[User]
<image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image>
Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Untitled
The X-Woman called Rogue suddenly falls from the sky - but it is not Earth’s sky, as she lands on a strange alien landscape. ‘where the hell am -’ she thinks to herself, before a warrior in powerful armor appears before her. ‘Oh’ Rogue gasps, before realizing that she has landed on an alien planet, and is in the midst of a battle between multi-limbed green insect-like aliens with sharp teeth, and more humanoid aliens with jaguar-like markings on their skin. One of the warriors utters something in his naïve tongue, before slicing the had off one of the insect-like aliens. Blood flows across the landscape as the warriors and the insects battle ferociously. One of the insect-aliens uses some sort of psychic power, attacking one of the warriors, who turns and flees. ‘Definitely not in Kansas anymore’Rogue thinks to herself, wide-eyed.
Suddenly, one of the insect-like aliens leaps towards Rogue, who stands her ground, and punches it into the air. Her action is observed by the fighting factions, who all stop their battle and turn to her. One of the warriors utters something in their native language, while Rogue suddenly looks worried, and tells herself that this is not good. She starts to run, ‘Okay, what do Ah know? Ah’m on an alien planet. Maybe even in another dimension. Ah’ve fallen into the middle of a war. Don’t know the players, but Ah sure got their attention. Which means the first order’a business is to get outta here -’ Rogue tells herself, when suddenly, a large greenish alien appears before her. ‘That’s new’ Rogue realizes, before the alien slams a fist into the ground, breaking it up and sending Rogue falling backwards. ‘Oh yeah. One more thing. Ah still got some’a Ms Marvel’s powers’ Rogue reminds herself, as she gets up and flies through the large green creature, apparently comprised of many of the insect-like aliens merged together, as they fall apart when Rogue burst through them.
Rogue flies into the air, listing off the powers she has thanks to Ms Marvel - strength, durability, flight and energy blasts. But, she knows that every time she uses them she depletes them, and when they are gone, she will just be a normal person again - on a world where she has just made enemies of the locals. Rogue decides that she better hide, and hope that she never sees any of these folk again, as she flies away.
Shortly, Rogue has set down on another area of the alien planet, and walks through what appears to be a forest - where the trees are pink and the flowers are odd. Rogue tells herself that it doesn’t look like anyone followed her, but knows that is where the good news ends. She is walking to conserve her powers, but has no idea how much she has left before they will fade. Rogue knows that she must get home, but she hasn’t seen any sign of gateways, portals or advanced civilizations on the few scouting trips she made above the tree-line. Deciding that, as she can breathe, she must have landed on a planet where the atmosphere is Earth-like, or it is one of those magic dimensions where everyone can breathe. Some strange jelly-fish like creatures fly past her, and Rogue tells herself that, either way, civilization looks pretty medieval, if the warriors are any indication.
‘This ain’t good. Ah could be here a while. With mah friends…maybe all of Earth…in danger’ Rogue realizes, before telling herself to take it easy, as flipping out will go nobody any good. She hopes that someone notice she is gone from Earth and will come looking for her. Touching one of the plants, Rogue knows she has to start thinking about how she is going to survive until then. ‘How do Ah build a fire when the trees are made’a crystal?’ she wonders. ‘Come to that, what am Ah supposed to eat?’ Rogue asks herself, before recalling that the X-Men drill their students on alien world survival skills, so now it is time to show she can do as well as teach. She continues on, before coming to some trees that actually look like plants, not New Age window decorations. Looking at the fruit, Rogue decides that it isn’t the most appetizing she has seen, ‘But beggars can’t be choosers’ Rogue reminds herself, while realizing that for all she knows the fruit might explode on contact.
Rogue sees an alien animal on the tree, and it uses the fruit as food. ‘Well, Ah gotta eat something. Ah reckon this is the best thing Ah’ve seen on the menu’ Rogue tells herself as she reaches for the strange blue fruit. Suddenly, one of the warriors leaps through the trees and lunges at Rogue. He manages to grab her wrist as she tries to pull away. ‘All right, pal, you just bought yourself a world’a - hurt?’ Rogue begins, but the warrior simply knocks the blue fruit from her hand. ‘Wouldn’t eat that if I were you’ the warrior states. ‘Unless you’re a Parrathian Venom-Beast, it’ll liquefy your innards’ the warrior explains. ‘Who - Ah - Ah understand you’ Rogue remarks. The warrior removes his helmet and replies ‘And I you. You are speaking my language, though you are clearly not of the Vray. A moment ago, you spouted gibberish’ the warrior adds.
Another warrior moves forward, ‘She is of the Swarm! It’s their damnable hive-mind at work!’ the other warrior exclaims. He raises his large sword and tells his superior - Commander Chahr - to step back, while he slays her before she enslaves his thoughts. The large alien brings his sword down on Rogue, but it shatters when her fist makes contact. ‘What -?’ the warrior gasps. Commander Chahr smiles and announces that she is not of the Swarm, but something entirely new. ‘And quite impressive’ he adds, while calling the warrior Taros, and suggesting that he apologize, if he likes his head where it is. Taros kneels down and states that he regrets any insult. ‘Clearly you are not of the Swam. I recall now hat you shattered their colossus on the battlefield. You are the Alpha, and I defer to your power’ he announces. ‘Uh…okay. That’s nice, but it ain’t necessary’ Rogue tells him, before smiling and informing her companions that they can call her Rogue. She then thanks them for the heads-up about the fruit, before informing them that all she really wants is a decent meal, and asks if they have any tips.
Chahr informs Rogue that if she allows it, he believes he may be of help, and explains that there is a sap in the crystal trees that quenches both thirst and hunger. He breaks some of the tree off, and both he and Rogue drink from it. ‘Not bad at all. Kinda like molasses’ Rogue remarks, before telling Chahr that she is obliged, before asking him how he found her. Chahr tells Rogue that her remarkable show of strength sent the Swarm into retreat. ‘Frankly, our king was concerned by such a powerful newcomer to the battle. He bade us locate you…learn your nature and purpose. You were not difficult to track. Your scent is like no other on this world’ Chahr explains, before informing Rogue that he has questions - ‘From where do you hail? How is it you speak our tongue?’ he asks. They walk across the landscape, now followed by the army, and Rogue reveals that she is from another world. ‘Ah don’t speak your language…or didn’t until you tackled me. Your skin must a’ touched mine’ she tells him, explaining that when she touches another living being, she takes on their qualities. ‘Ah guess you’d say, touch their mind’.
‘You invaded my thoughts?’ Chahr asks. Rogue explains that she didn’t, and that the transfer must have only lasted a moment, otherwise he would be unconscious. She tells Chahr that she didn’t used to be able to control it, and spent years with other people’s thoughts in her head, but now she is pretty ornery about keeping her own thoughts. ‘We have more in common than you know. My people fight for the same freedom you speak of. The Swarm would subjugate us all to their hive-mind’ Chahr tells Rogue, adding that that is a fate worse than death for them. ‘The removal of all honor…all opportunity for betterment, for glory. The death of the part of us that gives life meaning’. Chahr tells Rogue that if she feels the same, he asks her to join their noble struggle. ‘The Swarm has driven us to near extinction. Overrun our ancestral homes in search of ever more resources for their insatiable needs. We fight over resources, but more, we fight for our very existence’ he tells her.
Rogue tells Chahr that she sympathizes, but points out that this isn’t her world, and that she has her own battles to fight, as right now, her friends are fighting them without me, and she has to figure out a way to get back to her world. Chahr replies that he understands, before announcing ‘And if I were to offer in exchange for your aid, to send you home?’, causing Rogue to go wide-eyed as she asks him ‘You…could do that?’. Chahr replies that he can try, informing Rogue that he doesn’t wish to deceive her, but magic is a lost art for the majority of his people. He tells her that ages ago, many of their ancestors were versed in the mystic arts. Today, though, the demands of war have supplanted those studies, and it has been centuries since anyone has attempted dimensional travel and returned. ‘But if there is hope for you, it lies there’ he adds.
Chahr tells Rogue that the old scrolls are in their capital city, but that they cannot leave here with the Swarm advancing on their lands, and their full armies marching to support them, as well as theirs for them. ‘With your aid, I am confident we will crush the Swarm in short order. Then I vow I will do all in my power to help you’ Chahr tells Rogue, who turns from him, and thinks about the situation, before turning back and taking Chahr’s hand, assuring him that she will do all in her power to help him. However, Rogue knows that Chahr thinks that her power includes what she borrowed from Ms Marvel, and that will fade - sooner, rather than later. She knows if that happens in battle, then she is as good as dead, and any other time, these guys are liable to kill her for false advertising. Rogue decides that her only chance is to put down the opposition fast, and hope it buys her enough goodwill that the Vray keep their promise even after she is just a normal girl. ‘Lotta “ifs” in that. Ah’m playing a dangerous game. Too bad the alternatives are a damn sight worse…’ Rogue thinks to herself.
