In a world that hates and fears them, the X-men try their best to be agents of peace, and not chaos. Nonetheless, with an upcoming presidential election in November, this is proving to be a difficult task. This is especially since Senator Kelly and his advisor, William Stryker, are about to launch an initiative titled The Wide Awake Project.
Part of The Wide Awake Project is using the Sentinel robots to arrest any mutants who act out of line with the help of a Mutant Response Division. However, with the Friends of Humanity's presence is becoming known to the world as they become determined to spread a hatred of mutants. Additionally, Hank Pym is determined to build an AI named Ultron to ensure world peace. However, there is lingering doubt on whether or not Ultron will be able to work. This is especially after a class field trip Bobby Drake, Peter Parker, and their friends went on viewing Otto Octavius' artificial-intelligent robotic arms. The presentation of these robotic arms proved to bring more danger, as they killed Rose Octavius, Otto's wife.
Now, The Wide Awake Project is fully enacted, and this leaves the X-men on edge as they try to enjoy a nice night off. But for Professor Charles Xavier, he is to begin meetings with presidential candidate, Lilandra Neramani.
Issue 53: For Humanity
Professor Xavier's Office in X-Corporation Tower – One Week Ago
"Professor Xavier, have you and your X-men managed to uncover just yet who these FOH people are and why it is that they are continuing to harass mutants, and those who support them?" asked Libertarian Party presidential nominee, Lilandra Neramani.
"Alas, Lilandra, I have tried looking into this as deeply as I could, but it is not like you can find the name FOH on Google. These people who are staging these assaults are smart in the fact that they are making sure that nobody knows who they are or where they are positioned. They clearly do not want anyone to know what it is that they are in preparation of doing," Charles said.
"Mr. Xavier, we cannot afford to have another riot like this break out at another rally. Because my campaign for the presidency, I've put everything that I've got into," said Lilandra in a tired tone. "But, I also know that you are your X-men have got a lot on your plate as it is."
"Indeed Lilandra, but, I also understand that you did not just call to ask me about the status on the FOH," said Professor Xavier.
"Yes, well, Charles, you know how, if I end up winning the presidency, that I am to select a presidential advisor. In all honesty, the work the work that you have done with the X-men, Tony Stark and X-Corporation points to me that I should choose you for the position," said Lilandra with a smile.
Charles was quite taken aback. "But I am not a politician, Miss Neramani," he said.
"But, what you have is experience as far as mutant affairs are concerned; you being a mutant yourself as well as a business owner makes you all the more qualified in my eyes to advise me if I do become president of the United States of America. Charles, between the charisma that you have, being the owner of a company that is looking to provide mutants job opportunities and careers, I think that you are exactly what I am looking for," Lilandra said in an assisting tone.
Charles smiled slightly. This was probably the third conversation that he had had with Lilandra Neramani. Not only was she a smart, quick-witted business woman, but she was also very insightful and knowledgeable about the United States Constitution and other areas as far as politics were concerned. "Well, Lilandra, this is quite the honor. But, if you do not win, what would you continue on doing?"
"Well, I will be working on making sure that both my companies stay afloat. But I am also in particular interested in possibly merging Chandilar Industries with X-Corporation. Imagine the possibilities of what there are that Chandilar Industries, Aerie Law Firms and X-Corporation can accomplish," Lilandra said with a smile.
"Indeed. I recognize that you and your choice for vice president, Evangeline Whedon, are quite the human rights advocates," said Professor Xavier. "But we should find some more time to discuss this, especially since the MRD is going to be initiated fairly soon, along with a very strong likelihood of a mutant registration act where mutants would be forced to register under the government."
"It's treating people as though they are loaded guns . . . but, guns do not hurt people. People hurt people," said Lilandra in a soft voice. "The person that chooses to point a gun at someone to hurt people is a criminal. Mutants who choose to use their powers to cause harm to others are the criminals. As far as I can see, you and your X-men are trying to make the world a better place, something that I greatly extol you for. But I do agree that we should plan a meeting and discuss all of this rather soon. How about a week from today at the Charthouse in Weehawken?"
"Sounds consummate, Miss Neramani," Charles said with a smile as he hung up the conversation.
The Charthouse Restaurant – Present Day
Professor Charles Xavier was approaching this meeting with Libertarian party member, Lilandra Neramani, with a mixture of exhilaration and apprehension. After having agreed to meet with her to discuss him potentially being her advisor, as well as potentially having X-Corporation do business with Chandilar Enterprises, Xavier had been anticipating it the whole week.
