I.
The morning sun's rays peeked through the branches of the massive oak tree in the back yard of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. The surrounding forest was tranquil as the chirping of small birds and romping of animals could be heard, while a cool, pre-Autumn breeze rustled small leaves. And in front of the school stood a small group of people on the verge of breaking that serenity.
"Tis a beautiful mornin' for trainin'," Sean Cassidy said before taking a deep, cleansing breath. He closed his eyes as the crisp air filled his lungs, held it there for just a moment, before letting it back out slowly. His eyes opened and he smiled at his audience knowingly. "Now, who's goin' first?"
Without hesitation, Monet St. Croix raised her hand promptly and after being motioned forward, moved quickly to a position opposite Sean.
As she took her place, he explained, "Th' purpose o' this exercise is important because there may be some situations where yuir powers will nae be available, or ye have t' keep yuir abilities secret. Therefore, ye'll have t' strictly rely on yuir fighting abilities t' keep ye alive."
Jubilation Lee, called Jubilee by her peers, stated through a mouthful of freshly poured Sugar Bombs, "I think this is like totally dumb. Even though you were an X-Man, jus like I was, and a policeman, and an agent, and whatever else you've done—geez, yer kinda old—Monet is like one gazillion times stronger and faster than you. When I was watchin' you fight tha other day, your Irish age was totally startin' to show. Why wouldn't ya use your powers on her?"
Angelo Espinosa nodded in agreement. "Yo man, I think I've gotta agree with Jubes here." Flanked by Ethan Callaghan, who shook his head in complete concurrence, he wondered exactly how Sean was planning on defeating her without using his powers.
"Ach, laddies. Ye have much t' learn," Sean dismissively stated. "Attack me, Monet!"
Moving swiftly even without the use of her powers, she dashed toward Sean and delivered a perfect spinning side kick to his midsection. Slow to react, he staggered from the impact. Not letting up for a moment, she launched a flurry of punches at his upper body, the older man barely dodging the strikes. But the last one connected to his jaw, jolting his equilibrium, but he quickly recovered his balance.
Jubilee another healthy took a bite of cereal before she asked, "Um, Banshee, were you like supposed to get hit like that?"
"Sometimes, ye have t' take a hit or two t' get an openin'," he replied said as he threw a side kick to Monet's face. She barely blocked the attack in time but quickly shifted her weight to throw a punch in retaliation. Anticipating the move, he dodged it and quickly moved in, tapping her above her ribs, a clear opening.
Grunting angrily, Monet counter-attacked with a wild backhand, but Sean had already moved out of her immediate reach. Internally, he was amazed at the girl's physical prowess. For someone at such a young age, she seemed to be totally in control of her reflexes and power, unlike some of her peers. He wondered if it was the result of her vast abilities or something else.
Dodging her techniques, he explained through controlled breaths, "Tis an excellent exercise in self-control. No matter how much she may want to, Monet's refrainin' from usin' her abilities. Quite well, Ah might add." Though he smiled at Monet, she gritted her teeth in response.
She threw yet another a perfect sidekick towards his face, but her move was a second too slow—enough time for him to get underneath, grab her ankle, and give her a slight tug. She lost her balance completely and before she could react, Sean shifted his grip and weight, tossing her over his head. Without using her abilities, she wasn't able to soften the fall and hit the ground hard, causing the spectators to flinch.
"Wow, impressive!" Ethan commended, amazed that Sean had defeated Monet so easily.
"Well, like of course, I mean, Sean was an X-Man an' all…totally same as me," Jubilee added, beaming.
Sean extended a hand to Monet, but the girl was already climbing to her feet, her chagrin morphing into pure rage. Ach, ye may have hurt th' lass's pride, he thought to himself. To the audience, Sean said, "So, as ye can see, an overreliance on yuir powers can lead t' a deficiency in another, which can be yuir undoin' if ye find yuirself in a situation where ye cannae use yuir powers."
That damn Sean! I refuse to appear pathetic in front of my peers! Intending to strike him with full force, Monet moved in stealthily, seen only by the other students as Sean had his back to her.
Seemingly unaware of her approach, he continued. "Ah must note that nae once durin' th' trainin' did Monet lose control and use her powers t' gain th' advantage. An' surely, she would ne'er be vengeful-hearted or use her powers out o' anger. Tis a fine example for ye all t' follow. Right, Monet?" Sean spun to find Monet standing innocently behind him, a broad smile across her face.
"Absolutely, Mr. Cassidy," she sappily replied.
Sean motioned for Monet to take a seat next to the others as he beckoned Angelo to come forward. "Now, the last thin' Ah want t' impress upon ye is t' use yuir powers efficiently. Fightin' an enemy usin' yuir powers doesn't have t' be a spectacular showdown. Sometimes, th' simplest maneuvers can avert a situation."
Sean jumped into an offensive fighting position, prompting Angelo to do the same. He began the sparring match with a straight punch to Angelo's face. He watched as the attack came in, and moving quite quickly and unexpectedly, caught Sean's fist in his palm.
