Post by ReadingTrance on Dec 1, 2013 11:48:04 GMT -5
UNCANNY X-MEN #1:
Introductions
“Bobby Drake. Can I see you for a second?” A female voice with a noticeable African accent asked.
Students were rushing out of the classroom towards freedom, but the dark-skinned Ms. Munroe had something important to share with Bobby.
Bobby slowly walked over to Ms. Munroe’s desk and let his bag fall to the ground.
“Yes?” He politely inquired.
“I’ve noticed you have learned how to properly harness your powers. I think you’re ready to graduate.”
Graduate? Bobby knew exactly what that meant. It meant that what he had wanted for the past year was finally coming true.
“Do you agree?”
Bobby quickly shook his head in agreement. “Yes, I do. I’m more than ready.”
She smiled. “Good. Follow me then.”
Bobby was 20 years old, slightly tanned and sported short, thin brown hair. Being a member of the Xavier Institute for Gifted Students, he possessed mutant powers that the teachers were responsible for helping tame.
Ms. Munroe led him out of the classroom and down the hall. Several doors down on the right was a large office. She turned the doorknob and pushed through, entering the room. Bobby followed behind to find the owner of the institute sitting at a desk inside. Charles Xavier.
“Professor,” the woman started, “this is the student I was telling you about.”
The bald professor was white in color and in his mid-50s. His face shined with experience and wisdom beyond anyone Bobby had previously met. However, he was physically limited. The professor was paralyzed from the waist down, bound to his metallic wheelchair for the rest of his life, unless a miracle were to occur.
Seeing the man in person had made Bobby nervous. This was Professor Charles Xavier, the one that had started this institution and the infamous X-Men.
“Don’t be nervous.” Xavier showed a friendly smile. “Please, come take a seat.”
It took Bobby a moment to realize how Xavier instantly knew he was nervous. Bobby had momentarily forgotten that Xavier was more than likely the most powerful telepath on the planet.
He then followed instructions and took a seat across from Xavier
“Thank you, Storm.” The professor used Ms. Munroe’s X-Man codename as she left the room.
She waved before exiting the office, leaving Bobby and Xavier alone.
“So, do you know why you’re here, Bobby?” The professor asked him.
He chuckled in response. “You must know that I do.”
Xavier smiled again. “I’m not reading your mind, Bobby. I stay out of other people’s thoughts unless I deem it necessary. It’s your personal space and I have no business inside of your head.”
“Then how did you know I was nervous?” Bobby questioned.
“That was simple body language. You were shaking.”
He was. Bobby didn’t notice it before, but he was mildly shaking.
The young man shifted in his seat. “Yes, I believe I know why I’m here. Ms. Munroe mentioned I’m ready to graduate.”
Xavier again smiled as he leaned forward.
“How would you like to become a member of the X-Men?”
---X---
“How’s it coming?” Kurt Wagner questioned with a slight German accent, while sitting upon a countertop.
“I’m making progress.” Hank McCoy calmly responded, looking into his microscope. “I appreciate you retrieving this sample. This web is astounding. I’m hoping I can somehow replicate this material and transform it into a protective coating on our uniforms.”
The two men sat in a small laboratory that belonged to Dr. Hank McCoy within the school grounds of Xavier’s institute.
Both of these mutants were cursed to having blue colored skin.
Kurt, known as Nightcrawler by the X-Men, bore very dark-blue colored skin and possessed the ability to teleport. As of now, he could only teleport to a position he could visually see, as he was still trying to perfect his dangerous ability. He was a strong believer in a higher power and carried a mysterious past with him.
Hank was known as Beast to the X-Men. He was covered in blue hair from head to toe, hence the codename he held. After transforming into a mutant late in his life, Hank was once afraid and embarrassed of what he had become; however, he eventually learned to embrace his mutation. Aside from being a genius scientist, Beast was quite acrobatic and could use his larger, mutated hands and feet for unique advantages.
Xavier wheeled into the room with Bobby following closely behind.
“Professor!” Nightcrawler warmly greeted him.
“Hello, Kurt. Hank.” The professor responded. “I have someone I’d like you to meet."
Beast lifted his head from the microscope.
“This is Bobby. He will be joining the team.”
“Welcome.” Beast walked over to him and shook his hand. “I’m Doctor Hank McCoy. Or around here I’m known as Beast.”
Bobby reached out and shook his hand, shocked at how much larger Beast’s hands were than his own.
“So, what can you do?” Nightcrawler entered the conversation.
Bobby saw a bottle of water sitting on the counter nearby. He reached over and picked it up, slowly freezing the bottle in his hand to show off his ability and then set the bottle back down.
Bobby proudly smirked. “The other students call me Iceman.”
“Looks like we finally filled Logan’s spot.” Hank chuckled.
---X---
Mortimer Toynbee, a short and quite pale man, comfortably leaned back on the couch. He was watching television with his friend and fellow mutant, Warren Worthington III. Warren was also light-skinned, but not to the extent of his friend. Unlike the messy dark-haired Mortimer, Warren sported neatly kept short blonde hair.
