[Age Of Apocalypse] - Jean Grey

In Xavier's School, Westchester County, New York,

Jean Grey was sitting on her bed with a doll in her hand. She stroked the doll's face absentmindedly. She heard some of the children outside laughing and giggling, so she looked outside the window to her right and saw them playing. A sad smile appeared, and she turned back to the doll in her hand. Looking at the doll brought back painful memories, which made a tear drop fall from the eyes of the doll as she muttered, "Annie... This doll is the only thing that reminds me of you..."

. . .

10 years ago, she and her best friend, Annie Richardson, were playing outside Jean's home when a car accidentally hit Annie and killed her. This traumatic situation forced Jean's powers to awaken, and she couldn't control nor did she know what was happening to her, and she emphatically linked to her dying best friend. Of course, hearing a dead person's thoughts, especially your best friend who's dying in your arms, can leave anyone traumatized for life. Jean Grey was only 5 years old when that happened to her. Anybody can imagine the toll it took on her brain.

Her parents, Prof. John and Elain Grey, tried to help in every way a parent could, but she couldn't return to normal. She isolated herself from everyone. She would always lay in her bed every day without eating or drinking and stare at the ceiling in a daze. And, when she wasn't staring at the ceiling, she would talk to herself. She would laugh, cry, and smile while being alone. She would also sometimes levitate above her bed.

Seeing all this, her parents assumed that an evil spirit had possessed her body, so they called a priest. Yet, with a glance at Jean, the priest realized that she wasn't possessed. He told the same thing to her parents and explained. He told them she wasn't possessed but had awakened her gift. A gift that could change her life. He advised them to contact Prof. Charles of Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters, who would help her immensely. He told them their daughter was a mutant and she should be taught a mutant like Charles because he was one, too.

A few days later,

Charles was sitting in the living room by the window of the Greys' house. He was patiently waiting for Jean to come to talk to him. It didn't matter if she took four hours to come down and talk to him because if the information he received about the girl was accurate, he had to make her his student.

A few minutes later, he turned to see Jean walking down the stairs with a sad expression on her face. They immediately used their telepathic powers on each other and were surprised that neither could penetrate their minds.

Charles was more impressed by Jean, and he gestured for her to sit in the chair before him. Jean did so, and they began talking. Or... Charles did most of it. She kept silent.

Charles sighed for the umpteenth time when she didn't answer his question.

He thought, 'If I can't make you talk to me like this, then maybe this... would make you talk.'

He used his telepathic powers, increased his effort, and entered her mind.

＜Would you talk to me now?＞, Charles said to her while leaning back in his chair.

Seeing her shocked expression, he smiled and heard her ask, ＜Y-You are a mutant?＞

＜Yes, I am.＞ Charles nodded and replied.

Jean lowered her head and asked, ＜T-Then, do you also hear the voices in your head? Voices that don't stop?＞

Charles sighed and said, ＜Yes, Jean. We have the same gift. When my powers awakened, I began to hear voices in my head. I couldn't stop them, no matter how much I tried. I couldn't sleep, couldn't drink... I couldn't do anything. I wanted the voices to go away. But they wouldn't until... I learned to control them. From then on, I learned the usefulness of my power. I learned my limit.＞

He asked her, ＜What is your limit, Jean Grey?＞

Charles waited for her to reply, but Jean simply blinked and looked outside the window. He also looked outside, and his eyes widened when he saw every car in the neighborhood levitating.

"Amazing..." he muttered absentmindedly.

. . .

* KNOCK *

* KNOCK *

* KNOCK *

The gentle knocks on her room door snapped Jean out of her reverie, and she returned to the present. She heard the knocks again and quickly wiped her tears. She hid the doll under her pillow and stood up. Straightening her dress and fixing my appearance to hide the fact she was crying, she walked to the door and opened it.

She saw Hank wearing a suit and Gambit standing outside her room. She put on a smile and asked respectfully, "What happened? Prof. Hank and Gambit?"

Hank smiled and said, "Professor Xavier wants you down on the X floor. He said he wants to show you something."

"Okay, I'll go." she nodded and watched Hank and Gambit walk away.

Gambit removed a stack of cards, shoved them in Hank's face, and urged, "Pick a card! Pick a card!"

Hank pushed the cards out of his face and annoyingly replied, "What's with your obsession with cards and gambling?"

Gambit clicked his tongue in annoyance and said, "Che! Don't insult the fine art of gambling, you beast!! Only gentlemen can understand the gambling art!!"

"Yeah, yeah.." Hank waved him off.

Jean smiled, watching their argument, and walked away not before closing the door behind her. As she walked in the hallway, she noticed how most students looked at her walking their way and avoided her. She sighed when she saw this and hurriedly walked down.

She reached down at the X floor and looked around. Suddenly, she heard Charles' voice in her head, ＜Over here, Jean!＞

She followed his voice and arrived in a hallway. She saw him in front of a metal door and approached him.

She looked at the metal door and asked, "What's this?"

"This...", Charles smiled and replied, "is something Hank and a mentor or friend of mine built. It would help me connect to the mind of anyone on this planet."

"Really?" she asked curiously.

"Yes," Charles nodded, and as the metal door opened, they walked inside.

Jean's eyes widened in shock when she entered the room, and she heard Charles say, "Welcome... to Cerebro."