red_eye_cyke (red_eye_cyke) wrote in marvel_legends,
@ 2010-06-18 14:16:00

Entry tags:

Where does the next generation come from? (Open)
Typically, Scott Summers maintained an open door policy to his office, when he wasn't teaching or otherwise occupied with duties as leader of the X-Men, and today was no exception. He was at his desk, the computer displaying various student files, while he scratched at the notepad in front of him with a pen, occasionally adding a name to it.

The fact of the matter was, while they had numerous students, the eye had been to simply providing them training in controlling their abilities and providing them with a quality education. The other fact of the matter was, the world was not going to necessarily allow that. He'd been an X-Man for most of his life, and it seemed like he would continue to be one until it killed him.

The new generation had to come from somewhere.

He looked over the names he had written so far. Hisako Ichiki. Sofia Mantega, Julian Keller. Megan Gwenn. There were a few other possibilities too. Santo Vaccarro, perhaps, or Victor Borkowski. Sooraya Qadir remained a posibility as well.

Picking children to send off to battle.

Was this truly the right thing to do?

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	omega_phoenix 2010-06-21 02:19 am UTC (link)
	Knocking was a polite courtesy and one that Jean always extended even if it just meant a slight rapping at the door followed by her leaning against the door frame and waiting for Scott to notice. Today, she knocked and then leaned, but didn't wait. "You look...concerned." (Reply to this)(Thread)

	red_eye_cyke 2010-06-21 02:38 am UTC (link)
	Scott looked up, more at Jean's voice than the knocking. It always amazed him, how easily she was able to read him, understood him in a way others did not. Not that he was particularly hard to read at the moment. "I am," he admitted. "You ever stop to think about it, Jean? What the Professor did? Sending teenagers against people like Magneto or Lucifer?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

omega_phoenix
2010-06-21 02:46 am UTC (link)

Walking in and sitting down Jean sighed.

"I actively try not to think about it, Scott. On the surface it sounds like such a reckless thing but...I guess I'm conflicted about it. Teenagers take risks in ways adults never will. There are things we did as teens that terrify me as an adult. And those risks, sometimes that's what we need to go against people like Magneto.

"But...they're still kids. I have to wonder if it was different from us. We grew up without mutant role models. These kids...it's different."

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	red_eye_cyke 2010-06-21 02:55 am UTC (link)
	He nodded. "I never thought I'd see the day when the school would have this many students. It's hard to believe it started with just the five of us." God. They'd been so young. Jean, Warren, and he sixteen, Hank a little older, and Bobby just fifteen. "It was a different era, definitely. Things aren't so black and white anymore." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	omega_phoenix 2010-06-21 03:17 am UTC (link)
	"No, things aren't. How many kids are you considering, Scott?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	red_eye_cyke 2010-06-21 03:24 am UTC (link)
	Scott slid the list across the desk to her. "At least four or five to start with, but no more than six. At least not initially. If it works, we could add more or create another squad." "Going by Danger Room scores at least, these are the best candidates." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

omega_phoenix
2010-06-21 11:13 am UTC (link)

Jean took the list and looked it over. There wasn't a single name there that she didn't agree with though she found herself growing somber in feeling as she thought about each student in turn. They were so young and so...lighthearted.

"I have no doubt they will be capable. I guess I just wonder about their mental well-being. We saw some very disturbing things ourselves back in the day. How did we handle it?"

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_eye_cyke
2010-06-21 04:39 pm UTC (link)

Jean's thoughts mirrored Scott's own. Each was more than capable, but each--Sofia and Megan especially--were innocents. Just as they had been, so many years ago.

"Only by being young and headstrong," he replied. "We didn't know better to be afraid. But if we're doing this, we can give the students the benefit of our experience, at least."

He sighed. "The thing that bothers me the most is that it really does have to be done. Being a mutant just seems to attract it. Charles tried to keep the New Mutants out of trouble, we tried to keep Rusty and the others kids out of trouble back during X-Factor... and they still ended up in the line of fire."

