A few days passed and it was lunchtime at school, Scott, Jean,
Kitty and Rogue were all sitting at a table together. "It's been a week
since Jean and I went to Rick's house, and that same day his home caught
fire," said Scott. "You can't help but feel worried and a little
responsible. We should have brought him to the institute and we could have
helped him!" Scott slammed his fist on the table. "But the Professor said
that there were no bodies found at the site of the fire, he's probably
hiding out somewhere safe." Kitty said. "I know, I know... but he also
can't find a single trace of Rick with Cerebro." The whole group dreaded
over the worst possible outcome. Rogue spoke up, "Well, Cerebro only works
when a mutant is using his powers, maybe Rick doesn't know how to use them
yet." "That's always a possibility... let's just hope he's okay." Jean told
them all.
A few hours later school was over, Scott and Kurt were leaving the campus when they saw someone familiar standing in front of the school. They were astonished to see Rick. "Rick!" they ran to him, but something was different. Rick wasn't there to greet them, he smiled, but it wasn't a very friendly one. He made a gesture with his head for Scott to follow him and walked away. "What was that about?" Scott asked Kurt. "I don't know man, but Rick seems different than before" Kurt answered in his German accent. "Maybe we should follow him." Kurt said. "I don't know" Scott replied, "Kurt, go tell the others, I'm going after him." "Right." Kurt teleported away and Scott searched for Rick.
Scott walked through the park where he saw Rick enter and was scouting the area. "So, Scott... did you miss me?" said a voice coming from above him. Scott looked up to see Rick sitting on a tree branch. "Rick, where have you been?" answered Scott. Rick jumped off the branch and landed on the floor perfectly. He lifted his head up to face Scott. "Aww, I guess you didn't miss me. Well, before I tell you anything Scott... I'd like to show you something." Rick's eyes began to glow, a bright blue flame appeared in his eyes and around his body like an aura. He aimed his hand toward Scott and shot an immense blue flame at him. The Flames were inches away from Scott when suddenly they were reflected. Jean appeared and she was using her telekinesis to form a shield to protect him. She wasn't alone, she came with the rest of the team. Evan, Kurt, Kitty and Rogue were there too. "Rogue...?" Rick said beneath his breath. Evan shot some of his spikes at Rick. He barely dodged the first few and burned the others to a crisp. Rick's arms were covered in flames and was about to fire back at Daniels when the other team members ran and stood next to Evan. So Rick held back and The flames disappeared. Rick stood up and backed away slightly. "This was fun, let's do it again sometime." Rick laughed and turned the other way, retreating into the trees. Jean ran to Scott, "Scott, what happened here? Why was Rick attacking you?" Evan approached him, along with Kurt, Kitty and Rogue. Scott stood in front of them and looked to where Rick ran off to, "I don't know, let's just get back and tell the professor."
Later that evening, Rick met with the strange man again. Rick kneeled in front of him. "Master Magneto, sir..." he began but was cut off. "Silence, you disappointed me tonight. Why did you hold back?" Rick looked to the floor, not wanting to look up at Magneto. "You have feelings for that... Girl, don't you?" The powerful mutant asked. "She... she helped me the other day..." "Well put those feelings behind you, she is the enemy now and you will defeat her and the rest of the X-men!" He ordered. "Now, go home." "Y-yes, sir."
Rick walked to the address on the piece of paper he had in his pocket. Magneto gave him directions to the boarding house where other mutants were staying. It was a big risk to Magneto because Rick would go on as if he never met him and might join the other side. Rick walked into the crummy looking house he was supposed to live in and found four teens inside. They all turned to face him and didn't exactly look happy to have a new roommate. "Hey there, roomies." Rick smirked, glaring over all of them. "I'll be staying with you guys, if anyone has a problem, why don't you step up and tell me right now?" Of course, the whole group stood up, and Lance responded first, "Yeah, I think we all have a problem with that."
