Dawn of Mutants I. - The Agency

#3 - The Opening of a New Era

Professor Charles Xavier and his small team failed to prevent the „File M" from taking air. The Mutant Liberation Front defeated the young mutants. Captain Howlett accused Magnus Maximoff that he organised the Front. The Professor promised the take the young mutants home.

The Blackbird didn't go back to London. The young mutants were suprised.

„Where are you taking us, Professor?" – asked Martin.

„I know that you are all disappointed. I'm sorry that your first mission was a failure. But we have a lot of job to do!"

„What are you planning, sir?" – asked Betsy. She hoped that she can fight again. But the others refused any violent activities.

„I'm not a fighter!" – said Jean. Piotr agreed.

„Don't be afraid!" – said Xavier peacefully. – „We are now heading towards my Institute in New York, Wenchester county. Jean, Betsy and Piotr were there a few years ago with other young mutants.

„Good old times..." – said Piotr. He spoke rarely.

„Yes. At that time we didn't fight against other mutants." – added Jean.

„I understand why are you mad at me. You never wanted to be fighters." – noticed Xavier.

„Except for me." – said Betsy.

The Professor planned to close the Xavier Institute. For the public it was just a private institute of a well-know psycologist. In reality, Xavier helped young mutants to explore themselfs and their powers. The mutant powers mostly manifest at the end of puberty, between 16-19 years. It's already a difficult age for young people, but if they also happen to be mutant, it can be much more worse. Not just their powers, but their minds are also confused: what are they? who are they? Xavier as a psycologist had his ways to find these „special" youngsters, and he gave them a home for some time, where they could be with other young mutants. They learnt how to use their often very powerful powers in a peaceful way. The Professor helped them to regain their faith in the world and in themselfs. They leaved after a few months, or a few years, if their powers were too difficult to manage, or they required psycological help for a long time.

Jean Grey was also at the Institute a few years ago. She understood that telepathy is a rare, and very responsible power. The red-haired girl wanted to follow the example of Xavier, so she started to learn psycology, and became a pupil of the Professor, and became his closest confident during the years. Now she is planning to finish her PhD soon, and after the Professor closes the Institute and retires, she can continue his legacy.

The Institute itself was in the ancient Xavier estate. The Xavier family lived there for almost three centuries. The estate was huge enough to hide whatever happened there.

„Welcome to my Institute!" – said the Professor when they arrived.

„Nothing changed." – added Betsy.

„What do we do now?" – asked Martin.

„We have to find out who's behind the Mutant Liberation Front. Something is not right..." – sighed Xavier.

„But we can't defeat them!" – said Piotr.

„I founded this Institute with Magnus Maximoff." – explained Xavier. – „We expected a war between mankind and mutants, when our existance is revealed. We taught young mutants to fight, to protect other mutants in this war. But as the years passed, we could hide ourselfs from the world. I realised that it could take decades until they know we exist, and we can avoid the war. Magnus disagreed and leaved. This was 20 years ago. He was responsible for the training, I only helped the mutants to know their powers better. You're right: I can't prepare you to fight. But I know someone who can help us!"

In a pub on a highway near Washington D.C. the music was loud. It was after midnight. Truck drivers were drinking, some of them were drunk already. James Howlett sat at the bar. He was now an ex-captain: he handed over his resignation just a few hours later. He wanted to get drunk, but he couldn't: his healing factor prevented it.

„Hey, you dwarf, why do you drink so much? Your bitch left you?" – asked a fat truck driver.

„Leave me alone..."

„Maybe she left you becouse you're a fuckin' dwarf! Who would want a drawf?"

„Leave me alone... You wouldn't like me when I'm pissed of, bub!"

„Hey, I just want to help!" – laughed the fat man, and crashed Howlett's beer.

„I warned you!" – growled the ex-captain, and punched to man it his face.

„I will smash you!" – shouted the fat truck driver, and added: - „Go get him boys!"

The truck drivers had an unfortunate night. James Howlett could beat a dozens of soldiers with his bare hands, some fat truck drivers were clearly not a match for him. When he knocked out the last one he sat back to the bar.

„Get out of here! You've beaten my friends!" – shouthed the bartender and pointed a gun towards him. – „I've alerted the cops!"

„I want a beer!" – said Howlett impatiently. The gun fired, the bullet went right to Howlett's chest. It didn't stop him. Before the bartender could fire his gun again, Howlett grabbed the gun, and stroke the bartender with it.

The police was near, he could hear the car arriving. The two policemen stood at the door and shouted:

„Hands in the air! You're not lucky, pal, we were near when the bartender alerted us."

„Just leave me alone, bub!" – said the ex-captain angrily.

„Put your hands in the air, or we'll shoot!"

Howlett started to run towards the cops, but they weren't moving.

„What the hell is going on?" – shouted the former soldier.

„Do you always do this when you're angry?" – said a voice in his head.

„Xavier, get out of my head!"

„Do you really want that a war hero like you would be wanted by the police in the whole United States?"

„What do you want? The first time I failed as a soldier was when you asked my help last time!"

„You were right... I also suspect that Magnus Maximoff organised the Mutant Liberation Front."

„You believe me?" – Howlett was suprised.

„Magnus is up to something... I don't trust him anymore. We need to find out what he is plannig. If you want to have you revenge on him, please accept my offer: lead and train my team!"

Xavier appeared in person at the door.

„Alright, bub! And what about Colonel Clint?"

„Don't worry, I also have my plans. Are you in, James Howlett?"

„You can call me Logan, as my friends do!" – and they shook hands.

The training starts soon!