Note: this text is a copy of a transcript from an unknown source, possibly a psychiatric visit, by one Richard Tanner. For further information on the relevance to this document to history, refer to document 1634-D.

Life was beyond strange; you skated through, doing what you could, learning and fighting and sweating and bleeding, when all of a sudden something so random, so beyond the ordinary happened and you were left picking up the pieces and wondering how any of what had come before could have even been a problem.

Take me, for example; I was in love with my best friend.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not gay. Not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just I'm not one of those types. I like girls, the hotter the better. My best friend was the same way, or at least I think so. Some of the things I've seen since made me question those earlier events. But that doesn't matter.

We ended middle school friends, thick as thieves, playing basketball and creating havoc together; nothing really bad, just some neighborhood pranks like moving holiday decorations to different houses or using walkie-talkies to mess with people. Kid stuff.

When Myrc and I hit high school, we were determined to take the place by storm, to conquer the little kingdom and be the big shots. I had my eye on a little cutie that had filled out over the summer, and Myrc and Pam were well on their way to cementing themselves as the new crop of school stars, and the new golden couple; it almost seemed fated.

Then somehow, in less than a week, Myrc became a hot girl. A chick in more ways than one; small and fragile seeming, delicate with bones that reminded me of a birds, and a face and body that absolutely had to be the envy of all women everywhere. The exotic hair and eye color probably shouldn't work at all, should probably lessen the effect... but did the opposite. My friend the Irish spitfire was still in there, I could see him when he yelled defiance to Gordo or talked rapid fire about things I couldn't hope to understand; but it was hard to remember what was in the box when the wrapping was so damn gorgeous.

Seeing her work on her dad's car without even a clue, bent over and clearly showing me that perfect derriere while kicking her feet only made her the sweeter, as well as added fuel to the fire of doubt; she had no idea what effect she had on guys, at all. Had she ever known what true physical attraction was, as a guy? She had talked a good game as Myrc, but I wasn't so sure anymore.

It didn't matter now anyway.

I wanted to badly just to grab her and kiss her until I passed out from lack of air; but what would that do to us? So far she was still my friend, a good friend, and I could see she wanted things to stay that way. But I couldn't help wanting more.

What I settled for was going to see the new garage lab my newly brainy best friend rated... and maybe ask her to the Halloween dance coming up. Of course, there was no shortage of competition; even if some in the school hated mutants just for living, even if some were put off by the fact that she used to be a guy, there were still plenty of jerks lined up around the block and waiting to ask her out.

I had to protect her from that; she wasn't ready for the deluge of hormone-addled idiots.

And the worst of the lot was her new hang out pal, Ralph. I know I screwed up, it's hard to just hang out around someone so gorgeous and control myself for any length of time, she just makes everything so confusing – but that was why I knew what Ralph was after and what he was thinking. He was thinking, 'Myrc was always nice to me, and now she's Min and hot, and we're both mutants; match made in heaven!'

He had actually had the nerve to confront me in school the second day – or was it the third? That Min attended as Min. You want the story? Fine.

So I'm walking down the halls between classes, to Algebra. I'm running late and Ralph stops me in the hall, walks right up and checks me, and has the gall to say:

“Min needs a friend, not a boyfriend. Stop dicking around and be there for her.”

And he walks off. Like I don't know that; how could I not know that? I just mentioned it to you a few minutes ago. And I couldn't just pound him or I'd be late to class. Tougher than me? Sure he is, but that won't stop me at all; I won't just let people walk all over me.

Anyway, so I go to class, and the first thing I hear is Ralph is hanging around Min. The little hypocrite never used to do that before, and it's pretty obvious what he wants, and is thinking. But I have to be careful because Min is a gentle person and doesn't want her friends getting hurt. So if I pound Ralph, she will not be happy with me. If I do it and lie about it, then she will eventually find out, and the fallout will be even worse.

So for now I'm stuck with him.

So what do you think? Should I ask her to the Dance or not?

I guess you're right. Worst thing that can happen is she says no. And if I do it and she says yes, that stops the sharks from circling.

…............................

(The following is a recording from an unknown source.)

People are often stupid. I remember when I mutated; everyone started treating me differently, or just avoiding me outright. This town is pretty tolerant to mutants, as places go; I've traveled, I know. Let most people know you're a mutant, and its shock followed by fear. Here, you only get some of that; from a good portion of the population you get a shrug and a muttered 'so what?'

Myrc was one of the good ones. The best one, in fact. He'd still play basketball with me, knowing how much of an advantage I had. He would hang out if he had nothing better to do; I wasn't his best bud, but he didn't ever go out of his way to avoid me. Out of the many people I wished would manifest so they would know just how it felt, he was last on my list. Which is of course, why he is the one who actually did; Murphy's law.

Out of all of the people I would gleefully leave hung out to dry... well Myrc wasn't even near that list.

Minerva is... she's a force of nature and a bright light, all rolled into one; to my vision she shines like a little sun, all spots of activity swirling in her brain while fervently working on things I had no hope at all of understanding. Why are you asking me all this, anyway? My sight and what it does are on record with your people, and as for Min, you should leave her alone. Trust me on this.

Anyway, I well understand how it is being a freshly manifested mutant. All you want is normal, or as normal as you can get, and all you get is people's shunning fear or worse. Which is why even though I can sort of understand why Ricky would be doing what he was, since Min was a flame and he was very much a moth, but she didn't need any of that noise. She was in fact confused by it; she needed her best friend back.

And since I had never been that before, I couldn't really be that for her now. No, of course I don't want to be; but who better to understand her than me? She wants normal. She isn't very athletic anymore, and she's already been attacked once. I can take care of her; mutants need to stick together. I trusted Jeeves because Min did, but he might not be as effective as she hopes. And he wasn't allowed in the school anyway.

I should be the one to ask her to the dance.

I wasn't Ricky, so I didn't have that awkward factor he did, and we had always gotten along before while being distant enough for it not to matter. I wasn't like the others, all bigoted and cruel, and I wasn't the friend she wanted in Ricky. It made perfect sense... but Ricky is going to blow it; I'm sure of that.

…...........

The two met at lunch, well away from the other students. She hadn't shown up for school today, so now was the perfect time. Worry aside, this needed to be settled now. He was glad Min hadn't made it to school today; it would have made dodging her for this much harder; at the very least, her watchers would have seen something, despite the secluded nature of the spot chosen. He nodded to his counterpart.

“Ricky.”

An answering nod, and his name in greeting.

“Ralph.”

He had to ask.

“So, you ready for this?”

“Bring it. I'm not scared of you.”

He had to admit, that lack of fear was respectable. It was likely one of the things that originally drew Min to Ricky.

“Alright; here it comes.”

They launched at each other, fists flying.

He was stronger, but he couldn't go all out of he'd actually injure the other boy. Ricky had no such limitations, and had hard won experience. In the end, it was more a tie than anything, even though Ralph could probably force the issue if he wanted.

They slumped down, back to back. Ricky spoke first between deep rasping gasps.

“This don't change anything. I'm still going to ask her.”

There was only one thing to say to that.

“Stubborn ass. You want to ruin your friendship I won't stop you. I'll be asking her too.”

“May the best man win?”

He nodded, helping Ricky up.

“May the best man win.”

They both limped off in opposite directions by mutual unspoken understanding, as a way to squelch the rumor mill.