The Kindness of Mutants

"This way," Postman helped Mrs. Leech down the ladder. "We're almost there."

"Where are we?" Mrs. Leech asked. "It looks like it's some kind of underground complex. I mean, I know we're in the sewers but judging by these lights here…"

"Quiet," The serpent like mutant said. "We're not there yet." He was carrying Dorian.

"Your assessment is correct," Postman said. "This used to be a renegade military complex. "Solitaire here found it by accident."

"Not exactly…" Solitaire, the serpentine mutant grumbled. "But close enough." He pressed his hand against the wall and a door opened. "This way."

Mrs. Leech found herself in darkness for a moment, going down some stairs. Then she found a bright light. She blinked to adjust her vision and found herself in a room filled with several mutants.

"Found some more huh?" A huge mutant that looked like a green Alien reject spoke.

"You could say that," Solitaire said. "Litterbug, where's Patch?"

"Right here, right here…" An orange cat like mutant with four arms and navy blue patched up clothes made his way to them. "Give him to me…"

"Patch is our healer," Postman explained to Mrs. Leech.

"Don't worry the boy is in the best of hands, er paws actually…" Patch said as he held the boy. "He seems to be all right. Looks like just a nasty bruise. Ah that's my lot in life, to patch up mutants."

"Only this one ain't a mutant," A large black teen wearing gray sweats that looked nearly transparent glared at Mrs. Leech. "She's a human!"

"She's the boy's mother Cell," Solitaire said. "Considering those brown shirts were gonna wipe her out too it seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Well it's a bad idea if you ask me," Cell snapped.

"Nobody did," Patch snapped. "Now please…"

Dorian woke up. "What…AGGHHH!" He was momentarily startled. The lights in the place dimmed.

"My healing powers!" Patch gasped. "What did…"

"Dorian! Calm down!" Mrs. Leech ran to her son's aid. "Its okay honey. These…people aren't going to hurt us." The lights returned to normal.

"Is there anything about your kid we oughta know?" Litterbug folded his massive arms.

"Dorian…Can shut things down," Mrs. Leech tried to explain it. "Electricity and mutant powers."

"Oh well isn't that a fun gift," Cell grunted. "Like we don't have enough power problems around here!"

"Cool it Cell," Postman snapped. "Personally I wouldn't mind a power shortage every now and then."

"I'm sorry," Dorian rubbed his eyes and hugged his mother. "I didn't mean it."

"It's all right Dorian," Mrs. Leech said. "Who are you people?"

"We call ourselves the Morlocks," Patch explained. "You know from HG Wells' immortal classic the Time Machine."

"Morlocks? But I thought they lived in Bayville," Mrs. Leech began.

"There's a lot of Morlocks out there," Postman said. "We just happen to be the Chicago chapter."

"And I left Bayville to get away from mutants," Mrs. Leech sighed. "Not that I meant you personally it's just…"

"Lady we heard what went down in Bayville," A black haired normal looking teen girl said. "With all the riots and other crazy stuff, anyone with half a brain would check out."

"I just wanted to keep my son safe," Mrs. Leech said. "The people at SHEILD said he would be safe if I left and…"

"SHEILD?" Litterbug turned. "You mean that super spy agency? Well now we know where those brown shirts knew about the kid!"

"But why? Why are they doing this?" Mrs. Leech asked.

"Your son has great powers and they will probably use them to hunt mutants," Solitaire said.

"Since when do humans need a reason to hunt mutants?" A white haired young woman in black leaning against a wall said.

"Electric Eve is right. Past few days these soldiers in brown shirts have been hunting for mutants all over the city," Postman said. "Fortunately most of us got away or have been hiding from 'em pretty successfully."

"And they probably got big plans for a kid who can shut off mutant powers like a light switch," Solitaire said.

"But what do we do?" Mrs. Leech asked. "Where can we go?"

"Well you can't go back up world," Eve told her. "That's for sure."

"What about the Institute Mom?" Dorian asked. "You know back in Bayville?"

