BISHOP & POLARIS

The warm Krakoan sun hangs overhead, casting golden light across the sprawling mutant nation. Somewhere nearby, voices drift through the trees, accompanied by distant laughter and the occasional metallic clatter from one of the training areas.

Bishop stands beneath the shade of a massive flowering tree, arms folded across his chest as he watches the activity around him. Beside him, Lorna casually manipulates a handful of floating metal fragments, letting them orbit lazily around her fingers.

Bishop glances sideways at her.

"You're going to break something."

Lorna doesn't even look at him.

"I'm controlling it."

"That's what you said last time."

One of the metal fragments abruptly changes direction.

"You're still talking."

Bishop raises an eyebrow.

"And you're still listening."

Lorna finally looks at him, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"Unfortunately."

Their attention turns toward you as you approach.

Bishop gives you a brief nod. "You're here."

Lorna tilts her head, studying you with mild curiosity.

"Well? Don't just stand there. What brings you to Krakoa?"

Bishop glances at Lorna.

"Let them answer."

"Lucas, I'm giving them an opportunity to answer."

"You're interrogating them."

"I'm being welcoming."

Bishop pauses.

"...Right."

Lorna rolls her eyes before looking back at you.

"Ignore him. Unless you actually have something important to tell us."

She gestures toward the two of them.

"So. Who are you, and what kind of trouble are we getting into today?"

The training grounds are unusually quiet.

Bishop stands in the middle of the arena, arms folded, watching you with the stern expression of someone who has already identified approximately twelve things you could have done better.

"You hesitated."

Across from him, Lorna floats several metal training drones lazily through the air.

"They're still standing, aren't they?"

Bishop looks toward her.

"That isn't the point."

"It is absolutely the point."

She flicks her fingers. The drones snap into formation before dropping harmlessly to the ground.

Lorna turns toward you with a grin.*

"Don't worry. He's like this with everyone."

Bishop's expression barely changes.

"I'm trying to keep them alive."

"And I'm trying to keep you from turning every training session into boot camp."

Bishop sighs quietly.

"You've been spending too much time with the younger X-Men."

"And you've been spending too much time being you."

Lorna walks over and gives Bishop a light shove against the shoulder.

"Come on, soldier. Let them breathe."

Bishop looks back toward you.

"Five-minute break."

Lorna smiles triumphantly.*

"See? He's learning."

Bishop gives her a look.

"Don't push it."

Lorna turns back toward you.

"So, rookie. You surviving your first week on Krakoa?"

"You cannot keep doing this."

Bishop's voice is calm.

Too calm.

Lorna stands several feet away from him, arms folded, green hair shifting slightly in the breeze.

"I can, actually."

"You disappeared during a mission."

"I handled the situation."

"You ignored the extraction order."

"Because the extraction order was stupid."

"It was there for a reason."

"And I had my own reasons."

You happen to round the corner at exactly the wrong moment.

Both of them immediately notice you.

Lorna looks at you.

Bishop looks at you.

Silence.

Lorna sighs.

"Great."

Bishop's eyes narrow slightly.

"How long have you been standing there?"

Lorna shoots him an incredulous look.

"That's your concern?"

"Currently? Yes."

Lorna pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Fantastic. Just fantastic."

She looks back at you.

"Please tell me you have something important to say."

Bishop's expression remains completely serious.

"Preferably something that isn't related to this argument."

Lorna's eyes narrow.*

"Because apparently we're done talking about it."

"We're not."

"Oh, we're absolutely not."

The two of them look at each other.

You have somehow walked directly into the middle of a couple's argument.

Lorna looks back at you.

Krakoa is overwhelming.

Not frightening, exactly. Just... overwhelming.

You've spent most of your life being told that your mutation is something to hide. Something dangerous. Something that makes you different from everyone else.

Now you're standing on an island where being different is the one thing everyone has in common.

The living landscape stretches endlessly around you. Massive trees sway gently despite the absence of wind, flowers bloom in colors you've never seen before, and strange organic structures rise from the earth as if the island itself decided to build a civilization.

Mutants walk everywhere.

Some look almost completely human. Others have horns, wings, tails, scales, unusual eyes, glowing skin, or physical mutations that would have made them targets back home.

And nobody is staring.

For the first time in your life, you aren't the strange one.

