Disclaimer: I do not own these characters they belong to Marvel. The only character that is mine is Jarek and I would appreciate it if you ask before you use him. He is copywrited.
A New Student
Chapter 1
Jarek stood on a street in New York City reading the latest news of the mutant menace in the New York Post. On the front page was a story about the mutant known as Magneto who, it seemed, had just broken out of jail. Jarek shook his head at people they couldn't hope to hold a mutant who had friends like Magneto did.
Jarek frowned to himself then. He remembered about three weeks ago this same mutant, Magneto, being arrested in relation to the Statue of Liberty incident. It was that incident, as well as a certain woman who advocated mutant rights and had been on the news recently, that had brought Jarek here to the Big Apple.
"So," Jarek said aloud, "the mutant Magneto escaped it seems. I wonder what he will do now?" He said this to see what kind of reactions he would get from the nearby people. Many said curses under their breath or muttered about mutants in general. A couple just shrugged their shoulders like it was no big deal to them and even a few said mutants should not be hated to their friends who were cursing mutants. Few spoke loud enough to hear except for one man who became very vocal about the subject.
"Damn mutants ain't nothing but trouble the whole lot of 'em! Should hunt them down and imprison them all I say. Should have killed that Magneto character when they had him now he is free and will probably want revenge on good people like us for what happened to him." The man yelled for all to hear who wanted to. He had good lungs since he was a not dog vender working the crowded streets of New York.
Jarek shook his head sadly as he walked down the street away from the crowded parts of town. People made him sick. They were so hatful towards what they didn't understand or what was different from what they knew. He saw a trashcan nearby and so walked over to it and trashed the paper. Jarek wondered what the man would have done had he known that Jarek who was not more than ten feet away from him was a mutant.
He knew there was a school near here out in the country where a man named Xavier was said to teach special kinds of kids. He thought about heading there and seeing if this Xavier would take him in and finish his schooling since he had never finished his schooling.
Jarek could still hear the hot dog vender badmouthing mutants in general. Jarek was starting to get irritated with the man. Why couldn't he just sell his damn hot dogs and leave the subject of mutants alone. Jarek considered briefly about going back and killing the man later but decided quickly that was not the thing to do. The man couldn't help it that he was stupid.
Jarek had killed men before and it was his first kill that made him leave his home. That kill was a young boy about 15 years old. At that time Jarek was 13 years old and was a prime target for others to make fun of him for he was a quiet child and rarely said anything back to those who made fun at his expense.
Jarek remembered now that day so long ago. It was a day late in December with the snow falling furiously. Jarek was on his way home from a nearby pond where he had been fishing. Jarek had always loved fishing and no mere snowstorm was going to keep him from doing it. It was while he was on his way home that one of the many bullies in town decided to have some fun at Jarek's expense. The bully jumped him from behind then punched him in the face knocking Jarek down. Once Jarek was down the bully continued to kick him in the ribs and stomach, until Jarek was curled up in a ball from pain and had quit trying to get back up. The bully then took Jarek's wallet and fishing pole.
"Give me my stuff back please," Jarek wheezed through clenched teeth. The pain in his chest was unbearable almost. Jarek was no doctor but he guessed that he had at least one broken rib which was why he was in so much pain. Jarek had learned to deal with pain since many kids enjoyed beating him up because he did not fight back.
"Shut up," the bully spat at him, and then kicked him once more in the ribs.
Jarek felt another rib break and it was as if with the breaking of that rib Jarek's control over himself snapped as well. Jarek looked at the bully then and didn't see him, he saw his veins and the blood flowing through those veins keeping the bully alive and warm. Jarek had been cold since he was laying in the snow but at that time he stopped being cold. Jarek felt his own blood turn from being warm to being as cold as ice. He wanted this bully to feel the same way, he wanted this bully to feel cold and miserable. He felt a snap inside himself and his power was unleashed. The bully fell over dead right in front of Jarek.
Jarek remembered the kid looking blue and his eyes staring wide open at nothing. It was later that same day he left home. He packed up his belongings, those that he thought that he would need and went off on his own. Later he found out that the kid had been killed from his blood being frozen solid inside his veins. It was that day Jarek became like ice himself. Cold and distant not wanting the company of other people for fear of what he might do to them.
He had went to a doctor and told him to charge his parents for the medical attention that he needed. According to the doctors though he didn't need any medical attention so he left and never looked back.
A scream renched him back to the present, from his dark murky thoughts. He looked around and saw that he had strayed from the main streets of New York to the not so popular parts of New York.. It was a nearby alley that the scream had come from. Jarek noticed that there was no one around and thought that it meant that he was in a gang's part of the city. He ran to the mouth of the alley and looked down it. Jarek saw three men carrying a girl who was maybe seventeen and another three men standing over a girl who was unconscious.
The unconscious girl was wearing long flowing cloths and gloves on her hands. Over her head was pulled the cowl of her cloak to hide her face. It was her face and some of her hair that Jarek could see, for the cowl was knocked to the side when she was knocked out. Her hair was dark brown except for some white in it.
