***(Two years after Chapter one...)
Charles Xavier walked away from Cerebro; the beginning of a headache already started. He had found quite an ensemble of mutants-- twins in England with totally different powers, a boy in Louisiana that could control electricity, a small boy in China who could travel by bending light and shadows, and too many more to count. But the one that was bothering him most, the reason he had been at Cerebro so long-- was a girl in England of 15 years of age. She was a broadcasting and receiving empathic, and also had some telepathic abilities, but they were very weak, even for someone just receiving them. The girl had to have another untapped power that hadn't awoken yet, or hadn't been in use, one he hadn't been able to discern. He had, however, noticed her physical mutations on the numerous occasions over the past two years she had been a mutant. She was born in Germany, and walked her way to England, and seemed to be taking a rest there for now. Xavier sighed deeply.
He knew people who had had physical mutations since birth-- he even had one on his 'team', his X-men. Kurt had learned to deal with it, for the most part, at an early age. But for others-- those whose physical mutations came later-- normally at puberty-- he could only guess how traumatizing that must be. Sure-- since the girl was a broadcasting empath, he had received some of those feelings, but in a very minor degree. He could only guess what it must be like at full-blown strength. It wasn't like he hadn't been depressed before-- far from it. He just had to feel pity on any poor soul who had tasted 'normalcy', and could never go back.
He shook his head, trying to shake away the 'cobwebs' that had begun to gather at the back of his mind, and when he looked up, he saw Scott standing in front of him, an amused expression on his face. How long had he been there? The professor couldn't help but wonder as he said, "Good morning Scott."
"I was wondering when you'd see me...," Scott said, shaking his head. "You were in there for quite a while. Are you going anywhere this morning?"
The Professor began to move down the hallway, followed by Scott. "Tell Mr. Lebeau that you and him need to get the jet ready. I want you two to pick up a boy in Louisiana. He turned into lightning last month, and has been using his powers for some slightly insidious purposes. I'll give you the coordinates when you're ready. Oh, and Scott?"
Scott turned around—He had already been on his way to get Gambit. "Yes?"
"Keep Remy away from the casinos, please?"
"Sure, professor," Scott said, smiling and nodding as he headed on his way.
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Remy was standing in the kitchen, cooking some dish or another at the stove and talking to Annie, the 'school nurse', and Jean-Paul, (Northstar) when Scott came in.
"Get ready— the Professor wants us to go pick up someone," Scott said, as Remy's eyes lit up. (Or as much as his blood-red eyes could.)
"So da 'Fessor realize Remy's been bored round here, non? 'Kay— Remy be ready in bit," Gambit said, and both of them left the room, leaving a baffled Northstar to watch over the cooking food. Annie gave Jean-Paul a slightly mocking look, and joked, "Well—? It's about time you started pulling your weight around this mansion..."
Jean-Paul rolled his eyes at the nurse. "Hahah. So very funny..." he said, glancing hopelessly to the door and absently stirring the food...
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The lights were flashing and the alarms sounding as a boy said, "Bingo." He pulled his hand back from the machine, and quickly put a glove on, then readied his cup for the stream of coins that began pouring out. The sixteen- year-old was standing in one of the casinos in New Orleans, smiling happily as he began to count the money. "M'ands 'aven't failed me yet," he said in a Cajun-accented voice, before he lowered his head, suddenly cursing softly. The pure white hair on the back of his head was standing up, thanks to static electricity, and his pale blue eyes had yellow 'bolts of lightning' racing throughout them. One of the more unfortunate side effects of his powers. Added to the fact that lightning was constantly attracted to him and one touch of his skin on someone elses was enough to knock almost anyone unconscious.
Some of the pluses? He had basic control of the electricity of any machinations or buildings around him— all he had to do was shove his finger in a socket, or put his hand on a machine. He also could access most computers with his mind, dial on cell phones without having to actually touch them— party tricks mostly, at least in his own opinion. He lived entirely off of energy— most of which he could get from the air— and normal food wasn't necessary.
