"My fellow Americans," President McKenna began, addressing the people watching on billions of televisions not only across the country, but also around the world. "In this time of adversity we are being offered a moment. A moment to recognize a growing threat within our own population and take a unique role in the shape of human events." Suddenly everyone in the oval office froze. The TV monitors and teleprompt died. The wind blew hard outside. Thunder and lightening crashed.
"Did we just lose the feed? Are we still live?" the President asked. No one answered him. The lights dimmed, filling the room with dark shadows. The president, who was the only one still able to move, turned to look outside. He seemed a bit confused but the sudden change of weather and events. When he turned back around he was surprised to find seven strangers standing there amongst the television crew. A flash of lightening reviled our faces. We were the X-Men. (And me of course.) Storm's opaque eyes showed that she was the one in charge of the thunderstorm.
"Good morning, Mr President," Charles said politely.
An almost invisible Nightcrawler sat balanced on the fireplace mantle. I stood beside the fireplace to his left. I admired how comfortable and almost casual Kurt looked up there. He gave the President a little wave. All this really seemed to do was frighten him as he recognized the mutant who had attacked him only a few days ago.
The President rose to his feet, his fearful eyes on Kurt. I had to suppress a giggle. I wrapped my hand around Kurt's tail tip. He gave my hand a little squeeze as his bright chrome yellow eyes watched the President.
"Please, don't be alarmed," the Professor said. "We're not going to harm anyone." Some of the X-Men took a step towards the President.
"Who are you people?" he demanded.
"We're mutants," the Professor replied. "My name is Charles Xavier. Please, sit down."
"I'd rather stand," McKenna said.
"Rogue," The Professor called the girl forward. She placed a blue folder on the President's desk. "These files were taken from the private offices of William Stryker," Charles explained. The President looked up from his examination of the files at Stryker's name. He eyed Xavier for a moment before returning his attention to the documents. His eyes narrowed as he flipped through them. I'm not one hundred percent sure what exactly those files said, but I do know that they changed the President's views on Stryker and mutants.
"How did you get this?" he asked.
"Well, let's just say I know a little girl who can walk through walls," the Professor said, referring to Kitty. Both Kurt and I grinned, although Kurt's smile was a bit briefer then mine. He raised his golden eyes towards the President again, who continued to scan the files. He sat back down in his chair, thinking all these new facts over.
"I've never seen this information," he said.
"I know," the Professor replied.
"And you also know I don't respond well to threats."
"Mr President, this is not a threat. This is an opportunity," Xavier explained. "There are forces in this world, both mutant and human alike who believe that a war is coming." There was a brief pause as those words sunk in. More lightening flashed. "You will see from those files that some have already tired to start one," the Professor continued. "And there have been casualties, losses on both sides."
I could see Cyclops visibly gulp down his grief for Jean. Wolverine noticed it too.
"Mr President," Charles wheeled closer to the desk. "What you were about to tell the world is true. This is a moment. A moment to repeat the mistakes of the past, or to work together for a better future. We're here to stay, Mr President. The next move is yours."
"We'll be watching," Logan concluded. This was accented by more lightening from Strom. The lightening illuminated everyone's faces one last time. Kurt gave the President a small, knowing smile. Bobby and Rogue looked proud in their new, black leather X-Men uniforms. I realized that now, they could be officially called X-Men. They had passed their test, although their stories were only still just beginning. I also realized that Logan was probably going to stick around now and make the X-Men his new home. He was content with his past, now he just needed to work on his future.
Just then, the lightening stopped and everything went black again. The X- Men and I disappeared from the office. When the lights came back up, no one except for the President was any the wiser about that little meeting that changed everything for the future between humans and mutants. All we could hope now was that the President would do the right thing with his new knowledge.
"Did we just lose the feed? Are we still live?" the President asked. No one answered him. The lights dimmed, filling the room with dark shadows. The president, who was the only one still able to move, turned to look outside. He seemed a bit confused but the sudden change of weather and events. When he turned back around he was surprised to find seven strangers standing there amongst the television crew. A flash of lightening reviled our faces. We were the X-Men. (And me of course.) Storm's opaque eyes showed that she was the one in charge of the thunderstorm.
"Good morning, Mr President," Charles said politely.
An almost invisible Nightcrawler sat balanced on the fireplace mantle. I stood beside the fireplace to his left. I admired how comfortable and almost casual Kurt looked up there. He gave the President a little wave. All this really seemed to do was frighten him as he recognized the mutant who had attacked him only a few days ago.
The President rose to his feet, his fearful eyes on Kurt. I had to suppress a giggle. I wrapped my hand around Kurt's tail tip. He gave my hand a little squeeze as his bright chrome yellow eyes watched the President.
"Please, don't be alarmed," the Professor said. "We're not going to harm anyone." Some of the X-Men took a step towards the President.
"Who are you people?" he demanded.
"We're mutants," the Professor replied. "My name is Charles Xavier. Please, sit down."
"I'd rather stand," McKenna said.
"Rogue," The Professor called the girl forward. She placed a blue folder on the President's desk. "These files were taken from the private offices of William Stryker," Charles explained. The President looked up from his examination of the files at Stryker's name. He eyed Xavier for a moment before returning his attention to the documents. His eyes narrowed as he flipped through them. I'm not one hundred percent sure what exactly those files said, but I do know that they changed the President's views on Stryker and mutants.
"How did you get this?" he asked.
"Well, let's just say I know a little girl who can walk through walls," the Professor said, referring to Kitty. Both Kurt and I grinned, although Kurt's smile was a bit briefer then mine. He raised his golden eyes towards the President again, who continued to scan the files. He sat back down in his chair, thinking all these new facts over.
"I've never seen this information," he said.
"I know," the Professor replied.
"And you also know I don't respond well to threats."
"Mr President, this is not a threat. This is an opportunity," Xavier explained. "There are forces in this world, both mutant and human alike who believe that a war is coming." There was a brief pause as those words sunk in. More lightening flashed. "You will see from those files that some have already tired to start one," the Professor continued. "And there have been casualties, losses on both sides."
I could see Cyclops visibly gulp down his grief for Jean. Wolverine noticed it too.
"Mr President," Charles wheeled closer to the desk. "What you were about to tell the world is true. This is a moment. A moment to repeat the mistakes of the past, or to work together for a better future. We're here to stay, Mr President. The next move is yours."
"We'll be watching," Logan concluded. This was accented by more lightening from Strom. The lightening illuminated everyone's faces one last time. Kurt gave the President a small, knowing smile. Bobby and Rogue looked proud in their new, black leather X-Men uniforms. I realized that now, they could be officially called X-Men. They had passed their test, although their stories were only still just beginning. I also realized that Logan was probably going to stick around now and make the X-Men his new home. He was content with his past, now he just needed to work on his future.
Just then, the lightening stopped and everything went black again. The X- Men and I disappeared from the office. When the lights came back up, no one except for the President was any the wiser about that little meeting that changed everything for the future between humans and mutants. All we could hope now was that the President would do the right thing with his new knowledge.