Scott reports to Charles

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Takes place after this post, and backdated to same. Adulations to Ande for the needed socking

Scott wasted little time in heading to Charles' office. Besides the information he had obtained, he needed to talk to him about Betsy. He'd gone too long without saying anything.

A few short knocks on the door, and Xavier's voice sounded from within. "Scott, come in, please." Charles rolled out from behind his desk, moving over toward the couch.

Scott smiled tightly at the professor, and moved over to the couch, sitting and placing his hands between his knees. "I need to talk to you about something else before I go into the report."

Charles paused in the act of opening up an electronic notepad and looked at Scott with some concern. The young -- younger -- man looked anxious and his distress hung about him like a dark cloud. Charles put down his stylus and folded his hands in his lap. He had his own news for Scott, and he was as reluctant to divulge it as Scott was anxious to share.

"Very well, Scott. But I ask that you indulge me before we get into anything else at the moment, as I have some news regarding Alex. I have been hesitant to give you a conclusive report, and I regret that I must do so now."

Scott started, nearly leaping off the couch. /Betsy could go hang.../ Then he realized that this wasn't going to be good news. Otherwise, Alex would be /here/. He composed himself again, looked down at his hands, then up at Xavier. "What happened?"

"I'm unable to find him, Scott," Charles said simply. His expression was grave and he held up his hand to ensure that Scott would not leap directly to the worst conclusions. "My abilities are not perfect, and we have seen them falter before, as with Marie. But Alex, as I am familiar with him and as he is familiar to you, is nowhere that I can find. I am deeply sorry. I would ask that you not abandon hope, but I would suggest also a degree of realism in this matter. It is necessary if we are to take the next steps in finding him."

"So he's potentially under someone's lock and key." Or dead, crept into his head, but he shoved it down. That would feel different, and the Professor would have told him. Maybe. "Can we send a team out to look at his last known location?"

"We will make every effort to locate him, Scott," Charles assured him smoothly. "I am already in contact with some of Dr. Samson's colleagues who specialize in locating missing young people. Alex is not the first young mutant to flee when his power caused pain to others. I will ensure that you have access to the information that they share with me and if you would like to take your own steps to find Alex, I trust that you will use team resources wisely and discreetly to do so. I have not given up on finding him; I do not give up on people."

Scott shook his head. "No, Professor. As much as I would like to go scouring the countryside for him, I /can't/. Not now. I'll put together a few people who can look and send them, just a weekend trip. I've been away from here enough." At least according to Cain. "Other than that, use whatever other resources you can get. I'll let Shiro and Angelo know. And Lorna, if Alison believes she's up to it."

He frowned, ran a hand through his hair, and dove into the other thing he wanted to mention. "If we're all set with that for now, I have a more immediate, more local concern. Betsy. Professor, I think the surgery Essex performed damaged her. Or the coma that resulted from the first surgery. She's been acting ... " He couldn't say wrongly, though it was what he wanted to say. "... oddly. Differently. And it's been getting worse as time has passed."

Charles nodded, taking in the sudden change of subject and the new information. "I see. Surgeries such as the one Dr. Essex performed are risky things and there are often unforseen effects. Did you have anything specific you'd like me to do to address the problem?" He frowned a little, waiting to see what else Scott came out with.

"Professor, I think she has some form of MPD. Either that, or she's possessed, but I can't imagine that no one would have noticed it before now, if that was the case. Here, read this," Scott moved over to the desk and called up the two conversations he'd had with Betsy long ago. The one on Logan's journal, and the one on his. "They were made at the same time, presumably by the same person."

Charles joined Scott and the desk and took his time reading over both sets of comments. "I see what you mean, yes. But a set of conflicting comments on a journal is hardly cause for alarm, Scott." Charles believed the other man was worried but he needed more than this to leap to conclusions.

"What about her blackouts? Her sudden ability to wield a katana with more ability than she's ever shown? Logan also said she's switched dominant hands, and ... well, smells off." He began pacing in the room. "And let's not forget Sarah's mention of the bone in her back. She's not one to lie. Not about that."

"This is all true." Charles turned his chair to watch Scott pace. "Logan and Sarah's word, and the incident in the Fencing Hall, as well as your personal observations... those things carry enough weight that I can act with a clear conscience. We return to the question of how to address this. Sit down, Scott." He pointed to the couch again, waving Scott over. "I want to hear all your accumulated evidence, even things that you may deem minor."

Scott ran a hand through his hair again, frustration evident. Then he followed Xavier's request and walked back to the couch, seating himself.

He gave every detail, every tidbit that he could recall seeing, or hearing. "Is there any way you can just scan her mind? Just to know if there is someone else there?"

"You know better than that, Scott." Charles reprimanded him, and Scott winced, then shrugged as if to say, I had to try. "It is not something done lightly. I will speak with Betsy. And we'll proceed from there. Now, what have you found out about Magneto's plans?"

Scott's mind shifted tracks, recalling what had been told to him by the boy. "Well, things seem to be proceeding..."