Red-Back #4: "Armed and Danger-ous"
Open: Xavier Institute-
An outdoor basketball court. Several young children are playing a game A young teen-aged boy with suction-fingered hands and green, hairless skin jumps up to catch the ball, snares it with a long, sticky tongue, and leaps away toward the goal. A younger boy of about twelve, with six arms, and black, bug-like eyes springs
after him, and shoots out a line of thin, rope-like strand of web. It hits the ball as the other boy tries to shoot a basket, pulling it up short. He yanks it to him, vaults across the court, and scores.
1st boy: "Hey! Foul! That's cheating, Ref!"
2nd boy(Hunter): "No way! It was a fair move- if Jason can use his TONGUE, then I can use a WEB!"
Enter a short, hairy man with bulging muscles and a surly expression in a white "wife-beater" shirt.
Ref(Logan): "Cool it, kids. Sorry, Jas, but Parker's right. The rules of mutant-ball say no offensive powers, but webbing the ball to himself is a legit move. The score stands."
Jason(annoyed): "Aww, man! That SUCKS!"
A whistle is blown by a pretty blonde girl about Hunter's age. "Time! That's game, everyone! Score: Team
Lockheed- 92, Team Corsairs- 96. Corsairs win!"
Hunter jumps up and down. "Yeah! We ROCK!"
Jason: "This is sooo not cool..." He walks away angrily, glaring at Hunter's back.
Next day- 8:05 AM. Dining room.
A man in "preppy" clothes and a pair of red glasses enters and calls for attention. All the students turn to look, pausing over breakfast.
Man(Scott): "Alright everyone- listen up. Today is the day I'm sure you've all been waiting for. For those of you fifteen and older, today is your first day of training in the Danger Room. Everyone else will have field training on the obstacle course on the West lawn. I will be supervising the Danger Room trainees; Storm, you have the underclassmen. All students meet in the foyer in one hour. Finish breakfast and get ready, kids- this is going to be a tough day!"
Older kids: "Yes!"
"Awright!" "I'm so psyched!"
Hunter(to blonde girl, disappointed): "This sucks. Why do THEY get to have all the fun just because they're older? I bet WE could run circles around them! Besides, I'm sick of that stupid course, anyway."
Girl(Elaine)-giggling: "Maybe YOU could, but I'M still just learning to use my powers! All this physical training is easy for you, cause you've been doing that stuff since before you could walk!"
Hunter(shrugs): "Oh, well... It's not MY fault I'm so athletic- I just got Dad's genes, that's all. Come on, Elaine, let's go. If Storm's watching the course, you KNOW she's gonna make it all wet and muddy. Might as well go put something on we can get dirty in!" He stands and picks up his empty plate, heading towaerd the kitchen.
Elaine: "Yeah. I almost feel sorry for the older students. If Storm's making it hard for US, I would HATE to see what Mr. Summers has in store for THEM!" They both laugh as they put the dishes in the sink and leave.
Later- outside (West lawn)
Several students are traversing a large, elaborate obstacle course, with walls, ladders, rope bridges, bars, and other challenges. Each is using different methods (ie- phasing, jumping, flying, etc for the solid barriers, and
climbing, crawling, swinging or others for the rest). Hunter lands at the finish line, amid wind and rain.
Hunter: "Done! What's my time?"
Storm(pleasantly surprised): "Thirty-three seconds. I believe that is a NEW record! You have beaten the previous best time by two full seconds. Congratulations on a job well done, young one!"
Hunter(excited): "YESSS! Oh- uh, who had the OLD record?" He wipes a lock of wet hair out of his eyes.
Storm: "That was Nightcrawler and Beast. Dr. McCoy will be MOST surprised that a student so young was able to beat his best time so easily. We are proud of you."
A large, hairy boy who resembles a gorilla lands with a heavy thud, brushing mud off his fur. "Humph. Finished, ma'am."
Storm: "Well done, Randy. Thirty-six seconds. One off McCoy's time- very good!"
A young girl of about ten has jumped down to join them, her hair and clothes dripping from the rain. She flings her red ponytail about, sending water splattering everywhere while Storm is clocking her time.
