The New Kid
It was a rather gorgeous morning in Westchester New York. A definite change from the rain that had been pouring down from the clouds the majority of the week. It was the perfect time for the man to take a break from his work and just take a minute to look out and enjoy the view from his office. He scanned the clear skies, green trees and then down below. That was where his joy came from. Walking, running, standing, sitting here and there were people of various ages, races, and backgrounds. The common thread they all shared was the fact that they were mutants. Persons born with strange often wondrous powers. They were at his place, his school, to learn to control the gifts that had been bestowed upon them by God himself. That was his joy, sharing his knowledge, his help, his heart with others to insure they are as well off as he is. That was the kind of man Professor Charles Xavier was.
Charles smiled at those outside. He turned in his chair to face the mantle. On it was a photograph of his first students. Scott Summers, Ororo Monroe, Jean Grey, and Hank McCoy. He took them in when they were young and scared and molded them into strong, capable, important men and women. Three of them remained at the school to teach others while Hank ventured off into the world of science. There was another more recent picture next to that one. It had Scott, Jean, and Ororo but also Logan, the newest addition to the school. He was a loner they helped a few years before and seemed to be a loose cannon but he settled down after a bit and got into the professor's way of thinking and got the urge to help out fellow mutants. Those four were also members of what the students called 'X-Men'. They defended the free world against mutants who would use their gifts for evil or personal intentions.
A broad smile spread across Charles' face. It was all happening just the way he dreamed it would as a young man. Charles turned to face the window again. He could sit there looking out his window till the sun went down. Unfortunately he wouldn't have that time. As soon as he turned his back his office door was wrenched open and slammed shut again. The invader stormed to Charles' desk and threw a file down on the desk. Charles turned around and gazed into the face of a slightly irritated Canuck.
"Since when did we become a halfway house?" Logan asked.
"What?" Charles replied, dodging the question.
"This is the Xavier Institute not the Salem Prison."
Charles sighed and looked down at the file. As he thought, it was the file of the newest student he brought in to the school. Christian V. Darchart. A troubled youth from Washington D.C. he has ran with more then one gang in his lifetime and committed several crimes. Charles saw him as someone who definitely needed help.
"The problem Logan?"
"The problem is your bleeding heart Charles." Logan snarled. He pointed at various pages on the file. "Have you seen what this kid has done? Most of the kids here are victims of crimes committed against them, not the criminals themselves."
"Logan I-"
"This kids a candidate for Magneto's camp. Not ours." Now Charles was getting genuinely upset.
"Are you forgetting who you are Logan?" He asked. "Forgetting what you have been through, what you have done in your life to get you to this point?" Charles stared long and hard at the mutant standing in front of him. "Should we really compare his record to yours?"
Logan snarled a bit and stood up. Relenting to the professor's will, but obviously not liking it. Charles regarded him with the face of absolute authority. Logan took the file in his hand again and turned and walked out of the office.
Now then. Charles could watch till the sunset.
*
Logan returned to the admissions office to find the boy still there. Logan didn't know whether that was a good or bad thing. It was what Xavier wanted though. Xavier called the shots, so Logan just did it like he wanted. Logan stood in the doorway and motioned for the boy to follow him. He grabbed a bag and threw it over his shoulder and walked out of the door. Logan eyed him carefully, picking up every detail. Five foot three inches tall. Brown eyes, bleached hair in braids in a design of sorts on his head. His eyebrow and nose were both pierced. He dressed in baggy clothes, with the jeans coming down over the shoes he wore. Logan didn't see him as a threat at first glance, but after looking into his file and taking this better look at him, Logan could see possibibities.
The boy, Christian, seemed to be a quiet one. He didn't say much as Logan led him around the institute. Showing him various labs, classrooms, dorms, the gym, and other things. He seemed to take it all in stride. Logan was hoping the boy would talk more so he could be able to get a feel for how he thinks, but that just wasn't happening. When the two had passed by the dining hall, a voice pierced Logan's mind.
Logan, I need you for a moment. Charles spoke mentally.
"I'm still touring him around." Logan spoke aloud. Christian looked at Logan funny as he appeared to be talking to himself.
Leave him to get something to eat and come back for him.
"But-"
This is important.
"Fine." Logan turned to Christian. "I have to take care of something. You go inside and chow down for a bit and I will be back to get you soon." Christian shrugged.
