Meanwhile, in a luxurious penthouse overlooking London, a dark and sinister conversation was taking place.
"That's right. Without your aid in this matter, our business contracts will have to be awarded elsewhere. Are we understood?" The older man smiled slightly, appearing quite pompous in his fine and regal Old World clothing. He was the kind of man who was used to being provided only the finest – of everything.
"Sebastian, you are one cold hearted son-of-a-bitch." The other mans sour smile turned almost admiringly on the man he faced. "We have an understanding. I'll use my position and influence to get rid of this Mutant Advisor and you in return…"
"Will continue making you rich. Yes." Sebastian smiled. "And you're right – About my heart. Now – Deal with this matter for me."
"I will. It will begin tonight." The younger smiled, spun on his heel and walked out of the room.
A moment later a scantily clad blonde woman slipped out of the shadows at the end of the room where she had been listening. She wore a tight leather outfit equipped with a white fur cape. "Poor Sebastian." She cooed. "Tell me, how did you feel when you found out that our new Mutant Affairs Advisor was a disciple of Xavier?" She smiled ruthlessly.
"Not now Emma. This could be serious." He furrowed his brow. "We intended for this position to be filled by one of our own. It's why we pushed for its creation in the first place. But now, with Xavier's hand upon the wheel…"
"Oh, please!" She smiled coyly. "Xavier is a fool. We both know that. This idea of living in peace with humans is ridiculous. Human's cant live in peace with each other – what hope is there for us to live in peace with them. If this… Wagner has a mind of his own, then maybe he could be convinced to see reason."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed as he tried to see through her argument to the truth of the matter.
"And are you the woman to try and … make him see 'reason' my dear Emma?"
She chuckled slightly and snatched up Kurt's yearbook picture form off Sebastian's desk. "Well, I do like them young." She smirked as she flipped the page to reveal Kurt's natural appearance. "And I must say… the tail intrigues me." She caught Sebastian's long, hard stare and twisted her mouth in to a beaming smile. "Really Sebastian, not everything is a manipulative attempt for power!"
"No." He smiled. "But this is, isn't it?"
"Guilty!" She bubbled. "Why should we let someone else get their man in there when the one that's already there might become our man on the inside? It stands to reason."
"That it does. Maxwell will begin adding pressure to the situation and we'll offer to relieve it if he's willing to accommodate us and our interests." He smiled. "And do be careful with him Emma. He is just a boy."
She burst out laughing as she stood up, slowly tracing her white leather riding crop across her lips. "Not for long." She said at long last, and then she turned and strutted out of the room.
Just across town however, Sebastian's evil plan was already set in motion.
This has gone better than I hoped! Alistaire was elated. The young mister Wagner is quite charming. People are really warming to him!
Alistaire sat amazed. I can't believe it! Ho one's even mentioned the fact that he's…
And a cell phone rang behind him. He sat up strait. He had been made to turn his cell phone off upon entering the reception. When it rang again he expected that either – something important was happening or trouble was afoot.
Or Both… He realized with a start.
He smiled when he saw who the call was for. He was a high ranking executive of some kind, Alistaire was sure. And he greeted us so warmly… The man really had made Kurt and Kitty feel welcome, in many ways he had set the atmosphere for the party.
"Yes, I've just met him now. I … What? No, no… I can't. I've been …" He sighed. "Of course I know how important that is. Of course not, I wouldn't… " The man let out a sigh. "He is a bastard some times. Yes. I understand."
He hung up the phone quietly and cast his eyes about.
Alistaire pretended to tie his loafers in order to look occupied.
Quickly, the man gathered up his coat, hat and walking stick and made for the door.
Where's he going… Alistaire wondered. He watched as the man entered the elevator. Is he leaving?
He crossed the room and looked down on to the street. Surely he'd avoid the paparatzi and go out the… He shook his head in awe. He went out the front? What's he up to?
Alistaire watched as reporters flocked around the man and flash bulbs exploded around him. And Alistaire began to feel slightly ill.
The man pushed through the crowd and got in his car just as it pulled up. Then he was gone and more than half the reporters broke for their cars and scattered in different directions up and down the street.
What could he have said? He wondered. And then he heard another phone ring.
