About the poll on my profile. Chris should..

Stay with Magneto is in the lead.

Followed by No. screw them both. He should do his own thing.

And in last. Chris should be a member of the X men.

I'm still open to suggestions guys.

Father had noticed errors in my homework problems and had insisted that I redo them. Naturally, I didn't mind.

Father had been very busy lately. He'd earlier deemed me strong enough to go through with his plan to take out the Sentinels and didn't have any time to waste. I'd been only seeing him when we trained.

"I want you to take a speech class."

I look up from my calculus homework.

"Huh did I miss something? It's a required class?"

"Not in your case no. But it's important that you get over your fear."

"Get over? I've had stage fright all my life."

"Your 15."

"And 15 years of experience has taught me that I hate crowds especially crowds of people staring at me."

This made Magneto roll his eyes. "This isn't up for discussion Electron."

"Of course, but you know that I love to mess with you."

He wasn't impressed.

One day I got a text from Marie. She wouldn't be able to come to the park today.

I decided to go to our meeting place anyway. I smile at the orange, brown and yellow leaves that swirled around me.

One thing that my father's island lacked besides teenagers my age were seasons. Real seasons where it would be chilly for months on end or it would snow.

At the island 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) was considered 'cold'.

I'd just cracked open my book when I hear several leaves being crushed several yards away. I wasn't alone anymore.

The crunching came closer and closer when I finally decided I couldn't ignore it.

I look up. I spot the strange man from the symphony.

The man in the wheelchair asks. "Hello may I talk to you for a moment?"

"Unless you know how to construct a speech, know chess or are currently dying I don't want to be disturbed."

"I wouldn't be able to help you with your homework but" He smiles "I do play a mean game of chess."

I match his expression with a smirk of my own "Prove it."

Suddenly, hot wheels didn't seem so creepy. That's the chess player in me. I was easily the best player on my team and even playing my father got stale at times.

He took out his phone and asked someone named Scott to get him his chess set. Scott turned out to be a young man mid-twenties with brown hair and red tinted glasses.

Must be some new fashion trend I thought.

"Thank you, Scott. This is the person I was talking about."

"Oh really?" He looks at me

"Scott Summers."

I shook his hand "Chris Alster."

Scott was one of the many people surprised by my habit of shaking hands but seemed to have not minded.

Personally, I would have preferred to take my father's human surname but since everyone knew me as Alster I couldn't do it now.

Maybe later.

And it did happen. Today I will not even answer to that that disgustoid's last name. Wow, I hate him so much I can't even use English terms to describe him.

"And I'm professor Charles Xavier."

A professor Xavier. That sounds pretty similar to father's friend.

Still, there had to be thousands of Charles Xavier's in New York. What were the odds of it being that one?

We began to play. Turns out Charles had skill. He beat me soundly in the first game.

"Satisfied?" he asked

"Very. Another game."

"Be my guest."

Since Charles had a playing style that was exactly the opposite of my mentors I started playing like my father.

Good now I have a fighting chance.

"I run a school in New York."

Wow. It's him.

"The school for gifted youngsters" I say

The telepath looked up from our game surprised."Yes. How did you know?"

"The university of Chicago was where the National chess championships were a few years back."

"You were there?"

"Yes. A bit young to play but we heard an earful about your school."

He smiles "That's what happens when you keep winning. Hope it didn't disturb you."

"No, not me but about the prank with the green shampoo..."

"That was you? I have a former student that still wants to skin those responsible."

"Nope a friend."

I got pics though.

I'm meeting father's friend and he doesn't even know. Optimism gushed.

Of course he does dumbass! He's a telepath. Rebellion said.

Don't mind him he gets touchy when people beat us in chess. Cynicism said

He already knows that asshole. We're in his head. Rebellion continued.

The telepath didn't at all respond to the bickering voices in my head.

Interesting.

He also seemed frustrated about something. And he was concentrating very hard.

We kept playing.

"At the school I run… the term gifted means something different than conventional usage." He paused.

"The students I teach are mutants. Like yourself."

My blood went cold. Of course he'd go digging through my head. Father had always called him nosey.

He could even know about... No, don't think about that.

I began to run not walk away from the professor as fast as I could.

"Wait don't go."

It wasn't as if I couldn't outrun a man in a wheelchair. No, he wasn't an issue. Scott was. Scott was a tall grown man. I was 5'4 162 cm on a good day. He could catch up to me.

And he did.

"The professor wants to help you. You aren't alone in this."

"Uncontrolled telepathy can be very dangerous." The professor adds from behind.

Wait what?

Thankfully, I have a great poker face.

Screw it Scott can catch up to me in a heartbeat. Might as well learn something.

"And you're aware of this how? What makes you think I'm a telepath?"

"It's not about what I found but rather what I didn't find."