Hours later, at a campsite, ‘Have you gone mad? Basing our entire plan on an outsider?’ one of the Vray asks Chahr, who kneels before him and addresses him as the King. Chahr explains that under normal circumstances he would have consulted with him first, but that there was no opportunity, for left alone, Rogue could have been taken by the Swarm and fought for them. ‘She may fight for them even now. This could be a trap’ the King points out, but Chahr tells him that the Swarm lack the imagination. ‘Still, we know nothing of her…her true loyalties. The men will nor follow her’ the King points out. Rogue stands nearby as Chahr tells the King that she proved herself the Alpha, both on the battlefield and against Taros, his strongest warrior. ‘They will follow her, in their hearts they do already’.
Chahr continues, asking his King if he may speak plainly, he states that for the first time in memory, they have something capable of overcoming the Swarm’s advantage in numbers. ‘We have a chance to win this eternal war. The men sense it. They hunger for it’ Chahr declares. The King turns and walks away, announcing that Chahr is responsible for this. ‘If she fails me…you fail me. And you will face the consequences’ he states. ‘Yes, my King’ Chahr replies. Rogue turns to Chahr and tells him she gets the feeling the King doesn’t like her much. ‘He has led us many years. Fought countless battles. His caution serves us well’ Chahr replies, before telling Rogue not to worry, as she has been accepted, and his warriors have finished preparing her shelter. ‘Mah what?’ Rogue asks as Chahr motions to a small building nearby. ‘You must be refreshed for the battle to come’ Chahr points out.
They enter the room, and Rogue sees a bed. She tells Chahr that she doesn’t need all this, but Chahr tells her that it is her right, as the Alpha. ‘As is your choice my warriors to be your evening’s companions’ Chahr explains. Several warriors follow Rogue and Chahr into the room, and Chahr orders them to disrobe. They do so, removing all of their clothes. ‘May goodness!’ Rogue gasps, turning away from them. ‘Choose as many as you wish’ Chahr assures Rogue, before he offers himself, should she find him worthy. Rogue covers her eyes and tells Chahr that this is all very considerate, but she wants everyone to put their pants back on. ‘Really, all Ah need is a pillow and Ah’m fine’ Rogue assures them. ‘Out, scum! You have displeased the Alpha!’ Chahr tells the warriors, who cover themselves and scamper out of the room. ‘Not at all. Their…qualifications… are very impressive. Ah’m just…’ Rogue begins, before going over to a small table and picking up a glass of liquid which she drinks.
‘I understand. You are bonded to a mate, on your homeworld’ Chahr remarks. Rogue replies that it is complicated, and tells Chahr that she would rather focus on the fight. ‘Spoken like a warrior’ Chahr declares, adding that he, too, lives for victory. He explains that his people do not recall the glory days of the Vray, when their civilization ruled this world, but he has read the stories, and informs Rogue that the Vray numbered in the millions, and achieved wonders unparalleled before or since - weapons, airships, tall, gleaming cities. ‘But, after the cataclysm, as our numbers dwindled those things were forgotten. Ever Vray was needed on the battlefield. Our arts, our science fell by the wayside’. Chahr tells Rogue that when he thinks of what his people once were, and to what they have been reduced to… ‘Your pardon. It is unseemly for a warrior to become so emotional’ Chahr declares.
‘No, not at all. Ah understand better’n you might imagine’ Rogue tells Chahr, informing him that her people are fighting a battle for their future, too. Chahr tells Rogue that he realizes how difficult it is for her, not to be at their side. ‘It is. But that’s not what I meant’ Rogue replies, before explaining that it kills her that she can’t help them, but she can rage about it, which doesn’t help nobody, or she can do the best she can where she is. Rogue tells Chahr that she doesn’t know that her help is going to be enough. ‘Ah’m not as strong as you think -’ she begins, but Chahr tells her to stop, and states that his people have a saying - ‘A warrior cannot choose when he dies…but he can choose how he dies’. He tells Rogue that if they die in battle, it will be glorious, and that is enough for him. He then turns and leaves Rogue’s quarters.
Later, Rogue is sleeping, when suddenly, her room is invaded by the Swarm! ‘Ah’ll say this. Y’all know how to make a girl feel wanted!’ Rogue exclaims as she leaps out of bed and throws the insect-like alien from her bed. Several more move around the floor, while Rogue creates and energy blast which keeps them at bay. ‘You here to recruit me too? Or just kill me? ‘she enquires, deciding that it doesn’t matter, as they aren’t big on offering a choice. ‘Ah’ll give you one. You can walk our or get thrown -’ Rogue begins as she suddenly loses her energy powers. ‘Uh…damnation. Ah always knew this would happen…’ she mutters, looking at her hands. The Swarm close in on Rogue, teeth barred, and Rogue mutters that she is going to die of bad timing!


[User]
<image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image>
Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Untitled
‘Impossible. An obscenity!’ Commander Chahr exclaims as he and the King of the Vray stand in the room set aside for Rogue, which is now in disarray. ‘A squadron of Swarm warriors infiltrated our camp? Under our very noses? How does such a thing happen?’ Chahr wonders. The King looks unhappy, and reminds Chahr that the Swarm move as one both in battle and in stealth. It’s not as if they went unchallenged’ he points out, adding that they slew several of their bravest warriors. ‘Or are you so bereft by the loss of your precious outwardly that it’s escaped your notice?’ the King asks. Chahr crouches down beside a fallen member of the Vray warriors and replies that it has not. ‘I assigned them guard duty, my King. Their deaths are on my head’ he acknowledges.
‘I do not condemn you, Chahr. You miss the larger point. This alien -’ the King begins. ‘Rogue’ Chahr tells him - ‘You anointed her the Alpha. The key to victory in the coming battle. The catalyst of a return to our people’s past glory. Yet she was taken. Easily’ the King points out. Chahr suggests that the Swarm must have assimilated her, forced her into their cured hive-mind, to which the King points out then she is doubly lost, for once absorbed into the hive-mind of the Swarm, none have ever escaped - not with their sanity intact. The King reminds his friend that they have fought this damnable war for longer than both their lifetimes and seen their people’s numbers dwindle, seen too much death. ‘I am tired as well. But we will not be delivered by some savior from another world. This war will be won - or lost - by soldiers such as we. Forget your “Rogue”, Chahr. She is one of them now’ the King declares as he walks away.
At that moment, the night sky on this alien world looks like Earth’s night sky, as Rogue trudges across the landscape, the Swarm, insect-like aliens with armor and large teeth, walk in front and behind her. ‘G-gg -’ Rogue begins, before growling as she spins around and kicks one of the Swarm. ‘Again?’ the Swarm exclaims. ‘Hush now, mammal. All your fussing and fighting is for naught’ the alien declares as he shoves a small spike into the back of her head, ‘Let me…go, damn you…’ Rogue utters. Rogue falls to her knees, ‘There, now. Isn’t that better? No pain…no confusion. Only the peace and unity of the hive-mind’ the alien declares. ‘Commander Tritt, this is the second time the outworlder has broken your control…rejected the hive-mind. We must kill it!’ one of the Swarm exclaims.
Commander Tritt overrules the soldier’s suggestion, pointing out that the very act she can do this shows that she is something special. ‘The Queen will want to see this for herself. If she can be subsumed to the hive-mind, the Queen can surely do it’ Tritt points out, adding that if not, it is her majesty’s decision how to proceed. ‘Regardless…the decision is now out of our hands’, Commander Tritt declares as they arrive at their hive fortresses. ‘Tritt’ a guard calls out as Tritt approaches a chamber, with Rogue at his side. ‘Brax, the Queen -’ Tritt begins. ‘Is expecting you. Enter’ Brax replies, and as Tritt and Rogue enter the Queen’s chamber, they both fall to their knees, bowing before her. ‘My Queen’ Tritt calls out. ‘So this is the mammal the hive-mind’s been buzzing about. The one who shattered our colossus’ the Queen declares.
Commander Tritt explains that she is called “Rogue” and that she is most unusual. ‘If she fought on our side, she could make the difference in the battle to come. The Queen gets down off her throne and goes over to Rogue, while asking Tritt if it is true that this Rogue has thrown off the chem-bonds twice. ‘Yes, my Queen. I am shamed’ Tritt replies. ‘Not necessarily. It has been many cycles since we have encountered outworlders. Their physiology can be…odd’ the Queen points out, before announcing that she may need to personally induct this one. ‘I’ll pass’ Rogue exclaims as she suddenly gets off the ground and grabs the Queen by her wrist. ‘Intolerable!’ the Queen booms, but Rogue smacks her in her abdomen. ‘Yeah, reckon Ah ain’t gonna be invited to your Diamond Jubilee’ Rogue exclaims.
Rogue tells Tritt that thanks to the hive-mind, she knows what their weapons do, and grabbing one, shoves it into one of the Swarm. ‘Better you than me’ Rogue points out, before telling them that it has been fun, but that she has got a home to get back to. More of the Swarm enter the chamber, and Rogue tells them that they fight like Roman soldiers, that every move is orchestrated. Taking one of the weapons, Rogue leaps upwards and tells the Swarm that they don’t do well with imrpov. ‘Well, Ah trained with a Cajun…who’s all improv’ Rogue declares as she leaps through an opening in the hive. ‘Daylight. If Ah can make it outta camp…’ Rogue tells herself, but as she lands on the ground, ‘Ah, hell’ she mutters as she is set upon by a large army of the Swarm. ‘You forget, mammal…we are the camp. And the camp is us!’ the Swarm declare as they overwhelm her, and bring her down.
