Searching for the SHAZAM!

[Rasp]

Anthony had spent most of the day kicking back and enjoying his new accommodation. After more than two weeks cooped up in a medical cell that sported gray as its primary colour and a wall that showed you exactly how healed you wern't, the idea that he could walk about, look out of the window (even if there was a jungle) and make himself a coffee was awesome.

He lounged slightly gingerly in one of the chairs with his feet up on the end of the bed and sipped coffee while the sun slowly tracked its course across the sky. Not for the first time he thanked the powers that be for the gift of air conditioning.

After a long while his thoughts turned once more to his supposed mutant powers. There had to be something there. He'd touched on it before but hadn't really understood how he had done it or even what he'd done. The power of slowly falling bandages wasn't exactly one of the most impressive he'd ever heard of.

How did one make a mutant power work?

He closed his eyes and thought of all the super-heroes he knew. The list was very short. He tried to lift the bed, which proved to be no easier than usual. No super strength then. From the wounds he had inflicted on himself he clearly didn't have super human resilience. He stared at the wall until his eyes watered, still nothing happened. No X-ray vision or lasers then.

Disappointed he sat back down on the end of the bed and hoped that Mr. Lensherr would have the answers.

[magneto]

Now that Anthony Jenkins had been moved out of his holding cell into a friendlier setting, Erik felt now would be a good time to visit. He had brought his files on Jenkins in order to help demystify the things that were happening to the new mutant. Erik hoped he would catch on quickly, because he didn't have the patience to hold the man's hand through everything.

Erik was now standing outside the man's living quarters. He knocked twice and waited, knowing full well the man had not left his room once since he had been placed there.

[Rasp]

The sharp knock at the door broke Anthony out of his reverie with a start. He hadn't expected guests. It then occurred to him what a crazy thought that had been. This wasn't even his home, someone could turn up unannounced at literally any time, morning, noon or night. He stood, shaking his head at his own foolishness and opened the door.

Mr. Lensherr stood there waiting patiently, a wad of files held easily under one arm.

As soon as he saw who his guest was Tony broke into a broad smile; the last time he had seen his mysterious benefactor Anthony had been flat on his back and wrapped head to toe in bandages. He'd barely been able to move, let alone engage the man in any sort of conversation about what sorted of changes had been made to his body.

Hopefully, things would now become clearer. At least Anthony hoped so. He found himself eager to discover exactly what it was he could do, like a kid at Christmas with a mystery present.

"Hello Mr. Lensherr," he greeted the older man, "good to see you again, I'm really feeling much better now!"

He held the door open and gestured for his guest to enter.

[magneto]

The door swung open and he was face to face with a very alert and lively Anthony. This was a good sign indeed.

"Yes, you look and sound better, too! You've recovered nicely, Mr. Jenkins." Erik made his way into the room and looked around. It was comfortable, if not bland. He made a note to send up reading material later on.

"The reason for this visit is you. Some major changes have taken place, and you're probably wondering what exactly is going on. May I sit?" Erik gestured toward the single chair in the room, then sat down in it.

"As you can see, I've brought a few files with me. We've determined what exactly your mutant power is. Mr. Jenkins, you have the ability to control the friction between objects. Thats the reason you were so badly wounded; you increased the friction between the air and your body." Erik sifted through the files, then handed the other man a piece of paper documenting Anthony's powers.

[Rasp]

"The staff here have been taking good care of me," he said cheerfully.

Anthony closed the door and sat down on the end of the bed facing Erik. He listened carefully to what Mr. Lensherr had to say and read through the file when it was passed. At first glance the power of friction seemed disappointing at best, and then Anthony started to consider all the things in the world that relied upon or were affected by the force of friction.

Suddenly, the possibilities were boggling.

Though science had been one of his better study subjects he wasn't sure he could easily begin to list the ways various forces interacted with the world.

"Friction huh?" He said eventually, "that's ... that's pretty big!" He stopped and thought about the way the scrap of bandage had fallen so very slowly. He then started to wonder whether or not it would be possible to do it to a person. No more worries about vertigo.

He found himself grinning at the thought.

"That sounds very impressive Mr. Lensherr," Tony commented excitedly, "how do I," he tried to find the right wording, "turn it on?"

[magneto]

He couldnt help but laugh aloud. He wasn't laughing at Anthony, he just found the image of a lightswitch inside someone's body to be amusing.

"Turn it on, Mr. Jenkins? My good man, your mutant abilities are already on, all you need to do is find it. For the first time, it might be best to close your eyes, and just search your mind. Your mutant abilities are not natural, and so should appear very strange and new to you. Once your mind is focused on what you can do, try to use it on something. The window shades perhaps."

