Fashionably dressed as usual, manufacturing tycoon Pompei Yuen delicately ascended a short set of stairs. She reached to top, now on a stage, and moved forward to the center where a podium lay in wait for her. She stopped upon reaching the podium, and cast her gaze out on the large crowd before her.

Times Square, the location of her latest mutant rights rally. That she could put together a rally in this location was only a testament to her might, her power in the business world. The rally was organized, by her, for the purpose of speaking her mind on the mutant rights issue. To her, though, it dealt more with humanity than just equality. On a lesser note, she did want to squash rumors by the media that she might be planning to campaign for Governor of New York.

The rally had been lengthy, but it was already at its end, the evening light beginning to wane. She had made a few speeches already, as had her guests. The bands she had booked had all played, and the entertainment was all but over. All she had left to do was make her closing speech, and the rally would end without incident. Without being tainted by hate.

So now, the Hong Kong native stared out into the crowd, and glanced at her notes. She looked up with a solemn expression on her face, read to address the crowd.

"I'm sorry but I don't want to be a Governor - that's not my business - I don't want to enforce laws or rule over anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, human, mutant, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that.

We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful."

Pompei paused delicately.

"But we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls - has barricaded the world with hate; has thrown us into misery and bloodshed.

We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all."

She raised her right arm, gesturing to a news cameraman near the edge of the stage she stood on.

"Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say 'Do not despair'.

The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and terrorists die and the hope they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die liberty will never perish...

People - don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you - who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder.

Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate - only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers - don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty.

In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written 'the kingdom of God is within man' - not one man, nor a group of men - but in all men - in you, the people.

You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power - let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security.

By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfill their promise, they never will. Politicians free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfill that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.

People - in the name of humanity, let us all unite!"

Her final words, and the speech as a whole, were met with thunderous applause. Pompei left the podium, offering smiles and gentle handshakes to a few of her supporters as she made her way off the stage and down the short staircase, where she was greeted by some of her business partners and supporters.

Reporters stormed forth, but were more or less held back by security. Questions were thrown her way, but she did not reply. She had already said earlier on in the rally that she would answer any questions in a press conference the following morning.

For now, she would mingle a bit with the people (of which there were hundreds), most of them being supporters. Following this, she would head for home. It had been a long day, and the rally had taken its toll on her. She was tired, though, nothing more.

There wasn’t much for a young boy in New York City to do. Walking around Times Square or hanging out at the park seemed like the best way for him to spend his days time whenever he wanted to get away from the mansion. The people were nice but everyone every once in a while needs a break from the same people they see day in and day out. It was pure happenstance that he was walking through the area when he heard a large commotion of what was going on. Being that he was feeling curious he walked over and into the giant crowd of people. What is going on here? This woman is talking about some weird stuff. Maybe I should get closer to find out.

As he made his way through the throng of people, which wasn’t very easy since there were so many, he was able to get closer to hear better what she was talking about. What he’d heard so far sounded interesting. Ted seemed to agree with what he heard and what he understood, however, some of the things she was saying were a little to advanced for him.

Greed has poisoned men's souls - has barricaded the world with hate; has thrown us into misery and bloodshed.

We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The woman was throwing similes and metaphors out the wazoo. We have speed but we’ve shut ourselves in? What? This woman’s talking crazy talk. Why are people listening to her? It was almost too much for him to understand. If he repeated it to himself a few times and mulled over her words he understood her. This woman spoke truth. He was getting pumped up listening to her. Her words inspired action, and Ted, although he wasn’t much of one to act rashly, was thinking that this woman actually knew what the heck she was talking about. At first it was Martin Luther King getting people to accept people of different colors, and now this powerful Asian woman speaking of equality among mutants. It was amazing that she displayed such courage in the face of many that might try to stop her from speaking such words.

Her words were blatant calls to action and the throng seemed to lap up her words like a cat to milk. Even Ted himself couldn't help but get caught up in the grandeur of her speech. As an impressionable teenager he felt that he could take strength that as he got older more people would see things her way. But her words heartened him and encouraged him to not let the current time they live in to get him down and fear humans because of what they might do to mutants. Her mannerisms were something that she seemed to adore. At the conclusion of her speech people tried to flock to her. The guards were the ones that kept people from getting to close. Pressure… immense pressure from others, much bigger and heavier than him pushed him forward and closer to her. As much as he didn’t want to get closer to her security guards he wanted to be able to talk to her about her speech. Maybe she could give a speech at the mansion. Or maybe she would be able to give more speeches, that way he could listen to her more and then discuss the possibilities that she was proposing and how she planned on making them a reality.

