First Mutant
By David D. Amaya
Chapter 16
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MedLab, Xavier Mansion, New York 1221 EST. Day 19
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"Thanks for the apple," the President's son replied from his MedLab bed. "You know, this is the best tasting apple I had since I've moved to DWEEBvill. Are you from Washington State, too?"
"Nope," the girl in the yellow coat informed him. "I'm from Southern Cal."
"Valley Girl, huh? I heard that song once, that was enough. Explains a lot though."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Well," started Cyrus. "Let's start with the banana yellow coat, and well I could end there too, but I will go on. . . "
"Well, I remember this kid, who shall remain nameless, but is sitting in this room and lives in the White House, and shopping for yuppie diapers, with his little sis and his mommy."
"Aw, man! Don't anyone watch Scooby-Doo anymore?"
"I tried, but that, shopping trip, was all over the air waves," she explained. "Oh, yea, that reminds me, I have a bone to pick with you!" She pokes the President's son with her index finger. "What was that about blowing that mall up like that, huh?
"Okay, okay I wouldn't want to be caught dead in a suit like that either, but why couldn't you direct your anger at something less important?"
"You mean like the IRS?"
"Actually I was thinking the Friends of Humanity, but yea," said Jubilee.
"Please don't take this the wrong way," asked Cyrus. "But . . . are you a mutant, too?"
"Yea, I can throw sparks, here I'll show you," she said as she demonstrated her mutant ability to the President's son.
"Kewl," said Cyrus. "I bet you're a big hit on the Fourth of July. I just blow stuff up, or at least I used to before they put this dog collar on me."
"Yea, they, like, told me you have the same powers as Gumbo," she said. "Don't worry kid, the Cajun's thing is pretty cool, too."
"Names not 'kid,' Valley Girl. It's Cyrus."
"Well, I'm Jubilee. Now I'll make you a deal. If you don't, like, call me 'Valley Girl,' I won't call you 'Billy Ray' That okay with you?" she said extending her hand.
"Deal," the President's son shook it.
"By the way, I heard your babysit . . . er, that is, Agent Nichols call you Kilowatt. Is that, like, your nickname?"
"Yea, my Uncle Jake gave me that when I was a relief pitcher back in Em City, 'cause I could turn up the juice in the late innings," explained Cyrus. "But now it's what the MiBs call me at the White House.
"My friends call me K'Watt or 'Watt for short."
"Kewl, 'Watt it is," said Jubilee. "You can call be Jubes."
"Okay, Jubes, do you think you can talk to Doc McCoy into letting me out of here?"
"Sure, 'Watt," she replied. "Like, I'll go ask him."
"No need to my dear Jubilation," the blue doctor replied from the doorway. "I was just about to suggest that our young visitor from the Pacific Northwest stretch his legs. How are you feeling, Cyrus?"
"Better, my stomach stopped doing back flips, and I still got a roaring headache, and this dog collar itches," reported the President's son. "Can I take it off, Doc?"
"Actually, I would prefer that you leave it on for another half hour or so longer," said the doctor. "You may still be suffering from the after-effects of the hallucinogens in your system and I wouldn't want you to injure yourself if you use your mutant gifts inadvertently."
"Huh?"
"What 'ol Blue means, is he don't want you to pass out and blow up the lab if you freak out again," Said Jubilee.
"That's what I said," replied the Beast.
"Yea, doc, whatever,"Cyrus he slid out of the bed and put his shoes and blazer back on.
"Jubilation, my dear. Would you be so kind as to give our guest from our nation's capital, a tour of the facilities?"
"Sure, Hankster," she replied. "Come on 'Watt. Just wait till you see the rest of the place!"
"Ok, Jubes, but I have one question first," he said when he was out of the doctor's earshot.
"Like what?"
"Well, the doc seems all right and all, but do you ever get the craving for a bag of Chips Ahoy whenever you're around him?"
"ALIENS!?" Asked Cyrus as they walked down the hall. "As in 'little green men from Mars,' aliens?"
"Actually it's the Shi'ar Empire," explained Jubilee. "The Prof's, like, is best buds with their leader."
"WOW!" Exclaimed Cyrus. "This will send Oz somewhere over the rainbow for sure! I can't wait to see the E-mail I'll get after this!"
