Disclaimer: I own nothing except the students and faculty from Ripley minus Tara, Nanaki (Takamo's property) and Julius, Margolian, Damien, Natasha (Rejected Angel Hell's Gate or somethin's property). I have nothing except a white painted, asylum bedroom with cut out pictures, a Superman poster, and a theater masks poster. Tell me, would you sue? It would be rather pointless.
CHAPTER ONE
Charles Xavier stared at the television screen with a strange mix of emotions. He was angry at the news crew for turning the events into a three-ring circus but saddened to watch the students. Most appeared emotionless about the attack but a few cried.
"Professor, why hasn't anything like this happened to Bayville High? If they can do this..." Scott Summers indicated the television screen just as the footage of the exact bombing was showed again. "Why not here?"
"Fear, Scott. They're afraid for their own children; that school is majority mutant. Bayville High, on the other hand, contains most of this town and the people capable of that's children. It's the fear of hurting their own,"he explained, patiently, folding his hands together.
Rogue spoke up from her armchair to the left of the screen. "It's lahke burnin' down your own home to kill a mouse, ain't it?" she offered with only the barest look up from her book. It was a novel involving demons or vampire from the cover art. She always seemed to have some form of bloody, violence filled novel on hand; it was a little creepy.
"Exactly, Rogue."
"What will happen to the students? They wouldn't be left uneducated during this time...would they?" Jean Grey turned away to look at them. Her forehead was creased with worry lines and her eyes much too bright.
Xavier sighed. There was so much none of them understood. He was the most disappointed that Jean and Scott had to ask. The answers to their questions were obvious.
"Of course not. They will be split among local schools..."
"At least we know they won't be sent to Bayville," Scott said to the sounds of cheering from the new recruits. He looked toward Jean but found her frowning and shaking her head.
"What makes you positive of this, Scott?" Xavier's words weren't angry, but it was obvious he wasn't pleased with their attitudes. He'd expected more support, mainly from his oldest students; anything but this coldness toward their own kind.
"Because it's crowded already and there's a lot of mutant riot activities, and uh...it's a majority normal school," he said, words faltering the entire time.
"Nice way to open your mouth and insert ya foot, Summers," Rogue answered, instead with her graish gray-black smirk. She closed the book slowly after memorizing the page. She cast him an amused but dark look.
"That's enough, Rogue. Some of their students will be attending Bayville High until repairs are finished. I expect you all to treat them with respect and kindness." His gaze leveled on where the newer recruits were throwing popcorn at each other. All movements stopped. "Make friends but don't grow attached."
"In Lamen terms," Rogue began, standing to stretch then making her way out of the room. She finished over her shoulder. "Don't get attached and Jean, hands to yourself."
"Rogue!" The shout was almost unanimous from the other students and the professor, who simply shook his head.
Xavier cleared his throat then wheeled himself around at Ororo's entrance. He took the book she offered and gave it to one of the students, offering it toward them all. "The pictures with blue outlines will be students that join the high school. A black line with it means they're mutants," he explained then turned back to Ororo. His full attention went to her. "There's a meeting with the prinicipal of Ripley. I'd like you and Logan to attend."
How could I be so stupid? Scott wondered once Xavier was gone. The new recruits were poured over the yearbook to examine it's occupants; Bobby and Ray took turns commenting. I made myself look like a fool and insensitive. I'm such an idiot.
Stop beating yourself up, Scott. We all made a mistake by assuming too soon, Jean said through her telepathy. Her voice wasn't accusing but the tone wasn't exactly friendly. It was almost neutral with a cool edge.
Sorry. Am I projecting?
Very much. Come look at the new ones. They don't seem like a bad group, just a little worse for wear, she sent back but motioned for him to come over to the table.
He didn't want to but had always had a hard time to saying no to Jean. He made his way over to them, avoiding several scattered books and plants; he nudged Jamie aside. A bad move since it caused two of him to appear.
"Why can't all mutants look normal?" Jubilee asked around a mouthful of pink gum. She tapped her fingers against the blue and black outlined frame.