Hunter(annoyed): "Hey, sis! We're wet enough already!"
Terra laughs. "Sorry, brother! How did I do, Ms. Munroe?"
Storm: "Thirty-eight seconds. Not bad. "
Elaine drops down beside them all, panting and muddy. Storm glances at her watch again. A young cat-like girl of about fourteen is right beside her, looking much less ruffled.
Storm: "Fourty-two seconds, Sara. Fourty-three for you, Elaine. You're getting better. Keep up the good work!"
Jason hops in behind two other boys, one a tall skinny kid with jet black hair and grey eyes, the other a muscular boy with frosted, spikey brown hair and an earring. Jason looks annoyed. A small, quiet girl hops down behind them, with a pretty Asian teen with an orchid in her hair beside her.
Storm. "Fourty-seven, eight, and nine seconds. NOT your best efforts, boys. You must try harder next time. Mai, Valerie- Fifty flat."
Jason scowls. "Aww, man! I WAS right up there with 'Bug-Boy' here, 'til he tripped me up with one of his stupid webs!" He glares at Hunter, while he tries to pull wet strands of web off his clothes.
Hunter gives him a dirty look, indignant. "Hey, I was just throwin' out a swing line. I can't help it if 'Geeko' was too busy watching the girls to pay attention to where he's going!"
Jason suddenly bristles, fists clenched while the others look on in disbelief.
Jason: "That's 'GECKO', ya bug-eyed runt! And you did it on purpose! You think you can do whatever you wantjust because you DADDY's an Avenger, and YOU'RE a teacher's pet!"
Storm's eyes flash white, as lightening cracks overhead and thunder booms suddenly. Her voice loses all patience. "That is QUITE enough, gentlemen!" Everyone is startled into silence, turning to stare at her. "I will NOT tolerate this sort of behavior from my students. Both of you will CEASE your petty arguing AT ONCE!"
Jason/Hunter(cowed): "Yes, ma,am."
Storm calms, and the clouds begin to clear. "That is better. Now, if everyone has completed the course, perhaps it would be best if you all go clean up before your remaining lessons for the day. I want you all to go to your rooms to change into dry clothes, then back to class. Dr. McCoy will be waiting for you. You are dismissed."
Hunter turns toward the huge house, with Elaine and Terra strolling beside him.
Hunter(quietly): "Jas' better keep his mouth shut, or I'm gonna strangle him with his TONGUE! Call ME
'Bug-Boy'..."
Elaine giggles. "THAT I'd like to watch! Anyway, 'Handy' don't pay attention to THAT jerk. He's just jealous cause you're younger than him and ALREADY better than he is at EVERYTHING!"
Terra chimes in. "You said it, 'Laine! Besides, he should know better than to challenge MY brother- I mean,
doesn't he know that no lizard EVER wins against a SPIDER?!" They all enter the mansion, laughing.
1:30 PM- Same day.
Inside a classroom, with several lab-tables along the walls. "Beast" is writing on the board, while the students take notes. Several are dozing off, texting each other, or just goofing around. But two- Hunter and Randy- are intently studying, while Terra stares out the window watching birds fly, and Elaine is helping the Asian girl with her notes. A bell rings, and everyone starts to leave.
Fx: Rrriiinngg!
Beast(gesturing to Hunter): "Exscuse me, Hunter, but may I see you for a moment?"
Hunter(nervous): "Uh, sure, sir. I'm not in trouble, am I?" He looks down at the floor.
Beast chuckles, grinning. "Of course not. Storm told me at lunch about your remarkable time on the course this morning. Congratulations! You are the first student ever to beat a full-fledged X-Man in field training. Keep up the good work and you may be one yourself in no time!"
Hunter looks up, and grins. "Thanks! That would be killer! But- don't take it wrong, but I REALLY want to join the Avengers some day."
Beast lays a hand on his shoulder, smiling. "Haha. That is quite alright, young man. I'm certain you will make a FINE member of either one some day. In the interim, you'd better get to Kitty's class quickly- I've kept you too long as it is."
