Saturday was a blur at the Institute. At any given time, one of the students was

out at the salon, or getting some clothes, or buying flowers or candy. The front

hall became an intersection as people came and went.

Kitty had it worst of all, for she needed to get a new dress, and the shops

were almost emptied by the other girls at school. Between that and running

around to her appointments, she wondered if she would ever get to the dance at

all.

Kurt stayed in his room, trying on every outfit he had, mostly more than once,

and still he couldn't find anything that he deemed worthy of the dance. He had

debated about calling Amanda and canceling, but fortunately logic won the day

and he simply maintained his wardrobe torture.

Rogue swallowed her pride and finally asked Jean for advice on how she should

dress. Though she really didn't care for the girl's opinions, she wanted to make

sure she looked good for Shockwave, and in the end he was worth more than her

feelings.

As for Shockwave, he spent the day doing what he always did: reading. He didn't

understand why everyone was so hyper about the dance and their clothing. He

already knew what he was going to wear, the tuxedo Professor Xavier had given

him as a welcoming gift. So rather than rush around in a dizzy haze of

decisions, he laid back on his bed and immersed himself in Chaucer.

Day bled to night, the rush of preparation gradually mellowed into a haze of

anticipation and the students gathered in the foyer to wait for whatever rides

they had scheduled. Shockwave changed into his tux, gave himself a once over in

the mirror behind his door, and satisfied with his appearance, joined them.

Kurt kept fidgeting with his holowatch, asking Kitty every three seconds if he

looked fine. Jean stood next to Scott by the door, looking very elegant in her

floor length red dress. But as Shockwave descended, to the oohs and ahhs of the

gathered body of the Institute, his eyes fell upon the lone figure standing by

the picture window on the far side of the room.

"Whoa, Shawn...lookin good, dude!" Kurt said as he passed.

"Yeah, totally Ixom." Kitty added.

He smiled at them, slapping Kurt's gloved hand. Pressing through the group, he

made his way over to Rogue as she stared out the window, her hands on her hips.

"Hey." He said. She turned around and Shockwave felt his heart skip a beat. She

was wearing her usual black tank top, but instead of the see through green

shirt, she wore a vest of the deepest blue. Her skirt was longer, and she had on

knee-high black leather boots. A pair of silver belts and long silk gloves

completed the look. He held his breath...in his eyes, she had never been so

beautiful as she was now. "You look...magnificent."

From the look in her eyes, she obviously thought the same about him, and he

would have had to agree with he. "Not so bad yourself...but where's mah

corsage?"

"Corsage? Oh, the flowers...didn't get you any. But I did get this." He reached

into his pocket and pulled out a shimmering jewel, set in pure silver and

dangling from a platinum chain. He had had it for longer than he could remember.

"I thought it was nicer than flowers." He threaded it around her neck.

Shockwave couldn't be sure, but as Rogue fingered the gem, he thought he saw a

tear form in the corner of her eye. "It's beautiful..." She said.

"So are you." Yeah, he knew it sounded sappy, but he couldn't resist it. Rogue

gave him a sly look.

"Hey, everybody! Dhe ride's here!" Kurt said, sticking his head in the door.

"Last one dhere has to sit in dhe trunk!"

* * *

Any uncertainty Shockwave had about the number of people at the dance was

dispelled the moment he and Rogue walked into the gym. Even with the dim

flashing lights and loud music, Shockwave could see that everybody in the school

was indeed there. He saw Kurt walk over to a rather pretty girl in a pink dress

and take her hand, his date, he figured. He saw Jean surrounded by boys, her

eyes straying over to a lonely Scott who was leaning against the wall.

He saw Kitty run into the arms of a rather dashing boy with long red hair. the

boy seemed to notice him staring and flashed Shockwave a smile. Shockwave

shuddered. He didn't know why, but that boy didn't feel right to him.

"What's wrong, Shawn?" Rogue said, tugging on his arm.

"Nothing...just a bad memory." He looked back at the boy, but felt nothing. He

and Kitty were laughing at some joke. "Who's the kid with Kitty?"

