X-Men 2 A Novelization

Chapter One Mutants. Since the discovery of their existence, they have been regarded with fear, suspicion, and often hatred. Across the planet, debate rages: Are mutants the next link in the evolutionary chain . . . . . . or simply a new species of humanity fightingfor their share of the world? Either way, one fact has been historically proven: Sharing the world has never been humanity's defining attribute . . . Charles Xavier " 'We are not enemies, but friends,' " the tour guide said as she led the group through the East Wing entrance of the White House. " 'We must not be enemies,' " she continued, pausing to let them gather inside the foyer beneath one of the presidential portraits that lined the wall. " 'Though passion may have strained, it must not break the bonds of our affection.' Abraham Lincoln." Alicia Vargas had made this speech hundreds of times, yet she had a knack of making it sound as though she'd just thought it up. She was a short young woman who looked barely out of college, with big, wide-spaced eyes, an open face, a ready smile. That way, you'd miss the fact that those lustrous eyes never stopped moving from person to person among the group she was shepherding along, or that the drape of her blazer masked the Sig-Sauer pistol resting in its snap-draw holster at the small of her back. Alicia Vargas was Secret Service, just like the tall, broad-shouldered, stone-faced men in business suits who stood at intervals along the walls. At the reception desk and at the doorways leading to the interior of the White House were their equally imposing uniformed counter-parts in the Executive Protection Service. When the decision was made to continue public tours, in spite of the ever-present threat of global terrorism, the Secret Service had insisted that its people take over the job of guides. They understood the political and public relations realities of the office, but their job was to protect the man who held that office, and from that perspective, they argued, you could never be too careful. Offering up another smile, Alicia indicated the portrait that hung behind her, the sixteenth in the line of chief executives that began with George Washington and culminated today in George McKenna. "President Lincoln said that in his first inaugural address. It's one of my favorites. I like to think, especially with all that's happening in the world, that those words are more important than ever." With an apologetic gesture, intended to put the tourists at ease, she led them toward the security desk. "I just want to repeat what you were told at the Main Gate. Obviously, with the President in residence today, we want to be especially careful. One at a time, please approach the desk, present a photo id, place your bags and purses on the conveyor belt, and pass through the metal detector. Your possessions and all cameras will be returned to you when you leave. I know that sounds harsh, but I hope you understand." One man in the back caught her eye. He was wearing a Red Sox baseball hat, pulled low. He wasn't doing anything wrong; far from it. His body language was totally relaxed and easy. Maybe that was it. Most people visiting the White House came through the door excited, upbeat, impatient, and impressed. Then, seeing the airport-style X-ray console and the metal detector, even the best of them got nervous, wondering if they'd inadvertently brought something that would sound an alarm and get them into trouble. Red Sox didn't seem to have a care in the world. Quickly, as she ushered the first woman in line through the cage, Alicia recalled the scene at the PenClaremont, Chris is the author of 'X-Men 2 A Novelization', published 2003 under ISBN 9780345461964 and ISBN 0345461967.