The First Day Of The Rest Of His Life
Resurfacing. That's what it felt like. It felt like his mind had been submerged underwater and was now rushing to the top like a pocket of air. Slowly, feeling began to return to his limbs and he recalled events that had taken place.
"Stay away from me!" he had yelled at the approaching figures before turning and running for his life. They were following him. He could see them trying to keep up but every few seconds there was a loud bang and the feeling of falling before he found himself considerably further away from them, as if he'd blinked and missed parts of his escape route.
He had been heading for the fields. Then that feeling... the feeling of sleep... It took over and he'd fallen... but where? Where?
His lips began to mime the word as he asked himself over and over again where he was. The urge to open his eyes was powerful, but the force holding them shut was even more so. Stephen struggled for minutes before he managed to flicker one eyelid open, barely enough to view his surroundings.
"Silver... metal?...That sound... machines... Hospital?" His brain was still re-activating and every thought caused a wave of dizziness.
"Wake up, young man."
The thought was not his, but felt as if it had been forced into his subconscious by some other being. The voice was male and, judging by the accent, was British. It's intrusion had a major effect on him, jolting his brain and sending confused, scared thoughts swimming around inside his head. These emotions sent a sudden burst of emergency energy to his limbs and forced his eyes open. He was alert, and prepared for another attack.
"Please remain calm, I do not mean you any harm," the voice continued, accompanied by a relaxed, peaceful feeling.
Stephen half leapt into a sitting position on the bed and searched the room for the source of the noise, determined that the voice must be being emitted by something in the room and not, in fact, being sent into his mind.
Empty.
There were no signs of anyone in the room other then himself. He examined the room he was in. A large, silvery medical facility, obvious from the machinery and the equipment. The floor was made up of metal silver tiles and the walls were similar, but darker grey. A circular door with an 'X' in the centre was on the far wall and seemed to be the only way out.
"What's going on?" Stephen called, eyes whipping around the room for any sign of movement, "Where am I?!"
"You are perfectly safe, Stephen, and providing you listen I shall explain everything," the voice replied.
"How are you talking to me? There's no one here!" queried the boy, still scrutinising his surroundings.
"As I mentioned before, I shall explain everything," the second the voice stopped, the circular door at the far side of the room slid open and through it came a smartly dressed man in a wheelchair.
He had no hair but his eyes were a penetrating blue and his face was neatly angled. His blue suit was contrasted by the red tie he wore and fastened to this tie was a small gold 'X' in a circle. This symbol was becoming increasingly common in Stephen's life.
The man stopped at the side of Stephen's bed and fixed him with a searching stare. Stephen did not know why, but he felt this man was reading him like a book.
"W-..Who are you? Where am I? Why am I here? How do you know my name and when will you let me go?" Stephen asked in a bumbling rush of speech.
The man smiled and raised his hand for Stephen to stop, "Slow down. If you're planning on me answering your questions, you need to let me talk as well, you know." He didn't seem at all angry but rather noble, like a teacher of sorts.
"My name is Professor Charles Xavier and this is my school for gifted and talented youths, such as yourself," he explained, gesturing around the room.
"This doesn't look like a school," whispered Stephen, still cautious about the man before him.
"That's because you are currently in the medical laboratory, beneath the school. The section you are now in is referred to as the Sub-basement," he continued.
Stephen dismissed the information with a shake of his head and asked his next question, "Why am I here?"
"You're here for possible guidance and also for your own protection," Xavier said, leaning back in his wheelchair and pressing his fingertips together.
"Protection? From what? Those people... those things that were following me?" asked Stephen, referring to the two guys that chased him through Grantham.
Xavier chuckled before continuing, "My boy, 'those things' are people too. They were the ones trying to protect you. I think it might be best if you followed me."
He turned around and headed for the door. Stephen, more questions begging to be asked, followed him, taking a few moments to get his leg muscles working and his balance sorted.
The door hissed shut behind them and Stephen found himself surrounded by more metal panels, this time forming a corridor. Xavier made his way through a door at the end of the hall and Stephen followed closely, not wanting to be left behind.