The Queen lurches forward to where the Swarm hold Rogue down. ‘She is an interesting specimen. But I am Queen of the Swarm. The heart of the hive-mind. My chem-bonds are unparalleled’ the Queen boasts, before putting her claw-like fingers to Rogue’s head, and a small spike pokes out from one of them into Rogue’s head. ‘You are no more, little thing. Now there is only the Swarm!’ the Queen declares. Rogue looks up, ‘Wha - what is this place?’ she calls out. Commander Tritt goes over to her, and tells her that there is nothing to fear. He adds that he comes not as her captor, but as her guide to the hive-mind. ‘You are not a prisoner. There is no need to fight. Only open yourself…to a new way of being’ he tells her. ‘Get bent. Ah ain’t gonna lose mahself. Not ever again’ Rogue replies. The Queen steps forward and points out that Rogue isn’t listening. ‘Foolish child. We do not lose ourselves in the hive-mind. It is where we find ourselves’ she exclaims.
‘Sounds funny…coming from a Queen who sets herself above everyone’ Rogue points out. The Queen replies that she performs her duties for the good of the hive, as do they all. ‘some fight. Others build. Some nurture. One leads’ she states, adding that it is not compulsion, it is done willingly, for it is their way. ‘If we need shelter, the hive makes a shelter of themselves. Those who tire are replaced by those who are fresh. The hive endures. And, if we make war, the hive forms warriors, gigantic colossi, to crush our enemies’ the Queen announces. She adds that she sees the power Rogue used to defeat their colossus is gone, that it had been borrowed from another and has faded. The queen continues, announcing that the Vray would have rejected Rogue as useless, but the Swarm have a place for her, that the hive welcomes all. ‘If they will only understand. Open your mind, mammal…and know!’ the Queen exclaims.
The Queen informs Rogue that the Swarm have thrived for ages untold, and in their prime, the hive spanned half this world, working together, pooling their strength, creating infinite marvels. ‘After the cataclysm, when resources became scarce and Vray aggression sought to claim them all, the endless war began. Like the enemy, our numbers have dwindled’ the Queen reveals, stating that unlike the Vray, the Swarm endure, they number far, far more, because the Vray are a swirl of chaos, misdirected individuals, yet the Swarm act as one. The Queen continues, explaining that their young know their parents, but that their family is the entire hive, and their elders are protected by the youthful and strong, valued for their wisdom, never left to fend for themselves. She adds that unlike the Vray, who slay the Swarm indiscriminately, the Swarm welcome them into their hive, that they become one. ‘So much so that if they are separated from the hive-mind through injury or shock, and make no mistake, Vray attacks seek to do just that - they go mad’.
The Queen asks Rogue if she understands now, and Rogue replies ‘Y-yes…Ah understand everything. Ah’ve had other minds melded with may own all mah life. So Ah see the whole picture. Not just your spin on it’. Rogue tells the Queen that the Swarm discourage independent thought, individual achievement, but that it wasn’t always so, for in the old days, those things were valued because they made the hive stronger. Rogue points out that the Swarm haven’t developed new tech or strategies in ages, that their ancestors came up with it all. ‘Now you got no ability to adapt’ she explains. ‘That’s why the Vray try to cut you off from the hive-mind in a fight, because you melt down, can’t do nothing on your own. Easy prey’ Rogue tells them.
‘You still want me cause you’re desperate. Cause you think maybe I’ll bring new ideas. Ideas you ain’t got!’ Rogue exclaims, adding that if they think forcing the hive-mind on folks is saving them, then they have never been on the receiving end. ‘Ah see, all right. Ah see the whole truth. You’re headed for extinction, too. Maybe a little slower…but you can’t survive like this’ Rogue tells the Swarm. ‘You know that, don’t you? Is that what you’re keeping locked away from the rest of the hive-mind?’ she asks the Queen. ‘Ah thought that wasn’t how you operate. Everybody shares everything, right? So what secret’s sealed up in here? Let’s take a look, whaddaya say?’ Rogue suggests. Tritti s contused and asks his Queen what this means. ‘STOP!’ the Queen shouts, announcing to her warriors that the outsider corrupts the hive-mind, and that she has corrupted Tritt as well.
‘W-what?’ Tritt begins. ‘Quickly! Before they poison the hive any more!’ the Queen calls out, shouting: ‘They must DIE!’, while Rogue grabs Tritt and tells him to come on, as they start to run away. ‘The Queen has severed my tie to the hive-mind. But…but why?’ Tritt asks Rogue, adding that he can’t feel them, that he can’t feel anything. Rogue tells Tritt that he will feel plenty if he doesn’t keep running, and touches her bare hand to his, telling him to link to her mind, that it is okay, and it won’t seem so isolating. ‘Do you know anything about this area -’ Rogue begins, before they reach the edge of a cliff, with nothing in front of them save for a deep, deep drop. ‘Ah don’t suppose you got “Thelma and Louise” here’ Rogue mutters. ‘What is -’ Tritt begins, but Rogue tells him to never mind, and that it looks like they go down fighting.
The Queen and several Swarm warriors close in on Rogue and Tritt, as the Queen tells them not to get close, as the outwardly touch can infect them. ‘Concentrate bio-electric fire! At my command!’ the Queen exclaims, as the warriors fire their weapons towards Rogue and Tritt. ‘Oh, man. Thelma and Louise it is. Hold tight…’ Rogue tells Tritt, as the ground breaks up around them, and they begin to fall backwards off the cliffside. A large amount of rock and earth falls downwards with Rogue and Tritt, crashing to the land many feet below. Dust rises, and the Queen gathers at the edge of the cliff and looks downwards. She congratulates her warriors for eliminating a grave threat to the hive-mind. ‘Clearly she had infected Tritt with her madness. As if an outwardly could be the difference in our decisive battle with the Vray’. The Queen tells her warriors that this conflict will be won - or lost - by soldiers such as they. ‘Come, we march to war’ she declares.
When night falls, Rogue and Tritt suddenly emerge from the rubble. Rogue thanks Tritt for the save and tells him that without him she would have been crushed. ‘We nearly were. But my carapace is strong. There is no need for your thanks. You are my hive now’ Tritt replies. Rogue asks Tritt if he is going to be all right, to which he replies that he he has never felt so alone, so lost. ‘But if I have your mind linked to mine, I believe I can endure’ he tells her, adding that he must, for his people depend on it. ‘That…vision we saw. Could it have been a mistake?’ Tritt asks. Rogue tells him that she is sorry, and reminds him that she has spent her entire life sorting through other people’s psyches, and that there is no one here good at keeping their independence in a mass of minds, not even the Queen. ‘What we saw…was a memory she was keeping from you. Her darkest secret’ Rogue declares as she reveals it to Tritt:
Flashback / Memory:
‘We must be quick. My warriors will notice an extended absence’ the King of the Vray tells the Queen of the Swarm, who replies ‘Another failing of the Vray’s individual minds’ and reveals that her warriors notice only what she wants them to. The King tells the Queen that he is not here to trade insults with her, but because it is in the best interest of his people. ‘As am I. I sense the resolve of the Swarm weakening. They tire of war’ the Queen reveals. ‘So do we all’ the King replies, pointing out that this world’s resources cannot support peace, that there is not enough for both of them if their populations grow. ‘They are already too large’ he adds. The Queen agrees, and states that only the conflicts keep their numbers manageable and makes them strong enough to endure, and announces that it is time for a great battle with attendant casualties.
‘Inflaming the hunger for vengeance. Leaving more resources for the survivors’ the King declares. The Queen remarks that any questions will be silenced and harmony restored to the hive-mind. ‘And to your rule’ the King tells her. ‘Do not paint me with your individualist ambitions’ the Queen tells him. The King states that he is the only one with the experience and wisdom to lead his people, and tells the Queen that by the very way of her people, she is one of many, easily replaced. ‘One such as you cannot understand the Swarm’ the Queen tells him. ‘I believe I understand you. More than either of us would care to admit’ the King declares. The Queen replies that once the battle is over, they are enemies once again, she will do all in her power to exterminate the King’s kind, that no meeting like this need ever take place again. They turn and take their leave, with the King pointing out that then they have something in common after all.
Present:
Tritt clutches his head: ‘A Queen of the Swarm…colluding with the enemy. Speaking of mass murder against our people. Everything that anchored me is gone…’ he exclaims. Rogue tells him that she has been to a lot of worlds, and that there ain’t many constants, but one seems to be that power corrupts. ‘Another is that for everyone one like your Queen…there’s one like you’ she tells him. ‘Someone who’ll stand up for their people. For what’s right’. They begin to climb up the side of the cliff thanks to the large amount of rocks that fell, providing a terrain they can climb. Tritt tells Rogue that he will not have the opportunity, as the Queen was preparing to march to the battlefield, so the Swarm is likely gone. ‘We cannot hope to catch them’ he remarks.
