A Glimpse In To The Darkness
Stephen awoke half an hour later in a daze. The past week was a blur and at first seemed like a dream. For those few precious seconds, Steve thought that he was a perfectly normal human being. It was only after he ran his hand through his hair discovered his face was covered in it that he snapped back to harsh reality.
With a sigh, he sat up and looked over at the silver clock on the bedside table. He's been asleep for just over thirty minutes. Rubbing his eyes, he lifted himself from the bed and stretched, groaning as his back clicked. He stood there for half a second, wandering what to do before deciding to wander over to the window and take a look at the grounds.
Through the thick glass of his window, a well-kept green garden seemed to go on for miles. There were brilliant colours in the flower beds that ran the perimeter of the lawn and archways made from coloured vines created entrances to the front and back gardens (what Steve was seeing now was the side garden).
In the centre of the garden Stephen observed was a large, pale, concrete circle with two stone benches in it's centre. On one of these benches sat a student, dressed in dark clothing, reading peacefully. Stephen looked closer, his eyes focussed on the student's face. Even at this range he could tell by the blank expression that this student was Entity.
An impossibly fast flicker of movement caused Steve to frown in confusion. He stared at the mysterious boy, searching his brain for an explanation. Surely it hadn't been what it had looked like? Was it? For that split second, Was that a tail?
It was then that he realised that Entity was looking directly at him, as if Steve had opened the window and yelled his name, except his expression was that of slight annoyance and not the questioning gaze one would receive if they called someone from a first story window.
Stephen jolted away from the window and shivered. He still found the guy disturbing.
Xavier's words ran through Stephen's head once again,
"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."
Stephen glanced quickly out of the window once more and wasn't very surprised to find Entity was still staring at him. He backed away and headed for the door, closing it behind him quietly. He looked up and down the hall, half expecting to be run over as if he were crossing a road. Seeing no-one, he walked quickly down the hall towards the stairs, peeking over the banister to make sure the coast was clear.
A woman with long red hair and bright green eyes was talking to a man wearing strange red sunglasses. She seemed to be explaining something to him with a look of concern. It was a fully three minutes before they walked in the direction of what Stephen remembered to be the library. As soon as they left, he bolted down the stairs and ran for the front door, stopping before he reached the sitting room in order to check for any more people.
A man with a long brown trench coat and a metal staff in his gloved hand was talking to a rather defiant looking woman with brown and white hair. Luckily, they were at the end of a corridor so Stephen's journey past them was easy.
'BAMF!'
All of a sudden he found himself in front of the doors, but couldn't remember how he got there. He was sure he hadn't walked...
"Kurt? That you, Suga?" called a female voice with a heavy southern accent.
Panicking, Steve opened the door and hopped through it before they could get to him, slamming it behind him.
"This is crazy...," he mumbled to himself.
"Hey there! You the new guy?" asked a young, female voice from behind him.
"WAH!" he gasped, whipping round to find a girl (a few years older then him, by the looks of it) wearing a yellow coat and pink blast goggles. Her short black hair spiked up in many directions and she extended a blue-gloved hand in an attempt at a formal greeting.
"My name's Jubilee. What's your-?" but before she could finish, a loud 'BAMF!' split the air and Stephen found himself at the other end of the garden, near the side garden's entrance.
Choosing to ignore the little incident, putting it to the back of his mind so that he had something to think about later, Stephen walked calmly into the side lawn and made his way up the path towards the stone benches where Entity still sat, patiently.
Steve wandered over to the bench opposite and sat down carefully, not disturbing Entity's reading until he decided to attempt a conversation, "Hi."
Entity sat silent, his eyes racing down the page he was on with spectacular speed. He was obviously a very fast reader. Steve examined the book's cover. The book Matthew was reading, titled 'Eragon', was one that Stephen had read quite a few times. Determined to find out more about Entity, Steve decided to use this to base a conversation on.
"That's a good book," he commented, indicating with his finger at the title.
Entity remained quiet. Flicking the page over and beginning to read on.
"Not one for conversation then?" Stephen asked, shrugging.
Another awkward silence followed, broken only by the sound of birds in the distance and a faint murmur from within the school.
"Correct," a voice sounded in his head after what seemed like minutes.
Stephen froze, staring wide eyed at the boy in front of him, not sure what to say next. Entity had fixed him with a blank, but piercing gaze.
