Disclaimer: I always forget to do this! Arg... I still own nothing...just like last time. At least, nothing in regards to the X-men or any other story-verse I pull into this mess. For readers just joining in, this is part six in a longer crossover series set in the X-Men the movie universe, so if you see someone you don't know, they're probably either a new character or a crossover. :-) I like to think of it as a multiverse smoothy (this time...with extra Toad! Yay!)
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Chapter One:
Click click click...
Click click click...
Click click click...
The sharp noise echoed through the chamber that housed the Brotherhood's growing fleet of flying transports. The area was vast, large enough to hold ten times the number of vehicles now stored there. However, considering the current population of Erik Lensherr's fortressed island, the few helicopters and jets they had acquired more than served their present needs.
Not that the resident mechanic ever ran out of maintenance work to keep him busy.
Click click click...
Toad twisted the wrench in his hand a few more times, making sure the last bolt on the small jet's hull was securely in place and then he let it drop noisily to the ground. It hit the metallic floor with a loud clang, but it barely had time to settle before Toad's long tongue snatched another tool deftly from the ground.
His face was twisted in a dark scowl, but it was not directed at anything in particular, least of all the machine he was clinging to. It had just been an expression he had become accustom to wearing in his nearly two decades or so of life. His mind was entirely occupied with his task at hand and it never wandered while he was working.
It had been something he had learned to do after coming to the island, how to give himself a sort of respite from his otherwise tumultuous psyche. Aside from the rigorous training program Magneto had developed for him when he was young, working on the island's many machines and systems had been his only regular activity.
In training, in fighting, in killing, Toad used his memories and anger to push himself onward. It had certainly been his own fury at the X-Men after Liberty Island that gave him the strength to pull himself out of the Hudson River.
In mechanics, one needed patience and focus to complete a task and do it well. When he was younger, Toad dedicated himself entirely to Magneto and his cause, and the older mutant's words of approval were enough to keep him motivated to achieve. Now, it was pretty much the same. The tasks themselves were easier, but his intense dedication never wavered.
Toad dropped the tool his had been using to the ground with the others, and scratched the left side of his face thoughtfully. The jagged scar that ran down his jaw never really itched anymore, but it had been a habit he picked up when the burn from Storm's attack, now nearly two years earlier, had begun to heal. Toad had been injured before, innumerable times in his youth and more than a few in his adulthood, but the burn had been the biggest bitch while it was healing.
After a few moments of inspection, Toad leapt down to the ground, seemingly satisfied with the repairs on the small jet...for now...until he found another flaw that required immediate attention. He pulled his thick goggles from his face and rubbed his eyes with his fingers. He had no idea how long he had been working on the jet today. He rarely wore a timepiece while he was on the island and, since the large bay doors were closed, he had no way to judge the passage of hours.
Especially without Pyro around announcing to everyone when he planned to go to the mess and eat. Breakfast...lunch...dinner...the kid's stomach was like clockwork. Toad figured Pyro got into that habit at Xavier's school, three square meals delivered by the courteous staff each day promptly at the appropriate hours. Toad had harassed the younger mutant a few times about his punctual appetite, but never with any real malice. He could tell by the kid's face that he had not always had the luxury of regular meals (something a young man named Mortimer Toynbee had also come to appreciate from Magneto).
Pyro had been gone almost a month now, and though he would never admit it, the Island was much less interesting without the kid around burning the place up all the time. Even the Lady Deathstrike seemed a little put off by Pyro's absence, though she had not been present on the Island before Akalai Lake, when it had just been Magneto, Mystique and Toad...and occasionally Sabertooth, but he and Toad had never really been in each others good graces...if they had any good graces...
Toad opened his eyes and glanced around the mostly empty cavern. He had been preparing the large jet for departure. Magneto had hinted that he planned to send Mystique and the Lady to New York City on a little check up mission to visit Pyro and his 'host' family. Magneto had maintained weekly contact with the youngest member of the Brotherhood, for progress reports on his training...and his other mission.
The Malloy family, Toad though with a mix of apprehension and annoyance.
For the past month, everyone on the Island seemed to refer to the strange trio as one whole entity instead of by their individual names. Looking back on the events that had introduced them to the Malloys, it was a wonder any of them had come out alive.
Sentinel, the word had echoed in the minds of all the Brotherhood since their final showdown in Stryker's underground base. However, even that great machine had been brought down (unintentionally) by the power of a mutant. This victory had reaffirmed for the Brotherhood the primary motivation behind Magneto's work....mutant domination was possible.
