Chapter 76

  Arc 6 - Ch 9: Petitioning a Goddess

  Date: Saturday, June 25, 2011.

  Location: House of M, Manhattan, New York

  Tyson guided Jubilee towards his motorcycle, handihe helmet. She accepted it, her dark eyes searg his face for answers. "Where are we going?" she asked.

  The motorcycle's engine roared to life as Tyson kicked it into gear. The throaty rumble of the bike reverberated off the buildings surrounding them as he revved the throttle. Jubilee tightened her arms around Tyson's muscur waist, the helmet securely fastened over her dark locks. With a twist of the wrist, they tore off dowreets of Manhattan, leaving the Ftiron Armory shrinking behind them.

  Tyson's face was grim, his jaw ched tight. "Cerebro at the Institute is our best bet to find Amora," he said, his voi illusion that cut through the engine's noise. He hesitated, and Jubilee could sense his reluce. "But I do have oher option… I could proje illusion of myself requesting Amora's help. I'd be able to reach about a quarter mile with it. But that's a lot of minds to influence all at once." He gnced back at Jubilee, his mismatched eyes intense. "I heal fast, but I've hit my limits on hoeople I manipute. Plus I'd have to gh Manhattaion by se until I found her. I might be able to draw Amora's attention that way, but it would draw far more attention from everyone else than I'd want. Holy, I'm not even sure she's iy."

  Jubilee nodded slowly, uanding the implications. It would reveal Tyson's desperation and Amora's presence. And there was no guara would even work.

  She kyson would do anything to help her. But his disfort at returning to the Institute was obvious the st time they were there, briefly before their trip to Monaco. As much as he didn't want to draw unwatention by projeg an illusion across such a le, she knew he likewise wao avoid the institute. But Tyson and Xavier had spoken for the first time yesterday at his graduation. She hoped that meant things were gettier between them.

  Tyson weaved the motorcycle through traffic, his enhanced reflexes and senses guiding him effortlessly through the streets. Jubilee g to his muscur frame, her petite arms ed tightly around his waist as they leaned into the curves. The city became a blur around them, the buildings and cars streaking by. The roar of the engine drowned out the cacophony of the metropolis. They raced up the Hendrick Hudson Parkway along the simirly named Hudson River, the t skyscrapers of Manhattan rising to their right while the ing waters stretched to their left. The looming silhouette of the Gee Washingte appeared ahead, its massive steel structure spanning the river's expayson guhe engine, ign the bridge as they tinued north, the wind whipping fiercely at their clothes and hair.

  Sooy was left far behind, repced by the stately mansions and manicured wns of Westchester ty. Tyson navigated the tree-lined suburban streets of Scarsdale where homes sat on green wns, a stark trast to the densely packed city they'd departed. The acrid smells of exhaust and asphalt were repced by the st of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers.

  And then, at st, the stone walls and wrought iron gates of the Xavier Institute emerged before them. Tysht the motorcycle to a halt just outside the entrance. He swung his leg over and stepped off the bike, then reached out a hand to help Jubilee dismount.

  Tyso her take the lead as they approached the mansion. Whatever the institute had for security, or perhaps Xavier himself, must have heir arrival because Logan opehe door as they reached it. He greeted them with a hug, his gruff voice tinged with amusement. "Didn't expect to see you so soon, kid. But I probably should have, you 't stay out of trouble, you?"

  Tyson shrugged. "You know me."

  Logan ushered them inside. "Jean hasn't stopped talking about what you said."

  They were led to Xavier's office, where the Professor waited. Storm and Jeaered the room, just behind them. Greetings were exged, cordially, but the air was heavy with the weight of the situation. Jean sat with Jubilee, pulling the irl into a hug.

  Logan cut straight to the heart of the matter. "Vampires, huh? It's not the strahing I've ever heard. But it's close."

  Jubilee unched into the story, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush as she reted the attack at the club, the horror of the blood rain, and the jouro the Sanctum only to be sent on a 'quest'.

  "So you need Cerebro to locate a goddess to obtain her blood for a cure?" Xavier asked.

  Tyson expined, "They're the Nods of myth, but if you're unfortable with the idea of gods, they're long-lived aliens. Asgard is the name of their phey've protected Earth for turies. One of them, Thor, ended up oh a few weeks ago. I helped him out and ended up going back to Asgard with him. A sorceress named Amora helped me return to Earth, but she tagged along. Getting her blood is our best hope. She's the only one who might be able to cure Jubilee."

