"It all happened three months ago," Toad said. His eyes stayed focused on Pyro's as he spoke. His green complexion accented the darkness of the room; the single candle on the table and the still-burning orb of fire in John's hands danced on Toad's face as he leaned forward a bit more and continued to speak.
"Actually, let's go back even further. You see, the members of the Brotherhood've had their eyes on you, myself included. Magneto first introduced the prospect of having you on our team a long time ago; he knew who you were before you'd even joined the X-Men. And believe me, if it were up to him, he'd kill every person there was on this God forsaken earth just to get to you.
"Now, since Erik told us about you, we absolutely loved the idea of a great Fire Manipulator. The idea sounded so dangerous, so risky... so powerful. Magneto told us everything there was to know about you. He had high aspirations for you. But then... you joined the X-Men. Of course, we didn't blame you. Who would have? You were younger then 'n you had no idea that the Brotherhood even existed.
"The truth is, after a while, Erik decided on a master plan to get you to join our side. We all thought it was bloody brilliant! He'd set everything up, right up to your secret crush, mate. And then Mystique, the sly girl, transformed into 'er and no one ever knew the difference. Not even the Wolverine- which was quite something if I do say so myself!
"Anyway, we set it all up; it would go down that very night. And you're probably wondering how we got Psylocke to affiliate with us? Let's just say, she followed her curiosity and never thought twice about it ever again. She likes it here and that old bugger Xavier didn't treat her well enough. She learned in time that she was better than anyone at that mansion. She learned when you have powers... you use them.
"And then there's the matter of the Phoenix. Ha, well you see, it was 'ard findin' her, but it wasn't hard to make her help us with our plans to reach you. The prospect fascinated her and she was immediately agreeable. And besides, I bet the look on ole Grey's face when she saw the clone was priceless! Pardon if I laugh, but terrifying the X-Men is something I personally love to do.
"So we had Dark Phoenix and Psylocke; Erik knew exactly what we were going to do then. So, on the night when Mystique revealed herself, Psylocke took control of your girlfriend's mind. The whole fight was staged. Oh, don't look so surprised, mate. Jubilee, right? She didn't know what was going on. You'll find that 'Locke can be very persuasive.
"We had you wrapped around our little finger. Don't be angry about it though; we knew it would happen. But it's not as if you were following what we knew you were going to do. You were in control of your own actions. We just knew them ahead of time. So, you jumped in at the precise moment and stopped Jubilee from stabbing Mystique. If you hadn't have, who knows what we would have done! But, it's a good thing that you're so gullible.
"I told you not to get angry, mate! I'm just jokin' with ya! Besides, if you loved that girlfriend of yours, there's no reason to be upset. There ya go; calm down. Anyway, that was the night that we would strike. Full force, no turning back, this was it. Now we didn't do anythin' to ole One Eye until he went into the Lab where Jubilee was. Dark Phoenix handled him. In the body of our pal Gambit o' course. Boy, that Gambit... he really doesn't know where to turn. One day he's 'good', the next day, he's slittin' throats of the innocent... you just never know when it comes to him!
"So Gambit took care of One Eye and knocked him out cold. We knew that the girl, Rogue, was in there, but we didn't feel like messin' with her. There was no need. She was... old news, I guess. But as for you... oh no... you're top shelf, me friend. That's why we wanted you- still want you. And you can't deny that the thought has crossed your mind. I can feel it in you- in the way you stare at me, how your eyes close when I mention our plans to obtain you. Don't fight it, me friend; give in.
"But I suppose if you want to stay with the X-Men... there's nothing we can do. We'd have to take you by force, and then where would that leave us? We'd have to brainwash you, torture you, maim you possibly... now how much fun would that be... for you?"
As Toad finished speaking John stared at him absently. His blank expression made the green mutant chuckle softly; John just thought to himself. But what he was thinking of, he was not sure. All he wanted to do was have it both ways. But he couldn't. And he knew that.
"You haven't told me the whole story, Toad," John said, "I want to know the rest."
Toad smirked amusedly. "All right, mate. You want to know the rest of the story? How we can read your thoughts, why you were stabbed by Psylocke, why you had to go through trials at the laboratory?" He just smiled. A malicious glint flashed across his liquid eyes.
"Or maybe," he said quietly, a mock-excited tone accented his voice, "you just want to know how Mystique is still alive?"
At his words, John felt his heart beat faster. His stomach knotted and his palms started to sweat. Yes. Yes, he did want to know! Why hadn't she died when he shot her? He saw the blood, knew that the second chamber was loaded... HOW?
"That's almost too easy," Toad chuckled, "You're gonna kick yourself after this one. But maybe I should save that story for another time. I think we're about to be going somewhere. And I'm sure Erik thinks that you have some thinking to do of your own. There's so much more for you to know but..." He sighed and looked at John mischievously. He began to speak again, "I just don't think I want to tell you right now."
John felt his blood boil and his heart quickened its pace. "Tell me, you bastard! Tell me now!" John screamed at the mutant across from him, but Toad hardly flinched.
"I'm used to getting yelled at, mate. In fact, I rather enjoy buggering with people, as you will come to find out. That is, if you join us. But the decision is in your hands, Pyro. No one's forcing you to join the Brotherhood. But," he said gleefully, "look how many people want you to stay with the X-Men."
Toad shook his head and internally smiled as he watched Pyro think for a moment. He watched him sigh and run his hands through his hair. This time, Toad smiled a real smile and stood up.
"Come on now, lad. We're gonna drop ya off at the mansion, but don't think that we won't be watchin' you."
Toad opened a door and ushered John inside. There was a helicopter there and who was the pilot? None other than Mystique.
Circumspectly, John lifted himself into the helicopter and felt a gloved hand on his arm. Toad spoke to him again, "You think about all I've said, Pyro. And when you come back, who knows! maybe I'll have to finish my story." The amphibian wagged his finger at the teenager, almost as if he were scolding him and said, "And if you tell a soul what I've told you..." His voice became serious, unnatural for Toad, "you won't have to pick sides anymore, Pyro me friend. Because you won't live to see another day."
John sat for a second and absorbed the words spoken by the mutant in front of him. Slowly, he nodded and watched as Toad smiled.
"Good then!" He yelled over the helicopter, "Cheerio!"
And with that, they were lifted into the air and Mystique directed the chopper away from the island. With a small grin to Toad and thumbs up, her and Pyro were gone.
