Chapter 80

  Arc 6 - Ch 13: Power Testing

  Date: Monday, June 27, 2011.

  Location: House of M, Manhattan, New York

  Several hours after Jubilee had awakened, she and Tyson had satisfied their hunger, moving past the primal urges. Tyson took out his phone aed Felicia, letting her know that he and Jubilee would be ready to leave by m. He was capable of slig his way out, but why ruin the vault needlessly? With the night still young, Tyson and Jubilee settled in to pass the remaining hours until dawn. They sat fag each other, cross-legged on the cold crete floor of the vault. The air was thick with the musky st of their ret intimacy.

  "So I haven't been pletely ho about what I saw and know," Tyson began, his voice low aant.

  "You're talking about what you saw? You did say that it was more than you let on."

  Tyson took a deep breath, steeling himself for the revetion. "I didn't just get a glimpse of the future or a fsh of insight that the soldiers were ing to ihe institute. I got aensive view of the future. People, events, there was so much."

  Jubilee leaned forward, her dark eyes intense and searg. "Like what?"

  Tyson ran a hand through his hair, "There's so much, I don't even know where to start."

  A small smile quirked Jubilee's lips in a fsh of her usual pyful spirit. "We have all night, so why don't you start at the beginning."

  Tyson frowned, but he nodded, accepting the invitation. "Alright. Ba the 1940s, there was a Nazi vilin he Red Skull..."

  As the hours ticked by, Jubilee listened with rapt attention. Tyson wove a tale of heroism and sacrifice, of gods and monsters, of impossible victories a-wreng losses. He spoke of the rise of HYDRA, the formation of the Avengers, and the fall of SHIELD. Of Ultron and Sokovia, the Sokovia Accords, and the fracturing of the team. The Bck Order and the Infinity Stohanos' terrible purpose, and the Snap that erased half of all life. Tyson's voice grew hoarse as he reted the desperate fight to undo what Thanos had wrought. The time heist and the final battle.

  "... then Tony snapped his fingers, and Thanos and his army were dusted. However, using all six infinity stones was too mud killed him. Captain America returhe Infinity Stoo their proper realities," Tyson cluded, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Jubilee sat stunned, her eyes wide and her mouth slightly agape. She'd stopped breathing at some point, her neiriature rendering the reflex unnecessary.

  "No way," she breathed, shaking her head in disbelief. "That was so much more than I expected or imagined."

  Tyson huffed a ugh devoid of humor. "Tell me about it. I've been carrying this around, trying to figure out what to do with it. How to use this knowledge to make things better, to save lives."

  Jubilee reached out, taking Tyson's hand in her own. "That's a heavy burden to bear aloy. I 't even begin to imagine."

  He squeezed her hand, grateful for the fort. "I didn't want to y it on anyone else."

  "You didn't tell anyone else?" Jubilee asked.

  Tyson replied, "Just Nat."

  Jubilee ughed, "The hot teacher who is actually a super-spy and sacrifices herself to get the soul stone… No wonder you had a crush on her. After meeting her, I 't bme you." She tinued, "Well, now you've got me to help you too."

  "Thanks, Jubes," he said, "I'm damn gd you're still you and that you're here."

  Jubilee grinned, fshing her fangs. "Well, you did let me sna you and rock your world, so I think we're even."

  Tyson ughed then, a real ugh, and the tension that had been coiled within him began to ease.

  Jubilee leaned forward, resting her hand on Tyson's knee. "But what does that mean for us?"

  Tyson grirying to lighten the mood. "I was thinking of asking you to be my girlfriend sino one else around here seems to want that title officially..."

  Jubilee smacked his arm pyfully, interrupting him. "That's not what I meant, you dork. What about you, me, Logan, the X-Men? None of us were iory you told."

  Tyson's smile faded, repced by a more serious expression. "It's true, none of us were. No mutants at all, except the Maximoff twins."

  Jubilee's eyes widened as the pieces fell into pce. "Wait, wait. So that's how you knew who to go after in Cerebro with Jean. The targets you picked out were from what you saw."

  Tyson nodded, a hint of guilt in his expression. "Mostly, yeah."

  Jubilee's shoulders slumped, a wave of remorse washing over her. "Tyson, I'm sorry."

  He looked at her in fusion. "For what?"

  "I think we've made things worse," Jubilee admitted, her voice small and uain.

  Tyson frowned, still not prehending. "What do you mean?"

  Jubilee took a deep breath, anizihoughts. "When you went after Mystique, we had the Professor warn her. You said you looked fo but found John was in Sokovia. From your vision, Sokovia is where the Maximoff twins, the only mutants in the vision, are from. What are the odds that's a ce?" Her voice grew more urgent, tinged with fear. "Mago will e for you, and he'll have more mutants with him. And it's my fault. He's going to have a better idea of where you are."

  He quickly schooled his features into a reassuring smile. "It's fine, Jubes. Mago is dangerous, but I've known there was a ce he'd be ing for me. I've been taking steps to try to make a difference, and I'm preparing for him."

  Jubilee looked at him skeptically. "Like what? I listeo your whole story. It doesn't seem like you ged that much."

  "And you dodged my question. What about mutants? Are we just irrelevant to this grand ic drama?" she asked.

  Tyson covered her hand with his own, his thumb stroking her knuckles reassuringly. "I don't think it's that simple, Jubes. Just because we weren't part of the visio mean we don't have a role to py. It could be that mutants had their own issues that kept them from being active in rger affairs. Or maybe if I hadn't interfered at Alkali Lake, Stryker would've killed all the mutants." He tinued, "Nat thinks that I might have only seen the events beyond my presence, almost like I could see everything but myself. Either way, my as have already started to ripple out, ging things in small but potentially signifit ways."

