We get to know this new 'First Class' and they bring a lot to the dynamic but underneath it all we still are dealing with a Lorna who's trying to find her footing after accomplishing what she intended to do from the moment she became a part of the agency. There are still a lot of unanswered questions and new ones will arise in this expanding story and ensemble cast. Maybe we'll get some answers now; maybe later. But the first episode is here:
Episode 1 -- Are you a believer?
Commander X tapped on the control panels at the head of the conference table. A holograph popped up displaying a young girl with raven hair. She wore a blindfold.
“As few of you are aware, there is a suspected band of mutants, yet to be identified save but one cocky smart mouthed teenager who we assume to be their leader. They’ve been raiding museums internationally, stealing particular artifacts. A total of three actually.” He said.
“We know about the thefts. Quite a simple maiden mission for the first class. Do you need us all on this baby assignment?” Alex remarked. “Hey, that doesn’t look like Kid Omega, or whatever he calls himself.” Alex referred to the holograph of the girl.
“We actually don’t know what he looks like just yet. In fact we have very little intel on that.” X responded.
“So who’s the girl?”
“Her name is Ruth. A very peculiar one. She’s a confirmed mutant, born without eyes, yet walked right into the Triskellion unaided. She can see.”
“A psychic of some kind? Is she in the building?” Jean asked. He was an athletic built 18 year old with a coif of red hair and green eyes. He looked like he was on fire in contrast to the dark uniforms.
“Yes she is. She’s rooming on the lower levels for now, but has no desires to stay.”
“What does she have to do with all this?” asked Alex.
“If you would allow me to finish… She’s clairvoyant. She came here detailing the mutant band’s recent conquests, their thefts in Rome, Japan, Paris. Some of this information might already be out there, but she knew quite a bit. She says she has seen the future and it involves these mutants putting an end to the human race. She expounds that they are seeking to release a cosmic deity which would put an end to all things as we know it.”
“As we know it?” asked Lorna.
“The human race should be ended and only mutants will remain.”
“You don’t really believe this do you? A great cosmic deity? I think this is over the top.”
The room went silent. Commander X paused before responding. His face displayed, for some reason, an indication that he was chilled by some recognition. They soon learned what.
“Wh- when she had finished giving us her message. She repeated the same words over and over for about five minutes. Then she left you a message.”
Xavier’s eye indicated Lorna. He tapped the panel to play a recording of the girl sitting in an interrogation room. She seemed no older than 14.
““You don’t really believe this do you? A great cosmic deity? I think this is over the top. You don’t really believe this do you? A great cosmic deity? I think this is over the top. You don’t really believe this do you? A great cosmic deity? I think this is over the top….”
The girl continued on and on till X fast forwarded the video. At the end she said “Believe me, Lorna, or the world will burn.”
Lorna could feel all eyes on her as she tried to grip what she just witnessed. All were silent in bewilderment, watching for her response.
“We’ll see if any of this is true. But our mission, in any case, is to stop the bandits. Are there any leads?” Lorna asked. She retained her composure, outwardly seemed unaffected.
“She’s our only lead so far.”
“What have we got?” asked Ali.
“This time there are no museums to rob, but a tomb to raid. She says there is an unmarked, undiscovered tomb in the Amazon—A long forgotten king.”
“Can this get any more far-fetched?” asked Lorna.
“So our first mission is possibly a wild goose chase?” asked Jean.
“Have we considered her possibly being a plant?” asked Alisa.
“A plant?” asked Jeb. He was the clown of the class. He and his older brother Jay Guthrie are sons of a very proud and wealthy family— so elitist that they thought if so many of their children were to be mutants then they might as well be among the most powerful, and where best to start than at the agency?
“No, Jeb. Not a tree.” said Jean.
“Yes we have.” said X. “Her background check would not suggest that she is.”
“So I guess South America it is then. I suppose I’ll be flying the Blackbird.” Alisa continued.
“Don’t be so impassive. We know you’re bursting with excitement.” said Alex.
“Yes you will be. And please allow Jeb to copilot”
“Ay ay captain.” said Ali.
“You leave tomorrow. I’ll give you all a few minutes.” With that X exited the room leaving the two groups to meet as one team.
Lorna instinctively took over. “So how do you guys feel about your first actual assignment in the field?”
“That it’s a dud and in such a case we probably wouldn’t need the original agents over our shoulders.” said Jean.
“We’re the ones with the experience, Jean. Every mission should be treated as one where we can lose our lives. No mission is assumed a dud.”
“Not according to what you just said.”
“We are dealing with very real international criminals. Whether or not we turn up anything in the Amazon tomorrow, we are on the case. These bandits have been able to effortlessly rob very valuable items from high security locations. They got in and got out, the only evidence left would be fried security tech and the missing item and a note signed Kid Omega saying “MUTANTS WILL REIGN”. They are a real threat to mutant-human relations if this is anything to go by. Thus far we hadn’t a real idea what their deal was other than robbery but, I guess, now we have an idea.”
“So you actually believe this blindfold girl?” asked Jean.
