Rogue and her team are back at school, with Rogue silently drifting through the day until 7th period. One of the school jocks calls her out, "Emo, I didn't know it was possible, but you look even more depressed than usual. Did someone die or something? I thought you goth freaks were into that."
Rogue becomes furious, but she tries to ignore the bully's words and keeps walking. However, the jock follows her and continues to taunt her. "Hey, I'm talking to you, emo girl. What's the matter? Can't handle a little teasing?"
Just as the situation is about to escalate, Scott Summers steps in front of Rogue and gets in front of the bully's face, putting him in his place. "Back off, pal," he says sternly. "Don't you have anything better to do than to pick on people who are going through a hard time?"
The jock backs off and leaves, and Rogue is surprised by Scott's intervention. She snarls " I didn't ask you to do that, I can handle it myself" but he responds, "I did, otherwise you would have killed him, and I have enough paperwork as team leader already," he jokes, trying to lighten the mood.
Rogue can't help but smile a little, feeling a bit better with Scott's presence. She opens up to him and shares how guilty she feels about Shay's condition, blaming herself for his coma. Scott listens intently and reassures her that it's not her fault, and that they'll do everything they can to help Shay recover.
Rogue starts to feel a bit better, knowing that she has the support of her team and that she doesn't have to go through this alone.
As Rogue trains with Wolverine, she can't shake off what the bully said earlier. She keeps thinking about Shay and blames herself for his current state. Wolverine notices her distracted state and approaches her.
"Something on your mind, kid?" Wolverine asks with a gruff voice.
Rogue looks at him, a hint of frustration on her face. "It's nothing, Logan. Just that guy at school, he got under my skin," she replies.
Wolverine raises an eyebrow. "What guy?"
Rogue explains the encounter with the jock and how he made fun of her for being depressed. Wolverine grunts and shakes his head.
"That's just a punk kid trying to get a rise out of you, Rogue. Don't let him get to you," he says, trying to console her.
Rogue nods, but her mind is still clouded with guilt and self-doubt. She tries to focus on the training session, but her powers are acting up. She accidentally touches Wolverine and he goes flying across the room.
"Damn it, Rogue! Get your head in the game," Wolverine growls as he gets back on his feet.
Rogue takes a deep breath and tries to clear her mind. She focuses on the task at hand and manages to control her powers better. After a grueling training session, Wolverine calls it a day.
"Take some time to clear your head, kid. You're better than that jock's words," Wolverine tells Rogue as he exits the danger room.
Rogue nods and stays behind for a while longer. She reflects on her past and how her powers have caused so much pain and heartache. But she also thinks about the people who have accepted her for who she is, despite her powers. She decides to try and focus on the positives and not let the negatives bring her down.Professor X and Cyclops were in the control room, discussing Shay's condition when Storm walked in.
"Professor, I believe we should consider Wakanda for their advanced technology. They are years ahead of us in terms of medical technology, and they may have a cure for Shay's condition," Storm suggested.
Professor X nodded, "You make an excellent point, Storm. Wakanda may be our best hope at saving Shay's life."
Cyclops agreed, "I'll contact T'Challa right away and see what we can do to get access to their medical facilities."
Storm added, "I know the king of Wakanda, and he owes me a favor. I'm sure I can convince him to let us use their facilities." Noticeably not elaborating on how she knew the king.
Professor X smiled, "Thank you, Storm. Your connections may just be what we need to save Shay's life."
Storm accepted with a nod and a small smile. "Anything for a fellow mutant in need."..
Storm visits Shay and sees his comatose body, quietly remarking that with his silver hair and unique eyes he looks a tad bit similar to her. But before she can put too much thought into it, she's interrupted by Kurt begging to go to Wakanda with them.
"Please, Professor," Kurt pleads. "I want to be there for Shay. I feel so guilty for letting my friend the new guy on the team get hurt so bad."
Professor X nods thoughtfully. "Very well, Kurt. You may join us on this mission."
Storm nods in agreement. "We could use all the help we can get, especially when dealing with Wakanda's advanced technology."
Meanwhile, Rogue continues to train with Wolverine, pushing herself harder and harder to blow off steam and keep her mind off of Shay's condition. But even Logan can tell something's not right with her.
"You gotta let it go, kid," he says. "You can't blame yourself for what happened. Sometimes things just go wrong, and there's nothing you can do about it."
Rogue nods, but she knows it's easier said than done. She can't shake the feeling that somehow, someway, she could have prevented what happened to Shay…
[1 HOUR LATER]
Professor X gathers the X-Men in the main hall to discuss their upcoming mission to Wakanda. He stands at the front of the room, flanked by Cyclops and Storm.
"As you all know, our friend Shay is in critical condition," Professor X begins. "We believe that Wakanda's advanced technology may hold the key to his recovery."
Jubilee raises her hand. "So, what's the plan?"
"We will be sending a team to Wakanda to meet with their scientists and discuss the possibility of treatment for Shay," Professor X explains. "The ones that will be going on this mission are Storm, Kurt, Cyclops, and Jubilee and myself."
Kurt speaks up. "Why didn't you choose Rogue for this mission? She's the closest to Shay."
Professor X pauses for a moment before responding. "That's exactly why, Kurt. With her mental state as fragile as it is, I do not believe it is safe to put her in a foreign environment with so many unknowns."
The group falls silent, understanding the gravity of the situation.
"Alright then," Cyclops says, breaking the silence. "Let's get prepared. We don't have any time to waste.Storm nods agreement
As the chosen X-Men prepare for their trip to Wakanda, Kurt approaches Professor X again. "I wish Rogue were coming" he says his concern for his sister is clear in his voice.
