Chapter Two – What's Your Power?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for my O/C Victor 'Vic' Mannel. Hope you enjoy this story, if you do please review.
As I sat down to get a briefing from the professor it dawned on me, 'Why were Jubilee, Bobby and Rogue present?' I figured after escorting me here the trio would disperse but it seems I wasn't the only one keeping information from the other.
"Mr. Mannel, it's good to see you once again. The last time we were in each others presence your powers had just manifested." Xavier stated.
"It has been a long time. I don't think I ever thanked you for helping me." I gratefully replied.
"No thanks needed," Xavier said.
"Professor not to be rude or anything, but don't you think we need to discuss the matter of my stay here in private." I established noticing the glares headed my way from the trio following my comment.
The professor simple chuckled, obviously noticing the glares from them also before replying.
"Actually, I specifically requested them here because the other X-Men were on a mission." Xavier retorted.
I was shocked to believe that these three were X-Men. They were nothing more than children they should be out having fun and getting into trouble not saving the world and risking their lives.
"You've got to be kidding me, they're X-Men, but they're so young." I adamantly stated.
"Hey, we have been valuable assets to the X-Men for a year except for Jubilee who has been on the team for only 6 months now." Bobby arguably said.
"Yeah, and how in the hell do you know about the X-Men?" Jubilee asked with an aggressive tone.
"Because he is the new Art & Technical Drawing teacher," Rogue spoke with a strong Southern accent for the first time since entering the professor's office.
Jubilee and Bobby were shocked by the revelation from Rogue. I on the other suspected she knew something the others didn't, but I decided to hold out on the information until the opportunity presented itself.
"He's a teacher!" Jubilee shouted.
"Rogue, you knew this and didn't tell us. Why?" Bobby asked rather loudly.
"The professor told me about a week now and I was sworn to secrecy. Not even the veteran X-Men know." Rogue said.
"Professor, why didn't you tell us?" Bobby asked.
Sensing the tension building within his office he the professor decided to explain why he held back the information.
"Will you all calm down please? Don't blame Rogue, like she said I swore her to secrecy. I told Rogue because of all the X-Men I figured she could keep this information a secret better than any of the others." Xavier explained.
"Why, only Rogue and not Scott, Ororo, Logan or Kurt?" Jubilee asked calmly.
Everyone stood in the room with the same puzzled look on their faces.
"Well as you all know the anniversary of Jean's death is coming up, so right now is a very sensitive time for Scott, Ororo, Logan and even Kurt. So springing a new teacher on them at this time might throw them off balance during their present mission, so that's why I kept it from them. Secondly, I kept it from you and Bobby for obvious reasons you are both the gossips and troublemakers of the mansion, so whether intentionally or not the information would have been blurted." Charles said.
As I cast my eyes towards Jubilee and Bobby I could sense they forgave the professor but there was an underlining sense of sadness at the mention of this Jean. I noted to myself to get some information on this Jean.
"Oh and about me telling Rogue, she amongst the three of you knows the value of keeping secrets and also her mutation makes it harder for psionics to extract information from her so she seemed the best candidate." Charles further explained.
We all stared at Rogue, her friends obviously looking on her sadly at the mere mention of her mutation. I saw a crest fallen face from the Southern Belle, I wished to discover what her mutation was but decided on asking another time as I returned my gaze to the Charles.
To release the tension I felt it best if we called it a night and we would talk in the morning. "I am feeling a bit tired so maybe we could finish this tomorrow," I suggested.
"I think you're right. You're room has not been finished yet because of the additions you requested but you will be temporarily rooming with one of the X-Men," Charles said as his gaze drifted towards Bobby.
Bobby nodded picking up on the professor's not so subtle approach of appointing him my temporary roommate. I hesitated knowing that I wasn't exactly his most liked person so far, but still I could feel that he was genuinely a nice person. I gathered my things and followed Bobby and the others to his room.
"So this is how the X-Men live. Are all the other X people's room like this?" I said with a smile hoping to break the silence.
"Actually no, we are still students so we have the standard dormitory room, but when we graduate we get better rooms not that this is bad or anything." Bobby retorted with a smile also.
I was glad to see that my earlier tantrum hadn't made it difficult for us to get along and that's when I felt this sensation of curiosity creeping out from Jubilee and Rogue.
"Spill it! I would like to know what you two want to know." I asked.
With bemused faces of confusion the two looked on one another pondering how the hell I knew.
"What are you talking about?" Rogue asked.
"Yeah we don't want to know anything?" Jubilee said.
I just laughed knowing they were lying.
"Come on I am going to be your teacher for heaven's sake. We have to learn to trust one another." I said.
