6 What is Life?

It turns out my dad has way better connections than I expected. My mom took us to his study, where he is holding some papers that have a lot of numbers and data that I can't make out from how I'm being held. I can see that at the top of the papers is Metro-General Hospital, the hospital I was born at yesterday.

"Oh, Sarah, honey, good morning," my dad says, exuding a comfortable presence. My mom happily walks over and gives him a kiss on the cheek, then covers her mouth to yawn.

"What have you got there, Addy, darling?" Picking out one of the papers in his hand and taking a look at it. "Oh, is this our little Arty's test from the hospital? Let me take a looksie here, hmmmm." After waiting a couple of minutes with my mom and dad, they switched test results between them and looked up at each other with confusion.

"Our son's tests are completely normal, other than a high amount of white blood cells."

"Yes, Darling, you are right, but if he is completely normal, what tipped that nurse off?"

"Actually, honey, I might have the answer for that. It turns out there were two agents, one a sort of supervisor for the other. I got some security footage from when they took our baby to be tested." I gasped in my mind.

'My dad has way too many connections for any of this. What in the world does he do, and why is he able to get such information within a night?!' Getting a nod from my mom, he gets his computer unlocked and opens the footage from when I was getting blood drawn. As they are searching, I start to ponder.

'Okay, my parents are abnormal compared to the rest of the world. I can accept this, but what do I know about them so far? One My mom's name is Sarah, and she is a head researcher at Rand Corp. Two, my dad's name is Addison. He is very well connected and can get information and jobs done very quickly. Third, they are familiar with mutants and what they are and can do, considering my mom is one. The fourth and most important is that they can get security tapes from a hospital. Five threaten a shield agent into giving information about what they are doing, along with finding that there are more of them undercover. WHAT THE FUCK TARRANT!! Who's kid did you make me?!'

Once I gathered all the information I had at the moment, Not going to lie, I freaked out. So much so that my mom had to leave the room because of my screams, so my father could look through the footage while I calmed down. After what could only be called a tantrum, I promptly fell asleep.

~ Sarah POV ~

'Sheesh, does this kid have a set of lungs on him!' I have never seen a newborn baby that distraught to actually tire himself out just by screaming like that.

After getting me down, I went back to my Addy and asked him what he had found. I knew our baby was normal, but why did that spy think otherwise?

"So, darling, did you find anything?" I lean on his back while he studies the monitor.

"Yes, I did. I think the baby is able to heal faster, and that is what tripped off the agents. The curious thing is that his X-Gene isn't activated. I think you pasted on your mutation as a little bonus for him without activating it, which would explain all the white blood cells." Nodding my head at that, I continue to think about his test results.

"That would explain it. Also, is this the only copy of the footage, along with the tests that were taken?" Addy nods his head and answers

"Yes, I had someone in the Maggia manage that you know they always want to show their usefulness when they can." I got a bit upset at the mention of that group never really liked what they did or how they operated. Addison then looked at me while chuckling, "Hey, at least I didn't use my club membership to fix this. Otherwise, I would have owed a favor to that slimeball Shaw." Still pouting, I get up off him and take a seat at the desk to think of how this will affect us. I look down in contemplation.

"If he had been a mutant like me, then this could be easier by telling him when he was older, but since he isn't, we can't. He has the X-Gene if he awakens as a mutant great, but until then, we keep silent." I proposed to my husband. Hearing a sigh from the hubby I look over to see him look ten years older. 'I feel the exact same, sweetie, I think silently in my mind. 

"I guess that is all we can do." He slumps back in his chair. "Wait and see, huh? The least we can do is prepare ourselves and him when he is ready or asks." Looking at his tired form, even though it is still early in the morning.

"Hey, since the little one is asleep, I bet we can..." I start whispering in his ear for fun. I see the hair on his neck stand up.

"Okay, we can do that," he says, a little breathless. I giggle and lead him away from the desks. While he has a goofy smile on his dumb face, but I love that dumb face of his.

