"Come in Rogue," Professor Xavier said in response to the knock on his office door.
Rogue opened the door and stepped inside.
"You wanted ta see me Professor?" Rogue said, closing the door behind her.
"Yes. Please, have a seat."
Rogue moved to the indicated chair and waited whiel the Professor gathered his thoughts.
"You have, of course, heard about this new department of the Government that they're introducing."
"The Mutant Affairs Agency? Yeah, sounds kinda suss if y'ask me," Rogue said. "Next thing y'know they'll be reintroducin' the mutant registration act."
The Professor smiled.
"Actually what is not yet public knowledge is that the Mutant Affairs Agency is going to be 90% manned by mutants. They want to introduce more mutants into the exisiting policing departments of course, but that will take time, and as you may have noticed we're already having issues now. The X-men are not the only mutant organisation seeking to police their fellow mutants and try to prevent further acts of mutant terrorism as well as trying to seek and train new mutants in the use of their powers. The Mutant Affairs Agency is intended to unite these organisations."
"So, what? The X-men are going government now?"
"The Mutant Affairs Agency will be government funded, but on paper we will be considered contractors."
"Ah see. And Ah assume you've been in talks about this, huh? All those trip ta Washington lately?"
"Indeed," the Professor nodded. "It will require some restructuring on our part, but most of the changes we'll have to make we should have made some time ago. One of the things we'll be doing to create a team to be our public face. They'll be from amongst our most experienced members. In addition to doing missions, they'll also be doing public relations, including attending official functions, talking with the media, that sort of thing. The idea is to give the general public names and faces of people - mutants - who are working to serve the community, and to try and help them adjust to mutants in our society."
"Mmm, Ah had noticed that mutant rights or not, we do still get attacked in the streets."
"That kind of prejudice will never go away, but hopefully we can reduce the occurences," the Professor paused. "Some discretion will be required. To that end Rogue, I'm afraid I'm not here to offer you a position on the public team, as most of your contemporaies will."
Rogue nodded, not really surprised.
"Is that because of Remy? Or because of muh powers?"
"Primarily because of your powers. Telepaths are amongst the most feared mutants, and anyone else who can see inside your mind. We make people uncomfortable."
"And Ah even make other mutants uncomfortable," Rogue said, trying not to sound bitter.
"As I said, discretion is required. However, it does allow me to be able to offer you a position in another team. You see, the public team - or Team A - will certainly not be able to do every single mission which comes their way. For one thing, there have been, and will be occasions in the future where they will require additional help. For another, there will be some missions which cannot - and should not - be made public. Additionally, their position in the public eye will also make it easier for those whom we would be up against to plan against them."
"Because they would know what their powers are and take steps to circumvent them."
"Exactly."
"So, you want to put me on a back up team?"
"No. Team B will be backup. And Team C as well, if and when we decide to form it. No, I want you to lead the Shadow Team."
"Lead?" Rogue repeated, startled.
"Yes Rogue, lead," the Professor confirmed gravely.
"But... but Ah'm not a leader."
"I think you'll surprise yourself. And I also believe that you are particularily suited to this position," the Professor allowed himself a smile. "It may even work out that your... connection with the underground will be a boon, rather than a problem."
Rogue snorted softly, although the idea that maybe hers and Gambit's careers might not come into conflict after all appealed to her.
"The Shadow Team will be focused on the missions that cannot be made public. Primarily espionage, but also dealing with new mutants who also develop 'frightening' powers. You will be required to investigate anti-mutant groups and track mutant terrorisim - in many ways the Shadow Team will be our eyes and ears."
Rogue gave a low whistle.
"That's a pretty big call."
"If you think that's bad, you should see the list I have for Scott."
"Team A, Ah assume?" Rogue asked with a chuckle.
"Yes. You may also be required to provide descreet backup for them, but that will be not be your priority. I'm not planning on annoucing these teams just yet, but I want you to start thinking about who you'd like to be with you. Feel free to go through previous mission reports or schedule danger room sessions with anyone you're considering."
