Static walked through the mansion, taking the scenic route to Jean's Med lab. Actually, though given instructions by several people, he was quite lost. This place was more than huge, it was phenomenally huge… with corridors and stairways and doors and even MORE corridors in every direction. Had it not been for the intricate original decorations that adorned every inch of the palatial estate, he would've surely been walking in circles right now. Almost giving up, he spotted some students heading into a classroom. "Somebody's got to know where these freaking Med labs are!" He waited until the teacher finished the roll call, and then knocked on the door.
"Come in", said the male teacher's voice.
Static steeped in through the doorway, silencing all student chatter almost instantly. All eyes were on him. The teacher of this class was the mutant called Cyclops of the X-Men. He remembered Logan describing him as a boy scout, but a real prick. The two seconds of silence seemed more like 2 years. Removing his blue Dakota Bulls visor (which made his mop like dreadlocks droop around his head), Static focused on Cyclops, and asked, "Ummm… Can…. somebody tell me how to get to the Med labs?"
Scott Summers had seen many curious things in his life: mutants, mutant killers, bonafide monsters… but NOTHING could've prepared him for the sheer speed and ferocity of Jubilee as she shot up from her desk, ran (more like hurdled) over her fellow students, went the front of the class, and blurted out, "Mr. Summers, IcanShowhimHowtoGetthere. PleasepleaseLetmetakeHimtotheMedlabs. Iwon'tTakelongtogetback, I promise!" Scott's mouth just stayed wide open. He wondered how this girl could speak so much without stopping to breathe. He concluded it must be part of her mutation. He noticed Static's face brighten when the boy realized that Jubilee was in the classroom. Mustering all the years of experience in dealing with adolescents at his disposal, Scott Summers made the only logical strategic decision possible…
"Marie", he said pointing to Rogue, "You go ahead and show him to the Med labs. Jubilee...", he said now focusing on the Asian girl (who was glaring at him with what could only be described as desperation mixed with Logan-level hatred), "get back to your seat… NOW." Static's face dropped as he watched Marie get up from her seat and walk to the front of the class. As she passed Jubilee, who was stomping her way back to her seat, they made eye contact.
Jubilee mouthed the words "please". Marie knew what she meant. Grill Static for all pertinent info and report to an official Jubilee debriefing later after classes. Marie walked past Static and to the front door. She motioned for him to come with her, which he did, but stared at Jubilee all the way out of the room. After he and Marie walked out. Scott Summers began his History lesson. As he went on and on (and on) about the Battle of Britain, Kitty slipped Jubilee a clandestine note. Jubilee opened it up (like the note-pro she is) without making so much as the slightest sound. The note read: "Gee, somebody's OBVIOUS! Do you actually like him?"
Jubilee sat pensively for a moment, trying to look like she cared about Winston Churchill, or whatever Scott was droning on about, and answer Kitty's note at the same time. As she scribbled her response, Kitty waited patiently, as did the three young men sitting behind her: Bobby Drake, Sam Guthrie, and St. John Allerdyce. Actually, St. John was the most interested in her response, as he normally was about ANYTHING dealing with Jubilee. He had worked for months to make sure the word around school (with the male population) was "Jubilee is HIS – BACK OFF". For the most part, everyone (especially the male population) assumed they'd end up together, everyone except Jubilee that is. Not that St. John wasn't a great catch, but the idea of having her life planned out for her was as appealing to Jubilee as having to sit through a four hour Scott Summers lecture on rhino mating habits.
Kitty grabbed the note and held back a screech when she read. It took every ounce of strength inside her to keep herself from bursting into a superhuman display of mutant giggles. The note read: "OBVIOUS WAS THE POINT GIRL! And Yes, I think I like him. He's soooo cute… in a Kobe Bryant kind of way! What do you think?" Bobby peeked over her shoulders and read the note and copied it down for St. John. The mutant, who would one day be known to the world as "Pyro", read the copy and clenched his teeth. His eyes could hardly focus on the paper. He crumpled it quickly in his fist, and raised his hand.