~ Two weeks later ~

After my little freakout and subsequent nap, I decided I would keep a calmer state of mind when accepting my parents doing something I didn't expect them to do. Like today, they are cleaning up the house a lot, almost like to greet someone, which I'm sure is what is happening. 

Just as my mom finished sweeping the floor, the doorbell rang. With a little pep in her step, she goes to answer the door while I'm in her arms, face up. When the door is open and she greets the man, he walks in, or rather rolls into, the house. That's right, the strongest current telepath is in front of me and my new family. "Professor, thank you for coming to come and see us." My mom says cheerfully while my dad finishes whatever he was cleaning. He looks a little upset at seeing the professor. He gruffly grunted out.

"Where are your bodyguards and boy band?" Both the professor and mom look at him, but my mom looks really angry while he looks a bit embarrassed and sad.

"Mr. Adler, I know how we met the first time does not propagate positive feelings, but we had a really good reason to do what we did." My dad, unfazed by his fake grandfatherly voice or face, looks at him with murder in his eyes.

"You destroyed a multi-million-dollar project that was going to help people like my wife be able to walk around without hiding who they are. Now the government acts like it never happened, but I hold you personally responsible for how mutants are treated and viewed. Not only because of what you did, but also because of your pacifist policy and compliance with your oppressors, while a terrorist represents your entire population." He pauses for a second, looking away and taking a breath. "But we aren't here to talk about that; we are here to talk about my son." The old man looks at me with a smile, probably happy to get off the topic of how they met and his beliefs.

"Yes, I won't argue with you about what happened, but let's talk about your son." Only getting a nod, he continued. "What is it that you wanted to talk about your son?" My mom answered.

"We just needed you to make sure if he was a mutant or not. We already checked him, and his X-Gene is not activated, but he seems to have my mutation even without it." At this, I got nervous.

"Oh, is that all?" He sounds disappointed at such a request. "Well, you should know I need a special device to detect powerful mutants; it is not portable and is in my school."

"Oh, so that's how you do it. I thought that was one of the perks of telepathy."

No worries, my dear, but looking at your son, I don't think he is a mutant, but may I see his tests?" My dad stands with a pointed stare.

"Sure, I will go get them; keep doing what you are doing, and try not to do something you will regret." He looks at my mother. I felt there was more to that sentence as he walked out. I'm still in my mom's arms, not making any noise.

"Well, now that he is gone for a bit, how are you doing, Sarah?" I did not see him asking that question. I started to stare at him, thinking about his motive for that question, because everything I know about Charles Xavier and while he tries to do good he ends up doing, is messing things up badly.

"I'm doing well, professor; I know I haven't had much contact with the school or the people there, but I still look back at the short time I spent there." Charles just smiles at this happy woman; she found a way to live normally.

"Alright, here is the test for Arthur." My father comes in briskly while handing the papers to the professor. With a nod, he starts to read, and a couple minutes later, he understands.

"Well, you are right. He isn't a mutant, but he isn't all normal; his white blood cells are numerous, as you might have seen. I think that is his body's way of adapting while he was developing in the womb."

I knew that wasn't true, but if it helps them understand, sure, I'll let them keep that misunderstanding." Also, I think it should be mentioned that his body might awaken by the time he turns five or even younger, but definitely before puberty."

My parents get a look on their faces, which means they are thinking hard. After a couple moments of self-deliberation they look at each other, communicating silently through their eyes.

"Well, up until that point, we will just have to teach him and give him all the love and care we can afford to give and more." My mom starts saying, while my dad just nods after she finishes. Charles nods and opens his mouth to speak, but before he can, my dad speaks first.

"And when he does awaken, we will be teaching him. He will not be going to your boy band camp." Only letting out a sigh, the professor looks sadly at my dad, like he is disappointed in him. The only thing my dad does is scoff in his face.

"Very well, it is your choice, but know that my doors are always open to all of you, and with that, I think it is time for me to leave." My mom stands, and she walks me and him to the door. She waves him goodbye as he gets into his car, with his driver waiting for him.

'All in all, very informative, even for me. It's nice to know I have the X-Gene and will get free power before middle school. Not that I will have any shortage of power by then, hopefully.