Chapter 2 - Day 2
Screaming and gunfire filled my ears as I walked down the desolate landscape that used to be New York City. The buildings had long since been turned to ruin and fires littered the streets. A young mutant ran round the corner towards me, he was the one screaming, he looked emaciated and exhausted. I could hear the lynch mob chasing him, the reloading of weapons. It was a trap, chasing him towards another mob behind me at the end of the block, hidden in shadows, unseen but not unheard. Helplessness filled my being, I could not help, could not even warn him as they all descended on him. The war between humans and mutants had turned to genocide long ago. Where was God now when this young boy did nothing but be born different only to end up beaten to death by a mob whom outnumbered him 50+ to 1.
I woke up in tears. It was not the first time I had seen images such as this, I see them every night. Always different. My burden. To know just how far the humans will take their hatred of us, knowing I will probably survive to see it first hand but also, that though it has not yet come to pass there is nothing much that can prevent it.
1234567890
An hour and a shower later I'm sitting at the computer, they have been thoughtful enough to provide me with a file of what the school has been doing since it's opened it's doors. An interesting place is Xavier's. They included a lot of info about their political campaigns for mutant rights. Not that it was doing much, mind you, but at least they were doing something. I knew this fight would not be won with words alone, they needed to SEE. I pondered this, how to get people to see what you needed them to see, what was being done to us by our government behind closed doors and red tape... maybe I'll bring it up with the professor.
I also took the time to get my bank's contact information, hoping my accounts were still open. I knew I would need to find a local branch to transfer my accounts to. It would be nice having access to my money once again, God knew I needed some more clothes. The military aren't very creative, apart from when it comes to pockets, they have pockets for everything and put them everywhere! Useful if you need them, annoying when you don't and you can never remember where you put anything, especially when you need something in a hurry.
1234567890
6 am, breakfast time I think, early enough that I won't have to put up with everyone gawking at the new arrival but not so early I could wake people up.
'Sometimes an enhanced sense of smell is a wonderful thing' I thought to myself with a grin as I smelled my way down to the kitchen. It felt like days since I had had something decent to eat. A downside to having an increased healing factor, it takes fuel to maintain.
Looking through the fridge it was easy to tell that a bunch of teenagers lived here. Snack foods in abundance and none of that rabbit food nonsense. Couldn't find any breakfast meats, so decided with toast and cereal instead. Not very tasty but hell its still food. I'm also hoping since the professor's British too he'll have some decent tea bags.
1234567890
I stayed in the kitchen until the professor came in for his own breakfast. He offered me a cup of tea while I waited for him to finish so he can take me on the tour.
"I'm in need of a trip to the city, preferably sometime soon. I need to visit the bank and also could do with some more clothes. I'm sure my military reg's will stand out quite a bit here. Great for combat but not ideal for a supposed 18 year old."
"That should be fine, I will introduce you to Ororo and Jean later today, I'm sure they will love to accompany you. Give you a chance to bond with them. They are both teachers here along with Scott Summers."
"Thanks professor." He had finished his breakfast and as soon as he had put his dishes in the sink he led the way out the kitchen.
"Shall we?"
"Lets." I smiled and walked next to him as he told me about what class room was which and taught each subject.
"What subjects are taught here exactly?"
"The usual: English; maths; science; I.T; history, P.E. Then we also have ethics, mechanics, power control, meditation, combat, driver's ed, and piloting."
"Wow, that's quite a selection you have here." My mind was going bout a hundred miles an hour about what classes sounded most interesting, and started grinning.
1234567890
The lower levels were a stark contrast to those upstairs. Silver metal corridors and bright white lights forming a maze to whatever is down here besides the danger room.
"Down here we have a state o the art med lab, hangar for our jet, changing rooms, the danger room and a machine called Cerebro. We use the danger room for training. It is capable of creating realistic holograms that we program into scenarios. It is fully interactive and has 10 difficulty levels. Ah there's a group in session now would you like to watch? The control room is this way, it overlooks the action." Definitely intrigued, I followed him to the control room.
