X-MANSION, KITCHEN - DAY
Logan enters, in a foul mood. He pulls off his cut, leather jacket and throws it in the kitchen sink, then goes to the refrigerator and pulls out a six-pack. He plops down at the table with his feet up as Cyclops enters, also angry.
"You got a problem, Logan?"
"Not anymore I don't." Logan pops the beer and guzzles it. Jean enters, watches with concern as Cyclops gets in Logan's face.
"You want to be the lone wolf... you stop breathing... no great loss. All I care is you're letting down the rest of the team."
"Hey, you can jump around all day in that Romper-Room world of yours it don't mean squat compared to fighting flesh and blood. I'm sick of playing games."
"You're pissed because you screwed up down there, and you know it. What was it you said about taking it like a man?"
"Scott... come on. Let him stew." Jean says, pulling Scott away from the threat of Logan's claws.
"Chrimany, Jean, what do you see in this nebbish? What'd he do to deserve you?"
"Let it go." She orders. Cyclops finally relents, and he heads for the door.
"You're whipped." Cyclops turns back, kicks the table, knocking Logan over. Logan hits the floor, just stays on his back, deceptively calm.
"You just earned some big time lumps, bub."
X-MANSION, FRONT DRIVE AND LAWN - NIGHT
Logan and Cyclops cross the lawn, throwing off body armor. On the porch, Jean watches, disgusted. Iceman rushes past, ready to watch the fight.
"This I got to see."
"Idiots. Macho idiots." She storms into the mansion, slams the front door.
Cyclops and Logan face each other. Cyclops looks to Iceman.
"This is me and him, Bobby, man to man. You stay out of it."
"No kidding."
"You mean mutant to mutant."
"No. No powers. No claws. No visor." Logan nods, spits in his palms, balls up his fists. In the air above, Angel swoops down to land on the mansion's roof.
"This should be good." Angels says, and watches eagerly.
Cyclops swings first, misses, gets punched. He backs off, taking his time. He fakes, then swings, and hits Logan hard. Logan shakes off the blow, smiles in admiration. Iceman circles the fight, watches as Logan and Cyclops go at it, playing for keeps. Logan doubles Cyclops over, grabs him and throws him. Cyclops knocks over a lawn statue.
"You're out of your league." He says confident as ever. Cyclops, bleeding out the nose, gets up and approaches for more. Iceman keeps circling as more blows are exchanged. Major fisty-cuffs.
"Iceman!" Iceman turns, to the sound of the voice in his head. Down the drive, Xavier sits in his wheelchair, suitcase nearby, angered at the show on the lawn. Xavier points at the fight. Iceman looks at Logan and Cyclops, then back to Xavier.
"You sure about that?" Xavier nods. Iceman shrugs, as his body his covered in solid ice and turns to face the fight. Logan and Cyclops are still slugging it out. Iceman opens his hands towards them. Logan swings at Cyclops, but Cyclops is suddenly encased in a block of ice. Logan connects with the block. He backs off, yelping in pain, holding his fist. He looks to Iceman.
"What the... ?" Logan is then instantly incased in ice, solid as a rock.
"Sorry, guys." The ice block containing Cyclops teeters and falls, knocking the Logan ice block over. They hit the ground with a THUD!
X-MANSION, THE WAR ROOM - NIGHT
Xavier sits with monitors behind and a keyboard to his left.
"His name is Eric Magnus Lehnsherr. He has an ability to control and manipulate magnetic energy. I knew him during a time I spent wandering from country to country, working in hospitals and psychiatric facilities... wherever they would accept my help. I first met Magnus in Haifa, Israel. He was a foreign aid volunteer."
Cyclops and Logan are in blankets, beside Jean, Iceman and Angel. Xavier punches up grainy photos of Magneto on the monitors.
"Our paths crossed many times after that, and we often traveled together, a two man amnesty force of sorts. We both know we were different from others, without ever speaking it. The only times we discussed human evolutionary mutation were to debate its effects on future history. Magnus believed that as the Homo Superior grew in number... ... their only hope for survival would be to take dominion over man, and he now seems to be making his second attempt to achieve that goal."
"His second?" Jean asks the question plaguing the group.
"A long time ago, we worked in a small clinic behind the Iron Curtain. One evening, two badly wounded teenagers were brought in. Nothing could be done to save them. We later learned that these two, a boy and girl, had been dragged from their home and beaten by an angry mob. Because they were mutants. Because they shared telepathy. Magnus decided to avenge them, and would not be dissuaded." He sits, thinking in silence.
"The town we were in was called Chernobyl." Xavier punches a button. On the monitors behind him, many images from the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster with news footage of the ruined reactor. Of the evacuation. Of radiation suit clad workers.
"This was the result. The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. April 26, 1986. The first time Magnus and I truly revealed our powers to each other... against each other. I know I've told you differently before, but it was during this fight that I lost the use of my legs. Xavier faces the screen, with images of workers shoveling irradiated materials.
The X-Men are solemn. Even Logan is silent.
"I blacked out from the pain, and woke up in a hospital far away from this. I can only guess at Magnus' regret, because the assault had ended before a meltdown. But still, more than six hundred thousand people received high doses of radiation, almost half of them children.
