Chapter Text
[Fall, 2013]
Jubilee hated paperwork.
It is ironic, given her position as one of the top professors at the famed Jean Grey School. Still, there remained a stark difference between grading essays and handing the school district budget and student body performance records to members of the highest political power in Krakoa. "Well, at least I get to see old faces again," she mumbled, laying back in her seat while riding the sleek, bio-mechanical shuttle pod taking up the House of Mutantdom. Fixing the collar on her yellow coat, Jubilee chews on fresh gum, which helps calm her nerves and hopefully masks the fact she forgot to brush her teeth. She squeezed the documents in her hands as she arrived at her stop, and the solid sap door slid open. A mutant attendant with eight eyeballs shifts his gaze from the cameras to point to the path to the meeting chamber.
It wasn't the paperwork or who she was about to talk to that made Jubilee slightly uneasy. No, what perplexed the 38-year-old mutant was why she was here. Sure, they were a top-class school that prides itself on following the legacy of the original school that birthed the X-Men. However, requesting her to deliver the report personally is bizarre. "This could've been a tele-meeting. I ain't got nothing to hide in my head. Sheesh, this better be just a convoluted reunion they're doing," she whispered but didn't think. In this supreme house of Krakoa, speaking out is always better than thinking out. Jubilee approached a grand door entangled by thorny vines and flora found only in Krakoa. She removes her right glove and pricks her finger to one of the thorns. With the drop of blood sucked into the vine, a nigh-unbreakable spell of Krakoan magic is unlocked, and carvings that resemble DNA strands on the door are lit up.
Only a mutant shall enter the heart of mutantdom.
An array of green petals fluttered from the open ceiling, where, to Jubilee's left, artificial waterfalls flowed down and dispersed into tranquil ponds. Above was a circle of trees, half lush with green and bountiful fruit. However, alongside falling petals were ornate snowflakes, and the other half of the trees were barren and covered with snow alongside icicles, which hung delicately in balance. The waterfalls to Jubilee's right were completely frozen. This bizarre weather phenomenon only meant one thing: Members of the Spring and Winter branches of the Council were in attendance.
Jubilee stands before the council—well, three of its members, to be precise. She expected to meet one of them, but the other two were a worrying surprise.
"Professor Jubilee, it is an honor to be in your presence, though I wished it was under better circumstances," said Danielle Moonstar, aka Mirage. She'd served as head of Education and Environment for as long as Jubilee can remember, and she thought no one else was more deserving of the position than her. Jubilee can place how Mirage can balance the academic futures of a generation of mutants while also being an X-Man. The Cheyenne woman retained a professional poster and tone, though friendliness was beneath it.
"Feeling's mutual, councilor," said Jubilee, "though I'm a teensy bit confused about your pals over here. Last I checked, education doesn't fall under their jurisdiction."
A woman leaned back in her chair, adorned with a mighty, emerald-green helmet. This helmet, her crown, magnetized onto her an undoubtedly powerful title of nobility and all the burdens that come with it. "We're as perplexed as you are, Professor, but little does it change the truth: tonight's agenda not only falls under our jurisdiction, it demands it."
"And where do I," Jubilee asked, "and the school, fall under this agenda?"
"Why, professor, that's what we're here to discover. We can start by asking how you, a former X-Man no less, could allow juvenile violence to run rampant in our streets," sternly spoke the mistress of magnetism, Lorna Dane, aka Polaris.
"Well," Jubilee shrugged, "only one of us is head of justice and public order. The last time I checked, that was more your job, not mine. So, you tell me."
"And last I checked," Polaris snapped back, "you can be held in contempt for such comments, professor."
"Stop kidding around, Lorna," said a more laid-back but focused voice. "Lorna's hasn't had her evening tea yet, Jubilee. Mirage and I, however, feel that there is real trouble brewing in this city. Given your reputation, Mirage felt that gaining your perspective could help better understand what's happening out there." At the center of the council table sat the head of Public Relations and perhaps the most powerful mutant ever seen: Rachel Summers, aka the Phoenix. Even with such a calm posture, Jubilee could see the fiery glow of raw cosmic power in Rachel's eyes. Heck, it felt warm just being in the same room with Rachel. That's what happens when one's the daughter of not only the most powerful telekinetic mutant in history but also the all-powerful phoenix force itself.
"That's a nice way of spinning things," Jubilee pointed out. She said sarcastically, "Welp, I'm sure this also has nothing to do with the debacle involving ol' green eyes last week, yeah?" The council's proceeding silence was all Jubilee needed to know as she hit the nail on the head.
"That 'debacle,'" Polaris spoke up, "disrupted the peace and cost our hard-working citizens precious credits to repair it."
"With all the Shi'ar money flowing in, I doubt it even made a dent in the reserves," Jubilee brought up but did little to quell Polaris, with even the others finding her comment distasteful.
