A Difficult Decision
Disclaimer: Alas only little bits of plot are mine. If I owned any of the characters, a certain female would not have made it past the first film…
Author's Note: I'm back! Woo hoo! How long's it been? A whole week…
This is set a few years after Alcatraz (you can decide yourself how many) presuming the following points: Bobby went back for Pyro and got him off Alcatraz island before Jean went on her little destroying spree (which of course he did!) and the two have spoken and while they're not friends they didn't fight again. The cure has remained in use, with mutants wishing to remain cured taking "top-up" shots but with much tighter controls on its use as a weapon. The Brotherhood have been keeping a low profile and have had some loose contact with the x-men but they have not actually fought again.
We're veering away from Pyro/Iceman and Pyro/Iceman/Multiple Man love triangles and having just a straight forward Pyro/Multiple Man multi chapter (absolutely no Pyro/Iceman romance, only maybe friendship!). There may also be hints of other pairings that I decide on as we go, there will definitely be Bobby/Marie (Grrrr) and I'm sure I can squeeze Jinx and Tommy in too…
Now – I'll be upfront. I have a beginning and I have the middle but the ending is gonna be up to you guys. This can go to a happy ending or a sad ending so in other words you will be making the difficult decision. And hopefully you'll all decide the same… unlike all the other times I've asked for help and been met with a 50/50 split…
One more point to note – I am presuming that you have watched beyond the credits of the third film to where it is revealed that the Professor has put his mind into the body of the brain dead patient shown in the film? If you haven't watched it then basically the professor is alive and just in a different body. I left him out my last story but this time round I'm gonna need him.
Anyway… on with the first chapter me thinks…
Chapter One: Missing in Action
A graceful smile pulled on Ororo Munro's lips as she stood at the office window looking out at the grounds of the Xavier's School for Gifted Children. It was just another typical Saturday afternoon with the younger children running riot wherever they found space, the basketball court was full, the mutants Ororo still counted as kids even though they had been teaching for a couple of years – Piotr Rasputin, Bobby Drake, Marie D'Ancanto and Kitty Pryde – sat with Warren Worthington, chatting amongst themselves and taking a well earned rest from schoolwork…
"You could just go out and enjoy the sunshine yourself you know," came a kind voice from behind her. Ororo laughed quietly and turned to look at Professor Xavier.
"These papers won't mark themselves," she smiled wryly. Charles Xavier shook his head.
"I'm sure they can wait," he smiled knowingly. "I doubt very much that you would have let things fall so far behind that you must mark these now."
Ororo smiled sheepishly.
"True…" she conceded. "But I just wanted to…" she paused as there was a knock on the door, Hank McCoy easing the already slightly ajar door open. "Get them done before Hank arrived. Hi Hank."
"Ororo," the new arrival smiled warmly before turning to the Professor. "Charles."
"Hank, welcome," Xavier gave his fellow mutant a nod. "I wasn't expecting you."
"Oh, it's just a flying visit as I was en route back to Washington," Hank replied with a slight shrug. Xavier smiled.
"Well you are always welcome," he said as Ororo shut the folder on her desk.
"It's such a lovely day," she said, rounding the desk to stand in front of Xavier and Hank, addressing the latter in particular. "Perhaps we can go for a walk?"
"Sounds good," Hank nodded with a warm smile. He turned to look at Xavier, a frown pulling onto his brow as he took in the professor's sudden serious expression. "Professor?"
Xavier looked gravely towards the window.
"We're about to receive company…"
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
"Oh, I could stay out here all day…" Kitty sighed wistfully, lying back on the grass and closing her eyes.
"Sounds good to me," Marie smiled, snuggling into her boyfriend's chest. Bobby just laughed quietly, slipping an arm around Marie's shoulders. He looked up as a shadow appeared over them.
"Oh, hey Logan," the ice mutant smiled up at the new arrival, squinting slightly at the sunlight that spilled past the older mutant's shoulders.
"Hey," Logan grunted, eyeing the sky suspiciously. Marie looked up also, arching an eyebrow.
"Logan? Everything ok?"
The male sighed heavily.
"I smell trouble."
Marie rolled her eyes.
"You always smell trouble," she reached out and tugged on his trouser leg. "Come and lie down and relax."
Logan gave one last dubious look to the skies before sitting down next to Bobby and Marie, unable to ignore such a plea from the female. The group sat in a comfortable, content silence for several minutes… until suddenly darkness descended.
"What on earth…"
Logan's eyes narrowed as he glared back up at the sky.
"Trouble," he growled, leaping to his feet. The other mutants looked upwards too, squinting against the sunlight as the shadow seemed to grow closer. Only when the helicopter came properly into view did the group hear the soft whir of its engine and propeller…
"Kitty, Marie," Ororo appeared suddenly by the group as they stood, Hank not far behind. "Try and get the kids back inside. Or at least keep them away."