"You keep talkin' 'bout Oz. Is Oz, like, your best bud, 'Watt."
"Yep, and then some, Jubes," said the President's son.
Then Cyrus told the young pyrotechnic all about his best friend back in Seattle.
". . . And Oz was the only one ta stick by me since I moved to DWEEBvill." Explained Cyrus. "We still sent E-mail to each other. Oz was even the first one to know about this mutant-thing I got. Lariat knows, too, but you knew that. Told him a couple weeks ago."
"Is he cool, I mean for a government-type?"
"Oh yea. I guess you saw 'Hard Line' on my first day at Sidwell right? Well they tape this dork talkin' some serious trash to moi. Made the K'Watt look bad on national TV. I mean that was the second time in three days!
"Well I wanted to kick his butt, Skid Way-style, but Lariat gets him instead."
"You mean he kicked his butt for you?"
"Oh, even better. You've seen the bucket-over-the-door gag, right Jubes? Well he did that just before the next class. His Royal Dorkness struts into class then, SPLASH-LOA, red Kool-Aid all over the place."
"KEWL!" exclaimed Jubilee. "I just gotta do that to Cyke at least once!"
"The cool part is, I didn't ask him to do it. Heck, he didn't even tell me it was he afterwards. I found the evil plot stashed in my English notes.
"That's when Oz suggested I tell Lariat. I mean anyone that kewl you can trust, right?"
"Like, why do you call him 'Lariat'?" She asked. "Is he an ex-cowboy, or something?"
"I don't really know, Jubes. He's from Boston and that makes him a lowly Red Sox fan. His name means rope or something. Well I told him and he didn't even go loony tons. He even suck me out of the White House for some target practice one night, to help me get this mutant-stuff under wraps. That's when Mr. Clean, I mean, the Professor, calls Lariat's pad. We call him back and what do you know, he's already found out about my blowing things up.
"Jean's been sending lessons to Lariat and I practice at night, every chance we can escape the Executive Penitentiary."
"Yea, 'mom,' has got to be one of the, if not the nicest people in the universe."
"She's your mother, Jubes?" Cyrus asked. "I mean, no offense, but I can't see any resemblance to you and Scott."
"Jean and Cyke ain't my parental units, exactly, 'Watt," she began to tell the President's son about her real parents dying in a car crash, being sent to an orphanage, running away and living in the mall, meeting Wolverine in the Australian Outback , Joining the X-Men, . . .
Then that fateful night in Boston.
Although she still couldn't remember any the details of the attack itself, she explained the aftermath; her being taken out of Sean's guardianship and almost being sent to a 'special care facility,' and Jean and Scott asking to be her legal guardians.
"Gee," He replied gravely. "I guess your lucky to have so many friends so close to you. Ain't got anyone that close, that close."
"What do your folks say about your powers, 'Watt?" She asked.
Cyrus hung his head down. "Haven't told them yet. Was goin' to last night, but that was before I got nabbed at school."
"You mean they really don't know?"
"Hey, I love 'em lots, but they ain't just any 'ol fam bam," said Cyrus. "First there's my sis, Andi. Still a bit too young to keep a secret and I don't exactly want to be her next Show & Tell.
"Then there's 'The First Mom.' Spends most of her waking moments trying to upstage Hillary and Jackie O in the 'Miss Best First Lady of All Time' pageant.
"And last, but not least, 'Es Padre El Presidente.' You remember that parade three years ago, when he carried me to the White House on his shoulders, Ever since then he was always too busy running the country.
"When he was a Senator, we used to all sorts of fun stuff as a family when he was home on breaks and holidays, now he doesn't even get President's Day off! These days he's too busy traveling cross-country telling 'em he wants to do it for another four years.
"Heck I don't even get to see everyone together much when they are home except dinner, but dad always gots to head off to fix something wrong before he gets to finish off the potatoes."
"I'm sorry, 'Watt," Jubilee said. "I didn't mean to pry."
"That's okay, but what 'bout you, Jubes?" said Cyrus. "How long you been doing the super hero gig? It must be exciting to save the world all the time."
"Not that long. Used ta run with the Wolvster before I became an X-Man.
