparing me to those inane villains in some comic book?" Sinister said. "Those pathetic, little imitations at superhuman stories, I detest them."

"You sure? Because you give me the vibe of a closet fan who reads them for inspiration but denies it to all his friends," Wally said.

"I do no such thing, you insolent fool!"

"I get that one a lot too," Wally said.

Sinister frowned. "So, are you also invulnerable? Or are you just fast?"

"I'm just fast. Invulnerable is the other guy," Wally said.

"Good, so if I set you on fire, it will hurt." Sinister came closer. "Or perhaps stick you with a pin...or cut you open."

"You could do that." Wally leaned away. "But I wouldn't recommend it."

"I've been hearing that for centuries. It's never stopped me," Sinister said.

"Did someone recommend a dental plan?" Wally asked.

Sinister snarled. "Perhaps I should cut out your tongue first."

"You know...shockingly, I've not heard that one," Wally said. "You'd think I would have in all this time. Heh, what are the odds?"

Come on guys, he was thinking, don't leave me hanging. You can't handle one overpowered idiot with a magic ruby? I'm dying over here!

Sinister seemed ready to make good on his threat. However, he was looking around for tools, and then he found some.

"They've destroyed my equipment, but I can still do something with these," he said. "Maybe just a few trims. I don't like to damage my specimens too much."

"How about not at all?" Wally didn't have Shine's gift for talking her way out of things, which he really regretted right now.

"How about you shut up?" Sinister said, pulling out some knives and shears and seeming to consider how to maim him. "Of course, I just need you to not be able to escape..."

Wally was trying to wiggle out of the plants even so, but they kept tightening every time he moved, like some kind of sick finger trap.

Sinister came closer.

"Any final words of freedom?" he said.

"How about you're dead?" someone said behind him.

Sinister suddenly gasped as a sword went through his torso.

Wally saw Shine behind him, her sword gleaming now brighter than the candle.

"Hey," she said.

Sinister fell over, hissing.

"What's his problem?" Wally said, with a straight face. "Your sword doesn't cut flesh."

"Yes, well, I imagine it's disrupted whatever power is holding his molecules together," Shine said distastefully. "Wally, really, what have I said about getting too hung up on small things in the middle of a fight?"

She cut through the plants.

Wally hugged her. "I'm working on it... Are you okay?"

"Aren't you going to thank me?" Shine said, in exactly the tone he would have used.

"Not fair," Wally said. "You just stole my line."

"You didn't say 'down, girl'. You were supposed to say that." Shine pouted. "Oh well, it won't work anyway. I'm not exactly glamorous right now."

"Like that's going to matter," Wally said. "I'm just glad you're okay. I'd kiss you, but this sick pervert is watching, so--" He punched Sinister who was trying to get back up. "Later."

"Later is good," Shine said. "I left the X-men. Juggernaut is gone... Whoa..." She swayed. "And so is the last of my endurance... I hate this place."

Wally picked her up. "Right. Well, hey, Sinister, it's been fun and all, but I think we'd better jet. We'll do it again sometime maybe. You bring your demon plants, and we'll bring some weed whackers, have a real ball."

"You are not getting away from me!" Sinister cried. "I will be revenged!"

He started to get up. Wally knocked him back over. "Some people never learn."

Shine looked down at Sinister with her eyes gleaming gold. "I think maybe you won't be bothering us again, actually. That little pseudo scientific serum you've got going? It's gonna die out. You're going to die...alone. And no one is going to remember you. Such is the fate of all people who sacrifice their humanity to strip other people of theirs."

"What? You little--" Sinister stumbled, but he seemed off, maybe from the blows, maybe from the sword.

Wally didn't give him the chance. He dashed Shine back to the X-men, who were on their way to find them.

"Sinister's down," he said. "So we blowing this popsicle stand or what?"

"I've never understood that phrase," Hank said.

"It's a reference to a nut job who wanted to use chemical warfare in popsicles," Shine said, "using radiation to brainwash people. But then all the popsicle stands got blown up by some cult apparently. Somehow it became a common phrase, I think to empathize the ridiculousness of such an idea. Kind of sick though."

"And you just made me regret every time I've ever said that," Wally said. "Who puts explosives in dessert? Geez."

"Dat's a weird thing to jus' know," Gambit said.

