Star slept very little that night. The nightmares were worse than ever, mixing the terror of being alone with the fear of killing her friends. She woke suddenly, a scream barely suppressed, with an image of the shattered danger room, Wolverine, Gambit, and Rogue's motionless bodies lying like broken toys, vivid in her mind. She sat on the bed, her knees drawn up, staring at the silver walls of the psi-dampening field. She dared not turn it off lest she wake Jean or the Professor. She had not learned to control her abilities, but her room had begun to resemble the cage where she had spent most of her life.


The next morning Star was groggy with exhaustion. The destruction of the Sentinel had taken a large toll on her remaining strength and she had been unable to restore herself through sleep. She stumbled over her own feet and nearly fell headlong down the stairs. Jubilee caught her arm.

"Hey! You all right?" Star nodded.

"Yes. Thanks, Jubilee."

"No problemo." Jubilee looked at her sharply, "You sure you're okay?"

"Yes. I'm just tired."

"Well, hey, everybody needs a day off. I'll tell the Prof you need a break an' you go back to bed. Catch a few Z's. Sound good?"

"I'll give it a try. Thanks." Star stumbled back to her room, closing the door behind her. Jubilee watched her for a moment, worried about her friend, then went down the stairs.


Star switched the psi-dampening field back on and lay down on top of her blankets, sure that she would be unable to sleep, but trying desperately to rest none the less. Before she knew it, sleep had overtaken her, bringing with it the nightmares.


Jubilee found she had the kitchen to herself, so she switched on the coffee maker, got a bowl and a box of cereal out of the cabinet, and fixed herself a cold breakfast. The coffee was just finishing when Wolverine came in.

"How 'bout some B-ball later?" she asked him.

"You got entirely too much energy for this early in the mornin'," he answered, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"It's all the sugar in this cereal."

"Right."

"Ya want some?"

"I'll pass." He took a swallow of his coffee. "Where's yer partner?" "Star? She's sleepin' in. Nearly took a header down the stairs and really looked beat. I told her I'd square it with the Prof, so she went back to bed." Jubilee grinned at him, "After the way you guys trashed the danger room yesterday, it probably won't be ready today, so how about that B-ball game?" Before Wolverine could answer, they were startled by a scream from upstairs.

"That's Star!" Jubilee knocked her chair over getting to her feet. Wolverine took the stairs two at a time, Jubilee running behind him.


Star was sitting huddled on her bed when Wolverine burst into the room, her face was streaked with tears. She looked up at him, startled.

"You all right?" She nodded, then buried her face in her arms, sobbing. He moved quickly to the bed and took her in his arms, holding her tightly.

"It's okay, darlin'. Ever'thin's gonna be fine." He spoke softly to her. Jubilee hovered nearby. When her sobs had eased, he relaxed his hold, but she continued to cling to him.

"What happened?" Jubilee finally asked, unable to contain her curiosity, or her concern, any longer.

"Bad d d dreams," Star answered shakily.

"Major bummer," Jubilee said. "I've had my share of nightmares, too." She sat down on the other side of Star, who had finally released her desperate grasp on Wolverine. "Sometimes it helps to talk about it." Star looked at her uncertainly for a moment, then nodded.

"It's dark, and I'm all alone," she began. "Just like the first time I lost control."

"In the courthouse?"

"No. In the lab. I ... I killed all the technicians and guards. Everyone in range. I couldn't stop it. When the others found out, they came in and took all the ... the bodies away, then the Doctor locked the door and left me there. All alone." She shuddered.

"Oh, wow," was all Jubilee could say.

"I'd never been alone. Not ever. There was always somebody close enough for me to hear them, at least enough to know that somebody was there. They stayed away for a long, long time. Then they put something different in my food and my body stopped ... changing. Henry said I was on some sort of artificial hormones, or something. Any way, they came back, and I didn't kill anybody else. But in my dreams, I'm alone again. I can't hear anyone, because everybody's dead. Because I killed you. All of you!"

"Easy, darlin'," Wolverine said, pulling her close once more, her tears soaking into the fabric of his shirt. "How long ya been havin' this dream, kid?"

"I don't know. It seems like forever."

"Well, fer ..." Jubilee exclaimed. "Why didn't ya say something?" Star didn't answer. "Star, that's what bein' friends is all about. Helpin' each other."

"You've had the same dream every night?"

"N..no," Star said slowly. "Only when I sleep."

"Haven't been sleepin' much, have ya?" Star shook her head.

Jean knocked on the open door.

"Can I come in?" Star nodded. "I thought I heard someone cry out, but I couldn't sense anyone in distress. I finally realized it must be you, Star. Are you all right?"

"Just a bad dream." Jubilee stared at her.

"'Just a bad dream'? The same major bad dream for a long time, and you call it 'just a bad dream'?"

"Jubilee..." Jean said softly.

"I didn't want to be any more trouble."

"We're kids. We're supposed to be trouble."

"I don't feel much like a kid." Jubilee didn't answer.

"Star, we've deliberately put off testing your control of your abilities because we thought you were doing so well with the dampening field at night," Jean told her gently. "Honey, we can't help you if don't tell us you're having problems. Your shields are so strong now, that half the time I can't even tell you're in the room." She took Star's hand and the girl flinched. "You are exhausted, Star. How long can you continue without sleep?"

"But...the only way to tell is...I mean...who? Whose life do I risk just so I can sleep?" she said miserably.

"There won't be any risk. We will take precautions so no one can be injured." Star looked up at Jean, then turned to Wolverine as if for reassurance.

"We gotta try somethin', kid." Reluctantly, Star nodded.


At the entrance to the med lab Star paused for a moment, then, straightening her shoulders, she stepped inside. Jean smiled at her, then walked over to where Beast and the Professor were bent over the test results from some experiment or other. She explained the situation to them quickly. Star waited quietly while Wolverine watched her, his concern plain.