Hunter waves, dashing out. "Okay!"
3:28 PM- Storm's class(Geography and Social Studies).
Hunter sits looking bored, doodling some costume ideas. It's not fair that I'm not allowed to go in the 'Danger Room' just because I'm only twelve. I bet I could run circles around those OLDER students in there! If I could just find some way to get in there, I'd show 'em ALL! I can hack into the controls no problem, but I'd STILL need a pass-card. Maybe I could "borrow" one of the teachers' cards... He looks around at the other students- all are quietly working, while Storm writes on an overhead projector. Elaine and Terra sit near-by. He sees Jason and the other boys- the black-haired one and the boy with the earring- whispering and pointing at Storm. The other two are daring Jason to shoot a spit-wad at her. He grins, shooting it, and...
Fx: Twhippp!
Hunter intercepts it with a web-ball! The ball lands on the chalk-board, drawing attention from the entire class. Storm glances at it, and turns to stare at him pointedly. Jason glares at him, while everyone else just stares in surprise.
Fx: Splutch!
Hunter: Oops! THAT wasn't supposed to happen! Really gotta learn to control that better...
Storm's eyes flash white, and the air turns cold in the room. "That is inappropriate behavior, Hunter Parker. Perhaps you will learn to follow classroom conduct by staying after class to clean up your mess and write a two-page report on WHY we have such rules."
He sinks down in his chair, unable to make an excuse, while Jason and his cronies grin triumphantly. "Y- yes, ma'am."
One hour later-
Hunter and Storm are alone in the room. She looks up from watering some plants by the window to watch him cleaning the chalk-board. He is trying to pull the last few strands of his web off of it.
Storm(thoughtfully): "I am a bit surprised to see such foolish shenanigans from YOU, of all my students,
child. You have always been one of the most well-mannered and studious in class. Why the sudden change?"
He looks up, embarrassed. "Um- actually, it was kind of an accident. Jason was shooting a spit-ball at you, and I tried to catch it before it hit you. Iuh, kind of hit the board by mistake. My aim's not always good. I'm sorry. But I was just trying to do the right thing- it just sort of backfired." He scuffs one foot shamefully.
Storm: "Ah- I see. I had wondered if you might have been provoked into such irresponsible behavior. It is so
unlike you to be a trouble-maker. Very well; finish the boards and you may go."
He brightens. "Okay. Thanks, Ms. Munroe!" He starts scrubbing the board with gusto, whistling as he goes. Storm smiles and goes back to watering her plants. He is just finishing when he glances at her desk- he sees her pass-card in an open drawer.
Hunter: Slammin! Heh- who says wishes can't come true?! I'll just borrow this for a little while. I can always put it back glances over at Storm, who is still watering her flowers, then snatches the card out of the drawer, closing it softly. He puts away the erasers and cleaning supplies in a small cubby, then leaves the room, grinning to himself.
Later- dinner.
He is sitting at a long table with the other students. Jason and his friends are busy grossing out some of the girls by playing with thier food. Hunter whispers quietly with Elaine.
Hunter: "See, I got the card, but I still need some one to help me get in there. The door has a palm-print reader on it, and I need fake a teacher's print. That's where you come in. Plus, I may need someone to keep an eye on the program while I'm in there."
She gives him a dubious look. "You realize we could get into a LOT of trouble over this, right? How are we going to get in there without anyone finding out? They'll notice if we go missing."
He shakes his head, and holds up a hand, shaking one finger. He grins. "NOT if we go after lights out! We just
wait until after everyone's in bed, and sneak in! C'mon! It'll be fun- b'sides, don't you want to know what it's like?"
She looks doubtful. "Well... Maybe. But how am I supposed to help with the door?"
He cocks his head. "How good do you think you really are with that alchemy of yours? Good enough to change
someone's hand-print? Like, say, to Storm's?"
She frowns. "I don't know. I don't know what hers looks like."
He shrugs. "You can touch her and sense how her molecules go together, right? Just concentrate on that and change one of mine to match. Easy, right?"
She grimaces, and notices Jason looking their way. He is giving Hunter a dirty look.
