WHAM!
Tavor's chin lifted to the ceiling as the uppercut landed while his feet left the ground, all the while his vision swam and sparkled in a nauseating fashion.
He attempted to look back down towards Mystique, but before he could fully lower his head, he felt an immense pain in his gut, his body folding over Mystique's foot as it slammed into his abdomen.
Tavor's body flew backwards and slammed into the wall at the other end of a cafeteria table, the sheer force causing cracks to spiderweb from the point of impact.
His body fell onto the table, and he found himself struggling to rise as the kick to his abdomen had definitely cracked a few ribs, and the pain was immense, but despite it all, he gritted his teeth, which had blood leaking from between his teeth, and stood back up to his full three and a half feet height, just in time too as the flash of cold steel was nearing his body.
Mystique was attempting to end the fight by delivering a deadly, possibly fatal blow to the strange child's chest, but as she closed the distance, she noticed Tavor's eyes beginning to shift from black to blue, her instincts screaming that something terrible was about to happen.
She attempted to divert herself and dodge whatever was coming, but like an arrow that has already been launched, it was far too late.
The light in Tavor's eyes intensified suddenly and a beam of blue-white energy shot towards Mystique with speed faster than anything she could hope to react to, and before she could even think to dodge, the beam crashed into the shoulder of the arm she used to hold the knife and pierced clean through to the other side before slamming into the wall behind her, the friction heat causing the fire suppression sprinklers to activate and emergency sirens to blare to life.
Mystique cried out in immense pain as she slammed onto the opposite wall, blood pouring from the gaping wound on her shoulder.
Still, with a flash of murderous intent, she threw the knife towards Tavor as his eye beam attack was dissipating, using the beam's own light to blind Tavor to the incoming danger.
The knife shot through the air towards Tavor's forehead, and Mystique thought that she had won, but just before the blade pierced Tavor's head, it stopped in place, just in time for Tavor to notice its presence and fall back on his butt, wincing as his ribs ached.
He turned towards the doorway and saw Jean Grey glaring at Mystique, a strange glow emanating from her eyes, her hair flowing like gravity ceased to function, and her feet floating several inches off the ground as if touching the ground was an offense to her almost regal dignity.
"You... You dare put your filthy, murderous hands on him?!" Jean lifted one of her hands, and an invisible force swept out towards Mystique, slamming into tables with crushing force before the force reached Mystique, grabbing her around her slender blue neck.
With a gesture of her finger, Jean made the invisible energy pull Mystique towards her and into the air, her yellow eyes forced to meet Jean's burning gaze.
"I will kill you for this, Mystique!" Jean's voice was split between her normal voice and something dangerous, something ancient beyond ancient, something primordial as thick glowing veins seemed to snake their way through Jean's face, neck, and arms.
"AAAAAAGGGHHHHHHH!" Mystique screamed, a piercing mix of pain and fear, as her body began to slowly disintegrate, each moment feeling like deliberate torture from Jean. The agonized cry drew the attention of Ororo Munroe, who hurried toward the source, only to find her close friend and colleague inflicting torment on a mutant who could only be Mystique, Charles Xavier's adopted little sister.
"JEAN... JEAN, STOP, YOU ARE GOING TO KILL HER. WHAT WOULD CHARLES THINK?" Ororo attempted to get Jean's attention, but despite her loud voice, it appeared that Jean did not hear her, or that she was just not willing to listen.
Ororo attempted to rush up and de-escalate physically, but as she approached, she felt as if every step became harder and harder, as if gravity was slowly increasing within Jean's vicinity.
Mystique's body began cycling through multiple human forms as lines of disintegrated flesh formed on her face, chest, and arms, before Jean leaned in and whispered in Mystique's ear.
"You thought that you could come here and hurt my boy, no... no... neither Charles nor Erik will save you this time!"
The pressure that slowly built around Jean spiked, forcing Ororo to slide backwards despite her immense effort, and Jean was about to reach up towards Mystique's head and finish the job, but before she could do so, she felt something wrap around her thigh and looked down.
Tavor had somehow pushed through her ambient telekinetic field.
A few moments before.
Tavor was slightly shaken by the near-death situation he had just experienced, but he was pulled from his shock when he saw the tables begin flattening and Mystique pulled into Jean's grasp.
He heard the double tone of Jean's voice and felt a cold sensation work its way up his spine, but soon the scream of absolute pain and terror from Mystique pulled his mind away from this sensation.
Tavor sat up, the pain in his ribs like a fire within his flesh that caused a fresh line of blood to leak from the corner of his mouth as he rose to his feet.
"Momma Jean... This isn't you. What is happening?"
He stepped off the table and began walking towards Jean, but as he did, he noticed that each step became harder than the last, and upon walking half the distance, he felt like he was wearing a lead bodysuit, each step requiring so much effort that he began to sweat and his muscles strained to their maximum.
Tavor saw the flesh and blood on Mystique beginning to flay and knew he had to move faster, and with a burst of strength, he pushed forward, each step cracking the linoleum beneath him as the invisible force around him continued to mount.
The blood leaking from Tavor's mouth began to defy gravity and float upwards in like crimson beads; he reached out towards Jean in an effort to pull her from whatever emotional cascade she was experiencing.
His hand, as it drew closer to her, began to sting, the skin on his knuckles tearing away, but he pushed through the pain, forcing himself forward until he wrapped his arm around her leg and hauled himself up.
"MOOOOOMMMMAAA JEEAAAN!" He cried, a mixture of physical and emotional pain making his little voice crack.
At the sound of the voice, Jean abruptly shifted her murderous glare from Mystique, lowering her gaze to Tavor, bloodied, bruised, and clearly wracked with pain, yet steadfast in his refusal to surrender his faith in her.
