I don't own X-Men or any of these characters, besides my OC. They are the property of Marvel.

For Stan Lee, who taught us that heroism is within, 1922 – 2018

Excelsior!

Chapter 1: Genesis

I plummeted into the Hudson River. It was a warm summer night, with the only illumination coming from the bright full moon, gleaming its beauty. I woke up, panting, gasping for breath that was being taken from me. With determination, I regain my senses and begin to swim to shore.

'What the fuck happened to me?' I didn't have a clue what was happening. All I remember was being in my bed, sleeping. Then, BAM! I'm being dropped into the fucking Hudson. 'Thank God it wasn't winter, otherwise I would've froze to death.'

I reached the shore, unable to think, speak, or even move. I couldn't process what was happening. At first, I thought it was a dream, but it was too real. Then I thought it might be a simulation of some sort. 'No. That's stupid. Something else must be happening. But what? And why?'

I regain control of my body, and as I begin to walk, I quickly get lots of unwanted attention. Probably from the fact that I'm drenched. 'Christ, I look like a mess.' I begin to walk to an alleyway, where I sit down and let some much-needed sleep consume me.

I wake up early. Too early. I could tell that most of the city was still probably asleep. I stand up slowly, still wet and cold. I had no idea what to do. I had no phone, no money, nothing. The only thing I thought to do was to go to the police. It was my only option. I was scared, cold, and hungry. I step out of the alleyway and immediately heard a group of protestors.

"Mutants are a disease."

"Mutants are in-American."

"Leave!"

'Mutants? Does this mean that I'm…'? I didn't finish that sentence. If what I was thinking was true, then I'm fucked. 'Fuck me. It has to be Marvel. Mutants…'

I retreat back into the alleyway, not wanting to be associated with any of what was happening. I need to lay low for a bit. Even if I was starving my ass off. As the protestors pass the alleyway, I step out of the alleyway, watching them from a distance. I don't want to be associated with them, but I need confirmation. 'If they're protesting, X-Men might come and disperse the group. That would confirm my suspicions.'

The protesting group was not stopped by X-Men or mutants. Instead, the police dispersed them after about ten minutes of protesting. Whether it was out of righteousness for mutants or because it was simply too early to be making such noise, I didn't know. But I assumed it was because of the latter.

I begin to walk around out of boredom and with the hopes to alleviate said boredom. Minutes turn to hours, and day turns into night. I was lost, stranded in a world alien to me. I head to another alleyway, and after making sure it was abandoned, I slump down. My hunger is becoming nauseating, and my anxiety was not helping anything. If I could have, I would have thrown up. I was sweating. Fortunately for myself, I was saved by the vital call of sleep.

I woke up again with the hopes of me being in my warm bed at home. As expected, I wasn't home. I was still in the dirty alleyway, and it was still dark outside. I couldn't have slept for more than a couple of hours. For some reason, I wasn't hungry. 'At least something is going right for me right now.' I get up and walk out of the alleyway. I couldn't keep doing this. I've been here for about 24 hours, maybe a bit longer, and I've accomplished nothing, except for knowing that I'm in Marvel and what appears to be New York. I need food, and I need water. Otherwise, my new life would end before it could even begin. The second I thought of food, my mind did the discourtesy of reminding my body that it was needed. My hunger returned, more unpleasant than it was when it left. 'Marvel. How surreal is this. I would probably be shitting myself, if my body wasn't so goddamn hungry.'

I punch the wall with a weak effort. I am too weak right now to properly throw one. My hunger was making me too aggravated. Too angry. However, as I punch the wall, as the shadow of my fist collided with the brick wall, something happened. When I returned my fist, a shadow extending from my body collided with the wall as well, with such velocity, such viciousness, that it collapsed the entirety of the wall. I stumbled backwards, and my back hit the wall on the other side of the alleyway. I saw people look at me, but it was late. I doubted they could see my face in the dark shadowy alleyway. Immediately, I ran further into the alleyway.

'Quite the display you made there.'

I stopped running. Quickly, I turned around, expecting someone to be there. But the alleyway was empty.

'I'm speaking to you telepathically, darling.' Just as I thought. I knew no average person would be able to get to me that quickly. Darling. I knew someone that used that expression. Emma Frost.

'That's right. Now. How about we get you to the school.'

School? That's right – a school for mutants to safely learn and become future X-Men.

'Correct. This school will help you learn to control your mutant powers and learn in a safe environment.'

Again, with the mindreading? Her invasion of privacy was beginning to irritate me. I felt exposed. Vulnerable. I tried not to think about it too much, and Miss Frost gave me the courtesy of not bringing that up. Although I have a feeling she 'heard' my thoughts.

'Stay where you are. I'll meet you.'

I ignored her and thought of my options. It was probably in my better interest to this school. But the last thing I wanted was to go back to school. Pain in the ass.

'Do you really have any other options, darling? And stop moving. I'll find you.'

Fucking telepathy.

'I heard that.'

Miss Frost was right. She would and did find me. Even though I deliberately ignored her. A large limousine pulled up next to me as I was walking along the sidewalk. The door opened, revealing Emma Frost. However, she was not alone in the car. There were two other younger girls in there as well. I believe that they are called the 'Stepford Cuckoos,' a group of telepathic siblings.

Miss Frost didn't bother getting out of the car, probably not finding any of this worth the effort. She was exactly what I thought she would be like. Confident, bordering on arrogant. Wealthy. Carried herself with great attitude, enough to shred any inconceivable notion of normalcy. Upon further glance, I realized that she does care. Not about humans, obviously, but about mutantkind. I hated being around her. Her telepathy made me uncomfortable, vulnerable. Naked. And the fact that she brought two other telepaths did nothing to ease my discomfort.