"Whatever." He said.
Logan looked at Christian for a while and then strode quickly back to where Xavier's office was. Christian watched Logan leave then entered the dining hall. It was big to say the least. There were windows all around that let the sun shine bright into the hall. Seated at dozens and dozens and still dozens more tables were students. It was odd to see them. Some of them looked like normal humans. Others had hair color differences, or facial and bodily deformities. One such boy who sat alone in a corner was at least six foot something and had to be damn near seven or eight hundred pounds. Christian saw a man like that on Jerry Springer once. He wondered if that man was a mutant too.
The food was laid out like a buffet. The entrees ranged from American food to chinease, Mexican and every other kind of food out there. Christian took a plate and some silverware and went straight for the Mexican food. He went to work making himself a giant burrito to enjoy.
As Christian fixed his meal he did not notice people around him staring at him a bit. As well as conversation dying down in various places in the dining hall as he was noticed by more and more students.
What Christian did not know is that his repuatation preceeded him. A certain student by the name of Tyrol Jacoby possesses a small telepathic ability. Whenever there are rumblings of a new student to enter the school, Tyrol probes the minds of the faculty to find out a bit more about them. He doesn't dare go near the Professor or Jean Grey for fear of being found out as they are telepaths as well. Ororo and Logan are easy pickens though.
"So is that him?" A girl next to Tyrol asked, pointing. Tyrol quickly pushed her hand down.
"Okay Lilith, can you not point at the potentially dangerous criminal?" Tyrol replied, a hint of a european accent creeped into his voice.
"Well is that him?" Tyrol nodded. "He doesn't look like trouble." She said.
The girl opened the bag she held in her arm. There was movement inside the bag and a small armadillo poked its head out. The girl handed the creature a small piece of food to nibble on and it went back into the bag. Tyrol looked at the bag and then at the girl. She just shrugged. Behind those two another girl watched Christian. She brushed a lock of hair out of her face as she came up behind Tyrol and Lilith.
"I am sure he's a nice guy." She said. Tyrol and Lilith turned to look at her.
"Nice guys don't shoot people." Tyrol said.
"Oh get off the criminal kick." The girl replied.
"When you get off your 'everyone is good' kick Wendy." Tyrol said. "Let's be real, everyone does not have good intentions."
"He would have to for the professor to let him in here I would think."
The three of them watched Christian get a drink and make his way to a table to sit down. As he did a few people got up from where they were sitting and moved a bit away from him. Christian didn't seem affected in the slightest. Still, Wendy didn't think this was very nice for people to do that to him.
"Someone should sit with him at least. Make him feel welcome instead of like he has the plague."
"Well mother Theresa, why don't you?" Wendy glared at Tyrol.
"I'm there." She said.
There was a soft sizzling sound as Wendy got ready. One of Wendy's few abilities was to be able to picture any location on earth in her mind and her body would take her there. She stepped back a bit from the others. The sizzling became a bit louder. Lilith and Tyrol's hair stood on end for a second before a flash of light and took Wendy away.
Christian was presently putting a hamburger in his mouth. He was just about to bite down on it when something flashed beside him. Christian looked to the side and saw a girl sitting there. She had short brown hair, and brown eyes that looked strangely…feline. She looked like she kept in pretty good shape to, Christian noted to himself.
"Hi." She said.
Christian made some noise of greeting.
"I'm Wendy Brejot." The girl said with a smile. Christian also noted a few very sharp teeth in her mouth, almost like fangs.
"Christian."
"New to the school huh."
"Something like that."
"How do you like it so far?" Christian took a bite out of his burger.
"It's alright. Nothing to write home about."
"It'll get better."
"If the people were any friendlier I would need a bodyguard." Christian said. Wendy laughed at the joke.
"They're just kind of nervous about new people." Wendy said. "No telling what they can do."
"Whatever." Christian said. "I am just here to get a better shot at a job in the future to help my mom out." Wendy nodded.
"You'll get there here. Education and power control."
Christian was about to say something else when a dark skinned boy sat down at the table. He was directly across from Christian and staring bullets at him. Christian raised his head and gave him a glare then returned his eyes to his plate. Wendy looked at the other boy, Fredrick Williams was his name, and could just feel a bad vibe radiating off him.
"So," Fredrick said.
Christian kept eating.
"You supposed to be big time or what?" He asked.
