Chapter 35-Eighteen to Graduation
"Happy birthday, darling." Amnesia said into the phone.
"Uh, thanks. Not why I called though. Professor Xavier said he got a reading on you using your powers. I wanted…"
"I am still alright…"
"What about the person you used your powers on?"
"They are alright as well. I am working, just like you are, to try and help mutants. Just in…my own way. Right now there isn't much to speak about…"
"I'm sure there isn't." Jordan muttered. "Keep your nose clean, Sara. They aren't being easy on mutants who use their powers freely. And in your case, they shouldn't be."
"Happy Birthday, Jordan!" All the students and instructors shouted once she got inside the mansion after school.
Jordan brushed the snow out of her hair, "So this is why Kurt made us take the long way home. Oh, I couldn't have guessed." She smiled.
"Happy eighteenth, kiddo." Logan said, hugging his daughter.
"Thank you. All of you."
"I was thinking you might like to take a vacation this year. I don't know, maybe fly away for the weekend, you pick the place." Logan said.
Jordan frowned, "I can't. I have an appointment this weekend, every Saturday the rest of the month. I don't have to go anywhere, Dad. Fact is, what I'd rather do is…stay here. With everyone."
"Well, it might be snowing outside. But let's get the party started inside!" Tabitha called out.
Music was turned up, and mansion full of teenage mutants was filled with laughing and chatter. "Jubliee, give us some fireworks!" Bobby called.
"Not in the house!" Logan and Hank both shouted.
Jordan lounged in the couch taking a break, leaning against Kurt comfortable as she looked at her friends, no her family, around her. Jubilee and Wolfsbane had rejoined them just the past week. At the moment she was watching Roberto dance with Wolfsbane, they had missed each other more than they probably knew.
The next newcomer to the mansion happened after Christmas, and was a shock to everyone. It wasn't a secret that Charles Xavier and Magnus had been speaking regularly, and Magneto had even visited him a few times after the ordeal with Apocalypse. But once Magneto was announced to be a new instructor at the institute…it was almost laughable.
Magneto, however, was a good teacher. His brush with death and Apocalypse hadn't changed his views, but he was giving Xavier's method a chance. The chance to spend time with his goddaughter could have influenced his decision as well. And after witnessing her interviews, he realized it may be time to give the new generation a chance to voice their views.
Jordan continued her casual work between training and school, she became known as the mutant spokeswoman.
Jordan graduated with high honors, along with Kurt and Rogue. The graduation ceremony was uneventful, thankfully. Kurt was hoping for a long summer vacation with his girlfriend, maybe getting the chance to take her to Germany so she could meet his parents. But the ink on their diploma had barely dried before Jordan was in New York for another interview.
"Edward Kelly is not interested in peace, or finding a solution, or helping anyone. He fears mutants and all he wants to do is get into a position where he can get rid of them, control them. He has no interest in the citizens of Bayville, which include mutants." Jordan said.
"But since mutants were discovered everyone, the whole world, is afraid of them."
"Okay, first off mutants weren't just 'discovered' a few years ago. As we found with Apocalypse, the mutant who was responsible for the spheres around the pyramids, mutants have been around for thousands of years. The gene that triggers the mutation is in far more people than there are mutants. Only recently has it started to emerge in great numbers. Starting with the past hundred years or so, and then the recent spike in the past twenty to thirty years."
"So are you saying that everyone, anyone, has the capability to become a mutant?"
"I'm saying that it's natural, it's nature evolving. We aren't freaks, monsters, anything. We are…the next step. With the recent spike of new mutants coming out, it's clear that the world is coming to the next stage."
"You say that like it's a good thing. Like everyone should be happy that there will be people who can read their minds, walk through walls, or grow a tail or wings?" The reporter said in a disgusted tone while photos of the X-men appeared on the monitor next to them.
Jordan smiled as she looked at the photo of Kurt, "You don't know these people. Professor Charles Xavier is a genius, a geneticist. A kind and gentle and peaceful man. Kitty is one of the coolest girls I know, and has a great laugh and great sense of humor. But not much of a cook," Jordan added with a laugh. "Kurt is funny, sweet, and so compassionate despite how he may look to you. And Logan is loyal, hard working. He might seem like a tough guy on the outside, but he really does have a big heart."
"Would you want your children to look like this one?" The reporter asked, pointing at the photo of Kurt that was still on the monitor.
