Issue #7 - Gemini

Issue #7 - Gemini

It was the adventure of his life. Jake had never felt this way before. In such a short time - barely four days! - he had already experienced so much... and there was so much more to know! He had arrived at the special institute for the likes of him, which was supposed to help young mutants in developing their powers and in controling them. This mutant school, while mutant-only, was the same as every other school... except for the fact that in addition to learning Maths, English, Physics etc. they were being tutored by psionics to make better use of their powers. Even though there were only two adolescent mutants at the time - Jake himself and the Polish boy named Erik - the lessons started. Not the normal ones, however, because while Jason and Dream took care of many things, they couldn't find any other mutant teachers interested who would be loyal enough not to sell them to the government or even darker organizations. However, now that Emmanuel had awaken - thanks to Jake nonetheless! - they would get the school up and running in no time.

Mr. Sin (who, while in class had ordered both of his young students to be called per Mr.) had already started his training sessions with Jake. Three days ago Jake had entered the Astral Plane for the first time... Two days ago Jake had discovered that he could copy powers of those he had bonded with... One day ago Jake had been training in the Astral Plane again, thanks to Emmanuel's help, they entered it. The young mutant was not accustomed to using his powers to enter it - only through bonding with someone he could do it, but instead, thanks to the telepath's help, they both managed to project their astral self into the world beyond their comprehension. Beyond anyone's comprehension.

As far as Jake was concerned, Emmanuel was planning to use his powers to find other suitable mutants in the immediate future - both as students and as teachers. He seemed to have a considerable network of connections. He knew a lot of people in the mutant community and many of those people owed him something, so they would be loyal-ish to him. Unless something goes wrong.

After the yesterday's training session on the Astral Plane, the young empath was so tired that he fell asleep almost immediately (of course, not before taking things into his own hands and reliving himself. And now he was dreaming.

HELP--

--US!

He woke up after hearing that terrible cry for help! It was as if two people said in... but in unison, as if they were one. He had no idea what was going on. Were they actually calling out to him?

Jake went to bed feeling pretty good. He had come a long way in his training, and he was progressing so fast, it felt like every day he was learning something cool, something more powerful. He loved it, it made him feel good.

But Jake's dream woke him up. He felt the cry for help as if from two voices at once. But once he awoke, it didn't feel like a dream, it felt.. different. Were the voices in his head?

Hello? Is someone there?

Jake used Emmanuel's telepathy - which was far more limited than the original's - to send a psychic message across... trying to figure out if there was someone sitting in his head. No one responded however. It seemed that the two voices - which almost sounded like ONE, only managed to send a desperate cry out for help and not create a working mental link!

Jake frowned a little as he pondered what had happened. The more he thought about it the more he thought it wasn't a dream. It had seemed so real. But Jake was getting no response.. and he wasn't well enough verse in Emmanuel's telepathy to find them.

He got out of bed, fishing around for his boxerbriefs and pulling them on before quickly heading out of his room. He didn't have much time, it felt so urgent. Jake quickly made his way towards Emmanuel's room, knocking quickly and waiting impatiently for an answer.

Jake only put some boxer briefs on and headed out of his room to find Emmanuel. He didn't bother dressing... after all, it sounded so urgent. They couldn't waste time. He knocked on the door to the man's room, but there was no response. He did again and only after another moment had passed, they opened to reveal Emmanuel, only in his boxer briefs, who was touching his forehead with his fingers. "Uh, Jake?" He said a bit confused... especially that the boy sensed someone else in his room. Someone's emotions - because he couldn't feel them from Emmanuel himself - he was too good a telepath for his tricks to work on him. It seemed that the blond perfection had quite a headache since he was massaging his forehead so adamantly.

Jake raised an eyebrow as he sensed the other person in the room. He already had the idea that it was Jason, though, and he wasn't that surprised. He even grinned a little until he remembered why he was here.

"I uh.. I just woke up.. I had this dream, only I don't think it was a dream. I heard two voices calling for help, telepathically.. I think?"

