I returned home, feeling exhilarated from the travel.

"I'm back," I said as I called my father.

"Have fun in DC?"

"Yeah, lots! Watts snuck onto the helicopter."

My father laughed. "It's good to hear from you again. My operation is going well too. How were your midterms?"

"Tsk. Easy. I knew everything." I grinned.

"So you didn't select the wrong answer on purpose this time?" I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Nope. I expect to see many unhappy faces next week."

He laughed again. "Good. Just as I'd expect from you."

I smiled at this. The underlying message was that I did better than them, of course. I was smarter than everyone in the class. Then again, they only human.

I hung up before hopping on the couch with my furry friend and turning on the television.

"No more mutants! No more mutants!" A crowd of at least a hundred cried. I shivered, pulling Watts closer.

I wasn't very surprised about this happening. Incidents like these were actually very common.

The crowd was in front of a building known for housing mutants. In fact, it was the only place that did so in the city. A few lucky mutants got to call the place home but they had to pay outrageous rents to do so. This was their only choice, though. It was either this or living on the streets.

Still, something felt off. Something felt different. So I kept watching.

They march lockstep in front of the building.

Why are they doing this? What are they, soldiers? I think.

Then, things became stranger. Half of the mob left to march around the block and cut off the street behind the building. The apartment was
surrounded.

Wait a second... This isn't a mob. It's too organized. Too precise. This is an army!

My worst fear came true as the protesters took out pistols from their pockets and began to fire.

Have you ever heard what a gun sounds like? Think the sound of a firework except it's on the ground and it's coming after someone. Its much louder, too.

In the matter of only two minutes, the building was turned into Swiss cheese. Windows shattered and you can hear the screams of men, women, and children as they died.

I stared at the screen, unable to look away. I held my shaking dog and tried my best reassure him.

At the end of the commotion, blood began to drip from the holes in the building, running down and pooling in the street.

The crowd cheered, reloaded and then quickly dispersed to go find other mutants.

I felt a rush of anger inside of me.

If they think that we're going to just die off they have another thing coming! Those monsters!

I stood up. A buzzing sound cut through the jeering coming from the television. It was a text from my father.

Do not leave the house.

I text back. I'm going.

Suddenly, the apartment began to lock down. The windows were covered by strong adamantium barriers. And obviously, the doors were locked, too.

I petted Watts and told him "Don't worry. I'll be back."

If this incident had happened only a few months ago, the barriers would have held me. However, in this case, it only took one hand gesture to move the metal to the side. From there I took the fire escape out.

There was no hope for the people at the apartment building but the least I could do was warn the Morlocks.

I took a taxi and had the driver break every speed limit known to man in exchange for a very large tip. I jumped over the the abandoned sign and ran down the Subway's stairs.

Please don't let me be late!

Once down there, I noted that the camp had been quickly deserted, pots, pans, dolls, and unpacked tents being evidence of their sudden departure.

They had ran for their lives. I sighed, relieved. I may have been unhappy with them for disrespecting me but I didn't want anyone to die.

As I went back, a bright light suddenly greeted me. I soon saw Scott and the white-haired lady from the museum.

The woman had somehow made the light using some sort of energy power.

"You?" he said, "What are you doing down here?"

"Enjoying a scenic picnic underground." I quip, frowning, "The same reason you're here, idiot. To make sure less people die."

"You're brave. Still, it seems that our assistance isn't needed this time. I am Storm, a member of the X-Men," The white haired woman said. She extended a hand.

"Chris Alster," I replied as I shook it.

Scott said, "We met earlier at a park. You still a Brotherhood supporter?"

"Still hoping for a dream that will never come?"

He glared at me. I very much liked messing with him. It was just too easy.

We heard several footsteps behind and in front of us. Armed men rushed in from both sides. They were certainly not carrying pistols this time.

Scott shot a red laser from his eyes at one side while Storm sent an ice barrage at the other. They did this silently, in sync, knowing to sandwich me in between them for maximum protection.

"I can fight." I said.

