3rd POV:
Maria came over to Fury on the Command Center of their new HQ. Recent developments forced them to relocate to a different place. No longer would the World Security Council allow them to have a Helicarrier.
While Fury lamented the loss, he understood why things have turned out this way. Not that it mattered, as the bigger worry was how to find capable personal as their number where dwindled thanks to how many S.H.I.E.L.D agents where actually HYDRA agents.
''Sir, we have some interesting reports. In both cases no one was harmed. The public in NYC reported someone dressed completely in red and parkouring among the rooftops. He appeared briefly on a video. We don't know what he was intending to do. There is also another matter. In Las Vegas a person was reported to escape the security guards of a casino by... exploding cards and disappearing amongst the smoke,'' Maria was a little unsure about the last part. Despite what she had all seen it was still hard to believe because of the ridiculousness.
''Do we know who they are and how their powers work?,'' Fury asked.
''We already made a profile. The first one, is one Matthew Murdock, he is a blind lawyer operating in Hell's Kitchen,'' Maria began only to get interrupted.
''How blind is he if he can parkour across rooftops?,'' Fury asked her.
''We suspect that he has some form of power, maybe some sort of sensory power, like a bat and their sonar sense. Or maybe it is something else. Because he is listed as medically blind. Or he is fooling everyone. We don't know exactly and neither do we know what he was doing on the rooftops. As for the other one, we know even less. We are still investigating, but you did request to be informed of anything, little as it was, about new meta-humans. Those we don't know about at least,'' Maria explained.
Fury nodded.
''Good. Make a case of both of them and continue investigating. Refrain from giving them a power threat level for now, until we have more. Dismissed,'' Fury ordered and Maria left with a nod.
Fury looked across the command center and all the people in it. They were all scurrying to do something, to gather information, to protect the world. He looked at the monitor that displayed some information and closed his eye.
Fury felt it in his bones, something he feared would come. One way or another.
And now it begins.
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''You want to call the Avengers here for the spar?,'' asked Logan. Bucky shrugged his shoulders.
''Maybe just Steve. What do you think?,'' Bucky asked him.
They both knew that if Steve where to come, the rest of the Avengers would come too.
Logan drank some gulps from his beer. The relationship between the X-Men and The Avengers were that of a cautionary acquaintance, except between Bucky, him and Steve. Maybe they will become allies in the future or not, but for now their interest was too varied.
The Avengers protected the world. The X-Men protected their kind and managed them, by stopping some of their own kind from harming innocents. Not that that happened much in the last few years, but it will change. Logan was just glad that this left him with more time to train the young ones better.
Logan hummed, it would be an olive branch and a possibility for more. But more importantly it would give the prick Nexus some trouble for lying to them all. He knew that The Avengers wanted to establish contact with Nexus thanks to Steve.
''Do it. Send him a text,'' Logan approved with some vindictive satisfaction that Bucky saw right through.
Bucky sighed and nodded. He was not exactly enthusiastic about doing this as he feared things would escalate, but Steve and Logan were his friends. He pulled out his phone and began writing.
---
''What are you doing?,'' Steve asked the two as he came into the lab. Bruce and Tony were working on something.
''Doing what you told us. Trying to establish contact with Nexus without tipping the public, finding Raezen, finding Loki's Scepter,'' Tony replied absentmindedly as he starred at the monitor, while Bruce was tinkering with the gamma radiation detector.
''Oh. Well, I have good news. We have a chance to encounter at least one of them. Bucky and Logan wrote and told me that Nexus accepted a position as a training instructor at Xaviers school. We have a chance to establish contact as he plans on sparring with the X-Men every weekend. We should make our way over,'' Steve explained.
Tony stood motionless for a few moments, before sharing a glance with Bruce. He told JARVIS to keep the programs running as he turned around.
''Just like this? This is too convenient. Months we made no leads whatsoever in establishing contact with him and now suddenly he falls straight into our lap?,'' Tony said while frowning.
''You suspect a trap?,'' Steve asked him.
''I suspect a play,'' Tony corrected,''The guy doesn't seem evil. We have seen him on the news often enough. That doesn't mean he doesn't have an agenda.''
''Wasn't it you, that said Fury was overestimating the guy?,'' Bruce asked confused.
''Let's go see our little friend and colleague. My bet is that the children will kick his butt,'' Tony put on his sun glasses and began walking.
Steve and Bruce shared a small exasperated look before following after him. Would it kill him to admit he might have been slightly wrong?
Shortly afterwards The Avengers, minus Thor who was off world again and Hawkeye who was indisposed with non S.H.I.E.L.D related matters, were flying in the Quinjet towards Xaviers mansion. Natasha was the one who was flying the jet.
''How goes the construction of the Raft?,'' Steve asked, making some conversation to pass the time.
''It is advancing quickly, but not quiet done yet. Of course that is all thanks to me having generously lent my Iron Legion to help constructions speed up. In a month or so, our little furry friend can be transferred from our basement to the prison complex,'' Tony boasted.
''Will the cells hold him?,'' Steve asked him worried.
''They will. Both of us worked on the cells. There are a plethora of failsafes that will stop people like him from escaping. If the need arrives we can simply update the cells and design more failsafes,'' Bruce replied confidently.
''Do you think the government will make more prisons like this?,'' Steve asked them.
''Probably not for a while. For some reason there does seem to be a lot more enhanced people in NYC then anywhere else,'' Tony shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. The Avengers, Ghost Spider, all residents of the School for Gifted Youngsters, etc.
Steve frowned.
''Wouldn't that exacerbate the problem? If only this prison can hold enhanced people, then they will transfer more and more people here. This will overtax the staff and should something go wrong and the prisoners escape then we have a problem on our hands. We shouldn't concentrate all enhanced people in one place. Distributing them across the country would be better, so they can't team up,'' Steve pointed out.
''Capsicle, why do you think you wanted The Avengers to work outside of govenrment control? Building these prison complexes cost money. And unlike normal prisons, there are not that many enhanced people that need imprisonment right now. There is no guarantee that this Raft will make them money the same way normal prisons make them money,'' Tony decided to throw Steve a bone.
Bruce, always trying to avoid confrontation and conflict, fidgeted a little nervously. Such stances would certainly put them on opposing sides with the government.
''I do have to agree with you though. This prison is a band aid, but it does not really address the underlying issue. This Raft was more of a reaction to the publics stirring. Not only did it make it seem as if the government was doing something, but it boosted some peoples approval rating,'' Tony continued, noticing how Steves fists clenched in frustration.
He rolled his eye behind his glasses. Always the boy scout. Wasn't this the whole reason why he distrusted the government? What was he still clinging to hope for?
Tony knew the system well. Before the events in Afghanistan he made liberal use of it and exploited every loop hole. Now, he was more conscious of it. And refrained from doing some things, even forbidding Pepper and his Board of Directors to engage in these practices. They still make loads of money and are filthy rich, just not as much money as they could be making.
So what if they did not make as much money as they could be making?
Either way they were not hurting for cash and they still had more money then they could spend in a hundred life times.
Steve was tempted to ask Tony if he could finance another Raft somewhere else. Granted, this time the burden would fall solely on him, as the government would not finance this one. But just one more such prison complex would make things much better. But he refrained from doing so. They already lived under his roof at his expenses, Steve did not feel right to make such a request of him.
Steve suddenly frowned.
''Wait. What do you mean, prisons make money?,'' Steve asked confused. He has read a lot of things on the computer, but not everything. No where was such a thing mentioned.
Before either Tony or Bruce could explain the insidious practice of the For Profit Private Prisons system, Natasha called out form the cockpit.
