The X-Gene (Sean x Terra)

[Seanzah Angel]

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Two teenage friends find themselves in the middle of a war between humans and mutants, and learn that they are the difference between the survival or extinction of the mutant race.


@TerraBooma

 

[TerraBooma]

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!@

 

[Seanzah Angel]

It was a day like any other in New York – bustling with life and full of sound. Max and his friend Tim were at the New York Plaza Mall, waiting to witness a speech by a mutant. Max was absolutely fascinated with mutants – their abilities, their lives, and even the way they looked sometimes. He had always wanted powers, and always thought it would be cool to have them. Reading and watching the news was all Max could do to get as close to the mutants – and the famous X-Men group – as possible. He was arguably their biggest fan, and he was determined to get in on this speech.


Though the name of the mutant wasn’t released yet, Max had good guesses as to who it would be. If she were still alive, he was certain it would be Jean Grey. She was a very talented speaker, being able to read the minds of the people around her as she talked. And if anyone tried to take a hit on her, she could simply stop whatever was going to come her way. If the professor was younger, he would undoubtedly be there in her place. He was an even better mind reader, and could actually do the speech from the other side of the world if he wanted to. But because of her heightened reputation, excellent diplomacy, kick ass powers, and her unthreatening physique, it would most likely be Storm.


Thousands of people from all over the world were gathering to hear her speak. There were many reporters from all over the country waiting to get the best stories first, and many diplomats from other countries were supposed to be visiting to get a word from her. It was one of the largest events in New York’s history, as it was meant to involve peace talks of mutants and humans since the attack on Alcatraz Island.


“Tim! Isn’t this so cool?!” Max asked his friend, shouting so that he could hear above the noise of the rest of the people within the mall. “I’m so excited!”


Max didn’t wait for a reply – he continued to shove past people to get to the center of the large crowd, elbows jabbing people in the sides and hands pushing people out of his way. It was the New York way, amplified by ten.

 

[TerraBooma]

"Yah yah...I guess, C'mon Max. People are staring at us..." A much more timid voice replied. Tim, unlike his friend Max. Was a bit more reluctant about the whole "Mutant" thing, it's not that he thought they were evil or anything...they were just scary. He didn't have the same undying fervor that Max seemed to always have whenever talking about them. Regardless however, he was here to make sure Max didn't do anything TOO crazy when whoever it was that was speaking (Tim had honestly forgot, he never was good with names)


That said, the crowd was starting to bother him. He never had been great with large groups, and the throng of people combined with the security was starting to make him a bit uncomfortable. With a Sigh, he follows Max through the crowd. "C'mon man...slow down! We'll hear them no matter where we are! No need to push our way through and make a scene...

 

[Seanzah Angel]

Max could hear Tim behind him as he pushed through the crowd, throwing out a quick ‘sorry!’ or ‘excuse me!’ whenever he pushed by people. He heard him, but he didn’t really pay attention to what he was saying. Max had an extremely acute case of tunnel vision when it came to his favorite subject – mutants. He waited for a few seconds every so often to allow Tim to catch up, but he never once called back to him until he was finally in a position where he could see the stage and all its glory.


The stage wasn’t decorated like he had hoped it would be. It was a normal wooden stage, painted black with a large red ‘X’ on the front with a circle around it. There was a podium with the same design and several microphones sticking out of the top. There were chairs placed at the back part of the stage, pressed against a tall partition wall that separated the stage from the rest of the mall. It seemed oddly personal and surprisingly confrontational.


“Here she comes!” Max shouted to Tim, still having to fight to make his voice heard over the roar of the crowd.


A woman dressed in black slacks and a black blouse with leather details and black three-inch high-heels. Her hair was short and spikey, white and gray. Her hair was the only indication of her age; the rest of her was absolutely flawless. It was Storm.


He wasn’t surprised to see her dressed up for the occasion, but he was surprised to see that she didn’t have anyone else from the team to back her up – or at least anyone that he could see. She seemed completely alone.


However, his concerns about the choices behind her personal appearance in the mall soon faded as she began to speak.


“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,” she began, resting her hands gently on the top sides of the podium, a gesture most speakers made when addressing many people. “I’m so happy to see all of you here today, and I’m even happier to be speaking in regards to our people. I am a member of a team that tries to maintain a balance amidst the chaos of this troubling time. Just a few months ago we were at Alcatraz Island, attempting to maintain control of a situation that could have gone far worse than it did. Unfortunately, many lives were lost – on all sides. But today, I don’t want to talk about fighting and taking sides. I want to talk about abolishing sides and creating a peace between us.”


A silence among the crowd hung in the air as she spoke like a breath being held before diving into a pool. It was as if her voice was the only voice speaking, even in a place that held thousands of people. It was as if she demanded silence and control and the people around her willingly gave it. It was beautiful.