Professor X turns to him. "I understand your concern, Kurt. But as I said I did not choose because of her mental state. It is fragile right now, and I do not believe it is safe. We must ensure her well-being before anything else."
Kurt nods, understanding the logic behind Professor X's decision, but still worried about his friend.
Once in Wakanda, the X-Men are greeted by King T'Challa himself. Storm, who has a personal connection to Wakanda, is in awe of the beauty of the country.
Cyclops, ever the tactical thinker, is already planning out their next moves.
As they settle into their quarters, Kurt can't help but feel a sense of unease. He knows they are here for Shay, but he can't shake the feeling that there is something more going on. Meanwhile, Cyclops is focused on finding a solution to help their teammate.
The team sets out to meet with the Wakandan scientists, hoping they can provide some insight into Shay's condition. As they make their way through the city, they can't help but notice the strange looks they are receiving from the locals. It's clear they are not entirely welcome here, despite King T'Challa's invitation.
As they arrive at the laboratory, they are greeted by a group of Wakandan scientists who are eager to assist them in any way they can. The X-Men explain Shay's condition and the scientists get to work, analyzing every detail of his physiology.
Hours pass by as the X-Men wait anxiously for news. Finally, the lead scientist approaches them with a somber expression.
"I'm sorry, but we have not been able to find a cure for your friend's condition," she says. "We have never seen anything like this before. It is beyond our current medical understanding."
The X-Men are devastated by the news. They came all this way for nothing. But then, just as they are about to leave, the scientist speaks up again.
"But there is one person who may be able to help you," she says. "The only problem is, he is not exactly easy to find. He is a recluse, a hermit who lives deep in the jungles of Wakanda. But he is also a genius, and if anyone can help your friend, it's him."
The X-Men exchange a knowing glance. They will do whatever it takes to help Shay, even if it means venturing deep into the unknown jungles of Wakanda.
As the X-Men gathered T'Challa approached them.
"If you are going into the jungles of Wakanda, I advise you to rest now and clear your minds. I will prepare our best guide, outside of myself of course. His name is Shikaawa, and like yourselves, he is a mutant. The only mutant in Wakanda, in fact, but I'll let him tell you the rest. He loves talking about himself," T'Challa said with a chuckle.
Just then, a man with striking green and gold attire walked into the courtyard. He had a wide smile on his face as he approached the X-Men.
"Greetings, my friends!" he exclaimed, his voice carrying a charming lilt. "I am Shikaawa, and I am here to be your guide through the jungles of my beautiful Wakanda!"
He twirled around dramatically, his long, colorful scarf trailing behind him. The X-Men looked at each other with raised eyebrows, wondering what they had gotten themselves into. But Shikaawa seemed unfazed by their skepticism.
"Don't you worry, my friends. I am a mutant with a gift for finding my way through even the thickest of jungles. And if there's one thing I love more than myself, it's a good adventure!"
" But for now you rest, after all you're going to need all your energy to keep up with Mee!!!"
[THE NEXT DAY]
Shikaawa led the X-Men into the heart of the Wakandan jungle, regaling them with stories of his adventures along the way. He was a flamboyant character, with a charming way of speaking that had everyone laughing and at ease.
As they trekked deeper into the jungle, the group marveled at the wonders of Wakanda. Kurt was fascinated by the unique flora and fauna, while Jubilee was enamored by the intricate patterns of the Wakandan textiles.
Storm, however, was lost in thought. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something familiar about Shikaawa. She couldn't quite place it, but his silver hair and unique eyes reminded her of someone she knew.
Meanwhile, Jubilee and Cyclops kept a watchful eye on their surroundings, ever vigilant for any potential threats. They knew that in a place as advanced as Wakanda, there was no telling what kind of dangers lay ahead.
Finally, after hours of trekking, they arrived at the entrance to the Wakandan science facility. The X-Men were greeted by the sight of towering buildings and advanced technology unlike anything they had ever seen before.
Shikaawa led them inside, introducing them to the scientists and researchers who worked tirelessly to advance Wakanda's technology. As they toured the facility, the X-Men couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the sheer scale of the operation.
But their mission was not just to marvel at the wonders of Wakanda. They were there to find a way to help Shay, and time was running out. With each passing moment, his condition grew more and more dire.
As they walked with their Wakandan guide. Storm couldn't help but think about the strange familiarity she felt towards Shikaawa. She knew there was something he wasn't telling them, something he was hiding.
But for now, she pushed those thoughts aside. They had a mission to complete, and the fate of their friend Shay rested on their success.
But even as they toured the Wakandan science facility. She tried to focus on the task at hand, but her mind kept drifting back to the silver-haired mutant who had led them there.
As they passed buzzing machine after buzzing machine, Storm kept a watchful eye on Shikaawa. She noticed how he seemed to carefully choose his words, as if hiding something from them. She wondered if he knew something about Shay's condition that they didn't.
But as they delved deeper into the research, Storm realized that there was more to Wakanda's technology than she had ever imagined. Shikaawa showed them personal holographic assistants capable of seamlessly managing daily tasks and enhancing productivity.
It was then that Storm realized that they were in a place of incredible power, and that they needed to tread carefully. She knew that if they weren't careful, they could easily upset the delicate relationship that Wakanda held with the outside world after it has not been too long since Wakanda first made contact with the rest of the world.
As they continued their trip through the facility, Storm felt a sense of unease. She knew that they were one step closer to finding a way to help Shay, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something they were missing.