Rogue looked puzzled for a minute. "Ah don't know. Ah think she said his name's

Paul. He's a new kid."

Shockwave nodded. She had said something about that yesterday, but he really

wasn't paying attention then. He felt Rogue pull him towards the dance floor,

and he lost sight of the boy and Kitty.

The music was far louder on the dance floor, and even though his mind was

preoccupied, he couldn't tone it out, and it eventually began to worm its way

into him. He felt Rogue put her arm around his waist, felt her take his hand,

and he finally gave up wondering and focused around her. She was radiant in the

flashing lights, and he fast became lost in her eyes.

Though he had no idea how to dance, Rogue didn't seem to notice. She flowed

with the music, and though Shockwave tried his best to keep up, he was clearly

outclassed by her. At least the music was fast and it didn't take much to fake

it.

But the nagging feeling that was still in the back of his mind didn't go away.

It still gnawed at him, kept him from fully enjoying the dance. There was

something about that boy he didn't like, and now he felt that he knew the kid.

He had met lots of people during his time on the run, had helped a lot of

people. And certainly the kid looked typical enough. Yeah, that was it.

The music changed.

* * *

DJ Spark hyped himself as the coolest spinner in the county. Though that was

mostly talk--he was practically the only spinner in the county--the kids really

grooved to his tunes. Every song he spun attracted tons of kids, gyrating and

jamming to the phat tunes.

Several of the kids came up with requests, and he was cool with that. This was,

after all, their dance and he was more than happy to oblige them. Some of the

stuff was weird, really way out, but he still tried his best to make sure

everyone was happy.

As he set the next vinyl and began to spin, he suddenly felt a weird tickle on

the back of his neck. Turning, he saw a guy standing behind his booth, dressed

in a long black overcoat and flat billed hat. The slasher flick he watched last

night briefly entered his mind. Weird clothes for a school dance. That and the

guy wasn't allowed to be back there.

"Yo, man, you gotta clear out. This here's restricted access." He said. The

guy's hat moved and he could feel eyes tearing into him despite the shadows cast

by the headgear.

"Oh? I'm sorry. I thought this was a dance area." The kid moved closer to

Spark, and the sour odor of old meat drifted from him. Spark gagged.

"Whoa! Get back. Do not come any closer till you take a shower."

"You find my...aroma disturbing?" The guy's raspy voice was really starting to

freak Spark out.

"Look, you gotta get outta here. this is private stuff."

The kid was standing right under the platform now, the odor was overpowering.

Spark inched back, pressing into his DJ equipment. "I just need your help for a

second..." The kid was on the booth, his hands were out of his pockets, and

Spark saw they were dripping with yellowish slime. Spark screamed as the guy

rushed him. He thrashed against the turntables, felt the kid shove his hand over

his mouth, tasted the vile slime. He screamed one last time. The music blared

him out.

* * *

The faintest sour odor immediately ceased Shockwave's dancing and brought his

attention towards the music booth. He knew that stench, and it was anything but

welcome. He clenched his hands into tight fists and felt the churning of his

gravity field as it begged to be let out. Rogue cocked her head to the side, a

look of total confusion passing over her. He reached out and took her hand,

gently squeezing it.

The light rock song playing ended abruptly, replaced by a blend of

techno-metal. The students stopped dancing and cast looks to the DJ booth,

vocally protesting the change to such annoying music. The song grew only louder.

Kitty made a sour face and wrapped her arm around Paul. "C'mon, let's, like,

totally ditch this place. This music sucks."

Paul smiled, but not the warm kind he had been giving her all night. This one

was eerie, and unnerved Kitty. She suddenly had the intense desire to be gone

from this boy.

"I actually think this music's kind of cool." The sudden hollowness in his

voice added to her uncomfortable feelings. She felt his hand tighten around her

wrist.

A dark shadow rose up atop the DJ booth, and everyone knew that it wasn't DJ

Spark. While the latter wore bright colors, this figure was clothed in black,

with a wide brimmed hat and he had an awful odor drifting off him. A wide circle

appeared as students backed away from him.