Jarek looked to the other girl was fighting ferociously in the grip of the men. It was as if she was trying to get her hands free to do something. She was wearing a yellow jacket with a white tank top on underneath it. She had on blue jeans that looked a little worn and black boots that were quite new. Her hair was was brown like the other girls but this girl with the yellow jacket had the darker brown of the two. Her face was hid behind one of the men's arms since he had his hand clamped down on her mouth to keep her quiet.
They were both petite and short. Their faces were not important to him. He had noticed all of this in the blink of an eye. He knew that these two girls where in trouble and he knew what these boys, a more accurate term instead of men for they were no older that eighteen themselves, were going to do to these girls. They were going to rape these girls and possible kill them.
As he looked closer quickly he notice that indeed the boys were wearing gang colors. This knowledge comforted him for he wouldn't feel bad about killing them at all. After all they were nothing but trouble makers and had probably done this to lots of girls before these two. If there was one thing that Jarek hated it was men who raped women.
There were six to his one but the odds didn't mean nothing to him. He was a martial artist but that is not what made him so deadly. He was a master with weapons and he was a mutant to boot. The boys had no chance unless they caught him before he was to them. If they had guns then they might be able to take him.
Jarek pulled two knives from the folds of his cloak and charged silently towards the first group of three. They were divided up with two carrying the girls legs and one holding her around the waist and face. The first two had no idea that he was there until his knives found their way into their flesh. They died quickly for his stabs were aimed for their hearts. The third yelled and tried to hold onto the girl thinking that would save him if he kept her between him and his assailant.
Fool Jarek thought, I will still kill you. Jarek stuck his right hand knife in his left forearm so that his right hand was free. He grabbed the boy's wrist jerked and twisted it so that he cried out in pain and released the girl. She ran to the back of the alley past the other three who were advancing on Jarek.
Jarek still held the boy by the wrist and he stepped in close to the boy bringing his left hand up in a cut across the boy's throat. He sliced through it clean cutting a major artery. Blood gushed from the wound and covered Jarek, who released the boy's wrist so that he could fall to the ground clutching at his wound with his hands.
Jarek turned then and looked at the other three squarely. Behind them he saw the girl in the yellow jacket. She had in her hands a cell phone and was talking on it. He also noticed that the other girl still had not moved, and he began to wonder whether they had already raped her and then killed her.
The remaining three stopped about 20 paces from Jarek and started to reach inside their coats. He saw them start to pull guns out and he knew that they were too far for him to rush and get to. He decided that his only course of action was to throw his knives and so he did. He quickly yanked the knife out of his forearm and flipped both of them so that he was holding them by their tips. His arms flashed forward and the knives whistled through the air. They struck two of the boys before they could fire. The boys fell with a knife in each of their throats. They clutched at the knives but were already dying. The last man though was still standing and he was frightened. He started to shoot madly like anyone would have who was scared. Out of the full clip, 15 shots, he only managed to hit Jarek four times at a distance of 20 paces.
After his last shot Jarek was on him in the span of a heartbeat he covered 20 steps. Jarek created a sword of pure light the color blazing yellow like the sun. He swung it at the boy who started to run past Jarek. The sword caught him in the back and cut him clean in two. His body fell apart at an angle. From his neck to his stomach was where the cut was.
Blood poured from Jarek's wounds making him weak. He was having a hard time standing but he stumbled over to where the girl with the yellow jacket was. Before he passed the girl that was unconscious he knelt down next to her which caused his wounds to bleed even more. He listened for breathing and heard it so he stood on woobly feet and moved to the other girl. She was huddled in a corner of the alley with her knees pulled up to her chest to cover her torso. Her arms were wrapped around her legs with her hands clasped in front. Jarek could still tell that her tank top was still tore though. It was something that he hadn't even noticed before when she was in trouble.
Jarek pulled his cloak off and let it fall to the ground. He then pulled off his shirt and tossed it to the girl who let it fall to the ground next to her. "Put it on if you like," he told her.
"Turn around please," she said barely loud enough for Jarek to hear. She was clearly uneasy in the presence of a someone who had killed six men without hesitating. He though that she was scared of him and he didn't really blame her.
Jarek examined his wounds then while she put on the shirt. He had taken a bullet in his left shoulder. That wound was not a bad one for the bullet had went clear through without hitting any bone. He had taken another in his stomach which hurt a lot but he would never show any pain. A third had nearly taken him in the head. If he hadn't ducked to the side he would now be dead more than likely as it is the bullet just skimmed his skull and ricochted off. The last shot had hit him in the chest. It had broken a rib which would heal in less than a day as would all his wounds but it had not went all the way through. He felt that he would be fine if he would stop bleeding.
He felt his cloak slide away from near his feet and so he called over his shoulder, "Are you and your friend alright or do I need to take you to a hospital."
"I am fine and she should be as well, and anyway our friends are coming to pick us up. That is who I called while you were fighting. We have a medical facility at our school so if we have anything wrong with us they can treat it when we get therec" she replied. "What about you though are you going to be ok," she asked worriedly looking at his blood covered torso and the blood flowing down his back.
"I will be fine," he replied before he passed out from blood loss at her feet.
