Disclaimer: This story, though maybe not in this chapter but in subsequent chapters, will have celebrities in it. I have no knowledge of their sexuality and this is not intended to imply their sexuality. This is all from my own mind. Scary!! People actually get a glimpse into my mind!!!
Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel and all related characters created by Joss Whedon. Copyright 20th Century Fox.
Batman, and all related characters created by Bob Kane. Copyright DC Comics and Warner Bros.
X-MEN, and all related characters created by Stan Lee. Copyright Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox.
Talamasca, Lestat, Louis, and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice.
I don't know for sure if I will use all the above elements, but just in case, I have myself covered.
In this story, which has been floating around in my head most of my life, you will find many universes merging, as the above copyrights reveal. I hope you all enjoy this. I appreciate any feedback that you may want to give. This story doesn't deal so much with sex, sex, sex, but more of my feelings that I struggled with and am starting to come to terms with. Part of his background is mine. I do hope that you enjoy it!!!
I have received many emails from people who have enjoyed it and some from those who do not. I would enjoy hearing from you. Any emails you send, please tell me what chapter and story you are commenting on. Thanks.
Author James authorjames2002@yahoo.com
I also have several online messenger services. If you want to chat with me in real time, email me and tell me the services you use and I will tell you my screen name. Chapter 1 Old Friends and New Friends
Jessica sat back in her seat as the private plane landed in Orlando, Florida. She watched the man sitting ahead of her. It was the Watcher from England who had come for a special mission. She had been relieved of her duties as Slayer in Los Angeles for a special mission in England, as protector of the Princes William and Harry.
The Watcher was a young, handsome blonde-haired, blue-eyed man who stood about six feet tall. He had a quiet way about him, as many Watchers do. But he also had the presence of respect. Most people meeting him for the first time treated him with an extra air of respect than the normal. He had a way about him.
"We are secure," the pilot came over the loudspeaker. "Prepare to disembark in five minutes."
Jessica stood up and walked over to the Watcher. "Is everyone okay back in London?" she asked.
"Of course. Why do you ask?"
"After what you told me, I'm not so sure."
"Things are fine. And they will be better once the princes are safe in Buckingham palace and I have taken you and the others to the Council of Watchers."
"I still don't trust him."
"Trust whom?"
"Eric McCoy."
"He's done much for the Council, as you know. He's done much good. He is needed."
"I'll be watching him."
Lance and I woke up and had a wonderful filling breakfast. As I was cleaning up the dishes, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Lance said. After a few moments, he called back. "Eric, some friends of yours are here."
"I'll be right in," I called back.
I finished loading the dishwasher and washed my hands. I walked into the living room to see Professor Xavier, Joshua Monroe, and Jean Grey. All three looked worn out, but Joshua seemed extra occupied by something.
"Hello, Eric," Professor X greeted.
"Hi. How are you guys?"
"We're doing well."
"Please, have a seat."
The three X-Men sat down on the couch. Lance sat down in the chair and I sat on the floor between his legs. I noticed Joshua looking my way, and then turning away. I relaxed my mind, stretching out my molecules, hoping to feel what Joshua was going through.
"I received the letter from Joshua. What's going on?" I asked.
"Things have changed rather quickly in New York. An organization has formed against mutants. They are calling themselves the Friends of Humanity. It's quite unsettling."
"I can imagine. At least you are safe in the school."
"What school?" Joshua replied.
"The school was destroyed. We are going to have to rebuild. Most of the lower levels were undamaged, but there is nothing more we can do at the moment until the rest of the mansion is restored."
"Wow," Lance said. "To have your home gone. That must feel horrible."
"It is rather disquieting. We have much rebuilding to do once New York is safe."
"Where is everyone else?" I asked.
"We have a building in hand at the moment. Hank, along with everyone else, is setting up a field that will hide our mutant signature. It will make it rather difficult for the Friend of Humanity to find us."
"What an interesting name? Don't they realize that mutants are part of humanity, as well? God, I hate bigots," I said disgustedly.
Lance put his hand on my shoulder to comfort me and calm me. His touch immediately worked. My anger subsided.
"You should come to the school, Eric," Professor Xavier invited. "We could give you equipment that would mask your signature. You could set it up in your house."
"We'll see," I replied.