Lilandra's eloquence and intellect were the things about her that intrigued the professor the most about her. She was a person that came along as a very welcomed surprise. It was not often that you found someone who was so adamant about mutants having equal rights as humans. However, Tony was convinced that Xavier being charmed by Lilandra was more than just professional.
"Old man, every time I see you watching this Lilandra Neramani woman on the TV, your face lights up. I haven't seen you that happy in a very long time," Tony had said to him the other day when Xavier had been getting his suit tailored for this meeting with Lilandra.
"Agreed, Professor," Scott had said to him. "Believe me; I know what it looks like when someone likes a woman. My brother Alex is infatuated with this girl named Lorna Dane on Genosha."
"Scott, Tony, I can assure you that this is just professional," he'd told them both.
However, as Xavier sat there in the restaurant awaiting Lilandra's arrival, he began to ponder Tony and Scott's words from the other day. Charles could hardly remember the last time that he had experienced this kind of joy with somebody. The last time he had been this happy, he'd been married to Moira. Unfortunately, the complications with Joseph MacTaggart going in and blackmailing Moira and Charles into getting a divorce made the happiness quickly dissipate. Now that he was at the second half of his life, Charles was beginning to consider how he wanted to spend it and who he wanted to spend it with. He was married to his work; that was a given, and being a father to his son David, and his adoptive daughter and son, Scott and Jean, was his life. But he also needed something else to fill that empty space.
Adjusting his tie nervously, Xavier took notice of Lilandra sauntering into the room, her long, dark hair slicked back as far as it could go into a ponytail, her eyes bright. She looked beyond elegant.
"Hello, Charles," said Lilandra with a smile as she shook his hand, leaning over to kiss his cheek as her choice of greeting.
"Hello, Ms. Neramani," Xavier greeted her with a smile on his face.
"Please, call me Lilandra," Lilandra said, taking her seat across from him. "Now, we've got much to discuss."
"Indeed, Lilandra. Now, what do you wish to discuss?"
"Well, I would like to begin with us in the future potentially working together, as far as the business aspect of everything goes. We both own companies that are working on keeping mutants employed and securing their futures. If you know anything about my company, Chandilar Enterprises, as well as Aerie Law Firms, equal pay for mutants is probably the most important thing to me. That's how my mom and dad did it, and I am determined to continue it that way. That's in fact going to be one of my first acts as president of the United States if I do end up winning: making sure that mutants get equal pay. I understand that it is hard for mutants to even be able to find jobs to begin with; I've seen it with the employees that I have," said Lilandra.
"Absolutely, Lilandra; mutants are not allowed to serve in the military," Charles said. "And I look at my adoptive son, Scott Summers; all he wants to do is go into the army."
"That's one of the things that I hope to change in my act as president," Lilandra said. "I think if you want to serve in the military, and you've earned that privilege by working hard and going to school for it, then you should be able to."
"Lilandra . . . I have been meaning to ask you. Why are you so deeply passionate about advocating for the rights of mutants? Why use that as your presidential campaign if you know that that would cause you such a great deal of backlash from those who do not understand?" Professor Xavier asked her, genuinely intrigued by the fact that this woman was so adamant about focusing her entire presidential campaign on mutant rights and equality for all.
"I'll let you in on something, Charles," said Lilandra with a soft smile on her lips. 'Tell me . . . is this something familiar to you?' For a moment, Charles Xavier could almost swear that he could hear Lilandra's voice in his mind.
Charles' eyes widened in enthrallment and interest as he looked at Lilandra; he said, "You're a mutant?"
"Indeed, Charles . . . telepathy, something you should be rather experienced with." Lilandra smiled wider as she looked at Xavier.
The MRD Headquarters in Washington, D.C
Senator Edward Kelly couldn't help but have his apprehensions about the launching of the MRD and the Sentinels. As part of his and William Stryker's initiative, The Wide Awake Project, part of it was the launching and usage of Sentinels as well as the Mutant Response Division. The purpose of the MRD was to have a form of law enforcement that was equipped to handle mutants and hold them accountable. With the help of heavy financial backing from William Stryker, Jeffery Moss and Thaddeus Ross, they were able to get the funds needed to start the Wide Awake Project. It was something Senator Kelly was in particular highly proud of, but he also couldn't help but wonder whether or not this would end up working the way that he expected it to.
'Let's hope and pray that this works,' the senator thought to himself. 'If this doesn't work, then that's another failure I'll have to do damage control over, and I might as well be taken as seriously as the Kardashians!'
Overlooking the operation of the MRD vehicles being loaded up with special power-dampening collars that had been created especially by Dr. Kevita Rao and Bolivar Trask, Senator Kelly proceeded to walk over to William Stryker, who was getting ready to get inside his own vehicle.
