When a Bill Becomes a Law

Posted on Fri Jul 12th, 2024 @ 8:57pm by Jean Grey & Pietro Maximoff & Charles Xavier & Scott Summers & Hank McCoy

Mission: Episode 5: Days of Fortune Past
Location: Baxter Building
Timeline: October 6, 1990

The assassination of Senator Robert Kelly has expedited the Mutant Registration Act, now awaiting President Richardson's signature or veto. Kelly's public murder has sparked widespread fear and outrage, driving the public to demand stricter regulations against mutants. This sentiment has pressured political figures to support the Act, leaving mutants with limited options as they brace for the impending legislation.

Anti-mutant activists, particularly the Friends of Humanity, have intensified their protests nationwide. Senator Peter Krane, a new ally of this group, sponsored the Act in the Senate, where it passed with a 3 to 1 vote. Senator Frank Stone of New Jersey was the only dissenting voice. In the House, Congressman Graydon Creed, founder of the Friends of Humanity, led the bill, which passed by a closer margin of 2 to 1, with many abstentions.

The Senate sent the bill to the House in mid-September, and it was passed by the end of the month. Key national figures such as Mutant Response Division Chief Haskett, National Security Advisor Gyrich, and Unified Command Coordinator Colonel Moss remained silent but poised for action once the President makes his decision. The future balanced on a razor's edge, leaving mutants with few options for responding to the rapidly moving act of legislation. The best they could do was prepare and plan for the life changing events that the Law would bring.

Today’s conference had been organized by X-Factor as a meeting of mutant and superhuman minds to discuss and collaborate on what their next steps would be. If and when the government declared war on mutantkind, everyone needed to come together or risk genocide. At Scott's insistence, Jean took point in welcoming everyone and stating the agenda.

“Thank you, everyone, for attending this meeting. I know it was on short notice, but I think that we can all agree that the Mutant Registration Act is an act of prejudice and hate against an already feared and marginalized community. We asked you here today because you are experts in your fields and have the ability to elicit change in your community. For those of you who I haven’t formally met, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jean Grey and I am one of the founders of X-Factor, a mutant advocacy organization.” The redhead dressed in a sharp grey suit spoke to the group seated around the large table in X-Factor’s conference room. “If you would be so kind as to do the same, we can get started with this meeting afterwards.”

Scott swept his navy blue blazer and crimson red tie close to his chest as he stood up from his chair. "Scott Summers, also co-founder of X-Factor. He took his seat and nodded to the Professor who was on the other side of him.

"My name is not unknown among political circles where human-mutant relations are concerned," the Professor began, "but I remain Professor Charles Xavier." His résumé spoke for itself, so he passed the floor to the next person. Unfortunately the next seat was empty. "I beg your pardon on behalf of my colleague, Dr. Hank McCoy. He is... running late." His voice clipped the end of his sentence.

Without missing a beat, Reed stood up. "Greetings!" he said with far too much enthusiasm. "I'm Reed! Reed Richards." He added his surname like an afterthought. "And I'm exceedingly pleased to announce that as of last month, I am the proud owner of this fine building! It was a pretty penny, but it finally allows me to launch my passion project of the Future Foundation. The previous owner was not a fan, let me tell ya, but now the sky's the limit. If I can take a minute of your time, I'd like to say a few words about the mission and purpose of—"

“Reed, honey…” Sue placed a hand on his arm. The touch was enough to break his train of thought and turn his head down towards her. “We talked about this yesterday, you agreed to wait.”

Reed suddenly remembered the conversation thanks to Sue’s words. He had once again forgotten the trees because of the forest. Lost in the layers of his plan and the projects before him, Reed often forgot the mundane conversations that occurred from time to time.

Clearing his throat in a moment of composure, Reed discontinued his sales pitch and sat down.

“I’m Sue Storm.” The petite blonde by Reed’s side stood and addressed the group. “You know both Reed and myself as part of the group titled The Fantastic Four.”