  Logan asked, "So are we going to have to force her to give up her blood?"

  "I sure hope not," Tyson scoffed before expining, "Amora is powerful. All Asguardians are at least as physically strong as someone like Captain America. Even though she's focused on magic, Amora is strohan I am. We fought before, and I only got by because she didn't know about my life absorption. Now that she knows my tricks, if we fought again, she'd trounce me."

  Tysoated briefly before tinuing, "But I don't think it will e to that. I got the impression that Amora is fond of me. I'm fident she'll iate, or hear me out as a petitioner in the worst case."

  The room fell silent once more. Everyone knew how formidable he was, and knowing that the woman they were searg for outcssed him gave everyone pause.

  Logan broke the silence. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's fire up Cerebro and find this Amora dame."

  Professor X wheeled himself around his desk, his expression pensive as he admitted, "I've never searched for someone who wasn't a mutant or human. I'll try, but there's no guara will work."

  Tyson nodded, his jaw tightening, "I uand."

  "Tyson, if you would join me, along with Jean? It may help since you've seen and had tact with this Amora."

  Tysoated. He remembered his st enter with Xavier, ihe makeshift Cerebro at Alkali Lake. He still had reservations about what transpired between them. But to his surprise, Jean stepped forward reassuringly pg her hand on Tyson's arm. "I'll be there," she said softly, "Everything will be fine."

  He gnced down at Jean's hand, taken aback by the sudden show of support, but as he met her gaze, he found himself drawing the strength he saw there. Jean led him by his arm and grabbed Jubilee's hand. They followed Xavier out of the offid into the hallway. The Professor rolled ahead of them towards the elevator to the lower levels of the mansion. The doors slid open with a soft hiss, depositing them in a long, high-tech-looking corridor. At its end stood a massive metal door, the surface decorated with a stylized "X". Xavier pced his hand against a ser, the device whirring to life as it read his biometric data. With a soft click, the door swung open, revealing the cavernous space beyond.

  Cerebro.

  The room was a marvel of teology, its walls lined with panels and pulsing lights. While at the ter stood a raised ptform. Xavier wheeled himself forward. Tyson and Jean followed toward the raised dias while Jubilee hung back. Xavier reached out, his fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the helmet. As he pced it on his head, the room hummed to life, the air crag with palpable energy.

  Cerebro darkened, plunging the room into a momentary void before a dazzling dispy of light burst forth. Billions of glowing dots formed a shimmering globe suspended before them. Each point of light represented a se life oh.

  Xavier spoke to Tyson. "I need details that might help identify Amora."

  Tyson's brow furrowed as he delved into his memories, sifting through everything he had gleaned from his enter with the Asgardian sorceress.

  "She's tall," Tyson began, his voice hesitant. "Over six feet, blonde, with green eyes. Exceptionally beautiful." He created an illusion that erfect matora. His gaze was distant as he recalled the uhly allure of Amora's features. "She would identify as Asgardian, maybe a goddess, sorceress, Entress, i."

  "She'd be keeping an eye oyson tinued, his voice growing more certain. "So I imagine she'd be in New York somewhere. But with her abilities, she wouldn't have to be."

  "That should be enough for now," Xavier murmured. Xavier's brow furrowed and his eyes closed in tration as he absorbed Tyson's words. The strain of his mental exertion was evident on his face. The globe before them shifted, its tless points of light representing the vast popution of Earth. Suddenly, half of the dots vanished, leaving the sphere noticeably less crowded.

  "I've isoted all male minds and removed them from the search." Ane portion of the dots winked out. "And now," Xavier tinued, his voice strained with tration, "I've eliminated all 'normal' humans from the search."

  Jubilee stepped closer, her eyes wide with wonder. "That's still so many," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Tyson had to agree. There were a surprising number of dots that were not normal humans.

  Millions.

  He was surprised by the number of extraordinary individuals in the world. The remaining lights pulsed softly, each representing a being with abilities or traits that set them apart from the average person. How many of these were mutants? How many were enhanced individuals? And how many were something else entirely?

  Jean leaned in, her voice low as she spoke to Tyson. "Isn't it incredible? To see just how many of us are out there."

  Xavier's voice cut through their musings. "I'm narrowing the search further. I'll focus locally and pick out individuals that might match your description."

  The globe spun, zooming in on the East Coast of Amerid then further still until the sprawling expanse of New York City filled their vieroje of Manhattan's iic skyline came into view.