Jason: "Aww, that's cute- look at the love-birds over there whispering sweet nothings to each other. Ooohh! He asking you to be his Spider-Queen, 'Lainey?"
Hunter turns and glares at him. "Bite me, lizard-breath."
But the older boy won't leave it alone. "Why do you hang around with him, anyway? He's just a little suck-up to the teachers who thinks he's a big-shot just 'cause his Dad's an Avenger."
Hunter starts to get up, but Elaine holds him back.
Elaine: "Don't do it- he's not worth the trouble you'd get in. (whispers) Like you're not going to get in enough already if Storm finds out you took her pass-card."
He slowly backs down, still seething. He answers her loud enough for the others to hear. "Yeah, you're right, he's just a jealous twit. I mean- look! He's literally GREEN with envy! He knows HE'D never have a chance with you!"
She looks up at him, startled. The others all get quiet, as the lizard-boy gets up and stalks off, hissing. Hunter chuckles.
Elaine: Did he just mean...?! I thought we were just friends? Then again, he IS kind of cute. And a lot nicer than those finish their dinner in silence.
As they are getting up, he whispers to her. "Meet me by the lift to the basement level at midnight. And DON'T let anyone see you!"
Midnight:
Hunter and Elaine are sneaking toward the lift doors in the dark, each from the opposite side. They reach for the panel at the same time, and brush hands. She lets out a little yelp. He quickly puts a hand over her mouth to silence her.
Hunter(whispers fiercely): "Quiet! Logan's on watch tonight- I smelled his cigar as I was coming down the stairs. Let's get down there before he catches us."
She nods, with his hand still over her face. They get into the lift, and the doors close behind them just as a short, hairy man is coming out of the kitchen with a beer.
Logan: "Huh? Thought I heard somethin'. Must be gettin' old- mind's startin' to go..."
Down in the sub-level...
They walk down a large corridor with metal walls, toward a pair of sealed metal doors with a hand-print and key-card security lock. Elaine has a small ball of light in her hand.
Hunter: "See, 'Lainey? I TOLD you no one would find out! After all, I managed to filch Storm's pass-card,
didn't I?"
Elaine: "Sure, Mr. Genius, but I never got close enough to her to get a feel of her molecules. I don't even know if I could DO something like what you're asking! What if I mess up? I could turn your hand to jello!"
He shrugs, unconcerned. "Hey, you never know until you try, right? Besides, it's not like I don't have plenty to spare!" He chuckles and waves all six.
She sighs, exasperated. "Oh, well. Don't blame ME if this doesn't work. It was YOUR idea!" He holds out one hand while she concentrates. His hand starts to change, becoming dark-skinned and "feminine".
Elaine: "Okay. I THINK it worked. Try it and see."
Hunter(amazed): "Wow. This is really cool! I can't wait to see what we can do once we're in there. I don't know why They made that stupid rule that only OLDER students could train in their, anyway."
Elaine laughs nervously. "Um... It's called the 'DANGER ROOM' for a REASON, Hunter!"
He swipes the card across the reader, and puts his altered hand on the pad and...
Automated voice: Identity confirmed. Access granted. Welcome, Storm. The doors slide open, and lights come on inside.
Fx: Wssshh
Hunter jumps up, excited. "YESS!"
Elaine grabs his hand again, and her eyes glow again. His hand returns to normal. They go in. The room is small and narrow, with a huge computer panel along one wall, with a large window above it looking down into a huge metal-walled room beyond, made up of many panels fit together in various shapes. Hunter switches on the computer, and the lights come on in the room beyond. He starts tapping on the keys, looking down at a screen. He has a look of intense concentration.
Elaine: "What are you doing? Do you even know how to operate this thing?"
He shrugs, and goes back to working on the controls. "Can't be that hard. They have a heck of a security set-up in here, though. I might take me a few minutes to hack it. Let's see... Oh- just a standard lock-out system? That's not so bad. I'll just... there. Got it!"He presses a button, and suddenly the entire room comes to life beyond the window. He plays around some more, muttering to himself. The screen flashes with a list of data.