  Tyson's gaze went distant as he recalled the events that had ged. "The Stark Expo went about as expected. With Thor's arrival, things generally went the same. Except for Amora the Entress, who is oh now. Just like Omega Red wasn't supposed to be with Stryker wheacked the institute, she wasn't supposed to arrive with the ardians."

  "With the Hulk, I fought the Abomination in his pce. I hoped it would take some heat off Banner ao him gaining a measure of trol. Ultimately, I've met almost all the inal Avengers. I worked with Natasha and t during SHIELD operations, and I've helped both Iron Man and Thor; all that's left is for them to find Captain Ameri the ice. They all know my true identity, and I've built the foundations food retionships with each of them. "

  "As for mutants, I started House of M," Tysoioned with a hint of pride in his voice.

  Jubilee's brow furrowed in fusion. "How does an illusion show help against Mago? Or help mutants in general?"

  Tyson grinned, leaning back against the wall. "It was the first step." He paused, letting the suspense build for a moment. "How much do you think I pull in for an illusion show?"

  Jubilee shrugged, hazarding a guess. "A couple thousand dolrs?"

  Tyson made a ive buzzer sound, shaking his head. "Even after paying everyone and taxes, etc., it's over a huhousand dolrs."

  Jubilee's jaw dropped, her eyes wide with shock. "Per show?!"

  "Yup," Tyson firmed smugly. "Plus, I had several hundred million dolrs socked up beforehand."

  "So you're like, rich, rich? Okay. What about it?" Jubilee stared at him, trying to process this new information.

  Tyson's expression grew serious as he regarded Jubilee. "I ied the money using some of the knowledge from my vision," he said. "I'm nearly a billionaire now." Jubilee waited, w oint he was driving at. Tyson tinued, "So I bought a teology pany... ohat focused oifying and hunting mutants."

  Jubilee's eyes widened in horror, "You bought an anti-mutant pany? Tyson, why would you do that?" then uanding dawned. "To hunt Mago?" she asked.

  His expression grew serious. "That's part of it. The teology pany I acquired created these automated drones called Sentinels. In the darkest future from my vision, the Sentinels became unstoppable hunter-killer robots, unleashed to wipe out all mutantkind." He paused, his eyes darkening at the memory of the beginning of Days of Futures Past. "They didn't just target mutants already born. Their programming sought out any humans who might unlock the mutant gene, even geions into the future. It was a systematiocide. They left the Earth a barren wastend, with almost no humans or mutants left alive."

  Jubilee's eyes widened in horror. "That's awful! So by taking over the pany..."

  "I've prevehat future from ing to pass," Tyson finished with a grim smile. "The Sentinels will never serve that genocidal purpose now."

  Jubilee let out a breath. "Wow. So you've already saved all mutants and most of humanity from extin?"

  "Hopefully," Tyson said. "Don't worry too much about Mago being on my trail. Now, I don't o hunt him down. With Mystique aware of me, he has all the iives and clues he o e for me. It's bee a race to see if I finish my preparations and acquire the teology from the Trask acquisition before he arrives." He added, "Plus, not all bad came from this. I know Mago might be bringing Wanda and Pietro, which I wouldn't have realized if you hadn't been bitten. They're powerful, but during this whole mess, I secured allies that could ter them."

  "Who?" Jubilee asked.

  "The magic tutor I hired to get Amora's blood. Her name is Agatha Harkness. She's a witd could serve as a ter to Wanda. And you told Jean not to join us yet, but she said she'd be ing once we were sure it was safe to be around you. Her telekinesis should be a hard ter to Pietro's super speed. You 't run if you're not on the ground. That leaves Mago, and I should have the Seo deal with him shortly. If not, with Jean here, at least there's a ce that she or I, with her power, could go toe-to-toe with Mago. I've do before, and I could do it again."

  Jubilee took in his words, processing the web of pns and tingeyson had put into motion. She hoped his preparations fo's iable arrival would be enough wheime came. But she couldn't resist teasing Tyson a bit, even as she was impressed by the extent of his scheming. "Well, look at you, Mr. Mastermind," she said, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I thought you were just bumming around the city with Spider-Man this past year, chasing after any pretty girl that caught your eye." She gave him a pyful nudge. "Good to know you were using more than just your little head to make pns."

  Tyson scoffed, though his eyes held a glint of amusement. "Hypocrite!" he decred, pointing an accusatory finger her way. "If I recall correctly, earlier, you were the orying to get me thinking with my little head, not my big one."

  Jubilee flushed slightly, caught in her own teasing words. "Alright, alright, point taken," she ceded, holding her hands up in mock surrender. Giving him a wry smile, she quipped, "You don't really have a little head anyway. They're both big."

  — Rogue Rept —

  Felicia arrived at the armory as the first rays of dawhrough the high windows. She'd e prepared, wearing the form-fitting enhanced suit that granted her super strength without promising her agility.

  Tyson held Jubilee firmly as Felicia approached the vault door. They all braced themselves as Felicia turhe heavy lock, unsure how Jubilee might react upon entering a normal human for the first time siurning.

  To their relief, when the door swung open, Jubilee remained calm. There was no immediate attao untrolble bloodlust ression. She took a deep breath, noting, "Felicia smells good, but I don't feel the urge to feed." She tilted her head, sidering, "Tyson's blood still holds more appeal."

  Felicia's face was relieved that she didn't have to fight off the vampire. "I'm so gd you're okay, Jubilee," she said, her voice warm and sincere.

  Tyson released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, his grip on Jubilee's arm rexing slightly. They shared a look of cautious optimism.

  "What now?" Felicia asked, her gaze flig between Tyson and Jubilee.

  Tyson's expression turhoughtful. "Now, we see what she do."

  One advantage of House of M being a former armory was the abundance of space fe equipment. In the main arena, Tyson had enlisted Vanko te an array of weights and obstacles for testing utilizing the Whipsh armor.