The family with whom Pyro now resided was made up of three individuals. The first was a man Magneto had known in the past, when he still held the title of Watcher in the Council, whose name was Sebastian Malloy. After Sebastian had left Watcher training, for very obvious violations of the Council's laws, he eventually took up custody of his niece and nephew, who were the children of his brother and an infamous mutant known for her ability to start fires.
The twins inherited the mutant gene from their parents and had their own gifts. Jeremy Malloy, whom Toad knew by the nickname Sid, had the ability to mold and manipulate glass down to the smallest molecule, mastering the substance to the point that he could even use it to heal his own injuries (though, medically, the Lady had not been able to explain how). Rebecca Malloy shared her mother's gift of fire, and even though she was able to generate heat and flames from her own body, her power functioned more as a defense mechanism than anything else. It had been the trauma of a bullet wound that had drawn enough power from her mind to destroy the Sentinel, though it only took the smallest threat to spark the fire in her hands (as Toad had witnessed at the start of the Brotherhood's previous mission).
Magneto had convinced Sebastian to allow Pyro to stay with them to aid in the boy's training. Despite Sebastian's alienation from the Council, the twins were still 'watched' from time to time, and had access to sophisticated facilities where Pyro could learn to use his powers more effectively (and not burn down the Island while he did).
However, Toad knew Magneto had another motive for allowing Pyro to stay in the city. The boy was not only learning about his own powers, but the presence of other mutants around him as well. Magneto was aware of a growing trend in most of the world's cities. It had been something he had monitored quite easily when he was Erik Lensherr of the Watcher's Council.
Mutants were gathering. Mostly young men and women who have been turned out by their families for being what they are, but still mutants who were lost, on the run, and looking for answers. In his younger years, the Council's great houses had often times taken in young people who had extraordinary powers, but once science established a genetic cause of their gifts, they were no longer considered supernatural by the Council's standards. Therefore, the groups of wandering mutants were forced to search for another haven. And they found it in the Underground.
For centuries, those with supernatural gifts had come together in secret, creating places of solace for those who were hunted...by Slayers or witch burners or otherwise. When the mutant population began to grow, it was only natural for the Underground to embrace this wholly new generation as its own. That had been one reason Charles Xavier had founded his school, to keep mutant children away from the Underground, and all the nasty demons and other baddies who lurked in those dark places.
For Magneto, it had become the perfect means to search for mutants who may help strengthen the Brotherhood, and further the fight for mutants' rightful status above all humans and those creatures who stalked through the innocent night.
And who better to introduce these young mutants to the Brotherhood than someone their own age. Pyro would go with the twins to the Underground's clubs, coven houses and training facilities and he would do watching for Magneto, and report back on any prospective recruits.
Recruits, Toad thought with more than a little disgust. He understood why the Brotherhood had to increase their strength and their numbers, but he hated the idea of even more new mutants crowding the Island. One Pyro he could deal with, but dozens like him? This place was going to turn into a bloody circus.
No, he thought, pulling his fingerless gloves back over his hands, Magneto would keep them in order. He would train them, just like he trained me. He would make them understand the glory behind his plan. And when everything was set, no human army on earth would be able to stand up to them.
Toad thought about the Sentinel again and a wicked gleam came into his eyes. He remembered the expressions on the faces of Stryker's men when Rebecca had begun to destroy the base. She had not been entirely aware of her actions, but Toad's memories about the event had an eerie clarity.
The orange light of the flames, the incredible heat flowing out over the snowy floors, the human soldiers running in terror from their mutant foes, the X-Men turning tail and leaving as the Brotherhood remained until the end of the battle. Magneto had considered it a victory and Toad accepted it as one, even if their original mission ended in an entirely different manner than Magneto had intended.
As he began to gather up his equipment and move onto his next task, Toad heard his communicator chime as someone signaled for him. He put the small device on his ear and answered the caller curtly.
"This is Toad, over," he said in his heavy English accent.
"Have you finished the repairs on the jet?" Magneto's voice asked simply.
"It's ready," he replied, "All systems online and functioning."
"Good work," Magneto said approvingly, "Please come over to the office then. I need to discuss the upcoming mission with the team."
Toad replied, "Right away. Toad out."
He stowed his equipment quickly and began to walk down to Magneto's main chamber. Mystique and the Lady Deathstrike must be preparing to leave, and Toad felt a touch of pride about his work on the small aircraft, as he did whenever Magneto complimented his skill.