His extra skin engulfed his lower arm, trapping him, then with a twist, Sean found himself with his arm contorted painfully behind his back, while Angelo stood behind him, with a triumphant grin on his face.
Jubilee jumped and cheered, nearly spilling her bowl of cereal. "Way ta go, Ange!" "Very nice, lad," he complimented, genuinely surprised at Angelo's increased reflexes and dexterity. "Now, would ye mind lettin' me go? Ah'd rather not deal with a dislocated shoulder. Ah've got a long day ahead o' me."
Angelo untangled his skin from around Sean's arm. "Lo siento. I've been workin' on my arsenal of moves. The trainin' sessions with Tom have been pretty cool."
"Ah can tell," Sean replied with a smile, then shifted his attention back to the other students. "As ye can see, a small, discreet use o' yuir powers can have a devastatin' effect on yuir opponent." Glancing at his watch, he said, "Ah dinnae want t' keep ye too long. Monet convinced us t' give ye lads th' day t' explore New York. Ah'm heading t' Boston t'day, so if any o' ye would like t' come along, let me know. Tis was a short lesson, but Ah hope ye got somethin' useful out o' it."
As Sean headed inside, Jubilee narrowed her eyes at Monet. "Like, were you really gonna hit him?"
Giving her a withering glare for asking such an obvious, stupid question, Monet replied, "Of course I was. The whole situation was completely bogus at the least. Regardless of where you are, if there is imminent danger, then one would be a fool not to utilize all of the resources that are available."
"You know, chica," Angelo interjected, "Sean's gotta point. There are gonna be times when we can't use our powers. I mean, there's all those power-dampening machines and crazy shit like that," Angelo added.
Monet flipped her hair, a sign that she was going to make the final point of the conversation. "Honestly, I do not anticipate ever finding myself in such a compromising position. My powers are an essential element of my being, and I shall never conceal or under-utilize them in a battle, regardless of what anyone says."
Her words hung in the air, leaving the others to figure out where they stood on the topic. But before a much longer conversation could ensue, she abruptly changed the subject as they made their way inside. "Jubilation, I'm taking a limo into Manhattan. Feel free to accompany me if you aren't preoccupied with some other event."
Jubilee looked as if she had just been hit. "Hold up! Did I like hear ya right? Yer askin' me ta go...with you? Dude, why? And like, what's tha catch?"
Monet continued to walk, addressing Jubilee over her shoulder. "Gaping doesn't become you. And don't escalate my invitation into something more than what it is. Consider it a token of my kindness."
Angelo shook his head. "Dios! Monet being nice? I think hell's frozen over."
"I'm extending the invitation to the both of you as well," Monet added.
"Ethan and I were gonna hit the gym then maybe see if we could tag along with Sean to Boston," Angelo answered, getting a nod from Ethan.
"Well, Lee, it appears that the trip to Manhattan will be you, Jono, and I."
"Jono's goin' too?"
"He will be," Monet replied. "We will be convening in the kitchen in an hour and a half. I have no intention on waiting if you are late. Showers and clean clothes are a must, so it would be prudent to start preparations now." She then disappeared through the doorway.
"I really don't know what to make of her," Ethan said to Jubilee and Angelo.
"We've known her for a while, and we still don't know what to make of her," Angelo joked. The trio followed Monet inside, anticipating the adventures of the day.
II.
Jono Starsmore groaned as the incessant buzzing of his alarm clock became unbearable. Reaching one hand from underneath the covers, he groped around on his nightstand for the device, slapping and hitting everything else piled there before finally resting his hand on the alarm clock. Pushing the snooze button, he retracted his arm back under the covers and attempted to doze.
But in what seemed like only a few seconds, the alarm clock sounded again. This time, he shoved off the covers and shut off the alarm, throwing his legs over the side of the bed while trying to expunge the last remnants of grogginess from his mind.
Opening his eyes, he stared down into the endless glow of kinetic energy churning within his chest cavity. He often wondered why he could sleep without his scarf and the energy didn't somehow pour out of him or destroy the bed. But usually, he just accepted it as a logical fact and continued about his day.
But today…something felt different about today. He couldn't simply accept the fact that somehow, there was some invisible barrier holding the energy inside. If he didn't have a chest or internal organs, then nothing was obstructing the energy from pouring out all over the place. Or keeping it from dissipating into the atmosphere. But somehow, without much conscious thought at all, either Jono held it within himself or maybe there was a barrier that was more tangible than he originally thought. Which is why when he wrapped his chest and face, the wraps usually took the natural shape of his jawline and body.
If that was the case then maybe though concentration, Jono could…
A knock at the door snapped him out of his thoughts. "Come in," he unenthusiastically called, the grogginess still in his telepathic voice.
The door opened and Monet strode in, immediately displaying an expression of disapproval and disgust at the disarray. Clothes, books, and other miscellaneous items were strewn about the floor, an unsavory odor hung in the air, and the room was bathed in a darkened ambiance, which made her abruptly halt, refusing to go into the room any farther.
"It's evident you have no experience with maintaining decent accommodations, Jono," she said.
"Good morning to you too, gel. Care t' throw a few more insults this way? My day wouldn't be right without them."