''Boys we are here,'' she yelled to the back of the jet.
---
She was not particularly confident that they would win the spar. Scott asked Laura what she had on Nexus as she spent the most time with him, aside from Sarah. She gave him what she had. He probably asked Wanda and Pietro and all the other victims he rescued as well. He may have devised some tactics or not, that remained to be seen for Laura.
Part of her approved. Scott studying up on Nexus would give them an advantage, if nothing else that was pragmatic. Laura too would do the same if she was the leader, just as she knew that Nexus would do it too.
While the others were a little optimistic at winning the fight, Laura knew that it was a completely different matter if they all moved with the intent to kill. Where that the case, then it was only a matter between Jean, Wanda, Pietro and Kurt vs. Nexus. The first who strikes wins.
''You think we will win?,'' Bobby asked Scott as they were making their way over to the simulation room.
''We studied up on him and we have a varied team that covers most bases. Jean, Wanda establish the telekinetic link for all of us. Unfortunately no tactic is set in stone, because he is so versatile, so we will need to improvise. But keep the tactics in mind anyway, so we have a base to work off anyways,'' Scott replied.
Jean and Wanda were doing what they were told.
''I think we should calm down. It is not a us vs. him scenario. Like Logan and Bucky, he is here to teach us. We will spar and fight many times,'' Piotr tried to calm them down.
''Maybe. But for him to instruct us, he needs to know where we stand. I, for one, am eager to battle him. Things were getting boring anyway,'' Pietro stretched while walking.
''You're always bored,'' Wanda rolled her eyes at him. Not that she could blame him. He explained to her how he perceived the world and it did sound awful.
Beside Laura Katherine sighed and muttered:''Depends if he is a slave driver. He, like, totally is. I'm sure.''
''Enough. Remember the tactics we came up with and everything Logan taught us and I'm sure we will do well. We only need to land one good hit, if what Laura and Wanda told us is true,'' Scott made them focus as they approached the simulation room.
Shortly after he said that they entered the simulation room. The other teacher told them that it will also be a trial for him, to see if he was actually equipped to teach them something Logan and Bucky could not. Chances were good, as it was beneficial to have another permanent teacher to train them, since Hank and Ororo could not always be available. But still they would observe the fight from the observation room.
The moment they walked into the room Nexus, who was waiting for them on the ceiling for an ambush, fell down on them. The first person the sword carved through was Pietro. Wanda screamed in horror, realization dawning quickly as she saw Pietro gasp and stumbled forward. They all were in shock however and before anyone could react Nexus summoned another sword above his head.
As he was crouched it nicely sliced in a circle through them all at their waist making them gasp and collapse on their knees. Only Laura was pinned in place by two swords as she would just regenerate otherwise.
Pietro stumbled forward the cut hurting, only to realize that that was all it did. It hurt. Where was the weakness and stuff he read about with wounds the size of this? He turned around towards Nexus, his eyes following him as he moved to stand in front of them all. Pietro noted that the word was not made of metal. Well, the hilt seemed to, but the blade itself seemed... ethereal.
Pietro moved to help his sister up, who like all others, was hugging her waist in pain.
''We... We're not dead? We're not dead! Thank God,'' Kurt frantically touched his waist.
''You are dead. Well.... You would be, if this would have been a real ambush,'' Nexus corrected, watching them all stand back up.
''The fucks your problem, you psycho?,'' Rogue yelled at him. Kitty tried calming her down, seeming the calmest of them all alongside Laura, who was released by the swords.
''Why were you not on guard?,'' Nexus ignored her scream.
''Why would we be?,'' Scott asked confused. Not even Logan did this, despite how much the two disliked each other.
''Hmm. When your friend fighting at your side next to you dies, because of an ambush, will you return back to his or her family and tell them 'They died because I did not see it worth to be wary and anticipate an ambush' You think they will thank you for killing their lover, sibling, parent in your negligence and your arrogance?,'' Nexus calmly asked them.
''What? No, of course I don't want that on my consciousness. I just thought that we were in a safe environment,'' Scott replied.
Nexus loudly chuckled.
''Safe? Are any of us truly safe at any point in time? Most of us could die at any given moment for any given reason in any kind of way. My advise. ALWAYS be on your toes and mindful of your environment, no matter where you are or how safe you feel. Use any means to bolster your awareness of your surroundings,'' Nexus advised them.
Scott moved his jaw a little and then clenched it, before giving him a nod. The others looked to have calmed down as well.
''Logan taught you well, but he didn't teach you everything,'' Nexus remarked as he spun the ethereal sword, his voice sounding entertained,'' Or rather he couldn't teach you everything. These swords will go through you without causing damage. They will however trigger your nervous system so it will feel as if you were hurt in reality.
Pain, I have found, is a tender teacher. If nothing else it build up your pain tolerance. I will supplement Logans and Buckys training with something not even the simulation room could give you. Experience and realism. I will see the things, be it techniques or tactics, taught to you applied on the battlefield at a moments notice. Afterwards I will give pointers, critiques, suggestions and if you are good enough, praise too.''
The students were hanging to his words.
''I admit, I would have preferred if you gave us a warning about what you planned on doing. You gave us all quiet the shock. Will you require a simulated battlefield?,'' Xavier voice sounded through the comms.
''I am a man of my word. I told you they will not be hurt, merely winded. As for your question. No. Not this time. Just give me a simulation of the simulation room. I wish to have their mettle. Any questions before we begin? (*Nexus waits for a few moments*) No? Then attack me as if you intend to kill me. We will fight regardless of how many hits we land to each other. We will fight till I am satisfied,'' Nexus instructed before stopping to pace and stabbing his sword in the ground, his hands grabbing the handle. An energy vortex began dancing around him in circles.
''Time to die,'' Katherine muttered resigned.
''At least someone has spirit,'' Bobby replied back. Right now it was the calm before the storm, waiting to see who attacks.
''I meant us. We are gonna die,'' Katherine corrected, her voice tired but confident.
The others shot her a reproachful look for having SO little confidence in them winning.
They were at a standstill for a few moments before Pietro lost his patience and attacked. He ran around Nexus seeking to attack him from the back.
Hm. Nexus had to admit Pietro was fast, but not Stan fast. He could follow him and track him. But alas with the limitations he put on himself as Nexus, at least to the public, it meant he had no business evading his attack.
Thankfully he did have the energy vortex around him. The moment Pietro felt his fist touching the vortex it felt as if his hand was on fire, even if it was not actually on fire or doing any damage. He disengaged.
In that exact moment Kurt teleported behind him to try to punch him, only to quickly teleport away again as Sword wings sprouted from his back catapulting him in the air.
Wanda made a telekinetic shield to protect them all from a sword shower. Meanwhile Bobby shot ice shards alongside Scott shooting optic beams at Nexus. He casually dodged them.
Nexus immediately noticed the peculiarity of Scotts powers. He could feel portals to a dimension with infinite kinetic energy being opened around Scotts eyes. Nexus had to admit that was an interesting manifestation of the X-Gene.
He didn't dodge long as Jean pushed his body towards the ground with her telekinesis, while Wanda continued protecting them telekinetically.
Smart. Most of them did not have long range attacks, not that it mattered considering the few they had were powerful, but on the ground they could work better as a team since they could utilize everyones abilities in tandem. Even now, the melee fighters did not sit idle protecting Wanda and Jean from the stray swords that made it through.
Instead of crashing on the ground he went trough a portal temporarily disappearing from their sight. They have showed promise as a team, so let's split them up and see how they work separated and under different circumstances.
As the X-Men were looking around to see from which direction a sword materialized amidst the group and detonated.