CHAPTER 2
Jarek regained consciousness before he opened his eyes. He kept them closed for the simple fact that he did not know where he was. If he kept them closed then he could feel the place out, find out a little about it before he showed that he was awake.
He heard a person walking around the room that he was in. The steps were coming towards him and he heard talking in the background. The people talking were doing so quietly so as not to disturb whoever the person was that was walking towards him. As the person neared him he could tell by the smell that the person was a woman, as was at least one of the other people in the room. He didn't like having a lot of people around because that meant all the more he would have to kill if he had to break out of this place.
His wounds he knew were bandaged even though under the bandages they were healed. He had no shirt on and that caused him to smile to himself. He never let anyone see him without a shirt and here was a woman who saw him without a shirt. He was still smiling when he knew that these people didn't know that his wounds were healed and that he was awake.
He opened his eyes to see a beautiful lady with dark red red hair leaning over him. Her eyes were dark and seemed to draw you into their depths to invite you in. Her hair was long and lustrous. He noticed that in her hand was a needle with which he guessed that she was going to draw blood from him for testing.
Just as the needle was ready to pierce his flesh he spoke up, "If you don't want a doctor yourself lady I would suggest that you get that needle away from me."
"So you're awake," she replied happily as she stepped back. This one she thought was going to be a hand full if the professor decides to help him out.
"What did you think you were doing with that needle lady," he shot back coldly to the lady. He sat up and threw his legs over the side of the table and noticed that he was in nothing but his shorts they had even taken off his socks!
"I just wanted a blood sample to test," she replied.
"Well you don't need one. I am fine as you can see, so I am out of here." With that he stood up.
It was when he stood up that he saw who else was in the room. The people he had heard talking were a man wearing red sunglasses. He looked like he was in good shape from the way his body was. He had the look of someone who thought a lot of themselves. There was also a woman there, she was an African American woman. Her hair was the color of fresh fallen snow. She was pretty but very short. They both watched him as he headed for the door.
"What are you afraid of," Jarek heard in his mind. "We only mean to help you."
"I fear nothing that I can fight and see. Now get out of my head. If you want to talk to me do so face to face." Jarek growled.
"Very well then I shall," the voice replied in his head as a man appeared in the doorway where he was headed. The man was in a wheelchair. The man was old and had no hair on his head. He seemed to be a very knowledgeable man.
The man said to Jarek then, "let me introduce myself, I am Professor Charles Xavier."
Jarek nodded his head. "So should I be impressed with your title. Also since you are introducing people who are they."
"They are my students. The lady you were so rude to is Dr. Jean Grey. The man is Scott Summers also known as Cyclops. The lady with the white hair is Ororo Munroe also known as Storm. Now we have told you our names would you tell us yours?"
"I am Jarek," he replied absentmindedly.
"What is wrong Jarek are you in pain from your wounds," the professor asked.
"No I am not. I was wondering what this place is."
"It is a place, a school, where we take in young mutants and teach them to use their powers so that they don't hurt people," the professor told him.
"Good. I am glad that someone helps young kids out instead of kicking them aside. Its good that you teach them so that they learn control instead of having to learn the way I did. By myself." Jarek spat out.
"That is not all that is troubling you is it Jarek," Storm prompted.
"I was wondering about the girls if you must know. Are they alright or were they attacked again after I was unconscious? Are you the friends that the girl in tellow spoke of?" Jarek asked with concern in his voice.
"They are fine thanks to you and yes we are the friends she spoke of. They said that you showed up just in time to help them. They also told us that you fought savagely and didn't show any mercy to the men," the professor replied.
"They didn't say anything for one of them couldn't have seen anything. But they are right I did not show mercy to the men. I will never allow someone to live who would rape a girl." Jarek angrily told them.
"I see Jarek. If you wish you can go see the girls." The professor told him.
"I don't need to see them. If they are alright then that is all that matters. What I need to do though is leave. This is no place for me."
Xavier spoke up then, "please stay for awhile. We would like to run some tests on you. That and maybe you will find that this is indeed a place for you. You are not alone there are others like you. You may find that you would like to stay and learn alongside the other students."
"I don't like tests and we have already established that I don't need any training in the use of my powers. And if we didn't establish that it is now." Jarek growled.
"Our tests will not hurt you if that is what you are wondering. We just want to examine you mutation and your body itself." Jean quietly stated.
"I can see that you will not let me leave so fine I concede. When do we get started."
CHAPTER 3
"Professor look at these X-rays.," Jean exclaimed.
"What is it jean?" the professor asked.
"From these X-rays it seems that Jarek has broken most of his bones at least once in his life! Some have been broken even more. How can his body still function normal with so many bones being broke. It would affect the way he moves and such," Jean said.
"Not if he is like our friend Logan who has a healing factor Jean. It would heal him fine and allow him to function normally. His body would not be deformed in anyway due to the healing factor. It would seem that our new friend has many abilities would it not Jean?"
"What do you mean professor?"
"I spoke to Jubilee about him. She told me that he moves faster than anyone that she has ever seen in her life. Of course she hasn't seen those who have the mutation that has truly enhanced their speed."
