Chapter 69: No Friends of Mine Part I

Chapter 69: No Friends of Mine Part 1

Above the streets of New York, should one have looked up, they would have seen a quick blur that swung right over the New York City Streets.

"Nothing like an early morning web swing to get the adrenaline pumping," thought Spider-Man as launched himself from building to building. "One more go around and then off to school. I swear, I won't be tardy this year on my first day."

A loud crash yanked the web slinger right out of his thoughts.

"Guess someone is doing a bit of back to school stealing," thought Spider-Man as he gazed downwards, with a trio of muscled thugs, armed with crowbars had busted down a door.

"Man this is like stealing candy from a baby," said one of the criminals with a smug express but the bag that he shovel jewels in was web yanked right out of his hand.

"Boy, aren't we breaking out all of the old cliches this morning?" mused Spider-Man from his perch on the wall.

"It's Spider-Man!" yelled one of the thugs.

"That's my name, don't wear it out," replied Spider-Man as he pivoted right off of the wall, doing a somersault, and landed firmly on his feet. He snapped out a line of webbing, and yanked the crowbar right out of the hand of his attacker. The web head in one fluid motion propelled himself, web line around the ankles, and the thug found himself down right on his face.

"Don't just stand there, waste him!" growled what appeared to be the lead thug but both of the crowbars were disarmed at the same time.

"With what, your bad breath?" taunted Spider-Man as he swiftly evaded an attack. "Because that can level an entire village, from where I'm standing."

Webbing around another thug, and Spider-Man propelled himself in the air. Webbing spun around the final thug and pinned his arms to his waist and his legs together, as he landed hard.

Within seconds, all three thugs hung upside down from a light post.

"Now I want you three to hang around and think about what you did, until the police arrive," reprimanded Spider-Man.

"I'll get you, you smug little sh..." started one of the goons before he was silenced by a small bit of webbing right over his mouth.

"Watch the language, pal," said Spider-Man sternly. but he paused, as a small amount of angry buzzing.

"Something tells me that isn't my fan club," thought Spider-Man.

"Look, it's that filthy mutant!"

"Do yourself a favor and crawl in a hole and die."

"What are you doing, bullying more humans with your powers?"

"Just snap your neck on your own webbing!"

"Creed's right, he's too dangerous."

"Get the hell out of town Spidey!"

"Go back where you came from mutie!"

The responses got more violent, as Spider-Man stood firmly as the angry mob approached.

"Got to leave, innocent people could get hurt," thought Spider-Man frantically.

"Sorry, no autographs," said Spider-Man quickly, as he swung off, but not before being pelted by rotten eggs, tomatoes, and other various nasty things.

"Run like a coward, mutie, not so tough now that we've stood up to you."

"Humans are forever, mutants never."

"I hope that web line snaps, web head."

"Creed's just riled them up, and it's not the mutants that are going to be in the most danger, it's the people, I'm supposed to protect," thought Spider-Man bitterly as he swung off.

X-X-X-X-X

Rabble was being risen at Midtown High School.

"Mutants are death man!"

"Down with those filthy SOBs"

"Mutants made my Dad lose his job."

"Mutants gave my mother cancer."

"It's all the fault of those filthy muties my girlfriend broke up with me."

"Yes, my friends, that's right, mutants are a huge problem, but don't worry, we're here for you," said young man dressed in a black coat, t-shirt, and dress pants, with a "FOH" arm band, patched right over his arm. He was a senior at the school "Don't be afraid, the Friends of Humanity will bring humanity back into the light, just believe us, have faith, that we are strong. Mutants are nothing but weak without their powers. They try to bring us down but we will rise."

There were loud cheers from the assembled group, with other students who were just trying to go along their day, with their attention being caught and with some cases, annoyed that they had to hear the loud and obnoxious propaganda.

"They've been on about mutants for a half of an hour," muttered Mary Jane as she looked right at them. "The natives don't look too friendly."

"I thought this was a school, not some demented cult meeting place," muttered Gwen disgusted under her breath.

"Lockers, classrooms, the trophy case that they still hadn't replaced after the Hulk cracked it two years ago, yeah a school, definitely a school," said Harry rather disinterested. "The only good thing about all of those loud mouths is they'll probably make us late for class."

"Don't you mean bad thing," said Mary Jane.

"I know what I said," said Harry with a casual voice, as if nothing out of the ordinary, as if nothing strange had happened.

"They're like animals, and they call mutants inhumane," muttered Kitty who had just walked up, having been warned to keep her head low. "They're acting like the monsters, not u..not mutants."