"Mr. Summers, may I be excused for a moment… ummm… nature calls?" St. John could hardly mask the hardness in his voice. He looked visibly distressed, which Scott mistook for the sincerity of his sudden "emergency". With a nod from the X-Men's field commander, St. John nearly sprinted out of the classroom, and closed the door. Instead of going to the bathroom… he headed over to the Rec Room. St. John felt like burning something, maybe that's why some of his friends think he's a pyromaniac. He walked over to the billiards table, and found Logan playing by himself. "May I join you sir?"
"Hmm?" Logan looked up and feigned surprise, since his superhuman senses warned him about the intruder, and even as to St. John's stress levels. "Sure kid. And don't call me sir."
"Sure thing dude."
"Oh hell no… go back to sir!" Logan set up to break again and gave St. John a pool cue. He let St. John break, and sized up the kid as "not all that bad". After a few minutes of shooting around, Logan piped up, "What's eatin' ya kid? You just skipped class, a major nut-crushing no-no in this school. For what, to improve on 8-ball?
"I was just bored in class…"
"Don't bullsh*t a bullsh*ter kid. I can read you like a book, and right now you're wound up real tight." Logan was, as usual, right on the money. This was St. John's only shot at opening up. With Logan, you don't get more than one.
"Well, it's these ghetto guys you brought back from that Dakota?" St. John was already feeling his anger come back to the fore.
"What about 'em? They ain't been here for what… one day?"
"I know, but they got the girls talking all morning about them. Before we went to breakfast, that's ALL they could talk about. And then AFTER breakfast, they're passing notes the whole time!"
"So", Logan asked, "what's any of that got to do with you burn-boy?"
"It's just that, well… it was like this: Marie was writing all that stuff about that dude who could touch her, right? And then this mop-top ghetto-boy comes stompin' into our class and Jubilee goes ape-sh*t! I don't get it man. What's this guy got that I don't, aside from an arrest record?" Logan had stopped listening to St. John after he heard the words "dude who could touch (Marie)". In all the excitement since last night, he almost forgot about that little episode during their battle in Dakota. Actually, he didn't think about it at all. But what's this about Marie talking about it all night with her friends? And writing notes about it in class? Maybe it bothered her that the creep kissed her… or… No! It must've bothered her. St. John was going on about Jubilee or something, but Logan wasn't paying anymore attention.
"Hey kid, I just remembered that I got to go find someone, talk to you later." And with that, Logan swiftly exited the Rec Room, leaving a bewildered St. John Allerdyce behind, and in mid-sentence.
"Some adult counselor! The guy doesn't even listen." St. John just kept playing billiards by himself. He was in NO mood to see Jubilee or Kitty or any of mutant high's denizens at the moment.
***********
Marie and Static made their way to Jean's Med Lab in a rather leisurely pace. Static figured that Marie took her time so as not to have to go back to class. Marie, though, had other motives. This was the perfect time to get info on Mr. Unbreakable,… and his friends of course! Right. This was for the good of the team. Now if she just repeated that to herself over and over MAYBE she might just believe it. "Ummm, Static, or Virgil…?"
"Virgil is fine."
"Ok, Virgil", she stammered, "How long have you been in that gang?"
"Not long. In fact, I didn't meet any of those guys until AFTER the Big Bang."
"You weren't in some gang before that riot?" Marie could see Static's face go blank for a moment, like he was remembering something that wasn't pleasant for him. She'd seen this kind of look before on Logan, whenever he remembered some piece of his tattered past.
"No I wasn't." Static said. "Actually, I ain't even from Paris Island like them. My family stays up on Saddler."
"Then what made you go down there? Logan described the Big Bang as some kind of gang riot-war."
"It was worse than that", Static's eyes began to tear up. He quickly gained his composure, as Marie placed a gloved hand on his shoulder. "I was there cuz o' the BAD advice of a friend."
Marie noticed his pause. Maybe he didn't want to talk about it, but she pressed the issue anyway. Jubilee was going to kill her if she didn't get the inside scoop on this guy. "I don't understand. I thought the Big Bang was all about thugs and criminals…"
"Yeah it was", said Static, "but I wasn't ever about that stuff. I was always gettin' punked in school by this dude who was going to be at the Big Bang. So a friend of mine gave me a trey and told me that the Bang would be a perfect place to cap his a$$ once and for all." Static noticed the blood drain from Marie's face. She even took a slight step away from him – an unconscious reaction to the thought of walking next to a murderer. Reading her reaction correctly, Static answered, "No Marie, it's not what you're thinkin'. I didn't do it". Marie let out a breath. "I've never been about that. As soon as I got to Paris Island I knew I wasn't going to do it. That ain't me. It's not right. Anyway, when the gas came, I ran like everybody else, and I tripped over some live wires from a downed power-line."