The two had various snacks spread out across the coffee table in front of them.
Mortimer, also known as Toad, smiled before speaking. “Pull!”
His fellow mutant tossed a piece of popcorn high in the air away from both of them. Toad shot out his elongated prehensile tongue towards the snack, snagging it in midair and reeling it back in.
Toad had many different abilities, but his most noticeable was easily his tongue.
“Nice grab.” Warren laughed.
Warren was also known as Angel. He donned two large white feathered wings that granted him the ability of flight, but the curse of public embarrassment.
“Shh, Angel,” Toad put his index finger to his lips, “The commercials are over.”
A woman walked through the room behind the couch. Toad turned his head to find a familiar face.
“Jean!” He beckoned. “Come join us, darling. Your favorite man is on TV.”
Jean Grey glanced at Toad. “Are you going to share the snacks?”
“Possibly.” The spry man smirked.
Using her telekinesis abilities, Jean moved several M&Ms off the table towards her.
“Not so fast!” Toad quickly used his tongue to intercept the candies.
“What the hell?” Jean raised an eyebrow.
Toad shrugged his shoulders. “I said possibly.”
In response, Jean shook her head and walked away.
“Toad, the TV.” Angel grabbed the remote and turned the volume up.
On the TV, an older gentleman held two small cases in his hand as he spoke at a podium.
“Your majesties, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, now I have the pleasure to invite the hero that will be accepting the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the X-Men, Scott Summers.”
The crowd broke out into immediate applause as the man of the hour and the leader of the X-Men walked up to the podium - Scott Summers, a.k.a. Cyclops. The older man shook his hand and then left the stage, leaving Scott Summers alone in front of the world. The man, whom was wearing a red visor, held a stack of notes in his hands.
“I stand before you feeling better than I ever have about the relationship between mutants and humans. Over the last couple of years, we have grown stronger and stronger, helping each other through some tough times.”
---X---
Jean rustled through the fridge looking for something to eat.
“Hey, girl.” A friendly voice called from behind her.
Jean looked over her shoulder. “Hey, Rogue.”
“How’s it going? Missing Scott?” She laughed.
Jean grabbed some leftover pasta from the fridge. “Probably about as much as you’re missing Colossus.”
“That big oaf?” She let out a southerner’s laugh. “He’s just doing his job and keeping your man safe.”
“Let’s just hope that he doesn’t need protecting today.” A sense of worry washed over Jean.
Rogue hopped up on the counter next to Jean as she heated up her pasta in the microwave.
Jean was in her mid-to-late 20s, which was about half a decade older than Rogue. Both women had long, light brown hair; however, Rogue kept her bangs while Jean had none. Also, the front several inches of Rogue’s hair had streaks of bright white color. Jean’s eyes were hazel, while Rogue’s were a beautiful emerald green.
“Can I ask you a question?” Rouge asked.
Jean hesitated and then impulsively used her telepathy to read Rogue’s mind.
“No. You can’t.” Jean avoided eye contact.
“You just read my mind, didn’t you?” Rogue expressed slight anger.
Jean remained focused on her spinning bowl of pasta. “I’m sorry. It was an impulse decision. I just really don’t want to talk about him right now.”
“Jean, you’re going to have to eventually. And you know I’m here for you. Logan isn’t out of our lives forever and what happened needs to be discussed.”
---X---
Piotr Rasputin, or Colossus, sat quietly in his seat as Cyclops spoke at the podium. His head kept dipping forward from exhaustion. The trip from New York to Norway was quite long and tiring, especially with the prior several days of nonstop training exercises in the Danger Room with Nightcrawler. There was also the night with Rogue before his departure, but Piotr wouldn’t have ever exchanged that for more sleep.
The 6’7” Russian mutant had the ability to fully transform his body into an organic, nearly indestructible version of steel. This also enhanced his agility and strength; hence the moniker Colossus. Piotr was not a man you wanted to get into a fight with.
The giant adjusted in his uncomfortable folding chair, trying to give his neighbors some leg room.
“The X-Men are here to stay. To show you that humans and mutants can coexist. That the world can be at peace. Thank you.”
Cyclops had concluded his speech. This was good, it meant no more sitting.
The crowd rose to its feet and clapped for the X-Men’s leader. Colossus had zoned out for most of the speech, but could see that everyone else had thoroughly enjoyed it.
Cyclops and Colossus had to enjoy this time while they could. Very rarely did they get a vacation. There was always some bad guy plotting a plan to destroy or take over the world.
---X---
“I need you to infiltrate this group.” He flashed his perfect teeth with a menacing grin. “There is so much I need from them.”
“The good guys are usually pretty trusting folk, so I think I can manage that.” The other man chuckled.
“And my experiment,” he lifted a small vial with a green liquid inside, “is almost complete.”
“And what does this experiment do again?”
The apparent leader shook his head. “Wait and see, my friend. Wait and see. My plan will be put into action soon enough.”
The second man shrugged his shoulders, grabbing his leather trench coat off of a nearby chair.
“It doesn’t matter to me. As long as I get paid, mon ami.”