Author's Note:
The following is a series of stories that chronicles the life of Matthew and Thomas Macarthur, two characters of the author's own creation. They are mutants living in the world of the X-Men.
This is the third of a series of volumes which are divided according to major events in the main characters' lives.
The universe in which this takes place is that of the movies X-Men, X2: X-Men United, and X3: The Last Stand. The story begins about 15 years prior to the movies and progresses up to and beyond the movies. The author has chosen to ignore movies made after X3 either because he was unwilling to modify the story as it already existed in his head or wanted to use characters from those movies in different ways.
Previous volumes were written to establish the backstory of the author's own characters. Now in this volume begins these characters' interaction with the universe of the X-Men movies. This volume takes place in the years immediately preceding X-Men, and includes most of the characters and plot of this movie. The author recommends that you refresh your memory of the movie as you read, and enjoy as your favorite characters enter the story.
Previously on Metal Twins
The twin brothers Matthew (Metalloy) and Thomas (Alloy) Macarthur have gone their separate ways. Thomas was attacked by a mysterious group who experimented on him. He escaped, but was forced to flee to the country of Wakanda, where he encountered Nightcrawler and the Black Panther. Now he has returned to North America and is attempting to reenter the United States.
Matthew, defeated by heart break, had begun to live a sad and lonely life, until he was approached by a new group, a group he would learn to call his friends.
Metal Twins
Volume 3: The X-Men
Metalloy of the X-Men (Two years prior to X-Men)
Scott Summers was not happy to hear that the Professor had brought in Metalloy. "Professor, he tried to kill Jean."
"No," answered Jean, "I think that knife was meant to scare me not kill me."
"But he was drunk!"
"He was not drunk, Scott," said Professor Xavier in a calm voice. "Nor will he be while he's here."
"I don't think he's a good choice, Professor."
"Metalloy is a better man than the one you met at the bar. He is not normally one to drink. He is extremely loyal, thoughtful, and generally a good man. I think, Scott, you will come to appreciate him."
"He still better show an ability to follow orders."
"He will. In fact I want you to begin his training tomorrow, but for today I will just like to introduce him to the team and the school."
Just as the Professor finished Storm and Metalloy entered the room. "Ah Matthew, have you settle into your room?" asked the Professor.
"Yeah, I pack light."
"Good. I would like to introduce you to the team. First I imagined you gotten to know Ororo a bit more."
"Yes, Storm introduced herself a bit more."
"I believed that you have already met Scott Summers. He also goes by the code name Cyclopes." Metalloy looked at Scott and gave him a cautious nod. "He is our team leader. He is in charge of all missions as well as training. You will report to him tomorrow."
"Next is Dr. Jean Grey, our medical expert."
Metalloy immediately spoke, "Dr. Grey, please excuse my behavior at the bar, but also know that I never intended to actually hit you with that knife or any weapon. I would never hurt a woman unless I had no other choice."
"I know."
Scott was not as forgiving as Jean was, but even he could see in Metalloy's expression and voice that he was sincere and sorry. Despite his best efforts, Scott felt his anger subside a little. Perhaps Jean is rubbing off on me.
"And then there is the senior member of our team, one of my original team members, Dr. Hank McCoy. He is not here today, but I would expect that you will meet him in a couple of days."
"I look forward to it."
Scott still didn't like the situation, but he knew his duty. He approached. "I am glad you're here with us. Tomorrow we will begin one on one training in the work room at seven hundred hours."
"Where's the work room?"
"It will be on the tour." Scott extended his hand for a handshake, "Welcome to the X-Men."
Training day
Training day arrived. Matthew didn't have a clue what it to expect. When he got to the work room, he saw Dr. Grey and Storm practicing their hand to hand combat. But Cyclopes was waiting for him on a wrestling mat in the center wearing a full black combat suit.
"Nice suit?"
"Thanks," responded Cyclopes dryly. "You will get yours soon."
"Sounds like fun. What are we doing today?"
"I want to see what skill you have in hand to hand combat."
"I had a lot of experience in that realm."
"Yes, but this won't be street fighting. I am trained in a number of martial arts."
Matthew thought about telling Cyclopes about his own martial arts training, but it wasn't Matthew's habit to let anyone know the full extent of his skills or abilities. "Why are you wearing that visor?"
"This is my combat visor. It allows me to control the intensity of my optic blasts. I don't think even your metal could withstand a full blast from my eyes. Besides this visor stays on my face better than my normal one."
Cyclopes gave Matthew a little instruction on wrestling. It was extremely simple, but Matthew did his best to act interested. Then Cyclopes wanted to show him a few moves. He and Matthew grappled a bit, and Cyclopes did a sudden quick move that landed Matthew on his back. He of course saw it all coming and let it happen. He saw what Cyclopes was doing. He was trying to break the street fighter in Matthew by demonstrating some tricks to beat Matthew.
