Second Underground Floor
"Alright… that everyone?" Marie asked, glancing back over her shoulder. Her grey eyes swept across the frightened group. "Y'all sure we ain't leavin' anybody behind?"
A cluster of boys and girls around her age stood huddled together in thin white patient gowns, their expressions a mix of hope and lingering terror.
"Everyone except Jubilee and Katrin," Dinah answered firmly, her posture straight despite the exhaustion lining her face. "You said they were already rescued?"
"Yeah," Kitty replied quickly before Marie could answer, offering them a reassuring smile. "They're with Storm right now. Totally safe."
Tabitha crossed her arms, shifting her weight impatiently. "Can we, like… talk to them first? On those communicator thingies you guys have?"
Marie shook her head, a strand of white hair slipping across her cheek. "Orders are to get y'all outta here first. No wasting time."
"They'll meet up with you soon, promise," Kitty added, her tone gentler, trying to smooth over the tension.
In truth, both she and Marie had heard the report of the battle raging somewhere above them. Still Cyclops' instructions had been crystal clear — ignore the fight, secure the mutants and evacuate first.
Tabitha opened her mouth, clearly ready to argue.
But Rahne spoke first.
"Th-they came tae save us…" she murmured, clasping her hands tightly against her chest. "The Lord must've guided them here. We shouldnae be questionin' that… we should just follow where they lead."
"God didn't send them," Tabitha snapped, frustration breaking through her fear. "Katrin did — remember? She's the one who escaped and got help."
"Hey. Enough." Dinah stepped smoothly between them, her voice firm but calm. "If the others are already safe, then we shouldn't be standing around and wasting time."
A faint, humourless chuckle escaped Bobby as he rubbed his arms for warmth.
"Yeah… vote we continue the great escape plan. This place gives new meaning to chill factor."
Roberto nodded quickly, though his eyes never strayed far from Marie.
He still couldn't forget the way she had moved earlier — fast, brutal, almost inhuman — the guards dropping around her like broken dolls.
Instinctively, he kept a few careful steps of distance from her.
"Okay. Stay behind us — and don't wander off," Marie said, already moving to take point.
Dinah tugged irritably at the thick metal band around her neck.
"Shouldn't you take these things off first? If more guards show up, we'll actually be able to help."
Marie slowed just enough to exchange a brief look with Kitty.
Kitty gave a small shrug. Your call.
"Fine," Marie said at last. "But y'all listen to every word we say till we're topside. No hero stuff."
She tapped the small triangular Focus device resting against her temple.
"D.A.I.S.Y., pull up it's structural analysis."
A soft blue lattice of light bloomed across her vision, highlighting the collar's internal stress points.
"There," the AI chimed calmly.
Marie gripped the metal ring with her gloved hand.
With a sharp metallic crack, she tore it clean apart.
Piotr blinked, wide-eyed.
"…She is very strong, da."
"Yeah, no kidding," Sam muttered under his breath, nudging Roberto. "Now Ah understand why you're givin' her so much space."
Roberto managed a tight, uneasy smile.
"Thanks," Dinah said, rubbing her freed neck, relief softening her normally sharp composure.
Moving quickly, Marie went down the line, snapping each suppressor collar with frightening ease.
"Alright. Let's move. No dilly-dallyin'."
The group fell in behind the two suited girls, nerves tight as piano wire. Every distant clang or echoing footstep made shoulders tense, half expecting armed staff — or worse, Dr. Cecilia herself — to appear.
They encountered resistance soon enough.
On the stairwell to the first floor, several guards rushed them.
But they barely lasted seconds.
Marie moved like a living shadow — a blur of black and white.
By the time the others even registered the threat, bodies were already hitting the ground.
Kitty skidded to a stop beside her, hands on her hips.
"Hey! You could at least leave one for me."
"We finish this fast," Marie replied evenly, not even breathing hard.