‘Why not? We’re two people. They’re an army. They’ll move slower’ Rogue points out, adding that the one thing she knows rom being part of a hive mind is that the Swarm ain’t quitters. ‘And neither am Ah’ Rogue declares as they reach the higher ground, and begin their journey. ‘Then let us away. Let us stop this war if we can. But I fear…we may already be too late’ Tritt exclaims, and at that moment, on the battlefield, two suns gleam down as the Swarm and the Vray prepare to fight….


[User]
<image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image>
Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Untitled
‘Your people think we’re traitors. You really expect ‘em to believe us…when we tell ‘em their Queen betrayed ‘em? Or even give us the chance before they tear us apart?’ Rogue asks her companion, Tritt, of the alien race the Swarm. Rushing across the alien world together, Tritt replies ‘No. But we only need time to level the accusation. They will instinctively search the Queen’s memories through the hive-mind to confirm their beliefs’. Rogue reminds Tritt that the Queen blocked those memories, hid them away, but Tritt tells her that against probing from all the Swarm at once, such barriers cannot hold. He states that when his people see the Queen conspiring with the King of their enemies, plotting a battle whose sole purpose is to slay thousands on both sides simply to keep them in power, then they will listen. ‘We can stop this carnage before it begins’ Tritt tells Rogue.
Tritt tells Rogue that he can see she is exhausted, but that it is imperative they reach his people before they engage the Vray in battle, for once blood is shed, they will not heed them, there will be no hope of stopping them. Rogue tells Tritt to hold on, as they reach the edge of a cliff. She remarks that she hears something, and as they look out to the ground below, they find the Tritt engaged in battle with the Vray. ‘Ancestors, forgive me’ Tritt utters, while several Swarm Colossi tear up the landscape, and the Vray mourn their dead. ‘We are too late’ Tritt exclaims. ‘No! Ah can’t accept that!’ Rogue tells him as she leaps from the cliff, but Tritt points out that the battle has take on its own life, and that blood calls out for blood. ‘No force on this world can stop my people and the Vray from slaughtering each other now’ he explains. Rogue reminds Tritt that she isn’t from this world and declares that she isn’t about to let people kill each other over a lie.
Rogue picks up a weapon lying on the ground and uses it to knock one of the Swarm from a large multi-legged insect they are riding. ‘If Ah put this sword to your Queen’s throat, your people will listen’ Rogue exclaims. But, Tritt tells her to listen, and points out that the war rages, that she rushes headlong to her death. Rogue doesn’t stop, she charges the insect towards the battle. ‘Ah, well. At least it will be memorable’ Tritt decides. In the middle of the battle field, the Queen urges her warriors on, boasting that today, their numbers win out. ‘Today we wipe the stain of the Vray from our world!’ she exclaims, when suddenly, ‘My Queen -’ one of the warriors calls out, alerting her to something fast approaching. ‘No. it is not possible -’ the Queen gasps as she sees Rogue up ahead, still riding the insect like beast. ‘Kill it!’ the Queen screeches. ‘Forget the Vray. Slay the outworlder at all costs!’ the Queen orders.
Doing her best to keep the Swarm off her, Rogue kicks one of them away and tells that she isn’t their enemy, that it is their Queen who has betrayed them. But Rogue realizes that there is too much noise, they Swarm can’t - or won’t - hear her. ‘Overwhelm the mammal!’ one of the Swarm calls out, as a mass of them wash over Rogue like a wave. Rogue calls out to Tritt, telling him that she has got to force his way into the hive-mind and show them what they saw. ‘I cannot! Only the Queen is capable of such a thing!’ Tritt replies as he battles another of the Swarm. ‘Then we’re both gonna die…your people will live under a Queen who uses ‘em for cannon fodder…and you won’t even have tried!’ Rogue calls out. Tritt pauses, before deciding that he has committed many blasphemies today. ‘What is one more?’ he asks as he shoves his spike into one of the other Swarm’s heads.
Once again part of the hive-mind, Tritt calls out to the warriors of the swarm, announcing that the outworlder speaks the truth, that there is betrayal in the give-mind. ‘What there can never be…are lies’ he points out, as he opens his mind to the Swarm, showing them what he saw in the Queen’s mind - the Queen of the Swarm and the King of the Vray talking about how conflict keeps their numbers manageable and makes them strong enough to endure, leaving more resources for the survivors. The Swarm start to panic - ‘The Queen colludes with the enemy? With the King of the Vray himself?’ one of them exclaims, while another declares that she betrays the hive to preserve her own power. ‘It is incomprehensible, it is so…not-Swarm!’ another gasps.
‘Lies! Every bit of it! This is the Outworlder’s doing! Some alien trick!’ the Queen exclaims. ‘Trick?’ one of the Swarm asks. ‘It is the hive-mind’ another points out. ‘The entirety of the Swarm cannot be trucked, even by you’ a third tells the Queen as they close in around her. ‘We all saw it, we felt it is true’ one tells her. ‘You hid this from us. Blocked it from the hive-mind. Made a part of yourself separate’. The Swarm tell her that if that is how she wishes to live, then so be it. ‘You may now keep all the secrets you wish. But you will keep them alone. Forever’ the Swarm declare, before they all turn and walk away from the Queen. ‘Nooo! I…I cannot hear you! My people! Where have you gone?’ the Queen calls out, before dropping to the ground, clutching her head, she exclaims that the silence is everywhere, that there is no escaping it. ‘Please! Have mercy! The crushing quiet…someone speak to me…’ she utters, while Rogue stands and looks at her, before she, too, turns and walks away.
At the battle-line, the Swarm stop and stand still. The Vray King and Commander Chahr stand at the front of their own forces, while Chahr announces that he has never seen disarray in the Swam ranks. The King exclaims that they must exploit it while they can. ‘Warriors, on my command -’ he begins, but Chahr tells his King to wait, as he sees Rogue up ahead. The King sees her, too, but tells Chahr that she is not the woman he allied with, that she is one of them now - one of the mind-slaves. But Chahr exclaims that Rogue appears to be speaking to the Swarm, commanding them. ‘Look, they are pulling back - only defending themselves, making no aggressive moves’ Chahr points out. The King declares that they must take advantage of the Swarm’s hesitation and orders his warriors of the Vray to attack.
However, Rogue appears before them, and tells Chahr to listen to her, announcing that the Swarm’s Quen betrayed them, just as his King has betrayed him, too. ‘He planned this with her. He wants you to die!’ Rogue exclaims. The King shoves his weapon into one of the Vray, ‘Tricks and deceptions! But they will fail! My people will never believe such outrageous lies!’ the King booms. ‘Nor did mine. Until they saw it for themselves’ Tritt remarks, while Rogue asks Tritt if he can show them, too. Tritt replies that he could one at a time, but not if they fight, and that the Vray would need to submit to the hive-mind voluntarily. ‘Hah! You think us idiots? Suicidal? To bare our necks for your fangs?’ Chahr exclaims, but Rogue tells him to look at her, ‘You know me. Am Ah acting like someone clouded my mind?’ she asks him. ‘Think about it. Ain’t there a nagging little voice in the back of your mind saying something ain’t right?’ Rogue asks him.
Rogue smiles and tells Chahr that she knows it is hard accepting the truth, that might turn his world upside down. ‘Ah been there…recently’ she explains, adding that she knows she can’t force him, even if she could. ‘Ah’d never do that. Ah’m just asking you to trust me’ she tells him. Chahr looks at Rogue, and tells her that she resembles in all respects the brace and honorable warrior h knew. ‘I could tell when I saw you that you were no mind-salve. You must understand, Rogue, to submit to this thing…it is what we fear most. Mt every instinct screams against it. But my hear tells me to trust you’ Chahr announces, before removing his helmet, and telling Trutt to do as he will. Tritt’s spike appears and he shoves it into the back of Chahr’s neck, despite the King telling him that he is a fool, that it is a trap. A wide-eyed Chahr replies that this is a trap, the entire battle. ‘Meant to slay thousands of us. To keep us at war - and you, my King, in power - forever!’ Chahr exclaims.
Chahr calls out to Taros and his lieutenants, telling them that if they feel any duty to him, then he wants them to lay down their arms and submit to the hive-mind, to see what he has seen. ‘Wh - Commander, you can’t be serious! Submit? To the enemy?’ Taros enquires. Chahr tells his lieutenants that he won’t order them, but he asks them, as their war-brother. Taros is the first to drop to he knees and submit to the process, ‘This loyalty, you have earned’ Taros tells Chahr, and when the process is complete, he exclaims ‘But the ancients…it’s true!’, however another warrior won’t believe until he sees for himself, so he, too, drops to his knees for the mind-enlightening showing. Rogue stands with Chahr, Taros and the others who have gone through the process, as Chahr calls out to his people, ‘The Swarm are not your enemy!’ he tells them. ‘The enemy stands among you, calling himself King!’ Chahr exclaims.
