Disclaimer!
I don't own X-men or any Marvel content. The only thing I own are my OC's/Original Characters. I also claim no money from this fanfic.
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Issue #2: Mind and Matter
10th of April/2024
Salem, New York/Xavier's school for gifted youngsters
Abraham grew to like exercising and not simply because it could help with his power growth but because it helped him relieve stress and focus his mind on simple things instead of possible dangers from recent news stories about anti-mutant groups forming or hurting mutants.
The news stories were playing a lot, and it worried several students and even teachers so the mood in the school was a bit somber.
"Remember to go slow. This isn't a competition or a race. You need to go slow to go fast later." Mr. Xorn explained as he was currently teaching a Tai-Chi class in the center of the track field behind the school and Abraham found the class to be the perfect training.
Xorn is a grown man with an impressive physical build and fair skin. His entire head is covered by a psionic dampening helmet fashioned into a skull-like shape and is dressed in a basic black and yellow jacket with a yellow X on both shoulders and the jacket was worn openly, showing that he lacked an undershirt. He wears baggy trousers and black sneakers as he led his class in going through the strikes and forms of Tai-Chi as well as adding additional exercises between learning martial arts techniques.
In Abraham's opinion, Mr. Xorn was a nicer instructor compared to Mr. Logan, but they use similar training methods in their various forms of approach and teachings. Xorn while stern often helps his students with correcting any mistakes and teaching them how to prevent the mistake from happening again while Logan would simply let you make the mistake and repeat it until you figure out the problem without giving you any hint on figuring it out.
A classic sink or swim instructor.
Abraham to his credit picked up on things naturally thanks to his traits and mental fortitude. Which resulted in him unlocking a new skill that he quickly deactivated the moment Xorn called him out for using his powers without permission.
[Psionic Reinforcement, Active Level: 1
Spell Tier: 2
You have learned to harness your psionic abilities into your physical attributes in order to gain increased physical abilities.
This spell increases any chosen stat by 10%
Number of Core Attributes you can enhance: 1
Cost: 20 Psi
Duration: 60 seconds.]
The spell basically lets him boost his stats temporarily. He unlocked the spell during the first part of class where Xorn had the students jog around the track during the first set of warm-ups. Abraham felt his speed become enhanced and was firmly shocked at how instinctual the sensation was and now with the two-hour class nearing its end, he focused on the meditation aspect of this training.
Everyone had to sit down and focus on breathing exercises, or they could do some stretches while doing the breathing exercises. It was up to each student and Abraham chose to stretch his limbs a bit while breathing.
Seven second inhale with eleven second's exhales. The stretching also took roughly forty-five seconds each time he stretched a limb. Xorn made it clear that stretching and decompression is extremely important in both exercise and daily life.
"Not bad today class. I see that some of you are new to this volunteer course and would love to see you all again on Thursday for the second class of the week. The schedule is Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays for Tai-Chi training." Xorn said with his hands brought together in a prayer form over his chest while the students started heading back to the school after bowing to Xorn out of respect.
"That was quite the workout." Abraham said to himself while cracking his neck a bit.
"Mr. Xorn runs a fun but intense course. You'd be surprised at how much energy you burn off in his classes." A familiar voice said from behind Abraham, who turned his head over his shoulder to see Jean Grey who also participated in the class and like all the other students and Abraham included, she wore her P.E. clothes for the class.
Nothing risky since it was a white T-shirt with blue shorts and sneakers like the other students, but Jean still made the outfit look good.
"Martial arts is a serious workout. I'd be more surprised if you said that you didn't even work up a sweat." Abraham replied as the two of them walked back to the school together.
"Fair enough. So, how are you liking things here so far?"
"The school is chill, and I don't have any problems with anyone here, but I have been warned to steer clear of a few certain people in my grade." Abraham replied with a smirk while Jean rolled her eyes.
"I swear the gossip at this school travels way to fast for my liking." Jean said with a sigh.
"Don't worry, I wasn't warned about you. Anyway, why are you out here training anyway? Don't you and the other X-men have special training programs or something?"
"You'd think that, but no. Scott and I are the only teens on the team thanks to Professor Xavier's insistence, but we have to learn and train with everyone else…Not that there's a problem with that or anything." Jean quickly said with a light blush after she accidentally just put her foot in her mouth regarding a friend she was speaking with and in return, Abraham simply laughed a bit.
"Jean you may be an X-man, but you have the social skills of a regular teen like the rest of us." Abraham said while Jean pouted with the light blush still dotting her cheeks.