They had entered a small chamber packed full of strange computers. Large monitors displayed strange, virtual images of human bodies and every now and then would indicate a section of the body that was taking strain or damage.
Other monitors displayed energy output diagrams and stats screens, all of them bleeping occasionally and making low droning sounds. Xavier approached a large window at the front of the room and indicated for Stephen to come over to him.
"The boys that you encountered today are students of mine. I sent them to get you before the anti-mutant forces could reach you," he explained.
"Anti-mutant forces?" Stephen repeated, sounding dazed, "But how could they find me? How would they know where I was? I ran for ages and I never stopped... how did they... I never did anything to them... or anyone else..."
"Calm down. They knew because they have technology which enabled them to scan for mutant DNA. They've had you targeted for over a month and they would have captured you today unless we had intervened," Xavier informed, staring out of the large window whilst he spoke.
Stephen stood in silence, allowing the information to sink in. He stared solemnly at his blue furry hands, gazing at the reason his life would never be the same again. He had know that he was different for about a week. He had been at school when it had started, all of a sudden he'd begun to grow thin blue fur across his entire body and he kept finding himself in the strangest locations for no apparent reason at all. The next few days he had spent running from everything, desperately trying to escape from the world. His mind was aflame, burning with thousands of questions and curiosities but at that very moment in time, one concern was of highest importance, "What about my family? Won't they go after them?"
"Not to worry, we have sent a team to look after your family and friends. They shall be perfectly safe," Xavier comforted, before his attention was drawn to the activities on the other side of the window once more.
"So what are you going to do to me?" asked Stephen, taking a hesitant step forwards, curious as to what was so interesting on the other side of the glass window but still aware that he may be in danger.
"That depends on you," Xavier stated before continuing in order to answer Stephen's questioning expression, "If you agree to it, I would very much like you to join my school."
"I don't understand... You want to help me by sending me to school?" asked Stephen, trying not to be impolite but unable to keep the annoyance out of his voice.
"My boy, surely you have realised that this is no ordinary school?" asked the Professor, turning to face him.
"Well... it's a school for the intelligent... so... it's bound to be different from other schools...," Stephen said, folding his arms in an apprehensive manner.
"Stephen, this is a school for mutants. We help develop and train mutants of all ages, teaching them to control their powers and eventually, master them so that they are used responsibly," Xavier explained with a warm smile.
Stephen stood in disbelief, unable to think of anything to say until finally, "Gifted...?"
"Exactly," Xavier confirmed.
"So... you want to teach me how to... be a mutant?" asked Stephen, staring at the floor next to Xavier.
"I want to teach you how to control your abilities and use them correctly," Xavier verified, turning back to the screen.
"Is everyone here a mutant?" asked Stephen, taking a step closer. He had listened to the Professor's previous sentence, but he'd not yet acknowledged it.
"Yes," the Professor answered.
"Are you a psychic?" Stephen queried further, edging closer.
"Your conclusion is correct. I am telepathic. That is how we were able to find you and that is how I knew your name. I must ask you not to be alarmed at the fact that I can see into your mind. I believe that, unless the person in question gives you permission, a mind should not be intruded," Xavier informed, his polite smile never leaving his face.
Stephen's mind was swimming. Everything from the past few days was frantically hurtling through his head and it made him feel sick.
"S-so... why are we here?" asked Stephen, remembering Xavier's instructions to follow him.
"The room you are in now is the control unit for a special training chamber that has become know amongst the students as the Danger Room. Using advanced holographic technology and equipment, created by one of the tutors at this facility, this room enables us to teach students how to defend themselves against different dangers in different environments. Despite safety protocols, the dangers faced in the Danger Room are quite realistic, as the bruises of pupils can attest. This window allows us to watch the chamber's occupants and make sure things don't get out of hand," Xavier explained slowly, as a bright flash erupted from behind the glass panel.
"Woah... so it's like a virtual reality training room?...Wow...," Stephen's eyes grew wide with awe as he re-examined the technology around him. He began to think back to his question, realising that Xavier hadn't actually answered it.