Hunter: "Hmm... Guess we'll start with a level one program to warm up, and see how it goes from there. Okay, this sounds promising!" He stands agian, grinning from ear to ear. "Okay, 'Lainey- you keep an eye on things in here, and I'll yell if I need any help. If I do, just hit that red button to abort the sim. Got it?"
She nods mutely. He walks over to a small door on the other side of the room; it opens, and he steps into the huge chamber. The door shuts behind him. As soon as he enters, the entire room seems to disappear into a dense jungle, filled with the sounds of birds, and distant roars. Ahead in the distance, he sees a large temple on a mountaintop, with large creatures soaring around it.
Hunter: "Savage Land, huh? Must be one of Logan's programs. Only he would enjoy something like this. Doesn't seem all that dangerous, though..." At that moment, his spider-sense flashes a warning; he turns toward the source, in time to see a huge creature come crashing through the trees. It's a Tyrannosuar, its jaws open wide, saliva dripping from the huge maw. It roars as it spots him, and lunges.
Hunter: "WOAH! Okay- I retract that- maybe it IS a little dangerous!" He leaps away, barely avoiding being bitten in half. He bounds off of a tree, landing high in the branches of another. The dinosaur roars and snaps at him, but he's too high to reach, so it slams against the tree trying to knock him out of it or push it over. Hunter is forced to leap to another tree, or risk losing his perch. The Tryrannosaur growls, but he just
laughs.
Hunter: "Haha, this is actually kinda fun! Needs more of a challenge, though. How hard is THIS?!" No sooner does he speak, then a new threat emerges- a Pterosauar swoops down from the sky, diving at him from above while the T-rex begins its assault on his new tree.
Hunter: "Yikes! Spoke too soon! Um... Oh! This should be easy..."He waits for the Ptero to swoop at him
again, and leaps up onto its back. The startled creature squawks, and tries to throw him off with a dizzying series of dives and loops, but he clings to its back tenaciously. He finally manages to crawl up to the back of its head, and wrestles it under his control by pointing its head where he wants it to go- straight toward the Rex! The T-rex looks up to see the flying reptile diving at it, and roars, its jaws ready to snap it out of the sky.
Hunter: "And that's my cue to split!" He leaps off the Ptero's neck just as it comes within reach of the bigger dinosauar, and hears a nasty crunch as the Rex chomps it. He is watching the Rex tearing into its meal in morbid fascination, when another Rex charges onto the scene. It spies the prey, and roars a challenge at
the feeding one. The first Rex looks up, and hisses at its new rival. They rush at each other- and Hunter is nearly decapitated by a swinging tail as he is caught in the middle.
Hunter: "Whoops! Looks like three's a crowd here! I'm NOT reffereeing THAT food-fight! Time to be elsewhere!" He leaps up into a tree near-by, as the two tear into each other. He hops and swings by hand from branch to branch until he is well away from the fighting animals. He glances up ahead, to find himself heading toward the mountain. "Hmmm, wonder what that place is? Guess I'll go find out." He keeps swinging and bounding through the tree-tops, until he reaches a deep canyon with a rope-and-plank bridge crossing
it. "Great. THIS looks safe..."
He starts across, only to be met with another Pterosaur half-way across- with nowhere to go! He grimaces, looking frantically for an escape. "Had to open my big mouth..." The creature dives at him.
Then he notices that the Pterosaur has a rider- a short, big-headed male wearing what appears to be a diaper. Hunter flattens himself against the bridge's planks, as the strange "infant" wheels his mount around for another pass.
Hunter: "A baby? No, wait- that must be Brain-Child. Great, so now I'm fighting Mutates, too? Who WROTE this program? Next thing you know, I'll end up running into that Ka-Zar guy..." He dodges a spear from Brain-Child, only to have it cut one of the ropes. The bridge dangles on its side, and Hunter frantically clings to it to avoid falling. But he's left himself open for the next attack. The winged beast circles back for another swoop at him, its rider aiming another spear. Hunter looks up in time to see him throw it. He does the only thing he can- he drops from the bridge, falling into the canyon below. Suddenly, he feels himself being grabbed in mid-air by a huge set of talons. He looks up, to find himself in the grip of a second Ptero, this one with a green-haired woman on its back.
