Chapter 2: Xavier's Mansion
"Calvin?" said a bald man in a wheelchair as Calvin entered the mansion. "I didn't expect you here for another three hours!"
"Well, I guess I was three hours early thanks to my autopilot," said Calvin, patting his cardboard box. "I'm looking for Professor, um, Zah-vier?"
"Zay-vier," corrected the man. "I'm professor Xavier."
Calvin looked shocked. Hobbes, who surprisingly did not look like a stuffed animal, turned to Xavier. "So, what are his mutant powers?"
"He has a very powerful imagination," replied Xavier.
"Er," said Calvin. "I would hardly call that a mutant power."
"It isn't," said the professor. "Your mutant power is to bring it into reality. However, most people will only see what they believe. You can still alter reality to some extent. I can see Hobbes because I'm a telepath. I can read your mind, and see whatever you see."
Hobbes jumped back in surprise. "You mean… I'm not… real?"
"You are real as long as Calvin believes you are," replied Xavier.
Calvin considered for a moment whether he should get rid of Hobbes forever with his imagination.
"Calvin, do you really want that?" asked Xavier. "Deep down, you need Hobbes."
Calvin's eyes widened. "How do you…oh. Right. You can read my mind. You're a psychopath."
"Telepath!" snapped the professor.
"Whoops!" said Calvin. "I repent my sins! How I regret calling you a psychopath! I shall hereby resolve to change my evil ways! Oh, remorse, remorse!"
The door opened, and a redheaded girl stepped in. Hobbes' eyes bulged with delight.
"Jean! I've been dying to meet you! You're psychic too! Can you read Calvin's mind? Can you see me? Can I have your autograph?"
"Hobbes!" snapped Calvin. "Stop fraternizing with the G.R.O.S.S. enemy!"
Being telepathic, Jean Grey knew what G.R.O.S.S. stood for (Get Rid Of Slimy girlS). She closed her eyes and counted to ten.
"GET RID OF SLIMY GIRLS!" shouted Calvin. Jean's eyes flashed, and Calvin was lifted off the ground. He then started spinning around in midair.
"Jean!" snapped Xavier. "Do not use telekinesis on my students unless requested to do so during battle!" Calvin dropped to the ground, panting.
Calvin got up. "That's it!" He snarled. "Prepare for war! Stupendous Man never surrenders to the enemy!" He reached into his cardboard box, pulled out a red hood and cape, and put them on.
Jean just stood there, rolling her eyes. Calvin charged at her, but she telekinetically flew over Calvin and landed on the other side of the room.
Great moons of Neptune! Calvin thought. She can fly too! I must take extra measures to defeat this fiend.
"What do you mean, 'too?' You can't fly!" said Jean.
Calvin ignored her comment and charged at her, but Hobbes held him back.
"I can handle this on my own, Hobbes," said Jean simply.
"Who's Hobbes?" said a scruff voice behind Calvin and Hobbes.
Calvin turned around. Wolverine was standing in the doorway.
"Er…" said Jean. "Well, um…"
"He's a figment of Calvin's imagination," answered Xavier, without the slightest trace of embarrassment. "I seem to remember explaining to you Calvin's mutant power."
"Oh, yes," said Wolverine. "You know my memory isn't that great."
Xavier nodded. He knew only too well how Logan had absolutely no memory of his childhood, or even his real name, though it was suspected to be James.
An hour later, Xavier, Calvin and Hobbes were alone in the room again.
"We will start," said the professor, "with your duplicator. Practice making other people see two of you at the same time."
"Why do they need to see two of me at the same time?" asked Calvin.
"They don't. That's just the first step to duplicating yourself and sending your duplicate to your old school," answered Xavier.
"I've done that before!" argued Calvin.
"True, but I will later be using my telepathic powers to help you harness your powers," said Xavier. "Anything could go wrong. Your duplicate might flicker or even disappear."
Calvin crossed out "Autopilot – Xavier's Mansion" and wrote "Duplicator." He then stepped into the cardboard box. Hobbes pressed the button, and a loud "boink" came out of the box. Calvin stepped out. "Can you see us both?" he asked.
"Of coarse he can!" said another Calvin from inside the box. "He's a psycho – er – telepath."
"Logan!" called Xavier. Wolverine walked in, and looked at the only Calvin he could see.
"Hey, Wolverine!" said Calvin's duplicate. "Can you see me?"
Wolverine didn't answer. He just said to the original Calvin, "So, how's the practice coming?"
"Oh," said Calvin. "So you can't see him."
"See who?" asked Wolverine.
"Me!" said Calvin's duplicate, who had walked behind Wolverine.
Wolverine turned to leave, but bumped into the duplicate. "Whoa!" he said. How did you get over here, Calvin?"
"So you can see him," said Calvin.
Wolverine paid no attention to the original Calvin.
"I'm not Calvin," said the duplicate. "I'm his duplicate."
"Ah," said Wolverine. "So, where's Calvin?"
"He's right there, you moron!" said the duplicate, pointing at Calvin.
Wolverine turned to Calvin, then back to the duplicate. "I don't see anyone," he said.
"Looks like we need a bit more practice," said Xavier. "Right now you can only see one Calvin at a time. It doesn't seem to matter which one. You may leave now, Logan."