Rebirth and Awakenings
Chapter 10
Scott told Ororo and Warren an abbreviated version of what had happened during the attempted retrieval when they got back the next day, minus his emotional confession to Jean. Even they hadn't discussed it since. It was a secret held between them.
Ororo and Warren were stunned by what had happened in their absence.
"There's something I've been thinking about, though," Scott said at the end. "The Professor had to call on a mutant in law enforcement for help, but how many of those are there?"
"Your point is?" Warren asked.
Scott hesitated, trying to put his thoughts into words. "There are a lot more mutants out there then we thought. Not all of them were lucky enough to wind up here or someplace like it. Some of them use their gifts -- to hurt people. Only another mutant could stop them."
"You think we should all become cops?" Warren snorted.
"Nooo," Scott said slowly. "But I think -- we need to be ready to help. To step in, if needed. The world doesn't know about us yet. I'd like it to stay that way for as long as possible."
Ororo pondered what Scott said. Unlike Warren, she didn't dismiss the idea out of hand. "How would we do that?" she asked, intrigued.
"I don't know," Scott replied. "But, somehow, we need to become a, a, a *strikeforce*. Or something like that."
Warren laughed. "A mutant SWAT team? Us? Slim, look at us -- we're teenagers."
"Which is why we should start now," Scott stated. "I don't think we're going to have a lot of time to get ready."
* * *
Scott's conversation with Warren and Ororo began to bear fruit immediately. While Warren initially scoffed, Scott noticed Warren highlighted the fencing classes on his course schedule at Yale. And Ororo signed up for lessons at the same martial arts school Scott attended. She chose a style that was more defensive in nature, but still, she was giving it a shot.
As for the others, Hank was bemused by the idea, but supported the general theory, and Jean seemed completely taken aback. The need of physical training when they had the powers they had didn't make much sense to her and she said so. But old habits died hard; Jean was so accustomed to taking part in their activities that she often joined Scott and Ororo whenever they practiced together. Occasionally, Warren would be there. They found to their surprise that they all worked together rather well.
Scott articulated his thoughts on their training together for the future to Professor Xavier one evening when they played chess. The Professor looked thoughtful. Of course, the idea had been in his mind for quite some time. But the Professor never dreamed that his students would come to the same conclusion on their own.
"I have to admit," Professor Xavier said. "The idea crossed my mind as well. You're quite right, Scott; there are many mutants out there who do not share my respect for humanity. And they are also quite powerful. But are you sure you want to do this?"
Scott looked at him steadily. "Yes," he said. "I do."
* * *
Peace returned to the Xavier Institute for the rest of the summer and the fall. There were no more retrievals. Scott wasn't sure if Xavier wasn't finding any new mutants, or just wasn't looking.
School began again and Scott found himself missing Ororo greatly. He was used to eating lunch with her, and while he had friends to eat with and talk to, it wasn't he same.
He sat for the SAT exam at the end of October. And back at the Institute, everyone seemed to have an opinion of where Scott should have his test scores sent, with everyone favoring their own alma mater. But Scott went white at the mention of Columbia and green at the thought of Yale. One was too big and the other made him too nervous. He wasn't sure he wanted to follow Ororo to WestConn either. Professor Xavier realized that a smaller school might be more to Scott's liking and sent off for catalogs and brochures from some area colleges. Scott looked at all of them, but found himself drawn to a nearby liberal arts college, Manhattanville College. Warren scoffed and called it a "girlie school" (it had started as a woman's college), but Hank had been supportive, as had Jean and Ororo. So, Scott added Manhattanville to the group of schools to which his SAT scores would be sent.
Professor Xavier confirmed that Scott would not have to worry about his tuition and fees. Scott wasn't nearly as comfortable about it as the others seemed to be. He owed the Professor so much at this point -- the idea of repayment was ludicrous. How do you repay someone for rescuing you from hell and giving you back a decent life?
Early in December, the Professor reported finding another mutant he wanted brought in. This time, things were much different. Scott and Ororo went together and scoped out the situation before making contact. In this case, the boy (whose name was Daniel Evans) was an ordinary mutant runaway and the poor kid was relieved to be found. Getting him back to Westchester was a breeze.
* * *
Christmas and New Years came and went with all the joy and trimmings of the previous year. Young Daniel Evans was just as overwhelmed by it all as Scott had been the previous Christmas.