"What do you propose, Jean?" Beast asked. Jean turned to Star and took her hand.

"Star, I want you to lie down on the bed. Henry will erect the field around us. Then I want you to go to sleep. I'll stay beside you and..."

"No, Jeanne." Jean and Star both looked at Wolverine, surprised.

"Logan, I can protect myself."

"Yer sure about that, are ya?"

"Perhaps Wolverine is right, Jean." Professor Xavier put in. "In spite of the progress you have made through the years, I am still stronger than you. I will..."

"Not you either, Chuck," Wolverine interrupted. "Not after what happened last time."

"I underestimated Star's strength then, Logan. I will not make the same mistake again."

"Yeah? And how much stronger is she now than she was then? Star, darlin', do ya trust me?" She looked at him, wide eyed, for a moment, then nodded. "Ya already know that if ya slip I can handle it, prob'ly better 'n anybody else. So I'm yer guinea pig, all right kid?" Star nodded again, reluctantly.

"Assuming you don't have any, um, difficulties with Logan's presence, Henry can slowly expand the field to include myself and then the Professor. If all goes well, Henry will shut the field down." Star cringed.

"Fear not, dear child. I will prepare a timer to switch it back on after a few moments." Beast said, trying to reassure Star. Her expression didn't change. "Well, let's connect a couple of sensors, then we can get started." Star sat on the edge of the bed while Beast placed sensors on her temples and chest.

"These monitor your brain waves, so we can tell which level of sleep you are entering, while these show your heart and respiration rates." He glanced at the monitor, "Both of which are high right now. Just relax. We'll take care of everything." She plainly doubted his ability to do so.

"All right, let us begin." Beast switched the field on, adjusting it until it surrounded the bed. Star looked up at Wolverine, her eyes filled with tears.

"I don't want to do this. Please don't make me." He gathered her in his arms and held her close.

"Nobody's gonna make ya do nothin', kid," he told her softly, "But we gotta know if we can leave the field off. Ya can't keep goin' without sleep."

"I read of different medications that..." Henry shook his head.

"I can't authorize any chemical treatment except as a last resort. It's too dangerous."

"Hank says no, darlin'."

"But..."

"It's up ta you, Star. What ever you decide, I'll back ya up."

"What if I can't...",

"Jean'll wake ya up, an' I'll be fine after a short snooze."

"I'm so afraid. You've all been so good to me."

"We'll get through this, babe, just like the X-Men do ever'thin' else. Together." She looked up at him for a long moment.

"All right," she said at last.

"Just relax, now. Ol' Wolverine's got ya, darlin'. I ain't gonna let nothin' happen to ya." He continued to hold her until, finally, exhaustion overcame her fear and she fell asleep in his arms.

"Her Alpha waves indicate she is asleep, Wolverine. Any adverse affects?" Beast asked quietly. Wolverine shook his head, then gently lowered the sleeping girl to the bed.

"Ready, Jean? Are your shields in place?"

"Yes, Henry. Don't worry." Beast expanded the field until Jean was included in the circle. Star didn't react to her presence at all.

"All right, Jean. Slowly lower your shields, let her feel you, but at the first sign of trouble, I want your shields up." They tensed when Star murmured in her sleep.

"Tou two all right?" Jean and Wolverine nodded.

"Her shields are still very strong, but I can at least sense her presence now." Jean said quietly.

"Charles?"

"Go ahead, Henry." Beast again expanded the field, this time including the Professor inside the circle. Star did not react.

"Ready to lower your shields, Charles?" Xavier nodded. Star shifted on the bed, a faint frown forming. Beast glanced down at the readout.

"Heart rate and respiration rising. Alpha rhythms disturbed. I think you're overloading..." Star screamed and Jean echoed her. Wolverine collapsed. Jean stumbled backwards through the edge of the field, then fell. Xavier tried to reach Wolverine, then he, too, cried out. Beast quickly adjusted the dampening field so that only the bed was surrounded. Star sat up, both hands to her head, her eyes wide and frightened.

"You told me it would be all right, that you were ready," Star sobbed. "You were wrong, and I've hurt people again." She slipped off the bed as Beast bent over Jean. She was unconscious, but breathing. Star backed away from the bed as Beast moved to check the others. Xavier was conscious, but just barely. Wolverine wasn't breathing.

"Star, call Storm. I need her help." Star froze. "Star! Do it now!" Instead of moving for the intercom or the door, Star approached Wolverine's motionless figure. She knelt beside him and placed one delicate hand on his chest. He shuddered, then drew a gasping breath. He opened his eyes. Beast stared at Star. A single tear ran down her cheek.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, then she stood and turned for the door. Wolverine grabbed Beast's arm.

"Hank, stop her!" he said urgently, too weak to rise. "Stop her!" Beast moved after her, but she was running. The med lab door opened before she reached it and slammed shut behind her. Beast couldn't get it to open again. Wolverine had gotten to his knees and was trying to stand, using the bed for support.

"Gotta stop her, Hank. Gotta ... stop ... her." He collapsed again. Beast struggled with the door.


Gambit was startled when Star ran past him toward the stairs.

"What de hurry, petite?" he called after her. She didn't answer him as she ran up the stairs and disappeared around the corner into the hallway above. He heard a door slam upstairs, then, a moment later, the med lab door banged open.

"Have you seen Star?" Beast demanded. Gambit, once again speechless, pointed to the distant stairs. Beast bounded after the girl. Gambit followed him.

"What in the Sam Hill is going on?" Rogue asked as he passed the kitchen door.

"Don' know, Chere. But it don' look good." Rogue joined him as he followed Beast up the stairs.

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