Knock, knock, knock! Groggily, Kendra went to the door, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she did so. She blinked, then smiled at who it was. "Hey Ororo, what's up?"

"I was wondering if you could cover for me in the Danger Room today. Scott and I are being sent on a scouting mission and I don't anticipate we'll be back before tonight."

"Me? But I'm still a student."

Ororo smiled. "Not for much longer. Besides, you're the only one I trust aside from Jean and the Professor, but they're both busy."

Considering that, Kendra nodded. "I'll do it."

"You're the best." Ororo hugged her. "Next girl's night is on me."

Kendra smiled, hugging her in return. "Sounds like a plan. I'll pass it on to Jean when I see her." She watched her friend disappear down the hall, then shut her door. Changing into her royal blue bathing suit with turquoise flowers, she grabbed a towel and slipped on some flip-flops before heading out to the pool. After her routine morning swim she rinsed off, then returned to her room to change clothes. Once in jeans and a t-shirt, she gathered up her her school supplies and went down to breakfast.

The day passed as it usually did with classes and helping Jean in the medwing, but when Kendra stepped through the doors of the Danger Room, she was the teacher. Organizing the group of her peers so that at least one older student was with the younger or less experienced to help them learn. Dense foliage made visibility difficult, but with careful tactics they defeated every foe that crossed their paths.

"Simulation complete." The cool, automated voice of the computer announced.

After exchanging high fives, Kendra gave them words of encouragement as they headed out the door. Kendra went to the medwing to help out Jean, only to find she wasn't there and found a note on the corkboard in their break room:

Getting more food for our stash, bbs!

Kendra smiled and made herself at home, reading over some of her homework while she waited, jotting down notes now and then. A light tap on the door frame made her look up. "Hello, Professor."

He gave her a smile. "Hello, Kendra. I hear you did very well substituting for Ororo today."

"I learned from good teachers how to be one myself."

"Fair point." He chuckled.

Jean returned with bags of goodies and Kendra helped her put them away. The Professor politely excused himself, going down the hall to use Cerebro as they worked. Jean elbowed Kendra when they were done. "Go on and ask if you can join him. I'll be here when you get back."

Kendra knew better than to argue, so she went down the hall as well and found him waiting for her. They didn't say anything to each other, simply going in together and the door closed behind them. She'd seen him use his powers before with Cerebro to magnify them, but each time was uniquely beautiful. The only rule of being able to join was not to move during the entire session, therefore fidgety students weren't allowed inside for their own safety. When the session was over, they left as quietly as they entered.

"Thank you for joining me, Kendra. I often forget how lonely it gets in there."

She nodded, knowing how it felt to be alone. Before she could say anything, the elevator door whooshed open. Ororo and Scott came out, pushing a gurney with an unconscious man on it. Behind them followed a girl about Kendra's age, sporting a small cut on her face.

"Is he gonna be okay?" She asked, nervously peeking out from her curtain of brown hair.

Kendra gave her a kindly smile. "Let's get him inside the medwing and find out."

Jean joined them when they brought the man in and Kendra put on gloves as Storm recounted what had happened. Jean looked amazed as she pulled off the bloody makeshift bandages to find no wounds underneath. "He must have very fast healing abilities because he shows no signs of physcal or menal trauma."

"I wish I could say the same." Ororo muttered, wincing as Kendra treated some minor abrasions on her arm where shrapnel had been sharp enough to slice through her suit.

"So he's going to be fine?" The girl asked, looking relieved.

Kendra nodded as she got more antisceptic to treat the new girl, who looked at her warily. "It's okay, this only stings a little."

"I'm not worried about that. People get hurt when they touch me."

"Don't worry, these gloves were designed to protect the wearer from another's powers."

"A-alright. Sounds like I'll need some of those."

Kendra nodded, dabbing the disinfectant on the girl's cut. "I'm Kendra, by the way."

"I'm Rogue. This is gonna sound stupid, but where am I?"

"Nice to met you, Rogue. And that's hardly a stupid question. You're in Manchester, New York and this is Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters, but is often affectionately called Mutant High by some of the students here. This is the place where we can learn how to control their powers." Kendra smiled kindly. "That ought to heal right up. Now, let's see about getting you a room. It's late and the best way to recover is a good night's sleep."

"There's one down your hall by Wyn's room." Ororo volunteered, heading out with a yawn.

Rogue looked confused. "Who's Wyn?"

"Eowyn, a mutual friend of ours. I'm sure you'll like her when you meet her. I'm all finished if you're ready to go." She noticed Rogue's eyes lingering on the unconcious man. "You can check on your friend in the morning."

Rogue nodded and followed her out of the medwing, putting her hands in her pockets. "I dunno if I'd call him my friend, I barely know him. I uh...actually stowed aboard his trailer he was towing, but he caught me and brought me into his truck instead of leaving me on the side of the road. Granted I kinda saved his life, which I shamelessly used as leverage, but I got the feeling he let me do that. Why would he do that?"

Kendra shrugged. "I can't say for sure, but maybe he saw that you needed help and decided to let you come along."

"Maybe. He was really nice to me." Rogue blushed just noticeably under her hair.

Kendra chuckled softly. "Sounds like you have a bit of a crush, mate. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Rogue blushed more. "Thanks, I really don't think I have a chance with any man with my...powers."

"You might, you never know. We mutants are diverse in our powers from physical to mental because of the mutant or X-gene that makes us different from other people. Sometimes it's both."

"Is yours both?" Rogue glanced at Kendra's dark blue hair.

Kendra shook her head. "Mine's considered a mild X-gene mutation. There are some like Hank McCoy whose physical apparance changed drastically from the time he was younger because of his powers. Just so you're not surprised when you meet him, he's a blue furry beast."

Rogue blinked. "He sounds scary."

"He's actually really nice. He teaches science here when he's not at the Capitol representing the mutants." She paused at a door. "Here we are, if you need anything my room is the one on the end and Wyn is right next door on your right."

"Thanks, Kendra. Do you think you could tell me more about being a mutant?"

"You'll learn more in class, but I can touch on some of the basics. The X-gene usually becomes active before and during or shortly after puberty, but if it remains dormant passed adulthood they don't become a mutant, passing on the gene to their children who are more likely to have it manifest."

Rogue nodded slowly, taking all of the information in. "Have you ever heard of a mutant stop beng one and live a normal life?"

"Plenty of mutants live normal lives because they have smaller, less noticeable powers to the masses unlike the students here, but I haven't heard of a mutant stop being a mutant."

"Thanks, Kendra." Rogue yawned. "Good night."

"Good night, Rogue." Kendra went to her room and fell asleep the moment she was in bed.