Second Generation- chapter 2

By Asteria

Disclaimer: The X-Men belong to Marvel. The Wilson family belongs to me. Danny Nesmond, Arcane, Julian, and the various animals associated with Danny are property of Beck2 (http/ and are used WITH permission. I also don’t own any of the cartoons, comics, movies, music, books or anime series’ mentioned in this story. I forgot to mention that last chapter. Sorry.

Author’s note: I apologize in advance for any incoherent accents.

Beck2- I’m so glad you like the t-shirt. That’s going to come up again, definitely.

newly evolved- Danny is not my character. If you want to know more about her, go read Beck2’s stuff.

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The cookout was a lot of fun. The pool had a big crater in it, so there was no swimming, but there was a watermelon-seed-spitting contest, and fireworks, courtesy of an Asian girl called Jubilee.

And then, it was movie time. Kurt (blue and furry, but not related to Mr. McCoy) showed me the Institute movie collection and informed me that, because it was my first night, I could choose the movie. It was a very impressive collection: there was at least one copy of almost every good movie made in about the last forty years, and then some. I looked the titles over carefully.

“Where’s the anime?” I asked.

“Vas?”

“Anime. You know, Japanese cartoons.”

“Umm, I don’t think ve have any of zhat.”

No anime? Hmmm, I’ll have to do something about that. Later, though. I had spotted my movie.

“Okay,” began Kurt.

No one was listening. They were all fighting for couch space and popcorn. I, as the New Kid, got one of two comfy chairs all to myself. The other one was occupied by Rogue (who apparently doesn’t have another name), because of her power. I wasn’t clear on what exactly she could do, but, apparently, it was dangerous and uncontrollable.

“HEY!”

Everyone turned to look at Kurt.

“Now zhat I haf your attention, tonight’s movie is ‘Zhe Little Shop of Horrors.’”(1)

A groan came from somewhere on the couch.

“I hate that movie,” said a voice (male, and with an accent I couldn’t place). “I’m going to have that stupid dentist song stuck in my head for days!”(2)

“Hey,” said Rogue, “It’s Cole’s choice. Ah for one am glad we’re not watchin’ that stupid “Blazin’ Saddles” for the hundredth time.”(3)

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. For some reason, it was playing “Grandma Got run Over by a Reindeer”, which is a very strange song to hear in August.

“I got it!” yelled the youngest kid (Jamie), immediately jumping up and tripping over the rug. A heard (flock?) of Jamies climbed to their feet and ran for the door. Not two minutes later they were back, dragging with them the hottest non-anime guy I had ever seen. He looked a few years older than me, maybe seventeen or eighteen, with medium-dark skin and long-ish black hair and a little goatee. I was suddenly very glad I’d come to the Institute.

Hot Guy’s name turned out to be Forge, and Kurt launched into this whole story about pocket dimensions from the 70s or something until people started yelling at him to start the movie already. To be honest, I wasn’t paying attention. I was staring at Forge like he was the hottest guy ever while trying not to look like I was staring at Forge like he was the hottest guy ever. Not an easy task.

I’d never watched a movie with a group of mutants before. It was certainly an experience. There was the normal stuff: people loudly casting each other in various roles, MST3K-like running commentary, singing along with the songs. Then there was the uniquely-mutant stuff, like popcorn-and-powers fights. I didn’t actually pay much attention to the movie; the audience was much more entertaining.

When the movie was over, everyone trooped up the stairs to get ready for bed. School wasn’t starting for a few weeks, but there was a training session the next morning in some place called the “Danger Room,” which is a really ominous-sounding name. I was only going to watch, but I was expected to be there at six A.M. with everyone else. Outside my room, Jubilee stopped me.

“So,” she said, smiling at me in a way that made me nervous, “What do you think of this place so far?”

“It’s… a little overwhelming,” I said. “I mean, before today I’ve only ever met one other mutant, besides my parents.”

“It must be nice to have mutant parents,” said… I think it was Bobby, who had stopped to listen. “My parents really didn’t take it well when I told them.”(4)

“It’s okay, I suppose. I’ve only ever had mutant parents, so I can’t really make any informed comparisons.”

“So, who’s this other mutant you know?” asked Jubilee.

“Her name’s Allie. Alison Blaire. She lived down the street from me for a few a few years. She used to babysit my sister and me. She can take sound, like music, and turn it into a light show. It’s really cool. I haven’t heard from her in years, though.”(5)

“Sounds cool,” said Jubilee, who I suddenly realized was leaning really, really close to me. I backed up and ran into my doorframe.

“Well,” I said, “I should really get to bed. I do not do well on no sleep. Goodnight!”

I backed into my room very quickly and shut the door. It always weirds me out when girls hit on me. I can never figure out how to tell them they’ve made a mistake without embarrassing them. I resolved to deal with it in the morning and began getting ready for bed. I put on my pajamas (mesh gym shorts and an oversized Batman t-shirt) and set out my new uniform-- a very tight black bodysuit with “x”s on the shoulders, yellow boots, yellow gloves and a yellow belt with the same “x” on the buckle. Even though I wasn’t participating, I still had to look the part. The last thing I did before turning out the light was to set my alarm for 5:30. Half an hour should be enough time to wake up, get dressed, and find my way to the Danger Room. Kurt’s instructions-- “Take zhe elevator all zhe vay to zhe bottom”-- were not as helpful as they could be. I hoped I’d be able to find a guide.

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My clock read 5:51 when I opened my eyes, but by the time my sleepy brain had processed the information it was 5:53.

“Aack!” I yelled out loud, trying to jump up and instead falling on my butt. “I’m gonna be late!”

I threw off my pajamas and wiggled into the bodysuit part of the uniform (I hate tight clothes), dug my flying pigs socks out of a drawer, grabbed the belt, boots, and gloves to the uniform, and bolted out the door in what I hoped was the direction of the elevator.

I was lucky about the direction. I found the elevator, or at least an elevator, and pushed the button. And then my luck ran out. The elevator was not there. I had put on both my socks and one boot when the doors finally opened. I pushed the bottom-most button and used the trip to put on the other boot, the belt and the gloves. The elevator dinged and the door slid open and everyone was there, or almost everyone. And they were all staring at me.

“Sorry,” I said, wincing a little as I stepped off the elevator. “My alarm didn’t go off, or it did and I hit snooze or something…”

I trailed off. Everyone was still staring at me. Or, more specifically, at my chest. I looked down. Did I have the uniform on backwards or something?

“Hey!” said Bobby. “Cole’s a girl!”

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(1) ToddFan shoutout!

(2) This one is my own personal thing. I hate that dentist song.

(3) Matt Briddell shoutout!

(4) X2, anybody?

(5) Alison Blaire is, of course, Dazzler from the comic books. I don’t really know anything about her, but I like her because we have the same first name, and it's even spelled the same.

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Wow. I actually updated. I’m on a HUGE X-Men kick right now, probably from seeing the movie yesterday. Everybody go read my blog, because I put my review there. You can reach it through the homepage link on my bio page.

No telling when my next update (of anything) will be, but I do know where I’m going, for this story anyway.