The trio looked amongst one another apparently also hinting Bobby to what they wanted to know.
"Well we wanted to know. What's your mutant power?" Bobby asked.
"Correction what are my powers?" I chuckled during my statement.
Spiking the trio's interest Jubilee asked, "You have more than one."
"Yes. Being that I'm the guest, how about you tell me yours first." I said.
"Well I can lower my external and internal body temperature, to project intense coldness from my body, hence the name Iceman." Bobby stated and then demonstrated his power by making a miniature sculpture of both Jubilee and Rogue.
"Wow, an elemental mutant, quite impressive." I exclaimed.
Then it was Jubilee up to the plate.
"I generate plasma bursts that explode on command. Most of the time they are small, but when I'm really stressed or scared, they can cause major damage." Jubilee explained as she demonstrated her abilities by making little blast of energy from her hands that looked more like fireworks.
"That's nice especially for when we have parties on the Fourth of July." I smirked giving her a little wink.
Jubilee at first glared daggers at me but softened when she saw me wink at her making it clear that I was just joking. I then noticed some hesitance from Rogue and that's when I noticed her clothing she was fully clothed including gloves which covered most of her hand.
"So, aren't you going to tell me your gift?" I asked politely.
"Unlike my friends I don't really consider my powers a gift; it's more of a curse. My mutant power is to absorb the memories, abilities and physical characteristics of anyone with whom I come in contact with and I have no control over it. If I hold on for a short time the person would be knocked out or placed in a coma and their abilities absorbed will be temporary but if I hold on too long... " Rogue unable to finish as a single tear rolled from her left eye which then became a floodgate of water.
Instantly Bobby was hugging and telling her soothing words to comfort her. I could easily tell these two were more than just friends, but my God can you imagine living a life without being able to touch especially at such a young age.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to, if I knew I wouldn't have asked." I said apologetically.
"It's okay, we as...asked you so it was only fair," Rogue said as her crying subsided.
"Ok well seeing as you have fulfilled your end of the bargain, I have to comply with my end. Firstly I have empathic abilities not full blown like some I can only pick up on the emotions, but cannot project and I have an ability which is kind of hard to explain." I said not sure how to address my powers.
"Go ahead; just tell it can't be much different from anything we have seen." Jubilee stated.
I chuckled knowing how wrong they were my powers were definitely not a common ability.
"Ok, well basically my other power allows me to create weapons." I said to the trio.
"What do you mean?" Rogue now sitting on Bobby's bed while he rubbed her back through her blouse.
"Well, I can create any type of weapon by using this vortex. Using the power of my mind I feed the image of the weapon into the vortex, which will then be produced. Oh yeah I can also add elemental properties to the weapons." I explained.
The three stood in awe at what I said, but still they seemed unsure of what I was talking about, so I decided to give them a little example of what I can do.
"Ok let me give you guys an example." I said smiling, I love this part.
I stood in the centre of the room and focused my powers until a bright red light appeared in front of my extended palm. A circular vortex was formed now all I had to do was to focus on the weapon I needed to be made. I decided on a broadsword. To finish off the amalgamation of my weapon I asked Jubilee to send her plasma bursts into the vortex, which she did. I then extended my hand into the vortex and pulled out a broadsword engulfed in fire as the vortex vanished.
"Wow!" Bobby, Rogue and Jubilee said.
"Cool isn't it. Hey Bobby create an ice sculpture for me please." I asked.
In no time a statue stood in the middle of the room with me. I quickly sent a slash to the statues head and sent several small blasts of fire towards the torso from my broadsword. When I was done there was no indication of an ice sculpture being there previously. I quickly focused once again until the sword simply vanished from everyone's sight.
"My God, that is an original power." Rogue exclaimed with this bright gleam in her face.
"Yow, man that was totally cool; it makes my power pale in comparison." Bobby said excitedly.
"Yeah, that was amazing, but its getting kind of late so maybe we should get some sleep and maybe tomorrow we can talk to you some more." Jubilee stated.
I yawned and then nodded not really taking notice of the hour it was already 11:00 pm.
"Okay no problem so tomorrow at around 9:00am would be good for you?" Rogue asked.
"Goodnight, see you tomorrow." I said.
"Goodnight!" Rogue and Jubilee said as they left the room.
Bobby and I talked for about 30 minutes after the girls left. He explained some things to me about Rogue's and his relationship, her near death experience with Magneto, the Stryker incident and Dr. Jean Grey demise. After Bobby went to bed it dawned on me these three weren't children, but rather very powerful and devoted adults to the cause they stood for and I smiled at the thought that I would be also part of that cause.
TBC