  Jubilee approached the weights. The etal of the barbell rubbed against her palms as she ed her slender fingers around it. With a grunt of effort, she lifted the reinforced, fed steel up and over her head. The weight ptes ged and cttered against each other in protest at the abrupt motion. She held the pose, then lowered the barbell a rest with a muffled thump against the padding on the floor. They steadily increased the weight with each repetition. It was incredible watg her petite frame dispy such power. She eventually topped out at a thhly impressive two tons.

  As Jubilee stepped back, Tyson took his turn at the makeshift strength testing station. His muscles flexed and corded beh his shirt as he ed his rge hands around an even heavier set of ptes. With a look of intense tration, he gritted his teeth and hoisted the tremendous weight off the floor. The barbell creaked armingly uhe immense load, but Tyson held it aloft. His testing took longer, requiring more and more reps as the weight is increased. The assembled group watched as he systematically pushed his altered physiology to its limits, the markers steadily climbing until the barbell held a staggeri tons aloft. With a thunderous crash that shook the floor, he finally lowered the weight and stepped baodding in satisfa at the results.

  Felicia watched in awe, her eyes wide as she withe true extent of their abilities. "Incredible," she breathed, shaking her head in disbelief.

  Tyson and Jubilee moved on to the challeh the strength tests plete.

  Speed.

  The outside of the arena provided a perfect track for them to push their limits.

  Tyson took his position at the starting line, his muscles coiled and ready. He knew from experiehat he could move at higheeds, and his enhanced physiology allowed him to reach around 60 miles per hour.

  Jubilee lined up beside him. "Ready to eat my dust?" she taunted, boung on the balls of her feet.

  "We'll see about that, Jubes. Don't t me out just yet."

  Felicia stood off to the side, a stopwat hand. "On your marks," she called out, her voice eg in the vast space. "Get set... Go!"

  At her signal, both mutants exploded into motion. Tyson pushed himself to his limits and accelerated to his top speed. But even as he reached his peak velocity, he saw Jubilee pulling ahead. She moved like lightning, her form little more than a streak of motion as she tore around the track. Her vampiric speed was unmatched, leaving Tyson in the dust.

  In a matter of seds, Jubilee pleted a full p, skidding to a stop beside Felicia. Tyson followed moments ter.

  "Impressive," Felicia remarked, gng down at the tablet. "Jubilee, you clocked in at over 150 miles per hour. Tyson, you hit your usual 60."

  "Guess being a vampire has its advantages. Super speed, super strength. I could get used to this. What's ?" she asked eagerly, her gaze dartiween Tyson and Felicia.

  Tyson's expressiohoughtful, his brow furrowing as he sidered their options. "Vampires are supposed to be able to enthrall others," he mused, his voice low and ptive. "Particurly those they've bitten."

  Jubilee's face lit up, a mischievous grin spreading across her features. "Ooh, I make you do what I want?" she purred, her eyes glinting with a hint of pyful malice. "Sounds good. Let's test it."

  She fixed her gaze on Tyson, her dark eyes b into his with an iy that sent shivers down his spihey stared at each other, seds tig by in a silent battle of wills. Tyson could feel the pull of her influence, a subtle pressure at the edges of his mind, but he fought against it, his mental fortitude pushing back against the intrusion.

  After what felt like ay, but was iy only a few moments, Jubilee spoke, her voice ced with a anding tone. "Hop on one leg," she ordered, a smirk tugging at the ers of her mouth.

  Tyson's face sched up, the pulsion to obey her and warring with his sense of self-trol. He could feel the urge to ply, to surreo her will, but he shook it off, his mind clearing as he reasserted his autonomy.

  "I felt it," he admitted, his voice strained with the effort of resistahe pulsion to do as you said. But I was able to fight it off."

  "Now bite him and try again," Felicia suggested. Jubilee raised an eyebrow. Felicia eborated, "Just to be thh. If the legends say they trol those they've bitten, we o see what happens if you bite him and immediately try to and him."

  "No harm in trying," Tyson agreed, tilting his head to expose his neck.

  Jubilee leaned in, her faended, and she sank them into Tyson's jugur, drawing deeply.

  He let out an involuntary moan, his eyes fluttering closed.

  Felicia's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't realized he would seem so affected by the bite. The sight stirred something ued within her. Curiosity, a hint of arousal at how he seemed to enjoy it, and a twinge of jealousy she hadn't anticipated.

  Jubilee pulled back, lig her lips. Her gaze shifted to Felicia. "You smell good too, kitty cat. Like vanil and jasmine. I wouldn't mind a taste."

  Felicia felt a flush creep up her neck, caught off guard by Jubilee's words. Quickly holding her hands up pgly, she said, "Down, girl," chug and shaking her head. Clearihroat, she instructed, "Try and trol him now," her voice slightly huskier than before.

  Jubilee turned back to Tyson, who seemed to be shaking off the effects of the bite. She fixed him with an inteare, her voice taking on a anding toyson, do a handstand."

  To everyone's surprise, Tyson moved almost immediately. He bent forward, pced his hands on the ground, and kicked his legs into a perfect handstand.

  "Incredible," Felicia breathed, watg in fasation. "It worked this time."

  Jubilee's eyes widened, excitement and fshing across her face. "I feel it," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "It's like there's a e between us now, a thread I tug on to make him do what I want."

  Tyson remained in the handstand position. After about a minute, he suddenly dropped back to his feet, shaking his head as if to clear it. "Whoa," he muttered, blinking rapidly. "That was... intense. I could feel your and, Jubes. It was like my body was moving on its own."

  "That was about a minute, I'd say," Jubilee replied, still surprised by her newfound power. "After that, I could feel the e start to weaken."

  Tyson nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it was like a fog lifting from my mind. I suddenly realized what I was doing and was able to break free of it."

  Felicia tapped her thoughtfully. "Iing. So, the pulsion is strong but short-lived. That could be useful iain situations, but knowing it has limits is good."