Rick looked over all of them and sighed. "So quick to resort to violence, I know you guys know better than that." He looked over at Fred Dukes, the guy who knocked him out a few days earlier. "As much as I'd love to get some payback on Dukes over there, I think fists aren't the answer." Lance and the others eased up a little and gave Rick their attention. "We're listening." Rick stood in front of them and told them the facts; "Xavier has a lot of people on his side, so it's only obvious that an extra hand in the Brotherhood wouldn't be too bad." They all nodded and the highly energetic Pietro Maximoff cut in. "Yeah but Boss Lady and Magneto aren't even around, who knows when we'll go against the geek squad again" Rick pondered that thought, "Well, until then, I'll be staying here... feels just like home already." Rick walked past his new comrades and headed upstairs when Fred stopped him. "You can't just walk in here and not show us what you can do, let's see it." The rebellious punk looked around walked outside, followed by the others. "My power isn't very indoor friendly. Check this out." Rick concentrated and created a bright blue flame around his hand and formed it into a ball. He spun it around on his fingers to showboat in front of the group. "A pyro, huh?" Todd "Toad" Tolansky said aloud. Rick placed both hands on the flame and compressed it, making it disappear. His eyes began to "flame up" like earlier and he looked to them. "Just call me... Flare."
Meanwhile at the Xavier Institute. "Professor!" Scott ran along with the other X-men and met up with Professor Xavier. The Prof. was standing with Logan and knew what this was about. "I know Scott, I know. Cerebro detected the use of mutant powers while you were gone. It seems we know a little more about Rick now." He pointed at the screen, which had an image of Rick on it and a brief profile. "Name: Rick Alvarez; Age: 16; Residence: Bayville" The computer stated when the Professor cut it off. "Rick was living with his parents in Northbrook until they were divorced and Rick had to move to Bayville with his sister. That is all I can find out, it seems someone went to a great amount of trouble to hide his records. I am sure you all got a demonstration of his mutant abilities." "It seems to be some form of Pyrokinesis, but we're not sure if he can fully control it." Jean told Professor Xavier. Evan interrupted, "It sure seemed like he could, he roasted my attack as if it was firewood. "I know! It was totally freaky." Kitty added, "I can't believe I thought he was cute." Kurt and Rogue rolled their eyes when hearing Kitty's comment. The Professor folded his hands together and headed out the room. "The only way to find out what has happened here is to confront Rick himself, try to reach him. Perhaps we can help him with anything he is unsure of." The team looked at each other and nodded. "Sure thing Professor, you can count on us." Scott assured him.
It was just about time for the kids at Mutant Manor to turn in for the night; Kitty and Rogue were lying in their beds but were not asleep.. "Kitty...?" Rogue asked. "Yeah, Rogue?" Kitty responded. "Ah was wondering, The Professor said Rick was from Northbrook, isn't that where you were from before you moved here?" Kitty tried to think back to see if she could remember Rick from school. "I'm not sure. Now that you ask, I do kinda remember someone like him. He was never out in the open or hung out with any of the well-known kids at school, mostly kept to himself. Not to mention that he's got a whole different look." Rogue rolled around in her bed, "Ah guess ah can relate." Hey!" Kitty sat up and looked to Rogue. "You should talk to him! I'm sure you have a lot more in common than you think." Rogue turned to face her but didn't seem like she was in the mood to talk. "Maybe, we'll find out tomorrow, but right now, ah'm goin' to bed. 'Night Kitty." Kitty yawned and lied down again, "'Night Rogue."
Back at the boarding house, Lance and Rick were standing outside on the porch of the boarding house, talking. "You guys actually used your powers at the soccer game? What the heck were you thinking Alvers?" Rick laughed at the tremor-causing teen. "I was tired of keeping things under wraps and hiding all the time, but those X-punks had to ruin everything!" Lance cause a small shake out of anger. "Whoa, watch it there!" Rick held on to the wall trying to stay balanced. "I never thought I'd meet up with you again Alvers, I thought you would have welcomed me with open arms." Rick smirked. "Yeah right. I never would have guessed that you were a mutant." "A lot has happened Lance, much has changed..." Rick stared at the ground for a moment. "Don't go getting soft on me 'Flare'." Lance told Rick mockingly. "You don't need to worry about that Alvers." "Well, whatever." Lance yawned and walked into the building. "I'm goin' to bed now, if you plan on goin' to school tomorrow then you should do the same." "Yeah, yeah... you sound like my sister." Rick just remembered about his sister, he forgot about her being in the hospital and was now really worried. "...Elissa?"
