Split Illusions
Chapter Three

Scott Summers walked down the long corrider alongside Professor Xavier. The hospital was quiet, their feet (and wheels) being the only sound. Scott glanced through doorways, catching glimses of patients and a few nurses. They had almost reached their destination when a nurse came dashing out of the nearest room.

"It's a miracle!" She exclaimed. "Doctor! Doctor!"

"What is it?" Dr. Peterson asked, walking out of the room two doors down. The nurse turned to him, barely acknowledging Scott and Xavier.

"She's cured! Doctor, the tests we took yesterday! They all came back normal." The nurses eyes were wide in awe. "Doctor, there isn't a single thing wrong with her."

"Let me see that chart." Dr. Peterson insisted, following the nurse into the patient's room. Scott and Xavier shared a look, before continueing on their way. They stopped at the room the doctor had come out of. After a nod of encouragement from the Professor, Scott stepped inside the white room.

In the back of the room, facing the window, was Catherine. Her long black hair pulled into a single braid stood out in the white-ness of the room. She wore pure green, from her long skirt to tank top. Her head turned slightly at the sound of footsteps, showing a pair of green tinted sunglasses. As the two entered the room, she spoke in a whisper. "So, your the ones Detective Crosby told me about."

"Yes, I'm Professor Xavier and this is Scott Summers." Xavier replied. Catherine turned around and looked at them carefully.

"Nice sunglasses." She commented, smirking. Scott looked down at the Professor with an agitated look. "Look, I know you guys probably think your doing this wonderful thing, taking me in, but really, don't."

"What do you mean?" Scott asked out of curiosity.

"There are some things about me that you wouldn't be able to understand." Catherine said softly.

"Like your gifts?" Scott said bluntly. Catherine's mouth dropped.

"That is the reason we wanted to talk to you." Xavier revealed. "I run the Xavier Institute."

"Not at all modest are we?" Catherine snorted.

"There, you are able to harness your powers," Xavier continued, choosing to ignore her remark. "You can control them."

"Actually, buddy, I don't have any powers." Catherine told him, turning back to the window. Scott and Xavier shared a look.

"So, tell me, what happened to the woman two rooms down from you?" Xavier asked mysteriously. Catherine let out a long, frustrated sigh.

"I don't know what your talking about." She insisted. "If your talking about that dream I had, then buddy, get a grip. That wasn't real!"

"She's a stubborn one." Scott muttered, sitting down in a vacant chair. Just then, out of total coincidence, the doctor and nurse walked past in deep discussion.

"I'm telling you doctor," The nurse said insistantly. "Two days ago is when she started to feel better! I immediately took more tests. The woman was able to sit up for the first time in months!"

"Oh, shit." Catherine muttered, resting her forehead against the glass of the window as the doctor and nurse left.

After Long Conversation and Packing....

"Welcome to the Xavier Institute, Catherine." Scott announced as they pulled up at the front gate. Catherine stepped out of the car and looked up at the huge mansion, eyes wide.

"Boy, Professor, how do you afford all of this?" Catherine asked, turning to help Scott grab her suitcases from the trunk. Professor Xavier smiled in a mysterious manor.

"I have my ways." He stated. Catherine raised her eyebrows and glanced at Scott, who just smiled. A sudden picture of the old man robbing the local bank popped into Catherine's head and she fought back a giggle. She grabbed two bags and started towards the door, but not before glancing back at a struggling Scott.

"Did you really need all of this?" He asked, trying to balance four suitcases.

"A girl has nessecities you know." Catherine told him in a snooty tone. Scott opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it. They entered the mansion and Scott immediately dropped the suitcases on the floor, making Catherine glare at him. "Hey! There is very expensive stuff in there! You better of not broken my laptop, buddy."

"We wouldn't want that happening." Scott muttered, already annoyed with the new girl. Catherine looked him up and down, then sneered. Scott's eyes widened in slight suprise from the look on her face. She stepped closer to him, a look of pure hatred filling her features.

"You must be the new girl." A voice interupted. They both turned to see a red-head walk into the room. Catherine shook her head slightly and frowned, the previous look of hate fading away.

"Yes." Catherine said, setting down one of the bags in her hand to reach out and shake Jean Grey's hand. "I'm Catherine Schenck."

"Pleasure to meet you." Jean greeted. "Let me show you to your room."

"Thanks." Catherine smiled. She followed Jean upstairs, while Scott continued to struggle with the luggage.