"As tempting and easy as that might be, I must refuse your offer. However, I am departing for Manhattan this morning and offer you a place in the limo."
"What're we doin' in Manhattan?"
Monet crossed her arms and cocked her left eyebrow. "We are not doing anything. My initial presumption of the day's activities included introducing young Jubilation to finer apparel. I am positive there are grungy, stoic stores that suit your tastes. The whole premise, which Emma and Sean agreed to, is to expose us to something—anything—outside of the school walls without the precarious nature of our most recent endeavors."
It was way too early to decipher her rhetoric. But Jono caught the gist of what she was saying and that was quite enough for him as muddling through her extensive vocabulary was causing his head to ache.
"You know 'ow to present an invite that's difficult to refuse, M," he sarcastically replied. "Whatever. I'll tag along."
Smiling, she replied, "Good. We shall convene in the kitchen in approximately an hour and a half. Make a concerted effort to refine your personal hygiene to a standard worthy of public showing. And be punctual." With that, she spun, flipping her silken, jet black hair and departed, shutting the door behind her.
Love her or hate her, he said to himself, reciting the mantra that had been associated with Monet since day one. Stuck-up, snobby, and pompous were a few adjectives that came to his mind. At the same time, he presumed it was all a façade, and underneath it all, she had the same self-doubt and flaws that they all had. It was just hell getting her to admit it.
Pushing himself off his bed, Jono shuffled to his bathroom, relieved himself, and leaned over the sink. Gazing at the rippling energy in his chest, his mind wandered back to his original thoughts his situation. All he had to do was concentrate—
Another knock, then the subsequent opening of the door without consent told Jono that Angelo had come down. He peeked his head around the corner and sure enough, Angelo, accompanied by Ethan, was poking around in his room.
"Yo, man, you up?" Angelo absently called as Jono came around the corner.
"What're you blokes doin' down 'ere," Jono said, purposefully glaring at Ethan. It was no secret that Ethan and Paige had feelings for each other, and though Jono was the one that broke up with Paige, he didn't quite care for anyone else dating her. Especially him.
"Hey, hombre, chill out," Angelo said, catching Jono's standoffish glare towards Ethan. "Ethan came down with me—we wanted to see what you were gonna be doin' for today's mandatory fun."
Jono rolled his eyes as he stepped out of the bathroom.
It was the first time that Ethan had seen Jono without some kind of wrap on, and it was quite a surprising sight. Glowing energy swirled around within his chest cavity, throat, and lower jaw, held at bay, mysteriously and invisibly, taking the shape of what his jaw, neck, and chest would look like if they were whole. The opening was lined with jagged flesh, as if the energy had simply broken through a porcelain shell, leaving a messy outline of its exit. It was disgusting and intriguing at the same time, and Ethan wondered if Jono was simply an energy-based life form, not needing an outside body to exist. Just then, Ethan suddenly became aware that Jono was staring back at him, scowling.
"Got a problem?" Jono shot at Ethan.
"No," Ethan made direct eye contact with Jono. "Seems like you do though. If this is about Paige—"
"You don't want to 'ave this conversation with me," Jono icily replied.
Angelo stepped in between them. "You two chicos have got to mellow out. There's mucho tension in here, and it's making my head hurt," he split his words between both.
Taking his eyes off Ethan, Jono replied, "I guess I'm goin' wit' Monet to Manhattan. In her own way, she said there might be my kinda stores out there. Besides, I need a few new records."
"You're the only kid on the block that still has a record player," Angelo shook his head in disbelief.
"What's e'eryone else doin'?"
Ethan shrugged. "Sean offered to let us tag along with him when he went to Boston, so Ange and I are going with him. I'm not sure about the others, but they're probably just heading into Snow Valley."
"So, hommes, get dressed an' come upstairs so we can grab some grub," Angelo said, his stomach punctuating his statement with a growl.
If Jono had a mouth, he would have frowned, but his eyes conveyed his annoyance with Angelo. "It's not like I can eat, mate. Why'd you wait for me?"
"Oy! You're even more moody than usual. Maybe we just wanted your brooding company while we ate. What else are you gonna do—sit down here in this pigsty and sulk?"
"I had thought about it. 'Sides," Jono glanced around, "it's not that bad. I know where everythin' is."
"An organized mess," Ethan mumbled.
"It doesn't require your approval," Jono shot toward Ethan.
Growing weary of his attitude, Ethan announced, "I'm heading upstairs." He returned Jono's disapproving glare before disappearing through the doorway.
"I'll join you in a sec," Angelo replied as Ethan left the room. Once Angelo presumed he was out of earshot, he turned to Jono. "So, how long are you gonna keep acting like an ass toward him?"
Jono rolled his eyes as he grabbed his usual leather wrap for his chest and lower face. "Whatever. I'd figured you'd understand."
Angelo warded off Jono's reply with a frantic wave of his hands. "Whoa! I'm not gettin' in the middle of this. But somethin's gotta give. We're a team…save the bullshit for the bad guys out there."
"The bad guys aren't datin' my ex-girlfriend." Jono quickly wrapped his chest, used to the slightly cumbersome task.