"Well? Are you getting in?"

I sighed. I hesitantly step into the limo. I was dead tired and starving, but I wouldn't let them know that.

"Good boy. Now, I believe some introductions are in order. I am Emma Frost, teacher, mutant, etcetera etcetera." I could tell she was bored with explaining this to me. 'She probably had a million better things to do than pick up my sorry ass from the streets,' I thought.

"I did have better things to do… much better things to do. Either way, I'm here. The two girls with me are my daughters, Esme and Sophie." I just smiled at them and nodded. They didn't respond. They just stared at me with a lifeless gaze, expecting me to do something I wouldn't.

"You are going to a school where you can learn harness your special abilities." I think she wanted to say more, perhaps ask me some questions, but she stopped herself. I was thankful. I just want to get to this school, get some food, then sleep and deal with everything tomorrow.

The ride to the school felt longer than it actually was. Everyone was uncomfortable, and no one said or did anything to alleviate the awkwardness. Miss Frost probably thought I would be more social, Esme and Sophie didn't even want to be near me, and I just wanted to get the hell away from these three. I just had to be careful about what I think about because my thoughts, what I considered a safe spot, was no longer usable. For the entire ride, I just sat there like a zombie.

I got out of the car and looked at the school. It was a modest size building, but nothing too extreme. It looks like it could have been a house transformed into a school. Miss Frost took point and began walking to the school with the sisters on her sides. I followed them shortly after, maintaining some degree of separation.

Without bothering to stop walking or turn around, she starts talking. "Hank is going to have to take a look at you. Figure out what exactly your powers are, the negative side effects, if you have any health conditions. The usual doctor stuff."

I took this opportunity to look around the school. It was nighttime, so there was no one really around, except for some teachers and staff. However, before we could continue, another person came and walked up to Miss Frost. I could immediately tell who it was, even with my limited knowledge. The visor gave it away.

"Scott, darling. This is the new student." Emma pointed towards me. He reached out his hand and smiled towards me.

"Hey there, Scott Summers. I'm a teacher at the school. Let's get you checked out with the doctor." His smile was slight, but his happiness consumed me, and for a brief, albeit extremely limited period, I felt at ease. He starts walking ahead of me and heads walking downstairs. Miss Frost was following Mister Summers, but Esme and Sophie were walking in another direction. 'Probably going back to their rooms. Speaking of which.'

"Do the students here sleep on campus?"

"Yes. After we get you checked up on, will show you your room. Ah, there he is. Henry!"

I saw the big blue Beast walking towards us. He had an even bigger smile than the one that Mister Summers had. He exchanged familiarities with Miss Frost and Mister Summers and then turns to face me.

"Hi there. I'm Hank McCoy, and you are?"

Crap. I hadn't even thought of a name. What should I do? Do I give a made-up one, or do I give them my real one?

"My name is Selim." I gave him a slight smile and shook his hand.

"Well, nice to meet you Selim! let's get you tested."

I follow him to the medical room and laid on the bed.

"How long has it been since you last ate?"

About thirty hours. "It's been sometime."

"Well, after the tests, let's get you some food, alright?"

The tests were fast, and we were now walking to what I'm assuming is the cafeteria. 'Thank God, now I can finally eat something.'

"Now, we analyzed your powers, and they appear to be some sort of physical shadow manipulation. However, I wasn't able to determine whether or not they would have any effect on you mentally or physically. Regardless, with the proper training, I'm sure you'll become a very powerful X-Men."

Powerful. Shadow manipulation seemed like an advantageous ability. 'I'll need to test my powers soon and gauge how useful they truly are.'

When we made it to the cafeteria, the chefs were kind enough to make me a hamburger and some fries, which I ate gluttonously. After thanking the chefs for the meal, Doctor McCoy and I began to head to our rooms. However, as we made it out of the cafeteria, one more person wanted to speak to me.

"Ahh, Jean. This is our new student. Selim."

This was Miss Grey. She ran the school. She was also one of the most powerful mutants on the planet and the frequent host to the Phoenix Force, something I most definitely do not want to get involved in. I pushed my thoughts aside quickly, preventing any chance of her to read them.

"Well, Selim. Why don't I show you to your room? I'll take it from here Hank, thanks."

I turned around to thank Doctor McCoy, then resumed my attention to Miss Grey.

"Here, take this. It's a schedule of your classes. Tomorrow happens to be Wednesday, so unfortunately, you'll have to wake up early to attend classes. Your first class is at 9:00 am sharp. Let's see. Oh, you have technology class with Miss Pryde. That should be fun."

Miss Grey was very dissimilar to Miss Frost. She actually gave an effort to her students. She was warmer, kinder, and more pleasant to be around. Miss Grey turned around to smile at me. Her face illustrating a beam of purity, happiness. It contrasted my stoic face completely. I don't want to come across as a dick. I was just too tired, too confused by my situation, to provide the proper etiquette expected of me. Miss Grey seemed to understand, though, as she gently put a hand on my right shoulder.

"Here's your room. If you have any questions, please, let me know. I'll call you to my office tomorrow afternoon to ask how classes went for you. Goodnight."

And after handing me the key to the room, she disappeared. I unlocked the door and entered my room. It was small but cosy enough. 'Sure beats the alleyway.' And the second I entered the room, I dropped onto the bed and got some needed sleep.