Aftermath: The Bugle Report

[The Administrator!!!]

Three months passed after the events of the massive rampage that literally destroyed much of this city. There have been reports still of damage, only now found.

"Hello. I'm Kent Ubet, and this is my co-host Danise O'mahl, and we're The Daily Bugle. BLowing the horn of on air news."

"Indeed Kent! Today, we're funning up the airwaves with some pretty big stuff. Those months of devastation ruined so many great things. Like plans for the summer fair. Kids, whom got to go home for the summer only could spend so much time on the streets thanks to massive rennovations."

"I know Danise. Here's a picture of some the madness, caught on camera."

"Brr.... scary, those mutants sure were out of control..."

"They were. Yet, we were lucky. Turns out a capable foothold in the doorway to destruction, is our new best friends in the war against Mutant Terrorism, SENTINEL."

"Oh I know! Did you see the videos on the Sentinels! Putting down some of those looting mutants! Lord, I was terrified but... those things, they just came down and blew them away."

"Yes, but there's been some debate now Danise. People are worried. Should we allow such extremes? Remember, mutants are considered in some ways people.... well, sort of. They have a disease Danise. One that has made them 'unusual'. The fact this madness happened has split a lot of the nation. Yet this city? Lord knows.... it's really made things worse."

"Ooh... you're right..."

"Mhmm, yet tonight I have great news. We're going to host a debate between the creator of SENTINEL, Boliver Trask. As well Pro-Registration Senator Kelly. They will be talking with humanitarian Professor Charles Xavier, a man that has often many times spoken against the registration acts of mutants and some say Kelly's number one nemesis. As well another guest, whom has yet to be introduced to us who has his feelings onf the 'SENTINEL' situation."

"Really?"

"Oh yes. It will be something, yet.... for right now, we've got to see our sponsors. Don't move a muscle folks!"

After that the offline sign came on....

"Aww fuck, gimme a mother fucking danish..."

"Careful Kent you'll ruing that 'perfect' smile."

"Aww, go to hell. I can't eat, my wife's boyfriend was over last night. Damn it..."

[The Envoy]

Charles Xavier sat in his wheelchair regarding the green room in silence. He was watching the carnival show that Kent and Danise were putting on, disappointed in the obvious show of personal beliefs by journalists. It was at times like these he wished for the days when journalism meant something to those who worked in the field.

But sadly, those days were long past, and this was a time of fear and suspicion. He intended to do what was right, and to share his thoughts, whether anyone would listen to him or not was a different story.

[cyclops]

Cyclops was standing behind the professor's chair. He had to grit his teeth to keep from interjecting into the news report. Of course it showed the mutants rampaging, but it didn't show what himself and some others did to stop the rampaging. Media... never wants the truth, just the fantastical. His knuckles were white on the handles of Xavier's chair.

However, despite the anger Scott knew better, he too intended to do what was right. If this is what they have to deal with to fight the good fight then so be it.

[Boliver Trask]

Trask was in a pressed suit. Smirking a bit after hearing the broadcast. Everything sounded wonderful. The Sentinels were shown as capable weapons against the threat. There was a bit of benefit all that madness.

A laugh, "I'm kind of glad that the rampage happened. Great publicity."

The Senator however was not so keen on the matter. His views were that this never should have come to pass. This, should have been handled long ago. A glare and he warns, "Remarks like those Mr. Trask are dangerous. Be warned, you commit character suicide on national television, and I'll leave you under the tracks."

A somewhat understanding cough and sigh, he respects that. They both have a cause. They needed to offer them in fairness.

[The Envoy]

"Don't worry Scott, I'm as disappointed as you in their actions. I am however glad you and the others were there to provide aid, even if they news doesn't give you any credit," said Xavier sitting up straighter.

It was coming up on their interview time, and he was curious who this "special guest" was. He could have read their minds, but chose not to, knowing that would only prove what he was here to challenge.