"If you wanna talk, I'm here for ya, amigo. Right now," Angelo grabbed Jono's leather jacket and tossed it to him, "put on some pants and come upstairs, so we can eat."
"Yeah, yeah," Jono replied as Angelo left. Once more, his mind went to the gaping hole in his chest and whether he actually had enough control to do something about it. He suddenly regretted agreeing to go to Manhattan, but shook it off, hoping that a change of scenery would do him some good and help take his mind of Paige. And the gaping hole in his chest.
III.
"In world news, a bomb ripped through the bottom floors of a children's refugee hospital in Villinkovic early this morning."
Though breathing rhythmically as sweat beaded on her forehead, Paige Guthrie felt a chill run down her spine as the screen panned out to show the decimated hospital floors. She blinked away the image of children buried under rubble and worse.
"While no known terrorist organization has taken responsibility, government officials report suspect that the Order of the Fifth Star may be responsible."
Through focused breaths, she spoke into an unobtrusive earpiece, "Cerebra, index news report…keyword, Order of the Fifth Star…cross-reference keyword, terrorism. Mark location of attack, Villinkovic. Pinpoint other terrorism locales, keyword Order of the Fifth Star."
Moving her arms rhythmically, concentrating on keeping them pumping while not crossing her body, she continued her treadmill routine, pushing a button twice to increase the speed. She attempted to push the news report out of her mind, telling herself that she would revisit it later, but despite her best attempts, images of injured children kept flashing through her head. And then, a horrific image of masked hoodlums belonging to the Order of the Fifth Star celebrating their act of terrorism.
Disgusted, Paige ran harder and faster, determined to push the images out by exhausting herself, but all it did was make the scenes more vibrant and alive. She turned her attention back to the news report, giving up on taking her mind off of it.
The reporter went on to describe the Order of the Fifth Star as an ultra right-wing organization infamous for its nationalist and racist beliefs. But she thought it sounded too broad…too easy. She wasn't the one to jump to unnecessary conclusions, but maybe there was more to the Order of the Fifth Star than being just another terrorist group.
Paige sprinted the last two minutes of her forty-five minute run then slowed to a stop. Taking a sip of water, she stepped off the treadmill and began to stretch, noticing Emma watching her from the doorway.
"Why am I not surprised that you're up before the sun?"
She flashed a grin. "Good morning to you too, Ms. Frost. And that's how I grew up, but since there's not exactly farm work to do here, exercising became a suitable substitute. How are you this morning?"
Emma wondered if her sleepless night was plainly evident in her features. "The usual," she ambiguously replied. Taking a glance around, she then said, "I would've thought you would be using the new gym to workout in."
Paige settled on the floor in a hurdler stretch. "I don't know…I kind of like this one. Plus, we've got the flat screen in here, so I can watch the news while running. And the Cerebra connector works better in here," she pointed to the earpiece.
"So care to enlighten me as to why you've been in strict solitude with Cerebra and all its little toys?"
Paige switched legs and continued to stretch. "There's a lot going on in the world that we don't get to see. And with anti-mutant sentiment growing, I think more and more incidents are becoming linked, targeting mutants and humans alike. I'm tracking a majority of them through Cerebra, and I've linked it to Cerebro, which is linked to databases across the world for this sort of thing. I also talked Forge into linking it into our cell phones and mobile systems. Same as the new security system."
"And you say you're not as good as Pryde?" Emma smirked.
Paige blushed slightly.
"It's not easy to impress me, but this impresses me, Paige. I was concerned that you had lost your initial drive and edge that you had when you first came here. I can see a small twinkle of it coming back."
"I have a lot of time to focus now," she sourly replied.
Even without being a psychic, Emma was sure that Paige and Jono had broken up. She really didn't condone relationships among the students, and this was the exact reason why. "Just ensure that your crusade for independence and autonomy doesn't consume you. It happens very easily. As the academic year starts, I expect to see your grades back to the level that they were when you first arrived. Understood?"
Paige was surprised by Emma's comment and stammered for a moment. "Oh—I mean, yes, ma'am."
"Keep up the good work, Paige," Emma said as she turned and left Paige to her stretching.
Wow, Ms. Frost actually noticed my grades and the work I've been doing, Paige marveled to herself. For months, it had seemed that Emma had been more distant and preoccupied with something other than being the headmistress of the school, which had begun to concern her and the other students. But it seemed that Ms. Pickwick's visit refocused everyone, bringing everything back to the way it was supposed to be.
Paige smiled to herself, glad that a new dawn was beginning, not just for the school, but for her as well.
IV.
"Hey, hombre!"
Ethan heard Angelo call from behind him as he was ascending the stairs. Turning around, he replied, "I'm just going upstairs to see if anyone else is up yet." He tried, and failed, at hiding his annoyance at Jono's standoffish attitude.
"If you're pissed about Jono, don't be," Angelo advised. "Don't get me wrong, he's practically my best friend here, but he tends to be a bit moody. Especially when it comes to Paige."