  Jubilee houghtfully, her brow furrowing as she sidered the implications of her neiric abilities. "And Tyson has resistao psionics," she mused. "He was braced for me, guarded against aal intrusion. If I had caught him off guard, or if he had willingly opened his mind to me and my suggestion..."

  She trailed off, her eyes distant as she imagihe sario. "I think it would st much longer. If Tyson sciously lowered his defenses and allowed me access, perhaps indefinitely."

  Tyson announced. "My turn."

  The bustling streets of New York City suddenly repced the arena around them. T skyscrapers loomed overhead while honking cars and chatteririans filled the air. It erfect replica, down to the smallest detail.

  Felicia blinked, momentarily disoriented by the sudden shift in sery. She looked around, taking in the sights and sounds of the illusionary cityscape, before refog her attention on Tyson and Jubilee.

  Jubilee, for her part, seemed utterly ued by the ge. She gnced around, a bored expression on her face, before turning back to Tyson with a raised eyebrow. "Are you doing anything?" she asked, her voice ft and unimpressed.

  Tyson chuckled, shaking his head. "Yes," he firmed, "My illusions don't affect you in the slightest."

  Jubilee sighed, a hint of disappoi creeping into her tone. "No more Naruto then," she mented, referring to the times Tyson had used his illusions to mimic the anime.

  Tyson's expression grew serious, the pyful atmosphere evaporating as he sidered their steps. "I think that's it as far as strengths go," he said, "Now it's time to test your weaknesses."

  Jubilee winced, a flicker of apprehension crossing her features. She khat this was a necessary step, that they o uand the limitations of her new form just as much as they o explore its potential. But the thought of fronting her vulnerabilities made her uneasy.

  She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to e. "Okay," she said, "Let's do it."

  They khis would be a potentially dangerous part of their testing process. But they also khat it was essential that uanding Jubilee's weaknesses was the best way to protect her.

  Tyson, Felicia, and Jubilee left the arena behind. They headed to the executive lounge, a plush and well-appointed space. Vanko and his Whipsh suit would hahe up, leaving the trio free to focus on the phase of their iigation. As they ehe lounge, Felicia stepped forward with a small colle of items cradled in her arms. She hahe first oo Tyson, a simple neckce with a cross pendant dangling from its delicate .

  Tyson held it up. "Religious symbol first," he said.

  Jubilee raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Wait, I know the myths around that. Don't you have to be a believer fious symbols to work on vampires?"

  Tyson shrugged, "Yeah, but st month, I met Thor. So, I know gods exist. If Thor is real, who's to say that the Christian god isn't?"

  He stepped forward, the neckce held aloft, its pendant swayily with each step. Jubilee instinctively stepped back, her body reag before her mind could fully process the situation. Tyson halted, a look of crossing his features.

  She sighed, a mixture of embarrassment and unease in her voice. "It works. I don't like the way it feels. At all. I know it's stupid, but I want to get away when you e near me with that."

  Tyson nodded, handing the neckce back to Felicia. "Okay, we'll move on."

  Felicia approached , a string of garligling from her fiips. Jubilee recoiled, her nose wrinkling in disgust. "That smells horrible," she pined, her voice muffled as she held her breath.

  Despite her aversion, Jubilee held her hands out, allowing Felicia to tie the garlic string around her wrists. She pulled her hands apart, testing the strength of the bonds, but to her surprise, she could not tear the string. It was unusual, given the remarkable feats of strength she had demonstrated earlier.

  Tyson watched with fasation. "Garlic saps a vampire's strength," he mused, "That orue too."

  Felicia uhe string from Jubilee's wrists and carried the garlic behind the lounge's bar. Tyson turo Jubilee with a serious expression.

  "Okay, we'll move on to the st test. I'm sure you know what it is."

  Jubilee nodded, her voice hesitant and small. "Sunlight."

  They all khe stories of vampires bursting into fmes at the first touch of the sun's rays. She was a vampire now, a creature of the night, and the sun was the ultimate enemy of her kind. Would the sun truly reduce her to ash and ders at the first touch of its light? Or was there some way to protect her, to shield her from its deadly rays? But first, they o know for sure. They o test the limits of her vulnerability, push the boundaries of her newfound nature, and see where they led.

  With a sense of trepidation, Tyson turo Jubilee, his voice low and serious. "Are you ready for this?"

  Jubilee swallowed hard, her eyes wide and fearful. But beh the fear was the spark of her indomitable spirit. "As ready as I'll ever be," she said, "Let's do this."

  Tyson, Jubilee, and Felicia approached one of the building's east-fag windows. Felicia raised the shade a bit, allowing a clear suo cut through the dimness and cast a golden glow across the floor.

  Jubilee held her breath, brag herself for the searing pain she expected to follow. But as the radiating light brightehe room, she felt... Nothing. N, no steam rose from her flesh, no agony c through her veins.

  Cautiously, she approached the window, extending a trembling fiowards the sunlight. She let the barest tip of her pinky touch the beam, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for the iable.

  But still, nothing happened. Emboldened, Jubilee eased more of her hand into the light, watg in amazement as her skin remained unblemished and whole. She g Felicia, who nodded and raised the blinds higher, flooding the room with the sun's warm glow.

  Jubilee stepped fully into the light, her eyes wide with wonder as she basked in its radiance. "I'm fine," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. "It doesn't hurt at all."

  Tyson stared at her, his brow furrowed in fusion. "How?" he asked.

  Jubilee proposed with budding uanding in her eyes, "It must be you."

  "Huh? Me?" Tyson asked, his fusion only deepening.

  "Think about it, Ty," Jubilee expined, her voice growing more excited with each word. "You smell so good to vampires. But you smell like sunlight and life. It 't be a ce."