"I Googled it," Shine said.

"You what now?" Rogue asked.

"Perhaps if we could make our escape while we have the chance," Xavier said.

They all rushed outside, using Juggernaut's tunnel.

Outside, they found the Nasty Boys, and Vertigo, all waiting, wondering where Sinister was.

The lair seemed to be set in the middle of some woods; it looked like an old bunker, mostly overgrown. Could have been anywhere in the world.

"You guys got a plane?" Wally asked the Nasty Boys, like it was no big deal.

Vertigo glared at him. "I didn't appreciated the swim."

"I didn't appreciate the seasickness," Wally said. "No one's got it all, lady."

"I'll fix you--" Vertigo began.

Scott blasted at her, and she jumped back.

"Don't push us," Scott warned, sounding angry. "I've had enough for one day."

"I don't wanna agree with Cyclops, but yeah," Logan said. "How about we all just call this off till another time? You ain't got no lair anyway."

"And Sinister is down there, licking his wounds," Wally said. "Hopefully not literally."

"And Juggernaut has fled," Shine called, still being held. "So you've basically lost. We outnumber you."

Ruckus had regained consciousness. "I believe they may be right," he said.

"I don't want to walk away from this empty handed," Slab said. "I think we ought to get something out of it."

"Like what?" Hairbag said.

Slab frowned. "I have an idea. You hand over Mystique, and we'll leave you alone."

Mystique shrank back.

"Why her?" Scott said.

"We're tired of her switching sides," Ruckus said primly. "Who knows what she could tell you about us? I don't like it. Hand her over and we can all compromise."

Mystique's mouth fell open, but she didn't even protest; she was too shocked--or else, she thought it would do her no good to do so.

"Well, that seems fair." Scott was only too glad of an excuse to get rid of her.

"Scott," Jean hissed, "don't you think they might pump her for information about us?"

"No," Scott said. "Sinister knew where we were already. She can't tell them anything new. If they take care of it, it's better than waiting for someone else to find her. I see this as the best solution. We can't keep her at the house anymore."

"Now wait just a minute," Wally said. "Sure she's done something pretty messed up, but what if they just off her?"

"Well, it's none of our business," Scott said.

"Cyclops!" Kurt said. "This vas not what ve agreed on."

"I never agree on anything regarding her at all," Scott said. "As far as I'm concerned, she sealed her own fate by helping Sinister. We can't trust someone like that."

Morph looked down.

"And she prefers criminals like them, so why not?" Scott said. "In fact, didn't she hire them once to kill us? What's the problem? If it's what she wants, who are you to stand in her way, Nightcrawler? She chose this."

Kurt wasn't sure what to say.

"But is that what she wants?" Storm said. She looked at Mystique. "What do you want?"

Mystique swallowed.

She was too proud to beg the X-men of all people for mercy.

"I don't care," she said flatly. "They're all the same to me."

"That means it's just the same to stick with the X-men," Shine pointed out.

"And betray us again? I don't think so," Scott said. "Am I right, Professor?"

"I think we cannot keep her, if she doesn't wish to stay," Xavier said, "or we risk this happening twice."

"Precisely." Slab snatched Mystique before anyone could do anything.

That would have been the end of it, but Kurt saw the look on her face when she thought they were not watching... She was terrified.

Mystique herself had no doubt they intended to first toy with her, then just toss her into the middle of the ocean to make themselves feel better about losing--or perhaps something worse. They were buffoons, but buffoons could be cruel--and lack the brain power to see any reason to play nice also.

Ruckus was more intelligent, but he was just a peacock who'd want to sooth his ego, not use her talents for any other purpose.

Or worse, it was back to Sinister!

At least Shine was smart enough to see that.

"They work for Sinister. Who do you think is going to get a hold of her? Do you want that, Scott?"

"I really don't see how it's our problem if it happens," Scott said. "Sinister can put her to use again. And more's the pity. Isn't this just the sort of mercy you keep talking about? Letting people live?"

"You...really just don't get it." Shine was incredulous.

"This is not right!" Kurt poofed over to Slab. "Give her back. I vill not agree to this even if they vill."

"Kurt..." Mystique said in a small voice.