  Suddenly, the globe vanished, blinking out of existeh a sharp snap. Xavier's eyes flew open, his expression a mix of frustration and surprise.

  "She's in New York," he announced, "But she somehow blocked me." He hesitated, his gaze shifting to Tyson. "I did receive the impression that she wouldn't speak with me. However she may have been ied in speaking with you, Tyson."

  Tyson's jaw ched, a surge of frustration rising in his chest. "How I speak with her if I don't know where she is?" he demanded, his voice raw with desperation. "The whole point of ing here was to find her location so I could speak with her. It's like which came first the chi or the egg."

  Jean's tou Tyson's arm once again tempered his emotions. She calmly stated, "I'll do it."

  Tyson turo her, fused. "Do what, Jean?"

  She met his gaze with a quiet determination. "Your illusions are amazing, and while psionic, they're ly suitable for using Cerebro. My power is... together we could do it."

  Tyson shook his head, still not grasping the full extent of her suggestion. "I don't uand."

  "I know after what happened between you and the Professor at Alkali Lake, her of you is ied in using your powers in cert." She turo face Tyson fully, her expression open and ear. "But I am."

  "I trust you, Tyson. I've let you in before. If you let me in, you could use Cerebro with me. Through me. Just like you did with the Professor at Alkali Lake, but without it being forced." There was a moment of hesitation followed by a flicker of uainty in her eyes. "If you trust me, that is..."

  Tyson's response was immediate, his voice filled with a quiet vi. "It's not a question, Jean. I do trust you… But you even use Cerebro?"

  "Since Alkali Lake, I've been w with the Professor on slowly redug the limitations on my power."

  The look of surprise must have been clear on Tyson's face.

  Xavier crified, "Jean came to me after seeing you utilize her painst Mago, we discussed it and agreed that she was likely at the point where she could begin training to utilize more of her potential."

  Tyson's eyes darted between Jean and Xavier. Jean's statement, however, cut straight to the heart of the matter. "We do this... for Jubilee."

  She kly what to say. Those simple words were all it took to banish any lingering doubts from his mind. With a solemn nod, Tyson agreed.

  Jean approached the trol panel. Xavier wheeled himself back toward the entrance, allowio take his pce at the helm of Cerebro. She removed a foldable chair from the dias aled in. Unlike Xavier, Jean sat fag the ptform a, not the dias at the ter of Cerebro.

  Her eyes drifted shut. The room hummed with a palpable energy, the air crag with the force of her psychic presehe proje of the globe burst to life again, dotted with a myriad of dots each representing a life. It was a breathtaking dispy of how much Jean had advanced her abilities in the past year.

  Her eyes slowly opened, her gaze meeting Tyson's. He had no idea how much she'd grown a a hint of shame at having not realized how much progress she'd made.

  Tentatively reag out with his mind, he brushed against the edges of Jean's psychic presence. Her mental defenses were lowered pletely, allowing him entrao her sciousness.

  The multitude of personas dwelling within his mind granted him some resilience against psionics. Steadying his breathing, Tyson opened himself fully to Jean's abilities. He actively attempted to quiet the other influences in his head, inviting her in instead. A warmth enveloped his thoughts, like a soft knock eg through his mind. Then, suddenly, she was inside him, their sciousnesses mingling. He focused on keeping his psyche as calm and weling as possible, while at the same time, marveling at her mastery over her powers, and how they effortlessly interfaced with his mind.

  Tyson found his mind suspended in the vast expanse of Cerebro. Surprisingly the sensation wasn't overwhelming thanks to Jean's presence providing a steadying anchor by his side. The multitude of lights, representing the minds of tless individuals, stretched out before them in a dizzying ect-the-dots of psychiergy.

  Tyson reached out, guided by Jean. One presence shone brighter than the rest. Amora's essence bzed like a bea, a searing point of light that drew his focus like a moth to a fme. Whether it was Jean's immense power, the Professor nearly disc her location earlier, or the fragment of her that resided deep within Tyson's psyche; the e was undeniable.

  He reached out toward that dot, and to his surprise, Amora accepted his call.

  The air within Cerebro crackled as an otherworldly presence maed before them.

  Amora the Entress had arrived.

  Her essence was transported across the distahrough the bined effort of Jean's telepathy, Tyson's potent illusions, and the Asgardian's are magic.

  Amora's pierg emerald eyes swept the spherical chamber, taking in every detail. Her expression shifted from cool evaluation to mild disappoi as she surveyed the utilitarian surroundings. But a glimmer of i sparked when her gaze fell upon Jean.

