Hey, guys! Thanks for the reviews!
KaliAnn--I don't know if Elizabeth would be comfortable with a codename yet, but I think she might like a cool costume. She's the type that likes something new to wear. As for her abilities and comfort level and joining the X team, that's still up in the air. She's just starting at the Institute, and the Professor isn't very sure what her powers are yet. She'll come along in her own way and time, don't worry.
Psycho88--I got the idea for Elizabeth's powers from the concept of "projective telepathy." I found out about this concept in books by Christopher Stasheff.
Animejunkie1008--I'm glad you like it so well. Please keep reviewing!
Chapter 6
It was a quiet Sunday at the Institute. Most of the kids were relaxing in all the ways the usually relaxed, and small explosions from the Danger Room didn't disrupt the calm atmosphere too much. Kurt was in the student lounge, hanging out and listening to music while Scott and Jean were out to the movies. Kitty was on the phone, Rogue was being Rogue, and Elizabeth was in the library, doing some homework. It wasn't really an assignment, but she liked to keep ahead of her classes. Finishing the exercise, she put her schoolbooks away and pulled out the novel she was reading. She was halfway through the most exciting part of the book-- the battle of the elves and trolls, with the Mountain King watching over it all--when screams erupted from the student lounge. Logan streaked past the library and leapt into the lounge, finding nothing.
"Who was screamin', and why?" he demanded.
"There were…creatures of some kind!" Jubilee blurted. "They were here just a second ago!"
Kurt's tail suddenly drooped into Logan's face. Logan glared up at the teenager, whose eyes were wide, and his hand was clutching his chest.
"Whassamatter, elf?" Logan demanded, somewhat disturbed to see the usually boisterous teen so uncharacteristically quiet.
"Ungeheuer!" Kurt breathed, still frightened. "Fabelwesen!"
The Professor came in shortly after that, asked a few questions, and was perplexed. "You all saw the same things, but when Logan crashed in, they disappeared?"
All of the students in the lounge agreed.
"Interesting," the Professor said, still perplexed.
"Professor?" a tiny voice said. "I think I may know what happened."
"Elizabeth?" Xavier said, turning to regard the girl who stood in the doorway. "Do you know what happened?"
"Yes," she said, nodding. "I was reading, you see, and I forgot to hold my thoughts in, and I think they picked up on them."
"What were you reading?"
"A story about elves and trolls and a Mountain King and the Princess of Woldenmere."
They all stared at her.
"So you were readin'," Rogue said, "and imaginin' it all in yo' mind, and we saw what you did?"
She nodded. "It doesn't happen as long as I hold my thoughts in, but if I get lost in a story, it's easy to forget to do that."
"Well, if that's all," the Professor said congenially, "then there's no danger to worry about."
"I'm really sorry, Professor," Elizabeth said, sounding truly contrite. "It's just that it was such a good story--"
"I know how you feel, Elizabeth, you needn't worry. I often become lost in books myself."
The Professor found Elizabeth looking at him very carefully, and heard the thought Yes, but you don't take everyone around you along for the ride, do you? I have to be careful, or I'll do it again!
I'm sure that you'll manage, you're a very clever girl, he thought, kindly. She smiled, and the tension in the room dissolved.
Space
Professor Xavier studied O'Toole's Academy for Gifted Students for a whole three weeks before calling an Institution-wide meeting. He told them about the invitation, and asked if they felt if they should accept or decline it.
"I say we go," Kurt said when asked. "He's always been nice to me when we wrote or IMed."
"It could be interesting," Rogue said.
"We could totally hook up!" Kitty exclaimed enthusiastically when it was her turn. "There are probably some really cute guys!"
"I say the more people we know, the better," Scott said, quietly putting in his opinion.
"I'm with Scott," Jean said, agreeing. "Friends and allies are always helpful to have."
"I'd like to go," Elizabeth said quietly. She had been very subdued since the "book incident," as most of the students referred to it, if they ever did. Sometimes they liked her to read something for them so they could "watch" the action. Movies didn't have anything on Elizabeth's imagination.
"We could discuss pedagogy with the faculty there," Mr. McCoy said thoughtfully. "Exchange teaching ideas and strategies, swap anecdotes, develop ideas…the possibilities are endless."
"Storm? Logan?" the Professor prompted, wanting their opinions as well.
"Hank's right, it is a good opportunity," Ororo said. "And our students will get a good chance to socialize with others without the shadow of a stigma."
"Logan?"
He shrugged. "If you wanna go, I say let's go."
The Professor smiled. Logan was always a man of few words, but Xavier could tell that underneath the surface he was practically churning with anticipation.
"All right," the Professor said, smiling for his students. "I'll send word of our coming, and we'll get ready to go this week."
The students started cheering, and Xavier reflected that happy students was one of the rewards of his profession.
Well? Should we continue?