He was also an excellent computer hacker.
So— he had just made the slot machine he was standing at give three sevens, (he was quite glad that this casino used the newer electronic versions instead of actual slot machines,) but now the rest of the electricity in his body was acting up. He sighed, taking the rest of his the coins as they fell out, ignored the looks of jealousy from the rest of the inhabitants of the casino, and headed towards the bathroom.
***(Meanwhile...)
At the other side of the casino, Scott sighed. Keep Remy away from the casino— yeah right! How was he supposed to do that, especially when the coordinates Xavier gave him lead directly to one? ~Keep him away from the casinos...~ he thought dryly.
Meanwhile, the Cajun was eyeing the poker tables with a renowned interest. How were they ever going to figure out which person they were picking up? And how'd a sixteen-year-old get into a casino, anyway? Didn't they have an age limit or something? Couldn't hurt to play a few rounds of poker while Scott was looking... Remy began to feel around his pockets, looking for money, but felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Remy...," Scott said warningly, sighing. "Just keep looking!" he continues, a look of exasperation on his face, to which the Cajun replied with a happy grin...
The white haired boy made his way from the bathroom, his hair mostly flat. He headed straight towards Remy and Scott, or rather towards the poker table, brushing slightly past the both of them.
"Woah...," Scott said, glancing at his arm. All the hair was standing on end, and Gambit's hair was a bit more frizzy than usual. Static electricity. Remy and Scott watched as the boy sat down at the poker table, and Remy flashed Scott a 'hahah' look as he sat down next to the kid. Scott watched idly as the game began to unfold, not really wanting to spend his money. So this kid was their mutant? Not much to look at. Pale skin, white hair, pale blue eyes...
The boy in question sighed as the cards were dealt. It was nice to find a game that he couldn't cheat on— at least with his powers. He usually always had a few 'tricks' up his sleeve either way. Between the four people and the dealer playing the game of poker, he was glad to say it was coming pretty close between him and Remy. He had always prided himself at the fact that just because he *could* cheat didn't mean he had to. As the third batch of cards was dealt, the boy flashed Remy a dazzling-white-teeth smile.
"Name's Jaccob Babeaux," he said to Remy, and there was just enough hitch to his voice to get Scott's senses going. He furrowed his eyebrows behind his 'glasses'.
Remy only smiled at the look on Scott's face, then said, "D'name's Remy Lebeau, but you can call me Gambit." Scott's eyebrows only furrowed more.
The people laid down their cards, and Scott sighed. Well— it didn't look like Remy had too much competition. 3 aces from the dealer, a spade straight with an 8 high, a full house with a ten high. Nothing too impressive.
"Full house, king high," Jaccob said showily as he laid down his cards, flashing the people at the table a huge grin. Remy looked disappointed as he laid down his own cards slowly. Then his face erupted into one of his charming Cajun grins as he revealed his ace high royal straight flush. Scott had to smile at the shocked look on the kid's face. Gambit was almost as good a card player as he was a thief. He just hoped that Gambit hadn't cheated.
"Y'haven' changed a bit, Remy," the boy said as they both got up from the table.
"You haven' either— Remy still beats you like it not'in'," Remy answered in reply, as the boy stuck out his tongue. Amused at the look on Scott's face Remy said, "I know da boy— he be Remy's cousin somewhere on down on da line." He then looked at Jaccob.
"'Bout why Scott and Remy're 'ere..."
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So, the three of them talked. Jaccob was relatively open to the idea of going somewhere to learn about his abilities— when they had first manifested a year ago, he had turned into a ball of lightning, destroying half of his small town and killing his parents. He'd been evading the law and the child services since then. If Xavier could get everyone off his back, (including the Friends of Humanity, and the Church of Humanity, while we're on the case,) then it was well worth it. So, they were off, Scott and Remy bringing the boy to the X-Jet, where Scott decided it was a good time to lay down a few of the basic rules.
"Look. I'm not taking any chances here. You're related to him," at this point he jabbed a thumb in Remy's direction, who in turn began playing with his deck of cards, "So I know at some point there's going to be some trouble."