"And, now he has his sights set on New York City." Xavier nods to Cyclops, and wheels to pick up the antennae device off a table.
"This sensor array can read the fluctuations in the magnetic spectrum which surround Magnus at all times. With luck I'll have it adapted to visual mode by this evening. It will be your job to use it over Manhattan, Angel, under cover of darkness. You are the best chance we have of locating the Brotherhood." Angel nods, glad to be back in the action.
"What about Beast?" Iceman asks.
"If the government has him hidden away, a search party won't do much good. For all we know, they've taken him out of state." Cyclops looks to Xavier as he finishes.
"I'll begin a psychic search as soon as possible, once I've fully recovered from the strain of finding Magnus. Other than that... I don't know what we can do."
"Okay, look. With Beast missing in action, you want to get big-time serious, right? So, I feel like I got to say, if we're going to have a fighting chance against these guys, we need a new team leader. Cause Cyclops ain't cutting it." He looks to Cyclops.
"No offense. It's just the truth."
"I suppose you think you're born to lead?"
"You got it, mono-brow."
"Enough! Haven't either of you heard a word I've said? Why must you insist on this inane competition?"
"Maybe I'm not the only one here on the "Island of Misfit Toys" who feels like Cyclops is dropping the ball. But even if I am, it can't hurt to have a vote." Cyclops finds this ludicrous. Xavier rubs his eyes, weary.
Logan continues. "One man, one ballot. Let the democracy decide. That's all I'm asking."
"Very well... you'll have your vote."
"What?" Cyclops says, shocked at the prospect.
"It's the only equitable way. I want each of you to consider this carefully, alone. It's important you not discuss it. We will meet in the West Wing in two hours." Logan's pleased. The X-Men file out, but Cyclops stands and remains. Jean waits by the door.
"What's going on, Professor? Are you having your own doubts about me now?" Cyclops asks, wanting answers.
"We'll speak afterwards." Xavier refuses to look up. Cyclops exits. Xavier looks up, grim.
X-MANSION, JEAN GREY'S LIVING QUARTERS - DAY
Jean enters. She's startled to see Logan in a chair.
"What are you doing in here?"
"Visiting."
"Get out, Logan. You heard what Professor Xavier said."
"Yeah, I heard. But, when else do I get a chance to talk to you without Cyclops hanging around, or you around him?" Logan crosses and stands close. Jean backs away a little.
"Just, leave."
"Why? You still afraid?"
"What do you want from me?"
"Show me you're not afraid. Why do you keep backing away?" He steps close. This time she doesn't back off, looking at him.
"I'm not afraid of you."
"I'm glad." Logan leans in, pauses. He kisses her. She closes her eyes, upset, but responding just slightly. She keeps her eyes closed.
"I... I don't want this."
"Can't help that." He backs off, preparing to leave. "Far as I'm concerned, you're deciding on more than just team leader today."
X-MANSION, DINING ROOM - DAY
"Logan" is written on a small piece of paper. Logan puts the pencil down and folds the paper. He's voted for himself. Xavier sits at the head. The mood is somber. Iceman, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Angel and Logan pass a box, putting their folded votes inside. The box returns to Xavier. He begins the counting:
"One ballot for Cyclops. One ballot for Logan." Cyclops is sullen. Xavier takes out a third vote, and unfolds it. "Another vote for Cyclops." Xavier unfolds the forth, pauses for the briefest moment.
"Another for Logan." Logan looks to Jean. She shows no emotion.
"So... this will break the tie." He stops, opens it and reads. "It's for Cyclops. He remains team leader." Cyclops gets up and walks out, no happier. Iceman gets up to leave and Angel follows along with him.
"Well, wasn't that a cheery affair? I'm so glad I could be here. Thanks everyone." Iceman laughs, and walks out.
"I hope you had a good reason for putting Scott through that, Professor." Angel says, as he follows Iceman.
"I expect you to abide by this decision, Logan." Xavier wheels to leave. Jean and Logan are left alone.
"Well, you lose some, and you win some."
"I didn't vote for you." Logan seems surprised. Jean pushes her chair back and stands.
"This here... this didn't even have anything to do with the fact that I love Scott. But, I do love him. I care about you. But, I love him."
"Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself."
"You're wrong." She leaves. Logan looks around, depressed. He looks at the ballot papers near him on the table. He blows them off the table, and the silently float to the ground.
X-MANSION GROUNDS - DAY
Cyclops walks, brooding. Xavier wheels along beside him.
"I feel quite safe making the assumption that Logan cast his own ballot with his name on it. But, the second vote for Logan... that surprised me. Especially since it was you who cast it."
Cyclops stops.
"It didn't surprise you at all, did it?" He asks.
"The moment Angel locates the Brotherhood, you take the X-Men into battle. You must believe in yourself as much as they do."
"I'm trying, sir. Sometimes I feel the only reason I'm team leader is because I was your first student."
"We all live with doubt, Scott. How do you think I feel about Henry? I tried to reach him psionicly, but I failed. All my wondrous powers and abilities... I still can't help him."
"But, there wasn't anything you could have done to stop them from taking him either. It wasn't your fault."
"Yes. And, so I've tried to convince myself. And I forge on. And so must you."