  "Fuck," he muttered, the implications of Jubilee's words sinking in. He forced a smile, trying to focus on the positive. "This is great for us. For you."

  "Damn, I'm like immortal, immortal. If sunlight 't kill me, what does that leave? Silver and decapitation?" Jubilee's expression sobered as she processed the implications of his words. "This isn't so great for you?" she finished, her voice tinged with .

  "I'm happy that you won't have to live your life in the darkness," he said, "But if the vampires ever found out my blood would let them walk in the daylight, they'd string me up and turo a never-ending blood bank."

  Feliodded, her expression grim. "That would be bad for humanity," she agreed.

  Tyson turo Felicia, a thought to him. "Did Bde, that vampire hunter, ever e back or call?" he asked hopefully.

  Felicia shook her head. "No, he didn't."

  Tyson frowned, his mind already rag with possibilities. "I don't have a way to get in touch with him. I don't know where he's w out of, and I was more ed with keeping him away from Jubilee than finding out." he paused, sidering their options. "Actually, I don't know if telling him about this would be a good idea. He would probably try to kill me again to keep the vamps from getting to me." Turning to Jubilee, he searched her face. "If it's my blood that makes you able to walk in the sunlight, that means you're stuck with me. Are you okay with this?"

  "Tyson, are you asking if I'm okay spending the rest of my life with you?" She took a step closer, ing her arms around him. "When I was bitten, I asked if you'd want to get married, and we sorta did. Now it sounds like we've bound ourselves for life."

  Tyson's lips puckered at her statement. Jubilee ughed, the sound light and carefree despite the weight of their situation. She leaped into his arms, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. "I'm okay with this," she said, her voice soft and sincere. "I'll stay with you until the end of my sed life."

  Felicia watched the exge with a smile, her heart warmed by their genuine affe. "I'm happy for you two," she said, her voice tinged with wistfulness.

  Jubilee g Felicia, a flicker of awkwardness crossing her features. She kyson and Felicia had an iing, simple, yet plicated retionship. But Felicia had been supportive throughout this ordeal, accepting everything with grad uanding. But as she thought about it, her expression shifted into a frown.

  Notig the ge in her demeanor, Tyson tilted his head in . "What's wrong?" he probed.

  "What are we going to tell Illyana?"

  Tyson's expression sobered at the question. It wasn't just Jubilee's death and resurre as a vampire that they had to tend with. Now, she was bound to him by his blood. And then there was the matter of his secrets, the knowledge of the future that he had shared with Jubilee in the quiet moments of their fi. She knew everything, the full extent of the is. Events that Illyana was still blissfully unaware of. Tyson mulled over the possibilities and potential sequences. He trusted Illyana with his secrets and didn't want to jeopardize her trust. But at the same time, he couldn't shake the feeling that some truths were better left unspoken, at least for now. Illyana was far away, and they wouldn't reunite for another year. Adding the weight of his future knowledge seemed wrong since she'd be uo help in the uping fight.

  He g Jubilee, seeing the same flicted emotions across her features. "We'll figure it out," Tyson said at st. Felicia, too, was unaware of his future knowledge, so he said, somewhat cryptically, "We'll find a way to tell her what she o know wheime is right. But for now, we focus on the present."

  Jubilee nodded, a flicker of relief crossing her features. She leaned into Tyson's embrace, drawing strength from his presend unwavering support.

  Tyson suggested, "Why don't you call Illyana and Jean? You guys talk. I've got a call to make myself. Our versation st night made me realize that there are some moves I o make."

  Jubilee climbed out of Tyson's arms, pulled out her phone, and stepped into the hallway. She stared at the phone in her hand, her finger h over Illyana's number. She took a deep breath, trying to steady the nerves fluttering iomach. She dreaded this versation, but putting it off longer would only make things worse. Illyana was her friend and deserved to know the truth. Her hand trembled as she hit the call button. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves as she raised the phoo her ear. It rang owice, three times before Illyana's familiar voice came on the line, filled with warmth and .

  "Jubes! I've been so worried. Are you okay? Is Tyson okay?"

  Jubilee swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. "Hey, Illy. I have something I o tell you. Something important."

  There ause, a beat of silehat seemed to stret for ay. "What is it? What did he do?" Illyana asked, her tone shifting from warm to wary.

  Jubilee closed her eyes, steeling herself. "It's not Tyson, he's fine. We stopped him before he did anything bad. But Illy, I died."

  Another pause, lohan the first. Then Illyana sighed, "So, Tyson was going to kill someone for you. I presume you stopped him, or he failed. You said you died, which means now you're a vampire. There are some texts here on vampires. I read through them all when you told me what happened. It doesn't sound so bad, but it's manageable minus the burning in sunlight."

  Jubilee choked out a ugh, her voice crag with emotion. "That's the thing I o tell you about." She took another shaky breath. "It's a long story, but the short version is that Tyson's blood is special. When I turned, I drank from him. His blood, we think, ges things. Made me different."

  "Different, how?" Illyana asked bluntly.

  "I walk in the sunlight. We're kind of stuck together now. Without him, I won't be able to go out during the day."

  Silence hung heavy on the line, broken only by Illyana's soft breathing. "I don't uand," she said at st.

  Tears prickled at the ers of Jubilee's eyes. "I'm so sorry. I was afraid to call you because I was scared of what you would think, of how you would react. I don't want to hurt you."

  "Hurt me?" Illyana echoed with a bitter ugh. "Jubes, you died. How could anything hurt more than that?"

  Jubilee winced, Illyana's pain cuttio the core. "I'm sorry, Illy. I'm so, so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen."

  "I don't uand why you were afraid of how I'd react," Illyana said softly.

  Jubilee hesitated, struggling to find the words. "Tyson... he tried so hard to save me. I care about him. And now, with this boween us. I just don't know."

  Illyana was quiet for a long moment, the weight of Jubilee's words sinking in. "I asked him to take care of you, and he promised he would," she said.