"So did any of you see Peter in all of this?" asked Mary Jane.

"He'll turn up, always late, never on time," said Harry shrugging. "Oh look, looks like the group has subsided, I'll see you all later, tell Pete I said hi if he ever shows up."

"I'll let you know Spider-Man saved the world billions of times!" yelled Flash Thompson angrily. "Besides how do you even know he's a mutant?"

"Everyone knows Spider-Man's nothing but a filthy mutant," replied one of the assembled group.

"Who's everybody?" asked Flash Thompson. "Creed? That guy's a psycho, totally nuts! He wouldn't know a true hero if it punched him in the face and...you know, I hope Spidey does."

"Never though Flash Thompson would actually be the voice of reason," muttered Gwen, under her breath.

"Hopefully you see the error of your ways, Flash, we would hate to see the school's star quarterback fall victim to some accident because he upset the wrong people with his views," said the leader of the group, in a slick voice.

"What are you going to do, I ain't afraid of you!" said Flash but the assembled group stepped to the side to turn their attention to the group of the three girls.

"We're looking for more bright minds to help bring the human race forward," said the leader slickly as he held together a pamphlet. "Sign up with the Friends of Humanity."

"Sign up, with the Friends of Humanity?" asked Gwen with a raised eyebrow.

"We welcome all humans, no matter what gender, race, ethnic background, or sexual preference," remarked the leader.

"Sorry, not interested," said Gwen calmly. "Now, excuse me, I need to get to class."

"I won't take no for an answer," said the leader, grabbing Gwen by the wrist.

"Well you better learn," said Gwen raising her voice a little bit.

"Yeah we're not interested in any of this," said Mary Jane. "All you're doing is making people upset."

"People have a right to be upset, mutants are using their powers on us each and every day, to try to keep us down," insisted the leader, losing a bit of his calm demeanor. "They're putting thoughts in our head, making us bend to their wills."

"Well for some people, it would be the only original thought that would be there," said Gwen which caused a few snickers and the group to step forward, trying to intimidate them. "And my answer is still no."

"So take a hike," said Kitty, but one of the members lunged forward and grabbed her by the arm which she instinctively went intangible causing the assembled crowd to back off in horror, almost as if she spat poison right in their eyes.

"SHE'S A MUTIE!"

"GET HER AWAY FROM US!"

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," grumbled Kitty under her breath, one second she was caught off guard and she was exposed herself as a mutant.

"STAY BACK!"

"NO ONE WANTS YOU AROUND US!"

"HANG THE MUTIE!"

At that point, Peter Parker poked his head right into the hallway, as the assembled group buzzed, issuing a few nasty threats, as Flash seemed to be pulling someone away who had lunged forward for an attack.

Suddenly, a group of teachers and administration staff walked forward, before things got rather upset, and Principal Milton Davis walked up, utter angered as he was filled right in on what happened.

"KATHERINE PRYDE, MARY JANE WATSON, GWENDOLYN STACY, PETER PARKER, EUGENE THOMPSON!" shouted Davis at the top of his lungs. "MY OFFICE, NOW!"

X-X-X-X-X

"I really don't know why I'm here, could someone please fill me in?" asked Peter in an agitated voice, but everyone seemed too stirred up to care.

"I'm sure Mr. Personality will tell you plenty in a minute," muttered Mary Jane.

"So, if I got this straight from certain model students right in this school, you all were involved in a scuffle with a peaceful demonstration and you, Miss Pryde were outed as being a mutant," said Principal Davis. "I will not have you choosing to underact in some delinquent behavior in my school."

"Excuse me, she didn't choose to be a mutant, she was born that way," said Gwen, annoyed.

"It seems to me, Miss Stacy, you knew of Miss Pryde being a mutant, but you chose to keep that information right to yourself, or perhaps you were being drawn right into that self destructive lifestyle, potentially infatuated with it," said Principal Davis. "Perhaps your trying to rebel, be contrarian, perhaps you wish to be different to stand out, even if it's not natural."

"What are you trying to imply exactly?" asked Gwen, not backing down for a second.

"It would be a shame if a bright young girl such as yourself was drawn right into such an unacceptable world," said Principal Davis. "I wonder what your father would think."

"You really should be worrying more about what he would think about you allowing people to distribute that disgusting propaganda," responded Gwen.

"You punched one of the leaders of the demonstration in the face," replied Principal Davis.

