Too Powerful? [COMPLETED!]

26- Dr. Hank McCoy

Scott:

I put my right hand against the wall, supporting my weight, as Alex ran her fingers through my hair. I grinned when Alex deepened the kiss. Her arms around my neck pulled me closer, closing any distance that was between us. My breathing started to become ragged, and I could feel lust coursing through my veins. I gave a gasp, and pulled away. Alex looked back at me, hurt.

"No, Alex. I'm sorry, we cannot do this... Its not... right."

For a moment, Alex didn't say anything, but then she smiled sadly back at me.

"You're right. I'm sorry, Scott..."

I grinned mischievously, and gave her a quick peck.

"Don't be!"

Alex rolled her eyes playfully and grabbed her jacket. Classes with the Professor had began again for her, which meant that I had to endure long hours alone, since most of the other mutants here, too, had to attend the sessions with the Professor.

I opened the door of my room, and together, we walked out of it, hand in hand, to the Professor's study. Reaching it, I gave her a hug, before we parted ways.

I sighed.

What should I do now?

Listlessly, I wandered downstairs. Perhaps I should pick up a book to read. God knows, I've been behind on my reading.

As I turned the corner, wrapped up in my thoughts, I almost knocked over a mass of blue. Startled, I looked up, into a pair of animal-looking eyes.

"Hank?"

Dr Hank McCoy, affectionately known as Beast due to his wild-looking appearance, looked just as startled as I did, but he recovered quickly. He gave me a smile, pushing his glasses back up so he could see me properly.

"Scott! How are you doing? I haven't seen you for so long!"

"I'm great, no complains," I smiled. "But what are you doing here? Aren't you an ambassador now?"

"Yes Scott, but you must remember; I am a scientist, first and foremost. And nothing can get in the way of true passion, I have to say. Anyway, I'm here to see the Professor."

Immediately, I became concerned. The government fears mutants despite whatever they say, and 'discussions' usually turn out to be tricks, trying to make mutants leave the country, or something along the lines.

"Is everything all right?"  

"Yes, don't worry Scott. The government, at this moment at least, have finally realized that the state of the economy is a much bigger concern to them than we are... so..."

Hank's voice trailed away.

"Anyway, what I have here, I believe, is..."

Hank paused.

"What, Hank?"

"I think I have discovered the cure to mutation, Scott..."

My breath stopped. I didn't know how to react.

"Are... Are you sure, Hank?"

Hank's face looked grave as he nodded.

"Wow." I whispered, as I slowly leaned against the wall for support. A cure for mutants. A chance to be... normal. I didn't know how to feel. 

"Should we be happy about this, Hank?"

Hank stood silent.

"I... don't know, Scott. Honestly, I don't know."

Hank took off his glasses and wiped them slowly. He wasn't looking at me when he started talking again, deliberately concentrating on his glasses.

"Do I want to look normal, Scott? Not blue, not furry... normal eyes, normal skin? Yes, most definitely. But... at the same time... I can't help but believe that nature intended us to be this way, Scott. To be different. Our abilities are surreal... what if they can be used to save the human race?"

Hank stopped wiping, and placed his glasses back on the bridge of his nose.

"Every day, I keep telling myself that I'm proud to be a mutant. Normally, it works; entering the office, with people who are used to me... but then, when I walk down the street, I can't help but feel self-conscious... when people stare at me... I feel... ashamed of myself, Scott..."

I gave me a small smile. I definitely had it better than him, as the only visible difference between me and other humans was my glasses. But somehow, I could relate. I understood.

"So... how does the drug work, Hank? Any side effects?"

"As far as I can tell, there are none, Scott. What this drug does is that it attacks the mutated cells and changes their DNA. I went a step further, though, and made sure that the drug also affects the mutant's memory... Makes them forget that they were mutant..."

"Why?"

Hank shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know, Scott... I suppose... I want them to have a fresh start in life. Taking this drug is a major decision... and I don't want anybody to feel as if they made a mistake after taking it. So, the only way to go about it is to make sure they don't remember what it felt like to be a mutant. Make them believe that they have been normal their entire lives. Help them rebuild a new life, a new identity..."

I nodded jerkily. What he said made sense, although I didn't agree with him completely. Erasing part of a person's life seemed so... wrong to me.

Hank observed me, as if understanding what was going through my mind. He shrugged his shoulders again, clapped me on the back, and continued down the hall, the bottle of clear liquid sloshing innocently.