“There may be some truth to the matter. But my business is stopping these bandits.”
“What items did they steal?” asked Hank McCoy. He was a very strapping young man. Till now he was seated near the back, arms folded, thumb on his chin, pensive. His mutation gave him a very large and broad muscularity with strong, large feet and toes that possessed an almost simian dexterity. He was enlisted because of his genius, however, but insisted on being a part of the field team in exchange for compliance.
“An ancient crown from Paris, an ancient sword from Japan and medieval necklace from Rome.”
“This is very peculiar.” McCoy said as he rubbed his chin. “I would like to examine the records of these items. Also, may I be permitted to speak with the girl?”
“The records I can provide.” said Lorna. “But you would need clearance from X to see the girl.
Ali you can give him the intel records we have access to.”
“I don't see why you guys have such a hard time believing her.” said Idie. She was the adopted daughter of Mutant Royalty, Ororo Munroe of Wakanda— an African nation.
“Not all of us.” responded Howlett.
“I know you have seen a lot. But there are things in this world yet unseen. There are things bigger, even, than us.”
“I believe her too, Idie.” said Jay.
Jeb laughed and gave Jay a mocking look, who shot him back a hateful glare.
“Sure Jay, sure.” he said.
“Agents, you may retire to your respective quarters. Further intel will be forwarded to the new holodisplay-capable comm tech Forge invented. If we need another meeting you will be informed. Goodnight.” with that Lorna excused herself from the conference room. She wanted some time alone.
When they retired from the meeting all of the first class grouped, as they often do, in Jean’s room. It wasn’t because Jean was the leader, per se, but it was because he had the biggest room. It was four times the size of theirs and on a different level. Jeb was always a bit irked by the fact that Jean had such a large room— in fact, there were several things about Jean that irked him. Jean ended up on this floor because all the psychic feedback from the the kids on the lower, cramped level was giving him migraines... or so he claimed.
Jeb thought that was baloney, and never quite trusted that Jean stayed out of their heads either.
In the room he noticed that his brother, Jay, more or less was always near Idie. He had also noticed earlier the looks Idie and that Howlett guy gave each other. He found this funny.
“I’ve been looking at the data forwarded to me about the artifacts. They have a few similarities I took note of.” said Hank. He was leaning against a wall in the room stroking his chin, not looking at anyone in particular; sometimes when he speaks you can’t be sure if he’s speaking to anybody or thinking out loud. “I’ll be speaking with the girl in a few minutes. This is so exciting.”
“Whatever, Brainiac.” said Jeb. He was sitting on a stool nearby the bed.
Jean was sitting on the bed. He was beginning his TK practice. He’d newly developed the ability— more like forced it when he learned that psychics often also have telekinetic potential. Jeb watched as he sloppily began levitating the dresser.
“If I can up my TK and get more power in this pack maybe they’ll let us start operating independently sooner.” said Jean.
“Worried they’ll permanently stick us with Havoc?” asked Jed
“We already have one goofball.”
“Havoc is actually very experienced. From what I heard he’s like in action, he might make a good leader too. Cute…” said Idie
Jeb watched as his brother shrunk. He thought it pathetic how he swooned for this girl. Mom and Dad would be thrilled to know he has his eyes set on mingling with royalty. If he was smart however he’d know the real one to mingle with was Idie’s younger sister— that she despises so much.
No one would think it. Young as he is, Jeb was smart. Smart enough to know that his classmates wasn’t ‘where it’s at’. He ought to get in with the real power pack, the original team.
His own team annoyed him anyway, so he got up from the stool before Jean decided he would practice on him.
“I’ll see you guys later. There’s a pretty blonde upstairs that I just have to talk to.”
“Just remember, Forge is... doing all the upgrades to... the danger room... Don’t wanna mess with his girl.” said Jean. “You’re too young for her anyway.”
“You guys all suck. Bye.”
Jeb was making his way down the hall to Lorna’s room. Her door was left open and he could hear the conversation from down the hall.
“I don’t know what to believe, Alex.” Lorna’s voice came into the hallway.
“I get where you’re coming from Lorna. It really is far-fetched. It sounds like a lot of the things that Dr. Strange might ramble about… and he’s a lunatic.” said Alex.
“Guys, there’s a giant green lizard — no offence Anole — in the corner there, I can walk through walls and your brother shoots lasers out of his eyes. Who are we to say what’s far-fetched?” Jeb heard Alisa speak just as he got to the door.
“Hey, guys.”
They all looked at him as he grinned at them from the door.
“You can come in Jeb.” said Lorna. “You’re one of the team now.”
“Thanks I… just wanted to see what the big kids were doing.” The guys all smiled at him. The whole senior team was there except Howlett, who was noticeably missing. “And you’re right Alisa. I don’t see why that blindfold girl’s predictions are so far-fetched. She’s psychic, for Pete’s sake. Whether or not she’s right, I’m just hoping to have a blast on this mission.”
“Getting blasted on a mission isn’t all it’s cracked up be, believe me.” said Alex. Everybody laughed; even Anole smirked.
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