[Before the Storm] Something Spooky This Way... Enrolls?

[hauntingyou]

There was a notebook and a felt-tip marker hovering in mid-air inside the office of the Headmistress of the Xavier School. Behind it, Julia stood, invisible, inside her new hard light exoskeleton. She would have sat down, but she was still having trouble moving and manipulating the shell.

She was a little nervous, still unsure about interacting with people again, even though Mrs. Grey-Ramsey had been filled in that Julia wasn't just a mass hallucination brought on by mid-term exam jitters. It had been a while since anyone had noticed her, and just as long since she'd sat in a classroom.

The pen vibrated slightly against the notebook. Julia was trying hard to keep her nervousness in check. They didn't need any more bleeding walls or fly infestation incidents.

Comments

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel stepped back into her office from an ill-timed bathroom break, apparently. When she returned there was a nervous marker and notebook hovering in the room. She blinked and then remembered the 'newest' prospective student was supposed to meet her.

"Hello, Julia. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

[hauntingyou]

The marker scratched across the paper.

Hi. Not too long.

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel crossed the room with well-practiced ease. Though instead of going behind it, she went to the front. She leaned back against it as she faced where the ghostly girl was. Floating notebooks were a precise giveaway. "Professor Richards informed me of your presence and how he helped you. And of Porthos earning a pizza for not running away. How's your new hard light body doing?"

[hauntingyou]

The hovering marker hesitated. She didn't want to seem ungrateful to Professor Richards, he really had helped her.

It's hard to move in it. I have to push it like the pen, and that makes me tired. I keep slipping out of it.

[nohoundsallowed]

She nodded sympathetically. "It is a big adjustment from being free-floating. The more you work with it, the easier it'll become to use."

She paused and took a breath. "I should apologize. I had sensed a presence around the school for a bit, but with the influx of students, I didn't check it out stridently as I should have because I assumed your presence was something from one of the newer mutations on students. Apparently, even old hands at this make mistakes. And for that, I apologize."

She tilted her head slightly. "Would you like to communicate outside of pen and paper? I can set up a telepathic link for communication. Just directed thoughts toward me. No delving beyond that, I promise."

[hauntingyou]

I'm sorry about the computers. And the windows. And the coffee maker. And the clocks. And, um, that thingy in the basement.

And anything else she'd glitched, moved, misplaced, or traumatized for life since she'd arrived.

That sounds a lot easier.

[nohoundsallowed]

"No need to apologize. As you've seen here, the student body is unique and destructive in their own right. We're prepared for that kind of damage."

She gave a slight smile before focusing a little. She reached out with a gentle telepathic touch to the girl's mind.

If you can 'hear' this, then you're good to telepathically talk with me.

[hauntingyou]

Julia was confused. To her, nothing seemed different than when Rachel was speaking.

I can... hear you? Is this telepathy? It doesn't seem any different than talking. Can you hear me?

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel quirked an eyebrow. Well, now. That was interesting.

Yes, this is telepathy. And it might not seem different to you because I'd venture your a telepathic being. Mental powers are how you sense the world around you.

[hauntingyou]

A telepathic being? I'm a ghost. I remember... I'm pretty sure I died.

[nohoundsallowed]

The manifestation of your mutant power most likely brought on your current state. I can find a more definitive answer later. I'll have to talk to Kitty about phased molecular states. But for now, what's your full name, Julia? And where are you from originally?

We'll have a better chance of piecing together what happened if we know where to look.

[hauntingyou]

I'm a mutant?

There was a long pause.

Before I left to come here I went to my own funeral.

[nohoundsallowed]

Most likely, yes. I can confirm it with a scan from Cerebro, but I'm usually right about where a telepath gets their powers.

Rachel pushed off the desk to stand up straighter. She rubbed her fingers across her lips contemplatively.

Before that. Where did you go to high school?

[hauntingyou]

I'm a telepath?

Another pause. Finding out you were the ghost of a mind reading mutant was a lot to process.

I, um, Mount Rose. In Virginia. Don't telepaths read minds? I've never done that. Just floating through walls, and all the scary stuff.

[nohoundsallowed]

They can. Some start out that way. Others have to learn to do it because they only broadcast. The latter is what I think your case is, but only people receptive enough and trained in the mental arts would be able to hear you.

Rachel's eyes lost focus as she considered the options. There had to be more than telepathy going on. Telekinesis had to be part of the girl's power set with her ability to move objects. Though the manifesting of bleeding walls was something else entirely.

It may be more simple to refer to yourself as a psychic individual. Considering your current non-corporeal state. You have more than telepathy. A little telekinesis, too. And I'm not very certain you're dead. Because I have a very hard time communicating with dead people.

[hauntingyou]

Julia went quiet for a minute.

I don't know what to think. I remember drowning, and everything going black. I remember everyone saying I was dead, and I couldn't get them to hear me. I'm just glad someone can finally hear me.

[nohoundsallowed]

It is a lot to take in. And you have time to sort it out. You're welcome to stay here at Xavier's for as long as you wish. Rachel would have to let the janitorial staff know. And bump up their budget a little to take care of bleeding walls. But she couldn't very well toss out a young mutant who was alone and confused.

Not today, but sometime in the near future, I'd like you to meet a couple of the staff here. Most of what I've told you is my educated guessing. Dr. Henry McCoy could help us sort out what really happened. You'll like him. Big, blue furry guy with the soul of a poet. Or you could see him as a very literate Cookie Monster. The other's Professor Kitty Pryde. She's had a lot of experience with walking through walls.

[hauntingyou]

Julia felt a wave of relief that probably broadcasted across the telepathic link.

Thank you. I mean, I'd love to, but I don't want to freak out any more of the students. That, um, already happened a few times. Oh yeah, and one of those guys in armor running around with the big guns, but I kinda meant to do that. What's up with them, anyways?

She paused.

I don't know where else I'd go. Float around from place to place and watch people living? I've been doing that for months. It's so lonely, it would make you crazy. Maybe that's what happened to all the bad ghosts that try and hurt people. They went crazy.

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel smiled slightly at the relief. Definite sign they were on the right track with this young lady. The students will be notified of your presence so less freaking out should happen. The guys in armor with big guns were militant bigots who want to see all mutants dead. Thank you for helping get them off campus.

She laced her fingers together in front of her and considered. Well, ghost or not, you haven't finished your education. We could enroll you in classes to help alleviate the listlessness. We can get your records from your old school to figure out where you'd be academically outside of all the mutant-centric courses. You will need to take the mutant courses if you're going to be existing on campus with us. That covered the ghost angle, but Rachel still had a hunch this girl was a mutant with a horrible manifestation. Though that might have been obstinance since Rachel was definitely weak in the paranormal areas.

[hauntingyou]

It was strangely satisfying knowing he couldn't hurt anyone with his gear all shorted out, and he'd peed in his armor, anyways.

I had just finished 11th grade when... the accident happened. That was a year ago in June. I think it was a year ago. Mutant classes would be cool. Maybe I can learn how to talk to everyone, without a notebook.

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel nodded at the retelling of the Purifier incident. Well, that explained one of the many mysteries that other people had to sort out while Rachel had been unconscious.

We can work on that, sure. Telepathic broadcasting is definitely something we can look into. I'll see if Martha Johansson is available to help. She, too, had a unique time here at Xavier's.