Scott checked over his things once more while he waited for his team to arrive, a mix of anxiety and excitement. Jean was first to arrive, and she gave him a kiss as she sat down at the table.
This was it. This was the day he was going to tell them about the MAA and the Public Team.
Rahne walked in the door and made herself at home.
"So," Rahne said, looking between Jean and Scott. "What's this all about?"
"When everyone gets here," said Scott.
"Oh. Who are we waiting on?"
"Kitty, Pete and Bobby."
Bobby
"What's new Kittty-cat, whoa-oh-oh-whoa whoa!" Bobby sang out as he spotted Kitty heading his way.
"It's it 'what's new Pussy cat'? Wait, why am I encouraging this?" she groaned, as Bobby kept singing at her. "I don't know how anyone puts up with you."
"It's my good looks and charm," he nodded.
"Try again," she grinned. "You headed for Scott's little pow wow?"
"Certainly am, Shadowfax."
"Cat," Kitty replied patiently.
"I know," Bobby grinned back at her. "I just wanted to find an excuse to say 'Shadowfax, show us the meaning of haste!'"
"You've been watching Lord of the Rings again, haven't you?" Kitty asked, as they rounded the corner.
Bobby chuckled. "Sure have. It's Hank's favourite!"
They kept talking as they headed towards the table.
Scott
As Piotr walked down the hall, he spotted Kitty and Bobby coming from the other direction. He gave them a nod and opened the door.
Scott waited until everyone had made themselves comfortable.
"You've no doubt noticed lately that things have been a little hectic around the mansion lately," Scott began.
"Way to state the obvious," Rahne muttered.
"We've been asked to become a part of the government's new department: the Mutant Affairs Agency," Scott explained, ignoring Rahne's aside. "The Mutant Affairs Agency - or the MAA - is intended to police mutant activity, help integrate mutants and human society and to find and educate new mutants in the use of their powers."
Scott gestured to a map.
"This area will be our jurisdiction. We'll also be moving our offical base of operations here. We'll still be using the school, of course, but only as a school. The big change, however, is in how we'll be operating from now on. There'll be three teams. Team B is backup, and will be lead by Lance. The Shadow Team - lead by Rogue - will be our intellgence division. This team," Scott said, taking a moment to catch the eys over everyone in the room, "will the Team A, or the Public Team. We're going to be literally the public face of our division of the MAA. In addition to missions, we will also be focusing on PR."
Jean raised an eyebrow.
"In fact," Scott said, "the plan is to turn us into minor celebrities, so if any of you have a problem with being in the limelight, I need to know soon."
"Minor celebrities?" Jean repeated.
"Yeah," Scott confirmed. "Photo shoots, TV appearences, interviews, merchandising, the works. The idea is to help the human population become more comfortable with mutants in their midst."
Bobby
Bobby's eyebrows rose.
"Uh," he spoke up. "Not to be a downer, but I tried to fit in with humans at NYU, and a group conspired to give me Legacy... are we sure this is such a good idea?"
Kitty nodded her agreement.
Scott
"Things like that will continue to happen regardless of whether we step to the plate or not," Scott replied. "If anything, what happened to you just reinforces the need to promote mutant acceptence and show them we're just as human as they are where it counts. I have no illusions that it's going to be easy - far from it in fact - but we have to start somewhere."
"How can we be crime fighters and celebrities at the same time?" asked Rahne. "Don't you think one will interfere with the other?"
"Any more so than actors, musicians and sport stars?"
"Well, yeah," Rahne said. "What if we're in the middle of tracking someone down and we get recognised or something?"
"A lot of the leg work is going to be done by the Shadow Team and B Team," Scott explained. "Our public appearences will also be done in uniform, so we should be able to avoid recognition in normal clothes. Obviously there are still a few issues to be worked out, but we aren't the only mutant organisation joining the MAA, and certainly not the only ones who are going to be dealing with this."
Bobby
"Well," Bobby grinned. "I'm all for exposing myself to the world."
Kitty groaned. "No nudity, Bobby. We're trying to improve mutant-human relations, not destroy them."
"Me? Nudity? Never," he retorted. "But really, why not? I'm always up for anything that will stop me from getting attacked in the long run."
Kitty eyed him. "Are you being gross?"
"Again, me? Never!"
Scott
"Just, try to keep the suggestiveness down for the official appearences," Scott said. "We want to make a good impression."
"What about the people who like suggestiveness?" Rahne asked slyly. "Don't you want to make a good impression on them too?"