"No argument, mother," Kurt said. "I at least cannot support the actions of people who vould mess vith DNA and do such things to others. How can they have any good planned? Though I know Gott loves them still, but that does not mean they are not capable of evil."

"Easy there, blue guy," Vertigo said. "We're just doing our jobs. We all gotta survive."

"Too bad. A freak like you would have been perfect for our team," Ruckus commented. "You should have considered joining up with Sinister yourself."

"I vould never." Kurt was insulted. "I am a man of Gott. He is a monster."

"I can't stand people like you," Slab sniffed. "Goody-two-shoes, thinking you're better than us other mutants. We're all freaks."

"Oh, that is not true," Kurt said. "I just believe in a Gott of mercy, that is all. I am not better than anyone. But I can't let you do this, even so."

"Right on," Wally said. "We're not letting this happen either."

"Agreed," Storm said. "This is too far, Scott."

"And what will we do, then?" Scott said.

Kurt poofed Mystique out of Slab's grasp and back towards them.

Scott shot a laser at their feet, making a line. "This is not what I'm willing to allow."

"Scott," Logan said, "think about it. This isn't fixin' anything."

"Maybe we had better talk about it at home," Storm said.

"Well, if the deal's off, then I guess we can just fight it out," Slab said.

"I dare you." Shine suddenly straightened and got to her feet. "Juggernaut ran from us, but if you want to take a shot, you just go again, mudman. Good luck." She crossed her arms and frowned.

Wally followed her lead and shot them a cocky glance. "Hey, make our day."

They all stared at them.

Storm, warming to this strategy, summoned clouds overhead, and lightning crackled.

The Nasty boys, and Vertigo, all looked up, then back at the X-men.

Logan grinned and slid his claws out.

"Forget it," Ruckus said. "Not worth it." 

They all turned and flew or ran away. Even the blob guy hurried.

"And that's how you use people skills," Shine said to Scott. "Now, either we take Mystique back with us, or we stay with her, and you can walk or fly back to the mansion all by yourself, Scottie."

"Have a nice trip," Wally added.

Mystique stared at them in astonishment.

Then Shine and Wally both walked over to stand with her and Kurt and give Scott a look.

Scott glared.

Storm sighed, then she walked over to stand with them. "I think we've had enough revenge," she said simply. "Let's not make this worse."

A pause, then Logan walked over. "I don't like 'er, but I think leaving 'er here is dumb. Sinister will find some way to exploit it, so I say we lock 'er back up."

"Yeah," Morph finally spoke. "Let's not help Sinister, come on."

He didn't walk over to join them, but the others nodded.

"They also make a fair point," Xavier said. "And if we have nothing else to do with her, it seems better than just leaving her here to do as she pleases."

"Scott." Jean put a hand on his arm. "We can find a way to deal with her if we keep her in our sights, not if we leave her on her own. This is what you want, right? To make sure we're all safe?"

Perhaps her wording it that way helped. Scott finally sniffed. "Very well, you're all responsible for what happens, then! Let's just go."

The others let out a sigh of relief.

Mystique almost did too, but she stifled it.

Rogue shook her head. "That was tense..."

Pain stabbed her temples. "Ah!" She grabbed her head. "Stop it! Stop fightin' me!"

"Chere?" Gambit was surprised.

"Oh, right...that's happening," Shine said uneasily. "Wally, can you run her back? No portal is going to work right now."

"What does that mean?" Scott said. "What is wrong with Rogue?"

"I'll meet you back at the house," Wally said. "Come on, Country Girl, let's go."

He took Rogue's arm.

"All right." Rogue was too worried to care now. "Careful though."

"Oh, I do this all the time," Wally said. "Just don't get whiplash."

He dashed off with Rogue in tow.

"Are you sure you can take us all?" Kurt asked Shine.

Shine closed her eyes. "Alone? No, but I will ask for help."

No one said a word, not sure what to make of this.

Shine opened her eyes, and a doorway appeared.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

* * *

A moment later they were home, to Jubilee's great relief.

"You brought her back?" she said, when she saw Mystique, who was dead silent.

"For lack of a better plan," Scott said sourly.

"I know the way." Mystique moved towards the basement.

"Oh, no you don't." Scott grabbed her arm and put her into a chair. "Before you just go sneaking off, we're going to have a long talk about what happened, and I want the details. How much does Sinister know about us?"

