It was around the time of year that more mutants would come to Xavier’s and learn to control their power at the hands of a colorful variety of professors and various staff members. As Cataleia peeked out from behind the velvet auditorium curtains, she almost cried. Taking a deep breath, the woman checked her iPhone. It was almost four-thirty PM. She should begin her announcement. Slowly, she took a deep breath and summoned all of her courage and will power to walk across the stage with a bright smile. There was a round of applause and some cheers as she stepped up to the center of the stage; where there was no podium or microphone.

The woman who was glowing an array of colored lights parted her lips to speak, but was interrupted by a number of catcalls and wolf-whistles among a few comments; Cataleia was a rather beautiful woman; Her hair was jet black, cascading in thick curls down just behind her knees after years of only trimming dead ends. Her figure was to die for, as it showed in the outfit of choice for the occasion – A black body suit that showed ample cleavage and hugged every curve of her body, matching the heeled black boots that she wore, all made from unstable molecules - Much thanks to Reed Richards.

Cataleia almost always dressed in jaw-dropping clothes. But this was her uniform – She had only just gotten back from a meeting on board the UNN Alpha and didn’t have much time to change. Removing the smile from her face, she cleared her throat. “Welcome. Welcome one and all to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Although, most of the world likes to call it Mutant High.” She smiled at the soft laughs as she tried to lighten the tension in the air. “You are all here for a few reasons. One and most importantly…Is because you’re special. Gifted. Unique. You were blessed with amazing powers like so many others once were. And two…Is because most humans can’t recognize that. Don’t ever believe that you’re an abomination. That’s ignorance and stupidity. That is fear talking! People fear mutants because some abuse their powers. They hate the many for the actions of few. But do they hate their fellow humans? How many human rapists and murders are there that get off better than a mutant who robbed a bank?”

She was getting worked up now, her Hispanic voice tone growing a bit more powerful with each word, and so was the crowd. “I don’t like being in hiding. But we have to be the bigger people. We must wait. You are safe within these walls! Myself and every other member of the X-Men and anyone on my staff will die for any mutant that we can save. Those humans think us a dying people. But we won’t die. We won’t let them destroy us. Even if they did, more would come. Were we not humans once? What makes them think that they are safe from their own hidden genes? Yes. Mutations have vanished all of a sudden…But genes…they don’t just disappear. It is my theory that they have only recessed for a while. They will be back!” The crowd roared in approval.

“We will wait here. We will carry out normal lives here. We will show them that we are here to stay. Mutant and proud, we are the Children of the Atom! We are Homo Sapien Superior! Mutant and proud!” The crowd jumped to their feet, clapping, whistling, crying out and roaring in approval as she stood there with a smile on her face. “Thank you…” She held up a hand, motioning the crowd to hush. “Don't think that this crisis will get some of you out of school - We have your records and if you haven't finished school, you will do so here with some of the world's brightest minds as your instructors. And we will teach you…to control your powers and to fight with and without them. As of now, you are Apprentice X-Men. Each and every one of you. Because as of August 26th, 2012, the humans declared war. And with our numbers so low compared to theirs, we need every able bodied person. But I warn you…If you use your powers for malicious intent, your training will end.”

She grew serious, narrowing her eyes at that remark but soon returned to smiling. The entire time she had been speaking, not a single microphone of any kind was to be seen, though her voice was heard loud and clear. “But, for now. You must get acquainted with your new home and your new family. If you would all please retire to the lobby.” People had been there for a while, but hardly anybody interacted with each other and instead moped in whatever room they locked themselves in. Hell! Schedules hadn't even been made, maps weren't handed out. People just...hung around.

As far as the whole situation was co.concerned, Cataleia herself had decided that they would not openly wage war, but instead remain civil and continue on life as normally as possible. Not everyone was happy with the decision but there was no changing her mind. “You will get maps of the estate and room assignments and dinner is ready in the lobby as well.” The lobby was set up in a way to give the feel of a formal gathering, with a nice dinner buffet and soft music. She watched in silence as the seated crowd left, headed to the lobby. She exhaled slowly and turned around, left with her colleagues. “Well. Time for the meet and greet.” She put on a dazzling smile, showing no hint of stress before hopping off the stage and heading after the others.