"You mean the X-Men?" Litterbug asked. "Don't those guys get attacked like every other week?"

"Which is why I left Bayville!" Mrs. Leech said.

"So, leave the kid here," Litterbug said. "He'll be fine."

"I won't leave my son!" Mrs. Leech snapped.

"Nobody's gonna make you," Postman said. "She's just gonna have to stay here too."

"A human? Here?" Cell snapped. "She'll be useless!"

"Look who's talking," Eve glared at him. "But we keep you around anyway."

"The brown shirts would kill her or use her to get the kid," Postman said. "And I won't wipe her mind clean, so don't even ask!"

"It's gonna be okay," Eve told her. "It's not that bad here. Heck at least in this place there are actual beds and toilets."

"It's not like you have much of a choice," Solitaire looked at her.

"No I don't," Mrs. Leech sighed.

"You're actually letting that human stay here?" Cell snapped.

"She's standing by her kid!" Eve snapped. "Which is more than my folks have ever done for me! I say she stays!"

"It would be cruel to separate the boy from his mother," Patch said. "And we could use another person who looks human to go above ground to get supplies."

"Yeah but we'd better let things cool off first," Postman said. "Eve, Patch you two show them some sleeping quarters."

"T-thank you," Mrs. Leech stammered. They went off with Patch and Eve. "You really live down here?"

"Pretty much," Eve said. "But like I said this is a lot more than some Morlocks in others cities have."

"I understand this is a drastic change from the lifestyle you're accustomed to," Patch said. "And you are experiencing a bit of cultural shock being around so many mutants. But we are a quite jovial lot, well if you don't count the Happy Bunch over here."

"They hate humans don't they?" Mrs. Leech asked.

"Well hate is rather a strong word," Patch scratched his chin. "But you have to look at things from their point of view. I mean we are being hunted and persecuted after all. It's kind of difficult to maintain pleasant relations with people who would rather shoot you than allow you to live in their neighborhoods."

"You're right," Mrs. Leech said. "People can be such monsters. Oh!"

A pink boy that looked to be Dorian's age ran into them. He had big blue eyes and had a wool cap on his head. He was wearing a large blue sweater and a pair of jeans and sneakers. "Artie! Watch where you're running! We have guests here!"

Artie blinked and backed away. "This is uh…"

"Grace Leech," Mrs. Leech said. "And my son Dorian."

"Hi there!" Dorian went up to the boy. "You're a mutant too right?"

"Artie can't speak my boy," Patch began. Suddenly an image of a happy face appeared over Artie's head. "Well not in the traditional sense anyway."

"Cool!" Dorian said. "All I do is shut down powers and electricity."

"Artie, why don't you show Dorian around?" Patch asked. Artie nodded and both boys ran off. "Don't worry. He's a good boy. They'll stay close by. Artie's sleeping quarters are close to yours anyway."

"Yeah it'll be nice for the kid to have someone to play with for a change," Eve said.

"He doesn't have any parents?" Mrs. Leech asked.

"His mother died a long time ago," Eve said. "And his old man wasn't exactly 'Father of the Year'. He did experiments on his own kid."

"That's horrible," Mrs. Leech was shocked.

"You'd be surprised how many of us have similar stories," Patch said as he came to a series of small rooms. "Ah here we are. It's not exactly the Plaza but it does have its charms."

It was a small space with a double bunk bed, a sink and a table. "Oh my…" Mrs. Leech blinked.

"Okay so it could use some decorating," Patch said.

"Don't worry hon," Eve put her hand on her shoulder. "I got some blankets and stuff. We can fix it up."

"Why are you so…kind to me?" Mrs. Leech asked.

"Hey mutants gotta look out for each other," Eve shrugged. "If we don't who will? And having a kid for a mutant and standing by him…Well…I think you've just found out what happens if you do."

"Look why don't we get some things for you," Patch said. "We'll be right back."

Mrs. Leech looked around and put her arms around her. She sat down and began to cry. More for her son's future than for her own.

Next: Back to the Institute where the Exiles are starting to wear out their welcome. Here we go…