"Remain on topic, Jubilee," Phoenix reminds.
"Some of these students are involved," Mirage said, looking at the files handed by Jubilee. "It appears this is hardly their first incident. According to your records, the two known as Surge and Mercury have a history of violating the peace on campus, received several detentions since their enrollment, and are even potentially linked to gang violence."
"That last part was included purely based on procedure," Jubilee said. "As you can see, I couldn't find substantial evidence to include in their files. Especially Mercury. Aside from rumors about the clique she used to hang around with, she's been a model student. Until-"
"Until recently. Funny that," Polaris said, tapping her finger. "Also, funny how your investigation turned up nothing."
"But you can see that their grades remain steady. Heck, Surge's behavior improved substantially last semester," Jubilee continued.
"Until last week," Phoenix reminded.
"Yes," Jubilee sighed. "Course could hardly blame'em this time since it didn't help that they were under assault by an agency built to protect us. In fact, in my files, you'll find a damning account by the one called Armor-"
"That's outside the purpose of this meeting," Phoenix informs.
Jubilee stood stunned. "Since when?"
"Ever since S.P.E.A.R. revealed the one called Armor is a deserter," Polaris said with slight disgust, "her disregard for the security of this nation and her people, along with dragging an Omega-Level mutant into her delusions, is a severe crime that's bordering on treason."
"This is a child you're talking about," Jubilee fiercely reminded, "what does she have to gain from lying?"
"Not taking responsibility for her actions, for one," Polaris said. "Secondly, dodging the damage she inflicts on S.P.E.A.R. personnel and resources. Finally, she takes advantage of our nation's gracious nature while making us look vulnerable. I was there with my father when S.W.O.R.D. was dismantled, and the truth is these are but delusional rumors."
Phoenix raised her hand, gesturing for her fellow council member and best friend to give her a word on the matter. "It's regrettably classified, Jubilee," Phoenix said calmly, "but know this: Krakoa and Arrako are heading towards a dangerous precipice. The council wants nothing more but for peace to continue. For future generations to never have to fight as you and I have, to live through the dark times we lived through. However, to do that, we can't afford a moment of weakness to our enemies. Which brings us to the more pressing matter."
Jubilee gawked at this blatant ignoring of the mutant's warning. "More pressing than Armor's account?"
"I have already reaffirmed her sanctuary status," Mirage said. "She is now yours and the school's responsibility. It's a completely fresh start. You're right; she's only a child, and our council strives to be merciful."
While this was being said, Jubilee looked at the documents containing Armor's account subtly buried beneath the paperwork. Pinching the brow of her nose, Jubilee sighed before bowing, "Thank you, councilors." She hid her thoughts as best as she could.
"Now, talking about facts," Polaris said, "I wish I could say this incident was a rare event, but for the past year, they've steadily spread across all our districts." Jubilee stepped back when the floor beneath her began to shake. Roots slide out from below, entangling together to form a round table from which a flourish of magic sprouted to create millions of tiny grains, each shapeshifting until they made a replica of Utopia. Stepping closer, Jubilee saw over a dozen red, bloody spikes stabbed into the city. "These disruptions, as you can see, were perpetrated just this summer alone."
With a wave of a hand, Mirage zooms in closer to reveal snapshots of one violent fight. Jubilee winced at the sight of a wounded mutant, holding up their hand as another raised a glowing fist, ready to strike his foe ruthlessly. "Most seem to be frequently perpetrated by two rivaling groups," Polaris informed, "though one continues to illude local authorities by cloaking themselves."
"And many reports show them to be linked to student bodies across many schools," Mirage added, "rumors of select students being recruited by street-level thugs, which I feel correlates with the disturbing level of harassment across all campuses."
Phoenix leaned in, giving the professor an intense gaze. She announced, "Any form of violence will not be accepted. Jubilee, please share your thoughts on the situation and your plans to help prevent this violence."
Confronted with this information, the inaction of her student's case, and now the council's judgment, Jubilee felt an intense weight on her shoulders. It was hardly her first time, and she had dealt with the council head-on before. Now, however, it wasn't just her; the future of her students and others would be on the line if she didn't choose her words carefully. Her hands ruffled in her yellow coat pockets while she struggled to answer.
"Professor?" Mirage asked.
Jubilee breathed and said, "I can't yet give you a solid plan for preventing this, but I can give you one idea of why this might be happening."
"And that is?" Phoenix asked.
"They're lost," Jubilee said, "at least some of them are. A lost that's born from feeling dissatisfied, like they still don't belong. As for other mutants, however, they could be looking for any reason to put down others to secure a brighter future."
"Ridiculous. Every mutant is guaranteed a bright future," Polaris said rather matter-of-factly.