[cyclops]

"It's what we do, professor, someone has to step up and help. You taught me that, and I'm sure someday they'll see. We just need to keep doing what's right, and then they'll see."
Scott actually believed his words. After all, how could they not be true? The public can only turn their back so far. He too wondered who the other interviewers were. Although, he was glad he would not have to answer any questions. The red glasses he wore always brought up questions, and it would simply be better with him shadowing Professor X.

[The Administrator!!!]

The team was getting ready for the on-the-air message to turn on. When the 'other' visitor came walking in. They turn up alarmed to see Norman Osborn entering. A man of business, of pretige. Whom was recognized all over this state as a primary candidate for the next mayor. It was talked about. It was hinted to.

The thing is Kelly had the same interests. After his term was over. He'd seek the mayor spot... damn, damn it all to hell.

Norman sat down beside Mr. Xavier. A smile, a offer of his hand, "Pleasure to meet you Mr. Xavier. I've heard a lot about you, and your work for the peoples in charity. A better man, I've never seen in person before."

Indeed. Charles Xavier was a good hearted fellow. Yet he's a man that was of great use today. For even if Osborn, Kelly and Trask all showed a stern sense. Of fight. Xavier was more likely to be the 'heart' among them. That is what was important. Least today.

However, when Osborn looked to the other man with Xavier.... his eyes grew dark....

The Grreen Goblin flew off as he blew a random man's bike apart. Then, in midst it all the red beam spun him off course. Turning, he saw that man. The man that shot him down... WHO dares do such a thing? Do such a putrid, horrid act? To he? Just that man with the red glasses. That stupid man, that ill man who dares challenge.