Christian kept eating.
"You come in here with a record and you think people are supposed to be scared of you?"
Christian kept eating.
"I'm not talking to myself here."
Christian stopped eating.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I thought you were." Wendy stifled a laugh. Fredrick glared at her and back at Christian. This time Christian met the other boy's gaze and kept it.
"You run with anyone?" Fredrick asked.
"The Killions, and then the Sarawzors." Fredrick laughed.
"Those are babies." He said.
"And you?"
"The Spalone Family." Christian laughed now.
"Wannabe mafia punks. I remember you tried to run into D.C." Christian kept laughing. "You got sorely embarrassed for that."
"We snuffed out enough of the Killions to pay that back."
Wendy looked at Fredrick with surprise. She didn't know he had any violent past. Well, he had been arrested for robbery but he wasn't convicted. She thought Christian was the only crook in the school, everyone did. Wendy tried to correct herself. She didn't want to think of Christian as a crook already when she didn't even know him. Wendy glance around and saw Tyrol and Lilith looking at her.
"Bunch of non knowing punks. Second rate G's." Fredrick continued. Christian stood up and Fredrick did too. Now Wendy was definitely getting worried. She saw a bad situation just develop into a full blown conflict with no idea of where it would end.
"I may not run with them any more," Christian said. His voice was low. "But I do not cater to anyone's disrespect of either group. Understood?"
"No." Fredrick said with a smirk.
"You want me to wipe that stupid grin off your face?" Christian asked.
Fredrick didn't reply with words. Instead a fist of his shot out and struck Christian in the chin. The blow had surprising strength behind it and Christian landed about fifteen feet back. All the students in the dining hall were hushed at the site of the newbie flying through the air and through a table. Fredrick jumped up on the table there were just sitting at. But Fredrick looked quite different. His body was covered in hair from head to toe. Long fangs and talons sprouted from his mouth and hands respectively. A tail ripped through the back of his pants. Blood red eyes narrowed at Christian as he recovered on the floor.
"Just what are you doing?" Wendy demanded.
"This is something you wouldn't understand."
Wendy watched Fredrick leap across the dining hall at Christian. Tylor and Lilith ran up to Wendy.
"Did you by chance cause this to happen?" Lilith asked.
"I know you always wanted guys to fight over you Wendy but this is ridiculous." Tylor joked.
"This isn't over me." Wnedy said. "They were talking about some groups or something they used to run with and Fred was talking about Christian and then this."
Christian flew through the air and through another table.
"Okay. I know Fred gave Logan a run for his money when they first met." Tylor said as he observed the fight. "So if this boy doesn't do anything soon, chances are he isn't going to make it."
Wendy looked on with concern as Fred grabbed Christian by the throat and slammed him against the nearest wall. Wendy saw that everyone was just standing around watching. She wasn't going to just sit idly by and watch this though. Wendy ran to fight and grabbed Fred's arm.
"Come on this has gone far enough." She said.
Fred looked at Wendy out of the corner of his eye. He shot his free arm back and his elbow struck Wendy in the chest. Specifically the gold pendent around her neck. As Wendy flew backward the shattered image inducer failed to work. Her physical person shimmered for a bit then gave way to pointy ears, black and white fur, a tail and everything else feline. Wendy clutched her image inducer as she felt the stares of the other students. She couldn't take people seeing her in her true form. A flash and she was gone from the dining hall.
Christian's vision began to blur as Fred's grip around his neck tightened. His claws piercing his skin a bit. The blood dripping down Fred's hand seemed to only fuel his fire and his grip only tightened. Christian had to do something or he wouldn't be making it. Christian focused on his legs, the primary source of his powers. His legs began to glow a bit. Those looking on were awed as Christian's legs faded into something that looked like a jet turbine, complete with the fire, and smoke. Christian shot up into the air carrying Fred with him. Christian shot through one of the arches in the ceiling. He was unaffected. While using his powers Christian was invulnerable to injury. Fred on the other hand had to let go. He dropped on his back to the floor.
"Oooh, nice." Tylor remarked.
Christian hovered in the air for a moment waiting on Fred to recover. It only took a moment for him to do just that. When the werewolf mutant was on his feet again Christian shot down towards him. He grabbed Fred and flew through a few of the buffet carts. The students began to 'oooh' and 'aaah' with each impact. Christian was still on top of Fred. The were-mutant kicked up with both feet catching Christian in the gut. Another shot to the face and Christian was airborne again. This time Fred grabbed him while still in the air. Christian's power kicked in and they flew towards one of the windows.
