Chapter 26: KnightWing's First Date
The X-men wake up on a bright Saturday morning. Tyler, Charles, and John are in the television room. They are dressed in pajamas and watching Saturday morning cartoons and music videos. Mary and Kelly are in the kitchen having hot chocolate and are having an intense conversation on the latest fashion craze. Karen and Luke are enjoying themselves poolside. Brent and Jen are in the Danger room being supervised by Sage.
"Watch out Jen!" Brent yelled as he launched a lightning bolt at a Sentinel behind her.
"Thanks Brent." Jen said as her sonic scream destroyed the sentinel.
"One more opponent and you guys are done." Sage announced.
"Alright Sage." Jen responded.
Suddenly, the danger room changed from a desert setting to a jungle setting. Jen and Brent landed next to each other and looked around.
"Do your senses pick up anything??" Brent asked Jen Telepathically through their mind link.
'No, are you picking anything up telepathically?' Jen thought.
"No, that is unusual. If they had mental shielding that wouldn't stop your senses." Brent said. "Wait, something is displacing the air above us."
Brent and Jen looked up as something huge and silver was descending on them. The two of them jumped out of the way as it landed. However the force of the object hitting the ground created a shockwave that slammed them into trees.
"Brent, its Colossus." Jen said as she recovered.
"Wait, Colossus shouldn't be immune to my telepathy or your senses." Brent pondered as he tried to penetrate the mind of the steel being.
"Brent, stop using your psychic powers and roast him with a bolt of lightning." Jen said as she used her sonic powers.
"I can't; with this entire forest fauna, I could start a fire." Brent said as his eyes glowed white. "I have a better idea. Be ready to use your sonic scream."
Colossus ran at them as the temperature in the Danger room quickly fell. Soon ice, wind and snow erupted into a blizzard that was centered on Colossus. He slowed down his run due to the storm and his inability to see his opponents. Suddenly Colossus began to shift into something blue. However, mid change, the being froze from Brent's storm.
"I think that did it Brent, you can stop the Blizzard." Jen said as she flew down to the statue.
"So it was Mystique." Brent said as his eyes glowed and the danger room reverted back to normal. "That explains why we couldn't identify her physically or psychically."
"That was a good move with the blizzard." Jen said as Brent flew down next to her.
"Well, I try." Brent said looking down.
"Good job you two." Sage said as she opened the Danger room doors. "We're done here for the day, you are free to go."
Brent and Jennifer went to their respective locker rooms to change. Brent emerged first, in civilian clothes, and went to the maze to meditate. Jen went to find Karen and Kelly to talk to them. Jennifer found Kelly still talking to Mary and got them both to go out to the pool where Karen was hanging out with Luke. Luke saw the group of girls coming and came out of the pool with a quizzical look on his face.
"Hey Karen, hey Luke." Jen said as she approached them.
"Hey Jen." Luke replied.
"Hey Jen, what's up?" Karen said.
"I think we need some girl time, I brought Kelly and Mary." Jennifer said. "Let's head up to our room and talk."
"Alright, Luke I'll see ya later." Karen said.
"Yea def, by the way, Jen do you know where Brent is?" Luke asked.
"I think he's meditating in the maze… why?" Jen asked suspiciously.
"I lost my key to our room and I just need to borrow his." Luke said as he walked away. "Thanks."
"No problem." Jen said as she waved. "So Kelly was he telling the truth?"
"I don't know; his mind is difficult to read." Kelly said. "I think it's his illusion powers. But it sounds reasonable."
"I guess; I just
don't want him to tell Brent that we're all hanging out here."
Jen said.
"Why?" Mary asked politely.
"I'll explain when we get to our room." Jen said as she, Kelly, Karen and Mary went back to the mansion.
Meanwhile in Massachusetts , the Hellions are at their academy and woke up to their same mundane lives that they lived before the reality warp. Joshua Essex aka Sinister wakes in his room startled. He looks around frantically as if waking from a nightmare.