"We're sorry to report that our regularly scheduled DJ had to split, but rest

assured that the music shall continue care of..." He ripped off his hat and

coat. Students screamed as his fully disfigured appearance fell over the crowd.

"...DJ Cadaver."

He snapped his fingers, and the windows shattered, raining shards of glass down

upon the collected dancers. With a loud baying, six dogs, all equally grotesque,

fell from the sky, landing perfectly upon their paws. Students ran towards the

door.

"Uh-uh-uh. The fun's only about to start." The door burst open, revealing a

half-dozen more zombified dogs and a handful of gibbering green humanlike

creatures. The mass of teenagers halted immediately and began to backtrack.

"I knew it." Shockwave said. "I shouldn't have come."

Rogue looked into his eyes and saw hard resolve and a glimmer of tension. A

pair of Demis swirled around his hands. She looked around the crowded gym,

hoping for a sign of Jean or Scott or Kitty or anybody from the Institute. She

found no such reassurances.

"Cadaver!" Shockwave yelled. The dead mutant looked over at him, a smile

crossing his mostly lipless face.

"Ah, Shawn." He said with a laugh. "Almost missed you. Be a shame if the prom

king wasn't here to greet his biggest fans."

"You're a riot, zombie." The Demis in Shockwave's fists swelled. "Am I going to

have to take you down again? or did you not learn last time?"

"Last time? Last time your sense of morals kept you from doing the right thing,

boy. You couldn't kill me. You haven't the nerve."

"Mistakes get to be corrected." Shockwave launched a Demi, watching it carve

towards Cadaver. The necromancer whistled and a pair of hounds leapt in front of

him, taking the full brunt of the attack. They twisted and contracted out of

existence only a ghostly baying to indicate they were ever there.

"Coward." Shockwave said.

"This time, I will succeed. At any cost." Cadaver clicked his tongue and the

hounds began to advance. Students packed tightly together, some screaming as the

beasts slobbered closer. He felt Rogue's hand close tightly over his own. The

remaining Demi surged and pulsed, begging to be let free. Cadaver gave a sick

smile.

A beam of red light sliced into the hounds, sending them flying. Before they

could react, several more were lifted off the ground and hurled into the folded

bleachers. Cadaver snarled and pointed over the gathered student's heads.

"Interlopers!"

Rogue peered through the crowd and saw, much to her relief, Cyclops and Jean,

standing in the doorway, surrounded by the still forms of the mutates and

hounds. Cyclops' hand was fixed on his visor, Jean had hers pressed into her

temple. Rogue smiled and tapped Shockwave's shoulder. He diverted his gaze from

Cadaver and matched her smile with a smug grin.

"Field's even now, Cadaver. Why not just get out before you're humiliated

again." A pair of Demis condensed.

"I still have but one card to play, this time. And the result is trump."

Cadaver leapt off the sound equipment, bone enhancements piercing through his

jacket as he somersaulted in midair. Shockwave launched his Demis, curving them

directly at the mutant. Cadaver spun and fell straight down, the gravity bombs

barely missing him. As he hit the dance floor, Cadaver swung his arms out and a

series of bone darts flew into the gathered students. Shockwave reached out with

his field and knocked them from the air, rushing at his old enemy. They met and

Cadaver was forced backwards by Shockwave's rush. The connected with the sound

equipment and the entire stage crashed down onto them, drawing screams from

dancers.

More red flashes, and more of the hounds were silenced. With the entry clear,

students rushed forth, eager to be free of brewing fight behind them. Cyclops

pressed himself into the wall to avoid being crushed by the stampede of formally

clad people, but instead found both himself and Jean being dragged with them.

The gym fell away rapidly.

Kitty saw the stage collapse. Her heart fell and she tried to press through her

terrified classmates. She didn't know if Shawn was injured, but she didn't like

the odds. A tugging at her wrist nearly toppled her over. She glanced back and

saw Paul smiling eerily at her. Fear began to climb into her throat.

"Paul...let go. I have to help him." She tried to phase through him, and a

sudden nausea made her head swim. She saw her entire world twist and bleed and

she could no longer stay on her feet.

