CHAPTER 8. SENATOR KELLY

It is the year 1977 and Jimmy Carter is the current President of the United States. But the name on everyone's lips is Senator Robert Kelly of New York. He is the favorite to win in the next Presidential election. He meets with Graydon Reed founder of the Friends of Humanity. They shake hands, "Mr. Reed it is an honor to meet you…"

"And you Senator…"

"So what can I do for you?"

"Everyone expected you to run for President Senator why didn't you?"

"I felt it wasn't my time yet…I felt I needed a little more seasoning…"

"Will your time come in the next election?"

He smiles, "It may be so…"

"Well my organization the Friends of Humanity is willing to make a sizable donation towards your campaign…We also have the Essex Corporation in our pocket…We only have one request…That you make the Mutant Registration Act your platform and push it before the Senate…"

Over the next four years Senator Kelly builds up the coffers for his Campaign. Then in the year 1980 he announces that he is running for President of the United States. "My fellow Americans…I come before you not as a politician…But as a husband and a father…We live in uncertain times…Times filled with threats of Nuclear war…A changing economy…and the ever growing threat of Mutants among us…I will not sit idly by while these changes threaten the very fabric of the American way of life…As your President I vow that you will know who is going to school with your children…Who is teaching your children and who is working with you on your job…Support my candidacy for President and support the Mutant Registration Act…We need to know who the mutants are and above all what they can do…"

XAVIER MANSION

Charles, Erik, Azazel, Scott, Jean, and Mystique are watching the television. "See Charles the lines are being drawn and mark my words humans will draw first blood…"

"We must be the better men…" He looks at Mystique and Jean, "And women…"

"We are better…At least let's put someone on the inside to make sure this bill isn't more than just a way to tag us…Through Kelly we can even get closer to these Mutant government programs…"

"I have friends in Washington…And I have been invited to speak on the Mutant condition before a committee…"

Later when Charles is asleep Erik speaks with Mystique in private. "I want you to get close to this Senator Kelly…Find out everything you can…"

"I will need help…"

"I have a friend a mutant named Domino she will meet you outside of New York…"

WASHINGTON D.C. – SENATE HEARING ON MUTANT AFFAIRS

"Charles Xavier…"

Some people clap as he walks to the potium, "Thank you Senator Gize…My name is Charles Xavier…I have a PHD in the field of Genetic Mutation, Psychology, and Medicine…Mutation is not a disease…It is the evolution of the human G-Nome…The X-Gene does not cause disease…Mutants are humans as well and many of them wish to live in peace with their fellow man…Those mutants who have come forward have been met with violence and prejudice…I ask this committee to reconsider the Mutant Registration Act…"

"Professor Xavier…Isn't it a fact that you yourself are a mutant…"

Charles smiles, "Why yes Senator I am a mutant…"

"And would you tell us what it is that you can do…"

"FREAK!" A man screams throwing a gas bomb. People start to run and scream for their lives. Another man pulls out a gun and shoots at the Professor. But the bullets stop in the air as Erik points his hand. Scott wearing his visor hits the man with his concussive blast knocking him out. As the violence unfolds Secret Service surround Senator Kelly and get him out.

"No!' Professor Xavier screams as Azazel appears behind a man and slashes him across the back. Then he takes down a police officer and three more men. Erik unleashes an EMP, magnetizing the doors and locks; he also disables communication allowing the Mutants to escape the building.

SENATOR KELLY'S WASHINGTON CAMPAIGN OFFICE

"What the hell was that?" He asks yelling at Graydon Reed

"Our friends wanted to expose Xavier on national television…We have paid reporters who will say that the Mutants attacked first. This is just the beginning Mr. President…" Kelly's ratings go up in the polls and more support is shown through rallies for the Mutant Registration Act.

ERIK'S SECRET HIDEOUT

They have one of the men from the attack at the hearing tied to a chair. "Who are you working for…"

"Fuck you freak show…"

"We have ways of making you talk…" They water board the man but that does not work so Erik gives him sodium pentothal or truth serum. They learn that he is a sleeper agent inside the Friends of Humanity working for Essex Corporation. Later Erik and Azazel stand before Charles telling him what they had learned. "We need to take down the Friends of Humanity and Expose the Essex Corporation…"

"The Friends of Humanity aren't the real threat Essex is…the FOH are just puppets…Essex is experimenting on Mutants to create the ultimate Mutant…They are the ones we need to take down…"

"They are one and the same my friend…There are people out there who believe what Reed believes about Mutants and if we allow them to grow they will grow in power, strength and influence…They may be puppets now, but in a few years they will be more…"

Charles sighs, "We need evidence on all of them and then we can expose them all…"