"And that's how you got your powers?"
"Well, I had already been hit with the gas, so it had to be the gas. I was electrocuted and blacked out. When I woke up, I was Battery-Powered!" Marie chuckled at the joke, and Static smiled back at her. There were things he wanted to know about her and the X-men, which he would ask Professor X later. But having Marie here presented him an opportunity to ask about a particular Asian student whom he suddenly was preoccupied with. Before he could ask about Jubilee, Marie cut in…
"How well do you know Wise-Son… and the other guys too?" This is for the team Marie, she thought.
"Wise?"
"Yeah, like how did you guys meet and stuff? What's his real name?" Static noticed how Marie wasn't asking about THEIR real names… just Wise-Son's – he filed THAT little detail away in his mind.
"Wise's real name is Hannibal. But nobody calls him that but his Momma and his family." Marie thought about that name: Hannibal. She mused about how it fit a leader. "Wise also has a cute little 8 year old sister, Cordelia, and then there's Edmund… he's about 2 or 3 now."
"Does his little brother look like him at all?"
"Brother?" said Static, surprised. "No, no girl. Edmund is Wise' little boy. Wise-Son has a son!" Marie couldn't help but stand there, mouth agape. He has a son, she thought. He is a parent, and he's so young. And he must have a girlfriend, or a wife, or a... something! That bastard! None of her business anyway right? And why did it matter to her WHAT this criminal's personal life was like anyhow…
Static noticed the sudden silence and pensiveness. He decided to continue waxing on about Wise-Son's family. "Wise' mom takes care of little Eddie cuz his momma got killed in a drive-by." Marie looked up.
"You mean, Wise doesn't have a girlfriend?" Oh My GOODNESS – HOW DID THAT SOUND MARIE, she thought to herself. Here Static was just telling her that the mother of Wise-Son's 2-yr-old was killed, and the first thing you say is whether or not he's seeing anyone?!?! "Ummm, that's not how I meant to say that! I mean, I was asking if his girlfriend was dead."
"Yeah, she's dead." Static said, "but I think they broke up way before then. Anyhow, Edmund is all Wise lives for. That's why he formed Blood Syndicate, to make things right. I joined up when Holocaust asked me because I was already doing my own little 'hero' thing. At first I wasn't going to join them, but Wise told me they'd be cleaning up Paris Island."
"And how do you do that by robbing banks?" said Marie – referring to the footage that most of America saw on CNN.
"See? That's just media bullsh*t", replied Static. "We were STOPPING those bank robbers. The police just TURNED on us too. They started shooting at us. That's when things got out of hand. Later, the news said WE were the ones robbing the bank. Can you believe that crap?"
"Yeah, we X-Men don't always get good press because we're mutants."
"Yeah, but you're WHITE mutants, and live large in a mansion. If you don't use your powers, nobody knows the difference. People don't assume that you're going to rob them, or cops don't assume you're going to kill them…"
"Well, Static…", Marie wasn't too familiar with any racism or stuff like that, but mutant discrimination was VERY familiar to her. "I don't know much about racial stuff, but I can tell you that being mutant works the same way for many of us. I mean, I understand what you said about being able to hide it, but that's impossible for some of us. And when we use our powers, we got to leave the area or most people will try to hurt us."
"Yeah", Static agreed, "It's like Holly's always sayin': All around the world's the same song!"
"Yeah, whatever that means." Marie laughed. "But I mean, you guys seem to still hang with regular people. How come they don't fear you?"
"Oh please… black folks got no problem with mutants! At least not in Paris Island."
"Not all those guys were black, Static."
"Well, whatever." Static said. "In the hood, nobody sees bang-babies as different than anybody else. I mean, if you were a mom or dad, and your kid survived the Big Bang, would you care if they could fly now? Same goes for everybody's friends and homies and stuff."
"See, that's even better than being a mutant", Marie said, turning Static's earlier point back on him. "You guys don't have to hide your powers, and your families, friends, and neighbors accept you for who you are. You're still you, but with super-powers. Most of us mutants had to run away from homes or were kicked out by our own families. Same song right?"