"It doesn't have to make rational sense," Jubilee explained, "It just has to make sense to them. To them, the ship sailing to the future has only so much room. To them, only those who are strong enough and mutant enough deserve to sail that ship."
"Mutant enough?" Phoenix scoffed.
"You asked," Jubilee shrugged. "And I gave you my two cents. So, with that, I'll let myself out. I have a school to teach and a lot to think about. Oh, and nice seeing you three again." She then proceeded to leave on her own accord.
Mirage saw Polaris object to this, but Phoenix halted her, silently convincing her to let her old friend go. Whatever happened next was between them, but they chatted for a good while before ending the meeting.
[Hours later...]
Something terrible was racking Surge's slumbering mind, making the young mutant steer in her bed. A tiny spark shot out as her teeth grated. Her legs shivered with fear while her nostrils took short, rapid breaths. Her upper arms, peculiarly, remained relatively still as crackles of static spring from the stubs. All these signs pointed to the poor kid suffering a bad nightmare, but the truth hidden within Surge's mind was darker than any nightmare. These were no restless dreams that someday fleet away from one's consciousness; these were memories.
"M-my..." Surge murmured, her distress escaping into the real world while the static around her upper arms festered. Words that have been seared into her brain for years echo and shout in her head, pointing her to a mirror. In that mirror was the old her, a younger, timid-looking Noriko Ashida, constrained by the collar of a dull school uniform. The echoes of an ear-piercing screech, like rubber and metal violently scraping against each other, caused that mirror to shatter as the old world she once knew vanished in a blinding crash.
"Nnno...NO!" Surge shoots up like she's been sprung to life, and not a moment too soon, her vision is blinded by blue light. Slumber was a welcome for Surge partially because it was the only time her deadly touch vanished, the mechanics of her body pouring all surrounding static into her core to recharge like a battery. Of course, when she wakes up, all that recharged energy is discharged like a lightning bolt. The previous small static discharge has formed two deadly, luminescent forearms and hands entirely out of electricity. She can clench her 'fingers' and twist her 'wrist,' but every movement is like pulling the trigger as strong blasts of static out are released. One of these blasts nearly struck her prosthetic gauntlets hanging beside her.
"Shit!" Leaping out of bed, Surge felt the energy from her arms trying to escape violently as she plugged them into the gauntlets. She thrust her forearms until they were insulated, and the gauntlets engaged its locking sequence. When her gauntlets were firmly on, all the energy from her arms caused the clunky gauntlets to quiver momentarily. However, that always happened before the output stabilized and returned her gauntlets to normal.
Her metal fingers clinked and clacked with each pinch while her wrist clicked with each twist of her metal wrist. She felt how cold they were as she palmed her forehead with a tired gruff. "Urgh! I just fixed up this place!" She peeks to see the damage. Surge spots two burnt holes, and the corner of one of her cabinets is smoking. Surge didn't dare look at the clock as if gazing at it would finally unleash another headache. Instead, she sluggishly opens her curtains and feels the early morning breeze of Krakoa brush her cheeks.
A new day greets her, the first day of a new semester. "And the world spins on," Surge mused, another day awaiting her.
Flipping on her radio, Surge prepares for her first year as a sophomore.
“What is happening, muties of New Genoshaaaaa!” said the radio jockey, her voice full of vigor even at these early hours. “It’s your favorite pirate radio jockey, Roxy, here with you live this chilly fall morning. Fresh new tunes have hit my shelves, and the machines before me are hot and ready to fill your day with snazzy tunes. But, unfortunately, I gotta spill the latest news and, my muties, we are starting with a bulletin that irks your girl.”
“Oh?” Surge said while trying not to choke herself with her teal-colored sophomore tie, which she’s forced to wear. School policy requires specific qualifications for uniforms, including cleanness and no personal modifications. Surge was no slob, but she saw herself as a creative girl with an itch to express herself.
“First, for any of you new to this morning show, know that the fabulous Roxy has repeatedly discussed how small but frequent injustices keep littering not just this district but all of Utopia. That’s right, mutants, this show ain’t afraid to be political and speak the truth! Last night’s eyewitnesses’ reports justify this feeling because, once again, those skull-cracking Acolytes have suddenly raided a nightclub! Dragging out unarmed young mutants by droves before arresting several kids! According to these reports, these kids have had clean records until now.”
“Bastards. Knew I should’ve stayed out longer,” Surge muttered to herself while applying the last touches to her black, white, and teal uniform.
