Disclaimer: I do not own X-Men or any X-Men related material. Well, except this story.
Second, more important disclaimer: I am an amateur fan of the X-Men, so I apologize in advance for any discontinuities in storyline, characters, etc. Don't forget to review, please…. Did I forget anything?
Ororo Munroe closed the door to Alexandria Genoux's room and walked toward her office. The girl, other than a bit flighty and insecure, was everything she had expected. She was polite, intelligent, mature… of course she'd no idea what Alex looked like from the phone, but she certainly met the criteria of above-average attractiveness set by previous members of the X-Men. Her slight European accent may have seemed out of place in San Francisco, but fit right in at the Institute, where no one had the same origins.
Of course, what Storm still didn't know about were Alex's powers. While she'd refused to write it on the resume, they had discussed it in depth over the phone. She'd explained, hesitantly, voice wavering, about her accident at work.
Alex had been working on a new advertising campaign for Isuzu for weeks and, when she had presented it, the board of directors was extremely displeased. "Uninspired," and "amateur," had been the major words thrown around and the only victim of the barbs had been Alex's ego. Nervous that she would lose her position, she quickly got to work on revising the campaign. She became so engrossed in the project, she was shocked when the tingling in her hands built up to a point where she lost control. Her computer monitor imploded, the tube bursting loudly, and the screen fell inward.
Alex jumped back, her hands to her chest, at first unsure of what had happened. Then other employees began peering over the cubicle walls and whispers were so thick became a low roar. She quickly hid her hands behind her back, but it was too late. Her co-workers had seen the blue electricity jumping back and forth from her fingertips. Her life as a normal human being was over and her life as a mutant, while a part of her for years, was just beginning.
Ororo went through a similar experience of "coming out," like most of the people at the school. She could understand Alex's feeling, her terror at being exposed, becoming one of the outsiders. However, she also could appreciate the fact that, had this not happened, Alex probably would not have left her human life and certainly would not have considered such a bold move as leaving a good job for the Institute. The conflicting sympathy and serendipity discomforted her, but she still took advantage of the situation.
But now a test was needed. Once Alex became settled, Storm would have to set up the danger room and see her powers in action. Because if Alex didn't have what they were looking for, what they needed, what was the point in bringing her there? But Ororo was fooling herself. If Alex didn't have what they were looking for, where else was there to look? Charles had only left one name on that paper and that was Alexandria Genoux, age 26.