Date: Thursday, July 15, 2010.

  Location: Xavier Institute, Scarsdale, NY

  The thrumming of a powerful motorcycle engine echoed through the institute, immediately catg Tyson's attention. He hurried to the entrance, pushing open the heavy doors just as Logan dismounted his bike.

  "Logan!" Tyson called out, a grin spreading across his face.

  Logan, his usual rugged attire, kept on his leather gloves and approached Tyson with a nod. "Kid," he greeted with a hint of warmth behind his eyes.

  The two men cpped each other on the back, the boween them evident, and their respect for each other was clear.

  Just then, Jubilee strolled by irademark yellow jacket. She caught sight of the reunion and smirked pyfully, her bubblegum popping as she ented, "A, bromance."

  Logan raised an eyebrow at her while Tyson chuckled, shaking his head. As Logan and Tyson made their way into the institute, Storm approached, her white hair flowing around her like a soft cloud. She greeted Logan with a warmth that was rare for the often-reserved mutant. "Logan, it's good to see you."

  Logan merely nodded, but his eyes held a hint of something deeper. "Ororo," he responded, using Storm's real name. "Same."

  Tyson, from a short distance away, noticed the subtle gnces betweeheir body nguage spoke of a deeper e. He couldn't help but wonder if there might be something more betweewo. Strictly following bro-code, Tyson slipped out of the room, giving them some privacy while silently rooting for whatever might be blossomiween Logan and Storm.

  Storm leaned close to Logan, her expression grew more serious. "We have a new mission. The Professor wants us t iant who attacked the White House. He believes we help him."

  Logan's eyes narrowed, always ready for a fight. "And he wants me on this?"

  Storm nodded. "He thought you'd be best. And quite frankly," she added, her gaze lingering on Logan for a moment longer, "You're the one I want watg my back."

  Logan smirked, "Let's get to it then."

  ~~ Rogue Rept ~~

  Later that evening, Tyson made his way through the corridors of the institute until he reached Jean and Jubilee's room. He knocked, and almost instantly, the door swung open to reveal Jean with a weling smile.

  "Hey, Tyson," Jeaed warmly, stepping aside to let him in.

  Before he could answer, Jubilee's excited voice echoed from her desk. "Tyso over here! You won't believe this!" Her eyes were glued to the puter s, fiappilessly on the desk. Curious, Tyson approached and peered over her shoulder, sing the s.

  "Watch this!" Jubilee excimed, repying a particur segment.

  The s showed an atta the White House. The mutant responsible earing and disappearing in rapid succession, leaving puffs of smoke behind, with an agility and fihat left the security personnel bewildered.

  "It's...incredible," she murmured. "He's a teleporter." she o herself, "Yeah, definitely a teleporter. But, look at the speed and precision! It's unlike anything I've ever seen."

  Tyson froze. He'd seen bat teleportation like that before, this was less fshy than Illyana’s. The smoke left behind was a dead giveaway. For just a moment, he thought Azazel had returned, but when Jubilee paused the video, he saw a glimpse of the mutant’s skin… it was blue.

  Jean added, "It's going to be a challenge fan and Storm t him in. If he is a teleporter, it expins why the professor had such a hard time log him."

  Tyson stiffly asked, "Jean, where's the professor?"

  She looked up, "He went to see Mago, aook Cyclops with him."

  Tyson paused, processing the information. Slowly, he mumbled to himself, "And Loga with Storm to find the teleporter..."

  Suddenly, a shiver ran down his spihe hair on the back of his neck stood on end. "This ’t happen now, it's too soon," he whispered. Tyson's eyes went wide as realization struck him. At the museum, he and Illyana had only gotten partly through the Russian exhibit when they were called to the buses. Their exit had been abrupt, but Tyson hadn't thought much of it.

  It was as though a film reel pyed in his mind, revealing se after se from a movie plot. The same movie plot that was unfolding around him. Panic welled up inside him. "We're going to be attacked," he said in a shaky voice.

  Jean frowned, her eyes searg his. "What are you talking about? How do you know?"

  "It's... plicated. But trust me. We're in danger. Who's in charge while all the professors are away?"

  Jean paused, etg her face, then said, "Illyana's brother. Why?" Her eyes locked onto Tyson's with a mixture of disbelief and growing . "How do you know we're going to be attacked?" she pressed.