“I can already hear some long-time listeners asking: on what charges are they arresting these kids, and what of a warrant? Well, my fellow muties, the Acolytes did have a warrant, but the charges used to justify them were created only within the last hour before the raid. Just after shuteye, the Lawgiver herself, Polaris issued a councilor order under the justification of reports of rising gang violence plaguing Utopia. Her recent statement says, and I quote, ‘my Acolyte forces are initiating a new effort across all districts in our great capital of Utopia to quell this senseless violence. I assure all citizens that these new patrols through major and minor urban areas are for your protection, and we will not stop until these thugs, whoever they may be, face proper justice.’”
“Ha! Thugs she says. Only half the mutants fighting out here are thugs. Besides…” Surge laughed as she saw in her reflection her new bedazzled uniform. On her dark vest were several pins from her favorite artists, a flashy mysterium chain and belt across her skirt, and ripped-up pants underneath. 'Do thugs dress this good?' Surge thought as she finished freshening up.
“Justice. Suppose this council is such a believer in Justice. Where’s the justice for the inhabitants of Daedalus Prime who are under Shi’ar, Krakoan allies, oppression despite cries for greater autonomy? What of the Justice for mutants and, yes, humans, who continue to be crushed by apartheid states like Israel and their allies? Be thankful. I can already hear some of you saying in response to this, and I am…to my mutant brethren, but every day I find it harder to be thankful to the council or senate.”
“You said it,” Surge said, loosely putting on her tie before grabbing her school bag and leaving her apartment. Stepping out her door, she's met with her neighborhood: X-Haven.
Since the end of the Orchis Crisis many years ago, Surge has called these brick apartments and rustic shops her home. She chewed on her morning snack, a mutated apple, while walking by dozens of her neighbors, each around her age, already going about their days. The older kids and a few adults here took care of essential errands, such as a young couple before her who were hauling out clothes to clean. "Excuse me, Greyscale, Techni."
"Surge," said Greyscale, aka Cam Long, who possessed long, tangly white hair and grey skin. "Did something happen just now?"
"Yeah, we heard noises, and our outlets short-circuited for a bit," said Techni, aka Monica Sellers, whose skin radiated a rainbow-like shine.
"Nothing that ain't your concern," Surge reassured them before walking backward. This action would explain then why Surge suddenly bumped into someone from behind. Something splashed onto her face, something that tasted like jam. "Jelby!" The mutant, whose name she gasped in shock, turned around while thier jam-based body wobbled from the impact. It seems Jelby was so busy opening their corner cafe that they overlooked Surge's presence. "Urgh! You nearly got jam over my uniform!"
Jelby frowned, telling her through sign language. (Sorry! I have fresh towels. Use them!)
Surge sighed, took a towel, and wiped the jam from her hair and face. Surge thanked them through sign language. (Thanks.)
(No, thank you for your help the other night. Darn those birds! I swear, they always seem to swarm and peck on me when I close the shop.)
Surge smacked her lips. (Well, you do taste delicious. Birds gotta eat.)
Jelby rolled their eyes as Surge chuckled and waved goodbye. (Add the towel to my tab next time I come here.) Establishments like Jelby's were frequently seen in X-Haven, a rarity in Utopia. While it seems odd to others, in Surge's eyes, it helps make thier community more independent, makes everyone a bit happier, and lets Jelby fulfill their dream of owning a cafe. Surge continued to walk by some more as their owners opened thier local shops, adorned with greenery and vines coming up from the earth, gifting them with fresh goods. 'Bountiful as ever,' Surge thought, 'good, 'cause weekly food shipments still haven't come in yet.' X-Haven wasn't close to a busy transport hub, which was a problem for the outskirt portions of the districts still under expansion. So, until this construction plan is finished, or at least when prices keep from rising again, Surge and the several hundred mutants living in X-Haven are learning to be self-sustaining, mainly for the sake of the little one's health.
Speaking of which, after walking some blocks, Surge saw the little ones in their community were already being sent straight to their respective schools. She smiled when she saw their teenage guardians leading packs of kids towards the public subway, though Surge knew some kids wished their parents were sending them off. It was no secret to the residents of X-Haven that most of their population are orphans, all for a plethora of reasons that would take days and plenty of tissues to explain why. Despite that, for the sake of the little ones, residents who are Surge's age have gotten used to guarding the kids and maintaining the community complexes they live in.
Surge yawned upon passing by a group of little kids playing baseball on the street, seeing whose swing was the best.
"You're not gonna hit it, Kafka," one of the kids said.
"Just try me," the winged boy responded.
They throw a fastball at him. Kafka shut his eyes as he took his swing but heard the clank of metal and the crack of his bat. "Have you tried swinging with your eyes open?" Surge asked behind him with the ball in her hand.
Kafka turned and smiled. "Surge!"
"Morning. Hey, isn't this early for you brats? Last time you all did morning practice here, Wallflower was pissed when you broke her window. With how shy she is, that's saying something."
"Little league tryouts are happening at our school, and we four wanna make sure we're picked for the new team," Kafka explained.