Piotr was the first to stand up being the most durable of them and the least disoriented. In an instant Nexus fell from the sky and slashed at him. Piotr defended himself with some pain on his arms as the blade always dug a little into his arms.
Bobby came to his rescue and fired an ice beam at Nexus to alleviate pressure from Piotr. Nexus disengaged and used his sword wings as shield. Both the swords were starting to freeze as well as the ground around him.
Piotr came back with a vengeance assisted by Kurt who teleported around him and began punching at him. Nexus either defended himself or slid with on the ice with his resummoned wings and dodged their attack.
Kitty touched Rogue on her shoulder and turned them invisible and intangible readying themselves for an ambush.
Meanwhile Bobby began sliding on the ice while applying pressure on Nexus alongside Pietro and Laura.
Nexus had to force himself not to laugh as Pietro rode Laura piggy back. He could not run on the ice. But Laura could thanks to her adamantium claws in her feet. They to were applying pressure on Nexus as Pietro grabbed a sword and moved his arm incredible fast to try and slice at him.
That was a little stupid. All these weapons were his to begin with, he could banish them at any point, but he decided to let him keep it this one time. Next time, he will learn his lesson.
No matter how many times they all tried to attack him, he was always able to deflect it with his sword wings moving in the way. Or if that did not suffice then he summoned sword in the way.
Nexus dodged with an overhead jump as Scott shot an incredible powerful optic beam in an arc at him. Jean protected the others with her telekinesis from the beam as well as the fact that the beam caused the background to explode.
Before Nexus could do anything Wanda shoved him telekinetically into the wall causing spider cracks to form. Jean quickly followed up her move by ripping the weakened wall apart and enveloping Nexus in a ball of debris. Kitty and Rogue quickly followed that action by Kitty keeping Rogue intangible as her arm went trough the debris to try and establish skin to skin contact between her and him.
The idea was to weaken Nexus a little, as well as give them his ability on their side as well. Since Jean and Wanda informed them telepathically that Nexus' force on his swords was greater then they force they could apply on them, Scott worked on this plan to give them an edge. Because they all quickly realized Nexus could attack from anywhere at anytime and Jean and Wanda could only attack Nexus directly or indirectly, so long as they got past his swords.
Imagine their surprise and shock, minus one, when Rogue informed them that she could not absorb his ability or his memories.
Scott told them to quickly disengage, just in time as massive swords began exploding out of the ball of debris. In a matter of moments the debris fell apart and Nexus emerged from them.
Ok. Not a bad plan, playing to their strengths. They quickly regrouped after he separated them, but he meant it when he said he wanted to see their mettle as individuals. The massive swords left his back and slammed into the earth around them in a circle. Immediately all within the circle could feel some pressure on them.
''Not bad. Let's get serious, shall we?,'' Nexus stretched out his hand as a swords appeared in his arm and he rose into the air. The X-men stepped back as more and more and more and more swords began forming in the air. Soon enough the ceiling was darkened by the blades, like an endless black ocean ready to fall upon them and drown them.
Nexus moved his arm to point the tip of the sword in his hand at them all. In an instant the swords fell upon them keeping them occupied.
Pietro saw the world slow down as the swords attacked every member in quick succession. Kurt tried to play support and teleport each one back together. But that was not possible. Too many swords, from too many angles, at the same time. They were being quickly pushed apart and no matter what Scott was saying in their heads, Pietro knew there was no way out of this.
Not without some sudden power up that someone in their group would pull out of their ass, but this was not an anime or a video game, where they would defeat the evil guy with the power of friendship. Funny as that would be, Pietro knew this was not a fantasy world.
Pietro widened his eyes as Nexus suddenly disappeared from in front of him. He felt a gust of wing across his cheek and barely managed to put up his sword in time to block an normal attack from Nexus.
The world around them was still moving slowly. Since when can Nexus move as fast as him. So far everything he had seen matched up to what he saw, as well as what Laura recounted of him. Those massive swords, gotta be. Where they giving him some kind of buff? That was so cool.
To the observers it looked like a flurry of sparks, the bodies a blur, fading in and out whenever decided to stay long enough in a spot to battle each other. Occasionally the ground cracked. Once the two figures seemed to battle it on a falling huge debris as they slid down o it, the debris falling further apart in their engagement.
Eventually Nexus saw enough to be pleases. Pietro had a good head on his shoulders when isolated, he was resourceful using his environment to try and give him an edge, alas he still used Nexus swords to fight him and Nexus saw enough to determine his competence. On the next bout, just about as the swords were to clash, Pietros sword disappeared from his hands and he felt the sword go trough his neck causing Pietro to fall to his knees and clutch his throat.
Nexus moved on as Pietro cursed him in his mind for being a slavedriver.
Kurt was a nightmare to pin down. He was elusive and while he did not possess Pietros ability to move his body at fast speeds, his mind did not be restricted by such limitations. He always barely managed to react in time and get away. That said, that was all he could do for he could not attack back. At times he tried to teleport to someones side and help them, but the swords always prevented him from touching them. Eventually Nexus disengaged and the flurry of sword attacks from the flying swords continued keeping him busy.
Bobby was good. He had powerful AoE attacks able to freeze his swords in moments and shatter them. And his abilities were also versatile and allowed him great mobility. Once he created a path of ice for him to move in the air while sliding around. Fire swords seemed to give him some trouble. Nexus did not want to risk using swords made out of hotter fire and melt him as he turned his body into ice.
Piotr he already engaged briefly as he was the first to recover from the explosion. Good hand to hand combat, insane durability and superhuman strength and speed, even if not as fast as Pietro.
Rogue he ignored mostly. He just blocked her within four walls. There was one time she tried absorbing the powers from one of his swords, but that endeavor proved futile. She did need to address this glaring weakness and find a solution.
Laura was also a little trouble. She may not possess Piotrs durability, but she could heal and just continued to fight trough the pain. And she had sharp tools as opposed to Piotrs blunt fists. She did manage to parry a few of the swords with her adamantium claws, but most did 'harm' to her and she continued to fight. Nexus was impressed. Either she used her rage or adrenaline as a tool to drive her forward or she let her rage guide her. That remained to be seen as it was hard for him to judge by her expression.
Katherine was worse then Kurt. Whatever form of intangibility she had was extremely powerful. And it was not phasing by vibrating her molecules at the right frequency. Invisibility, intangibility, walking on air at one point. Nexus was sure if he would go all out, he would harm her but with the limitations he had now he had no way of 'harming' her. She could neither be attacked, nor could she attack him as she still needed to walk towards him. She was however the greatest hurdle in Nexus keeping the X-Men apart as she could just walk trough his swords and share her intangibility and invisibility with others. She had the potential to be extremely powerful, Nexus determined.
As for the last three? There was not really too much need in drawing out a battle with them.
Scott shot optic beams from his eyes. Nexus was sure his body must have immunity to his own power else he would be ripped apart as technically he does not produce the optic beams merely summons them. Guess that is why the professors were so accepting of his excuse that he summons his swords.
As for Jean and Wanda? Nexus used telepathy and telekinesis often enough that he did not really need to test their mettle. They are powerful, he could feel, but they are not really creative in their attacks. Creating telekinetic constructs was just scratching the surface of what telekinesis could do.
All in all, he was right that they all lacked experience. But they were good. A credit to their teacher. Logan and Bucky did good work on them, mostly Logan as Bucky only recently joined and the others could not always be there.
Oh well, time to end this.
All the swords disappeared only his sword wings and the sword in his hand remained. Nexus was standing opposite the three of them and held his sword by his side upwards. He released his hold on his energy and a vortex of dark purple energy exploded alongside his blade, quickly forming into a beam at the center of the growing vortex. Some spark of electricity could also be seen.