"Professor what are you holding back from me. I don't need to be a telepath to tell that you are." Jean wanted to know.
Xavier smiled at her as he replied, "you are right Jean I am holding something back from you. Jubliee also told me that he created a sword out of yellow light. She then said that he used that sword to cut a man in two and he never showed any hint of remorse at what he had done. I am wondering Jean what kind of person Jarek is."
"Don't worry professor we shall find out. Maybe we can help him with himself and he can help us with our war with Magneto."
"I hope that you are correct Jean I really do," the professor said worriedly.
* * * * * * * * * *
Jarek decided he was going to give himself a tour of this school and so he started heading down halls and opening doors. Normally he wouldn't have done that but they had said to look around if he wanted.
He found students' rooms which he didn't enter. To enter another person's room was wrong and so he would not enter their rooms without permission. He next found a kitchen that was huge. He guessed that they needed a large kitchen in order to cook the food for all the students. After that he found a workout room which he decided he would come back to. He would do his own workout so that his body stayed in the shape that he had worked so hard to get into. It had been more than a day since he had last had one of his workouts and he could tell. His body let him know that he had missed by having his muscles jump now and again.
He walked on after finding that room. He was not done with his tour yet. He continued on down the halls and next heard the sound of a woman speaking. She was speaking about weather and light and such. Her voice sounded familiar to Jarek so he moved on down until he came to a door. The door was mostly closed but was open just enough for he to see what was going on in the room. He peered in through the open space and saw a class full of students with the woman Storm teaching. He knew that the voice had sounded familiar.
The door creaked from a gust of wind that had no business inside of a building. Jarek cursed under his breath at the creak, at the door, and at wind in general. Storm looked over at him and smiled then. He was almost sure she had caused the wind but he didn't know her powers so he wasn't certain. Still smiling at him she asked pleasantly, "would you like to join our class?"
"Not really," he replied
"Why not, I am sure you could contribute to class. It is always refreshing to hear a view that is new like yours would undoubtably be," she urged.
"I doubt it, I was never any good in school. All I ever got in school was to not think outside of what I was told," he argued.
"Just have a seat anywhere then, you don't have to participate in class if you don't want to. Just listen if that is all you want to do."
What was it with teachers and women in general that they always had to have their way. He hated it because he knew that he was going to concede to Storm here like he had to Jean earlier. Man how it rankled that he could not tell a lady No and they would listen. Maybe it was a genetic defect in a woman's genes or something. Anyway he wanted to be here in this class. That thought comforted him as he choked out, "Fine."
He walked to the far back of the room and sat in the corner opposite the door so he could watch the room and door. It was a habit of someone who had been hunted for a time and always wanted to know and see his surroundings. He sat with his back to the wall and his legs crossed Indian style in front of him so that he could stand without moving his legs at all. It was an easy way to stand quickly without much body movement.
Just as he sat down he heard Storm speak up, "Jarek why don't you sit next to Jubilee. There is an empty chair next to her at her table."
I have come into the class and now you want to tell me where to sit? Well I will not cave this time to you I will stay here. Jarek replied to Storm from where he was without moving, "If it is all the same to you Ms. Munroe I'd rather stay where I'm at."
He replied a little too quickly though and his words were a bit rushed. The seat the Storm spoke of was next to a certain brown haired girl who was wearing a familiar yellow jacket and had a very familiar face. Jarek told himself that he wanted to sit where he was for the reason earlier. That he wanted to be able to tell a woman no but the real reason that he wanted to stay in his place was because of the girl, Jubliee.
He had no wish to sit next to her for she probably thought that he was a monster for what he had done to those men who were going to rape her. If she thought him a monster he didn't blame her. He was cold hearted he knew that. If he had the chance to kill those men again he would without a second thought because they were rapists and he hated them.
He saw her and another girl with a white streak in her hair glance at him when they thought that he was going to take the offered seat. He knew the other girl was familiar as well wearing that familiar full body suit of clothing with only her face showing. They both looked away quickly when they noticed that he was looking at them. He knew at that time that they were the two girls that he had saved.
Storm replied to him, "if you really would rather sit where you are that is fine." She then went back to teaching.
Jarek was only half listening to the lecture. He was more worried about how the girls saw him. If they were afraid of him and would avoid him if he tried to approach them. Also he wondered if any of these other students knew of what he had done to help their classmates. He hoped that they didn't for they would fear him as well and it was something that he didn't like. Being feared.
These were his thoughts when Storm asked him a question. Since he was only half listening to the lecture he had no idea what she had asked. He thought it best to play deaf. "What?" he asked shaking his head to clear it of unwanted thoughts.
"I asked you Jarek could a person become invisible if they could bend light rays around themselves. You see we have a theory and everyone has given their opinion on the subject except for you. We would like to have your input since you are the new student. Maybe you have a different view that we have not discussed," Storm repeated patiently.
All eyes in the class turned to gaze at Jarek. He smiled to himself then and congratulated Storm on a well placed question to get him involved in class. Something that he had not been going to do. He knew and she knew that he had to answer the question. If he ever wanted to be a student here he could not afford to not answer and have the other students trust him.