"So, where are you going first as part of the launch of this initiative, Stryker?" he asked.
"New York," William Stryker said in a calm voice. "Do not worry, my dear senator. I promise you, after the launching of this initiative, the mutie freaks won't even want to come out of their caves."
"Good to know," said Senator Kelly. "However, William, I do have to say this; we must not resort to anything extreme, because you are seeing what is happening right now with this group rising called the FOH. They've already caused several riots, and those riots were well-organized and designed to be out of control. We have to distance ourselves from hate groups like that, and make it clear that Sentinel Services and the MRD are not by any means a hate group, because it is operating under the law."
"I can assure you, Senator, that you won't have to worry there," Stryker said.
"I better have your word, William. Because look at what had happened last time when I'd trusted someone. Cameron Hodge and Obadiah Stane went behind my back to illegally test the mutant cure, and they'd ended up killing an innocent young woman," said Senator Kelly in a concerned tone.
"I do not know; Senator . . . maybe Hodge and Stane had possibly the right idea. I mean, if anything, that young woman Candy Southern was just simply in the way. Apparently, she was the girlfriend of that Warren Worthington III kid," said Stryker.
Senator Kelly instantly felt an uneasiness filling him upon hearing how callous Stryker sounded at that moment. The fact that he seemed to be blaming Candice Southern for her own death was something that sounded a bit extreme to him, but, Senator Kelly also knew he had to brush that aside. He couldn't afford to have any doubts at this moment in time. Not when the presidential election was right around the corner, and would be there faster than expected.
"Alright, William; I wish you luck tonight," said Senator Kelly.
"Alright, then, gentlemen! Let's move out!" Stryker called to the MRD officials, shutting the door to his military-grade vehicle before driving off to launch The Wide Awake Project.
Hooters Restaurant – Midtown, Manhattan
Meanwhile, for the X-men, the team found that they were enjoying a rather rare night off, taking leisure and enjoying the fact that they could be free for the rest of the night. After a grueling Danger Room session with Logan leading them in an intense workout before dinner, the X-men decided that what they needed was a carefree night that they could enjoy while it lasted, due to the MRD and The Wide Awake Project being initiated that evening. This was why they found themselves at the Manhattan Mall – the only ones not joining them being Logan, Warren and Hank, who had gone off to a bar for the night.
Jean was at a Hooters restaurant not too far from the mall, enjoying some alone time with Scott while Kitty, Kurt, Ororo, Anna-Marie and Bobby were off shopping. Nursing her glass of Coke-a-Cola, Jean held Scott's hand tightly underneath the table.
"Jean, I get why you're worried, tonight of all nights," Scott said as they shared a platter of buffalo shrimp as well as an onion ring tower.
"Scott, it's not just the fact that tonight, the MRD and the Sentinels are launching. It's also the fact that Hank Pym is even going to attempt building artificial intelligence to ensure world-peace. Look at what had happened at Bobby's field trip with Otto Octavius. Who is to say that that cannot happen?" Jean asked, eating a piece of shrimp.
"Jean, try to lighten up a little bit," said Scott, reaching over to wrap his arm around her waist.
Jean giggled. "Okay, the boy scout of the X-men, our uptight Fearless Leader, telling me to lighten up . . . that's a first," she said.
Scott grinned at her, kissing her forehead lovingly. "Hey, just because I've got a stick up my ass, that doesn't mean I do not know how to actually have a sense of humor, babe."
Jean grinned a little at that. "Well, I'm wondering how the professor is enjoying his night."
"Something tells me that he is thoroughly enjoying it," Scott teased. "And people talk crap about us and the status of our relationship. Meanwhile, I am pretty sure I haven't seen the professor this happy in . . . I don't think ever."
"What about Mr. Stark and Pepper? It's like a Mexican standoff with those two and what they seem to have," Jean pointed out, eating an onion ring. She was suddenly forgetting about the fact that Sentinels were going to be released to start tracking down mutants.
"Very true. But I am surprised you didn't opt to go shopping with Kitty, Ororo and Rogue tonight," Scott said.
"Why does that surprise you?" Jean asked with a raised eyebrow. "You know I value my alone time with you. If we have an opportunity to be alone anywhere, even if it's a sports bar chain restaurant across the street from the mall, I'll be more than happy to take advantage of that."
"I know. It's one of the things that I love about you." Scott leaned in and kissed Jean softly on the lips before they turned their attention back to their meal.
