Envisionings (2nd Edition) Part 9 💉🩸

Storm's voice rings out over the Control Bay's comm.: "I am sorry to say, Cyclops, but that is mission failed."

In response, Cyclops merely turns and exits; not seeming put-out so much as trying to figure something out.

Colossus comes up to the others: "What happened?"

Shadowcat: "Cyclops set his phaser to kill instead of stun."

Iceman: "What was that thing, anyway?"

Shadowcat: "A dragon. Since this was my first sim as a graduate, Storm agreed to input something I suggested. I didn't know how she'd work it in." She adds to Colossus, "I was starting to think you'd find it like the minotaur in a labyrinth."

We re-join the X-Men's focused leader as he steps into the Control Room.

"Full replay with advanced data overlay, please."

Storm keys that in.

Cyclops steps more directly in front of the screens to watch. . .

. . .as we transition to another screen entirely.

Anchorwoman: "-serious water damage at an apartment complex has been confirmed to have been caused by an elderly mutant tenant. Given their landlady's statement of a rent increase enacted at the top of the month, an increase to which the mutant tenant tried to contest, this incident is being viewed as an attempt to avoid paying by claiming an uninhabitable environment."

The broadcast is shut off, and we see it was being viewed in Xavier's class,whom the Professor now addresses: "The news conveys the circumstance quite differently than what we know to be fact: an elderly mutant who experienced incontinence of their mutation before apparently losing the ability to access their power altogether."

One student raises their hand before asking: "Does this imply mutations break down with age, like the rest of a body?"

Xavier: "At this point I'm not sure." He smiles. "I haven't yet reached the age to know."

Giving a moment for his humour, Xavier then continues: "Though I do know how powerful a mind can be. It is possible this mutant subconsciously cut himself off from his power following the negative impact it caused to his life and others. Or that the stress of the event caused a suppression similar to how stress often activates the X-gene. However that would be a first, as far as I know."

We pan to another classroom.

Jean Grey: "For as much as we know about living with mutations, there's that much that we don't. For example, two individuals who may generally be classed as having the same can display that mutation quite differently."

Student: "Like how you and Professor X could both be classed as psychic, but only you have telekinesis."

"Right." She smiles, turning a phrase: "If you've met one psychic mutant, you've met one psychic mutant."

Jean resumes addressing the class as a whole: "There are also those mutations which could be classed differently yet are found to share properties. Such as Cyclops and Havok's. It's worth posing the question if we would observe this in all families with more than one mutant. At this point we don't have enough data to arrive at an educated answer, though our work today may bring us closer.

You'll find on your screens a series of sequenced X-Genomes. You'll also find they aren't labeled. I'd like to see if you can identify which belong to related mutants."

And while Summer classes are underway for those remaining at X-Mansion,others are using the holidays to visit family, including one of two such relatedmutants, presently downstate in an apartment in New York City. . .

Jacilon Chreyz: "Sorry, Holo. Looks like I've gotta' go into work today."

"Could I come?"

"Sure! The place is for youth, anyway."

Cut-To the sisters riding the bus.

With a couple blocks to go, Holo notices something out the window when the bus comes to a stop. She leans towards her sister, saying in a voice only loud enough for Jacilon to hear:

"The community garden's really sprung up."

Jacilon responds in kind: "A mother and son just moved here. He has quite the green thumb, just like you have a vivid imagination." She winks.

Getting it, Holo smiles.

On arriving at the Empowered Youth Center, Holo pauses instead of following her sister towards the door.

"Could I go check out the garden instead?"

Jacilon pauses to consider that a moment. "Sure. The boy will probably be out there soon, too. His name's Eeco."

So Holo backtracks the bus's route on foot. . . . . .and roughly ten minutes later comes up on the community garden.

Sure enough, a boy maybe her age looks to have just arrived himself;setting a pack down as he begins looking over the plants before he looks up instead, noticing her.

Holo offers a friendly smile. "Hi."

