It was good to be back. He'd been gone for way to long. He'd missed his friends way to much and he was afraid that there would be so many new students now that he wouldn't ever be able to catch up with knowin their names. His yellow camaro roared down the deserted street. He'd been always enjoyed the fact that he could drive really fast on this lone road towards the mansion. He'd spent way to much time at home. It was needed time though.

Streak had had a family emergency and he'd needed to leave suddenly. Getting away from the mansion had also helped him straighten himself out. Luckily he'd gotten the message shortly after he'd gotten out of the cells. Streak still didn't know where exactly it was that he was held and for the time being he really didn't care that much. He'd find out one of these days. What was more important was getting back to where he belonged... the mansion.

The silver eyed mutant had only just recently started to get some of his powers back. He still wasn't back to where he was a while ago but a little was better than nothing. Streak slowed as he approached the ever familiar gates that protected so many young kids from the dangers of the world. Sure it kept them in a bit of nievity but it was something that was necessary at least for a while to make sure that they understood how to cope with certain pressures of life. As the gate loomed ever closer his anticipation of what waited just on the other side grew.

Streak passed through the gate without a problem. Apparently they hadn't changed the code since he'd been gone. The young silvermancer parked his car in the garage and exited. He walked ot the front door just because he could and he wanted to see who all was going to be there. In fact Streak half expected to be met by someone before he even got to the door. When Streak opened the door he took a deep breath of all the familiar smells and saw someone at the end of the hall that he couldn't quite make out.

“ ‘Police commissioner says, ‘Mutant related crimes at an all-time low…’” Jorge mumbled as he walked through the mansion, carrying a newspaper and sipping from a mug of coffee. “What source is he using?”

Jorge Cervantes, MRC detective for the NYPD, sighed as he strolled through the mansion hallway, dressed fairly casual for the day in a simple denim jacket, gray t-shirt and dark blue jeans. The detective’s hair was a little scruffy and his five o’clock shadow stubbornly covered the lower half of his face, but the man did not seem to really take notice of it. He was too busy enjoying his morning off, visiting his girlfriend for some quality time before she ran about the mansion, crazily keeping overly hormone driven mutant students out of trouble.

He was glad that the staff here were not too weird about a detective visiting them so often. He was not always here on official business, but mainly came to visit Gemma Taylor, his current girlfriend and counselor for the school. Though he would never go so far as to spend the night here, he did visit her often and helped out whenever she needed an extra person to wrangle kids up. Even some of the students were getting to know him by name, some even called him “friend” like Kate, Verdigris and Andrew. It was moments like those that made him happy to come around. At least he could be a positive influence in someone’s life.

His sneakers stepping soundlessly over the floors, Jorge did not look up as he walked and instead remained engrossed in his paper. The article was part of some Public Relations campaign to support the fact that mutant crimes were being looked into and that the actions of groups like the MRC was stemming the tide. As much as he wanted to believe he was doing good, there are always those times where it feels like there simply is not enough being done. Sure he can arrest some mutant who can create and sell counterfeit gold with a touch of his fingers, but the second he is behind bars, two more powered criminals step up to fill the gap with a scam or criminal activity of their own. It did feel almost hopeless to the point that Jorge thought of donning a lion’s skin and run about the city with a large wooden club!

But he had to remind himself that many times he had days just like this back in Miami. Whether he was working vice, or homicide, it did not matter because crime would always find a way to come back, no matter the form. It may, at times, feel like a thankless job, but to those he has saved before, it was worth it. He had to keep that in mind. Besides he was working a job that allowed him to take a fair approach to mutant crimes, rather than risk the chance of running into a biased police officer.

Taken from his musing by the sensing of the presence of another living body somewhere up ahead, Jorge slowed down in his walking, read until he got to the end of his article, and took another sip of his coffee before he finally looked up. He noticed the younger man standing at the doorway, looking as if he had just returned from a trip of some sort. For a second Jorge debated whether or not to speak to the man since he himself did not work here. Then again, it would be rude to just turn and leave him standing there without having said a single word. A quick glance around and he noticed that there were no other staff around so with a smile he nodded.

