A: An old acquaintance I have in a highly placed position. She wants to work with us.

SHALIMAR: She?

A: Yes. She. I’m not saying I don’t have reservations, but this person could have given Eckhart a lot of help during his regime. Instead she remained neutral and even held him in check on a few occasions when it looked like he was gathering too much influence on Capitol Hill.

BRENNAN: How noble of her. Meanwhile, New Mutants were getting power-sucking bolts of plastic in their necks and stamped USDA choice while she looked the other way.

A: I know this might not appear to be the ideal ally, but her offer cannot be ignored.

EMMA: Being what?

A: Mutant X would serve as covert operatives under her administration on missions where normal human resources—

BRENNAN: Navy, air force, marines…

A: ---would not be affective. Gradually, the public would learn of these missions. From Proxy Blue at first, then the mainstream press. The overall perception of New Mutants would certainly change in this light from fear to relief.

SHALIMAR: Kind of a big leap of faith you’re gambling on, isn’t it, Adam?

A: I admit there’s a risk, but that’s always been a part of the Mutant X equation.

JESSE: Wait. Let me get this clear. What you’re suggesting is that since the government no longer has Genomex to harness New Mutants, we take their place?

A: In essence. But on our own terms.

JESSE: We’d be the new GSAgents?

A: In white hats. Without the subdermal governors and stasis chambers, of course.

JESSE: So, you’d have us join the very side that hunted us like dogs less than two months ago?
A: To skirt a further argument: Yes.

JESSE: Are you insane?!!

A: Quite possibly. Any takers?

Reaction to my pitch that Mutant X works with the Special Forces Bureau is starting to surface. Whether it’s sirens or symphonic remains to be seen.

BRENNAN: So, we’re going to be the enemy now?!!

A: No. We’d be working for the government.

BRENNAN: Like Genomex did.

A: Instead of Genomex.

JESSE: Adam, it just doesn’t add up!

A: I think it’s all pretty straight forward.

SHALIMAR: Then someone must have stolen your brain overnight! How could we trust them?

JESSE: For all we know, they’d use us then lock us up.

BRENNAN: Yeah! These are the same stuffed suits that let Eckhart and his goons have free reign for years! We’re just lab rats to them and you know it!

EMMA: It really doesn’t make sense, Adam.

A: But it does. You just have to turn Shalimar’s question around. It’s not, “How can we trust them?” It’s, “How can they not trust us?” You see?

(Dead silence)

A: Eckhart failed. That means everyone who supported him failed as well. Those bureaucrats no longer have influence in the matter. You have to understand that the majority in office today had nothing to do with Dr. Breedlove’s New Mutant plan in the first place. They just inherited it. With one or two exceptions, those original power-mongers have all been ousted over the years.

EMMA: So, since Gabriel Ashlocke and the Strand bought down the walls, you’re saying Capitol Hill is scared?

A: Terrified. And because Mutant X was not directly involved in the takeover, we’re being looked on as a viable option to set things right. The past treatment of New Mutants is starting to be viewed as the worst case of paranoia since the McCarthy hearings. Our involvement can only reinforce this.

JESSE: The policy towards us changed overnight?

A: That’s the way it works in politics, Mr. Kilmartin. Just ask your grandfather.

EMMA: I’m sure it didn’t hurt that Ashlocke freed all the New Mutants Genomex had in stasis. Now we’re everywhere with no way to track us.

SHALIMAR: Washington’s decided to become our pals instead of getting slashed by us in a dark back alley.

A: I never said the reasons were noble, just opportune.

JESSE: Meaning we can either stay fugitives…or hunt them.

A: No, Jesse. You’re not hearing me. You would not be tracking your own. You’d be representing them. The way Mutant X operates would not change. In fact, the new support would free our methods considerably.

JESSE: What about New Mutants who don’t see it that way? What if they’re like Ashlocke and want to take over, not make peace?

SHALIMAR: Jesse, you know from personal experience that just because our DNA is spiked it doesn’t make us all heroes. We’ve always had to fight our own just as much as we did the GSA.

A: Does this mean I’ve got your vote, Shalimar?

SHALIMAR: Yeah. As long as you tell me who your ex-Ms. X in the government is.

A: I never kiss and tell.

SHALIMAR: Do I know her?

A: I’m not at liberty to say.

SHALIMAR: I’ll find out who she is. I always do.

A: Glad to have given you a hobby.

SHALIMAR: AARGH.

A: Jesse?

JESSE: I guess it comes down to who I trust…and I trust you, Adam. Like it or not, I’ve become an example as both a New Mutant and a Kilmartin. Neither one has a very good public image. Maybe by working within the law, I can change that.

EMMA: Count me in too. I thought I’d be empathing a ton of negative energy from this crazy idea, but it’s all clean. Besides, can you imagine the impact my new psi-bolts would have on a few of those bigoted senators?

A: I’m smiling and pretending that was a joke.

EMMA: Sigh.

A: That just leaves one voice unheard.

(All eyes turn to Brennan)

BRENNAN: I can’t be a Fed! It goes against everything I was raised with!

SHALIMAR: You were raised to be a hood!

BRENNAN: And a good one! Don’t think my shady past hasn’t helped us out! None of you knew how to deal with the real slimeballs until I came along! We start working for Uncle Sam and those days are over!

JESSE: Brennan, my family committed far worse crimes than your gangs ever did.

BRENNAN: White Collar doesn’t count.

EMMA: Hey, I did my share of grifting. If I can give this a try, so can you. Besides, like Adam said, it’s not like we’ll be in the front lines.

SHALIMAR: We’re the shadows when all else fails, right?

A: That’s the general scheme.

BRENNAN: And if it doesn’t work or is a set-up for a new Genomex?

A: You act like I’ve never double-crossed the system before. I’ve got failsafes, Brennan. More than one.

(Brennan bounces a tiny lightning between his fingers for a moment).

BRENNAN: So, get me measured for my black suit already! It better not be polyester.

A: United as one. The only way this could work. I’ll contact “Ms. X”.

SHALIMAR: About her. Is she young or your age?

A: She’s older by the minute.

SHALIMAR: Is she famous?

A: Fame is such a subjective concept.

SHALIMAR: Aw come on, Adam! Throw me a bone!

A: And give you a scent to trail? No way.

SHALIMAR: Emma?

EMMA: He’s too good. He’s blocking my “reception” with mental images of hundreds of women.

JESSE: Hundreds? I can’t even get a date these days!

A: I think we’re adjourned now.

SHALIMAR: This isn’t over, Adam.

A: Goodnight, Shalimar.

BRENNAN: Hey! Does being Special Forces agents mean we’ll be getting a decent dental plan?

:: End of Transcription ::