Usually it would be Logan giving this talk. He'd lay down the basics for now, and Logan could properly intimidate the kid later.
"No sending lightning balls, or whatever you do at any of the students or teachers. Some of the less well tempered ones," that was putting it lightly, "Might send something right back at you. No draining the mansion of it's power if it can be at all avoided, etcetera, etcetera." He then glanced back at the boy, removing his eyes from piloting the plane.
"So what exactly is it you can do?" he asked.
"Da plane—," Jaccob began nervously, and Scott smiled, turning back around.
"Ahm... I can c'trol 'lectricity. I can turn into lightnin'. I can shoot off lightnin' balls. I can control 'lectronics. I can access most computers and cell phones from 10 feet away. I can manipulate information in almost any computer, laptop, E-T-C," Jaccob began, starting off his spiel.
Scott shook his head. So— he *would* leave it to Logan. The professor would undoubtedly want to speak to him as soon as they got there. "Look— the Professor'll give you all the rules, not just the basics, when we get there, so I'll leave it up to him."
Jaccob, however, didn't seem to care about this latest news. He was turning green, (almost literally,) and mumbling to himself.
Remy sighed, shaking his head and handing the boy a plastic bag...
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***(Later at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning...)
Jaccob had went straight to the med lab after getting off the plane, and, much to the relief of the other passengers, he hadn't actually thrown up.
"Looks like we'll have to get you some air legs...," Annie, the (relatively) new nurse, said to him. She'd only been there for a little while— she had wanted to come there to take care of Alex, but the professor had offered her a full time opportunity as the 'school nurse'.
Jaccob only moaned pathetically. "Don' be mention'n the words air, airplane, jet, or anyt'ing like dat, or I swear I will be t'rowin' up on you..." Of course, he didn't eat that much, so there wouldn't be that much food, but it would still be gross. Jaccob wasn't sure if there'd be electricity throughout it either. He was sitting on the edge of one of the cots, Annie looking at him humorously. She bent down to wipe away a strand of hair, and he winced away, holding up his fingers. What looked like pure electrons connected his fingers, giving off a bright yellow glow. "I'm not safe," he said, looking away.
She smiled at him, but moved away. She could tell when someone wanted to be alone. The professor was standing at the door, and walked in. He sat down in a chair next to Jaccob, then handed him a pair of gloves.
"Wha's dis for?" Jaccob asked, looking at the gloves. The seemed to be made out of some kind of rubber.
"Put them on. They should make you 'safe' as you call it. They'll also keep you from turning into lightning when you don't want to," the Professor began, looking at the boy. He was already eagerly putting them on.
"What are dey?" Jaccob inquired, as he looked at them, flexing his fingers a bit. Very flexible, actually surprisingly so for rubber, if that's what they were.
"They're a kind of rubber," Xavier began, "Engineered slightly to take in high rates of electricity without being so thick that you can't move your fingers. The gloves should absorb all of your excess energy. I will say, though, you're going to have to resume normal eating habits. We can't have you sucking the mansion's power all the time."
Jaccob looked at Xavier in an appraising manner. Xavier had just went up a few notches in Jacob's scheme of things... This guy was king of the roost— he laid down the rules and expected them to be followed. Definitely the kind of guy he could respect, if not look up to... He was also looking forward to being able to be without his powers— to be able to feel people again— to be able to hold someone's hand, or link arms, or whatever...
Xavier, feeling his point had gotten across, smiled and walked away, leaving the boy to his own thoughts...
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***(One year later...)
Early one summer morning at the X-Mansion, though breakfast had barely started, one of the students was already well into trouble.
Jaccob was perspiring slightly as he leaned against the wall next to the elevator, removing his glove. "One, two, three, four, five..."
He put his hand on the wall next to the elevator, calling the electricity of the mansion to him. Moments later, the lights went out and the elevator groaned to a stop. Screams could be heard from inside, and Jaccob, glowing slightly from the large amounts of electricity he was taking in, said, "Who be in dere?"