Jarek then contemplated the question. He could manipulate light but he had never thought to try and bend it around himself to see if he could become invisible. He decided that he would try to do it and see. He thought it would be an interesting test of his powers. He shrugged his shoulders at the class.
"Well Jarek we are waiting for your answer," Storm prompted with a hint of excitement in her voice. Excitement for what he didn't know but it was there Jarek was sure of it.
He thought that he would surprise her with his next words and he smiled to himself. "May I have a few minutes Ms. Munroe to formulate an answer?"
"Why," Storm asked frowning.
"Because I will be testing this theory. I do not know if I will succeed but I will answer after I have tried," he calmly replied.
"Oh," Storm asked curiously.
Jarek only nodded his head for he was already working on the theory. He focused his mind on the light that was sorrounding light that was hitting him. He focused even more until all he could see were the individual rays themselves. He then used his power to put up an invisible mirror-like surface around his body. This was to see how the light would reflect so that he knew how to bend it. He noted this and then started to concentrate on the rays so that they were in his hand. He visualized them bending around his arms and legs. Around his body. He then released the mirror-like surface. No light rays were hitting his body then for he was making them go around his body without touching him.
The class saw him shimmer in their vision like a mirage when his shield went up. He was still visible but was distorted for few light rays were hitting him. Then while they watched this he just faded from sight altogether. Many of them gasped out loud and had looks of astonishment on their faces for none of them in this class could go invisible.
Jarek watched the class for any reaction to what he was doing. From their reactions he could tell that he had succeeded but it was taking a toll on him. He was starting to tire fast. He released the rays from his control then and he snapped back into the visible spectrum. He took a step forward to steady himself. Then once that was accomplished he looked up at the astonished face of Storm. He gave her a half-smile and a mock bow as he said lightly, "I would have to say that the theory is true Ms. Munroe since it seems that I have just proven it."
Many of the students started talking to each other about this new kid who could make himself invisible. They were worried that he could walk in on them without them knowing it and such so he thought that he would put that to rest right now. "Excuse me students but I can tell you are worried about me being able to do this. Let me assure you that it is too costly for me to ever do it unless there is a dire need. It drains me to the point of unconsciousness."
That statement brought about a whole new course of talking about who he was and why he would not use his power for some other activities. He heard some guys talking about them using it to sneak into the girl's locker room and such. He just shook his head at them and wondered about people in general why they would do such things to one another.
He looked at Storm and saw her shaking her head still from what he had said when he first became visible. "Class is dismissed," she cried to the students to get them to leave.
Students started to gather their books and bags and over the racket of the books being struck together Storm shouted, "Make sure you are not late for your training class which is in 10 minutes!"
The students filed out of the room all except for the girl with the white streak in her hair and the girl named Jubliee. Storm was still there but that was to be expectd since she was s teacher and in his experience they always stayed in the room after the students left. As he headed towards the door Jubliee stepped in front of him and the other girl stepped right up next to her bold as day.
"Hello there Jarek right." Jubliee said right out, "We have not been formally introduced and since you saved us I think that we should be. The name's Jubliee and my silent friend here is Rogue."
"Hello ladies," Jarek replied politely.
"Ohh a gentleman," Jubliee stated a bit happily.
Rogue spoke up then to quiet her friend. "We wanted to thank you for saving us since you did it at risk to yourself and you didn't even know us."
"It was nothing I assure you," he replied nonchalantly.
"We were also wondering if you were going to the next class with everyone. You could show off your fighting skills which I wish I could have seen. We would really appreciate it if you did." Jubliee seemed like she was having fun with this conversation the little vixen. It was like it was a game to the two of them.
"I haven't decided yet if I will go or not," he growled out so that he took a little wind out of their sails. Serves them right he thought they are trying to maneuver me into doing something and they don't know me at all. Well they may get the chance if I decide to stay here.
A voice cut into their conversation and it was Storm who said exasperated, "Go girls leave Jarek in peace for at least now. After all remember what happens when you are late to this particular class." With those words they had an enormous effect on the two girls. Both of their eyes got as big as basketballs and they turned and sprinted from the room.
They both called over their shoulders though as they left, "See ya around Jarek."
He noticed that they were both giggling as they ran down the hall and he was wondering what they were giggling about when Storm spoke up. He looked over at her with her white hair which was waving back and forth as she shook her head, "They have been waiting for you to get better so that they could speak to you. They were worried about you I think and we would not tell them anything."
"I see," Jarek mused.
"Jarek I have to ask you how you made yourself invisible so that we can understand and help you with your powers. We want to help you learn to control them and use them to help people." Storm said.
Jarek shrugged his shoulders a gesture that Storm was coming to recognize. "I did what the theory said. I bent the light around my body so that none of the rays hit my body. It seems that the theory is right. If you can keep light from hitting an object then that object becomes invisible. That is how I became invisible."