A few hours later school was over, Scott and Kurt were leaving the campus when they saw someone familiar standing in front of the school. They were astonished to see Rick. "Rick!" they ran to him, but something was different. Rick wasn't there to greet them, he smiled, but it wasn't a very friendly one. He made a gesture with his head for Scott to follow him and walked away. "What was that about?" Scott asked Kurt. "I don't know man, but Rick seems different than before" Kurt answered in his German accent. "Maybe we should follow him." Kurt said. "I don't know" Scott replied, "Kurt, go tell the others, I'm going after him." "Right." Kurt teleported away and Scott searched for Rick.
Scott walked through the park where he saw Rick enter and was scouting the area. "So, Scott... did you miss me?" said a voice coming from above him. Scott looked up to see Rick sitting on a tree branch. "Rick, where have you been?" answered Scott. Rick jumped off the branch and landed on the floor perfectly. He lifted his head up to face Scott. "Aww, I guess you didn't miss me. Well, before I tell you anything Scott... I'd like to show you something." Rick's eyes began to glow, a bright blue flame appeared in his eyes and around his body like an aura. He aimed his hand toward Scott and shot an immense blue flame at him. The Flames were inches away from Scott when suddenly they were reflected. Jean appeared and she was using her telekinesis to form a shield to protect him. She wasn't alone, she came with the rest of the team. Evan, Kurt, Kitty and Rogue were there too. "Rogue...?" Rick said beneath his breath. Evan shot some of his spikes at Rick. He barely dodged the first few and burned the others to a crisp. Rick's arms were covered in flames and was about to fire back at Daniels when the other team members ran and stood next to Evan. So Rick held back and The flames disappeared. Rick stood up and backed away slightly. "This was fun, let's do it again sometime." Rick laughed and turned the other way, retreating into the trees. Jean ran to Scott, "Scott, what happened here? Why was Rick attacking you?" Evan approached him, along with Kurt, Kitty and Rogue. Scott stood in front of them and looked to where Rick ran off to, "I don't know, let's just get back and tell the professor."
Later that evening, Rick met with the strange man again. Rick kneeled in front of him. "Master Magneto, sir..." he began but was cut off. "Silence, you disappointed me tonight. Why did you hold back?" Rick looked to the floor, not wanting to look up at Magneto. "You have feelings for that... Girl, don't you?" The powerful mutant asked. "She... she helped me the other day..." "Well put those feelings behind you, she is the enemy now and you will defeat her and the rest of the X-men!" He ordered. "Now, go home." "Y-yes, sir."
Rick walked to the address on the piece of paper he had in his pocket. Magneto gave him directions to the boarding house where other mutants were staying. It was a big risk to Magneto because Rick would go on as if he never met him and might join the other side. Rick walked into the crummy looking house he was supposed to live in and found four teens inside. They all turned to face him and didn't exactly look happy to have a new roommate. "Hey there, roomies." Rick smirked, glaring over all of them. "I'll be staying with you guys, if anyone has a problem, why don't you step up and tell me right now?" Of course, the whole group stood up, and Lance responded first, "Yeah, I think we all have a problem with that."
