Adding extra Spice
Posted on Tue Jun 8th, 2021 @ 3:16pm by Charles Xavier & Scott Summers & Gabe Spicer
Edited on on Wed Aug 18th, 2021 @ 7:52am
1,755 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Episode 1: X-Odus
Location: Spicer home, south of Amarillo texas
Timeline: June 27, 1990. 1PM
Gabe had a feeling that he couldn't quite describe as he stormed up the stairs. Mostly to avoid retribution. He didn't waste much time either, heading straight for his room and locking the door. "What just happened?!" He asked the empty room as he sort of slumped into his desk chair.
"I'm a freak" he said as he looked at his now furry hand. "Great. That's all the ammo Dad needs. He'll call the cops and then who knows what'll happen." He sighed. "Well, I'm not waiting long enough to find out!" He stood up and grabbed his duffel bag from his closet. He then started to just cramp stuff in.
Noise from overhead increased from a dull hum into a loud rumbled that lightly shook the walls. Wind picked up outside enough to briefly rattle the window, but it too soon faded to quiet. Downstairs there was a knock at the door. Voices. What on earth could it be?
--living room--
"What the heck was that?!" Mr Spicer thought as he went to his front door. "First that little freak scratches my arm, and now the air force wants to bomb my house or something," he said as he jerked open the door
--Gabes room---
"What did he do? Call the military?" Gabe said as he felt the house shake. He brought his hand up, wishing that it looked normal. "Maybe it was just a dream. Maybe if I pinch myself. Ow!" A trickle of blood came from the pinch point. Gabe hesitated to look. "Great, the other one. A paw, that's a new one" he said hoisting his duffel. He sighed.
As Scott walked up the steps to the front porch, he realized that he was going to be taking point. Xavier had been a strong proponent of the Americans With Disabilities Act that was due to be signed into law later this year, but that was no help now. Like most houses, the Spicer residence did not have a ramp for wheelchairs.
Knocking on the door, Scott put his best prep school face and braced himself for the ire of a parent about to be confronted with the shame of a family secret.
Mr Spicer opened the door, after putting on his best "company face" as he did, while also hiding his arm. "Yeh...er I mean yes. Can I help you?" He said, more than slightly annoyed.
"Yes, hi, my name is Scott Summers, and I'm with Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters." He smiled extra wide to project a warmth usually obscured by his red-tinted sunglasses. "May I have a moment of your time to discuss your son's future?"
In the back of his mind Mr Spicer saw an opportunity. She smiled as he opened the door. "Come in please." He said. "Can I get you anything?"
"No, thank you," Scott said. "I don't mean to take up any more of your time than necessary. What I wanted to tell you is that your son, Gabe, has won an all-expense paid scholarship to Xavier's. It's a boarding school, so he would be spending most of his time there, but as an alumnus, I can personally say it's well worth the experience."
"He has?" Mr Spicer said. "I wasn't aware he had been entered. But I'm not surprised, he is a bright boy."
Just then Gabe poked his head around the corner. He was up in his room, that is until he heard voices and curiosity got the better of him. "Hello?" he said. He came into the room.
"Hi there," Scott said with his best smile. It felt a little weak, but he was determined not to screw this up. "I was just talking to your dad about the contest you entered." He cocked his head somewhat, hoping for Gabe to catch on. "The one for the special boarding school? Well, I'm with the awards committee. Congratulations, Gabe!"
"Thank you!" Gabe said. "I almost forgot I entered that. Then you must be Mr Summers?" Gabe said, fully coming into the room.
"That's right," Scott said, happy that Gabe had overheard. "Pending parental approval, you can begin enrollment immediately."
Gabe's eyes widened, but just for a little bit. Something told him to trust this man. And so he did. But he couldn't help but think to himself "Me? Why?" He looked to his dad.
Mr Spicer nodded to Scott. "Well. Who am I to stand in Gabes way. Seems like a great opportunity."
"Fantastic," Scott said. "Allow me to get the registration and consent forms, and then we can be on our way."
Running back out the door and down the porch, Scott met with Xavier.
"They agreed!" Scott said with a smidge of his old teenage passion breaking through his normally stoic disposition.
"Of course," Charles said with a knowing nod. "Well done, Scott."
The man's tone made Scott turn skeptical. "Did you help?" he asked, head turned askance.
"You did well," Charles said, deflecting the question.
