The Song of Eternity
Canto 6 : Galactus
Verse 2
A Brave New World
He searches his surroundings,
And finds some more truths.
Vincent took off his cape and hung it on a coat rack in Xavier's study. He then unhooked his guns and leaned them against the wall. He walked over to where Xavier was sitting by a roaring fire and took a seat. "I apologize for my actions earlier," Vincent said as he looked into the flames.
"It is quite all right," Xavier chuckled. "You have the demon under control now?"
"Yes, he is subdued," Vincent confirmed. Not for long Valentine. "How did you find me? That place was far underground the last time I left it," Vincent wondered.
"Ahh, to explain that, it would be best to introduce myself," Xavier said. "I am Professor Charles Xavier. I am a mutant, a member of the latest genetic evolution of the human race. Mutants are gifted with incredible powers that set us apart from normal man. This is my school where I house and help train those who cannot control their powers."
"The rest of the populous fears you. They do not know that this place is what you say it is," Vincent said. "People fear what they do not know, same as during my time," he stated. "You can read minds. Why can't you read mine?"
"I do not know. It is very strange, I can read Chaos's thoughts, but not yours," Xavier admitted. "As to how we found you, that is a bit more interesting. We were contacted by an unknown individual. He told us over the phone that the devil was buried in our backyard, a mile underground. I used my mutant detecting device and found nothing. I could barely sense Chaos's mind. I could feel it just enough to tell you were there. Logan and Hank got to work with help from some of my other students and we uncovered the chamber earlier today," Xavier explained.
"An unknown man… Only one man knew I was there," Vincent said as he was forced to look away from the fire.
Logan walked into the room and pulled up a chair by Xavier. "The kids went to town with 'Ro," he explained to Xavier. "McCoy went to do some carbon dating on some of the crap we found in that room. My name's Logan. What's your story?" he asked gruffly.
"A long time ago I worked for a corrupt corporation. I killed for them. I fell in love with a woman, but she was married to a scientist. We had an affair which produced a child. Before it was born, the scientist injected her and the baby with the genetic material of Jenova, an alien. Lucrecia died during childbirth and the boy, Sephiroth was taken by the scientist. He immediately knew I was the father and in a fit of anger, shot me, mutated my arm, infected me with four demons, and locked me in a coffin for 30 years," Vincent explained.
"I was awoken by a group of adventurers who were hunting down Sephiroth. He had gone mad and was trying to destroy the planet. In the course of our adventure we killed the scientist, Jenova, and Sephiroth. Shortly afterward I went into suspended animation again because of the demons. Six years later, a man named Starmore woke me. Sephiroth was alive again and dominating the planet. We met up with my old friends and took the fight to Sephiroth. During the process, Starmore and I fell into the Lifestream," he was stopped by Xavier.
"The Lifestream?"
"The vast sea of green energy under the planet, where souls go when they die, mako?" he rattled off explanations of the Lifestream, none of them causing a reaction. "Strange… Anyway, while there three things were revealed. Starmore was an amnesiac in control of an incredible power, Sephiroth was resurrected by one of Starmore's enemies from another dimension, and several of our dead acquaintances told us that one day I would be free from Chaos. Once we were free I battled Sephiroth and defeated him. Then Starmore's enemy brought him back to life again, forcing Starmore to use his power and kill him. I went to sleep again, five years after that."
"He woke me half a million years later. Jenova and Starmore's enemies had taken control of almost everyone on the planet," Vincent leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. "We killed them all. All but maybe a hundred barbarians scattered in the wilderness. We killed over a billion people," he admitted before leaning forward and holding his head in his hands. "Then I went to sleep and you found me," he whispered as he stared into the fire. "They would have killed me, but that still doesn't make it right."
"That's a pretty tall tale you have there Valentine," Logan said in disbelief. "Got anything to back it up?"
Vincent reached for his belt and pulled a materia orb out of a pouch. "Materia, made from condensed Lifestream," he explained. "Fire," he commanded as a small sphere of fire appeared floating in the air above his hand. "That enough proof for you."