Funny how it works out...

~~~~

"Well we're back. Ladies, and gentlemen. In a bit of intrigue... we have a debate today. Mr. Boliver Trask, creator of the SENTINEL program. Senator Kelly, lead in anti-mutant legislation. A Professor Charles Xavier, teacher and leading philanthropist as well a civil rights activist in the early 60's. As well a surprisng appearance, of moogle as well business man, Norman Osborn."

"Indeed.... this should be good..."

"Mhmm, so..."

"Let's start with, you Mr. Trask. Tell us a little about SENTINEL."

Trask smiled. "SENTINEL? It is, our vanguard." That, he explained, "Mutants have incredible powers. They have, hideous appearances some that only give you a glimpse to the destructive powers they in turn control. For example, I have a picture of some the mutants last night." motioning, to the screen.

The image showed a large reptillian like mutant, with him another whom was with a shovel hand and the other seemed like a small child but with green skin...

"These mutants are currently under investigation. They are called 'Morlocks' we learned. They steal, they take and they care nothing for the laws. Hiding in the sewers like animals... and worse, they take food, medicine and a number of other things we need. On a regular basis. For what? Well, I can say this much. It's to help their own kind. Which only tells us that these mutants, here, are just a small part of a larger network in the sewers."

"How did you learn about these, 'Morlocks'?"

"Oh... that's classified."

A smirk though. Sitting back, he had his ways. Including the capture of a member. The means which they learned what they did, came at a hefty price. Yet it was not important to him. What was done.

"In the end, the SENTINEL were part to capturing the information. Helping protect our people, the human race once more. Because, think how many mutants unlike these things. Wander the streets. You can't always tell them apart. They are usually impossible to know, for now."

"For now?"

"Yes... for now." Trask, smiled. "There is a gene. For the mutation, we called it the M-Gene, as it is the mutate gene. So far, work has been lacking." A nod though and he adds, "However, I work with my team ongoing to single out that gene. So that the SENTINEL can hunt, and capture the dangerous mutants."

"Just the dangerous ones?"

"My dear...." Trask smiled, as he leaned over and set a hand on her hand. "There are no other kind."

"Okay.... so.... uh, M-Mr. Xavier? Wh-what do you think of all this? Heh...."

Kelly wasn't too sure he liked this... at all. Least, not his colleague. He's more blatant than he was. And he HATED the mutants. Then again this Trask idiot was somewhat a little more charismatic. A shame he's opposite of Xavier. Seeing his competition was Osborn, across the table. He'd have done better against the bald man for sure.

[The Envoy]

Professor Xavier gently and calmly folded his hands in his lap, "I understand the fear of the mutant community, it is only human nature," he replies looking as stoic as possible, "but I think the Sentinel program takes that fear too far. There are many mutants out there, some of which I have met, who are kind, gentle souls who only want to live in peace." From the side of his wheelchair, he picks up a manilla envelope, and pulls out a small stack of photo's, some of families, others of individuals.

Pointing to the first picture, "This is young man a mutant who's only power is that he can see in the infrared spectrum. He has been no threat to anyone, and has even used his power to help find a young classmate who had been kidnapped by his estranged father. Hardly someone you would call dangerous."

He then goes to another picture, this time of a happy family, "And this," he says indicating an adorable little girl, "is Tina. She can hold her breath for almost 10 minutes without needing air. An ability she used to save her mother who had passed out after a gas line had been damaged in their home. Again I ask you, is someone like this really dangerous?"

He puts the photo's away, "All of these pictures have a similar story attached to them. So, I ask you Mr. Trask, these people are also mutants, does that make them automatically threats to everyone?"

[The Administrator!!!]

Trask smiled. "Really? That's all?"

A nod, he asks, "What about when this mutant, is enlisted with a mutant group that devotes itself to terrorism? The use of such sight might be a real issue. One can easily track down humans with such a power. Then the talk of holding one's breath. Yes, it only takes 10 minutes to bomb a school like a little girl. Filling a classroom and shooting the survivors, one by one." Which, got even the best of reactions from the female newscaster.

He shook his head. "Children, families and so on. Mr. Xavier, are still not only dangerous. They will be dangerous. Once the innevitable comes. Mutants are the enemy of Humanity." Thinking to it all, "It's the talk of the world. Mutants can do so much. Some mutants are not as dangerous as others, but they are still a danger. They are not human. They are unable, to act like a human because they are for lack of a better word monsters. Here, I have something of interest."