It was on a picture of a black girl with spiked pink hair; black roots were just able to be seen. Her lips were almost painted into an unrecognizable black non-smile while her eyes were dark brown. The collar of a blue polo shirt could also be seen at the bottom of the picture.
"Don't judge people, Jubilee." Jean flipped through the pages until it came to another picture with the same outlines. Her expression tipped into a smile. "Now see? They're not all 'different'."
"Hey, he's kind of cute," Rahne pointed out then studied him with interest.
To Scott, the guy looked like a drug addict. His eyes were reddish-tinted and slightly smaller than normal size. Brown hair fell over his forehead, covering part of a large scar down the left side; his expression had a complete frown-smirk. The expression reminded him too much of Rogue's 'real' death glares. Even Logan left her alone during those or kept his eyes averted.
"Vill you stop discussing zem like science expriments?" Kurt demanded, coming into the room, without the protection of his image inducer. He walked over to look down at the pictures. "Zey might not be so bad."
"Kurt, we're just trying to learn something about the new students before we actually meet them," Jean said, giving him an encouraging smile. He still wasn't always comfortable around them with such topics. She flipped through several empty pages while the others offered their agreements. Signatures jumped off the back gray pages along with random words from bright color ink. Every color from black to pink covered the connected sheets of paper.
"Give up smoking, Landon. Cigarettes will kill you. Tara'? What is with these kids?"
"I don't know,"came the reply from the three Jamie in the doorway. They entered more like a unit then one person multiplied. "We have a training session with Logan."
The new recruits visibly cringed, but after a moment longer, they followed him from the room. Their voiced complaints and mumbles were barely heard after their footsteps had begun to fade away toward the training room.
Scott waited until they were gone to pick up the year book and flip to the back, scanning the signatures there. Marks, like twin fangs, rested in the center of one page along with the scrawled name of someone; a very short name.
"Did someone bite it, Jean?"
"Um..." Jean was at a loss for words.
"Okay. Pick us a student; let's broaden our horizons through them.."
He really didn't want to but he knew it's what the Professor wanted. He'd do it for his oldest mentor and teacher. It was the best he could do for the man that had taken him in and helped him learn to control the strange powers he'd been given; it would never be enough.
Jean flipped several pages until the Ts came into view. It took a few more minutes and a page flip to find another blue and black outlined student-Tara Toynbee.
"Wow, Toad got a sex change."
"That's not funny, Scott. She will be one of the new students but it appears that she is indeed mutated like Toad."
What was your first clue, Jean? He wanted to demand the question and shake her but refrained with an inward struggle that he hoped was hidden from him. She barely looked in his direction, intent upon the yearbook photos.
"There will also be several new faculty members...a sexual education teacher, a wood shop instructor, and a French teacher," she explained, pointing toward the pages that held the faculty pictures. It only stretched across two half a pages. "They're, basically, just to 'watch' their students. It's meant to make sure that there aren't any unnecessary or necessary problems caused during their stay."
"This one looks too young to be a teacher," Scot told her, examining one of the teachers. She was red-headed and scowling; there was hardly a thing pleasant about her. "Nanaki Creed."
Xavier spoke to both their minds with his telepathy. You two will need to come to my office for a few moments. It concerns the new students.
Is something wrong, Professor? Jean answered but was already on her way to his office with the yearbook. Scott caught up and fell into step with her.
Wait until you're here...
Scott and Jean entered his office exactly ten minutes after his last words to them, immediately noticing the other adults present. They seemed to be the youngest people present but the others did no more then nod before returning to their respective position.
"Scott, Jean, please have a seat." Xavier's voice was gentle but there was an authoritive edge to it. He nodded to Logan and the door was closed. There was a tense silence for a moment before he began introductions. "These are several of our new faculty members. Margolian, Damien, and Nanaki....these are two of my oldest students, Scott Summers and Jean Grey."