Behind them, the rescued mutants could only stare in stunned silence.
Her speed was unreal — and she seemed to sense danger before it even existed.
They climbed the stairs and started traversing the first floor. Luckily they didn't encounter any other guards and soon reached a massive reinforced steel door.
According to D.A.I.S.Y.'s projected map…
This was the exit.
"I'll scout ahead first," Kitty said, eyeing the massive steel door.
"Be careful, alright?" Marie said, folding her arms, trying to sound casual but clearly watching Kitty closely.
Kitty gave a quick nod — and stepped forward, her body phasing smoothly through the reinforced metal.
A second later she popped back out, brushing imaginary dust off her gloves.
"Clear. There's like… a cave tunnel outside. Slopes upward — probably leads to the surface."
"Good," Marie said, glancing at the thick steel door. "So… anybody got a genius plan for gettin' this thing open?"
"Maybe I help," Piotr, the tallest among them offered, stepping forward with quiet determination.
Kitty lifted a brow, smirking.
"Or I could just phase everyone through one at a time. Way less dramatic. Also way less explosion-y."
"They could've booby-trapped the door," Sam added thoughtfully. "Best we don't give 'em a reason to blow us sky-high."
Marie hesitated for a beat at Sam's suggestion, then gave a small shrug.
"Yeah… okay. We'll do it your way. Less boom, less trouble."
Kitty grinned, unable to hide her excitement.
"Heh — I knew I'd end up playing the most important role in this rescue mission. Wait till I tell the others."
One by one, she rested a hand on each shoulder, guiding them carefully through the cold steel barrier.
On the other side, a smooth-cut tunnel stretched upward like the throat of some buried beast.
No guards. No alarms.
Just the distant sound of waves.
They all moved quickly.
Soon the incline levelled out — and the group stepped out onto open ground beneath a vast night sky.
For a moment… no one spoke.
"Oh… we really made it outside," Dinah breathed, slowly turning as if afraid the view might vanish.
"Look… the stars… the moon…" Tabitha laughed softly, her grin growing wider by the second.
"Man, I didn't realize how much I missed just… seeing the sky."
Rahne fell to her knees in the sand, hands clasped tightly.
"Thank ye, Lord… thank ye for hearin' this poor lass's prayers…"
Bobby inhaled deeply, throwing his arms wide.
"Ahhh… fresh sea air. Smells like freedom — with a hint of fish."
Roberto exhaled in relief, running a hand through his hair.
"I swear, the first thing I'm doing when I get home is spending three hours in my jacuzzi."
Piotr stared toward the dark horizon, emotion thick in his voice.
"Illyana… wait for me, little snowflake. Your brother is coming home."
"My mother must be worried sick," Sam muttered, offering a small crooked smile. "Reckon I got a lotta explainin' to do."
"Shh… hold up. Someone's comin'," Marie murmured, her eyes flashing a brief crimson in the darkness.
The group stiffened instantly, turning toward the direction she was watching.
"…Professor?" Marie added after a second, her enhanced sight already cutting clean through the night.
A bald elderly man was approaching slowly across the sand, seated in a sleek mechanical wheelchair.
"It is him," Kitty said, relief flooding her voice. "C'mon — let's go."
Marie gave a short nod and moved forward.
"He doesn't look hostile," Dinah said quietly to the others. "Let's stay close to them for now."
The group nodded and followed.
"Professor!" Marie and Kitty called as they reached him.
"Rogue… Shadowcat," Charles Xavier greeted warmly, his eyes kind but observant. "It is a profound relief to see you both unharmed."
His gaze shifted to the rescued mutants, thoughtful and measured.
"D.A.I.S.Y. informed me that you had successfully evacuated the lower levels and were making your way here. I take it… these are the young people Katrin risked so much to save?"
"Yes," Dinah replied, still studying him carefully.
"Then you have my deepest admiration," Xavier said gently.