  Amora's power rippled through the room with a wave of her hand. The stark interior of Cerebro melted away, repced by the vish illusion of an upscale apartment. Tyson instinctively knew what she'd dohey'd brought Amora to Cerebro and in turn, Amora brought her apartment with her to create a more fortable setting for their discussion. Plush carpets, antique furnishings, and ornate deow filled the space, jured from Amora's imagination. Floor-to-ceiling windows lihe walls, though their panes were obscured. Tyson studied the windows ily with his enhanced senses, hoping for some indication of Amora's whereabouts. But the sorceress had warded them against prying eyes; he could dis nothing of the world outside the illusionary apartment. Thwarted, Tyson turned his attention back to the Asgardian entress. Her beauty was as captivating as he recalled. Jean stood poised at his side, radiating a calm strength that seemed to push against the Entress's charms.

  "Tyson," Amreeted.

  Tyson bowed his head deeply. "Amora, thank you for answering my call."

  The Asgardian sorceress arched a brow at his gesture of resped deference. "You haven't sought me out until now. sider me curious."

  "I apologize for interrupting your sojourn, but I have a problem, and you may be the only person on the p with the solution."

  Amora's eyes glittered with wicked amusement. "As always, Tyson, you have my attention."

  "A friend of mine was attacked by a vampire… a human afflicted by a magical curse which transforms those bitten into their kind."

  Amora waved a dismissive hand. "I'm familiar with Earth's vampires. They've been a pgue here for millennia."

  "I sought the aid of the Sorcerer Supreme," Tyson tinued, uerred. "She informed me they were aware of a way to cure the vampire iion before it takes root, but the ritual requires the blood of a god."

  Amora's rich ughter filled the space. "And when you thought of a god, your first thought was to look to me?" The proje of Amora sauntered up to him, her firailing along Tyson's chest in a seductive, yet imperious gesture. "You petition me like a worshipper of old, seeking a miracle." She paused, her gaze b into Tyson's with an iy that stole his breath.

  "I admit I was aware of your plight. I approve of your methods and your approach. Today, I shall fill the role of yoddess. Show me your friend."

  Jubilee still stood he entrao Cerebro. Tyson's eyes pierced the proje to meet hers, and his power took hold. He dragged Jubilee's preseo the illusion with them. Jubilee gasped as she id eyes on Amora.

  Amora's assessing gaze raked over her. "Tysoo great lengths to save you. Why?"

  Jubilee squared her shoulders, meeting Amora's gaze, "Because he's my friend."

  Amora scoffed, her lips twisting into a sneer. "Not good enough."

  "I want Tyson strong." She looked Jubilee up and down, mogly. "He petitions for you, bearing your burden."

  Disdai into her voice as she decred, "You don't look like his strength. You look like his weakness."

  Jubilee's eyes fshed, a spark of igniting in their depths. "I have supported Tyson sihe moment he arrived here. I admit, I was weak in the past, but I've gotten stronger sihen. When we were attacked, I killed double the amount of vampires he did." She took a step forward, her lifted in fierce pride. "I love him, and I think because he's doing so much to save me, that he might love me back. I won't let him leave me behind again. I'll tio fight with him. I am not weak."

  Amarded Jubilee for a long moment, her expression inscrutable. Finally, her expression broke with a small smile. "That's better. Perhaps you will prove yourself a suitable mistress."

  Amora turned back to face Tysarding him with an inscrutable iy, making Jubilee seem only an afterthought. "What are you in exge for my aid?" she asked.

  Tyson reached to his belt and withdrew the Uru dagger. He held it out before him, an to the projected goddess.

  "You told me it was a great honor to lose an eye in defense of Asgard, and that this on was a suitable reward," he said, keeping his tone respectful. "I bled for this dagger, and now, I offer it iurn for your blood."

  Amora was silent, her gaze fixed on the proffered dagger. After a long moment, she stepped forward, the illusion of her form seeming to glide across the floor. She raised a slender hand to Tyson's cheek, the tact sending a tihrough his skin. Moving close, she stood mere inches below his eye level, close enough that he could feel her breath.

  "You ck training iiquette and magic," she whispered, her voice low and intimate. "Yet you surprise me. You grasp at straws, yet yrip is firm. That dagger is a worthy trade for what you ask."

