X-Men My Way
I had been living at the Institute for almost a year. Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was one of the best things to happen to me in my entire life. I was 18 years old, and had never really lived among people.
My name is Sydney, and I am a mutant. My mutation is very unique, or that is what Professor Xavier tells me. I am feral, with adamantium claws, but I am also telekinetic and telepathic, with a very rare gift of controlling other people's power with the touch of my hand, I have an extraordinary healing ability that has only recently kicked in, and so I am stuck at the current age I am 18.
My life was spent in military bases; my father was right hand man to William Stryker. He never really told me his real name, kind of weird for a father. I was to call him Zero, or Father, nothing else. My father was the best shot ever seen, many believed him to be a mutant but he wasn't, he hated mutants fiercely. Well when my powers started showing at the tender age of 8 my father turned me over to his boss, William Stryker.
I spent 9 years of my life living in a 5 foot by 4 foot cell, and continuously being tested on. When I was 16 the 'scientists' finally brought me into a giant room with one tank in the center, this I where I got my metal claws. Unlike others who have gotten them, I only received the metal in my hands and feet. Making my nails, which were already rather animal looking even weirder.
When I finally escaped I spent several months running around, pick pocketing and stealing for a means of living. No one ever came after me, no one looked for me. I believed they didn't even care.
I was alone, cold and hungry trying to find the perfect mark to pick pocket. I came upon a man who looked rather elderly with a young woman next to him. I decided they were good to go after.
I had my hand in the mans pocket right as he grabbed my hand.
"Well what have we here?" said the elderly man.
I froze, and tried to pull away but he held on tightly. For an old man he had a surprisingly strong grasp.
He started stroking my hand, "You know deary, one with the kind of gifts you have should not have to stoop so low as to pick pocket from an old man."
"I have no idea what your talking about," I stutter out, by this time his young companion has walked back over and is staring right at me.
"Oh now, I do believe you know what I am talking about. This lovely metal under your skin practically sings to me," he says so surely of himself.
His companion smiled at me and her eyes flash yellow. It was quite the contrast to her appearance. She looked like a super model on the cover of major magazines.
"How….how do you know that?" I asked him.
"We all have our special gifts my dear. My name is Erich Lensiuerrer. But by many I am known as Magneto," he responded, "And your name might be. My young metal friend?"
I looked at him and said, "My names Sydney."
He smiled at me kindly, "What is your real name, Sydney?"
"We do not take kindly to our slave names," stated his companion.
I cocked my head to the side and raised an eyebrow, "Where I was raised, the men called me Cat, but I hate that name. I made sure they paid for that." I could feel my eyes darkening from the reminder of my past.
"Ah, I see we have much to learn about each other young one. My companions name is Mystique," he responded.
I nodded at her, "It's very nice to meet you."
She inclined her head as way of greeting.
"I hope you might join us, my dear. We are heading to dinner, I believe we might be able to get better acquainted there," he offered.
I nodded enthusiastically. The last real meal I had eaten was before my powers were developing.
I spent 6 months with Magneto and Mystique. I learned every type of fighting style you can imagine from Mystique, and her real name, Raven. Magneto was like the grandfather I never got to know. I enjoyed staying with them, but not there ideals about humans and mutants. That was eventually why I left and ended up here at Charles Xavier's School.
I've been here for 2 weeks, and still have yet to make one friend. Logan is nice, he was weird when I first met him. But then we grew on each other, he is very protective of Rogue, also known as Marie.
I've notice so far during my time here that a lot of people like to go by their codenames. I suppose I will have to come up with one myself.
'Sydney would you mind joining my in my study, I need to speak with you,' asked Professor Xavier.
'Of course Professor,' I responded.
Walking to his study, I realize no one is in the hallways. I could of sworn though that classes were over for the day.
'Not quite, they still have another half hour of classes to go,' responded Dr. Grey, as she was walking past me.
"Oh, I guess I'm messing up my times again than," I said.
She smiled and said, "Not at all, Day Lights Savings was yesterday. Perhaps you forgot to set your clock back."