"What you have endured should never have been asked of anyone — let alone those so young. I assure you… you are safe now. As soon as the rest of my students regroup with us, we will depart this island."
"Wh-who exactly are you people?" Tabitha demanded, suspicion sharpening her tone.
Xavier offered a small, patient smile.
"Your caution is entirely understandable. For the moment… you may call me Professor X. The individuals who rescued you are members of a team I guide — the X-Men."
"What kinda shitty fake name is that?" Sam muttered.
"It's obviously a codename," Kitty shot back, rolling her eyes.
"Yes," Xavier continued calmly. "The organization responsible for your captivity remains a threat. For this mission, discretion has been… essential."
"And how are we supposed to believe you're not part of that same organization?" Dinah pressed.
"We haven't even seen Katrin or Jubilee yet."
"Yeah," Tabitha added heatedly. "For all we know, this is just another setup to move us somewhere worse."
"N-no… no… is-is this Dr. Cecilia's doing?" Rahne stammered, clutching her head as panic crept into her voice. "Are we goin' tae be punished again…?"
"Easy, Rahne," Dinah said softly, gripping her shoulder.
At the mention of Dr. Cecilia, a heavy silence fell over the group — fear rippling through them like a cold wind.
"I assure you… whatever you are imagining is not the case," Professor Charles said calmly.
"I am, quite simply, a teacher. I run a school for young people with extraordinary abilities — abilities much like your own."
"You mean… a school for sick people?" Tabitha shot back.
"Sick?" Xavier repeated softly.
"My being confined to this chair may have given you that impression. But I can guarantee that my students are no less healthy than the two standing before you."
He gestured gently toward Marie and Kitty.
"B-but… aren't they sick too?" Roberto asked hesitantly. "With the mutation disease… like us?"
Marie's gaze shifted toward him — cool, unreadable.
Roberto flinched instantly and lowered his hand.
Xavier folded his hands together thoughtfully.
"It would seem you have all been subjected to… a very deliberate misinformation campaign."
He paused, allowing the words to settle.
"Mutation is not a disease. It is, in fact, a perfectly natural phenomenon — an evolutionary development within our species. The abilities you possess are not symptoms of illness… they are expressions of potential. Gifts, if you will."
"I knew it," Dinah muttered, jaw tightening.
"Yeah, well that old hag's been feeding us lies this whole time," Tabitha growled, fists clenching. "I swear, if I ever see her again…"
Piotr gave a small, earnest nod.
"I have always believed our powers were not meant for shame," he said quietly. "They are… part of who we are."
Sam, Bobby, and Roberto fell into uneasy silence.
Being told they weren't diseased should have been a relief… yet all it did was drag old memories to the surface.
If mutation really wasn't an illness… then the things that had happened when their powers first emerged could no longer be dismissed as just accidents of a sickness.
"N-no… no…" Rahne whispered, her breathing turning uneven.
"Y-ye're wrong… this is a curse… the Devil marked us… I must pray — I must be cleansed…"
"Hey, hey… easy," Dinah said softly, pulling her into a steady embrace and rubbing her back. "You're safe now. Just breathe."
Xavier watched them with deep empathy.
"There is still very little public understanding of mutation," he said gently.
"Fear and prejudice often take root where knowledge is absent. As an educator — and as a mutant myself — I have now made it my life's work to guide young people like you. To help you understand your abilities… and, more importantly, to understand yourselves."
His voice carried quiet conviction.
"So that one day… you may live not in fear — but with dignity, purpose, and peace."
"So… in this school of yours, you teach people how to control these powers?" Dinah asked, studying the two suited girls with narrowed, assessing eyes.
"Yeah, well I'm not totally sold," Tabitha cut in, pointing openly at them. "I mean… look at them. They're dressed like they just walked out of some top-secret spy movie."
"They definitely don't look like regular students," Bobby admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Perhaps they are government operatives?" Piotr suggested thoughtfully. "In America… secret service, yes?"