"I've brought you here to meet the people who brought you to us," Xavier said, as if he's heard Stephen's question again.
Stephen, his curiosity getting the better of him, walked over to the window cautiously and peered down. Stretched out before him was a large circular chamber built with metal. The entire place was alive with machines and Stephen could only watch with amazement.
Long mechanical arms reached out of the walls and thumped the ground. Rotating razor-blades fired from the ceiling and hovered around the ground searching for targets. Gigantic cannons protruded from the floor and sent blasts of light in the direction of any movement that wasn't caused by machine. The floor it's self seemed alive and kept raising up in platforms and then falling away again, leaving a gaping hole.
"Oh.. My... God...," he mumbled, staring in partial horror and partial admiration.
An explosion from within the chamber snapped Stephen out of his trance. A gigantic orange ball of flames erupted from the centre of the room and dispersed when it hit the ceiling. As he looked closer, two figures could be seen in the centre, leaping and dodging long metallic tentacles as they swiped at them.
"This seems a bit excessive for a training session...," murmured Stephen, watching the two in their fantastic display of agility.
"There is one more thing I feel I ought to mention," Xavier said, turning back around to the boy, "This institute is also the home of a specialist mutant team called the X-men."
Professor spent almost half an hour explaining to Stephen more and more about the facility and the X-men, from ancient history to the possible near future. It would have been obvious to any one watching that the young boy was captivated. Lost in a world that he never even knew was there. It's ironic in a sense... how people refuse to accept the existence of such things but complain about how dull they find life.
This was one more life, at least, that was now open to the impossible. The thick layer of lies and self-deception that cloud the human brain had been peeled away to reveal the underlying mainstream of a world unknown.
The simulation in the Danger Room ended and the machines disappeared into nothing, now replaced by a series of robotic opponents.
"So this is combat training?" asked Steve, gesturing towards the simulation.
"Yes, it is. You're catching on fast," smiled Xavier, using a nearby console to enter a difficulty level.
"So if a mutant has a power level of ten but a mutant class of two, what happens then?" he asked again, remembering the Professor's explanation of mutant categories.
"The console would be set to a mutant class of two but the power settings would be increased," explained Xavier, pleased that Stephen was taking such an interest in the mechanisms of the Danger Room.
"So who are they? The people who brought me here?" asked Stephen, leaning against the screen in an attempt to get a better look at them.
"The taller of the two is Thomas, codenamed Sub-zero. He has the ability to generate and manipulate ice, rather like one of his mentors, Iceman. However, he has a second ability. He is able to manipulate his skeletal structure slightly, enabling him to generate solid spikes that he can use as projectiles and armour," the Professor said, bringing up a stat screen of Sub-zero on the monitor before him.
There was another explosion from the training session and all the enemies around Tom had been completely frozen. He then proceeded to fire a number of spikes at the statues, splintering them.
"'Cool' guy, by the sounds of it," quipped Stephen, grinning as the sequence progressed.
"Quite. I warn you, he dislikes puns directed at him and his powers, so be careful," warned Xavier, changing the stat screen to display the slightly shorter mutant.
"This is Matthew, codenamed Entity. His powers are still developing, due to interference when they first manifested, but they appear to be psychic," Xavier informed, but there was a tone in his voice that Stephen couldn't quite identify. Was it concern? Fear? Worry? He couldn't tell, but it formed a question in his head which his mind forced him to ask.
"What do you mean by interference?" he asked.
Xavier remained quiet for a moment before replying with evident apprehension, "I don't think it is my place to explain it to you. Besides, he knows better then I do. You ought to ask him when you can."
"Maybe I will...," Stephen mumbled, more to himself then to anyone else.
Xavier leaned forwards and picked up a microphone from the console.
"Entity, Sub-zero, I have someone here who would like to meet you. Meet us in the control booth please," he asked before switching it off and gazing out at them. The sequence buzzed offline and the two figures began walking to the exit.
Within minutes, the door to the booth slid open and the two boys walked in, standing curiously at the sides of the entrance. Stephen cast them an awkward wave as he was unsure how to greet two people that he had forced to chase him across an entire town.
