James remained silent about Xavier's plans. Letting out a deep breath, he looked into his eyes, "Why do you need me to go? I'm sure you and New Horizon have many more trusted people who can do this for you." James said and got up. Going over to Xavier's cabinet, he pulled out a glass and returned to the table, pouring himself some wine. Xavier smiled, seeing how brazen he was being, but said nothing, enjoying it.
"Do you think everyone in New Horizon agrees on who should control Zoktis' home. This is different from, let's say, a natural God coming into existence through faith. In that situation, all you can do is bow your head in respect and be jealous. But Zoktis is another thing. This could be a way for a person to usurp it themselves, and many people at the highest level of New Horizon are very greedy. Of course, out of them all, I have made it so I am ahead in this race."
James took a sip of wine and chuckled, "No matter what organisation, people will always have their self-interest first." James bitterly smirked, "But if you know this, surely your rivals in New Horizon do as well."
"Of course, but you see, they don't have freedom as I do. A great benefit of peering into the future is that I can plan for any issues that may arise when I leave my station. Sure, I can solve them before I am gone, but if I leave a contingency for my people, then all is well. As well, I have some support in the upper brass, mainly the older folk who oversaw my..." Xavier smiled, "Creation. We will be meeting with those who will help me."
James nodded, "Then why do you need me. Surely you could do this yourself."
"And risk war between our two sides, starting again. James, if I or anyone related to New Horizon steal it directly, I am sure you can see what will happen, but you're an outsider. If you take it, I will protect you, of course, but you will become the target instead." Xavier took a sip of wine, "Choice is yours, but I say take it. Hardship is the only way to grow."
James took a deep breath, "I'll think on it. Give me a couple of days." Xavier nodded.
"I leave in a week." The elevator opened after his words, and although Xavier did well to hide it, James could see a flash of surprise on his face, not having expected someone to come up
'He didn't expect it?' James looked at the door and covered his mouth. Before, he was only going off Xavier's words, but now, with proof, he felt slightly more at ease, 'There are ways to block his sight.' Letting out a breath, he saw Agent S walk in, sparing a passing glance at him before stopping before Xavier.
James froze up and stared at the ISD agent, wondering why he had come. Fearing that he was here to take him or Xavier, he ran his eyes and stared at the man waiting for him to use his ability. Inside Agent S, a large golden ball was centred around his heart; inside the ball, a scale. Agent S shot another glance at him before focusing on Xavier once again. Placing the briefcase on the table, he pulled out a document.
"Director Read has reviewed your proposal and offers this. If it is up to standard, please agree." Handing the paper to Xavier, the man snatched it and spent ten minutes carefully reading through everything. James stayed silent, looking at Xavier in confusion.
Finishing it, Xavier happily nodded and stamped his finger on the bottom, feeling part of his aura being sucked out. "You are free to tell Mr Graham of your agreement, but he will not leak it to the outside world." Agent S turned to him, "A contract will be sent to you. You will sign when it arrives." Pushing his glasses up, he turned around, leaving the briefcase behind. Xavier greedily took it, his hands shaking as he opened it.
"James, I have one favour." Taking the vial, he held it up, "Look at this and tell me what you see." James activated his eyes and felt a pain in his head the moment he laid his eyes on it. A flood of information washed over him, filled with contradictions and history. Quickly turning away, he took a sharp breath, rubbing his temples.
"I can't look. It hurts." Xavier nodded and got up. Undoing his tie and top button, he stood before the window and looked out at Newport.
"Then tell me the changes you see inside of me." Xavier looked at the city and carefully brought it to his lips. The cold liquid danced on his tongue, leaving behind a sweet taste as it went down his throat. James looked at Xavier and focused as hard as he could.
The blinding silver light in Xavier cleared up the more he focused, and finally, he could see deeper in it. Behind the silver glow, three snakes fought inside him, entwined, snapping at each other, their eyes replaced with clocks. Looking more closely at them, he saw that each of their scales had minuscule writing on it. James tried to focus on one scale, but felt the same pain he did with the liquid and defocused.
Xavier slumped over on the table and grabbed his face. Blood fell from both eyes, gushing faster and denser with each second. The pupils in his eyes expanded, turning his entire eye black. Grabbing his face, the blood fell through his fingers as he let out an agonised groan, knocking the two glasses of wine over.
James didn't move and stared. The snakes inside of him stopped and opened their mouths, drinking the liquid he had swallowed. Their silver scales vibrated as the clocks that replaced their eyes spun. Xavier collapsed to his knees and rapidly breathed before scratching away at his forehead.
James took a step back as he slowly rose again, pulling his hands back over his eyes. From his forehead, he saw a deep slit form and a blood drop from it. The slit opened, revealing a third silver eye that shook, its pupil a clock. The eye shook for a second before stopping and closing as if it had never existed. Xavier pulled his hands away and looked at James. His eyes had changed, becoming pure white.
Lifting his hand, he reached out and touched the window. "Fasinating." James looked at the snakes inside him, their former calm gone as they returned to fighting each other. "I can't see and yet I can." Looking at James, a silver flash rolled over his pure white eyes. His lips curled up as he chuckled in delight. "It is so much clearer. I can see more." Xavier shook in pure joy. "What did you see, James? You must tell me." Xavier stepped before him.
It was a wonder how he could still see. James could tell he had lost all sight in his eyes, and wondered if he could even call them that anymore. Calming himself down, he explained everything that had happened. Xavier smiled and nodded once he was done, going to his cabinet and grabbing two extra glasses. Pouring them a drink, he smelt it and exhaled in delight.
"What did it do?" James asked. Xavier indulged in the wine, savouring the taste before speaking.
"Before I was in a swamp without any light, blindly walking. But now, I have a torch. I can't explain it any other way; you must experience it to understand." Xavier said, unable to suppress his happiness. James stared at him, focusing on his eyes. Xavier noticed and brought his finger underneath it, touching the streak of blood underneath.
"You're blind?" James asked again.
"Yes and no. I can't see how I did before, but I can still see. Everything is dark, and I don't think I will see the sky in my life again, but I see outlines of everything." Xavier moved his hand to his forehead and stroked where the third eye had appeared, "So strange. I don't understand any of this." Although to most they would have sounded disappointed, James could hear in Xavier's tone that he was fascinated by it.
It made him wonder. Was the reason he and Xavier were able to form a partnership so easily because they were similar? Although his goal was godhood, Xavier at his core craved knowledge, a desire that he could only assume stemmed from his ability to see the future, and he craved the truth. They were desires that walked hand in hand.