Chapter 4 – Coercions
– Four weeks later
The Hellfire Club, New York.
It was late night, and the members of the Inner Circle were gathered in the Hellfire Club's manor for a private reunion. Robert Kelly's bill had been voted and approved by the U.S. Senate two weeks before. The Mutant Registration Act had begun.
"My friends, it's official. Our dear senator just called and confirmed the United States' interest in buying our formula. The government plans to launch the vaccine within the next week," the Black King told them, grinning from ear to ear.
"All right!" Pierce hit his mechanical hand over the table enthusiastically.
"Congratulations, Sebastian and Emma!" Leland said, patting Shaw on the back.
"Well done, you two," Selene commended Shaw and Frost with a greedy smile, and then asked. "When will Kelly sign the contract?"
"He's flying from D.C. at this very moment," the White Queen informed.
"We shall celebrate our first victory," Shaw raised his flute of champagne, and the rest of the Inner Circle did likewise and cheered. "The vaccine's ready for commercialization, and we expect to have the formula adapted and geared up to be released into the water by the end of the week. Before long, we shall be the only mutants left in America."
"A toast to that," Selene said, her immortal mind filled with thoughts of glory and pleasure.
– Two weeks later
Anchorage, Alaska.
Scott was beyond mad as he read the piece of paper before him, his hands shaking with indignation. "This is absurd!"
"We'll find another way, son. Don't you worry," Philip Summers told his grandson from across the office's desk.
"Granpa, they can't obligate mutants to take this freaking test! We're American citizens, just like everyone else in this country. We have rights!"
"Scott, it's law now. I know it's unfair, but they'll shut down the airline if I refuse to test the employees for the mutant gene."
"Arrrrgh! I can't believe it!" Scott screamed in frustration, crushing the paper in his hand.
"If only we could find someone who's not a mutant to take the test for you…"
Scott took a moment to calm down and let his grandfather's words sink in. "What about uncle Carl? He's human, he's family, and he lives all by himself in the middle of the Alaskan woods… I don't imagine the U.S. government is keeping track of his whereabouts."
The older man furrowed his brows. "That might work. We only need to find a way to get in touch with him. You know I would gladly lie for you in the reports…"
"Thank you, grandpa. I'll go after him. Maybe I can convince uncle Carl to trade some blood for a dozen packs of Alaskan beer."
Two days later, a satisfied Scott Summers returned from a quick trip to Galena. He'd struggled at first, but in the end was able to persuade his misanthrope uncle to donate a blood sample. His grandfather had agreed to declare in the official report that the blood was Scott's. This way, he wouldn't have to register, and the world would continue to believe he was only human.
Madelyne, however, didn't feel relieved. She still feared for her baby.
"Scott, what if they start testing children? What about Nathan?"
"Mutants usually don't manifest their powers before puberty, Maddie; hence, the government's only testing ten-year-olds and above. Nathan's four months old, I think we're safe for now," he explained.
"For now? You've got to be kidding me, Scott! Am I supposed to wait with my arms crossed until Uncle Sam finds out my baby's a mutant?"
The man gaped at his wife, puzzled by her most recent outburst. "We don't even know if Nate carries the mutant gene, Maddie. Besides, what would you have me do, huh? Pack up our stuff and run away?" He questioned, irritated. "You know, this fucking law wasn't my idea. Stop blaming me for it, for Christ's sake!"
"But who's the mutant in this family, Scott? Who might have passed the wrong gene to my son?"
Scott's chin dropped - he couldn't believe those words were coming out of his wife's mouth. "Wrong gene? Is that what you think, Madelyne? My kind's being persecuted all over the country -hell, possibly your only son's kind is being persecuted- and you still can't see beyond your prejudiced concepts? Jesus! Sometimes I wonder why you've even agreed to marry me," he yelled.
"Because I love you, you asshole! Even if you're one of them," she yelled back and stomped towards the bedroom.
Scott scoffed and shook his head, disappointment and sorrow all over his face. 'So that's how a broken heart feels like.'
Metro College, New York.
On the opposite side of the country, Jean Grey was currently sitting on an uncomfortable plastic chair outside Dean Phillips' office, impatiently waiting to be invited in. The college's secretary had informed her that she would be the next, right after Ororo Munroe. Two chairs away from the redhead sat a blondish male student, probably a couple of years younger than her. He was drinking iced tea and tapping his right foot incessantly on the floor, looking as nervous as she was. The waiting room was hot, the air conditioner possibly turned off or broken, and Jean was sweating profusely. Still, the ice inside the boy's plastic cup seemed to never melt.
She turned her gaze from his beverage to the tv screen. The news channel was on, broadcasting another mutant rally somewhere in the country. Jean had lost count of how many marches and fights between mutants and humans she'd heard of since the publication of the Registration Act four weeks ago. All she cared to know was if Logan was involved; and since she hadn't heard from her boyfriend for the past ten days, she was staring intently at the screen, praying she wouldn't spot his frame in the middle of the violent protest.