  Tyson took a deep breath, searg for the right words to legitimize his meta-knowledge. "Remember when I absorbed your power to take on Mago?" She nodded, her brow furrowing. "Well, when I did that, I had this... vision of this moment, these circumstances. And, in that vision, the Institute was attacked ter tonight." He looked early into her eyes, hoping she'd uand. "Jean, have you ever... seeure?"

  She hesitated, her gaze dropping as she seemed to search her memories. "There have been times," Jean admitted slowly, "when I've glimpsed events that hadn't happened yet."

  Jubilee, who had been quietly following their versation, sucked in a breath and whispered, "Oh, shit." The weight of the revetion weighed heavy in the room.

  Tyson's urgency alpable. "Jean, you reach out to Colossus with your telepathy? Tell him what we know ahe students ready for an evacuation drill or something. We o be prepared."

  Jean's eyes narrowed iermination. "Okay," she said, closing her eyes to focus. "What are you going to do?"

  "I o find Illyana," Tyson replied. "Her teleportation could be key to getting everyo."

  With that, Tyson turned and sprinted out of Jubilee's room. His powerful legs carried him swiftly down the corridor. As he approached Illyana's room, he didn't slow down, sensing that time was of the essence. If the door was locked, it didn't matter; he just plowed right through it. Wood splintered and the door's metal handle bent.

  The suddenness of his entrand the scattered remnants of the door evidenced his desperation. When Tyson id eyes on Illyana, the sight left him momentarily stuhere she stood in her derwear with a garter belt dangling from one hand as she banced a leg gracefully on a chair, carefully fastening it. Her ptinum blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders, framing her face.

  Illyana gnced up, unfazed by his sudden appearance, a sly smirk pying on her lips.

  Tyson's face turned a shade of red that could rival any su. For once, he was rendered pletely speechless, his mouth opening and closing but no words emerging. The usually fident young man was utterly disarmed by the ued sight before him.

  Illyana shifted her weight to one leg, allowing her hip to jut out slightly. With her haing on that very hip, her body formed a sexy silhouette. Her ptinum locks framed her fad her blue eyes sparkled as she raised an eyebrow, "Looks like you're early for our date. What was sent you couldn't knock?"

  Despite the situation, Tyson's lips curled into a slight grin. "Given what I walked into, I'd say my timing was freaking perfect." He shook his head, reining his thoughts in. "But I o know: how far you teleport? And hoeople you take with you?"

  Illyana cocked her head thoughtfully, "Depending on the distand the familiarity of the pce, I take about five people with me. I jump around a quarter mile, but if I try to go too far weird things happen. Why?"

  Taking a deep breath, Tyson looked at Illyana seriously. "I have a strong feeling the Institute is going to be attacked. And," he said, gng down with a slight flush to his face, "as much as I appreciate the view, you should probably get dressed." He tried to keep his tone light despite the gravity of the situation. "Your brother's in charge right now, and I think the best move would be to start evacuating small groups of kids. Somewhere nearby, within your teleportatie."

  Illyana stared at him for a moment, taking in the weight of his words. She stepped closer aly pced a kiss on his cheek. "Alright, I'll get ready. We'll keep them safe."

  As she pulled away, Tyso a rush of energy, as the essence of Illyana's power surged through him. Ag on impulse, he envisioned Jean's room and with what felt like a mere step forward, he found himself standing right there. The transition was so swift and seamless that he couldn't help but smile.

  Tyson put his hand on Jean's shoulder, "Jean, I need you to focus right now. you sense anything within range? Malicious i, intense focus, ay? Hatred, even... We’re looking froup of soldiers."

  Jean took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and she reached out with her telepathic abilities. Her brow furrowed with tration. After a few moments of intense silence, her eyelids snapped open, revealing a deep fear. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "They're here."

  Tyson's face hardened as he processed the immi danger. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. Turning to the two girls, his voice was urge determined. "Both of you, get to the emergency evacuation site. Now."

  His gaze specifically settled on Jubilee, who was gripping the edge of the desk, her usual bubbly demeanor repced by a serious expression. "Jubilee, do you remember the versation we had when I woke up? This is one of those moments. If you want to be a hero, now's your ce. Save as many as you by guiding them out, the yourself to safety. These kids are scared, and they'll need someorong like you. But remember, you 't help them if you're caught or worse."

  Jubilee nodded, her young face determined. "I won't let you down."

  Turning to Jean, Tyson's voice softened a bit. "Jean, you o get out too. But before you go, I o ask you for a favor. I borrow some of your power? You've seen firsthand what I achieve with it, and right now, we need every advao buy everyohe time they o escape."

