Nocturnal Musings and Wanderings

It was late at night and Kitty sat in her pajamas and a bathrobe watching TV. She was idly flipping through the channels. Lockheed was sitting with his head on her lap as she watched TV.

"More calls for Mutant Registration were made by demonstrators at the capitol building. Activists say…"

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"In sports today the National Football League is the latest sports organization to institute mandatory genetic testing for all players. This is in response to allay the public's fears of players being mutants, especially after the Levon Bronson scare. Even though two tests proved that Bronson was human, there are still rumors dogging him of mutations…"

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"In Chicago the disappearance of a woman and her mutant son has been ruled as a possible homicide. Police aren't disclosing the identities of the victims saying…"

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"Around the world another instance of the mutant menace made the news. This time in France where a reported mutant thief known only as Fantomex allegedly stole…"

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"Another Hulk rampage in the Midwest. This time the mutated menace..."

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"Senator Chet Masterson is calling for another attempt of the Mutant Registration Bill. And with his support it seems that it may actually pass…"

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"In Cuba the latest shipment of alleged mutants and other dissidents were deported today. Cuba has become the fourth country in the world where it is no longer legal for mutants to live there. Cuba joins North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Latvertia as nations with a non-tolerance policy towards mutants. Dr. Doom, the dictator ofLatvertia praised Cuba for it's…"

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"Lawyers for the Friends of Humanity are arguing against allowing any mutant immigrants from legally entering the United States. The Supreme Court will hear the case next week when…"

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"Tomorrow afternoon the trial of William Stryker will continue. Stryker you may remember was a fundamentalist preacher and the founder of the Purity movement who is linked to several mutant deaths as well as the creation of more mutants in New York City. On a day that is now infamously known as 'Stryker Sunday', Stryker attempted to murder all the mutants in New York City. Instead he ended up activating hundreds of dormant X-Genes which caused more people to turn into mutants. He was stopped by the combined efforts of the mutant teams the Misfits and the X-Men. Several members of the X-Men are scheduled to testify tomorrow about their ordeals with Stryker including Professor Charles Xavier."

"Even though Stryker is the leader of an anti-mutant group and has preached segregation between mutants and humans, many people associate him with the very people he speaks against."

Shots of several people on the street followed. "Claremont Street used to be a beautiful neighborhood," One woman said. "Now there's like at least a dozen freaks that live on the block. All of 'em showed up on Stryker Sunday. That streets not safe to go in at night or even during the day anymore! It's terrible. Terrible."

"For some guy who claims he's gonna help humanity he made things even worse!" A cab driver said. "For all we know maybe he's actually working with the freaks. You know?"

"That Stryker dude is a total moron," One lanky youth punk grumbled. "I mean if you're gonna make something that kills off those genejokes make sure it works first! What an idiot."

"He's not the only one," Kitty growled as she shut off the TV. Lockheed echoed her sentiment.

"It never gets old does it?" Logan grumbled as he walked in. "All the news has to do is mention the word 'mutant' and the ratings go up."

"I couldn't sleep," Kitty said.

"I can't say I blame you," Logan sat down next to her. "Wanna talk about it?"

"What's there to say? I'm going to end up on the six o'clock news again after I go to court," Kitty ran her fingers through her hair. "I can't believe I forgot about all this."

"Yeah it did kind of sneak up on us with everything else going on," Logan said. He took a whiff. "Looks like we're not the only late owls."

"You couldn't sleep either huh?" Scott asked as he walked in.

"No," Kitty shook her head. "Just thinking about tomorrow and testifying…I'm really freaked out."

"At least it's a closed court," Scott told her. "No cameras."

"Still the thought of being in the same room with Stryker again…" Kitty shuddered.

"I know," Scott sighed. "I still get chills just thinking about what he did to me and Ororo. Not to mention the Professor."

"I'm not exactly over the experience myself," Xavier wheeled in. "I don't think anyone is going to get a decent night's sleep tonight."

"If you're on edge things are a lot worse than we thought," Logan said.

"After what happened," Xavier sighed. "Remembering what Stryker did to me and forced me to do to all of you, and what nearly happened…I still feel very vulnerable."

"Look Charles," Logan said. "Even if they didn't count the kidnapping and murder charges or the illegal weapon charges, there is no way Stryker is gonna get off the hook. The one thing in our favor is that people blame him for what happened in New York. For once, it's folks' hatred of mutants that's gonna help us."

"Yes, I saw the news reports," Xavier sighed. "Almost everyone but his most hardcore followers blames Stryker for the emergence of more mutants. Even the FOH is trying to keep their distance from him and Purity."

"That's what they're calling their little group now huh?" Logan frowned.

"Purists, Purity…" Jean grumbled as she walked in with Rogue. "It's still the same hate mongers no matter which way you slice it."

"Looks like nobody's getting any sleep tonight," Rogue said.

"How can anybody sleep with all this going on?" Jean asked. "I can barely go to classes at the University with all the harassment. And it's getting worse. Quite frankly, we spend more time fighting for our lives and petty annoyances than doing anything positive and I've had it!" She picked up a pillow and threw it at the wall.

"Jean you're just tired," Logan began.

"You bet I'm tired," She glared at Xavier. "I'm tired of all of us just taking it and not being able to do anything about it!"

