Arthur was the last to step off of the crowded plane, but this was how he would have had it anyways. It was a long trip between his small town in Texas and the drastically contrast "Big Apple" as people call it, but unlike most of those who were on the plane Arthur enjoyed literally every moment. Each mile they covered was a new mile Arthur had never experienced. It was the first time he had left La Grange, and he would most likely be gone for a very long time if not forever.

Arthur had enough money saved to last a few months, but the cost of living here was so high he would have to find a job to prolong his stay and fund his research. All of his studies over the years indicated the mutant populace in New York was considerably high, and this made it the perfect place to document everything he could about mutations and how they worked. Arthur had already booked a hotel room online for a few weeks and from here he would look for work, and a more permanent place to stay. He would also gather any information he could about mutants, but realized that due to certain prejudices he would have to be discreet in his inquiries and in letting anyone know of his own mutant nature. Arthur exited the airport and looked for the nearest cab which turned out to be a lot simpler than the movies made it out to be. The cab driver was an older man with a very rugged look to him. "Where to buddy?" he asked Arthur in a thick Russian accent. Arthur smiled and told him the name of the hotel "The Colonial House Inn please. I believe it's located in central Manhattan." The cab driver smiled and responded "I hope you have much money buddy." The drive was rather long due to traffic, but Arthur arrived at his destination before sundown. He tipped the driver well, and thanked him for the ride.

Arthur entered the building and walked over to the front desk which was empty so he tapped the silver service bell. A young woman with blonde hair came hastily from a room behind the desk, and greeted Arthur with a smile. "How may I help you sir? Checking In?" she asked with a bit of eagerness in her voice. Arthur guessed she was in a hurry to get back to whatever she was doing in the backroom so he quickly gave her his information, and she confirmed his identification before giving him his room key which was surprisingly a traditional brass key, and not a modern house key or digital card key. "Your room is located upstairs. It is at the end of the hall sir. Best view in the house. Anything else?" Arthur stood examining the immaculate key lost in thought. "Is there anything else sir?" the Concierge was asking obviously hoping Arthur would say no. Picking up on her impatience Arthur simply smiled and began making his way upstairs to his room.

After entering the room he looked out of the window and enjoyed the view. It was a great view of the street outside and was bustling with activity. Arthur unpacked his suitcase setting his laptop on the desk, and putting his clothes away in the drawers. After completely unpacking he lay on the bed and let his mind go to rest, because he knew tomorrow was going to be a very busy day...

The alarm on Arthur's desk sounded and was a digital version of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. Arthur loved Peter and the Wolf, but he hated waking up while in the middle of important work. His mutation ensured than all of his dreams were lucid ones. He is able to work on ideas while asleep in his dreams that he fully remembers in the waking world, and due to his mutation he never forgets. In this particular dream he was examining the negative aspects of his abilities, and if there were ways to counteract them. His physical strength was the main thing, because he was sure that some of the people he world be researching would want nothing to do with him....but that wouldn't be an option.

"What to do? What to do?" Arthur thought as he stared out onto the busy street below. "I will have to find a way to compensate for my lack of strength if one these subjects were to...hmmmmm...perhaps if the diplomatic approach fails I shall use the hidden approach and attempt to observe them incognito."

He stood up off of the bed, and walked over to the desk and turned on his laptop. While it was powering on Arthur decided to go and take a quick shower. The water was perfect. Exactly the temperature Arthur liked it at home. When he was finished he dried his head, and body then threw on a pair of white boxers. That was enough for now.

He made his way back to the laptop and sat down at the desk. "Alright. Let's see what' happening today." Arthur began to type incredibly fast. It sounded as if someone were rapidly slapping their hands up and down on the keys, but to look at it would be a different story. He looked very calm, and his hands were doing the right motions just faster than the average typer. The laptop had WiFi which this hotel offered so Arthur surfed the net looking for any local news you wouldn't see on prime time television. There were so many bogus articles, but a few that seemed legit. He also saw that the there was a library near here that was actually hiring for a Full Time position. "Well I had better start there. It's only a little walk away, and that will give me time to observe those around me."Arthur thought. As he got dressed he choose to wear his blue jeans, white tee, and brown leather "bikers" coat. He reached into the desk and pulled out his disposable cell phone, a meal bar, and a small portable video recorded. The recorder looked more like a cell phone that an HD camera, but it cost quite a bit. Arthur began to eat the meal bar as he made is way out of his room, down the stairs, and onto the streets going towards the library.