---

Z alika had long since been ready, but she didn’t show her face until last minute. Dressed in the same uniform as Cataleia, even wearing her long, snowy hair down, she snuck onstage just as her friend’s speech began. The lightest of smirks danced across her face throughout the speech – Kitty didn’t speak very many words, but the ones spoken were indeed powerful. It showed through the positive reactions in the crowd. Though, Zee did frown as the X-Men were madeknown. The X-Men were once a secret covert ops team. Zalika only knew about them at a young age because of her mother’s affiliation with the team. But most students could go a while without knowing and they certainly weren’t put through training for it without some sort of assessment. Zalika had spent so much of her life training to perfection just to try out for the team and now people were just tossed onto the team! But…she did understand that they were low in numbers and they had to take what they could get. The X-Men would soon become an army if things escalated any further. Not that she had any such qualms with an army. The humans had several of their own, so why shouldn’t they? The mutant known as Tempest to many didn’t hate humans, per se. To many, it seemed she hated generally everyone. But those close to her knew better.

Zalika couldn’t stand the blindness of the humans, though she herself didn’t see humans or mutants as any different other than a single different gene. But according to Professor Xavier…they all had that gene. And Kitty was right…Many of them were human once…Why do so many humans think themselves exempt? Oh…right. They were protected by the grace of God. She shook her head at her thoughts. Where she came from…Wakanda…Such mutations weren’t mutations - They weren't demon powers.They were viewed as gifts from Bast. Though, those who used their powers for unsavory actions were thought to have been gifted by Sekhmet. Zalika shivered at the mere thought of the Lion Goddess – She had once nearly lost her life to that vile Goddess. Zalika herself thanked Bast and her mother for such gifts, and was rather dismayed that her mother had been among the many that had been depowered during the event that everyone had come to call M-Day. But, as Cataleia said: Mutations don’t just disappear. Orfelina agreed; and if anyone knew about mutations, it was the little gypsy. Zalika snapped out of her thoughts, hearing Cataleia address them.

She almost snarled at the idea of a meet and greet, her lips pulling back to reveal recently filed canines. She had all four of them done, deciding recently to complete her feline appearance. Her eyes were the beginning of this, though she was born with those. As of lately, she had been working a lot on her agility and flexibility. She had been seen lately with a pair of panther ears and a tail to match. Most of her friends assumed that it was another ritual to Bast, and they weren’t wrong. She was showing her dedication for Bast, requesting to be blessed with the abilities of the felines that she loved so much.

Sighing, Zalika followed suit of Cataleia, glancing behind her at a young girl who didn’t look any older than seventeen or eighteen. The girl was staring off into space, shuffling a deck of tarot cards. Shaking her head at the absent-minded young woman, Zee moved lethargically down the aisles and slipped past the doors, leaving them wide open. Once in the presence of others, she almost cringed at the sound of them all talking at once. Once upon a time, in her earlier childhood, Zee would have been bubbly and happy to assist. But now, she just wanted to go back to her attic.

---

Throughout the whole of Cataleia’s speech, there was a young woman on the far end of the line of people, staring off into space with bright chocolate-colored eyes. Her hair was a mirror of Kitty’s, though hers had been pulled up into a pony tail and had streaks of red. Unlike the others in uniform or professional ‘teacher’ wear, she was wearing a yellow and purple and a pair of baggy jeans that had holes in them. Her jeans, shirt, face, and arms were smeared in grease and her arms had plenty of cuts and scrapes among scars. Upon her hands were a pair of black gloves. About her waist, she wore a tool belt that was filled with a variety of everyday tools and a few other high-tech ones. Her figure wasn’t nearly as flattering as any of the other women on stage with her, being of athletic build. It looked as though she were only just now hitting puberty. Orfelina stayed in her daze until she could feel someone’s eyes on her, boring into her skull for a few moments.

She snapped back to reality, seeing Zalika staring at her before she had left the stage. A blush covered her face as she fidgeted before following suit. As she entered the lobby, she flinched at the number of people. It wasn’t much, certainly far less than the amount she grew up around – But most of them were strangers. She thought for a second that maybe this could be a new start for her. As a child, she was often the object of bullies for being born as basically a lab rat. Of course there were others, but she was the runt of the litter. She had a feeling that things would be better this time around – But she still didn’t want to hang around. Instead, she made a quick getaway and ran outside. She ran and ran and ran. She ran all the way down the driveway to the garage, not stopping to look back.