'I am back at Hellions headquarters.' Joshua thought. 'I guess it worked and Maria got us back to our original place. But wait… something doesn't seem right here. '
Joshua's eyes started to glow as he telepathically investigated the mansion. He sensed the minds of his Hellions minus Maria. He extended his abilities further but couldn't sense anything amiss. He chalked it up to being back in the real world and got ready for the day. As soon as he was ready, he went down to the main room and called a meeting of the hellions.
"Hellions, I think that we need a different plan." Joshua began as he looked around the room.
"What are you talking about?" Renegade said. "We still need to defeat those X-men and that is our most important task, isn't it?"
"Yes, we still need to take care of the X-men, but as you can see…" Joshua said. "… We have lost a lot of powerful people in our group."
"Well then I guess you'll just have to recruit more mutants, won't you?" A voice said as a young man entered the room.
This teenager was about five foot eleven with brown hair. He had a pale complexion with red eyes. This person looked similar to Joshua, but his features were more defined. Joshua looked perplexed as this figure walked in. He looked at this interesting doppelganger and his eyes started to glow. He attempted delve into the other mutant's mind. However, there seemed to be a powerful Psionic block that proved effective in blocking Joshua as well as causing him to feel a psychic backlash. Joshua's nose began to bleed as the room began to reform around him. He rubbed his finger under his nose and discovered the blood.
"If you will excuse me…" Joshua said as he got up and left the room. 'Such Psionic power, there is something more to this new mutant than meets the eye.'
At the Institute, Jennifer and Karen are sitting in their room with Mary and Kelly. They closed and locked the door after they entered. Kelly sat in one of the chairs and her eyes begin to glow a pale blue.
"Are we safe, psychically?" Jennifer said turning to Kelly.
"Why of course darling." Kelly said. "I am projecting a powerful Psionic shield around this room."
"So what is all of this about?" Karen asked curiously. "Why so secret?"
"Well, it's about me and Brent." Jennifer said.
"Oooo" Karen said. "This I want to hear, dish."
"Yes, what is going on between you and Brent?" Mary asked inquisitively.
"That's just it, I don't know." Jennifer said. "I think he likes me, but every time I want to get close, he shuts me out."
"Well, Brent is a little, oh how do I say this?" Karen began.
"A self righteous boy with a paragon of goodness complex which he lords over every one else." Kelly interrupted.
"What I think Kelly is trying to say is that Brent is someone that you would have to talk to one on one." Mary said thoughtfully. "Maybe you should ask him out."
"Ask him out?! Like on a date!" Jennifer exclaimed.
"I do believe that is what she was referring to darling." Kelly said loftily.
"No I can't." Jennifer said suddenly.
"Why not, it's a good idea." Karen said excitedly. "Think about it, a romantic evening with you and Brent. Huh… huh?!"
"But aren't guys supposed to ask girls out?" Jennifer asked.
"Jennifer, darling you can't be serious." Kelly said. "This is the twenty first century dear, we can vote and everything."
"Well I guess, but I mean how are you supposed to ask and what happens afterwards?" Jen asked
"Are you kidding? Haven't you ever been on a date before?" Karen asked jokingly.
"No, well technically not." Jen replied sheepishly.
"OH MY GOD?!" Karen and Kelly exclaimed.
"I know…" Jen said as she looked down.
"It's not so hard to believe, I have never been on a date either." Mary said calmly.
"I figured you have never been on a date because you're so shy." Karen began. "But I would have thought that you Jen would've have at least been on one date. I remember you had a lot of guys wanting you."
"I know, but I was pretty shy back then." Jen said. "Brent was the only one I really felt comfortable around. In fact he and Joshua were the only ones I really talked too."
"Didn't Brent like
that other girl last year?" Mary asked quietly.
"Yes Maria
Maximoff, his mind practically screamed it last year." Kelly said
with a rather indignant tone. "I really don't know what he saw in
her, she was just as screwed up as Joshua was."
"Does he still think about her?" Jen asked suddenly.
"I can't say for sure, I mean she is on his mind every so often but I think it would be prudent to ask him yourself." Kelly simply replied.
"So do you think
he'll say yes?" Jen asked.