"You're telepathic...," Stephen concluded finally, slowly melting out of his sudden shock.
Entity gave him an informative look before replying, "Yes."
"That's how you knew I was looking at you?" asked Steve, nodding towards his window.
"I over heard your mind. I apologise for intruding," he replied dryly, returning his attention to his book.
"S'okay," Steve said quietly, not really caring, "So, you're an Eragon fan?"
"I would hardly define myself as being a 'fan' of Eragon. I've read a great deal of books over time and I find that the books written by Christopher Paolini are a good example of the 'Fantasy' category," Entity explained, not removing his attention from the text.
"Oh really?" began Steve, smirking slightly, "Who's your favourite character?"
Entity seemed to reply without thinking, "Saphira-"
"Aha! So it's not just a good example of fantasy!" Steve exclaimed, grinning.
Entity fixed him with an incredibly dark look. For no apparent reason, a flowerpot next to Stephen's bench violently exploded in a shower of soil and ceramic, "If you're talking to me for any reason at all, hurry up and make your point, then leave."
Stephen seemed a little taken aback by Matthew's sudden hostility, "Sorry... I didn't mean to offend you..."
"You didn't offend me, you're just getting on my nerves," he replied, flicking over the page in his book.
Stephen took a moment to regret even coming outside before he continued, "I came to ask what your abilities are."
Entity did not look up, but simply murmured, "It's a long story."
"I've got time," replied Stephen, sitting back in the stone bench and folding his arms neatly.
"I don't," came the reply.
"Who does?" asked Stephen, shrugging again.
"If you're looking for answers, try the X-men biographies. They're stored on Beast's computer in the Science laboratory," Entity suggested, closing his book and standing up.
"What if Beast's busy?" called Stephen.
"Then wait," Entity called back, disappearing around the corner.
Ten minutes later, after avoiding as many people as he could, Stephen found himself in the mansion's sub-basement. More specifically, he found himself inside Beast's Lab and at his computer terminal.
He muttered to himself quietly as he browsed the computer's memory, "Entity... Entity... where are you? Jees, you try finding out who you're around and the computer's deny you access... AH! There we go!"
Steve opened a page containing masses of text and, scrolling down, found a section titled 'Entity'. A message at the side of the page suggested that the reader ought to follow the link and read up about a subject known as 'The Phoenix Force.' Stephen Followed the link and read, unsure of what to think as he absorbed the info. However, Stephen had a knack for understanding and remembering scraps of information that later became important so he skim read, picking up on many important facts. When he had finished, he returned to Entity's bio and began to read.
'A mysterious student with a dark and questionable past, sealed expertly away within the depths of his mind where not even Professor Xavier himself could reach. All that is known is what you will find here.
Section One
We know so far (Based upon sessions of hypnosis between Xavier and Entity) that upon the creation of the Phoenix Force in our reality, a negative incarnation of the force was created in reality's attempt to 'balance the equation'. This version, feared for it's potential, was quickly fought and then contained. After centuries of captivity, the force somehow broke free and escaped the entire dimension, beginning a search for it's Positive Incarnation in an attempt to heal itself from the damage it had sustained.
Meanwhile, it's Positive Incarnation (After bonding permanently with Jean Grey) was turned evil due to corruption of it's human vessel. This change forced the Negative Phoenix Force to alter itself and become a force of Good rather then Evil. Later, after The Positive Incarnation was reverted back to it's original self, both incarnations of the Phoenix Force entered a state of Flux. Both incarnations would constantly alternate between being good or evil. Wether the forces manifested themselves or not was based entirely on the human host.
Section Two
During the time of Entity's powers' early development and sub-sequential in-stability, the negative incarnation of the Phoenix Force had entered our galaxy and detected the activation of psychic abilities capable of sustaining it. It located Entity and bonded immediately in order to repair itself after crossing through dimensions, space and time.
Seeking help, Entity's online searches led him to the Xavier Institute for higher Learning where he developed control over the dormant, but awakening, Phoenix. Similar to the X-man Jean Grey, whenever Entity over exerted himself, or when under severe emotional pressure, the Phoenix's powers manifested themselves and he became an unstable being of incomprehensible power.
Because of the Negative Phoenix, Entity is forced to keep his emotions under strict control. If he were to unleash his anger, the Negative Phoenix would force Entity to assume the personality of the Dark Phoenix and the entire universe would be placed in extreme danger.
