[Amid a Field of Crimson Flowers]
---
Kirikou
[10/16/03 - 10/17/03]
---
[Prologue: Outbreak]
"Strange attacks have been thrown at the government by groups of mutants fighting for freedom against tyranny, they say. They've been on mad streaks of killing for almost a week now, killing over 200 innocent civilians and 3 senators. If any of you see any mutants starting a riot, please be sure to send a call to the authorities." The news reporter jived on as Charles Xavier glanced at the scenes from the street, shaking his head. Wouldn't mutants ever understand that there was no need for this violence?
"The last attack of mutants was staged in New York."
"Hey, that's where Jean is." Scott Summers walked by, bending backwards to poke his head through the room. Xavier motioned him in with a nod. The young man clad in ruby-quartz shades sat beside the professor, staring just as keenly at the attacks on the screen.
"Her class went down there for some trip."
"I'm well aware, Scott." He turned to him with a smile. "But I assure you that she's fine."
"That's good to know." He breathed a sigh of relief, staring out the window. It was in the middle of Christmas vacation at Bayville High and all of the students at Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters had finally gotten their long awaited break. The snow fell in intricate patterns outside the window, falling on what was already 5 inches of snow. The sun was low in the sky, with only a few clouds here and there, making for the perfect scene indeed. Jean had been out with one of the groups she was actively a part of, going to New York for something that Scott hadn't heard very well as she rattled it off. Personally, he didn't care where she was going, as long as she was safe. Just the way he felt about all of the other kids here.
"Like, hey Scott! Hi Professor!" A young voice flowed into the room, turning both figures to her with a large smile and invitation to sit as well.
"Hello, Kitty."
"Like, I couldn't help but notice the television. What's the problem?"
"Mutants are making attacks on the government and innocent civilians." Scott informed the brunette as she walked in, total concern across her face as she viewed the carnage as well. Burning buildings filled the television, people jumping out of windows, guns firing and mutants using their powers left and right to kill as many people as they could.
"I can't believe this." Kitty managed to mumble before two more sets of feet where heard, Kurt and Rogue heading into the room and viewing this as well. The sight before him immediately appalled Kurt, while Rogue made no move or expression at all. Xavier sighed at this shock from the kids.
"These mutants don't understand what we do, kids. They don't realize that peace is the only way to show other people that we are not harmful. These people are doing nothing to help our cause."
"I think they're just being stupid." Rogue commented, leaning on a nearby table.
"They're uneducated, Rogue. That's all." Scott said immediately afterwards, as if he'd taken offense to what she's said. "They don't know any other way."
"Couldn't we stop them?" Kitty asked, turning to Xavier for an answer. The professor only shook his head sadly, turning back to the burning and killing.
"Unfortunately, there's nothing we could do at this point to change their minds. They are all too filled with rage to understand their wrongs." Kitty's head hung low, shaking it sadly. Kurt was in much the same state, and Scott only continued to watch the carnage after he and Rogue had exchanged dirty looks.
"Again, make sure to notify the authorities if you hear of anything that might deal with mutant attacks, and be wary of any mutants around you." Scott suddenly shot out of his seat, yelling in anger.
"Hey, now that's not fair!" He growled, Kitty pushing him down so she could see. Xavier shook his head again. They'd caught the side of Scott that not many people saw. As they continued to watch the minute-to-minute coverage, the announcer finally announced something different that attracted all of the kids' attention, glued to the television in disbelief.
"And now to the President and what he has to say about this problem." The show switched to the President at a podium, addressing hundreds of government officials and civilians in the house he was speaking at.
"These so-called 'forays' are not to be worried about. These mutants are no threat to our community, and will be stopped. This problem is 'non- existent' in the history of our race, and will continue to be ignored. There is absolutely nothing to fear, as a great man once said, but fear itself." Applause followed the end of the speech, and every person in the institute room was completely in awe over the official's statement. Immediately the newscaster switched back to 'latest coverage of the mutant attack'. For the first time in a long time, Scott was speechless.
"How can he say that this is 'non-existent'? People are dying right now!" Kurt almost exploded in rage, tipping a chair over from his quick moving. Kitty seemed none-to-fazed by his outburst, sitting completely still.
"But.like, why.?" Was all she could stammer, turning to Xavier. He shook his head, unable to answer Kitty's question. The President had always been so exuberant with the termination of mutants from the Earth, and now suddenly he said they didn't exist. They where not a threat. It was almost as if he'd changed overnight. The sky was turning dark in the horizon as the newscast finally finished, leaving the entire group with something new to think about. The group dispersed to their rooms for the night, Scott leaving them behind without a word. He closed his door behind him, laying uncomfortably on his bed and staring out the window. The expression on his face as he viewed the scenery was blank, empty of feelings, or thoughts. Sleep was all he could think to do, but sleep did he not. He sighed, turning over to stare at the clock for what seemed the tenth time that night, staring at the blinking numbers. 4:50a.m.
"Jean." He mumbled, staring out the window at the full moon. Was she all right? Where was she right then? He was angry that he could only think about her, when she already had a guy, and he was the last person that Scott liked. Jealousy was definitely not an issue, if he had issues at all. But for some odd reason, her face kept popping up in his mind, screaming in fear that kept him awake. What was happening in New York?
He practically jumped at the sound of his phone ringing, scrambling to pick it up. The currents on the other end where static, making the voice almost unrecognizable.
"Hello? Who is this? Jean?" He was shocked at her call, now worried from the tone of her voice. A few exchanged words and he hung up the phone, every light in the institution lighting up as he ran to Xavier's room with the news, her words hanging in his mind as he repeated everything she had told him.
A mutant foray had surfaced. New York was under siege.