*
"Can I go back now?" Logan asked. He rocked impatiently on the edge of Charles' desk.
"No. I want him to have time to get to know some students. If he is there by himself I know he will fit in in no time."
Charles looked out his window again. The sun had moved a bit in the sky. There was a sound like glass shattering. Charles quickly scanned the ground. Laid out on the ground was one of the students. Fredrick Williams, only Fred was in his werewolf form.
"What is going on?" Charles wondered aloud. Logan came up to look behind him. On the ground Christian walked out of the hole in the window.
"I knew it!" Logan said. He turned on his heels and ran out the door.
Fred was a lot faster then Christian gave him credit for. Enhanced speed and reflexes seemed to come with the new form. Every time Christian put him on the ground he was up an instant later coming back for more. Christian thought he may just have to put this guy out for good. It wouldn't endear him to the professor, but the guy was trying to kill him. Christian rammed Fred back through another window into the dining hall. The glass shards scratched him here and there but he didn't pay attention to it. Christian kept flying until Fred hit a wall. Fred didn't go any further as it was a brick wall he struck. Fred finally appeared to be knocked silly for a moment. Christian reared back to punch him across the face when he was hit by someone else. Christian and this person rolled a bit before Christian ended up on his back looking up at Logan, claws extended and pointing at his face.
"I knew you were trouble." Logan sneered. "And now you showed your colors."
"I didn't show anything." Christian replied. "But I am certainly not cool and you people attacking me."
Christian let his power do its thing. Christian went up into the air. Logan tried to keep a grip on him. Christian looped and went through another window. Logan still didn't let go. Instead he retracter his claws and slugged Christian in the chin. Christian blacked out immediately and fell toward the ground. Before the two hit something caught them. That something was a telekinetic 'net' by one Jean Grey. She lowered the two in front of where she and the professor were. Logan stood up and kept a firm grip on Christian's arm. Fred dropped down beside Christian. A victim of Jean's handiwork as well. He immediately turned to normal in the presence of the professor.
"Just what is going on here?" The professor demanded.
"I told you he was trouble." Logan said.
"Well?" The professor said.
"He jumped me Professor," Fred explained. "I was just eating and the next thing I knew I was through a window." Christian wore a look of sheer anger.
"Don't even put this on me you son of a--"
"Enough!" The professor said.
"There's a way to find out the meaning of this." Logan said.
Charles thought of this only for a moment. True, he could use his power to enter their minds and see the true culprit but he never used his powers without another person's permission and never wanted to use them on another mutant. He would have to find out another way. As they stood there, there was a flash and a crackle of lightning. When everything cleared, Wendy stood in front of the professor. She held her shattered image inducer in her hand.
"Fred started it." She said. "And he smashed my image inducer."
"Oh come on!" Fred shouted. "That boy did that too!" His arms were flailing about as he explain, or yelled his side of the story. "I was sitting there eating and this guy comes up and picks a fight with me, decks Wendy, and the rest is history."
The professor wasn't listening. He was looking at Wendy. She looked hurt as she gazed at the broken device. He then looked at Fred, all the joy and happiness drained from his face. Logan let go of Christian and grabbed Fred.
"I think we need to talk punishment." Logan said as he dragged Fred away. Charles turned in his chair unable to say a word. He simply followed after Logan and Fred.
"Okay people, nothing more to see." Jean said trying to regain control. The group of students that gathered began to disperse slowly. Only Tylor and Lilith remained. They came up to Wendy.
"You okay?" Tylor asked.
"I'll be fine." Wendy replied.
"I'd have gotten him out of the way sooner if I knew he was going to hit you." Christian said.
"It's okay. I am sure I will get another one."
"Thanks for saving my butt just now." Wendy smiled at this.
"No problem. I didn't think it would be right for you to get in trouble for something someone else started." The smile stayed. "Besides, it doesn't seem to me that all the rumors about you are true." Wendy turned away from Christian. "I like that." A flash and Wendy was gone.
"Rumors?" Christian asked. "What rumors?" Christian looked around at the Lilith and Tylor. They looked at each other and quickly hurried off.
"What rumors?"