"You know, 'Watt, you're the first person to call me a super hero, heck everyone we risk our butts savin' calls us the bad guys. But it ain't always cool. Some of my best friends get hurt, real bad. Some even died, 'Watt."
"I'm sorry, Jubes," said Cyrus. He could relate, as he had to deal with that type of grief himself. "I mean my dad's government treats you guys like slime, you could get killed saving people who not only hate you, but you don't even know, but you guys still do it. What keeps you going, Jubes?"
"The Dream," She said, explaining the professor's vision, which she and the rest of the X-Men share. "Sometimes it's the only thing that gets us through a day."
Seeing the sadness in her eyes, Cyrus decided to switch gears.
"Do you guys spar? I mean, like do you have bad guy-batting practice, or something?"
"Here, 'Watt, I'll even show ya." She replied as they stopped in front of a door marked . . .
Danger Room.
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War Room, Xavier Mansion, 1252 EST.
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"That has got to be the biggest brain fart I've ever heard," Logan replied. "And I know Nick Fury and Dum-Dum Dugan!"
"This is the only way," Agent Nichols explained. "The badges are authentic and the IDs and business cards are very realistic. I have done undercover assignments requiring the use of disguises before, Logan."
"It's gonna take more than a little Hollywood make-up job to become Jack Bower, FBI, G-Man." He read one of the recovered IDs. "Where have I heard that name before?"
"It's Kiefer Sutherland's role from that television show you think is not very realistic, my friend." Hank replied.
"Well remember, I was not supposed to have these with me," he replied. "These they were just to show my 'involvement.' This is someone's poor idea of a bad joke."
"Aye, but another person's involvement?"
"The involvement of this link, Sean, who will be referred to as 'Green Party,'" Kordel explained. "will be passive, but is a direct link for all intents. No, Green Party does not know their role in this matter and is in the dark of Cyrus' rescue. But in light of the situation that is one of the reasons that Green Party is such a trusted link all the way up to POTUS, and only one person even knows how to secure Green Party's involvement."
"How is Cyrus doing now, Hank?" Ororo inquired.
"He is up and around," Hank reported. "Jubilation is giving him the grand tour of the mansion."
"Thank you, Doctor McCoy. How soon until you are able to take the inhibitor off him?"
"Not long, Kordel, it's just a precaution at this time."
"Excellent, since Cyrus is here Jean said she can cram some more lessons when she and Remy return from their shopping trip."
"They are pulling into the driveway as we speak," Scott reported as he felt his wife's presence.
"Thank you, Scott. Let us go see if the goods are the best slush money can buy."
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Danger Room, Xavier Mansion, 1314 EST.
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"WOW!" Exclaimed Jubilee. "The only ones I've seen do moves like that is Wolvster and Betsy! Did Lariat teach you that?"
"Nope," answered Cyrus. "Learned it back in Em. City, he hasn't even seen it yet. Only needed to use it once, but the Kool-Aid scene was much, much, better anyway."
"Kewl, but watch this." She said as she hit some buttons on the control panel and the Shi'ar hologram changed the landscape to a sleazy, dark, smoke-filled bar, filled with tough-looking, beer-drinking, bikers.
"This is one of Wolvie's favorite programs," she explained. "Everyone that's worn the X has done this at least once. He, of course, gots the best time at 7:10.31."
"ALL 30?" Cyrus asked amazed. "I bet those shanks really do a great job of Julianning."
"Oh, that's without the claws," said Jubilee. "With the claws he can do it in 3:06.47."
"THREE MINUTES! Man I'd sure hate to piss him off in a dark alley!"
"I know whole biker gangs who regret just gettin' him upset in broad daylight," Jubilee said with oblivious pride. "So you ready, 'Watt?"
"Ready, Jubes."
"Computer," Jubilee called out. "Start program!"
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Just outside the Xavier Mansion, 1319 EST.
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" 'De Gambit never felt so much like de James Bond, Mr. Secret Agent Man," Remy said as he and Jean got out of the van. " 'De last time I saw stuff like dis is when Rodger Moore was 007, mon ami."
"Did you get everything I asked for?" Aget Nichols asked.
"Yes," Jean answered. "But I never knew you could just walk up and buy this stuff at a flea market! You should tell the Secret Service about it, Kordel."
