Child of Light and Darkness
~
Chapter Thirteen
Jean slowly opened her eyes. Her mind felt dazzled, but somehow that feeling was good.
Good. Hmm…that word it didn't strike a feeling of pride in her like it used to. Evil…yeah that was the word she liked. But why? The last thing she remembered was that she had been taken here by Jason…and strapped to a table. She moved her neck, it wasn't strapped down anymore.
In a strange way she felt oddly well but it somehow wasn't a good feeling.
Jean coughed and she realized her arms and legs were still strapped. She tried to remember what happened a moment before but all she remembered was blackness. And whispering…whispering in her head she could hardly make out the words it was almost like a hum.
She remembered feeling weak and restless. Now she felt empowered and much at peace. Jason had helped her somehow she didn't remember. But she knew.
She tried breaking her arms free of the binds that strapped them…but it was to no avail. Her next thought was to telekinetically remove them…that was her thought…And suddenly her arms were free…because that was her thought.
Her telekinesis felt strong and abundant like she could move a 100 ton truck with hardly a strain on her mind.
She could still hear the thoughts in her mind from her telepathy but they were little hums at times and sometimes she could wish them away all together.
It was a great feeling, having so much control over her powers. She had never felt this way before. She knew she felt good…but than she didn't.
With another though she released her legs and stood up. She flexed her arms and fingers.
She noticed her costume…that was odd…she didn't remember changing it…but she liked it.
"Jason?" She shouted into the darkness.
She remembered he had helped her release her powers…be at peace. She didn't know what to do now. Maybe she should go back to the institute.. But she really didn't know what day or what time it was. But they'd be looking for her…she knew that much.
"Jason? Where are you?" Jean asked telepathically.
She searched her mind, She focused on everyone of the million thoughts that she could hear…on all the mental images she was receiving…it was a long process but because of her expanded powers…it took only moments until she recognized him.
"I feel wonderful. You have made me free. I owe you a lot." Jean told him knowing he'd hear.
"Your friends are here…they have come looking. I must go now." He sounded rushed.
"Wait? What! My friends are here? What do you mean? Jason where are you going? Come back!" Jean felt him leave her mind…it was like a door shutting.
Jean sighed she opened her eyes as the blackness swirled around her…she flinched her eyes as the darkness became light and she began to make out her surrounding for the first time she could remember.
She blinked twice before fully adjusting to the light. She found that she was not strapped to a table…she couldn't make out the room she was in before it was to dark…but now she could make it out fully.
The floor was cold and cemented…The room was large but abanded. Like an old warehouse or lab. It looked to have many rooms…doors lined the walls along the room she was in. She sat in the middle her arms strapped to a wide metal chair.
A chair sat directly across from her like someone had sat next to her to talk or maybe to pry. She didn't know.
There was a long metal ladder screwed to either side of the wall that led to a landing that helped one cross the wooden bridge it was probably used a while back to carry boxes and crates from side to side.
The room she was in was large but pretty much abandoned. Someone had been in here with her thought that was a sure fact.
She pulled her arms up and the bracelets snapped instantly. They were rusty and old. Obviously whoever had put her there didn't think of her as a threat only strapped her for a precaution. But maybe they knew she wouldn't be a physical threat…not when communicating telepathically.
Which brought her back to Jason. She didn't even know if that was his real name. All that she had experienced had been all in her mind. All that she had saw…which was practically nothing…was in her mind. She hadn't been strapped to a table someone just wanted her to think that.
Everything she remembered seeing was all in her mind…but everything she felt…she still did.
Her friends were looking for her…that's what he had said. What did that mean? Where they here?
"Jean!" Jean turned to see Scott, Bobby and Kitty walk into the room.
"Scott?"
"Jean! I'm so glad we found you!" Scott shouted.
"I don't remember anything." Jean said shaking her head.
"What happened?" Scott asked looking her over. He noticed her costume.
"Did you do-?" He began to ask still looking at her costume.
Jean looked at her clothing meeting his gaze. "That's odd…I don't remember that." Jean said her mind wandering.
"So what happened?" Scott asked ignoring the obvious for a moment.
"I don't know. I think I was in some kind of trance or mental block or something. I thought I was somewhere I'm not."
"It's okay Jean. I'm so relieved we found you." Scott embraced her quickly Jean was still to dazzled to hug back.