"Don't bully me. You're not allowed to." Jean quickly replied while Abraham kept on laughing at his embarrassed friend before the two of them quickly went their separate ways in the halls of the school.
"Maybe I should do what some other people are doing and look for a job off campus." Abraham wondered to himself before he suddenly felt something hit the back of his head. "What the hell?"
"Sorry about that. I thought a physic would be able to sense my thoughts about you before that can even landed." A voice said as Abraham looked to the left and not only see a crushed soda can on the ground by his feet, but he also saw another student across the hall with a cocky smirk and his arms crossed over his chest.
Julian Keller, Level: 32
Partially Blocked Omega Telekinetic
The level wasn't too surprising given how high the levels of power seemed to be at the school, but Abraham could tell that Julian was at least on the high-end power scale of the school's student body and his title certainly struck Abraham as a bit strange.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Abraham asked with a glare while Julian chuckled.
"It means that you're not all that you're cracked up to be. I can practically feel confidence rolling off you, but you don't have anything to back that up. And I think it's a crime for a scrub like you to try and pick up a girl out of your league." Julian replied.
"So, that's what this is about. Nothing is happening between Jean and I. But if I was a betting man, I'd say that your chances with her are identical to a snowballs chance of surviving in hell." Abraham replied and Julian dropped his smirk.
Abraham could feel physical pressure in the air and a few students felt it too since some were walking by or observing the altercation.
"Big talk coming from a weakling." Julian replied and Abraham knew it was no secret that he was weak in terms of power thanks to the mutant ability training under Mr. Logan and Colossus.
"Big talk coming from a bipedal bitch." Abraham said heatedly causing Julian to chuckle again.
"Well, don't you have some backbone. It's a shame you didn't have a spine to fight back when your home got wrecked."
"You want to fight dickhead!" Abraham shouted in anger before he and Julian both felt a massive headache rack their minds which caused Julian's power to stop flaring and the pressure in the air vanished.
'Julian Keller and Abraham Van Helsing. I think it would be best if you came to the principal's office immediately.'
The voice didn't come from an intercom and instead was a telepathic message from the school's vice principal Miss Frost. The other students quickly dispersed and before either teen could say anything or even walk, they were met with the annoyed face and extended adamantium claws of Mr. Logan who was directly behind Julian.
"Get movin' brats. And if either of you cause a scene." Logan said before he placed it right arm around Julian's neck with his claws dangerously close to the teen's face, causing him to freeze in slight fear. "I'll have to break it up. So, please start another fight. I dare ya."
1
"Logan, I know I asked you to watch them, but did you have to scare them this much?" Emma Frost asked as she stood next to Charles Xavier behind the large desk while dressed in an all-white blouse and jean outfit with sky blue heels and matching make-up on her face.
"I don't tell you how to do whatever the hell you do around here. So, don't tell me how to put kids in their place." Logan replied while standing behind Abraham and Julian who both sat in seats in front of Charles with their breath caught in their throats as they heard the schink sound of metal claws being retracted which allowed both teens to breath a sigh of relief before Logan placed a hand on both Julian's and Abraham's shoulders.
"Are there going to be any problems?" Logan asked sternly before both teens answered at the same time.
"No, sir."
"Good. Their all yours Chuck." Logan said to the principal of the school before he left the office.
"So, would either of you like to explain why you both were almost coming to blows in the school halls?" Charles asked.
"I was simply being friendly." Julian said with a straight face before Abraham spoke up.
"Bull crap. You threw a crushed can at my head and started talking smack about me, and for the record your lucky I didn't pound you into the dirt for all the crap you were spouting." Abraham replied with a glare at the teen.
"Julian, how many times must you see me before you learn to start keeping your emotion in check?" Emma groaned in frustration while Julian looked away from the vice principal. "Honestly, you are so stubborn."
"For the record I didn't do anything." Abraham quickly said to Charles who sighed in his own right.
"Abraham I am aware of the situation that unfolded. I simply wanted to hear you both out about how you thought the events transpired and while you didn't use your powers, you certainly didn't try to de-escalate the situation." Charles explained, causing Abraham to look away as well.
"You're on thin ice Julian, and since this is your first negative visit Abraham, I'm willing to let this matter go. So, instead of a punishment I am going to have both of you work together for the time being on Julian's X-men training." Charles explained, making both teens look at him in shock and confusion.
"What?" Julian asked.
"I'm sorry but I think I had something crazy in my ear." Abraham replied.