  Tyson held himself still, resisting the urge to react to her closeness. Before he could respond, Amora stepped back abruptly, breaking the charged momeween them. She turned away, an uncharacteristicertainty flickering across her beautiful features.

  "I dee your offer," she stated, her voice hardening once more.

  Tyson ched his jaw, biting back the bitter retort that sprang to his lips. He needed her help. Losing his temper would only push her further away. If the dagger was a worthy trade, why had she denied him? His jaw ched as Amora's refusal rang in his ears. He needed her aid, yet she had denied him for reasons he did not fully grasp. Her pause invited him to respond, but caution stilled his tongue.

  Amora's melodic voice tinued, "Have you fotten? I want you strong. By taking such a magnifit on, I would only weaken you." Her lips curved into a sly, knowing smile. "But I am not so cold as to ighe plight of your mistress."

  "While vampires are a blight on your world, there is strength in their curse. If I do nothing, the girl bees stronger. Strengthening you by proxy." Amora's eyes gleamed with ing as her motives became clear.

  "If you wish me to assist you..." Her voice dropped to a anding whisper. "I task you with being stronger yourself."

  Amora had thrown down the gau Tyson's feet.

  "Absorb a prow your strength," she goaded, "and should I deem it a signifit enough boost to your abilities, I shall grant your request and gift my blood for your ritual."

  He tensed as the weight of Amora's demaled over him. She regarded him with knowing eyes. "I see you, Tyson," she said, her melodic voice softening slightly. "I know how you feel about taking a life. So, I offer you an alternative. Take another mistress, bind her life to yours. Someorong."

  Her emerald gaze turned pointedly to Jean.

  Tyson's breath caught, his mismatched eyes widening as uanding struck. Amora meant for him to entwine his fate with the telepath. Jea his stunned look with one of her own, trepidation and e warring across her fiures. The tension in the illusory apartment grew taut as a b.

  Amora seemed ued, tinuing to study Jean with an assessing gaze. "Yes, this one would do nicely," the sorceress purred, her voice dripping with covetous allure, "Such power, such potential. I feel it radiating from her, even at this distance."

  He g Jean, searg her face, but Tyson could sehe turmoil beh the surface. Their mental e left a lingering awareness of each other that made her emotions more palpable to him. Jubilee shifted unfortably he entrao Cerebro, her eyes dartiween Tyson and Jean. The spark of defiahat had fred in her moments ago seemed to dim slightly in the face of this new development.

  Amora's rich ughter broke the tension. "Oh, the drama! The possibilities!" She cpped her hands together in delight. "What will you choose? Will you seek out a new power? Kill to earn my favor? Or will you bind yourself to this fiery-haired beauty? Or perhaps there's another you've had your eye on?"

  "What do you want?" Tyson asked, his voice tight with frustration. "Me to get married?"

  Amora's ughter rang out, clear and mog. "No," she said, amused. "That would not be a mistress. That would be a wife." She tapped a finger against her , as if in thought. "What do you call them now? Earth nguages ge so frequently. A e? Paramour?" Her smile widened, revealing perfect white teeth. "I'm sure you uand."

  Tyso a surge of fusion and irritation. He g Jean and Jubilee, both were watg the exge with varying degrees of disfort and . He turned baora, his jaw ched. "Why would sleeping with anirl be a step taining power?" Tyson asked, his voice ced with skepticism.

  "Not just sleeping with a woman," she eborated, her tone impatient. "I want you to cim a woman. Make her yours." Her nonce was at odds with the demand she was making on him.

  "What you decide matters not. Let your mistress pass away, and rise stronger as a vampire. Take a life and grow stronger yourself. Or cim another mistress to stand by your side, making you stronger." Her eyes gleamed with a predatory light. "I will be satisfied regardless."

  Tyson risked a g Jubilee, seeing the fear and hurt in her eyes. The idea of letting her die was unthinkable, but Amora's alternatives were equally troubling. He then looked at Jean, thinking of the e they shared.

  The idea of "g" her stirred something deep within him.

  That robably Sabertooth's psyche.

  It felt wrong. He couldn't ask Jean to bind herself to him even to save her friend. Holy, he thought she would sider it. But he wouldn't push the issue. He would not be forced into a retionship. And he would not force himself upon her, viotiheir friendship, and the trust she had pced in him.

  Tyson's mind raced, trying to find a way out of this impossible situation. He had e seeking help, a simple exge of the dagger for Amora's blood. Instead, he found himself trapped in a moral quandary, with the lives aionships of those he cared about hanging in the bance.

