Yup, Still Friday Fandom-Time
The next day, a relative calm had settled over the complex housing the former X-Men as Warren called everyone together for what was possibly one of the most important meetings of their lives. Warren stood at the head of the table, along with a serious-looking man none of the others recognized.
"If I may have your attention please," he cleared his throat. "I'd like to introduce you all to Cameron Hodge. He'll be the public relations rep for this project. Cameron's from one of the most successful advertising firms on Madison Avenue and also was my roommate in college. He's been doing research and surveys and has an excellent grasp of the mutant phenomenon."
"Thanks, Warren," Cameron said with a nod. "Good afternoon-" he began, before Bobby cut him off.
"I don't get it. Public relations and advertising? And what's this new 'project' you keep talking about? What're we gonna do, try to cash in on the hysteria with a line of mutant tennis shoes?" he rolled his eyes.
"Quiet, Bobby," Scott admonished. "Let the man speak."
"Thank you. Now, allow me to explain exactly what we've come up with. Our problem, simply stated, is to locate and somehow gain the trust of the growing population of mutants in everyday society. After providing them with the neccessary training to control their, um, gifts, we can return them to society to live quiet, safe, productive lives. And thanks to my years of P.R. and ad experience, I believe we've developed a viable system for defusing the problem of mutant hysteria by turning it in upon itself. Every day, more mutants are born into a world where they must live in constant fear. The fear of the human populace that sees them as a threat as well as fear of their own special powers that they don't fully understand or can't control."
"We know all that, Mr. Hodge," Scott spoke up, voicing pretty much what Bobby was thinking. "What is it that you're proposing we do about it?"
"Our organization will capitalize on human being's distrust of mutants by posing as a 'Mutant Deterrent Agency'," Hodge explained.
"What?" Hank gaped.
"Are you serious?" Bobby added skeptically.
"Please, allow me to continue," Cameron asked, holding up a hand for silence. "People that suspect a mutant menace will call our toll free number to report an incident. We will then, in the guise of a team of psychologists and scientists, 'investigate' the subject. In reality, our true goal is to isolate and protect the people who possess the X-Factor mutation in their genetic makeup. Appropriately, the name our organization will be known by is..." with a flourish, he turned on the Powerpoint presentation, and a sample of a print ad appeared on the projector screen:
X-Factor
Mutant investigations and resolutions!
No need to be fearful any longer! Our skilled team of
experts will aid you in finding the answers to one of
the most urgent problems of our time!
Call our toll free number! Operators are standing by.
Visa and Mastercard accepted. Don't wait until it's
too late!
"This is one of our print ads. And in a moment, I'll play for you our new television spot." He clicked a button on his laptop and a video began to play. A man standing in front of a typical suburban house addressed the viewers:
"Every day, more and more people are threatened by the dreaded mutant menace! Law enforcement officials remain ineffective and skeptical while you remain a helpless target of these strange beings! You've heard about them- they live in secret and plan to destroy the very lives of us normal people. But now there is help! Now there's X-Factor! Professional investigators who, with the help of today's technology, can protect you and your family from this unseen menace. If you suspect anyone of mutant activity, call this toll-free number now, and let the mutant professionals handle it from there. Visa and Mastercard are accepted! You don't have to live in fear anymore!"
"Please understand that the profit motive is simply there as a deterrent," Hodge explained as the commercial faded out. "We don't want to arouse suspicions of our true intentions. Charmingly ironic, though, don't you think?"
"Hodge, how long before these spots begin to air?" Scott had to ask.
"Well, actually, Mr. Summers... they've been airing for several days now."
"What?" Bobby gaped at him.
"I hate to waste any time," Hodge offered unapologetically. "Shall we begin briefing on operations, then?"
And so, X-Factor was born.
[ooc: NFB for distance. text once again snagged from X-Factor #1. this would have been up sooner but I kept getting distracted by the utter hilarity of 80s-era comics writing.]
"If I may have your attention please," he cleared his throat. "I'd like to introduce you all to Cameron Hodge. He'll be the public relations rep for this project. Cameron's from one of the most successful advertising firms on Madison Avenue and also was my roommate in college. He's been doing research and surveys and has an excellent grasp of the mutant phenomenon."
"Thanks, Warren," Cameron said with a nod. "Good afternoon-" he began, before Bobby cut him off.
"I don't get it. Public relations and advertising? And what's this new 'project' you keep talking about? What're we gonna do, try to cash in on the hysteria with a line of mutant tennis shoes?" he rolled his eyes.
"Quiet, Bobby," Scott admonished. "Let the man speak."
"Thank you. Now, allow me to explain exactly what we've come up with. Our problem, simply stated, is to locate and somehow gain the trust of the growing population of mutants in everyday society. After providing them with the neccessary training to control their, um, gifts, we can return them to society to live quiet, safe, productive lives. And thanks to my years of P.R. and ad experience, I believe we've developed a viable system for defusing the problem of mutant hysteria by turning it in upon itself. Every day, more mutants are born into a world where they must live in constant fear. The fear of the human populace that sees them as a threat as well as fear of their own special powers that they don't fully understand or can't control."
"We know all that, Mr. Hodge," Scott spoke up, voicing pretty much what Bobby was thinking. "What is it that you're proposing we do about it?"
"Our organization will capitalize on human being's distrust of mutants by posing as a 'Mutant Deterrent Agency'," Hodge explained.
"What?" Hank gaped.
"Are you serious?" Bobby added skeptically.
"Please, allow me to continue," Cameron asked, holding up a hand for silence. "People that suspect a mutant menace will call our toll free number to report an incident. We will then, in the guise of a team of psychologists and scientists, 'investigate' the subject. In reality, our true goal is to isolate and protect the people who possess the X-Factor mutation in their genetic makeup. Appropriately, the name our organization will be known by is..." with a flourish, he turned on the Powerpoint presentation, and a sample of a print ad appeared on the projector screen:
X-Factor
Mutant investigations and resolutions!
No need to be fearful any longer! Our skilled team of
experts will aid you in finding the answers to one of
the most urgent problems of our time!
Call our toll free number! Operators are standing by.
Visa and Mastercard accepted. Don't wait until it's
too late!
"This is one of our print ads. And in a moment, I'll play for you our new television spot." He clicked a button on his laptop and a video began to play. A man standing in front of a typical suburban house addressed the viewers:
"Every day, more and more people are threatened by the dreaded mutant menace! Law enforcement officials remain ineffective and skeptical while you remain a helpless target of these strange beings! You've heard about them- they live in secret and plan to destroy the very lives of us normal people. But now there is help! Now there's X-Factor! Professional investigators who, with the help of today's technology, can protect you and your family from this unseen menace. If you suspect anyone of mutant activity, call this toll-free number now, and let the mutant professionals handle it from there. Visa and Mastercard are accepted! You don't have to live in fear anymore!"
"Please understand that the profit motive is simply there as a deterrent," Hodge explained as the commercial faded out. "We don't want to arouse suspicions of our true intentions. Charmingly ironic, though, don't you think?"
"Hodge, how long before these spots begin to air?" Scott had to ask.
"Well, actually, Mr. Summers... they've been airing for several days now."
"What?" Bobby gaped at him.
"I hate to waste any time," Hodge offered unapologetically. "Shall we begin briefing on operations, then?"
And so, X-Factor was born.
[ooc: NFB for distance. text once again snagged from X-Factor #1. this would have been up sooner but I kept getting distracted by the utter hilarity of 80s-era comics writing.]