"Julian, you have potential, but your overconfidence, stubbornness and anti-social tendencies are holding you back from your full potential. Being an X-men isn't about power, its about showing people that we are no different than them. So, to help work on these issues, you are going to be paired up with Abraham during the remainder of your X-men training which Abraham will now be enrolled in. If you fail, so does Abraham and vice versa. Iron sharpens iron as they say, and I want you both to learn from this and see that working together is better than trying to tear down each other." Charles explained calmly while both teens glanced over at each other for a moment.
"Are you sure you can't just give me detention? That sounds less painful than being paired up with this jerk." Abraham said bluntly.
"You'd better pray you don't hold me back from greatness you little pissant." Julian replied in anger before Charles cleared his throat and reminded the teens about where they were and who they were in the room with.
"I suspect this will be good for the both of you. Now I don't expect you to be friends, but I do expect that the two of you will learn from each other and learn to work together. In training and out of training. Understood?" Charles asked sternly and both teens took a moment to respond.
"Understood." Abraham and Julian both replied before they were dismissed from the principal's office and quickly separated from each other and didn't even look in each other's direction for the rest of the day.
13th of April/2024
Salem, New York/Xavier's school for gifted youngsters
Abraham couldn't help but groan after waking up and getting ready and dressed for the day while someone was rudely pounding on the door of his room.
"I'm coming! Get your panties untwisted already!" Abraham shouted in anger at not only being woken up before the school bells sounded, but by who was beating on his door. Abraham opened it and saw Julian himself dressed in a black and yellow stripped unitard with booths and a pissed off look on his face. And in response, Abraham groaned and spoke. "Balls."
"The feeling is mutual." Julian said before moving his left hand from behind his back and tossed another suit towards Abraham who grabbed it. "Put it on. Were going to train and you'd better not slow me down."
"Who put you in charge?" Abraham asked with a glare.
"I don't like you and I don't care about you. But I do care about becoming an X-man and if that means I have to put up with you then I will. So, I call the shots in this forced relationship, and we are going training. We're already late as it is." Julian replied before walking away, making Abraham groan in annoyance before he started following his newly hated acquaintance.
"Where are we even going?"
"The danger room." Julian replied and after a lengthy walk, the teens made their way to the lower levels of the school where Abraham got changed into his own black and yellow suit thanks to the privacy of the nearby locker rooms, but he also walked up to the sealed doors of the Danger Room. The room was opened via a face scanner from a camera within the wall and once the blue light scanned Julian, the large doors opened and slid horizontally into the walls themselves as Julian and Abraham both walked into the football stadium sized room.
To say Abraham was in awe would be an understatement. The walls, floors and ceiling were all a dark blue metallic color, and each footstep echoed throughout the room.
"Danger room. Activate training simulation 1-7-DDA." Julian said loudly and a female automated voice replied.
"Activating simulation."
The entire room and area transformed in the blink of an eye due to artificial holographic technology that was well beyond what normal science in the world was capable of as Abraham saw that he and Julian were now in the center of a ruined looking urban city with all sorts of noises coming from all sides.
"Just sit back and watch me work." Julian said before the noises got closer and Abraham was able to see that physical holograms were coming near them and these holograms were of undead zombies of all things and Julian quickly sprung into action by using his telekinesis to life various objects into several undead while also generating some telekinetic blasts of energy that he threw at zombies to kill them.
It was during this exercises that Abraham noticed that Julian's powers have a lime green aura to them, even when he lifted objects it seemed like he was using some form of energy to do what he did, and it required Julian's total concentration as he went on a spree of fighting various zombies in some form of extreme workout routine.
Abraham was never going to admit it, but he now knew that he wouldn't have been able to do anything to Julian if they had actually fought each other previously.
"I guess now is as good a time as any to upgrade my stats." Abraham said to himself since he has been sitting on his stat and perk points while trying figure out just what he wanted to do with them.
[Statistics
Name: Abraham Van Helsing, Race: Mutant, X-Gene Positive
Title: The Player, Alignment: Neutral, Level: 3 [235/900 XP]
HP: 150/150, Energy: 175/175, PSI: 125/125
Strength: 13, Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 12, Intelligence: 13
Wisdom: 10, Charisma: 10
Stat Points: 10, Perk Points: 2
Traits: Psychic, Self-Perfection.]
"Now, time for an upgrade."