"But we've got bigger problems." He said after parting.
"Apocalypse." Jean stated.
"Yeah how'd you know?"
Jean shook her head. "I just did."
"So you've seen him."
"No. I saw someone though…I talked to someone."
Scott nodded. "It's probably Mesmero. He's done it before."
"Yeah but he only mesmerized me into…well…I just did what I was told…I wasn't thinking. But someone cast images into my mind…kept me mesmerized yes…but let me believe I felt things I didn't. Mesmero doesn't have that kind of power."
"Like maybe Mesmero's working with somebody else?" Kitty suggested.
"Maybe."
"Anyway we gotta get going. If Mesmero's here and Apocalypse's lackeys than most likely Apocalypse is here."
"What does he plan on doing?"
"I don't know Jean. We thought maybe it had something to do with you."
"With me? I don't think so. I just want to go home."
"Yeah so do I. But we gotta finish this."
"What if we run into Mesmero, Man?"
"I'll take care of it Bobby."
"Are you sure about that Jean?"
She shrugged. "Yeah I can telepathically knock him out or something. Anyway whatever it is it should give us enough time to get out of here. Maybe if I'm strong enough I can read his mind and see what Apocalypse is up to."
"I don't know Jean…I mean the Professor tried that twice and he could barely stand Mesmero's mind."
"I think I can handle it Scott. I'll try."
Scott hesitated.
"Stop it Scott. I know what I'm doing." Jean knew what he was thinking and she wanted him to stop.
"Look let's just do this okay?" She snapped. She began to walk and the others stood their ground for a moment longer.
"Like what's up with her? She seemed a little rude."
Scott sighed. "I know Kitty. I don't know what happened to her…but something did."
"How does she think she can withstand Mesmero's mind? I mean like what happened to her?"
"I don't know. But Mesmero had help and I'm going to find out who it is. I've got a bad feeling that Jean has somehow been provoked and I don't think that's a good thing."
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"Jean! Jean! Wait up we need to talk!" Scott shouted running to catch up with her.
"About what?" Jean spun around.
"What was that back there? Are you feeling alright?"
"I feel great Scott. I mean I haven't felt this good in a long time. It's like I have complete control over my powers…and it's so peaceful. I told you…I had to find peace…I did and I'm back."
"But how? Did someone help you?"
"Scott it doesn't matter…I'm better now."
"I don't think you are…In fact you might be worse."
"What are you talking about? Why can't I feel good and it be a good thing?"
"Because Jean…something happened to you…and it wasn't' good. I mean look at you…what you're wearing…how you're acting…something happened to you."
"Yeah something did. Something good…I'm free. Why can't you just be happy for me?"
"Because if you're not careful it could corrupt you!"
"What could corrupt me? Look at me I'm fine!"
"Not for long. Jean something is happening to you…and you have to fight it…or it will consume you!"
"You know what, Scott? …I'm peaceful…I don't want to fight it. There's nothing to fight."
"Yeah but-
Jean stopped abruptly and motioned for Scott to stop.
"What is it?"
Jean didn't reply.
Scott sighed and lowered his voice.
"Jean I know you're still angry at Mesmero."
"I'm not angry Scott. I just hate being used."
"I know but he did something to you."
"I told you he couldn't he doesn't have that kind of power."
"But he was a part of it. You're a part of his plan."
"I don't believe you Scott."
"But still Jean…you have a lot of emotions running through you right now…I don't want you to act on them. I mean I want you to think about what you're gonna do. I mean Logan said we could do whatever means necessary but I mean you know that-"
"-That we're not supposed to kill anyone. Yeah I know."
"So when we do find Mesmero-
"Scott the man used me to free…that creature." Jean stressed. "I mean am I supposed to be happy about that?"
"I know Jean, and I understand I do. But it's not like you to-
"To what? Want revenge? I can't promise you I won't harm him Scott."
"What? Jean this isn't-
"I know what you're going to say Scott, X-men don't kill, this isn't like me, I haven't been myself lately, I haven't been thinking rationally, I'm acting irrationally, I'm not thinking clearly, and whatever I'm thinking of doing, don't. That the Jean you knew would never harm or kill anyone out of cold blood. You want me calm down, and think this through. But I have Scott, I have thought this through."
"But Jean-
"Scott, Logan said we could do whatever we have to. This has to be done."