"Determined. Good for you, little man." With a goodbye wave, Surge left the kids to their own devices, even when she heard a window shatter a minute later.
Surge continued her stroll until she saw a tall, five-story clock tower ahead, showing she had reached the Hub. This place has everything a mutant needs: workshops, clinics, libraries, dinners, games, etc. The green park at the center of the intersection even had a quaint playground where a particular mutant she knew was. Surge could tell because she heard music in the air. A small group of children gathered around Pixie, dressed in her school uniform, with each of them enchanted by her music as she played a wooden flute. It was like a pink aura swirled around the girl with each note she played, and at impressively fast speeds, too, that conveyed a vigorous playfulness. Surge smiled when Pixie then sang some lyrics.
"Dai bach y sowldiwr, Dai bach y sowldiwr, Dai bach y sowldiwr, A chwt ei grys e mas."
Pixie chanted; her cheeks blushed from her playing. She played another melody, occasionally intersecting it with the rest of the lyrics.
"A chwt ei grys e mas.
Aeth hen Fari Jones i Ffair y Caerau
I brynu set o lestri de;
Ond mynd i'r ffos aeth Mari gyda'i llestri
Trwy yfed gormod lawer iawn o "de"
Sosban fach yn berwi ar y tân
Sosban fawr yn berwi ar y llawr
A'r gath wedi huno mewn hedd."
Pixie took a bow upon finishing, and the groups of kids cheered over her song, with Surge clapping for her friend. "Thank you, and I better see you rascals at my next show," Pixie said, doing her best rocker impression. After the kids dispersed, Surge and Pixie walked towards the northern gate where the closest railway station was.
"I still don't know a lick of what you're saying when you're up there," Surge admits.
"You know it's Welsh," Pixie pouted, "though given my grandpapa and grandmama were farmers, my dialect probably sounds a bit funny to other Welsh. But anyway, have you heard back from your new friend?"
"Armor? No, actually," Surge answered, her mind now pondering the mutant she brought up.
"Haaa," Pixie swooned, her wings fluttering happily, "it's always the quiet ones who are the cutest."
"Of course, you got a crush on her," Surge mumbled as she finished her snack. "This makes it, what, the fifth crush you had this year?"
"But this one is for real. I can feel it!" Surge sighed as her friend proceeded to ramble on her future girlfriend. "She got a cool, antique bike that she looks so hot driving on. She has an incredible mutant power to pummel mechas and help save cute girls like me. And her eyes, I can get lost in them for hours, especially when they start glowing red!"
"Uh-huh, will you actually ask your crush out on a date this time?
"Patience is a virtue, especially with love," Pixie proclaimed.
The two teens approach the northern gate, a seven-foot-tall metal gate scraped together. The walls separating X-Haven from the outside were also scraped together, with portions looking like brick walls while others were sheets of metal welded on each other. Despite the garish appearance of their walls, many residents wouldn't describe themselves as recluses. They welcomed any mutant. The stranger, the better! These walls were just for protection against hazards, big pests, and those who aren't too kind to things that are too strange. The mutant on watch was another familiar face, a recent Uncanny member.
"Hey, Mercury!" Pixie greeted.
Surge noticed Mercury's intense stare until Pixie snapped her out of it. Looking down from a small watchtower, Mercury used her radio to alert HQ that her shift had ended before leaping down to join them. "Hey-hey, I remember you two: Pixie and…Durge!”
“Ha-ha, you’re such a comedian,” Surge scoffed sarcastically.
“Thank you. I’m here all night,” Mercury quipped. “So, what dragged you two out of bed? You heading to school, Pixie, or your friend here going to drag you into another street fight?”
“No fighting today, thankfully,” Pixie chuckled, “say, I didn’t know you were taking lookout duties. The early morning shift, too?”
“I don’t need as much sleep as you meatbags,” Mercury explained.
Surge asked, “Any trouble?”
“Nah, it’s been quiet. Real quiet.”
“Well, good!” Pixie cheered, though Surge and Mercury remained a bit cautious. “Now, how about we bust open this gate and walk together to school!”
Mercury nervously rubbed the back of her neck. “Does it have to be today? After the semester speech, the teachers review what to expect in the next five months.”
Pixie wrapped her arms around Mercury’s. “Please? Can you at least escort a girl? Just in case any meanies try to bother me?”
“Uhh, I’m right here. Can electrocute fools like it's nothing?” Surge reminded.
Mercury sighed, “Fine. You’re lucky you’re cute. I’ll protect you both.”
“Yare yare…” Surge groaned in Japanese, a habit of hers whenever annoyed. “Mercury, you’re barely in uniform. Ain’t ya the type to get all prim and proper with your school stuff?”
“Ehh, last semester, maybe,” Mercury mumbled before opening the gate for them and leading the way.
