This is the first of a multi-chapter fic involving "regular" mutants initially disassociated with Xavier's institute and The Brotherhood as you can see, but spoiler alert it will not always be that way. It focuses on the discrimination against and ill-treatment of mutants in America, as well as the various types of challenges everyday mutants face due to this. If you're wondering whether or not this will feature some of our mutant favorites, I can gladly tell you that I will definitely be including various familiar faces of both good and evil in future chapters. To suggest specifically who should appear, please do so in a review and I will gladly consider any suggestions brought forth.
This is only the preface, so bare with me on future plot development and addition of canon characters. The identity of the main character will also be revealed in detail in due time. As always, please read, enjoy, and review!
As a sort of addition to the Mutant Registration Act, mutants seeking a college education must spend a select amount of time in a Mutant Training School. The government had set up various locations around the country to go along with the already ever-popular Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. This wasn't an easy process, nor a pleasant one. Mutants would be evaluated by their classification every year during public schooling (private schooling usually didn't accept mutants). Depending on their abilities, age, classification, and most importantly their danger level, they would be shipped off to various sites around the country for their "Mutant Training". Xavier's school for mutants could only accept so many students, and although there was rumor of another branch of expansion, the government decided it was best for them to take over.
It's not too bad in theory, but it's even worse when you have to live it.
Shipping Day was here, finally, after a dreadfully short Summer. Shipping Day was the day in which mutants from all over the country would be sent off to their "Mutant Training Schools". Only the lucky ones actually got to go to school.
Xavier's institute sounded like sweet heaven to us as we quietly chattered about, sitting in our armored bus. We'd heard the rumors of the places we'd be sent to, and none of them were good. Siblings and friends huddled together at the windows, watching their hometown go by, along with their family, friends, and homes. Although we each had average time frames for how long we'd be away, we feared for the worst: that we wouldn't be able to come home again, at least for a very long while.
Most of us were here because we were going to be heading off to college soon-or we would have liked to. And it wouldn't have been too different if we'd moved away, at least, that's what the officials tried to tell us. We knew it wouldn't be, though. There, living in dorms we would have freedom and the choice to come home. But here, or at least, where we were headed, we knew it would be like a prison.
My best friend lay rested against my shoulder, and I lay against the cold window. She'd been lucky enough to find comfort in sleep, but although I'd tried hard, I got nothing of the sort. Silently, I stared out the window at the passing shrubs and rocks of the California desert. We'd had most of our items confiscated from us before we had boarded the bus, so we had no real sense of time except for the sun in the sky outside of the window. Judging by that, it was probably four. They'd all set out before noon, the guards and officials manning the operation allowed us to say our goodbyes to family and friends. It wasn't enough though, but we tried to be strong. I turned my head and looked down at my friend. She'd been lightly clutching one of my arms and tried to make her tight seating situation as comfortable as possible. At least we weren't alone in this. This was the first year this requirement was set into action, so anyone who fit the broad spectrum of characteristics to fill their uncomfortable bus seats, they chose. She was a year older than I, and she tried her hardest to get accepted to her dream college-she did, by the way. The new MRA addition kept her from actually attending. I, on the other hand, was getting ready to apply. I had schools set up and my test scores sent, but during the last school year my once-latent mutant abilities began to show forth. Neither she, nor I would technically be considered very dangerous. She could absorb light, and manipulate it and it's counterpart: darkness. Nothing that could cause any real harm, unless you happen to be an epileptic or have a strong fear of the dark. My abilities weren't even noticed until I was nearly hit with an out-of-control football whilst walking the track during P.E.. I was focused on my conversation, so I didn't notice until I heard the distant shout of the school's obnoxious sport-o-holics. I looked up and raised my arms in defense, ducking to the side to try to avoid the incoming assault. I heard a thwunk and the ball was bounced back towards the field. When I opened my eyes all who had seen stared at me. As confused as I was, I didn't know why. That was when my friend who I'd been talking to reached out with a cautious hand and it rested against an almost invisible force.
To cut that story short-I can create energy force fields, creating a firm barrier around my self in default, but also can extend it further towards objects. That last discover resulted in me being escorted to the principal's office by the on-campus cop. I'd been stuck behind a crowd of ridiculously slow and rowdy bunch of teenage boys. A couple of their friends pushed past me to join them, and I reacted without realizing. I sent two into the lockers behind them, two more into a pair of giggling girls, and another had toppled over a trash can. Needless to say, I caused a disruption because of my lack of control over my new found abilities, and I was sent to be re-evaluated by Mutant Control.
That second incident was what really landed me here. But at least my best friend didn't have to go it alone.
In the distance, I could see what looked to be a large community of buildings in the desert surrounded by fences. That must be where we were headed. I turned and gently shook my sleepy mutant friend's arm, whispering her name excitedly. "Mari! Mari, we're here! Look!" She awoke quickly, grumbling, and rubbed her eyes before blinking, and looking out into the distance, her eyes following where my extended finger pointed.
The noise in the bus got louder as the mutants stirred. The armed guard sitting at the front of the bus noticed and kept a silent eye on everyone.
"Is that it?" Mari asked me, straightening up, suddenly more awake. She unlinked her arm from mine to stretch a little and adjust her position.
"It has to be. Where else would we go?"
In the distance we could see the armored buses ahead of us turn down a dirt road, heading closer and closer to the compound in the distance. Our bus soon turned onto the same dirt road, causing the patrons of the bus to shake and sway at the sudden change from smooth highway to bumpy road.
"I'm nervous. What is it going to be like?"
"I don't know," I told her quietly, genuinely, "I'm scared too."
We were all ordered off the bus and watched carefully by the abundance of armed guards waiting there. One of the men waiting for us wasn't armed that I could tell, and he looked important in his fancy grey suit. He suddenly began barking orders at us and his men.
"This facility is for Delta, Beta, and Alpha mutants. You have each been marked by a colored stamp on your hand prior to your arrival, and that stamp will serve to distinguish groups. Yellow stamps, you are Delta. All Delta mutants will be lead to the west wing. Red stamps, you are Beta. All Beta mutants will be lead to the east wing. Blue stamps, you are Alpha. All mutants will be lead to the north wing. You will comply without defiance and proceed to your intended location single-file. Any defiance will not go unpunished."
Already, this place was like prison. Thankfully we weren't being handcuffed, but the lines of armed guards with their big guns and steely gazes were enough to make one feel like a prisoner.
"Break off into groups now! Any questions will be answered once all mutants have been sorted."
Like that, we were all being ushered around by the guards and others, the stamps on our hands being our only source of guides. One of the armed guards yelled, "Delta, Yellow!" Taking the hint, all mutants in that classification, including myself and Mari, moved toward the guard. We were then lead across the grounds to a large secure looking building. It was plain and grey. On the windows were bars, and on the corners of the building were various security cameras.
In a whisper, I turned behind me and told Mari, "All we need is a ball and chain now and we're all set for prison duty." She gave me a faint attempt at a smile, but we both knew there wouldn't be much to smile about today.