Last time they'd seen each other, Logan had scared the life out of her by revealing his feral side out of the blue. Jean knew it was partially her fault, that reading his mind without permission had been wrong, and she wished she'd never done it. They'd almost fought, but in the end both lovers apologized, and Logan promised he'd never hurt her. Yet, the simple memory of that night still made her shiver in fear. Since then, he'd called her five or six times, reassuring her that he was fine, but never once revealing his location.
During that period of time, Jean had concluded her Medical School program. The final exams had been held in the previous week and she was hoping this meeting with the dean had something to do about her residency applications. However, her instincts were screaming to her that the reason for the encounter wasn't so inoffensive.
"Did you also take the mutant gene test last week?" She heard the iced-tea kid asking beside her.
"Yes…," the redhead replied, turning her face his way. "Did you?" She questioned back.
"I had to. Just before the finals, my whole Countability class was forced to take it," he explained, then flashed her a friendly smile. "I'm Bobby Drake, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Bobby. I'm Jean Grey," she responded politely.
"So, Jean, uh… Do you think that's what this meeting's about?"
She hesitated, staring suspiciously at him. "I hope not," she finally said.
"Me too," he replied, purposefully creating a couple of ice cubes with his index finger and adding them to his beverage. Jean raised an eyebrow, and he grinned at her bewilderment.
Before they could continue the conversation, an angry thunder cracked outside, making both of them jump off theirs seats. Soon after, Ororo stormed out of the dean's office, eyes glowing white for barely a second.
"This is bullshit! A complete, senseless bullshit!" The young woman shouted in the waiting room.
"Ro, what happened?" The redhead asked her long-time friend with worry.
"Ms. Grey, you may come in now," the secretary's voice echoed in the room.
Jean glimpsed at the woman and looked back at her best friend; then she exchanged glances with the young man she'd just met. Suddenly, she heard Ororo's voice inside her head.
'It's war for us now, Jeannie. Don't you give in.'
The redhead tried to make herself comfortable in the dim office. The sky had rapidly turned dark, and Mr. Phillips stood up to turn on a floor lamp. She noticed a list of students' names laying on his desk, each one followed by a colored mark – Ramsay, checked in green; Richter, also checked in green; Munroe, checked in red; Grey and Drake, yet to be checked.
"First of all, Ms. Grey, I'd like to congratulate you on your remarkable scores in the finals. I believe you are more than suitable to obtain an honorable mention on your graduation day and enter any residency program you wish. Apropos, which medical specialty are you applying for?"
"I, ah… Pediatrics," she answered, anxiety creeping into her stomach.
"Oh, that's lovely. Taking care of children is indeed a special gift," the dean said, nodding with approval. "There's only one mild detail we have to see to before we can proceed with your graduation papers…"
"D-Detail? What is it?" Jean's hands began to tremble.
"Well, I'm sure you are aware of the government's new politics regarding mutants, Ms. Grey. As you know, Metro College had to submit all its students and staff to the mutant gene test… Even I had to be tested, can you believe it?" He winked at her, chuckling lightly, and Jean didn't know if she was going to faint or throw up. He cleared his throat. "Anyway, your test results show that you carry the mutant gene within your cells. Did you know that, Ms. Grey?"
The room started spinning, and Jean was momentarily unable to speak. She felt even more nauseated and had to hold her stomach.
"Do you happen to have any mutant abilities, Ms. Grey?" Mr. Phillips inquired as if he was asking what her favorite color was, and the redhead didn't know what to respond. The dean went on. "You don't have to be afraid, it's not like I'm in the police force, you know?" He uttered a short laugh in an attempt to diminish the tension in the room, but realized he was failing miserably. "Uh, whatever. The thing is, Ms. Grey, in order for Metro College to grant you your diploma, you will need to take a vaccine. Apparently, it targets the mutant gene and neutralizes all mutant abilities. I'm not sure how it works precisely, this is kind of your department, right?" He laughed again, while Jean felt the urge to cry. "Of course, those are the government's orders, not mine. So, what do you say? Can I call the nurse and tell her to bring in your sample?"
"I-I, uh… I'm… D-Do I have to, uh… make a decision… now?"
"Well, Ms. Grey… Your graduation ceremony is scheduled to Friday, and the residency tests start next week. You're an intelligent, centered woman… I'm sure you can see there's not a lot to consider in this situation, right? I mean, you have a brilliant future ahead of you, why jeopardize your career? I suggest you take the shot, so you can become a registered doctor and start your specialization without further disturbances. What's so wrong about being normal, anyway?"
After a couple of minutes, Jean left the dean's office, crying profusely. The Drake kid stood up and stared at her, panicked. "Good luck," was all she was able to mutter before exiting the room.