"Oh, don't worry about poor, defenseless Shawn. I'm sure Cadaver won't harm him

too seriously." Paul gave her an evil grin and let go of her hand. Red welts had

sprung up from where he had touched her. Her head, in addition to seeing the

world as a Picasso painting, now burned. Her stomach was churning and every

muscle in her body felt sore.

"P...Paul..." She barely croaked out.

"No, not Paul. Plague." He said. "And I'm truly sorry Kitty. I do like you, but

I like my job more"

Kitty felt a tear trickle down her face, felt it dry on the blazing heat of her

cheek. She had trusted him, had even...

"Leave her alone!" Plague only had time to glance around before he was plowed

over by a shadow streaking from the now empty doorway. He felt the air leave his

lungs and the impact of his body on the hard wooden floor. He felt the repeated

hits of the person who had stunned him batter on his face. He allowed the

beating to continue as he collected his senses. Feeling confident in his

recovery, Plague lashed out swiftly and precisely, clocking the figure on top of

him once and sending him sprawling off. He got up and wiped fluids from his

face. He saw his now prone attacker shake his head and rub the sore spot on his

jaw.

"ShadowKnight. It's been a long time, boy." Plague cracked his knuckles.

ShadowKnight felt his head stop swimming, saw his vision begin to clear. He had

never been hit that hard before. "You leave her alone, Plague. I'm warning you."

Plague laughed. "I admire your loyalty, but you could never take me." He sent a

kick into ShadowKnight's stomach and the young mutant yelped as the pain

exploded in him. "Pitiful."

Plague turned and saw the stage burst outward as Shockwave flared his field.

Cadaver stood in the midst of the controlled maelstrom, shielding his eyes, his

tattered trenchcoat fluttering madly. The boy was doing well. Shockwave had no

idea...

Plague stepped over the wheezing ShadowKnight, past the infected Kitty and

across the dance floor towards the girl, who was watching the battle between his

old friend and his old rival. He felt the slick film of contagion cover his

palms, and a sense of victory in his mind. All he had to do was touch her

once...

* * *

Shockwave concentrated all his strength on Cadaver, surging shock after shock

of gravitic energy at his enemy. Cadaver was forced to take another step back.

By now the force of his storm could have rivaled a hurricane, and still Cadaver

was able to stand and fight it. Inwardly, Shockwave saluted the power of his old

foe.

His chest was heaving with the effort of drawing so much power from what he

thought was an unlimited singularity. Could he have been wrong about the

infinite nature of his abilities? The tightness was becoming very uncomfortable.

Cadaver seemed to sense his growing weakness, for the mutant had broken out an

evil grin. Just like him to mock, though Shockwave had no doubt that he would

have the last laugh in this battle. He began a mental countdown. If Cadaver

wanted him, then maybe he would give him the chance.

He ticked down the last three seconds, then reversed the pull of his field.

Cadaver barely realized as he now flew towards Shockwave. His eyes widened as

Shockwave's fist connected with his chest and the sickening crunch of bone

filled the air. Shockwave heaved with all his strength and sent Cadaver flying

backwards over his shoulder. He shoved out with his field and the mutant smashed

into a set of bleachers, then broke through the wall and landed with a skid on

the athletic field. A smug feeling of success filled Shockwave, and he smiled.

"Let me go!" He heard Rogue scream. Whirling around, he saw her encased in a

struggle with the boy Kitty had been dancing with, Paul. He had a demonic grin

on his face, and it was clear he had the upper hand. The flash of recognition

hit him. He knew the boy, and now he remembered where.

"Plague." he bellowed, flaring his field. Debris from the stage swirled around

him. The boy turned to him and grinned. With a single push, he felt Rogue's

strength give out and he wrapped his arms around her, his slimy fingers hovering

millimeters off her smooth cheek.

"Good day, Shockwave. So nice to see you again." He laughed, a hollow sound

that sent a chill trough Shockwave. He tried to summon a Demi, but the tightness

in his chest returned. The chill flared anew.

"See you survived." Shockwave said, barely checking the anger in his voice.

"Operation was a success?"