But Matthew was not just your average street fighter. In fact he knew the very trick that Cyclopes pulled on him. Matthew wrestled with different thoughts in his mind. Do I tell him or do I not? Aw, what the heck he needs to know.
At that moment Cyclopes came at him again with another throw, but Matthew using Cyclopes' own momentum spun him around and threw him down on the mat.
Cyclopes laid there for a bit, and Matthew was afraid that he'd actually hurt him. Jean Grey had already taken a few steps forward. But Cyclopes slowly got up to a sitting position. Matthew couldn't see his eyes, but he knew that he had given Cyclopes quite a surprise. Dr. Grey came closer.
"Scott, are you…"
"I'm fine Jean."
That tone of voice! Are they a couple? Matthew looked back and forth from Dr. Grey and Cyclopes and concluded that he was right in his guess.
Matthew turned and offered a hand to Cyclopes, "Sorry, I should have told you that I too have martial arts training. Most of it is self-training, but it is well practiced. I maybe out of shape now, but I was very good once, and I will be again."
"Apology accepted. And I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to treat you like a…"
Suddenly Cyclopes pulled on his hand and at the same time tried to kick Matthew's legs from under him. Of course, Matthew saw it coming via his advance warning sense. He quickly jumped over Cyclopes kick, and then pulled Cyclopes to his feet. Then the 6'3" mutant grabbed the front of Cyclopes' suit and lifted him off the ground.
"And then I throw you on the ground." Matthew slowly lowered Cyclopes.
It was hard to read Cyclopes' expression without seeing his eyes, but slowly he smiled. "I underestimated you, Metalloy. I think it is going to be interesting working with you."
The training continued for many days and weeks beyond that day. Often he and Cyclopes would wrestle. Cyclopes did have a few moves Matthew didn't know, but quite often Cyclopes would ask how he did a particular move.
Other features of training included a target shoot. Jean Grey would telekinetically raise a set of clay pigeons and Cyclopes would hit them with his optic blast. Matthew was highly impressed with his accuracy. Cyclopes almost never missed. Matthew tried his own hand with small throwing knives formed out of his own metal. He hit few targets at first, but eventually began to hit more and more.
After two weeks of training he was introduced the Danger Room. The training in there was far more intense. It didn't take Metalloy long to understand why it was call the Danger Room, when his secondary mutant ability began to identify real threats in there.
The majority of training was self-training. Matthew spent hours getting back into his prime fighting condition. He also began to work with the different weapons. He worked with throwing knives, grappling hooks, daggers, and armored hands all of which were made from his metal. His favorite was the quarter staff. He made it almost as long as he was tall. And he wielded it with a great skill, practicing taking on multiple enemies at one time.
Finally the last weapon Matthew tried was a steel bullwhip. As he made it he felt the pain of the loss of his wife, Lily. She had learned to make a bullwhip out of a vine, and she was good at cracking it. Matthew tried unsuccessfully to master it, but it proved to be a great challenge.
But he won't give up on it. While with the X-Men Matthew thought little of Lily, but he still felt the need to remind himself of the woman that had left him.
The DAMF (a year and a half prior to X-Men)
Richard Sten sat comfortably in a nice office guest chair waiting for his host to arrive for an important meeting. He hear the voice of his host's assistance, Henry Guyrich, in the next room.
"Mr. Senator, Senior Deputy Marshal Richard Sten is waiting in your office."
United States Senator Robert Kelly was Sten's host. The Senator had called him to this meeting to discuss the most important political issue of the day: the mutant problem.
Most people would say that Sten and Senator Kelly were in complete agreement on the issue. Kelly didn't understand mutants, and he feared them and what they could do to his country. Sten did understand them, but he did not fear mutants, rather he hated them. If he could he would find a way to kill all the mutants… Yes, the world would be well rid of them. There was a man in the military, a colonel no less, named William Stryker who was of the same mind as Sten, but today Sten didn't needed a colonel; he needed a senator.
Senator Kelly entered the room. "Ah, Inspector Richard Sten, I hope my assistant, Mr. Guyrich, has made you comfortable."
"Quite, Senator," answered Sten as he rose to shake the Senator's hand. "We don't have such comfortable offices back in the Marshals."
"A perk of getting elected. I imagine that you know why I asked you to come today. I read your proposal and have found it very intriguing. But before I consider this proposal further I wanted to hear from you personally about why you feel the need for this new federal agency."