"Yeah", said Static, "the whole world's a ghetto." Marie and Static finally arrived at the Med Lab. Jean was going over some burned tissue samples she removed from Ororo, who was there with her. That woman is FINE, Static thought as he looked at Ororo. In fact, he thought, they're BOTH hotties. Marie bowed out and left to what he assumed was her class. Static just stood at the doorway, not sure as to how to greet women he was trying to maim and kill the night before. "Wassup ladies?" Jean and Ororo turned around and looked at the youthful Syndicate member. Ororo unconsciously rubbed the back of her head – a reaction from the smack she incurred fighting Static. Jean seemed fine, and she walked forward to greet the young man.
"Hello Static, I know you know me, since we talked earlier today, but you don't know Ororo", she said, motioning for Ororo to come forward. Ororo stepped forward and extended a hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Ororo Munroe, and you?"
"Virgil Hawkins. Ya'll can call me Virgil, or Virg, or whatever. Except Nerd! I hate being called that." Ororo smiled at the young man. It's too bad they had to meet under such circumstances. "Look, I'm really sorry about hurting you, so is Wise. We didn't know that you guys weren't there to kill us. That's all people have been trying to do since the Big Bang."
"You won't find that here", said Ororo. "The X-Men and Professor X are trying to bridge the gap between humans and mutants, so we can live together in peace."
"Lady, I ain't talking about mutant wars…", replied Static, "I'm talking about cops, and feds, and stuff trying to bust a cap in every Bang baby they can find. N*ggaz who can fly are not popular with the authorities." Ororo couldn't really relate to everything he was saying. Being a mutant, her powers became the source of her problems with humans. She never really considered her race as being an issue with the people around her, especially the X-Men. But, she admitted, some of the newer students would take a little more time to warm up to her than to the other teachers. She always figured it was her own aloofness.
"Well Virgil", Jean said, "No one is going to try to hurt you here. I just want to run some tests on you, and give you a general checkup… maybe even some vaccines if you're lacking any – you can never be too careful with tons of kids running around here." Jean went to work and Ororo left the Med Lab. For the next 2 hours, Static submitted to any and every test that Jean suggested. His cooperation was a welcome change from even some of the X-Men (Logan) who always questioned her every procedure. She had a chance to speak to him about his upbringing, and discovered that Virgil Hawkins was extremely intelligent – maybe beyond that. She mentally contacted the Professor, who ran a school record check on him, and found that Virgil Hawkins was a straight A student, and had been since grade school. The Professor mentally told Jean to have the young man report to his office when the tests were completed.
***********
Logan searched through the mansion's spacious surroundings in search of his prey. He went through almost every corridor inside the colossal structure. Sensing that this would be fruitless, he expanded his search to include the outer perimeter of the property as well. After an hour and a half of total failure, he spotted his query – Wise-Son. Wise-Son was playing basketball with Holocaust and Commando X, and they looked to be locked in a serious competition. Logan stalked up it the far edge of the basketball court, and whistled for Wise-Son to come over. A very surprised Wise-Son passed the ball to Holocaust, and the two other Syndicate members started playing straight up one-on-one basketball. "What's up man?" Wise-Son said.
"Nothing much", Logan answered, low growl in his voice. "I just got one request for you though."
"Request?" Wise-Son had a vague feeling he knew what it was about. "What kind of request?"
"For as long as you're here, stay away from Marie… you know, the girl you kissed." Logan spoke the last four words through clenched teeth.
Wise-Son's eyes narrowed. Who was this man thinking he could come here and give HIM an order? He suppressed his initial two mental responses, and opted for something more civil (considering that he didn't want to leave the mansion after just one day). "Why? Is there anything wrong with her?"
"Nothing's wrong with her, she just don't need you hanging around her."
"Let's get things straight now pa'tna'…", Wise-Son's agitation began to show in his voice, "Number one, nobody tells me what to do, and number two, the shorty already told me to back off, so this case is closed."