Wanda quickly pulled all the X-Men member into Jeans telekinetic barrier.
''Time to end this,'' Nexus called out as he swung the sword above his shoulder the energy beam destroying the wall behind him, before swinging it down, the walls destruction following the the movement.
The energy beam crashed into the telekinetic barrier and continued to crash without relenting.
''I can't hold it,'' Jean called out as she felt the energy increase in quantity. Wanda moved to help her maintain the barrier after she pulled everyone in.
At Scotts command Piotr moved behind him to hold his head as Scott removed his optics and held his hands in front of his closed eyes. After opening them he began shooting an optic beam into his hands. The beam increased in heat and power and size as Scott began to scream in pain from the effort.
''Let go, Jean! Let go!,'' Scott screamed out the command. he removed his hands at the same time that Jean let the barrier drop.
The optic beam met the energy beam and both were at a standstill. At this point no other sound could be made out except the sound of the two beams crashing against each other trying to drown out each other. Piotr kept Scott from being shoved back by his own attack, least he lose his balance.
Nexus beam began slowly advancing towards them. At Scotts command, thanks to their telekinetic link, Bobby, Jean and Wanda began shooting their own beams. Wandas was the weakest beam, as she was still new to her telekinetic awakening and not as experienced.
The simulation room began to get destroyed more and more as the two forces clashed against each other. Scott kept increasing his output more and more, until his pain made him snap and he went full force with his optic beam.
The energy beam lost against the optic beam and immediately pushed it back towards Nexus who was hit by the optic beam.
The room experienced a small earthquake and the lights flickered above. Meanwhile the spot where Nexus was completely hidden off by smoke and ash. The wall behind Nexus made some noise as it crumbled completely, but otherwise silence returned.
Scott quickly put on his optics to stop his optic beam and they all starred at the silent spot, expecting... something.
''Oh No. No, no, no, no, no. NO! Jesus Christ, we killed him. We killed him!,'' Kurt began to panic as Nexus did not come out of the smoke.
Scott momentarily began panicking as well, as he knew he output the most energy on that counter attack. But suddenly he remembered what Dr. Essex told him, about being a man and being assertive and decisive.
''So what? He did tell us to attack him with the intent to kill,'' Scott bit out calmly.
While most where shocked at his callous disregard, Jean however tried to feel out that 'empty' mind. She did not believe... she hoped he was not dead. She could not maintain the telekinetic link as well as feel Nexus' mind, but now there was no more need. Laura too was attentive, but all that debris made it hard to smell him out.
The only who seemed calm was Katherine.
Just as the smoke began to clear swords burst out of everyones chest, thus 'killing' them instantly, aside from Katherine who was intangible and thus the words fell down at her feet. They all collapsed from the pain. Scott locked down and then at the others, the ethereal blades did not seem to have stabbed them in the back. They seemed to have sprouted from within their chest.
Slow clapping could be heard as they all directed their attention to the sword wings functioning as shields. They were slammed in the ground so he would no be pushed back, but now they moved out to open themselves and allow Nexus to walk forwards.
''Absolutely fantastic. And you Katherine. Well, done. You have immediately incorporated my advise from earlier. As for the rest of you? You also did well. You are a credit to Logan as his students. Which one of you is the leader?,'' Nexus asked them.
''I am,'' Scott stood up as the swords disappeared from their chest.
''You did good. You played to your teams strengths beautifully. Even managed to make them all regroup nicely and set an ambush the first time I tried separating you all. Individually you all are strong. But together? You would be a formidable team. But I was right, you merely lack experience,'' Nexus replied.
''Why are you complementing us? We did not defeat you,'' Scott scowled, clenching his fist at his side. Feeling that he failed as their leader.
''Huh? What makes you think they point of this spar was for you to defeat me?,'' Nexus asked dumbfounded.
''Wasn't that the entire point? We threw everything against each other and you still came out on top,'' Scott replied frustrated.
Nexus just looked at them, standing still after Scotts reply. One could almost imagine him blink several times behind his mask. Finally he snorted.
''No, the point of this spar was for me to have your mettle and for you to apply what you learned. No offense, but you are delusional if you think we just threw everything against each other. Were that truly the case, Jean or Wanda would have simply created a small telekinetic ball in my heart and expanded it. And my chest would have popped open as if it was infected by a chestburster.
Why do you think I instructed you to come at me with the intent to kill? So that you may throw you all you had at me. I do follow the advise I give others too. Which reminds me. Wanda, thank you for knocking me down a peg way back then. I should have maintained my defenses, but I arrogantly dropped them. (*Wanda was momentarily startled at the sudden thanks, but she nodded anyway*).
No. No. I knew your strength, I knew I could handle it so I gave you that instruction to train you to the best of your ability. To increase your competence, a lot as there already is, even further,'' Nexus explained.
''Wait... You asked the other students about our abilities, didn't you? I thought the bet between you and Professor Xavier was to fight us without being informed. That is not fair,'' Piotr complained not liking when people broke their word.
''Precisely. Even if I fail to impress Xavier and be hired by him today to train you all further, I did want to impart some lessons on you, regardless if Logan and Bucky already tried teaching you those things. This is the first one.
Life is not fair.
Fairness, kindness, honor too if you want, all have their time and place. But not on the battlefield. Ask the dead what all those characteristics has brought them and silence will be your answer. Thus, on the battlefield there is only one rule. Survival. You and yours or them. No in between. Use any means to survive, even lying and studying up on your enemies,'' Nexus explained his reason to them for Piotrs remark.
''Are there any other lessons?,'' Rogue asked him.
''Can anyone tell me why you lost on my final attack?,'' Nexus asked instead.
''We weren't attentive like Kitty?,'' Wanda supplied. Nexus bounced his head slightly and bade them to continue.
''Well, what else could it be? I mean, maybe we could have defended ourselves somehow, but that too would require us to be on our toes,'' Rogue said after a while of silence and no one offering anything else.
''You really want to know?''
''Yes. That is why I asked,'' Rogue told Nexus.
''Hmm. Ok. I will tell you. Come closer and pay attention. You all lost.... just because,'' Nexus told them, switching from a grave to a jovial tone at the end. He shrugged and held his hand in a 'what can you do?' gesture.
''What? What do you mean 'just because'. Tell us the reason already,'' Scott demanded.
''I told you though? Just because,'' Nexus repeated.
''Listen here. This team is my responsibility. If you have some wisdom to impart on us, should this be the last time you train us, then i would appreciate you making my job easier,'' Scott ground out, starting to feel agitated.
''Precisely. This team is your responsibility as their leader. And you lost just because,'' Nexus repeated again. This time however he sounded satisfied as if they are on the right track. Scott unclenched his jaw and listened attentively. The others too.
''Sometimes no matter how hard you try. No matter your best efforts. You can do everything right, follow every protocol, be as cautious as humanly possible. And STILL you will lose. That loss may be kind and you all suffer defeat... or it can end in tragedy and you will lose someone. Call it fate, call it luck, call it sacrifice, it is all the same. As the leader, you must be aware that you will lose an ally, a friend even, sooner or later. No amount of effort will stop that feeling from eventually hitting you,'' Nexus' voice sounded stern, but not unkind.
Scott recoiled slightly. The other peoples face was grim.
''Is there nothing I can do to prevent that?,'' he asked a little desperate.
''Nothing. Absolutely nothing. All you can do is prepare as much as possible, take things seriously and hope for the best. Or better yet, don't hope at all. There is a reason why hope was at the bottom of Pandoras Box. The crushing feeling of having hope snatched away from you...nothing compares to that,'' Nexus replied being well meaning.