"What?" exclaimed Gwen absolutely flabbergasted. "I did no such...actually I kind of I wish I did, if I got accused of it."

"Violent tendencies as well, it may jeopardize your future, and so close to graduation," said Principal Davis who looked rather disappointed, and the disappointed seemed genuine which was more infuriated. "It was a peaceful demonstration, you could have politely turned them down if you were not interested, no matter how disappointing that would be."

"That demonstration wasn't peaceful, those people were...I don't even know, Parker, if you were there you could tell me what those people were, but I can't think of a word, but they were bad," managed Flash Thompson.

"Mr. Thompson, I'm most disappointed with you, as a member of this school's Football Team, you're supposed to be setting a good example as a leader," said Principal Davis.

"I thought standing up for justice was setting a good demonstration, those people...there's nothing wrong with mutants, but those people...they threatened people," stammered Flash, getting red in face.

"That is enough from you, from all of you, I've never been so disappointed to be an educator," said Davis. "Each and every one of you are on academic probation and it is only a small mercy that you are not expelled."

"I suppose it wouldn't be a good idea to say that I wasn't even involved in this right about now," thought Peter.

"There will be some changes, once further amendments are passed to the Mutant Registration Bill, where I'll have the right to remove anyone suspected of being a mutant or having pro-mutant sympathies from this school, for security reasons," remarked Davis. "Right now, I unfortunately can't, so Miss Pryde, I'll give you a chance, to walk out of this school right now and never return, to leave with dignity. Or remain here, until the bill is passed and be kicked out."

"I'll stay," remarked Kitty firmly and fearlessly.

"Are you sure that's...a good idea?" asked Peter.

"Yes, I'm sure," replied Kitty shortly. "I'm not afraid.."

"Then get to class, but warned, if you use your...powers, you will be suspended and brought up on charges of threatening the school," answered Davis coldly. "No exceptions, no excuses. Now get to class all of you and I don't want to see you back here again. The next time, you're expelled and it would be a pity if the future, those of you humans that have a future that is."

The five teenagers left.

"Expelling people for being suspected for being mutants or sticking up for them," said Mary Jane.

"Surely they can't think they can get away with that," said Flash as he shook his head.

"Well obviously someone thinks they can get away with it," said Peter.

"Get to the class then, keep my head low, try to stay out of trouble," muttered Kitty, without another word, slightly demoralized at what she did.

"She'll be okay, right?" asked Mary Jane.

"Physically, she can handle herself," said Peter choosing his words carefully.

"That's not the problem," muttered Gwen. "I can't believe this, it isn't fair, they can't just do that, just because someone is different, and they're basically making it legal to assault mutants, because of what they are."

"Gwen, it's wrong, but getting upset isn't going to solve anything," said Peter, as he grabbed Gwen's hand.

"I know, but it's just...people are going to get hurt, people can't even defend themselves," said Gwen.

"I know," said Peter painfully.

"I have to do something and soon, before this thing blows completely out of proportion," thought Peter. "Creed's already stirred up the hornet's nest and no one is standing up to these people."

X-X-X-X-X

One could see an expensive facility with state of the art technology.

"As you can see, our facility is the most efficient in effortlessly containing even the most unstoppable of mutant threats" explained Norman Osborn, effortlessly without blinking.

Osborn turned, as he was followed by Senator Robert Kelly, Bolivar Trask, and Donald Menken, as he pointed towards a containment tank containing the one and only unstoppable Juggernaut.

Take for example, this mutant, known as Cain Marko or the unstoppable Juggernaut as he is often called. Twice, his containment field had failed, leaving him to a rampage that we had to rely on mutants, these X-Men to contain" commented Osborn as he tapped on the side of the containment unit but the once unstoppable force inside remained immobile. "But now, even if the power in this building fails, there are three channels of backup power and other measures that will ensure that this Juggernaut is kept at bay until his containment can be restored. "

"Mr. Osborn, you are truthfully a credit to all of humanity" said an awed Senator Robert Kelly. "The tireless work that you have done to help contain the threats that have already threatened the human way of life. If only I was not encountering some resistance on the Mutant Registration Act. The President is reluctant to take decisive action, as an election year is coming up and his approval rating is on shaky ground."

"Well true men get their mission accomplished, regardless of the handicaps that are issued of them with others," said Osborn softly. "I have utmost confidence that you will not disappoint the human race, Senator Kelly. "

"I do not intend to, Mr. Osborn," answered Kelly, confident and proud. "Mutants are among us, we must flush them out. They are corrupting the American way of life, the entrepreneurial spirit that this country was built on, taking money out of the pockets of honest corporations."