The following hour of walking finally led the two to the nearest train stop. After quickly swiping their student ID cards on the machines, they were allowed in, and they soon boarded the train, which took them straight to school.
“Urgh, my legs are already killing me,” Pixie complained.
“You literally have wings,” Mercury pointed out.
“And I’d be even more tired using them, Merc!”
“Then maybe take training courses more seriously this semester.”
Surge was busy on her phone, listening to what the others were saying as the train slowly packed up. Its sleek wheels smoothly took them across District Genosha. Surge glanced up to see the ads above them, though one caught her eye. “Hey, Pixie,” she said, “Part II of Captain Nightcrawler is out next week. Do you want to see it?”
“Oh, definitely! He’s sooo cool, especially when he fights using three swords at once!”
“Didn’t take you for a pirate girlie,” Mercury said.
“She’s usually not, but she is a Nightcrawler girlie,” Surge explained.
“Best X-Man, period!” Her declaration got a lot of side eyes from passengers. Krakoans were quite sensitive with their picks on whom they saw as the best X-Man and could quickly spark arguments. That’s what happens when a group seen as protectors of all mutant-kind becomes so embedded in their culture.
“Muir Street’s next,” Mercury pointed out, eager to escape this crowded train.
“Oh right, it’s his neighborhood,” Pixie remembered. “Hey, have met-?“
She’s interrupted when a device rings from one of Surge’s gauntlets. Through the static, a voice urgently shouted, “Hold the train! Supremes on my tail!”
Surge instantly recognized whose voice this was, her heart skipping a beat before she quickly spoke back, “On it! Mercury, Pixie, on me!”
The three girls pushed through the crowd, reaching the door right as the train came to a stop. Mercury enlarged her arms and held open the doors while Pixie tugged on the train cable, signaling it to stay still. Despite the passengers' annoyance, none of the girls took their eyes off the main gate when they caught sight of their friend sprinting towards them.
His running was efficient. His brown eyes focused only on the door now a dozen yards away. His assailants, some white teen boy with the power of heightened sense and another with the power to fire his fingernails as if they were high-caliber bullets. He knew this before they tried to jump him some minutes ago because Prodigy was the boy genius who knew everything.
“Gonna kick your ass, man!” one of the boys shouted.
“Given this is your group’s tenth attempt, the odds aren’t in your favor,” Prodigy said calmly before reaching into his bag. Prodigy’s powers allowed him to read this boy’s mind like a book, and one interesting passage reveals the kid has an intense fear of spiders. Prodigy also knew this station’s cobwebs had yet to be cleaned.
Prodigy leaped up, avoiding a nail projectile, and grabbed a stray spider resting on its web. Prodigy hurled the spider square to the boy’s face with a swift wrist flip. He smirked when the kid bellowed a high-pitched squeal before tripping over himself.
“Prodigy, watch out!” Surge warned.
The young man born from an African American family already knew the source of her distress. Firstly, he noticed how her heart rate was faster than usual, and secondly, he knew where the other kid would fire. He was mere feet away from the train gates as he whipped out a metal baton. Right as his assailant fired his nails, Prodigy pressed a small button, and the baton revealed itself to be a high-tech metal bo staff whose sudden extension pushed him up into the air.
Thanks to Mercury’s knowledge of gymnastics and cheerleading training, Prodigy's powers instantly copied that from her mind, allowing him to perform an aerial twirl and land perfectly on his feet mere inches from the train door. Such a sight shocked his assailant enough for the boy to forget the gates and clumsily tumble over them.
“Woah, a perfect ten,” Pixie said as Prodigy casually stepped onto the train and the doors closed behind him.
He fixed his yellow tie and shades before turning to Surge, saying, “You were nervous just now.”
Surge blushed, suddenly feeling as if everyone on the train was looking at her. “Shut up,” she said, lightly slapping his shoulder, earning a small chuckle from Prodigy.
“And you are Mercury,” he said, facing her.
“Yeah, but who exactly are you, some telepath? Is that how you mimic one of my moves just now?”
“I’m not some traditional telepath; otherwise, I would’ve deliberately plucked that skill from your mind just now. We all rely on luck occasionally, and I am lucky to have you here. Though, your mind was a tad tricky to enter.”
“Hmm,” Mercury hummed, seeing he’s a junior like her, before spotting a subtle Uncanny insignia underneath his collar. “Glad you’re on our side.”
“Hiiii, Prodigy!” Pixie greeted, waving both of her hands.
“Heeey, Pixie.”
“Surge told me the other day you had a cute butt!”
“Already knew that.”
“Okay, I like you already,” Mercury grinned.
“WILL YOU ALL SHUT THE HELL UUUP!!!” Surge screamed; her voice echoed across the air as the train readied to pull up to their destination: Jean Grey’s School of Higher Learning.
