A/N: I felt like the last chapter was a bit… low quality. Anyway, this one should be better.
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Chapter 8: Power of the Ringleader
Kurt sat in the white room on the medical bed. Kitty was in one of the chairs, watching the boy anxiously as Dr. McCoy checked up on him. Xavier was close to the bed, also watching Hank work. Scott and Jean were going through the manor, calming the students whom were glad to stop their search. Logan waited outside for the news on the "Elf's" health, while Rogue and Storm stood by the door.
Out of all of them, Kurt was probably the most patient. He had been silent for a while, ever since they got him down from the jet. He was thinking, not of himself, but of the others. Unlike those around him, he was not ignorant of Jack's ways. He knew what the man would be able to do to them through him. However, Kurt hoped to prevent his friends from getting hurt by informing the professor of Jack's special "gift".
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It only took a little more than ten minutes for the check up to be complete. Turning around from his computer, Beast gladly announced that Kurt was okay and the only damage was a bit of exhaustion, which would be healed with a good night's sleep. Satisfied with the results, the boy hopped down from the bed, while Rogue opened up the door and told Logan the good news.
Kitty stood up from her seat and gave a smile to Kurt, the worry in her eyes melting away as she looked at him even more. He was strong and had stamina, the encounter showed that. "I'm, like glad your okay and all," the brunette said, giving a couple of hand gestures to go with the statement. Then she asked the question that everyone else was wondering. "But… what like happened back there?"
Kurt had been stretching his arms a bit, turning to one side then the other. When he heard the girl's question, he stopped his stretching and looked at her. He was afraid of what her reaction would be. Afraid of everyone's reaction. Everyone was already on their toes from the incident just a few minutes ago, and this might send them over the top. However, they deserved answers, and Kurt wasn't the one not to give someone what they deserved. Besides, this would only help them fight Jack, should there ever a time come.
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The flaps to the tent flew to either side as Jack stepped out into the sun. His face was fierce and held the determination of a man who would do anything to meet his goals. With his black outfit, Jack walked across the grass towards where his performers were setting up the main tent. Everyone was helping out, even some extra hands that had volunteered. The man walked over to where they were working, searching for one person in particular.
It came to no surprise that he found her up high. Her ability to fly was indeed handy, as Robin balanced the center beam of the tent. Von and Urs were busy tightening the strings that would help keep it up. While Catrina began to unload the tarp that would go overtop. Again Jack was not surprised to see several of the men gladly offering to carry the tarp for the lovely woman. Acting shy, Catrina allowed the workers to take the tarp from her and carry over next to the tent.
Jack shook his head, Catrina saw this and shrugged as if to say "Whatcha gonna do?"
"Robin!" The pale man turned back to the tent and looked up at the teen. Her arms were outstretched while her feet curled to keep grip on the pole. There was no danger for her, being able to whisk away at the last minute should she fall. In fact, that was part of her act. She would walk a wire, many feet in the air with no net. Then she would wobble back and forth and fall. At last second, she would fly away, doing a few laps over the audience.
Hearing her boss's voice, the young girl looked down from the pole. Following it all the way to the ground, than scanning in a straight light right in front of her, Robin soon saw her boss's black and shiny shoes, then his pants, then his white shirt, and finally his young looking face. Smiling, she waved from her post, watching his features change from impatience to annoyance. Knowing Jack was in no mood for her antics at the moment, Robin jumped the thirty feet or so, suddenly stopping about half a foot from the ground.
Walking on the air, the blonde teenager strode over to her employer, a questioning look on her face. "Vhat is it zat you need, Jack?" Robin seemed to stand on her tippy toes, as her body lowered to the ground just a bit further, ever since the incident on the train, Robin hadn't gotten closer to the ground than three inches. Which was a lot of space between her and the hard surfaces, compared to what she usually walked on.
Reaching into his coat, the man pulled out a flyer, a bit larger than the ones that hung all over Bayville. Of course, at the bottom where the extension occurred, were many boxes made from dotted lines. Upon further inspection, Robin saw that they were actually tickets for that night's show. Taking the flyer from Jack, the blue eyed beauty looked up at the man, "Vho are ze tickets for?"
"Some friends of mine live in zis town. It vould be vonderful if zey could come to our show tonight," Robin nodded, understanding that the man didn't want his friends to pay for the tickets. Then she looked back up at him, holding the flyer between her two hands, and asked where his "friends" lived. Tilting his head forward a bit, the man allowed a sly smile to spread across his face. "Charles Xavier institute for the gifted."
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Kurt gave a small sigh, then hopped back up on the white bed. Kitty kept her place and just waited, as did everyone else. "Jack is like us… vell more like Rogue." The accusation caused the Mississippi girl to argue. Based on what she heard of the terrible man, she was nothing like him. Kurt held up his hands in defense and asked her to let him further explain. This seemed to be alright with Rogue, as she backed down and leaned back up against the wall.
