As chaos unfolded in New York, another storm had been quietly building elsewhere.
Earlier that day, peace cloaked the Xavier Institute. The sky was bright over Westchester, and inside the mansion's walls, the newest generation of X-Men were pushing themselves to the limit in the Danger Room, after what had transpired and what they knew could happen anytime anywhere, they couldn't afford to just sit down and wait for another incident to occur without being able to actually do something.
The Steel walls shifted, simulations crafted with precision by Cerebro and Beast. The current challenge: escort a single glowing sphere from one end of a digital city to the other all while evading Storm's wind assaults and Logan's brutal pursuit.
"Focus!" Logan barked, charging after Cyclops through a simulated alleyway. "You don't have the luxury of hesitation!"
Cyclops dove behind a car as a torrent of wind lifted it into the air. Storm hovered above the skyline, sending down gust after gust while looking for cyclops who was somehow gone from his current position before immediately shifting her attention.
In the control room above, Beast watched intently with the professor beside him, analyzing each maneuver. "Fascinating. Coordination efficiency has increased by 37% since last month. They're beginning to function more efficiently."
Below, chaos was perfectly orchestrated. Iceman created a frozen slick across the alley just as Logan turned a corner, making him slide and lose balance. In a flash, ice covered his legs, locking him to the pavement.
Kitty phased up from the concrete behind him, Cyclops emerging through the same breach. Logan snarled, about to shout something but a sudden mental nudge froze him in place. Jean, eyes glowing pink, hovered above a building.
"Nice one," Cyclops said.
Storm attempted a surprise descent but Kurt appeared in a burst of blue smoke, arms around Jubilee, teleporting her across the map and narrowly avoiding a collapsing building simulation. Jubilee blasted at storm with a burst of light stunning her momentarily, creating just enough distraction.
Rogue moved between Logan and Storm, her feints were unpredictable. Her job was to create a distraction and hesitation by trying to touch either one of them forcing them to retreat each time she came into view.
Logan managed to break free of the ice, and lunged at Cyclops, pinning him with a growl. "Gotcha, Summers."
But something felt off about the capture. He blinked and suddenly his limbs grew heavy and Weak. "What the—?"
His eyes dropped to the figure beneath him which shimmerd form Cyclops to Rogue.
"Well, hello darlin'," she whispered with a grin and headbutted him hard enough to send him flying.
Jean caught the glowing sphere with her telekinesis and hurled it across the simulation, where Kurt bamfed to intercept mid-air and through it further towards the finish line just as a gust of wind slammed into him.
Jean lifted her hand again and redirected the ball perfectly into Bobby's arms just as the timer buzzed.
"WE WON!" Jubilee shouted, throwing her arms in the air, sparks flying from her fingertips.
Above, Charles smiled faintly from his chair. "Well… that was unexpected."
Beast adjusted his glasses. "Indeed. Their tactical synergy is impressive. A significant leap from previous simulations."
Charles nodded. "The crucible they endured has shaped them. Adversity breeds strength."
The chamber below hissed open. The team emerged, sweaty but proud. Logan rubbed his temple and smirked.
"Not bad. Still wouldn't last a round with me full-powered."
"Don't bet on it," Rogue winked, still flushed with victory.
Before anyone else could speak, the entire mansion shook violently.
The alarms blared loudly and lights flickered red.
"What the disco—?" Rogue started, eyes wide.
Beast rushed back to the main console, fingers flying over controls. "There's movement… on the southern lawn—wait… zooming in."
A blurry figure crouched low among the hedges. Beast's jaw tightened.
Kitty's voice came next. "That's… Lance."
Logan growled deeply. "Avalanche."
A second tremor rocked the building and this time, more violent.
The security feed lit up. Blob was sprinting full tilt into the mansion's reinforced gates, splintering them like cardboard.
Pyro was right behind. Quicksilver darted like a ghost through the hedges.
And then Logan froze, his eyes narrowing. "Sabretooth."
The monster of a man stepped into view, his fangs bared, golden mane like hair flaring in the wind.
Charles' eyes flared with recognition. "This isn't random…"
And then she stepped forward. Mystique, her arms at her side, an impassive look on her face. But beside her hovered someone unfamiliar.
A girl in red. Her crimson coat billowed unnaturally. Her eyes glowed faintly with red energy.
She raised her hand and—BOOM.
A shockwave of raw power erupted from her palm.
The mansion exploded. Lights across the entire facility blinked off. A quarter of the structure was blown off. Glass, brick, and timber flung into the sky. A classroom was completely obliterated, its walls peeled back, revealing splintered desks and shattered blackboards.
Inside, Jean's instincts kicked in. A telekinetic dome formed just in time, shielding the team from the blast that reached the lower levels.
Dust filled the air. Smoke choked the corridors. Alarms blared beneath rubble.
Charles' voice rang through their comms as the team moved outside. "Beast, storm get to the students. Ensure their safety. Jubilee, Bobby fire suppression now. Search and rescue for anyone trapped!"
Logan was already out. Claws extended. His snarl cut through the dust. "Sabretooth…"
"Been too long, runt," Sabretooth growled, stepping through the rubble.
"You're still just a mangy lapdog," Logan spat. His claws gleamed. "And I knew I smelled a rat."
Mystique raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Retribution is overdue for what was done to Magneto."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Logan snapped.
"You put him in a coma."
Charles' voice cracked through again. "That's a lie. We—"
"Not you," Mystique interrupted, eyes sharp. "Your newest addition did."
Rogue's voice rang with disbelief. "Gojo?!"
Wanda's eyes burned red. She glared at Rogue, fury barely restrained.
Mystique grinned like a viper. "Bingo. Siding with the humans, even after what did at Havelstadt… After everything we've lost? Your precious Gojo forced Erik to burn out—to the brink of death. And now… he answers for it."
She didn't get to finish. With a howl, Logan launched at Sabretooth. "ENOUGH TALKING!"
And just like that Chaos erupted.
Cyclops immediately fired a beam that knocked Blob who was running towards them off balance but not down completely down. Jean pushed with her mind, straining against his bulk but wasn't able to move the immovable object.
Quicksilver blurred past them, slamming into Cyclops, then vanishing, reappearing to strike again.
Kurt teleported mid-air, grabbing jubilees who just made it back, was immediately attacked by toad and dodging falling rubble, placing her at the stairwell before returning to fight.
Rogue with Logan's feral strength still in her veins, lunged at Lance, who stomped the ground, sending quakes through the courtyard.
Kitty phased through the ground and tackled Toad before he could launch an ambush, pinning him in place with a smirk just as Kurt teleported and gave him a nasty punch to the head knocking him unconscious.
Pyro raised his hand flames bursting toward Rogue who was trying to skewer lance when BOOM! A surge of ice slammed into his chest.
"I don't think so, Matchstick," Bobby shouted as he got back from helping Hank, skidding forward on an ice path.
"You little popsicle" Pyro screamed, unleashing a wave of fire that melted the edges of Bobby's shield. "I'll roast you alive!"
Away from them, Wanda and Mystique remained still, watching… waiting.
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