"No it doesn't. Jean, Listen to yourself, you're-
"I'm through with listening Scott, I'm done. Now you listen. Mesmero used me to free Apocalypse, who now at this very moment may be trying to destroy the galaxy or god knows what. But whatever he's planning Apocalypse is beyond our power to fight. Because of Mesmero the whole universe is in jeopardy and our lives are at risk, and we will try to prevent something that may not be preventable. We could all die without ever stopping this hole of chaos. And than what will become of the universe?"
"I know Jean. But do you honestly think that killing Mesmero out of revenge will stop any of it? It's already been done; there is no going back. How will killing Mesmero help us?"
"It'll help me Scott."
"Help you how?"
Jean sighed.
"I'm through with this conversation."
"No Jean. We're far from done. I won't allow you to-
"You can't prevent me from doing anything Scott. You know that. And that is why you are afraid of me, afraid of what I could do. You know that this person I will become, this 'Phoenix' holds tremendous powers. Powers that I'm not even supposed to have. You think it's turning me. The power is growing inside me, and you're afraid of what could happen when the circuit breakers and my will fail. You know that by then, there will be nothing you can do to save me, because at the time, I will be unsaveable. You know that if that happens to me, I will be even more invincible than Apocalypse. You know that what I will become is much more powerful and a thousand times more deadly. That's why you're frightened and that's why you're going out of your way to prevent me from doing anything that could make me vulnerable. Stop Scott. Stop trying to prevent something that may not be preventable."
Jean walked faster and Scott slowed down. He was shocked; Jean had never spoken like that before. But everything she said was true, did she…
"Hey something wrong?" Bobby stopped by Scott.
Scott started walking, "Yeah it's Jean."
"What about her?"
"I think she read my mind."
"But Jean wouldn't…"
"Yeah I know Jean wouldn't."
"I mean what's happening to her Scott? First the outbursts in the danger room and now the drastic costume change, and the evil, rude, attitude. I've never seen Jean like this."
"Yeah I know, I didn't think Jean would ever be like this. But I think that maybe whatever happened to Jean in her absence has something to do with her changes…I think maybe it's turning her evil."
"Okay… but why?"
"I don't know, with all that power…maybe we're not looking deep enough into this. I mean with all that power Jean holds…Apocalypse has a motive."
"So you're implying…"
"I'm not implying anything...Bobby. Something's happening to Jean. She's changed somehow. This isn't like her. Jean she-she has this level; she keeps it hidden, under control, like her temper. Jean's powers are stronger and more powerful than we all know, but she-she just never unleashed her full potential. She refrains from using the full potential of her powers; I don't know why, she just does. But we all know that Jean will one day be more powerful than the professor, in both her telepathic and telekinetic abilities. You know Jean…she is intelligent, courageous, beautiful, funny, loving, vivacious, loyal, independent, gracious and strong. But deep down Jean has this side that is ruthless. She can also be impetuous, fiery tempered, stubborn, selfish, childish, temperamental, resentful, secretive, and irrational. I know because Jean and I-we've seen sides of each other that we don't want to see, that we'd rather not see. But that side, is where her full potential as both a telekinetic and psi lie. That alone can make her dangerous, but to hide such a side from everyone…from the world… is deadly."
"Okay, I understand that you've known Jean longer than I, but I don't think that Jean can be as dangerous as you say she is. I mean, not deadly."
"Listen Bobby, We both know Jean has the potential to become more powerful than the professor, But to also have all this power…the power that her mutation bestowed in her…Jean is only human. She can be easily tempted. I'm afraid of her, of what she can and could do. To have such power, such god-like power, to feel it inside you everyday, to feel it running through your veins… Jean cannot control the urgings for much longer, If and when it all consumes her, Jean will not be in control of herself. She won't be able to control her actions, thoughts, nothing. She's scared of that part of her, of that ruthless, evil side. That side that would do anything to get what she wants. The side of her that is not afraid to kill, that will kill anyone and anything that gets in her way. Jean's afraid of that side of herself, I'm afraid of that side of her, and everyone who's anyone should be. I can't tell you what drastic events could occur if Jean continues on the path she is. Jean can become more powerful than we can imagine. With her abilities now, and the god-like power running through her, if it comes down to us having to fight her…it may be a battle we cannot win."
