We rode the elevator down to the lobby, and then went into the street. There were several groups of protesters milling about in front of our hotel, most likely waiting until the speeches began again by their leaders.
I wanted to gain some kind of understanding of the people here, but I thought that this might have been more Pyro's arena. He would join in with one of the groups, acting as a comrade, and try to learn as much as he could. He is streetwise; I doubted that he would have any trouble.
We all knew that they were here to demand the government find a solution to the 'mutant problem'. I didn't want to hear their reasons for doing so; I only wished to know their methods, to figure out how they think the problem can be solved.
"Alright, Pyro, meet us back at the hotel room in one hour. Hopefully by then, we'll all have plenty to share."
The young man nodded and took off on his own, towards a group of people. I looked on as he began conversing with some young ladies about his age, already he was learning of their intentions.
While he was getting the public opinion, Mystique and I were to infiltrate the building occupied by leaders of the rally. With our abilities, this task should be uncomplicated. However, as a rule, we must expect the unexpected.
I looked at Mystique as we walked towards the main structure. She had transformed into a rather fetching brunette woman, but she looked positively dismal.
There was no twinkle to her eyes, no smile playing on her lips.
When I saw a homemade sign being waved about, I understood why.
The sign was decorated with a crude drawing of a mutant. It was a male, with bright yellow skin, fully black eyes and green spikes protruding from his head.
Right below his clawed feet, it could be read, 'Mutants: Affront to God'
I took her hand in mine, offering what small measure of comfort I could; but she remained melancholy. It both angered and saddened me that these people were so hateful.
"We'll make them see the truth." I told her. She nodded, but avoided my eyes and did not smile. I didn't expect her to suddenly brighten up, but I had wished to make her feel better...if only a little.
We were right outside the building and surveyed the structure. Two armed security guards were in the front, blocking anyone from entering the doors. Had the street not been so crowded, it would have been easy to discard with them.
However, when all else fails, fresh tactics must be used.
The idea occurred to me that if we were to sneak around to the back, I would have been able to fly up to the roof. Bringing Mystique along with me would have been no real trouble, I imagine, but I have never flown with a partner before.
Incidentally, I never got a chance to test out the idea.
*****^^^^^*****
I am tired of being called a monster, I am tired of people thinking that mutants are devils and demons from Hell, I am tired of having to fight both mutants and humans. Most of all, I am tired of the shame and fear that can be so overwhelming.
I envy Eric sometimes; he doesn't have any outward signs of mutation. Neither do any of the X-men, Pyro or Professor Xavier. They discovered their powers in one way or another, but none of them just woke up and had a different body. I seriously doubt that Jean's parents started screaming at her and kicked her out of the house when they saw that she could make a pencil float with her stupid brain!
Sure, they wanted mutant rights, but they didn't know what real unjust treatment or prejudice was. I did. Eric sure as Hell did. That's why we fight, and show no mercy.
Eric.
I am forever grateful for him. He may not have known exactly what it was like, but he did try to make me feel better about it as we were passing by the protester groups.
Just seeing them sort of reminded the both of us why we were here. We had to stop them, in one way or another.
We reached the building and saw that there was no way we could get in through the front. There were a number of different solutions to choose from: break in through a side window, create a diversion to lure the front guards away, we could even climb up to the roof and try to gain access from there; but we never got the chance.
We were not the only group interested in these protest rallies.
Eric was staring at the building, probably assessing his options of entry, when we both heard it.
It was like a whisper that rolled across our minds. It was the same powerful yet gentle voice I remembered from school.
'What are you two doing here?' Charles Xavier was here, somewhere. He could sense our presence in the city, and most likely knew our exact location.
I looked through the crowd. There were plenty of people on the streets, but none of them were bald and in a wheelchair.
"Don't bother, Mystique. He'll reveal his location when he's ready." Eric told me.
He turned away from the rally leaders' building and walked down the street, back towards the hotel. I followed him.
I glanced through the crowds, searching for Pyro, but then I remembered that Eric had given him an hour. He still had plenty of time.