“Hello.” he said as he tucked his newspaper under his arm and stuck out his hand to shake. “I’m sorry, I don’t work here, but I can find you somebody that does, unless, of course, you already live here. Anyways, name’s Jorge.”

Streak took another step inside towards the man that was approaching him. His thoughts of this being a new employee that Sam had hired while he was gone suddenly disappeared when the man, named Jorge, said that he didn't work here. Streak just smiled and shook the mans hand.

"Hi. I'm..." Streak paused for a second because since he'd been home he had been getting called everything that his parents normally called him to get his attention. However, most people probably wouldn't know him as that name so he quickly decided that he should continue using the name that he was more familiar by. "...Silver Streak. But everyone calls me Streak." Shawn hoped that he hadn't paused so long that this guy thought he'd forgotten his name. That'd just be embarrassing.

But the silvermancer continued to speak. "Actually... I work here. I've just been gone for a while. I'm the Head of Security for the mansion. I've just got back from taking care of some family issues." Streak said. He didn't figure that there was any reason for him to go into more detail than that; especially with someone that he'd just met. "If you don't mind me asking... If you don't work here then why are you here?" Apparently his paranoia came back to him quickly now that he was back. He seemed pretty comfortable here like he visited this place often so he figured that he must've had some business here.

The man was older than he was so it would've been a bit odd for this guy to be here without a job. Most people that were around Streak's age or older already had a job or were in the process of looking for one. When he'd left he wasn't aware that there were any openings avaliable at the mansion. But then again he'd been gone a while so lots of things had probably changed.

>> "Hi. I'm...Silver Streak. But everyone calls me Streak."[/color]

Jorge said nothing but he had to smirk just a little. Did the man forget his name or something? Not that it was something to make fun of because there were times where Jorge himself stumbled over his own words. But once the young man had given him a name, the detective did have to pause. Silver Streak? That did not seem like a normal name, then again, he once knew a girl in school whose name was Summer Spring so odd names were not to be so uncommon.

“Well, it’s very nice to meet you Mr. Streak.” he said with a nod and stepped back, taking a sip from his coffee.

>> "Actually... I work here. I've just been gone for a while. I'm the Head of Security for the mansion. I've just got back from taking care of some family issues…If you don't mind me asking... If you don't work here then why are you here?"[/i]

“Spoken like a true head of security,” he said with a complimentary tone.

He had to admit that he was glad to meet someone here at the mansion who had the place’s security in mind. Gemma had told him before that the mansion had excellent automated security and he had seen some of the guards himself but he had yet to see or hear of any head of all the security…then today he runs into him. Jorge did not eye the man in a malicious way, but instead just seemed to be watching him in an almost appraising way. The young man, though young, seemed to have the sharp mind and good eye of a man whose only purpose was the complete and utter safety of everyone in this mansion. At least that is what Jorge assumed he saw in the man’s eyes as he looked at him carefully.

“I’m visiting my girlfriend. She is a counselor here, her name is Gemma Taylor.” he explained as he stood back and appeared as none threatening as he could. If the man was just returning from family business, he doubted the Head of Security had managed to meet any new staff members and from what he knows, Gemma only joined here none too long ago as well. Guess this guy would be meeting a whole bunch of new people now that he was back in town.

Jorge didn’t blame the man for being a little suspicious. After all, if he had just returned home after a large amount of time and upon returning, suddenly found an older gentleman wandering about, he would be a little anxious as well. But Jorge had no intention of causing the man any discomfort or suspicion with his presence so he would do his best to prove he was trustworthy. He held up his finger for a second to pause the man as he reached into the back of his jeans and pulled out his wallet. The second he did, he flipped it open to reveal his shiny, gold shield…a symbol that signified that he was a police officer.

“I’m a detective with the N.Y.P.D., Mutant Related Crimes division. You can trust me,” he said with a smile. Though he doubted many of the mutants here had good experiences with local authority figures. “No official business today, like I said, just spending some time with Ms. Taylor.” he beamed in a trustworthy way as he handed his badge over for the Head of Security to investigate and find authentic. “Welcome back, by the way.”

Jorge seemed to take an even less threatening tone when Streak told him who he was. Although the little smirk he gave told Streak that he'd probably paused just a little too long before giving his name. Then the man answered his question with one word that seemed to sum it all up. Girlfriend. That always seemed to be a big reason why adults would show up here. They were in a relationship with someone living at the mansion.

