Chapter 4

POV: Martin

We received word from M.O.M. about 2 hours after she started calling who knows who. She gave us something as we left.

"Open the box, Martin."

"A farewell gift? But we don't even know if we are out for sure yet!" I said in protest, but she insisted on opening it. I did, and inside was a certificate.

"It shows you are all or once were Center workers. Keep it safe and present it proudly. I salute you, Martin Mystery." M.O.M. said and I swear she was crying. Billy could tell and brought her tissues. She blushed.

"See you M.O.M., nice working with you all these years." I said as we walked out of a portal for the last time.

POV: Sam

We told Jerry our decision, and he was rather accepting. He presented each with a gift.

"For Clover, I am letting you keep your Palm Powder, because of its outfit feature. Other than that, all other features are disabled. For Alex, the sonic soccer ball. Great for practice. Last but certainly not least, Sam. I present you with a book shelf stocked to the brim with all new books on all different sciences and studies. I hope you find use of this collection." Jerry said, looking rather sad. I patted him on the back.

"Hey, don't cry. We have big things ahead of us."

"Yah Jer, our whole life ahead! You knew we were going to leave eventually." Alex said attempting to comfort Jer, but he ended crying even more.

We waved good bye as we entered a portal the Center had sent to get us to New York quickly. I felt sad to leave him wallowing in his own tears. He would recover, after all his brother did turn evil, would could be worse than that?

We passed through the portal and ended coming out at the same time as Martin and his group. He smiled nervously, clearly nervous of the upcoming news.

"So…mutants huh?" I asked Martin desperately trying to break this nervous tension. Surprisingly, Martin and Diana had done their homework because they explained all they knew of the school. I was shocked. Definitely was not expecting that. We walked nervously into the lot, walking past a gate that opened for us.

We proceeded to make our way to the front steps which lead up to the door of course. A man came out of the front door. He smiled warmly. He was bald and was in a wheel chair. This must be Professor Xavier.

"Yes, I am Professor Xavier Sam. Nice to meet you and your friends. Jerry and M.O.M. told me so much about you." Xavier said as he motioned us inside his mansion. It was really big from the inside out. So much space, but I guess that makes sense since it is a school.

"I have a question. What is your definition of 'gifted'?" I asked the Professor. He smiled again.

"Good question Sam, but I can tell you have many more. Gifted here means capable of unusual talents or feats not regularly done by the average man. We are the future, but mankind doesn't see it that way. They see us as a virus. There are even some mutants dedicated to annihilating the human race. Here we live as equals, and help our fellow people." Xavier said. We started down a hallway to Xavier's office. It was neat and well organized. He told us to sit down. Some people walked into the room. One was an African American woman with white hair. The other was a rather muscular man wearing shades and had neatly parted hair. He felt like the leader for some reason. Lastly, I saw a scruffy man came in with a spiky hairdo and with a toothpick in his mouth.

"This is Ororo Munroe or Storm, this is Scott Summers or Cyclops, and this is Logan or Wolverine."

"Hello, you must be the new mutants that Xavier has said so much about." Storm said politely. Clover was not pleased.

"We are not mutants! We are just here for a check up thing!"

"Don't mind my friend, she is to nervous to accept the truth." I said after apologizing to Storm for Clover's ignorance. Xavier instructed us to go down to the lab with Storm so Dr. Hank McCoy could examine us.

"You mean Beast, right?" I asked. He nodded.

We walked down the hall with Storm leading the way. Clover was definitely acting weird. Nerves were taking over her whole body! In the lab were a lot of big computer and vials filled with different liquids. We notice a blue fur covered man working furiously in a corner.

"Beast, these our new guests. Xavier suggests a thorough examination. See to it that you do please." Storm said leaving the room. Beast looked at us intently.

"Fascinating. When did you first notice your mutations?" Beast asked, booting up a computer. We all just looked at each as though this was truth or dare. Alex walked up first. We all stared at her.

"Sir, none of us know anything about our gifts. We aren't even sure if we have any. WE just came for a check up, sort of." Alex said then back down. Beast just nodded and took a blood, skin and hair sample from each of us. Then took eye, and fingerprint scans. Then he tested our strength. After all that, he told us to just wander around or ask the Professor questions. We left his room, and went separate ways.