Holding up a couple news articles, "These attacks on children recently stopped. Yet reports, were stated that the 'assailant' was a mutant. A mutant, that savagely, ruthlessly and in general attempt killed, murdered and destroyed families. You sit here telling me that just because a mutant's power does not start off as dangerous. That it won't grow? Some reports are mutants continue to mutate even after birth. Growing more powerful, as they age. The more they use an ability they can turn that ability into something else."

Trask smirked, "Then again. WE work to single out the mutants and in turn learn a way to remove it from the gene pool. One way or another. We, must stop the mutation before it grows into life itself. Before it effects the normal lifestyles, of American citizens."

The news casters turned to Xavier, awaiting his words...

Meanwhile, Norman bit his tongue. His hands were a little tight. He seemed rather annoyed. Was it what he said? Or, could it be something else?

Little did they know in his mind. The laughter, insane and growing went on. The whispers of 'Snap his neck' and 'Break his legs' went into a higher grow. He held it in control yet, one can only keep the 'goblin' under control for so long. When it really began.

[The Envoy]

"Mr. Trask, the same could be said of all human beings as well. Should we start rounding random citizens along with mutant because they may be dangerous? These citizens who can go out and buy weapons to kill one another with? As we as a species have been doing for thousands of years?" asks Xavier.

"You won't, and you know why, because your Sentinel program is a level of bigotry not seen since the Nazi led purges of Europe. You may now say you only intend incarceration, but that is not a far step from extermination. And that is normally considered genocide."

Xavier doesn't flinch as he says any of this. He doesn't even seem as angry as he really is. He wanted so badly to tear open this man's mind, bear all his deepest secrets to the light of day. But he didn't, it would go against everything he believed in, bigot or not.

[The Administrator!!!]

"We're not going to 'extinguish' the mutants. We're helping them. A cure, will be in the work. Once things have been settled. There is much work to do. Yet for now the precautions are all in the works. Things are in the works to help us in the future... okay, how about this?"

A smirk, he felt he had it. "If there was a mutant in your school? The one for the gifted? A threat to your students. A, a mutant that can... oh, hell, let's say shoot beams of energy out of his eyes. Would you honestly let something like that wander around? Sure, humans CAN do it. Yet they have to invent and make tools to do this. The power to do terrible things naturally, is a risk. A risk we as powerless human beings can't just ignore. If no one stops mutants, from the possible rise. Than who in the hell will?"

Just at this, Senator Kelly raised his hand pushing Trask back he had in his heated words leaned off onto the desk. When he had Trask back, he tells them all. "It is something to consider. After all. Mutants, hide. If you have no reason to hide yourselves than you are not guilty. Yet the truth that mutants do that shows they hide their guilt, their desire to be annonymous. The Registration act shou..."

Norman, just laughed. It was out of no where. Everyone looked at him.... he was laughing, incredibly. Not just because the words on that act were again found funny. It was the fact, that he was unable to let the Goblin in his head this long....

After a small tyrade of laughter. He sat up wiping his eye. The Goblin was quieted. Then he smiled at the two men. Then to Xavier, looking back to Kelly. He shrugged. "Sorry, I just found something funny."

A glare... Kelly went to talk again. Yet, before he could.

"You want to know what that was?" Norman interupts again. This time, leaning in. "It's that I, legal seller of armaments to our government for several years. A loyal business man and a patriot, thru and thru. I've had to keep log of every weapon I ever made and the components to such. Yet what I've heard from a grapevine or two, is that Trask? Your SENTINEL program does not do a single thing like this."

Trask, stunned. Somehow looked about. "Well, Sentinels are not weapons, they a..."

"They are giant, walking tanks. With a number of unusual weapons to compete with a threat you mentioned yourself. Tell me, what kind of tools do they use to capture mutants that have super strength, or speed? Hell, what about the mutants that can fly and shoot lightning out of their fingers?"

Trask was quiet. He never expected.... this. Hell, even Xavier seemed more docile. In fact Norman's eyes showed a hunger. The hunger for something that these men needed him to have, for their sakes. "What about this? Make it easier on you. How many have been produced? Because again, when I make any kind of weapon, under legal contract it's known I have to produce those devices in full report with each and every serial number. Yet you? Do you have any such reports?"

Trask was worked up. Now, he stood, snapping, "No! I WORK for the government, I'm not contractually obligated!"

"OH!" Norman, stood too, slamming a fist. "Instead, you just make as many weapons as you need. It's nice using 'mutant' for a label to your inventories. How the hell many do you need to combat mutants? Here's the better question, HOW LONG UNTIL THEY PATROL THE STREETS?"

"Ahh.... wha...?" Trask's eyes bugged out.

"That's right, when do we have those fucking monsters on our streets? Endangering our families?"

An anchoer whispers, "We need the censors..."

