Chapter Four – Emergence
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.
Here I am now facing the trademark letter 'X' engraved into a massive circular door, which has aptly been called the 'Danger Room'. This room apparently is part training facility and survival course, which the X-Men use for extensive tactical training of their powers. I marvelled at the level of technology that the underground base of the X-Men housed as Bobby directed me to the room even with the uncomfortable garb I had donned.
"So here we are." Bobby said.
"I'm thrilled." I said sarcastically.
"It was a bit overwhelming even for me the first time, but you'll get used it, trust me." Bobby said as we entered.
I decided to refrain from saying anything until after this whole ordeal was over with, but subsequent to actually entering the danger room I had a change of heart. The large room was going through a gradual change of holographic imagery and background before it came to a halt to its original form, a silver dome.
"Holy fu…" I said before I was cut off by the professor.
"Such language is not really needed here Victor. I already have a hard time with Logan as it is." The professor pointed out.
"Sorry, sir." I said.
It was at that moment I noticed Bobby and I weren't alone. But to the corner waiting for us were Rogue and Jubilee. As Bobby and I headed in their direction the veteran X-Men decided to make their appearance.
"Well let's get this over with Chuck. Got to show the kid just how dangerous my mutation can be," Logan exclaimed as he extracted his claws from his knuckles.
"Logan calm down. Don't scare Mr. Mannel, yet." Scott said with a menacing snicker.
To alleviate the tension Ororo approached the subject of the terrain settings for the training sequence. The professor had decided on a jungle setting, which would compel all parties to use all their senses rather than rely on our mutations. It became evident to me that some members were at an advantage over others, I thought as my sight lay upon Logan with that annoying smirk of his.
"Activating Jungle sequence test run 0016," the professor's voice commanded.
Instantly the holographic projection devices were active and no one would have thought that just a fraction a minute ago we were gazing upon a massive metal structure. The mansion evidently had superior technology. The entire biosphere that was created felt real from the air straight down to the grass below my feet.
The dark jungle was to some extent was lightened by a simulated moonlight.
"Hey, Victor, I know you're awed by this but we got things to do." Jubilee stated.
"Oh sorry so what should we do now?" I asked with a hint of embarrassment from being totally encompassed in the technology being utilised currently.
"Well, I think we should stick together for now. Let's strategize Cyclops's optic blast is more a singular target mutation and with his enhanced vision it makes it difficult to sneak up on him." Bobby stated.
"Enhanced vision!" I asked confused.
"His mutation causes him to spot movement and align object to the most accurate coordinate." Bobby explained.
I was contemplating how we could win this test. It seemed almost hopeless and this was just from hearing about one team member.
"Storm has the advantage of flight over us, also her powers could take all of us out as a group or individually. Nightcrawler and his teleporting ability allows for easy scouting as well as his skin basically blend in with this midnight jungle simulation." Jubilee stated.
"And last but not least Logan he basically can track anyone through almost any terrain whether virtual or reality he is going to be our hardest contender. Plus he may have already found his target." Rogue said allowing her gaze to flutter towards me after her last statement.
The others were also aware of Rogue's statement and tried to keep their gaze from approaching me.
"What the hell is everyone staring at? " I asked worried of the worst possible outcome.
"Wolverine tends to go after the newbies, but especially after your statement he might be a little bit more aggressive than usual." Jubilee pointed out with a snicker.
"Is this because of what I said to him earlier? It can't be. That would be just ludicrous." I exclaimed.
"Jubilee, could you please stop scaring him. Victor don't worry he is going to be a little bit more aggressive when fighting you, but trust me it won't come to anything really bad. Logan knows better than that." Rogue said calmly.
I eventually composed myself as best as I could. We then went into further details of how to defeat the other team. It became evident that we would take them out one at a time as a group.
"Ok, Victor I know you said you don't like doing this but can you read any of them." Bobby asked.
"I told you before I don't use my empathy voluntarily." I angrily stated.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean…" Bobby stuttered forth obvious shocked by my outburst.
"No I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout at you. It's just I worry about using my powers." I said softly this time to everyone.
"It's okay we understand. I still have a problem using mine even when it's for the benefit of human and mutant kind. We'll think of something else," Rogue stated.
For a brief moment I was lost to everyone around me as I was bombarded by strong emotions from all directions, which placed me in a hypnotic trance.
"Uh… Guys we're surrounded on all sides," I explained after coming out of my temporary trance.
"Are you sure? I thought you didn't want to read their emotions." Jubilee stated.
"I didn't, but like I said heightened emotions are difficult to field out. Plus empath's have limited ability in blocking out emotions especially the ones that are being projected." I stated.
"What emotions are you sensing?" Jubilee asked.
"Mostly guilt, betrayal, excitement, aggression, mostly negative emotions." I stated
"I can guess where a lot of the aggression is being emitted from." Bobby said.