"I'm a telepath. Yet I can't sense your thoughts at all. And you don't at all show up on Cerebro."

He can't hear my thoughts. We're on the clear then.

I decided to play dumb.

"The Spanish for brain?"

Professor X smiles for some reason.

"The name of my machine."

"So, let me get this straight you have a machine that allows you to find mutants that you teach at your school. You're a telepath and he" I point at Scott.

"I shoot lasers out my eyes. My glasses keep them in check "

"Interesting. Still you're wrong. I'm no telepath."

"So, you don't hear any voices in your head at all."

My face tenses a little. Xavier got his answer.

Dammit lying like any other skill if not used degrades.

"As interesting as this sounds. I in no way need your help. I'm handling my mutation just fine."

And it has nothing to do with telepathy. Professor.

"Well, if you find you need help here's my card. Also, I need to warn you about The Brotherhood."

"What? Why do I need to be warned about them? I'm a freaking mem- mutant myself? Did Mags go senile?"

Charles smiles "Not quite. But he'd be very interested in a chi- person with your abilities. And he wouldn't let you walk away from his offer."

Well that did happen. But if he hadn't I'd be either be dead or a lab rat somewhere.

"OK then. From what I heard Magneto thinks war between humans and mutants is inevitable. What do you think?"

"I completely disagree with him."

"Well, I think he might have a point." I say.

"Magneto's ideology is dangerous. One that's lead to many murders."

I shrug. "It's not murder if you think you're fighting a war. From my recollection, I cannot remember a time when he has tried to randomly kill people for no reason."

Scott barges in "Your wrong he took..."

Xavier silently looked at Scott. The man frowned but stayed quiet.

"Hm something to add Summer's?" I ask

"Nothing important." He mumbled

"Let me see." I look at my watch. "I have time to just chat. Tell me more about why you think he's wrong."

"Well be beyond his current crimes" Xavier starts

I roll my eyes at the word "crimes".

"War would kill millions."

"True, but as it stands mutants that don't pass like ourselves are forced into hiding or treated like animals by the general public. I'm sure they'd certainly be willing to risk their lives to change this. What's your alternative?"

"Peace. Though dialogue we can convince humans that we aren't a threat to them."

I smile.

I got him

"Except we are a threat. This actually reminds me of a quote 'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.' Marianne Williamson."

"Not saying we're not a threat is a boldfaced lie. Mutants have abilities that allows them to do things humans simply can't. It's biology. You"

I point at Scott "shoot lasers from your eyes and I'm sure Cerebro can do allot more than just touch mind's.

Charles blanched.

"There's that. The humans are afraid. For good reason if I may add. Still evolution marches on."

"You sound just like him. Like Magneto." Scott said.

I felt a vein appear on my forehead. "I'm my own person and I'm simply relaying facts. Mutants are threats to humans. No question."

"Really the problem is that the current system is trying to make equals out of those who clearly aren't. Think we have issues now? "

"This is nothing. What will people think of a man who can do 10 jobs at once? What about those with superior strength? When mutants are numerous enough to be an economic threat to humans violence will rise drastically. Just as with immigrating groups such as the Chinese when they came to America."

"Really it seems that mutants by no fault of their own are pushed out of society because it wasn't made for us. Because we're different and no amount of 'Let's be friends' talk will change that your thoughts Xavier?"

"Erik?" The telepath said stunned.

"No counter argument? All you have is let's be friends. God that's pathetic. Thought that by how you played chess you'd be a challenge. Too bad."

Both men just stared at me slack jawed.

Professor X is stuck on the dumbass setting. Rebellion adds.

Eventually they regained their composure. I spot a nearby cab on the distance. Doing what I planned would be one of the crudest things you can do to a New Yorker but I didn't care.

"This is a serious matter. Not an argument to be toyed with. Magneto's way will cause massive suffering for all."

"Everything's an argument Professor Xavier. I respect your opinion but completely disagree."

"Then you're" Scott said. The cab drew closer.

"Pro Brotherhood yes. And there's my ride."

I dash and hop into a cab that I didn't call. I then wave at the men chasing me.

So dramatic. They act like fathers the devil.

I walk home and headed straight to my father's office.

"I met your friend today."

"You met Charles?"

"Yes, he told me about his school and is a very good chess player. If I played a few more games I would have beat him."

Magneto rolls his eyes at my last sentence.

"He tried to make you sound like the boogie man or something too."

"Of course he did.

"Been under any kids beds lately?"

I'd quickly reached the limits of my father's exasperation.

"Continue" He said not commenting.

"He's nice too nice when it comes down to it. He really thinks that if mutants are nice to humans that they'll see the error of their ways. And we'd all end up holding hands and singing Kumbaya."

He laughs at this "So you're not defecting then."

"No. He's nice sure. Does good work at his school but he has no plan to solve anything."