"I 'be in here', you dolt! Me and Jubes and Paige," came Stacy's angry voice. Jaccob winced. "Damnit, you're like a junkie! Let us up! The professor told you not to drain—," she continued.
"Sorry, petites...," he called down guiltily, removing his hand from the wall and putting his glove back on. Seconds later, the lights sputtered back on, and the elevator came back to life, beginning it's ascent up. Hey— wasn't the elevator going *down* before?
Then Jaccob ran. He definitely did not want to be there when and if the girls came up...
***(Five minutes later...)
He was breathing very heavily as he came out of the stairwell, (having wisely chosen not to take the elevator...), and was practically asthmatic when he reached the cafeteria.
Raising a cautious eyebrow, Bobby Drake sighed. The kid had a worse rep than he did... "That was you, wasn't it, Static...," he asked, but Jaccob only offered a wry grin as he put his glove back on. Suddenly, the professor's head was in front of him.
"Jaccob..." he began, "I understand that you feel you need the electricity, but couldn't you warn us first? You've been doing this every month without, and I'm frankly getting tired of it." Jaccob backed up a step, chagrined by the professor's tone. "Yes sir..." he said to the floating head.
***(Meanwhile)
The professor, sitting in his office, turned his attention back to Kurt and Warren. Warren Worthington III, also known as Archangel, stood roughly in front of the professor, his wings slightly stretched out in back of him, while Kurt Wagner, (A.K.A Nightcrawler), sat in a chair right in front of the professor's desk, his tail wrapped around his feet by the floor. The professor sighed, glancing between the two of them.
"Ahm— anyway, you called us?" Angel asked, putting his weight on his other leg. Kurt and him had been on their way, and had just gotten into the office when the power went out. Since then, they'd been standing, (or on Kurt's part, sitting,) around, waiting for the professor to get done chastising Static.
"Ah, yes. I'd like for you two to accompany me as I approach a young girl in New York City. She's been using her powers more and more lately, and it seems that she's having trouble controlling them. I want you two to help me warm her up to the idea of the mansion, then if she seems to like it, I'll arrange a meeting with her social worker," Xavier said.
Kurt shifted uneasily. He wasn't too sure that he was the best person to go recruit someone. "Are you sure it's good for me to go— Won't I sca—"
"Of course I'm sure," Xavier began curtly, "I think that you going will be beneficial to us all."
"Okay— where are we going?" Angel asked, sighing...
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***(The day after...)
Kurt, Angel, and Xavier approached the girl's small apartment, and Xavier knocked on the door. When there was no response, he knocked again.
"You sure she's home?" Angel asked, then quickly shut up at the amused look on Xavier's face. He'd obviously done a mental scan. Angel knocked on the door this time, then sighed. Okay...——
"Ach! I'm coming!" came a German accented voice tinged with the slightest bit of what seemed to be an *English* accent. Angel exchanged looks with Kurt, smiling a bit. So maybe that was why the Professor wanted Kurt to come along...
Kurt raised an eyebrow as Angel glanced at him. The door opened a little bit, still connected to the door frame by the chain, and half of the girl's face appeared. "Was?" she asked irritably.
"We wanted to talk to you. We represent a school that is particularly interested in your capabilities," Xavier said, and the girl snorted in reply. "Ja. And I'm the bloody president's wife," she said, grinning. Angel bit his lip to keep from laughing, but Xavier only replied calmly. "May we come in for a moment?"
The girl shook her head, still smiling. "Sure... Vasever."
She undid the chain, and opened the door fully. She then raised an eye at the three. One had blonde hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a long trench coat, the other was an older, bald man, (the one who had talked to her,) and the other was sort of slouched, his head hidden from view. "Motley bunch..." she murmured to herself.
Then, Kurt un-slouched, and his very blue face came into view. The girl was about to comment, but his tail came into view. A look of shock came on her face, and as they came into her apartment, she whispered to them, "Verdammt! He's got a bloody tail!"