''...Were you once a leader?,'' Kurt asked, what the others wanted to know as well.
''...Once or twice,'' Nexus chose to answer, visibly sighing.
''What happened to your team?,'' Scott asked, feeling sympathetic to his cause.
Nexus was silent for a while, probably reminiscing about past times.
''These are my two lessons to you. Use them well. Live your life and live it well. Be it a as a warrior, as a priest, or something else entirely. But should you fail to make something of yourselves at all, just remember that you will amount only to sacrifices. Those that do not participate in life, have no business dictating the course of events. I assure you, under these circumstances you will die filled with regrets.
But who knows, maybe I Impressed Xavier enough for him to hire me and thus you will see more of my handsome face. Now shoo, off you go,'' Nexus never answered Scotts answer.
And frankly? Scott did not want to pester him. Part of him feared the answer.
The X-Men was starting to make their way out of the simulation room, Katherine pulling Jean by the arm as she clearly wanted to stay with Nexus, but now was not the time as he probably needed to talk business with Professor Xavier.
''For what it is worth. I hope you become one of our teachers, even if you are completely crazy. No offense,'' Kurt turned around and told him. Some of the others agreeing with him.
''None taken,'' Nexus replied and waved them off. He watched them go.
''Yo! You can turn of the simulation, Xavier,'' Nexus called out.
''That would be hard to do, as the simulation room stopped working halfway through your battle. What you are seeing is the real damage you all have done to the room,'' Xavier replied through the comms.
''Ehhhh, sorry. You can take it out of my payment if you want,'' Nexus replied, dodging a part of the falling ceiling. He did say, he did not necessarily need payment, just the opportunity to satisfy his curiosity.
''I'm not angry. But please do come to the observation room so we may talk.''
---
Nexus acted startled when he entered and encountered part of The Avengers alongside the professors, for he 'did not know they were here'. He quickly composed himself.
''My friends! So good to see you. So good!,'' Nexus stepped forwards and gave Steve a manly hug before anyone could say anything. He proceeded to give everyone a hug, though Tony firmly rebuked him (thanfully, as Nexus did not want to touch leeches any more then he had to) and Natasha managed to slip a tracker on his body while they were hugging.
Nexus could feel it already being active. He would later teleport it to Starks lab, after being done with his conversation with Xavier.
Logan and Bucky shared a look.
Fuck. They probably gave the guy what he wanted instead of pushing him towards trouble.
''You... are happy to see us?,'' Banner asked unsure. Their entire plan on how to approach him was just derailed.
''Of course,'' Nexus said hugging both Steve and Banner sideways to his chest,'' Everyone knows we are friends. The whole world in fact.''
Tony's had to admit, the guy was just right up his alley with his audacity and gall to sound so sincere. It was something he would do to get control of the situation.
''Well, friend, it had been a while since you visited the Avengers Tower. We were getting worried about you,'' Natasha played along, smiling seductively at him and crossing her arms under her breasts.
Nexus waved her off with his hand on Steves shoulder.
''Ahh, you know me. Gallivanting around trying to stave of boredom. Rescuing maidens, kittens from threes and rescuing princesses,'' Nexus joked.
''Aren't the first and last one the same, though?,'' Bruce pointed out while frowning in confusion. Everyone ignored him.
''Oh, we know. Still, we wish for you to come back. It would be nice for all of us to spend some time together again,'' Natasha fluttered her eyelashes.
''Sure,'' Nexus patted Steves and Bruces shoulder blades and let them out of the sideways hug.
''Well, I'm glad we solved that. Can we expect you tomorrow then?,'' Tony clapped his hands. Moving past the ridiculous ease their achieved their objective. It would serve them far better to have that talk away from students anyway, just in case it escalates into a fight.
''Well, that depends on Xavier offering me a job or not. Regardless of what he may say I will come on Monday anyway. See you then, my friends,'' Nexus waved at them.
''Wait, I ... Thank you for your service,'' Steve offered Nexus his hand. Nexus exaggerately bent at the waist while rubbing his chin to look at his offered hand before moving to stand straight again.
''What for?,'' Nexus asked.
''Both for taking care of HYDRA as well as serving in the army,'' Steve replied. Tony would be impressed at his deviousness in fishing for information, if he didn't know Steve was completely sincere. Fishing for information was mere happenstance here.
''What are you talking about? Haven't you read the news? It was some hacker terrorist and I never served in the army,'' Nexus acted confused.
''I understand,'' Steve gave him a respectful nod,''In that case we will talk again on Monday. Goodbye, Nexus.''
None had any interest in fighting him after what they have seen, not without Thor at least. And Hulk was too much of a wildcard and too much of a risk without any means to manage him.
Nexus watched The Avengers walk away.
(Much Later:
''Alright JARVIS, hit us. Where is our friend right now,'' Tony asked as they were all back in their labs.
''In your coffee cup, Sir,'' JARVIS replied calmly.
Tony blinked and they all turned towards his cup on his desk.
''That one?,'' Tony pointed at the cup.
''Correct, Sir.''
''It was clearly a mess...,'' Natasha began.
''I know what the bloody message is! I don't need to be a super spy to catch the subtext here. JARVIS play me all recordings and show me any energy spikes in the lab, just in case,'' Tony interrupted annoyed. He threw the coffee and threw the tracker in the bin after destroying it.)
''Well, it is always nice to catch up with friends. Ammarite?,'' Nexus asked the professors.
''I would have to agree,'' Charles decided to play along.
''Be that as it may. Nexus, please let me use the data analysis of your fight to reconstruct a more sturdy simulation room as well as make a simulated copy of yourself to for the students to fight,'' Hank stepped in front of him and pleaded with him.
''Uhhhhh...,'' Nexus took a step back as Hank was too close for comfort. Personal space, buddy.
''Hank,, my friend, I understand your eagerness, but please let us first talk about other matters,'' Chalres requested.
Hank looked disappointed, but took a step back.
''Now, first let us address a worry you may have. I do not mind the destruction of the simulation room. The idea of it, when Hank recently designed it, was to push the students to achieve greater and greater heights by putting them in various scenarios and familiarizing them with different situations. I suppose in a way, you all destroying it in the spar showed that there is still much improvement left to do, before we can consider this project a success and something worthy of pushing the students past their limits.
So no, you need not pay anything in restitution for the damages. Nor will I dock the cost of repairs from your money,'' Charles informed politely.
''Ah, guess I have the job then. You do know you REALLY don't need to pay me,'' Nexus pointed out.
''As I said, I must. Propriety dictates that one must pay for someone elses work or services. You are performing a service to me by teaching these children, thus I must pay you for your service. I know you are well meaning, but insist,'' Charles denied his offer again.
''Well, if you insist,'' Nexus threw his hands out in mock acquiescence. A man of principles, he could respect that.
''Which reminds me. Here. It is a long time coming,'' Sarah stepped forth and gave Nexus an envelope with they money she owed him for all the clothes as well as food he bought for them while they lived in his safe house.
Nexus shrugged and just took the envelope, then pocketed it. He had no interest arguing this matter again.
''I do have to say though, must you really be so hard on them? I would like to see more restraint in the future. What if the beam would have hit them?,'' Charles asked him.
''Better a few bruises in the boxing ring then broken bones outside of it, because you did not know how to throw a punch properly. Besides even if the beam would have hit them, it would have functioned exactly like the ethereal swords, just... more painful. If you really love these children you will allow me to train them to be the best at their craft,'' Nexus shrugged. Or he could fire him. Nexus was not going to coddle the children.
''Why not offer corrections or suggestions and only wisdom?,'' Bucky asked curiously.
