Title: Teke and Telepathy Collide
Description: Psylocke
Jean Grey - October 20, 2009 10:16 PM (GMT)
Today actually started better than previous days, mainly because Jean had been doing a lot of meditation recently. For the first time since everything that happened between her and Frost, she was actually looking forward to the day and although nothing would ever make her feel better about herself or her actions, at least today she was able to face it in a positive way.
The doors to her balcony were open as Jean hovered above her bed with her legs crossed, allowing the sun's rays to land on her body. She kept her breathing steady and sure enough as the telepath took her first deep breath, her red hair rose subtly. Her motivation? Control. She needed to be the one in control or there would be nothing to prevent a reenactment of that unfaithful Danger Room session; there would be noone to stop her.
I won't risk their lives anymore.
Glowing eyes snapped open as Jean continued to meditate, though if one were to look into them they would see how vacant they actually were. Elsewhere, somewhere darker, her familiar green hues were also revealed and before them the mansion lay in ruins.
"This can't be happening..."
Psylocke - October 20, 2009 11:44 PM (GMT)
Psylocke's day had been going the same as usual. She'd made a couple of aquantances in the students and of course, visited with her old friends as well. Other than that, Betsy went about her day as expected. She'd done her Logan's Run twice already, as well as a Danger Room session. After taking an extremely long shower, Psylocke went about the rest of her day trying to enjoy herself.
The day was beautiful, so Betsy took to the skies with her telekinesis. In all Psylocke's days without telekinesis, she dreamed of being able to fly. Because of this obsession, she even got her charter piolets license before she got her regular drivers license. It was the thing she was most excited about after her powerswap with Jean.
It was then that she saw Jean on a balcony with a rather vacant look about her face. She knew Jean was concentrating on her telepathic prowess. She had to be with that look on her face.
"...Hullo Jean" Betsy said softly as she flew in the nearby vicinity. Jean may not even hear her if she was concentrating enough. In the past, Betsy simply would have joined Jean, telepathically saying hello. Those talents were gone now.
OOC:jean wont be able to see this part
Reminiscing on her past abilities, Betsy entered her own mind. She vizualized her mind as a fortress, fitting for such a warrior. It was inside one of the corridors of the fortress that Betsy's telepathic mind was in shatters. Each piece of glass reflected a piece of her former self, glowing brightly, illuminating the room.
Jean Grey - October 22, 2009 04:56 AM (GMT)
Yet it was.
Jean stood at what used to be the large iron gates, and in its place the bent metal framework for the structure simply hung limply from its hinges. The same gates that once held behind them so much hope and promise for all mutants, now only reflected darkness and despair...maybe even death. "I don't understand...What happened here?" Though the better question would probably be, just where exactly was here.
The Professor, her fellow X-Men, the students...where was everyone? Needing to know what lay amongst the ruins, she tried to sense the presence of someone, anyone, but to no avail. Still, she didn't let that hinder her from moving forward. Every step down what used to be the driveway to the remnants of...her home, felt different yet at the same time it was also familiar. It was like her mind knew the person responsible for such destruction and it, not her, was influencing her movements.
Finally at the end of the driveway, a sound came from amongst the ashes. But it couldn't be..."A bird?"
Before the telepath could go any further fire engulfed the ruins of the mansion, then just as quickly, the entire scene disappeared as Betsy's voice was heard.
Jean's physical form remained motionless where it was, in the same meditative pose; but it was her attempt to reach her friend telepathically that would have an unforeseen effect. Instead of only projecting her thoughts into Psylocke's mind, her own mind became linked as did her astral self.
"Betsy?" The name was said into the darkness.
Psylocke - October 24, 2009 01:21 AM (GMT)
Psylocke and Jean had linked their abilities once before in the past. As a result, Betsy's telepathic strength was transferred to Jean and Betts became a telekinetic. It must have been because of that former relationship that caused the shards of Betsy's telepathic self to start combining like a shattered mirror reforming. With each shard that combined with each other, Psylocke could feel her telepathic abilities returning to her.
She gasped from the feel of Jean's mind combining. She landed on the balcony with Jean as she too re-entered the Astral Plane. Her mouth had dropped from the long lost feelings returning to her. She was dressed just as she was in the corporal world in her uniform designed by The Hand.
Psylocke also saw the destruction represented on the Astral Plane... "Jean...? What has happened here?" The sight was a horrible image of their home destroyed... yet at the same time, It wasn't the home they once knew.
Jean Grey - October 24, 2009 08:23 PM (GMT)
As Jean waited for a response, the scene from before re-appeared and this time there were no flames. She took a few steps away, unsure just who or what was responsible for this, but certain that it had to be an illusion of some sort. It's the only thing that made any sense.
Then there was a strong telepathic surge behind her, causing the telepath to turn towards the source. Seeing Betsy, there was a small sigh of relief. Honestly, she wasn't sure what she expected to see, but was glad to see that it was at least a friendly face. Jean was still dressed pajama pants and tank top, like she had been wearing in the physical world which resulted in her shivering when the wind picked up almost on cue at Psylocke's question.
"I...I'm not sure. I don't even know where we are...I remember meditating and now," she motioned with her head to the destruction. It didn't make any sense. In fact..."Your telepathic powers...they've returned?" Jean's question came as the scene appeared to ripple, possibly because it was about to change. Just what that change would be however, was anyone's guess.
Psylocke - October 24, 2009 11:59 PM (GMT)
Psylocke walked over to Jean's side in the Astral Plane. She had been meditating apparently... Such an image was definitely not to be associated with clearing ones head of stray thoughts... Psylocke knew this was not the work of her long-time teammate. It was much too horrific, especially to someone who had been an X-Men since her teenage years.
