Empire State University

Only moments ago, Greg came upon a guy beating on a helpless mutant girl, what had been retaliation for the attack on the campus by a student with super powers. Greg stepped in and, in a public display of his powers, knocked the linebacker unconscious. The girl had just gotten through telling him she was going to admissions to drop out and he offered to walk with her. Until the security guard approached him.

“You’re coming with me, son,” said the guard.

Greg clenched his fist and a soft, blue aura surrounded it. The pink-skinned girl saw this and grabbed his hand. He looked at her and all three of her eyes looked up at him with pleading.

“Please don’t,” she said. “You’ll only make things worse if you don’t cooperate.”

Greg sighed and nodded. He didn’t want to hold back, but he knew she was right. Besides, while that linebacker deserved what he got, this guy was just doing his job. Didn’t make much sense for Greg to take out his (admittedly many) frustrations out on some innocent working stiff.

The aura faded from his hand and he looked at the security guard. “Okay, let’s go,” he said.

The guard led him to a parked car that had ESU SECURITY painted on the side. He opened the back door and Greg climbed inside, all while bystanders snapped photos or shot videos on their cell phones.

Once inside the car, the guard looked at Greg in his rear-view mirror. “Just for the record, you did the right thing. At least as far as I’m concerned. My sister’s a mutant and if I saw some guy twice her size wailing on her, you better believe I’d step in.”

“So why are you taking me in?” asked Greg.

“Look buddy, don’t give me any grief,” he said. “I’m just trying to do my job, okay?”

“Right, I understand,” said Greg.

“So what are you, a freshman?”

“Yeah…” Greg looked out the window. “At least I was.”

“Was?”

“After what I did today, who knows if that’ll still stand or not.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it, the administration here is pretty cool, at least in my opinion. Not like you started the fight, you were defending an innocent girl. And I’ll be sure to mention that in my report.”

“Somehow, I don’t think it’ll help,” said Greg. “All people are gonna care about is the headline—’angry mutant unleashes powers on helpless jock.’ There’s gonna be a record of this and once they kick my ass out of here, means no other school will want to touch me outside of community college.”

“Things may turn out for the best.”

“Nah, I doubt it,” said Greg. “Pretty amazing how drastically your life can change in an instant, huh?”

CONCEALED WEAPONS

Part II

By Dino Pollard

Empire State University

Greg sat in the office facing off against the dean of admissions. The dean sighed as he read over Greg’s file before he looked up at the young man. “Look, I understand why you did what you did. But our non-discrimination policy towards mutants is contingent on those mutants not using those powers against other students in any sort of violent fashion.”

“What did you want me to do?” asked Greg. “That poor girl was getting pounded on by some meathead!”

“There are other ways to resolve these situations, Mr. Willis. And as much as I hate to do this to you, I’m afraid I don’t have any choice.”

“What do you mean you don’t have any choice? What are you talking about?” asked Greg.

“We’re terminating your admission at this university. Effective immediately.”

“You can’t do that!” said Greg, almost jumping to his feet. “I came all the way here from DeKalb! If you do this, I’m screwed until the spring of next year! The cut-off date for transfer acceptance has already passed. I’ll be set back by an entire semester!”

“You should have thought about that before you chose to use your mutant powers to give a fellow student a concussion,” said the dean.

“And what’s going to happen to him, huh?” asked Greg.

“I imagine you’ll be contacted by a lawyer about paying for his medical expenses.”

“I can’t afford that!”

“Again, you should have thought of that before you attacked him.”

“Is anything else going to happen to him?”

“You let me worry about him,” said the dean. “There will be repercussions for his actions.”

“Yeah, repercussions. Meaning a slap on the wrist,” said Greg. “If that girl were human, you’d have kicked him out and you know it.”

“I resent that accusation, Mr. Willis. Empire State is a very progressive institution and—”

“Save it for the press release, ’cause I’m not buying it,” said Greg.

The Crash Pad

“This is absolutely ridiculous,” said Janice, shaking her head as she stood a few feet from the television set, watching pundits shouting at each other on the television screen.

“That’s what passes for intelligent discourse in America,” said Eddie. He sat in a nearby recliner with his feet up. “What, did you think it was going to be a reasoned debate? These things never are, both sides just try to prove who can be louder.”

“This shouldn’t even be up for discussion,” said Janice. “Mutants as concealed weapons, what is with that?”

“Dunno if it’s that ridiculous…” muttered Johnny.

Janice turned and fixed her gaze on him, his body spread out on the couch. “You want to run that by me again, Rico?”

“Look, maybe something needs to be done about this,” said Johnny. “This guy killed fifty people, alright?”

“And for that you’re going to hold all mutants responsible?” asked Clarice. She sat in another chair across from Eddie.

“I’m just saying this is a dangerous situation,” said Johnny.