It was then it happened just as I got a mental image which accompanied the emotion I felt from Kurt. Nightcrawler teleported beside Rogue and as quickly as he appeared he vanished taking her along with him.
"Rogue, look out!" I shouted.
"Damn it, they are trying to separate us." Jubilee said.
Apparently she was right. No sooner than she said that statement she was hurled away by a whirlwind.
"Jubilee!" I shouted.
"Oh hell, it's just us. We better watch oursel…" Bobby said as he was abruptly interrupted by an arm snaking around his neck.
On my way to help Bobby I came across none other than the Wolverine.
"I think Iceman has a battle of his own to handle. Now it's just you and me kid." Wolverine snarled.
I hesitantly step a few paces back from him. If Logan was a psionic he would obviously know I was scared shitless, not just from his obvious physical appearance, but also from the intense level of emotions emanating from him. It was taking everything in me to not let the emotions overwhelm me.
"I'm not scar...ed of y…ou," I stuttered.
"I beg to differ," Logan said.
It was at that moment Wolverine decided to lunge at me claw unsheathed. Almost instinctively I opened the vortex and forged a katana. From the apparent expression on Logan he was shocked.
"Wow, aren't we full of surprises. So this is your mutation." Logan stated obviously trying to mock me about my earlier statement.
"Yeah, amongst other things and I wouldn't take my powers lightly, asshole." I said most aggressively.
What the hell was that? I don't talk like that. No time for thinking, time for fighting I have to prove myself to everyone.
The battle was really vicious. We were matching each others moves slash for slash it was as if we were synchronous with one another. Logan backed away for but a mere second before retaliating with such aggression it was as if he was a berserk animal on the warpath.
"You're not half bad kid," Logan grunted out.
"You too old man, but its time to end this." I answered.
The old man issue was probably taking it a bit far. It seemed to tick him off more and sent his emotions reeling off the edge as he charged and slashed me in the arm. That's when everything went spiralling out of control.
"You're gonna pay for that with your life." I growled ferally.
"Yeah, you and what army kid?" Logan sarcastically stated.
It was at that moment the professor started to shut down the simulator. The holographic went from lush grassland to hard metal revealing the other X-Men staring upon us. This didn't falter my current quest.
"Victor, Logan stop immediately!" Professor Xavier shouted.
"Go to hell wheels." I stated.
It was at that moment my mind absorbed every single repressed, negative & positive emotion from all who lie within the danger room and flooded it into the now bow and arrow which transformed from the katana. The transformation happened unbeknownst to me during those brief minutes.
"You think I'm such an easy target well guess what F$ YOU." I said and fired off the empathic arrow.
Every pain, torture, suffering, sadness, guilt, happiness, joy, excitement and other emotions engulfed Logan until he was growling in pain one minute and weeping like a baby the next. I revelled in the emotions and it was at that moment everything went pitch black.
"Kurt, carry Victor to the med bay quickly, while I handle Logan. Scott, come over here with me." The professor said as he went to the now happy Logan.
The other members of the X-Men swiftly went to the med bay leaving Scott and the professor alone.
"What's wrong with him professor?" Scott asked.
"From what I can sense he is experiencing multiple empathic backlash of almost every possible emotion residing within those who were in here earlier." Prof. X stated.
"Can you help him?" Scott asked surprisingly worried about Logan.
The professor himself was unsure of what to say he had never seen or heard of anyone doing such an attack. In theory it was possible, but the mental damage would most possibly be irreparable. The professor knew his powers dealt with thoughts not emotions, yet people consider it one in the same, which in reality was not the case. Telepaths read thoughts and to a degree could interpret the emotion from thoughts, but in most cases it wasn't always accurate. Empaths on the other hand can read emotions which are considered a more accurate depiction of a person's true state of mind.
"I'm not sure if I can release him from what Victor did, but I can sedate him with a mental blast." The elder man said as he closed his eyes in concentration as he mentally calmed Logan to a state of slumber. Troubled slumber but slumber none the less.
"Is he going to be okay?" Scott asked as he instinctively helped his hurt comrade even though they had their differences.
"I won't be sure until Victor wakes." Professor said sombrely.
"Professor, what's up with the 'what ifs'? You're the most powerful telepath in the world..." Scott insinuated as he was cut off abruptly.
"Scott I have to assess the information first from Victor before I can be sure of anything, but right now I have no concrete answers. The emergence of his manipulative empathic powers are unknown to me." Professor X yelled.
Shocked at the outburst Scott pulled back from further interrogation until a later time as he carried Logan off to the med bay.
The professor was deep in thought as he replayed the event over in his head. He sensed the shift in emotion but was unaware of the development of Victor's empathic powers. He knew the young man had great potential especially since from the night before the professor tried to mentally keep a watch on him after sensing something deep within the recesses of the man's minds.
"Let's hope you're not keeping secrets from us like Jean did. It would be a shame to lose one more friend because of fear," he said as he moved towards the exit of the Danger Room.
TBC