"The reason is complex. First let me say that the U.S. Marshalls was a fitting beginning place for this program, but now the need to control dangerous mutants has grown too large for the Marshalls to handle." Sten leaned in a bit closer to the Senator and lowered his voice. "There is also another reason. There are some in the Marshalls that are not comfortable with the measures required to capture a mutant fugitive or even with the notion of having a division within the Marshalls specifically for the capture of these dangerous mutants." Sten leaned back in his chair again. "The fact is, Senator, that the issue of mutant fugitives is only going to grow and the Marshalls will soon be unprepared to deal with it. My proposed new agency will be ahead of the game and ready to take on the threat."
Sten had worked this pitch in his head many times, wondering how much sugar coating would be necessary to easy the Senator's fears. It came out a bit more bluntly than he intended, and now Senator Kelly was leaning back thoughtfully in his chair. Too blunt, Sten. He's not going to go for it. Politicians are too soft for this.
"I like it." Kelly's answer surprised Sten, but he didn't let it show on his face. "In fact I think it is the perfect next step in our response to the mutant problem. You are right that not everyone thinks as we do, Dick. We need to lead the American people into seeing what a threat these mutants really are. By beginning with the fugitives, those we know to be dangerous, we will show the American people the true color of these mutants. Then we can move to the next step."
"The next step?" Sten was intrigued. Maybe this Senator is not all bark.
"Mutant registration. I have been working on an act that will require all mutants to register so that we can better watch them and control them. But it is too early for the American people. But soon, and with the help of your new agency, we will be ready to introduce this on the Senate floor."
Kelly has teeth after all. "So you will present this new agency to the Senate?"
"Yes, in fact I will present this new Department for the Apprehension of Mutant Fugitives to the Senate tomorrow. I am confident that I have the support I need to pass it. The DAMF will live. One more question. Who do you recommend to be the first director of this new department?"
"There are many qualified individuals for the job. But I must, at the risk of sounding arrogant, recommend myself. It was my idea, and I think I know how to shape this department."
"I was hoping you would say that. Consider yourself recommended, Inspector Sten, or should I say Director Sten."
"Thank you, Senator Kelly. Together we will confront this mutant problem, together we will win."
Council of the X-Men
"So they passed the bill?"
Professor Xavier sat as always in his wheel chair in his office. His expression hid his thoughts from all. Jean Grey, a telepath herself, wondered now and many other times what went through his mind. But of course even if she tried she could never out do his own extremely powerful telepathy.
"Indeed, Professor." The voice came from the large mutant covered in blue hair sitting before the Professor. "Senator Kelly managed to find just enough votes to get his new Department for the Apprehension of Mutant Fugitives pass the Senate. I expect that the House will not challenge it, and the President will sign it into law. So I believe that the DAMF will be operational in a matter of months."
This blue haired mutant was of course Dr. Hank McCoy, also known as the Beast. Contrary to his large size and extreme athletic abilities Dr. McCoy was a genius. His expertise were varied. Much of the X-Men's technology was developed by Dr. McCoy, not the least of which was much of the technology on their stealth jet. But lately Hank had been spending time away from the X-Men.
"We will have to keep a close eye on this DAMF," said the Professor.
"A concern, Professor, will your new recruit be safe from this agency?" asked Hank.
"Why would Matthew be in danger?" The question came from Scott who was standing near the door.
"Because, Scott, Matthew is a mutant, and he is a fugitive," answered the Professor.
"What!?"
Jean was just as shocked as Scott, but a quick glance at Storm showed that she was aware of it.
"What did he do?" asked Scott.
"That is not for me to tell. But it will suffice for me to say that the charge leveled against him is not at all accurate. As for your concern, Hank, the charge is quite old and not local, and Matthew has avoided law enforcement quite well for many years. I doubt he is at all high on the DAMF's list."
"Then I suppose I ought to get ready to go."
"Hank! You're leaving already! You just got back," said Jean.
"Jean, the Professor and I have been discussing much lately. We've concluded that it is time for me to fight for mutant kind in a different way. This country needs a mutant who can represent all mutants in a good way. Since I am well educated and most obviously a mutant, it is fitting that I should try to fill this need."
"That is why you have had me take over the medical responsibilities of the X-Men."
"Yes, Dr. Grey. And you are well suited to the job."
Scott suddenly walked forward and spoke to the Professor, "And that's why you recruited Metalloy; to replace the Beast."
"Scott, I will never be able to replace Hank. He is one of the founding members of the X-Men, and there is none like him. But, yes, I am supplementing the X-Men to try and fill the gaps that Hank will leave. Metalloy's abilities and experiences have led him to be an excellent hand to hand fighter which is something the X-Men currently lack. I also choose him for his loyalty and control. I am hoping that he will help the team to grow.
"And he is not my only recruit. Tomorrow a young man named Peter Rasputin will be arriving. He was denied an education in his youth because of his mutant ability. I am bringing him here as a student, but I hope he will one day also join the team."
