X-men Origins: Goliath

Chapter 2: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Mutant

4

After a while of clearing my head, and my team bring the targets – alive but still somewhat captive – down to ground level, we head back to camp. I remain silent the whole journey, the red-haired kid does the same, except smirking while I just appear emotionless and blank, still overwhelmed by what I had just experienced. Could my team have been blackmailed into this? Perhaps threatened by corrupt leaders? Or is this just down to ostracizing only myself from plans for some form of mutiny-style assault on myself? Whatever the reason is, I remained on my guard at all times for the entire 90 minutes I spent in the truck with each and every person there, tied up or not.

When we arrive, I forget my senses entirely, marching quickly to the Lieutenant who stops me suddenly "Before you say anything to me, Mason, be aware I have the authority to have you exiled should you decide to even sneeze in a way that displeases me" he says strictly before I speak "Sir, I was not aware that the targets were live beings, live beings with powers at that" I say as I remain at attention, trying not to lose my patience as the lieutenant acknowledges me, however he simply does not even care to look in my direction "They're called mutants, Mason, these beings are a threat to human lives, and by human I refer to the entire world and not just the united states"

My mind is now at a fork in the road – do I submit myself as one of these so-called "mutants", or do I hide what I have, and risk suffering consequences should they be unintentionally exposed. Controversial as it is, I chose the latter. "So we plan to simply exterminate thee mutants? These are biologically altered humans, sir. You for humans to survive, yet you're killing 4 of them for having gifts?" I argue my case, still at attention. Alas, the lieutenant now looks to me, but not in any form of happy or interested way "I get gifts at Christmas time, mason, and my gifts cannot set their head into flames, nor can my gifts levitate or absorb electricity into their fingertips"

Growling silently to myself I slowly begin losing patience, disagreeing with what the Lieutenant just explained "Sir, some of these people are unable to control what they do and other are considered harmless and well-controlled" I retort, in a desperate bid to make the Lieutenant understand as he just looks at me more seriously before speaking slightly faster and a little quieter "If I did not know better, I would say you're attempting to defend the enemy, now is that correct Captain Mason?" the Lieutenant asks as I pause, knowing I've already went far enough as it is as I look down to my feet "…no, sir" I respond, part of me hating the fact I had surrendered that argument as the Lieutenant speaks, now in a more light-hearted tone, though probably an act "good! In that case these men here will show you to your helicopter home, and away from my face for a while" he says while again diverting his gaze elsewhere, merely waving a hand around to signal 4 men – different from the 4 before them – to guide me onto the helicopter.

As they lead me to the helicopter, the closest to me attempts resting his hand on my shoulder, as I just look to him, glaring. Out of nowhere, I lose focus of what I'm doing, as I snarl towards him, my entire very gradually goes from a very smooth, even skin tone…to becoming more grey as it solidifies, finishing after turning entirely into a rock surface, almost like granite. By this time, the soldier's hand successfully leaves my shoulder, yet is replaced by his eyes, stunned and locked onto my jawline which carefully becomes reformed back into a smooth skin surface once more.

Getting into the helicopter – alone, I might add – the pilot flies off, and it's only a few miles off the base camp before he turns to talk to me while flying "You need to control yourself you know" he says in a tone that is a mixture between calm and strict. "I don't follow" I say, being honest and straightforward. "Your 'granite jaw' stunt back there, you could have given yourself away. You got to be more careful"

I hesitate, my head tilting side to side slightly in disbelief of what I'm hearing "Hey, I'll play my game, you play yours, ok? Besides you don't know anything of what this is like" I say as the pilot merely turns his head toward me, his helmet shielding his face yet still speaking with me "You sure about that?" he asks me in an unconvinced manner as I merely stay silent.

A short while later, the pilot speaks again, while still flying "Have you ever heard of a guy named Charles Xavier?" he asks me as I think momentarily "I can't say I have, why?" I respond, curiously before he explains "They say he runs a school for folk like us..." I interrupt him "You mean like me" as he smirks and nods "Right, like you…anyway, he's incredibly well known for helping folk like you learn to use your skills for good and to control them better…maybe you should see about finding him" he suggests as I think it over, but only for a few seconds "I don't need help to control it, and I already know how to use them" I say to him naively, knowing I could do with much more training, but currently I'd rather just forget them and have time to relax myself – well, to the best that I can, anyway. "Suit yourself" the pilot says before we both silence once again.