Maestro sniggered at the awkward dynamic. "What a window licker," he whispered to Pietro. Now that it was his turn, he stood up. "My name is Maestro, and this silver-haired devil next to me is Quicksilver. We represent the Brotherhood. Magneto sent us only as a favor to the fortuneteller over there. If we don't like what we hear, then we scram. Got it? Good." He sat back down and folded his arms, sorely unimpressed so far.

A painfully tight grip clutched Maestro’s knee under the conference table. As the dark haired women by his side leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Listen, you little scab, if you can’t keep your mouth shut when the grownups are talking, I’ll shut that thin lipped, weasley mouth myself.” Her grip tightened even more and Maestro knew the bone would shatter under her touch.

Maestro narrowed his eyes in contempt but he said nothing more for the moment.

The woman sat up straight and a pleasant smile returned to her face as if she hadn’t just threatened the boy sitting next to her. “Jessica Jones, Alias Investigations.”

Jessica didn’t stand like the rest of them but merely nodded her head in salutation before she gestured to the man sitting by her side. “And this is Matt Murdock, the best attorney in Hell’s Kitchen. Forgive him for not standing as he’s blind.”

“My legs work just fine, Jessica.” The soft-spoken man clad in sunglasses on her other side stood up and humbly bowed to the room. “Matthew Murdock, public defender from Nelson and Murdock.”

An uncomfortable silence filled the room as the last and probably most out of place individual failed to introduce themselves. It wasn’t until all eyes in the room turned towards her that she finally picked up on the cue.

“Callisto of The Morlocks,” the one-eyed woman grunted to the group. Her discomfort was almost palpable.

“Thank you, everyone. Now let’s get started.” Jean offered a smile of approval as she returned to standing at the front of the conference room. She flicked a switch and the overhead projector turned on to present a copy of the Mutant Registration Act for all of them to review together. She paused briefly and addressed the blind attorney. “My apologies, Mr. Murdock, I hope the Braille version that’s provided is sufficient.”

“Yes, thank you, Ms. Grey.” Murdock took her subtle cue and took the copy of the Act from out of the folder placed in front of him. “Your hospitality knows no bounds.”

Jean’s focus returned to the group and the first section of the Act that helped to define what a mutant was. “I am aware that many people in this room are not defined by holding the X-Gene. Which at face value, would make someone believe that they are not considered an individual who is effected by the Act. But the Mutant Registration Act deems an individual any individual possessing genetic mutations that grant them superhuman abilities as being privy to government regulation. The presence of the X-Gene itself isn’t specifically mentioned in the definition but rather any person who has the ability to perform superhuman acts on their own accord.”

There was a brief pause as that interpretation sunk in.

“So what you’re saying is that because our DNA was altered by cosmic radiation, we’re considered mutants who are required to register with the government?” Sue said with a frown. The Fantastic Four’s accident and subsequent powers were shared with the public as the events were occurring. They were already outed in the public eye.

Jean nodded her head in agreement. “I’m sure your registration will be made into another public event once the bill becomes law.”

There were plenty of thoughts taking place inside Reed's head, but he hadn't formed enough of a consensus to voice them.

"I would also like to point out," said Charles Xavier, holding a finger in the air to gather everyone's attention, "that many non-mutants are nonetheless carriers of the X-Gene. Precursors have been identified going back millennia. Mutations classified as superhuman would be impossible without it, at least those which don't also result in malignant side effects." He held up his copy of the Act. "The way this is written makes no distinction between human carriers of the X-Gene and mutants, putting focus on abilities rather than genetics."

"It's the legal opinion of Nelson and Murdock that the language of the legislation is problematic at best," the blind attorney agreed with a solemn nod. "We expect a rather large influx of clients should this law to go into effect. There is no way to enforce it which will not trample the civil liberties and, to put a fine point to it, the human rights of every man, woman, and child in this nation."

"The Morlocks will not register," Callisto sad flatly. "We already live outside the system because persecution is our reality. This is nothing new. Same song, next verse, just louder and worse."

