"Jean, I think you should call the Prrrofessorrr, now," said Kurt.
"Yes," said Jean and started concentrating. ~*Professor, we need you down here in the Control Room.*~
~*I'm coming, Jean,*~ was the answer she got.
"He's coming," reported Jean.
"Good. He's the one who's most interested in what I have to say," said the mask. The voice was so smooth, so feminine and nice, like that of a fallen angel.
It kept on turning over and over, as if it was looking at each and every one of them. It stopped on Hank.
"How are you, Hank?" she said without moving its mouth.
"Uh..." stumbled Hank. "Fine. And you are?"
"All in due time. Please be patient."
At that moment the face turned up and "looked" at the door past them.
"Greetings and salutations, Professor Xavier," it said as the door opened, letting the Professor and Scott enter.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Why have you entered our home and enabled Defcon 4?" asked Scott ready to blast the face into last Tuesday.
"Patience. You have much to learn still, young grasshopper," she said to Scott. "'To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.'"
"Ecclesiastes 3:1," said Hank. They all looked at him. "You're very cultured."
"I'm surprised you haven't figured out who I am yet, Mr. McCoy. I'm sure you must have come through my legend in your studies," it said.
"Let's stay on track. What is it that you wish?" said Xavier.
"I want the entire team to listen to this. And as I see it there are a couple of members missing," said the face looking straight at Xavier.
"Wolverine isn't here," said the Professor. "Storm is taking care of the new students."
"Logan's presence won't be necessary. And as for Ororo, I'm sure Evan will be able to tell his aunt everything that will said here."
"How do you know our names?" asked Jean, she looked at the Professor.
He was concentrating on something, obviously using his powers. She wanted to give him time to do everything he wanted to, so she was intended on keeping the face busy. She looked at Scott and signaled him.
"Yeah, and how do you know all these things about us?" he said, understanding her message.
"I know everything, young Cyclops. I see all and I know all," it said looking at everyone and no one at the same time. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Professor. You'll be very sorry."
As she said that, Xavier groaned in pain. The others rushed to his help to see what's going on, all but Hank, who stayed put looking inquiringly at the face.
"You can't say I didn't warn you, Xavier," said the face, unaffected.
"Are you alright, Professor?" said Kitty.
"Yes, Kitty. I'm fine. She has a psychic shield around her. I can't pinpoint her nor..."
"Do anything to me, can you, Professor?" she said; this time it had a hint of triumph in her voice.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Xavier looked around trying to figure out what to do next. He was powerless against her. He looked at Jean; they could try working together, but her psychic powers were still too weak to break the barrier. If only they had Cerebro, but she had that too.
"Do what I say, Xavier, or I'll turn on the weapons from the Danger Room. I can see young Rogue is there with a couple of the new mutants; Iceman, Multiple, Jubilee...."
Xavier's eyes widened.
"Kurt, get Rogue. Tell Ororo to keep the new students in the library. Go fast."
"Yes, Prrofessorr," said Kurt and *BAMF* he was out of there.
They waited a few seconds. Scott started pacing up and down the room; Kitty was still trying to make Cerebro work; Hank was still looking at the mask, trying to figure out where he had seen it before; Jean was holding on to the Professor, who wouldn't take his eyes off the image; and Evan was leaning against a wall, angry. The seconds seemed like hours to them. At any given time, that being on the Cerebro could blast the off to nowhere. They couldn't just let it do that, but they were sitting ducks.
"Argh!!!! I can't stand it anymore. I'm sorry, Professor, but I'm going to end this right now. Stand back everyone," said Scott turning his visor to the highest power.
"I wouldn't do that, Summers. I'm here to give you all a warning. It is in your best interest to be quiet and behave," she said enabling a ray gun that came out of the ceiling and pointing it straight at him.
"Warn us? Of what?" asked Jean.
"All in due time," the face said.
"And so the Oracle of the Realms has spoken," added Hank, leaning back in his chair.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Very good, Beast. I'm proud of you," the Oracle said.
"Oracle? What's this about, Hank?" asked the Professor.
"I will explain it all later," said Hank as Rogue and Kurt teleported in the room.
"We're all here, now give us your message and leave," commanded Scott.
"Very well. Tonight sometime between 11:00 pm and 4:00 am, your precious mansion will be attacked," she said eyeing all of them.
"Attacked?" they all gasped together.
"Yes, don't take this team lightly. They're unlike anyone you've ever fought before. I'm going to give you the stats on every member. Remember their powers, it is up to you to find a weakness. Everyone has a weakness, find it an you'll know how to defeat them. It's one of the many things my sensei has taught me."
"Why would you share so much with us?" asked the Professor.
"Because they know the same about you. Without any kind of help you won't be able to survive. None of you have enough skills to fight them without help, even the adults wouldn't survive if they all attacked together.
"Should you refuse, all hope for humanity is lost. Should you accept, I'll let go of Cerebro. Do we have a deal?"
"Ah don' see wha yah're gainin' outta this," said Rogue.
