The X-Project

I've just received a call from one of our students, Julian Keller, who informed me that he and several of his classmates had been arrested after an incident at a coffee shop in town. Robert and I are already heading into town to see if we can get them released, so no cause for alarm. Mister Keller assured me that they were not at fault in the incident. I'll call if there are any updates, but for now, must run.
-Hank

Dear Staff and Faculty,

I’ve been asked to notify you of an unfortunate incident involving one of our students. To cut to the quick of things, Fredrick Dukes is currently in stable condition, though comatose, in MedLab- physically in good health, but mentally unresponsive.

Apparently there was an accident during a training session that led to the rapid expansion of Mister Dukes’ mass. As I said, we have stabilized him and we will be allowing some visitors today. We will be transferring Fred to Muir Island with as much haste as can be mustered once I feel he’s well enough to travel.

Mister Dukes’ roommate, Julian Keller, has been notified and asked to make the announcement to the student body at large after telling Fred’s significant other, Calliope Betto, himself.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns about this situation. If you need me, I will be in the MedLab attending to my patients.

With warmest regards considering the circumstances,
-Dr. Henry McCoy, Ph.D.

I have been trying to come up with an eloquent, well-reasoned post which makes my points in an articulate and inarguable fashion.

It's now very late and I haven't managed, so here goes.

I am, to put it mildly, very concerned about the near-total lack of response to Manuel's threats against the student body as a group, and those currently in distress in particular. One of our students threatened the others, openly and, so far as I could tell, seriously. We, the staff, did not intervene, nor did we inform him that his behaviour was unacceptable. Scott's offer to take him into the city was certainly a good idea, but I'm concerned that he may have construed it as a form of tacit approval for his insistence that others resolve his problems for him, absolving him of responsibility for his own difficulties.

On a larger scale, I have for some time been noticing a distinct trend among the students towards... not independence, which is in itself a good thing, but towards overconfidence. A lack of discipline, and of respect for the staff. While I am glad that they feel able to assert themselves, this particular means of doing so will not help them in the outside world, save to speedy disciplinary action by an assortment of unforgiving authority figures.

In short... I think we should tighten the reins a little. Remind them that while the school is a haven, it is not a refuge from the necessity to behave like civilized beings, human or otherwise. Thoughts, anyone?

It may be better coming from someone else, but someone must address the issue of Manuel's behaviour, and I will do so if no-one else is so inclined.

Betsy (although I don't think it's Betsy right now, but that's beside the point) has slipped her restraints and checked herself out. Apparently what would be a proper dosage of sedative for her is no longer quite the proper dosage. But that is rather beside the point. In brief, She's loose, and she's not herself, and I believe that she is, in fact, dangerous. Or rather, whoever (whatever?) has laid hands on the reins is. It's complicated, but I recommend we retrieve her, STAT. And we can expect she won't go quietly, so extreme caution should be taken. In fact, for the duration, consider her, I'm sad to say, a dangerous mutant. I'm going to be down here in medlab trying to make enough sense of the test results to have some sort of plan by the time we get her back here, though I suspect this may be beyond something so simple as medicine.

It is, however, only a moment; Lorna still requires constant attention. Scott, Alison, if I might impose on one or both of you to inform the students to whatever degree you feel is best, and field their questions? I won't be able to monitor the journal system tonight.

Alex is physically unharmed, but has collapsed from a combination of shock and overextension of his mutant ability; I have him on a nutrient drip and feel confident that when he has rested sufficiently, he will wake, none the worse for wear with regard to his physical health, if not his emotional well-being.

Lorna suffered third degree burns over much of her back and right side. There's more--bruises and cuts, I suspect she hurled herself out of the way of the blast and struck a tree--but the burns are, comparatively, the only injury of consequence.

Unfortunately, they are of grave consequence indeed. I've debrided the charred tissue, cleaned the wounds, and performed skin grafts on the worst of the damage; she is young and strong and, I am happy to say, no longer in danger of death. However, her recovery will be long and painful, and it will take a very talented plastic surgeon to rid her of the scarring, once she has completely healed and if she so wishes. I have her on a Ringer's drip to combat dehydration, with an anesthetic for the bruises, skin graft donor sites and, if we are very lucky and her nerve endings in the burned area were not completely destroyed, the burns as well.

I have no meaningful estimate regarding how long she will remain unconscious, but I will monitor her until exhaustion compels me to seek the relative comfort of my couch; if she should take a turn for the worse after I have retired, the alarms will wake me immediately.

Alison, if you take a few standard precautions against the risk of infection, I believe Lorna is stable enough for a short visit. I wish we had happier news with which to mark your homecoming.

Now accepting suggestions and advice regarding what to wear to this evening's little talk show taping tête-à-tête. Do we like the blue with red stripes, or the red with blue stripes? Decisions, decisions.

In all seriousness, though, if anyone has any last-minute points to make sure I mention, now would be a good time to throw them in my general direction. Or lob them, rather, gently. Same goes for anything to pass on to Emma and Betsy, as I too have heard the rumour that they might be showing their lovely, lovely faces at Shaw's party following. Good times for all! ...Though this means I'll have to pack a tuxedo. Bother.

It's a good thing I don't get nervous when they turn on the cameras. My palms would sweat, and then where would we be?