  "I know," Jubilee whispered, "And I'm sorry for dumping it all on you like this. But I needed you to know the truth, Illy. I needed you to uand."

  "I do," Illyana said, "Or at least, I'm trying to. I need you to promise me something."

  "Anything," Jubilee said without hesitation.

  "Promise me that you won't shut me out," Illyana said fiercely. "Promise me that you'll talk to me. Let me be there for you no matter what happens. And the same with Tyson. Don't let him shut me out again. I love him, but I love you too, you know. You were there when I needed you, and I'm here for you. Chicks before dicks, right?"

  A sob caught in Jubilee's throat, overwhelmed by the depth of Illyana's loyalty. "I promise, Illy. I promise. And sisters before misters sounds so much better."

  Illyana scoffed, and Jubilee felt a weight lift from her shoulders. There was still the burden of Tyson's secret knowledge, but that was his to share. She had Illyana's uanding and support for now, which was enough.

  "I love you, Illy," Jubilee said, p all her heart into the words.

  "I love you too, Jubes," Illyana replied. No matter what happens, no matter what you've bee, that will never ge. We'll get through this together, all of us—you, me, and Tyson. We're family, and family sticks together."

  Jubilee smiled through her tears, grateful beyond words for the fierce, loyal, loving friend she had in Illyana Rasputin.

  As the call ended, Jubilee felt a sense of peace wash over her, the knots of tension and fear slowly unwinding. She had Illyana's love and support, Tyson's strength, and now she o call another member of her chosen family. The emotionally draining versation with Illyana was behind her, so she pulled up the number, hit the call button, and raised the phoo her ear.

  It only rang once before Jean's warm, familiar voice filled the line. "Jubilee! I've been so worried about you. Is everything okay?"

  Jubilee couldn't help but smile at the genuine in Jean's tone. "Hey, Jean. I'm fine. Well, mostly."

  "Mostly?" Jean echoed, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. "Tell me everything that happened."

  Jubilee felt a rush of gratitude for Jean's calm, passionate rea. "It's a long story, but the short version is that I died and rose as a vampire. Tyson's illusions no longer work on me, and now we touch. And his blood, it's special. It lets me walk in the sunlight, even as a vampire."

  "Tyson's blood?" Jean asked, curiosity and fasation g her tohat's incredible. I never knew he had that kind of power."

  "her did I," Jubilee admitted with a small ugh. "But it means I'm not all broody and angsty like I expected to be. I still go out during the day."

  "That's wonderful, Jubes," Jean said, and Jubilee could hear the smile in her voice. "I'm so gd you have that, at least. I 't imagine how hard this must be for you."

  Jubilee felt tears prig at the ers of her eyes, touched by Jeahy. "It's not easy," she fessed, her voice wavering slightly. "But having friends like you, knowing you've got my back... makes it easier."

  "Always," Jean promised. "We're all here for you, no matter what."

  Jubilee sniffed, wiping away a stray tear. "Thanks, Jean. That means more than you know."

  "Of course. I'll let everyone know that you're doing well." Jean said warmly. "Now, when I e visit you? I o see for myself that you're okay and give you a big hug."

  Jubilee ughed, the sound watery but genuine. "I'd love that. I'll talk to Tyson and see when would be a good time. I'll text you ter, okay?"

  "Sounds perfect," Jean agreed. "And Jubes? I'm proud of you. You're handling this with so much grad strength. You're amazing."

  Jubilee felt a blush heating her cheeks at the praise. "I don't know about that," she mumbled, embarrassed but pleased.

  "I mean it, Jubes. You're one of the stro, most resilient people I know. Yoing to get through this, and yoing to thrive. I believe in you." Jean said sagely.

  Jubilee's heart swelled with affe for her friend, her sister in all but blood. "Thank you, Jean. I love you, you know that?"

  "I love you too, Jubilee," Jean replied, her voice warm and sincere. "Always and forever. Now, get some rest, okay? I'll be waiting for that text."

  "You got it," Jubilee promised. "Talk to you soon."

  As the call ended, Jubilee felt a sense of peace settle over her. Talking to Jean and feeling her unwavering support and love had been a balm to her soul. She'd already faced her 'death,' and it revealed beyoainty to Jubilee that she had an incredible work of friends and chosen family who would be with her every step of the way. With Jean's passion, Illyana's fierce loyalty, and Tyson's steadfast presence, Jubilee felt like she could faything.

  She slipped her phone bato her pocket. Now, where had Tyson gotten off to?

  — Rogue Rept —

  As Tyson strode towards the b, he pulled out his phohe line clicked, and a deep, smooth voice filled Tyson's ear. "Mirage. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?"

  Tyson couldn't help but smirk at the cordial tone. Wilson Fisk was ever the businessman.

  "Fisk. I need your help."

  "Of course," Fisk replied, "What I do for you, my friend?"

  "I o get in touch with someone. An arms dealer or smuggler named Ulysses Kue."

  There was a beat of silen the other end of the line, and Tyson could almost hear the gears turning in Fisk's mind. "Ulysses Kue," Fisk repeated, his voice thoughtful. "The name is familiar, but I 't say I've had any direct dealings with the man."

  "I didn't expect you would have. He's ly your usual type of business associate."

  Fisk chuckled, the sound deep and rich. "No, I suppose not. But I'm curious, Mirage. What do you want with this man?"

  "He is an arms dealer and has a particur, rare resource that I'm looking to purchase," Tyson said.

  "I see, of course," Fisk agreed, his voice smooth as silk. "I uand pletely. And I'm happy to help, Mirage."

  Tyson added, "Great. When you find Kue, tell him I'm willing to pay his asking price for the metal. It's called vibranium. Oh, and Fisk, make finding him your priority, please."

  "sider it done," Fisk promised. "I'll be in touch, Mirage. And do give my regards to your lovely assistant."