Plague nodded. "Oh, yes. And you can see the marvelous results. I'm stronger,

faster, tougher. All the things I envied in you, granted to me."

Shockwave forced a smug grin. "Not all of it." He reached out a tendril of

gravity and hooked it around Plague's legs.

"Don't try." Plague replied, holding his hand still. "You don't want me to give

this particular one to her." A look of panic and fear passed over Rogue's face

as the slimy hand held still.

"You sure you want to. You have an awful choice of targets Plague. You even

touch her and she'll suck up all your powers...including your immunity to

disease." He said, though a feeling of uncertainty was nagging around him.

Plague's eyes widened and a smile passed over him. "You mean this is the girl

that...I had no idea. Well, at least it gives me a chance to test out my latest

toy." Plague laughed and flexed his fingers. Four barely visible, ultra thin

needles emerged from under his fingers, and he made quite the show of running

them over Rogue's face, leaving small red trails over her pale cheeks. Shockwave

tensed, he saw terror in Rogue's eyes.

"Never saw that coming, did you?" Plague said. "Had them put for just such an

occasion. Guess I get to test them, too."

Shockwave clenched his fists, a feeling of total helplessness filling him.

Plague smiled evilly. "Perhaps It's time for you to give up, Shockwave. Come

back with us and the girl will be released. Of course, she could always end up

like poor Kitty over there." Plague gestured over his shoulder with a nod of his

head. Shockwave saw nobody behind him.

"Where's Kitty?"

Anger crossed Plague's features. He turned, still holding Rogue tightly, and

his eyes widened as he saw nothing behind him. He blinked his eyes and the

entire room shifted into the multicolored hue of infrared. Still nothing. He

tightened his grip on the girl, pinching his needles into her face. The sharp

intake of her breath was all he heard.

And then she was gone, slipping out of his tight arms. Plague let out a curse

of surprise as he saw her drop through the floor, in the arms of a smiling

ShadowKnight. The rage he felt seemed very appropriate...until the crash of an

iron block into his back sent him sprawling across the floor. He barely had time

to snap to his feet before Shockwave was upon him again, fists flying in a blur.

The blows were more powerful than ShadowKnight's, and even with his subdermal

plating, they shuddered his mind and body with each hit. He lashed out with his

slick hands, hoping to at least brush his virus onto Shockwave, and almost

laughed as he felt his hands smear across something smooth and warm.

Shockwave rolled off Plague, wiping furiously at the spot where the mutant had

touched him. He had been infected by Plague's diseases before, and knew that

even with this action he was more than likely already succumbing to whatever

foul contagion the boy had summoned up. He grew very dizzy.

Plague recovered quickly was already towards the door while Shockwave tried to

remove his attack. He knew he was outmatched here, Shockwave was not going to be

retrieved this day. But at least the germs he had spread would guarantee that

they would succeed another time. Of that, Plague had no doubt. He ran from the

gym and down the halls of Bayville High School, out into the night where he

hoped Cadaver was waiting for him.

* * *

The dizziness passed before Shockwave had time to fully contemplate his

predicament. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes vigorously. The gym was

silent now, and he was sure it was Plague's footsteps he had heard running from

him before. Though he would have liked nothing more than to pursue his nemesis,

he doubted that Plague would be near the school anymore, and even more

important, he had to find out if Rogue was okay.

Cyclops and Jean burst into the gym and stopped short when they saw it was

empty. Look of confusion were exchanged between them and they stared over at

Shockwave. His tuxedo was ripped, his sunglasses cracked and one of his pant

legs had a long shred running down the side.

"Shockwave? What happened? Where are they?" Cyclops said.

"Gone. At least for now." He slicked his hand through his dust-filled hair. "We

need to find ShadowKnight. I think he's got Kitty and Rogue."

"We're here." He heard the soft voice of ShadowKnight as he phased through the

floor, supporting both Rogue and Kitty on his shoulders. A look of fear and pain

etched onto his face, he set the girls down gently. "Kitty...she needs medical

attention. The plague..." Shockwave heard his voice waver and thought he saw a

tear in his solid black eye.

He turned to Cyclops, but the boy was already out the door.