‘Damn you…damn you, outworlder This is all your fault!’ the King booms as he turns away from slaying the Swarm, to rush towards Rogue, sword ready. However, Rogue picks up her own weapon and uses it to block the King’s attack. Rogue announces that she has had it with people blaming her for exposing their bad behavior. ‘Your sin, your fault’ she exclaims. ‘My half-brother Kurt taught me that. Best man Ah ever knew’ Rogue remarks, while announcing that he also taught her how to sword-fight, as she ducks the King’s attack, then leaps back up and kicks him backwards. The King falls to the ground, but Rogue doesn’t sly him, as she states that her half-brother also taught her to respect life. She shoves her weapon into the ground, and turns and walks away from the King, while Chahr rushes over, ‘That is not what you taught us, my King!’ Chahr points out, before he beheads the King as the Vray look on, although Rogue turns away.
Chahr and Tritt turn to each other, with Rogue standing between them. Chahr tells Rogue that he knows she thinks there will be peace between the Vray and the Swarm, but that she is mistaken, for the Swarm have slain too many of his brothers, and worse, forced them into their hive-mind, made them slaves. ‘Revenge. A typical motice among the selfish individualists of the Vray. But he is correct that the conflict will not end. The resources of our world cannot support us both’ Tritt replies. Tritt calls Rogue his hive-sister and tells her that he is sorry, but they cannot declare a cease-fire out of unreasoned idealism. ‘Then don’t. Do it because the alternative is you all die’ Rogue exclaims. She points out that it is true, their world is changed, that there isn’t enough here for both of them, unless they work together to find solutions. She reminds her friends that they both talk about how much better things were back in the old days, before the never-ending war, and asks them how they dealt with each other back then.
‘There…was trade’ Tritt explains. ‘But our people kept to their own’ Chahr points out. Rogue tells them that won’t work any more, and that it is time to think outside the box. ‘You trusted each other for the mutual benefit of your people. Ah’m asking you to do it once more’ she tells them. She removes both of her gloves and suggests they go into the hive-mind once more. She takes both their hands. ‘Let me show you’ she offers. They are linked, and Rogue reminds Chahr that he told her his ancestors studied magi and built beautiful cities, did amazing thinks like travelling dimensions, and how, once the war started, that all fell by the wayside, and they forgot what they had learned. Rogue tells Tritt that h showed her pretty much the same thing in the hive-mind, not so much the magic, but that his ancients innovated, solved problems creatively, and how they haven’t been able to get back to that.
Rogue tells Chahr and Tritt that their stories are almost identical, and points out that when they traded with each other, worked together, they thrived. ‘And when you went to war…you started to die. Not just your people…your civilizations’. Rogue shows them an image of the King of the Vray and the Swarm Queen together and tells them that this is what she was after, reaching back into the ancestral memory of the Swarm. ‘Ah thought this might’ve been the case’ she tells them, pointing out that they did more than trade - they helped each other’s strengths to overcome their individual weaknesses. ‘That’s your choice for the future. Keep fighting, trying to add a few ticks to the clock…or cooperate. Stand together…or die apart’.
The link ends, and Chahr remarks that this is intriguing, and true, for with their leaders hone, they must find new purpose, or else everything has been for nothing. Chahr points out that the Swarm culture centers around the hive-mind, but that is not the way of the Vray - for them, it is an obscenity. ‘Words that once would have been a grave insult. Demanding retaliation. But at long last, I understand’ Tritt remarks. He continues, stating that the Swarm honestly believed it was for the greater good, that they were enlightening barbarians. ‘We could not comprehend why any would refuse the hive-mind’ he explains, before remarking that seeing how fiercely Rogue fought for her individuality, and for Chahr, overcoming his fear, experiencing the difference between one voluntarily entering the hive-mind and one being forced in.
Tritt tells everyone that to compel something upon one who does not wish it, that is what their Queen did to them. ‘It harms both the one and the many. It does not make us stronger. It makes us less. And so -  your warriors. Thos we have captured. We release them from the hive-mind’ Tritt announces, assuring that they will be released gently and willingly, so as not to cause trauma to their psyches. Tritt continues, stating that the Vray will be returned with no preconditions, only their regrets and apologies. Tritt adds that he hopes in the future the hive-mind can be what it was today - not a weapon, but a tool, allowing them to understand each other. ‘Perhaps…perhaps it would do no harm to talk’ Chahr replies.
Later, in Altaica, the Vray Capital City. Rogue, Tritt and Chahr are gathered together, and Tritt announces that this goes better than he had imagined possible. Chahr agrees, and states that it appears their ancestors’ collaboration was more extensive than either of their peoples realized. ‘Already we have unlocked the secrets of much ancient technology, and developed several proposals for reaching water far beneath the ground’ he adds. Rogue tells her friends that they are both going to need new leaders, and it seems to her that the obvious choices are them. ‘Perhaps. I would like to experiment with these “free elections” you spoke of’ Chahr remarks, while Tritt reports that the Swarm have already done so, and that the hive-mind chose this morning. But all would follow the one who ended the never-ending war. Rogue, if you would stay -’ Tritt begins, but Rogue tells him that she can’t, as there is a war raging back home and she has already spent far too long away. Chahr tells Rogue that they understand, and that if it is her wish, they have finally found the means to help her, as she has aided them.
A small object glows in Chahr’s hand and he reveals that it was used by the ancients to travel the planes. ‘As I told you, it has been ages since anyone attempted such a journey successfully. It seems the missing ingredient was proper navigation. The countless dimensions can only be sorted through by countless minds’. Chahr smiles and turns to Tritt, ‘Or, if you will…’ he begins, ‘A hive-mind’ Tritt smiles. ‘You mean it? This can send me…home?’ Rogue asks. Chahr tells her that it would be a lie to say there are no risks, but yes, they can. ‘Will Ah end up where I left, or…’ Rogue’s voice trails off, while Tritt tells her that when the hive-mind touches hers, it can send her anywhere on her Earth she wishes to go. He asks her if they should begin, and Rogue replies ‘Please. Ah left friends in a bad way’. Energies swirl around Rogue, before a bubble forms, and Chahr tells Rogue that she should go to her friends. ‘But know this, Rogue…you will be missed’ he declares.
Chahr tells Rogue that they cannot accompany her, as their world needs them now more than ever. ‘But short of that, if there is any aid we can provide -’ Rogue cuts him off and thanks him, assuring him that they have done plenty already. ‘With your help, Ah stopped a war in a dimension Ah don’t even understand. If Ah can do that here…Ah can help do it on mah own world. Ah hope’ Rogue tells him as she steps through the portal…and emerges in the midst of battle….


[User]
<image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image>
Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Untitled
‘Ah know it’s confusing. Ah know a lot’s happened. So Ah’ll try to explain it again’ Rogue remarks, telling her audience that the Phoenix Force came back to Earth, major cosmic power, split across five X-Men. ‘They - and we - tried to use it to make the world a better place. Which is all we’ve ever tried to do’. She wonders if they should have known the power was too much, realized the Phoenix Five would go crazy. ‘The second Ah saw it happening, Ah tried to stop them. It got me zapped to another dimension, where Ah almost died. But Ah fought may way back’. Rogue states that she isn’t making excuses, that she knows folks got hit hard all over the world. ‘And you could argue it’s our fault. But may point is, all we ever tried to do was help’.
‘That’s all Ah’m trying to do now’ Rogue exclaims in Washington DC as soldiers surround her and aim their weapons at her. Fire fighters and other rescue workers look on in awe, as rubble and destruction is all around them. ‘There are people trapped in that subway. They could be hurt, dying. Y’all can’t get to them cause the rubble’s unstable…too many of you and you could crush ‘em trying to save ‘em’ Rogue points out. Rogue explains that one person can walk on it safely, she can, if they will just let her touch them, she can absorb their skills - paramedics, engineers, highlighters, she can be all in one. ‘Please. What can Ah do to make you trust me?’ Rogue asks them.
A paramedic rushes over to Rogue and exclaims that she doesn’t know if she trusts her or not, but she does know that those people are going to die unless they do something. ‘And I haven’t heard a better option’ she remarks, letting Rogue touch her skin. A man approaches her and tells her that he knows everything she needs to about the structure. Rogue thanks them both, while a police officer asks ‘Are you people crazy? Her kind did this! Mutants don’t give a damn about us. They look out for their own. Well, we can look out for out own’ he exclaims, when suddenly, another voice states ‘The man has a point’, and Rogue looks over, seeing Magneto hovering nearby. The sun shines down on the Master of Magnetism, who remarks that in the end, they must put those who mean the most to them first. ‘That’s Magneto! Open -’ the officer calls out, but Rogue shouts ‘No!’ and rushes over to him, knocking his arm back so that his gun fires upwards. ‘Hold fire!’ another officer asks, while the aggressive one asks Rogue if she is crazy. Magneto mutters that it is reassuring, even with all the upheaval in the world, that some things never change - a human’s first resort is still his guns.