"Matthew, Thomas, I would like you to meet Stephen. He's shown a great interest in the institute thus far," Xavier introduced them.
"Hi," Tom greeted, waving is hand slightly.
Matthew simply blinked and gave a slight nod to acknowledge his presence. The instant their eyes met, Stephen felt a cold chill race up his spine. Something about the boy seemed disturbing. Though he was young, his eyes seemed so much older... as if he'd read a thousand libraries' worth of books. Perhaps it was simply the way he looked, or perhaps it was Stephen's uncanny ability to pick up on things, but there was a mysterious darkness surrounding the guy... something not quite right.
Noticing Matthew's frown, Stephen stopped staring at him and directed his attention elsewhere, but he could feel the look of curiosity he was receiving from Entity.
"Tom, could you please escort Stephen up to the spare dormitory? I'm afraid you'll have to stay a while until your home is deemed safe for your return, Stephen. Until then, please consider my offer," Xavier smiled again and left the room, followed slowly by Entity.
"Well, follow me then, I suppose," chirped Tom, leading Stephen out of the door and back into the extensive metal corridors that made up the sub-basement. They turned left and headed straight down the hall to a set of square doors that ground open slowly to reveal an unexpected surprise.
The doors led to an elevator sized room, but more unusual then that was it's decoration. The floor was made up of black and white tiles that one might find in a kitchen. A dark oak panelling covered half of each wall and above them were deep green walls that seemed that they belonged to an old Victorian mansion rather then a high-tech mutant school.
"Are you getting in or not," asked Tom, looking at Stephen with a confused expression, "Oh, right... you'll see why the elevator's different from the rest of this place once you ride it to the top."
"Ooookay...," mumbled Steve, stepping onto the tiled floor, half expecting them to crack. They looked incredibly fragile.
The doors hissed shut and the pair began to move upwards in the strange little box.
"So... ," began Sub-zero, "how much did Professor X tell you?"
Stephen thought for a moment before replying, "He told me all about the X-men and about how this school helps mutants to control their powers..."
"So what'dya think?" asked Tom, smiling at him with a look of excitement.
"I think it's the coolest thing I ever heard of," Steve replied, grinning at the floor. He still felt like he was trapped in some sort of surreal dream, but he was enjoying it. If it was a dream, he hoped he wouldn't wake up for at least a little longer.
"Takes some getting used to though, huh?" Tom stated, nudging Steve slightly.
"Nah, this kinda thing happens to me all the time," joked Stephen, with a look of mock-experience.
Tom chuckled quietly before replying, "Yup..., you'll fit in just fine. We could always use another funny-guy... mind you, Iceman won't like the idea of competition."
"Haven't you been here long then?" asked Stephen, fixing Tom with a questioning glance.
"Ah...aaabout three weeks... I think," he replied, thinking hard, "You kinda loose track of time when you lead such a hectic lifestyle. I thought I had trouble getting homework done before I was an X-man."
"So how did you find your powers?" the younger boy asked, curious.
"Eeerm... kinda the same way you did. One minute I'm in school, next minute the entire corridor is frozen and I have robots chasing me across the entire fucking country...," he replied, making crude gestures with his hands the whole time he was talking.
"So how did you end up here?" Steve asked again.
"Curious guy, aren't you," he said before continuing, "Entity found me while I was hiding in an alley. We got jumped by more Sentinels (which are the mutant hunting robots by the way) and after taking out one or two he grabbed my arm and we ran some more until we reached the X-jet (that's our primary mode of transport) and then he flew me over here, to Salem Centre, New York."
"Hang on... we're in America?!" Stephen asked, eyes wide and mouth slacking slightly.
Tom smiled again as Stephen absorbed the info before continuing, "I trained up for the next few days and then I got me a place in the X-men, kicking evil ass! Of course, after my recruitment was when Xavier formed the European team..."
The younger boy looked impressed. After allowing the shock of being in another country all of a sudden sink in, he continued, "What are Entity's powers then?"
"Oh...," Tom muttered, standing in silence for a while longer before speaking, "Eeeerm... no one really knows. Something happened a while back which changed him and no one really knows the extent of his new abilities..."