Hunter: "VERTIGO?! Uh-oh. This is not going to be good..." He struggles in the animal's claws, as the woman holds up one hand and hits him with something invisible. He suddenly feels dizzy. He feels himself losing consciousness, and it's all he can do to call out.
Hunter: "ELAINE! SHUT IT dowwnn..." A few moments later he comes to, lying on the cold metal floor of the huge room. The jungle, the canyon and the flying dinosaurs are gone. He raises himself up shakily, still dizzy. Elaine comes flying out of the control room, A worried look on her face.
Elaine: "Hunter! Are you okay?!"
He tries to stand, but is wobbling from the effects of Vertigo's power. "Wow, that's some realistic program. I'm STILL feeling that. No wonder they call this place the 'Danger Room'!"
She shakes her head at him. "I told you so!"
He finally shakes off the dizziness, then grins. "That was fun! Okay, 'Lainey- YOUR turn!"
Elaine: "Oh, NO! I'm not getting picked up by some flying lizard! You can HAVE it!"
Hunter: "Oh, come on. It wasn't that bad. I'm sure I can find something more your speed. What d'ya say- have a go at it?"
She gives him a dubious look. "You SURE I won't get eaten or squished or blown up or something?"
He laughs. "Course not. I got the safeties on. It's all yours, 'Lainey!"
She shrugs. "Ah, what the heck. In for a penny, in for a pound, right?"
Hunter(grins): "EXACTLY!"He resets the controls, bringing up a basic Sentinel program. When it begins to run, he hears an enraged squawk from Elaine.
Elaine: "HEY! You said I wouldn't get blown up! What do you call THESE things? Tinker toys?"
He laughs, using the intercomm to speak to her. "Nope! I call them practice! Use your head- you've studied enough about these things to know their weak points! Use them!"
Elaine: "I'm SOO going to get you for this!" She gets down to the business of fighting the Sentinels, using her powers to melt their hands when they try to grab her, or to form her fists into iron to slam into them. She turns a near-by pond into oil, then lures one into firing at her, only to hit and ignite it instead. The flames obscure her from its heat sensors, and she uses the distraction to turn a fallen tree branch and rock into a stone-tipped lance. One of the Sentinels shoots at her again, and she raises a wall of earth in front of her, then vaults over it with the lance to land on top, and hurls the weapon at the thing's eye. It scores, and the machine falls back with a jarring crash.
Hunter: "One down! Doin' good!"
Elaine: "Shut up, Handy, unless you want to come down here and help me!"
Hunter: "Why? The whole point of this is to learn to do it on our own!"
She snaps back a rude response, and turns part of the first one's remains into a shield. She opens up the ground under the second one, causing it to sink down until it is half underground. Then she turns the ground to solid rock before it can use its thrusters to pull out. The Sentinel is suddenly cut in half by the compacted earth.
Hunter: "Hey, nice one! Now that's smart thinking!"
Elaine: "I still don't see you HELPING!"
Hunter: "You're doing pretty good all by yourself. What do you need ME for?!"She lands in front of where the window is, and lets the last giant robot shoot toward her before ducking out of the way. She hears a satisfying yelp as he sees the illusionary beam coming at him; she laughs. "That's what you get, jerk-face!"
Hunter: "Oh! I'll REMEMBER that! Maybe I should just crank it up a notch or two!"
She yells back "Don't you DARE!"She dispatches the last one with a stone spike through its middle as it reaches down to grab her, then pauses to catch her breath. "Okay, Handy, now what?"
He grins, shutting down the program. "Cool. Told you it wouldn't be too bad. My turn again! And this time, I'm going up to level three!"
She dashes back into the control room, aghast. "You can't be serious?! If that was level one, what do you think three will be like?"
Hunter(tapping on the controls, a look of intense excitement on his face): "Dunno- but I can't WAIT to find out!" He presses the button to begin the next simulation, and runs into the training ground. "Next up- Shi'ar shootout!"
Elaine(mutters): "He's nuts- absolutely nuts..."