"Vhat I meant, vas not in personality, but in your povers."
"He can gain another's power?" Logan asked, a now calm Rogue realizing the resemblance between her and Jack. "Sort of," Kurt replied, trying to think of the right words to say. He had to describe it just right, or too many questions would be thrown his way. Fiddling with his thumbs, the blue mutant thought of the time Von explained the technicalities to him. He couldn't remember everything the spider like mutant had said, but he remembered how it worked.
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"Please Kurt, explain," Xavier said. 'As calm as usual…' thought Kurt, looking down at the man from the bed. Taking in another breath, "You see, Jack can… he can borrov povers I suppose. But different than Rogue, because he doesn't get ze full pover, and he doesn't have to touch us either."
"What?" Logan, Rogue and Kitty all blurted out at the same time. Ororo, Xavier, and Hank grew surprised looks on their faces. How did the man gain the power of the mutant then? "Kurt, please elaborate for us," the professor said, his surprised look settling into a thoughtful one.
The blue mutant did not hesitate to tell more. "You see, Jack's pover is all up here!" Kurt tapped his head with one of his fingers. "He's tele… tele… he's vhat Jean and ze professor are. Only he doesn't read minds, he reads povers. Understand?" Everyone nodded, a bit unsure of it all, but they understood enough. "Vhen he gets near a mutant, he gets a taste of zeir ability. Only it's more of ze control zey have of zeir pover," Kurt put a finger on his chin and thought about it. And it was more like the control they have over their ability. Because Jack hadn't tried to take over Kurt's teleporting when he was in the circus. Back then the blue demon was only a child and had just discovered his "gift".
"Hovever," Kurt had just thought of something. While all the other powers he used where only half of what the real mutant could do, there was always one that was full power or more. That was the telepathic mutants. They only strengthened the man's own ability, and through their minds… "Professor, you cannot use your povers until zis is over."
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Looking down at her palm, the girl barely read the address. Walking a few more paces while looking at her hand, the blonde finally looked up from the directions she had been given. It would have been easier to fly, but Jack had told her not too. She didn't understand why, but she never questioned Jack. Not only did her feed her, provide shelter, and even a small pay, but he acted like a father to her, ever since she lost him.
Closing her eyes, the girl took in two deep breaths. She had to stop herself from crying right in the middle of town. Holding her eyes shut even tighter, Robin waited until she felt the sorrow had passed. Looking around her, she soon found out where she was and continued on her way to the Xavier Institute.
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"Zis is it," Robin looked down the long drive. Trees grew on either side, placing shade over the drive that lead up to the rather large manor. Seeing as the door wasn't that far away, and there was a gate… Robin smiled while looking at the front door. Backing up a few steps, the girl ran for about three meters before she leapt from the ground and soared into the air.
Holding onto the flyer tightly, Robin spread her arms like wings, allowing her body to cut through the air. She hadn't been so high for so long. Taking in a deep breath, the girl allowed her body to fall on the wind. Coming closer and closer to the ground, Robin's smile got larger and larger. Letting out a bunch of happy laughter, the girl turned back towards the sky in the nick of time. This time she went higher. Higher than the trees, than the manor, she felt as if she could touch the sun.
Twirling like a ballerina in the air, Robin wrapped her arms around herself. Taking in the air, the girl felt a sudden burst of energy. Turning towards the manor, the girl dove as fast as she could. When she reached the height of a second story window, Robin turned to her side and skimmed the wall with her stomach. Inches away from the building, the girl circled it once. Many of the mutants on the second story thought they saw something, but many dismissed it as a bird.
Coming around to the front door, the girl slowed down, and did a flip which brought her low enough to the ground. Gently floating just a few inches above the step, Robin faced the front door and pressed the door bell.
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Jean had just told the last student that they may stop their search, when a most unusual thing happened. The door bell rang. No one had rung the door bell for a long time. They were usually welcomed at the gate someone was waiting for them at the front door. Or they lived here and just waltzed right in. She couldn't think of anyone who had actually gotten past the defenses and rang the door bell.
Walking over to the door, the red head cautiously opened it. Looking out, she didn't see anyone. Turning around with the open door, Jean was about to yell at Bobby for playing pranks, when she thought she heard a giggle. Turning quickly around, Jean pulled back with a surprised cry. Two blue eyes watched with amusement as the older teen did so. Then a large, likeable smile spread across delicate lips, which parted in laughter and words, "Vell Hi!"
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A/N: Ta da! There ya go. Anyway, as usual I'll update the next day. Hope ya liked it and please, please REVIEW. Even if it's as simple as saying "Hi" ya know? C'mon people, I wanna hear from ya.