"I haven't met any new councilors yet, 'cause as you can tell I just got back. But if she's anything like the last councilor that we had here she'll do a great job." Streak remembered that Raina used to be the schools councilor. She didn't just specialize in working with the kids, many of the adults went to her for advice too. Shawn himself had been known to get advice from her all the time. He considered her more like a sister and he was sad when she left suddenly.

So the school had gone without a councilor for quite some time and that was probably why he'd been a little more anxious than most. Without someone to talk to there seemed to be a lot more drama that always needed fixing around here. Hopefully this Gemma Taylor person could alleviate some of that drama.

Streak took the mans badge and examined it. It was definitely authentic. He'd had enough run ins with the law to know the difference between a real badge and a fake badge. "It's always good to know that your not here on official business." Streak said handing the Jorge his badge back. "So I'm guessing your a mutant because I wouldn't count the chief an idiot enough to assign a human to that division. Although I'd be surprised to see a non mutant here if they weren't on official business."

Shawn hoped he hadn't offended Jorge with his comment but he'd worked with enough cops to know that most cops didn't like to work with mutants; even when they were forced to. He went through the academy a while ago and most of it seemed to not like the fact that the city was taking a turn in this direction. "So tell me... have the cops warmed up to mutants a bit more now, because last time I worked with them they weren't that friendly with me. Or any of the known mutants that live in the mansion and fight crime."

Even though his record with the police wasn't pristine he still didn't appreciate their attitudes. Although he had to admit that this guys was far better than any other policemen he'd run across.

>> "It's always good to know that your not here on official business…So I'm guessing your a mutant because I wouldn't count the chief an idiot enough to assign a human to that division. Although I'd be surprised to see a non mutant here if they weren't on official business."[/i]

“Yeah, I can see where that would be a little suspicious. I assure you, I am a mutant.” he said truthfully. “I can manipulate water.”

Again, Jorge could not blame the man for being a little curious about him. After just returning from apparently some long vacation or affair, he had every right to question Jorge as to his intentions in this place, also as a police officer. In Jorge’s own experience, even before he came to New York, police tended to take a rather cautious view of mutants. In many cases, mutants could easily over power those who had to uphold the lay. It they did then they believed that only anarchy could result. After all, if criminals have no fear from cops and can easily outdo them, what was to stop them when they decided to go bad?

It was prejudices like that, that Jorge had to contend with daily at the precinct. Working for the MRC, a mutant focused unit, did offer a chance for mutants to work closely within the law in an attempt to bring a greater sense of fairness. But from his experience, many times, cops could still be just as harsh and quick to judge. Thank god there were at least a few mutants working the department to balance them out.

>> "So tell me... have the cops warmed up to mutants a bit more now, because last time I worked with them they weren't that friendly with me. Or any of the known mutants that live in the mansion and fight crime."[/i]

Jorge had to chuckle as Streak practically guessed what Jorge had been thinking only a second ago. Good talent for someone in the security game. It was obvious that the man may have had a run in or two with the law. Whatever the context, it was not his place to ask. He only met the man just now so there could be no justified judging of him. Whatever his past, was his own to deal with. Jorge only hoped that those experiences would not make the man biased towards Jorge, now that he knew he was a cop as well.

“There are a few more of us working openly within the law now, but…yeah,” he said with a slightly disappointed sigh. “There will always be a bad apple or two, I’m afraid. But thankfully the M.R.C. does not take such attitudes lightly.”

To be honest Jorge would have liked to have bore witness to the time where such social institutions like law enforcement, schools, etc., would be more open to the idea of mutants. Unfortunately he did not live in some utopian society yet. There are, and for the time being, will always be some sort of injustice or close-mindedness. That was just the nature of people and for now, that would be what he and mutants everywhere would have to contend with. Doesn’t mean they still cannot attempt to make the world a more tolerable place.

Talks seemed to turn towards business instead of anything that would have made the two uncomfortable or led to awkward conversation. He didn't ask for what powers he had but the guy offered them up voluntarily. Perhaps he was hoping that this would put Streak's mind at ease about the fact that he was a mutant.