Magneto relaxed quite a bit at my proclamation.

"Let me see what else… He thinks I'm a telepath."

"Why?"

"I'm not on Cerebro and he can't read my mind."

"Really?"

"Not a word. I even mentally yelled to confirm."

"Does he know you're in The Brotherhood?"

"No."

"And does he know about your true mutation?"

"In the dark about that too."

"Nice information gathering. Very nice."

I smile at the praise.

"Are we going to use his inability to read me in anyway?"

"No. One slip up and we could expose your true mutation."

"I see. I also had a lot of fun beating your friend in an argument about mutants being accepted by human society."

"I imagine you gave him quite the run around."

"I did. It was fun. Too easy really."

"I trained a soldier and I ended up with a lawyer."

"Hey! I'm offended by that term."

We teased each other for a while.

A few days later at another the leaf covered park, my friend lost all emotional control and went on a rampage. I decide to let her scream it out. I was hardly frightened dealing with Magneto had taught me that.

"I hate it! Everyone's afraid of me and don't even wanna to talk to me! And what does the professor say that they'll fucking come round!"

"No, they won't cause I'm different. One of the most dangerous outta all of us and everyone knows it. I'm the queen of freaks. And I can't even control it!"

From my position under a tree, I quietly watch her let off steam. Eventually, she ran out of breath and was huffing.

"Done? " I ask

"Yeah."

I noticed a small yellow and black figure flying near my friend.

"Marie freeze!" I say

"Who ya tellin to freeze. Ahhh!"

She starts wiping at the insect attacking her which dodged her every attempt. I joined in the fray.

Hmm what to do? Manipulation said

Help her duh. Rebellion said

We're already trying to hit it. That bees on that *P90X.* Cynicism adds.

If we electrocute the thing we could make the spark just enough to kill it but not enough to be visible.

No, bees are an important part of the survival of life on Earth- mff! Rebellion covered Logic's mouth.

Yeah yeah but for all we know she can have an allergy. She does seem pretty scared. Rebellion said.

Fine. Logic conceded.

Now to kill the pest.

I swing at the past with my left hand to give the impression that was all I was doing.

I point my right index finger at the bee. Nothing major for a person but a tiny bit of electricity would end the bee's life.

I released a tiny spark of electricity into the air. The bee seemed to move at super-speed flying low as if it knew my plan. Straight into miniscule gap in between my friend's glove and coat.

The bee instantly dies on contact

What the I didn't hit it so...

Did it sting? That would kill it I suppose.

"You okay?" I ask

"Yeah um... Too bad the bugger didn't leave. Musta been static electricity."

Marie that was a terrible lie.

I took a mental note to teach my friend to lie better. It was an important skill.

"Yeah sometimes they gotta learn the hard way."

I try to look at her hand but she snatched it away.

"I'm fine."

"Still going to The Crepe Place?" She asked.

"Yeah, you go I'll catch you up." I say

I wait until she leaves to get to work. I crouched down and noted that the bee still had its stinger.

Marie lied… And yet the bee died.

I quickly put it together that Marie didn't want me to know why it died… for some reason.

Then the insect must have died in abnormal way. Logic said

Wait. She wears all those layers all time. Cynicism adds.

The bee died upon contact with her skin. Rebellion added.

She's a mutant. Whose powers kill on contact! Optimism blurts out.

Well, that would make her the weird one at her school. Cynicism says.

I came to the shop and found my friend. We were seated. I didn't take a moment to notice the homey atmosphere the place and cut straight to the point.

"Marie. I know."

"Yeah, I'm a bit of a wuss…"

"No." I stared straight at her as I said. "I know your secret."

Marie starts to laugh for a second.

"Umm what secret?"

I continue to stare at her dead serious.

Her face freezes mid laugh.

"Relax" I look both ways before showing her a small lightning bolt in my hand.

"Is that…?"

"Electricity? Most definitely." I smirk

"You're like me." I nod.

Our waitress arrived and I could easily tell that the brunette had many many questions.

"That's an awesome power." She says after the woman left.

"That it is. As is yours."

"It only hurts people."

"It's OK. I was like that before. I've destroyed my bedroom more times than I can count." I smile at the memory.

"And yer folks?"

"Father knows. In fact, he's the reason I learned to control it."

"Good for ya. My folk kicked me out."

I frown "That's unfortunate but I learned to control my mutation. Why not you?

"And practice on what? I don't wanna absorb ya."

"Let me worry about that."

I left her soon after thinking of a way to solve her issue. I didn't tell father because then he'd jump straight to recruiting her and I didn't want her to think that I just wanted her to work with us.

She was my friend and I cared about her well-being. I would help her with her mutation issue free of charge.

Thanks for the term disgustoid Mom! Also, *P90x is a popular exercise program.