"This isn't the time for you to show off some new trick, kid." Scott said. He shot another blast.

The condescension. Ah, how it burned.

"I'm going to do something that will finish this battle all together." I said.

"What?" Scott was a little shocked, but obviously didn't believe me.

"There isn't time to explain. Just listen to me. Storm, I need you to spray water at the soldiers."

She send enough rain to drench both sides.

"What? Why are you listening to him?" Cyclops cried.

"We can't keep fighting like this. There's too many. If he has a plan, we must use it." She replied.

I knew I liked the white haired lady. She's smart. Rebellion said.

"Good. When I say 'Now', carry Scott and fly up. I've got the rest."

"Got it."

"Now!" They flew upward simultaneously, shooting any bullets away.

I quickly crouched down and placed my hand in the water, sending as much electricity as I could through it.

I had naturally figured out how to avoid being shocked by my own power. The soldiers, of course weren't so lucky. The screams of several men filled
the air.

"That's enough now!" I heard Scott shout from above.

"No! These men deserve nothing less than death for the lives they took!" I yelled back, gritting my teeth in concentration.

The screams suddenly stopped. I knew they were all dead. It was silent once more.

"Do you know what you've done?" Scott creamed.

"Uh... I saved our lives?" I said in an isn't-it-obvious tone, spreading my arms.

"You killed all those people." He said, pointing at me.

"Good." I say back.

"That's not -why are you smiling? That's- you're crazy, kid!" Scott bit.

"I suppose you would call me the functional kind of crazy, then. These suckers won't terrorize anyone anymore."

I pulled out some gloves from my pocket, took a phone from one of the bodies, took a picture, texted, and placed it down.

"The second they tried to hurt me their lives were forfeit."

Scott looked like his eyes would fall out. Storm hadn't said anything yet, looking around sadly. Still, though, I felt as if she understood.

"Far too easy." I said, smirking. I'd been in an actual battle. This was so worth disobeying father.

Scott just continued to stare at me. Storm's eyes finally found mine, too.

"Are you really just going to stand there until the next wave hits?" I asked.

We quickly left the subway.

"You're coming with us" Cyclops said after we went through the entrance.

"Hah! Not a chance in hell." I scoffed.

"It'll only be for a moment Chris." said a very familiar voice.

"Marie?" I asked, surprised.

She hugged me.

"You're okay!"

Wait, Marie is a member of the X-Men?

"Rogue? What are you doing here?" Cyclops said.

"I'm... I'm just gettin' tired of being left out." She said, looking at her feet.

"Rogue, you know that with your powers you're not allowed to fight." Storm said. "You're going to be in quite a large amount of trouble when we get back."

"I just wanted to help.." She whispered. She then says, "Still it's a good thing I am here or else my friend here would have cut and run for sure."

"Wait, he's your friend?" Scott asked her.

"Yeah, we're friends. And who's to say I still won't leave?" I said.

"Please?" She said, looking all doe eyed. I regard her for a moment.

"Nope." I began to walk away.

I soon found that Marie was right behind, me touching the back of my shirt. "If you don't, I might just need to take some drastic measures..." She whispered in my ear.

"What kind of drastic measures?"

"Absorption." She said bluntly.

"You wouldn't."

Or would she? Logic mumbled.

"You're my friend and I don't want you to get harmed- of course I would." She replied.

"But what if I took drastic measures of my own too... My electricity could fry you before you could absorb much."

"You'd never do that. You'd never hurt me. However, I," she put her finger on the neck area of my shirt, "have no problem with carrying you back to safety."

For a moment I said nothing. Then I replied, "Well played. I'll go along with this. For now."

"I'm so so so sorry about doing that. It was the only way." She said.

"If you were anyone else..." I said with a little smile, "It's a good thing we're friends."

"Yep, it sure is." She smiled at me. As unhappy as I was, I couldn't be angry at her.

We turned around and walked back to the adults. "I'll be going with you now." I said.

"Wait, what just happened?" Cyclops asked.

"I gave him an offer he just couldn't refuse." Marie winked.