Toad thought back again on the Sentinel and the mutant that had destroyed it. When he was young, Toad had yearned for the sort of powers Rebecca Malloy possessed, power enough to destroy his enemies with barely a thought. Wipe the sneering and disgusted expressions right off their faces. The initial fascination he had with the firestarting mutant had faded quickly after he realized how hesitant she was to use her gifts. It was disappointing really, to find a mutant with such power who was afraid to unleash it.
Perhaps Magneto's influence would change that in time.
Toad moved through the circular tunnel leading to the smaller inner sanctum of the Island, and was greeted by his leader's approving nod.
"Hello, Toad," he said, "I'm glad you were able to come so promptly. I'm afraid there has been a slight change of plans to the upcoming mission."
Toad crouched in his usual spot near one stony wall and regarded Magneto curiously. Mystique was standing nearby, also watching Magneto as he spoke. To Toad's surprise, the Lady Deathstrike was not present and he wondered why she had not been summoned to the mission's briefing.
"You are both aware of the planned visit to New York to check up on young Pyro," Magneto said, "I know the original plan was to have the Lady accompany you, Mystique...however...other circumstances have arisen that require her immediate attention. So, Toad, I would like you to join Mystique on this journey. The goal remains the same...find out what Pyro has learned about the Underground and make note of any mutants he has encountered. If possible, carry out reconnaissance in identified areas and take first hand accounts of any mutants and their powers. Understood?"
Toad and Mystique both nodded silently and Magneto smiled confidently.
"We must start showing young mutants their true place in society," he said, "We must start teaching them the truth about the world...and how they...how we...will change it."
Mystique echoed Magneto's smile and replied, "I'll take what I need to the jet. We will contact you as soon as we arrive at the Malloy home."
"Very well," he said and she gave him one final nod before heading out of the room.
Toad watched her leave with a slight frown, and then glanced at Magneto.
"D'you want me to run any more checks on the systems before I go?" Toad asked, surprised by the suddenness of his new mission.
Magneto shook his head, "That won't be necessary. I'm confident you have everything in working order. And if any unforeseen problems occur, I'm sure the Pusher and I will be able to manage."
"Oh...right then," Toad replied. He had forgotten about the Pusher, the mutant named Paul whom they had rescued from Stryker and his Sentinel. Magneto had been meeting with the mutant daily, teaching the Pusher about the world he had been locked out of for his entire life.
There had been others like him who had also escaped the blast and the Pusher seemed anxious to work with Magneto to find them. He had sworn his allegiance to the Brotherhood and its cause, though it was apparent the Pusher's mutation was becoming problematic for his health.
Reassured by the idea that Magneto would not be left alone on the Island, Toad leapt down to the metallic floor and began to walk toward the exit.
"One more thing, Toad," his leader called before he reached the circular tunnel.
Toad turned and waited as Magneto rose to his feet and approached him. The older mutant had a strange expression on his face, and in his hand he held an electronic pad. He was staring at it calmly, but Toad noticed an uncharacteristic melancholy on Magneto's face.
"I have...a rather personal request to make of you," he said and regarded the short mutant somberly.
Toad nodded, and waited for him to continue.
"I'd like you to do some special reconnaissance for me," Magneto explained, "You will be accompanying Mystique when she investigates some of the Underground's locations. She will be preoccupied with her own tasks, so I'd like you watch for...for certain other mutants who may be present in the crowds..."
Magneto handed Toad the hand held computer and the green mutant studied it carefully. There were several names listed, each matched with a photograph and a caption describing their powers. Haller, David Charles; Marko, Cain; Maximoff, Pietro; Maximoff, Wanda; Torrance, Daniel; McGee, Charlene...it continued on...
"It is important, Mortimer," Magneto suddenly said, and Toad glanced up at him with wide eyes at the sound of his first name, "It is very important to me...that we locate some of these individuals. Even if you learn something about one of them, you may find a link to the rest. I want you to report back immediately if you see them or hear of them. Understood?"
Toad nodded curtly, still a little caught off guard by Magneto's strange attitude, but he had been given an order, and he would follow though.
"Immediately," Toad repeated firmly, "Understood completely."
Magneto put a hand on the younger mutant's shoulder.
"I knew I could count on you, Toad," he said, and turned to head back to his desk.
Toad moved quickly down the circular tunnel, back toward the front hanger. He slipped the small computer into one of the many pockets on his long coat and made sure it was safely secured. Magneto had given him a direct mission, and if Toad wondered why he had kept it secret from Mystique, the question left him quickly as his full attention locked on preparing to go to New York City.