"Perhaps we should make our own system," Reed said. "I would just love to go more into the Future Foundation which aims to accomplish exactly that."

"Yaaaaawwwwn," Maestro said in a long, drawn-out whine. "From where I sit, it sounds like the rest of you rubes are finally figuring out what the Brotherhood has known all along." He flung his folder in the air and let the papers flutter about on their way to the floor. "It's fucking war. The battle lines are being drawn and can't be drawn any clearer. It's time to pick sides, people."

Xavier just shook his head. "Didn't you hear a word I said before, Mr. Manco? The lines actually could not be more blurred. The Mutant Registration Act is a naked grab for power. Its sloppy definitions could apply as readily to mutant allies as to mutants themselves. This is the time for building bridges, not blowing up buildings."

"It's Maestro," he corrected with a seething voice. "And you can sit around and build all the bridges to nowhere you want. We'll be on the frontlines whenever you wise up and join us." Maestro kicked back his chair as he stood to his feet. "The Brotherhood leaves its regards." He wagged a middle finger to the rest of the conference table. "Come on, Quicksilver. Let's bounce."

Pietro had remained silent for the introductions as his eyes were fixed on Jean the entire time. She had been missing, lost like Wanda, without any trace or clue as to where she had gone. Now she was back, a whole real person standing right in front of him. Jean’s mutant abilities were impressive, much like Wanda’s. Her telepathy had been masked from Xavier’s, an act that was no small feat. Wherever she had been, whatever had been done to get her back, Pietro knew it hadn’t been an easy task. And yet, they had done it.

The realization that the X-Men had done the impossible, that they had found and brought back someone they loved. Their success tore apart something inside of Pietro that had been strained for a very long time.

He was so sick of waiting. He hated waiting.

As Maestro stood and demanded their departure, Quicksilver's focus snapped back to the present. He knew what he was about to say would change everything for him and the repercussions could be damning. But Pietro didn’t care, his mind was made up.

“No.” Quicksilver said with firm conviction “I’m staying.”

There was a tense pause as an obviously personal matter was brought into a public discussion.

“Even if X-Factor won’t have me, I’m not going back to that rock in the sky. I can’t watch and wait while the world burns.” Pietro’s eyes shifted to Scott and Jean, a faint plea for support in this moment of desperation.

“Pietro…” Jean’s voice trailed off and Scott and Xavier knew exactly what she was doing. A probing moment of telepathy to better understand why Quicksilver was doing this and how genuine his statements were. “You can stay here. We have accommodations for you.”

Her agreement was enough. Whatever she had seen in his mind had warranted her decision. Jean would explain it all to Scott later.

“Well, there you have it.” That moment of tension left Quicksilver as he leaned back in his chair and crossed legs before looking up at Maestro again. “You can go home without me, tell Magneto what happened. Just make sure to spin it the right way so he doesn’t rip your head off.”

Jean’s eyes locked onto Maestro and he felt a rake of fingernails in his subconscious. A brief warning that his rude comments had no place here, that the brilliant mind he valued above all else could be stunted and squashed if she decided to. He would leave now and he wouldn’t make a scene.

"Idiots."

As Maestro left, Hank McCoy made his late entrance. The two collided together. Maestro turned sideways and slid past him, as unwilling to remain as he was unwanted.

"Hank," greeted Xavier. "So glad you arrived." Addressing the others, Xavier continued. "Dr. McCoy is a preeminent biochemist and our resident expert on Sentinel technology. As the historical tool to harry mutants, it should be unsurprising to see their return. Concordantly, he has prepared a briefing to outline the dangers, hazards, and weak spots." After giving the introduction, he smiled at Hank and nodded for him to begin.

A bit disoriented from colliding with someone, Hank finally glanced around the room as he moved to one of the empty seats. “Yes, of course,” he said. “I thank you all for your patience in waiting for me. I wanted to make sure I had all of the relevant information to present to you arranged in a clear and concise manner. And here it is.” He glanced at his notes before beginning.