---
Kirikou
[10/16/03 - 10/17/03]
---
[Prologue: Outbreak]
"Strange attacks have been thrown at the government by groups of mutants fighting for freedom against tyranny, they say. They've been on mad streaks of killing for almost a week now, killing over 200 innocent civilians and 3 senators. If any of you see any mutants starting a riot, please be sure to send a call to the authorities." The news reporter jived on as Charles Xavier glanced at the scenes from the street, shaking his head. Wouldn't mutants ever understand that there was no need for this violence?
"The last attack of mutants was staged in New York."
"Hey, that's where Jean is." Scott Summers walked by, bending backwards to poke his head through the room. Xavier motioned him in with a nod. The young man clad in ruby-quartz shades sat beside the professor, staring just as keenly at the attacks on the screen.
"Her class went down there for some trip."
"I'm well aware, Scott." He turned to him with a smile. "But I assure you that she's fine."
"That's good to know." He breathed a sigh of relief, staring out the window. It was in the middle of Christmas vacation at Bayville High and all of the students at Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters had finally gotten their long awaited break. The snow fell in intricate patterns outside the window, falling on what was already 5 inches of snow. The sun was low in the sky, with only a few clouds here and there, making for the perfect scene indeed. Jean had been out with one of the groups she was actively a part of, going to New York for something that Scott hadn't heard very well as she rattled it off. Personally, he didn't care where she was going, as long as she was safe. Just the way he felt about all of the other kids here.
"Like, hey Scott! Hi Professor!" A young voice flowed into the room, turning both figures to her with a large smile and invitation to sit as well.
"Hello, Kitty."
"Like, I couldn't help but notice the television. What's the problem?"
"Mutants are making attacks on the government and innocent civilians." Scott informed the brunette as she walked in, total concern across her face as she viewed the carnage as well. Burning buildings filled the television, people jumping out of windows, guns firing and mutants using their powers left and right to kill as many people as they could.
"I can't believe this." Kitty managed to mumble before two more sets of feet where heard, Kurt and Rogue heading into the room and viewing this as well. The sight before him immediately appalled Kurt, while Rogue made no move or expression at all. Xavier sighed at this shock from the kids.
"These mutants don't understand what we do, kids. They don't realize that peace is the only way to show other people that we are not harmful. These people are doing nothing to help our cause."
"I think they're just being stupid." Rogue commented, leaning on a nearby table.
"They're uneducated, Rogue. That's all." Scott said immediately afterwards, as if he'd taken offense to what she's said. "They don't know any other way."
"Couldn't we stop them?" Kitty asked, turning to Xavier for an answer. The professor only shook his head sadly, turning back to the burning and killing.
"Unfortunately, there's nothing we could do at this point to change their minds. They are all too filled with rage to understand their wrongs." Kitty's head hung low, shaking it sadly. Kurt was in much the same state, and Scott only continued to watch the carnage after he and Rogue had exchanged dirty looks.
"Again, make sure to notify the authorities if you hear of anything that might deal with mutant attacks, and be wary of any mutants around you." Scott suddenly shot out of his seat, yelling in anger.
"Hey, now that's not fair!" He growled, Kitty pushing him down so she could see. Xavier shook his head again. They'd caught the side of Scott that not many people saw. As they continued to watch the minute-to-minute coverage, the announcer finally announced something different that attracted all of the kids' attention, glued to the television in disbelief.
"And now to the President and what he has to say about this problem." The show switched to the President at a podium, addressing hundreds of government officials and civilians in the house he was speaking at.
"These so-called 'forays' are not to be worried about. These mutants are no threat to our community, and will be stopped. This problem is 'non- existent' in the history of our race, and will continue to be ignored. There is absolutely nothing to fear, as a great man once said, but fear itself." Applause followed the end of the speech, and every person in the institute room was completely in awe over the official's statement. Immediately the newscaster switched back to 'latest coverage of the mutant attack'. For the first time in a long time, Scott was speechless.
"How can he say that this is 'non-existent'? People are dying right now!" Kurt almost exploded in rage, tipping a chair over from his quick moving. Kitty seemed none-to-fazed by his outburst, sitting completely still.
"But.like, why.?" Was all she could stammer, turning to Xavier. He shook his head, unable to answer Kitty's question. The President had always been so exuberant with the termination of mutants from the Earth, and now suddenly he said they didn't exist. They where not a threat. It was almost as if he'd changed overnight. The sky was turning dark in the horizon as the newscast finally finished, leaving the entire group with something new to think about. The group dispersed to their rooms for the night, Scott leaving them behind without a word. He closed his door behind him, laying uncomfortably on his bed and staring out the window. The expression on his face as he viewed the scenery was blank, empty of feelings, or thoughts. Sleep was all he could think to do, but sleep did he not. He sighed, turning over to stare at the clock for what seemed the tenth time that night, staring at the blinking numbers. 4:50a.m.
"Jean." He mumbled, staring out the window at the full moon. Was she all right? Where was she right then? He was angry that he could only think about her, when she already had a guy, and he was the last person that Scott liked. Jealousy was definitely not an issue, if he had issues at all. But for some odd reason, her face kept popping up in his mind, screaming in fear that kept him awake. What was happening in New York?
He practically jumped at the sound of his phone ringing, scrambling to pick it up. The currents on the other end where static, making the voice almost unrecognizable.
"Hello? Who is this? Jean?" He was shocked at her call, now worried from the tone of her voice. A few exchanged words and he hung up the phone, every light in the institution lighting up as he ran to Xavier's room with the news, her words hanging in his mind as he repeated everything she had told him.
A mutant foray had surfaced. New York was under siege.