Emmanuel frowned, still massaging his forehead, "You did too?" He asked surprised, "So the call wasn't directed to me. It had to be an astral scream. A cry for help to anyone who nearby sent through distorting the Astral plane... not everyone is capable of such a feat, even in a grave situation. It's like a distress call - anyone with enough telepathic prowess can sense it. It means that either those mutants are not aware what they had just done, or they are in extreme danger. Perhaps even both." The man wondered and then quickly added, "You didn't feel any pain, did you?"

Jake listened carefully once again to Emmanuel, then shook his head at the question. "No," he said, "No pain." He stared at Emmanuel curiously, "It hurt you though? How? Was it just that powerful? Maybe it didn't hurt me because my powers are so weak in comparison, ya know?"

He shrugged, then frowned, "How do we find them?"

Emmanuel shook his head, "I think it didn't affect you, because you're not really a telepath and your fraction of my telepathy, while enabling you to sense this distress call, didn't mark you as a target. Or perhaps... it is because you're an empath and the message, while carrying a powerful emotional charge, was actually ripping the Astral plane apart. As an empath you do not possess such a strong affinity to it as I... It is as good an explanation as any, I believe." He nodded and added, "Go get dressed. Meet me in the living room in ten minutes." He ordered and locked the door behind him.

Jake's eyes got a little wide as Emmanuel explained it all. Jake had no idea what Emmanuel was saying, really. He'd trained on the Astral plane and stuff, but mostly it was all still new to him, he didn't know what to do with it all or what it all meant, but it sort of made sense in a way to him.

He nodded as Emmanuel abruptly told him to go get dressed before heading back into his room and closing the door.

Jake frowned at that, then smirked, turning to walk back towards his room where he got dressed and then returned to Emmanuel's room once more.

Jake quickly got dressed and got to the living room, where an elegantly dressed Emmanuel waited for him. He wore an expensive white suit with a deepskyblue tie. He run a hand through his hair and before they went out, he lead the boy to the kitchen, where he prepared some 'early breakfast'. "Be my guest." He said, showing him the table with some of the more exotic dishes on it. "The cattering's good here, you know." He laughed, taking a piece of a lobster into his mouth like a perfect gentleman. "I also called for Erik. He should be here shortly."

Jake blinked, almost skidding to a halt as he came upon Emmanuel. "What the..?" he asked, "Why are you dressed so nice?"

He looked over the food that had been prepared as well, "And this food.. you made all this? Just now? It seems kind of.. fancy. I mean.. shouldn't we be hurrying?"

But it did smell so good, and Jake helped himself to a few items, quickly eating.

"Because I always dress up like this on business trips, young man." He smirked. "I suggest you eat something before we take off, unless you want to starve to death while we're on our way to Texas." He shook his head, "Not really, Dream did it." He said, pointing to the woman sitting in the corner. Jake didn't see her there, she looked a bit tired and sleepy... but so content on her face. She was all smiley and stuff. "Hello there, young man."

Jake blinked and nodded. Texas? Emmanuel worked fast. How did he already know they were going to Texas? These people here had a lot more going on than he had thought.

He took a few more pieces of food, practically devouring them like the teenager he is.

"Texas?" he mumbled through a few bites of food, "How are we going to get there?"

His eyes flickered towards Dream. Was that who Emmanuel had been with? Jake wondered.

"Yes, Texas, some small village which name I couldn't make out, but I know where it is and how to get there. Of course we'll take the plane. Dream has already made an arrangment." Emmanuel was eating slowly and gracefully, stopping to speak.

"They are friends of mine so it was no bother." She smiled so sweeeeetly!

"Uh, hello?" Erik appeared in the kitchen, dressed up in a green shirt and jeans. "Good... uh, morning? Mr. Sin, Miss Dayspring." He nodded respectfully and sat behind the table, taking some of the food on his plate and eating quickly. He tried not to look at Jake... feeling very uncomfortable around him and Sin at the same time.

Jake nodded. A small town in texas? Didn't sound particularly friendly. But oh well, he'd have Emmanuel with him.

And Erik. He looked up as Erik came in, giving the boy a friendly and knowing grin, "Hey dude. How ya doin? Sleep alright?"