"It's not like I've asked her out or anything," he retaliated, realizing his defensiveness was with the wrong person. "Look, I thought something had happened between them last week. Paige was out here crying, so I asked her to go with us to Dr. Cain's. Jono saw me and probably thinks I'm trying to move in on his girl. I think she's is cute, don't get me wrong, but I'd rather not cause a bunch of trouble."
"They broke up," informed Angelo.
Ethan shrugged nonchalantly. "It really isn't any of my business though, is it?"
"It just seemed like you and Paige—"
"There's nothing going on between us," Ethan responded much too quickly.
At obviously the wrong part of the conversation, Rico bounded down the steps shaking his head. "Flirting with the girls and the guys, Ethan? That's a new one, even for you." Ignoring Ethan's stammered protests, he kept walking into the living room and flipped on the television without responding.
Annoyed, Ethan said to Angelo, "I'm going to see what the rest of the girls are doing. I'll meet you in the kitchen." He turned and continued up the stairs, his face burning, not from Rico's ill-timed entry but from the fact that everyone thought there was something going on between him and Paige. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but he didn't really want to start trouble with Jono. Especially with everything else going on.
From the second he saw her, he thought Paige was an attractive girl. Long, straw blond hair, sparkling blue eyes, a dancer's body, and even an ever-so-slight Southern accent—Paige Guthrie was a hottie. And when he saw her crying on the stairs and figured it was because of Jono, Ethan set out to make Jono jealous. He wanted Jono to feel the same anguish she felt, which is why he didn't explain anything and let Jono think that he and Paige were growing closer. But the plan faltered, and now all Ethan had succeeded in doing was making a quick enemy of one of his teammates.
You're off to a great start, he chastised himself. This wasn't like him at all. But there was just something about Paige that made Ethan lose all sense of reason and logic, the things he held most dear as a leader.
Vanessa stepped out of her room and into the hallway, dressed in jeans, t-shirt, and tennis shoes.
Ethan called, "Hey, Vanessa. Have you seen Mike?"
She shook her head, causing her shoulder-length, black hair to sway languidly. "Not this morning. Not yet anyways. I think he's still asleep. Wait, aren't you up kind of early?" It was common knowledge amongst the Arminthorpe teens that of all of them, Michael and Ethan valued their sleep. And they never hesitated to sleep in late when they had the chance, especially on the weekend.
"I guess it is kind of early. Maybe it's just the newness of this place. When I went downstairs, Jubilee, Monet, and Angelo were outside with Mr. Cassidy. I watched a short training session. Since we've got the day off-campus, Ange and I are tagging along with Mr. Cassidy to Boston. Monet's taking Jubilee and Jono to Manhattan. You guys got any plans?"
"Actually, Kiana, Lily, Gaia, and I are headed into Snow Valley. Lily was telling us about this amazing ice cream place there. And it gives us a chance to check out the area."
"Check out the area?" Ethan asked suspiciously. Of all of them, Vanessa was the most prone to poke her nose where it didn't necessarily belong.
"Yeah. As in see the other kids our age, look for stores, and other normal stuff," she curtly replied. But Vanessa knew what Ethan was getting at and with a sigh, she replied, "Trust me, I want to know what's going on with Dr. Cain too, but for now, I'm okay with waiting it out. We're here, and we're safe. I know that we'll figure out what happened to Dr. Cain soon."
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, and his cheeks flushed slightly. "Sorry. I'm just a little edgy this morning. And after the run-in we had with Mina Laroché, I just didn't want you guys in the same situation."
Vanessa rolled her eyes then placed her hand on her chest in a dramatic fashion. "Oh, whatever would we defenseless, young damsels do without you dashing, brave knights at our side?"
"Point taken. I know you can take care of yourselves."
"Exactly. So stop worrying, Ethan. We've got enough on our minds as it is. Don't make up things to be worried about."
He shook his head then rubbed his hands across his face as he sighed deeply. "Yeah, you're right. This is our last weekend before school starts. We're supposed to be having fun."
Vanessa gave him a bright smile. "That's more like it. Now, drag your lazy friend out of bed, and go have fun in Boston."
Ethan turned to walk away then turned back. "You guys enjoy Snow Valley. I'll see you this evening."
"Later!" Vanessa called as she descended the stairs.
He continued onward to Michael's door, the second to last door on the right and knocked lightly. Opening it a crack, Ethan whispered into the room, "Hey, you up yet?"
Stepping further in the room, he found Michael sitting lotus style, hovering over his neatly made bed. It was odd seeing his teammate suspended in the air, completely still, and wondered how much power and control it took for such a feat. He still had a nagging concern that something significant had changed with Michael, but he still couldn't tell if it was for the better or worse.
"Earth to Mike," Ethan called.
His eyes opened slowly, two pits of fiery blue, which signaled the use of his power. "I heard you," he replied. "I tried not to, but I could hear your thoughts from down the hallway. Look, I know you're concerned, and honestly, I am too."
Ethan watched as Michael floated downward, then flipped onto his feet at the last second, the energy dissipating from his eyes.