Scott sighed. Of course it had went too easily. Whether it was full on mind control or just subtle telepathic persuasion, Xavier had not trusted Scott to do this on his own. "I guess nothing's changed," Scott said. "You don't trust me."
"If I wanted to make people act against their wills, then I would not have formed the X-Men and you would not be standing here scowling at me," Charles said. "Scott, I chose you with good reason and I stand by that decision regardless of everything that has happened. However, if we are going to have a disagreement every time you doubt something I tell you, then the new team will not come together."
The words "new team" made Scott flinch. He didn't want a new team. He wanted his friends back. But this was a tired argument he had fought with himself over the past few days.
"I need the packet," Scott said at length, hand out to receive it.
Xavier handed him the packet of registration documents and legal waivers required for Gabe to come with them. There were things he wanted to say, but he refrained.
Returning to the porch with papers in hand, Scott did his best to swallow his anger and find his cheerful veneer again.
Gabe came out, backpack slung on his back. "Glad I had this packed." he muttered to himself. As he took a minute to look at his home. "Well, bye..I guess." he said. "Guess I'm movin'." He shrugged. He was more than a little confused. He took a minute to look at his hand. -Normal?!- he thought to himself. -Did I dream it. Couldnt have. the band aid on my thigh is proof something happened.-- He looked out into the yard. "Cool ride though." he said out loud.
"Yes, the Blackbird is our primary mode of transportation," Xavier said. "Though only those I permit to remember the sight of it will do so." He held out his hand to shake Gabe's. "My name is Professor Charles Xavier. I am the headmaster of a school for the gifted, for individuals such as yourself." His brow arched a bit to suggest he knew Gabe's secret.
"Uh.nice to meet you, Professor." Gabe said, taking the offered hand. "Gabe Spicer." he said. "And thank you. For letting me see it I mean. I felt the house rattle and I thought the air force had arrived or somethin'," he said.
"Yes, well, we had to delay you somehow," Charles replied. Looking at his backpack, he noted, "You certainly seemed ready to go somewhere."
"You knew about that?" Gabe said. "Then what happened to my hand..happened?" he said, face turning red.
"I know that it wasn't the first time," Charles said. "And I can promise you that it won't be the last. But never fear." His smile was thin but stalwart and reassuring. "What you will truly be learning at my school is how to control your mutant ability."
Gabe nodded. "Then I'll do my best, sir. Thank you." He said "If you don't mind me asking. How did you find me anyway?"
"I have the means to detect displays of mutant abilities," Charles explained. "For that is what you are, Gabe. A mutant. In the same way that modern Homo Sapiens Sapiens evolved to replace the Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis, we are the next step in the evolution of this planet." He smiled at the overly technical term. "As a geneticist, I find Homo Sapiens Superior to be a little arrogant but not altogether inaccurate."
As they approached the Blackbird which was set down not far from the Spicer residence, Charles said, "We can discuss the depths of Darwinian mutation another time, however. I have to say that your response to all of this is rather exemplary. Most individuals your age are often unsettled, but you have taken the arise of your mutation with great aplomb."
"Thanks, Professor." Gabe began. "But it did scare me at first. Shortly before y'all arrived actually. But then I figured that it actually did happen. And there wasn't much I could do about it either way. Does that make sense?" Gabe said.
"Fatalism has been a cold comfort for many a soul in this world," Charles said. Then, remembering he was speaking to a 15 year-old, he said, "It makes perfect sense, Gabe."
Gabe breathed a sigh of relief. The confirmation that he wasn't crazy did wonders. And the prospect of moving. Because in truth he was glad to leave. "That's good." He said, not knowing what to say. As they approached the plane Gabe moved over a little bit to let the professor board first. As he did he saw Scott.
"Mr Summers?" Gabe said. "Thank you for coming in when you did. You and the Professor are lifesavers," Gabe added, putting on his best smile.
Now that the encounter was over, Scott merely nodded at Gabe. He handed the packet with signed documentation to Xavier and then took his seat in the cockpit. "You should strap in," he told Gabe. "This is no weather balloon."
"What Scott means," said Xavier with a subtle cross look direct at the back of Scott's head, "is that you are most welcome. We look forward to having you join us at the Academy and reach your full potential."
"Sounds good." Gabe nodded as he buckled himself in, taking one last look at his house from the cockpit window. "Bye," he said softly to himself as he looked back.
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