We went up to our room, and waited for the X-men to make an appearance.
I wanted to gain some kind of understanding of the people here, but I thought that this might have been more Pyro's arena. He would join in with one of the groups, acting as a comrade, and try to learn as much as he could. He is streetwise; I doubted that he would have any trouble.
We all knew that they were here to demand the government find a solution to the 'mutant problem'. I didn't want to hear their reasons for doing so; I only wished to know their methods, to figure out how they think the problem can be solved.
"Alright, Pyro, meet us back at the hotel room in one hour. Hopefully by then, we'll all have plenty to share."
The young man nodded and took off on his own, towards a group of people. I looked on as he began conversing with some young ladies about his age, already he was learning of their intentions.
While he was getting the public opinion, Mystique and I were to infiltrate the building occupied by leaders of the rally. With our abilities, this task should be uncomplicated. However, as a rule, we must expect the unexpected.
I looked at Mystique as we walked towards the main structure. She had transformed into a rather fetching brunette woman, but she looked positively dismal.
There was no twinkle to her eyes, no smile playing on her lips.
When I saw a homemade sign being waved about, I understood why.
The sign was decorated with a crude drawing of a mutant. It was a male, with bright yellow skin, fully black eyes and green spikes protruding from his head.
Right below his clawed feet, it could be read, 'Mutants: Affront to God'
I took her hand in mine, offering what small measure of comfort I could; but she remained melancholy. It both angered and saddened me that these people were so hateful.
"We'll make them see the truth." I told her. She nodded, but avoided my eyes and did not smile. I didn't expect her to suddenly brighten up, but I had wished to make her feel better...if only a little.
We were right outside the building and surveyed the structure. Two armed security guards were in the front, blocking anyone from entering the doors. Had the street not been so crowded, it would have been easy to discard with them.
However, when all else fails, fresh tactics must be used.
The idea occurred to me that if we were to sneak around to the back, I would have been able to fly up to the roof. Bringing Mystique along with me would have been no real trouble, I imagine, but I have never flown with a partner before.
Incidentally, I never got a chance to test out the idea.
*****^^^^^*****
I am tired of being called a monster, I am tired of people thinking that mutants are devils and demons from Hell, I am tired of having to fight both mutants and humans. Most of all, I am tired of the shame and fear that can be so overwhelming.
I envy Eric sometimes; he doesn't have any outward signs of mutation. Neither do any of the X-men, Pyro or Professor Xavier. They discovered their powers in one way or another, but none of them just woke up and had a different body. I seriously doubt that Jean's parents started screaming at her and kicked her out of the house when they saw that she could make a pencil float with her stupid brain!
Sure, they wanted mutant rights, but they didn't know what real unjust treatment or prejudice was. I did. Eric sure as Hell did. That's why we fight, and show no mercy.
Eric.
I am forever grateful for him. He may not have known exactly what it was like, but he did try to make me feel better about it as we were passing by the protester groups.
Just seeing them sort of reminded the both of us why we were here. We had to stop them, in one way or another.
We reached the building and saw that there was no way we could get in through the front. There were a number of different solutions to choose from: break in through a side window, create a diversion to lure the front guards away, we could even climb up to the roof and try to gain access from there; but we never got the chance.
We were not the only group interested in these protest rallies.
Eric was staring at the building, probably assessing his options of entry, when we both heard it.
It was like a whisper that rolled across our minds. It was the same powerful yet gentle voice I remembered from school.
'What are you two doing here?' Charles Xavier was here, somewhere. He could sense our presence in the city, and most likely knew our exact location.
I looked through the crowd. There were plenty of people on the streets, but none of them were bald and in a wheelchair.
"Don't bother, Mystique. He'll reveal his location when he's ready." Eric told me.
He turned away from the rally leaders' building and walked down the street, back towards the hotel. I followed him.
I glanced through the crowds, searching for Pyro, but then I remembered that Eric had given him an hour. He still had plenty of time.
We went up to our room, and waited for the X-men to make an appearance.