Logan exhaled deeply then raised his eyes to meet Wise-Son's. "It had better be…. 'pa'tna'!" And with that, he turned and left, heading back to the mansion… to go wait for Marie to finish classes. Wise-Son seethed a little at the audacity of someone actually giving HIM an order. It was anathema to him. He stomped back to the mansion as well, also to seek Marie and set her straight – since he figured it was Marie who sent this Logan guy after him.
************
Static sat in the Professor's office, as the Professor perused something on his computer screen. The Professor made a few "Uh-hmmm" noises, but that's about it. Just when Static was about to go crazy, Professor X spoke up. "My dear boy, how have you liked your first few hours here at the mansion?"
"Just fine, ya'll got a pretty nice place." Static was feeling like he was in the principal's office back at Sadler High.
"Did you know that we are one of the highest rated private academic institutions in the State, and even the country? We're fully accredited, and have had many of our students graduate and get accepted to all the top universities in the nation."
"That's cool.", Static said, "But uhhh… sir? If you don't mind my askin'…?"
"No, of course not", replied the Professor, "ask away."
"Why are you tellin' me all this?"
"Because I've been looking at your school records Virgil Hawkins. And it seems that you are quite remarkable!" Now Static DEFINITELY felt like he was back in his principal's office. "Don't be alarmed, I've run a background check on ALL of you Syndicate members using your photos. And I've taken the liberty of arranging for a document excusing you from Sadler High classes for a 2-week period to deal with a "family emergency"."
"Thanks sir. I don't know if we'll stay here that long, though."
"That's actually what I wanted to speak with you about, young man." The Professor wheeled his chair around his desk and came right up to Static. "Mr. Hawkins, I would like you to consider attending this School for the Gifted on a permanent basis."
"WHAT!?! You gotta be kidding me!"
"I am not kidding Mr. Hawkins. Your scholastics record would more than warrant an offer from our school, but it is the chance to help you hone your powers that make you an exemplary candidate for attendance." Professor X leaned in close to Static. "Son, you have a wonderful gift, regardless of how you got it, and you could do the world a lot of good. I have read online newspaper articles from the Dakota Tribune's website, and I see that you already have fashioned yourself into some type of hero."
"Well, I do my best… when I'm not handling Syndicate business, that is."
"Yes", the Professor continued, "Well, it's that interest in the good of others that peaks my interest in YOU. You already want to help humanity, and we would like to help you do that. In fact dear boy, there is an evil mutant with powers similar to yours, and someday you may be the only one who can handle him, or negate his advantages." Charles Xavier's mind briefly focused on his old friend, and current enemy, Erik Lensherr (Magneto). "I'd like you to think about this offer seriously. It could mean a whole new life for you."
Static was in shock (no pun intended). His brief visit to the mansion could become a pivotal life changing event. He had to consider this carefully. There was so much he'd be missing about his current life if he left Dakota. His Mom and his sister (Ok, maybe not his sister), the Blood Syndicate, Sadler High, all his friends, Freida Goren (his on-again/ off-again crush and best friend)… but then look at what he'd be gaining: a chance to really train and hone his skills, a stable environment with no crime or mayhem, a likely opportunity to join the X-Men (some guys with their acts together for a change), and Jubilee. Make no mistake about it, Jubilee was the best reason to stay here at the moment.
************
It was just before dinner time that Wise-Son ran into Marie in the hallway. Though he gave up his anger-induced search for her hours ago, he silently thanked God that he found her. "Marie, why did you send your thug Logan after me?"
"What? What are you talking about?" Marie had already had the strangest conversation with Logan a few hours earlier, not a loving and intimate one like their usual talks, but more… more possessive and strained. "Has every man in this place flipped out today?"
"Your man Logan came to tell me to stay away from you."
Is that why Logan was acting so strange, she thought. She reminded herself to kill Logan later and answered Wise-Son. "Hannibal, I didn't send him after you. He did that on his own."
"Hannibal?", Wise-Son looked at her quizzically. "How do you know my real name?"
"Virgil told me", Marie answered, "I hope you didn't mind if I call you that."
"No that's ok", replied Wise-Son, who reminded himself to kill Static later. "What else did he tell you about me?", he said – bracing for the worst.
"He said you've got a cute little sister, and wonderful mother, and…", Marie paused, "A son who looks his daddy." Wise-Son could've sworn he saw something like compassion in Marie's eyes. "He told me about your girlfriend, your son's Mom. I'm sorry."