‘Stop it. All of you!’ Rogue exclaims, holding her arms out, while the soldiers close in on Magneto. ‘Did you see him make an aggressive move? Here’s here to help’ Rogue tells the soldiers. ‘You can play macho men, or you can put the lives of the people trapped under there first’ Rogue suggests. One of the soldiers points out that even two people walking on that pile is risky, and remarks that the rubble is almost all concrete, there is no metal. ‘So what’s the “Master of Magnetism” gonna do one of us couldn’t?’ he asks. Rogue replies that as she understands it, the roof collapsed on the subway car, which is metal. ‘Ah’m willing to take the risk. So is he. How about you?’ she exclaims. The soldiers all lower their weapons, and one of them tells Rogue to do what she has to. Rogue makes her way to the rubble and starts to climb down a hole. Magneto follows her and tells her that he is prepared to assist, but the truth is, he came to see her. ‘Erik…we’re gonna have to multitask’ Rogue replies, and tells him to be careful, to step where she steps.
They climb down into the tunnel, and Rogue decides that this could be a bad idea, as things aren’t exactly stable. ‘All the more reason I should be at your side’ Magneto tells her. ‘You been keeping a low profile since it all hit the fan’ Rogue remarks. ‘Yes. As we just saw, many lay blame for what happened at our feet. Given my history, mine especially’ Magneto replies, to which Rogue asks him whether he intends on doing anything about that. ‘I’ve never had much use for the human justice system’ Magneto points out. ‘So what’re you gonna do? Hide out? Take over a third world country?’ Rogue enquires as she tries to make her way through the debris-filled tunnel. ‘I will do what I have always done. What is best for me people’ Magneto replies as he goes over and helps Rogue move some debris, while asking her what her plans are. ‘See if anyone’s alive down here. Help ‘em’ Rogue replies matter-of-factly.
Rogue turns around and helps pull Magneto through a narrow opening, and tells him that beyond that, she hasn’t given it a lot of thought just yet. ‘Well, then. Allow me to give you something to think about’ Magneto tells her, announcing that he comes with a proposal. Seeing that Magneto is down on one knee, Rogue is taken aback: ‘Oh…mah…God’ she utters. Magneto realizes what he has done and tells Rogue that he is sorry for a poor choice of words. He adds that there is no need to look so terrified. ‘I have never been accused of being a romantic, but when I proposed to my late wife, it was in a field of orchids, not a ruin’ Magneto remarks. Rogue turns away and tells him that she is sorry. Adding that ever since she left to join Wolverine’s school, and Magneto stayed with Cyclops, things have been unfinished. ‘We only saw each other in the middle of chaos. Barely even talked’ she points out.
Magneto tells Rogue that he assumed that was as she wished it, before agreeing that things between them have been unclear. ‘That is what I am here to correct’ he assures her as he helps her through another part of the destroyed tunnel, he remarks that they chose different paths, during the Schism, she with Wolverine, he with Cyclops, so their lives went in separate directions. ‘I do not wish that to happen again’ he announces, adding that the world nearly ended, that he nearly died, so these things make a man assess his life, and what he wants from it. Magneto pulls Rogue towards him and tells her ‘I want you. I want us. Come with me, Rogue. Wherever we go form here, let it be together’. Shocked, Rogue replies ‘Erik, Ah -’ before turning away, announcing that she hears someone. ‘Over here’ Rogue calls out as she finds the damaged subway train.
Magneto raises a hand and tells Rogue that he thinks he can move it, but Rogue tells him not to, as the train is holding up what is left of the roof up. ‘You shift the wrong piece, and it all comes crashing down’ she exclaims, adding that they have to tread carefully. She climbs into the train, it is bathed in a dim red light, and Rogue points to an area, telling Magneto to peel away the metal and make a space about two feet wide. ‘You’ll need to focus, pull it out sudden and sharp like. That sound workable?’ Rogue asks. Magneto replies that he will make it workable, and uses his powers to open the metal up, freeing people trapped in the next car. ‘Oh, thank God. It was getting hard to breathe!’ one of them exclaims. Rogue tells everyone to follow this man as he will get them out, as she points at Magneto. ‘He will?’ Magneto asks. Rogue reminds him that he knows where it is safe to walk, and tells everyone to go slowly and in single file, as they can’t have too many on the rubble at once.
Rogue tells Magneto that she is going to look for more survivors, and asks him to come back when these people are safe. Magneto tells Rogue that he doesn’t like leaving her defenseless, and offers her a portion of his power. Rogue assures Magneto that she is fine on her own. ‘Very well’ Magneto mutters, scowling as he turns around to lead the civilians to safety. ‘Beautiful. The man wants to commit and you act like he ran over your dog’ Rogue tells herself as she carries on through the train. She reminds herself that it wasn’t too long ago she was complaining about him not reaching out, not making the first move. ‘Face it, girl. You been avoiding figuring out what you want. Well, it’s decision time’ Rogue tells herself, before she sees someone in the next car, slumped against a seat. ‘Hello? Sir? Sir, can you hear me? Mah name’s Rogue. Ah’m gonna get you out of here’ she tells him.
Approaching the man, Rogue sees him smiling and looking up at her. He introduces himself as Richard, and apologies for not getting up. ‘Oh…’ Rogue gasps, while Richard tells her that it is more complicated than she might think, revealing a large piece of shrapnel stuck through his stomach. At hat moment, Magneto returns, and assures Rogue that the survivors are safe, and that they told him there was one more on this side of the cave-in, a man in his forties wearing a suit. ‘Yeah, I found him’ Rogue calls out as she is crouched beside him, wrapping a bandage around him to put pressure on the wound. Rogue and Magneto step away from Richard and Rogue reports that it is serious, that he is going to die if they don’t get him to a hospital, and fast. She informs Magneto that the shrapnel is all that is keeping him from bleeding out, so if they pull him free, he will die before they get him outside.
Rogue asks Magneto if he can break the shrapnel off at the base, but Magneto detects that the shrapnel is as much plastic as metal, and with his powers being what they are, he cannot sever it clearly. He adds that he thinks he can do it, but that it will be rough and abrupt, and may worsen the damage. ‘Perhaps if we -’ Magneto begins, when suddenly there is a rumbling, and he and Rogue look up, concerned. Richard tells them that he appreciates what they are trying to do for him, but that they need to go, as the rubble is shifting and is going to come down. He states that he is okay with dying, but couldn’t bear it if he took them with him. Rogue tells Richard to hush up and assures him that they are all getting out of here, that they were just discussing logistics. ‘You got a lot of living yet to do’ she points out. ‘Why start now?’ Richard asks, coughing
Rogue listens as Richard tells her that all he has ever done is what other people wanted him to, that he is living the life his parents chose, never mind that they are dead and gone. ‘They wanted me to work on the Hill. Be important. I suppose I am. Writing position papers and speeches. Not even knowing if it’s what I believe. Because I’ve never bothered to think about what really matters to me’. Looking down, Richard decides that isn’t true - he knows what matters - and his name is Dale. Richard explains that Dale stick with him almost ten years. A decade of hiding, of not going out to restaurants because someone he knows might see them. ‘I mean, who’d even care, right? I’m just staff, I’m not the candidate’ Richard remarks.
Magneto and Rogue look at each other, while Richard admits that he was so afraid to decide “this is what I want”, because if it failed, it would be his fault. ‘So much easier to let others make the choice. People who wanted that burden. Easier to do what’s required than decide what that is’ Richard remarks. Rogue turns back to Richard as he announces that Dale finally had enough and said he was tired of waiting for him to figure out what’s important, so he ended things. ‘I was on my way to his house, and you know the sad part? I’m still not sure if I was going to ring the bell’ Richard reveals. Rogue checks Richard’s bandages and tells him that they are going to find out, before informing Magneto that she needs more gauze and tape. ‘Go fetch me -’ she begins, when there is another rumbling directly above them.
Magneto announces that they must go now, or they will all die. But Rogue tells him that Richard isn’t stable yet, and she needs another second. ‘Please, listen to him. Get out of here!’ Richard exclaims. Magneto tells Rogue to stand aside, ‘We can’t -’ Rogue begins, while Magneto tells Rogue that he cannot let her die here. He uses his powers to lift Richard up, and then carries him in his arms as they escape the subway train and make it into the tunnel - but they are forced to move on quickly as the whole thing caves in around them. Magneto, Rogue and Richard emerge from the tunnel, dust all around them. Rogue tends to Richard, telling him to stay with her, while the emergency rescue workers rush over. ‘Glad you made it. Don’t feel bad…only wish I could’ve told Dale…’ Richard utters, and after removing her glove, Rogue takes Richard’s hand and assures him that he will - no matter what happens, he will.
‘Move!’ one of the rescue workers exclaims, shoving Rogue aside. ‘He’s bleeding out! I don’t have a pulse!’ a paramedic announces. Rogue leaves them to work on saving Richard, and she walks over to Magneto. ‘Come on, come on…’ she can hear them call out. Magneto takes Rogue in his arms and holds her, while someone announces ‘Time of death…’, and Rogue suggests to Magneto that they talk.