I smacked my forehead, "Of course. I completely forgot. Thanks, Dr. Grey."
'Don't mention it, oh and please call me Jean. Your not a student and I would like not to feel so old,' she responded mentally.
Once I reached Professor X's door, I hear a 'come in'.
That man is freaky sometimes.
I walk in and am quite surprised. I see Storm, Logan, and Scott all sitting in the room as well.
"Hey kid," says Logan.
I smile and go to sit next to him.
"So what's up, Prof X?" I ask rather excitedly.
Storm chuckles, Logan smiles, and Scott looks annoyed. Well he doesn't even really like me anyways.
"Well I called you in here because Scott and I need to visit an old friend of mine, and with the recent attack on the President Storm and Jean are trying to find the mutant who attacked him. I need you and Logan to look after the children," he said.
"Babysitting, eh?" asked Logan.
'It shouldn't be that bad Logan. Besides we both know they are scared of you and ignore me. Will be easy as pie,' I told him mentally.
"Now dear the children do not ignore you," said Charles.
I smiled at him, "Professor who said anything about it being the children. I was talking about your Junior Squad. They do not seem, what's the word very fond of me, especially because I am about to start training the younger students in Self Defense. I suppose they do not trust my abilities."
"Why should they? The only people who have seen your 'abilities' have been the Professor and Metal Head over their. I agree with them, we do not know if you are even trustworthy," ranted Scott.
I nodded, "You may not trust me Summers but Charles does. He knows what I've been through. And Logan knows I can fight, hell even he doesn't know about all of my abilities but fine you wanna know I'll tell ya."
"Now Sydney I do not think it wise," started Charles but Logan interrupted him.
"I think you should let her tell him and everyone else Charles. It'll be good for them and her," said Logan.
Logan turned and looked at me.
'What?' I asked mentally.
'You sure, kitten?' he asked.
'Yes, I'm sure Wolfie,' I responded.
I stuck my tongue out at him and turned back to the Professor.
"Maybe I should talk to everyone at once?" I asked.
He nodded and sent out a telepathic message to everyone in the school stating that there was a meeting to be held in the dining room. The only room large enough to fit everyone comfortably.
As we all made our way to the dining hall, I noticed a blur streak go by a window. Stopping I look out the window, not seeing anything I almost shook it off, but thought better of it because of my training with Mystique. (Never underestimate anything, she would tell me.)
I sent out a telepathic wave searching minds.
'Don't even know why she's here..'
'Probably not even one of us….'
'Why is Kitten just standing there……'
'Sydney, I need your help. I know you can hear me.'
The last one caught my notice, it was Mystiques voice.
I looked around and saw no one, I opened the back door next to me and walked out onto the balcony.
"Myst where are you?" I whispered.
'Turn right and go to the edge,' came back her mental reply.
I walked over and saw her hanging from the side.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
She smiled, "Needed to make sure my little protégée was getting taken care of at Egghead's place."
I shook my head. "It's cool. Nothing like it was with you and Mags. How is he? Prof X said he was going to visit an old friend. Him?"
She nodded and adopted a sad look to her face, "I can't even get in to see him. No possible way, even as Senator Kelly. I'm running out of ideas. I miss him so much."
I smiled, the woman was so in love she didn't even know.
"You know I'm disagreeing with you but try iron in the blood. I don't agree but it's still metal. Just make sure he doesn't kill anyone, eh?"
She smiled, "You always will be my little genius. How's claws?"
I shook my head, "Fine. He's taken to calling me Kitten though, kind of annoying but it's better than what those bastards used to call me, here Cat, Kitty Kitty Cat. Oh how I would love to kill those men again."
She smiled, "There's the animal."
I laughed and heard someone walking towards us, "Better go Myst."
She nodded and was gone.
Right as I turned around Storm walked out of the door and looked at me.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
I nodded, "Yeah, just needed to clear my head. I've only ever told my story to 3 people. Not many people will understand. I'm just hoping you guys won't hate me. I've been with some people none of you really agree with."