Jordan held back a laugh, "If I have children in the future all I would want is for them is to be happy and healthy. Kurt and I are actually dating. We started dating in high school like all the 'normal' kids do. The mutations, while different, we are still just people. I won't lie and say that all mutants are all nice and sweet, but neither is the other side of the population."
"Fine. But normal people that commit crimes don't have some of the dangerous powers…"
"Hold up. You say dangerous powers, and you are grouping all mutants up again. That would be like me saying that everyone who owns a gun is a dangerous and bad person. A person who uses a gun to hunt and provide food for their family is not dangerous, but someone who uses a gun to hold up a convenience store is. A mutant with the ability to turn off a volcano is not dangerous, a mutant with the ability to turn on a volcano is. Some mutants will take advantage over the power to control, destroy, whatever. Others will use it to help, save lives, advance science and the world as we know it! We've seen heroes and villains on both sides. If we could get over the differences imagine how much we all could accomplish!"
"Is it true that mutants want to enslave the rest of humanity?" The reporter blurted out after an awkward moment of silence.
Jordan sighed, "No. We don't want to be superiors, but we definitely don't want to be inferior. We don't want to be hunted down like animals."
"Okay that is all the time we have for this interview. Thank you for your time, Ms. Smith. Once again, Jordan Smith speaking for the mutant side."
"Thank you." Jordan nodded sourly.
After watching the interview that Beast had taped for her Jordan didn't feel much better, "I should have never gone."
"I think you were wonderful, Jordan." Professor Xavier said. "I'm very proud of you."
"I just feel like it went unnoticed, you know? That lady sure didn't give a damn what I said, but she was too afraid I was going to attack her to listen. I don't know why I keep doing this. I'm honestly getting sick of the same questions."
"Don't think about her." Beast said. "Think about the thousands who saw it. Perhaps you didn't get through to her, but I'm sure you got through to a few."
"Mail call." Jean said, handing a stack to Jordan.
Jordan frowned, most of them didn't have return addresses. Going through her mail the past few months had been a chore, and hiding the threats from her father was a challenge. "Yay." She muttered.
"Jordan, I have a woman on the phone." Ororo said, stepping in with the cordless in her hand. "She's asking if you would like to come on her show along with Edward Kelly to discuss mutant rights."
Jordan took the phone, "Mmhm. Yeah, that would be fine. What time should I be there? I'll see you then. Thanks, bye."
There was a beep as Jordan disconnected the call. Beast and Xavier looked at her in mild surprise. "You are going to do another interview?" Hank asked.
Jordan nodded, "In the end the reward will be greater than the consequences, right?"
Beast smiled at her, "That's right."
Jordan took her mail and the phone with her to her room.
"This evening we have mayor candidate Edward Kelly and mutant activist Jordan Smith with us. Here are you going to get two stories never before heard or seen like this. One is from Edward Kelly who has been clear about his views against mutants. The other is a mutant herself who has made quite stir this past year on mutant rights for her school. Now, after graduating, is still going after those rights."
"Edward Kelly has stated every chance he has gotten that mutants are a menace. What he won't tell you is that he is afraid of mutants, and has turned his fear into anger."
"Mutants are a menace. Must I remind you the scenes we just recently witnessed with that mutant Apocalypse? Or how about the Brotherhood?"
"I have never said that there aren't mutants who don't abuse their powers, and those are the ones who have done so. Everything I'm trying to say keeps going in one ear and out the other, here. Just like the population you consider normal, most of us want to live in peace. You had your Hitler and Jeffrey Domer and Al Quada. We have Apocalypse, the Brotherhood."
"But mutants can do ten times as much damage as any normal person can!"
"And some of us can help ten times as many people as any 'normal' person can. You are focusing on the bad, we need to focus on the good."
"But where is all that good? If you are saying that you can help us? Where is the help?"
"The help is hiding, for their protection." Jordan said, leaning forward. "Some of you so-called 'normal' people are afraid of us? Most mutants are terrified of you. Why? Like I said most of them just want to live in peace, they don't want confrontation and they don't want trouble. I watched as a mutant put out a fire one moment, and be called a freak the next. The ones out there causing the damage are angry and are fighting back. There are a few who will take the persecution of being labeled a mutant without fighting back or even speaking up. I am saying it proudly, I'm a mutant. This is how I am fighting back, by giving people knowledge and insight into the mutant phenomenon. I am speaking for all mutants who just want to live normal lives so they don't have to live in fear. And also for everyone else, so they know that there is less to fear than what Edward Kelly wants you to believe. Because he knows if you lose the fear you have for mutants, you know there is no reason to elect him for mayor. There is no need for a Mutant Registration Act."