There was little in life that was more important to Meld than the mutant cause and the quest for mutant rights. It was that quest that had brought Meld to Times Square, having heard that there was to be a speech promoting that very thing. A welcome change, as far as she was concerned, from the anti-mutant speeches that seemed to be so much more prominent. She herself, only a few months ago, had violently halted on such speech, causing the unfortunate and untimely death of the man involved. Good times, those had been. She didn't expect to have to commit any such acts of justice this day, however.

Meld found herself a place in the crowd, near the front, in order to hear clearly what was to be said. It wasn't exactly difficult for her to make her way through the crowd, people having a tendency to simply move out of the way for her approach. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that she was a mutant cyborg bristling with blades and resonating of danger. Such things certainly had their uses and not only in the field of battle, though that was their primary function.

The speech itself was delivered with a rare flare, the speaker obviously possessing a great deal of self confince and charisma. She could feel the impact that it had upon those in the crowd, could feel those that had, perhaps, wavered in the past starting to come around. She smiled to herself, pleased. Now this was exactly what the mutant cause needed: a charismatic speaker that could connect with people on a wide scale. Her kind, the enforcers and killers were needed and she filled such a role well, but this woman did things that Meld knew she would never be capable of doing. This woman made herself heard to the masses and, much more importantly, made the masses listen.

After the speech, when the woman departed the stage, Meld made her way through the crowd, intent upon meeting this charismatic mutant wonder. The crowd parted before her and in her wake were more than a few looks of apprehension and even fear. Not that she took any action towards the crowd, but one couldn 't entirely hide one's nature and certainly more than a few recognized her from her various violent and bloody images on the news. She was, alas, known to be a killer and a dangerous mutant.

Pompei smiled, singling out one boy from the crowd to give her attention to. She moved over to the security guards, between Ted and herself, about to lean in to ask him if he had anything to tell her or ask her about. Before she could speak, however, an unknown and visibly dangerous young woman was revealed to her by the crowd parting. As she drew close, Pompei took a step to the side to get closer to her and greet her before the security guards took the initiative and tried to stop the woman.

Pompei extended her arm, presenting her hand for Meld to shake.

"Well, hello there."

As dangerous and deadly as Meld might be, as much of a threat she could pose to anyone she met, Pompei was equally strong-willed and unafraid. It had nothing to do with arrogance or a belief that this person could not or would not harm her. It had nothing to do with the fact that secretly, Pompei could come back from the dead and thus had no reason to fear death or any injury.

It was simply... respect.

Respect for the aura of danger and fear that this woman seemed to command. Like Pompei, who radiated responsibility and power. Without ever having met her in person, people near Meld might think 'this person is dangerous,' and similarly for Pompei 'this person can change things.' The pair had the gift of presence, something no mutant could have as a power.

Pompei had seen that immediately, as she spotted Meld moving through the crowd. If and when Meld shook her hand, or even if she shrugged off the greeting, Pompei would beckon for her to follow and move to her waiting Hummer H2 Limo, where the crowd would not be able to follow.

Mid-way through walking to the vehicle, Pompei turned to look at the boy she had seen first. She put her hand up and with a finger, motioned for him to follow. The security guards would move just enough to let him through, and no one else. The boy could hang back a bit in the makeshift aisle created by the security guards, while Meld and Pompei spoke.

Ted watched the lady as she ended her speech and began her walk through the crowd. She was certainly a brave person to be speaking like that and walking through the crowd afterwards. However, it seemed like all that were there were all for her and that none of those that he could see would be against her. Teddy liked that lady and he thought that she was going to address him. Unfortunately her attention was taken away from him and placed somewhere else. He turned his attention to it because he was curious to see what had stopped the lady from talking to him, and because he wanted to see what seemed to make the entire crowd want to recoil at her. The woman who was obviously a mutant seemed to want be infamous among the older people of the crowd. Ted didn’t watch the news very often so he didn’t know anything about this person.

The nice woman hadn’t forgotten about Ted when she encountered the robotic looking woman. She waived him over and Ted quickly came after her like a puppy following its owner. Her security guards moved just enough to allow Teddy to get through the crowd and to the woman. Others tried to get through but the security guards were just too good and weren’t letting anyone else in. It seemed that although she hadn’t forgotten him she thought he should hang back for a minute while they talked. The young mutant did so and let the two older women talk about whatever it was that they needed to discuss. He would be told when they were done and he could talk to her.

Meld accepted the offered hand and shook it, keeping her handshake firm while ensuring that she didn't accidentally impale the woman with her claws. That wouldn't have been a good way to start such a meeting. Pompei's hand was firm in return and she met Meld's gaze, unafraid and unintimidated. That was a very good thing. So few people could truly meet her gaze, so few were able to look past her deadly mutations. Despite herself, Meld's impression of the woman raised even further than it all ready was. She was someone worthy of respect and worthy of being a leader of the mutant cause, no doubt about it. She, by her speach this day, had all ready proven that she had what it took to play her role to perfection. The question was, and hopefully it would soon be answered, whether or not she was willing to allow Meld, and those like her, to play their roles as well. Both the violent and the non-violent were necessariy, in proper amounts and in their proper time, for their eventual victory.