  With that, the li dead. Tyson slipped the phone bato his pocket and then pushed open the door to the b. Jubilee and Felicia caught up, and he held the door open for them. As they entered Dr. ors' b, they found the brilliant stist hunched over his workbench, with his eyes focused on the array of samples and data spread before him.

  ors looked up at the sound of their footsteps, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Tyson, Ms. Hardy, Ms. Lee, good to see you all. What I do for you?"

  Jubilee stepped forward, her posture rexed but her eyes betraying a hint of nervousness. "Here for my checkup, Doc," she said, her voice carefully casual.

  ors's gaze flicked betweehree of them. "Were you able to stop the transformation... or?" He trailed off, the unspokeion hanging heavy in the air. The stist's expression softened, sympathy and uandiched into the lines of his face. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said gently. "But it's good that you're still up and about. I assume you're here for some answers."

  Tyson nodded, his eyes meeting ors with a fiertensity. "We o know what we're dealing with, Doc."

  ors nodded, his mind already w. "Of course. Let's get another sample and see what we see." He gestured towards a chair, and Jubilee sat down, rolling up her sleeve for the blood draw.

  As ors prepared the needle, Tyson's gaze wandered around the b, taking in the samples and chemicals that lihe shelves and filled the refrigerators. It was a veritable goldmine of superpowers, a colle he had carefully curated over the months. There were samples of his blood. Bags of Bruce Banner's blood that had been taken from Dr. Sterns. dy Moon's samples, which Tyson stole from the clutches of HYDRA. Plus, Peter Parker's blood was collected during his hospital stay after the imposter attack.

  But it wasn't just blood samples. The b also held an array of serums and formus, each with great potential. There were the Goblin and Lizard formus from Oscorp, which Tyson and Felicia had stolen on their date. Then there were the early iterations of the super-soldier serum, which Felicia picked up from the vaults of Camp Lehigh after graduation.

  Tyson sidered all the possibilities, the potential food and for ill, that y within these walls. In the right hands, these samples and serums could ge the world and give rise to a new geion of heroes. But the thought of it falling into the wrong hands made his blood run cold.

  "What do you need from us, Doc?" Tyson asked.

  ors' eyes gli the thrill of the stific challenge mingling with the weight of responsibility. "A little bit of time," he said simply. "I'll do everything in my power to find answers, but I need you to trust me, to let me do my work."

  Tyson nodded, his hand finding Jubilee's and reassuringly squeezing it. "You have it, Doc. Whatever you need."

  "The's get started."

  ors turo his samples, pulled out an eyedropper, and pced drops on various slides and papers for examination. He hunched over his workbench, fog ily on the blood samples before him. Tyson, Jubilee, and Felicia stood nearby, watg the brilliant stist as he worked.

  "Felicia repyed for me that versatioween you and Bde," ors said, his voice distant as he peered through the microscope. "Looking at Jubilee's first blood sample, there are traces of 'green stuff' throughout. I apologize for g proper stific terminology, but I've never seen anything like this. It appears to be the ichor that Bde mentioned."

  He straightened up, his brow furrowed in thought. "Iingly, a portion of her blood cells are bivex."

  Tyson leaned forward, his eyes sharp with i. "What does that mean in a physiological text?"

  "Human red blood cells should be bicave disks. Think of them like donuts with the hole in the middle dipping in but not going all the way through. As I saw in Jubilee's sample, Bivex is shaped more like a stereotypical flying saucer. It shouldn't be possible in blood samples." He paused, his gaze flig back to the microscope. "Also, the red blood cells are hypoic. They ck the red color, likely because they ck hemoglobin. To simplify, if this ichor causes the body to produce these unusual red blood cells, it expins why vampires o drink blood. Siheir blood 't transport oxygen, they'd need regur iions of blood that tain hemoglobin. At least that's my current theory."

  Tyson's brow furrowed, his mind rag with the implications. "Wouldn't the blood just be digested like anything else a persos? How would it get directly into the bloodstream?"

  "A great question. My best guess? Maybe ichor adjusts the digestive process. Perhaps the digestive juices somehow get altered to avoid breaking down red blood cells, allowing them to be absorbed in the small iine. I couldn't be sure without exteesting on a live vampire." He waved a hand as if dismissing the thought. "Though iing, I don't think that's particurly relevant."

  "One relevant thing. Jubilee drank my blood, and now she isn't vulnerable to sunlight anymore. Any theories on that?"

  ors was silent momentarily, his eyes distant as he sidered the question. "Perhaps..." he said, at st, his voice hesitant. "Looking at Jubilee's current sample was fusing until you added that tidbit. In the body, heme is an essential stituent of hemoglobin. To produce heme, the body requires porphyrins. Because, presumably, Jubilee's and vampires' bodies aren't produg heme, there's a buildup of these porphyrins, which is toxic to the body."

  "But here's the kicker… The main symptoms of porphyrin buildup are light sensitivity and a rash when exposed. I'm not sure how in vampires this rea jumps from having a rash to rapid burning in sunlight…"

  ors turned his gaze to Tyson, a glimmer of uanding in his eyes. "But that leads me to your blood. Something I've known for a while is that you have an abnormal blood type. Typical blood typing is A, B, AB, or O. Your blood is Type-E. Something only ever ically observed oime, by a researcher in ada w with the military."

  He began to pace, his mind whirring with possibilities. "Different blood type antigens have a retive effe hormoors. It was doted that Type-E blood increased a-menocyte stimuting hormone, whi turn drives menogenesis, causing skin darkening."

  Tyson's eyes widened, a fsh of realization crossing his features. "After she drank my blood, Jubilee's skiuro its normal color."

  Dr. ors cpped once, a grin spreading across his face. "There's our answer. Menin. It funally serves as prote against UV radiation. Thereby proteg Jubilee from the vampire's daylight weakness."

