Some Not So Friendly Warnings
Fisk was sitting at his desk in his office when his secretary buzzed in Charles Xavier. "Ah Mr. Xavier, how good of you to come. I was hoping to talk some more with you."
"You won't after you hear what I have to say," Xavier told him. "Turbo Jet and Talon along with your other hired hands have been captured. And the parchment is safely back at the museum where it belongs."
"Well I'm glad to hear that those criminals have been brought to justice but I don't know what that has to do with me. I am a legitimate businessman who represents…"
"Mr. Fisk I am well aware exactly what you represent," Xavier interrupted him. "And I am warning you now that if you plan to involve any of my students, friends or any other mutants in your future criminal schemes or activities Spider Man will be the least of your problems."
"Oh really?" Fisk looked amused. "Did these individuals you apprehend say anything about me?"
"You know very well they didn't," Xavier frowned.
"Well then you don't have any real proof that I was involved in this do you? Too bad you can't read my mind," The Kingpin pointed at a spot on his head. "These little gadgets Cobra created to block telepathic thoughts are a marvel aren't they? I mean you can barely see them with a little makeup. It was a gift by the way from a friend who was interested in it for purely scientific reasons."
"Even so…" Xavier told him in a warning tone. "Do not get involved with either the X-Men or the Misfits if you can help it in the future. It might lead to…complications. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal," Fisk glared at him. "But let me warn you. It might be beneficial for you and your students if you gave my associates and me a wide berth. I mean mutants have enough publicity problems as it is. You don't really want to get involved in a war you probably won't win. A war that would be pointless and easily avoided."
"Besides," Fisk walked around the desk. "You aren't exactly the only mutants in town now are you? You've met Miss Frost. I'd consider her offer. She is a very generous and reasonable woman, when she can afford to be."
"Really?" Xavier raised his eyebrow.
"Well it's not like you already haven't figured it out," Fisk said. "I mean after reading Turbo's mind which I assume you have you would know who the buyer for the artifact was. Oh…I see that you didn't. Very admirable of you Professor. I admire a man with restraint. I must admit if I had your talents I wouldn't be so…hesitant. However I've learned to read people at an early age. You don't need telepathy to learn what motivates a man."
"And what motivates you Fisk?" Xavier asked. "Or do I really want to know?"
"Surprisingly enough it's something I have in common with your people," Fisk took out a canter of brandy and started to pour himself a glass. "Evolution. In my case the desire to become something from something else. A transformation from what I was, into the man I am today. Unlike you I wasn't born with gifts or talents or money. I earned them. I earned every single power and ounce of control with sweat, and work and planning and sacrifices. Everything I am and have I created from myself. And that is why I will fight tooth and nail to protect what I have at any cost."
"And so will I," Xavier looked at him.
"Really? I wonder," Fisk smirked. "True mutants may be the new species on the block, smarter and faster and stronger and definitely a force to be reckoned with. And I agree that we mere Homo Sapiens are plodding along at a slower pace. But we've been around for nearly a millennia. We know the score and how things work. We have learned how to fight off predators and to outwit, outlast and outlive the competition and we are not going to simply lie back and allow ourselves to become extinct without a fight. Now personally I'm all for change. I have no problems with some new and improved genes. They can come in handy, but they're not everything. What was it that Carl Sagan said? Oh yes, evolution doesn't necessarily mean progress."
Fisk leaned in closer. "Be very careful Professor. You're new to the jungle and you're already challenging the big cats for the top of the food chain. And in the food chain you're either the predator…or the prey. Take my advice Xavier; be very careful not to get into a fight unless you know you can win. Otherwise…." He grinned. "I believe you can let yourself out."
"You do have one point Mr. Fisk," Xavier said. "We are new to this world. What we represent is change. Hopefully for the better."
"Now you sound like one of those dreadful advertisers for a new soda," Fisk yawned. "We're new and improved…change the future…blah, blah, blah. Same old song and dance which always leads to the same conclusion. Nothing changes. Oh the presentation might be different, but really below the surface the substance never does. Trust me. I know."
"Really?" Xavier raised an eyebrow. "I think I will leave now. Oh by the way, you might want to cancel that appointment with Extensive Enterprises. You know whom Xamot and Tomax are really working for. Since Cobra's involved I might have to mention this to GI Joe, and you know what sticklers they are about Cobra. Even more annoying than Spider Man."
"How…" Fisk looked at him.
"I may not be able to read your mind but I can read your secretary's," Xavier told him.
"Get out," Fisk snarled.
"We may be new to the jungle Fisk, but we're learning fast," Xavier warned him before he left.
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Meanwhile in another part of town two men had been meeting for quite a while.
"It's good to talk to you Mr. Jamenson," Senator Kelly grinned. "I mean I need to get my message across to the people."
"Well I've been listening to you talk for about an hour and I think I have gotten the message," Jamenson smirked.
"Yes, mutants are a threat to our existence," Kelly said. "They need to be controlled and registered. The people need to be aware of the fact that if we allow those things to run around loose and breed we're all in serious danger."
"Oh I can see the danger. And I think I know just what the headline to this article is going to be, 'Senator Kelly, Biggest Windbag Ever!"
"WHAT?" Kelly shouted.
"Kelly I have heard some really stupid, bigoted crap in my life," Jamenson chomped on his cigar. "But you top the cake. There's nothing I despise more than a bigot, and I ain't talking about the Archie Bunker type."
"Mr. Jamenson I know what I'm talking about!" Kelly shouted.
"Yeah and you'd know that over 85% of 'em are just kids!" Jamenson snapped. "I do a little reading myself every now and then."
"But they're dangerous!"
"So is any idiot behind the wheel of a car," Jamenson pointed out. "And you don't even have to be drunk to kill people or ruin lives. Hell do you have any idea how many accidents cell phones have created?"
"This state's banned driving with cell phones."
"Yeah but not people! Look Senator," Jamenson glared at him. "I don't really have a problem with freaks…in general."
"So what about that Spider Man you're always bashing?" Kelly snapped. "What if he's a mutant?"
"So what if he is?" Jamenson got in Kelly's face. "For all I know he could be a Martian or something. But if he is a mutant that's no reason to bash all of them for one lunatic's misguided actions!"
"Oh yeah well that lunatic Spider Man trashed the museum with those mutants from the Xavier institute!"
"Wrong! I check my facts. The mutants were stopping several hired thugs in super powered costumes from stealing and destroying it. Spider Man may have been there as well to rob it but he got away. But the mutants were there to help, not destroy."
"So it's okay to blast one freak but it's not to trash the lot of them?" Kelly shouted. "That's the most irrational thing I have ever heard! You're insane!"
"I may be a lot of things," Jamenson snapped. "But one thing I am not is a bigot! While you were whiling your days away at some fancy prep school I was working on civil right campaigns. So if you think for one minute I am gonna allow some snot nosed moron in a bad suit and an even worse combover to dictate what I can or can't publish about mutants you've got another think coming! Now get out of my office through that door before I toss you out the window!"
"You'll be sorry you ever crossed swords with me Jamenson!" Kelly stormed out.
"Bring it on!" Jamenson shouted. "I welcome a challenge! This is gonna be even more fun than the day I kicked Newt Gingrich on his ass! And we all know what happened to him!"
Jamenson clapped his hands together. "I love it when I annoy a politician! He's going to be almost as much fun as trashing Spider Man. Almost. Spider Man's not that easy a target."