"Gotta do better than that. We got kids here that can turn into ice," Logan said as Hank came into the room.
"I believe he is telling the truth, I listened in over the intercom. The sample of wood from the chamber is over a million years old by carbon dating," McCoy explained as he produced a brittle piece of wood. "I am eager to examine that suspended animation chamber, if it is okay with you," he asked Valentine.
"Go ahead, I do not think I will need it again," Vincent said. "The man who contacted you about me, only one man knew I was there, must have been Starmore, which cannot mean anything good for this world. He has been killing things across dimensions for the last million years in his pursuit of his enemies."
They all looked out the window as some headlights pulled up the driveway. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you wish. Come, let us introduce you to the students," Xavier said as Hank wheeled him from the room.
Vincent quickly pulled his cape on and gathered his guns. "You be careful around these kids. I don't want you turning into that demon and hurting them," Logan threatened him.
"I can handle it," Vincent said as he followed Logan out the front of the mansion. He walked to the bottom of the stairs and watched as a trio of cars pulled up. Over a dozen people exited the cars and stood opposite him with Xavier, Logan, and Hank in the middle.
"This is Vincent Valentine. He will be staying with us for a bit. Vincent, please explain what you do, unless it bothers you," Xavier nodded at him.
"I am an expert marksman, can use all forms of materia….magic, and can transform into one of four demons," he said without hesitation.
The newcomers stayed silent. "Now, all of you, same deal," Xavier ordered.
"I am Ororo Munroe. Also called Storm due to my power to control the weather," said the first. She was a tall black woman with white hair, the only other adult in the group.
"I'm Scott Summers, Cyclops. I generate optic blasts from my eyes," said another one. He was a boy in his mid teens and carried himself as the leader of the group.
"Jean Grey, I have mild telekinetic powers," said a redhead girl of about the same age.
"Bobby Drake," said another youth who suddenly turned into ice. "Iceman for obvious reasons," he bragged before returning to normal.
"Jamie Madrox," said several identical boys about 12 years old at once. They turned and ran at each other, merging into one boy. "If I get hit I split up," he shrugged.
"Pietro Maximoff," said a silver haired boy. "Quicksilver," he explained as he demonstrated his super-speed.
"Rogue. I drain power if I touch you," said a girl with a white stripe of hair among other brown hair.
"Kurt Wagner," a young man introduced himself. He then disappeared in a burst of brimstone and reappeared behind Vincent. "I can teleport, among other things," he laughed as he turned off his image inducer, revealing his normal blue image.
"Evan Daniels, Spyke," said a young black man who appeared to be a relative of Storm. He waved his hand a several spikes of dirt rose out of the ground.
"Sam Guthrie, Cannonball. I can fly around with an indestructible force-field," explained the last of them with a southern accent.
"Pardon my lack of proper introduction earlier, but I am Dr. Henry McCoy, the Beast," said the blue furred man.
"Kids, inside now. It's getting late," Logan said as the kids moaned and walked into the mansion. Logan and Vincent waited until the adults were inside as well.
"Yes?" Vincent said, sensing Logan was waiting for a chance to speak.
"The name's Logan. It's my job to take care of these kids," he explained as he unsheathed his claws. "You keep that demon under control, next time it won't catch me by surprise," Logan said as he retracted his claws.
"You're awfully confident of your abilities," Vincent noted as they walked inside.
"Never met my match yet. No reason not to be confident," Logan said as he locked the door once they had entered. McCoy and Xavier were waiting as the duo walked up to them in a tense silence.
"If it suits you Vincent, I know a doctor in New York who specializes in demons and the supernatural. You could go see him tomorrow, he should be able to help you with your condition," Xavier explained.
"I'd like that," Vincent agreed.
"Excellent, I would like you to demonstrate your 'materia' as well and explain your history to another friend in the city as well. He'll find it interesting," Xavier chuckled.
"Chuck, how's he gonna know where to go in New York?" Logan asked, not wanting to hear the answer.
"You can take him Logan," Xavier smiled. "You two can go see Strange and Richards tomorrow," he said as Logan stormed off and McCoy showed Vincent to a guest room.