  Jean took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was about to e. She strode up to Tyson. Their eyes locked with the weight of their shared uanding, of their trust in each other. Jean's emerald eyes, usually so full of warmth and passion, looked deep into Tyson's with an iy he had never seen before. With deliberate care, she pced her hand on the side of his face. Their e alpable. One sed. Two. Three. Darkness, remi of creeping shadows, began to emerge from the points where her fiouched his skin. Four. Five. Six. The bck tendrils threaded through the veins of her hands, slithering and creeping up her forearms like a malevolent force.

  Suddenly, it advanced past the fabric of her sleeves, threatening to e more of her. Knowing the danger of drawing too much, Tyson abruptly stepped back. The e broke, and Jean staggered, drained, and dizzied. But there was no time to waste. Tyson swiftly grabbed both Jean and Jubilee and in a blur, they were teleported to the evacuation point.

  Gratitude flooded him as he looked at Jean, "Thank you," he murmured. Without another word, he teleported away, returning to find Illyana.

  Illyana stood there, battle-ready itire. The moment Tyson teleported ba, their eyes met, and she uood the urgency of the situation. Tyson quickly stepped up to her, his voice urgent, "Time's up. They're here." His gaze pierced hers, "Do what you . I'll hahe rest."

  For a fleeting sed, everything else faded away. Illyana reached out, ing her arms around his ned drawing him close. Their lips met a fervent and passionate embrace that seemed to vey a thousand unspoken words. It was their first real kiss.

  Suddenly, she pulled away, and Tyson's heart sank as he noticed the stark ge in her appearahe creeping darkness of the bck veins had invaded her face, inating from her lips. A web of bck, like ink spilled on part, made its way across her por skin.

  He instantly realized that all those small kisses and his power had been affeg her the same all along, more so than she had ever let on. But true to her fierature, Illyana showed no sign ret. With a fiery, determione, she simply whispered, "Give them hell," before vanishing with a fsh, telep away and leaving Tyson to face the immihreat.

  Illyana appeared o Jean and Jubilee and staggered before falling to the floor. Jubilee reized the signs of Tyson’s life drain and struggled to help both girls through the evacuation point.

  Those three words, spoken in Illyana's unique at, echoed in Tyson's mind, propelling him forward. ‘Give them hell’ she had said, aeo do just that. The fierce determination in her voice, filled with faith in him, was all the motivation he needed.

  For a fleeting moment, he closed his eyes, attempting to harness Jean's telepathic abilities. He tried to pinpoint the soldiers' locations, but it was akin to searg for a needle in a haystack. Unlike Jean, who with Xavier’s walls limiting her power, could deftly navigate the intricacies of individual minds, for Tyson, it was like plunging into a tumultuous o of thoughts, overwhelming and chaotic. It was too much.

  Abandoning his telepathic search, Tyson decided he would just have to draw them out. The best way to find them was to bee the target they couldn't resist.

  With a sense of purpose, Tyson took a deliberate step. Though it was a small physical movement, the world around him ged instantly. He had transitioned from Illyana's room to the grandeur of the entry hall, with its high ceiling and ornate decor.

  There, almost immediately, he found himself staring down the barrel of a rifle. A soldier, tactical gear and wearing a bacva, had quickly pivoted to line up a shot on Tyson. But before the soldier could react, Tyson took another swift step. In an instant, he was directly behind the unsuspeg soldier. The gun, once aimed directly at him, now pointed futilely ahead, while its wielder remained oblivious to Tyson's sudden relocation.

  The Sabertooth within Tyson growled in glee. For the first time, it'd be unleashed on a hunt.

  ~~ Rogue Rept ~~

  The sterile room was silent, save for the whirring of Xavier's wheelchair as he rolled up to the transparent barrier. Mago's prison, devoid of aal, was cold and isoting. Mago, usually a figure of strength, now seemed diminished, with darkened bruises on his face.

  etched in his features, Xavier asked, "Erik, what happeo you?"

  Mago's eyes met Charles', and there was an uone of frustration in his voice. "I had a visit from our old 'friend', William Stryker. You remember him, don't you?"

  Xavier's gaze became distant, memories resurfag. "His son, Jason, was one of my students," he recalled a note ret in his voice. "Unfortunately, I wasn't able to help him. Not in the way Stryker wanted."

  Mago's posture was one of a defeated man, and his voice wavered just a touch, uncharacteristic for someone of his usual fidence. "Charles," he admitted hesitantly, "he was quite ied in you and your school."