Margolian nodded, though, the move was barely recognized since he wore sunglasses, indoor. Scott opened his mouth to ask but was stopped by a nudge and shake of Jean's head. Damien shook both their hands before returning to his post beside Logan without a word to anyone in the room. Nananki, straight from the picture, said something then gave then a tight-lipped smile.
Xavier continued after their introductions. "This is the principal of Ripley High School, Katherine O'Brien...she's an old... friend of mine," he said, giving her a smile which she returned, though, hers was a little weaker.
Katherine O'Brien was tall with brown hair twisted into a tight knot on her head. It looked like it hurt to have it up there but Scott made no comment. Her clothes were made up of well fitting jeans paired with a simple red, button-down shirt and a pair of hiking boots that were laced tightly. A pair of glasses hung around her neck on a string of bead-like circles but otherwise she looked like someone's rather normal mother.
Scott, Jean, stop letting your minds wander and don't project.
Katherine was the one to speak out loud first. "It's alright, Charles. I'm sure my appearance must be a bit strange, knowing how professional Prinicpal Kelly is," she explained, inclining her head toward them. Her smile never wavered. "Ripley isn't quite as..." She cast around for the right word. "Trussed up as Bayville. It's more casual and in the downtown area."
Jean nodded. "Of course, Mrs. O'Brien."
"It's Katherine. Most of my students refer to me that way rather then Mrs." Her attention searched each of their faces, stopping on Margolian for the longest before returning to Xavier. "Charles, are you sure there won't be a problem with the students attending? They might be a little..." Again she cast around for the right words. "Out of sync with your students."
"Things will be fine, Katherine. I'm sure Bayville can take anything they can create..."
Katherine O'Brien smiled but there was an uneasiness to it. None of the three new teachers showed much expression except Nanaki's smirk and shake of head; she smiled for a moment then spoke, quietly, almost silently.
Few beyond Logan and the telepaths caught her words.
"We'll see. They're very out of sync."
SNEAK PEEK: Bayville becomes integrated and things go bad during an assembly with the new students. RANDOM LINE:
"Hey, you there! Smoking is not allowed on school grounds,"Jean announced, going straight up to the group and crossing her arms while shaking her head disapprovingly. Her eyes went to the deck of cards. "Neither is betting."
CHAPTER ONE
Charles Xavier stared at the television screen with a strange mix of emotions. He was angry at the news crew for turning the events into a three-ring circus but saddened to watch the students. Most appeared emotionless about the attack but a few cried.
"Professor, why hasn't anything like this happened to Bayville High? If they can do this..." Scott Summers indicated the television screen just as the footage of the exact bombing was showed again. "Why not here?"
"Fear, Scott. They're afraid for their own children; that school is majority mutant. Bayville High, on the other hand, contains most of this town and the people capable of that's children. It's the fear of hurting their own,"he explained, patiently, folding his hands together.
Rogue spoke up from her armchair to the left of the screen. "It's lahke burnin' down your own home to kill a mouse, ain't it?" she offered with only the barest look up from her book. It was a novel involving demons or vampire from the cover art. She always seemed to have some form of bloody, violence filled novel on hand; it was a little creepy.
"Exactly, Rogue."
"What will happen to the students? They wouldn't be left uneducated during this time...would they?" Jean Grey turned away to look at them. Her forehead was creased with worry lines and her eyes much too bright.
Xavier sighed. There was so much none of them understood. He was the most disappointed that Jean and Scott had to ask. The answers to their questions were obvious.
"Of course not. They will be split among local schools..."
"At least we know they won't be sent to Bayville," Scott said to the sounds of cheering from the new recruits. He looked toward Jean but found her frowning and shaking her head.
"What makes you positive of this, Scott?" Xavier's words weren't angry, but it was obvious he wasn't pleased with their attitudes. He'd expected more support, mainly from his oldest students; anything but this coldness toward their own kind.
"Because it's crowded already and there's a lot of mutant riot activities, and uh...it's a majority normal school," he said, words faltering the entire time.