"What is his mutant ability?" asked Storm speaking up for the first time.
"Mr. Rasputin is not unlike Metalloy. His skin can change completely into metal, but he can't shape it like Matthew can. But Mr. Rasputin also poses superhuman strength. I do not intend to ask him to join the team until after he completes his GED. He has agreed to take classes with the older children, starting this school year."
The meeting came to an end before Storm could process all that had been said. A new student and possible team member was coming tomorrow, just in time for the U.S. government to create a new agency with the purpose of hunting mutants. But none of the news hit her as hard as the news of Hank's departure.
Storm considered Hank to be a close friend. As Jean and Scott grew closer together and started being a couple, she and Hank had been left as the only other X-Men. She felt like a third wheel sometimes around Jean and Scott.
"Ororo, may I walk with you?"
"Of course, Hank." Together they left the room. Jean as exited with them, but Scott as usual stayed to talk with the Professor. "You gave us a bit of a surprise back there, Hank."
"I didn't mean for it to be so abrupt. My apologies. I have been thinking about this for some time though."
"Don't worry, Hank. We understand," said Jean who was walking on the other side of the Beast.
"I would like to meet this Metalloy before I leave. The Professor has told me quite a bit about him."
"He is usually training in the work room. Do you want me to bring him up?"
"No, I will go down to him."
"Sorry, Hank, but I have other responsibilities right now," said Jean. "You will say goodbye before you leave won't you."
"Of course I will, Jean."
Storm and Hank took the elevator down to the lower, secret level of the X-mansion. She then led Hank into one of the side rooms off the large main hallway. Sure enough Metalloy was there, practicing his boxing against a punching bag. As they approached Metalloy changed from a boxing style to a martial arts style. He delivered a series of punches and kicks to the bag in quick secession.
He saw them approaching and turned to face them. "Hello, Storm. This must be the Beast."
"Yes, indeed. Dr. Hank McCoy." Hank extended his hand.
Metalloy quickly wiped his hands and face with a towel and then accepted Hank's handshake. "Matthew Macarthur or Metalloy if you prefer. Sorry, I'm not the most presentable right now."
"I here you're quite the expert in hand to hand combat. Scott speaks quite highly of your skill."
"I've picked up a few things here and there. I've had an unfortunate amount of experience in street fighting."
"The moves you were just displaying were not those of a street fighter."
"No, I took martial arts classes when I could."
"You seem very well practiced." Storm noticed that Hank was probing a little.
"I used to spar with my brother."
"You have a brother?" This was the first Storm had heard of this.
"Yes, but we've been estranged for a few years. We used to train against each other. My brother is quicker than I am, but I am stronger."
"You seem quick to me."
Metalloy then turned to Hank. "So, will you be rejoining us now?"
"No, I think I am needed elsewhere in this mission of mutant-human peace. The physical battle ground is not the only one."
"Will you be staying here long?"
"No, I need to get going soon. Speaking of which I would like to visit with Scott and Jean before I depart. Matthew, it was a pleasure to meet you."
"It was a pleasure for me also."
Turning to Storm he said, "Ororo, I will make sure to find you before I leave."
"Thanks, Hank."
And with that Hank left. Metalloy moved back to the boxing bag, but then he noticed that Storm hadn't left yet.
"Is there something else I can do for you, Storm?"
Storm looked at Metalloy with curiosity. "Professor Xavier told us that he partially choose you for your hand to hand combat skills. I was wondering if you could teach me a few things."
"What Cyclopes teaches is pretty good, but if you would like I could teach you a few techniques, such as how to maximize attack strength and where a person's weak points are." Metalloy then demonstrated a few such moves on the boxing bag.
"I'm not so concerned about that. I want to know how you are able to read your opponents actions, how you know what he is going to do."
Metalloy stopped boxing the bag, and stood still as though making some decision.
"Metalloy?"
"I can't teach you that."
"Why not?"
"Because that would be like you teaching me how to control the weather."
"It's nothing like that. My control of the weather is simply my mutant ability. Your ability to read an opponent…"
"…Is a mutant ability."
"What?"
"Storm, making and shaping metal is not my only mutant ability. I can see things before they happen when they pose a threat to me. When someone tries to punch me, cut me, or even shoot me I see it before it happens. My quick reflexes are actually the result of limited foresight."
"I had no idea."
"I've only told three other people about this. I otherwise keep it a secret."
"Does the Professor know?"
"Yes, he does. Perhaps it's time for the rest of the team to know." He paused and then laughed. "Scott's not going to like this. This whole time he thought I was simply better than him, but he never knew that I could see his moves before he could do anything."
"No, I don't suppose that he will like that. I think I will go up and see Hank off."
"I will jump in the shower. Maybe I will get there in time to see him off as well."