Chapter 4
Open HouseI entered the huge estate slowly as I walked the long drive way. It looked creepier like in that movie with the haunted mansion that comes alive and kills you. That voice before, where did it come from? Maybe they installed a speaker out side?
"Not quite," there it goes again as I jumped. I stood there frozen thinking of what the cab driver said as I looked back towards the gate. "Come on, don't be afraid." I looked franticly around trying to find the owner of that voice. "Up by the mansion. We won't hurt you."
I looked ahead and saw the awing of a roof. I walked towards it and it was some kind of building. Wow, it's larger than my classroom building. The voice wasn't kidding it was a mansion, like the one in that horror movie. Oh no Mike, what have I gotten my self in to?
"Don't worry," the voice said. "There no ghosts or goblins living here."
"Sure, right." I said to my self.
I walked cautiously towards the steps that led to a door. Well, there are no cobwebs draped all over and no broken glass that's a good sign. I walked up the steps and before I knocked on the door, it opened by it self.
"Come in," The voice said.
I was hesitant at first then Ms. Monroe stepped in view. She smiled at me as I tried to smile back.
"Welcome Michael to our school," She said, "Professor Xavier has been waiting for you."
I guess it wasn't all that bad. She led me inside and I can't stop looking around how fascinating the place looks. I mean it looks like a regular college dorm. It had carpeted floors, wood panel walls, and other kids trying to reach their next class. Ms. Munroe led me down the hall, and as we passed a few opened doors. I peeked in to see what it looked like. I saw a few high school students gathered around a desk as a teacher was teaching them, something. We both stopped to a set of double doors as Ms. Munroe knocked on the door.
"Come in," I was same voice I heard out side.
She opened the door as we both entered. There was an old bald man sitting behind an oak desk, as five students were looking him upon. On the black board behind him were drawings of geometry it seems. He looked at Ms. Munroe and I, as did the students. I suddenly recognized one of them. A blond male I knew from freshman high school named Scott.
The bald man looked back on his students and said, "Well, that would be all for today." The students got up and got ready to leave, but the teacher then added, "Remember, your paper on Sir Isaac Newton is due this Friday." The students left as Scott gave me a look of 'what is he doing here'. The Teacher looked at me and greeted, "Welcome Michael, I am Professor Xavier. Won't you have a seat?"
I sat down in one of the comfortable chairs.
"You are probably wondering how I know about you," He said.
"Actually yes," I replied.
"I have been studying you for a few months now," He started, "Even when you became that ninja the papers been telling stories about. I never seen a person with your powers Michael, that why it was brought my attention."
"How do you I really have these powers?" I asked, "I thought it was because of..."
"Hartuki? No, it is in you, Michael," He replied.
"In me? You think I'm a mutant?" I wondered.
"I don't think, I know," he said.
A mutant, me? It can't be, no way.
"If you want some reassurance, we can do a simple body scan, just to be sure," He suggested.
I looked at him. And I wondered if this man was mad scientist or something. But then he looked nice enough to trust. I guess it wouldn't hurt just to find out that I am not a mutant.
"Ok, I guess we can do that," I replied, "But if the test said I am one. What's going to happen to me?"
"Well, we'll discuss it later. Ororo, would you please fetch Dr. McCoy?"
"Sure Professor," Ms. Munroe replied as he left.
He turned to me and smiled and I smiles back. I felt I was in the principle's office every time I was in trouble.
"I noticed that you know Scott West." The professor said.
"Yeah, we were best friends since middle school," I Replied, "I though he was dragged to a mental institution after…" I stopped thinking about the day he changed. "I didn't know he would end up here."
"Most mutants do end up here," He explained, "Scott was about to go to a mental institution until I found him and convinced his parents to let him go to school here."
Just then, the door rattled as it opened by it self. I wondered if Professor Xavier is doing that. Then I saw a blue furry monster enter the room and I got a bit scared and stood up.
"Don't be afraid Michael, this is Dr. Henry McCoy, " the professor said me.
He's a doctor? Doctor of what? 'How to turn into a monster' doctor?
"Hello Michael," Dr. McCoy said stretching his large claw like hands to me. It talked, and I was hesitant to shake hands with him, but in politeness I did."
"Mr. Longford wants to know if he has the mutant gene in him." Professor Xavier said, "He would like to do the body scan test."
"Of course, follow me Michael." Dr. McCoy said.
I followed him through the halls and soon came to a room that was unlike the other rooms. It looked like a room you find in a futuristic ship seen on a sci-fi TV show. In the middle of the room there was an examination table and above it was some type of machinery I can't explain.
"Michael, please lay down on the table." Dr. McCoy ordered.
"Is it going to hurt?" I said.
He smiled at me and replied, "Not one bit. Just relax and it will be over before you know it."
I laid down the table as he went to some computer consol. I looked up at the strange machine and it suddenly moved down towards me. My eyes widened as a green laser scanned my body, starting down my feet and it moved up towards my chest then my head. The machine then rose back up.
"There done," Dr. McCoy said with satisfaction, "We know in a minute once the calculations are computed." We waited them, "Mmmhm" he turned to me and smiled.
"Well?" I wondered as I sat up.
"I am sorry to say that, you are a mutant." He replied.
At that moment my world around me crumbled. My hopes and dreams destroyed. I frowned in disbelief. My me? Why does everything have to happen to me? It's like I have a curse or something.
"Horrible at first, I know," I looked towards the door and saw Professor Xavier, "But it doesn't have to be."