Wise-Son looked away for a brief moment. He thought of Simone, and her untimely end. "It's ok. There was nothing I could do for her. She was runnin' with a rough set called "Sociedad De La Cruz", Society of the Cross. They dealt in guns and things. Stuff just came back to haunt her."
"Do you miss her?"
"To tell you the truth", Wise-Son replied, "She and I broke up before I even knew she was pregnant with Edmund. I don't think I ever really loved her, and actually she made a terrible mother. Her momma, who was worse than her, was glad to hand over custody of Edmund to me after Simone died. He was only 10 months old at the time." Marie listened on intently as Wise-Son explained how Edmund was his reason for living (just like Static said). Making Dakota safe was his secret reason for forming the Blood Syndicate – a secret that only himself, Fade, Static, and Rev. Tat Larsen were aware of… and now Marie. He explained how Rev. Larsen sought him out at his mother's house after the Big Bang, and talked to him on a daily basis for almost two months. They debated Larsen's Jesus against Wise-Son's Mohammed, and despite their theological disagreements, they came to the conclusion that Wise-Son's unique and extraordinary powers gave him a unique and extraordinary responsibility. It wasn't long after that, that he began recruiting bang babies to form a super-powered gang – first within the Paris Bloods, and then with most of the most powerful bang babies throughout Dakota's gangs. When he was done with his diatribe, Marie saw Wise-Son in a different light. He didn't seem like the murderous thug that she faced last night, but like a battle-hardened general, fighting for his family and for the good of others – albeit misguidedly.
"Wise", Marie said.
"Hannibal's fine…", Wise-Son interrupted.
"Hannibal… Professor X can help you and the others. He trains mutants to learn more about their powers and to use them better. Maybe he'll let you come back here from time to time… to train and stuff."
"You think so?"
"I know so. He already asked Static to stay and attend school here!" Oooops. Static and Jubilee had sworn her to secrecy under penalty of electrocution. Wise-Son's eyes widened for a second, then narrowed… as if thinking of something.
"That's why he was acting all weird", said Wise-Son, "the kid's got a lot on his mind. Well, I'm not going to interfere with his decision, or let anybody ELSE interfere either (Holocaust and Commando X)."
"Thanks Hannibal", Marie was getting used to using his real name. It seemed intimate. WAIT MARIE! Intimate is not something you should be feeling with anyone but Logan. But this time, Marie silenced that voice (which sounded a lot like Logan's), and let herself feel good about talking with Wise-Son. He was a refreshing change to Logan: the man who couldn't express himself, and wasn't sure what he felt for her. "See you at dinner." And she did something that she never in her life thought she would ever do until she met this man: she leaned into him and kissed his cheek. Again, due to her inexperience, and the new sensation of actually touching another person, skin to skin, she lingered on his cheek for a moment. She then backed up a little slowly, but smiling all the way. As she was walking down the hallway, Wise-Son cracked a sideways smile as well. He just shook his head, and headed back to his room and his homies.
****************
After dinner, three of the Blood Syndicate members headed to their room for some relaxing NBA Playoffs watching and some downtime. When they entered the room, they saw Static sitting on is bed, reading a note. If Wise-Son and Holocaust didn't know better, they'd have thought that Static had been crying. "What's up homie? You look like stir-fried sh*t." asked Commando X, in his usual compassionate manner.
"This is what's up", replied Static, and handed Commando X the note he had been reading. "I found it stuck on our door. It was addressed to me personally." Commando X read the note, and his facial features took on a darkness and evil to them that made him appear nearly demonic in visage. He slowly passed the note to Wise-Son, who read it along with Holocaust. Both their faces stiffened up, and Holocaust caused the paper to burst into flames and disintegrate in Wise-Son's hand. The note had read: STAY AWAY FROM OUR GIRLS YOU ELECTRIC MONKEY. GO BACK TO WHEREVER THE F*CK YOU CAME FROM.
"Somebody's gonna die for this", said Holocaust matter-of-factly. "Maybe ALL of them."
"F*ck YEAH!", chimed in Commando X. "I say we cap ALL these CRACKA b*tches right f*cken NOW! Holly, just go nuclear on these muthaf*ckaz while I blow this sh*t up!"
"Hold up man", said Wise-Son.
