Challenge #00045:

The first press conference of newly elected state senator, Scott Summers, in which he tries to explain how someone who sees only red can govern those with full vision. Hard questions are asked by both reporters and Duncan Matthews, himself the newly elected leader of the FOH and sporting IRA styled terrorist backup.

“How can you claim to have a far-reaching vision when all you can see is red?”

Gah. Dumb question #3. Again. State Senator Scott Summers kept his face friendly and save his sighs for a rare private moment. “It’s precisely because of that limitation that I can see further. For instance, I’d like to see a time when you and your colleagues in the press stop asking that question.” Laughter from the assembled scribblers. “As you well know, the sight of the minds’ eye has no physical limits. I may only see red on the physical plane, but my imagination has no such boundaries. Next question.”

“Did you use your mutant powers to steal my girl?”

The press, as one person, turned to see the men who had crashed the press conference.

FOH, the opposite number. Occupy Wall Street had the Tea Party. Democrats had the Republicans. Scott had Duncan, and Mutant Freedom had the Friends of Humanity.

The speaker was both in one. Duncan “I didn’t do it” Matthews was, according to his insignia, a Major in the Friends of Humanity Militia. Some of whom he had bought with him.

Silent, hulking grunts, all of them. Almost resplendent in their uniforms and looking slightly evil with their little red armbands.

The press almost loomed in their seats. “Duncan… we’re both forty. You should at least try to get over that. Second, my only mutant power is that of a kinetic force beam. I can’t use that to steal anyone. Third, Jean, the woman who chose to generously share her life with mine, is also a mutant, a telepath, and a telekinetic and as such can turn your brain into mush if she wanted to.” He had to swallow hard to stop saying, And I don’t know if anyone could tell the difference anyway. “Clearly, she doesn’t want to. Fourth, and most important, Jean, like any other human being does not and can not belong to any other human being. She was never yours, Duncan. She was always, and still is always solely hers.” His voice had raised during his speech, so he took a breath during the resulting applause to settle his feathers. “If you, and the others like you think of people as property, then it’s no wonder that the memberships to the FOH are dying off. Next question.”

“Are you going to de-regulate mutant sweatshops?”

Oh brother… “Short answer, no. Long answer, mutant ‘sweatshops’ need regulation to prevent them from being actual sweatshops where businesses believe they can treat someone who can do more for less as garbage. Everyone, everywhere, has the right to fair pay based on their performance, comfortable working conditions, and care based on their needs. Mutant-run factories have benefitted America by producing more of the world’s needs in less time and at less cost than anywhere else. They produce jobs, not just for mutants. Many of these 'mutant sweatshops’ as you call them feature humans and mutants working together, earning the same wages, and in conditions better than the average office. So, no, I am definitely not in favour of de-regulation.”

“Is your wife manipulating you with her telepathy?”

Dumb question #1. Jesus Christ… “What answer would you believe?”

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