"You get your own room, so you don't have to worry about sharing with anyone." Jean informed her, opening a door to the right. Catherine stepped inside the medium sized room. It was bigger than her hospital room, and for that she was thankful. Her and Jean watched Scott stumble into the room and dump the suitcases. They both hid a smile as he leaned against them, breathing heavily. He finally gained his compsure, clearing his throat.

"I'll just be in the kitchen." He informed them, walking out. Catherine glanced around the room and met Jean's eyes. There was a pause, then both spoke at once.

"Go ahead." Jean offered.

"I was just gonna say that I'm a bit hungry myself." Catherine told her. Jean smiled and offered to show her the way.

The Next Day....

"So, what does she do?" Logan asked Scott as they both walked down a long corridor.

"Don't know."

"Why are we putting her in the Danger Room so soon, then?" Logan asked, looking over at Scott. Scott glanced back at Catherine behind them, who stared at the floor as she followed, still wearing the green tinted sunglasses she refused to remove.

"The Professor seems to think that being under pressure will make her use them." Scott replied. Logan nodded and questioned 'Chuck's' sanity, but not for the first time since meeting the man. They all three entered the large Danger Room. Catherine looked around, wide eyed and jaw dropping slightly. Scott grinned at her reaction. "Nice, huh?"

"Amazing." Catherine said. "So, what am I suppose to do?"

"Basically? We'll attack you and you defend yourself." Scott gave her a sheepish smile as her eyes widened. Catherine shook her head and stepped farther into the room. They hadn't given her any outifit, unlike what Scott and Logan currently wore. She stood there a moment, gazing around in her usual green skirt and top, wondering how she was supose to fight them off.

A beeping caught her attention from above. Looking up, she saw what looked to be a control station. Through the glass windows she could see Professor Xavier, and woman was white hair, and Jean Grey. She turned around to look at Scott and Logan, but they were nowhere to be seen. Seh quickly lifted her guard, scanning the room. A bright shot of red energy shot into the ground inches away from her foot. Screaming, Catherine fell onto her butt. She quickly got up and moved out fo the way as another beam of red shot past her. Anger soared through Catherine as she clenched her fists.

A growl sounded near her and she dived out fo the way as Wolverine leaped at her. She twisted around to look at him, but stumbled on her own legs. As her back hit the ground, a bright light shot out of her chest. A large white orb glowed, gravitating three feet above the air. Wolverine sheathed his claws and stared at it. Cyclops came into veiw, entranced by the throbing white light. Catherine didn't move from her spot on the floor as the familiar orb of white began to morph into a human figure. A fairy. It was bigger than they last one Catherine had seen, a lot bigger. It now took the shape of a curvascious, two feet tall woman, with glittery white wings sprouting from her back. The fairy, if that's what it really could be called, looked around and then down at Catherine with pulsating white eyes.

"Wow." Cyclops breathed.

"What is it?" Wolverine asked in his gruff voice. The 'fairy' ignored the others and stared at Catherine, then slowly bowed.

"You called?" A voice said, sounding like a chiming of church bells. Catherine just stared. The voice had come from the thing in front of her, but no mouth had moved. In fact, it didn't even have a mouth.

"What are you?" Catherine whispered. The 'fairy' giggled, while Catherine slowly stood. The sound of doors opening caught their attention and they all turned to see Xavier and a couple others enter the room. Everyone in the room looked back and forth between the 'fairy' and Catherine. "Where did you come from?"

"Ah, I see." The tinkling voice said. "You do not know? Very well. I shall tell you of what we are."

"We? There are more of you?" Xavier asked. The 'fairy' giggled again.

"More than you would like to think." The 'fairy' said. "Let me explain, in perhaps, a comfortable surounding? I will be back, untill then prepare a place of proper discussion."

Everyone was silent, stunned as the 'fairy' morphed back into the orb and shot into Catherine's chest. Catherine gasped as a cold feeling covered her. Slowly, everyone came to their senses and turned to the Professor expectantly. Jean Grey was the only one willing to speak. "What do you think Professor?"

"Catherine's power are indead odd." He stated the obvious. "I suppose the only correct thing to do would be go to my office and wait for this.. 'fairy' to return? See if Catherine can create it again?"

All nodded in agreement and followed the Professor out fo the Danger Room, Catherine comming up the rear.

end notes i know it's EXTREMELY confussing at the moment. sorry. *eep* but the next chapter is entirely for explination! ^.^