Gladly Meld followed the woman, as she beckoned her security guards to allow her through. Curious that they should adhere to her judgement despite the danger Meld had been known to pose. Curious and, once again, worthy of respect. The fact that her guards obeyed her, without question, spoke about the sort of person that Pompei was and the silent words spoken were posative words indeed.

A second individual was also beckoned to follow, a young boy who Meld was pretty sure she had seen in the Mansion though she'd never talked to him before. She smiled down at him in what she hoped was an unthreatening manner. She wasn't very good at being unthreatening.

Pompei lifted her index finger to the boy, asking him to wait a moment.

He was being patient and she was grateful for that. She couldn't talk to everyone that had shown up, but there were a few who had stood out to her. He was one of them, and if he could wait just a bit, she would like to see what the young boy wanted. It was not often she had an opportunity to speak with the youth of America on such a tender subject as mutant rights. Though, there was no guarantee that was what he wanted to talk to her about.

"Did you want to speak with me, miss..?"

Had it not been for the fact that her name and face were plastered all over the rally on posters and banners, Pompei would have more politely introduced herself rather than get right to the point. She had said a 'hello,' however, and that would be enough. It was prudent to get right to the conversation.

She did, however, offer a kind smile to the woman.

The chauffeur, standing at the driver side door, moved to the back passenger door of the limousine and opened it for her. She didn't get in, but eased her rear onto the edge of the seat, lets outside the door and feet still on the ground. Casually sitting for a chat, as it was.

It had been a very long day for the business tycoon turned mutant rights spokesperson, and she had been on her feet for most, if not all, of the events that had taken place. As such, she gingerly removed her high heels and dumped each one onto the seat beside her in the limo.

The way Pompei sat, and the fact that she was just barely in her limo, was actually a calculated gesture toward her potential new acquaintance. As if to subtly suggest to her that if she needed to speak with Pompei in true privacy, she could just say so and Pompei would allow her into the limo to talk privately.

The young mutant waited patiently for the two older women to speak. While he waited he supposed that he should think of something to ask her. After all, he wasn’t expecting to catch the attention of such an important and powerful person. What would someone like me ask someone like her? Ted thought as he waited between the crowd and the guards. Maybe it would be easier for him to think of something someone else might ask her.

What about…Does she really think that just her speeches were making a difference? Or how about…How did she get people that seem so opposed to each other’s views to listen to what she was saying without getting herself killed? Ya those were good questions. That’ll definitely make her think that he’s more than just a kid who happened to be passing by and saw a giant crowd listening to something one person was saying.

For a second he thought that the woman had forgotten about him and that she was about to leave without even talking to him. The fact that she didn’t continue getting into her limo told him that she wasn’t about to leave without talking to him. ted continued to wait patiently until he was signaled by her that she was ready to talk to him.

"Did you want to speak with me, miss..?"

"I wanted to thank you for what you are doing, here and now, for the mutant cause." Meld wondered, absently, if the woman knew of her reputation or any of the things she had done. She hadn't exactly made a secret of her anti-human actions. Although the last major event she had been a part of was some months ago, her fae had, nevertheless, been plastered across many a news cast. That's what one gained for being a known mass murderer and suspected mutant terrorist and, for the most part anyway, she was proud of her actions. Violent and bloody thought they may be, they were making a difference. She was careful about her deaths, after all, only killing those who would be more beneficial to the cause dead than they would alive.

Meld caught the gesture that Pompei made, offering with some subtlety, to allow her inside of her limo and decided to take her up on the offer. Some things, after all, were better discussed in privacy. While Pompei's actions might be legally acceptable, Meld's often were far from it. She stepped carefully into the vehicle, ready to stop just in case she had misread the invitation.

Turning, Meld smiled at the young mutant still waiting for Pompei's attention. Perhaps what they were going to discuss might not be appropriate for such a young mind but at the same time, perhaps he should know about the darker aspects of the world he lived in. She had no qualms with the kid joining them.

Given that her name and face were posted up all around Times Square promoting the event, Pompei had no doubt this young woman knew her name. The opposite could not be said, however, as while Pompei had caught glimpses of her before on the news, her name had never crossed her ears.

Before immediately addressing the woman, however, Pompei gave a wink to the boy to show he still was on her mind. She did not invite him in, however, preferring to take the two on one at a time in separate conversations.