* * *

Shockwave scratched his cheek around the small welt that had formed there in

the past hour, his eyes still glued on the closed infirmary door. Behind it,

Professor Xavier and Beast were trying to help find a cure for Plague's

pathogen, and though Shockwave feared they would not succeed, he had a glimmer

of hope that she would be fine. Though Plague reveled in using his powers for

ill, even he doubted the mutant would use a fatal disease on the girl. There was

no gain in it, and Plague never did anything unless it was beneficial.

The door slid open and Xavier exited. He took one look at Shockwave and smiled,

instantly revealing to both of them what they needed to know.

"She's fine, and will fully recover. Though I must say that the virus was

highly complex, unlike any I've ever seen."

"It's my fault he was there. I seem to be a magnet for problems these days. I

should have known."

Xavier laid a hand on Shockwave's back. "You need to stop blaming yourself for

these things. We all learn to deal with them, and even in your situation, it is

never your fault."

"Easier said than done."

Xavier smiled. "In time. All things take time, Shawn." He wheeled down the

corridor. Shockwave watched him go, letting his words sink in. He looked at the

closed door to the infirmary, nodded once, and followed Xavier's path down the

hall.

* * *

Kitty's head still ached, but at least her vision no longer swirled and the

fever had subsided. though she would rather have been in her own room instead of

the cold and sterile infirmary, Mr. McCoy had insisted that she stay at least

over night. But she wasn't tired anymore, not after her long nap, and being

alone in the small room was driving her crazy.

She tried counting the ceiling tiles, the threads in the thin quilt she was

covered with, the number of times the floor creaked...wait! the floor wasn't

supposed to creak. She gripped the quilt tighter. A shadow fell over her bed and

she screamed.

The shadow stumbled and fell over, screaming itself and releasing a stream of

muffled oaths. The fear in Kitty evaporated and she let out a tiny laugh. A

muffled groan sounded from the side of her bed.

"Great, first you scream then you laugh. Make up your mind." ShadowKnight's

head appeared from under the nightstand, his hand rubbing a spot on his

forehead." And next time be less painful about it."

"Sorry, Seth." She said, covering another laugh with her hand. "You just scared

me."

"Makes two of us." He phased the rest of the way through the nightstand and

stood up, brushing off his pants. "I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Kitty smiled. "Fine I guess. I'm just thankful the virus wasn't the killing

kind."

ShadowKnight returned her smile, albeit sheepishly. "I was hoping so..."

"Thank you." Kitty said. "I know you were the one who saved me back at school.

Thanks for your help." She took his hand and lightly squeezed. ShadowKnight

looked into her eyes and felt all his blood flood to his face. He awkwardly

returned the squeeze. "It was nothing..."

* * *

Shockwave knocked on Rogue's door twice and turned the handle. He knew that

with Kitty at the infirmary, she would most likely be alone, and he wanted to

talk to her. The door swung open and he saw her, sitting on the ledge by the

window, her arms drawn around her legs, staring out into the clear night sky.

"Rogue..." he said. She sighed. "Rogue, are you alright?"

She looked at him and he saw tears streaking down her smooth face. Concern

immediately surged through him and he ran to her side. She kept her eyes locked

on him, not saying anything, but enough emotion pouring off her for Shockwave to

know what was wrong.

"The dance..." he said, sitting across from her. "I'm sorry, Rogue. I didn't

know."

A smile flickered to life on her lips, though the tears began to flow stronger.

"Yah don't have to apologize for that. It wasn't yah fault." She looked back out

into the sky. "It's just...ah wanted to have a good time for once, and still it

ended up like every other dance ah've ever been to."

"If it counts, I had a good time." Shockwave said, staring up with her. He felt

her hand slip into his and he smiled. The stars were beautiful, in his opinion.

He felt a calming come over him and an idea snuck into his head.

"You know, with all the stuff that happened tonight, I never got the chance to

do what I went to the dance for anyway." Rogue looked up at him, her mocking

quizzical look almost comical. She knew what he was going to say.

Shockwave pulled Rogue to her feet, taking both her hands in his.

"Dance with me