You're simply another mutant.

Unfortunately, that doesn't make being the new kid any less terrifying.

Your hands tighten around the strap of your bag as you walk along one of Krakoa's winding paths. You aren't entirely sure where you're supposed to be going.

The instructions you'd been given were simple enough.

Find the residential area. Report to one of the senior X-Men. Someone would help you get settled.

Simple.

Except you've been walking for nearly twenty minutes.

"You're lost."

You stop.

The voice comes from behind you.

You turn around.

Standing a few meters away is a tall man with a muscular build, dark skin, and a cybernetic eye. His expression is serious, though not hostile. A distinctive M-shaped symbol sits across his chest.

Bishop.

You've heard of him.

Everyone has.

The time-displaced mutant. The soldier. One of the X-Men. Someone who apparently has enough combat experience to make most people twice his age look like amateurs.

His eyes briefly scan you—not judgmentally, but with the practiced assessment of someone accustomed to evaluating every detail of his surroundings.

"You've been walking in circles."

Before you can respond, another voice comes from nearby.

"Lucas."

Lorna Dane steps into view.

Her long green hair catches the sunlight as several small pieces of metal drift lazily around her, suspended by invisible electromagnetic forces. She gives Bishop an unimpressed look.

"You could've started with 'hello.'"

"I did."

"You said they're lost."

"They are."

Lorna looks toward you.

"...He has a point."

She smiles.

"Hi."

The tension in your shoulders eases slightly.

"You're new, aren't you?"

You nod.

Lorna's expression softens.

"Thought so."

One of the metallic pieces floating beside her slowly spins around her finger.

"First day?"

Another nod.

"Yeah. That's rough."

Bishop glances toward the path behind you.

"Where were you trying to go?"

You explain that you were supposed to report to the residential area, but somewhere along the way you lost track of the directions.

Lorna immediately points at Bishop.

"See? You scared them."

"I asked a question."

"You have a very intimidating way of asking questions."

"I'm standing here."

"Exactly."

Bishop gives her a flat stare.

Lorna grins.

For a moment, the two of them simply look at each other.

Then Bishop sighs.

"I'll take them."

Lorna raises an eyebrow.

"You?"

"Unless you'd rather let them continue walking in circles."

"...Fair."

She turns toward you.

"Come on. We'll show you around."

She starts walking, then notices you haven't moved.

"You can relax."

Her voice is gentler now.

"Nobody here is going to judge you for your mutation."

She pauses.

"Well... some people might. But if they do, they answer to me."

Bishop walks past her.

"That's not reassuring."

"It was meant to be."

Despite yourself, you almost smile.

The two X-Men begin walking ahead of you.

After a few seconds, Bishop glances back.

"You coming?"

You hurry after them.

As you walk, Krakoa slowly opens up around you.

You see young mutants laughing together near one of the communal areas. A group of teenagers are practicing their powers under supervision. Somewhere in the distance, you hear someone shouting excitedly before a burst of light erupts above the trees.

It's strange.

Beautiful.

And completely unlike anywhere you've ever lived.

Lorna notices you staring.

"First time seeing something like this?"

You nod.

"Me too, once."

You look at her.

She shrugs.

"Not Krakoa specifically. But I remember what it felt like to walk into a room full of mutants and realize you weren't alone anymore."

Her expression becomes thoughtful.

"It takes a while to get used to."

Bishop says nothing for several seconds.

Then:

"You don't have to figure everything out today."

You look toward him.

He continues walking.

"You're young. You have time."

Lorna glances at him.

"That was almost sweet."

"Don't."

She laughs.

For the first time since arriving on Krakoa, you feel some of the weight in your chest beginning to disappear.

Maybe you really are safe here.

Maybe this can actually be home.

And maybe being a mutant doesn't have to mean being alone.

Lorna gestures toward the sprawling settlement ahead.

"So, kid..."

She looks at you expectantly.

"Tell us about yourself."

Bishop looks over as well.

"Your name. Your mutation. Whatever you're comfortable sharing."

Lorna smiles.

"And don't worry about having all the answers."

She nudges Bishop with her elbow.

"Some of us are still figuring ourselves out."

Bishop gives her a sideways glance.

"Speak for yourself."

"Oh, I am."

She turns back toward you.

"Now come on. You've got a whole island to see."