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omega_phoenix
2010-06-21 11:31 pm UTC (link)

"Sometimes I think Charles' dream was far more optimistic than reality will ever allow." She arched a brow. "Sometimes. Not usually. What if we sent these kids out on low-threat missions with experienced X-Men as an observation? We could present it as an aptitude test of sorts so we can more or less monitor them and see how they react. Or..."

Jean frowned.

"We could always do what Charles did to us as he recruited us. Get in their heads beforehand and see what they are made of from the inside out."

It was a suggestion on the far end of what Jean was comfortable with, but she recognized it as possibly a good diagnostic tool.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

red_eye_cyke
2010-06-21 11:53 pm UTC (link)

"I wonder that myself too," Scott admitted. "Sometimes."

A hard won admission, really. He'd been a follower of Xaiver's dream for nearly all his life. The first student recruited, he'd believed in the dream with a fervor that had at times consumed his life, and yet, how much did they have to show for it?

"I like the first idea better," he replied. "Any particular suggestions for who?"

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	omega_phoenix 2010-06-22 02:36 am UTC (link)
	She was relieved when he said he liked the first idea better and that relief washed over her face. Despite having incredible abilities the idea of probing into someone's mind--particularly that of a child--was something that sometimes didn't sit well with her. "Not particularly. Perhaps Megan." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	red_eye_cyke 2010-06-22 02:55 am UTC (link)
	Scott nodded again. "Not a bad idea," he agreed. "She tests pretty well in Danger Room scenarios and the like, but I'm not positive about how well she'd do in the field." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	omega_phoenix 2010-06-22 02:57 am UTC (link)
	"Then it seems a field test is in order. We can work our way down from her until we've tested everyone. If nothing else, this could be used as a credit in one of their classes should we ultimately not put them on a team." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	red_eye_cyke 2010-06-22 03:11 am UTC (link)
	He smiled. "Brilliant. What did I ever do without you?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	omega_phoenix 2010-06-22 03:14 am UTC (link)
	"Lived a very dull life. Probably ate ramen every night. I'm the best thing that ever happened to you, it's true." She grinned. She was completely teasing him. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	red_eye_cyke 2010-06-22 03:26 am UTC (link)
	Teasing, but truthful teasing. He'd practically sleepwalked through the time she'd been away. "Not every night. Sometimes there were Spaghetti-O's." Did Scott Summers just crack a joke? Yes. Yes he did. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	omega_phoenix 2010-06-22 03:33 am UTC (link)
	"Probably the store-brand kind without meatballs even." She laughed. "It's good for your health that I'm back. And once you're ready for me to move back into our room, we'll have to upgrade you to Chef Boyardee." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	red_eye_cyke 2010-06-22 03:46 am UTC (link)
	When they were ready. It was strange, this not-quite starting over, but not quite picking things back up from where they were either. But they'd weather it. "You promise?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	omega_phoenix 2010-06-22 03:48 am UTC (link)
	"I promise." She smiled. "I've already been to the grocery store." Was that a hint? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	red_eye_cyke 2010-06-22 04:23 pm UTC (link)
	"Really now?" Scott asked, amused. "It would be a shame to let that go to waste then." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	omega_phoenix 2010-06-22 10:19 pm UTC (link)
	"Do you happen to know a kitchen I could stock with them then? They're kinda sad in the grocery sack." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	red_eye_cyke 2010-06-22 10:32 pm UTC (link)
	He reached across the desk to take her hand. "I believe I know just the place." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	omega_phoenix 2010-06-22 10:54 pm UTC (link)
	Jean curled her hand in his and her long slender fingers laced with his as she squeezed. "I want to come home now, Scott." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	red_eye_cyke 2010-06-22 11:10 pm UTC (link)
	"Let's go home, Jean. Let's go home." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	omega_phoenix 2010-09-09 04:34 am UTC (link)
	(-end scene-) (Reply to this)(Parent)

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