At that moment, the doors slid open to reveal the underside of a large, grand oak staircase. The floor was of the same posh, wooden quality and the walls wore the same, oak panelling as the elevator walls.
"Holy...," Stephen was lost for words. The sudden contrast of the two floors was confusing, but now Stephen could recognise it as a school. Just a really posh, expensive-looking school.
"Welcome to the X-mansion," Tom said, patting Steve on the back and enjoying his reaction.
They stepped forwards, out from under the stair case and into the entrance hall. The large oak doors on the wall in front of the stairs presumably lead to the mansion's front grounds. A rich, yellowed light was being cast by the wall lamps, making the entire place seem like a home, instantly. The ticking of a clock could be heard in the distance and the dull murmur of people drifted through the halls.
Tom lead Stephen through an doorway in the wall behind them, to the left of the elevator. Stephen followed and found them standing in a small sitting room with black and white tiles covering the floor. On the wall at the far end of the room as another large door that predictably lead to the back garden.
In the middle of the room were two long sofas facing each other. On one of these sofas, a small boy sat reading a booklet titled, 'Tae Kwon Do Terminology-The Language Behind The Moves'. He had short blond hair and slightly large front teeth. His soft blue eyes scanned the pages of the booklet quickly and his thin lips mimed the words he was reading.
Tom leaned over and whispered in Stephen's ear, "That's Entity's little brother, Liam. He's the youngest one of us, only nine years old. His codename's Hex 'cuz he can control some aspects of probability. But we call him 'Mini-Magneto', because he can also manipulate magnetic fields. It's really weird... his powers are identical to two members of the Brotherhood (they're a group of mutant terrorists), but he bears no relation to them whatsoever."
"Magneto? That's the guy that covered Earth with asteroids some time back... isn't it?" asked Steve.
"Bingo... and his daughter is the 'Scarlet Witch', who can manipulate probability. Liam has both powers but like I said, he's not related to them in any way, shape or form," Tom explained.
"Isn't Magneto dead?" Steve asked, scratching the back of his head as he watched the little boy on the sofa.
Tom watched the boy for a few seconds before replying, "Nope, Old Rusty's out there somewhere... but there's been no sign of him for months."
Stephen regarded this answer with curiosity, "So does that mean he's given up?"
Tom rolled his eyes, "Pff, I doubt Magneto's ever going to give up," He turned around and pointed down the hall to his right, "Down there is the Library. Door to the left leads to the classroom and the door to the right leads to Xavier's office," he turned and pointed up the hall to his left, "Up there is just a corridor but the door on the right hand side of that corridor leads to the lounge. The door on the left hand side leads to the dining room."
Stephen nodded, noting the information as best he could.
Tom pointed to his left agin, but at a door to them, "That door leads to the kitchen." He then pointed to a closer door on his right, "That door leads to the downstairs bathroom."
Tom walked back through the doorway they had entered through and stood in front of the stair case, "Up there, you can see another elevator door but either side of that there are two smaller doors. The one on the left leads to Xavier's room, the one on the right leads to the cupboards. If you follow me, I'll take you to your room."
They went quickly up the stairs and down the corridor on the left. Five doors down they reached Stephen's temporary dormitory and they both entered.
"This will be you're room if you decide to stay. Feel free to wander round but be careful if you go into the sub-basement. My room's a couple of doors up from here. If you go in, I'll kill you Also, various students will be wandering around and you're new here so they won't be expecting a blue fuzzy kid to pop round a corner at them. Don't get all emotional in you get screamed at and ran away from," Tom explained dryly before waving his hand and closing the door behind him.
Stephen stood in the middle of the room. It was a fair size and very homely. He wandered over to the bed and laid down, closing his eyes and thinking the day through, from it's unusual start to it's even stranger middle... but it was far from over yet.
This chapter probably isn't as good as it could have been, but hey, I'm tired...
Once again, I own the characters that you don't see in the Marvel Universe but ask my permission first and I'd be happy to let you use them. Stay tuned for the next chapter, unless you're really bored already.