"Oh! Like James Bond," Roberto said, momentarily lighting up.
"More like FBI," Sam muttered with a weary sigh.
Kitty gasped dramatically and threw her arms around Marie.
"Did you hear that? They think we're secret agents. That is so cool."
Marie grimaced, prying her off.
"Yeah… real cool."
"Well… your conclusion is understandable," Professor Xavier said, clearing his throat lightly.
"My school is not… entirely conventional. There, students pursue academic knowledge, certainly — but given the realities of the world outside, they are also taught how to safeguard themselves."
"So instead of gym class, you run combat training?" Dinah asked, one brow lifting.
"Okay, that actually sounds awesome," Tabitha admitted with a crooked grin.
The boys looked noticeably more interested now as well.
"Yes… one might phrase it that way," Xavier replied with a faintly awkward smile.
He quickly continued, redirecting the conversation.
"Your friend Katrin was found near this shoreline by a colleague of mine and brought safely to our school. When she explained your situation… we resolved to come here and rescue you all ourselves."
"Katrin…" Dinah murmured, relief softening her features.
"She is true friend," Piotr said with a warm smile.
"Yeah," Tabitha agreed with a firm nod. "She really is."
"Now… I understand many of you will wish to return to your families," Charles said, fingers lightly interlaced. "However, for your immediate safety, we must first bring you to my school. Once there, we can determine the next course of act—"
A sharp chime cut through the night.
All of their Focus devices pulsed with urgent red light.
" ⚠️ Incoming hostile forces approaching from the sea," D.A.I.S.Y. announced, her normally calm voice edged with rare intensity.
"Hostile forces…?" Charles repeated, turning slowly toward the shoreline.
Out across the dark waters, something vast disturbed the moonlit surface.
A long shadow moved beneath the waves — growing… rising…
"Th-there's… there's a whole ship coming outta the ocean," Marie whispered, genuine unease slipping into her voice as her enhanced vision sharpened the distant image.
Moments later, a massive rust-scarred cruiser tore free from the sea itself.
Water cascaded from its shattered hull as unseen forces lifted it skyward, metal groaning like some awakened leviathan.
Despite its ruin, the vessel floated — gliding toward the island with terrible, unnatural purpose.
Shock rippled through the group.
"…Okay. Please tell me I'm hallucinating," Kitty muttered, instinctively stepping back.
"There are people on it," Marie said sharply, her eyes flashing crimson as her senses locked onto the approaching threat.
Beside them, Professor Xavier's expression tightened.
Then, almost imperceptibly, his entire bearing shifted.
A slow breath escaped him.
"My mind…" he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else. "The interference… it has ceased."
Right on cue, D.A.I.S.Y.'s calm voice echoed through their Focus devices.
"Telepathic suppression network has been deactivated by Aeon."
Charles raised two fingers lightly to his temple, eyes closing as his consciousness reached outward across the dark waters.
This time, nothing resisted him.
Thoughts rushed in — fear, excitement, militant resolve — fragments of unfamiliar minds bound together by a single, iron will.
And at the center of it all…
a presence he had not felt in years.
His eyes snapped open.
Shock flickered across his usually composed features, followed quickly by a deep, troubled recognition.
"Erik…" he breathed, the name heavy with history.
Then, more firmly — almost grimly — "Magneto."
He could not perceive the man directly; the old helmet still shielded his thoughts like a fortress.
But through the minds of those around him, through whispered loyalties and burning fanaticism, Charles could feel what his former friend had become.
And it was far more dangerous than he had feared.
There was no time for hesitation.
Closing his eyes once more, Charles extended his consciousness deep into the facility below — past stone and steel, past fear and chaos — until he found the familiar, steadfast minds of his students.
His voice did not sound through speakers or devices.
It resonated directly within their thoughts, calm yet edged with unmistakable urgency.
To me… my X-Men.