Part 4: The Meek Shall Not Inherit

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"Mutants have proven themselves to be dangerous," Congressman Graydon Creed said, his dark eyes sparkling with intensity. "Senator Duke keeps preaching about the rights of the individual, but what about our right as a people to feel safe in our own country? How safe are we when people who have the power to incinerate you with a glance can walk around unsupervised?

"Contrary to what some of my opponents might have you believe, this is not about discrimination. This is not about fear of the unknown. It certainly isn't about putting people into camps and no, I do not have a Swastika tattooed on my forehead.

"America is built on the belief that every citizen has a right to be free and a right to protect himself. That is why every American has the right to own a gun, but it is also why we make it mandatory for Americans to register their guns. We need to know which citizens are walking around with weapons. Should the same not apply to citizens who ARE weapons? Isn't a man with the power to crush solid objects with a thought as dangerous as a man carrying a '44 Magnum under his jacket? Shouldn't the authorities know about this man's power?

"Our world is changing, whether we like it or not. In a perfect world we wouldn't need Mutant Registration. In a perfect world we wouldn't need guns, either, and we certainly wouldn't need policemen. This is not a perfect world, though. We need to make sure that the authorities have both the knowledge and the means to protect our people, whether it is from criminals with guns or criminals with laser vision. That is what my campaign is about."

The large screen TV was turned off and the sound of boos and quite a few swear words filled the ensuing silence. The woman known to most of those present as Callisto looked over the small crowd that had assembled here tonight. They were mutants, all of them, a makeshift community that had grown in New Jersey with her as the unofficial leader. And all of them were quite nervous about where the future might lead.

"Please calm down everyone," she said, motioning for them to be silent. After a few seconds they were. "Okay, we have all seen what Creed wants. If he becomes president, odds are we'll all be forced to sport big red M's on our clothing so all those nice, normal people know when the big bad mutants are around. All our names will be in some government database so when the time comes to round us all up they'll know where to go."

"Don't you think you're being overly pessimistic, Callisto?" one of the mutants asked. She recognised him as Rusty Collins, a fire starter and, in her opinion, a hopeless optimist.

"Pessimistic, Rusty? Maybe. But I'd rather be paranoid than rounded up."

"Duke has been able to gather quite a bit of support lately," another mutant, Theresa Rourke, said. "He's calling for volunteers from the mutant community to aid his campaign. We should sign up."

There were some murmurs of consent from the crowd, but before Callisto could say anything the doors to the room suddenly flew open and three figures strode inside. The man walking in the middle was instantly recognised by everyone present.

Erik Lehnsherr, better known as the mutant terrorist Magneto, was dressed all in black and walked with the air of a king mingling among his subjects. There was an undeniable charisma to the man, something that seemed to draw people to him. Callisto felt at the same time intimidated and excited by his presence.

The woman to his right was blue-skinned and yellow-eyed. Mystique, the mutant shape-shifter. To his left was a young man, looking human on the outside, but small flames were dancing over his skin without burning him. Pyro, a fire starter like Rusty. Callisto was well-versed in those members of the mutant community that refused to play by the Homo Sapien rules. After all, she herself didn't like the rules much, either.

"Brothers and sisters, I would like to say a few words," Magneto said, his tone making it clear that he'd have his say whether they wanted to or not. There was some murmuring among those assembled, but no one dared tell him no. Callisto unnecessarily motioned for him to go ahead.

"I've watched this presidential campaign for some time now," he said. "I have come to greatly respect Governor Duke and his views, though I myself do not share them. He has an optimistic view of the future and I envy him that. Unfortunately experience has taught me that optimism is oftentimes wrong."

His steely gaze swept over the assembled mutants. Some shared his views, Callisto knew, some didn't, but most were scared of him.

"Governor Duke will not win this election. Lofty goals and high aspirations do not appeal like fear and hatred do. Our next president will be Graydon Creed and what that will mean for us, well... I believe Callisto has summed it up quite nicely a minute ago."

He smiled at the unofficial leader of this mutant group, who couldn't help but feel a bit proud. It wasn't every day that the most powerful and feared mutant in the world agreed with you.

"Creed utters many pretty words like 'safety', 'freedom', and how Mutant Registration is no different from gun registration. Make no mistake, though, there is a difference. Humans buy guns because they intend to use them. Mutants are born with their 'guns' and Creed will force us to register whether or not we ever intend to use our abilities in anger. He and those who think like him don't see us as individuals, only as a hostile group that needs to be put in their place."

"You made him think that," Rusty Collins suddenly spoke up, the young man looking enraged. "It is your fault that mutants are considered dangerous. You made the normals fear us."

Pyro made a move to put the young upstart in his place, but Magneto held him back before Callisto could make a move of her own.

"I applaud your courage, young man, but not your common sense. Creed and his ilk have made me the poster child of the 'mutant menace', that is true, but if not for me, they'd have found someone else. They hate and fear us because they know we will eventually replace them. They know we are better than they are. Men do not abide things that are stronger than them, as lions, tigers, and bears have learned the hard way. Make no mistake, they will annihilate us if they are given the opportunity."

"So what?" a young woman asked, her skin carrying a dim yellow glow. "It's kill them first before they can kill us? Is that your glorious plan for the future? How is us killing them any better than them killing us?"

There was a twinkle of annoyance in Magneto's eyes. Callisto saw it quite clearly.

"Skids, you should...," she began.

"Just last year one of the humans used one of us to try and kill all mutants," Magneto interrupted her. "I'm sure you all remember that day. The blinding pain that intruded into our heads and turned our thoughts to fire. That man had the full backing of your government. He was stopped, but there are many others who will try to pick up where he left off. This is not about being better or holding a higher moral standard, young woman. This is about the survival of our species."

He motioned with his hand and the TV turned back on. The news showed Graydon Creed shaking hands at some fund raiser or other, smiling all the way.

"This man will be the next president," Magneto repeated. "And however pretty the packaging, he is the same kind of man as the one who nearly killed us all. Only he will do it more slowly, using laws and regulations instead of a psychic weapon. I say he must be stopped. Those of you who think the same are welcome to join me."

With that he turned around and strode out, his two followers at his heels. Callisto looked after him, then turned to her group.

"You heard the man! Let's go!"

"Callisto, are you mad?" Rusty was beside her, holding on to her arm. "He wants to start a war. Remember, on the day he spoke of the humans experienced the same kind of pain we did but a few minutes after it stopped for us. I bet that was him. Don't you see? He plans genocide!"

"So what?" another mutant asked. Callisto recognised him as Fred Dukes, a mountain of flesh as strong as he was ugly. "You heard him. It's survival of the fittest. I'm going with him."

A growing number among the assembled mutants started heading toward the door even as Rusty turned imploring eyes on Callisto. "Cal, please! Think this over!"

"No, Rusty," Callisto said. "I wish it were otherwise, but Magneto is right. And he may just be our best chance to remain standing at the end. I won't allow a normal to put a collar on me. I won't be reduced to second-class citizen to make the normals feel safe. I won't be put in a camp. No way, no how!"

With that she kept walking, shrugging off his hand. At the end only a handful of mutants remained, all the others having gone to join Magneto.

One among them, a man by the name of James Madox, quickly took out his cell phone and dialled a number in Westchester.

"Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," a voice answered on the other end.

"I need to talk to the Professor," James said. "Tell him it's urgent!"

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End Part 4