"Oscorp has the future of humanity in mind," said Osborn, eyes narrowed, calculating and slow. "I am pleased to assist the MRD in their efforts in apprehending hostile mutants. Hopefully the entire threat will be dealt with and the Mutant Registration Act will allow us to better contain these mutants. I do require an update of...the other project that we're working on. "

Mr. Osborn, I feel that the path to Project Wideawake will be cleared once the Mutant Registration Act is passed," said Kelly, which caused Osborn to nod.

"What is Project Wideawake?" asked Menkin.

"That is on a need to know basis, Menken," replied Osborn sternly. "Your job description, regardless of who you are, entails that you simply do not need to know. Is that clear?"

"Of course Mr. Osborn," said Menken, as a fist clenched in the pocket of his suit.

"When it does pass, we will be able to even the playing field to an optimal level," said Osborn "Mr. Trask has designed the perfect tool for the project. No mutant on Earth can hide. It is time that we as humans strike back and hard against the enemy."

"The tour of this facility was rather illuminating Mr. Osborn," said Kelly in an excited voice before he grew serious "But I must get back to Washington, to attempt to rally more support of the bill. So if there is nothing else..."

"Take your leave Senator," said Osborn "The sooner the act is passes, the quickerwe will all sleep at night, now knowing that the mutants have been dealt with."

Osborn turned, his expression unreadable to anyone who might have been observing, as he exited the facility, with Menken and Trask following immediately.

X-X-X-X-X

"Are you people dense or just doing a good job at pissing me off?" demanded the loud voice of J. Jonah Jameson. "I told you, the Daily Bugle is not a propaganda vehicle, no matter how much money you shove underneath my noise."

Right across from Jameson, were two rather large members, with arm bands with the letters "FOH".

"Mr. Creed thinks highly of your paper, and feels that we could be mutually beneficial if we unwind the mutant menace that is polluting this city," said the Friends of Humanity member. "Surely, we had thought that you would agree to work with us, given that you have railed against Spider-Man."

"My campaign against Spider-Man is not because he is a mutant, but because he's a mask wearing hoodlum," said Jameson hotly. "I'm not interested, we report on the news, not whatever vendetta Graydon Creed is on about. I'm not going to be responsible for getting the wrong people upset and put innocent people in the crossfire. I've seen this sort of thing happen before and I won't put up with this prejudice."

"We only aim for the safety of human kind, Mr. Jameson," said the FOH member.

"Well I aim to report the news and not to be swayed by third parties, now get that through your head, you numbskull!" snapped Jameson who got up to his feet. "ROBBIE! Call for security and get these two hoodlums out of my office."

"We'll show ourselves out but be careful, Mr. Jameson, accidents happen," said the Friend of Humanity members as they walked out, allowing Peter to walk in.

"Ingrates, thinking that they can buy the Bugle," grumbled Jameson. "PARKER! What are you gawking at?"

"Pictures, pictures, of a battle this morning before things got ugly," said Peter. "Angry Mob started throwing things at Spider-Man, it got nasty."

"Passable Parker, needs work, but it will have to do," said Jameson. "Usual payment, no more, no less, unless you want it to be less, then we might work something out."

"Are you okay Mr. Jameson, sir, you look flustered?" asked Peter.

"Do I look okay, Parker?" demanded Jameson, as he raised his voice, something that Peter thought was not possible.

"It's just those guys looked like they meant business, they threatened..." started Peter but Jameson cut him off.

"Parker, if you worry about every little threat on your life, then you won't live as long as I do, mark my words, Parker," said Jameson. "People have been threatening me since long before you aimed your first lens, they'll be around. Now I've got work to do. Lot going on the world today, better pictures, Parker, now out of my office, get, scat, move it, vamoose, beat it Parker."

Peter stepped from the office, not wanting to spend another moment in the company of J. Jonah Jameson.

X-X-X-X-X

The Following Message is Brought To You By Graydon Creed and Paid For By the Friends of Humanity and Humans Like You

"Terror gripped Midtown High when one of the Midtown High School Students, Katherine Pryde was revealed to be a mutant. Pryde is a member of the hated X-Men, the super powered cult of mutant terrorists, believed to be lead by Charles Xavier, who claims to be a crusader of peace. But what is Xavier really? Training mere teenagers with mutant powers, turning them into some kind of unholy army to wage war against humanity, to make us little more than mere slaves. What is the true end game of Charles Xavier? He may not be as benevolent as he has tricked us into believing."

