Ms. Cooper Goes to the Xavier Institute
"Who's already here?" Logan asked, not quite believing what he heard.
"Ms. Valerie Cooper," Xavier told him, realizing that this meeting was not going as well as he thought it would. "She's requested a tour of the Institute."
"And you want me to baby sit her?" Logan snarled.
"I would like you to assist me in showing her what a positive influence the Xavier Institute can be," Xavier reworded it.
"And why again didn't you just say no?" Logan snapped. "Or at the very least send someone else to do it? Storm! Beast! Jean! Hell even Thunderbird would be better than…No he wouldn't, but anybody else would!"
"She specifically requested to meet with you," Xavier told him. "Apparently she has read the Weapon X files SHIELD has."
"Oh and she wants to see if the resident psychopath is ready for a rubber room or something like that?" Logan asked.
"It's just that she has…concerns about your status," Xavier said. "Logan you were part of a project that not even the Pentagon was aware of. Believe it or not the thought of unauthorized mutant experimentation makes a lot of lawmakers nervous."
"You mean it's the 'unauthorized' part that's making them nervous," Logan scoffed.
"Logan, you know with Magneto building up his forces and Cobra's rumored of creating more mutant armies the pressure of us defeating the Mutant Registration Act grows every day," Xavier said.
"Yeah I heard from Hawk about that," Logan sighed. "So old Snake Face is back in the business of making mutant armies huh?"
"I'm afraid that's a very real possibility," Xavier told him. "The genetic experiments as well as the fusion of animal DNA to Cobra soldiers in the late 80's is still a sore subject in the government. Especially since a lot of it was done before the end of the Cold War."
"You can skip the history lesson Charles," Logan told him. "I lived it, remember?"
"Yes but how much of it do you remember?" Valerie Cooper walked in the room with Jean. "That's what I want to know."
"Valerie Cooper I presume," Logan looked at her.
"Yes," Valerie nodded. "Let me cut to the chase, Project Rebirth was not the only super solider program the US government was a part of. In the late seventies to the mid eighties the Soviet Union had a secret cadre that had decided to create an army of super soldiers and use them to attack the United States from within its own borders. Our government got a hold of this project and infiltrated it. The plan was to create the soldiers but use them against the Soviet Union. In other words to sabotage the project from within."
"But something went wrong," Logan surmised.
"Yes," Valerie nodded. "Long story short the army they created was too large for them to control."
"How large?" Logan asked.
"It was estimated that there were two hundred and fifty eight total," She said.
"Two…hundred and fifty eight?" Logan gasped. "Where the hell did they get so many?"
"A lot of them were either orphans or homeless people," Valerie told him. "Some were volunteers. Thirty of them were actually bred in the program."
"My god…" Jean gasped.
"Eventually the soldiers revolted against both sides," Valerie continued. "Neither us nor the Soviet Union was in control. It was a bloody battle with high casualties on all sides. Nearly every scientist and soldier involved with the project was killed. And those that weren't soon disappeared."
"I never heard about any of this," Xavier mused as he looked at the files.
"Of course not," Valerie told him. "You think the government would announce to the entire American population that several of our enemies and allies were making super soldiers right under their noses using taxpayer money?"
"Just how many of these mutated soldiers survived?" Jean asked.
"We estimate the number to be between fifty and one hundred and seven," Valerie told her. "That depends on how many of the ones we knew about actually died or just faked their own deaths. As it is we only know the whereabouts of 45 of them."
"Forty five?" Jean blinked. Professor do you think Cerebro has picked them up?
The newest version of Cerebro most definitely… Xavier frowned. He turned to Valerie. "Why exactly are you telling us this?"
"I've heard about your mutant finding machine," Valerie told him. "Cerebro is it? Don't bother asking me how, let's just say I have a few contacts. And no, it wasn't anyone in GI Joe. We'd like you to track them down for us."
"You mean do your dirty work by hunting down mutants?" Logan growled.
