In the classroom of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Polaris Lorna propped her elbow on the table, one hand supporting her cheek and the other busily sketching and writing on paper. A short while later, Bruce Banner walked in and, standing at the podium, cleared his throat and said:
"Your physical education teacher is unwell. We'll have physics for this period..."
And with that, he opened the textbook he held in his hands and began his lecture.
There were only five students in the entire classroom. Apart from Polaris, Iceman and Quicksilver were there too, seated in the corners farthest from the teacher, each equally distant from Polaris.
The subtle tension between the three students struck Banner as strange. However, Shadow Cat, who was sitting not far from Polaris, gave Banner a knowing glance. Then, Banner understood; they had had another argument.
Banner's teaching time is brief as he was also busy. Mostly, he introduced a bit of theory and allowed the mutants to study independently. At night, while they were sleeping, they'd revisit the theory in their dream classroom and check their homework.
Though this teaching method may not be the most efficient, it allowed for more thorough explanations and facilitated the establishment of a solid foundation.
In physics class, Polaris was attentive. To be specific, she only seriously listened to two courses - physics and geography. For the rest of the humanities courses, she was either sleeping or making faces at other classmates.
But today, her classmates noticed that Polaris appeared unusually listless. She didn't whisper to others or let out her usual cold laugh when the class ended. She stopped teasing Quicksilver. Her manner was like an eggplant frosted over.
Iceman attempted to offer sympathy. So he stepped forward and asked Polaris, "Lorna, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Don't mind me." Polaris leaned on the table, speaking with an annoyed tone, "Anyone pressed into studying here every day would end up feeling like me..."
"Don't be like this, Lorna. Even though I don't like Magneto, he's doing this for your own good..."
"What I detest most is your theory!" Polaris turned her head away, "Everything is for my own good. You've been around Professor X for so long, you talk exactly like him. Stay away from me!"
Quicksilver coughed a couple of times before saying, "Bobby, did you hear that? She wants you to stay away from her. Stop fawning over her. Even if she and I broke up, we..."
"Both of you get lost!" Polaris snapped, irritated. "I don't want to see either of you now. Just scram!"
Quicksilver and Iceman exchanged glances. Iceman shrugged his shoulders and turned away. But before leaving, he remarked, "Maybe it's because she broke up with someone, that she is behaving this way..."
Quicksilver made a dismissive gesture at Iceman, and then sat down next to Polaris. "Don't be like this, Lorna. I was wrong last time. I shouldn't have argued with you. Don't be mad. I heard that a well-known Belgian restaurant opened in Manhattan... Let's go eat there..."
Polaris rolled her eyes, "Don't flatter yourself, our story ended. Now buzz off!"
Quicksilver's face darkened. At that moment, Shadow Cat came over to mediate, "Alex, stop annoying her. Don't you know? Magneto insisted that Lorna come back to school. She's been irritated for several days..."
"Magneto can be ridiculous sometimes..." Quicksilver commented, "Isn't Andromeda great? We would love to go there if we had the chance. But he insists on sending his own daughter back..."
Suddenly, he felt his desk and chair shaking. He quickly stood up and backed away, extending his hand. "Hold on, Lorna. Calm down. You're losing control of your power. You... you should try to adjust it. I am leaving for now!"
After he left, Shadow Cat sat opposite Polaris and stared at her. "I understand you're angry, but you can't take it out on your classmates. If you really can't stand it, I can try to convince Professor X to let you go to the cosmos for a couple of days..."
Polaris' eyes lit up, "Really? Oh my god, you don't know how bored I've been recently! Every day I wake up to study, sleep with theories in mind, my whole brain is full of homework, and I am extremely annoyed!"
"I am not a child like them. I have already graduated from college! And yet, I am required to return to school? Is this reasonable?!" Polaris slapped the table, "In fact, I was having a good time in the Andromeda Galaxy. I even contributed to the construction of Sky Island, I don't know what Erik was thinking!"
"Don't be like this, Lorna. Your father must have his own reasons. Professor X once told me that lately, the mutant world has been in turmoil. Maybe your father wants you back to strengthen the influence of the Brotherhood..."
"If all members of the Brotherhood leave, and something happens on Earth, there would be no one to inform him. Even though it would be best for mutants to migrate to the Andromeda Galaxy, now is not the time..."
Shadow Cat also rested her chin on her hand, "The plan of colonizing the solar system is in full swing. It is only a matter of time before humans step out of the solar system. If mutants don't keep up, we will certainly be obliterated from history"
"I understand all that." Polaris frowned, "Before sending me back, he also said a few words. Can you imagine that? Magneto Erik actually explaining something to someone!"
"We all know, once the news of mutants migrating to other galaxies officially breaks out, it will definitely cause a huge stir. Our current organizational form cannot withstand such a shock. Not the Brotherhood, not the X-Men, nor any other mutant organizations, we're all scattered."