"Wise, back da F*CK up", shot back Commando X, "You CAN'T let this sh*t slide!"
"Watch who you're talking to X… I'm not gonna let this sh*t slide", Wise-Son said passively, "But I want to know what Static wants to do about it." Walking over to Static, he sat on the bed next to him and asked, "Virgil, how do you want us to handle this?"
"That's just it Wise…", said Static. "I want to be the one to deal with it. My way! Ok?"
"Ok, fine, but what do you have in mind?"
"I got an idea to show these bastards that I won't be intimidated." Static picked up the phone and called Jubilee's, Kitty's, and Marie's room. When Kitty answered the phone, he could hear crying in the background. When Jubilee got on the phone, she frantically explained (between sobs) that someone had left her a similar note on her room door. Static calmed her down, assuring her that these notes were the acts of cowards, and asked her if she trusted him. After a bit of soul-searching, Jubilee decided to trust him indeed. He told her to meet him in 5 minutes down at the Rec Room, and to follow his lead. Static hung up the phone, turned to his fellow gang members and said, "I'm going down to the Rec Room, don't follow me. I want to do this alone." He then walked out of the room, leaving behind some VERY pissed off gang members.
"Wise", said Holocaust, "I KNOW you ain't gonna let this slide are you my n*gga?"
"Hell no", said Wise-Son, which brought a smile to Commando X's face. "Let's let Static deal with his FEELINGS on his own… but make no mistake pa'tna's, payback ain't no b*tch. These fool's bout to find out that payback's a mutha-f*cken n*gga!"
"I feel ya man", Commando X agreed, "I feel ya."
"Peep this X, Holly", Wise-Son continued, "We're gonna find out who did this to Static, and we're gonna make those mutha-f*ckaz bow down. They're gonna BEG us to kill 'em." And that got nothing but approval from his fellow Syndicate members.
"That's what the Blood Syndicate is all about", said Commando X, "makin' this world a better place."
"Yeah, making this world better", said Holocaust, "one dead mutha-f*cka at a time!" The gang members settled into their NBA playoff routine, which consisted of hooting, screaming, and yelling at the TV set for the refs to start calling fouls on Shaquille O'Neal.
************
Static made his way down to the Rec Room. His thoughts were everywhere, and most of them had to do with causing a huge electrical storm that would've killed everyone in the mansion. But his thoughts also fell upon Jubilee, and that suppressed all his violent impulses as fast as they arose. He opened the door, and found the room full of students, most watching the NBA playoffs, yelling at the refs to call fouls on Shaquille O'Neal, and even two of the school's teachers: Scott Summers and Dr. jean Grey. The two of them were in the love seat looking every bit in love. He then spotted Marie over by the billiard table, along with Kitty and Jubilee, who tried to look her best like she hadn't been stabbed in the back by someone in the school. Over the phone she had told Static that her heart was broken, that this school didn't feel like a safe sanctuary anymore. Static motioned for her to come over to him, and she did just that. When she was close to him, he placed his hands on her shoulders, then gently on her face, and leaned in close to her. She placed her hands on his waist, and then up his back, tightening into an embrace. Virgil Hawkins, a.k.a. Static, then pressed his lips softly against hers. At first touch, Jubilee's mind exploded with emotion, and she returned his kiss, passionately. She had never kissed anyone like that, and this kiss had all the pent up feelings that a crying spell and a fit of rage could produce. The room became silent, with scattered gasps and awes… until Scott Summers aptly said, "Well… it looks like SOMEONE has made himself at home here." Jean nudged him in the ribs, smiling wickedly.
"That give you any ideas honey?", she asked.
"A few… but can it wait until half-time?", he answered back jokingly. Jean sent him a mental image of what she had in mind, and Scott blushed, excused himself to the students, grabbed Jean's hand and walked out of the Rec Room with her in tow – VERY quickly. In all that time, Static and Jubilee were still in their embrace, in plain sight of everyone - their heads resting on each other's shoulders. Jubilee was still silently sobbing, while Static caressed her hair softly.
"I'll be your safety", he whispered into her little ear. "I'll be your sanctuary. I'm not leaving you here. I'm staying… for good!"
à To be concluded in TWO more chapters: "Vengeance Is Mine" and "All Good Things…"