Several hours later...
The two teens are sneaking back out of the sub-level, checking to be sure no one sees them, when they hear a distinctive sound from the shadows.
Fx: snikt
H(whispers): "Uh-oh. That can't be good."
Voice: "Mind tellin' me what you kids were doin' down there?"
Elaine(groans): "Ugh,
I KNEW this was a bad idea..."
Hunter: "Uh, Mr. Logan- I- I can explain. We were just-"
Logan interrupts, stepping out of the shadows. "You were down in the Danger Room, weren't ya?"
Hunter starts to protest, but thinks better of it. He knows better than to try to lie around Logan. He nods silently.
Logan: "Heh. Thought I smelled Parker earlier. You kids better be careful down there- I'd hate to see ya get hurt."
They both look up, startled.
Hunter: "Y- You're not going to bust us?"
Logan: "Nah. No point. If you want to get yourself smacked around in there that bad, Who am I to argue? Just keep it quiet. And if anyone asks, I never saw you. Got it, bub?"
Hunter grins. "Yes, sir! Thanks!" They start to head for their rooms.
Logan(mutters): "Don't mention it. Really."
One week later...
Hunter and Elaine are watching a car pull up to the house, along with Terra and a few other students, including Jason and his two cronies.
Hunter: "Who do you suppose the new kid is? Hope he's more fun than those clowns."
Terra: "I heard he's from Chicago. Just moved here, right before he got his powers."
Elaine: "Really? What are they?"
Sara, aka "Whisker" pipes up. "I heard from my mother that he's a technopath. Pretty strong one, too- first time his powers went active, he accidently caused a riot when he made an ATM start spewing money. She said he almost got arrested before the cops realized he didn't know he was the one doing it."The car door opens, and a young boy of about eleven with ashen hair and glasses gets out, looking nervous. He is skinny, with a backpack and a huge duffle bag that seems almost too heavy for him. Jason and his two friends grin at each other.
Jason: "Ooh, wimp alert! Looks like we got ourselves some fresh meat, guys. "The others snigger evilly. Hunter turns to the lizard-boy and scowls.
Hunter: "Give it a rest, Geeko- he just got here. You don't even know what he's like yet."
Gecko: "Sure I do, arachno-geek. He's a nerd. Worse, a nerd with nerd powers. That makes him fair game, right, guys? What say we go welcome him?"
Tommy: "Yup."
Tyler: "Ooh, this is gonna be fun..."
Elaine steps in, and starts down the steps before the others can reach the new kid.
Elaine: "Like heck, you will, Gecko!" She meets the boy half-way, and offers him her hand. He shakes it, almost timidly.
Boy: "H- Hi. I'm Robbie Kincaid. Uh, this place is a lot bigger than I thought."
Elaine: "Nice to meet you! My name's Elaine Tanner. Hope you like it here." He looks at all the other students gathered on the steps, and his eyes meet Hunter's black ones. He stares, taken aback by the other boy's bizarre appearance.
Robbie: "Whoa. Is he for real? What IS he?"
Elaine chuckles. "Him? Oh, that's just 'Handy'. Don't let the looks fool you, he's one of the nicest guys here. (whispers) Stay away from Jason and his two goons over there, though. They're trouble."
Robbie: "Handy? What kind of name is that?" He glances over at the three leering older boys, and instinctively knows why Elaine said to avoid them. He knows without even being told that they are a bunch of bullies.
Elaine: "It's a nick-name. Actually, he hates it. His real name is Hunter, and the girl with him is his sister Terra. They're the 'Spider-Kids'."
The new boy looks at her, curious. "You mean like Spider-Man?"
She nods. "Yup! He's their dad!
Cool, huh? A couple of real Junior Avengers!"
Robbie: "Really? Cool. Maybe this place won't be as boring as I thought."
She laughs. "Boring?! This school is ANYTHING but boring! Welcome to Xaviers!"
They all go inside; He notices the three older boys giving him devilish looks, while most of the others seem indifferent- except the one named Hunter, who seems genuinely curious. But then it's time for class, so he lets the girl show him to his classroom.