''What for? I praised what they already had to show them what they should continue working on. Correction and suggestions could have already been given by you two. But seldom does someone offer wisdom. Among all my teachers I can count only one that tried to share his wisdom to make me grown in character as well as in body,'' Nexus replied.
''Was it the same advise you gave the students just now?,'' Ororo asked. Nexus nodded.
''Look, I don't want to be rude. But can I finally have an answer to my question,'' Hank drew attention to himself.
''Oh, yeah I guess you can. But do you really need to make a simulation of myself?,'' Nexus asked.
''Well, no. Not necessarily. Just using the data to improve the simulation room should suffice, but one day neither you or I will be here and we can't know what the future will hold. For all we know, you will be the most versatile opponent for the next few decades. I was hoping to give future generations of X-men the same opportunities the current ones have. If you mind, I can only use it to improve the simulation room,'' Hank explained.
''Nah, go ahead. Use it for both,'' Nexus waved his hand. Worst case scenario he will hack the simulation room with technomancy and delete the information. But helping the children was something he could get behind.
''I see. And is there truly no way to convince you to show restraint in the future?,'' Charles asked him.
''In case you haven't noticed it yet, Charles, the guy does not know the meaning of restraint. At least now the children get real life experience without the danger. And they seem to be more inclined to listen to this guy sharing wisdom with them, then with me,'' Logan grumbled.
''Well, my friend, you are not known... to have a way with words. No offense,'' Charles looked apologetic at the backhanded compliment. Logan waved him off, for he knew his faults. Living for so long forced one to accept certain things about oneself. He was way too blunt and stubborn sometimes.
''I suppose then our business here is concluded. We have held you up for long enough, but one more thing before you go. As you are now our colleague feel free to come and go as you wish, within reason. You may even come on days that are not the weekend. Now, do enjoy your time with Laura, I was made aware you had to postpone your last plans with her,'' Charles told him finally. He could always talk about his 'empty' mind another day. But he really did not want to take any more of his time today.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''Yo,'' Nexus greeted as he sat on the couch alongside Katherine, Jean, Laura and Rogue in the living room. Then again, the mansion had many public living rooms, so it should be called public space instead.
Jean immediately moved closer to him to enjoy the dull silence again and closed her eyes to rest a little.
''Yo back. You got the job?,'' Katherine asked.
''I got the job. Prepare your butts, because you will land on them for the foreseeable future,'' Nexus joked.
''Liar,'' Laura accused him suddenly from his other side.
''How am I a liar?,'' Nexus asked her.
''You pretended to be hurt so I can treat you,'' Laura accused. She felt a little hurt that he played with her feelings like that. She genuinely worried for him.
''I was hurt. That was not a lie. But I do admit I could have healed myself up with mere summon of the right sword, better then a needle and a string anyway. But you know me by now, I have a peculiar way of doing things,'' Nexus rubbed her head as he barely put the effort to defend himself. She leaned into the head pat, having missed the touch.
''...Don't get hurt again for my sake,'' Laura chose to forgive him quickly. She was not dumb and understood that he did it to show she could be more then a killing machine. She appreciates that he went trough so much trouble to show her how he sees her. It's just...she wished he would have refrained from doing that one thing.
''So, will you just stand around here and do nothing? You want to take a walk around the mansion?,'' Nexus asked them.
''Sure,'' Laura quickly agreed.
''Can we come along?,'' Rogue asked. Katherine hit her with her elbow at her lack of manners. She wanted to know why her powers did not work on him. She was however terrified to ask directly as he could have just nullified her powers in some other way. His earlier description about hope was pretty apt in a way.
''Don't mind her. You two go ahead and enjoy yourselves,'' Kitty tried pulling Rogue away. She resisted and remained stubbornly in her seat.
Laura and Nexus looked at each other. Nexus shrugged leaving the matter to her.
''Fine. It would be nice for my friends to meet each other,'' Laura agreed to her request.
''Ah, so you have chosen to expand your circle of friendship. How quickly they grow up. Soon enough I will grow old and you will move on and forget all about me,'' Nexus fake wiped away his tear.
Laura shook her head exasperately, a small smile on her face.
''Jean you want to come as well?,'' Laura asked.
''Of course,'' Jean replied immediately opening her eyes after resting a bit.
...
''I'm just saying. A car should not have three wheels. I guarantee you, someone was drunk in the entirety where they were designing the car. Worse, in the entirety of the assembly line, from designing it, all the way to production, no one thought 'hey let's put a stop to this abomination,'' Kitty argued as they were all walking on the path trough a forest.
''Tripod or Three-Wheeler,'' Nexus corrected amused, just to annoy her.
''A CAR should have four wheels. A motorcycle two. Even a trailer has four wheels, unless it carries really heavy to stuff then it has six or eight. But even then the number of wheels is even. Three? Three wheels?! The assisting wheels on a toddlers bicycle still makes it an even number of wheels, Kitty continued arguing.
''Motorcycle with a sidecar. It also has three wheels,'' Rogue decided to annoy her alongside Nexus.
''No it doesn't. Right?,'' Kitty looked at Laura and Jean who did not look her in the eyes. She quickly brought out her phone to check, only to wail when she found out it was true.
''Why does she hate three wheelers?,'' Nexus asked Rogue.
''She is tidy and has a little OCD, meaning she likes things organized. Maybe it has something to do with symmetry. Either way it is fun messing with her,'' Rogue chuckled. Hey, so long as no one got harmed what is the problem with making a joke at someones expense? So long as no lines are crossed at least.
''Enough teasing her Rogue. Now you are just a bully,'' Nexus admonished her, causing her to give him the stinky eye.
''Har har. Let's change the subject then. Any significant other in your life? Does someone know the face behind the world renown mask?,'' Rogue subtly probed to find out more about him, just in case he was able to touch her without any workarounds.
''Yes, actually. My girlfriend,'' Nexus replied.
''YOUR WHAT?!,'' Kitty whipped around, stopping her moping on the spot. She drew the attention of everyone to herself. Lauras chest began clenching making her confused, but she shook of her feeling.
As for Jean, she felt rage for a brief moment again. She shook her head at that.
''Alright....? That was certainly a visceral reaction,'' Nexus remarked. There was clearly a question in there.
''I mean... Like, sorry. You have to understand you cut an intimidating figure. And I was, like, really surprised that someone like you has a girlfriend. Like, I did not expect that at all, so it was quiet the shock to me,'' she was starting to get nervous, her tick becoming noticeable.
''Right. I understand,'' Nexus threw her a bone and pretended to buy her excuse. For now.
Except she looked even more nervous now. So, she knew he did not buy her explanation and now had his attention. She was trying to hide something. Not that she registered as a threat, but still.
Nexus was right. This school really is full of weirdos.
''H-Hey. Jean, what about you? Did you and Scott finally get together,'' Kitty tried changing the subject.
''Why does everyone expect us to get together anyway?,'' Jean huffed,'' I don't like him romantically.''
Jean had to admit, Nexus dulling her abilities really emboldened her to speak her mind more freely a little. Brief as the respite he granted her was and the fact that she rested her eyes most of the time she spent with him, it did wonders to her psyche. Then again, Jean supposed it was helped along by the fact that she already wanted to stop trying to become what everyone expected of her long before she met Nexus. It was just so tiring to hear all these voices and all those expectations. Even stone will eventually chip away when a droplet of water only hits on one spot.
''So no chance of you ever becoming Miss Summers?,'' Rogue asked ready to gossip.
''No, never. You know that I can read minds and that I often do it accidentally since I can't control it?,'' Jean asked.
''Of course. We don't think less of you for it,'' Laura replied.
