Chapter Text
The coarse sand crunched noisily beneath the students’ feet as they marched towards Trask Industries: Research Centre and Laboratory division. The two-hour bus ride was long and tedious for everyone involved. Students desperately wiped the sleep from their eyes as they proceeded to move in a sluggish pace. To become victim of a faltering step now would’ve been incredibly stupid, since the band of Sentinels ushering them were unlikely to care if one fell behind before entering the facility.
Kay walked at the back of the group, struggling with her heavy backpack full of textbooks and many years-worth of notes. Her college professor advised her not to take any material with her on the first day of her internship, but she had no idea what to expect. If she wasn’t going to start work right away, she hoped to at least make a positive first impression.
The Sentinels stopped everyone at the main entrance and executed a thorough security check. Kay figured she’d be asked to take off her coat or reveal the contents of her bag-pack, but the Sentinels were created ahead of their time, their technology and precision impeccably critical and scientific. With laser-red eyes, a Sentinel scanned the group of students with a single sweep.
“Subjects devoid of genetic mutation,” it announced with a deep, robotic voice. “Proceed into the facility.”
Upon entering, they stopped again at the mouth of a vast hallway and the doors behind them closed heavily. The students turned to one another confusedly and mumbled incoherently. The Sentinels stood around them in a wide circle and were eerily quiet. One could actually forget they were even there. Kay remained quiet, too
The swinging lights dangling from above were so weak that it would’ve been impossible to measure how high the ceiling was with naked eyes. It was unusually humid where they all stood, and Kay kept getting whiffs of… hospital. The overwhelming odors of chemicals and medicines were all that evaded her senses. Looking around, this place looked anything but a hospital.
“Ah, graduates. About time. Welcome to Trask Industries’ sub-division.”
A shiver ran up Kay’s spine. Still at the back of the group, she stood on her toes to get a better look at the stretch of the long shadow approaching them. A man walked swiftly towards them with a broad smile. He seemed to be in his late-forties and leanly built with hair neatly combed to the side. He dressed in dark trousers and wore a hard vest over his navy jacket, vaguely reminding Kay of a military uniform.
The smile fell from his face when he reached them. He visibly counted their heads under his breath.
“You’re only seven this year? Where’re the rest?” The man flipped through the pages of his notepad and scowled. “There should have been nine or ten more of you.”
“Newer internships were made available this semester,” answered a young man in a red jacket. “Many of us chose ones that didn’t involve a two-hour drive outside the City.”
“Then many of you will never understand the delicate sciences of your field, and where science doesn’t apply, no research is liable. You best keep that in mind.” He scanned them once more and let out a disappointed sigh. “My name is Colonel William Stryker, and I’m what most people call a military scientist. I'd been aiding Bolivar Trask in his search for a solution to our ‘mutant problem’ for nearly a whole decade until his ungodly death, may he rest in peace. Now, we at Trask Industries try our hardest every day to carry out his work and make this world a safer, better place for humankind. Many of you will see the extent of our research so far, and, here at Trask's, we always welcome newer, fresher insights from youth. Follow me.”
Footsteps echoed as they all walked the entire length of the dark hall. Kay’s backpack rattled noisily as she tried to keep up. They reached a large steal door with a scanning machine plastered against the concrete wall. Colonel Stryker scanned his card and a collective “gulp” was emitted from the students when the door slid open and they followed suit.
With all the twists and turns they took, the facility reminded Kay of a complicated maze. She still staggered at the back of the group, painfully aware of the line of Sentinels that continued to follow them.
Briskly walking down a long tunnel, Kay took notice in the bolted metal doors on either side. There were no signs indicating what held inside, and when Kay tried to strain her hearing, she still couldn’t hear anything coming from the other side.
“Now,” Colonel Stryker said. “You will all get to meet your mutant subjects today and establish with them what you would like to accomplish within your three months. The majority of you, I believe, are interested in biochemistry. Depending on your specified study, we have assigned you all to mutants that best suit your interest.”
Excuse me, Colonel,” a girl with dark purple hair said. “You mean, we don’t get to choose our own mutant subjects?”
“No, Trask Industries took liberty in making a careful selection. These mutants have given their consent to being analysed and studied by you. They will aid your research in whatever way is acceptable and approved by me and the Standing Committee.”
“Our college professor told us the mutants won’t be demonstrating their mutation to us,” Red Jacket boy spoke again, sounding a bit annoyed.
“Many of these mutants possess dangerous abilities that are impossible to measure and withstand. No weapon, tank, or missile could restrain them if they turn aggressive. We give them a harmless sedative to numb their powers, for their safety and our own. We wouldn’t allow a class of university students in here if conditions were unsafe.”
At last, they entered an archway with a sign hanging over it that read “Quarters”. Here, Colonel Stryker finally stopped and turned to face the group.
“A Sentinel will be present with you each day of your sessions. They will not interfere unless they sense a threat. They’re there to protect you, so have no fear. Make use of this first encounter and really try to see if you’ll be able to work under constant surveillance while in the presence of something not entirely human, something we don’t entirely understand yet. We know that being in such a facility isn’t easy for everyone, so you’ll always have a chance to withdraw from this program. If you make that decision, however, we’re not letting you back in.”