The boy seems unsure. "Hello."

"I'm Holo. I think you and your Mom know my sister, Jacilon?She works at the youth centre down that way," Holo extends her arm the way she came.

Eeco brightens in recognition. "Yeah."

"She told me you have a special way with the plants. Can you talk to them?" So he'll feel comfortable talking openly, Holo follows her question with a projected imagining of Eeco in obvious -though soundless- conversation with a Venus fly trap.

The real Eeco's expression turns from fascinated, to amused, to a kindred grin.He launches into an answer: "We don't talk, but I know what they need. More like I'm a scientist who does the analysis in my body when I touch them. Like, see-" He kneels down by one of the planters, "-this one needed better soil, and a different plant beside it than was here before." Eeco gently fingers the leaves, a studious look on his face a moment before he smiles with the affirmation "-it's feeling much healthier now."

Holo has joined him in kneeling by the planter. "Cool! Have you heard of the Three Sisters?"

Not long into their conversation, a woman who had been passing by pauses, staring at them.

Once again, Eeco notices, speaking to their frown in a shy but friendly way: "Would you like to take something? It's free and healthy."

"If you paid me I wouldn't eat that mutated food. I'll get the city to set you straight if you don't stop it." With a final scoff she goes on her way, muttering: "think they can convert us. Filthy muties."

The kids are crestfallen, though not for long as Holo speaks up; firmly if not privately: "I don't know what she can do, but I know she's making a mistake. This all looks way tastier than what's in the store."

"It is. What would you like to try?"

. . .and as a new friendship comes together, we head back to the X-Mansion where a temporary parting is taking place. . .

X-Mansion foyer

Bobby: "Enjoy your trip."

Rogue: "Take lots of pictures."

Kitty: "Thanks! I'll take a bunch for sure. I just hope I won't wind up wishing I'd stayed here."

Ororo smiles with pride: "Do not give us a second thought. This Summer is for your parents and their new graduate."

Kitty smiles back, then turns to Piotr who seems to be serving as her chauffer to the train station. Not expecting him to take her bag, Kitty thanks him as they head out together; a final wave cast towards her mutant family.

Bobby turns to Rogue and Ororo: "Either of you up for some basketball?"

Ororo: "Another time. My plants need my attention at present."

Rogue: "Ah'm game. Just gimme' a minute."

"Alright. I'll meet you on the court."

. . .but first we must meet back up with Cyclops, who finishes a basic, solo Danger session. . .

Shortly thereafter he goes to speak to Hank in the Lab, Cyclops still in his uniform though now with his glasses on; his visor handed over: "My optic power has changed. The data readout from the team session confirmed what I felt during it -a fluctuation. I'll be monitoring it, though for now it seems stabilized at the higher end."

"Hence your needing a change to your visors' parameters. So how much higher are we talking?"

"100%."

Hank is all interest: "I'll get on it directly."

"Thanks."

X-Mansion Grounds - Basketball Court

While waiting for Rogue, Bobby can be seen practicing against a defense of ice sculpturesmade in the likeness of familiar people.

While they don't provide much in way of competition, they do provide Bobby with bodies to weave around --plus a little extra challenge from the slippery puddles brought on by the Summer sun.

A figure steps up to the court; not Rogue. Though it is another youth looking to be about her and Bobby's age. This youth proceeds to watch this strange game for the few moments it takes for Bobby to sink another basket.

"You want an opponent who isn't so 'cool' and collected?"

Bobby turns around, surprised. "Sure." He passes the stranger the ball.

Catching it, the other youth turns his attention back to the ice sculptures, pointing to one: "This one's on my team."

Bobby grins.

They start their game.

Bobby: "So are you gonna' be enrolling or do you know someone here?"

The other youth bounces the ball off his "teammate", just to see what would happen. "I'm a couple years past graduating," he corrects the age assumption before answering: "I know someone who knows someone here. Or ones-- shoot."