''I know. Anyway. I have seen Scotts mind. He is... I think he is obsessed with me. He likes me just because, without any reason whatsoever. I admit I did try to see once why he liked me romantically. He could not list a single thing. He just likes me and he knows that. For me that is obsessive,'' Jean replied.
''Hmmm. That depends. Have you two known each other for long? Because if you are just strangers then I have to burst your bubble. Most such relationships start with sexual attraction. That is the entire point of dating, to get to know each other and see if you click beyond just physical attraction,'' Nexus informed her.
''No. I have been here longer then him, but we have known each other for several years. You didn't listen. He could not list a single thing. Not disliking some quirk of mine that he secretly likes, not any of my features. Nothing. No reason to like me romantically,'' Jean repeated her point.
''That ...does sound worrisome. And he continues to try his luck, right? Has he ever been... TOO pushy, when asking you out?,'' Rogue asked her concerned.
''No. Whatever Scott is, he is not that type of guy. It is not like I'm some helpless damsel in distress who can't protect herself. But even without my powers I would feel safe near him. Weirded out that he likes me without any reason whatsoever, but no, I would not fear him,'' Jean tried defending Scott. She was speaking the truth after all.
''Then reject him properly instead of dancing around each other. It is a waste of time to him and you to string each other along. Either get together or don't. Either way be done with this whole monkey dance,'' Laura told her, being completely pragmatic. Nexus nodded and pointed at her to indicate he agreed with what she said.
''You think I should?,'' Jean asked a bit concerned.
''Yes. Or give him a chance and see if this goes somewhere. Or are you one of THOSE girls? The kind that keeps the 'nice' guy in reserve when she finds out she is not good enough for the guys she wants,'' Laura snapped starting to lose her temper. How hard could it be to make a choice, for gods sake?
Damn, Nexus was impressed with Laura throwing shade.
Jeans face reddened at the insinuation.
''What? No of course not!,'' she hotly replied. She looked left and right at her friends and then thought a bit. The more she thought about it, the more she found she disliked the idea, her body feeling painfully hot and uncomfortable at the prospect of them being in a relationship.
''I will make it clear to him that under no certain terms will the two of us will never get together. Such a firm rejection should work right?,'' Jean asked them, seeking for approval.
Kitty gave her two thumbs up, while Nexus and Rogue nodded. Laura seemed calm again so Jean guessed that she too approved.
Very well, then she will make it clear to Scott next time he tries asking her out.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bell did not actually ask Jean for any more details to discern why she could not use her ability properly. By all rights she should be able to. Still, Bell felt that he had enough information to make a picture.
Seeing as he had nothing else to do on this Sunday, since the simulation room was being repaired and he already visited Laura, he might just as well occupy himself by playing the detective. With him now having easy and regular access to Jean, he could confirm and discard his conclusions at his leisure while investigating.
He can also start investigating Katherine after being done with Jean. Though, unlike Jean, this investigation will be for himself. Katherine was hiding something.
No matter from which direction he looked at the problem, he always arrived at the possibility of Jean suffering from repressed trauma. Telepathy is hard, and harder if ones own mind is not restful, as the subconsciousness does play a huge role in how one manifests their power and applies it. Perhaps her unconsciously probing everyones mind is a defense mechanism?
From what he had so far, he suspected that Jean was molested. Most likely when she was a child. Then again she was not always at Xaviers school, from what Jean said, so she might have spent elementary school somewhere else, so he might have to investigate that too. There are a lot of instances of teacher molesting students.
But his first suspicion was her parents, mother or father. To many are quick to dismiss such possibilities as it did not fit in their delusion of a perfect little world. But Bell always sought the truth.
And the truth was that all children (innocents) deserved parents, but not every parent deserved a child. So that is where he will start and he will work from there while following Jeans life path. Hells, he will investigate Xavier and all the others too, if nothing before that yielded results.
And thanks to being molested she subconsciously created a split personality to hide the memories in. Everyone reacts to trauma differently, but one way or the other the brain does whatever it can to cope with that horrid memory. This often happens in children, as they can not comprehend what they are experiencing most of the time, but it can happen in adults too.
For Bell the fact that he killed innocents in the war was both his trauma and his guilt. Even he was not exempt from his subconsciousness. Without his prompting it was his brain that kept his guilt/trauma at the forefront of his memories in a (subconscious) desire to be punished. So yes, the brain did work in mysterious ways when dealing with trauma, but one way or another it was a coping mechanism to ensure survival.
And maybe this split personality hates all men and wishes them death. Except, that part was a little up for debate. WHY specifically when he mentioned his girlfriend? And even if the memories are suppressed, bits and pieces slip out. She would have reacted much more aggressive or intense at the suggestion that Scott could try to be pushy and worse.
Which meant that there was the possibility of there being more. Either way, this was the best he had to go on for now.
So that is why he was here.
DingDong x2.
''Hello, how may I hel- Nexus?! What are you doing here?,'' Mr.Grey asked while opening the door. He immediately recognized the figure at his door steps from the news.
''I'm here to talk about your daughter,'' Nexus politely informed, watching him like a hawk for any shift in expression.
Mr.Greys expression immediately soured.
''Ugh, my wayward daughter. What has she done this time? I thought that Xaviers School was supposed to make her behave,'' Mr.Grey spat.
''I don't know. Why don't YOU tell me?,'' Nexus asked amused. Giving them the rope to hand themselves with it. Let them talk and implicate themselves.
Mr.Grey narrowed his eyes at him. He looked around to see if anyone in the suburban surroundings was paying attention to them. Frankly he could do without the attention.
''Come in,'' Mr.Grey told him and stepped aside, closing the door once Nexus entered.
''Who was it, dear?,'' Ms.Grey asked from the living room.
Instead of answering Mr.Grey guided Nexus to the living room and sat down near his wife, while gesturing to the sofa. Ms.Grey noticing now who exactly was in their home, closed the TV and put the tea down. As for Nexus, he was now watching them both like hawks.
''Do you want me to make something for you?,'' Ms.Grey offered, a little apprehensive. Sure, he was known to be heroic, but still.
''No. I can hardly drink through the mask. Besides, this is not a social call,'' Nexus waved off her offer.
''I see. Our daughter then,'' Ms.Grey closed her eyes in exasperation.
''Yes. Your wayward daughter,'' Nexus corrected her.
''Did she kill someone again?,'' Mr.Grey asked him.
?!?
Nexus did not react surprised, but he did not expect the conversation to go this way.
''Not this time. I'm here because she stole funds from the school,'' Nexus decided to play along for now and fish for more information. Both from them and the situation at hand.
Xaviers school was prestigious and known to give gifted kids good education and a scholarship. Hence the name 'Xaviers School for Gifted Youngsters'. Of course ones more in the know, knew it was a word play on the actual situation.
Why would they think it was a school for troublemakers?
''I wasn't aware you work at that school,'' Mr.Grey asked a little suspicious.
''I work there. Heroes are not Hollywood celebrities for Paparazzi to follow around. There is much the public does not know,'' Nexus replied dismissively.
''I'm assuming you seek reparations? I... I don't know if we have the funds. How did she steal the money anyway? Did she use her powers to mind control someone. You told me you have the personal to manage her kind,'' Ms.Grey was starting to get nervous, a pit in her stomach at the thought of the consequences of her daughters actions reaching them.
''I started working there only yesterday, but I very quickly noticed that your daughter is the most... difficult student in that school. Worse, her name is treated as if it were a curse, a plague, not to be spoken off. Superstition I'm sure, but if I am to subdue your daughter I would at least like to know why she is like this. Maybe by having a better understanding I can help your daughter become better. Ignoring her will not help matter,'' Nexus informed them.