He then turned and headed down the hall but stopped before he had taken three steps. He turned back to Storm and answered the other part of her statement a bit coldly, and maybe even bitterly, "Storm I have no need of you people to help me with the controlling of my powers. I have learned how to do that on my own. It took a while and many people died as well as animals but I did learn to control it. The problem was I had to learn fast for some of my actions had alerted the Government to me and they had sent men out to hunt me down and eliminate me. Also I was being hunted by normal people who thought that my death would keep them safe from others like me. In order to survive I had to learn my power, learn what I could do, learn how to control it. Even now I am still learning about it and what it can do but I can control it. I hate being hunted and until you have been don't judge me Storm. My power is devastating if I so chose to make it." It was with those final words that he turned and headed down the hall.
* * * *
Storm wondered about this young man. He was so cold and yet he had risked his life to help out Jubliee and Rogue. He was a person who had mysteries and the other students would want to know what they were. She thought that it might be good for both the students who would maybe make him a friend and for Jarek who might learn to feel again.
Storm also wondered about him being hunted by the government. He must have done something that was very tremendous for the government to want to hunt him down and kill him. Then she worried about the normal people hunting him down. It was like a modern day Salem witch hunt. She feared that he had lost his loved ones that combined with being hunted for a large portion of his life was what had made him so cold. Made him have such a bleak outlook on life.
Lastly she wondered about his powers. He could bend light! That was an amazing feat since no mutants that they knew of could control light in the least. To control light was amazing! She wondered what else he could do besides control light, and what the professor had told her and the rest of them. They knew that he was faster and stronger than a normal person. They also knew from Jean's research that he had better than average senses of sight, smell, and hearing. Of these powers they didn't know how strong any of them were. They just didn't know the extent of his powers. That almost worried her since he said that his powers could be devastating if he wanted to make them that way. Storm knew they would find out what his powers were, and with a smile she headed to the training room.
* * * * *
The girls sprinted to their rooms so that they could change. They did not want to be late for class since that meant that they had to do garbage duty for a week! They both came to their rooms and ducked inside. Jubliee changed cloths into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Rogue changed into a tight bodysuit. After all they had to change if they were going to get all sweaty. Not the pursuits of a lady but they had to endure.
They both came out of their rooms together and started down the hall. Jubliee spoke up first. "I kind of like him don't you. I mean sure he is gruff at times and seems to be more at home being by himself but we could cure him of that problem, don't you think."
"I like him as well. He almost reminds of Logan how I wish he would return."
"Still sweet on that hairy guy sheesh! Get over him there is this new guy!" Jubliee exclaimed.
"No I will not have him as you put it. I would like to have him for a friend, but you know that I will wait for Logan."
"Oh man what is with you. This new guy is tall and handsome and everyting that Logan is well. . . not. I mean come on what is with you."
"Jubliee what is with you that is not very nice to talk about someone that way. And admit it you like Logan too. You just know that he is too much man for you."
"Get serious Rogue, I don't want hiiim. I would rather have Bobby,.. . well on second thought I would not rather have Bobby."
They both laughed at that as they headed to the practice room.
* * * * *
Jarek headed down to the kitchen, that he had found earlier, after class. He was hoping to find himself a pair of knives that were matching since had left his in the bodies of the men he had killed. He needed some knives to practice with or he would become rusty.
He had decided that if he was going to this next class then he would practice his knife skills since they were the things that a person could forget if not practiced. He looked in drawers and cupboards. All he had found were mismatched steak knives. How could a place that had the stuff that this place did not have matching steak knives? At least to him they were not the same. They looked the same but their weight was not. He figured that they would have to work.
He headed then to the workout room, practice room, whatever they called it. He knew that this was not the place that they would normally practice but the Danger Room was down. He knew he was getting there because he heard people way before he came to the door. Inside he found the students practicing their skills. He saw one young man who was creating iceballs and other things out of ice. He noticed another young man doing the same but with fire instead. He saw a boy with blue skin and a tail doing acrobatics and even a young man with metal skin. He saw Jubliee using her powers to attack cardboard cutouts of men. Her powers were short energy bursts that could blind and even hurt if used right. He also saw many other students doing much the same as the others. There was even the teachers Storm, Jean, and Cyclops here.
Jarek also noticed that each person was set up in a specific area that was just for them and he wondered if there was an area for him. Then of course he thought about it and decided that they couldn't have an area for him since he had just arrived, and they couldn't know all of his powers.
He just stood in the doorway watching them all practice. He noticed that Rogue was off running on a treadmill. While he was standing there Jean and Cyclops came up to him, for they had noticed that he was not entering and participating like they wanted him to. He was just standing there so they thought about approaching him. They stopped practicing and went to him.
Jarek noticed the way they were close together. Someone like him learned to watch closely and interpret actions. He noticed how they managed to touch each other without making it obvious, while they walked side by side. He came to the conclusion that they were a couple which didn't bother him in the least. He had no need of a girlfriend.
"Jarek why aren't you practicing with the rest of us," Cyclops asked him.
"I don't have an area set aside for me do I?"
Jean spoke up and said quickly, "We have set aside that corner by Jubliee for you. I still am not sure what your powers are so we didn't know what kind of area you needed."
