13

After Eric makes a call he looks at me with a smirk, "Charles said you kidnapped Jean, and if it was not for the great benefits your power could bring mutants, he would not even consider you touching the mutants under his care."

Jeans opens her mouth and seems about to speak up as I burst into laughter, Eric watches me and chuckles while Raven is giggling.

Speaking of Raven, since the changes she seems to be much more relaxed, with the upgrade we no longer need to worry about her DNA being used, as she has total control of it now, so she decided to make any DNA not part of her main body die off at regular intervals, a smart move in my opinion. (Thank you for the reminder, 

Gurnoor_Singh_4533!)

"He was not happy that I messed up the way he was dealing with Jean and in my opinion freed her mind."

Jean hesitates, but speaks up "I know he was only trying to help me, maybe it was just the best he could do?"

Eric and I look at each other, then at Jean with a disbelieving look.

Jean lowers her head slightly and mumbles, "I did say maybe ..."

Eric looks back to me "He will be coming over here with some mutants he thinks would benefit, he mentioned two you did, Jubilee and Rogue. Then some others, Beak, Stacy X, Toad, Callisto, and Lifeguard"

I look at Raven, who now started giggling again, "Eric, Toad is Mort, you know what, never mind. Thanks for making the call." (Those who know the original timeline would know the reason for this comment)

Eric nods and looks at Raven, "Is this a side effect of your upgrade?"

"So he is sending the ones he thinks would be an issue or give him an advantage."

Eric looks over, "How do you mean?"

"Jubilee is very loyal to the Professor and does not really have an issue with her powers, he wants to see if she improves. Rogue, while not totally loyal cannot be touched physically, he might be trying to see if she is useful against me the same as Stacey X who can mess with people's pheromones. Beak, Toad, and Callisto could use the upgrade. Lifeguard I am unsure of this, I heard her power is to sense danger that will impact humans and adopt a power that will allow her to save them."

"Unless she is also here for an increase in power I can only assume he is bringing a human with him."

I look over at Raven quizzing, she seems to consider this for a moment then speaks, "The most likely one would be Moira MacTaggert, that is the only human who Charles would trust enough."

I smirk when I hear this, boy did they mess up? Not only would Lifeguard power never work on Moira, but Moira is the only person whom I would never kill. This might work in my favor.

"Did they say how long they would be?" I ask

Eric shrugs, "Not long I imagine, they have a teleporter."

I smile at Jean, I imagine she is feeling uncomfortable right now. She was going to see them again regardless so maybe it is best in this environment while I still have some advantage as my presence has not changed much yet.

I can only imagine Moira being the 'human' he is bringing unless he wants Lifeguard's power improved. She could be very powerful depending on how her mutation upgrades, she is just not the one I would have selected.

With that, I suddenly feel an influx of mutant energy and grin, seems I was half right.

Someone I never considered, this has made me sure I need to make more adaptive plans, I have a habit of being very rigid, something my tutors pointed out as well.

Joel sighs, the limits of being young, regardless of intellect are that you have not lived long enough to gain wisdom. The only wisdom normally open to you is what others are willing to impart.

We are standing outside Eric's home now, Eric and I are facing the newcomers, Jean is next to me and Raven is behind Eris but slightly to his side. Walking towards us is Beast who is pushing Charles's hover-chair to Beasts left and right are Cyclops and Storm and behind them eight others. I guess Kurt, the teleporter, has been left further back since I can still feel his energy.

I am doing my best not to smirk and glance over all the visitors once, doing my best not to linger on anyone. For a moment I close my eyes and allow my mind to sweep over most of the USA looking for someone, I can see Charles tilt his head slightly as he notices, and at the same time, Jean tugs at my sleeve.

I nod once, found him. Eric does the greetings and invites them all into his home, kinda crowded, being polite I keep the door open. As Rogue passes me I smile and lightly touch the area between her glove and the sleeve, one of the few areas you can reach her skin.

Rouge steps back a moment, her eyes widen and she stares at me.

"Are you okay? I'm so sorry .." She starts to apologize lowering her head, I just smile and answer, "I am perfectly fine, it was my fault, why on earth would you apologize?" I raise my hands so she can see I am fine.

Staring at my hands, she seems lost for a moment. "Are you sure you okay? You not feeling weak are you?"

I shake my head, "Nope, all good, let's head in then, shall we?"

Rouge nods but seems a little lost in thought, I know she is replaying things in her head as she stands in the back corner and leans against the wall.

One of my powers just happens to counter her uncontrolled ability to absorb other's life force and energy. The poor woman almost killed a boy with her first kiss, and since then she has been unable to make direct contact with anyone else's skin, you can understand her confusion, she just felt something she has not for almost 20 years now without causing harm.

It seems Eric and Charles have stopped the social greetings so I plop myself next to Eric on the now very snug sofa, "Hm, we don't all carry around our own chairs, not a bad idea though." I mumble as I realize that was my outside voice.

"Oops, my bad, was sure I thought that." I shrug my shoulder, oh hell, might as well own it.

"So, Charles, nice to see you now that I am conscious, sorry about not sticking around to say thanks, I got worried about my surroundings."

Charles smiles and nods, "Yes, Jean explained on your behalf."

Wait, what, she did?

"Well all good, so anyways. As I am sure Eric explained, my abilities are very much focused on mutants it seems, so I offered to help out so that we could clear the air."

"I am very curious though, I say as my tone becomes less relaxed, why Stacey X is attempting to affect me with her pheromones right now." As I speak the woman with brown shoulder-length hair and what seems to be scaly snake-like skin bends over and starts to throw up.

(Stacey X's powers: Stacy X is sensitive to pheromone emissions. She secretes her own pheromones, allowing her to stimulate body functions in others to cause orgasms, vomiting, adrenaline rushes, etc.)

I just did to her what she was attempting to do to me, but strangely I notice Charles seems shocked.