Rick looked over all of them and sighed. "So quick to resort to violence, I know you guys know better than that." He looked over at Fred Dukes, the guy who knocked him out a few days earlier. "As much as I'd love to get some payback on Dukes over there, I think fists aren't the answer." Lance and the others eased up a little and gave Rick their attention. "We're listening." Rick stood in front of them and told them the facts; "Xavier has a lot of people on his side, so it's only obvious that an extra hand in the Brotherhood wouldn't be too bad." They all nodded and the highly energetic Pietro Maximoff cut in. "Yeah but Boss Lady and Magneto aren't even around, who knows when we'll go against the geek squad again" Rick pondered that thought, "Well, until then, I'll be staying here... feels just like home already." Rick walked past his new comrades and headed upstairs when Fred stopped him. "You can't just walk in here and not show us what you can do, let's see it." The rebellious punk looked around walked outside, followed by the others. "My power isn't very indoor friendly. Check this out." Rick concentrated and created a bright blue flame around his hand and formed it into a ball. He spun it around on his fingers to showboat in front of the group. "A pyro, huh?" Todd "Toad" Tolansky said aloud. Rick placed both hands on the flame and compressed it, making it disappear. His eyes began to "flame up" like earlier and he looked to them. "Just call me... Flare."
Meanwhile at the Xavier Institute. "Professor!" Scott ran along with the other X-men and met up with Professor Xavier. The Prof. was standing with Logan and knew what this was about. "I know Scott, I know. Cerebro detected the use of mutant powers while you were gone. It seems we know a little more about Rick now." He pointed at the screen, which had an image of Rick on it and a brief profile. "Name: Rick Alvarez; Age: 16; Residence: Bayville" The computer stated when the Professor cut it off. "Rick was living with his parents in Northbrook until they were divorced and Rick had to move to Bayville with his sister. That is all I can find out, it seems someone went to a great amount of trouble to hide his records. I am sure you all got a demonstration of his mutant abilities." "It seems to be some form of Pyrokinesis, but we're not sure if he can fully control it." Jean told Professor Xavier. Evan interrupted, "It sure seemed like he could, he roasted my attack as if it was firewood. "I know! It was totally freaky." Kitty added, "I can't believe I thought he was cute." Kurt and Rogue rolled their eyes when hearing Kitty's comment. The Professor folded his hands together and headed out the room. "The only way to find out what has happened here is to confront Rick himself, try to reach him. Perhaps we can help him with anything he is unsure of." The team looked at each other and nodded. "Sure thing Professor, you can count on us." Scott assured him.
It was just about time for the kids at Mutant Manor to turn in for the night; Kitty and Rogue were lying in their beds but were not asleep.. "Kitty...?" Rogue asked. "Yeah, Rogue?" Kitty responded. "Ah was wondering, The Professor said Rick was from Northbrook, isn't that where you were from before you moved here?" Kitty tried to think back to see if she could remember Rick from school. "I'm not sure. Now that you ask, I do kinda remember someone like him. He was never out in the open or hung out with any of the well-known kids at school, mostly kept to himself. Not to mention that he's got a whole different look." Rogue rolled around in her bed, "Ah guess ah can relate." Hey!" Kitty sat up and looked to Rogue. "You should talk to him! I'm sure you have a lot more in common than you think." Rogue turned to face her but didn't seem like she was in the mood to talk. "Maybe, we'll find out tomorrow, but right now, ah'm goin' to bed. 'Night Kitty." Kitty yawned and lied down again, "'Night Rogue."
Back at the boarding house, Lance and Rick were standing outside on the porch of the boarding house, talking. "You guys actually used your powers at the soccer game? What the heck were you thinking Alvers?" Rick laughed at the tremor-causing teen. "I was tired of keeping things under wraps and hiding all the time, but those X-punks had to ruin everything!" Lance cause a small shake out of anger. "Whoa, watch it there!" Rick held on to the wall trying to stay balanced. "I never thought I'd meet up with you again Alvers, I thought you would have welcomed me with open arms." Rick smirked. "Yeah right. I never would have guessed that you were a mutant." "A lot has happened Lance, much has changed..." Rick stared at the ground for a moment. "Don't go getting soft on me 'Flare'." Lance told Rick mockingly. "You don't need to worry about that Alvers." "Well, whatever." Lance yawned and walked into the building. "I'm goin' to bed now, if you plan on goin' to school tomorrow then you should do the same." "Yeah, yeah... you sound like my sister." Rick just remembered about his sister, he forgot about her being in the hospital and was now really worried. "...Elissa?"