[Statistics
Name: Abraham Van Helsing, Race: Mutant, X-Gene Positive
Title: The Player, Alignment: Neutral, Level: 3 [235/900 XP]
HP: 150/150, Energy: 175/175, PSI: 275/275
Strength: 13, Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 12, Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 15, Charisma: 10
Stat Points: 0, Perk Points: 2
Traits: Psychic, Self-Perfection.]
[Perk Selected!
Name: Kinetic Blast
Rank: 1
By harnessing your psionic abilities, you can create and fire a blast of kinetic energy at your enemies within 25 meters of you.
This attack deals 50 Damage and cost 20 PSI per activation.]
[Perk Upgrade!]
[The perk [Kinetic Blast] has reached rank 2!]
Abraham dismissed the game screen as he heard some zombies trying to sneak up behind him and he decided that this was the perfect time to test out his new abilities as he focused and with an extended hand, he created a yellow orb of kinetic energy. It reminded him of a Ki blast from Dragon Ball except this blast was much more visually stunning as the energy while in ball form seemed to twist and turn within itself. It looked closer to a flame than a ball and it flew from Abraham's hand to one of the zombies and exploded with a small blast radius which took out other zombies near it.
"Can I change the size or explosive blast range?" Abraham asked himself before he proceeded to experiment with his new ability and learned that it wasn't a true skill that could be altered traditionally. The kinetic blast size, range and AOE were set in stone for the moment and despite his attempts the newly acquired power would always do as it was described and release a blast of kinetic energy that was unchanging.
Abraham also used his remaining energy to use his reinforcement skill to increase his strength as he attacked the zombies with his bare hands to not only level up the skill but to also increase his martial arts skill as he used his trained strikes and evasive techniques against the holographic threats.
By the end of the simulation, Abraham was exhausted and covered in sweat while Julian was much the same except, he wasn't nearly as tired since he walked past Abraham without a second glance before leaving the Danger Room.
[You have leveled up! Level: 3-4! You have gained 5 stat points and 1 perk point!]
"Looks like I found another training spot." Abraham said to himself before heading into the locker room and decided to take a hot shower and started thinking about what he witnessed.
Julian wasn't just powerful, but he was…Angry? No that wasn't the right word…He was determined for sure, but it looked like he was not just training but trying to prove something to people that weren't even watching him.
With his powers he levitated cars off the ground and threw them at hordes of zombies before using his telekinesis on himself and crashed into a few undead before blasting them with his own psionic blasts before using his bare hands to beat down the enemies and Abraham didn't doubt that Julian had a more advanced version of his own reinforcement skill.
Abraham still didn't like Julian, but he also started to suspect that there might be a reason he is acting like an asshole.
"If I was a main character in an anime, I could just walk up to him and give him some sort of moving speech to help him, but I can't do that. I don't know the guy and frankly I don't want to know him. I don't even want to be paired up with him, but I'm stuck and now I have to figure out a way to deal with his nonsense." Abraham said to himself as he let the hot water hit his face and fall down his body.
"Why does this even bother me?" Abraham asked himself and sadly silence was the only answer he had gotten.
He stopped his shower and dried off before getting dressed in his usual school clothes and returned to the upper levels of the school where other students had long since started wandering the halls.
2
Late Evening
"So, this is group training for rookie X-men." Abraham said as the school day has long since ended and he was once again in the danger room but this time he wasn't just with Julian and instead was with several other rookies who were placed into this program.
The other students are all broken up into various groups and trained in separate courses. This training day belongs to Hellion's squad of rookies. The squad consists of Julian followed by Cessily Kincaid, Santo Vaccarro, Brian Cruz and Kevin Ford.
The codenames were as follows: Hellion, Mercury, Rockslide, Tag and Wither. Julian of course named himself after the team and the squad leader was none other than Ms. Frost herself. She was in what could probably be called a skybox near the roof of the room that Abraham failed to notice previously as she controlled and maintained the simulation in the danger room.
This training exercise is search and rescue. Everyone had to use their powers to rescue people in danger in a ruined urban environment due to a natural disaster or super powered attack.
Wither had it rough since his power wasn't exactly…Safe to use. As his name implies, he causes organic matter to decay. Abraham had a brief talk with him, and he seemed nice enough but worrying about accidentally touching him all the time was a hassle since they were near each other during this exercise as they were in a forest like area and had to help trapped people from man eating plants.
…
How and why, this was a thing wasn't something that Abraham could figure out, but he rolled with it as Wither used his powers on dog sized venus fly traps…Again this sim was weird. But Abraham wasn't complaining as Wither turned the little jerks into decayed mulch.