  He ched his fists, frustration, and anger bubbling up inside him. Amora watched him with detached amusement, clearly enjoying the turmoil she had caused.

  "You tact me again. As always, I'll be watg."

  With a wave of her hand, Amora's presence vanished.

  As her absetled the realization of what would e sat heavily on their shoulders. To save Jubilee, he would have to bee stronger. But to gain the power he needed, he would have to absorb another's abilities, to take into himself the essence of another being.

  He would o kill someone. Exge someone else's life for Jubilee's.

  Or bind Jean or someone else strong to him, as his mistress.

  But who would even be an optiohought of the other women he'd been intimate with. Felicia had no powers, Illyana was out of reach at Kamar-Taj, and Natasha both had no powers and was out of Tyson's reach. There were plenty of mutants at the institute, but none he had a better retionship with than Jean…

  "I'm going tain," he said to Jubilee, "Give me a moment." With a flick of his wrist, he removed Jubilee from their psychiion.

  Turning to Jean, Tyson's mismatched eyes bzed with a fiertensity. "I need your help."

  Jean's lips pressed into a thin line. "I know what you're thinking," she said, "Yoing to kill someoo save her. I don't..."

  "What choice do I have?" he asked, His hands ched into fists at his sides, frustration palpable. "Here with you, in Cerebro, is an opportunity I 't pass up. I o know the locations of some people."

  Jean shook her head, her expression torn. "That would be me helping you murder someone. And what about you? you handle another mind inside your head?"

  He shot back, "And what about you? Are you going to bind yourself to me? Bey sve so that Jubilee live?"

  ected to Cerebro and Tyson, Jean's telepathik allowed her to peer deeper into his mind than he realized. His carefully chosen words were a facade. She felt the temptation swirling within him, the whispered thought of ving her to bee his mistress. But she also sensed his aversion to the idea, his desperate grasp for another option.

  "I spared the Green Goblin, though he deserved death," he said, "Now I ask you to trust me. I'm not going to kill someone who doesn't deserve it. I'd only pursue someone proven irredeemable." He paused, sidering his words. "If Jubilee turns into a vampire, my healing will let me sate her thirst and keep her in check. But what if I 't? What if the ge alters her personality, leaving a vampire with mutant abilities to hunt humans unchecked? Even if she remained herself, she would rely on me for blood, maybe forever." His fists ched. "Amora knows this. That is why she suggested binding ao me instead."

  Tyson pleaded, "At the very least, we must sider Amora's offer seriously. But we have to decide quickly. How much time do we have with Cerebro before the Professrows suspicious? Minutes?" His words came faster now, urgency creeping into his tone.

  "If I'm going to locate someoh evil and expendable to sacrifice for Jubilee, it has to be now."

  Jean bit her lip. After a long moment, her shoulders slumped and she nodded, resignation in her eyes. "Alright," she said softly.

  Wasting no time, Tyson jured the illusion of an Asian girl, her image visible only to Jean. "First is dy Moon. She's human but may seem to be a mutant or something more. Likely located iern Europe or Asia."

  Jean focused ily, her brow furrowing. The globe before them shifted until it focused on a single point pulsing with energy. "An underground facility, a cell in Siberia," Jean murmured, her eyes distant and gzed.

  Tyson itted the location to memory, his mind already moving to the arget. He had no iion of harming dy Moon. When he had a ce, he would free her. But for now, at least, he knew where to find her.

  He projected the image of his arget, and Jean's eyes widened in reition. "Spider-Man?" she asked, fused. "I thought he was your friend."

  Tyson nodded grimly. "He is. But an imposter is swinging around the city. He killed one of my friend's fathers, put both my friend and Spider-Man in the hospital, aroyed my apartment."

  Jean focused once more, and Tyson guided her, his psychiergy melding with hers as they narrowed the possibilities. The points of light reduced until only three remained, each pulsing with an eerie simirity.

  "I 't tell them apart," Jean said, her voice strained with effort. "It's like they're the same person. Same psionic signature. The only time I've felt something like this was the Cuckoos."

  Tyson's mind whirled with the implications. He had previously sidered the potential identities of the imposter, but Jean revealing they shared a psionic signature narrowed the options.

  es.

  Someone had ed Peter. Nathaniel Essex, Mister Sinister, was Tyson's most likely suspect.

  Jean focused on one of the lights, and Tys as Peter, having lunch with Aunt May. Nudging Jean along sihat wasn't their target, they turheir attention to the point.

