Sometimes things ain't what they seem, other times it's exactly what it is. In the case of the Murlock base it's a little bit of both. They built an entire community in these tunnels. I look around and see companionship, but I also see a little bit of despair. I see mostly rodents, cats, and dogs on spits being roasted. I see the reluctance in their faces, but also the relief that there is food. This place may be a safe haven, but these people are just surviving. I wouldn't really call this living.
I also meet some of the people and it surprises me. It shouldn't have because people like Nightcrawler without the X-men would have no place to go. That's not all though, sole of them could pass as regular humans outside which makes me question what they were doing here.
Eventually we made our way to a rather spacious area. Aside from the goup earlier several others joined in there were a few I recognized and several I don't of most particular note Proteus was here. Hard to ignore the psionic bodied mutant and other member of the five here.
We settled ourselves inz and they passed around some sort of meat to munch on. Although I never got to bave dinner I definitely did not want to try and figure out what kind of meat they served.
"Okay let's hear your pitch. I have to say although I was impressed that you built a safe community here, the living conditions looked a bit lacking."
At that there seemed to be quite the pregnant pause until Callista responds, "we were actually thunk what you could offer the group. We're actually overloaded, too many mouths too feed and risking our existence being found by the public the more we grow. That being said we you saw our community, and to keep it safe our trips to the surface are only by neccesity. Mostly raiding grocery stores for food or finding newly awakened mutants. And also we haven't been properly introduced my name is Callisto leader of the Murlocks. We take inspiration from H.G. Wells."
"Name's Josh, as far as what I bring to the table? Well I don't really see myself fitting in here so I'll keep it to myself. I mean no offense, but it sounds like prison with hard time. If I may make a suggestion though why not buy land? Get some place away from civilization maybe devise some sort of barrier through tech or powers. It would be a marked improvement you'd have a place to farm and hunt better game. If you had a technopath you could earn money easy manipulating the stock market. Or you vould even just carve out a piece of wilderness and just make dure nobody ever goes near."
"We hide ourselves because of our looks, the surface would never accept us. Some here have fled for their lives, or have powers they have a hard time controlling. We have no money to buy land, and no means to safely keep it hidden. The only way would be to kill anyone who goes near, but that would eventually attract unwanted attention."
"Huh no technopathy to make a shield with cloaking properties? No one with illusion, camouflage, or likewise power? What's your long term game plan? You can't possibly stay here forever with no means of producing anything. No offense, but right now you guys just sound like super powered thieves or scavengers. I know you can't grow crops down here, but have you considered growing mushrooms? For meat you could cultivate bugs, meal worms in general are easy to raise and have a neautral flavor that naturally takes in whatever aromatics you cook it in. Sounds bad I know, but it's eaten in many struggling countries and right now you're basically a sovreign nation with no income or product. You could even make cheese here if you can get milk for cheap. If you can make something I'm sure my friends and I could sell it above ground and buy you guys anything you'd need with the money. You may hate or disdain everyone above ground, but until your nation can actually live and not just survive you are entirely dependent on them. If you really think long term though you need to move somewhere you can grow. My suggestion? Find an uninhabited island, you have Blink, she can move your entire nation. I suggest maybe start exploring Islands in Oceana. If the Merlocks can get something together like this I would love to help."
Everyone was staring at me as I ranted. Sometimes I get caught up in the moment and I just can't help it. I see their desparation and they'd never let me leave if they knew what I could do.
"That's a lot to take in, we'll need some time to think things through," said Callisto.
I was not expecting that, she's definitely not the irrational hate filled comic version. She actually seems to think of her people. I knew she was different when she let my friends come with, but this is very surprising indeed.
"We should head home, our families must be worried. I just hope those two giants are done fighting," said D.
Shit! Totally forgot I need to contact James and my parents! "Yeah we should go, but before that we need a way to contact each other. I assume none of you have a phone?"
With that cue Rico gives Blink a phone.
"Really? You're still selling those burners to the questionsble people at school?"
"Relax, I took your advice. Now I buy them in cash. Besides now I've got the number of a very beautiful lady." On queue Lorena smacks him upside the head.
"Well that works out, you'll have to get to a spot that gets a signal though. How about we exchange texts at 9:30pm? Oh, and I'm sure I'll have issues with my parents.... I'll need a new phone let me buy a Nokia off of you."
"What buy? Just take," Rico says as he hands me the legendary indestructable phone.
We wrap things up with the Murlocks and surprisingle Blink agrees to help transport us home after helping me get to my parents with my friends. That was a messy affair I'd rather forget. That's how I found myself infront of James's place with all my belongings. His parents were welcoming and called mine bigots, James really lucked out with them. We parted ways with the group, with a smiling Rico holding an embarrassed Blink close. I got settled in thinking of what's to come and finally getting to dive into my memories that was hazy until earlier today.