  Armed, Xavier's fingers gripped the arms of his wheelchair tighter. "Erik, what did you tell him?"

  Mago's eyes were filled with pain a as he met Xavier's gaze. "Everything," he whispered.

  Before Xavier could respond, a hissing sound punctured the silence of the room. Within seds, a greenish gas began to fill the chamber. Charles's eyes widened in realization, but he found it hard to maintain focus, his vision blurring at the edges.

  Mago forced out his st words before the darkook him, "The war... has begun."

  As the green gas billowed behind the pstic doors, another se was developing just a few feet away. The entry room outside the cell was filled with a few guards and teology to ensure al was allowed near Mago. The rhythmic echo of heels on the cold floor heralded the approach of a woman. Her white pantsuit ristine, each piece tailored to perfe, highlighting a stro feminine form.

  Cyclops tried to assess the situation, aware that something was amiss. But he barely had time to react before she on him. A fsh of red light streaked from his visor, the optic bst knog the woman to the floor. He took out the guards easily enough, but while he was distracted, the woman rejoihe fight. He threunch, but she deftly evaded, grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back. He groaned, struggling to free himself. But her grip was ironcd. Using his weight against him, she flipped him onto the ground. With a swift motion, she delivered a precise kick to his side, knog the wind out of him. Cyclops tried to rally, to summon any reserves of strength he might have left, but another well-pced kick to his temple left him dazed and disoriented.

  As he y on the floor, sciousness slipping away, the woman stood over him triumphant, her empty gaze staring down at him.

  ~~ Rogue Rept ~~

  Ororo and Logan’s search led them to Boston. The massive wooden doors of the old church groaned as they were pushed open, revealing a vast, dimly lit interior. The once-grand church was now crumbling, pews scattered and fotten, windows broken, their stained gss oelling tales of miracles now y shattered. Scaffolding was scattered around, as if someone had attempted to restore the building, but gave up before making progress.

  "Strange pce fuy who tried to off the president," Logan remarked, taking in the dipidated surroundings. His footsteps echoed as he made his way further ihe worher of his jacket creaking with each step. The air was thick with dust, and a faint inse still lingered, but amidst the quiet, there were whispers. Voices that seemed to dart around, boung off walls, making it hard to pinpoint their in. The words meshed in a bizarre dance of German and English.

  Storm's blue eyes darted around, her white hair shimmering itle light filtering through the broken windows. "He's a teleporter," she expined, remembering their difficulty in trag him down. "That's why we couldn't find him easily."

  Drawing a deep breath, Storm called out, her voice eg through the vastness of the church, "We're not here to hurt you. We want to help."

  The whispering ceased, and a pair of yellow eyes blinked open in the dimness above them. ging to the shadowy rafters was a lithe figure, his skin a deep, inky blue. Two small, spiraled horns jutted out from his forehead, trasting with the backdrop of his short, fuzzy hair. His tail, long and prehensile, ed around a wooden beam, helping him bance effortlessly. But despite the unusual appearahe eyes held a look of genuine fear.

  "I didn't mean to hurt anyone," he fessed, his German at heavy and voice tinged with regret.

  Logan, ever the blunt one, ed his neck upwards, eyes squinting as they tried to adjust to the dark. "Why don't you e on down, bub? Let's talk it out."

  Beside him, Storm stepped forward, her demeanentle and uanding. "We know what it's like to be afraid," she began, her voice soft, "But you're not alone. Let us help. Please, e down."

  The figure hesitated for a moment lohen he disappeared in a puff of smoke, he maed at ground level a few feet away, revealing himself fully to them. The blue-skinned mutant touched down gracefully, his posture hesitant and cautious. His tail twitched nervously as he took iwo newers standing before him.

  The woman with silver-streaked hair stepped forward, extending her haly. "I'm Ororo," she introduced with a soft smile. Motioning to the rugged man beside her, she added, "And this is Logan."

  Logan gave a slight nod, his gaze unwavering, but not unfriendly.

  Kurt hesitated a moment, looking at the extended hand, then carefully took it. "Kurt," he replied, his voice still filled with uainty but trying to find some form of trust. "Kurt Wagner."

  Behind the ses

  - This se was inspired by X-2: X-men United (2003).

  - This Arc jumps around a bit with perspective because so much happens ‘off-s’. I fell into a flow where it would always start with Tyson, but often shifted to other characters to keep up with what they were doing.