“Maybe that’s because you’re still dealing with your own self-loathing,” said Janice. “Come out of the mutant closet, Rico.”

“What business is it of yours?” asked Johnny. “Last time I checked, you weren’t a mutant, so what gives you the right to decide?”

“Just because you’re a mutant who’s willing to be condemned doesn’t mean the rest of us should be,” said Clarice. “Besides, we know what will happen if mutants are kicked out.”

“And what’s that?” asked Johnny.

She pointed an accusatory finger at him. “You can pass for human. I can’t.”

“Thought you X-guys have those hologram thingamagigs,” said Johnny.

“Image inducers and yeah, we do. But I shouldn’t have to use one of those. Unlike you, I’m not okay with hiding who I really am.”

“Spare me the pride march rhetoric,” said Johnny. “To me, being a mutant is just some freak twist of genetics. Like having a mole on my butt. It doesn’t define who I am any more than some stupid birthmark.”

Clarice shook her head. “You’re impossible.” Her cell phone began to ring and she drew it from her pocket and put it to her ear. “Yeah?” She paused as she listened to what the caller had to say. “What? You’re kidding! I’ll be right there!”

She hung up the phone and stood from her seat. Eddie watched her with a curious gaze. “What happened?”

“That was Evangeline Whedon. She said the administration made the decision that at this point, mutants are too much of a security risk to be allowed on campus,” said Clarice.

“What? But what are they going to do?” asked Janice.

“Basically a mass exodus of mutant students until they have the chance to set up distance learning courses,” said Clarice. “Vange said there’s going to be a protest against the ruling very soon.”

“I’m going with you,” said Janice. She looked at Johnny. “You?”

“No thank you, I’ve got no interest in sticking my butt in the fire,” he said. “I’m just going to chill here and catch up on reruns.”

“You’re an insult to your kind,” said Clarice, walking past him.

“My kind is the kind that knows what the smart move is!” he shouted after her. Janice just stared at him and shook her head before following Clarice. Eddie stood from his seat and Johnny looked at him with a curious gaze. “What are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re going, too.”

“I am, but not to protest,” said Eddie. “Things like this, emotions run high, stuff can easily blow up. Someone should be there to make sure things stay civil.”

“Good, that’s practical,” said Johnny. “Knew you’d see things my way.”

“I don’t.” Eddie sighed. “Rico, I love you like a brother. But this isn’t about you being practical—you’re the least practical guy I know. This is about you running from who you really are. And really? It’s getting old.”

Once Eddie left, Johnny shook his head as he picked up the remote for the television. “The whole world’s against me, I swear to god…”

Midtown High School

Mattie Franklin and Robbie Baldwin sat in a study room after school in Midtown High’s student library. Robbie twirled his fingers around in the air, generating tiny little multicolored bubbles with his powers as Mattie looked over the algebra problems he just finished with a look of confusion on her face.

“Robbie…have you ever even opened your algebra book?”

Robbie paused and looked at her. “…there’s a book?” He stopped paying attention to the kinetic bubbles and one of them hit him in the face, knocking him over his chair. “Ooof!”

“Could you try and focus for at least one hour?” She rubbed her head. “This is like babysitting a three-year-old with ADHD on a sugar high at Disney World.”

“So I’m not good at math, it’s not like I’ll need it when I become an Avenger,” said Robbie.

“I don’t think Tony Stark’s going to be calling you any time soon,” she said.

“You never know,” said Robbie. “C’mon Mattie, this is boring. Why don’t we get into costume, hit the rooftops and back-alleys, and see if we can’t get into some trouble?”

“For a few reasons,” said Mattie. “First off, the deal with your counselor was you pass these three classes and you get to graduate. And for that, you need me to tutor you.”

“Point taken. Next reason?”

“The next reason is I can’t go out.”

“You can’t? Why not?”

“Because my uncle is J. Jonah Jameson and thanks to the Folding Circle dickheads, he knows I’m Spider-Woman and he threatened to kick me out of the house if I don’t quit,” she said. “Plus, I’m…you know…” She motioned to her stomach.

“Oh…right.” Robbie’s gaze dropped. “Have you…y’know…figured out what you’re going to do?”

“We’re not having this conversation.”

“Okay fine, then we’ll have it later.”

“No,” said Mattie. “I mean we are not having this conversation, period. As in, not ever.”

“Why not?” asked Robbie.

“We’re teammates, that’s all,” said Mattie. “Although now it looks like former teammates. We’re not crazy-close or anything, okay? We just work together. And it’s bad enough Greg decided to make this more difficult by blurting it out in front of everyone, because now I’ve got everyone asking me what I’m going to do. And frankly, it’s none of your business, okay?”