Max turned to Tim excitedly as she spoke, grinning wildly. There was a bright glimmer in his eyes, similar to when a child wakes up on Christmas morning and sees all of the wrapped boxes under the Christmas tree. It was pure elation.

 

[TerraBooma]

Tim sighed. "Seriously Max...calm down, your going to draw attention..." Tim looked around, trying to sound small among the silence. It wasn't...completely silent of course, but with the sheer presence that Jean commanded, It felt wrong to say much, but he still had to say...something. Most people were awed silent, sitting there in stillness as Jean completed her speech, but Max looked...like he was going to hopping his insides out. Tim knew he could get excited, but not even he expected him to fanboy so much. "Just you know...try and relax, please?"





That's not to say Tim wasn't moved by her speech. In all truth he was a little scared of mutants, and Jean's own speech was giving him some comfort that maybe....just maybe they don't want to kill people. Smiling softly he nods to Max. A soft affirmation that Tim wasn't about to storm out in fear.

 

[Seanzah Angel]

Among the slight silence of the enormous crowd, Max could finally hear and listen to what Tim said. For a moment he felt hurt, because it seemed like Tim was embarrassed. However the more he thought about it, the more he realized he was being quite the nuisance. He gave a quick look through the crowd and found that there were already several people shooting glances and pointing their fingers at them. He ducked his head and bit his lip. “Sorry…” he said, looking at Tim. A pang of guilt hit him head on. “I guess I just got carried away.”


In all actuality, Max did get very carried away. But this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It wasn’t every day a mutant put themselves in a crowd filled with people who held resentment against them, and it was even less common for that mutant to be a part of an elite team.


Storm (not Jean) continued to speak, a smile spreading across her lips that seemed to warm the hearts of everyone paying attention. “We have been around for centuries, watching and waiting for a moment in history where we could come out of hiding and introduce ourselves to the world. We want nothing more than complete and total equality, and the first step to achieving this is by settling a peace between mutants and humans.


“For many years, there has been nothing but violence and bloodshed between us. A very noticeable climax was Alcatraz Island – and we don’t want that to happen again. We don’t want any of it to happen again, as I’m sure the rest of you don’t, either. There are measures we are willing to take to ensure that peace happens. And I’m not talking forcing peace through violence and fear, but by using our own team to protect those that support us.”


Max was completely and utterly entranced by her words. She was addressing almost everything every politician and mutant expert had to say on the subject. She was creating a blanket over the entire subject to wrap it up into a neat little gift for all people – mutant and human alike. When politicians did that, they made a mess of things. However, Storm was able to do it with such ease it was like slicing a hot knife through butter.

 

[TerraBooma]

Tim sighed. Even if Max wasn't exactly jumping for Joy anymore. He still had that overeager look on his face. What was it about Mutants that fascinated the guy so much? Tim wasn't sure. All he knew that whenever the word came up he wanted to scurry and hide. It's not that they were evil...he knew a normal person could be evil too, but at least an evil human only had a gone...


who knew what Mutants would have?


Tim realized he was then being a bit of a...mutantist, and shaking his head, returns his attention to Storm. The lady was...at least trying to be peaceful. With a somewhat nervous smile, he nods to Max. Maybe there could be peace, Storm's speech was at the least relaxing him al ittl.e

 

[Seanzah Angel]

A screen dropped down and a projector turned on from the mall’s ceiling. On the screen an image showed a man in a leather suit with an ‘X’ on the chest – obviously a mutant – protecting a woman, clutching a purse to her chest, a man in a suit and tie, and a boy with a soccer ball at his feet – obviously humans. “There will be one mutant to protect every family in New York City, up to a family of 4. Beyond that, two mutants will be assigned. They will not infringe on your everyday life. They will not take anything that does not belong to them. They will not harm anyone that does not need to be harmed. And they will be monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”


Max thought about what Storm was saying for a moment. There would be a mutant protecting his family – his mother and father and himself – every day for the rest of their lives. While it didn’t sound like the least creepy thing, it definitely sounded like the safest. Most humans had some idea of the differences between mutants. Even those that don’t like mutants have general knowledge that there are mutants that wish to do the world harm and there are mutants who wish to do the world good. Of course, those that are against mutants don’t really care… but they know about it.


“I, myself, have already been assigned to a family.” Storm said, and turned to face off-stage. A family of three walked onto the wooden stage. It was a family of three. A wife, husband, and a little girl that carried a stuffed rabbit. The family looked nervous to be on stage, but they had to feel safe next to Storm. She was very powerful. “Families have to sign up for a mutant – a mutant will not suddenly show up at your door and demand you let them protect you. Sign-up sheets will be here at the front after I finish the rest –“


Storm cut off her speech and stared into blank space. For almost a minute she didn’t speak. Several people in the crowd began to talk worriedly, and the family on the stage began to move back as if they thought she would burst into a million pieces. Finally her eyes began to dart around the room as if they were searching for something. The people in the crowd began to panic. Her eyes zeroed in on a space in the back of the room and Max follower her gaze.