Charles Xavier walked away from Cerebro; the beginning of a headache already started. He had found quite an ensemble of mutants-- twins in England with totally different powers, a boy in Louisiana that could control electricity, a small boy in China who could travel by bending light and shadows, and too many more to count. But the one that was bothering him most, the reason he had been at Cerebro so long-- was a girl in England of 15 years of age. She was a broadcasting and receiving empathic, and also had some telepathic abilities, but they were very weak, even for someone just receiving them. The girl had to have another untapped power that hadn't awoken yet, or hadn't been in use, one he hadn't been able to discern. He had, however, noticed her physical mutations on the numerous occasions over the past two years she had been a mutant. She was born in Germany, and walked her way to England, and seemed to be taking a rest there for now. Xavier sighed deeply.
He knew people who had had physical mutations since birth-- he even had one on his 'team', his X-men. Kurt had learned to deal with it, for the most part, at an early age. But for others-- those whose physical mutations came later-- normally at puberty-- he could only guess how traumatizing that must be. Sure-- since the girl was a broadcasting empath, he had received some of those feelings, but in a very minor degree. He could only guess what it must be like at full-blown strength. It wasn't like he hadn't been depressed before-- far from it. He just had to feel pity on any poor soul who had tasted 'normalcy', and could never go back.
He shook his head, trying to shake away the 'cobwebs' that had begun to gather at the back of his mind, and when he looked up, he saw Scott standing in front of him, an amused expression on his face. How long had he been there? The professor couldn't help but wonder as he said, "Good morning Scott."
"I was wondering when you'd see me...," Scott said, shaking his head. "You were in there for quite a while. Are you going anywhere this morning?"
The Professor began to move down the hallway, followed by Scott. "Tell Mr. Lebeau that you and him need to get the jet ready. I want you two to pick up a boy in Louisiana. He turned into lightning last month, and has been using his powers for some slightly insidious purposes. I'll give you the coordinates when you're ready. Oh, and Scott?"
Scott turned around—He had already been on his way to get Gambit. "Yes?"
"Keep Remy away from the casinos, please?"
"Sure, professor," Scott said, smiling and nodding as he headed on his way.
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Remy was standing in the kitchen, cooking some dish or another at the stove and talking to Annie, the 'school nurse', and Jean-Paul, (Northstar) when Scott came in.
"Get ready— the Professor wants us to go pick up someone," Scott said, as Remy's eyes lit up. (Or as much as his blood-red eyes could.)
"So da 'Fessor realize Remy's been bored round here, non? 'Kay— Remy be ready in bit," Gambit said, and both of them left the room, leaving a baffled Northstar to watch over the cooking food. Annie gave Jean-Paul a slightly mocking look, and joked, "Well—? It's about time you started pulling your weight around this mansion..."
Jean-Paul rolled his eyes at the nurse. "Hahah. So very funny..." he said, glancing hopelessly to the door and absently stirring the food...
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The lights were flashing and the alarms sounding as a boy said, "Bingo." He pulled his hand back from the machine, and quickly put a glove on, then readied his cup for the stream of coins that began pouring out. The sixteen- year-old was standing in one of the casinos in New Orleans, smiling happily as he began to count the money. "M'ands 'aven't failed me yet," he said in a Cajun-accented voice, before he lowered his head, suddenly cursing softly. The pure white hair on the back of his head was standing up, thanks to static electricity, and his pale blue eyes had yellow 'bolts of lightning' racing throughout them. One of the more unfortunate side effects of his powers. Added to the fact that lightning was constantly attracted to him and one touch of his skin on someone elses was enough to knock almost anyone unconscious.
Some of the pluses? He had basic control of the electricity of any machinations or buildings around him— all he had to do was shove his finger in a socket, or put his hand on a machine. He also could access most computers with his mind, dial on cell phones without having to actually touch them— party tricks mostly, at least in his own opinion. He lived entirely off of energy— most of which he could get from the air— and normal food wasn't necessary.
He was also an excellent computer hacker.