"Of course he will; he likes you
a lot." Karen said.
"How do you know?" Jen asked.
"Let's just say Luke helped me piece it together." Karen said with a smirk.
"Alright I'll go and ask him, thanks guys." Jen said as she got up and left.
"So how do you think it will go?" Mary asked.
"Only one way to find out…" Kelly said as her eyes began to glow.
The others are enjoying this Saturday off in their own way. Tyler, Charles and Amy are in the city hanging out. Brent is in the courtyard meditating. The skies are clear and weather is serene. The temperature is comfortably warm while a cooling breeze is felt every so often. In his relaxed state, Brent senses someone approaching, he figures it is another student and continues to enjoy this wonderful day. However, this person stops as they approach the maze. Brent opens his eyes as he is intrigued to discover who is walking about the maze. Soon his question is answered as Luke appears.
"Hey Luke what's up?" Brent said as he flew down in front of Luke.
"Nothing much, I was just hanging out with Karen." Luke began. "That is until she went off with Jen to talk girl talk."
"Hmm, I wonder what they are talking about." Brent said.
"Isn't it obvious,
girls always talk about guys man." Luke said. "Now is your
chance."
"Wait a minute Luke." Brent said as his left eye
glowed red. "There, I am telepathically masking us from any people
who are passing by. Now what do you mean here is my chance?"
"Brent, I know you like Jen and you should go out with her." Luke said.
"I don't know." Brent said apprehensively. "I don't want it to end up the same way as…"
"I'm tired of hearing that same old excuse Brent." Luke said as he cut him off. "Jen is not Maria and Karen told me that she really likes you."
"She does?" Brent said as his face brightened.
"Yea man, you really
don't give yourself much credit do you?" Luke said.
"I
think we should go to lunch." Brent said as he lifted the mental
illusion.
'Classic changing the subject, you have to face these issues at some point.' Luke thought.
"At some point Luke, just not now." Brent said telepathically.
The two of them headed over to the cafeteria. When they got there, they saw Jennifer, Kelly, Karen, and Mary sitting at a table giggling to each other.
"Look who just got here." Karen said.
"Okay how do I look?" Jen said.
"You look fine Jennifer." Mary said.
"Oh darling, Brent is nervous about something." Kelly said. "I think it's… you."
"Really, what is he
thinking about?" Jen said smiling.
"I can't really say; I
don't want him to discover my presence." Kelly said. "He gets
touchy about me looking in his mind."
"Well Luke is over there with him, so it shouldn't be too bad." Karen said as she winked towards Luke.
"Alright there she is." Luke said as he returned the wink.
"I can't do this, I can't." Brent said. "She's over there with every other girl on the team, this is just too much."
"Don't freak man, I'll walk over there with you and find a reason to get everyone else to leave." Luke said.
"Thanks man, I owe you one." Brent said as he began to walk over there.
"Look, he's coming over." Karen said.
"Awww, he looks so nervous and tense." Kelly said. "It's rather adorable and worthy of blackmail at a future time."
"Be nice Kelly." Mary said. "Hello Brent and Luke.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Luke said.
"Just having lunch" Karen replied. "What about you guys?"
"Same here…" Luke said as he elbowed Brent in the ribs.
"Oh… Hi Jen." Brent exclaimed.
"Hello Brent." Jen said smiling.
"I… uhhh…" Brent began.
"Hey Karen, there was this beach program I wanted to show you in the danger room." Luke said as he and Karen left.
"Oh Mary, I simply must show you this Louis Vuitton bag I just got." Kelly said as she and Mary got up leaving Brent and Jen alone.
"Well… I uhhh wanted to ask you something." Brent said nervously.
"I wanted to ask you something as well." Jennifer said with equal nerves. "But you can go first."
"Oh no, if it's important you should go." Brent said.
"No it's not that important." Jen said. "You can go."
"You go." Brent said.
"No you go." Jen said.
"Willyougooutwithme?" Brent said quickly.
"What?" Jen said.
"Will you go out with me?" Brent said sincerely. "But I can understand if you don't want to or if you have something else you want to do."