Manhattan Mall – Food Court
"Creed, how much longer do we have to sit here and wait around? This is worse than the New Salem Mall in Chicago!" spat Alyssa Risman as she sat in the food courts of the Manhattan Mall, wearing a thick trench.
"Patience, Alyssa," Creed assured her. "Besides, I think that it is safe to say our moment will come. With the launching of the MRD and the Sentinels tonight, if Senator Kelly honestly thinks that something like that will work to keep the mutie scum in line; then he's a special kind of idiot. He truly believes that the law can keep muties in line. You know? It's amazing to me that he thinks he can put all of his faith into giant robots; technology can easily turn its ugly head."
"I still do not see how organizing these random, violent outbursts are accomplishing anything," Alyssa said in a cynical tone.
"We are making our message heard loud and clear, Risman; believe me when I say that one day, we will get our full message across. I've already got Bastion and several other Friends of Humanity followers positioned all over the city of Manhattan. Several are outside a couple mutie bars, some are here in the mall; we're at the stage of just spreading it out more, at this point," explained Creed; however, that was the moment they noticed Bobby Drake, Kurt Wagner and Kitty Pryde from the X-men walking into the food courts, talking and laughing together. Kurt was wearing an image-inducing watch to help him come off as human, but, that did not mean he was human by any means necessary.
"Ah, I see there are some muties here already," whispered Creed bitterly, particularly towards Kitty Pryde who was only thirteen years old, a little girl, but, that did not make her any less dangerous in the eyes of the Friends of Humanity.
Armed with a power-dampening collar he had managed to have Alyssa Risman get her hands on, thanks to her money and influence from Risman Financial, Creed was thoroughly prepared for what he was about to do. Pulling out his hand gun, Creed fired several shots in the air, causing everyone in the mall to scream in a panic.
Shooter's Bar – Twenty-Five Minutes Later
Logan "Wolverine" Howlett slammed his empty beer glass down on the bar, watching as Hank "Beast" McCoy and Warren "Angel" Worthington III played a game of pool. Typically, a biker bar such as this was the last place Warren and Hank would be seen hanging out at. But Warren had been looking forward to enjoying some decent beer. That was especially since Logan was looking for drinking buddies.
Warren sipped at his Blue Moon in victory at being able to clean off the entire pool table. "Read it and weep, Beast," he said with a smile. "I win again."
"Wings, ya gotta be cheating, kid," Logan said, getting up from his seat as he dared to compete with Warren in a game of pool.
"No, I am not. In fact, I remember when I was fifteen. I was in my freshman year of high school, before my mutation developed, and Cameron Hodge bet that I couldn't clean an entire pool table drunk. I did, he'd lost," said Warren. "So do not even try to compete with me, Logan."
Logan smirked, grabbing the pool stick from Hank, who went to order his own drink. "Let's play pool, Bird Boy."
"As you insist," Warren said with a grin, flagging down a waitress to bring them more chicken wings and another glass of Blue Moon. "Can we get more food and another beer here, please?"
As Warren and Logan proceeded to start playing a game of pool, Logan lighting up a cigar. Unbeknownst to the three of them, several members of the Friends of Humanity were outside the bar. They were preparing to attack. That was the moment a grenade launched, causing a large, gaping hole to form in the wall of the bar.
"NO MORE MUTANTS! NO MORE MUTANTS! NO MORE MUTANTS!" the FOH screamed loudly.
"I propose that we select this trice to make our departure," said Hank as they made their escape from the bar.
"Shit!" spat out Logan. "This is probably the third time we've had a run-in with these goons!"
That was when the three of them took notice of the MRD and the Sentinels going around town, patrolling the area.
"And if we try and fight these guys to defend ourselves, then we might as well be asking to be arrested by the MRD and the Sentinels," declared Warren.
"Great, this is just great," Logan snarled, popping a single claw out – the middle one, his favorite. That was the moment he could hear his cell phone ringing; a phone call from Scott. "Scottie," he said.
"Logan, those FOH people are attacking at random all over the city, tonight of all nights. Obviously, if mutants defend themselves from these guys, they'll just be asking to be arrested by the MRD. And additionally, to that, according to Kurt, they managed to take Kitty and get hold of her," said Scott.
"Alright, I'm going after her. Where was she last?" Logan asked, walking away from Warren and Hank to go and track Kitty down.
"Last Kurt and Bobby saw her was the food courts in the Manhattan Mall," said Scott. "But, be sure not to do anything reckless. With the MRD and the Sentinels being launched tonight, we do not need to cause any trouble for ourselves."