"Nothing he didn't already know." Mystique gripped the edge of the chair tensely. "He didn't ask me for information. He knew enough. Just to bait the hook. That's all I did."

"And why should I believe that?" Scott said.

"We'll find out," Xavier said. 

"Stay out of my mind!" Mystique said angrily. "Hey, don't let them!" She looked at Shine, who was sinking into a chair herself.

"You have the gall to ask her for help?" Scott said. "Really, have some shame, woman."

"She's not capable of it," Logan said.

Mystique stared at her lap.

"Perhaps ve could vait," Kurt said. "It has been a long day. Couldn't you question her tomorrow?"

"I don't think this can wait." Scott folded his arms.

"Wally will be here in a few minutes," Shine said, "once he figures out where they were and finds a way back. Why not wait till then? Rogue and I both have something to say on this, don't we?"

"I really don't see why you should," Scott said. "But if it comes down to it, your negligence might be the cause of this. However did she get a chance to call us? You let her out of your sight."

Shine suddenly blinked.

Then she stood up, slowly.

"You're right," she said. "This is my fault, Scott. I let her go off alone for an hour or two yesterday."

"You...did what?" Scott said.

Even the others were shocked. Storm included. "But, Miss Likstar, why would you do that?"

"I guess I was a little sick of the rules," Shine said, looking more embarrassed than they'd seen her before. "I'm sorry, and I'm sorry to you, Mystique. If I didn't do that, Sinister couldn't have accosted you. I left the door open. That is when it happened, isn't it?"

"It is," Mystique said, in disbelief. "But--"

"Then this is your fault!" Scott was furious. "You neglected your responsibility... This is exactly what I've been talking about. You are unruly. You just discarded your job?"

Shine was quiet.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" Scott got tired of it.

"I take responsibility," Shine said in a very low voice. "I apologize. To all of you."

So meek... They were stunned.

Storm almost wished she'd just argue. This was uncanny.

Scott himself wasn't sure what to say now. Usually people fought him on his reproves.

"Mistakes were made," Xavier said. "But we had no way to know this would happen."

"We thought it would," Scott said. "Keeping that witch here was a foolish idea, at least without some kind of mental restraint. We all knew it, but I was promised nothing would come of it."

"That is not exactly what I promised," Shine said. 

"Do not make excuses," Scott said. "I think disciplinary action is in order here."

Shine bit her lip like she was holding back another remark.

She'd gone pale too.

"Maybe we should talk about dis tomorrow," Gambit said.

Much as he was angry too, he thought Shine looked about ready to pass out.

"Why?" Scott was oblivious. Perhaps the red-tinted glasses made it hard for him to notice subtle changes.

The phone rang right then, and after 3 rings of no one noticing, Jean finally picked it up.

Then she said, "What? Oh...no..."

"What is it?" Xavier looked over.

Jean put the phone to her shoulder. "Mr. West is on the phone. He says Rogue has taken off."

"What?" Gambit said.

"Where?" Storm said. "When?"

"Hold on." Jean picked the phone up again. "When and where?... A few minutes ago? Just out of nowhere...? And you're...all right. Yes, we'll use Cerebro, of course."

She held up the phone. "He'd like to talk to you, Shine, if you don't mind."

Shine went up to the phone and took it. "Yes, Wally?"

"She was yelling about someone," Wally said in a low voice. "I wasn't sure I should tell Jean, because of...you know, what they might do. But if they use that thing and go into her mind and shut it down again...we talked about it--it won't help."

Shine lowered her voice a little. "I'm not...not sure I can... I mean, I'm so drained. Can you help her?"

"If I find her, I might, but I'm not really adept at it. You know that," Wally said. 

"What did she say, Wally? Exactly?"

"I was bringing her, and she just suddenly started yelling, so I slowed down, and she was saying to get out of her head, but she wasn't talking to me, and I asked her what she saw, and she didn't answer, she just swung at me. I dodged, and then she got scared, like she saw it was me, and she flew away. I chased her, but she went into some clouds, and I lost track of her.... I need you to be able to find her...or them. But you know if they do, they'll shut that lady back up."

"And that will only hurt her," Shine said. "But I can't possibly portal right now, and to help her...I..."

She looked towards Kurt.

"I may have an idea, actually."