Brent began to walk away until Jen grabbed his arm.
"I'd love to go out with you tonight." Jen said to Brent's relief. "I've been waiting for you to finally make a move."
"Alright, so I'll meet you in the main entrance at six o clock?" Brent asked.
"Sounds good to me." Jennifer replied.
At the Hellions Base, Joshua is resting in his room. He is pondering to himself about this new mutant that has appeared at the base and the powers at his command. The other Hellions have gathered in another room with the new mutant.
"So what has happened to Sinister?" Renegade says. "He's acting a bit off."
"I've noticed that too, maybe he's just not feeling well today?" Phantom suggested. "It has been a rough couple of weeks."
"That's not it." The new mutant says.
"And how would you know that?" Winter Soldier II said as he loaded his gun.
"Because that is not Sinister." The new mutant said.
"What do you mean?" Alpha Spider said. "Explain yourself."
"That cannot possibly be Sinister because I am!" The mutant said as he transformed into a replica of Sinister. "That person who is lying in Sinister's room is a clone; a failed attempt to stop us."
"Whoa wait a
minute!!" Winter Soldier II exclaimed as he pointed his gun at the
"Sinister". "There is no way that could be a Sinister clone, he
has not left since our last battle with the X-men."
"Did you
ever think that the X-men could've replaced him during that
battle?" Sinister said. "Think about the way he's acting now.
When have you ever known Sinister to not want to willingly battle the
X-men?"
The group looked around at each other and shrugged.
"Wait a minute! Okay, you have shape shifting but that's the only thing we have seen." Renegade said. "I haven't seen Telepathy or TK."
"Very clever Renegade, however clones would have the exact powers as the original person." The Sinister said. "How about this, myself and this other Sinister have a duel to the death. The one who survives is the true Sinister."
"That seems like a good idea." Winter Soldier II said as the other Hellions nodded in agreement.
"Well then, let us start the festivities." "Sinister" said.
Brent was first to arrive at the courtyard entrance. He was dressed in a silver button down shirt, gelled his hair in a good style, and black pants. He was extremely nervous and paced. Soon the doors opened and Jennifer stood there looking radiant. She was dressed in a white blouse with silver sparkles. She also had a dark navy skirt with silver high heeled shoes.
"Wow, you look incredible." Brent said she walked over to him.
"Thanks, you don't look too bad yourself." Jennifer said. "So what's on the agenda for tonight?"
"Now if I told you that, where would be the surprises that I know you love so much?" Brent said as his eyes glowed and a gentle wind lifted them to the skies.
The couple flew across the evening sky. Jen held Brent close as they flew and they spoke to each other via Brent's psychic link. They continued to fly until the bright lights of the city of Manhattan . They landed in a darker area and walked out onto the street. They walked awhile until they reached a theatre.
"I heard you like plays." Brent said. "I hope you wanted to see this one."
"Oh Brent, I've wanted to see this for a long time." Jennifer said as she flung her arms around him and kissed his cheek.
"Well let's go in." Brent said as he and Jen blushed.
Brent and Jen walked into the theatre and continued to enjoy the play. Sinister in the meantime has awoken from his resting slumber. He walked around the Hellion's base to try and find the other Hellions. He found it odd that he couldn't find them via his telepathic abilities as well. He knew that something was wrong. Something had been wrong since that new Mutant arrived at the base. He continued to look until he saw a room that was illuminated. He walked in the room but only saw glowing red eyes and felt darkness engulfing his mind as he passed out. He awoke later on in an open field. The Hellions were standing off to the side. He looked across the way and saw an exact copy of himself.
"Hellions, what is the meaning of this?" Joshua yelled. "Who is that doppelganger?"
"I am no doppelganger
Joshua Essex." Sinister yelled. "I am the true Sinister. You are
a clone that has been sent here by the X-men."
"What are you
talking about?" Joshua said. "You guys don't believe this do
you? I am and always have been Joshua Essex. This imposter has brain
washed you."