"Nice way to open your mouth and insert ya foot, Summers," Rogue answered, instead with her graish gray-black smirk. She closed the book slowly after memorizing the page. She cast him an amused but dark look.
"That's enough, Rogue. Some of their students will be attending Bayville High until repairs are finished. I expect you all to treat them with respect and kindness." His gaze leveled on where the newer recruits were throwing popcorn at each other. All movements stopped. "Make friends but don't grow attached."
"In Lamen terms," Rogue began, standing to stretch then making her way out of the room. She finished over her shoulder. "Don't get attached and Jean, hands to yourself."
"Rogue!" The shout was almost unanimous from the other students and the professor, who simply shook his head.
Xavier cleared his throat then wheeled himself around at Ororo's entrance. He took the book she offered and gave it to one of the students, offering it toward them all. "The pictures with blue outlines will be students that join the high school. A black line with it means they're mutants," he explained then turned back to Ororo. His full attention went to her. "There's a meeting with the prinicipal of Ripley. I'd like you and Logan to attend."
How could I be so stupid? Scott wondered once Xavier was gone. The new recruits were poured over the yearbook to examine it's occupants; Bobby and Ray took turns commenting. I made myself look like a fool and insensitive. I'm such an idiot.
Stop beating yourself up, Scott. We all made a mistake by assuming too soon, Jean said through her telepathy. Her voice wasn't accusing but the tone wasn't exactly friendly. It was almost neutral with a cool edge.
Sorry. Am I projecting?
Very much. Come look at the new ones. They don't seem like a bad group, just a little worse for wear, she sent back but motioned for him to come over to the table.
He didn't want to but had always had a hard time to saying no to Jean. He made his way over to them, avoiding several scattered books and plants; he nudged Jamie aside. A bad move since it caused two of him to appear.
"Why can't all mutants look normal?" Jubilee asked around a mouthful of pink gum. She tapped her fingers against the blue and black outlined frame.
It was on a picture of a black girl with spiked pink hair; black roots were just able to be seen. Her lips were almost painted into an unrecognizable black non-smile while her eyes were dark brown. The collar of a blue polo shirt could also be seen at the bottom of the picture.
"Don't judge people, Jubilee." Jean flipped through the pages until it came to another picture with the same outlines. Her expression tipped into a smile. "Now see? They're not all 'different'."
"Hey, he's kind of cute," Rahne pointed out then studied him with interest.
To Scott, the guy looked like a drug addict. His eyes were reddish-tinted and slightly smaller than normal size. Brown hair fell over his forehead, covering part of a large scar down the left side; his expression had a complete frown-smirk. The expression reminded him too much of Rogue's 'real' death glares. Even Logan left her alone during those or kept his eyes averted.
"Vill you stop discussing zem like science expriments?" Kurt demanded, coming into the room, without the protection of his image inducer. He walked over to look down at the pictures. "Zey might not be so bad."
"Kurt, we're just trying to learn something about the new students before we actually meet them," Jean said, giving him an encouraging smile. He still wasn't always comfortable around them with such topics. She flipped through several empty pages while the others offered their agreements. Signatures jumped off the back gray pages along with random words from bright color ink. Every color from black to pink covered the connected sheets of paper.
"Give up smoking, Landon. Cigarettes will kill you. Tara'? What is with these kids?"
"I don't know,"came the reply from the three Jamie in the doorway. They entered more like a unit then one person multiplied. "We have a training session with Logan."
The new recruits visibly cringed, but after a moment longer, they followed him from the room. Their voiced complaints and mumbles were barely heard after their footsteps had begun to fade away toward the training room.
Scott waited until they were gone to pick up the year book and flip to the back, scanning the signatures there. Marks, like twin fangs, rested in the center of one page along with the scrawled name of someone; a very short name.
"Did someone bite it, Jean?"
"Um..." Jean was at a loss for words.
"Okay. Pick us a student; let's broaden our horizons through them.."
He really didn't want to but he knew it's what the Professor wanted. He'd do it for his oldest mentor and teacher. It was the best he could do for the man that had taken him in and helped him learn to control the strange powers he'd been given; it would never be enough.
