A/N: Thanks for the review, weasel. Here's the next chapter. And to answer VW's question no, only Dodes is a mutant. I wanted to show the impact the Act would have on a non-family group, and a team was the perfect dynamic to display it in. So the rest of the girls, Rothstein, Britt, LD, Anne, etc…are just normal girls, worried about their normal friend, who just happens to bee 'gifted' :) Keep reviewin' peeps!
Brittany:
As team captain it's my job to keep tabs on all my players. But this, this wasn't in the job description, so I found myself waiting impatiently outside Stew's third floor classroom later that Tuesday. I forced my way in as a bell dismissed the horde of freshman within. Stew was sitting at her desk and didn't really look surprised to see me.
"Stew I-," I started to say, but she waved her hand and cut me off. Her head was turned and she was scrolling across the screen of her computer as she spoke.
"I heard already," she muttered. I glanced over her head at the screen. It was CNN.com and the entire page was devoted to the recent happenings in congress. "Rebecca's not in school today."
"Forget school. Rothstein and I stopped by her house on our way here this morning. The entire place was dark. No one came to the door." I shrugged, not knowing what else to say. "How long is this registration thing supposed to take? Will she be back for tomorrow's game?" Stew just looked at me and cocked a blonde eyebrow in a 'how should I know' manner. She's not a big talker, our coach.
"She's not the only one missing today, and people are starting to talk," she said after a minute, but I already knew. I'd heard the whispers and nasty comments. "Tell the girls to lay low and keep their mouths shut. As for Dodes…we'll just have to wait and see," Stew shook here head slightly, as if saying that was the only thing she could think of to do.
The rumors grew almost exponentially as the day progressed. It wasn't long before Dodes was being labeled as a mutant, along with most of the other absentees. It was going to be pretty ugly for those kids who were just sick today; they were going to have to fight off some pretty ugly rumors tomorrow.
The head of the history department decided that with national history being made as we speak (how could she look so excited at the thought of ruing so many people's lives?) it was important for us not to miss a moment of it. Consequently, my world history lesson plans changed from discussing McCarthy and the red scare, to watching CNN all class period.
"…The Mutant Registration Act also contains a clause which would constitute the formation of a new branch in the law enforcement division both here in Washington and at the state level, soley to enforce the points of the recently passed act. Being referred to as the Department of Internal Defense, this new commission is already taking shape, with a department head expected to be appointed by late tomorrow afternoon…" some straight-tied correspondent babbled on.
Eventually Mr. Farnsworth, my history teacher got sick of watching CNN. He says that the major news channels are all rigged and closely monitored products of the government propaganda. Did I mention that he's also a little paranoid? So he switched over to channel 12, our local news station. Hugh Jass was once again on screen.
"…and local law enforcement is stretched thin as more rioting ensues just outside the Pittsburgh circuit court building, the only mutant registration facility in this state. Picketers and protesters have been marching on site since almost before the courts opened this morning, protesting both for more drastic action behind the act and for the act's immediate appeal. State troopers in full riot gear have had to protect citizens coming to register from protestors throwing rocks, metal debris, and two armed men, who were later taken into custody. We're going to go to a live shot now from just overhead, provided by our channel 12 Eye-in-the-Sky traffic copter… and as you can see, the crowds here seem to be growing with no sign of stopping…"
The camera panned in close to show the armed police squads protecting a line of would-be registers as they waited outside the building. Judging by the length of the line and the rate at which it was moving, registration appeared to be going pretty slow. I scanned the crowd as the shot pulled out, both hoping and dreading that I might catch a glimpse of Dodes's lanky frame. But I didn't. Then some economic analyst came on the screen, talking about market repercussions, and I pretty much zoned out. That is until-
"What the…" I muttered, as something bounced off my head and landed at my feet. I turned around and looked behind me. Anne, our team's designated hitter, gave a small wave from the back row, then pointed at the wad of paper by my toes. I pried it open and read her loopy handwriting:
Don't Worry. She'll be fine, you'll see.
I only wish I could've been as confident. But Dodes didn't show up that day for practice. I called her house later that night. LD did too. Neither of us spoke to a person or an answering machine. It was as if she'd just vanished into thin air. If I hadn't already known what she could do, I'd have sworn that her power was invisibility or something.
The hours blurred together and still no word from her. Rothstein was an utter wreck. She's an only child, see, and Dodes is kinda like the annoying little sister she never had. I think 'Stein somehow felt responsible, like there was some way she should've been able to help. Judging on how she looked as she drove away from practice, her car one passenger short, those feelings weren't going to clear up anytime soon. She wasn't the only one who left with a long face that evening…hell, even Stew was acting unusual. I guess it's one thing if you're teammate gets the flu and is bed-bound for a few days. It's another thing completely when their world is thrown upside down leaving you behind. I wish there was something, anything, I could've said to comfort as they left that night. But truth be told, with my own heart beating in my throat from worry, I don't think I'd have made thee situation any better.