"There's a time and a place," Jean said.
Bobby
"Hey," Bobby said, holding his hands up. "I can be very charming when the occasion calls for it."
Kitty raised an eyebrow. "I'll believe that when I see it."
"I'll have you know that I am very popular," he retorted. "I bagged a wife - well, we're divorced now, but that's not the point. I've had many a girlfriend, and one sort of boyfriend, Rogue thought I was the bees knees, and you, dear Kittylicious, you would have me, if I turned me attention towards you."
"You're dreaming, Drake," she replied, though the tops of her ears had turned pink.
Bobby grinned. "Anytime, Scott, I'm totes down for this."
Scott
Scott gave Bobby a nod.
"Good," he said. "Anyone else? Or do you need more time? I will need a decision soon."
"I'm in, of course," said Jean.
"I am not certain I am really cut out to be a celebrity," said Piotr. "Are you certain I'm the right person for this?"
"Believe me, I'm certain," Scott assured him. "Professor Xavier, Rogue and I spent a great deal of time determining the right people for each team."
"An action figure of me," Rahne said thoughtfully, rubbing her chin. "I wonder if they could make me shape-shift?"
The look on Scott's face clearly said "but we all make mistakes."
Bobby
"So, what's our game plan?" Bobby asked.
"I'm in," Kitty piped up. "But yeah, what's the deal? How do we go about this?"
Scott
"Well, for the rest of the year, it's just prep," Scott said. "We've got rules and regs to learn, and well, photo shoots and other things for the merchandise that'll be produced. We're also going to have a uniform redesign -"
"Black leather cat suits don't say 'superhero'?" Rahne asked mischeivously.
"- by a professional designer," Scott went on. "All the X-men uniforms are being redesigned: there's a new material that's been developed for our use - and the use of the other Mutant Affairs Agency groups - which should serve as body armour. It's flexible, bullet-proof and thermoregulated."
"Plus they want a uniform that allows each of us some individuality so that the general public can tell us apart," Jean said. "We're supposed to be representatives, not an army."
"That too," said Scott. "We're also going to have people come talk to us about the impression we're supposed to be leaving on the public, how to handle reporters, stuff like that. We're not actually going to be going public until March next year. There's going to be a Presidential announcement to go with it, probably some sort of meet and greet or something. I don't know all those details yet. They're probably still working on them."
Bobby
"Can mine have some sort of velcro down the front, so I can rip my shirt off?" Bobby grinned, eyes twinkling.
Kitty pretended to gag. "No, please no!"
"So, when does this kick into high gear?" he asked. "I'm winding down with uni, and am also trying to delay becoming a real live adult, so I'm free to start this whenever."
Scott
Rahne giggled.
"For now there's some flexibility while we're putting the teams together," said Scott. "As soon as the teams are finalised, we'll start getting fitted for the new uniforms. As soon as the uniforms are done, that's when it'll get into high gear. In the meantime..."
Scott put his hand on top of a pile of books. A tall pile of thick books.
"These are the rules and regs. I'm not asking you guy to memorise them, but you - as will all the X-men - have to familierise yourself with them," he said. "Otherwise it's pretty much business as usual; if something comes up we step in. Rogue and her Shadow Team are going to be investigating a lead involving the Friends of Humanity, so we may be called in there."
Bobby
"Sweet as bro," Bobby nodded, then groaned as he looked at the books. "Studying is so not my forte."
Kitty rolled her eyes.
"And yet, you're at university," she commented.
Bobby just smiled at her.
Scott
"Well then," said Scott. "I guess if there aren't any further questions, this meeting is adjourned."
Scott looked around expectantly at the group. Piotr shook his head.
"I have a question," said Rahne.
"Yes?"
"Are we still going to be the X-men? Or are we going to be this... Mutant Affairs Agency?"
"We're still going to be the X-men," Scott assured her. "The Mutant Affairs Agency is going to be made up of multiple teams. The name 'X-men' will help the public differentiate us from the other teams. As far as they're concerned, it's just a marketing thing, but it does allow us to retain some individuality."
Bobby
"All good in the hood," Bobby said, saluting. "Hey Pete, you wanna go play some pool?"
"Sure," Piotr nodded. "So I guess you'll keep us posted?"
Scott
"Of course," Scott replied with a nod as Rahne and Jean stood. "Let me know if you don't want to be part of the team before the end of week, preferably. And please take a book on your way out."