"I am WAY ahead of you, Jean. Did you notice a man with a bald head, eye-patch, beard with no mustache selling hand grenades?"
"Oui."
"He is the deep cover operative for Bureau, how did you think I knew about it!? There is some really bad news items passing there Friday. I was supposed to help with the raid with DOJ since I was off the rotation.
"There is surveillance around the clock. That is why I asked you to go and disguise yourselves from being picked up by the cameras."
"Good thinkin,' mon ami," said Remy. " 'Sides good thing you had de Gambit do de talkin.' Even got most the things cheaper and lifted a few extra things dat might be useful on a rainy day."
"And with what we had left over," added Jean. "We went and bought some changes of clothes for you and Cyrus." Remy opened the rear hatch and along with the items on the Secret Service agent's shopping list, were several bags of clothes for the X-Men's guests.
"Thanks Jean, Remy," Agent Nichols thanked the pair for their thoughtfulness. "I really appreciate what you are all all doing for us. I know Cyrus will love to get out of that blood red Sidwell blazer and into this Mariners jersey. I shall go and give it to him right now."
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Danger Room, Xavier Mansion, 1323 EST.
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"Time!" Cyrus called out.
The timer on the wall read 7:12.36.
"Aw, man, I knew I should have just dropped that last scumbag him instead of using him as a shield," Jubilee pouted.
"Man that felt great!" exclaimed the President's son.
"I've always said kickin' bad guy behind makes you feel better!"
"Want to go again?" Cyrus asked.
"Hell yea, 'Watt! Time for round dos! Computer; restart program."
Instantly the defeated bar patrons returned to their original positions and began to advance towards the two young mutants ...
Just as the Danger Room door opened.
"Cyrus, Jean and Remy have a present for . . . WHAT THE HELL!?" Agent Nichols exclaimed as he saw over two dozen tough looking roughnecks attacking the two youngsters.
Instantly his Service training kicked into high gear as he grabbed the two young mutants and shoved them out of the room.
"Get help!" he shouted as the Danger Room door closed.
"But Lariat!"
"GO!" He shouted as the Danger Room door shut and locked.
"You gotta stop the program, Jubes," said Cyrus.
"Um, 'Watt the only way I can turn it off is to go back inside."
"Then open the door!"
"The door locks automatically when you engage the enemy on this program, it's Wolvester's failsafe, so no one else gets hurt. Aw, SHIT!! Um, 'Watt we gotta get help!"
The Shi'ar holographic program instantly changed now that there was only one lone combatant as the remaining bikers started to fight with the Secret Service agent. The timer activated when he fell upon the three lead bikers delivering swift roundhouse kicks to their midsections, dropping them. Then taking on the rest of the 27 using tae kwon do, jujitsu and capoeira.
"Computer; emergency override, open Danger Room door."
Scott, Jean, Remy, Cyrus, Jubilee, Hank and Sean came through the door just as Agent Nichols floored the last two bikers, then falling to the ground, clearly spent.
"Time!" Jubilee called out.
The timer read 7:10:30.
"Computer; end program," Jean commanded.
Then like a puff of smoke, the 30 unconscious bar patrons disappeared, along with the bar.
"WHAT... THE HELL... IS GOING ON HERE!" He demanded between gasps of air. "AND WHAT... THE HELL... WAS THAT!"
"A Shi'ar holographic combat-readiness program," Hank explained as he and The President's son helped him to his feet. "Although modified for Logan's personal use."
"A WHAT?"
"Think Star Trek, Lariat," said Cyrus.
"She- ir?" he questioned.
"Are you all right, Lad?" Sean asked the Secret Service agent.
"Better that all right, Irish," Jubilee prased. "We just crowned a new Bar Fightin' League World Champ! He beat Wolvie's personal best by a hundredths of a tick!"
"Guess you were wrong, Lariat," Cyrus pated his Secret Service bodyguard on the back. "You CAN take on 30 by yourself, and in record time, too!"
"Would someone PLEASE tell me what is going on?"
"Sure Kordel..."
"But first," added Remy. "I'd stay away from de Wolverine for a few days if I were you, homme."
End of Chapter sixteen
© David D. Amaya 2007