Jean flipped several pages until the Ts came into view. It took a few more minutes and a page flip to find another blue and black outlined student-Tara Toynbee.
"Wow, Toad got a sex change."
"That's not funny, Scott. She will be one of the new students but it appears that she is indeed mutated like Toad."
What was your first clue, Jean? He wanted to demand the question and shake her but refrained with an inward struggle that he hoped was hidden from him. She barely looked in his direction, intent upon the yearbook photos.
"There will also be several new faculty members...a sexual education teacher, a wood shop instructor, and a French teacher," she explained, pointing toward the pages that held the faculty pictures. It only stretched across two half a pages. "They're, basically, just to 'watch' their students. It's meant to make sure that there aren't any unnecessary or necessary problems caused during their stay."
"This one looks too young to be a teacher," Scot told her, examining one of the teachers. She was red-headed and scowling; there was hardly a thing pleasant about her. "Nanaki Creed."
Xavier spoke to both their minds with his telepathy. You two will need to come to my office for a few moments. It concerns the new students.
Is something wrong, Professor? Jean answered but was already on her way to his office with the yearbook. Scott caught up and fell into step with her.
Wait until you're here...
Scott and Jean entered his office exactly ten minutes after his last words to them, immediately noticing the other adults present. They seemed to be the youngest people present but the others did no more then nod before returning to their respective position.
"Scott, Jean, please have a seat." Xavier's voice was gentle but there was an authoritive edge to it. He nodded to Logan and the door was closed. There was a tense silence for a moment before he began introductions. "These are several of our new faculty members. Margolian, Damien, and Nanaki....these are two of my oldest students, Scott Summers and Jean Grey."
Margolian nodded, though, the move was barely recognized since he wore sunglasses, indoor. Scott opened his mouth to ask but was stopped by a nudge and shake of Jean's head. Damien shook both their hands before returning to his post beside Logan without a word to anyone in the room. Nananki, straight from the picture, said something then gave then a tight-lipped smile.
Xavier continued after their introductions. "This is the principal of Ripley High School, Katherine O'Brien...she's an old... friend of mine," he said, giving her a smile which she returned, though, hers was a little weaker.
Katherine O'Brien was tall with brown hair twisted into a tight knot on her head. It looked like it hurt to have it up there but Scott made no comment. Her clothes were made up of well fitting jeans paired with a simple red, button-down shirt and a pair of hiking boots that were laced tightly. A pair of glasses hung around her neck on a string of bead-like circles but otherwise she looked like someone's rather normal mother.
Scott, Jean, stop letting your minds wander and don't project.
Katherine was the one to speak out loud first. "It's alright, Charles. I'm sure my appearance must be a bit strange, knowing how professional Prinicpal Kelly is," she explained, inclining her head toward them. Her smile never wavered. "Ripley isn't quite as..." She cast around for the right word. "Trussed up as Bayville. It's more casual and in the downtown area."
Jean nodded. "Of course, Mrs. O'Brien."
"It's Katherine. Most of my students refer to me that way rather then Mrs." Her attention searched each of their faces, stopping on Margolian for the longest before returning to Xavier. "Charles, are you sure there won't be a problem with the students attending? They might be a little..." Again she cast around for the right words. "Out of sync with your students."
"Things will be fine, Katherine. I'm sure Bayville can take anything they can create..."
Katherine O'Brien smiled but there was an uneasiness to it. None of the three new teachers showed much expression except Nanaki's smirk and shake of head; she smiled for a moment then spoke, quietly, almost silently.
Few beyond Logan and the telepaths caught her words.
"We'll see. They're very out of sync."
SNEAK PEEK: Bayville becomes integrated and things go bad during an assembly with the new students. RANDOM LINE:
"Hey, you there! Smoking is not allowed on school grounds,"Jean announced, going straight up to the group and crossing her arms while shaking her head disapprovingly. Her eyes went to the deck of cards. "Neither is betting."