Kay felt her palms begin to sweat. Something about his words didn’t settle well with her.
“If you choose to stay, you’ll be given temporary ID’s to enter the facility and make your way to your research subjects. I should warn you, though, we take security measures very seriously here. Any unauthorized wandering around will not be tolerated, and I have full right to cut you from this program without hesitation. Any questions?”
A skinny boy with curly, ginger hair raised a hand. “Do we have permission to explore methods of DNA experimentation?”
“Oh, yes. To those who’ve requested to indulge in DNA experimentation will be given a supervised trial period in the labs. If we see that your experiments don’t interfere with our own and that your method of study is harmless, then we might allow you to continue using the labs, given that you follow a set of rules and conditions. Any other questions?”
Everyone shook their heads in unison.
Colonel Stryker grinned before looking down at his notepad. “Alright then. First up, Gwyneth Reese. You’re assigned to Emma Silverfox. Her ability to transform her skin into pure crystalline is absolutely remarkable. She is practically bulletproof, and so far our research has shown that her skin cells are made up of the world’s hardest, natural, carbonated substance.”
Each time a student got paired, Colonel Stryker would usher them into a cell and close the heavy door after them. Kay watched and waited with anticipation until she was the last one standing.
Typical…
“Ah,” Colonel Stryker turned to face her. “You must be Kay Harris. You were a very specific case, I remember pairing you up myself. I admit I had a tough time doing so, too. You’re not interested in biochemistry. You want to study mutant psychosis.”
She gave an awkward shrug. “Well, my major is strictly human psychology, but for my graduation project I thought it would be interesting to see how much I can relate human studies to mutants. None of my professors specialize in mutant affairs, so I figured some first-hand experience would do me some good.”
“You’re not the only one who thought it interesting. The mutant I picked for you was very intrigued by the idea. He doesn't normally take any part in these student visits. I do hope the two of you get along.”
Kay tried not to gulp too loudly. She failed and pretended to clear her throat.
“Who is it?” she asked.
“His name is Charles Xavier, a highly skilled telepath and telekinetic. We also believe he has the ability to manipulate people’s minds and construct realistic illusions, but we’re still looking into that. If he’s capable of more, we don’t know it yet. His mind is a bolted treasure chest and getting inside hasn’t been the easiest of quests. He’s not always feeling so patient and cooperative.”
“Oh,” Kay mumbled, feeling her palms begin to sweat again. “He... is harmless, isn’t he?”
“Yes, yes,” said Colonel Stryker, waving a dismissive hand. “Perfectly harmless, a real diplomat. I’m sure you’ll find him ever the attentive intellectual, if not a provocative hard-headed know-it-all.” He chuckled when Kay stared at him, speechless. “He’s harmless .”
“You mean like… pet gerbil harmless, or a serial killer in handcuffs kind of harmless?”
Colonel Stryker laughed into his fist. “Neither. You needn’t let your imagination run away with you, miss Harris. You’re in very good hands at Trask's.”
That should’ve been somewhat comforting; it's a shame Kay was currently questioning her own motive and wondering how the hell she thought she could do this.
“And he won’t be able to use his powers on me?” she asked, very aware she was sounding more afraid than she actually felt. “Read my mind… manipulate me?”
“He’s as good as human in here. Our mutants are exposed to the numbing gas daily, it never leaves their system, unless we decide otherwise. You have nothing to worry about.”
Kay stared a bit, taken aback. “You gas them?”
The Colonel’s mouth quirked allusively. The expression was so faint, but Kay caught the change in his eyes, the small flame that had come alive, the way it danced as his eyes crinkled ever so softly.
“We house one of the world’s most dangerous species here, miss Harris. It should come as no surprise the methods we use to ensure the safety of our scientists, our interns, and our mutants.”
Nervously, she nodded, hoping that the beads of sweat rolling down her forehead weren’t visible to the man standing only a foot away from her.
His smile changed into a kinder one. “As I've said, have no fear. And besides,” he continued, nudging his chin to the quiet Sentinels standing behind her. “We’re always watching. One is already guarding him inside. You’ll never be alone.”
Colonel Stryker swiped an ID card along the laser-reading device against the wall.
“Access approved,” beeped a computerized voice, and the volt-like door unlocked with a crisp 'clunk'.
“In you go. Take as much time as you need.” Colonel Stryker made way for her to enter and closed the door behind her.
The cell was a big white room with a thick glass wall dividing it horizontally. On Kay’s side of the room, there was nothing more than a single flip chair. The other side, however, was a bedroom, living-room, and library all in one. It didn’t look very cosy with its lack of windows and carpeting, but the metal-barred bed seemed decent enough and a tall cabinet of shelves standing against the far wall was a nice touch. It looked to be stacked with over a hundred books; it was practically overflowing. An overstuffed armchair was turned towards a vintage record player, and in that chair sat a frowning man.