There were several men in the back holding machine guns and wearing protective gear. Three of them were moving outwards, two were moving towards the crowd, and the three remaining men retreated even further back into the mall.


Storm’s eyes suddenly became a cloudy white color and the air around her and the crowd began to move. Max could see the clouds darken through the skylight in the mall’s ceiling. Lightning flashed. Thunder cracked. Gunshots went off, and people began to scatter, screaming bloody murder while scrambling in many different directions. The family on the stage moved behind Storm in fear while the rest of the people ran to escape the mall.


More gunshots went off, then several explosions. Max turned to Tim, seeking advice. He’d never been in this kind of situation. He didn’t think Tim had, either, but Max was so afraid that he couldn’t move a muscle. Even his eyes seemed to be glued open in cemented horror.

 

[TerraBooma]

Everything quickly went very. Very badly.


Tim wasn't quite sure what had happened, There were people with guns, that much was for sure. But he couldn't quite figure out who was attacking who....or why. With a frantic scramble, Tim barely had time to realize something peculiar.


There are three reactions to stress.


Fight, which admittedly, there were very few who were willing to fight people with guns, unless they were a mutant.


Flight, which he was ready to do, and so was everyone else.


But Max? he froze. Shaking his friend, the normally timid boy started shouting at his best friend. "Hey! Max! We g-gotta move!" He ducked as a bullet whizzed somewhere past them. "Soon! Please!"

 

[Seanzah Angel]

Tim’s words brought Max out of his stupor quite effectively. He blinked several times before his mind began to catch up to what was happening. As Tim dodged a bullet, another came whizzing by Max’s face. He could feel the heated air moving past him and see the projectile move, even. Which was weird since it was a bullet.


He wasn’t very worried about the specifics, though. He grabbed the sleeve of Tim’s shirt and began to run towards one of the exits. His heart was pumping a mile a minute; he could feel the blood pumping through his brain, giving him a massive headache. He was about to shove open one of the mall’s emergency exits when he was stopped by a man with an odd looking rifle. It looked normal except for the modified magazine and barrel. The magazine was slightly thicker and longer, and the barrel was wider than normal. Max knew guns, and this was no gun he had ever seen before.


And just when he thought both of them were about to be killed, a girl appeared in front of them. She literally appeared out of thin air with a small gust of wind from the displacement of her appearance. She grabbed the man’s gun and disappeared with it, and then reappeared again, punching him in the face, then the torso. The man doubled over and rose quickly, holding another gun which was also very odd looking. She teleported behind him and kicked him in the back, and as he stumbled forward she teleported in front of him.


Apparently that was a mistake because he anticipated it and shot her. Square in the chest.


It didn’t sound like a gunshot, though. It sounded like a pellet gun, and the projectile protruded from her body. Max felt like he had seen that same projectile before, but he couldn’t quite place it. He watched in pure horror as the girl collapsed to the ground, mouth agape in a silent scream. Her eyes were wide with a similar fear Max was feeling – agonizingly helpless horror. Then her eyes slid to the back of her head and her body went limp.


The boy could almost feel the adrenaline pumping through his body, fueling his muscles to move, but he couldn’t will them to do so. He stood still once more, as if his feet were glued to the ground. His grip on Tim’s shirt tightened, and he pulled him closer. Not so that Tim was in the shooter’s way to block and shots, but more behind him, so that Max would block the shots. He was instinctively protecting his friend even though he didn’t realize it.


Then several things happened at once. Beside Max and Tim there was a small explosion – like someone threw a grenade that went off just as it hit the ground. All three of them – Max, Tim, and the shooter - went flying through the air just as the shooter shot off three rounds. One grazed Max’s neck on the right side, the second entered his torso on the left side, and the third connected with Tim’s right shoulder. And a fraction of a second after the shots went off, a flash of light blinded Max for a moment. When he could finally see what was happening, he saw Storm hovering above them as she sent currents of electricity using the lightning from the sky to kill the man who had shot them.


But Max never got to see the results because his vision went black. He wasn’t unconscious – he was very much there. It was just that he could literally see nothing. He could feel everything – the wind Storm was using to levitate herself, whipping around like several industrial fans were underneath her at all times, the hot bite of the needle sticking out of his chest, the sharp pain in his head from smacking into the ground, the slight burn from the explosion, and the tickle of electricity. He was too far away from Storm for him to be feeling her lightning bolts… it had to be something else.


And if he could see, he’d be seeing arcs of electricity bouncing from point to point. From one hand to the other, from his head to his torso, from one leg to the next, etc, etc. His whole body was like a live power grid that had something stuck on it. If anyone were to touch him in this state, they would receive a sharp shock – not enough to do real damage. Just enough to hurt a lot.