So— he had just made the slot machine he was standing at give three sevens, (he was quite glad that this casino used the newer electronic versions instead of actual slot machines,) but now the rest of the electricity in his body was acting up. He sighed, taking the rest of his the coins as they fell out, ignored the looks of jealousy from the rest of the inhabitants of the casino, and headed towards the bathroom.
***(Meanwhile...)
At the other side of the casino, Scott sighed. Keep Remy away from the casino— yeah right! How was he supposed to do that, especially when the coordinates Xavier gave him lead directly to one? ~Keep him away from the casinos...~ he thought dryly.
Meanwhile, the Cajun was eyeing the poker tables with a renowned interest. How were they ever going to figure out which person they were picking up? And how'd a sixteen-year-old get into a casino, anyway? Didn't they have an age limit or something? Couldn't hurt to play a few rounds of poker while Scott was looking... Remy began to feel around his pockets, looking for money, but felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Remy...," Scott said warningly, sighing. "Just keep looking!" he continues, a look of exasperation on his face, to which the Cajun replied with a happy grin...
The white haired boy made his way from the bathroom, his hair mostly flat. He headed straight towards Remy and Scott, or rather towards the poker table, brushing slightly past the both of them.
"Woah...," Scott said, glancing at his arm. All the hair was standing on end, and Gambit's hair was a bit more frizzy than usual. Static electricity. Remy and Scott watched as the boy sat down at the poker table, and Remy flashed Scott a 'hahah' look as he sat down next to the kid. Scott watched idly as the game began to unfold, not really wanting to spend his money. So this kid was their mutant? Not much to look at. Pale skin, white hair, pale blue eyes...
The boy in question sighed as the cards were dealt. It was nice to find a game that he couldn't cheat on— at least with his powers. He usually always had a few 'tricks' up his sleeve either way. Between the four people and the dealer playing the game of poker, he was glad to say it was coming pretty close between him and Remy. He had always prided himself at the fact that just because he *could* cheat didn't mean he had to. As the third batch of cards was dealt, the boy flashed Remy a dazzling-white-teeth smile.
"Name's Jaccob Babeaux," he said to Remy, and there was just enough hitch to his voice to get Scott's senses going. He furrowed his eyebrows behind his 'glasses'.
Remy only smiled at the look on Scott's face, then said, "D'name's Remy Lebeau, but you can call me Gambit." Scott's eyebrows only furrowed more.
The people laid down their cards, and Scott sighed. Well— it didn't look like Remy had too much competition. 3 aces from the dealer, a spade straight with an 8 high, a full house with a ten high. Nothing too impressive.
"Full house, king high," Jaccob said showily as he laid down his cards, flashing the people at the table a huge grin. Remy looked disappointed as he laid down his own cards slowly. Then his face erupted into one of his charming Cajun grins as he revealed his ace high royal straight flush. Scott had to smile at the shocked look on the kid's face. Gambit was almost as good a card player as he was a thief. He just hoped that Gambit hadn't cheated.
"Y'haven' changed a bit, Remy," the boy said as they both got up from the table.
"You haven' either— Remy still beats you like it not'in'," Remy answered in reply, as the boy stuck out his tongue. Amused at the look on Scott's face Remy said, "I know da boy— he be Remy's cousin somewhere on down on da line." He then looked at Jaccob.
"'Bout why Scott and Remy're 'ere..."
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So, the three of them talked. Jaccob was relatively open to the idea of going somewhere to learn about his abilities— when they had first manifested a year ago, he had turned into a ball of lightning, destroying half of his small town and killing his parents. He'd been evading the law and the child services since then. If Xavier could get everyone off his back, (including the Friends of Humanity, and the Church of Humanity, while we're on the case,) then it was well worth it. So, they were off, Scott and Remy bringing the boy to the X-Jet, where Scott decided it was a good time to lay down a few of the basic rules.
"Look. I'm not taking any chances here. You're related to him," at this point he jabbed a thumb in Remy's direction, who in turn began playing with his deck of cards, "So I know at some point there's going to be some trouble."