"Ever since we left, I've felt my powers growing. I mean, when I was in the car with everyone else, I could hear every one of their thoughts. When we trained with Dr. Cain, I could barely pick up a single thought pattern, even when I was concentrating my hardest. And my TK...it's like easy to move all of the things I used to struggle with. And not just single objects. It's all so easy now. Almost too easy."
"I noticed. That scene with Vincent reminded me of Carrie or something."
"Like now, without really trying, I know that Monet's taking Jono and Jubilee to Manhattan. You and Angelo are going with Mr. Cassidy to Boston. Ms. Frost is heading to Boston. The girls are going to Snow Valley. Paige and Rico aren't going anywhere."
"I thought you didn't read minds without permission?"
"I don't. Trust me, I block what I can. But it's getting harder and harder. It's like everyone's thoughts are screaming in my head. And my TK, I don't know what my limits are anymore."
Ethan's face settled into a worried expression. "This doesn't sound good. Maybe you should talk to Ms. Frost about it."
"I will. Eventually. I want to try to get a handle on it myself first. Besides, she's only a psychic, she may not know anything about TK or how it works." Michael rubbed his neck, trying to alleviate the aching tension. "Maybe I'm just imagining it. Or just stressed and distracted. My concentration has been completely off since I got here. And I'm worried about my friends in the city. I think everyone knows I transferred to the crazy school with the weird, dangerous mutants, which to everyone else means I'm a weird and dangerous mutant too. I guess I should go to Snow Valley today. I can't keep avoiding it."
"Why were you avoiding it in the first place?"
Michael paused, looking away. "Because I don't want to have to tell them that I am a weird and dangerous mutant.."
Ethan gave a half-hearted laugh. "But you're not. Well, maybe a little weird. But still, not dangerous. Besides, being a mutant isn't a crime, Mike."
"I know that. I just—everything was going well. People change once they find out something about you that they didn't know before. Even though being a mutant doesn't change who I am, to everyone else, it can. And usually, it does. Everyone isn't as accepting of mutants as Xavier's is. And it will only be a matter of time before curiosity turns into suspicion and suspicion turns into accusation. And accusation turns into hatred."
"So you think being a mutant is a bad thing?"
Michael sighed heavily. "No. I don't know. Yes. I guess it wouldn't matter if I didn't know these people, but I went to school in Snow Valley. I have friends that aren't keen on the idea of mutants."
"Then why are they your friends? You're a mutant. We all are. Like Monet said this morning, it's a part of who we are. If you have friends that can't accept that, then what does that say about your acceptance of your powers?" Ethan could tell that his words struck a nerve with Michael—instead of responding, he turned and gazed out of the window.
"So far, being a mutant has gotten me admitted to the medical wing of the Arminthorpe Corporation. It's distanced me from my family. It's somehow caused Dr. Cain's disappearance. It's caused Monet's imprisonment for God knows how long. My mutant powers aren't making a positive difference. They're making things harder. Not to mention the sudden problems I'm having with them. So what am I supposed to think of being a mutant?"
"What you always say, Mike—it is what it is."
Though not profound in anyway, Michael sighed and resigned himself to Ethan's simple response. "It is what it is. Nothing's going to change now, is it?" he wistfully asked as he turned away from the window.
"Look, I could go with you to Snow Valley and—"
Michael immediately shook his head, cutting him off. "I'd rather do this alone. I'll just take the RX-8 into town. I'm sure the driver can take the girls in the X5, since you guys are going to use the jeep. I'm pretty sure Monet's taking a limo for whatever reason."
"She likes to draw attention, I guess. You know, to be related, you two act totally different. But you both do have a flair for fashion."
Michael shrugged off the comment. "We're not that closely related. Kind of like half-cousins or something like that. But the more I see her, the more I wonder if we're really all that different."
"Well, act like an indignant, snobby rich kid, then you'll be just like her," he responded.
Michael rolled his eyes. "What I mean is that she has her issues just like I do. And she tries hard to hide them. I mean think about it. She has a brother that turned into a monster, she was trapped in Penance for quite some time then her sisters were trapped as well, she was overly sheltered as a child—she's got some hang-ups. But she hides it with an act of confidence and being standoffish, striving to be perfect."
"She's not perfect?!" Ethan playfully let his mouth hang open in shock.
"Surprise," he sarcastically replied. "Anyways, you'll have to tell me all about Boston when you get back."
"And you'll have to tell me what the hell is going on with your powers."
Michael sighed, sensing the pressure of Ethan's curiosity. "When I get back." With that, he briskly walked past Ethan and left the room.
Ethan watched him go, wondering if Michael had as many secrets as his relative, Monet. And if they would ultimately be their undoing.
Pushing the thoughts out of his mind, Ethan headed back downstairs and to the kitchen to join the others.
V.
"Ev, you're not hangin' with us today?" Angelo asked, his mouth open in shock.
Everett shook his head as he grabbed the orange juice from the refrigerator and poured himself a glass. "Sorry, Ange. I haven't been home in a while, so Ms. Frost is letting me take a trip to St. Louis. I'm just going today, and I'll be back tomorrow. I haven't seen my parents since—" he trailed off.