She needed to think. She arrived skidding to a halt at the doors, pausing to punch in the security code. Massive titanium doors slid open to reveal a large variety of vehicles: Custom cars, future car concepts, Harleys, dirt bikes. You name it, it was there. Lina made her way to a 2013 Mustang Cobra – She had a few connections – It was white as snow with a cobra design on the side rear half. She slid her hand along the side, looking underneath the hood with a smile of pride as she whispered. “Did ya miss me baby?” She sang softly her favorite song as she worked. It was a rap song, but she was a rapping failure so she had formatted it for singing. As she worked, her voice died to a hum and she let her mind wander. She began to think of the times she spent in the lab with Charles and Bruce, researching mutations. She knew for a fact that genes didn't just disappear. That was stupid. Human geneticists were claiming that normal genes had begun to attack the mutant genes, forcing it out. Biblethumpers were saying God was striking down the Devil's children...She still had research to do. But she needed to upgrade her equipment. Maybe she would get Tiny Toni to help.

Cortez and Zoey Craven stood side by side as they listened to the envigorating speech by Ms. Cateleia. Zoey's eyes were on the beautiful white haired African woman. Cortez wasn't actually paying any attention to her or Prof. Cateleia's particularly snug body suits - which was usually the case for him. He was listening to her speech, He felt every word the Hispanic woman spoke touch him deep down to his soul. He even cheered 'Mutant and Proud' with the others.

He was a Mutant and was very proud. He had 'MnP' tattooed on his left wrist. He'd witnessed the bigotry and hate firsthand himself like many others. His own parents disowned him. He looked down at his baby sister. Sweet kid. They'd abandoned her too or probably would have, had she not run away and he not found her. He probably would have gotten his ass kicked if it weren't for Lina. She had a vision that told him that he was gonna be beaten after his powers were discovered at a poetry slam. It was a pity. That particular poem he truely felt, which was probably why it started to come to life.

Oops.

He looked down at his sister as she looked nervous. Her face was completely blank of expression, which for him was a clear indication that her mind was elsewhere. "Hey, whatsamatter, Twerp?" He asked her and she snapped out of her thoughts and glared at him.

"Must you?" the 10 year old asked with a huff.

"Yes, but that's neither here nor there. What's up?"

He asked, actually concerned. She looked back at the crowd slowly dispersing. "It's just...There's alot more of them-"

"Us." Cortez corrected.

Zoey looked down. "There's alot more of us then I thought." She said. Cortez sighed and knelt down to speak face to face, placing his hands on her tiny shoulders. "Z. Look. You have nothing to be worried about. You're safer here, then with Mom or Dad or anywhere else." He said softly. She sighed. "I know it's just...I don't know..." She said and Cortez rose and scooped her up into a hug. "Look, I know you're not use to being a mutant yet but here. You're not a mutant, You're just Zoey Craven. Cortez's little sister. Although living in my shadow is probably way worse then being with the Normies." He said with a chuckle and she smiled. "You're a dork, you know that?" She said with a laugh. "Ehh. I've been told a few times." He said with a shrug and a goofy grin.

"Hey, why don't you go and get settled in?" He said and set her down. She smiled up at him and looked back at the stage. "You wanna see Professor Zee, don't you?" He asked and she smiled sheepishly. "You know, She doesn't say much aside from the fact that she's a little too old for you." He said and Zoey's eyes widen and she smacked him. "Hey. I don't judge. I mean hell, If she weren't married and couldn't kick my ass from here to Wakanda then yea. I'd feel her too." He said and Zoey just scoffed. "It's a wonder, we come from the same gene pool." She said and walked off. Cortez grinned. He knew him teasing her would take her mind off of leaving Chicago. It wasn't that long ago that Lina practically threatened to kill him if he didn't bring his ass. He wasn't going to because it was too far from Zoey but she was convincing and by convincing, it meant she told him she'd tell her dad.

Cortez wanted no parts of him which was probably why he hadn't asked her out yet. He'd been wanting to for a while now but...Mr. Howlett...not a man to be trifled with and though he had no real reason to fear him as he would respect his daughter -he already did- he just didn't want the man breaking him in half for going any further then first base with her. Cortez decided to keep it friendly. On top of that, She was his best friend. She kinda saved his ass and helped him get in the school and helped him get out to look after Zoey. So naturally he held strong feelings for her. Her dad was a hurdle but ruining their friendship was what stopped him from pursuing a relationship with her.