"It's all quite safe for you and Lance," Jean said trying to convince me to do it.
"It's not that I'm worried about. I spent most of my life hiding my sexual orientation. I'm not about to hide the fact I'm a mutant."
I stood up and went into the kitchen. Jean got up and followed me.
"Eric," she said. I turned. "Think of Lance's safety. You don't want him put in the middle of this, do you?" I turned away from her. "You haven't seen these Sentinels. They are huge! It took several of us just to stop one! They are large, strong, and powerful. If mutants have a hard time beating them, think what one could do to this house...to Lance.
"Those behind the Friends of Humanity are very cruel and unforgiving. If they think a non-mutant is in league with a mutant, they will not hesitate to kill him or her. They don't care."
"They are self-righteous and on a witch-hunt," I whispered.
"And they don't care if anyone gets killed in the crossfire. Even a celebrity."
I turned to Jean. "I'll talk with Lance about it."
"Okay. Its for his safety as well as yours."
We left the kitchen and Professor X stood up, along with Joshua. "I believe it's time for us to go," the Professor said. "It was good to see you, Eric."
"It was good to see you, as well, Professor. It was good to see all three of you." They nodded and went to the door. "Professor, do the X-Men still believe I murdered Dr. Israel?"
"Some do. I don't. Jean does not. Joshua does not. Joshua has talked with Logan extensively on the subject. It makes Logan a bit less uncomfortable toward you, but he is still apprehensive."
"I can understand that. When you find out someone you know may have murdered someone, many feelings of discomfort come toward that person. Perhaps I will go to Los Angeles soon and redeem my self."
"There is no redemption needed in our eyes, Eric," the Professor replied.
"Thanks, Professor. But I do know of some who do need it."
The Professor nodded and he, Jean and Joshua went to the door. Joshua turned to Eric. "It was really good to see you." He took me into an embrace. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too, Joshua. We'll have time to talk later."
"Okay."
The three mutants left the house and I turned to Lance. "What do you think about the equipment to hide my mutant signature from the Friends of Humanity? Do you want us to get it from the X-Men?"
"I don't know. How dangerous are these people?"
"Think about the Salem witch trials. Anyone even remotely believed to be witches were put on trial. I don't want that to happen to you."
"And I don't want our home to be a prison with all kinds of locks and electrical bars."
"It wouldn't be a prison. It would be protected by a security system. If you want, while you are at the meet and greet, I can go to check out the equipment and see what all is involved."
"Okay."
"If I get done early enough, perhaps I will stop by the Meet and Greet and make a scene," I said with a coy smile.
"Oh, really," Lance replied, his eyebrow going up. "What kind of scene?"
"I can start yelling out how hot all of you are."
Lance and I laughed a little.
We went about the rest of the day cleaning the house and then Lance went to get ready for the Meet and Greet. He looked rather nice, I thought, and new that girls would be drooling over him. I tried not to think about it or I would get awfully jealous.
We kissed our goodbyes and off we went toward our separate destinations.
I pulled up in front of the cathedral that masked the X-Men's new hideout. They were the proper directions, and Joshua did say in the letter that it would be disguised as a church. I got out and walked up to the door. I was greeted by Remy.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I was invited by the Professor."
"Hmm," was all he replied. He let me pass and I moved into the main entrance hall. Not too far in, Ororo and Joshua approached me.
"Good to see you, Eric," she replied.
"Good to see you as well, Ororo. Hello, Joshua."
"Hi, Eric," he replied rather gloomily.
"The Professor told us you might be stopping by. He's downstairs with Hank. Have you met Hank before?" Ororo asked.
"No, I haven't."
Joshua smiled rather largely. "You'll like him."
"Follow us," Ororo said and the mother-son team turned and walked to a staircase.
I followed them down into the shadows. The staircase opened up to a large room with lots of electronic equipment. The Professor walked over to me.
"Glad you decided to come, Eric. Jean and Hank are finishing up some last minute adjustments. Then they will assist you in getting your home equipped."
"Thanks, Professor." I noticed out of the corner of my eye a blue being in a lab coat. I looked closer to notice it was some sort of beast. "Who is that?" I asked.
"Thanks Hank...Henry McCoy. Any relation?" The Professor smiled at me.
"Not that I'm aware of."
