There was one commonality among mutants: adopting new names. Some literally adopted new names to protect themselves from authority, others took it to a more severe level. They adopted nicknames based on their abilities, sometimes even referring to their birth names as "slave names." Ray Crisp wasn't that kind of person. But on the rare occasions when he rose to the top for cash, he used the surname Carter. Sarah tried calling him Berzerker (insisting on the spelling with a z), but he wasn't one of those mutants.
"Why did you bring him here?" he asked Caliban.
"He helped save Sunder , Caliban knows he's not like the others."
Ray nodded, completely understanding, as he watched the newcomers head toward the Healer's area. When one mentioned the Healer's name, Scott expected to see an old man in robes and a beard. He was in his sixties, but seemed to be in decent shape; he often wore sleeveless undershirts under old plaid shirts. He had a beard, but not so long that he couldn't do his job. And it looked like he'd done his job: there was plaster on the area where Maria had been shot. She rested on a cot while the Healer tended to a girl with enlarged hands. He placed his hand over a wound on her; his skin turned golden for an instant as the wound closed and finally faded.
"A projection mutation," Scott said, catching the man's attention.
"Close," the man said, using a towel to wipe away the blood.
He took a candy from a bowl and gave it to the girl, smiling as she walked out.
"It's actually a mental mutation that gives me complete control over my own biology and that of others; I can accelerate the repair process. However, in Ms. Tolansky 's case , I had to stop the decay process, which is difficult to achieve," he explained.
"Maria is grateful and will no longer be called Tolansky ," the woman said, causing the healer to smile again.
"In that case, I won't use that name either," Todd said determinedly. "Mom, what was my real father's name?"
A warm smile spread across Maria's face. There was a look in her eyes, as if she were remembering better, happier days. Her eyes even filled with tears as she looked at Todd.
"Toynbee, his name was Mortimer Toynbee," he said.
Scott looked away, letting Todd hug his mother. He focused on Healer , who motioned for Scott to follow him. They walked past the curtains, passing several tunnels where mutants were sleeping or talking. No one was expecting anything; Scott could see that they were actually living down there and not just hiding.
"What is this place?" he had to ask to be sure.
Home to some, sanctuary to others, for those marginalized since the 1960s. Annalee was the first; she could easily hide her projection mutation, but not what clothes she preferred to wear. People assumed she was gay, she received death threats, and that was before they found out she was a mutant. That shows how far things have come, doesn't it? Healer asked .
"Things are better up there, but still pretty bad," Scott admitted.
"The fact that you can admit that speaks volumes for your character, sir..."
"Cyclops, that will do for now!"
"Your uniform tells me you're part of something, and the name I can identify is a shield, just like your mask. I don't blame you for your distrust; after all, anonymity is our greatest defense," Scott hid his reaction well to his master's repetition of his words.
But he couldn't help but feel annoyed by the repetition of words, and the tone and context almost identical to the Professor's. Healer smiled and greeted some mutants, wishing them a good day, and even threw a ball back to some children playing.
"Todd said this place was home to outcasts. From what I understand, you've got pretty good control of your mutation. Why are you an outcast?" Scott asked.
"Besides mutant, there's no real label you can use. Oh, wait, straight is still a label," he muttered, before turning to Scott, his gaze more serious than before. "I'm a man who can heal with touch, but I'm also a man who can kill with it. Even before the MRD was officially formed, there were people who would have used me. Here, they sometimes see me as a leader, but up there, even in this age of technology and higher education, there are still people who would see me as some kind of messianic figure," he explained.
"Or a demon," Scott added, and the man nodded.
"I want to do good, but on my own terms. What this place needs is a healthcare system that isn't selective or biased," he said.
Scott understood and decided what to do. Or at least what to do if Todd made the decision it seemed he was going to. There was still something else he needed to confirm: how these mutants would react to Maria staying . However, the commotion coming from Healer 's clinic gave Scott the answers he needed. He rushed to Healer , parting the curtains and watching as Maria suddenly fell to the floor. A pink-haired girl was holding a knife to her throat. Only it wasn't actually a knife, but a sharpened piece of bone. Looking at the girl, Scott could see her obvious physical mutation. Bony plates extended from the right area of her jaw; plates covered her forehead. She wore a green sleeveless shirt and cargo shorts, showing the bony plates on her knees. Bone spikes protruded from her back and arms.