The two girls nodded as the boys followed Ororo and Hank towards the helicopter, Logan already standing near where it appeared it would land. Stealthily the helicopter touched down, the blades slowing to a stop. The waiting x-men all stared at the helicopter apprehensively, the only sound being that of Logan's claws unsheathing. Finally the doors opened, two all too familiar mutants stepping out. A low growl emitted from Logan's throat. The younger of the visitors replied with a small flick of the wrist, a small fireball twirling around his fingers…
"Pyro…" Mystique cast him a quick glance, the pyrokinetic – grudgingly – extinguishing the flame before the shapeshifter turned back to the waiting x-men, holding up her hands innocently. "We come in peace."
"I doubt that…" Logan grumbled, but Ororo gently placed a reassuring hand on his arm.
"Logan…" she said quietly, gesturing for him to take a step back. He did as he was told, albeit only a slight step. Ororo took a deep breath and turned to Mystique. "So… to what exactly do we owe the pleasure, Raven?"
Mystique curled her lip up slightly at the use of her given name but managed to maintain a calm demeanour.
"We need your help."
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
It took only a short time for the group to gather in Xavier's office – the professor, Ororo, Hank, Logan, Bobby, Piotr, Warren and the two Brotherhood mutants. The x-men turned to look at Mystique expectantly, not so concerned with the quiet fire mutant who sat beside her.
"So…" Ororo sat down opposite the other female before Logan could open his mouth. "With what exactly do you need our help?"
"And more importantly why the hell should we help?" Logan grumbled. Mystique took a deep breath, her lip curling up ever so slightly in disdain at the male but kept her gaze fixed on Ororo.
"One of my… colleagues is missing in action," she replied simply.
"And that's our problem how?" Logan scoffed. Ororo cast him a slightly exasperated look.
"Logan, please," she smiled reassuringly before turning back to Mystique. "What do you mean missing?"
Mystique took a deep breath.
"James Madrox – Multiple Man," Mystique replied. "He carries a fake ID with the name Taylor Jordison in case he's ever… injured or… caught. He went out for supplies three days ago and we haven't heard from him since. We can't find him any trace of him anywhere – he hasn't been arrested or hospitalized," she arched an eyebrow. "Not officially anyway."
"But… I mean how can you be sure he hasn't just…" Ororo frowned slightly as she sought the words but before she had the chance to think of them Logan helped her out.
"Come to his senses and got the fuck away from you guys?"
"He hasn't just left," Pyro suddenly snapped. Logan smirked slightly, holding his hands up in a mock retreat. Mystique curled her lip up slightly at Logan but otherwise continued to address Ororo.
"Multiple Man is…diligent when it comes to keeping in touch," Mystique addressed Ororo. "He would not just disappear. If he hasn't been arrested or injured then someone has taken him in secret," she glanced across at Hank. "All I ask is that perhaps someone looks into it for us?"
Hank gave a nod.
"Of course," he glanced at his watch. "I am due to return to Washington imminently anyway."
"Don't you guys have phones here?" Pyro grumbled. Hank shook his head.
"If, as you suspect, your colleague has been taken by the military or… someone else… then it is best to deal with it in person. Besides which I have greater reach back at my office," he turned his attention to Mystique. "I will be in touch as soon as I have information."
With a quick smile at Ororo, Hank gave the professor a nod and quickly exited the room. Ororo looked towards the professor, obviously having a mental conversation with him.
"Will the two of you be staying until we hear from Hank?" she queried. Pyro opened his mouth to reply but Mystique answered for them.
"If it wouldn't be an imposition."
"Myst…" Pyro started to object but the shapeshifter turned on him quickly, silencing him with a hushed conversation. The fire mutant crossed his arms defensively but he sighed quietly, bowing his head in conceit. "Fine."
Ororo gave a nod as the matter seemed to be resolved.
"Piotr, can you please find Mystique and John a room please?" she smiled as the Russian nodded, looking back to the two Brotherhood mutants. "Give you some peace while you wait."
Mystique nodded, standing gracefully. Pyro just curled his lip up and clambered to his feet as Piotr gestured for the two to follow. Ororo glanced down at her watch.
"Dinner will be served in about half an hour," she informed them.
"Not hungry," Pyro muttered, leaving the room even before Piotr. Mystique gave a slight sigh before nodding at Ororo.
"Thank you Ororo," she said before following Piotr and Pyro from the room. The door was barely shut behind them before Logan spoke up again.
"Well nice to see fireball is co-operative as ever," he muttered before looking to Ororo. "You are kidding right?"
Ororo sighed.
"They just want a little help," she replied diplomatically. "And if this Multiple Man is being held unlawfully then it this may have wider repercussions."
"But…"
"They do seem to be genuinely concerned for their friend," Ororo reasoned.
"Friend? Please," Logan scoffed. "They're just upset to be a man down."
"Logan," Ororo sighed. "I am confident they mean us no harm," she arched an eyebrow. "This time."
Logan just growled quietly and shook his head.
"I'm not so convinced."
Ororo smiled.
"Well as always I feel better knowing that your ever suspicious mind is on full alert," she gestured towards the door. "Now all of you go and enjoy what is left of the afternoon."
The remaining x-men – including Logan – left the room. Ororo sighed heavily and turned to the professor.
"What do you think?"
Xavier arched an eyebrow.
"Indeed they do seem to be genuinely concerned for their fellow mutant," he shrugged slightly. "I think we can trust them this time."