Chapter 8: Overload
After breakfast Que kept mostly to herself, meandering the grounds. She found a large elm tree near the lake to climb and quietly observe the goings on around the mansion. There were many students out now, and a lot of them were enjoying themselves sunbathing and swimming in the lake. Others were playing games, reading and just relaxing around the grounds. Que enjoyed the quiet, peacefulness of being up in the tree. She let a gentle breeze blow across the campus to relieve some of the heat that beat down on her and the other students. She was glad some of her abilities could be useful.
Everything was still so new, not having to hid her powers, living and being around so many people. She had no idea what to expect, and she had never been great at making friends. It had taken her almost four years to get in with the local kids back home and that was all superficial. None of them knew her secret or anything about her aside from she could play kickball. To be perfectly honest, she had not really tried to get to know them well either. They were just there for appearances, which made her feel quite guilty when she thought about it. Had she just been using them? As she closed her eyes and contemplated, her light breeze became a bit more choppy and brisk.
Suddenly, Que heard a voice and almost fell out of the tree.
"Que would you mind joining Storm and I in the foyer? Also, I am sure the students have appreciated the light breeze you made earlier, but I'm afraid it's getting a bit gusty here on the grounds."
It was the Professor. She was slightly embarrassed she had been caught and that it had gotten out of hand. Even though she knew there was nothing to be ashamed of, some habits die hard.
She started her climb down and made her way to the house. Once inside she found the Professor and Storm waiting for her.
"Hey Que, have you enjoyed your afternoon?" Storm asked.
"Yes, your home is beautiful Professor," Que replied addressing the two.
"It's not just my home Que. It belongs to everyone who lives here. In time, I hope you will think of it as yours too," The Professor smiled at the youth. Que's stern mask wavered slightly with a brief half smile in return.
"This afternoon, we will be testing your abilities. See what we are dealing with, so we can get an idea how to help you have control over them instead of the other way around," the Professor explained as he led Que and Storm to the elevator.
Que was surprised and intrigued when they got out in the lowest point in the mansion, the second sub basement.
"Where are we going Professor?" Que asked.
"We are headed to what many of our family here refer to as the Danger Room. It is a training chamber that helps students express most extents of their powers in a safe environment. We will start simple, so don't worry."
The Professor stopped at a large, metal, double door, and he pressed his hand against the panel. The doors slid open and all three went inside.
"Storm and I will be communicating and observing from the deck up top. In real training sessions you won't be alone, but for us to see where you are truly at, it could be dangerous for someone else to be with you. I do not want you holding anything back," the Professor explained, nodding toward the large paneled octagon in the center of the ceiling.
The sliding metal doors they had just entered through slid open again, and Hank walked in carrying a number of small sensor probes.
"Here, we can measure the output and gather data better of you wear these," Hank said attempting to place one of the probes on her wrist.
"I'm not wearing those," Que said firmly, pulling back her arm. All cordial respect, politeness, or comradery she and the scientist shared earlier had been wiped away and was replaced with a steely gaze that seared into Hank.
Hank was quite taken aback and stood there in silence. Charles didn't quite know what to make of her reaction, but he quickly intervened.
"That's quite all right. We can use the sensors built in the room. Hank, Ororo are you ready to head up?"
They all nodded and made there way out of the room, leaving Que alone.
Once up top, Hank's voice came over the speakers.
"Okay Que, we are only going to test a couple of things in here and then move outside for the rest."
Que nodded toward the top deck in determination. The three in the booth gave her reassuring smiles, and she got a thumbs up from Storm.
Que saw a panel on the wall shift and push out a large step. It was sheer metal and twice as tall as Que.
Hank spoke again giving instructions.
"Okay let's start with some wind. See in you can focus you wind into a blast that will propel yourself onto the platform."
Que readied herself. She had never thought about that before and wasn't quite sure what to do, but she pushed her powers down below her as hard as she could.
The results were a bit unexpected.
The wind blasted out from around her body and sent her flying in the opposite direction, slamming her against the wall. When she dropped to the ground the winds did not slow, but increased as pain prickled the back of her head.
