Roxas sat just 30 metric centimetres away from Rogue, roughly a foot. The air was...tense. Awkward.
Kitty sat in a chair away from them, watching the screen. She seemed either bored or disappointed, probably because of the lack of communication that was happening. He was assuming that that was what she had brought him here for.
Kurt wasn't present. He'd felt out of place in the situation and had quickly excused himself after they got here.
Rogue sat with her arms folded, fingers flexing, and head shifting slightly as her eyes wandered aimlessly around the room.
Very awkward.
"So." Kitty said bluntly.
"Yeah?" Roxas answered, grabbing at the conversation opener like a life buoy.
"How was everyone's morning?"
Roxas picked his subject matter carefully. "Well, turns out I might be able to use magic." Not much harm in using that is there? Just a spell or too isn't much noise for the Heartless. Not like the Keyblade. Or teleporting.
"Magic?" Rogue inquired, scepticism in her voice.
"Yeah...I got back a memory about it." He lied.
"Hm." Rogue said, resuming her previous behaviour.
"Hey, Rogue," Kitty began tactfully, "Didn't you get into magic a little when we did that Dracula concert?"
"I burrowed a fantasy fiction from the library, yeah." Rogue replied.
"Anything interesting in it?" Kitty pressed.
Rogue thought for a moment. "Can you change the furniture around?"
"Uh...no." Roxas answered. "I think it might be a little more...combat orientated."
"Huh." Rogue said.
Silence again.
Kitty sighed in irritation. "So, then, there are different sorts of magic?"
"I think you mean different applications..." Rogue muttered.
"Uh, I don't think I ever learned that much about it." Roxas explained. "I think I just used it to get things done."
There was a pause in the air before Rogue asked, "So you didn't care what it was, you just used it to blow stuff up, or whatever."
"Something like that." Roxas said. "I'm not sure. I'll find out."
"What do you mean?" Kitty and Rogue asked in unison.
"I'm...doing this thing tonight. In the Danger Room. Testing it. Supervised."
"Can we..." Rogue began, but shied off.
"Can we come watch?" Kitty finished.
Roxas shrugged. "Ask the professor."
"Has he got you on a tight leash or something?" Rogue asked.
Roxas shrugged again. "Well, I am a cause for concern. I can materialise a sword, for starters."
"Yeah, the Keyblade, we know." Rogue remarked. "But anything else you can do; are you allowed to discuss that?"
"Not really." Roxas lied. "In fact, I'd bet that the Professor will ask me not to use magic outside of the Danger Room."
"He lets everyone else use their powers." Kitty pointed out.
"Mostly in training." Rogue countered. "And you said your magic skills are mostly destructive. What practical application could that have in your everyday?"
"Good point." Roxas agreed. He sighed heavily. "I guess the Professor does have me under his thumb, huh?" Not that I haven't managed to go behind his back without success.
"I'm sure it'll pass." Kitty assured him.
"Yeah," Rogue seconded, "I mean, he hasn't said you can't use your teleporting."
"His what?" Kitty asked.
"Oh, I didn't mention that." Rogue said to herself. To kitty she said, "Sorry."
"Yeah..." Roxas said, "He...actually doesn't know about that, yet."
"He doesn't know?" The girls asked in unison.
"It only came to me today." He explained. "I don't know if I should tell him." He looked to Kitty. "That said, don't tell him. Or anyone."
"Seriously?" Kitty protested. "We only had one teleporter before. Now we have two!"
"Kitty!" Roxas said, stressing his wish. "Look, I have enough restrictions on me, I don't need my teleporting put under scrutiny as well." Not that he was going to use it that much, but still.
"Okay, geeze." Kitty stood and walked out of the room, calling "I'm getting some chips," Over her shoulder.
As Kitty left, Roxas felt a twinge of guilt. "I wasn't being a jerk just then, was I?"
"A little." Rogue answered. "But she'll let it slide. I can be a jerk too."
Roxas chuckled. "I haven't seen that from you, but I guess I'll get a chance to see." He looked at her. "You know, Kitty's right; I don't know too much about all of you. I know a lot about X-23, Kurt, and Maria, but not you guys." Roxas paused, scrating at the back of his head. "Well, mostly just you. I know a few things about Kitty."
"Gee." Rogue said. "Put me on the spot, why don't you?"
Something about that sentence seemed familiar to Roxas...
"Well," Rogue began, "I'm from Caldecott County—that's in Mississippi—moved to Bayview a while ago...man, like, three and a half years, or something."