"Of course we need a Mutant Registration Act! We need to know and be aware of what you people are capable of and where you are. We need to protect our children in our schools!"
"Do you want to create a second Holocaust?" Jordan snapped. "Tag us and round us up?"
"You disagree with it because you don't want everyone to know exactly what you are capable of."
"I admitted exactly what my powers allow me to do. I am not ashamed of it, and I don't care if the world knows."
"Then what is the problem with creating something that makes all mutants register what their powers are?"
"It starts with that. Then there will be forced segregation. It won't stop there. It will go onto forced medical examinations and tests. And I'm sure a lot more that I don't even want to think about. We are citizens of the United States, and we have rights…"
"And the rest of us have the right to be safe from you!"
"Of course you do. And as much as we don't get along, Mr. Kelly, me and the X-men have kept you safe on a few occasions."
"I never asked for your help, and I don't want it."
"You have the right to be safe, but it's not a guarantee for any of us..."
"Is that a threat, Ms. Smith?"
"No. What I'm saying is we all have the right to be safe, but I could be hit by a bus walking across the street after this. It's not a guarantee. All we have is the right to live, to be free, and to make choices. I'll tell you what, Mr. Kelly, if anything happens in the future and a mutant tries to help you out tell them to leave, and I guarantee you that you won't have to ask twice."
Edward Kelly's nostrils flared, "You've said before that mutants are the future. If we want to hold onto our lives how they are now we need to get control of the mutant situation now. Before it is too late."
"You can try to persuade people, Mr. Kelly, but you can't persuade nature."
"This is not a natural thing, Ms. Smith! Natural things don't involve reading people's minds, or controlling metal!"
"There isn't a single mutant in the world that had a choice. At birth, hell at conception, they were given a gene that would develop and give them a special ability. They went through life never knowing it, and there it is one day or over the course of a few days. And it's not a child born from two mutants! Majority of the time, it's from two 'normal' people. No one is making them, they are born just like you were."
His jaw clenched, and Jordan could feel his anger burning inside of her. "But they are not normal!"
"Not by your standards, no. But we aren't that much different from you, Mr. Kelly. Maybe that's why you are really afraid of us."
Kurt woke her up the next morning with the paper in her face, "Can you believe it? 'Mutant stands up to Kelly!' His rating has gone down five points since last night!"
Jordan squinted as she looked from Kurt to the paper, "Hun, what time is it?"
"Seven."
Jordan sat up slowly, her hair sticking up in awkward places. She took the newspaper, and then rolled it up, "Summer vacation is known for being able to sleep in, you know."
"Aren't you even going to read what it says? They said you were the one out to change not just Bayville, but the world. The phone started ringing an hour ago asking for you…"
Jordan's eyes widened, "No…"
"Yes! And it's not just Bayville news stations! Albany, New York, LA, everywhere! Radio stations, news papers, magazines!"
Jordan moved to her knees and unrolled the paper, "Holy crap. Kurt…this is huge!" She laughed.
"I know! I'm…I'm amazed. It's, you're amazing!" Kurt grinned, "Hurry up and let's get downstairs." He leaned forward to kiss her. "Ooo…brush your teeth first…"
Jordan rolled up the newspaper and jokingly threatened to whack him with it before he teleported away.
Jordan started taking the calls, relieving the others of the tedious task. By noon Jordan had booked herself up for the next week, and she still hadn't been able to call back those she missed while she was still asleep.
"I have to admit I'm a little surprised at you, Jordan. Just last week you were saying you didn't want to be the spokesperson for mutants…but you haven't been off the phone since you woke up." Hank said pleasantly.
"I know. And I'm still not sure why I'm still agreeing to these things." Jordan smiled, slicing an apple in half. "I think it's best if I just let it run its course. Let however many people who want to talk to me talk until there isn't anyone left. I'm just a passing fad. As soon as their ratings start dropping the calls will stop. Until then, I should do what I can, right?"
Hank smiled at her, "Yes, that sounds like a plan. Just don't let the spotlight go to your head."