"Hmm... So what happens when Ms Marvel fades? If she ever does. She is the one Ah have all muh espionage experience from."
"We'll cross that bridge if and when we come to it. It might be that by the time that day comes - if it ever does - you'll have enough experience of your own to make the transition."
Rogue nodded.
"You will, of course, be expected to co-ordinate with the other team leaders. Can't have the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing."
"Will that apply to the other... branches of the Mutant Affairs Agency? Y'know, us havin' ta keep them all up ta date with our activites?"
"Yes. One of your tasks will be to co-ordinate with the other Shadow Team leaders. Don't look so apprehensive, Rogue, these are early days yet. You'll have time to decide on the right team, even have the ability to change things around afterwards if things aren't working - it's only the Public Team that won't be able to change their line up so easily."
"Are you sure Ah'm the right person for this?"
"When the subject of the Shadow Team came up, you were the first person to spring to mind," the Professor assured her, the gestured for her to come over and have a look at the map he had out on the desk. "Now this will be our jurisdiction."
"Wow... that's kinda larger than the area we're lookin' after now."
"It is. But there are only so many branches to go around. Obviously, your first task will be to organise contacts in key points where we don't already have them. Our headquarters will be there," the professor pointed. "But as the Shadow Team is not going to be made public whatsover, your base of operations will remain here."
"We're moving?"
"Only the business side of our public face. This is supposed to be a school, after all."
"True enough."
"There will, however, be underground facilities, including a private subway to and from the school and our offical headquarters."
"A private subway? That's gotta be expensive."
"A new government division this extensive was always going to have an expensive setup. However, we're hoping to offset some of the costs with merchandising."
Rogue paused as she processed that.
"Merchandisin'?" she repeated. "Does that... is that... the Public Team isn't going ta end up doing photo shoots for magazines and action figures and stuff like that are they?"
"We are looking to improve mutant opinion, and commercialism is a legitimate way of doing that."
"Aren't you worried that all that kinda stuff, might y'know, make people not take us seriously? Ah mean, Ah don't know about you, but Ah've never seen the CIA or FBI or the whatever-elses y'know, do that kind of thing."
"They don't have to."
Rogue considered this as a silly grin grew on her face.
"We're not going ta have ta deal with people y'know, askin' Scott for his autograph or anything are we?"
"No, Scott will have to deal with that. If it happens."
Rogue giggled.
"Oh Professor... Ah'm not sure if Ah'll be able ta look at him after this without laughin'."
"Try. That's why the Public Team is so important. In many ways their public relations efforts are going to be more important than the actual missions."
"Huh. So they get all the glory and we get all the dirty work?" Rogue suggested, then chuckled. "Well, Ah have ta say, knowin' that, Ah'm rather glad Ah'm not part of Team A. Oh! Now that sure would have made things interestin' with Remy, huh?"
The Professor nodded.
"You were quite right in suggesting that as a reason why I didn't want you on that team. Your power, as I said, was the primary reason, but having a woman whose husband works in organised crime?"
"Ah can imagine the outcry if that ever got out," Rogue nodded. "Not ta mention the reaction some of Remy's collegues might have. Y'know, before that stupid bank robbery a lot of them just figured Ah was human. Some of them suspected Ah was a mutant but mostly it was a non-issue. Certainly Ah don't believe any of them are aware, even now, that Ah'm part of the X-men."
"And we'd like to keep it that way. Now this is the part you'd going to hate."
"That sounds encouragin'."
Professor Xavier handed her a thick manuel, and Rogue looked it over apprehensively.
"That would be the instruction book, if you will, for the MAA and the Shadow Team. Rules, regs that sort of thing, on how you're supposed to operate, what's expected of you, and what kinds of operatives you should have."
Rogue sighed heavily.
"Ah see Ah have some light readin' for tonight."
"Just remember, this is all still in the early stages. You have time to prepare, so don't rush into any decision. Oh, and Rogue? Right now, only Scott, you and I know about this. I will make an offical annoucement when the time comes, but until then, it's need to know only."
"In other words, do muh research and keep muh mouth shut. Ah can do that, Professor," Rogue smiled.