Now that I have Cloak..., what to do with him?

[cotarfomas]

Magneto stood outside of the rather well lit holding cell now occupied by Cloak. The young mutant had yet to regain conciousness, slumbering fitfully on the bed provided him.

Erik was not sure what to do with him. Cloak had denied, initially at least, his offer of friendship. Magneto had hoped to capitalize on the fact that Dagger was now in the hands of Xavier, and use this information to turn Cloak against them. It was the only possible way Magneto could see to salvage anything useful from the whole "Dagger" fiasco. They had had Dagger, and yet she somehow managed to escape, and event that Erik strongly suspected Charles had something to do with. He was still a little peeved with Tessa over that whole affair.

But the question remained; What to do with Cloak?

Magneto was at a loss. Hell, he wasn't even sure their modified holding cell could actually live up to its name and hold him.

What to do?

[Havok]

Longshot

There was movement behind him and from the non-existant shadows that so luckily folded themselves just right, Arthur Centino stepped, his pretty face grim and uneasy. "My God, you've brought him here? After the torture Tessa put his little girlfriend through, he's going to tear through our ranks like a wild animal."

He folded his arms, tapping his fingers on his elbows in agitation. "I brought her here for reprogramming, so that we could use her and her unstable friend there against Xavier's band of merry little lapdogs, and instead Tessa went mad. Rather vulgar display of insanity. Forgive me for saying so, my Lord, but she needs psychotherapy."

[CloakDagger]

"Nggghhh.... wh... where am I?" Tyrone groans with a hand on his head. He props himself up on his right arm and tries to sit up.

"YOU!" He yells as he locks eyes with Longshot. "Where is she?! What the hell did you do to her?! It had to be you!"

[Havok]

Longshot immediately stepped forward, his hands spread. "Wait, wait! You don't know what happened. We were attacked, both of us. I couldn't sleep and went out onto the balcony and saw hers over on yours. We started talking and suddenly we were attacked, mentally, not physically. Charles Xavier, the head of a school of human-loving race traitors, is a psychic. He spoke in my mind, saying that the girl was all they wanted. I went after her, but they were gone."

He looked away and said, "I should have woken you up, but it was my fault. I was afraid you'd...well, I was afraid. I returned here to tell my employer and he was insistant that we find you first. We're working on a way to stabilize your powers until you can control them so that we can go after Tandy before Xavier's telepathic machinations...make her something horrible."

He stepped close, his expression completely sincere, "I never would have wanted her hurt. This is all my fault for distracting her from the dangers of the world with my damned trusting nature."

[cotarfomas]

Magneto turned to Longshot, and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Do not be too hard on yourself my son, you are not to blame." He returned his gaze to Cloak.

"But we do know who exactly it is that is truly responsable. Xavier. We know where he lives, and where he has taken the poor girl. We will not leave her in the hands of the enemy." Promised Magneto. "I just pray it won't be too late to reverse the mental manipulation they are surely exposing her too." He finished solemly.

"I apologize for your current 'accomodations'. It was nothing more than a precationary measure, I assure you. If you are confident that you can control yourself, I would be more than happy to release you."

"And, of course," Added Magneto, "Assist you in planning to liberate your friend."

[CloakDagger]

"I don't need help getting her out. Just tell me where to go." He clenches his fists tightly, and tries to focus on allowing his darkness out despite the bright lights.

[Havok]

"Xavier's." Longshot says, quickly, "They have her, I am certain of it, and if he does God knows what thoughts he is putting in her head. She may not not know you. She may turn against her own kind. She may see us as the enemy. Please, Tyrone, you must believe me that I would do anything to have made the situation different. I never wished her harm, and you, I am so relieved you understand that there was nothing I could have done. I have many talents but protection against mental manipulation is not something I am lucky enough to have mastered."

[cotarfomas]

"Very well, if that is how you are going to be about this, then you leave me no choice." Magneto reached out to the control regulating the amount of light Cloak was exposed to, one that was set on one of its lowest settings...

And switched it off.

Only the emergency lights remained on, bathing Cloak once again in the shadows he so craved.

"If you do not want our help, then so be it." Said Magneto, stepping off to one side of the now open entrance to the cell. "You are free to leave. We will even furnish you with the location that your friend is held at, if that is what you wish."

"But it would be so sad if you just rushed off by yourself," Erik lowered his head solemly, "Because you would be doomed to fail, and ultimately be subjected to the same mental reprograming I am sure dear Dagger has been forced to endure."

"Of course you wouldn't be able to reverse any such tampering they may have done. You would, at best, rescue the pale shadow of who was once a friend. What would you do then?"

"On the other hand, we have people who may be able to help. I beg you...accept our help. It is your only hope."

[CloakDagger]

"Fine, but once we get her out, you people leave us alone," He glares at Longshot, and folds his arms at his chest, fists still clenched. In the darkness, his cloak manifests itself once more, and he takes a deep, relieved breath.

"Now where is this Xavier's place?"

[cotarfomas]

"All things in due time my friend." Said Magneto. "Now that we have agreed Dagger is in need of rescue, it would certainly serve no purpose to have you go running off all half-cocked, without the proper support required to free her."

"Your rash behavior would not only doom Dagger, but yourself as well," Continued Magneto, "And, as your new friends, we have a responsability to protect you. Even from yourself."

"So let's all take a deep breath, and discuss this like gentlemen."

"I am sure we can come to an agreeable plan of action."

[CloakDagger]

"And if she doesn't have enough time for us to 'discuss' this?" Cloak asks, his glowing white eyes shining against the darkness cast over his face.

"We go now, we get her out, we leave before they can do anything about it. As long as I know where I'm going, I can open the way there, I think. I've never tested just how far I can go."

[cotarfomas]

"I am truly sorry, but I am afraid I must insist." Said Magneto. "We require assistance if we are to have any chance at all of rescuing Dagger. And, even with allies, it will be difficult at best. Unfortunatly many of the allies we require, those who serve me, are dispersed on various missions."

"I have, of course, put out an emergency recall. I have no more desire than you to leave such a precious young woman in the hands of those who would harm her." Said Magneto sympathetically. "But you have to understand, this will take time. I assure you, that as soon as we have gathered the strength sufficient to free her, we will act accordingly."

"And we will make those responsable pay."

[Havok]

Longshot sighed, "Tyrone, I certainly don't want to make you angry, and I certainly don't want Tandy to be injured, but you have no idea the sheer evil a man like Xavier is capable of. He will kill you before you are able to formulate a thought. Please, I understand how hard it is, but you must use your brains and not your heart in this situation. Remember how I told you that friends could be valuable? We, the Brotherhood, are your friends, now, your family. We will save Tandy and unleash righteous vengeance on Xavier is she is injured in even the slightest."

[CloakDagger]

"And if he kills her with a thought while we sit here waiting? Then what?! What if he's already killed her? We could be there right now!" He slams his fist against the wall, and bites his lower lip in frustration.

[Havok]

"He won't kill her." Longshot said, "He would have done so when he took her. He wants you and her together, but not until she is fully indoctrinated into his way of thinking. If you go now, before he is ready, he'll kill you and still keep her. No offense, Cloak, but alone you are unpredictable and alone she is only mildly interesting. Together however, you are amazing and can be a weapon of mass destruction. He would turn you against people like us, mutants, mutates, anyone with powers, to serve humankind, the very people who made you what you are. She is valuable to him as long as you are with us. He won't hurt her. I promise you that."