”The initial Sentinels we encountered were designed as simple but effective mutant hunting machines. They were equipped with anti-mutant weaponry that helped them identify and eliminate mutants. Large and physically imposing, they were also understandably equipped with considerable strength and durability. They had a limited AI that enabled them to track mutants based on certain genetic markers.

”The new Sentinels are slightly changed- better some might say. I prefer the word worse, however. They possess an improved AI that gives them better decision-making and problem-solving abilities as well as a better adaptability in combat situations. They also have a more sophisticated weapon systems, including energy beams and even missiles- perhaps even more advanced anti-mutant technologies. And worst of all, many of these models have the ability to fly.

”The news isn’t all dour, however,” he continued. “Their weaknesses haven’t changed much. More complex systems means more points of potential failure and a particular vulnerability to electromagnetic pulses, as well as hacking. While they have a more sophisticated AI, they can still be outsmarted by highly strategic opponents. All of these upgrades lead to the biggest flaw of all- they require significant resources to operate and maintain, making them far less sustainable over prolonged engagements.

”In short, they’re upgraded, but they still have weaknesses that can be used to our advantage. In The Art of War, Sun Tzu said ‘if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.’ The better we understand these Sentinels, the better our chances of defeating them.” he folded his hands over his notes to indicate that he had finished and was open for questions if anybody had any.

“Thank you, Dr. McCoy.” Jean said while changing the slides on the projector. Blueprints of a Sentinel and its weak points were displayed to the group. “Our intel had provided us with consistent weak points across the Sentinel’s body. One of the most obvious is the removal of its head. But there are select points in its joints and in its battery that will cause an almost immediate system failure. Should any of you happen to encounter one of these models, incapacitating it as soon as possible is ideal. They are prone to creating massive amounts of collateral damage once they have honed in on a target.”

Reed rubbed his chin and devoted his attention to the blueprint on display. He seemed lost in a moment of marvelous focus on the Sentinel’s schematics. “Do you have an original version of this blueprint? I would love to examine it further.”

“Not an original, no,” answered Hank. “That would be difficult to procure, as I am sure you could imagine. However, we have a sort of reverse engineered copy, though, reconstructed from a downed sentinel.” He ruffled through his notes and produced the drawing. “I doubt it is complete, but it’s better than nothing.”

"Yes, better than nothing..." Reed agreed with Hank "Maybe the Fantastic Four can assist..."

“So what you’re saying is if I rip its head off it will just stop working?” Jessica seemed pleased with the information. It was as simple as a plan could get. “Easy enough.”

“What about the delivery of our goods to the surface?” Callisto folded her arms across her chest in disapproval. “Our numbers have not recovered since the Marauders attack, now we will have to watch for Sentinel patrols? I can’t promise that we can continue with the conduct and commerce laws Angel mandated if this continues. He is gone and we have to adapt to this situation.”

"We may have a workaround for that," Scott put in. "There's another group similar to your community, Callisto, that could use a positive outlet, one that can't be provided... modern conventions." There really was no better diplomatic way to say it than that.

"You mean they're fellow freaks." Callisto's lips pressed thinly together. "Anyone who wants the criteria wants to move in, we'll let them in. I'm just letting it be known that if we're getting hunted in the streets, all bets are off."

Professor Xavier cleared his throat. "That wouldn't be necessary, Callisto, if only—"

"Save it, old man," Callisto barked. "We're not coming up, you're not coming down. End of story."

"Perhaps I could be of assistance," Reed said. "As part of our Future Foundation ethos, the betterment of mankind much become the cornerstone of all advancement."

Jessica sighed. "Give it a rest, silverfox. Nobody gives a shit." She looked at Jean. "Are we done here?"

Silently, Hank thought that perhaps many people cared, but he said nothing, instead choosing to simply frown.

