Friends and Enemies
Professor Xavier had listened to Scott's report with an increasing amount of dismay, and eventually Scott thought he saw a hint of real anger on his face for the first time he could remember.
"I see," Xavier said simply after the report had been completed.
"Professor," Scott began, "she was obviously—"
"The only thing that is obvious here, Scott, is that I grossly misjudged your ability to maintain your duties in spite of your personal conflicts. Effectively immediately, I am relieving you of your duties as field leader. Storm will fill in for you until you're fit for duty."
"No!" Scott protested. "Professor, she was obviously manipulating me!"
"Even if that were the case, the ease with which it was accomplished makes you a liability. In either case, I cannot allow the X-Men to be led by someone subject to emotional outbursts of that nature."
Scott clenched and unclenched his fists. "Professor, this is a huge mistake. We're already down to four X-Men with…" Scott still couldn't quite bring himself to say it, "with everything that's happened," he finished instead. "There's no way they can operate with three; especially when one of those three barely considers himself part of the team."
"You're quite right on that account, I'm afraid," Xavier conceded. "Which is why I've decided to offer Rogue and Robert Drake combat status, effective immediately."
Scott almost fell out of his chair. "Professor! You can't put a new leader and new members—"
"Storm is hardly a 'new' leader, Scott; she's been your second in command since the beginning."
Fighting a growing sense of frustration, Scott rose. "I can see you've already made up your mind about this. I will respect your decision, even if I think you're making a huge mistake."
"Scott, I don't want you to consider this a punishment," Xavier continued. "You know I only want what's best for you. Please take this opportunity to allow yourself to come to terms with your grief. Do whatever is necessary, and come back to me when you feel you are ready to resume your duties."
"I'm ready to do so now, Professor."
"That is a decision we will make together when the time comes, Scott. Please. Take care of yourself."
xxx
To make matters worse, Storm was waiting for Scott when he walked out of the professor's office.
"How'd it go?" she asked hopefully.
Scott shook his head and walked past her. "You're going to have to mind the shop for a few days," he told her as she fell into step next to him.
"He's benching you?" Storm asked, incredulous.
"I thought you agreed with him," Scott pointed out. "You were pretty gung ho about leaving me behind on this mission."
"Because it was Alkali— because it was that place, Scott. But we can't operate without our leader."
"You have a leader. And you're going to have plenty of help. The Professor is giving Rogue and Bobby an early graduation."
"He wants me to lead those two on their first combat missions?"
Cyclops smiled. "It'll hardly be their first combat, Storm, even if it's their first as part of the team. And you've been helping train them all along. You'll be fine."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, but—"
"I took a swing at Emma Frost, Storm."
Storm sighed. "What will you do?"
"I don't know," Scott admitted. "The Professor told me to take some time… I guess I'll get away for a while. Maybe take a trip across country." He shrugged. "It's been a while since I had to find ways to occupy my time."
"Yeah." Storm stepped forward and hugged him. "Take care of yourself, Scott."
"Don't go getting all teary-eyed," Scott chided. "I'll be back soon."
xxx
Xavier looked up from the book he was reading as his videophone buzzed with an incoming call. The caller id did not recognize the number, but that didn't mean much. Very few people had access to Xavier's personal number, and most of those were very high up in the mutant community or federal government.
To Xavier's shock, the face of his oldest friend – and enemy – appeared on the display.
"Erik! Have you called to turn yourself in?"
Magneto's characteristic smirk was his only answer to Xavier's query. "Hello, Charles. I trust I don't have to warn you not to bother tracing this call."
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, old friend. To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Emma Frost, Charles."
"She seems to be a popular topic these days," Xavier sighed.
"She has her, Charles."
Xavier frowned at that enigmatic statement. "Has whom, Erik?"
Magneto sighed. "Don't play coy, Charles. Who do you think?"
"No. No, that's impossible."
"Nothing is impossible, Charles; merely highly improbable. In this case, highly improbable has virtually no meaning, as you well know."
"Even if this were true, why tell me? You're certainly formidable enough to take on Emma Frost's Academy for Gifted Individuals."
"Because I don't care," Magneto answered bluntly. "The only reason I tell you is that this will keep you occupied… and out of my way."
"Equally true whether you're telling the truth or not," Xavier noted. "If you think I'm not going to help bring you to justice, you're a fool, Erik. I cannot simply allow you to get away with trying to wipe out every non-mutant on the planet."
"I'm not asking you to allow me to get away with anything, Charles. I'm merely telling you what I've discovered, and hoping you will find it more important than seeking a confrontation with me that will do more harm than good to mutantkind."
"Even if I had any reason to believe what you're telling me, how could you possibly know this?"
Magneto smiled. And suddenly the view zoomed out to show him sitting next to— Emma Frost?
But "Emma's" eyes turned yellow, and her form gradually shifted and became blue. Mystique.
"Really, Charles. With the resources at my disposal, you think there's anything I can't find out?"
"You've made your point," Xavier conceded. "But I still have no reason to believe what you're telling me. Emma is a former student and a friend."
"You can't trust her, Charles," Magneto insisted.
"I can't trust you, Erik," Xavier parried.
"I wonder, then, what was she doing at Alkali Lake?"
Xavier felt the first seeds of doubt enter his mind at that moment, but quickly recovered. "I will consider what you have said, Erik. But Emma has shown no indication of deception."
"Yes. Remarkable that a woman who can effortlessly control men's emotions has shown no outward signs of duplicity." Magneto smiled sadly. "You above all people should know what she's capable of. But I don't have the resources to stop her and protect our brothers from the silent war."
"A war being perpetuated entirely by your acts of aggression."
Magneto sighed. "I can only hope you will live long enough to regret not listening to me, Charles."