"Man…I never knew Jean could become so powerful…But isn't there something we could do?"
"No. We can watch out for Jean, but that's all we can do. When and if this thing fully transforms her, it'll all be left up to Jean."
"So we can't do anything to help her?"
"Well…
Scott hesitated,
"…We can only pray that Jean realizes what she's doing. Before all hell breaks loose and there's no way to stop her."
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Jean stopped and motioned for the others to do the same.
"What is it Jean?" Scott asked
"Mesmero…" Jean murmured.
That's when Scott noticed the figure in the shadows, straight ahead of them. It looked like the control room, there were numerous computers and read outs in the room, along with a table and various other items.
"Jean remember if we can stop him easily, than we don't need to do anything drastic."
Jean didn't reply, whether she didn't hear him, or just ignored him, Scott wasn't sure.
"Mesmero!" Jean shouted out, anger flashing in her eyes.
"Jean what are you doing?" Jean spun around to face Scott.
"This is my fight Scott, not yours."
"Jean I won't allow you to—
"I'm not asking you Scott."
"Fine. But you know I wont let you fight him alone, not while I'm here."
"I know. Which is why you wont be."
Scott was confused,
"What-?
Jean walked into the control room and telekinetically pushed a red button that was on the wall, shutting the thick steel door to the control room, locking the others out.
"Like, What is Jean doing?"
"I dunno Kitty…what's she doing Scott?"
"She's locking us out."
"Well yeah…but what's she doing?"
"I don't know…" Scott lied. He could have told them the truth, or what he knew, but he refused to believe it.
"Can't you just blast open the door?"
"I could, but to punch through a steel door like this would take my full power, but with the room being so small, I could hurt Jean inside."
"I don't want to take that risk Scott, but if Jean's going to hurt him badly, we have to stop her."
"I know…"
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"It's just me and you now Mesmero. No one else."
Mesmero came out of the shadows. His eyes grew wide as he recognized Jean.
"You…"
"So you do remember? Good."
"You should be dead. Your mutant manifestation should have done that already."
"You shouldn't start something you can't finish Mesmero."
Mesmero sneered.
"Than now I'll have to finish what I started. And this time I'll make sure you're dead."
"I've changed since than, are you sure you want to do this?" Jean paused before going on. "I'm giving you a choice Mesmero."
Mesmero slanted his eyes.
"It'll be a joy watching you die."
"How are you so sure I'll be the dead one?"
"Ha, You X-men brats are all the same, you'd never kill an innocent."
"Yes that's right we wouldn't. But you're not so innocent are you?"
Jean seemed to be shaking him up. That's what she wanted, to scare him a little. Make him unsure.
Mesmero sneered, but he failed to hide his fear. Apocalypse said she'd recognize him as friend and them as enemies. He didn't know what Mastermind had done to her…it wasn't his place to know. All he knew was the transformation was taking place.
"Let's just finish this." He said confident. Apocalypse told him she wouldn't turn on them. Even with her newest manifestation she couldn't harm him.
"My pleasure." Jean smiled back wickedly.
Than the war began, they began prying at each other's mind. Jean was so caught up in her revenge that she forgot about the circuit breakers that Professor Xavier had installed in her mind. She could feel her victory. She knew she was hurting him. He pried in her mind and knocked down her shields along with the circuit breakers. Jean hadn't noticed, she was too busy hurting him. But she soon felt a rush of sensations, of power, of invincibility, of things she'd never felt before. She felt the power running through her veins, the urgings for it were more fervent now, and she gave in, she let the power consume her.
Jean felt the power run through her, she felt it let loose, and she let out a bolt of power and it slammed into Mesmero and he hit the wall and slid to the ground. For once Jean felt free, she felt great. Jean curved her hand into a fist as it covered in fiery energy. She thrusted her hand forward and let the bolt of energy loose, demolishing the table.
She turned to Mesmero, she outstretched her hand pushed them up in a lifting motion. Orange energy appeared from her hands and it clung around Mesmero, as Jean lifted her hands up, the energy lifted Mesmero up. Once he was up, Jean turned her palms towards him and thrusted her hands towards him. The energy did the same and pushed Mesmero to the wall and pinned him tightly against it.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"What's she doing Scott?"
Bobby, Scott and Kitty had taken to looking through the window of the wide steel door, since they didn't want to take the risk of going in.