He wasnt quite sure about the whole experience of suddenly waking up with mutant powers. What he was telling Anthony right now was how Adam had described his own experience. He didnt see why anything might be different between the two, apart from their actual abilities.

[Rasp]

Tony nodded slowly; the power was somewhere inside him, he just had to find it. The shades. He looked at them as they fluttered gently in the warm tropical breeze that was wafting in through the open window. The shades.

"Ok," he said a little uncertainly, "I'll give it a go."

The shades. The shades, the shades, the shades.

He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the image of the shades, the way they rippled in the wind. The way the sun played across the glossy surfaces. He could hear the slightly metallic rustle as they moved. Then he looked within himself, searching for something different, something that had changed or something new.

He still felt normal enough.

A peculiar sensation stole over him, the way the hairs on the back of your neck rise in the presence of the unnatural and within his own mind he found something ... odd. Like a reflex that hadn't been used in a long, long time. It was a difficult thing to focus on however, slightly elusive, like a traveling itch that refuses to be pinned down no matter how hard you try.

After a few moments of frustration Anthony stopped trying to pin the sensation down and opted instead to follow its course through his body. It passed through him like a shiver and suddenly he understood, at least a little, how it was supposed to work.

Slowly, eyes still closed, he extended his hands toward the windows and shepherded the ripple through his arms and out in what he hoped was a projection of ... something.

He stood there a few moments, feeling slightly foolish and then noticed that he couldn't hear the metallic rattle any more. He opened one eye a crack and looked at the shades.

They were still moving, but in a wholly unnatural way.

It was like watching a movie in slow motion, or underwater. The window shades rippled with a weird, undulating motion, as if the air around them had turned to syrup.

Anthony grinned and looked a Mr. Lensherr. He still wasn't exactly sure how he was doing it, or even exactly what he was doing, but he was doing something!

"I can't believe ... " he began excitedly.

Then the shades clattered back against the windows and normality resumed.

Anthony's smile faded, "thought I had it then."

[magneto]

Watching Anthony discover his new powers was something akin to watching a child explore the outside world. It brought a small smile to his face to see the man's expression turn from delight to crestfallen when control slipped out of Jenkin's grasp. He would push himself hard to be able to use his abilities. Something about it stirred old paternal instincts in Erik.

Watching Anthony's mutant powers in action stirred old tactical thoughts, as well. Once he harnessed his powers, who knew what could be accomplished? Stopping bullets and slowing down the enemy were things that came to mind.

Erik himself would soon be able to leave his self-imposed isolation, and he was more than ready for it. He couldnt recall how long he had been away from the rest of the world, but he was sure it had been too long. But right now, the man before him needed his attention.

"Learning to control your powers will take some time and effort, but you've made the first step already. You're probably eager to play with these new talents, and we have just the place. The Valley of Shadows, a training complex with the latest technology at your disposal."

[Rasp]

Hope and more than a little excitement kindled in Anthony's eyes as Erik explained the training facility. Mr. Lensherr certainly hadn't spared any expense when it came teaching his new students how to use their powers. As he pondered this Anthony realised another important fact; he was going to be able to go outside! It felt like a life-time ago since he had felt the wind on his face, and though there was an awful lot of jungle out there he was sure the training facility would be reasonably open.

"Thank you for this opportunity Mr. Lensherr," Tony said sincerely, "you have given me something great I think and I plan to learn how to use it."

It seemed slightly unreal to Tony that only a few short weeks ago he had been living on the streets with nothing to his name but the clothes on his back, and now here he was in a room with a view sporting super-powers.

I guess, he thought to himself, I must have finally done something right.

[magneto]

"Feel free to use the fascilities whenever you like. It would be a crime to hinder you from reaching your full potential."

Satisfied that his visit had served it's purpose, Erik stood up and gathered his files.

"I'm afraid I must be on my way. I'm expecting a very important phonecall and I'm sure you're ready to get out of this room." He gave a knowing smile towards Jenkins. Erik knew exactly what it felt like to be trapped in a room, although his experience had been a lot worse.

He made his way to the door and opened it, but turned back to Anthony.

"I'll be checking up on you from time to time to see how your training goes. I expect to to hear progress, Mr. Jenkins. I know you can do it." And with that, he closed the door behind him.

Truth be told, Erik didn't have an important phonecall to catch but research to do. Research on NovaTex and the Brotherhood. He was certain that they weren't just robbing banks, but gathering a new force of mutants. They needed one if the Brotherhood was going to stage an attack on a such a major company. Erik wanted to know exactly what was going on.