Marvelous Pals #58

Xavier seemed to notice my reaction and asked, "What's the matter?"

I kept my eyes on Jean Grey, watching her closely, particularly the red glow that surrounded her. I hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Am I the only one seeing this?"

Xavier's brow furrowed with genuine confusion. "Jean Grey is a powerful telepath, and her telekinesis is remarkable, but I didn't expect such a reaction from you."

I sighed, realizing Xavier had misunderstood me. "No, not her powers. They are impressive, but I'm talking about the red glow around her. Can't you see it?"

Xavier's confusion deepened as he glanced at Jean, who was still focused on her task. "Red glow? I'm afraid I can't see anything in particular," he said, his tone puzzled.

He then paused, his expression shifting to one of intrigue as if a realization was dawning on him. "Describe the red glow for me. What exactly are you seeing?"

I squinted, trying to focus on the strange phenomenon. Jean was waving her hand, causing the projectiles to begin orbiting her like small moons. "There's a red glow," I began slowly, "it seems to be coming from her head. And as she moves her hand, it channels through her arm and encases the bullets. It's like... I don't know, like a visible energy field."

Xavier's expression grew more serious as he watched Jean. "Fascinating... And you can see all of this clearly?"

"Yeah," I confirmed, my eyes still locked on Jean. "It's like I can see the energy she's using, the way it's flowing through her. It’s not just in her head; it’s like the power has a form, a... presence, almost."

Xavier didn't respond immediately. Instead, he looked deeply contemplative, his fingers steepled in front of his lips. After a few moments, he finally spoke, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.

"It seems your mutation may extend beyond mere telekinesis, Vito. Your enhanced brain may be perceiving the psychic energy or the telekinetic force in a way that the rest of us cannot. This could be a new dimension to your abilities."

"Another dimension, huh?" I muttered, feeling the weight of his words. "So, what does that mean for me?"

Xavier met my gaze, his expression calm yet thoughtful. “It means you might be attuned to psychic energies in ways we don’t fully understand yet. But that’s not the priority at this moment.” He turned his attention back to Jean Grey, who was still hovering above the ground, her focus intense. “This could greatly accelerate your learning process. Focus on Jean's performance. Try to glean as much as you can from it."

I nodded, absorbing his words. The idea of being connected to something beyond our dimension was unsettling, yet it piqued my curiosity. But I pushed that thought aside for now, narrowing my focus back on Jean.

Jean continued her demonstration, accumulating a growing number of projectiles around her, all orbiting her body with increasing speed.

The red glow I’d noticed earlier intensified, radiating from her head and flowing down her arm, encapsulating the bullets in a shimmering aura. Despite her initial nervousness, her movements were precise and controlled, a stark contrast to the anxiety I could still sense faintly beneath her composed exterior.

With a practiced swing of her arm, Jean brought all the projectiles to an abrupt halt, the sudden stillness almost startling after the flurry of motion.

Then, with a simple, fluid wave of her hand, she sent the captured projectiles shooting across the range.

Each one hit its mark with pinpoint accuracy, striking the bullseyes on the mannequins' heads and chests. The mannequins flickered, dissolving into yellow light, one after the other, until the room was clear.

As she descended back to the ground, I could see the shift in her demeanor. The satisfaction and confidence that now colored her face were unmistakable, a far cry from the tentative smile she’d worn earlier.

It was clear that the demonstration had gone exactly as she’d hoped.

Jean headed back toward us, her steps lighter, more assured. As she approached, I turned to Xavier. “So, is it my turn now?”

Xavier nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Indeed. We’ll start with something simpler, but it’s time for you to step into the range.”

I didn’t say anything, just gave a nod and started walking toward the range. As I passed Jean, I offered her a smile. “Thanks for the demonstration. That was seriously impressive.”

She returned the smile, and this time it reached her eyes. “You’re welcome. Good luck in there.”

Stepping into the range, I felt a mix of anticipation and apprehension. The atmosphere in the danger room seemed to shift as I crossed the threshold, the faint hum of the hard light projectors in the background a reminder that this was no ordinary training ground.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself for whatever came next.

“Alright,” I murmured to myself, glancing back at Xavier, who was watching with a calm, encouraging expression. “Let’s see what I can do.”

Xavier’s calm voice cut through the ambient hum of the hard light projectors. “Ororo, please spawn a single, unarmed drone.”

Ororo nodded, her expression focused as she approached the console. With a few taps of her fingers, the command was entered, and in an instant, a yellow mannequin materialized on the other side of the room.

It stood there, lifeless and neutral, but something about its stillness was unsettling, like the calm before a storm.

Xavier turned to me, his gaze steady. “This drone will charge at you. I want you to stop it using telekinesis.”

I swallowed hard, my heart rate picking up. This was it—my first real test. “Alright,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. I focused, remembering the intricate dance of energy I had witnessed during Jean’s demonstration.

Xavier gave Ororo a nod, and she pressed a key on the console. The mannequin instantly sprang to life, sprinting toward me with surprising speed. My pulse quickened, and I narrowed my focus, trying to mimic what I had seen Jean do earlier.

As the mannequin closed in, a familiar tickling sensation flared up in my brain, like a spark catching in dry tinder. The red energy I had glimpsed around Jean now flickered into existence around me. It was faint at first, like a wisp of smoke, but as I concentrated, it grew stronger, more tangible.

“Come on,” I muttered, mentally reaching out toward the energy. It felt strange, like trying to grasp something intangible, but it responded to my will, gathering slowly into a thin veil in front of me.

The mannequin, oblivious and unfeeling, charged forward, its pace unrelenting. My heart pounded in my chest as it drew nearer, but I forced myself to focus on the red energy. I could feel the pressure building in my head, the sensation of something straining against my control.

With a deep breath, I raised both hands, imagining the veil solidifying, becoming something real. As the mannequin reached the edge of the veil, it suddenly jerked to a halt, its momentum stopped dead as if it had hit an invisible wall. The impact was silent, but I could feel the force of it reverberate through the energy field I had created.

A wave of relief washed over me, but I didn’t let go. Instead, I pushed harder, visualizing the energy wrapping around the mannequin, encasing it completely. The mannequin’s yellow body began to rise, levitating off the ground as the red energy enveloped it, lifting it higher and higher.

I could hear murmurs from behind me, but I didn’t dare look away. My concentration was razor-thin, and I couldn’t afford to break it. The energy felt alive, almost like it had a mind of its own, but it still responded to my direction.

“Remarkable,” I heard Xavier say, his voice tinged with genuine awe. “He's doing exceptionally well.”

Jean, who had been watching intently, let out a soft grumble. “It took me months to get to that level when I first started learning. He makes it look easy.”

Xavier offered her a comforting smile. “Your powers are different from his, Jean. His abilities stem from a unique physiological development. There’s no need for comparison.”

I barely registered their conversation, too focused on keeping the mannequin aloft. The energy felt more stable now, the initial strain easing as I grew accustomed to the sensation. But I knew this was just the beginning—there was so much more to learn, to master.

Finally, I allowed the energy to dissipate, gently lowering the mannequin back to the ground. The red glow faded, and the tickling sensation in my brain subsided. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding, my hands dropping to my sides.

“Not bad for a first try,” I said, trying to sound casual, though my heart was still pounding.

Xavier nodded, his expression approving. “Indeed. You have a natural affinity for this. But this is only the beginning. There’s much more for you to explore and understand.”

I looked at the now still mannequin, a mix of excitement and trepidation swirling inside me. “So… what’s next?”