We Are One
The night turned to the early hours of the morning and there was still no apparent change in Matthew's condition. Jean had left to find Cyclops, seeking some comfort against the depression she felt. As the sun rose into the sky, illuminating the estate grounds in it's golden light, Jessica walked into the sub-basement and settled down next to Matt's body.
Her face bore a look of sympathy, and she tried to smile as she spoke. That was all she did. She spoke. She spoke about how the others were, and how upset Liam was and how he hoped his brother would recover soon. She spoke about nothing in particular, but just said things, as if speaking to him was how she felt she was able to help.
Hours passed. The early morning matured into a bright new day. There were no clouds in the sky and the sun was a glowing ball of yellow light in the sapphire skies. Jess had fallen asleep, her head resting against Entity's chest, gently muttering in her doze.
Entity jolted awake, gasping for air and staring around in shock. Colours danced in front of his eyes and for seconds he had no idea who he was. Shapes slurred across his vision and unusual sounds seemed to be careering through his brain.
It was when Entity yelled in pain that Jess bolted upright, staring immediately into his smooth, white eyes. His entire body was in pain. It felt as if his own skin was attacking his insides and crushing him.
"Matt? What's wrong?" Jess asked, beginning to panic as Entity arched his back and yelled again, writhing uncomfortably, as if he were being attacked viciously from all angles.
"It... burning!... it hurts!" he managed, collapsing back into the bed, still aching but the pain seemed to have sub-sided. It was this time that the panic took over fully.
"That's the symbiote...," she explained, stroking his shoulder softly, trying to soothe him, but her eyes still held a look of sympathetic worry.
"I know... It'll take time to get... used to it...," he struggled, dragging himself up into a sitting position, despite the angry protest he was receiving from his arms.
"What happened? Is the Phoenix gone? Did it work?" she asked. She meant well, but for some reason, every thing she said irritated him.
"We... we reached an agreement...," he began to explain, as best he could, "It's all a bit... complicated but...I think... I don't know..."
"So-," Jess began, but Matt was forced to cut her off,
"Please... don't talk. The sound hurts," he explained, remembering something he had read about the Venom symbiote's reaction to sound.
She gave him an understanding look (obviously masking a slightly insulted expression), and left the room as quietly as she could.
"How is he?" Stephen asked, once she exited the med lab.
He looked as if he'd barely slept. His deep blue fur was ruffled and untidy, and his clothes were badly creased.
"He's definitely recovering... as for the Phoenix, I don't know," she explained, running a hand through her hair as a worried tear rolled down her cheek.
"What's wrong?" he asked her, softly, trying not to aggravate her further.
"Nothing... I'm fine. I just... y 'know, just forget it," she said, waving her hand in an indication that she wanted to be left alone.
"Sheesh... fine then," he mumbled under his breath as she stormed into the elevator.
"What happened?" Entity wondered, asking himself mentally.
His mind was clouded, unable to recall the events of the past days. One thing was definitely certain, there was something missing from his mind that seemed to lift an incredible weight from his shoulders. Despite it's obvious importance, he could not begin to remember what it was.
"The Phoenix... the Phoenix made an agreement with you. Do you not recall?" a voice explained to him.
It was a highly unusual sound, evidently not emanating from human vocal cords. It seemed to arrive in his mind, without passing through his ears at all. Never the less, the soft, hissing voice had sent flashes of memory to begin thundering through his mind.
"We were all on the verge of defeat. The Negative Phoenix allowed you to seal it away, providing you were strong enough to keep it suppressed, and that you allowed it to emerge when it is needed," the voice reminded. More images flew through his brain as he remembered the event.
"Yes... I remember... but you? What are you?" Entity asked the voice, unsure why there was still a separate consciousness within him if the Phoenix was locked away..
"We are you, now," the voice informed, a note of fact in it's tone, "We have bonded. Permanently. Without our symbiotic relationship, you will be unable to keep the Negative Phoenix within your subconscious."
"Symbiote? The Venom symbiote?" Entity asked it, unreadable emotions erupting within him.
He raised his hand to his face, examining the black substance which he now wore. The light reflected from it's glossy surface and it seemed darker then anything he had ever seen.
"Correct, but we shall not force you to assume the same name. After all, you are... unique," it stated, an odd feeling came from it that was easily recognisable as not one of Entity's emotions. It was a feeling of pride... almost excitement, mixed with (however curious) pleasure.
"When you said we were permanently bonded...," Entity began to question, but the symbiote answered,
"There is no way to reverse the process now, unless you wish to be bombarded with ultra-sonic waves to a point that the both of us are near to death. That is the only way that we may be separated, but you would be left at the mercy of the Negative Phoenix once more."
Entity did not pose any more questions for the next few minutes, allowing the information the be absorbed properly by his brain. Eventually, he began to talk once more,
"What did you mean by 'unique'?"