His eyes flickered towards Dream again. It seemed strange how she was acting. It all seemed kind of strange to Jake. Emmanuel dressed up like this? To rescue people? and Dream was always so... dreamy like? So weird.

Erik blushed a bit, "Uh, ok, everything's good... well... uh."

As if sensing Jake's thoughts, Emmanuel spoke up, "This suit here is kind of like my costume, uniform. While you don't have your own costumes yet, I will make sure that you will. I have already requiested a friend of mine to make you some." He smiled, "After all, it's superhero business, right?" He laughed. "And there's a reason as to why you'd wear these things, this material is highly resistant to blows and temeperature, so it'll protect you from serious harm... if there was some danger." He explained, finishing his breakfast, "Of course, we will worry about it later. I have a feeling that not only we will try to arrive in Texas tonight."

What Emmanuel said made sense and Jake nodded even as he continued eating. Jake could really eat a lot with his metabolism, and he was often hungry, so he made sure to eat his fill. Occasionally he glanced towards Erik, remembering what they had done.

He looked towards Emmanuel, "Uniforms huh? That sounds cool I guess. As long as it isn't like.. spandex tights or something." He laughed. "So when are we leaving?"

"It's not spander nor..." Emmanuel protested, but Dream chimed in.

"It does feel like latex though,"

"It also does protect you from energy blasts and bullets."

"Of course." Dream rolled her eyes, and laughed silently.

"And the way it looks on women..." Emmanuel gave her a grin before turning to Jake, "In few minutes. Anything you want to do before we leave? Jake? Erik?"

Erik shook his head, finishing his food. "Ready to, uh, go, sir."

Jake raised an eyebrow. Latex? Kind of kinky. He could see himself in it though, Jake figured he'd look pretty hot. He smirked a little at the thought.

But then Emmanuel asked if they were ready and Jake nodded, "Yep, let's go."

"Be careful, Emmanuel." Dream looked at Emmanuel with a smile on her face. He looked at her too and smirked a bit. Then he turned to his students as they made their way to his car - a beautiful brand-new white (of course!) ferrari. "We have to get to the airport, but few things first," he explained as he started the car, "If anyone asks, we are from a prestigious school only for the most gifted youngsters. We have a proposition for those two we've heard... of course I believe Adrienne will do exactly the same thing if she's already there." He 'hmm-ed' and then added, "As I am your teacher, you will refer to my only as Mr. Sin. Is that clear?" His gaze lingered on Jake for longer than on Erik. "Also, if there is any confrontation, stay out of harm's way, but use codenames only. I am White King. Erik, you are Lifegiver, and Jake, you are Temper..." He grinned a bit at the last one, wondering what the boy's reaction would be.

Jake watched the odd exchange between Dream and Emmanuel again. He'd have to dig into that later and find out what was up with it.

But he nodded as they went out to the Ferrari, "Shotgun!" Jake called, meaning he got the other front seat.

As Emmanuel made it clear he was to be called Mr. Sin, Jake just grinned a little. "Whatever you say, Mister Sin," he said, drawing out the title a little mockingly.

Emmanuel gave them all titles and Jake raised an eyebrow, smirking, "White King? Does that have anything to do with that Hellfire Club thing?"

He liked his name. Jake didn't think he had a temper really, but it still sounded cool.

As they drove through the darkness, Emmanuel frowned at Jake's mocking tone, but then grinned a bit, "Yes, it is connected to it. Tell me, how much do you know about it though... Temper." Erik was silent, sitting in the backseat and thinking to himself. He didn't comment his codename, he quite liked it.

Jake shrugged a little. "Not much," he said, going a little quiet as he remembered what he had seen. All the death. That must have been hard, "When I was trying to help you, I just heard the name."

He watched out the windows as they drove. It was fun being in a sportscar like this. Jake wondered if he could talk Emmanuel into letting him drive it some time. Maybe if he could catch Emmanuel with his guard down his powers might help...

"I see." Emmanuel commented, "The Hellfire Circle is a circle of the most influential mutants on Earth. Influential, rich and powerful."