"We never unite. We aren't like ordinary people who unite to resist outsiders, but we waste so much time in internal strife."
Polaris shook her head solemnly, "Since I came back, I've been contemplating this issue, but no matter how much I think about it, I can't seem to find a good solution."
"Now it's about who can step forward and truly lead the mutants," Shadow Cat says. Then, with a worried look on her face, she adds, "I know, many people have this ambition, but they may not necessarily have the ability. Quite a number of them might not be acting out of the public interest, but for their own personal gains."
"Once mutants start trusting them, they might lead the mutants down an extremely dangerous path of destruction. In such a crucial moment, who can be sure of making the right choices?"
They both let out a sigh, then Polaris spoke up, "Katy, go persuade Professor X not to make me study here. Fine, physics and geography could be useful for what I'm going to do. But why philosophy and grammar? I've already taken these courses in college!"
Shadow Cat put on a small smile, "Alright. But you must promise me, if you go to space, don't cause any trouble. Or maybe, I can have Professor X find you a job, just like when you were in the Andromeda Galaxy?"
Polaris immediately shook her head, "For heaven's sake, don't bring that up. You just don't know what I went through in the Andromeda Galaxy!"
Shadow Cat widened her eyes, "Didn't you always reminisce about those times fondly? Is there some experience there that wasn't so pleasant?"
"You should ask if there was any experience that was good..." Polaris rolled her eyes, "I just want to go out and work because I hate studying, not because I enjoy moving boxes in the Andromeda Galaxy."
She brushed her hair from her forehead with her hand, then cupped her forehead, "You don't understand how terrifying it is to work under someone like Erik. He is the world's most temperament-driven, picky, incomprehensible, uncommunicative, and infuriating boss!"
Listening to Polaris' multiple superlatives, Shadow Cat shrugged, "What can be done? He is your biological father."
"Who knows if he is or not." Polaris looked away, "True or not, it all depends on his words. When he first came to me, he blatantly told me that he had Mastermind alter my memory and he was so damn proud of it. You have no idea how he was back then..."
Polaris sighed as she shook her head. Shadow Cat gave a smile, "Didn't Professor X tell you last time? He might be mentally ill. Don't get on his level. I'm going to find the professor now, wait for my good news."
After Shadow Cat left, Polaris breathed a sigh of relief. She covered her eyes with her hand, feeling slightly drowsy as she closed her eyes and slowly lowered her head, drifting into dreamland.
Polaris had fallen asleep leaning on the desk, her dreams were not pleasant ones, remembering the moment Magneto found her and the words he said to her.
Polaris's backstory was also quite harsh. Originally, Magneto Erik and her mother only had an infatuation, they didn't even officially date, not to mention getting married. When her mother got pregnant, Erik had no idea.
After Polaris was born, her mother and stepfather took her on a plane. It was on the plane the two of them began to argue about Polaris's origin.
Being too young to understand what they were arguing about, the intense tone of their voices scared her.
Unfortunately for Polaris, her mutant abilities awoke very early due to her gift. When she lost control of her emotions, she also lost control of her powers.
The runaway magnetic abilities affected the plane's components, causing it to fall from the sky. Polaris survived due to her powers, while her biological mother and stepfather both died in the crash.
Back then, young Lorna was buried in the wreckage of the plane crash. Magneto found her by tracking the magnetic disturbances and realized he has a daughter.
Magneto didn't understand what had happened, yet he had Mastermind erase Polaris's memory of the incident, covering up the fact she had killed her parents.
Years later, Magneto and Polaris were reunited through a series of complex events. This time, Magneto, in order to get Polaris to join the Brotherhood, revealed her true identity.
At the time, Polaris didn't believe a word, especially the part about her killing her parents, but Iceman was there with her and managed to convince her. It was during this period that Polaris joined the X-Men.
However, even if Polaris didn't want to accept it, her personality is strikingly similar to Magneto's. Rebellious and extremely stubborn, a style completely different from the X-Men's.
She couldn't stand staying at the X-Men's base all day, one moment playing babysitter, the next playing the good neighbor.
Later, Polaris became a part-time X-Man. Later than that, due to a series of complex events, she again made contact with the Brotherhood. Now, she's an indecisive freelancer.
In theory, as Magneto's daughter, she should be welcomed by the Brotherhood, but Polaris doesn't really fit in with them. Currently, she's still in more frequent contact with the X-Men, especially Iceman and Quicksilver.
"Hey! Hey! Lorna, wake up. Good news, wake up!"
The sound of Shadow Cat's voice jolted Polaris awake; she found herself in a cold sweat.
She had just had a nightmare but couldn't remember its contents. In her daze, she heard Shadow Cat say:
"Professor found you a job in the cosmos. You can go report to the Stark Building tomorrow, then you can start working."