  "So, what does this mean, Doc? Do you know how to cure me?"

  ors' expression softened, sympathy etched into the lines of his face. "I'm afraid it's not that simple. But siyson's blood mitigate the effects, I may be able to discover other methods that may give you a ce at a more normal life."

  Tyson's hand found Jubilee's, his fingers g with hers in a gesture of silent support. "We'll figure this out, Jubes," he promised.

  Jubilee said. "I want you all to know I'm okay with this. I don't want to ge, so do all the research you want, Doc, but even if you had a cure, I wouldn't take it."

  Dr. ors smiled, "I have no doubt we'll find answers. I'll keep w, keep searg. I already have some ideas, perhaps stimuting the liver to help remove the porphyrins. Regardless, I won't give up until we've found a way to help you, Jubilee."

  "What other projects are you w on, Doc?"

  Dr. ors leaned ba his chair, steepling his long, slender fiogether as he regarded Tyson thoughtfully. "Well, I have quite a few irons in the fire, as they say," Dr. ors replied. His voice was warm, almost fatherly, as he addressed the young man. "I pared the samples of goblin serum and the inplete version of the super soldier serum," ors said, his voice filled with excitement. "Even though they were created decades apart, their chemical position is remarkably simir."

  "Both serums are quite different in structure from the Lizard serum I created, however. I did notie positions that were simir throughout all three. One pound was shared between the earlier versions of the Lizard serum and the other two serums. I believe now that it's this pound that causes the mental instability leading to insanity."

  Tyson had seen firsthand the devastating effects of the goblin serum, the way it had twisted Norman Osborn into a monster.

  ors tinued, his voice taking on a note of pride. "With the Lizard formu, after months of fiuning, I was able to fix this deficit by substitutions from lizard DNA I used in my serum. Part of the problem, I think, is that the inplete super soldier and goblin serums have no meism for fixing this deficit."

  He turo the s dispying Dr. Banner's blood analysis. "In the case of Dr. Banner's blood, we see a different story. While I don't have the serum he was ied with to pare, my best guess is that Dr. Banner's team used gamma rays to stabilize theirs, like how I used lizard DNA to stabilize my serum. The oute was a far greater effect of the serum. While Dr. Banner wasn't driven ihe serum-iransformation had its mental toll along with its physical ge."

  Dr. ors leaned forward, his eyes bzing with the fire of discovery. "I hypothesize that some other catalyst was missing from the super soldier that stabilized it. Whatever that catalyst was, without it, the serum is doomed to drive any that take it into insanity."

  Tyson's eyes widened, a fsh of realization crossing his features. "Vita Rays," he mumbled, almost to himself.

  Dr. ors heard him and, assuming he was asking a question, unched into an expnation. "Vita Rays or Vita Radiation is aiergy type not found only oh. The only way I know of to create Vita Radiation is through Nitramene, a chemical created by Howard Stark."

  Tyson spoke up. "Dr. Banner used gamma radiation in his experiment, but I know that the inal super soldier serum used Vita Radiation."

  ors paused, his eyes narrowing as he sidered Tyson's words. "Not sure how you could know that, but theoretically, it could wamma radiation shares some simirities with Vita Radiation. Using it as a substitute would be within reason."

  Tyson pressed on, his mind already rag ahead. "Two questions. If I got you Nitramene, could you create enough Vita Radiation to stabilize the serum?"

  "Almost certainly... that or blow up the building."

  Tyson raised an eyebrow, thinking ors was joking. The stist's expression remained deadpan.

  He wasn't.

  Swallowing hard, Tyson asked his sed question. "Could you substitute another creature's DNA with the lizard's DNA and create an alternate 'lizard formu'? Like, say, a spider formu?"

  ors leaned back, his mind whirring with possibilities. "Probably. If you're thinking about the other blood sample yht me, I 't do it with something like that, nothing too human-like. A monstrous mutant's blood might be the closest thing to a human that would work. A spider might as well, but no guarahe subject would end up like Spider-Man. It's more likely they'd end up a man-spider if you get what I'm saying," ors finished, chug at his little joke.

  Behind the Ses

  - Type-E blood es from ics. In Wolverine #5, we learn that Wolverine has Type E blood, which alloires who e it to walk during the day. Iory, I tried to reference Wolverine by saying the only reported case was in ada.

  - During power testing, we see Jubilee mind-trol Tyson. This is not the first time someone has been coerced in this story, but what you might not have realized is that there are over half a dozen subtle instances of people being coerced. Stuff like this has been happening since Arc 1.

  During the basketball game, Jea to Illyana, but I made it gringly clear that it happened; likewise, when Xavier locks Tyson out of the white room, it's obvious. But more Subtle is in Arc 1, in Limbo, after Azazel retreats and Tyson still has Azazel's power:

  "She kissed a devil, and the hellfire no longer burned." His tone shifted, taking on a sly, inviting quality. "e closer a a better look. Tell me you like what you see. Desire me." - Arc 1, Chapter 8. Tyson to Illyana

  The obvious pulsion is when Illyana approaches Tyson and appreciates his demonic appearahe more subtle pulsion is the first line.

  It's why Illyana is the only person who kiss Tyson without feeling pain.

  And that's not even that subtle.

  In Arc 2, many readers ehat they thought Tyson was trying to defend the institute because Xavier pnted some kind of suggestion. hat was just Tyson being Tyson, trying to be the hero. There weren't any moments where Xavier, subtly or not, said anything about Tys to help the institute. He did try to manipute Tyson into staying, but he didn't use psionics to do it.

  You might be thinking… Amora, definitely Amora. While Amora did openly manipute Tyson in the bar/strip club, even when she was in his head, she didn't really manipute him using magic. Sure, she used guile, but outside their first meeting and their fight, Amora has actually been reasonably fht with her iions toward Tyson.

  Support Plug

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