Chapter 39 - Lost Control (2/2)

Xavier was worried that if something had happened to this friend she talked about; it was quite possible something worse could happen. The mental barriers he had placed inside her mind to help her control her powers were strong enough, but when emotionally distressed anything could happen.

He didn't want another incident, like when her parents died, to happen. It was the reason he had found her, and it was something he hoped never happened again. Though that could explain what had happened at that time, now that he thought about it.

He was lost in his thoughts for a small amount of time before he finally came up to the steel doors. Opening the doors with no problem, he felt the agitated mental waves that Jean was producing as he placed the helmet on.

Knowing what the person's name was, their general description and where they used to live was enough information for Xavier to find a person. Although he usually used Cerebro to find mutants, it could be used to touch every person in the world. If he couldn't find him with this, then the worse possible outcome could have occurred.

Focusing his mind and reaching out towards the New York area, he started his search. It didn't take him long before he found some people familiar with Peter. By starting at where he used to live and the information he could gather, it seemed that Peter Parker had disappeared off the radar close to a year ago.

After his Aunt died, he had run from social services, and had never been seen again. Using another 20 minutes to search nearly every person in the city for mention of the name Peter Parker, he could only find small thoughts of him at the newspaper, 'The Bugle'.

This was the best lead he had yet, but this still wasn't enough. Peter hadn't given in a photo in the last 2 weeks, which was a worrying concern. Much could happen in that time. Before long he finally took the helmet off and let out a small sigh.

”Anything Professor?” The hopeful voice of Jean sounded out in his ear, and he turned his wheelchair to look at her. He didn't want to dash her hopes and tell her that he couldn't find his signature at all. But he had to.

”No Jean, I couldn't find him.” The hope that had filled her eyes instantly extinguished and he felt the mental turmoil she was going through. Her powers flared as she knew that if the Professor couldn't find him that usually meant he wasn't alive. She tried to keep herself calm but her powers ran out of control.

A panel or two cracked and the platform they were standing on shuddered as her abilities ran rampant. Xavier reached out with his mind as he tried to calm her. ”Jean control! You must control yourself.” Jean's eyes snapped towards him and for a fleeting second, he could see the red that flickered deep within. The fire that was demanding to be let out!

He redoubled his efforts as he tried to control his fear, and thankfully in the next second it was gone, and Jean calmed down. Her body deflated as if the energy in her body was sucked dry and she slowly lower to the ground.

Her powers going out of control like that had sapped her energy. Falling into the chair of the professor, he quietly called for Hank's assistance as she had fainted from the exertion. Looking down at the prone figure, he let out a breath of relief and tried to enter her mind.

He wanted to place stronger mental barriers, as the old ones were starting to beak. Just as he entered her mind though, a flash of flames came flying towards his mental projection and knocked him out. Grunting in pain he left her mind and gave her a worried look.

'This is not a good sign. I will have to gain her help when she wakes.' Thinking that, he waited for Hank to arrive, a small piece of him feeling sorry that her friend was likely dead. As she and he both knew, he could find anyone with Cerebro, well almost everyone, but if he couldn't find a normal person, the worst would be expected.

Hopefully Jean would be calm when she woke up.