"Unlike previous hosts, you are capable of providing a constant supply of the resources we require. Your body is also powerful, and your mind is strong. For lack of a better word, you are the 'perfect' host," the being replied, sending images of people into Entity's mind. These people, he assumed, were previous hosts.
A feeling of immense embarrassment spread through Entity, a feeling that was instantly picked up on by his 'other'.
"You are uncomfortable?" it asked in a way that Entity was unable to identify how it felt.
"Yes... ," Entity replied, feeling both awkward and anxious.
"Why?" the symbiote questioned, the curiosity was evident.
"You're... all over me... You're in my mind and you're attached to ever single part of me... I think I'm entitled to feel a little embarrassment at a time like this," Entity replied, running his hands curiously down his chest, admiring the white spider symbol that wrapped around him but remaining apprehensive.
"Your feelings are understood. Be reassured that, as I am now part of you, I shall function as part of you. You have nothing to fear, although your mind holds many interesting things," the symbiote explained, a feeling of assurance was shared between them.
"This is so... strange...," Entity thought to himself, still examining his body with the utmost curiosity.
His muscles, though they had felt heavy and painful mere moments before, had filled with newfound strength that made him feel as though he could bound to the moon and back without a problem.
"In time you will become used to it. For now, your body needs to rest. I suggest that you drink, as you have been severely dehydrated in the time you have been unconscious," it said, pleased that it was not being rejected.
" So you're going to have to stay with me? Now that you've bonded permanently, you'll have to stay with me all the time, won't you?" Entity asked it, hanging his legs over the side of the bed, struggling to get up and travel to the nearby sink for a glass of water.
"Yes. I must remain with you until the day that one of us ceases to be," it answered, strange feelings mingled with it's voice.
"There goes any possible future relationships," Entity thought to himself, not really directing the comment at the symbiote, but it responded anyway,
"In the event that you should become involved in any physical interactions, we shall not intervene," it informed, instantly forcing another feeling of embarrassment into Entity's gut.
"I wasn't talking about that kind of... that's not what I meant," Entity replied, feeling evermore awkward.
"Sub-consciously, you were thinking along those lines. Besides, there is plenty of time for your opinions of the matter to change," it said, a tone in it's voice seemed disturbing, almost as if there was a hidden meaning in what it had said.
"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Entity asked, surprised to find that he found the matter amusing.
The feeling of amusement was shared, but the matter was soon dropped for a different subject,
"What about hygiene? It's not exactly healthy to keep the same costume on all the time," Entity asked, thinking about how he would keep clean with the symbiote still attached.
"We are not a costume. Besides, we shall keep your body clean. You will still require to bathe, but not as often as normal," the symbiote answered, still somewhat amused, "If it makes you more comfortable, we shall take a less distinctive form."
Entity watched his outfit disappear, leaving him stood there in front of the sink wearing nothing but his underwear. Entity began to examine himself once again, searching for the alien.
"Where are you?" he asked, becoming worried.
"We have entered your skin. We are able to alter shape, therefore sinking in to you was simple. This will enable you to retain your natural image," it explained, re-emerging and forming the outfit once more.
"Talk about full of surprises...," Entity thought, still running through the information in his head.
He reached for the tap and let the cold water cascade down the metallic surface of the sink. There was a cup on the work top, just along from where he was. He raised his hand, attempting to telekinetically seize it. When nothing happened on his second attempt at this, he began to worry.
He frowned and tried again, but the cup remained stationary.
"What?-," he began to wonder, still trying to lift the object and becoming more and more frustrated.
"Your psychic powers, with the exception of telepathy, have been greatly reduced. Your telekinesis alone may take months to return, and even then it may only be enough to lift small objects," the symbiote explained, to the utter disbelief of the young man.
He collapsed to his knees, still staring at the cup, but you wouldn't be able to tell from looking at him, due to the white, triangular patches that covered his eyes.
"But... those powers... that's not fair! They were mine! They didn't belong to the Phoenix, the belonged to me! Why did it take them!?" he complained, anger beginning to light within him, burning away at his brain and forcing him to hammer his fist into the cupboard to his side.
The metal door of the cupboard seemed to offer no resistance, and split under the force of the punch. Entity's fist tore a hole in the metal but he felt no pain, although his anger sub-sided, replaced by slight amazement.
"Your other power is intact. You are still able to metamorphose into a Dragon," the symbiote explained, before continuing, " You will gain more abilities, but before utilising them, you must rest."
Without another word, or thought, Entity picked himself up from the ground and walked over to the bed, lying down heavily, still angry but also curious as to what he could do now. His psychic powers were gone, why was he worrying? Didn't that mean he could be himself now? Didn't that mean he no longer had to worry about expressing emotion? His mind was still racing when his eyes closed, and slowed down as he drifted off into an unusual slumber, no longer plagued by the planet's agony. The voices, the thoughts, the feelings, had been silence.
He was free.
At last.