Janine shifted nervously at her desk and refused to meet her supervisor's eyes.

"The Academy sends you their greetings, Mrs. Summers, and thanks you for your service." The Superintendent of Homosapien Wellbeing leaned in on his cane and took a step towards Janine. "They also send their apologies."

Janine pressed her lips together and waited, hoping her nervousness didn't seep onto her face.

"To make this as painless as possible, I want you to know that the Academy actively assist you in finding a new job, as well as jobs for your advisors. Empaths are in high demand right now."

"Are you firing me?"

"Firing you?" Her supervisor looked genuinely shaken. "Good heavens, no, nothing as heartlessly selective as that. Everyone's going. The Refuge is being shut down."

Not much of a refuge, Janine thought, if you shut it down when your gun money runs low. The refuge started its slow slip downwards since that accidental death last year. Half the population went on anti-depressants; the other half were moved to a high-surveillance dorm. The escape attempt was unfortunate, especially because it wasn't the first, but the guards were trained to see escapees as mentally ill or savages set on attacking the x-populations, and they had done their duty, however tragic the outcome.

Now Janine "Shut down?"

"The decision has already been made."

Janine scratched behind her ear and kicked back in her chair, sighing deeply.

"We'll have to hire temporary security until it's shut down, you know. Most of the population is unstable and the news won't go over well."

"I don't think that will be necessary."

He held up a hand to stop Janine's protests. A pencil flew from her desk and hovered over the man's palm, spinning slowly. "All the other refuges are packed full, Janine, and there's nowhere to send the homosapiens. The population is stable currently, so the Academy has authorized elimination of the Boston colony."

Janine couldn't stop the blood rushing from her face.

"Sorry-extermination?"

"Any Academy-authorized way you choose."

Janine was quiet.

"We expect your full cooperation through this unfortunate situation. I hope that's understood."

"Of course, Magneto. Sir."

A smile threatened to interrupt the wrinkles on the old man's face. "Thank you, Janine."