"Really? Brother Kurogai, what kind of organization are you planning to build? What do you need me to do?"
Skye's voice carried an edge of excitement. She almost bounced where she stood, her eyes lit up like fireworks. Every time she had asked in the past, Kurogai had told her to wait, to be patient. But now, for the first time, he was giving her a different answer.
"In the organization I intend to form," Kurogai Alexander Blackwood said with a faint smile, "I'll need strong people to stand as its foundation. You, Skye, are a perfect candidate."
He reached out and ruffled her long hair. The gesture was casual, yet it carried a weight she felt in her heart. Her cheeks warmed as her eyes curved into crescents, glowing with pride. For her, his words weren't just recognition—they were validation.
"Then, can I help too?" Rogue asked suddenly. Her voice was soft but carried an unmistakable hope. She had been watching quietly, but the thought of being left out tugged at her.
Kurogai turned toward her with a gentler smile. "The orphanage and Dean Mary's safety are no less important than any battlefield. Protecting them is already a heavy responsibility."
Rogue lowered her eyes. She understood his intention—he was shielding her from danger. But a part of her recoiled at the idea of always being the one in need of protection.
"I want to become stronger too," she blurted out, determination flashing in her gaze. "Just like you trained Skye before… train me."
Kurogai paused, surprised at the force behind her words. He had considered helping Rogue strengthen her powers, but he hadn't expected her to step forward and ask for it herself.
"You want to get stronger?" His eyes studied her closely.
Rogue nodded firmly. "I don't want to be someone who always needs saving. I want to stand on my own."
Kurogai considered this for a moment before nodding. "That's good. I'll think of a way to help you."
Rogue's mutation was unlike anyone else's. With a single touch, she could absorb the memories, life force, and abilities of others. The problem was that the abilities faded after a short time, and the people she absorbed from often suffered greatly. But Kurogai knew there was more to her potential.
In the original history, Rogue had once absorbed abilities so deeply that they became permanent. After touching Carol Danvers, she had gained flight, enhanced strength, and durability that stayed with her for years. It meant her powers weren't limited to fleeting mimicry—if pushed correctly, she could permanently imprint abilities into her very cells.
A thought sparked in his mind. "Rogue," he said slowly, "I believe your powers can evolve. If you continue to absorb certain abilities over time, your body might adapt to them… make them permanent."
Rogue looked at him, wide-eyed. Then her face fell. "That sounds good, but it doesn't work like that. Every time I touch someone, I hurt them. Sometimes worse. I don't want to be a danger to innocent people."
Her voice wavered with guilt, her memories of accidents heavy on her heart.
Kurogai crouched slightly so his gaze was level with hers. His tone was calm, unwavering. "If you had the chance to absorb Magneto's powers—the man who nearly killed you—would you hesitate?"
Rogue stiffened. The thought of touching him, of turning his cruelty against him, made her chest tighten. "I… I don't know," she admitted honestly.
"That's the reality of this world," Kurogai said evenly. "There are no absolute saints or monsters. People are rarely all good or all bad. Sometimes, to protect yourself, you need to carry the weight of choices that aren't easy. That's not weakness, Rogue—it's survival."
Her lips pressed together. His words weren't easy to swallow, but deep inside she knew they were true. Her mind drifted back to the moment Magneto nearly ended her life, the helplessness that had crushed her. She clenched her fists.
"I understand," she whispered. "I'll listen to you."
Her eyes shone with a new fire. She didn't want to be a burden anymore. She wanted strength—not to stand behind others, but beside them.
"Good," Kurogai said, his expression softening. "If that's your resolve, then you'll come with me. I know where we can start."
He turned to Skye. "Stay here for now. Watch over the others. I'll return once Rogue and I are done."
Skye nodded, though her curiosity was plain on her face. Rogue stepped closer to Kurogai, her heart pounding but her resolve steady.
"Let's go," Kurogai said, opening a shimmering portal before them. Through its surface stretched the familiar outline of the spacecraft base.
On the other side, potential awaited—opponents captured, powers restrained, resources ready to be tested. Among them were the feral Sabretooth and the shape-shifting Mystique, both dangerous, both possessing abilities Rogue could benefit from.
Kurogai's eyes glinted.
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