A brief pause with explosions and humans cowering for their lives, as shadowed figures, perhaps mutants swooped down on them.

"In particular Ms. Pryde has the ability to become intangible. Doors and walls are no barrier for this young lady. She can walk into the most secure home at night and snatch your children for their beds as they sleep, before you even know it."

A picture of Shadowcat standing right over a downed enemy, with a determined look that some might mistake for twisted and psychotic at the right angle.

"Are your children safe? Who can you trust? Allow us to join a helping human hand. Embrace the Friends of Humanity. We can help you cope with the mutant menace."

X-X-X-X-X

"Anti-Mutant fever continues to grip the nation, with New York being the center. Graydon Creed has lead the charge for the rights of humanity, with his group the Friends of Humanity, warning those against what he perceives as dangerous mutant threats. Charles Xavier, an expert on genetic mutations and head of the Xavier Institute for the Gifted, has claimed that mutants are not too much unlike humans, there will be sides that are both good and bad, that make the right choices and the wrong choices."

"Man, both of them are a pair of real losers!"

In a run down house in one of the many bad parts of town, the Brotherhood watched a broken down television with a fuzzy black and white picture. The speedster Quicksilver, his sister, the hex based reality altering Scarlet Witch, Avalanche with his ability to rattle the ground, Pryo who can control any fire, the immovable Blob, and the slimy Toad.

"I can't believe Mystique just stashed us here until she needed us," said Scarlet Witch in a frustrated voice. "She didn't even bother to tell us what she was doing."

"That's the boss for you," said Avalance. "We're just the muscle."

"Yeah, Magneto did the same thing," remarked Toad nodding his head. "Good riddance to the chump, I'm glad he's gone."

"Come on, Toad, you can't be that stupid!" exclaimed Quicksilver, shaking his head. "Magneto is out there, and we could have got him by now, if we are told to stay put like good little soldiers."

"Yeah that's a real kick in the pants," said Pyro. "But I wouldn't fancy going at it with a scrapper like Magneto. He could turn us into scrap metal."

"I didn't know you were that scared," replied the Scarlet Witch

"I'm not scared," answered Pyro abruptly. "I just fancy not dying that's all."

"Right," said the Scarlet Witch, as she rolled her eyes.

"Look at that clown!" exclaimed Quicksilver

"Who Senator Kelly?" asked Toad

"No Osborn," replied Quicksilver with thinly veiled contempt.

"Norman Osborn has helped the Mutant Response Division detain dozens of hostile mutants and is working on more corrective measures," reported the newscaster "As the Controversial Mutant Registration Bill is being argued on Capitol Hill, Osborn continues to pour into facilities that would detain mutants."

"I assure you, that no normal humans will have nothing to fear as long as I breath," said Osborn "More and more, renegade mutants are being rounded up. I can assure you that once this bill passes, any mutant who fail who complies to register will face the full wrath of the MRD and the best technology Oscorp has to offer. No mutant is too powerful to stand up to me. I dare any mutant to try me. You are nothing without your powers. "

"Man that chump has a lot of nerve, him and his stupid hair cut," grunted Blob

"You've got a lot of room to talk big guy," remarked Toad with a chuckle.

"Man that's a raw deal!" exclaimed Pyro "That Osborn has got our fellows locked up in some facilty."

"Forget Osborn, none of us can stand up to him," said Scarlet Witch, who knew that at this point in time, inciting the wrath of the MRD would set them back.

"Are you kidding?" asked Avalanche "We'd mop the floor with him. He's nothing compared to the Brotherhood."

"No, as much as I'd like to wipe the smile off of that smug shit's ace, Wanda has a point, for once," said Quicksilver "He'll have us locked up with the rest of the mutants. We can't handle him head on Not without some help. Someone who knows Osborn. "

Quicksilver suddenly smiled, as if something occurred to him and snapped his fingers.

"I've got an idea!" said Quicksilver quickly.

"Oh boy, here we go," said Scarlet Witch, feeling of impending dread coming on.

"No this is a good one, I mean it, let me run off and reach out and get into contact with a friend," said Quicksilver

Quicksilver stepped out as Scarlet Witch just rolled her eyes.

"I better make sure Pietro doesn't do something I'll regret him doing," said Scarlet Witch in a tense voice. "You four do something productive, or something, just don't...just do something, alright."

"Something productive, eh?" mused Pyro "What can that crazy bird mean by that?"

