Standard disclaimer: only Firebat do I own
Thanks again to MFFDC for the review. Don't worry, the answer to your question will be answered next chapter.
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Tommy stared intently at the man who had just introduced himself.
"How ya doin'?" He said evenly, not rising from his fighting stance.
"Very well, thank you." The man continued to smile as if he were conversing with an old friend. "You may relax, we are not here to harm you."
Tommy looked at the three other people accompanying Professor Xavier. To his immediate right was a tall, well tanned young man wearing a device that reminded him of a futuristic piece of equipment from a late nineties sci-fi show, the man's brown hair barely moved in the early morning breeze. To the Professor's left was an individual made of ice, and an African-American woman with white hair.
"I know you guys," Tommy said finally relaxing. "You're the X-Men. Cyclops, Iceman, Storm, and the beloved leader, Professor X. The news media is not kind to you or your group."
Professor X almost looked chagrined. "That is true. Unfortunate, but true." He looked at the, would be, thieves still encased in ice behind Tommy. "Excuse me, gentlemen, but this is a private conversation."
Tommy noticed a faint pink glow surround X's head. He turned and noticed the same pink glow around the head of each thief. After a few moments the glow subsided and X nodded to Tommy.
"You may release them now, they'll be conducting themselves to the police with their loot and confess."
Tommy turned around and gently melted the ice with a heat wave that would have registered just under actual combustion. Then, he just watched the men gather their weapons, the jewels, and saunter off down the street.
"You sure they'll comply?" Tommy asked.
"Very few can actually break my," he paused to choose his words, "suggestions, once given." He returned his attention to Tommy. "Now, then. I believe that you prefer to be called Firebat at this point, so, Firebat, would you care to join us onboard our jet for an in depth discussion as to what brings us here?"
"Considering that I have very little else to do at the moment, sure." Tommy shrugged. "This could be an interesting way to kill some time." Until I pick up WarAngel's trail again. He thought.
Professor X just nodded. "Yes, WarAngel. We'll both deal with her at a later time."
Tommy increased the intensity of his stare. "You just read my mind?"
"Oh, yes, my apologies, but surface thoughts are very easy to pick up even if I'm not trying. And, yes, my mutation is telepathy. And you have my assurance that I will not read your mind any further without your express permission."
"Thank you for your word," Tommy nodded. "And trust me when I say, what's in here is for no one's eyes but mine."
"I will take your word for that. Now, then, shall we?" Professor X commanded his chair to turn around and retrace their arrival path. Considering that the chair got up to a pretty good speed, Cyclops started to jog next to the chair, Iceman created his signature ice-slide and raced ahead with Storm, having summoned a minor whirlwind, flying beside him.
Tommy crouched down and pushed off into the air, flapping his powerful, leathery wings. He caught up with Professor X's chair and maintained a matching speed.
"I must confess, Professor, I am a little confused as to what brings you here." Tommy said.
Professor X chuckled. "Why you do, my boy, you do. You see, several months ago, Cerebro detected a strong mutant signature from the Bay Area. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we could not investigate at that time."
"Cerebro?"
"A highly complex computer that magnifies my, or any, telepathic ability. We use it search for mutants who might be interested in joining our school."
"I'll have to clear this with mom and dad first." Tommy was hesitant.
"They don't know, do they?" Professor X asked.
"Well, yes and no. They know that I'm a mutant, but not that I'm Firebat. Currently, they are under the impression that I'm at the library studying for an exam in American Lit."
"What about your wings?" Cyclops asked. "And your skin color?"
"As far as they know, my red pigmentation is my only mutation. They know nothing of my wings or fire control abilities. When I'm around non-mutants, I wear a couple of belts to keep my wings in place under my clothes."
"Much like Warren did when he first joined us." Professor X said. "Ah, here we are."
Tommy had noted that they were approaching Golden Gate Park, but did not see any aircraft, jet or otherwise.
Professor X touched a button on the arm of his chair, and Tommy noted a silver line shoot from the chair and terminate about fifteen yards ahead. "You may decloak, Beast."
"Why use a radio, Professor, when you have telepathy?" Tommy asked.
"For your convenience, Firebat. It's not always polite to communicate when others are not aware."
"But I would have been aware." Tommy said landing next to him. "I can see things that most others cannot. For example, did you know that when you use your telepathy, you get a pink glow around your head?"
Professor X was taken aback. "No I was not aware of that. Can you hear telepathy as well?"
"No. Maybe. I don't know." Tommy sounded frustrated. "Most of the time I can't, but on occasion," he shrugged. "It almost feels like a tsunami trying to crush my sanity."
"Hmm." Professor X nodded thoughtfully.
The space before them shimmered and a black jet appeared with its loading ramp lowered. Tommy took a step toward the jet, but stopped when he noticed a figure descending from the interior of the craft. The figure was about six foot in height, completely covered in blue fur and bore the facial features of a cat.
"Hank, this is Firebat. He's agreed to hear out our offer." Professor X said as he moved toward the boarding ramp.
"Greetings and salutations, Firebat."
"Ciao, Signor Beast."
"Amperora, parlate la lingua classica." Beast smiled. "Someone with class with which to converse those long and dreary days between missions."
"I have a slight inclination for languages. Italian happens to be one of my favorites." Tommy shrugged.
Beast turned toward Professor X.
"Professor, I suggest we make haste. With Magneto and his Acolytes still at large, I am hesitant to leave such a slim skeleton crew at the Mansion."
Tommy couldn't help himself. "Aren't skeletons supposed to be slim?" He deadpanned. "I mean, who ever heard of a fat skeleton?"
Beast chuckled. "My friend, you haven't lived…" he said escorting Tommy into the jet.
After everyone got strapped in, except Storm who was flying ahead, the jet took off and began its eastward journey.
After the jet had achieved its cruising altitude, everyone, except Beast, turned to face Tommy.
"So, Firebat, how did you discover that you could be, well, what you are?" Cyclops asked. "If I'm not prying too much."
"Not at all. I've been dying to tell this to someone. Just couldn't find the right people. You know, someone who would understand."