"Potentially dangerous mutants that are most likely killers," Valerie glared at him. "We know that several of them are working with Cobra, Hydra, A few foreign governments of which the United States is not exactly on friendly terms with…There are even a few that have worked their way into Organized Crime. Do I really need to continue?"
"I understand your concerns Ms. Cooper…" Xavier began. "However I'm not sure…"
"Xavier I am not requesting that you hunt down orphans and little lost children," Valerie told him sarcastically. "This list is made up of fully grown soldiers and killers. God only knows how many of these maniacs are still running around loose! Mutants already have enough bad publicity as it is. Do you really need any more?" She threw down a Spanish newspaper. "Yesterday a mutant destroyed a hotel in Madrid. The same one who terrorized Paris. It was rumored that the FOH was trying to recruit and set up a chapter there. They were all killed along with twenty other people."
Lucas… Jean's eyes widened.
"Legion," Xavier said eyeing the newspaper.
"So you do know him?" Valerie folded her arms.
"We've had run-ins with him before," Xavier sighed. "A very disturbed young man."
"Disturbed? So far this kid has killed at least a hundred and seven people with his antics! Disturbed is the understatement of the year!" Valerie snapped. "You can't seriously tell me you'd allow this sort of thing to continue!"
"No," Xavier said softly. "I can't."
"I'd like all the information you have on him including his whereabouts," Valerie told him. "We need to get him under control before he does any more damage."
"That might be difficult," Xavier sighed. "He's learned to shield himself from Cerebro. Most likely Magneto has helped him with that."
"How could Magneto know how to do that?" Valerie asked.
"He helped build the first version of Cerebro," Xavier confessed.
"Oh well that's good to know!" Valerie groaned. "In other words any mutant under Magneto's protection can't be detected by your machine."
"I'm afraid that sums it up," Xavier told her.
"Xavier I am looking for reasonable solutions to the mutant problem," Valerie told him. "Contrary to what the media might have you believe, the majority of people on Capitol Hill don't want to brand all mutants and shove them into concentration camps. For one thing it costs too much. We have enough problems getting funding for regular prisons. Unless we raise taxes over 100 percent it would be impossible to do so. And mutant menace or not people would rather live with an occasional explosion than pay more taxes."
"Oh well that makes me feel much better," Logan said sarcastically. "I mean if that's the reason…"
"Well that and the fact that it is just plain immoral," Valerie looked at him. "However some kind of system to track mutants might not be such a bad idea. Particularly the criminal element of the mutant population."
"I understand your position," Xavier nodded. "I'll see what I can do."
Professor you're not seriously….? Jean asked telepathically, trying not to betray her emotions.
Rest assured Jean, I am not going to hand over every mutant on that list. Xavier replied. However those that have committed crimes and are a danger do need to be taken care of.
In other words just give her a few obvious psychotics and let the rest slide huh? Logan was privy to the conversation thanks to Xavier establishing a psychic link. I hate to say it but I gotta agree with you.
Valerie mistook the silence to be an agreement. "Now that that's finished I 'd like to see your school. Hopefully it will be more impressive than the Misfits."
"You met the Misfits huh?" Logan scoffed. "That must have been interesting."
"It was…educational," Valerie said diplomatically. "However I must admit that having a mutant school teach children how to control their powers is quite impressive."
"Well then I'll let Logan show you around," Xavier nodded. Logan grunted something non-committal and walked out with Valerie. "Can you believe this?"
"I thought the experiments Magneto performed and Cobra's super soldier programs were bad enough but if what Ms. Cooper says is true…" Jean sighed. "No wonder there's such a jump in the mutant population!"
"Yes it appears that natural evolution has been given an unwilling kick in the pants so to speak," Xavier sighed. "All these secret experiments to build the perfect soldiers over the years has begun to snowball in ways no one has imagined."
"And with all these extra mutants running around some of them must have had kids by now," Jean though. "I mean odds are pretty slim that didn't happen!"