Later, Rogue and Magneto walk through a park, ‘Are you sure now’s the time?’ Magneto asks her, trees with reddish-orange leaves around them. Rogue replies that they probable should have done it sooner, but she doesn’t want to let it wait any longer. ‘You feel I caused that man’s death’ Magneto remarks. ‘No. you did what you thought was best. What you thought was right. Didn’t matter what Ah thought’ Rogue replies. ‘Rogue…’ Magneto begins, but Rogue tells him to hush, as that is how it should be, for both of them. ‘We each gotta go where our conscience takes us’ Rogue adds. ‘Can we not make that journey together?’ Magneto asks. Rogue turns away from him and tells Magneto that when she joined the X-Men, she thought it was to get control of her powers and to make amends for what she had done - same as Magneto.
‘And it was’ she continues. ‘But it was also to try to figure out who Ah am. Who Ah want to be’. Rogue remarks that it has taken a long time, but that she thinks she finally might have. ‘You were a big part of that. We been down some of the same stretches of road. Both done a lot we regret’ Rogue points out, while telling Magneto that he gave has a place to go where that was understood, where she wasn’t gonna be judged. ‘Ah will never, ever forget that’ she promises him. Magneto frowns as he realizes that who Rogue has become leaves no room for him. ‘For anyone’ Rogue assures him. Images flash through Rogue’s mind as she reminds Magneto that she was brought up with other people deciding her life for her - Mystique, Destiny, and after them, Professor X, Cyclops - whoever.
Rogue announces that she half thinks she stole Ms Marvel’s powers on purpose so she would have someone in her head who was confident, who knew what to do, ‘Because Ah sure didn’t’ she points out. Rogue adds that she has come a long way, but that there is a difference between making tactical decisions in battle, stuff you have been trained to do, and working out your own life. ‘You give yourself far too little credit’ Magneto tells Rogue, who replies ‘No. Ah know mahself. Ah know as long as Ah’m with someone like you - who takes the lead instinctively, who likes it…who Ah care for…Ah’ll let ‘em’. Rogue reminds Magneto of what Richard said earlier - that it is easier to do what is required, than decide what is. Ah don’t want to end up like him…wondering “what if”’ Rogue explains.
Rogue tells Magneto that she thinks she figured things out - but isn’t going to be sure until she has stood on her own two feet for a while. ‘Then that is what you should do’ Magneto replies, putting a hand on Rogue’s arm. ‘Ah’m sorry -’ Rogue begins, but Magneto tells her that she has nothing to be sorry for, and then Rogue turns to Magneto and they kiss. They pull apart, and Rogue remarks that she isn’t saying they should be strangers, that they can’t keep in touch. Magneto tells Rogue that he understands, but suggests they don’t, at least for a time. Magneto puts his helmet back on and announces that there is much he must consider, as well. He turns from Rogue and walks away. Rogue watches him for a time, before leaving also.
Rogue arrives in Georgetown, and a man answers the door which she stands in front of. ‘Are you Dale?’ Rogue enquires. ‘Yes’ Dale replies before asking ‘Is that blood?’ when he sees splashes of red on Rogue’s costume. Rogue ignores the question and tells Dale that she has a message from Richard. ‘He can’t tell me himself?’ Dale asks. ‘He will’ Rogue smiles, before entering Dale’s home.


[User]
<image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image><image>
Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Untitled
A communications room at the Jean Grey School, in Westchester, New York, where Rogue has received an emergency distress call. ‘As you can see from the images I’m sending you, the riot’s in cellblock C’ a prison warden states via communicator. He explains that after recent damage to the Raft, his facility has been taking in superhuman criminals, not something that it was built for. Rogue watches the images which depict superhuman criminals engaged in a battle with regular prisoners and guards. The warden adds that they were issued a detachment of Guardsmen, but that they won’t last long, and explains that if the inmates move to adjacent cellblocks and release others, it will be a disaster.
The warden tells Rogue that the Fantastic Four are in some other dimension and the Avengers are spread around the world fixing the damage from the Phoenix situation. ‘We need help and we need it fast. Avengers dispatch suggested you’ he explains. Rogue informs the warden that most of the X-Men aren’t here, either. ‘See, we’re a school, and there’s a field trip to Tabula Rasa…’ her voice trails off, and she looks back up at the holo-images of the riot, before exclaiming ‘Y’know what? We’ll make do. We’re on our way, warden. Hang on just a few more minutes’ she tells him as she rushes out of the communications room, and down a corridor, finds Calvin Rankin a.k.a. the Mimic. Mimic tells Rogue that he was just coming to talk to her, but Rogue tells him that can talk in the Blackbird, as there is a prison riot upstate. ‘No one here except you and me. Gimme a lift to the hangar?’ Rogue asks. ‘Absolutely’ Mimic replies as he picks Rogue up and starts to fly to the hangar.
Soon, the Blackbird streaks skyward, and Rogue announces that the autopilot is set, before asking Mimic if she can borrow a couple of his abilities, at least until she gets close to some of the bad guys. ‘Sure. But won’t that cancel both our powers out?’ Mimic asks. Rogue explains that that will only happen if they try to copy each other at the same time. ‘Then go right ahead’ Mimic tells her, before Rogue asks him what it was he wanted to talk about. ‘Oh…right. I, uh, swear I wasn’t eavesdropping. But I overheard you and Gambit. Saying things were over between you and Magneto’ Mimic explains. ‘Oh’ Rogue replies, before telling Cal that she doesn’t want to jump to conclusions, and assuring him that she likes him a lot, but that she isn’t ready to be with anyone right now. ‘That’s what Ah was talking to Remy about. He saw it long before Ah did’ Rogue explains.
Rogue continues, revealing that Gambit knew she had to figure things out for herself, so he gave her some space, set her on the course she needed without pushing her, or telling her what to do. Rogue adds that she was thanking Gambit for being her best friend, pointing out that she knows how much it sucks being in the “friend zone”. ‘But Cal, that’s just all Ah got room for right now’ Rogue tells Calvin, who replies ‘Um, great. Really. Because I wasn’t asking you out’. Rogue covers her face with her hands, embarrassed. ‘Course not. Stupid and vain. Ah oughtta come with a warning label’. Mimic tells Rogue that he can see how she thought that, but explains that it was the things she said about being on your own and figuring things out, that is what he wanted to discuss.
Mimic informs Rogue that Dr McCoy told him that Michael - Weapon Omega - is going to be okay, cured, probably in the next few days. ‘Cal, that’s wonderful!’ Rogue smiles. ‘Yeah. It really is. And once he’s awake…I’m thinking about leaving the school. The X-Men’ Mimic reveals, staring out the window. Calvin tells Rogue that he has learned so much in a short time, about teamwork, and ways to use his powers, but not so much about himself. He turns back to her, and continues: ‘Who I want to be. What I want from life. Pretty big questions for anyone, but for me…the way my powers work, I tend to instinctively mimic strong personalities - the X-Men are full of them’.
‘Except for mine’ Mimic points out, adding that it is easy to lost himself, too easy, as he doesn’t know if what he feels is he, or Wolverine seeping in around the edges. ‘But then I look at you. Powers like mine. Background not that different. And you did it, you figured it out because you were here. Rogue…what should I do?’ Mimic asks. Rogue looks taken aback, before glancing out the window and announcing ‘There’s the prison’. Rogue gets out of her seat, and places a bare hand on Mimic’s wings, and tells him that for the moment, all he has to do is kick ass and stay alive. A hatch opens, and Rogue drops out of it, flying towards the prison, part of it on fire, using the newly-acquired wings.
Mimic follows, and the first part of the riot they come across, sees several Guardsmen in danger. ‘Get Quicksand! We can’t stop her!’ one of them exclaims as the criminal called Quicksand has made a sandstorm, engulfing many. ‘Damn right. How do you hold a force of nature?’ Quicksand boasts. ‘With another’ Rogue exclaims as she fires a blast of ice, freezing Quicksand. Rogue asks Mimic to back her up, and he does so, while some human prisoners also engage the Guardsmen in battle. ‘Nice work, but there’s already too many loose, too wide a range of power sets. Even with you two, we can’t stand up to them all’ a Guardsman calls out to Rogue. ‘Sugah, for me a “wide range of power sets” is like a trip to 31 Flavors’ Rogue replies, before telling him to give her a minute, and then the criminals’ skills are going to be working for her while Mimic continues to freeze Quicksand.
Several of the powered-criminals see Rogue flying towards them. ‘Don’t let her touch you! She’s a power thief!’ Ruby Thursday tells everyone. Rogue manages to touch Ruby Thursday on the head, but energy bands extend from it, and Ruby Thursday explains that her head is artificial. The bands wrap around Rogue, while Ruby tells everyone with ranged attacks to fire, when she moves. Ruby Thursday moves back, and Rogue is forced upwards by a combined attack from the pyrokinetic Silk Fever and the electrical powers of Supercharger. Suddenly, ‘I’m sorry - so sorry’ a voice calls out behind Rogue. She turns around, to see the Schizoid Man hovering behind her. ‘Take you apart’ the Schizoid Man utters. ‘…I can’t stop him’ another voice exclaims, before the Schizoid Man releases several psionic projections at Rogue.