"Did you study here?"
"No." Rogue gestured to a window. "Went to the school in town. Graduated last year."
"How long does it take?" Roxas asked. "I mean, to finish school. How much work do you have to do?"
"There are thirteen grades." Rogue explained. "All of them take a year. There's pre-school, then year one, year two, and so-on until you graduate the twelfth."
"Man, I've got to do twelve year...wait, no, I'm in the tenth right now..." Confused, he looked to Rogue and asked, "What age do they start pre-school?"
Rogue smiled, "Three to five. But most don't start grade one until they're six or seven." She said. "You're way past that level, so you're in year ten."
"So, six..." Roxas trailed of counting forward on his hand. "So, I'm sixteen?" He theorised to himself.
"Roughly," Rogue guessed. Turning away she muttered, "A bit young, but beggars can't be choosers."
Before Roxas could ask what she said, Kitty arrived back with a bowl of chips in hand. "I'm back." She declared. "What did I miss?"
"Nothing." Rogue said, trying to suppress a smile. "Just talking."
"About?" Kitty inquired teasingly.
"Oh, knock it off Kitty." Rogue said, annoyed but amused.
"Come, on what did you guys talk about?" Kitty pressed.
"Why is she so eager to know?" Roxas asked Rogue in a whisper.
"No reason." Rogue whispered back. To Kitty, she said, "Just told him a little about my life story, nothing much."
"About your life here?' Kitty asked, "Did you tell him about the stage dancing we did at that dracula concert?"
A heavy silence fell as Rogue stared red-faced and open mouthed at Kitty.
"You can dan—?" Roxas tried asking, but was cut off by Rogue standing, very quickly speed walking over to grab Kitty's arm, then scurrying out of the room with her in tow without breaking stride.
Roxas was left confused once again. "Whatever." He said, shaking his head, and grabbing the bowl left behind by Kitty. He soon put it back, after biting a chip and tasting the sour-cream and onion flavour.
He noticed with a start that the movie was still running with Rogue and Kitty absent, and quickly paused it.
"Good timing on that." Came Scott's voice from the door.
"Scott?" Roxas said, "Why, what's up?"
"News is about to come on. The other students are going to come in here soon."
"Why?" He asked, "What's..." He recalled his earlier conversation with X-23. "Oh."
"Oh. Hey, Scott." Came rogue's voice, before she re-entered the room with Kitty. Noticing his solemn expression, she asked, "What's up?"
"You'll see." He said. "Can I have the remote?"
Kitty walked to her seat and tossed the remote to Scott as requested. Scott changed from the dvd feed to the televised broadcast.
"There's something on the news that we all need to hear." Scott explained.
"Did the Professor say what?" Rogue asked.
"No. Neither did Fury or Shadow."
"It's something—" Roxas stopped himself before he could say ,'to do with maria', and instead said, "About curing mutants."
Kitty, Rogue, and Scott looked at him questioningly.
"X-23 heard about it, and talked to me about it."
"Why didn't you mention it?" Rogue asked.
Roxas shrugged in response. His reason was not wanting to let slip Maria's involvement, whatever it was, but he found he couldn't come up with a sufficient lie to put forth.
I'm lying to my friends a lot, aren't I?
A chorus of voices slowly built as other students approached the room. They filled in, and went about picking a place to sit, stand, or kneel as they preferred.
"Hey Roxas," Bobby said from where he sat on the ground in front of the couch, "Can I have a chip?"
Roxas passed him the entire bowl.
Scott switched to a channel that had the news advertised as the next program. The students muttered amongst themselves as they waited for the news to begin. Once it did, a round of hushes was made and everyone focused on the TV.
"Tonight, on the Nine O'clock News; school reforms banning mutants...re-election desperation...and a breakthrough in mutant genetics research.
"Goodevening, good day, and hello America. This is the eight-thirty news. I'm Manuel Rogan."
"God, this guy is a ham." Rogue said.
"I've never seen him before." Roxas replied, starting the conversation easily.
"That's because you're too busy rotting your brain on those spy shows." Rogue quipped.
"Hey." Roxas put on false indignation. "Societal study, if you please."
Rogue rolled her eyes and nodded at the TV, signalling where his attention was to be directed.
"School committees are beginning the long asked for installation of the policy for mutant/human segregation in schools. Mutants are being discovered at younger ages now due to the P0-23-H-18 drug..."
"P-zero...?" Roxas repeated to Rogue.