Jarek gave his half-smile, "don't worry I will not use my powers, I will just use these knives that I have, I need to practice my knife work anyway. That way there is no chance of me hurting anyone."
Cyclops and Jean hadn't noticed that he had any knives until he spoke up but sure enough upon closer inspection they noticed them tucked in his belt under his shirt. "Where'd you get the knives. You didn't have any on you when we brought you in." Cyclops wanted to know.
"From your kitchen. They aren't a matched set but they will do for what I want. Don't worry either if I break them then I shall buy new ones to replace them." Jarek said cooly.
"Don't worry about it. After all we said to make yourself at home." Cyclops said happily. It seemed to him that Jarek might just decide to stay which he would not mind even if he did remind Cyclops of Logan. "Just go practice so that we can get back to work."
I have never had a home so it is a little hard to make myself at home Jarek thought. He had a question though, "Where is the Professor?"
"He is watching from the moniters in the main control room. He watches to see who improves in the use of their powers and to see who needs his help in the improvement of the control of their powers." Jean replied.
Jarek nodded again and headed for the spot that Jean had pointed to earlier. When he arrived he noticed that a couple of fake men were set up against the wall. They were made of straw so that his knives wouldn't get bent or dulled or anything. It didn't really matter though for like he said he would buy new ones. He had the money from doing a couple of things that he was not so proud of.
He pulled the knives from his belt and felt their balance. They were not balanced that great but they were not the worst either. The balance wasn't what he cared for since if he wanted to be great at throwing knives he needed to be able to determine how they would fly due to being made poorly. His arms shot forward and the knives struck the targets. They didn't fly true though and one of them buried itself in the stomach and the other in the arm. These knives were definitely not his but he would never have his back. He went and retrieved them and threw them once again. This time they both stuck in the chest area. He withdrew them one more time and threw them. He came closer to his mark but was still missing it. He kept retrieving his knives and throwing them until he was hitting the throat every time.
Jarek then thought that he had enough of knife work so he stood there and looked around at the other students again. He saw Jubliee still practicing hitting those dummies with her power blasts. Every time she was hitting the chest and head area but he noticed that her hands needed to be free. That is why she couldn't hit those men that had her and Rogue. Jarek shrugged and decided that he needed to work on his sword work then since he had nothing better to do.
He had no swords of metal but that didn't bother him. He could make his own. He concentrated on the surrounding light that was running free without constraints. He manipulated it, pulling it into his hands and shaping it into swords called katanas. He then wrapped them in his power so that they would stay there until such time as he didn't want them anymore.
To those who were watching they saw blazing swords of light appear in his hands. Around Jarek the light dimmed for a second and then brightened again. When he looked at people it was with eyes that glowed. His swords started to move in intricate patters as his feet moved to match what his arms were doing. It was instinct that guided him. The main reason he was doing this was for the workout and no other reason.
Jarek went through what he had been taught. His swords flashed faster and faster until they became nothing but a blur that trailed light. He thought of the men for some reason that had attacked Jubliee and Rogue. They were going to rape the two of them. Faster the swords moved now all they were was trails of light weaving around in the air. His steps carried him forward, back, back, right, left, left, then forward again. His movements sped up as well. His eyes then lighted on the practice dummies.
His feet carried him forward for to him they were the men who held Jubliee. Down his right sword flashed cutting the dummy in two from head to groin. At the same time his left flashed in a cross slash cutting the other dummy in two from one end of his waist to the other. He done the same to the other dummies until they were nothing but piles of straw.
He stood there then breathing a bit heavy for his emotions had control of him for a minute there. That and he had been working his swords for close to 15 minutes. He turned around and saw all of the students standing far back from him looking at him with Jean, Cyclops, and Storm with even the professor there as well.
"Are you quite done with those," asked the professor gesturing at the swords.
"Yes I guess that I am," Jarek replied and released his hold on the light swords which just disappeared. The light went back to the surrounding air which is where it was meant to be not confined.
"What's the matter," Jarek asked a bit uneasily. He was hardly ever uneasy in the slightest and he didn't like the feeling at all. They were all still looking at him some with a bit of fear in their eyes but most just curiously.
"Nothing is the matter Jarek. It is just that none of them have seen a power like the one that you posses." The professor answered him easily. Too easily Jarek thought for the answer was too ready and preconcieved.
"My power is not that interesting professor. So why don't you just tell me what they were really looking at."
"Jubliee spoke up before the professor could answer this time. "Your eyes were glowing brightly! You were also hissing and growling there at the end. Your eyes didn't start to glow until at the end as well." She said with a quiver in her voice.
Jarek smiled to himself then. They were all afraid of him for what he had done. He didn't remember doing that but that was nothing knew. There were times that happened. It was then that he remembered that she said that he had been growling. That meant that he had lost himself to a memory not something that he had seen. Losing himself to a memory was something that he couldn't deal with. He didn't want to lose himself like that around these people who had helped him.
Jarek tried to push his way through the people but he didn't need to bother. They parted readily enough to allow him to pass which would have hurt if he had feelings that could be hurt. He left the mansion then and went to the nearby woods where he would feel at home.