"Horrible? I-I didn't want this power, I didn't want to be mutant." I protested, "Can you get rid of it? Get it out of my body"
"Unfortunately it's impossible." Xavier explained. "Mutant genes are embedded in to your DNA structure. Removing it could damage you physically, or worse."
"There's gotta be something you can do?" I said. "I don't want to be a mutant."
"I'm sorry," He replied, "The only thing we can do is help you control your new powers. Develop them."
I sighed, "Look," I stood up, "I can't afford this school, hell my parents…" Oh no, what is going to tell my parents, they'll disown me for what I'm truly am.
"Our school is always open to those who need help. Most of the students here are runaways, and can't afford other schools, and then the fee is then wavered. But, you, are an independent young college man who just need the basics of learning his own power."
"But five thousand…" I said.
"Don't worry about it. The five thousand is for full time students. And since you are already enrolled in a college there is no need for the fee unless you wish to stay and live here."
"Is it alright if, I could think about it?" I asked.
"Of course," He replied.
I said my good byes to the professor, and Ms. Munroe before I left. That was an interesting proposal Professor X had for me. I took a taxi back to Mr. Lee's and all the time I was thinking. Maybe have these powers I have, isn't so bad, what am I saying. My parent would freak if they knew. Fen would freak, and would probably hate me. Mr. Lee on the other hand would understand. No, I have to tell them.
The cab dropped me off at the shop and I went in. Mr. Lee greeted and wanted me to go upstairs. He told me that I have to train if I am going up against The Black Dragon.
"Who?" I asked again.
"Oroto Husati's mob gang, The Black Dragon," He said, "Here." He handed me an oriental box. "This is a Chinese puzzle box. My father told me that inside, contains something that belonged to Hartuki."
I tried to open it but it was locked, "Got a key to this?" I asked.
"The key is on the box," Mr. Lee said, "That what my father told me. He said the contents in the box is so dangerous if it fell in the wrong hands."
"How do I open it?" I wondered.
"I don't know," He replied sitting down, "I've been trying my self for the past few months. If you can open it before the end of the week, that would be a good advantage. But now, I will teach you how to defend your self in mortal combat."
He taught how to balance myself, different stances. He taught me defensive movements, using my arms to block any attack. I caught on quickly as he then taught me a roundhouse kick, sidekick, large punch and other movements. He said; the only way to catch my opponent off guard is to use combos, or a variety of different moves. Every day we stay in his dojo practice all that I need to know. I told him about the school I went to over that weekend and that I have these powers, as I was a mutant. Surprisingly he wasn't horrified, as a matter of fact, he went to the library and found a book of Japanese martial arts. In the book it tells how some words bring out powers against its opponents. I recognized one of the words, Retsu. Retsu meant power of the dragon. We tried one of the words and…
I got in my stance that the book showed and shouted, "Restu!" All of a sudden a laser like blast shot out of my hands hitting the bag, destroying it in a million pieces.
"Oh no, master," I said, " I am sorry. I…"
"Don't worry Michael san," he said, "I have more in the basement. Well, I have taught you well, and you learned well too, here I want to give you something." He went to his office and came back with some black garments. "This belonged to my father when he was a young man like your self."
"Oh no, master Lee. I can't take this." I said.
"Please, you earned it."
I took the garment and put it on. It was a Yuko, a karate uniform.
"Thank you Master Lee." I said, "Thanks for everything."
Fen said that I was hansom in it and I blushed. I finally asked her out and she said all right. Well at least I still have my charm. I told her I'll take her out on Saturday and she said that it better be a good place. I told her not to worry. I wasn't sure if she loves me or not, but I know I love her.
The night before I had to bring the puzzle box to Oroto, I came home, but when I opened my door, my place was a wreck, everything on the floor and broken. I was robbed!
"Oh no," I said to my self, everything I owned, is now garbage. My life can't get any better than this. I am cursed. I looked around to see if anything was taken. Strangely nothing valuable was taken. Vandals then? Why would they care? I then realized that it must have been the Black Dragon that did this. I guess Mr. Harsuti is being a bit impatient.
"Woah, What happened here?" A voice spoke.
I turned towards the window in my fighting stance and saw Spider-Man.
"I sort of got robbed, I think," I replied relaxing.
"Did they take anything?"
"No, but they were looking for something that isn't here."
"What?"
I opened my backpack and showed Spider-Man the puzzle box.
"Have any idea, who did this?" He asked.
"I Have a few leads," I replied, "Oh, I went to that Institute in Westchester."
"Oh, and?"
"You were right, I am a mutant." I replied as I turned the couch back upright and sat down.
"Sorry."
"For what?" I asked.
" I know how it feels knowing what you are," He said, "I've been there before."
"You a mutant too?"
"No," he replied, "but I know how it feels, not knowing how to explain it to your parents and your friends."
"Easy for you to say, you wear a mask." I said to him "Maybe that's why you wear one?"
"Look, my uncle once said with great power comes great responsibility. And you have great power. Don't under estimate it. They just hate your powers, but not who you are. People may hate you for what you are, but it is you that can make a difference Mike."
He was right. I wondered if I could stop the Black Dragon my self. Maybe that's what Mr. Lee had in mind. He couldn't go, so he was training me. I looked to the window to say thanks, but Spider-Man was already gone. He was probably taken off to save someone or to stop a crime. I have to stop this too. I looked at the box. I still don't know how to open it and time was short.