She smiled, "I'm sure everyone will understand, after all we all see different sides of people. Like with Logan he has his many very different sides, and not many of them are very pleasant when others come across them, if you know what I mean?"
I laughed, "Very true. Thank you, Storm. And not just for right now, you've been very nice to me since I've gotten here, I'm not really used to it."
She smiled, "Perhaps we should go back inside."
I nodded and followed her in.
Once we walked into the dining room all eyes were on me. It was rather unnerving.
'You'll do fine, my dear,' said Charles.
I looked over at him and nodded.
Walking to the front of the dining room, I noticed everyone was watching me.
"Umm. Hi. Some of ya'll know me and some have just seen me around the school lately. But my name's Sydney, and I will be taking over Self Defense, Grades 3-8. It's kind of my understanding that when someone joins the school you know they all kind of tell people about their powers and a bit about themselves. Well I figured I'd tell everyone at once and not worry about crazy rumors being started. Like something like I'm not actually a mutant or say I'm a spy for the government," I said, and at the end looked to the boy named Iceman, knowing he had thought about that earlier. Along with many other rude thoughts.
He looked shocked at my statement, and then turned and started talking to a boy, who looked like he was all muscle.
"So I have more than one power. My strongest however is my feral abilities," I stopped and elongated my claws, "Some of you probably will notice my claws look a lot like Wolverine's. That's because we were both tested on by a man known as William Stryker. It's not pleasant. Extremely painful and the only reason I survived is I have a healing ability as well. Almost as strong as Wolverine's. I am also telekinetic and telepathic." I said and stopped again to float a chair all the way up to the front of the dining hall, and sat down on it.
"My last power is something different. I only know of one person with powers that are even remotely close to mine. With the touch of my hands I can influence a persons powers. I can turn them off or on. Or even use them. I can absorb a recreation of a person's power, but that takes a lot of focus and I haven't been able to use it too much. But I also will be working with the Professor to develop it." I finished saying this and it was deadly quite.
I started fidgeting in my seat, everyone was staring at me.
"Uhmm I guess ya'll prolly wanna know about myself a bit more. Let's see my father was a military man who hated mutants and gave me up when I started showing my claws. I spent 10 years in a 5 by 4 cell, and when I wasn't in the cell I was in a lab getting tested on by scientists and doctors. I was given serums to suppress my mutation, serums to try to kill me, and everything in between. I escaped about a year ago. I spent 6 months pick pocketing and living on the streets till I tried to pick pocket a man named Eric. He is most commonly known as Magneto." I paused at this and heard several gasps and some people just continued staring.
"He and his companion, known as Mystique took me in. Mystique taught me every kind of fighting style she knows. Which by my understanding and knowledge is quite a lot. She has even studied some dead fighting styles. She taught me everything she knows, and some of the fighting styles I will teach you are different forms of martial arts, karate and those who want to be more advanced I will offer kung fu. I left my stay with Mystique and Magneto because I did not believe in what they were doing. I do believe a war is coming, but I do not wish to go to the extremes they are going to. People consider him the bad guy, he is to them. And to many of you, but he wants to protect his kind. He takes extremes but that doesn't mean what he is doing wrong. He is just doing it differently, like what Professor Xavier is doing with the X-Men. He wants to protect our kind, us, we are the future and people need to get used to us. It just may take a while, till then we need to protect our own. Umm yeah I guess that's all, uh thanks," I said.
"Thank you, Sydney. Well I believe that was enlightening for all of us. She made excellent points, now I believe that is all. You may all return to your activities," said Prof X with a smile.
'That was wonderful my dear, but you never told me you spent so much time with Eric,' he said.
'Yes I know. I apologize I was still rather wary when I first met you. But I am fully on board with everything. Thank you for opening your doors to me Charles,' I responded.
He nodded, 'I am happy you accepted.'
"Would the Junior X-Men please stay, I need to have a word with you all," he said.
They all looked at each other and approached.