"Triggers the mutant gene." Rogue explained. "Came out a few months after...Spyke left."
"Spyke...the guy who...?" Roxas recalled the short story he was told concerning Ororo's nephew. "Out of control powers." He said in epiphany. "Sons of...they're using it—"
"Using it on kids, yeah." Rogue confirmed. "Old news, now you know, don't make a big thing out of it."
"While parents are demanding immediate application, schools boards are taking the appeals of parents with mutant children, who ask that mutants be allowed to finish their current year before transferring to the specialised mutant education centres."
"There are other schools like ours?" Roxas asked, surprised.
"I'll explain later." Rogue asked, not hiding her impatience with Roxas' talking. "Listen."
"While there are still complaints being made against the existence of the mutant schools, the board of education is standing by the decision to make them the mainstream for mutants. Speaking on this, is Head of Education..."
Roxas slowly began to find the programme boring. He had heard a lot of what was being said already; propaganda against mutants. One would think that they would sing a different song, or change tune, or something. Roxas spared a thought for how everyone around him must feel hearing this.
"Thank you," The presenter said by way of farewell to the 'expert' he was just talking to, "The President is facing a very steep climb to gaining the support he needs for re-election. President Laredo is facing accusations of being slothful and indecisive in regard to foreign mutant policy. The President has long stood by his policy of encouraging other states to modernize their own mutant solutions—most notable the Presidents open condemnation of Russian and Chinese mandatory enlisting of mutants into military sciences—but the many groups formed to promote more assertive measures have been pushing for a no admittance policy to be considered, barring foreign mutants from entering America."
"Well, that's extreme." Roxas commented with a raised eyebrow.
"Mild," Corrected X-23, somehow getting behind Roxas' head without him noticing, "Compared to what some of us have seen."
"Where'd you come from?" Rogue asked, mildly surprised.
"The door," X-23 deadpanned "Like everyone else."
"You could have come through the window." Roxas suggested. "Your skills being what they are."
"Speaking of," X-23 said, slightly amused "You didn't hear me this time."
"Too much noise." Roxas said defensively.
"Guys." Rogue said, turning their attention back to the TV.
"In a surprise disclosure of military research, the American government has revealed what they claim is a successful treatment for the mutant gene. The military division Guardian Units of the Nation has been given clearance to bring forth their cure for mutation; R0-AX-71-0N-B, or simply, Roaxtion-B. Several volunteer testing clinics have been set up in various hospitals—albeit with imposing military security detail—to prove the efficacy of the cure.
"To provide more information for us, here to answer our questions is the spokesman for the Roaxtion-B treatment, Colonel William Stryker." The TV display changed to a split screen between Manuel Rogan and a plain clothed elderly man who could only be William Stryker. "Colonel Stryker, thank you for being on our show."
"My pleasure to help the American people." Answered Stryker.
Roxas noted an undertone of patriotic haughtiness, which immediately put him on edge. He'd only heard one sentence from the man's mouth, and he already didn't like him.
"Now, Colonel, to address one of a few elephants currently in the room; America knows you from you're many evangelist works on television, most of which put a negative spotlight on mutants in a religious theme. Why step back into the US army, particularly the controversial G.U.N division?"
"Well, Manuel, first, just call me Bill. I'm not in uniform, plainly. Second, it isn't a negative light that I cast the mutants in. Far from it, really. I only exhort, as many will notice when watching my programme, that people should keep in mind that man has limited ability for a reason. There is only so far that we can safely reach before we begin to be a danger to ourselves and our earthly home. For example, we have a need for nutrition; this compels us to care for the land so that we might continue to eat produce, be it vegetable or animal.
"Contrary to this evolutionary harmony, there have been many mutants found, that have no such need, but instead draw nourishment from other sources; the sun—which, yes, is a Green Peace dream come true—but also from electricity or other ambient energies. If the world were, hypothetically, populated by people like this, what reason would they have to take care of their home?"
"So, what you're saying is, you see them as a problem from an evolutionary standpoint?"
"Well, no system is foolproof." Stryker shrugged. "The foundation of evolution is trial and error, contrary to the flippant popular opinion of survival of the fittest. How do we now evolution can't make mistakes? Not all mutants are the same, but are they all a beneficial path for man to take? Can we reach these new distances without consequence? And what concequences? Who decides which ones are worth paying?"
"An interesting point, Bill." Manuel conceded. "Moving to Roaxtion-B; how has this come about, and when? How long has G.U.N had this when the world needed it?"