Angelo slapped his forehead, realizing the situation. "Dios! You haven't been back since then?!"
Everett shook his head. The last time his parents had seen him, he had been turned into a parasitic version of Emplate, and after unintentionally scaring his foster brother, Nate, and sister, Kim, he leaped from the window. Though he was possessed at the time, he couldn't believe what he had almost done and guilt kept him away. At this point, he didn't know what his parents thought. And he could only imagine what his siblings thought of him.
"Did you want company?" Angelo offered, but Everett shook his head quickly.
"Thanks for the offer. Really. It's just—I need to see my parents. I don't think we've really ever talked about the mutation thing." Everett downed the glass of orange juice then rinsed out the glass, setting it in the sink.
"Going home can be hard," Angelo said with much more emotion than he meant.
"Hey, everything will be fine. You guys can tell me all about Boston when I get back."
"Yeah. Ethan's taggin' along too. He's turnin' out to be pretty chill. But Jono's still not a fan."
Everett laughed. "In come the new students, and in comes a whole new season of drama. I'm glad I'm missing this episode. Anyways, the taxi's probably outside waiting." He grabbed his overnight bag from beside the front door. "I'll see you all when I get back. Let everyone know I said to have fun."
"Will do, hombre," Angelo gave a quick wave as the door closed. He remembered his own experience with trying to return home, and hoped that Everett had a much better experience. But before he could reflect on it more, Rico entered the kitchen.
"Buenos dias!" Rico said to Angelo, before throwing open the refrigerator. "Oh, man! Did Everett drink up all the O.J.? Guess it's apple juice for me." He poured himself a glass and downed it.
"Hey, doin' anythin' in the city today?" Angelo asked.
"Maybe. I want to check out the new computer system though. All of this alien technology business is pretty awesome. Forge's virtual overview was brief, but it made the system sound amazing. There's a lot of stuff we can access and do with Cerebra."
Angelo laughed. "You're startin' to sound like Paige. She's been goin' on about the new system since Monday."
"Maybe you should take a look too."
"I'll pass, amigo. You and Paige can fight over dibs on Cerebra without me."
"She's down there now?"
"Probably."
Rico took off toward the branching hallway off the kitchen, which led to the subbasement. Within seconds of each other, Jubilee, Vanessa, Ethan, Monet, and Jono entered the kitchen each with their own mission for food. Vanessa inserted two slices of bread into the toaster, while Jubilee snuck another few shakes of Sugar Bombs in her bowl.
"Morning, everyone," Vanessa called over her shoulder as she waited for the toast to pop up, though it managed to surprise her every time. "Ethan, you look like you're starving."
Ethan leaned against the counter, and his stomach growled loudly, as if his body was in agreement with her statement. He flashed an embarrassed smile. "I guess I'm a bit hungry. We were waiting for Jono I guess," he responded without making eye contact with him.
"That's why totally I never wait on Jono…way too slow," Jubilee took a big bite of Sugar Bombs.
"That's why I never ask you to," Jono replied. He grabbed a chair next to Angelo, spun it around, and sat down in it backwards. "'ey, gel, you're awfully quiet, compared to earlier this mornin'. What's the deal?" he asked Monet.
Monet stood like a statue, leaning against the counter opposite Ethan. Dressed in a short-sleeved shirt lined with a complicated gold design that exposed her perfectly toned abs, a matching white pair of low-rise slacks, and boots, she looked as though she were posing for a photo shoot than waiting to grab a bite to eat.
"Yeah, you totally missed the paparazzi a few minutes ago," Jubilee added.
Monet smiled. "Today is a day for change. No one will succeed in transporting obscurity into my day, nor will I imprudently descend into tedious banter or squabbling."
"Translator!" Angelo called.
Michael strolled in the kitchen just in time to respond. "Basically, she's ignoring you guys and refuses to argue with any of you. Morning."
"Buenos dias," Angelo nodded.
"Mornin', mate," Jono said, giving a half-wave.
"Mmm…hmmm…mmm," Jubilee attempted a greeting through her mouthful of Sugar Bombs.
"I'm making eggs. Anyone else want some?" Michael asked as he began to concentrate. Simultaneously, the refrigerator opened and the egg carton and a stick of butter floated out, the bottom cabinet next to the stove opened and a skillet floated out, and the upper cabinets opened as the salt and pepper floated down along with a bowl.
"Dude, you're getting' way too fancy. Why doncha jus' grab a bowl of cereal?" Jubilee asked.
"Not a fan. Besides, I need protein if I'm working out, right?"
"He's got a point," Ethan said. But really his mind was focused on Michael's telekinetic feat of manipulating all those items at once. Less than a year ago, he could barely handle a single, large object. Now, he was easily moving several smaller, much more fragile objects with a noticeable finesse. "Two scrambled eggs," Ethan gave his order, watching Michael more closely.
"Umm…how about two fried eggs, but none of that runny stuff. Make sure they're cooked all the way through," Vanessa said.