He decided to go let her know Zoey was getting settled and everything was good. Was it an excuse to see her...Yes but what's he gonna do?

He walked toward the garage where he knew she'd be. He heard rap coming from her Mustang and smirked. He liked that song. So, in typical Cortez fashion ,he began to sing the lyrics to get her attention. "So just take me home where the moon is mellow, then roses are grown and M&M's are yellow and the lightbulbs around my mirror don't flicker, Everybody gets a nice autograph picture, one for you and one for your sister, who had to work tonight but is an avid listener. Every songs her favorite song and Mics don't feedback, all the reviewer say you need to go and see that. Then everybody claps cause everybody is pleased and then they all take the stage and start performing for me, like Ha ha ha ha, Haha haha ha, Ha." He sang and grinned. "Sorry. That's my song." He said feigning a sheepish attitude.

Cortez grinned. He wasn't particularly good with those things. So he had a vague idea of what she was talking about. "Uh," He said with a laughed. "That's cool...though, to be honest I have very little clue as to what that does but It's really cool that you do." He said and felt a little blow to his male ego. Though Cortez was all male, he was a gentler one. Not that he wouldn't stand up for himself or fight back if need be. He just wasn't particularly good with his hands...there were girls who would object to that but that's beside the point.

He walked up to her. Keeping a respectable distance, he knew she wasn't really comfortable around people. It was a shame really. she was awfully cute. Not just attractive but cute in an 'D'aww' sort of way. She was likeable and sweet. But unfortunately she was a child of circumstance...Victim was probably a better term, her life experience -coupled with her ability- made her anti-social and closed off. He hoped one day she would open to. More specifically, he hoped he could be the one she'd open up to.

"Uh, Could you maybe explain to me what that means?"

---

Zoey found the White Haired Princess, walking around and quickened her pace to catch up to her. She tugged on her arm but pulled away quickly. Child-like habits die hard.
"Sorry, Uh..." She said. "I'm Zoey. I'm new. I uh...well..." She stammered. She wasn't sure how the Princess would take it Zoey wanting to get close to her seeing as she was the only African -Zoey was only half but still- around. Zoey felt a kinship in that. She wanted her to be some what of a mother figure. As strange as that sounded. "Um...Is it, uh. Okay if maybe...you could...um..."She sighed. "Be like um...someone I could talk to?...It's weird I know but, You are...we are....Ugh. Nevermind. Sorry to bother you." She said nervously dropping her head. She was never this nervous but this woman's presence was something else. It drew Zoey in. Something about her made Zoey want to follow. That and Zoey's childlike subconscious liked that fact that she was an actual princess.

"Well, simply put. The Arc Cannon is a giant plasma laser powered by a small arc reactor. The Tractor Beam moves things through gravity manipulation." She shrugged a little, used to people not understanding what she was talking about even in normal conversation. She often spoke crypticly I'm riddles, though is was mostly due to erratic visions. She smiled faintly at Cortez with a shrug and began to explain how it was possible to fit such weapons on the vehicles. "I have Zee's husband help out with manipulating the metal where I need to put in the weapons and then I make the weapons extremely....collapsible to fit them in there. I use a lot of nanomites." She was fidgeting and looking down as she explained, her face as red as her hair. Not because of the chat - But because her brother was walking up behind Cortez. "What's going on here?"

Zalika looked down at the little girl that was stammering about something. Her husband's arm around her, she listened carefully before speaking in a thick African accent. "Speak up. What do you require?"

Zoey looked up as Zalika spoke. Spit it out, Stupid. She baraided herself mentally. She sighed heavily. She wasn't used to being so nervous. She wasn't one for holding back either. She took a quick breath. She wanted a mother figure, a mentor. She knew what she wanted and she was gonna get it.
She looked the Princess in her eyes. "I'd like to become your apprentice." She stated, her eyes unwavering. "It's a strange request, I'm aware but...I believe you could help me." She said. Zoey had the makings of a great public speaker in her but she lacked the power to control a crowd. The pull that she felt from Zalika. She wanted that ability. Zalika had a regal aire about her -aside from being royal-. Zoey wanted that.
"I lack that presence you do when you around others. You make me want to follow you. I want to be able to do that too. Maybe if I learn, then I can help stop that hatred that plagues us all." She said. Her eyes never leaving hers. "My mother and father abandoned my brother. They hardly knew what to do with me, they pushed me into acting so they didn't have to worry about me and make money at the same time. Then when I found that I was a mutant too. The look on their faces..." Zoey closed her eyes and clenched her fists. "They didn't want to even look at me. I tried to explain that me and Cortez, that we were still us but...they didn't want to listen." She said and looked up again, her eyes glossed a bit from tears she didn't let fall. "But if I can gain the same pull that you do. That same leadership aire that you have. Then maybe I could make them look at me. Maybe I could get them and others to listen." She said. "Please, Princess Zalika. Will you teach me how to be like you?"