* * * *
He was sitting at the base of a great oak tree when he heard a trio of girls bumbling their way through the woods toward him and talking amongst themselves.
"What did you two have to drag me along," a girl said that he didn't know.
"Because Kitty we love you so much that we couldn't let you stay in that stuffy mansion any longer." Jubliee said.
"Liar you just are trying to make me uncomfortable. You know that I don't like the outdoors. Me and the outdoors don't get along." Kitty accused.
"So we felt you needed to broaden your horizens then how's that for an answer." Rogue replied.
"You know I hear there are bears in these woods." Kitty said mock frightened.
"Well if there are then you can scare them away with that hairdo that you have. I mean could we be anymore 80's." Jubliee shot back to Kitty.
"What's wrong with my hair," Kitty wondered.
"It is permed. Only old women perm their hair now days Kitty." Rogue said trying to hide a laugh at the image that brought up.
"I happen to like my hair this way. You are both just going to get it when you both least expect it for the way you treat your poor little friend me." Kitty cried to them.
They didn't know how right that statement was though until Jarek appeared right in front of them from behind a tree. They all screamed and turned and fled back into the trees until he called out to them. "I am no bear and I am no axe murderer from a horror flick if that is what you thought."
They stopped and turned then and looked back. Sure enough it was no bear but it was Jarek. The person that they were sent out here to find. He sure looked different. He had no shirt on and his pants were tore. He was quite dirty and his hair was sure a mess and they should know. After all they were hair critics and they were just giving Kitty advice on her hair.
When he next addressed them his voice held no welcome in it. "Why are you here."
"The professor sent us out here to get you. He told us to tell you that he didn't know why you had left in the first place and to be quite honest I don't know why you left either." Jubliee said with her hands on her hips.
"I left because the students were afraid of me even you Jubliee," he replied coldly.
"That was only because we have never seen a power before where the person's eyes glowed." Rogue said to try and placate him. Indeed they were a bit scared of him but that would not be the thing to say right now.
"Yeah Rogue is right Jarek. I mean people were scared a bit of me when they found out I could phase through things. They thought that I would sneak into their rooms and things." Kitty spoke up to try and help. They were her friends and so she would do her best to help.
"Who are you young lady," Jarek asked her when he turned his gaze to her.
"I am Kitty Pryde. I am Jubilee's roommate and their best friend at least for now." When she said that she turned and glared at the two of them.
They tried to hide a giggle and then Jubliee spoke up. "Besides the professor explained things to the students and they don't fear you now."
"Yeah well they should fear me." Jarek said coldly again. "Back there I lost it. My mind was trapped in a memory. I was becoming lost in that memory becoming unthinking. Everything was happened was instinct. If someone had touched me I might have killed them without realizing what I was doing."
"But you won't lose it again we will help you make sure of that. You wouldn't hurt us," Rogue said sweetly.
"I only hope that I never lose it again. As to hurting you ladies I would never hurt you if I could help it."
"Let's head back then. I shouldn't have kept you out in the woods when darkness falls since you have no woodcraft training and one of just doesn't get along with the trees and such." Jarek said with his half-smile.
Kitty blushed at that remark but hide it by phasing through one of the trees that was in front of her. Jarek shook his head thinking that would be a great ability and one that a person could easily use to help people out.
As he turned and started back towards the mansion Jubilee spoke up, "Um we have something to give you first."
She kicked at the ground as Jarek replied, "Oh yeah."
"Give it to him," Jubliee whispered to Rogue as she elbowed her in the side.
Of course Jarek heard that but he didn't let it show. He just stood there waiting for them to give him whatever it was. Rogue stepped forward and pulled a bundle out from under her cloak. She held it out to Jarek at arms length and he took it from her hands gently. Jarek opened the package and inside found his two knives cleaned.
He took the knives from the box and held them like a person would a cherished thing. He couldn't believe that they had gotten his knives back for him. He also couldn't believe that one of them had pulled them out of the bodies of the men. He looked at them then all three of them and said "Thank you. First for helping me see that I should come back with you to the mansion and second for these knives. You giving me my knives means more to me than either of you could possibly know."
Jarek then did something that took even him by surprise and especially them. He reached out and hugged both of them. Rogue and Jubliee didn't know what to think of this show of affection. They had thought that he was cold but know he just did something that they would never had thought him to do. He released them then and said, "Don't think that I am soft by any means. I did that for you it was the only way at the moment that I could think of to thanks you. I am still as cold as always."
Jubilee looked at the other two then and said shrugging, "Tell us why those knives mean so much to you."
He looked at them and said, "Because they have been with me for longer than anything else I own. They have been with me since I was 14 and they were given to me by a woman who had saved my life. She was a mutant as well and so I cherish them for what they represent and that they are great knives. I feel like they are a part of me."
"Well enough talk huh. These past days I have decided that I will become a student so let's go make me a student what do you say." Jarek said to get them to go back to the mansion.
He smelled rain on the way and didn't want them to be out in it. They headed back to the mansion and he was going to become a student. As soon as they arrived back at the mansion that is just what happened right then and there.