Usually it would be Logan giving this talk. He'd lay down the basics for now, and Logan could properly intimidate the kid later.
"No sending lightning balls, or whatever you do at any of the students or teachers. Some of the less well tempered ones," that was putting it lightly, "Might send something right back at you. No draining the mansion of it's power if it can be at all avoided, etcetera, etcetera." He then glanced back at the boy, removing his eyes from piloting the plane.
"So what exactly is it you can do?" he asked.
"Da plane—," Jaccob began nervously, and Scott smiled, turning back around.
"Ahm... I can c'trol 'lectricity. I can turn into lightnin'. I can shoot off lightnin' balls. I can control 'lectronics. I can access most computers and cell phones from 10 feet away. I can manipulate information in almost any computer, laptop, E-T-C," Jaccob began, starting off his spiel.
Scott shook his head. So— he *would* leave it to Logan. The professor would undoubtedly want to speak to him as soon as they got there. "Look— the Professor'll give you all the rules, not just the basics, when we get there, so I'll leave it up to him."
Jaccob, however, didn't seem to care about this latest news. He was turning green, (almost literally,) and mumbling to himself.
Remy sighed, shaking his head and handing the boy a plastic bag...
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***(Later at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning...)
Jaccob had went straight to the med lab after getting off the plane, and, much to the relief of the other passengers, he hadn't actually thrown up.
"Looks like we'll have to get you some air legs...," Annie, the (relatively) new nurse, said to him. She'd only been there for a little while— she had wanted to come there to take care of Alex, but the professor had offered her a full time opportunity as the 'school nurse'.
Jaccob only moaned pathetically. "Don' be mention'n the words air, airplane, jet, or anyt'ing like dat, or I swear I will be t'rowin' up on you..." Of course, he didn't eat that much, so there wouldn't be that much food, but it would still be gross. Jaccob wasn't sure if there'd be electricity throughout it either. He was sitting on the edge of one of the cots, Annie looking at him humorously. She bent down to wipe away a strand of hair, and he winced away, holding up his fingers. What looked like pure electrons connected his fingers, giving off a bright yellow glow. "I'm not safe," he said, looking away.
She smiled at him, but moved away. She could tell when someone wanted to be alone. The professor was standing at the door, and walked in. He sat down in a chair next to Jaccob, then handed him a pair of gloves.
"Wha's dis for?" Jaccob asked, looking at the gloves. The seemed to be made out of some kind of rubber.
"Put them on. They should make you 'safe' as you call it. They'll also keep you from turning into lightning when you don't want to," the Professor began, looking at the boy. He was already eagerly putting them on.
"What are dey?" Jaccob inquired, as he looked at them, flexing his fingers a bit. Very flexible, actually surprisingly so for rubber, if that's what they were.
"They're a kind of rubber," Xavier began, "Engineered slightly to take in high rates of electricity without being so thick that you can't move your fingers. The gloves should absorb all of your excess energy. I will say, though, you're going to have to resume normal eating habits. We can't have you sucking the mansion's power all the time."
Jaccob looked at Xavier in an appraising manner. Xavier had just went up a few notches in Jacob's scheme of things... This guy was king of the roost— he laid down the rules and expected them to be followed. Definitely the kind of guy he could respect, if not look up to... He was also looking forward to being able to be without his powers— to be able to feel people again— to be able to hold someone's hand, or link arms, or whatever...
Xavier, feeling his point had gotten across, smiled and walked away, leaving the boy to his own thoughts...
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***(One year later...)
Early one summer morning at the X-Mansion, though breakfast had barely started, one of the students was already well into trouble.
Jaccob was perspiring slightly as he leaned against the wall next to the elevator, removing his glove. "One, two, three, four, five..."
He put his hand on the wall next to the elevator, calling the electricity of the mansion to him. Moments later, the lights went out and the elevator groaned to a stop. Screams could be heard from inside, and Jaccob, glowing slightly from the large amounts of electricity he was taking in, said, "Who be in dere?"
