Rogue gasped at she had done when her supposed 'enemy' did not revert to normal form. She recoiled in horror and sprinted out the door, her head full of memories that did not belong to her, as well as lectures from Prof. X.
What are you doing! Rogue winced at the professor's mental voice cut through her. Leave me alone! I'm sorry for what ah did! Tears came streaming down her face as her mind struggled to cope with the sudden influx of painful reminiscences of someone else's past as well as the professor's sharp tone. Overwhelmed with a series of emotions, she ran smack into Ororo, gritting her teeth in pain. She pushed the startled teacher to the side and rushed outside. "Rogue, wait!" Ororo called out. No, let her be. She needs to be alone. A faint whoosh of air caused Ororo to break the connection. Only the faintest traces of smoke were left behind. Ororo sighed as she assessed the situation. "Great. She teleported."
Sensing urgency from the professor, she turned and went back to the kitchen.
In a death-like state, Erick laid spread out on the table, his face still in shock. Ororo carefully scooped up the lifeless body and took him to the medical bay. Motherly instincts on overdrive, she pretty much flew through the mansion, ignoring the strange looks from Logan.
In another room far away, Erica lay sniffling on her bed. Kurt's reaction to his stolen doughnuts scared her. Erick's thoughts ringing inside her head didn't help at all. Angrily, she shoved her head into the feather pillow, crying.
Jamie crept inside her room. Tenderly, he placed his hand on her small, quivering frame. To his surprise, she flinched, as if she had been slapped. "Erica…" Jamie started to say, but was interrupted by a violent scream. At that moment, Erick had been touched by Rogue, and Erica was feeling the same effects. Damn mind link… She thought mentally as she felt the memories and powers being sucked out of her.
Frightened by such a loud scream from such a small person, Jamie fell off the bed, trying to cover his ears and promptly multiplied. Pain seized his body as Erick's uncontrollable mental waves seethed through him. He blacked out for a few moments as his body tried to deal with the throbbing that threatened to explode him. As suddenly as the sounds started, they ended. Soon there was silence. Blessed silence.
Professor X sighed at the turn of events. He had started to deal with Rogue, which by any means was a messy procedure. The poor girl had gone through so much trauma, and now she had to deal once more with unforgivable pain and memories of someone else's past. He managed to calm her down telepathically, despite the distance of her newfound powers. PSHOO "Professah?" Rogue ventured a question. "Is-um, he uh,…?" The professor looked kindly at the troubled girl. "Don't worry, Erick is quite all right. He's been through worse. Rogue stared at him curiously. "How do you--?" Prof. X smiled. "You were broadcasting your feelings reasonably well. You are now aware of him and his sister's predicaments. But this will have to wait. You need to return to school. Here is a slip, explaining that you were sick. Off you go, and don't breathe a word of it to anyone!" A dumbfounded Rogue grabbed the paper and vanished in a puff of smoke. Don't show off your powers either! He sternly reminded her. Whatever.
Ororo laid Erick on the stiff mattress in the medical bay, keeping the professor's instructions in mind. He moaned quietly as he started returning to the rest of the world. Much to the lady's surprise, he jumped up, wide awake, and stared curiously around the room. "Vas ist dist?" He mumbled, rubbing his head. Obviously he was not quite all there. "Are you all right?" Ororo asked anxiously. Erick ignored the question, or else he didn't hear it, and started doing his stretches, making sure all his flexibility stuff was still working. Similarly, Erica was doing this also, in front of an astonished Jamie.
Erick jumped when he heard the professor in his head.
Erick, I need you and your sister to be in my office immeaditly.
Ja, miztah, umm...
You may call me Prof. X or the professor.
Danke. I come vif mien sizter now.
After that, Erick told his sister what happened. How come he didn't ask me?
That's because you are naturally guarded against telepathy. Unless you decide to let someone in.
Ohhh! Erick grabs his sister's wrist, and teleports into the professor's office. PSHOO
(Prof. X's Office)
"Vhat do ya vant, Prof. X?" Erick asked immeaditly after entering the office. "You didn't quite explain about how you used those powers when you were in the manacles, and you never explained why I felt you using telepathy, or mind powers, as you called it." Erick and Erica were relieved. They thought they were being brought to confess what they had done. "Umm, zhat poverz, very hard. Don't know. Only once, uzed it. But not diz. Niene." Erick firmly told the professor. "Ja." Erica added in. "Niene explainashion."
"If you don't mind, Erick, I would like to look inside your mind. This may explain why you were able to use your powers when the manacles were on." Silence. "I won't hurt you, I'm here to help you. Your powers might explain why the Brotherhood was at the mall." Erica and Erick winced at the memories. They would be in nightmares to come. Finally, Erick agrees. "Ja. Don't do anyfink bad." The professor smiles kindly at Erick. "I'll be very careful. We will start now!" Placing his fingers around Erick's head, he enters Erick's mind.
There was a room. It looked primitive, like the ones ancient priests used to study the stars. Soft, blue light came through the hole in the roof. There was a statue. The blue light poured over the statue. It was an image, perhaps, of a god. Suddenly, blue veins pop out over the statue. It grows bigger, and more terrifying by the second. It was Apocalypse! Shadowed figures, appear out of nowhere. Seven of them surround Apocalypse. Chanting a mysterious spell, all starts to grow quiet. In the background, blue lightning, fire, and ice surround them. As the elements surround them even more, their chanting gets louder and louder, then a bright flash of light came. Apocalypse was sealed in. Frozen in suspension for at least another millennia.
Professor X tried to leave Erick's mind, but there was no success.
Another scene pops up. A circus. Once in it's former glory days, it must have been a wonder. Now, it is barely recognizable. Posters advertise it everywhere. Although the tent is new, there is an air of despair around it. Animals howl in cages. People are getting ready for another show. A group of them surround him. They have clubs and knives. They are grinning evilly. There is nobody left to stop them. Cannot move...scared...lost...alone...Help!
Prof. X suddenly breaks off. Erick falls down in surprise. "Are you all right?" Erick can only nod, his eyes brimming with tears. "That is enough for one day. Go down to eat. You must be famished."
Grabbing his sister by the shoulder, he quickly teleports into the kitchen with a PSHOO
Prof. X sighed. This was going to be more difficult than he thought. This only led to more questions. It answered some of his questions, but not all. He hoped it didn't affect Erick too badly.