So, she swung her legs gracefully into the vehicle and moved her supermodel-like body to the opposite seat to give Meld room to come in and sit beside her, leaving the nature of the door (open or closed) up to her companion.

"I appreciate your sentiments, I really do."

She never did like the term "mutant," as it seemed unnecessarily negative, to her. She would prefer the more scientific term Homo sapiens superior, as it better likened them to humans, which to her, they still were. She found it necessary to use, however, if just to connect with others on the subject. Perhaps later on, in the future, it would become a derogatory term.

"I just hope that this period of intolerance in Mankind's history can pass more quickly than those of the past. I alone cannot quicken its recovery into equality... but I will try my best to be a voice of reason during these harsh times."

It was peculiar, somewhat. History tells of the Martin Luthor Kings and the Susan B. Anthonys, but often not mentioned are the other side of the coin, those who also sought equality from the other end. To Meld, and the rest of the world, Pompei Yuen was a human, and not a "mutant."

Only a select few knew what she was really capable of.

Ted continued to wait as patiently as any 14 year old could while the two women talked in her car. It might be a long conversation, but then again it might not. There was really no telling as he was still waiting at a good enough distance to where he couldn’t overhear what the two were saying. Ted continued to look around as he thought up more questions for him to ask her when she finally got to him. the crowds might have been anxious to talk to her but he was actually surprised this powerful lady had seen him and picked him to talk to her.

"The name's Meld," Meld introduced herself formally. "In addition to offering my appreciation on what you are doing for mutants everywhere, I also want my support and my services, should you deem them beneficial. You and I, I believe, are fighting for the same thing though coming form different angles. Words may go far in promoting the cause but words alone will accomplish very little. If ever you need a more physical aspect, hidden in the shadows if needed, I offer my services."

Meld gae Pompei a steady look. She could take her words and her offer as she would. Not everyone understood the value of Meld's skills and not everyone was willing to admit they were necessary. Despite the great nievete of some, she knew that sometimes people had to die to accomplish what was necessary. Hopefully Pompei would also realize that and choose to utilize Meld when necessary so that her own role as public face wasn't marred by potential violence. She could be discreet when necessary.

Pompei lightly shook her head at Meld's offer.

"Thank you, but I am afraid... I am not yet ready to abandon my current tactics, or stray from them in any way. I still have faith in Mankind's ability to change."

Only one part of the offer had been rejected, however. The businesswoman was still all smiles, as she scooted just a bit closer to the criminal. Opportunities came and went daily with the sort of life she led.

This just happened to be one of the better ones.

"I am, however, looking for someone with your specific talents... for a more private matter, concerning my safety. It has little to do with mutant rights, but it pays well and is very much in the shadows. If you're interested, I can tell you more."

Pompei's hand slid into the door handle on her side, and pulled gently to cause it to open.

"I want to have a word with that boy over there. If you'd like to hear more, or have more you'd like to discuss with me, just wait for me to come back. Otherwise, this will be farewell for now, Meld."

Pompei's slender, tantalizing leg slipped from the open car door and her high heeled shoe pressed to the ground. She eased herself out and stood up, only to meet with the usual flash photography, which had started to die down while she was in the limousine.

She put a hand up to shield her eyes, and in a fluid motion tucked a bit of hair over her ear as she stepped toward Ted. She came close, forced to because of the amount of people and the noise they made as they shouted to her and her guest speakers, all wanting some attention from them. The reporters were loudest, as if they had honed it as a craft.

She smiled and leaned a bit closer from where she stood.

"I spotted you in the crowd. Did you have something you wanted to ask me?"

After a shot bit the lady that seemed to be controllling all the cards came out of the limo from her discussion with the scary lady. She came up to him started to talk to him. For the first time she actually physically addressed him. Ted noded his head. The crowd was still loud and he was still standing in the middle of them all. Photographers and other media groups were shouting and calling to Pompei. It was easy to find out her name whith all everyone yelling it to get her attention.

Now that he was actually being addressed Teddy struggled to pull up the questions that he'd taken the time to make up in his head. He finally remembered one of them. "How did you get people that seem so opposed to each other’s views to listen to what you were saying without getting yourself killed or attacked?" Obviously that's what the bodyguards were for, however they couldn't be everywhere at once. It might not have been the best question to start out with but he was just a kid so so what if he said something that he probably shouldn't have.

"I am, however, looking for someone with your specific talents... for a more private matter, concerning my safety. It has little to do with mutant rights, but it pays well and is very much in the shadows. If you're interested, I can tell you more."

"I await your return and hearing what you have in mind." Meld nodded and prepared to wait for Pompei's return. It was a little disappointing to hear that she wasn't willing to take Meld up on her full offer and thus likely didn't have the kind of ruthlessness needed but at least it was something.