  It was the imposter he was seeking. He was moving through Manhattan, but Tyson marked his location in his mind. If he could catch their st, he could track them. He'd o call Peter and tell him to stay home to avoid fusing the trails.

  With a nod of firmation, Tyson projected the image of his arget.

  Mago.

  Jean searched, her psychic preseretg out across the vast expanse of the globe, but she came up empty. "His helmet blocks psionics," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "Even Professor X 't find him."

  Uerred, Tyson projected the image of John Allerdyce, their former cssmate. His expression hardened. "At Alkali Lake, John sided with Mago, joining the Brotherhood. Trag him will lead me to Mago."

  Jean shot him a questioning look, her unease evident. "Is this a good idea?"

  She knew Mago presented perhaps the greatest challeo Tysoo the power mismatch. Even with Jean's power, Tyson had barely survived their first enter. But she sehat he wouldn't back down. With a resigned sigh, Jean closed her eyes again and stretched her psychises. A faint glimmer appeared on her mental map, flickering iern Europe. Opening her eyes, she frowned slightly.

  "Sokovia," she said.

  Tyson cursed under his breath. Sokovia was too far away, clear oher side of Europe. The only notable things he knew about the try tered around the events of Age of Ultron. A w thought occurred to Tyson.

  The Maximoff twins, Wanda and Pietro.

  In this world, could the twins possibly be Mago's children?

  Either way, Sokovia was too distant for Tyson to rea time to find and kill one of the Brotherhood to save Jubilee. But to be certain, he projected an image of Wanda Maximoff, drawing from his meta-knowledge. He watched Jean's fatently as she searched, her eyes closed in tration.

  After a moment, Jean's eyes fluttered open. "She's in the same location as John," she said, her voice tinged with surprise.

  Tyson cursed under his breath.

  Mago was with the Scarlet Witch.

  This was trouble. Big trouble.

  He could feel the weight of this revetioling on his shoulders, adding to the burden of Jubilee's predit. But he o prioritize Jubilee first. The clock was tig, and her life hung in the bance.

  He projected an image of Mystique.

  Jean sought out the elusive shapeshifter. For long moments, she came up bnk. Tyson thought about what he knew of Mystique. Shifting the illusion, he projected the image of the senator Mystique had impersonated during the movies, and sure enough, his light glowed bright, located in the heart of Washington, D.C.

  Tyson gririumph flickered in his eyes as he mumbled, "Gotcha."

  But even as the satisfa of the discovery washed over him, he mentally kicked himself. The oime he was in D.C. he'd been so distracted by the Senate hearing, the senator hadn't even crossed his mind.

  , Tyson projected the image of Emil Blonsky, the Abomination. Jean had little trouble log him, his presence a pulsing bea in Barrow, Aska. Again, another location that would be impossible to reach withiime limit.

  Tyson racked his brain, pting who might possess the power to satisfy Amora's request, yet also be morally bankrupt enough that he wouldn't feel remorse in taking their life. At the same time, he knew he o avoid someoh an overwhelmingly dominant psyche, as abs them could overwrite his personality and mind.

  Briefly, he sidered seeking out Mr. Sinister but quickly dismissed the thought. Tangling with someone of Sinister's abilities would be reckless. Tyson's thoughts turo the vilins of this world that he was aware of, particurly those imprisoned in the RAFT. He had already dealt with Kraven and Green Gobli her offered any abilities worth abs. Then there was Dr. Sterns also locked within the RAFT. His intellect could perhaps satisfy Amora, but Sterns had not itted any true crimes yet. Nothing that made him deserving of death. Plus, Tyson had s about the physical transformation and megalomania that might apany abs The Leader's psyche.

  As for the X-Men's adversaries, Tyson had already verified that Mago and the Brotherhood were well out of reach.

  Thoughts of his former martial arts mentor, Colleen, sparked an idea in Tyson's mind. Her e to the street-level heroes caused him to sider their rogues galleries. Luke Cage didn't have any notable vilins that fit his criteria. But thinking of Cage led Tyson to Jessica Jones. He recalled seeing her photo in Midtown High's previous yearbook since she was an alum. Right now, she should be in college somewhere iy. Fog on Joirred a promising idea in Tyson's mind.

  He projected the mental image of an unassuming, average-looking white man to Jean. "His name is Kilgrave."

  Jean's eyes took on a faraway look and a point of light lit up. "He's at the Belgio o in Las Vegas. Who is he?" she asked.