Having just stolen the ball from him, Bobby gives a nod, but is now more focused on the game than on getting to know this guy. He tries to make a shot but the other guy blocks it with a laugh; in triumph, not mockery.

He then takes a shot but misses, and as Bobby gets the ball back he takes another himself --this time avoiding the other guy's block by shooting an ice slide underneath the ball, twisting it right into the net.

The other youth stares. "That has got to be a traveling foul!"

Bobby grins: "Let's see what you can do! Powers Ball is more fun."

"I'm cool to see more of yours, but who says I've got any?"

They fight for the ball.

"Sorry -I just assumed."

He smiles. "Well you're right. But who says I need them?" He'd lost the ball, yet just manages to hit it right out of Bobby's next ice slide.

Though Bobby is the one who recovers it: "Guess we'll see!"

--or not.

Suddenly a wayward white-hot blast obliterates the once-more airborne ball --nearly missing the other youth on his way to intercept it while instantly reducing the ice players to steaming, fast-shrinking mounds.

Rogue has arrived just time to witness this, and as one she and the boys look in the direction the blast came; finding trouble.

Bobby moves quickly on another ice slide --shooting his own blasts of ice to cool down shattered trees and sections of lawn set ablaze.

Alex Summers A.K.A. Havok: "Sorry, guys! That went out more intense than I expected; got a little away from me."

Bobby (coming to a stop nearby): "I'd call that more than a little."

Other Youth: "Yeah, great goin', man. You've becoming a real ace in the environmental destruction department." His tones speaks of an easy kind of relationship between himself and Alex, something nearing pals yet still more on the side of mentee/mentor.

Alex gives him a measured look: "I could leave you here."

Without missing a beat, the other youth shifts his attention to Rogue: "That couldn't be all bad. Hey, my name's Colber."

Rogue gives something between a laugh and a scoff at his forwardness: "Ah'm Rogue. And ah saw you've been gettin' to know my boyfriend, Bobby."

Colber raises a brow at the boyfriend part, interested though unconcerned,and reverts attention to the boy in question: "Somehow I wouldn't have taken you for a 'Bobby', if I had to guess."

"Well, you can call me 'Iceman.'"

Colber (like he finds that silly): "Then I'm 'Rockman'."

Bobby looks like he's still deciding on his impression of this guy."Well for someone called 'Rockman' your game wasn't all that solid."

Colber playfully recoils: "Ooo- freezer burn!"

However this conversation might play out, it's interrupted by another voice as Scott, now back in civilian clothes -different ones than we saw him in earlier- comes onto the scene; Alex's wayward blast having apparently caught the attention of more than just those who were outside:  "Lex -what's going on?"

Alex spreads his arms in a frustrated shrug: "I need a new model of this thing or something!" He refers to the suit he wears -only the torse portion exposed- which appears at once similar to the X-Men's uniforms and unique; made of lighter material and containing on the chest three containment rings of descending size inside of each other, with a small point of connection between each.

"Actually I think it's messing me up like how they say wearing glasses makes your eyes worse over time -the times I lose control have gotten more frequent and every blast this thing absorbs now nearly fills it to capacity -I've had to make controlled blasts the past while just to make sure this thing can keep absorbing the uncontrolled ones, and then I can't even seem to modulate those the same."

Scott regards him thoughtfully before turning back towards the Mansion. "Come on. We're going to the Danger Room."

Chaffing a bit at the older-brotherly insistence, Alex doesn't move: "Why? I've emptied it -I won't be a danger to my surroundings for a while -I just wanna' go see Hank."

Scott pauses. "Because there could be another explanation I'd like to test for and for starters, we kind of like our trees around here. And our basketball court."

Disarmed by the hint of a teasing smile on his brother's face, Alex yields; bending to pick up his discarded shirt as he follows him: "But if we're doing a sim, I set the specifics."

Cut-To close of the session; Alex joins Scott in the Control Room where the elder Summers is looking over the readout.

"So?"

"Now we go see Hank.".