Scott and Ororo, strategy

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

A moment in the Situation Room, prior to taking action...


"This is not a good situation," Scott said quietly, staring down at the Situation Room. "I don't mean the tactical plan," he said before Ororo could respond. "That's solid, and less problematic than most." He straightened, biting back a sigh. "It's our people in Las Vegas."

Ororo didn't reply at first, nor did she look up from the monitor she had been staring at for the past five minutes. "There are not enough of us to address both situations," she said in something of a monotone. Anything else and Scott was bound to detect the shaking in her voice.

"Aren't there?" Scott's response was unexpected, and he met and held Ororo's eyes as she looked up at him. "We haven't moved up until this point because we weren't sure, and Charles's law enforcement contacts in Vegas hadn't turned anything up." It had stung, waiting, trusting to other people to do the on-site searching, but they hadn't dared chance any sort of show of force, not knowing for sure how those disappearances were connected to the rest of it. "You forget, not all our resources are here."

It was a testament to how distracted she was that she didn't immediately catch on, but after a moment Ororo's eyes lit up in recognition. "The West Coast Annex. Have you spoken to Alison?"

"If by 'talk' you mean 'advised her of the situation and listened to her swear for five minutes before we got down to business', yes. Thankfully, we did also get down to business." Scott sighed. "We can spare a couple of people and the plane, from here, to hook up with them." Jean and Jim, he thought; the two telepaths.

Nodding, Ororo gave her agreement; this seemed to be the best course of action, though how could she trust her own judgement anymore? But Scott agreed, and she trusted Scott. "Let us begin prepping them for immediate departure, then."

There were all kinds of things that weren't being said here - and a couple that needed to be. "Three," he reminded her, leaving it at that until she looked up at him. "Three X-Men, already in Las Vegas... three X-Men, and one who used to be. I don't know what kind of trouble they're in, but we have to have faith they can keep their heads above water until help gets there." Their heads, and the kids. "As for this ritual..." He allowed himself a small, frustrated gesture, but reminded himself that there was no time to react. Just to act. Reaction could come later. "That we can stop, and we know it. It's not a matter of leaving them to their fates. It's trusting..." He stopped, went on more quietly. "It's trusting that they won't allow themselves, or the kids, to be victims for long."