Jean's question was more of a statement than anything. To which Betsy nodded, "Some sort of reaction to my telepathic prowess once added to your own, no doubt. Somehow your abilities caused a spark in my mind, which has allowed my shattered astral form to realign itself. I don't quite understand it all... Or even my limits."
There was a pause. The feeling Betsy was experienced felt more like home than anything. It was the abilities her DNA had gifted her with (if she was considered a true mutant that is... Afterall, her father was an alien from the Otherworld.) The sights were definitely no welcome home party though.
"Shall we work together to restore this image to it's true beauty?" she asked with a smirk. In the astral plane, any well trained telepath would be able to alter the world around them with relative ease. With a place so familier to the X-Men, it wouldn't be hard to form the X-Mansion and every single detail...
OOC: our plan is a go, BTW
Jean Grey - October 28, 2009 11:10 PM (GMT)
Jean was still in awe at the scene before her and although she didn't know it at first, there was a sense of relief to have Psylocke's company. And that wasn't surprising considering the skills her purple haired teammate possessed. There were some mutants you were just lucky to have fighting on the same side you were; Besty was one such mutant.
Turning her head to face her when she tried to explain what she thought happened, that resulted in her telepathic abilities returning, the red head's face didn't reflect relief for some reason. Though it wasn't because she wasn't happy for Betsy; she was worried about herself and just what it was that could have caused any of this for that matter. Was it safe?
There was no verbal response to Psylocke at the mention of restoring their home to its original beauty, because Jean had her eyes on the fountain that was now in ruins. As she continued to look at it the same fountain appeared fixed in its original location, amidst the destruction. Now she knew where they were. The Astral Plane. The realization caused the fountain to return to its state of disrepair. The only thing said then was..., "I did this...I don't know how ...or why, but I just know that I..."
"We have to get out of here."
Call her paranoid, but something wasn't right.
OOC: Awesome. :3
Psylocke - October 30, 2009 03:33 AM (GMT)
Psylocke went on her way using the limited use of her newly refound telepathic abilities to try to recreate the home the X-Men knew. With all of her focus, she was able to change the area surrounding her bout 20 feet, but it wasn't enough. Jean seemed upset or something... She went on to say she created all of this... Betsy didn't quite understand. Why would Jean create the image of such a destroyed place? A place she called home since she was a teenager? Realizing how wrong that sounded, Betsy turned around to look at Jean, trying to make sense of what she was saying. Her brows furrowed together in concern and wonder.
"you...." But Betsy was cut off by Jean's new tone. Psylocke, after rejoining the Astral PLane after several years of absence. Several years of silence, didn't comprehend why they had to return to the corporal world? The Astral Plane was basically the playground of psychics. For something to touch one of Jean Grey's nerves, one of the rare omega level telepaths, it was a serious deal.
"Why... Whats...?" Betsy couldnt help but ask questions.
Jean Grey - November 4, 2009 03:17 PM (GMT)
Jean knew how crazy she must be sounding; she was even sounding crazy to herself. So Betsy's questions were definitely warranted. The answers to those questions however, were unclear even to the telepath. She didn't answer at first, but instead looked on as Psylocke's abilities attempted to restore the beauty to their home. Of course she wanted to help; they were in a world designed for them after all.
Yet, something wouldn't let her.
"I don't know if you know this or not....but there's a part of me that I used to have under control...until recently. Now..." As she looked at their ruined home, the flames started just like before, but strangely wasn't hot. "Betsy, it's like my nightmares are becoming real. You're here right now because I apparently linked our minds....But that's just it, I didn't..." Jean's gaze remained unbroken after her words trailed off and sure enough what sounded like a bird's cry, echoed around them.
Psylocke - November 4, 2009 07:34 PM (GMT)
Psylocke's mouth was partially open just from the stare she was giving Jean. Her eyes narrowed when she heard the ferocious... bird squall. Psylocke had never heard of such a thing. Something was inside of Jean, using her telepathy... And somehow the creature had given back Psylocke's telepathic potential, causing the shards to slowly build back into a fortress.
She'd never heard of any sort of creature, so Betts was still very hesitant. What she knew was only that she heard some sort of thing make a chilling noise. Through all of Charles Xavier's teachings, and Betsy Braddocks friend Alison in STRIKE, she'd never heard of anything so bizarre.
Betsy was unnerved by all of this. It was as if it were some sort of omen. Jean apparently had more than enough power inside her mind. She hadn't needed Psylocke's added boost of telepathy during their powerswitch a few years previous. Her teammate had more than enough; which could mean... Betsy contemplated that it was possible that Jean was a more powerful psionic than Xavier? Xavier's power was under control and not destructive in nature. Jean's telepathy had created the horrifying image of the X-Mansion. It wasn't Jean, though. It was an uncontrollable aspect of Jean.
The pieces were coming together, and Betsy could feel the upcoming danger. It must've been her precognitive abilities reforming slowly as well. She didn't see her usual flash, but there was a feeling throughout the astral plane that was chilling. All she could do was sit back and watch...
Jean Grey - November 13, 2009 07:43 AM (GMT)
The bird squall was enough to cause Jean to start her retreat from the scene before them, gently taking a shocked Psylocke's arm, to hopefully get her to follow. Though, that was assuming she still trusted her after all she had just told her. She may not have intentionally brought them to the astral plane, but together maybe they could leave.
"I know you feel that; whatever it is, because I feel it too. Something so...dark..." Jean's eyes went back to the ruins when the bird was heard again before looking at Psylocke once more. "I'm going to need your help if we're going to get out of here before the danger we're sensing becomes real."
If only the Professor was here. He'd know what to do.
And if they couldn't get out, then they would need to be ready for whatever it was that was coming.