He did not correct them in their assumption that they wanted reparations. It nicely applied some pressure on them and made them more compliant.
Mr.Grey sighed and began talking as his wife moved to hold her hands, both as support for him and for her to gather strength.
''There is no helping our daughter. She has always been like this I suppose. Some sort of little sociopath. We just never noticed it until she activated her abilities. Some sort of mind control thingy. It sounds dreadful, to not have control over your own faculties.
They were playing with a ball on the street. Her and that friend of hers, one of our neighbors daughters. Now, I wonder if Jean ever really considered her her friend and us her parents.
It was a day like any other. Sunny, pleasant. It quickly turned into a horror show. A driver came around a corner and hit the other girl. Jean just stood there and did not seem phased at all. And a few days later someone came to explain the situation to us. That Jean mind controlled the driver to drive into the other girl. That she was powerful too and that she was a danger to those around her. He offered to take her in and promised to control her worst impulses. She was eleven then, I can only imagine that she must be worse now,'' Mr.Grey explained.
Nexus nodded along. Meanwhile, while he was listening to their recounting, he also checked the police and medical records as Raezen. So far, everything checked out, except both files, mentioned that the driver was extremely drunk and came into the hospital suffering from minor alcohol poisoning.
That event must have triggered her awakening. Xaviers doctorate on the X-Gene did mention that high stress situations could awaken ones powers prematurely. He must have felt it even without Cerebro, if she was that powerful and swiftly moved to enroll her so that she learn to control her power and does not harm those around her.
That did beg the question. Why did their recounting not match up with some of the things he knew? Or why, for that matter, would they blame that girls death on Jean?
''Yes, that checks out. Xavier does take in a lot of troublesome children,'' Nexus conversationally said, leaning into the sofa.
''We are just glad that this did not get too public. We really could do without the attention. Look, I understand you have a good heart, but I promise you, you are just setting yourself up for failure. Our daughter is a lost cause, don't get attached to her,'' Ms.Grey said kindly, not wanting Nexus to be hurt by their daughter.
''The reparations... How much must we pay?,'' Mr.Grey asked resigned. He did not want to pay anything, but if they didn't it might draw attention to themselves.
Nexus did not reply merely continued leaning into the sofa and began tapping his index on the arm rest.
So his previous assumption was right. Only he used the wrong equation to arrive at the right solution. This new information certainly brought things into a new perspective.
He certainly did not expect Xavier to be this devious. He was half impressed for playing him like a fool and angered that he would use his telepathy like this.
Unless... If he was wrong once, he may be wrong again. Xavier was the prime suspect. But what if he wasn't? What if it was Jean? She wanted to get away from all this, as it only invoked bad memories. She manipulated her parents memories and attitude towards her subconsciously so that they may not recall her back to this painful place.
Certainly plausible.
It did not explain the split personality under these circumstances however and/or her hostility. She was away from the painful environment, so the matter should have stopped there.
Unless...two traumas could exist at once. He was not complete ready to discard the possibility of a molestation. He starred at the two of them in front of him. Two different traumas, both forcing Jean to want to get away from here.
If Bell had to chose between doing a small evil and letting a massive evil occur, he would always choose the former. The lesser evil. He needed to look into their minds anyway to remove their blocks on their memories, might as well check if the two of them touched Jean inappropriately.
Sure, they may be (technically) innocents, even if he did not like them right now for how callous they were about their daughter. It would mean going a little against his principles, but no philosophy was bulletproof.
While they were starting to get more and more apprehensive at his silence he dove into their minds.
It was a trivial matter finding the small blind spot in their brain that was closed off from the rest of their brain. Nexus checked carefully for any energy strands so he may follow them to the perpetrator and resolve this mystery quicker, but alas there was nothing. And he was sure that he did not miss anything, thanks to his experience with the Web of Life and Destiny.
He removed the barriers and undid the memory manipulation at the same time he looked trough their memories, only to find out that they were both innocent of his suspicion. If anything, they were superb parents. Loving Jean in spite of her being so different.
He did not see the face of any one that could have done this manipulation. So it could have either been Xavier or Jean. Their callousness did start shortly after they both departed. Or it was a third party, someone that manipulated them without them seeing their face. Nexus would keep the option open, just in case.
The Greys looked at him for a while longer apprehensively, but then their expression started to slowly shift. Going from apprehension to confusion to consideration to comprehension and then dawning horror.
Ms.Grey was about to scream and claw at her face in rage and sadness, only for her husband to grab her hands in his and bury her head in his shoulder.
''Years. YEARS!!!!,'' Ms.Greys muffled scream came out from his shoulder. Even if it was only one word, both men knew what she was trying to say.
Mr.Grey looked close to tears himself, but he needed to be a man and step up to resolve this matter. He quickly shushed his wife a few times to comfort her before turning to Nexus.
''Nexus, I will not not ask anything about what you just did. I just... if your would hear my one humble request. PLEASE, bring Xavier to justice and expose him for the vile wretch he is,'' Mr.Grey begged him. He was a hero, right? Heroes fight for justice.
''Mr.Grey, I must say, when I came here to investigate matters I did not expect stumbling upon this. I must confess I even expected either of you to have molested your daughter. What I am trying to say is that I came here expecting to find trauma that plagues Jean and stops her from controlling her abilities properly. It turns out I have found out much more then I expected.
Perhaps it was Xavier, be it either malicious or well meaning, perhaps it was your daughter. The brain is known to cope in various ways with trauma and she chose to run away from here as a defense mechanism and did not want you to recall her back. Or perhaps it was a third party neither of us know about yet. Recent developments showed me that I can not quiet discard any possibility,'' Nexus stood up from the sofa and explained things to them.
How dare he think they would ever harm their daughter. Mr.Grey wanted to rage and shout at him, but as Nexus talked he began to calm down. He was still angry at the accusation, but he could understand where he was coming from and also understood that he had good intentions.
''But when you do find the culprit...,'' Ms.Grey calmed down a bit and addressed him with hollow eyes. Defeat permeating her expression.
''I will continue to investigate, I will arrive at the heart of the matter. And I will bring the cause of all this to justice. Be it either someone else...,'' Nexus gave them his word.
''Or Xavier,'' Mr.Grey interrupted.
''For what it is worth, I apologize for the duplicity. But I do work at Xaviers school and Jean has become my friend. Once that is all done I will bring her back to you,'' Nexus felt for them. He imagined that this is how all those families felt when word got back about their dead kin, from the war.
''Thank you, thank you!!!,'' Ms.Grey grabbed his hand and kisses the knuckles of his gloves, before putting her forehead on his knuckles. This made Nexus very uncomfortable, this reverence, but he would not deny her this small comfort.
''For now, I would request not to contact Jean. I know it must be hard for you, but this is a delicate matter and you establishing contact could worsen the situation. I'm sorry,'' Nexus apologized gently removing his hand from Ms.Grey.
''I ... I understand. You are the expert,'' Mr.Grey reluctantly told him, hating the feeling of powerlesness. He was Jeans father and he should protect her, but he loved her enough to recognize he could not help her right now.
Nexus nodded and said his goodbyes.
As he walked away he felt shitty. They just got out from someones mental manipulation only for him to mess with their head again. He implanted a small energy into them, so they do not mention to anyone that he is a telepath. Not only that, but should Xavier or someone else come back and notice that they no longer are being manipulated then the energy will warn him.
Alas, needs must and all that.
He did say that life is not fair and the alternative was to court disaster, so he went with the preventative measure.
If nothing else, he now had many more leads to work with.
(A.N.: 13244 words. Hope you enjoyed reading it. Cheers.)