Mimic sees Rogue in trouble and fires an optic blast at the Schizoid Man, knocking him over. ‘Rogue! Fall back!’ Mimic calls out, and as he returns to freezing Quicksand, he asks ‘Are you -?’, to which Rogue assures him that she will be fine. ‘How’d they know what Ah can do?’ Rogue asks. A Guardsman approaches Rogue and tells her that more people know of her than she thinks. ‘They’re not going to let us near the. We need more backup’ he adds. Rogue tells him that there is no more backup, so they will have to do. Rogue reminds Mimic that as he can copy powers just by being close. With flame bursting from one hand and ice from the other, Mimic replies ‘And I will’, before telling Rogue that the man who attacked her, the Schizoid Man,  is insane, and that being near him is like having snakes crawling into his head.
Mimic continues, ‘And the Griffin. He’s feral…I’ll do what I can, but mimicking such strong personalities, I’m barely hanging on’. Rogue goes over to him and puts a hand on his shoulder, asking if he can hold on a few more minutes, as she has an idea, but needs him to buy her time. ‘I…yes. Consider it done’ Mimic replies, before telling Rogue to please hurry, as he spins around and fires an optic blast at the Griffin. Rogue turns to the Guardsman and asks if there are inmates with powers in any other cellblocks, and if there are any on good behavior. The Guardsman displays a holo-blueprint of the prison and replies that there are a few. ‘But you can’t seriously want them out. They’ve got problems…mental…behavioral -’ he begins, Rogue assures him that she isn’t going to let them out, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help. With that, she flies off to another part of the prison.
Flying down the space between cells, Rogue gets some attention from the prisoners, one of whom shouts ‘Hey, my conjugal visit’s here!’, while another declares that she is setting up position, which means the C block guys are coming. ‘Aww yeah! Them walls are about to tumble down!’ another shouts. Rogue sets down on the floor and calls out to the prisoners, announcing that the riot is going to be stopped sooner or later, the Avengers will show up and it will all be over. ‘Keep talking and maybe you’ll believe it!” someone calls out. Rogue ignores the comment and continues: ‘Some of you know who Ah am. Ah can borrow anyone’s powers by touching ‘em. If they’re fighting me, it’s harder. Tough to get powers without part of their psyche, too. And Ah can’t afford voices in mah head right now. So Ah’m asking for volunteers’ Rogue calls out.
The entire cellblock bursts into a fit of laughter. ‘Oh, man, they’re really desperate’ one prisoner calls out. ‘You better run, little girl. If you’re still here when we get sprung, it’s gonna be nasty!’ another warns Rogue. ‘Yeah, Ah figured. Ah ain’t talking to all of you, or even most of you. You ain’t gonna listen no matter what Ah say’ Rogue replies. She continues: ‘Ah know you’re hoping the others’ll bust you out. And maybe some you are smart enough to know that’s a dead end. What’s it get you? Life on the run? Hiding, fighting just to stay alive?’ The prisoners all go quiet and listen as Rogue tells them that she has been where they are - full of hate for everybody, everything, and mad as hell because the world gave her a raw deal - and it did.
‘But so did Ah. Because Ah gave up on mahself. On any possibility it could be better’ she explains, adding that things got worse, she hurt many people, including herself, as that is all she thought she was capable of doing. Rogue reveals that when she went to the X-Men, she was desperate, and they had every reason to turn her away, some wanted to, but they didn’t. ‘Ah figured if they believed in me, Ah owed it to them to believe in mahself. To try. To get better’ Rogue adds. She explains that she found she could, that she was so much more than she had ever imagined possible. ‘Ah’m still learning that’ she admits.
Rogue tells the prisoners that the biggest lesson was that there were people who cared enough to help, but that at the end of the day, it was up to her. ‘Ah ain’t gonna lie. It was hard. Still is. And Ah live knowing it could all unravel if Ah make one wrong move’. One strange-looking prisoner listens intently, as Rogue announces that it all started with someone believing in her, and her taking that first step. ‘Ah believe in you. Now it’s your move’ she declares. There is more laughter, as a regular prisoner shouts ‘And that’s one to grow on! You are cracking me up, lady. You have got to be insane if you think any of us would -’, but the strange-looking prisoner interrupts, and tells Rogue that he has a kid. ‘If I cooperate, do I get out sooner?’
‘Equinox, you traitor! You even think about it and you’re a dead man!’ someone shouts out from one of the cells above. Rogue tells Equinox that she can’t promise anything, but that she will try her damnedest. ‘Come on then. I’ve let her down enough’ Equinox calls out as he holds his hand out through the bars, and Rogue takes it. A few cells away is Armadillo, who tells Rogue that he has never been much good on his own. ‘Perhaps, through you, I can begin to change that’. Rogue tells him that he is, and thanks him as she places a hand on his. Slumped over in another cell is Man-Bull, ‘Hhhelp. Want to…help’ he utters. Rogue tells him that he is, and swears she won’t forget this, as she touches one of his large fingers.
‘Neither will we! You’re dead, all three of you! Dead!’ a voice exclaims. But, Rogue spins around, her form changing - eyes glowing, horns sprouting, skin morphing, she shouts ‘Wrong. Anyone so much as touches them, Ah’ll be back. And Ah’ll show you what Ah was like as a bad guy!’
Back in C block, Icemaster has trapped Mimic’s legs in a block of ice, while the Griffin flies overhead, and the Schizoid Man releases more mental constructs. ‘Darkness tearing at your mind. Worming in and spreading. I want you to let go. Embrace the madness. Just do it. Let your true self out’ the Schizoid Man beckons, while Mimic forces Ruby Thursday back with an optic blast. ‘Go to hell. I’m stronger than you. You can kill me. But you’ll never take who I am!’ Mimic exclaims as he knocks Griffin backwards. ‘How about neither!’ a voice calls out - Rogue has returns, and she knocks Icemaster over, adding his powers to her strange new appearance. Rogue slams a large bull-like fist into Griffin, forcing him down. ‘How about you all go back to your cells…before things get ugly’ Rogue suggests.
Lightmaster appears before Rogue and tells her that it is too late for that, as she passed “ugly” miles ago. Rogue rushes towards Lightmaster, who boasts that he can burn through that armadillo hide ‘I command light itself!’ Lightmaster exclaims, before screaming as Rogue puts a half-frosted half-flaming hand on him. ‘Whoop-de-doo, Lightmaster’ she mutters, before announcing that she also commands light itself now, and shoves him away with ease. Mimic encases Ruby Thursday in ice, while goes after Silk Fever. ‘Problem was, y’all wouldn’t let me get close. Now you ain’t got a choice’ Rogue tells the villains as she slams a large iced-fist into Silk Fever, before turning on the Griffin, forcing him down. ‘Your senior skip day’s over, kids!’ Rogue exclaims.
‘Folks. You think you can fight madness? You think you can stand up to the darkest visions of your own fractured minds?’ the Schizoid Man asks as he releases more psionic construct demons. The demons swarm around Rogue and Mimic, as Rogue responds by saying ‘Yeah, Ah done it a lot. Truth to tell…it’s getting kinda boring!’ she adds as she moves through the demons with ease, and slams a powerful fist against the Schizoid Man. The Guardsmen begin rounding up any escaped criminals, while Mimic approaches Rogue and exclaims that he might just ask her out after all. ‘Psshh. All Ah am to you is a pretty face’ Rogue replies, before telling Mimic that he did some nice work.
Later, the Blackbird returns to the Jean Grey School, and Rogue tells Calvin that about what he asked her earlier, he doesn’t need her to tell her what to do, and assures him that he is a lot stronger than he gives himself credit for. ‘You proved that today’ she adds, before telling Mimic that he can figure this out for himself, and whatever he decides, it will be the right thing. ‘What makes you so sure?’ Mimic asks. Walking out onto the school grounds, Rogue explains that she has figured out the hard way that the toughest thing to do is trust yourself, and that it is also the most important. ‘Ah ain’t talking about being arrogant…thinking you can do no wrong. You grew outta that a long time ago. It’s about asking yourself the right questions…and allowing yourself the time and space to work out the answers’ Rogue tells Calvin.
‘Discovering who you are, who you want to be, and figuring out how to close the gap’ Rogue remarks. ‘You think being here will help you do that, stay. You think it’s better done alone, with fewer distractions…go. Deep down, you already know’. Mimic listens to Rogue, before asking her what it feels like when you get there. ‘You don’t. It never ends’ Rogue responds, while another Blackbird lands nearby, and several faculty members - the Beast, Frenzy and Gambit - and several students - Anole, Armor, Graymalkin, Trance, Rockslide, Bling and Idie - emerge from it. Rogue tells Mimic that you are always learning about yourself and getting better, working not to make new mistakes, or slip back into old ones. ‘It’s called life’
Mimic thanks Rogue, who puts a hand on his shoulder and tells him ‘Anytime’, before Mimic takes to the sky. She watches him go, and several others gather around her - the Beast, Gambit, Anole, Armor and Rockslide, while Cannonball and Iceman appear overhead. ‘Cal’ Rogue calls out. ‘Hm?’ Mimic asks, looking back. ‘It feels great’ Rogue smiles.
Characters: