psinex@yahoo.com Academia Book 1: Starting Block Chapter 10 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: They're all Marvel's, except for Soraya, who's mine. No money is being made off of this. Please don't sue. NOTE: Apologies - I forgot the first draft of this ... -------------------------------------------------------- 10/25/00: X-Mansion: Z'Nox Chamber: 08:03 hrs EST: -------------------------------------------------------- ~You're being very immature about this, you know.~ ~What ? I want to change into my training uniform and you won't LET me ?~ ~Save the spandex and the armor for an actual workout. And focus. This is just telepathy time.~ ~In swimwear.~ ~Think of it as a task - to overcome temptations of the flesh.~ ~I'm not the one who demanded I wear just my swimsuit to this session.~ ~I let you change out of the wet one, didn't I ? And I'm wearing mine. It's fair.~ ~You're the temptation, Red.~ ~Flatterer. Focus, Scrap ... find your center. Chakras may seem like New Age silliness, but they really count.~ ~Just please, don't ask me to explore my ... er ... lower chakras, OK ? I mean -~ ~It's OK. I'm not ready either. Even if it WOULD be fun ...~ ~Thanks. I love you.~ ~... Well. That was unexpected. I love you too, I just ... never expected it to come out like THIS.~ ~Well, I'm supposed to surprise you, right ?~ ~Telepathically, not with love things ! Not that I MIND ... sorry. Bad pun.~ ~I'm not insulted. Thanks for everything. I wish I could return the favor.~ ~You always do, silly. You look at me, you listen, you give me leftover flowers from Lew's power experiments ...~ ~You know those weren't store-bought ?~ ~Frank, it's October. Of COURSE Lew matured the perennials those flowers came from. He's the only floropath anywhere near here. But it's still sweet of you.~ ~Thanks. But can I do more ?~ ~Act as my psionic anchor. I want to explore my heart chakra for a minute, and I need someone to keep an 'eye' on me.~ ~Always.~ ~... oh crap.~ ~What - youre biosig's going wild ! I'm getting the Professor -~ ~No you're not.~ ~Ex-CUSE me ? We're not expert 'paths, Ray - Ray - ~ ~Oh. My. God.~ -------------------------------------------------------- Xavier's brows shot up as a huge psionic surge spiked several floors below his study, then abruptly faded. [WARNING,] Cerebro rang, setting off alarms. [Z'NOX CHAMBER COMPROMISED. SUBJECTS: RICHARDS, FRANKLIN AND SUMMERS, RACHEL UNACCOUNTED FOR.] "Wide-angle scan, global search," Xavier ordered, glancing as Scott and a terrified Jean bolted into his office. "Add low-Earth orbit to parameters." [WORKING,] Cerebro replied. "It's back. It's possessed my DAUGHTER, Charles - she's 13, how can she contain it !?" Jean sobbed, leaning on Scott. Xavier's brows shot up in terrified comprehension. "Good Lord," he whispered. "Phoenix." -------------------------------------------------------- The first thing Frank noted was the utter, interminable silence - even the astral plane had gone very, very quiet. #I'm hunting bunny wabbits,# Frank tried to joke, daring to open his eyes. He gaped, shielding them from the sun's blazing glare. And the starfield around him. #OK. I'm still alive, floating in space in a speedo,# Frank thought, looking around. #Par for the course, I guess ... guess this answers my question from when my powers kicked on (1). But where's -# He gasped silently, seeing Rachel float nearby amidst a firebird effect. ~OhmyGodohmyGODI'mthe PHOENIX HOST !!!!~ ~Ray !~ Frank sent, trying to fly to her side. He clumsily made his way to her, tumbling until a fiery claw caught him and pulled him into her telekinetic amina. ~Wow,~ Ray tried to laugh telepathically, her tone and tears belying the attempt. Frank hugged her, trying to warm her, and she snuggled into his shoulder. ~So much for Brave Leader Lady, huh ? I'm floating in space - SPACE ! - with you, we're wearing skimpy unstable molecule swimwear, and the Phoenix is using me as a host,~ Ray sent after a long moment. ~I think you're even more beautiful than before,~ Frank sent, raw honesty in his eyes. ~And no matter what, I've got your back.~ ~Frank - this is the PHOENIX !~ Ray exclaimed. ~It KILLED FIVE BILLION sentients years ago just by eating a star ! Every alien race there is fears this thing ! Maybe I'm still me, but -~ ~It needs energy, right ?~ Frank interrupted, taking her hands. ~I'm inexhaustible.~ ~Oh no,~ Ray pleaded, fear reentering her mindvoice. ~I might kill you.~ ~You risked everything to save me in Sydney when my powers popped (1),~ Frank sent, tearing up. ~If I really love you - if I'm gonna be worthy of you - I HAVE to do this.~ ~You are worthy, you big doof ! I don't want you dying on me !~ Ray sobbed, clinging to him. ~'Trust, pure and simple. A leap of faith,'~ Frank sent, smiling. ~A cross-time version of me told a cross-time version of you that once. Same applies here, Red.~ ~God, I love you,~ Ray sent, kissing him. ~And I love you,~ Frank sent, returning the kiss. And a small sun ignited. -------------------------------------------------------- ~By the Vishanti !~ Dr Strange sent, his astral form flinching from the energy release. D'Spayre, Mephisto and Blackheart collectively screamed - in immortal terror. The Man-Thing looked skyward, seeing the flare, and shambled onward. On Wundagore Mountain, the High Evolutionary gasped. Cerebro units worldwide melted. And in the Blue Area of the Moon, the Watcher looked towards Earth orbit. "Oh MY," Uatu whispered, turning away with the faintest of smiles. -------------------------------------------------------- ~Oh. My. GOD.~ Ray and Frank floated a few feet apart, huge smiles breaking across their faces. ~We've got a psionic rapport,~ Ray sent, sorting out her own thoughts from Frank's as the link resolved itself into a narrow-focus beam. ~Guess this means it's official,~ Frank sent, flying back to Ray. ~See, I told you it wouldn't be so bad.~ ~It's incredible, you goob !~ Ray sent, laughing as she took his hands and spun them around. ~This is - it's gone, the stupid hunger's GONE, you've filled me with - I think I'm high on life or love or something, you silly ! God, I sound so ridiculous !~ ~You sound like I feel,~ Frank sent, kissing her cheek. ~We'd better let the others know we're -~ ~Franklin ? Rachel ?~ The teens looked as Xavier's giant, disembodied head resolved itself through the psionic haze and sent, ~I see you two are all right. Rachel, is the Phoenix - ?~ ~Under control, sir,~ Ray sent, taking Frank's hand with a small smile. Xavier looked at them both, then nodded abruptly. ~Very well. I presume you are ... working on exo-atmospheric applications of telekinetic and biokinetic abilities ?~ Xavier sent. ~Yessir,~ Frank sent, trying to keep the fear out of his mental tone and failing as Ray broke into giggles. ~Very well. And from now on, please wear appropriate uniforms for training,~ Xavier sent, dematerializing with what Ray swore was a wink. ~Well, that went better than I'd hoped,~ Ray sent, letting Frank hold her close. ~You know ... we're out here. All by ourselves. I've never been off Earth before.~ ~You mean ... ?~ Frank asked, looking at her with a smile. ~I want to see the planets, Frank ! To dance on the moon, to see if Venus is really the hellhole NASA says it is, to see what's really on Mars, to look for life on Jupiter - wow, did I just say that ?~ Ray sent, blinking. ~You're still absorbing some of my memories,~ Frank sent, concentrating with Ray as they examined their rapport. They relaxed after a long moment, then looked down below. ~It is beautiful,~ Ray sent. ~I'm not a great scientist, like you ...~ ~... but you're better with feelings than I am,~ Frank replied, kissing her nose. ~I used to wall things up -~ ~No, you didn't,~ Ray reminded him. ~You were so scared you were hurting us that you didn't tell me your feelings. But you at least had SOME feelings. You've grown so much ... and you've helped me grow. Now stop this annoying self-doubt and follow me, you big goober - you tell me what these planets are like, and I'll tell you what I see !~ ~Mars kind of reminds me of those rusty mufflers in the junkyards Uncle John took me to when I was little and he was working on his muscle cars,~ Frank sent, smiling. ~And I thought it was just iron oxide,~ Ray sent, grinning as they boosted themselves out of Earth orbit. ~I gotta admit, though ...~ ~What ?~ Frank sent, curious as they linked hands. ~You're one heckuva date, Scrapper.~ ~You're one heckuva girl, Red.~ ~And don't you forget it, studly.~ -------------------------------------------------------- NEXT: Leong's hidden past ! Nga's crusade ! And ... the origin of a deadly new FOE !? -------------------------------------------------------- __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages with Yahoo! 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