[Later…]
The four Uncanny students arrive at the tall, wooden arch gates grown from the first seeds planted on this fine school’s grounds. Past the stone walls and flowery bushes, the four walk in to reach the shimmering statue made in honor of the mutant queen, Jean Grey. They, along with other students passing by, can’t help but stare at the one who saved them all, with this statue of her pointing forward to the future and a pink halo hovering over her mighty mind.
Rather suddenly, Pixie asked, “Think she’ll ever come back?”
“Dead is dead, Pix,” Surge said.
“With X-Men? As if!” The four students turn to see a surprise appearance from Professor Jubilee. “Because X-Men never truly die.”
“Professor,” Prodigy bowed respectfully, “I’m looking forward to your curriculum this semester.”
“And I’m looking forward to the day you all enter this school without scratches or bruises,” Jubilee quipped. She glanced at Prodigy’s uniform to see a torn hole in the back of his vest. “Seems like today ain’t that day.”
“Hey, ain’t his fault some jerks tried to jump him,” Surge said in his defense.
“Of course not, Surge, and I’m sorry that happened to you, Prodigy. Remember, the dorms here have plenty of room for you.”
“Once again, I appreciate the concern and gesture, Professor,” Prodigy said, “but I shouldn’t have to move in the first place.”
Jubilee points at him with an impressed look in her eyes, “Wise words, young man. I’ll call your local community and have them remove any shady characters from your neighborhood. But, for now, make your way to the Gymnasium. The headmaster will speak to your whole class in a few minutes.”
Mercury groaned in annoyance. “Seriously? I'd rather start hitting the books.”
“Be nice now,” Jubilee said, “he secretly loves giving these speeches. This semester, he’s adding something new to it.”
“What? Confetti?” Mercury asked sassily before giving a resigned sigh and following the others to the gym. Of course, it was no ordinary gym, being a Mutant school. Roughly twice the size of one, this gym was equipped with advanced hydraulics and an assortment of tech within its walls and floorboard to properly train any class of mutants. And yet, this gym pales compared to this school’s danger room.
But that’s for later. For now, the four mutants enter the rather crowded gym where over sixty sophomore and junior-year mutants are standing on the gym floor. “Hmm, first time he held it here,” Prodigy noted.
“Stand wherever you like,” Jubilee said, “you can find me up there. Oh, and do your best!”
“Uhh, at what?” Surge asked right as their professor dashed towards the stage. A sudden tap from behind caused Surge to flinch, her instincts making her put up her fists.
“Woah! Easily startled, aren’t you?” asked Dust.
“Dust! You look well,” Mercury complimented. “Excuse Surge, she’s used to getting punched, as you saw last week.”
Surge stared angrily at Mercury while Prodigy offered his hand. “So, you’re Dust. Surge shared how impressive your powers were a few days ago. It’s also a great honor to meet an Omega-Level mutant.”
“Please, you don’t need to bring up that last part,” Dust said respectfully, feeling uncomfortable even at the mention of that title.
“Gotcha. I’m Prodigy, a good friend to the people who helped you and your companion.”
“A friend to the Uncannies is a friend of mine,” Dust said, shaking Prodigy’s hand.
Turning away from Merc with a huff, Surge asked, “So, Dust, how has the school been treating you? A bit boring, ain’t it?”
“The opposite, actually,” Dust said jubilantly, “many in the girls’ dorm are very friendly, and the teachers have helped me feel safe here.”
“Hey, that’s awesome, Dust, glad you-” said Mercury when she suddenly noticed Pixie flying above them, scouting the whole gym. “Uhh, does she usually do this?”
“Only when she’s lovesick,” Surge said.
“Hmph!” Pixie pouted. She touched down beside Dust, worrying, “Where’s Armor?”
“Probably on her way,” Dust said, “apologies, she’s been much more solitary since our arrival. Her mind is always elsewhere unless I or the professors talk to her.”
“Hope she’s okay,” Pixie said, twirling a lock of her hair.
To their surprise, except Prodigy’s, the doors behind them open to reveal Armor entering the gym still dressed in her biker outfit but with a sophomore tie wrapped around her neck like a neckbow. Pixie's heart raced as she flew straight to Armor, causing her crush to jerk back in shock.
“Armor! Good morning! Wow, not wearing a uniform? That is so cool of you! God, you’re hot.”
“What?” Armor muttered.
“Nothing! Hey, that tie makes you so cute!”
“…what?”
Surge grabbed her friend by her wings and pulled her back. Pixie tried vainly to reach out to Armor as Surge said, “Yeah, seems you made quite the impression, Samurai. What dragged you out of bed today?”
“Thought I give this school curriculum a shot,” Armor said, her eyes looking elsewhere as she rubbed her neck. “And I wanted to talk to someone.”