POV: Alex

We decided to walk around and explore the grounds. I decided personally to ask Professor X some questions. I made my way back to his office with a little help from Storm. I asked her to wait outside because I wanted to ask him some questions. She understood and before I could even touch the door knob, I heard:

"Enter Alex."

I was seriously freaked out, I opened the door. He smiled.

"Good day Alex. While your friends are out exploring you decided to see me. Oh, and I am a psychic or preferably called a telepath. I can read and alter people's minds."

"Then I guess you already know…"

"Yes, I do know what happened to you a couple hours ago. I felt a surge of activity and saw you in a vision. I am happy you could be with us. I doubt you know the capabilities of you gift yet, that is why we are here. To guide you on this difficult journey."

"Thanks."

I left the room thanking Storm for giving me some privacy. She just blushed and told me she had done what I had told her to do. I walked outside, but I bumped into a girl on my way out. She was somewhat short with long brown hair.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to bump you." I said to this mysterious girl.

"No, it is my fault for thinking the whole mansion was empty. I am Kitty Pryde by that way but you can call me Shadowcat." Shadowcat said.

"Why do they call you that?"

"Because I can pass through any object."

"Cool."

"And who are you?"

"Oh, I am Alex. I found out I may have mutant powers along with five more of my friends." I said.

"Don't be freaked out by whatever you get, we are all different, in looks and abilities. Just remember, don't forget who you are." Shadowcat said just before she ran through another wall and out of my way.

I was rather stunned but I continued out until I ended up on the lawn. Martin came down beside me and I rested my head up against his warm body as we lay staring into the night sky.

POV: Beast

As I ran the sample through my scanners, something peculiar was found in every single sample. I jumped to the conclusion that they all had mutations, not just Alex. I brought my results to the Professor as soon as I narrowed them down. He asked me what I had discovered. I explained my discoveries. He sat back, looking shocked.

"Beast, I never in my life thought I would see 6 Omega level mutants at one time."

"It is rather unlikely this happened by accident. Do you know more about their pasts?"

What Xavier told me about Sinister pulled the theories to conclusion, they had somehow been altered or enhanced by Sinister, or they never were changed by him, and they were already Omega level. I told the Professor I would continue to examine them and see if any notable mutations were happening. He also told me about Alex.

"Got it, I will look into Alex first." I said as I left the room.

I quickly got to my office to continue examining the specimens. I made a quick glance out my window to see a night sky with Alex sitting beside Martin on the grass in the front of the mansion. I noticed a small light by Martin. I dismissed it quickly as it could be from that watch he is always wearing. I got back to my tests on to hear screaming right after I left the window. I ran back to the window to see Martin freaking out with an unconscious Alex in his hands. Clover and Java appeared to have come out of the surrounding forest to aid Alex. Alex was quickly brought inside to my office. I asked Martin how this happened.

"I don't know, she was just talking to me when she became quiet. I wondered why she stopped talking all of a sudden and noticed she passed out!" Martin said with extreme worry. I might be a genius, but I could certainly tell he had a thing with Alex. He laid Alex down on my table and I gave her a quick look. This might be the ideal time to find mutant signs, I thought to myself. I looked but to no avail.

Alex woke up about an hour later breathing very fast. I asked her what she was thinking. She said death, and then was silent.

"Thinking about death? Can you see dead people?" Martin said using an obvious reference to try lightening the mood. She just laughed and said no, but she did remember death. Martin went by her side and she snuggled up beside him. It was about 4 in the morning. Professor X came in and asked me to step outside.

"Beast, what is it Alex remembers?"

"Something about death; Professor, I think she is mistaken…"

"Don't jump to conclusions, Beast. I heard something that may shock you."

"What could this be?"

"Alex was unconscious for the last hour, correct?"

"Yes…"

"Over the past hour, over ten mutants were slaughtered by police during a riot outside the Whitehouse."

I stood looking at him. Death and slaughtered mutants? Definitely not a coincidence.

"So you think she can see the future?"

"It is hard to tell. Perhaps if I concentrate on her mind I can penetrate and find what she saw." He focused for a couple seconds then stopped, looking puzzled.

"What is wrong?"

"It is like my powers have, disappeared. Like they have vanished completely, this cannot be!"

"Sir, am I…?" I was about to say something that was self explanatory. My fur was fading and my hands shrinking to normal size. I watched as I turned human, completely stunned. How could this have happened?