1234567890
The room's potential was staggering. I couldn't wait to try it out.
The session was interesting however their combat skills needed improving before they should be trying these kinds of scenarios. However I am not wearing one of their ridiculous outfits. How is a stiff leather catsuit meant to help if you can't move freely?
"Can I get a crash course in using it, I'm in need of a decent training session, it's been a while since I had a work out."
"Sure, I'll get someone to bring you down after classes have finished for the day."
"Thanks. Does anyone come down here at night? I just want to have an all out training session without interruptions or students wandering down and seeing things I don't want them knowing." Seeing the new girl fight like they've only seen in the movies, with abilities I shouldn't have would scare the hell out of them I'm sure.
"Don't worry, the students know they aren't allowed down here past 6pm without a teacher, unless they are a patient in the med lab."
"Good to know. Who's their combat teacher?" Cause he really has no idea what he's doing - went unsaid, brawling isn't combat.
"Cyclops - Scott Summers, why?"
"Then I've made my decision. I want to be a senior however I will take over teaching combat and would like to be a teaching assistant in ethics, and taking classes in maths, English, science, I.T, mechanics and maybe history to keep up appearances. I don't mind the other adults knowing about me but could we tell the students something different? Say I've just moved here from another country, and spent most of my life learning martial arts. That would explain my combat skills and any other questions that could come up. Is that o.k?" Please say yes, was all I could think.
He smiled at me, "of course. I'm sure you will fit in perfectly. There is one more thing, how would you feel about joining our team? The children have affectionately called them X-men. We fight for peace. You know better than most that there are those out there who believe a war is coming or trying to start one. They exist on both sides unfortunately. The man who built this school with me became one of them. His name is Eric Lehnsherr or Magneto. He is a very powerful mutant with the ability to control magnetic fields and metal. It would not be good or you to come across him on your own as he would be able to manipulate the metal lining your skeleton."
That was a scary thought for sure. One thing I was terrified of was being unable to control my own actions and now I had not only Stryker but a mutant to fear as well. Great.
1234567890
The professor introduced me to the X-men over lunch in the staff dining room. It was refreshing having a friendly conversation with more than one person. It gave me a chance to tell them my story in private and for me to know theirs. It was bittersweet to know Scott was one of the kids that were on the Island. It gave me hope that maybe this place wouldn't be just a haven but a home. Here where we can be ourselves without persecution would perhaps be the only place I could stay for any real length of time.
"I was wondering if you girls were up for a shopping trip in New York? I don't exactly have many clothes, or, well, much of anything to be honest."
'Ro and Jean quickly agreed and started telling me about all the good stores once I told them I didn't have much of a limit. I had had my accounts or a long time. Have been saving my money since I left New York the first time, and though I have moved my money from one bank to another over the years the interest still builds up.
It was Thursday so we made plans to go on Saturday so I could go into D.C. tomorrow to sort out my accounts at my bank and to transfer my local branch. I had a safety deposit box with things that I'll need such as all my I.D's. Will also need to go check my Post office box. 10 years worth of mail, fantastic.
1234567890
I spent the afternoon outside on my new laptop taking a look at where other countries stand on mutant rights. Its a shame how it always seems like the U.S rules the world. Most countries appeared to be on the fence, waiting for America to set the stage. The upside is if we win America we get most of the world but the downside is if we lose then none of us will be safe. There will be no hope for any of us.
Scott had been very helpful explaining how to use the danger room. He programmed in a user profile for me so I could access my training program easily. He set it up so it was all voice activated and password protected, meant I didn't have to go up to the control room every time. Just walk in, and say the right code and password and my session starts. I love technology!
Decided to make my danger room time 11:30pm til 1:30am that way I'm in bed for 2am and up for 7 with the others. The downside of being in the military (however unwilling) is that you get used to having routines ingrained into your head to the point it's automatic to make them.
My first session was great. I definitely needed it by the way it exhausted me. It had been a month ago I escaped and spent most of that on the move, flight instead of fight. No way was I going to risk recapture.
At least sleep came easy for me after such a vigorous work out.