"I 'be in here', you dolt! Me and Jubes and Paige," came Stacy's angry voice. Jaccob winced. "Damnit, you're like a junkie! Let us up! The professor told you not to drain—," she continued.
"Sorry, petites...," he called down guiltily, removing his hand from the wall and putting his glove back on. Seconds later, the lights sputtered back on, and the elevator came back to life, beginning it's ascent up. Hey— wasn't the elevator going *down* before?
Then Jaccob ran. He definitely did not want to be there when and if the girls came up...
***(Five minutes later...)
He was breathing very heavily as he came out of the stairwell, (having wisely chosen not to take the elevator...), and was practically asthmatic when he reached the cafeteria.
Raising a cautious eyebrow, Bobby Drake sighed. The kid had a worse rep than he did... "That was you, wasn't it, Static...," he asked, but Jaccob only offered a wry grin as he put his glove back on. Suddenly, the professor's head was in front of him.
"Jaccob..." he began, "I understand that you feel you need the electricity, but couldn't you warn us first? You've been doing this every month without, and I'm frankly getting tired of it." Jaccob backed up a step, chagrined by the professor's tone. "Yes sir..." he said to the floating head.
***(Meanwhile)
The professor, sitting in his office, turned his attention back to Kurt and Warren. Warren Worthington III, also known as Archangel, stood roughly in front of the professor, his wings slightly stretched out in back of him, while Kurt Wagner, (A.K.A Nightcrawler), sat in a chair right in front of the professor's desk, his tail wrapped around his feet by the floor. The professor sighed, glancing between the two of them.
"Ahm— anyway, you called us?" Angel asked, putting his weight on his other leg. Kurt and him had been on their way, and had just gotten into the office when the power went out. Since then, they'd been standing, (or on Kurt's part, sitting,) around, waiting for the professor to get done chastising Static.
"Ah, yes. I'd like for you two to accompany me as I approach a young girl in New York City. She's been using her powers more and more lately, and it seems that she's having trouble controlling them. I want you two to help me warm her up to the idea of the mansion, then if she seems to like it, I'll arrange a meeting with her social worker," Xavier said.
Kurt shifted uneasily. He wasn't too sure that he was the best person to go recruit someone. "Are you sure it's good for me to go— Won't I sca—"
"Of course I'm sure," Xavier began curtly, "I think that you going will be beneficial to us all."
"Okay— where are we going?" Angel asked, sighing...
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***(The day after...)
Kurt, Angel, and Xavier approached the girl's small apartment, and Xavier knocked on the door. When there was no response, he knocked again.
"You sure she's home?" Angel asked, then quickly shut up at the amused look on Xavier's face. He'd obviously done a mental scan. Angel knocked on the door this time, then sighed. Okay...——
"Ach! I'm coming!" came a German accented voice tinged with the slightest bit of what seemed to be an *English* accent. Angel exchanged looks with Kurt, smiling a bit. So maybe that was why the Professor wanted Kurt to come along...
Kurt raised an eyebrow as Angel glanced at him. The door opened a little bit, still connected to the door frame by the chain, and half of the girl's face appeared. "Was?" she asked irritably.
"We wanted to talk to you. We represent a school that is particularly interested in your capabilities," Xavier said, and the girl snorted in reply. "Ja. And I'm the bloody president's wife," she said, grinning. Angel bit his lip to keep from laughing, but Xavier only replied calmly. "May we come in for a moment?"
The girl shook her head, still smiling. "Sure... Vasever."
She undid the chain, and opened the door fully. She then raised an eye at the three. One had blonde hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a long trench coat, the other was an older, bald man, (the one who had talked to her,) and the other was sort of slouched, his head hidden from view. "Motley bunch..." she murmured to herself.
Then, Kurt un-slouched, and his very blue face came into view. The girl was about to comment, but his tail came into view. A look of shock came on her face, and as they came into her apartment, she whispered to them, "Verdammt! He's got a bloody tail!"