"His codename is Beast. He is very smart, agile and strong."
"He has a good heart, too," Joshua added.
Professor X and Ororo smiled at Joshua. He smiled back.
Joy welled up in me for him. He had been losing family for a long time. He now found his birth mother and a place where he belonged. He was finally home.
"Eric," Jean said walking over to us. Hank was right behind her. "This is Dr. Henry McCoy."
I reached out a hand and he grasped it. "Pleasure to meet you, Doctor."
"Likewise," he replied in a deep yet soft voice. "What is your mutation, if I may ask?"
"I can manipulate atoms and molecules."
"Fascinating."
"We are almost done here. Once we are finished, we will load up the van with equipment and drive to your house. Then we can set it up and make it rather inconspicuous."
"Okay."
I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye and saw Marie whispering in Professor X's ear. "Right," Professor X replied. "Storm," he said, "come with me."
Marie, Professor X and Ororo turned and went up the stairs, leaving Joshua, Jean, Hank and I alone. Jean and Hank went back to their work.
"Can we talk?" Joshua said.
"Sure."
We went up the stairs as well and found a quiet room that was obviously his bedroom. His bed was small. We sat down on it and I questioned its sturdiness.
"What's up?" I asked.
"I'm a little scared about what's going on, Eric. Why are people acting this way toward us? We haven't done anything to them."
"I know, Joshua. It's sad that mankind is putting each other through things like this. Hate is something that is learned. Which makes it both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it can be unlearned. We can teach them that not all mutants are bad. A curse because someone who has a good heart can be led the wrong way in their feelings toward anyone born different.
"If you can remember the United States history in the 1950's African-Americans were hated and even murdered in the South because Southerners were taught to hate. Fathers and grandfathers, mothers and grandmothers taught their children that people of different color were inferior and should be hated. Most of their children learned to hate, yet most of them had no idea why.
"Hitler hated just about everyone. He murdered Jews, Africans, homosexuals, women and children for no apparent reason other than he believed they were inferior."
"But we are superior to them. We have special abilities that make us very powerful."
"And they fear us. Their hatred stems from the fact we are born different and have powers that they don't. They fear that we are powerful. They will probably want us to register ourselves one day or have us all killed off."
"Would it be so bad to be registered?"
"Registering would make us known to others. It would be easier for people to hate us openly. Why should we be licensed to live? Why should we have to be open about who and what we are? It's nobody's business but our own."
"Wouldn't it be the same with gay people?"
"Yes, it would. As nice as it would be for gay people to be able to readily identify one another, it would only make life much more difficult for them. Bigots and hate-mongers would thrive on the fact of knowing who we are and would try to kill us. Look what happened to Matthew Shepherd. He was beaten to death because of his sexual orientation. James Byrd was drug to death because he was a different skin color. As tolerant as this country is becoming, it still has people who feed off of hate."
"That is so sad. They live a pretty close-minded life."
"That they do."
Jean walked up to us. "We are finished here. We just need to load up the van and go."
"Okay."
"Can I help?" Josh asked.
"Sure," Jean replied.
Marie walked into the room and up to Joshua. "Your mother wants to see you, Josh."
"Okay." Joshua turned to me. "Talk to you later, Eric."
I watched as Joshua and Marie went up the stairs. I stood and followed Jean to the back of the basement and through a door. Hank was carrying large pieces of equipment and sitting them in their van.
"Do you need any help?" I asked.
"No, thank you. I'm almost done."
"Do you want me to go up front and get in my SUV so you can follow me."
"Sure," Jean replied.
I went back up the stairs and down the hall. I passed a room where Joshua, his mother and a dark-skinned man were standing. I didn't know what was going on. I had things to do but I resolved to ask Joshua about it when I got the chance.
I exited the cathedral and climbed in my van. A few minutes later, the X-Men's van came around the corner. Jean was driving. I started up the SUV and off I drove heading back to the house.
To Be Continued...
How do you like the first chapter of "Chronicles of a Real Dark Knight"? Things will be picking up very soon!
The band at the end known as "Ocean Whispers" will be having their own story on here. I think you will enjoy their adventures.
Also, many of you wanted it, a crossover between "Tales of a Young Mutant" and this story. Joshua's back and he has some interesting things happening here. Keep reading!