Beyond Evolution

Episode Three - Rogue Recruit

Aired: November 18, 2000

Stars: Rogue, Shadowcat, Nightcrawler

Appears: Jean Grey, Cyclops, Wolverine, Xavier, Mystique, Storm

Cameos: Magneto

Guests: Destiny, Cody

First Appearance(s) of: Rogue, Destiny, Cody

Written by: Simon Furman

Summary

At a school dance Cody and his friend Ty walk out onto a deck where Rogue is gazing out over the water. Ty teases Cody about being nervous and pushes him into talking to Rogue. Cody asks Rogue to dance. She hesitates at first but agrees. They head in to the dance floor. As they're dancing Ty tells Cody to "make his move" and pushes him into Rogue. They both fall down and when Cody reaches down to help Rogue get up he touches her skin and her power is activated for the first time. Cody passes out and Rogue "sees" Cody's memories.

Ty freaks out and asks her what she did to Cody, when she tries to run he jumps in her way but she tackles him and takes off. Irene (Destiny) who seems to be Rogue's guardian, foresees the whole event and calls in Mystique.

A ninja sneaks into the X-Men mansion. Storm attacks him and ends up knocking him into the danger room. The ninja takes out some machinery before Xavier calls for him to stop. Turns out to be Wolverine giving a demonstration for the students. He tells Storm that the mansions defenses were too easily breached and they talk about ways to boost security.

Kitty asks if any one else if freaked out by the whole thing and Kurt ports over to try and cheer her up. He scares her more and she phases away. Kurt is upset and Jean tells him to give Kitty time. Xavier arrives and tells Scott to assemble the team to go after Rogue. They head out in the Blackbird.

During the flight Kitty talks to Jean about how she thinks Scott is so "together" and cute. Kurt overhears them and acts jealous. He 'ports out to the front of the Blackbird trying to show off. He loses his footing and 'ports back into the Blackbird but slams into Kitty. Xavier tells him it's no place to be goofing off, and that he scared Kitty. Kurt apologizes but Kitty tells him to stay away from her.

Mystique arrives and Irene meets her at the airport. They follow Rogue to Cody's house where she's looking through Cody's things confused. Xavier uses Cody to track Rogue down.

Mystique morphs into Wolverine and attacks Rogue. She chases her out of the house, then morphs into Storm and throws fake lightening at her. Rogue runs into Irene who tells her that the X-Men are mutant hunters and that she has a friend who can protect her from them. Just then the real Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Kitty show up and Rogue takes off again.

Kurt talks Logan into letting him go after the girl, since she seems so terrified of Wolverine. He agrees and tells him to watch after the "half-pint", which makes Kitty mad. Kurt ports up to Rogue and tries to talk to her. Kitty phases through a fence behind them, and decides to "show" Wolverine by taking down Rogue. She tackles her and Rogue throws her off. When Kurt grabs Rogue she touches him and absorbs his powers. Rogue 'ports away and Kurt collapses.

Rogue reappears in a graveyard, she starts to figure out what's happening and uses Kurt's power to 'port around the graveyard until she falls. Kitty tries to revive Kurt and then calls out to Xavier for help. Xavier sends Wolverine after Kit and Kurt and sends out Storm, Scott, and Jean after Rogue. Mystique shows up at the graveyard. Jean finds Rogue, who recognizes Jean using Kurt's memories. The two talk and Jean gives Rogue a communicator in case she ever wants to talk to her. Storm shows up and Rogue runs.

Mystique follows her and morphs into the different X-Men and chases her around. When the real Storm tries to help Rogue, Rogue absorbs her powers and loses control. She wrecks the graveyard and then 'ports away. The rest of the X-Men arrive at the graveyard and they figure out that Mystique was there causing trouble.

Kurt and Storm come around and Kitty is so happy that Kurt is alright she runs up to him and hugs him, surprising all of the X-Men.

Later Mystique welcomes Rogue to Bayville. After she leaves, Magneto appears, asking if any traces of the real X-Men's memories remained. Mystique tells him no, but Rogue walks out of the office and looks at the communicator that Jean gave her.

Summary written by Denaill for her site -

Quotes

Cody: (about talking to Rogue) I'm just, you know, picking my moment. Taking it slow.
Ty: Cody, I've seen glaciers move faster.

Kurt: (to Kitty after scaring her) Oops. Heh heh sorry. Next time I'll honk before I 'port.
Kitty: Whatever. Look guys, it's late. If it's no biggie to you, I'm going to, like, drop out.
Kurt: Ach, She's fully not into the fuzzy dude.

Kitty: Scott seems so, like, together. So cool and he's kinda cute!.
Jean: Cute? umm Stiff maybe, exacting definitely, but hmm you know.. from a certain angle..

Xavier: (after Kurt slams into Kitty) Kurt! The Blackbird is not the place to be fooling around. You frightened Kitty!
Kurt: Sorry Kitty.
Kitty: Ewww. Just, like, stay away from me!
Wolverine: Kids.

Irene: (about Rogue) You won't hurt her will you? After all Raven, she's your...
Raven: I know Irene, I know. Trust me. She will come to us willingly. Given the right incentive.

Wolverine: (to Kurt, about Kitty) ... and keep an eye on the half-pint here.
Kitty: Hey!

Kitty: (after Kurt collapses) Say something Kurt, please! Tease me, scare me, anything. Please don't be dead! Come on Kitty, okay, what would Wolverine do? I mean besides dice up, like half the landscape?

Xavier: Wolverine, it's Nightcrawler. The rogue has his mind and his abilities.
Wolverine: This is my fault. I shouldn't have left the little squirrel in charge.

Kitty: Come on Kurt, wake up. You know I'm still not big on facial hair, but, like, pointy ears are starting to work for me.

Jean: (trying to hold off the rain and lightening) I can hold it off a little.
Scott: Give it up! She's got Storm's powers, but not her control.

Rogue: Too much power! I can't control it. I have to.... ahhh!

Kitty: We have to go after her!
Xavier: No.. The girl must come of her own free will, or not at all.

Kurt: Look's like I missed quite a party.
Kitty: Kurt you're alright! Easy you fuzzy elf, everything is going to be just fine.
Scott: Fuzzy elf?

Quick Review

Grade: 8

I really love this series. They're doing a great job. They stay true to the characters and the original situations in so many ways while at the same time bringing them all up to the present and giving it all a new twist.

Rogue was never one of my favorite characters in the comics, but I really like the Rogue shown here. All of the characters are really brought down to a basic level and now they're building on them from there without all of the baggage the comic characters have.

Also, could be mistaken, but there seems to be some interest going on between Kurt and Kit, especially on Kurt's part. I'd never think that the comic Kurt and Kitty could get together, but the two cartoon characters are so cute together. At the same time though they showed Kitty as having maybe a growing crush on Scott. Something to watch out for.