"Well, the world isn't the concern of the men and women sworn to protect our nation, because they are sworn to protect our nation, first and foremost. And, we haven't had Roaxtion-B up our sleeves with selfish intent; on the contrary, we needed to make sure it is safe. Absolutely safe. You will notice from images and recordings of our clinics that there are only women present?"
"I had noticed, yes. Is it a birth control of some sort?"
Stryker smiled with a cured laugh. "Uh, no. No. Nothing like that. Plenty of people pay good money for reliable products already, and they all work well. I know." Manuel shared in another small laugh. "No. How it works, is it prevents children from developing mutant genes. For example, some conditions are genetic, such as minor physical deformity, some mental illnesses, and even some diseases. The mutant genome is exactly the same; it is passed on from predecessor to successor. From parent to child."
"And Roaxtion-B prevents this?"
"Exactly. Roaxtion-B deadens the mutant gene by way of a much milder form of chemotherapy. It is not harmful to the mother, or the child, and is one hundred percent effective."
"But, Bill, wouldn't a mother be concerned to put her child through something so extreme before it is even born? Why not numb the mutant gene after birth?"
"Well, simply because the mutant gene is part of the individual at that point. It can no more be removed from it's DNA than epilepsy or simple physical frailty; it is part of them. They can be treated or compensated for, yes, but people aren't calling for triage. They are calling for prevention. Ensuring their child is born free of the burden of being a danger to others and themselves is an unparalleled desire for many parents, if not all, if I may be so bold to say."
"Parents, or mothers, do you mean?"Manuel pointed out. "Because the treatment seems to be only for women."
"Well, yes, there is that minor detail. But I believe that the American people will be willing to overlook that for the results."
"Well," Rogue said, not loud enough to break the grave silence that had fallen on the room, but loud enough for Roxas to hear, "This is surprisingly bleak."
"They're not going to...force anyone," Roxas asked. "Are they?"
Rogue shrugged. "Who knows. They might not get the chance. Not everyone will be happy to hear this..."
Roxas listened as the explanation went on, sharing the feeling of fear and horror that everyone else felt. What was going to happen to them now? What would be demanded of them? To give up their bodies to this?
Something more horrific crossed Roxas mind; what did this have to do with Maria?
"I can't believe this crap." Kitty said aloud, triggering discussion all around.
"I think it might be a good idea to avoid the internet." X-23 suggested. "Or any other media. Propaganda is going to flying."
"It wasn't before?" Rogue asked sarcastically.
"Not like it will be now, no." X-23 replied evenly. "It all just hit the fan, I think."
"And it isn't just going to hit us." Rogue stated.
"I recall hearing that whenever 'it' hits the fan," Roxas put in, "'it' never gets spread evenly."
"You got that right." Rogue and X-23 said simultaneously.
"Those bastards." Scultone said, half standing out of her seat. "Those sons of bitches."
"That's enough of that." Byte said, switching off the screen with a twitch of a finger. "Good thing we didn't make this a dinner thing."
"I thought ahead on that." Amaimon stated. "Hence why we watched it here."
"I thought Lord Magneto invited us to the Hall of the Brotherhood for this?" Asked Scorch.
"He did," Amaimon confirmed, "But I put forth a suggestion yesterday when we crossed paths."
"Fair enough." Blakk said. "We've recorded this, I assume?" He put to Byte.
"Of course." Byte said with a nod. "We can go all over it tomorrow with Lord Magneto, and have his speech ready the day after."
"Speeches aren't what is needed in the face of this." Amaimon said in mild objection. "We need action."
"People will only take action if they see what the action needs to be." Scultone assured him. "Lord Magneto will explain the matter to them plainly, and they'll know what you know."
"That the die is cast." Scorch said.
"Must be serious if someone quotes Caesar." Muttered Renzo. "This was inevitable. There was no other way it could go."
"The humans were going to start this." Amaimon agreed. "One way or another."
"It's war then?" Scultone asked. "Full scale?"
"This is a campaign to breed out mutants." Scorch said. "I'm the least willing to go to war out of us, but this can't be sidestepped; how long before they force it upon mutants?"
"Good point." Amaimon agreed. "We can't put it past them."
"Well," Byte said, standing from his seat, "Time to devote some shut eye to this and bring our thoughts before Lord Magneto."
"I'll second that motion." Renzo said. "Sleeping on the matter is the next move we make, before figuring out our next one."
"Assuming we can sleep." Scultone said as she stood fully out of her seat as well.