There was a moment's pause.

"I've got it!" shouted Toad. "This can't fail, it's the perfect idea!

Blob, Pyro, and Avalanche just looked at Toad with a disbelieving look but slowly leaned in closer.

X-X-X-X-X

To say that George Stacy had a series of complications with his job, along with the rest of the New York City Police Department, because of the recent anti-mutant hysteria would be putting the situation mostly mildly. He read the latest Friends of Humanity Pamphlet that had been distributed throughout the city.

Legally the language that Creed used could be interpreted to either take an action against mutants by writing to senators and voicing support for the Mutant Registration Act or to take more hostile actions, but it would be rather easy to claim that people took their attempts to fight for humanity a bit too far if Creed was backed in the corner.

"It's times like this where retirement can't come fast enough," muttered George, as he casually tossed the pamphlet in the trash, as he saw his daughter walk in, with a slightly tired and agitated look on her face. "Hello Gwen."

"Dad," said Gwen in a polite voice.

"I heard that you were involved in a little incident at school," replied George in a casual voice. "Gwen..."

"I don't know what you heard, but I'm not going to just lie down and agree with these Friends of Humanity...I mean some of the things that they were saying," said Gwen in a frustrated voice. "They're all riled up and I don't know...it's like...."

"People always look for someone to blame and it's easy to blame what you don't understand," said George wisely.

"Surely they can't get away with doing what they are doing," vented Gwen. "Isn't anyone going to stand up?"

"People will, but until Creed does something that can't be ignored by the law, my hands and the hands of others are tied," said George, as he decided to omit the fact that it was likely that a more than a few in powerful positions were sympathetic, including some people he worked and saw each and every day. "Gwen, don't compromise your principles about this but don't do anything that you're going to attract the wrong kind of attention."

"I just feel helpless about not being able to do something, they don't understand," said Gwen, frustrated.

"That's the issue, they don't and they won't right now," said George in a somber tone. "I know you have one or more friends that my be effected and that puts you in a hard position. But we're doing what we can to temper the situation."

Gwen just nodded but had to hastened to answer her cell phone.

"Yeah Peter, wait what, they threatened....yeah not a good time to talk, parental unit right in the room," whispered Gwen, even though her father heard.

"Gwen, I'll be right back, I just remembered something that I forgot in the car," said George immediately as he walked off.

"Okay, Dad," said Gwen in a distracted voice as she watched her father leave, before her full attention was on what her boyfriend had to say. "Pete, talk."

X-X-X-X-X

"What do we even know about Creed anyway?" asked Gwen in an undertone.

"Well like I told you on the phone last night, other than he just seemed to pop up just after the X-Men were exposed and started tearing into every super powered being ever, not much," muttered Peter. "Pamplet is a bunch of useful fluff, all it says is Creed is the founder of the Friends of Humanity, a 35 year old human, who has pledged his life to ensure that humans have a brighter future."

"What now?" asked Gwen.

Peter paused for a minute.

"I...don't really know to be honest with you," answered Peter as he collected his thoughts. "This Friends of Humanity thing...it's making some points that people want to hear, I guess."

"Yeah, well they'll hear plenty but they won't listen," said Kitty as she walked up, looking slightly tired.

"You look awful," said Peter.

"Thanks I didn't notice by the way I feeled, but I'm just going to have to deal with it," said Kitty evasively. Being harassed by her own classmates that month ago were cordial and nice, but turned on her like the plague because she was a mutant was not conductive to one's well being. And not conductive to the future working of someone's cell phone after it got tossed out the window after another nasty text "I've handled far worse than a bunch of closed minded dou....well I've dealt with far worse."

"Are the X-Men doing anything about Creed, the Friends of Humanity?" whispered Gwen and Kitty just paused.

"We're considering our options," said Kitty bitterly. "And I can't say much more."

"Considering their options," muttered Peter.

"Sounds to me like...." stated Gwen, but what it sounded like to her was lost as Kitty had turned to face her locker, almost frozen in time, as it took seconds that felt like moments to register the vandalism.

If she had not been so stressed out, she might have rolled her eyes at the sad attempt but the last day had rather worn on young Kitty Pryde.

Her locker swung open, with a partially lodged Friends of Humanity propaganda pamphlet falling out, as several of her books left her locker were damaged, along with a piece of paper taped right to the back of the locker with a crude drawing of a brown haired girl hanging from a noose and the words "DIE MUTIE" pasted to the paper in computer print.

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