Divide or Band:The X-Men Take A Stance

[Bishop]

Normally when the X-men gather in this room it has to deal with how to tackle a threat to the co-existence of humans and mutants. An attack from Magento, a rampaging Juggernaut, or any another threat. But today they are gathering to decided where they will stand as a team in regards to the super powered community in general-not just themselves.

After the incident in Stmaford, America in its entirety is unstable in regards to those with super powers-not just mutants anymore, but anyone larger than human.

Bishop, though not being the acting leader of the X-Men throws up, with his arms crossed, "So who wants to start."

He waits contemplatively before giving his take.

[nightcrawler]

Kurt Wagner raised his hand as he walked in front of the crowd of X-men. He looked at Bishop and began to speak. "I'm my opinion my fellow X-men, I don't not have any faith in this superhero registration act. In fact, I fear this act very much. If you wonder why, look outside on our grounds. We have Sentinels patrolling our own grounds! I know they are for our protection, but what if they stop protecting us? What if they start hunting us because we don't agree to this registration? It looks like our future as mutants and as heroes is at hand. Things can get really bad if we don't make a stand against this. I know the Stamford incident was bad. I know many innocents died. But think of all the people, we, the X-men, haved saved. Think of the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four! I believe it is our dutie to fight this act!"

Nightcrawler looked around the room, anxious to the other X-men's responses to his speech.

[Bishop]

Bishop, his arms still crossed replies to Wagner without lifting his face from the table. His eyes however do pear up-staring directly at Scott Summers.

" I'm not sure the Sentinels are a problem Kurt. They're here to protect us-and as unsettling as that is, even for the O*N*E* squad memebers-I don't see them attacking against us unless we end up spilling over into civilian terriortory. I'd hope were all more civiliazed then that."

"The problem here though is about protecting ourselves. I have worked with the law-District X before M-Day-I understand the idea that heroes are not above the law. No one should be. But what happens when someone gets ahold of these papers. This disk. This computer-whatever they want to use. What happens when suddenly one of the heroes identities is out there. or better yet-a weakness. What if suddenly someone knows you need sunlight to produce those powers of yours Scott-what happens then."

"Because lets be honest-this is politics-and politicians aren't an honest bunch. This isn't about being above the law-the heroes aren't the ones out there not trying to do something right for the world. And those no nothings that got invovloed at Stamford-they weren't heroes. They were just a bunch of nobodies who got paid by some television company to play hero. Go figure-the first time television actually brings about real violence-they catch a scapegoat and decide to go after the super hero community."

[Havok]

"Bishop," Alex said raising from his seat. "None of us are lawyers or involved in legal acts! If you believe that this is the answer the let it be yours as you still haven't told us have you? You have slyly not told us about where you have sided. I can stand tall and say I am Against this appauling registration act, but Bishop, it seems like you just want to oppose everyone, dont you!"
Alex glanced around the room, Bishop wasn't too happy.
"I am not afraid to talk tough to you Bishop, or anyone else for that matter, as we are staring war dead in the face and I can't stand it!"

[Bishop]

"I'm pretty sure I've made it quite clear where I stand Alex," Bishop says lifting up his head and staring right through Alex Summers. "So don't get defensive with me, or through around that I'm not afraid of you crap."

The tension boils over in the room like a volcano ready to erupt. After the meeting at Stark Tower a war is imminent and is more a matter of time than a matter of if. Even those standing on the same side seem to be lost in the bedlam.

"Yes, I don't have a problem with those Sentinels outside. Better watching us in the open then ready to kill us from the sky. But," and Bishop pauses keeping his eyes locked on Havock's, "I don't believe in this act. No good will come of it. What? Some people feel safer at night because the heroes are in check. While guys like Norman Osbourne and the like can get out inside a month and are back on the streets. SO no Alex-I'm not playing both sides. I'm not keeping quit-as a matter of fact, I think I've been quite vocal. This act has already spilt both sides of this country in half-and the second this spills over into an all out war, all of us are in for a rude awakening."

Bishop pauses for amoment-looking around at his fellow X-Men. Some look at him with illwill, others nod there head in aggreance, while some are still lost as to where they stand. He takes in a deep sigh and stands up, his hands pressing into the glass around the war rooms table.

"X-factor tried working with the government once. Not just being watched by, but working with-I don't believe that turned out the best for them. All we are trying to do-not as X-men, not as mutants, or heores or any of that is keep this world safe-so maybe, just maybe some day, when the sun is shinging in the sky, and there are no clouds around-it won't be the kind of day that is ruined when some act of hate or ignorance comes in to play."

He sighs again.

"And this little law that's coming into motion. It's going to change all that. We save the world the way they tell us to. We save the world if they tell us we can."

"And there was a case years ago, I read about it when I came to this world, as I tried to learn about my surroundings. The Katey Genivies case. A woman died because no one helped her. Hundred people watched her die in the middle of the street. A law came into play then, that we had an oibligation to help someone in danger. They don't need a lciense."

[Cyclops]

Scott Summers sighed, and looked at the X-Men assembled there. "Look let's all just relax, no good will come of us fighting amongst ourselves. Especially when we all seem to be in agreement that we can not abide by the Registration Act. If only for the simple reason that eventually they will want all meta-humans to register and then we're right back to the failed Mutant Registration Act as all mutants would have to sign up with the government."

"We can't retire, we're not Spider-man or a guy in a suit, we're born with these powers and regulating them is impossible and inhumane." He looked at each of the X-Men in the room, "Does anyone feel any different? If not then I suggest we devise a plan of action, because either our names are given to the government or we have a few Sentinels outside to deal with."

[Iceman]

"Or maybe it's that we will have our names given to the government, AND have the Sentinels outside to deal with..." Bobby walked into the room as he had heard everyone speak. He had been standing and listening for some time. "But I plan sounds like a good idea, for those of us who will participate in it. I mean Bishop does have a point. That much cant be denied, but another fact is how far are we willing to trust the Government with this act, to keep their word and protect us, to help us and not just use us. And as well as what Cyclops said, we still have those freaks on our lawn to deal with."