"Shut the hell up." Norman, snapped. He literally did. Then he turned raising his index. "Don't lie. There's nothing but proof in the fact you never make credits. The government has been making its own brand of justice. Think it over, every one of these machines can easily replace thousands of officers. To capture mutants, criminals and who knows who else? You make the weapons. They pay the funds. That's the name of your game, Trask!"

There was then a rather heated debate. Mostly, screaming. Trask refused to admit such accusations. While Osborn would either inform on air the fact that the 'SENTINEL' have no form of being logged and watched. How he knew this was beyond Trask.

After the small exchange the sign for a commercial came. Then the slowly pushed back to their seats. Trask, was angry... very angry.

Norman was calm. Smiled a bit. And he turns, whispering, "I think I called that one pretty well..." A smirk, he winks to Xavier. During the break, he offered his hand. "I'm sorry we didn't get to talk more. I'm Norman Osborn, I was looking into your school for my son Harry. He didn't want anything to it... private schooling, the boy never did approve."

A moment he turned up to Scott.... then, he fought ever urge once more. Tightening his jaw before smiling back to Charles. "Is, he your son? By chance?"

Of course not... but, he was just going to have to ask to be sure. See what he can learn. While the two other idiots argue. Kelly was asking for his time to talk, which, the news teams were talking on how to set him up for it. Neither team seemed worried on their side of this issue.

"Heh.... The Bugle, it's got a history of conservatism. Yet lately I have to admit, Jamison has been getting more antsy... that Spiderman thing bothers him I hear.... ever heard of him?" A small grin on his face held back the hateful rage he wanted to produce. How the words 'spider' and 'man' when so closely linked, angered him. An annoyance that stopped him, least once.

[The Envoy]

Professor Xavier shook Norman's hand, and replied to his questions as calmly as he had engaged Mr. Trask earlier, "Charles Xavier, I'm glad you were willing to take our side Mr. Osborne, I know you must have much work to do."

Looking up at Scott, "He may not be a blood relative, but Mr. Summers was one of my first students, and I've always seen him as a son"

"I have heard of this Spider-Man. He seems to be someone who has good intentions, though it's still too early to tell. You can never really know someone until you meet them face to face."

Xavier could have probed Mr. Osborne's mind. If he had, he might discover his dark and terrible secret. He might discover the rage underneath, but that was not his place. And so, this chance to unmask the Green Goblin before he could rampage through the city was lost forever...

[The Administrator!!!]

"My work is my life." To which, he adds, "Aside my family. That is also my life... both are hard to have at the same time though."

A sigh, Norman shrugged, "The real issue I have is with these monsters tossing around the city. A man makes giant walking tanks and he has the praise by the media, because he's using them for propaganda wars." Narrowing his eyes to the side, he adds in, "I'm also here to try and boot Kelly. Registration acts are maybe a beneficiary in some cases. Yet so far, I haven't seen mutants attacking the capital for free rights. You try and make them, who knows what will happen."

The off-air sign was still on. A sigh, Norman shook his head. "I suppose we live in a dark age Mr. Xavier. Freedoms are going to be tested. People's livelihoods tempered. Who knows what is to come. Course, so long good people like us try. Our children and theirs will see what's right. I hope."

[The Envoy]

"Yes, I am in agreement," says Xavier, his tone darkening with his mood. Mr. Trask hadn't torn him apart on camera, in fact he had likely done more damage to his own image, but that didn't mean he would stop. It was always those who believe what they are doing is right that are the most trouble.

"It is still my dream to see all of mankind, mutants and non-mutants, to work together to form a better society. If we can overcome such adversity, there is nothing that can stand in the way of our ascension. But, as always happens in such circumstances, we must hate it first. But then, I never expected to live to see this issue solved, but hopefully at least see peace set in motion."

[The Administrator!!!]

"Well the first step to a resolution is conflict Mr. Xavier. Let us all hope it can be lead down with peace in the dream." Norman looked as the debate was beginning again. "You know, this time they might start with you.... I hope you can lay it heavy on whatever issue you have to bring up." Which, he tilts his head back. "Oh, and for the record. I've been looking into possible charity work. Tell me, how many staff members do you have in that school? I've purchased a property, and it's slightly defaced in gang crime... so, cleaning it will take time and..."

Before much more talk on that. There was the new casters. "Okay, last we spoke about SENTINEL. Yet, we also have something else. Charles Xavier, willing to come down to talk about a number of things. Yet mostly his attempt to open the doors for possibly a talk on behalf of mutant kind with humanity. Now it's not unheard of, yet mostly frowned upon. Mr. Xavier? Do you truly believe, mankind can coexist with the mutant race?"