"We really don't know what to believe Joshua." Alpha Spider said. "This is just merely a test to determine who our leader is truly."
"What sort of test?" Joshua asked.
"A simple test… of survival." Winter Soldier II said. "Whoever is still alive after this, we will accept as being the true Sinister."
"So prepare yourself Joshua, for it is your time to die." Sinister said as he launched Concussive Blasts at Joshua.
'The raw power in those concussive blasts is incredible.' Joshua thought. 'They are far greater than my own.'
Joshua charged up concussive blasts and launched them at Sinister. The blasts appeared to hit Sinister until the dust cleared. A red shield was around Sinister who shattered it and launched telekinetic shrapnel at Joshua. Joshua quickly put up a TK shield of his own, but the pieces penetrated the shield and hit Joshua. Joshua screamed out in pain as he not only felt physical pain, but psychic pain as well.
"I am your superior; just accept my power and I promise to give you a swift end." Sinister said.
"I never give up." Joshua said as his eyes glowed red. "Yes, you seem to be better on the field, but let's see how you do in the realm of the mind.
Joshua launched blasts of psi energy at Sinister. Suddenly a mental brick wall blocked the psi blasts. The wall looked unfazed on contact. Joshua looked shocked as Sinister dissipated the wall and launched psi blasts of his own. The raw psychic energy can be felt by the Hellions who are watching the event take place via Sinsiter's telepathy. Joshua erected a psychic shield of his own that managed to take most of the psychic blasts, however some made it through. Joshua attempted to absorb this and succeeded. As Joshua continued to absorb the energy, he began to feel a tingling sensation which turned into a searing burning sensation. Joshua writhed in pain as the real world encompassed the combatants once more.
"See Hellions; see how easily he falls against me." Sinister said. "I am the one true Sinister."
'There is only one thing I can do.' Joshua said as he concentrated.
In Manhattan , the theatre has let out and Brent and Jennifer walked down the road. They continued to talk about the play until Jennifer felt hungry.
"Hmmm, so is this date taking a turn to somewhere to eat soon?" Jennifer said happily as she interlocked her arm with Brent's.
"Of course, did you think I wouldn't include a wonderful meal?" Brent said as he accepted her arm. "Have you ever eaten on a cloud?"
"No, but that sounds truly romantic." Jennifer said.
Brent's eyes began to glow as a gentle wind picked them up again. They rose up above the city as clouds billowed beneath them. The moonlight shined down on them as they sat on the clouds. The gentle wind kept them aloft while they looked at the sky. Brent used his powers to filter the air around them and darken the area around them. This caused the stars to look brighter and closer than they did before. Brent summoned another wind which brought the food that Brent ordered earlier in the day up to them.
"This is such a perfect night." Jennifer said as she finished her food.
"I am happy that you said yes to going out with me tonight." Brent said smiling.
"I am too. Your eyes look so entrancing in this night light." Jen said.
"Thank you, the moonlight shines beautifully on you." Brent said as he shook a little.
"What's wrong?" Jen asked moving closer to Brent.
"I felt a surge of Psychic energy, but it went away." Brent said as he put his arm around Jennifer.
"This night has been almost perfect." Jennifer said as she nuzzled up to Brent.
"Almost?" Brent asked looking at Jen.
"Well I think it would be perfect if I…" Jen began as she moved to kiss Brent.
"AHHH!!" Brent screamed and grabbed his head. "OH GOD, TOO MUCH!!"
"Brent!! Brent what's wrong?" Jen said looking concerned.
"So many images flooding into my head!" Brent said as he began to recover.
"What images, what happened?" Jen said.
"I saw Joshua being attacked by someone who looks exactly like him." Brent said angrily. "I thought I shut down my Psi-Link with him but he apparently managed to re-establish it."
"So is he in
trouble?" Jen asked.
"His mind appears to be in complete
terror, and I think it's shutting down." Brent said as his eye
glowed red. "I think he's dying."
"We need to help him." Jen said.
"Why should we?" Brent asked angrily.
"Because he is a human being and your family." Jen said reproachfully. "Put aside whatever problems you have with him and let's go."