Pixie gasped, “Does she mean me?!” Surge and Mercury roll their eyes at how hard she’s crushing for Armor. Before a proper answer could be revealed, a boom from the gym’s speakers alerts the group that the headmaster of their school was on stage and ready to speak.
Surge, Armor, Mercury, Pixie, Prodigy, and Dust all line up and join the rest of their class. Standing on a podium was a relatively short man with dark brown skin and black hair. He had a five-o-cloak shadow and hairy arms while wearing a suit befitting a headmaster to an esteemed school. Behind him were professors of this semester’s class, including Jubilee and the daughter of the headmaster, the new Wolverine.
Clearing his throat, headmaster Logan began his speech.
“Alright, I smell only three of you missing, so we’re already off to a rousing start,” he said. Welcome, Class 10B, or should I now say 11B? Congrats again on moving up last semester, though many of you could’ve tried much harder.”
‘As if last year was easy,’ Surge thought, cringing from remembering how grueling final exams were.
“Many of you will recognize old faces, but you’ll see among you some new faces. Remember them well because these fresh meats are eager to learn and need some adjustment to the school life of one of the top B-ranked classes in this school.”
‘Ooh, he’s got a tail,’ Pixie thought upon noticing one of the new students had reptilian skin and mohawk.
‘Woah, big hoss,’ Mercury thought upon noticing the giant rock mutant in the room, who was almost three whole feet bigger than her and was at least six feet tall.
“Now, I’m sure gossip lovers heard about a late-night incident last week and the violence that’s concerned even the lawgiver herself,” Logan said, now in a more serious tone. “Firstly, know that there’s always a third way out there, a non-violent one where you can still show punks out there that you ain’t scared and won’t be put down by them.”
‘I hope so,’ Dust thought.
“I know, that’s pretty rich coming from me. Nonetheless, remember that this is a place of learning. We’re teaching you about your gifts, our nation, and the world. Respect your professors, all of them, because we have some new human staff working on our campus and this class.”
‘That’s…sudden,’ Prodigy thought while a quiet gasp rippled across the class.
“We expect all of you to carry this respect to your fellow mutants outside of school grounds, more so than ever. This semester, I see a great opportunity ahead for all of you. You’re all nearing that crossroad that will shape the kind of mutant you could be. Master your powers for yourself and the safety of everyone around you. Finding yourself and finding a way to use these gifts for the greater good is of paramount importance. Violence will NOT be tolerated. Do I make myself clear on that?”
“Yes, headmaster!” the whole class shouted.
Suddenly, a slight smirk formed as the corner of his lips curled. “Good. Now that we’re clear on that for the rest of the semester let’s get on with the fun stuff.”
‘Wait, what’s that in his hand?’ Armor wondered, squinting at the small clicker in his hand. Then, with a quiet click, the gym floor began to lower as the gym walls turned and shifted. Everything but the stage was reshaping, much to the student body's surprise. “I got a bad feeling about this,” Armor muttered.
“Students of 11B, despite how many of your grades last year were barely above average, I truly believe that each of you has the potential to move up this school year, perhaps even elevating yourselves to A-Level status. Until then, however, I took it upon myself to give you all your first lesson.”
The floor expanded as the benches retracted and lights shined on the students. Suddenly, pillars, barricades, and spinning machines popped up from the ground, dividing the class. “Uhh, I’d be fine with an essay, Mr. Logan!” Mercury shouted.
“Good idea! After this, you all will be assigned a short essay about what you learned from this first lesson.”
Mercury winced, covering her face as the class glared at her.
“But first, to show you how much confidence I have in each of you, today's lesson is motivation via free-for-all! The last student left standing has shown incredible motivation to become the next class representative and all the privileges that come with it.”
“Oh, come on,” Armor shouted, “what’s worthing beating each up?”
“Well,” Logan shrugged, “how does having higher chances of being scouted and taught by one of the current X-Men sound?”
The whole class goes silent for a few seconds as friends temporarily become enemies. Each student put up their dukes, waiting to see who’d make the first move when someone in the class shouted, “EVERY MUTANT FOR THEMSELVES!”
A collective cry echoed from the arena as every mutant in class 11B began fighting each other.
Logan pulled out a cup of warm coffee right as Jubilee tapped his shoulder, asking, “You call this proper motivation?”
“Hey, it worked during the seventies. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Logan said, sipping his coffee. “At the very least, it gives janitors the time to wrap up cleaning all of your classrooms.”
“Aaaand the stuff about Violence, dad?” Laura asked.
“Oh, I meant all of that. Violence will not be tolerated…unless I approve it.”
“Welp,” Jubilee sighed, pulling out her cup of coffee. "Happy first day of the semester, everybody.”
Happy Holiday's everybody!