"I'm simply completing my mission," she said. The screen split in two and she stood on the right. "Here are their components:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Myst, age 27." she started saying as the picture of a man with light skin appeared, this time. His uniform consisted of a white and blue bodysuit and a mask covering his eyes like a blindfold. "Myst is blind. He uses his powers of imagination to figure out his surroundings and to attack people.
"Brawn, age 34." A robust, curly haired woman appeared this time; her uniform was red and covered almost all of her body. "She has super-strength. Stay clear of her.
"Dome, age 15." He was tall and blond. His uniform was white and yellow, which made him look even paler. His face was covered by a mask. "He shoots energy out of the pores of his skin. He can use it to make a barrier to protect him and/or people around him.
"Shocker, age 16." The picture of a girl with short, nappy blue hair and a black outfit appeared on the screen. "She control energy, electricity mainly. She's highly trained and can create energy bolts in her hands.
"Master Puppeteer, age 23." He had light brown hair and hazel eyes. Kitty thought he was really handsome, and his uniform made him look mysterious and fascinating. He was wearing a suit that looked much like a honey-colored tuxedo. "He can control anyone and anything."
"Monarch, age 13." This time it was a very small, very skinny girl's picture that came in. She had big, black eyes and black hair and big colorful butterfly wings. "She has the power of flight through her wings and her hair hides two antennae capable of picking up the lightest sounds."
"That's the whole team that is going to attack us? We can easily beat them. There's more of us anyways," said Evan laughing.
"Now all of you may be older than this team is but beware. They have had triple the amount of training you had and by a person worse than anyone you could ever meet: Raven." As she said that, the side that was showing the pictures went black.
"Like, where's she?" asked Kitty.
"No one has ever seen her face. She's too powerful for any of you to take on. Stay clear of her way. DO NOT TRY TO STOP HER, or she will crush you like a grape. That is my warning."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We'll take it into consideration," said the Professor. He was about to say something else when the Oracle interrupted.
"I know some of you have tickets to go to a show tonight," she said. I suggest you go. It's better if nothing out of the ordinary happens, should that raise any suspicions."
"I don't understand. Our home will be in peril and you still want us to go and have a good time?" asked Scott, annoyed.
"I never said you were going to have a good time. Go to the show," she said looking straight at Scott. "And so the Oracle of the Realms has spoken."
And with that the screen went blank. All systems turned off and Defcon 4 was deactivated.
"Professor, what do we do now?" asked Jean.
"I guess we'll just have to do what the Oracle has suggested," said the Professor, thoughtfully, in his chair.
"Yes," said Jean and started concentrating. ~*Professor, we need you down here in the Control Room.*~
~*I'm coming, Jean,*~ was the answer she got.
"He's coming," reported Jean.
"Good. He's the one who's most interested in what I have to say," said the mask. The voice was so smooth, so feminine and nice, like that of a fallen angel.
It kept on turning over and over, as if it was looking at each and every one of them. It stopped on Hank.
"How are you, Hank?" she said without moving its mouth.
"Uh..." stumbled Hank. "Fine. And you are?"
"All in due time. Please be patient."
At that moment the face turned up and "looked" at the door past them.
"Greetings and salutations, Professor Xavier," it said as the door opened, letting the Professor and Scott enter.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Why have you entered our home and enabled Defcon 4?" asked Scott ready to blast the face into last Tuesday.
"Patience. You have much to learn still, young grasshopper," she said to Scott. "'To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.'"
"Ecclesiastes 3:1," said Hank. They all looked at him. "You're very cultured."
"I'm surprised you haven't figured out who I am yet, Mr. McCoy. I'm sure you must have come through my legend in your studies," it said.
"Let's stay on track. What is it that you wish?" said Xavier.
"I want the entire team to listen to this. And as I see it there are a couple of members missing," said the face looking straight at Xavier.
"Wolverine isn't here," said the Professor. "Storm is taking care of the new students."
"Logan's presence won't be necessary. And as for Ororo, I'm sure Evan will be able to tell his aunt everything that will said here."
"How do you know our names?" asked Jean, she looked at the Professor.
He was concentrating on something, obviously using his powers. She wanted to give him time to do everything he wanted to, so she was intended on keeping the face busy. She looked at Scott and signaled him.
"Yeah, and how do you know all these things about us?" he said, understanding her message.
"I know everything, young Cyclops. I see all and I know all," it said looking at everyone and no one at the same time. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Professor. You'll be very sorry."
As she said that, Xavier groaned in pain. The others rushed to his help to see what's going on, all but Hank, who stayed put looking inquiringly at the face.
"You can't say I didn't warn you, Xavier," said the face, unaffected.
"Are you alright, Professor?" said Kitty.
"Yes, Kitty. I'm fine. She has a psychic shield around her. I can't pinpoint her nor..."
"Do anything to me, can you, Professor?" she said; this time it had a hint of triumph in her voice.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Xavier looked around trying to figure out what to do next. He was powerless against her. He looked at Jean; they could try working together, but her psychic powers were still too weak to break the barrier. If only they had Cerebro, but she had that too.