  "Someone very dangerous and bad, but an easy target if you're ready for him and he's not ready for you," Tyson replied.

  Tyson had the locations of his targets, the individuals who could hold the key to saving Jubilee's life. He gnced over at Jean, seeing the flid worry etched onto her features. She khe toll this could take on him, the burden of abs another's mind, another's powers. But she also uood the depths of his care for Jubilee and the lengths he would go to save her.

  "Jean," Tyson said softly, his voice heavy with emotion. "I know what I just asked of you, what I'm asking of myself. But I 't let Jubilee die without doing everything in my power to try to save her.

  Jean's eyes glistened with uears, her hand ing up to rest on Tyson's arm in a gesture of support and uanding. "I know," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "And I want to help find a way to save her. But I don't want to lose you, or myself, in the process."

  Tyson ended his illusion, fog on severing the psychiion with Jean.

  As he stepped back from the psionic space, breaking their e through Cerebro. Jubilee's voice drew his attentioone ced with . "How did it go?" she asked, eyes searg Tyson's face for any hint ress or hope.

  Tyson's shoulders slumped, his expression grim. "Not well," he admitted, his words heavy with disappoi. "I'm going to go find Logan and bum a cigar. I'll be outside. I o think." With that, he turned and strode out of Cerebro toward the elevator.

  Jean removed the helmet causing her red hair to cascade around her shoulders. She walked the ptform back to where the others stood. Jubilee's gaze fixed on her, worry etched onto her features.

  "What did Amora say?" she asked, her voice tinged with desperation.

  Jean shook her head. With a somber expression, she replied, "We didn't speak to Amora."

  Jubilee's brow furrowed, her fusion deepening. "Why not?"

  "Because Tyson knew she wouldn't iate further."

  Frustration mounting, Jubilee's hands ched into fists at her sides. "So, what took so long?"

  Jeaated, her gaze darting to Professor X before settling ba Jubilee. "Tyson was looking for bad people with powers he could absorb to fulfill Amora's bargain."

  Jubilee's eyes went wide, horror dawning across her face. "What? No. He 't. That's not what I want at all," she protested, panid disbelief warring ione.

  Jean tried to reassure her, though her expression was etched with . "Don't worry, we'll figure this out together. Binding myself to Tyson wasn't how I inteo spend my weekend, but I'll do it if that's what it takes to save your life." Jubilee vehemently shook her head in denial. But before they could speak further, Jean's unease grew, mirr the younger girl's distress. "Where did Tyson go just now?" she asked.

  Jubilee's answer came absently, clearly distracted by the revetion. "He said he was going to see Logan for a cigar." She paused, her brow furrowing in ption. After a moment, she added in a perplexed tone, "I've never seen Tyson smoke before."

  Jean's disquiet deepe this. "her have I," she admitted gravely.

  Professor Xavier's voice suddenly cut in. He revealed, "I'm no longer sensing Tyson's presen the institute grounds,"

  The two women exged an armed look. Jubilee's face had gone pale, her usual exuberance vanishing. Her head so the Professor. "Isn't that normal? You've said he's resistant to telepathy."

  Jean urgently strode back to Cerebro. She dohe helmet again, her eyes closing in tration as she reached out with her psychises. After a long moment, her eyes snapped open.

  "He's gone," she said, "Left the mansion on his motorcycle, heading south."

  Jubilee's heart sank, the realization of Tyson's iions crashing over her like a tidal wave. "He's going to kill someone and take on the burden to save me." Her words were a whisper, a plea, and a nation.

  She turo Professor X, her eyes wide and impl. "We 't let him do that for me."

  Professor Xavier's expression was grave, his fingers steepled beh his as he sidered the weight of Jubilee's words. "Tyson's decisions are his own," he decred. "He has made it clear that he isn't a student at the Institute, and he isn't an X-Man. I have little say over his as."

  Desperation was etched onto Jubilee's features as she pleaded, " we rally the X-Men?"

  Professor X was silent for a long moment. "Tyson is seeking someoo absorb. While I believe in his character, it's better not to tempt him. Take only those we're certain he won't attack. Yourselves, and Ororo so long as she stays with Logan. And Colossus, his retionship with Illyana would prevent him from attag her brother."

  Jubilee and Jean nodded gratefully. They khey could not stand idly by while their friend, a man they cared for deeply, walked a path of self-destru.

  They would find him and vince him to stop. And together, they would find another way.

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