"About a fifteen minute walk." he told himself. "Say what?" a young teen said who was sitting on the bottom of the hotel steps with a skateboard in his grip. Arthur observed the violent look in the youths eyes and ignored the boy, and began walking towards his destination. "Hey mister I said say what?!" the young man yelled as Arthur continued walking. The young man threw his skateboard down and shouted "Whatever loser! You better you pray I don't catch you in a dark place bitch!"

Arthur reached the grand stairs of the New York Public Library in almost exactly ten minutes, and stood in awe. "Beautiful." he whispered.


(CONTINUED IN "NYC: Legal and Educational - NYC Public Library")

It looked like the location of the library and The Colonial House Inn were perfect for Arthur, and he wouldn't need to waste time looking for an alternate place to live since he has found such an amazing job so close. As he passed the front desk the Concierge from yesterday called out to him "Mr. Redgrave?" Arthur stopped and walked back over to the see what she wanted.

When he reached the desk she pulled a small package from behind the desk, and handed it to him. "This came for you earlier sir."Arthur thanked her, and continued back up to his room. He already knew what was in the package because he sent it to himself before leaving Texas. He wouldn't be able to bring the knives that saved his life with him on the plane so he simply mailed them to himself. Arthur thought back to the incident that happened, and particularly to the events that followed.

After he killed the young mutant in self-defense he went to get the authorities, but when he returned with the police her body was gone. After being scolded for playing such an immature "prank" on the them they let him go since it was a small town, and everyone knew everyone. Arthur had never been in trouble with the law before so they knew he must have meant it in jest. Arthur didn't try to argue with them, and simply played along. After the police left the scene he examined it thoroughly, and deduced that someone had removed the body...but to what ends he did not know. Now back in the present in his hotel room he opened the package, and examined the knives closely. Beautifully crafted. They no doubt cost the owner a hefty sum. The blades were created from what Arthur guessed was some form of expensive metal not widely used, and the handles looked pearl but were incredibly durable. Arthur put one knife into his left coat pocket, and the other into his right. He then reached over and grabbed his camera off of the table and left his room.

Outside of the hotel Arthur was wondering where to go when he looked on the ground, and saw a flyer caught on some gum. He reached down and picked it up. A wonderfully made flyer he thought. It was artistic, and alive. It was an advertisement for a "Mutant Dance Studio". Arthur stood back up, and said aloud "Mutant Dance Studio? Could this be true? So open? Fascinating." Arthur put the advertisement in his pocket, and began to head in the direction of the studio not needing to refer to the mini-map because he already had it memorized.


(CONTINUED IN "NYC Commercial: Dance, Dance Mutant Revolution")

Arthur entered the building with his mind still replaying the incident that occurred at the Mutant Dance Studio. It was a mystery he would have to solve as soon as possible. As he walked by the front desk he was greeted by the same Concierge who checked him in yesterday, and gave him his package earlier today. As he passed her he noticed that she was wearing a different shade of lipstick, had a slight bruise on her neck, and her hair was slightly tussled. Arthur deduced she must have had a romantic encounter here at the hotel. That explains the rush she was in yesterday. She must have had the mystery guest in the back office with her.

As he entered his room Arthur immediately noted that his laptop was two inches further to the left than he had left it. He began to look around for anything else that was out of place. Nothing. Only the laptop. Arthur knew what it was they were looking for. In fact it was the same reason he was attacked back in his hometown of La Grange by the feline mutant he killed defending himself. Arthur felt the sinister feeling begin to rise at the thought, but he closed his eyes and pushed it away. "Very interesting search history you have there Mr. Redgrave." Arthur spun around and saw two men waiting for him in the hall. Both in their 40's, and both wearing identical black Armani suits. "By interesting I mean quite boring. Do you mind?" the man motioned for Arthur to let them in and Arthur did so, stepping aside as they both walked in closing the door behind them.

The man who spoke had a smooth look to him as if he were an honest car salesman, but the man with him had no such quality. They may have had the same fancy clothing, but the quiet man was obviously a bit more rugged. Where the talker of the two was clean cut and had attractive features, the quiet man had thick stubble and an assortment of facial scars. "My name is Mr. Smith, and this is my partner Mr. Doe. You are Mr. Redgrave. Now that we are all friends why don't we have a nice friendly chat eh?" Mr. Smith motioned for Arthur to sit down on the bed.