"Alright Jen." Brent said. "I'll follow his mutant signature."
Brent's eyes glowed white as he summoned a wind to dispose of the food. Then his left eye glowed red as he locked onto Joshua Essex. Meanwhile the battle has come to a head with Joshua lying on the floor battered. He is still smoking from the incessant Concussive Blasts that Sinister has been dealing out. All of Joshua's powers have been pushed beyond the limit. He looks at the sky and feels that death is imminent.
"This is it; the end of the false Sinister!" Sinister yelled as he charged up a Concussive Blast.
"Not today" Brent said as a lightning bolt hit Sinister. "Leave Joshua alone; if you know what's good for you."
"Oh Brent, you don't even like Joshua, why do you defend him?" Sinister asked.
"Because he doesn't deserve to be killed by your hands; shape shifter." Brent said.
"Do you want us to take care of them?" Renegade said.
"I think not." Brent said as his began to glow. "Jennifer, get Joshua back to the mansion. I'll catch up."
Brent took to the sky as storm clouds brewed, the temperature dropped and the winds whipped about. The calm night sky had turned into a raging blizzard on Brent's command. Jennifer managed to pick up Joshua and take him away from the scene before the storm hit. Lightning rages in the sky and strikes down on all of the members of the Hellions. Brent stops the snow and hail from falling so as to properly assess the situation. He sees the hellions on the sidelines passed out on a snow drift. However, the thing that catches his eye is Sinister in a TK shield looking unfazed.
"So this is the almighty weather wizard." Sinister said as Brent descended before him. "I am quite impressed. You single handedly took out the rest of my Hellions with this meteorological maelstrom."
"I should say I am impressed as well, you are incredibly powerful." Brent said with his eyes glowing. "However, even the strongest stone bends to the will of the mighty winds!"
Upon Brent's words, a tornado descended on Sinister. Brent began to turn and fly away; however he discovered that he could not move. He looked as his tornado was ripped apart and Sinister stood there.
"How about we talk about this on a personal level?" Sinister said telepathically. "I am not going to kill you; I just merely want to talk."
"Okay what is it you wish to discuss?" Brent replied as he bought some time.
"Well, I see great
potential in you. Your power over the weather is considerable as well
as your mind is an interesting one." Sinister said. "When
I used my telepathic abilities, your defenses were quite common,
weaker than Joshua's. However during our battle, it was quite
difficult to use mental abilities on you. I think with your raw power
and my abilities we could be unstoppable."
"Well you certainly
have Sinister down to a tee, but before I were to consider anything,
who are you?" Brent said.
"I am exactly who I appear to be..." Sinister said. "…Your dear half uncle."
"You can't be, Joshua's mind reached out to mine." Brent said. "I feel a connection to you as well but not as clear as I can with Joshua. Hold on, I think I've…"
"Yes… Yes you have and now that you have figured it out, you're too dangerous to keep alive." Sinister said. "It's too bad; you were a worthy adversary and would've made a powerful ally."
Sinister's eyes flashed as he put Brent under his mental amnesia. After, Sinister charged up a concussive blast. Brent looked on and began to make peace with the goddess. Sinister's psychic hold has paralyzed him and rendered him incapable of doing anything. As Sinister was about to launch his concussive blast, Jen's sonic scream rang through the clearing. This distracted Sinister long enough to release his hold on Brent. Brent's eyes began to glow white as a thick fog settled in the clearing. He took to the sky and found Jennifer.
"Thanks Jen, I was almost toast." Brent said.
"Well can you do me a favor and carry Joshua on your winds; it's a long flight back." Jennifer said.
"No problem, it's too bad our first date had to end this way." Brent said.
"I don't know; it was certainly memorable." Jennifer said as they flew through the night sky.
Meanwhile Sinister telekinetically lifts his teammates. He thinks to himself about the day's events.
'I hope that Joshua doesn't think this is over, he may have been able to get away today…" Sinister thought. '… but I still have one thing working for me. I am glad that Brent's mind creates a psychic link with family, it will be most useful. Most useful indeed.'