Michael marveled at his own abilities as he pulled the correct count of eggs out of the carton, placed it back in the refrigerator, put butter on the skillet, cracked the egg orders into different bowls, seasoned them, and placed them on the grill…all with his telekinesis. Just to try it out, he actually managed to keep the eggs separate on the grill, cooking them to perfection before floating over three plates and spooning the eggs off on them.
"Wow. That was quite a show, hombre," Angelo said.
"Yeah," Michael said, suddenly unnerved as he realized the level of control he suddenly had. "Pretty amazing," he quietly added. Then he caught Ethan's concerned gaze, and immediately looked away. "I guess I've been practicing in my sleep," Michael off-handedly stated as he took a spot at the table. "Monet, you didn't want anything?"
"The offer is appreciated, but I've already eaten."
At least she didn't act like a jerk towards me. Maybe we're making progress, Michael thought as he began to eat.
Emma, dressed in a sharp, pristine white business pants suit, purposefully strode through the door, immediately going for the coffee pot. She poured herself a cup and took a whiff of the steaming liquid, the aroma sending a jolt of alertness into her weary haze. Taking a sip, she turned to the students and smiled. "Well, now it's good to see all of your smiling faces, and I'm sure all of you are looking forward to your day off the grounds. I myself am going on a business trip to Boston. Since most of you are going out, ensure you have your cell phones with you."
"Cell phones?" Angelo repeated.
"I'm sure you children were hastily rummaging through the uniforms and failed to notice the box of cell phones sitting next to the rack." Emma set the box down and began to hand out the phones. "The phone numbers are separated by one digit, and all of your numbers begin with six-one-seven-zero-zero. Should be easy enough for all of you to remember. Sean's and my number are already programmed in—use it only if you need to. The first prank call I get, you're going to wish you were going to school on the other side of the world."
"You know, this is the first really cool thing you've done for us, Frosty," Jubilee said as she inspected the sleek device. The sleek, black cell phone had a detachable blue tooth device, was as thin as an iPod Nano and seemed quite durable. The small display screen shone brightly, the soft light dancing off Jubilee's features.
"Ms. Frost, Jubilation," Emma tiredly corrected. "Don't even make me begin the laundry list of how much everything in this place costs. Youth these days tend to take things like groceries, gas, and utilities for granted. And I don't even want to get into those new uniforms. In any regard, the Bluetooth device also acts as a comm radio link, hooked into Cerebra. If needed, you can press the button and automatically switch to radio functions." After the explanation, she passed the phones out one by one.
"Sweet!" Angelo grinned as he took his.
"Wow," Vanessa smiled. "I don't think other schools hand out cell phones especially high-tech ones like these." She turned the sleek device over in her hands, surprised at its light weight.
"Are these things alien technology too?" Michael offhandedly asked, studying the phone suspiciously.
Jono replied, "Come on, mate. Everythin' 'ere is alien technology. You should be used to it by now."
Jubilee smiled broadly as her fingers flew over the keypad, almost instinctively knowing how to navigate through the device. "And there are totally cool games on here too! And I can IM, and—"
Emma sighed. "Drool over the extemporaneous extras Forge installed later. Ethan, ensure the rest of the students get the phones before the week starts."
"I will," he responded, glad that Emma trusted him to complete the task. Honestly, he had already begin to wonder if he would have a leadership role within the team, much like when he was at Arminthorpe. Honestly, he hoped so.
She explained further, "The batteries last for a week, and they're linked to multiple satellite systems, so you won't encounter any dead spots. So there's no reason not to answer if I call."
"Well, what if—" Jubilee started, but a flat stretch of skin wrapped around her mouth.
"I must commend your timely interjection, Angelo," Monet smiled slyly.
Jubilee mumbled a muffled response, narrowing her eyes in her direction.
"Well, that may actually work better than psychically shutting off her motor faculties," Emma mused. "Let's try to have zero incidents this weekend. I would rather not have to fly back because you've wrecked Snow Valley or managed to destroy an entire block of New York City."
"Yes, ma'am!" Angelo unwrapped the skin from around Jubilee, stood, and gave Emma a mockingly sharp salute with his left hand, steadying himself in the most erect posture possible. It elicited a few chuckles from the others.
"Anybody gonna like turn off his motor faculties?" Jubilee pouted.
"Trust me, the thought has crossed my mind a few times," Emma replied. She glanced at her silver Maurice Lacroix watch then said, "I'd tell you all to have fun, but I'm sure that's a given. Monet assisted with taking our younger students and Penance to the main mansion for the day, so you don't have to worry about them, just in case you were. I'll see all of you when I return. Try to be in one piece." With that, she strode out of the room and the front door opened and closed quickly after.
"Does anyone else feel tense when she's around?" Vanessa asked. Just then, the toast popped up, startling her.
"Ehh…ya get totally used to it," Jubilee said.
Only a few minutes later, the student body of the Xavier Institute parted ways, hoping to spend a relaxing, fun day off the school grounds. But fate had a different series of challenges, realizations, and revelations in store for them. And by the end of the day, none of them would be the same.
Notes:
Generation X and all characters related to Marvel belong to them. Any other characters are fictional
Some of the scenes in this chapter are based off of scenes in Generation X #71, #72, #73, and #74