Arthur sat on the bed while the two men stood in front of him conveniently blocking the door. "What is this about?" Arthur asked knowing exactly what it was about, and Mr. Smith seemed to pick up in this. "Oh please Mr. Redgrave. Do I strike you as someone who would come here without knowing the details? The very important details? Now my partner Mr. Doe...well he doesn't care for details. No, no. His job is a bit more simpler than mine. I am sure a clever boy like yourself can figure out what his job is? Yes? So I am going to ask you some questions, and you are going to answer them. Actually there is only one question I am going to ask you, and you will answer it. If you don't well..." Mr. Smith frowned and tilted his head towards Mr. Doe who smiled revealing he had rotten black teeth.

Arthur had deleted the data in question sometime ago, because it held no interest to him. While teaching himself to hack computer systems he uncovered a computer worm that had been stealing small amounts of money from thousands of bank accounts all over the world and redirecting them into a phantom account for eight years. The amount in the account had reached well into the billions, but it looked as if it had been forgotten about. When Arthur accessed the worm it sent out a signal that bounced off of his terminal, and reestablished contact with those who created it. The data Arthur had uncovered would incriminate whoever had created the worm, and all of the money would be returned. Arthur knew they wouldn't believe him if he said he destroyed, but if he said he had it they would expect it. Either way he was sure they were going to kill him. Mr. Smith smiled. "Is that the way it's going to be Mr. Redgrave? The silent treatment? Well my friend Mr. Doe is an expert at playing that game." as soon as Mr. Smith finished speaking Mr. Doe began to walk towards the bed.

"Wait. I wasn't giving you the silent treatment I was just trying to remember where I put the disk. Here is a key to the safe I've stored it in." Arthur was relieved when Mr. Doe stopped and looked toward Mr. Smith. "Alright Mr. Redgrave. Let's have it if you don't mind." Arthur reached into his left pocket and pulled out a knife while popping open the blade. "Stay back." Mr. Smith smiled and raised his hand, and as he did Arthur's hand froze in place and the blade fell from it sticking into the floor. "Why did you have to go and do that Mr. Redgrave? Now while I'm concentrating on keeping that naughty hand in place my partner Mr. Doe is going to show you how he got those rotten teeth. Human fat is full of sugar you know?" Arthur struggled, but couldn't move his hand. Mr. Smith appeared to be in full concentration, Mr. Doe began to take his coat off and roll up his sleeves. Arthur felt that only his left hand was stuck in place but he could move his right so he quickly reached into his right pocket and grabbed his other knife, and as soon as he pulled out and popped open the blade he threw it at Mr. Smith. It struck the side of his throat causing blood to pour from the wound. Arthur immediately felt the feeling return to his left hand.

"Guarrrrggglllleee!" Mr. Smith's cry was muffled by his own blood as he fell to the floor. Mr. Doe screamed or more accurately shrieked with rage as he turned and rushed Arthur. As soon as Mr. Doe reached him he fell back onto the bed raised his legs and used Mr. Does' forward momentum to lift and send him flying over the bed and through the window to the street below. Arthur attempted to stand up, but his knee gave out. His muscles were unnaturally weak so even though he used momentum it still sprained his knee. Arthur slowly stood up, but then quickly began to gather his things. After he was packed he walked over to Mr. Smith's now deceased body, and removed the knife from his throat. He cleaned the knife off on Mr. Smith's coat, and began to feel "the pull" again. He looked at Mr. Smith's eyes and then his hand trying to work out how his ability to paralyze specific body parts worked. Arthur began to cut out Mr. Smith's right eye, but before he got the left he heard sirens off in the distance. Arthur came to, and realized what he was doing. "I...I understand. It's becoming clear." Arthur put the eye into his pocket, and left his room while closing the door behind him. He walked down the stairs, and saw the Concierge looking out of the front door.

"What happened?" Arthur asked her. "I don't know, but there is someone lying in the road. I heard glass break so maybe he fell from one of the buildings? Oh my lord. Maybe he fell from one of our rooms?! I better go check-" but before she could go Arthur asked her if he could check out. She looked somewhat upset by this, but obliged him. After checking out he left the building and saw Mr. Doe lying in the middle of the street. He was slightly moving, and there was a crowd of people surrounding him. The sirens were getting closer so Arthur decided it was time to go and began walking toward the library. "I see. It's starting to make sense now. I am beginning to understand." Arthur pulled the camera out of his inside coat pocket, and began watching the video of the mutants he filmed earlier. "Beautiful."


(CONTINUED IN "NYC: Legal and Educational - NYC Public Library")