After another small amount of time, the pilot checks the radar scanner; built into the military-issue helicopter flight navigation system, as it reads 64 Miles off base camp. "Ok, so now we're far enough off camp, I can take you to Mr Xavier's location if you like, I know where he stays and I know him well" the pilot says as I smirk, again in disbelief "You had to wait all this time just for that?" I ask as he shrugs "Flight systems detect any abnormalities in the sky for up to 60 miles out of base, I had to wait otherwise I'd be questioned. I simply nod, his argument made sense, yet I still found it odd. I hesitate briefly and then give a short sigh, as if I'm bracing myself "Ok, take me to this Charles guy then"

After I say that, a small smile draws itself upon the pilot's face, as the helicopter turns suddenly west-bound, flying straight for approximately an hour. As I remain in the front seat, next to the pilot, I look out the front window; bright blue, cloudless skies shine down over what can only be called a mansion. People of all kinds surrounding the grounds, young, old, countless nationalities and body types…I look at the pilot a little curious "You took me to a foster home?" I ask him, slightly sarcastic as this time it's the pilot who smirks "No, but don't say that to any of them…Lord only knows what would happen if you did" He says as he begins the landing procedure, a large mass of the surrounding people waiting beside the landing platform, as if to make a welcoming party, seemingly led by a bald man bound to a wheelchair. As the pilot and I climb out of the helicopter the bald man gives me a slight nod, complimented with a very large and genuine grin "Welcome to the academy, Mr Mason, my name is Charles Xavier" He says as I look at him, suspicious.

"How-how did you know my name?" I ask him as he is barely phased by the question "Well, not only are you well known around my academy for finding us mutants, but also my friend has informed me he would be flying you to here" he says as I look to the pilot. As I look towards him, the pilot then takes off his helmet – and then it all made sense. Beneath his helmet and headset was nothing, just a very round, hairless head; no eyes, no ears…most normal thing about him was his head shape and the fact he had a mouth and nose as he shrugs. "I couldn't exactly tell you anything in flight, nor have I ever let anybody know who can't help me or empathize" he says, in a bid to regain my trust for not telling me initially as I just squint at him partially "How can you fly with no eyes?" I asked him, very intrigued as he laughs slightly "I have what's called extrasensory vision; meaning that the buzzing of the copter and the enhanced telekinetic ability I have in my mind means I sense my surroundings, even aerially"

I remain confused, however Charles continues before I can say anything more "I know more about you than you know, Mr Mason" he says confidently as I smirk "Is that right? Good for you" he says as I give up the charade, climbing back into the copter as I'm halted by a voice in my head "Your earthen skills are tremendous, you move hillsides and boulders if they're simply putty in your hands…you can form walls of granite, sandstone…just about any mineral you can think of, you can even reform your very being into that of a stone golem…moreover, you can hide this from everybody, if only you were able to before your family who found your stone being at 5 years old, and your military who although they hadn't found out, they made you capture and take hostage mutants you saw as innocents"

My eyes go wide, almost in horror, I recognized the voice yet nobody heard anything…it was in my head. I turn around, still paralysed by the shock, staring at the bald man in the chair "How did you do that?!" I ask as he explains "Simple, Mr Mason, I'm like you, and yet I'm very different from yourself. I am another form of mutant; I possess telepathic power, meaning I can not only read your thoughts but also communicate with you through your mind and not your ears…which is very similar to what your pilot friend Zach has" he says, pointing to the man with no eyes as I remain motionless, stunned, overwhelmed, and moreover, exasperated…

I look around, my head still failing to clear as I finally choose to take the bait "Ok, so dare I ask it, why am I here?" I ask as Charles shrugs "You wanted to" he answers before continuing "Your mouth had refused it several times, only until Zach persuaded you to see me…but in your heart, and more importantly your mind, you wanted to know what I could do for in regards to your powers" he answers. The masses of people still stand behind them; lots of friendly, happy faces. They knew I was shocked to the core by this, undoubtedly they had all been where I currently stand, and that could probably be why they remained friendly and silent while Charles explained the situation.

After a few moments I shrug and nod "Ok, fair enough…So what's the catch? Do I need to pay rent? Do I live elsewhere and visit here daily? What?" I ask as Charles keeps his eyes on me. "A trainer here, Mr Rasputin, will take your luggage upstairs and lead you to your room" He says right before a very well built man with short dark hair comes over to me, smiling but only slightly as I look to him "So what's your thing? Superstrength?" I ask, almost sarcastically as within a second his entire body – face and all – switches into Steel as he nods slightly "You could say that" he answers before picking up my luggage.

"Woah" is the only word I could say, stunned and impressed at the example I was given as I follow the trainer toward the building – having now returned back to his human form before I'm halted again by Charles "Mr Mason!" he calls over as he turns his chair to face me, along with 2 of his associates; one with short, white hair, and the other an almost steam punk-style combination of sunglasses and an eye mask as all 3 of them smile to me "Welcome to the X-men Academy" he says, smiling as I enter the building, still following Mr Rasputin.

What was I in for? Whatever it was, I had no doubt it was big….and probably worrying…