"Yes, increasing the mutant population even more," Xavier nodded. "And the potential for disaster. I hate to say it but perhaps we should look into the whereabouts of all the mutants on the list. Not just to see if they are a danger to the public, but…"
"They might have kids who have inherited the X-Gene," Jean finished his thought. "And they might need help controlling their powers as well."
"Before someone tries to control them," Xavier's eyes narrowed.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"This is a typical day here?" Valerie raised an eyebrow.
Several of the students were engaged in a food fight in the kitchen. Several of them were using their powers as well. "Well they are kids after all…" Logan winced as one of Tabitha's time bombs exploded amid a pile of fruit. They were splattered with it. "ALL RIGHT ALL OF YOU KNOCK IT OFF!"
"Oops," Tabitha blinked. "Let me guess, you're Ms. Cooper right?"
"Bingo," Ms. Cooper glared at her.
"Way to go kids…" Logan growled.
"Sorry Mr. Logan," Amara said. "We were just having a little fun."
"Your idea of fun is surprisingly similar to the Misfit's idea of fun," Valerie groaned as she wiped off some banana from her face.
"You met 'em huh?" Logan asked. "They are a bit hyper."
"Actually the Misfits are starting to look pretty good right about now," Valerie groaned. "At least they didn't splatter me with fruit."
"Uh, maybe we should show Ms. Cooper some of our training?" Sam thought quickly. "We just tried out the new indoor pool. It's pretty good."
"Good idea," Logan glared. He noticed that they were wearing their swimsuits. "Why don't we try a rescue drill for starters! Now!" Obediently the kids followed them downstairs.
"Oh man we are gonna get it big time," Roberto moaned.
"So much for making a good impression," Ray grunted. "Thanks a lot Tabitha!"
"How was I supposed to know she was gonna show up?" Tabitha hissed. "You guys weren't exactly models of restraints either!"
"Logan is so going to kill us," Sam moaned.
"You put in an indoor swimming pool?" Valerie asked Logan.
"Mostly for training," Logan explained. "We…had to do some renovations recently."
"I wonder why. What about your clone?" Valerie asked. "X23. How is her progress coming?"
"Her name is Rina," Logan growled as he opened the door to the pool room. "And she's…HOLY CRAP!"
In the middle of the pool Hank and Alison were kissing each other passionately. They startled as soon as they heard Logan shout. "Oh dear…" Hank gulped.
"Oh…my….God…" Valerie gasped.
"Way to go Mr. McCoy!" Ray whistled.
"ALL RIGHT EVERYBODY OUT OF HERE!" Logan roared, scattering the students. "NOTHING TO SEE! GO ON! GET!"
"I think they don't care about us anymore!" Sam gulped as they ran.
"Hey at least this lets us off the hook!" Tabitha agreed.
"Don't bet on it!" Logan shouted. "And you two…What are you doing?"
"I think it's pretty obvious what they were doing! A case of one of your instructors taking an interest in the students?" Valerie gave an icy glare at Logan.
"Look lady I'm as surprised as you are," Logan told her. "MCCOY! YOU GOT THREE SECONDS TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF BUB!"
"I think their actions are self explanatory," Valerie turned on her heel and walked off. "I think I must be going now."
"Wait a minute lady! Hank! Ohhhh!" Logan fumed as he followed Valerie.
"What's going on?" Jean asked as she walked up to them with Xavier and Scott. Then she saw Alison and Hank coming out of the pool area wearing towels. "Oh my…"
"This…" Alison gulped. "Is not what it looks like. Well it's not as bad as you think it is…"
"Please tell me you are wearing bathing suits underneath," Scott choked.
"Mostly…" Alison blushed.
"By the way Xavier in case you weren't reading my mind," Valerie looked at him. "This did not go well."
"I didn't have to read your mind to know that," Xavier sighed as she left. He gave a stern look at Hank and Alison. "Mr. McCoy, Miss Blaire…I think we need to have a talk in my office."
"Yeah but do us all a favor and put on some pants first!" Logan snapped.
"If he'd done that in the first place we wouldn't be in this mess!" Scott told him.