"I don't know."
"We should like, stop her."
"No, Kitty."
"Why not Scott? Jean's obviously not going to invite Mesmero to a party." Bobby said sarcastically. "I mean if we know she's going to do something drastic, probably irrationally, than we have to stop her, you know that."
Scott hesitated. "Yeah I know, but we can't say what Jean's going to do, let's just wait it out…see what happens."
"What? C'mon Scott she has him pinned against the wall!"
"Yeah I know, but that doesn't mean she's going to kill him, maybe she's just trying to get information out of him."
"This isn't sitting well with me Scott, I say you just blast down the door and we can end this before it happens."
"Blast down the door and risk hurting Jean? No!"
Bobby glared at Scott. "Fine. We'll wait it out, but if we see that she's going to do something that just doesn't look right, we have to stop her."
Scott just nodded his head. But truth be told, waiting it out didn't sit well with him either. He just-he didn't want to interfere. He just didn't.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
"You saw what I did to that table, what makes you so sure I won't do the same to you?"
Mesmero was pinned so hardly that he could barely speak. "What… are… you?" he managed to say taking in breaths.
Jean ignored the question. "…What makes you so sure I won't do it to you?" She repeated.
Mesmero struggled against the fiery energy coiled around him.
Jean shook her head, "ENOUGH!"
She motioned with her hands, and Mesmero was flown across the room. The energy released him as he fell to the floor. Mesmero grunted in pain.
"Have you had enough or do you want more?"
Mesmero quivered "Please don't hurt me."
"Hurt you? What makes you think I'm going to hurt you? No, I'm going to do much worse." Jean laughed wickedly. Her hand once more immersed in fire like energy.
"With a very thought I can incinerate this entire world, If I can do that with a single thought, what do you think I can do to you with just the power I hold now in my hand?"
Mesmero shivered with fright. He shut his eyes tight. "P-Please d-don't hurt me. Have mercy please!"
Jean smirked "Have mercy? Now what would make you think I'd have mercy on a useless creature as yourself?"
"P-Please I'll do anything!" Mesmero pleaded
Jean sneered, "You've done enough! You set about the chain of events that led up to this! You used me to free apocalypse, you freed him, and now the whole universe is at his mercy! It is fair to say, you set about your own death, is it not?"
"Pl-Please no!"
"SILENCE!" Jean began hitting Mesmero with powerful bolts of fiery energy.
Many times Mesmero tried to stand up, to run, but bolts kept hitting him, and he kept falling to the ground. After many bolts and much pain Mesmero laid quivering in pain he managed to pull himself up to lean against the wall to help diminish his pain, but it did nothing.
"Have you had enough?" The energy around Jean's fists diminished as she brought it back in.
Jean walked closer to Mesmero and leaned down to look him in the face.
"It will take one more blow to your miserable body to kill you." Jean's fists lighted up again. They stayed that way for a few moments, than to Mesmero's relief the energy diminished.
"However, I do not wish to kill you…that way." Jean leaned her head back and outstretched her arms. Her whole body illuminated with the fiery energy.
"I want you to spend your last moments on this earth in as much pain as possible, I want you to hear the cries of those who you've despised over the years, I want you to feel my anger."
Jean shouted. She brought her arms together and they illuminated with bolts of energy.
"NO!" Mesmero shouted, but his voice faded as Jean let loose the bolts and the whole room immersed in light. The whole room fell apart as the rush of energy tore and pulled molecules apart. Objects floated in pieces in the air as the energy swirled. Than after mere minutes the energy sucked back in, leaving the room in pieces and Mesmero slumped against the torn apart wall. Jean was the only thing there still in tact or well.
Jean smiled at her victory.
"Rest in Peace." She chuckled as she kicked at Mesmero's lifeless body.
~x~x~x~x~x~x~
Okay…yes…Now I'm starting to tap into evil Jean personality…so yeah…Dark Phoenix ain't so far away. In my mind this is where Dark Phoenix starts… 'Sides I never much cared for Mesmero anyway…
I know I know this is only Scott's team. But I'm turning Jean evil. Actually she never was just Phoenix in this fic…she just becomes Dark Phoenix just like that…but in my mind she's like manipulated into becoming evil so…she never had time to be just Phoenix…does that make sense? It does to me.
Feedback is welcome! So just step right into it! Hehe…