She crumpled up the paper Robbie had written the problems on into a ball and threw it at his face. Mattie then picked up her bag and her books and stormed out of the study room. Robbie stretched out the paper again and saw that almost every single problem was marked wrong.

“Damn…” he muttered. “This is gonna be tough.”

Empire State University

Hornet hovered high above the crowd, keeping a watchful vigil. Since he decided to join the Warriors, he had gotten help from Dwayne in upgrading his armor a bit and now it could do more than just fly and fire stinger darts. The visor was able to scan the crowd and zoom in at certain points.

“See anything?”

Hornet shook his head and looked at Rage. “Nothing. So far, it’s pretty civil. Campus security is out, but they’re just watching, same as us.”

“That’s good news,” said Rage. Before Eddie left the Crash Pad, he called Elvin and asked him to meet him out here. He figured it would be a good idea to have some back-up. Rico obviously wasn’t going to come and after what they’ve been going through, he didn’t want to bother Spider-Woman or Gravity. That left Speedball and Rage and Speedball wasn’t answering his phone.

“I’m scanning the crowd for weapons but coming up with nothing,” said Hornet.

“You sound worried, that sounds like it’s a good thing.”

“It is, but…some of those protestors could level this place if they wanted to. They wouldn’t need weapons.”

“You’re starting to sound like Jameson.”

“That’s not what I meant, it’s just…” Hornet sighed. “I don’t know. I guess this situation isn’t as black and white as everyone’s trying to make it out to be.”

“Same argument could be made for any of us masks. I read a story once where some hero was chasing down a villain who robbed a bank and they got into a big brawl—the property damages cost more than what the guy stole.”

“So you’re saying we shouldn’t stop bank robbers?” asked Hornet.

Rage shook his head. “Nah, all I said was it happened. Like it or not, we’re all pretty dangerous, but we all became this way for different reasons. Something tells me you weren’t stung by a radioactive hornet.”

Hornet chuckled. “No such luck. I was given this suit.”

“Yeah, but it was a choice to wear it. I’m not a mutant, but I also didn’t choose to be turned into this. And don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I’m regretful or anything. Just saying it wasn’t my choice. It just happened to me, it was an accident. And by accident, now I can crush someone’s head with my bare hands if I wanted to.” Rage looked at his partner. “Does that mean I shouldn’t be allowed on a plane? Or that I can’t walk around the city without someone from SHIELD monitoring me?”

“Not sure I know which side you’re arguing for,” said Hornet.

“That makes two of us,” said Rage.

Mattie Franklin heard a tapping at her window. She got out of bed and pulled open her curtains, a bit surprised to see Greg hovering outside it. He motioned for her to open the window and she did.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I had to see you,” he said.

“Not now.”

“Mattie please,” said Greg. “It’s been like three weeks since that thing with the Folding Circle. I’ve been calling, I’ve been texting and you just keep ignoring me. We need to talk.”

“In case you haven’t realized, my uncle knows I’m Spider-Woman. You remember my uncle, right? The guy with the Hitler mustache who, y’know, hates masked vigilantes,especially spider-themed ones?”

“Right now, I don’t care, but I need to see you,” said Greg. “Please, just give me a few minutes. There’s a lot we need to talk about.”

“Fine.” Mattie crawled out from her window, her powers enabling her to cling to the side of the house. She scaled upwards until she reached the roof and Greg landed beside her.

“Look, something’s happened,” he said. “You know what’s been going on at ESU, right?”

She nodded.

“Well I was on campus and I saw this asshole beating the crap out of a girl half his size. All because she was a mutant.”

“What did you do?” asked Mattie.

“I hit him,” said Greg.

“And…?”

“No, you don’t understand.” He held up his hand and a soft, blue aura appeared around it. “I hit him. Hard.”

“Oh…”

“Guy’s got a concussion, family probably wants to sue me for medical expenses,” said Greg. “But the worst part? The worst part is that I’m being kicked out of school because of this.”

“You’re not the only one,” said Mattie. “They announced that ESU is closed down to all mutants until further notice.”

“What? That’s ridiculous!”

“Maybe it’ll just be temporary, you never know,” said Mattie. “Just try not to get worked up over it.”

“Worked up my ass, this is ridiculous!” He paused and took a deep breath. “You’re right, I’m sorry…but…look, I know this is going to make things difficult, but I promise you I’ll take care of you. Both of you.”

Mattie looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

“You and the baby, I’m going to take care of you,” said Greg. “I’ll see if I can get a decent job that pays well, maybe we could get our own place or something. And everything will be perfect, okay? I’ll take care of you, I’ll be there for you every step of the way.”

Mattie hung her head upon hearing these words. “That’s really sweet…”

“Babe…?” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Is everything okay?”

When she looked up at him, she had tears in her eyes. Greg’s face was a mask of fear and concern. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s something I have to tell you about the baby…”

To Be Concluded…