"Ah, water manipulator. We've had a few of them come and go through the mansion. They weren't always here for the same reason you're here for though." Streak said with a smile.

The last water manipulator that he knew just kind of left without any warning. He was disappointed she left. She'd been another good friend of his and she was also making some great progress towards becoming a crime fighter.

Streak nodded his head in agreement. He knew that it would always take some time for people to get adjusted to the changes that were taking place throughout the government. "Ya I know what you mean. No matter how hard we try we;re always going to have some mutants who give us the bad rap and we'll always have the humans that keep the prejudice going for quite some time. We just have to grit out teeth and work through it." the silvermancer said.

He doubted he was getting a little preachy; in fact he felt a little like he was preaching to the choir. Again Streak nodded. He was glad to know that this guy took the issue seriously, and so did everyone else in his division.

>> "Ah, water manipulator. We've had a few of them come and go through the mansion. They weren't always here for the same reason you're here for though."[/color]

“And here I thought I was special,” the detective chuckled in response.

Truth was he was beginning to like the young man even though he had just met him. Head of security, good head on his shoulders, he would be a force to be reckoned with. The thought made Jorge wonder why type of abilities this kid had. Unfortunately when it comes to mutants, they all vary so much and there is no clear indication what their powers could result in. Streak could have any multitude of powers that he has both bore witness to and has never heard of. His name is “Streak” though, maybe that has some kind of hint attached to his name. Maybe he had something extremely interesting like running at incredible speeds, or maybe his powers were completely off the wall like being able to people he always looked like he was streaking naked through the room.

Hmmm, looks fully clothed to me, Jorge thought to himself then quickly dismissed trying to guess.

One could rarely guess a mutant’s ability unless they wore it on their sleeves or it was a physical mutation. Either way though, Jorge was going to quite attempting to guess because more than likely the man must have had some type of impressive ability in order work as head of security for this place. After all, there were a lot of teenagers to protect.

>> "Ya I know what you mean. No matter how hard we try we;re always going to have some mutants who give us the bad rap and we'll always have the humans that keep the prejudice going for quite some time. We just have to grit out teeth and work through it."[/color]

“Preaching to the choir,” Jorge said with a nod of understanding. “My first night after I moved here from Miami, I came across a couple of mutants, a scorpion woman and some cyborg lady, who were threatening to harm some humans for accosting another mutant that had been on the scene.” he shook his head a bit at the memory, still wondering how he got out of that one alive. He shook his head and looked up once more at Streak. “Violence begets violence, I suppose. Hell of a phrase to hear coming out of a detective I suspect, but we all have to do what we have to do to keep the peace.”

Jorge sighed a bit as he glanced at the paper he held under his arm. He had to believe that efforts like his and Streak’s had to be doing some sort of good. After all, the reports did say that crime was down. Maybe things would finally start looking up. Another glance to Streak and he gave him a quick nod, not wanting to take any more of the man’s time and his return home. With that he held out his hand to shake.

“Anyways, Mr. Streak, nice to meet you and, again, welcome home. Maybe I’ll run into you again.” he said with a friendly smile.

Streak smiled along with him. It’s always funny to think that most mutants think that they’re alone with their powers. The truth was that it was only probability and time when they would eventually meet someone with either the same or similar powers as them. There were definitely different kinds of water manipulation and their styles all varied. If he wanted to get technical, Ghost could be considered a water manipulator because after all, all air is is water in a gaseous state isn’t it?

The silver mutant had been lucky enough to not run into someone with his own powers. The closest he’d come to that was Jewel. Speaking of which, he needed to pay her a visit as soon as he was all settled in. ”I suppose your right. But most mutants that are ready to do violence won't be talked down from that agenda very easily.” Streak shook the Jorge’s hand one more time and said, ”It was nice meeting you. Maybe we’ll see each other fighting crime.”

Honestly, the silvermancer didn’t think that he’d be crime fighting anytime soon. He still had a huge amount of work to do with his powers still being out of commission and he seriously doubted if there wouldn’t be a mountain of paperwork on his desk that would keep him busy for the next month and a half. Streak walked a little past Jorge with a smile and unlocked his office.