He turned to look and it was a woman in the corner of the room. She answered it quickly and ducked her head. Then she hung up.
The woman crossed the room and touched a man on the shoulder. He, in turn proceeded to the bar and asked for the man behind it to hand him something.
… A camera? Alistaire stood transfixed.
The woman had proceeded on to speak to Kurt. "Oh no." Alistaire felt his heartbeat increase as he began to cross the room.
The woman and Kurt were dancing. She asked him to dance?
And then Alistaire saw it. It was as though it had happened in slow motion to him.
The woman manuvered Kurt's hand to slip down off her back and on to her… 'rear'. Just as the camera flashed.
"No." Alisatire said again, mostly to himself as he began redoubling his efforts.
And the woman looked shocked. She slapped Kurt hard across the face and began to scream at him.
Kurt looked lost and helpless as he tried to reason with the girl who was now bursting in to tears and running from the room.
"Please, Vait!" He called out, and when she didn't, he teleported to head her off.
"Please, let me explain." He implored from where he had appeared in front of her.
The woman screamed in horror and ran past him.
"I didn't…" He turned back to the room, but a strange thing had happened to the crowd.
They were afraid.
Suddenly he became aware that, with the exception of Kitty, he might be the only mutant in the room.
Kitty slipped through the crowd up to Kurt just as Alistaire appeared out of the din.
"Come on." Alistaire was whispering. "We need to talk."
Kitty looked slightly confused and shaken, but she managed to take Kurt's arm and walk out with him in dignity.
Another flash of the camera caught the two of them together just before the elevator closed.
And when it did Alistaire turned to Kurt and Kitty. "It was a set up." He said. I saw it all happen. A call came in and she went to work. Even tipped off the man with the camera to watch for it."
"Vhat?" Kurt was shaking his head. "I can't believe it."
"I can." Kitty said. "No offense Kurt, but she was way out of your league." Kitty shook her head. "I couldn't believe she was asking you to dance."
"Kitty!" He complained.
Kitty sighed. "Kurt, I know the real you. And yes, you're great. But … " She shook her head. "Beautiful strangers are almost always trouble Kurt. Unless you're a beautiful stranger yourself."
Kurt turned and looked at his holoimage in the gentle reflection of the elevator doors. "You're … right." He said softly. I've spent so much time being thankful to look 'normal' … I never really noticed that this persona isn't the most attractive man ever… He swallowed. If not for the blue skin I'd be better off with my own look.
Alistaire felt slightly embarrassed. In search of distraction he pulled out his cell phone and turned it back on. It rang immediately.
He answered it in surprise. "Hello?"
There was a long pause. "Sure." He said in an unsure manner – then he drew out a pen. "Go ahead." He scribbled something on a pad and took a deep breath. "Fine sir." He said softly and hung up.
"Vhat is it?" Kurt asked nervously.
"It appears that we're no longer staying at the same hotel. They're moving your accomadations to government owned property up the coast."
Kurt eyed Alistaire.
"Why is this happening?" Kitty asked, mirroring Kurt's thoughts.
"What are we to expect tomorrow Alistaire?" Kurt said slowly.
Alistaire swallowed. "Bad press. Blatant lies even. Perhaps calls to resign."
"Resign? My first day?" Kurt shook his head. "Why? Is this because I'm a mutant?" He asked. "Because I teleported in front of them? I didn't think it would…"
But Alistaire was shaking his head 'no'. "Being a mutant didn't help you much. But here in England we tend to think of mutants are interesting and curious rather than frightening. If they're going to make a serious argument against you in the press it's going to start with your nationality."
"Vhat?" Kurt shook his head.
"The Americans may have fought the Germans in the same war we did, but the Germans never carpet-bombed America." Alistaire sighed. "The old prejudices are still quite alive I'm afraid."
Kurt swallowed. "That's why, at the airport…"
Alistaire nodded. "I'm sorry. I was surprised. Not for my own feelings, but because I was aware this might be an issue." He looked at them very seriously. "But I am less concerned with the issue than I am with discovering who is raising it."
A shiver passed through Kurt as Alistaire's words became clear to him.
He's right. Kurt realized. We're in real trouble here.