His control over his emotions has improved over time, but he is constantly involved in a fierce mental battle for dominance with the Negative Phoenix.
Section Three
Un-known to anyone, the intervention of the Negative Phoenix on the day Entity's powers first emerged had delayed a second ability. This ability has not yet emerged and is therefore unknown, but blood sampling and DNA tests have confirmed the presence of a secondary ability.
Stephen read with a look of both fascination and an apologetic sorrow.
"That's why he'd been so blunt and emotionless... his powers are coupled with his emotions," he thought, as the doors to the lab opened and the X-man known as Beast entered.
"Stephen? It's nice to see you've taken an interest in the mansion's extensive facilities. May I ask what information you are browsing through currently?" he asked, placing a number of documents on his desk.
"Hey Mr Mcoy. I was just reading up about Entity... He seems to have a bit of a schizophrenia problem..," replied the boy, closing the computer down.
"Hmmm... Quite," replied Beast, rather bluntly.
Stephen frowned and thought for a while before speaking again, "So basically, from what I've read, Entity's emotions are strongly attached to his powers... so if he loses control, he turns evil?"
"You understand correct. Entity's abilities are what we in the mutagenic field refer to as 'emotionally derived'. The power from a simple emotion can manifest it's self as energy, or a mutant ability in certain cases. Entity's powers are dangerously off the scale, therefore a lapse in emotional control could result in disaster," Beast explained, filing the documents in a small silver cabinet in the corner of the room.
"What do you mean by 'off the scale'?" asked Stephen, standing up and hooking his thumbs into his pockets.
"Well," he began, closing the drawer of the cabinet and starting to clear space at a workbench that was cluttered with bottles, chemicals and other scientific items, "Mutants have power scales. These power scales are based upon their mutant class. You know about the scaling process?"
"Yes," replied Stephen, nodding his head, "Levels one to five. Level ones are common but the higher up the classes you go, the less mutants there are of those classes. Class five being the rarest."
"Jean Grey and Entity are the only two known class five mutants on the planet. Anyway, each mutant class has a power scale from one to twenty. Class one has a power scale of one to twenty, class two has a power scale of one to twenty and so on and so forth. All of these classes combined give us a total range of one to one hundred. Both Entity and Jean's power levels are over twenty, meaning their score our of the total one hundred would be over the limit..." Beast explained with numerous glances over his shoulder as he packed the flasks and chemicals away.
Stephen regarded the information with a mixture of both shock, and fear.
"What, exactly, is he capable of?" Stephen asked, slowly, as if afraid of being heard.
Beast finished packing the items away and turned to face Stephen. He folded his arms and assumed a serious expression before explaining, "His known powers...," he paused, searching his brain for the right way to say it, "The abilities that the Negative Phoenix grants him are Telekinesis, telepathy, pyrokinesis, empathy, astral projection, extra-sensory perception, clairvoyance, precognition, mastery over cosmic energy, manipulation of time-streams, manipulation of dimensions and numerous molecular based abilities. The latter of these abilities are still developing and it is known that, unless the Negative Phoenix is allowed moderate control over Entity's mind, he is unable to perform these feats."
Stephen stood in silence. He was unsure what to say or do at that moment in time, as the amazement and horror caused mixed thoughts to form inside his mind.
"He isn't the only one with abilities that amaze," Beast pointed out. Steve looked up at him with a look that asked him to continue.
"Sub-zero can lower his body temperature to a level known as Absolute Zero. At this temperature, the very molecules of a being are practically vaporised and replaced by solid ice. He hasn't been able to achieve this level yet, but training in the Danger Room has enabled me, based upon calculations, to determine the extent of his abilities," Beast explained, smiling at Steve's dizzy expression.
"I have also been monitoring you as you journeyed across the mansion grounds via teleportation," he smiled, his fangs gleaming in the light.
"Don't explain the teleporting, just in case...," Steve warned, unsure of the extent of his own powers.
"If you are as similar to Nightcrawler as you appear, you do not actually teleport. It's fascinating, really. You pass into another dimension where time moves much faster but you exit the dimension when you emerge in your next location, thus it appears you have 'teleported'," Beast went on, turning back to a small computer to begin analysing some sort of mixture.
"Yay...," murmured Stephen, half heartedly. He felt a little under impressed at his own abilities compared to the others, but the disappointment quickly disappeared, because his next question was far more important...