The Times They Are a-Changin'
Posted on Wed Jul 12th, 2023 @ 9:46am by Scott Summers & Connor Bruin & Iris Walker & Cameron Hood & Elias Buckley & Tammy Thompson & Shinobi Shaw & Ethan Hale & Aurora Summers
1,479 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2: Northern X-Posure
Location: X-Mansion | Ground Floor Parlor
Timeline: August 12th, 1990
"Thank you for coming..." Scott stood by the grand window that overlooked the sprawling campus greenery that went clear to the overlook that hung over Breakstone Lake. His thoughts were even farther away, but he drew them in so he could address everyone. "I know I don't have any official standing here anymore, but as many of you already know, Professor Xavier stayed behind on Muir Island for a few extra days." Turning around to face them, Scott made eye contact with each one as best he could through his red sunglasses. "I thought it would be good for us to have a group meeting."
Drawing the curtains closed as a symbol of privacy, Scott walked to an empty highbacked chair and took a seat. "Does anybody have anything they want to say?"
Connor typed away on his device. "WHAT DO YOU WANT US TO SAY?"
"Whatever you want," Scott said. "A lot has happened lately. People have come and gone. It never gets any easier..."
"I. AM. HERE."
If there was anybody who could simultaneously add to frustration while detracting tension, it was Connor. "Yes... thank you, Connor."
Ethan leaned against the wall, his wings curled around his lithe frame almost as if he were trying to conceal himself.
"I know I just got here," he said, "and maybe it's not my place to say, but things seem really fragged up now. What's going on?"
“Don’t feel bad,” Iris told him with a shake of her head. “I’ve been here for awhile- well, minus a few days in the middle- and I don’t really know, either.” It occurred to her that her confusion could be a result of the concussion she had suffered, but that had been some time ago, so she doubted it.
"We've had our ups and downs," Scott said, "but we went through them together. The Professor and I tried to... to find help. My friends are missing. We both feel responsible in our own ways." Words were usually not so hard to find, but Scott kept shaking his head and avoiding the faces of everyone there. "We've lost some people... again. I'm so glad we were able to bring Bobby home, but he doesn't remember anything. It's like he's still gone. Part of him is if you think about it. Bliss is no better. And Margo and Levi and..." He steeled himself. This was no way to inspire the group. "... Well, the Professor is taking some time with all of them on Muir Island. While he's gone, I was thinking we could be on the lookout for something constructive to do. Some kind of project, maybe, or an easy mission to help remind him and all of us what we're doing here. Nothing dangerous. Just a way to help someone in need."
“I’ll be happy to help.” Aurora offered a polite smile. “For those who don’t know me I’m Aurora, The Professor has offered me a home here with all of you, he calls me an Enigma, so the name has kind of stuck.” She smiled. “I’d like to help in any way I can, Scott.”
Elias piped up from his position leaning against the wall by the window. He'd taken up a spot opposite roughly Ethan so they could each own their individual space, and while he spoke directly, he sounded upbeat rather than negative. "Do you have a project or mission in mind?" Elias asked. "Or is this like Show and Tell or something?
"I don't know exactly," Scott admitted with a shrug. "Even if it's a Welcome Home Party, we need something to lift the spirits around here. The Mansion has never had so much coming and going." He shook his head for emphasis. "I was the Professor's first student. The path few months are... unprecedented." Looking around, he ended with, "If anybody has any ideas, I'm all ears."
"Party? Oh yeah! Cake, ice cream, music, maybe games. I would love that! I bet we could use the danger room. That's got all sorts of Holographic stuff. Maybe Holo versions of some of our favorite bands and or singers! Ohh yeah! That would be so awesome! Ohh I can just see it now! Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton! Oh and maybe Crystal Gale and Shania Twain! That would be great!" Tammy said.
Aurora wasn’t so sure. “I’m not really a party person, not that I want to ruin it for anyone else. I don’t mind just staying in my room if that’s what others want to do.” She offered a sheepish look as she looked at Scott.
"I don't mind a party," Ethan said as he pushed away from the wall folding his wings back. "I mean it could be kind of fun. Though I'm more of a Beach Boys kind of guy than a country boy."
"But I'm brand new here myself and I think maybe if we used the danger room as a danger room and did some team activities and contests. It would build camaraderie and teamwork. And give us some practical experience in working together."
“Yeah, like low ropes games,” agreed Iris. “That’s actually a great idea. And maybe a quiet party afterwards with pizza and ice cream and stuff.”
Scott crossed his arms and chuckled at the group. "You all want to do some drills? We could work something out."
Aurora nodded. “Sounds good to me.”
Jace listened to all of the suggestions. He for one could go for a party right about now. Or right about any time, for that matter. "Party sounds better than projects or missions," he said. "And it definitely sounds better than school or drills. But if we're talking music, Nirvana sounds a hell of a lot better. Or Pearl Jam. Now there's some party music."
With a quietly offered look of respectful interest aimed directly ar Jace, Elias gave a subtle double nod. He could definitely handle some Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder time.
"I DO NOT WANT TO PARTY OR DO DRILLS." The words came out of Connor's speech-generating device while he stared intently at Scott.
"What if I let you program the computer?" Scott asked.
"I. CHANGED. MY. MIND." Connor grinned wide and let out a deep guffaw.
Aurora couldn’t help but grin, she’d heard Connor mention that he’d like to program the computer when they’d communicated before. “Just go easy on us Connor, I’m new to all this.” She grinned.
Ethan was happy. His idea of drills had been accepted. It wasn't that he wanted to work and not play, but he at least needed to work better with this team he barely knew. He did like the idea of a party afterward, however.
"Why don't we do it all?" Scott suggested. "We can let the younger students start their fun while we run some team drills and join up with them afterward."
Aurora nodded. “If we’re going to do that then I’ll warn you all now, I don’t have control over my abilities so if I say get away, then get the hell away.” She looked at Scott. “Just ask Scott he’s seen me at my worst.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Iris assured her.
"Okay, this is weird Mr. Summers," Ethan said, "I'm all for having fun and a party, but I wanted to do the whole teamwork thing first. Tell me what I should do."
Scott chuckled at the brewing excitement. "Alright, alright now," he said, raising a hand to get everyone's attention. "The actual team will do drills tomorrow in the Danger Room. Most of the younger students don't even know about either of the subbasements, so we'll let them have their fun while we do some team-building. When we're done, then we'll come up and join then. Hopefully there will be some pizza left." Looking around at everyone, Scott asked, "Sound like a plan?"
“I’m in!” exclaimed Iris happily, grin spread from ear to ear.
"So this is for tomorrow?" Elias checked he'd understood the plan right.
"That's right," Scott said. "We'll make a day of it."
"Ok that sounds good! I will say make sure there is plenty of Pizza because, once it's party time for us older people, I'll want several slices." Tammy said. "preferably with the works!"
Cameron had been in the back of the room, quietly listening and watching. Connor had a dangerous mind, sharp as a razor, and as creative as Picasso. Perhaps he should talk to him before hand to make sure they wouldn't be facing green shapeshifting aliens, or mole people wearing weird glasses from attacking them out of the ground. He smirked slightly at his own imagination as he quietly snuck out of the room.
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