"Are you alright? We can stop for a while if you need to," came the Professor's voice through the speaker. Que shook her head and motioned she just needed a moment. Up in the booth Hank was looking toward the control panel. He turned toward Charles and Ororo.
"Charles, the winds she just produced were akin with what someone might record from in a level one hurricane. Grant it, there is not much control over them. I think we may be better off starting with letting her express her powers and try to cut them at will. Right now, she is still struggling to just regain control of the winds."
"Okay we can try that," Charles replied before relaying the message over the speaker.
Que was wary. What if this bunker couldn't take it?
"It's okay, don't hold anything back. Just let all your powers flow. When we give the signal to stop, try and cut your powers as soon as you can," the Professor instructed.
"Okay, here it goes," Que thought.
At that she closed her eyes, she felt the energy surge through her body. The winds picked up, whirling around her. They got stronger and stronger as the room shook violently from tremors coming from the Earth. Then, like the other day on the beach, Que let forth the electric current that pulsed around her only this time it was streaking out from her body in all directions cracking dangerously through the air.
"Que, that's good. You can stop," Hank said as he saw her energy output continue to increase.
Que's brow furrowed in concentration as she struggled to stop the mini electrical storm flowing around her. She could get hold of any of it and quickly became frustrate.
"Why do they even need to do tests or collect data? This is stupid! I hate it!" Que thought as her winds took on a deadly gale force and sparks started crackling more violently in the air.
The Professor spoke this time "Que, do you need assistance? You don't need to…"
"I don't want to be your lab rat!" Que interrupted, shouting at the ball man. "This is stupid! I can't do this!"
Charles felt her anger growing as well as fear and panic. He closed his eyes and mentally spoke this time. She couldn't stop until it exploded like the last time. She needed help.
"It's okay we'll stop for the day. Calm your mind and let me help you."
Her mental defenses were very strong for someone without any mental abilities.
"Que, you need to let me in if you want me to help you."
"I can't!" She was crying at this point.
"You can trust me. It's okay." Charles said briefly opening his eyes. The lights were flickering in the room as sparks rippled through the control panels.
He closed them again and continued to press at her mental blockade. Her defenses slid ever so slightly, and he took his chance. Once in, Charles felt what she felt. The emotions and energy were like a tidal wave, and he almost lost his own grip. Energy was coursing through her in fast, agonizing surges, and her mind was clinging on to not be swept away. They both knew if that happened there would be a surge of energy, like back at the beach, which would rip a hole through the mansion and endanger everyone inside.
In the midsts of Que's whirling emotions of fear, anger, and pain Charles felt an incredible guilt. The weight of it was crushing as he pushed inward in her mind, trying desperately to reach her.
Suddenly, he was no longer sitting atop the Danger room with the electrical storm below, but he was standing in a cave of raging fire only a few feet from the Que. She was clutching her knees to her chest and her head was bent low as the flames flared all around.
"Que! Look at me!" He called out as he reached for her. "Take my hand!"
She glanced up at the blue eyed man and just stared, tears running down her face now. He saw a flash of a little girl in an alleyway crouch by a figure in the pour rain.
He called to her again "Don't let it control you! You can trust me."
His words rang with truth in Que's mind. She grabbed his hand.
In that brief moment, Charles reached for the brighter corners of her mind. A flash of a large, old house appeared. Then it was a sunny field of tall grass where there was same little girl and an older boy running and laughing. Charles realized the little girl was Que. Quickly as it had come, the memory was gone. Charles and Que had been able to grip and calm the energy surge.
The three senior staff hurried down to the chamber. When they arrived Que was on her feet. Her face showed no emotion. Only a few red splotches from when she had been crying remained.
"I am sorry." Que didn't meet their eyes as she spoke. "I should go."
Storm walked up and put a firm hand on her shoulder and before Que could shake it off she said "No, you are one of us, and we will help you."
Que was surprised at the fierceness in her voice and looked up in woman's brown eyes. They were filled with compassion and confidence that Que hadn't seen anyone give her in a long time.