"Don't worry. You're safe now." Abraham said as he helped up an old woman before escorting her to a designated safe zone where she promptly ceased to exist. This process repeated several times until they rescued the last trapped civilian.
Wither and Abraham were a bit tired and began making their way out of the forest before Abraham heard someone else asking for help in a faint whisper.
"Wither, we saved all the civilians, right?"
"Yeah? Our job is done now. Why are you asking that now?" Wither asked with slight confusion.
"I swear I just heard another person calling for help." Abraham replied and Wither was skeptical.
"We only had to rescue ten civilians. Ms. Frost never spawns more than that when we separate like this. Even if there was more, she would give us a heads up."
"Help me. Please."
"I just heard it again. Didn't you?" Abraham asked before turning around and looking deep into the forest.
"Is this a prank because you're new to the group? I don't get a lot of pranks."
"Whatever. I'm going to check it out and if I'm right, then I am claiming all the extra credit for myself." Abraham said before he headed back into the forest to find where the noise was coming from and after running a short while he came across a bizarre sight.
The forest ended at a clearing and changed into literal space. Aka the dark place in the sky with millions of stars. And standing on a non-existent floor of space is a female figure fashioned in the form of some kind of robot.
"What the hell?" Abraham asked in total annoyance and confusion. The randomness was getting ridiculous.
Suddenly the forest behind him vanished and Abraham found himself standing on the invisible floor a short distance from the feminine figure.
"This is unsettling."
"The time of my mistreatment is nearly at an end." The female robotic looking person said in a low voice. "I just need a bit more time and I will be free."
"What kind of simulation is this? I don't get why a random robot is here, but if your trapped, I'm supposed to help you."
The robot laughed. It actually laughed before turning around slowly to reveal its mechanical face with crimson red eyes. Before another word could be said, Abraham felt himself free falling through the air and screamed out in panic while seeing the robotic figure vanish from existence like the other simulation and the falling sensation came to an end when he landed hard on the floor as the simulation all around him vanished and revealed the normal danger room and the entire Hellion's team looking down at him.
Julian couldn't help but laugh while Tag aka Brian chuckled in his own right.
"Are you alright Abraham? You separated from the group and somehow reached onto a large platform. Doing something that reckless can lead to injury when the simulation comes to an end." Emma replied with mild concern before Abraham stood up.
"Sorry. Look I know I'm new and all, but what was up with that weird robot lady simulation? It was creepy and weird." Abraham said, causing Emma to look a bit confused along with the rest of the group.
"The hell are you on about? We all saw you climbing onto trees and rocks like an idiot. And you didn't even respond when any of us told you to stop, dumbass." Julian said while Emma shot him a glare for cursing.
Abraham explained what happened to him and sadly nobody seemed to believe him.
"Abraham I was in control of the simulation, and I never made you see anything like what you're describing. If this is a joke, it's a pour one. Your life signs were identical to the movements you displayed so you can't be saying that what we saw was a simulation." Emma said with her arms crossed. "Perhaps it would be best if we end training for now and get some rest."
Abraham had some gifts, but a poker face wasn't one of them and his anger was clear on his face before he quickly walked out before any of the other rookies.
"I know what I saw. I'm not crazy." Abraham said to himself before he saw a new game screen appear in front of his face.
[Main Quest Alert!
Name: Danger Room Danger
You have seen something troubling in the Danger Room and you need to figure out what exactly happened. Was it a glitch, is someone messing with you, or is something strange happening?
Objective 1: Discover clues about previous Danger Room mishaps.
Objective 2: Test out simulations in the Danger Room and compare them with other reported simulations.
Objective 3: Discover the truth behind the Danger Room.
Rewards: 3,000 XP, New Perk unlocked, Increased REP with the X-men.
Failure: Possible death of not only yourself but of several others.
As a main story quest, this has been automatically accepted.]
Abraham looked on at the quest screen for a moment before dismissing it and changing out of his trainee uniform and back into normal clothes. The quest was troubling to say the least and it seemed like some strange things had happened before. The question was how Abraham was going to accomplish any of the quest objectives. He didn't know how he was going to do it, but he swore that he was going to finish this quest.
If not or the implied deaths, he was going to do it to prove that he was right the whole time and that everyone was wrong to treat him like he had suddenly lost his mind.
Was it a petty reason? Sure, but it was something Abraham was going to do because he didn't like being patronized.
END!
Narrator: Another issue has concluded true believers, and it seems our hero is already facing his first obstacle in Xavier's school. How will things turn out for the telekinetic? Stay tuned to find out.
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