---

Cortez nodded. "Ah Cool" He said as Lina spoke. She looked so nervous suddenly. He wondered then if Lina maybe liked him. She was always a bit nervous but not really when she was going on about cars and bikes and things he had no hopes of every understanding. She was right at home. So what made her blush so hard. He hadn't said anything? Did he?
Suddenly a deep rumbling voice came from behind him and made her hair stand on end. "Whoa!" He stiffened some and then turned. He turned to see her brother standing before him. He relaxed. "Jesus man, You scared the crap out of me." He said dramatically catching his breath. He laughed. Now he knew why she got so nervous. Well sorta. Her brother was just as protective of her and Cortez was of Zoey so he could see why though Cortez didn't say or do anything to give her cause for worry. In Fact, He had nothing to fear from her brother. He was a large man and like his father was not to be trifled with but Cortez wasn't flirting. In fact, he was just coming to talk to his friend...who he happened to like...but that was neither here nor there. "Lina here was trying to explain this all to me because I'm a poetry nerd and haven't the slightest idea what the hell half this stuff is" He said with a laugh. That was a defense mechanism for Cortez, making fun of himself when he felt intimidated. Honestly, Cortez felt a little useless. His powers weren't all that spectacular. He couldn't control the weather, heal himself, stick to walls. None of that. He could simply read a book...and not that well. He was dyslexic after all. "Anywho, What's up, man. How's it hanging?"

Zoey listened to Zalika. She didn't flinch when she snapped at her. Her eyes never moved from hers. She just listened to the Princess as she spoke. Absorbing what she said. Zoey began to think. It was true that Zalika was scary but maybe that's what drawn her to her. For Zoey , she said it this way.
If she really didn't like her she could have simply ignored her. If she were truly feared the way she said, she would not be married lest her husband was either seriously whipped or twisted in his own right. No. Zalika probably wanted to be that way and therefore push people away and it would work on most people. Say for someone light hearted and naive like Cortez would have stammered but No. Not Zoey. She was young but she was mature and not only that.
She liked a challenge.
Princess Zalika was definitely that and she would be her mentor.
One way or another. If child like tactics didn't work, which for Zoey, it usually did. She'd find some way to get her way. Some would call that spoiled. Maybe she was but Zoey didn't care for labels.

Throwing away her child like act of stammering and begging for empathy. Zoey's entire presence changed. From then on, Zoey treated this conversation like a chess match. Which Zoey took a little pride in. She got Zalika's attention. Not only that, She got her to talk to her, tell her what she liked and didn't and she'd given her a choice. She'd fallen for Zoey's gambit and now Zoey had the advantage.
Zoey's eyes never left Zalika's. “I didn't ask for a mother. I asked for a mentor.” She said, playing toward Zalika's wanting of respect. “I prefer fear.” She said simply. She knew this next play was a dangerous one. This would either get her killed or exactly want she wanted. Either way. She'd have Zalika's undivided attention.
“As for my abilities. I believe that is for you to decide.” She said and touched her hands to Zalika's arm. The world around them shifted and they were standing in Zoey's old bed room. “ You may shoot me for this, but, I figured. Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” She said feigning humility. She smiled at the Princess.

---

Cortez looked at Silas. “O-Kay, Hello to you too.” He said rubbing the back of his neck. “ Anyway, Lina, I just wanted to let you know Zoey's sa-” It was then he felt a pulse. He had a strange connection to Zoey and he could tell when something wasn't right. It wasn't like he was knew if she was in trouble and it wasn't like he knew anything specific. He just knew something wasn't right. She was up to something. Zoey could be scary sometimes. He sighed. Ah...Zoey...What the hell? He thought. “ Uh, Sorry. Safe. Is what I was going to say. If you wanted to finally meet her.” he said with a shrug. She and Zoey hadn' t met yet. Cortez would talk non-stop about them to each other them, so it was about time they met.