Jean Grey lay on her bed, blinking back tears. She could hear her parents and her sister mulling over what she had told them earlier that day. Not that they were talking about it – she could read their thoughts, knew what they were thinking. She'd believed she could trust them to understand when she told them about her special powers, to help her with the often unwelcome intrusions of other peoples minds. But they hadn't even believed her at first and when she'd proved what she could do, they looked at her as though she was some kind of freak.
Her father was sat in his chair in the living room, paying no attention to the TV news. She's some kind of weirdo or something. I can't even have my own thoughts in case she reads my mind!
Like I'd want to Dad.
Her mother was at the kitchen table, staring unseeingly at a magazine. What if she's contagious? What if she gives it to Sara?
You always did prefer Sara, didn't you Mom?
Her sister was sprawled on her bed in the room next door, headphones blaring some crappy boy band. She's a total freak! It's so embarrassing. I bet she only gets good grades because she reads the teachers minds. It's so unfair! I wish she'd just disappear!
Screw you too, sister dear. But you've just given me an idea…
Jean grabbed her holdall from the closet and began shoving clothes into it, grabbing handfuls at random, not bothering to pick and choose. Once packed, she took her money box and emptied her savings – almost $400 she'd been saving up for Christmas – into her purse and pulled on a jacket.
Her parents thought she was a freak, an embarressment? Fine. She'd solve all of their problems.
She debated taking the family photo from the nightstand, decided against it and left through the window.
Sat in the bus station, Jean felt alone and afraid. The bus she wanted wasn't due for almost an hour and she intended to be on it, heading away to her home town forever. She hadn't thought much about what she'd do after that. Every time she tried to think of some plan, she'd get a flash of another strangers mind and get panicky again. The worst one had been from a stumbling drunk, who'd looked over at her and had some graphically perverted thoughts. Wearily, she wondered if she'd ever be able to block them out. They were driving her crazy.
A woman caught her eye as she watched the few people in the station. The newcomer was tall and imposing, jet-black hair, a skirt and jacket suit. She didn't strike Jean as the type of person who'd need a bus at this time of night. The woman glanced around, saw Jean and began walking towards her. Jean looked at the floor, slumped further down on the hard bench and willed her to go away. At one time she had been a friendly, outgoing girl, but all the weird shit going through her head these days had changed all that.
"Jean Grey?"
Looking up at the woman, Jean stammered, "Yeah, but how do you know? I've never seen you before."
The woman smiled and sat on the bench beside her. Jean suddenly realised that she couldn't hear the womans thoughts. It had been a long time since that had happened.
"I came here to find you Jean. My name is Raven Darkholme and you and I have a lot in common."
"I – I don't understand."
Raven turned further around to face Jean properly. "You have special powers. You can read peoples minds, move objects without touching them."
"How did you – I only told my parents today – "
"There are ways of finding people like us," Raven told her. "I came a long way to speak to you."
"Wait a minute – people like US?" Jean looked at her hopefully. "Can you read minds too?"
Raven shook her head. "I have powers too, but not that. I'm a metamorph. I can look like any person, even turn into some animals and birds." To prove the point, she had a quick look around to make sure that no one was watching them – then her facial features suddenly changed, although her hair and clothes remained the same. Jean found herself looking into her own face.
"Wow!"
Ravens face changed back. "Do you want to get a cup of coffee? I have a proposition for you."
"Alright," agreed Jean and followed Raven to a nearby coff bar where they got cappuccinos and sat at a corner table.
"The thing is this, Jean," began Raven, adding sugar to her drink. "I'm part of an organisation of people like us, people with certain – abilities. We've remained a secret until now, but not for much longer. When we are exposed, we will be treated as mutants, freaks. Do you understand that?"
Thinking of her parents reactions, Jean nodded miserably.
"But we aren't freaks. We are Homo Superior, the next step in human evolution. The 'normal' humans are hstory. They just don't realise it yet."
Feeling chilled by this, Jean gazed into her coffee. "I don't know Ms Darkholme. I don't like having these powers!"
"No one does, at first. But we can help you learn to control your powers and use them to your advantage. You would be a valuble asset to our little cause."
"What exactly does your organisation do?"
"We have only recently formed, we're still quite small. We are dedicated to finding others like us and helping them learn to use their powers. But when we are discovered, as eventually we must be, the 'normal' humans will fear us, persecute us, maybe imprison us or force us to use our special powers for their own gain. We may even be killed. Our organisation is determined that this will not happen and we are trying to gather our resources together to prevent it. Should you choose to join us, you'll stay in a house in Bayville, go to the local school and learn to control your abilities. Then you'll be in control Jean, for the first time in your life you'll be the one with the power."
Jean sipped her coffee, thinking it over. Living in a house with people like her was more appealing than struggling o the streets and she had no illusions about how far her money would stretch. But the best part would be gaining control over her abilities. She hated picking up random thoughts from total strangers, sometimes she felt as if she was going insane. And if Raven was right and she got control of her powers, she would never have to study ever again. She could just lift the answers out of the teachers head. Maybe even more. Maybe if she could hear thoughts, she would be able to alter them. Then she could make the normal humans accept them.
Looking Raven in the eye, she said, "Count me in."
Raven nodded, obviously pleased. "Finish your drink and I'll take you to the airport. I have a private plane waiting to take us to Bayville. You won't regret this Jean."
Jean smiled at her. "I know."
Professor Xavier wheeled himself back into the Institute, frowning, and headed for the Cerebro Room. Ororo Munroe heard him return and went out to greet him. "I take it you were unable to recruit Jean Grey."
The Professor shook his head. "She's run away from home. I think the parents were relieved."
Ororo shook her head sadly. "I hope she's alright."
"So do I. That's why I'm going to use Cerebro to find her."
The Professor entered the Cerebro room and put on the headset. He pressed a few buttons, looking confused. "That's odd."
"What is it, Charles?"
"According to Cerebro, Jean is using her powers right now. And she's here in Bayville."
"But that means…"
The Professor nodded grimly. "Mystique or Magneto must have located her first – and she's joined them."