Unfortunately, Jean had not had a particularly good visit with her family and showed up at the Institute at 6:15 p.m. and in a fair temper. Scott hadn't gotten any details out of Jean when he spoke to her about her sudden arrival, but he had gotten her to laugh and considerably lessened the temperature around her.
* * *
In late January, Scott sat in the library, eyeing the thick envelope in his hands. It held his SAT results; he hadn't opened it.
Professor Xavier entered the room. He knew what had arrived in the mail for Scott. He also knew Scott hadn't opened the letter yet.
"Would you like me to open it?" he offered gently.
Scott handed him the envelope gratefully. The Professor sliced the envelope open with his letter opener and quickly read the contents.
Scott looked at him, biting his lip. "Well?" he asked nervously.
Professor Xavier smiled and handed the results back to Scott. "They're good, Scott," he told the boy. "Very good."
Scott peered over the Professor's shoulder. His score was 1350; 700 in math, 650 in verbal. Not bad at all.
Scott grinned broadly. "Looks like I'm going to need your scholarship after all."
* * *
Scott had assumed that they would always have to go and get the students to bring them in. He never dreamed the day would come when a mutant would just arrive. But their next student showed up on their doorstep, literally.
Scott opened the door that Saturday morning to find a couple with a young girl. She looked to be about fourteen.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"This is the Xavier Institute?" the man asked. "I'm Howard Dane, this is my wife and our ward, Lorna. We think she belongs here."
Scott heard the Professor enter the hall and was grateful to be let off the hook. "Um, Professor," he said slowly. "These are the Danes. They think Lorna belongs here." He backed away to let Professor Xavier handle it.
The Professor was surprised, but not unwelcoming. "Please come in," he said politely and led the way to his study. Intrigued, Scott followed and settled himself unobtrusively by the door.
After they were all seated, the Professor asked, "What do you know of the Institute?"
"It was the high school guidance counselor who suggested we come and see you," Mr. Dane explained.
"Your high school counselor?" the Professor asked in bewilderment.
"No, yours -- here in Salem. Anna McRae is a cousin of mine. She seemed to know that you take children who are -- a little different."
"And Lorna ...?" Professor Xavier inquired.
Mrs. Dane nodded to the young girl. "Go ahead, Lorna. Show him what you can do."
Lorna held out her hand and the paper clips came flying out of their holder on the desk to her. From his vantage point, Scott didn't think it looked like telekinesis; he was used to that from Jean. This seemed like something else.
"Magnetic power," the Professor murmured. "You're quite right, Mr. Dane. I think Lorna does belong here."
"Good," Mr. Dane said, relieved. "My wife and I discussed ..."
"NO!" Mrs. Dane suddenly exploded. "We didn't discuss it! You decided it!"
Scott decided it was time to step in. "Why don't I show Lorna around?" he offered. He could sense what was coming. If there was going to be a fight, the kid needed to be away from it.
Professor Xavier looked at Scott with gratitude and nodded his consent. A great deal would have to be discussed, and it would be best if it were *not* in front of the child.
* * *
Scott showed Lorna around the downstairs rooms and took her out into the garden. She stared at the fountain for a few minutes.
"Do you like it here?" Lorna blurted out.
"Yes, I do," Scott affirmed. "The Professor is great. The high school isn't far away and it's also pretty small. You won't get lost in the cracks. The students there are pretty nice, too."
"How many other kids are here?"
"Well, Daniel Evans just got here a few months ago; he's a year older than you. I'm graduating this year, and there's Ororo -- she's in college, but she lives here and commutes. Then there are some, well, alumni, I guess, that come back pretty regularly. You won't be alone."
"That's not a lot of people," Lorna said dubiously.
"No," Scott agreed. "But they're all nice."
"I think you're nice," Lorna stated.
"Thank you."
"Can I tell you a secret?"
"Okay."
Lorna glanced up at him. "My hair is really green," she confided. "We dye it brown."
Scott laughed. "Green or brown, it's pretty much the same color to me. I'll tell you a secret. I have to wear these glasses to keep from blasting everything. Everything I see has a coating of red on it, so green is a really funny brown color to me."
Lorna smiled shyly. "Then it's okay?"
"Lorna," Scott said as he put his arm around her and led her back to the house. "There is nothing you could do here that isn't okay. This is where people like us belong."
* * *