Issue 1 Downtime

John's teched out black sedan pulled onto campus sometime relatively early in the morning. Naturally, he called ahead to notify McManus.

"Welcome to Xavier's," he said to his passenger, "My home away from home."

"Your home away from home is a mansion." she notes flatly. At some point she had changed into street clothes, but is still wearing her eye-mask.

"Technically yes. A wealthy British family is allowing X-Corp to use the estate for the university. Mine has money, yes, but the house I grew up in has nothing on this place."

"Lucky you." she says as she steps out of the car. She's not bitter at all, no.

"Sorry. I... don't mean to rub in how 'the other half' lives," he said as he too got out.

"It's not exactly a secret. And from what I hear your slums aren't nearly as bad. That does count for a lot."

"There's a mutant slum in London called Lambeth. And you're right, it's nothing like Lowtown. Nonetheless, seeing it was an eye opening experience seeing how I could have lived had I not been fortunate enough to be born to accepting parents with the resources to protect me from the bigotry my rather extreme mutation invites."

"Right." she says curtly. Having only seen John out on a mission to protect his family's fortune may have colored her impression of him and the things he fights for.

He noticed her tone.

"It was my first mission as an X-Man. The university received word that some bigots were going to do something to start a mutant riot and we were sent to try and defuse the situation."

"Turned out they had a bomb. We stopped it... and you'd think that would be when it stopped being a rich kid's lark for me, when it became real, but it wasn't. It was when one of the thugs took a hostage right in front of me. I fight for him, for the innocents caught in the cross-hairs of people or forces that would do them harm, because I've been there. It just happens that my own family is now among the targeted... and I don't mean just money."

"Good for you." she says, though her tone has softened a little bit. "So where's this de-programming expert of yours?"

"She should meet us shortly."

The headmistress' presence is almost felt before it's seen, the invisible flock preceding her.

The actual sight of her is decidedly more mundane. She's dressed for business as she walks towards them.

"Pretty young for an expert." she mumbles roughly in John's direction.

"Looks can be deceiving. Especially around here."

"I trust there was no trouble on the trip, Mister Hino?" She asks as she nears them.

"I suppose I've no room to complain about people randomly wearing masks."

"Not everyone can afford not to." she simply points out.

"The flight back was pleasantly uneventful," John replied.

"Then introductions are in order. I'm Samantha McManus, headmistress of the school."

"I'm Rail. I suppose you'd call me a vigilante."

"I understand you value your privacy, and I'll try to respect it as best you can, but Mister Hino has told you what this will likely involve, aye?"

"Somewhat. Since what he said about Muse seems to be true I can't exactly afford to be too squeamish."

"Ah, so that's what she's calling herself these days."

"That's my understanding. I never really got to see her face, but I've seen glimpses of her mask that matched the images Mister Hino showed me."

"I've known her by a few different names. She's allergic to seeming ordinary."

"That describes half of Madripoor, but I'm inclined to say she succeeds at it."

"Do you need me to stick around? I can, but it'd be nice to grab a shower and a bite before my first class."

"I'll leave that up to Rail, given that you're the one she trusted to bring her here."

"Just go. I can handle myself."

"I've no doubt of that," he nodded, "But if you do need anything while you're here, don't hesitate to contact me."

"Suppose that's that, then. Shall we adjourn somewhere more comfortable?"

"You're the expert."

"Given how much you value your privacy, it's for the best," she says, starting towards the administrative building.