"Do what I say, Xavier, or I'll turn on the weapons from the Danger Room. I can see young Rogue is there with a couple of the new mutants; Iceman, Multiple, Jubilee...."
Xavier's eyes widened.
"Kurt, get Rogue. Tell Ororo to keep the new students in the library. Go fast."
"Yes, Prrofessorr," said Kurt and *BAMF* he was out of there.
They waited a few seconds. Scott started pacing up and down the room; Kitty was still trying to make Cerebro work; Hank was still looking at the mask, trying to figure out where he had seen it before; Jean was holding on to the Professor, who wouldn't take his eyes off the image; and Evan was leaning against a wall, angry. The seconds seemed like hours to them. At any given time, that being on the Cerebro could blast the off to nowhere. They couldn't just let it do that, but they were sitting ducks.
"Argh!!!! I can't stand it anymore. I'm sorry, Professor, but I'm going to end this right now. Stand back everyone," said Scott turning his visor to the highest power.
"I wouldn't do that, Summers. I'm here to give you all a warning. It is in your best interest to be quiet and behave," she said enabling a ray gun that came out of the ceiling and pointing it straight at him.
"Warn us? Of what?" asked Jean.
"All in due time," the face said.
"And so the Oracle of the Realms has spoken," added Hank, leaning back in his chair.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Very good, Beast. I'm proud of you," the Oracle said.
"Oracle? What's this about, Hank?" asked the Professor.
"I will explain it all later," said Hank as Rogue and Kurt teleported in the room.
"We're all here, now give us your message and leave," commanded Scott.
"Very well. Tonight sometime between 11:00 pm and 4:00 am, your precious mansion will be attacked," she said eyeing all of them.
"Attacked?" they all gasped together.
"Yes, don't take this team lightly. They're unlike anyone you've ever fought before. I'm going to give you the stats on every member. Remember their powers, it is up to you to find a weakness. Everyone has a weakness, find it an you'll know how to defeat them. It's one of the many things my sensei has taught me."
"Why would you share so much with us?" asked the Professor.
"Because they know the same about you. Without any kind of help you won't be able to survive. None of you have enough skills to fight them without help, even the adults wouldn't survive if they all attacked together.
"Should you refuse, all hope for humanity is lost. Should you accept, I'll let go of Cerebro. Do we have a deal?"
"Ah don' see wha yah're gainin' outta this," said Rogue.
"I'm simply completing my mission," she said. The screen split in two and she stood on the right. "Here are their components:
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Myst, age 27." she started saying as the picture of a man with light skin appeared, this time. His uniform consisted of a white and blue bodysuit and a mask covering his eyes like a blindfold. "Myst is blind. He uses his powers of imagination to figure out his surroundings and to attack people.
"Brawn, age 34." A robust, curly haired woman appeared this time; her uniform was red and covered almost all of her body. "She has super-strength. Stay clear of her.
"Dome, age 15." He was tall and blond. His uniform was white and yellow, which made him look even paler. His face was covered by a mask. "He shoots energy out of the pores of his skin. He can use it to make a barrier to protect him and/or people around him.
"Shocker, age 16." The picture of a girl with short, nappy blue hair and a black outfit appeared on the screen. "She control energy, electricity mainly. She's highly trained and can create energy bolts in her hands.
"Master Puppeteer, age 23." He had light brown hair and hazel eyes. Kitty thought he was really handsome, and his uniform made him look mysterious and fascinating. He was wearing a suit that looked much like a honey-colored tuxedo. "He can control anyone and anything."
"Monarch, age 13." This time it was a very small, very skinny girl's picture that came in. She had big, black eyes and black hair and big colorful butterfly wings. "She has the power of flight through her wings and her hair hides two antennae capable of picking up the lightest sounds."
"That's the whole team that is going to attack us? We can easily beat them. There's more of us anyways," said Evan laughing.
"Now all of you may be older than this team is but beware. They have had triple the amount of training you had and by a person worse than anyone you could ever meet: Raven." As she said that, the side that was showing the pictures went black.
"Like, where's she?" asked Kitty.
"No one has ever seen her face. She's too powerful for any of you to take on. Stay clear of her way. DO NOT TRY TO STOP HER, or she will crush you like a grape. That is my warning."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"We'll take it into consideration," said the Professor. He was about to say something else when the Oracle interrupted.
"I know some of you have tickets to go to a show tonight," she said. I suggest you go. It's better if nothing out of the ordinary happens, should that raise any suspicions."
"I don't understand. Our home will be in peril and you still want us to go and have a good time?" asked Scott, annoyed.
"I never said you were going to have a good time. Go to the show," she said looking straight at Scott. "And so the Oracle of the Realms has spoken."
And with that the screen went blank. All systems turned off and Defcon 4 was deactivated.
"Professor, what do we do now?" asked Jean.
"I guess we'll just have to do what the Oracle has suggested," said the Professor, thoughtfully, in his chair.