"For the most part, Ms. Jones." Jean nodded her head in acknowledgment of the slightly derailed conversation. "The Sentinels being used by the Mutant Registration Act are complicated machinery and are rather time consuming and expensive to manufacture. We can follow some of the financial paper trails surrounding their production but so far, the dollar amounts don't seem to add up. There is concern that private funding is being used to create so many sentinels in such a short amount of time."

Murdock perked up with that comment, he was no stranger to how privatized prisons complicated the legal system. "That means that someone is going to profit from the capture of unregistered mutants."

"Yes." Jean agreed with the attorney. "When this act becomes a law, someone is going to become very rich, very quickly. Money makes people powerful and absolute power has the ability to corrupt. The Mutant Registration Act is not just a barbaric infringement on civil rights, it's a ploy to get rich off the demise of a minority. Exploitation at its worst."

"Shit, Red!" Jessica said with a frown. "You should have led with that, I guess it all makes sense now... All they needed was one sensational event to make it all happen. Who killed Senator Kelly, anyways?"

"The Brotherhood is currently to blame," Professor Xavier said, "but mostly because no other leads have been presented and Magneto has not denied it. We know that he was physically incapable of the act on the day of Robert Kelly's assassination. Whoever did it appears to have, for the moment, gotten away scot-free." He steepled his fingers and mirrored Jessica's frown. "Coupled with the ill-gotten gains from the mystery manufacturers, it is plain to see that corruption is afoot. The orchestration of events appears to go back for some time. One of my student's was attacked by a group of Sentinels a few weeks ago when she first stepped off the boat into New York. She managed to destroy them, yet the news media reported it as an industrial accident that damaged an impoverished city block."

Looking to Jessica, he went on. "And that is where I would like to employ you, Miss Jones. There must have been witnesses. Somebody saw something that may tell us a crucial detail. I will compensate you handsomely for anything you can dig up."

"Deal." Jessica nodded, suddenly more perked up than a moment before. "I'll get my best boys right on it."

"I'll dedicate lab space to robotic analysis," Reed put in. "Get me anything to do with these Sentinels and we can reverse-engineer them straight back to the Iron Age."

"My firm is preparing an amicus brief in preparation for a class action lawsuit that we expect to be filed upon the Act's pasage," Murdock added. "Anyone who wishes to contribute may forward relevant information to our office."

Xavier's mouth spread into a smirk behind his steepled fingers. It didn't need to be said who would be leading that lawsuit. The X-Corporation's attorneys were already hard at work drafting their own briefs.

Scott couldn't hold back a satisfied smile himself. This had been a little rocky at the beginning, but everyone seemed to be coming together. It was incredible to think that a month ago, this had been a dusty room with a dust cloths draped over everything. Now it was filled with a coalition that just might be enough to turn the tide of systemic mutant oppression.

~We did it~ Scott kept his composure, but inwardly he was radiating a jubilant vibe that hit Jean like a warm embrace. ~I know it's only a start, but it's a hell of a good one. As good or better than I'd hoped. And it couldn't have happened without you, Jean~

~* ‘Almost. I’m saving the celebrating until everyone is out the door or settled.’ *~ She glanced over at Pietro who had remained silent since his denouncement of the Brotherhood. His arms remained folded across his chest as he still examined the sentinel picture on the projection screen. He was lost in thought but it had nothing to do with the registration act.

“Excellent, it sounds like we all have a plan and deliverables to provide. I’ll continue to remain in touch with all of you. If you need anything please feel free to reach out to X-Factor.” Jean turned off the projector and the members of the session began to collect their things. Murmured conversation began to fill the conference room.

“Scott will see you out or address any lingering questions.” Jean tapped Pietro’s shoulder and he stood up and began to follow her towards a different door other than the main exit of the conference room. “Once again, thank you all for attending.”

Jessica Jones and Matt Murdock were the first to leave. Scott shook hands with both of them before Callisto all but shoulder-checked him on her way out. Reed was not right on her heels with the opposite sentiment. Reed talked Scott's ear off while pretending not to notice the persistent elbow tug from Sue. Some people never changed.