"Don't worry, Cyke; I'm the best at what I do," Logan said, switching off his image inducer to reveal his Wolverine uniform as he prepared to go and search for Kitty.
Lobdell Veterans Housing
"NO MORE MUTANTS! NO MORE MUTANTS! NO MORE MUTANTS! NO MORE MUTANTS! NO MORE MUTANTS!" chanted the angry crowd of the Friends of Humanity as Graydon Creed and Alyssa Risman took the stage with Kitty Pryde – Shadowcat, the youngest member of the X-men.
"What we have accomplished tonight . . . is a warning!" Graydon Creed boomed into the microphone. "To all mutants, of what the future holds for them. Tomorrow belongs to humanity! Let humanity cleanse of this foul mutant disease! And as you can see, we've got a guest here tonight! This is one of them muties from the X-men!"
"How's about you go and fuck yourself?" spat an angry Kitty Pryde, glaring daggers at Graydon Creed. Her blood was boiling as she stood there with a power-dampening collar around her neck and handcuffs around her wrists. "Again! I will ask you the same damn question I'd asked you at that campaign rally! Why do you hate us? What did we ever do to you? I don't even know who the hell you are!"
"You were born," Creed said to Kitty coldly.
"Well that's a pretty Goddamn lame excuse to hate a bunch of people!" Kitty said angrily. "Uncuff me and take this collar off! I'm not gonna do shit to you. You wanna try and embarrass me in front of all your followers? Well, if you wanna go, we're gonna go, and we'll see who is going to be embarrassed!"
She clenched her jaw hard. 'If only I can phase my way outta these cuffs!' she thought to herself. That was the moment she heard a loud, "HERRRRRRA!" and she turned to see Logan, in his Wolverine uniform, coming into the room from the skyline window, claws out. Logan shoved two of the FOH guards away from her, pushing them into the crowd below the stage.
"You sure pick lousy places to hang, sweetheart," he said to Kitty in his usual grumpy voice, using his claws to cut her loose and take the collar off of her.
"Hey, okay? I was just at the mall minding my own business when I'd heard gunshots, and one of their goons grabbed me and collared me! It's not my fault," Kitty retorted in her usual sassy manner.
Logan picked her up around the waist and threw her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. "If you knew just how long I had to sniff ya out to find ya!" he scolded her like a father would scold his daughter for disobeying him.
They both ran out of the building, Kitty focusing her powers to phase them out of there. As they both took off to make their exit, they noticed even more MRD officials and Sentinels flooding the streets of New York, collaring and capturing mutants who were simply trying to defend themselves from the FOH. The whole sight of it just sickened Kitty Pryde deeply.
'My family didn't survive through all they survived through, to see all the progress being made for tolerance of all people, to be made a mockery!' Kitty thought bitterly as she and Logan walked off to head back to X-Corporation Tower for the rest of the night.
The MRD Headquarters in Washington, D.C
"I see that you have already made some progress on the first night, William," commented Senator Edward Kelly as he observed the number of mutants had gotten collared to be kept in line.
"Indeed, Senator. But it really was no trouble. These were at least a couple dozen that were causing quite the scene tonight," said William Stryker with pride in his voice.
"William . . . from my understanding, there was also a group of people going by the name of the FOH who were attacking and provoking," said Senator Kelly apprehensively.
"Senator, are you backing down from this?" asked Stryker in a serious tone of voice.
"No . . . no, no, no, no," Senator Kelly insisted with a shake of his head. "But we agreed that it would be strictly mutants who are criminals."
"Using your powers, regardless of the situation, in a public setting, should be considered a felony, Senator," William Stryker said, even as the sighting of a ten-year-old mutant boy with orange skin and overly large hands passed by. The sight made the senator slightly uncomfortable, because his own son, James, was the same age. But he also knew that he couldn't afford to have doubts at that moment. He knew that he couldn't afford to compromise his values for anything, even if the idea of small, mutant children being dragged away for simply trying to protect themselves from danger made him feel discomforted.
'Why does this feel so wrong?' he thought to himself as another sighting of a twelve-year-old girl with purple hair and pink skin and elf-like ears being shoved along passed him by. 'I may not like mutants . . . but children? Why does this feel as though it's being taken too far? Children aren't criminals . . .'
As Senator Kelly continued to stand there watching the scene before him, he couldn't help but have doubts just a little bit. But then he found himself brushing those thoughts aside. He couldn't afford to think like that.
"It's a dawn of a new age for humanity, Senator," William Stryker said, leaning a hand onto the senator's shoulder. "I promise you, that this initiative will continue to work the way that it should."
Up next: Beauty and the Beast Part 1