"Logan, could you take the girls upstairs please?" Xavier asked. "Jean and I need to be alone."

"Yeah, come on," Logan herded them out of the room. Even Lockheed followed.

"Jean obviously we need to have a talk," Xavier sighed.

"You bet we do," Jean glared at him. "The only reason I haven't brought it up sooner was because of Rachel and the others. You knew didn't you? You knew all about this power I'm supposed to have. Or might get."

"Yes," Xavier admitted. "It was one of the visions I had from my experience with Apocalypse."

"And when were you going to tell me about this?" Jean asked. "Just before or after I went out of control?"

"Jean, you have to understand," Xavier began. "I thought it was for the best that…"

"That what? I go about my daily life knowing nothing about how dangerous I could be? How badly my powers could get out of control? How I could possibly hurt my friends and destroy everything we're working for?" Jean began. "I mean, I always knew I had to be careful, but until I met Rachel I had no idea how much potential I really had! And how dangerous tapping into that potential without knowing the risks could be!"

"Which is exactly why I thought it was best not to tell you," Xavier said. "Already this is causing you strain. You have enough to deal with what with going to college and getting your medical degree as well as your duties as an X-Man. I didn't want to burden you with even more hardship."

"In case you haven't noticed Professor, I'm not that scared sixteen year old girl that couldn't even stop reading other people's thoughts or making everything that wasn't nailed down float around the room!" Jean said. "I have worked long and hard on my gifts and I have used them in ways I could never imagine. If you remember correctly I even used them to take you on while you were controlled by Apocalypse! If there is any chance my powers could get out of control I need to know about it."

"And what would you do then Jean?" Xavier asked.

"Work on getting better control! What else?" Jean snapped.

"Jean the control you have over your powers is already impressive," Xavier said.

"But it could be better," Jean said. "I got only a glimpse of the power Rachel possessed but it was enough. Even she had a better handle on her powers than I do now, and she was emotionally unstable!"

"Perhaps you're right."

"I know I'm right. At least now I know what I'm in for."

"Do you?"

"Yes," Jean told him, secretly not believing it herself.

"Jean I don't think you do. I don't think any of us do," Xavier said.

"So your solution to the whole thing was just try and forget about it and hope it would never happen?" Jean asked throwing up her hands. "Oh well that's responsible!"

"I've been working on precautions…"

"Well one of them certainly should have been informing me about them!" Jean snapped. "These are my powers and it's my life! I have a right to know about these things!"

"I just didn't know if you were ready for this," Xavier admitted.

"Just like you didn't know if we would be ready to know Mystique was our principal?" Jean asked. "Or that you were working with or had contacts with other mutants we had no idea about? Or you had a half brother that wanted to kill you and destroy everything in its path? Not to mention your other past relationships which came back with a vengeance! No offense Professor, but that line is starting to get a little old."

She walked out of the room, still angry. Xavier shook his head. Kitty, Logan and Rogue had listened in from the other room. "Whoa…" Rogue whispered. "I've never seen Jean tell off the Professor like that."

"She's really spooked about what she saw in Rachel's head," Logan remarked. "And I can't say I blame her."

"The thought of all of us being hunted down and caged like Rachel told us," Kitty shivered. "Or worse…It gives me the creeps."

"They're already doing it in some countries," Rogue said. "Who's to say here won't be next?"

"That won't happen," Logan told them. "We won't let it happen."

"I hope you're right Logan," Kitty sighed. "I pray to God you're right."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"I hope you're right about this," Senator Masterson grumbled into his phone. "Listen I've already been through this with your boss. Don't take that tone with me. Trust me, we'll push the Mutant Registration Bill and have those freaks rounded up. It's just a matter of time. Like those freaks would dare try and scare me! Let 'em try! Yeah see you tomorrow."

The fifty something heavyset senator hung up the phone and went back to work shuffling his papers. "Damn freaks, let 'em try to stop me."

"All right, we will…"

"What the…?" Senator Masterson saw a figure covered completely in black walk confidently through the door. "You…You…"

"Shut up," The figure spoke sternly. "This won't take long."

The Senator felt like a vice was gripping his head tightly. He couldn't breathe. "What are you…?"

"I'm telepathically getting all the information I need out of that diseased brain of yours," The figure said. "Including the numbers of a few hidden bank accounts. Really Senator."

"You'll…never…" He felt very sick.

"Get away with this? Your staff is asleep. When they wake up they'll find you had a brain hemorrhage. Very painful way to die. But definitely non mutant related," The figure said as the Senator collapsed dead to the ground. The figure started to rifle through his desk, grabbed a few papers then opened the window. She swung on a tree outside and took off, easily escaping to a limo parked just outside the gates.

"How did it go?" Emma Frost asked as the figure got into the limo.

"Mission accomplished," The figure removed her hood to reveal the face of a teenage African American girl with long crimped hair and hardened brown eyes. "The Senator will not stand in our way any more. Plus I've gotten some interesting files and information." She handed her what she had taken from the office.

"Excellent my dear," Emma grinned from inside the limo. "But then what else could I expect from you daughter?"

What? What did she say? Find out about Emma's newest Hellion next chapter! Oh and in case you were wondering, the title Evolution XMJ is just something I thought of that has the intials of the X-Men, Misfits and Joes. Weird huh?