The sight of his resilience caused the fierce light in her eyes to dim, her hair to fall onto her shoulders, and the fiery glow in her veins to slowly recede until all that stood there was Jean, the rage replaced with maternal affection.
Jean's fingers trembled.
The invisible grip around Mystique's throat vanished.
THUD!
Mystique collapsed onto the soaked cafeteria floor in an unmoving heap, her body striking the linoleum with a sickening thump.
She coughed violently, drawing ragged, burning breaths as blood poured from the ruined shoulder where Tavor's eye beam had pierced clean through.
The countless wounds left by Jean's telekinetic assault still smoldered faintly, wisps of steam curling from torn flesh.
For several long seconds, she could do nothing except lie there, every muscle refusing to answer her commands.
Jean never spared her another glance.
Her attention had already shifted entirely.
"...Tavor..."
The glow had completely faded from her emerald eyes.
The luminous veins that had crawled across her skin receded until they disappeared beneath the surface, leaving only the horrified expression of a mother realizing what she had nearly done.
She dropped to both knees before the young Saiyan.
"Tavor!"
Her voice cracked.
Gone was the cold, ancient fury; gone was the terrifying presence that had dominated the room; only Jean Grey remained.
She wrapped both arms around the battered child before carefully lowering him into her lap, terrified that even the smallest movement might worsen his injuries.
"Oh God..."
Her shaking hands moved frantically over his tiny body.
His cracked ribs.
The deep knife wound carved into his thigh, and bruises already blooming across his abdomen and chest.
Cuts.
Burns.
Blood, far too much blood.
"No... no... no..."
Her telekinesis gently peeled away the shredded remains of his shirt so she could inspect him more closely, while her hands hovered over each injury, almost afraid to touch him.
"I'm sorry..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"I'm so sorry..."
She pressed trembling fingers against the side of his face before moving to his ribs, wincing as she felt the uneven shape beneath the skin.
"They're broken..."
Her breathing became increasingly erratic.
"The bleeding... why is there so much bleeding..."
She reached for the wound in his thigh, desperately applying pressure as tears began spilling freely down her cheeks.
"I'm here, sweetheart."
"I've got you."
"You're going to be okay."
Nearby, Ororo finally felt the crushing telekinetic pressure disappear.
She hurried forward, kneeling beside Jean while casting a wary glance toward the barely conscious Mystique lying within arm's reach.
"Jean..."
Storm's voice softened immediately upon seeing her friend's expression, but Jean barely heard her.
Her entire world had narrowed to the small child lying in her lap.
"Tavor..."
The young Saiyan's eyelids fluttered weakly; his breathing had become uneven.
With obvious effort, he slowly raised one tiny hand, and Jean immediately took it between both of hers.
"Tavor?"
His black eyes, now free of the strange blue glow, struggled to focus.
He smiled; it was small and weak, but unmistakably genuine.
"I'm so glad..."
His voice was hoarse.
"...that you are okay, Momma Jean..."
Jean froze.
"I was..."
He struggled to draw another breath.
"...so worried..."
Jean's lips quivered violently.
"Tavor..."
The child gave her hand one last faint squeeze.
Then...
His fingers went limp.
His head lolled gently against her chest.
His skin had become frighteningly pale, almost devoid of color, while every breath that escaped him was shallow and weak.
Jean's heart seemed to stop.
"...Tavor?"
No response.
"Tavor?"
She gently shook him.
Nothing.
"TAVOR!"
Her scream echoed throughout the mansion.
Storm immediately reached toward the child's neck, her practiced fingers searching desperately for a pulse.
"It's there," Ororo said quickly, relief breaking through her own panic. "It's weak... but it's there."
Jean clutched Tavor tighter against her chest, tears falling freely into his dark hair.
"Please..."
Her voice broke completely.
"Please don't leave me..."
As this was happening, merely a few feet away, Mystique lay perfectly still, or so it seemed.
One yellow eye slowly cracked open.
Her vision blurred, struggling to focus through the pain radiating from her shoulder and the lingering agony Jean had inflicted upon her.
Every breath felt like inhaling broken glass.
"...Damn..."
Her thoughts raced.
Jean's completely lost it...
Erik needs to know...
Her fingers twitched.
Slowly...
Carefully...
She rolled onto her stomach, suppressing a groan as blood continued to seep from the hole burned clean through her shoulder.
Jean remained kneeling several yards away, cradling Tavor in her arms, her entire world consumed by the unconscious child.
Mystique saw her opportunity.
One elbow.
Then the other.
She began dragging herself across the floor with painstakingly slow movements, leaving a crimson trail across the shattered linoleum.
Just a little farther...
Get outside...
Then disappear...
Her shape briefly shimmered, instinctively beginning to shift into another face.
A nurse.
No...
A security guard.
Anything that would let her escape relatively unscathed.
She managed to push herself onto one knee.
Then...
A shadow fell over her.
Mystique's blood ran cold.
She slowly turned her head.
Towering above her stood Ororo Munroe.
Storm's white hair drifted gently despite the still air.
Her normally serene blue eyes had become living storms, arcs of pale lightning dancing within their depths.
Tiny blue-white sparks crackled across her fingertips.
Her expression was calm, far too calm.
"And where," Ororo said quietly, each word edged with restrained fury, "do you think you are going?"
Mystique's breathing hitched.
"...Ororo..."
She forced a crooked smile despite the blood staining her teeth.
"I think there's been a misundersta..."
CRACK!
Storm moved faster than Mystique expected.
Her hand shot forward, seizing Mystique firmly by the back of the neck.
The moment their skin touched...
Lightning erupted.
KRAKOOOOOM!
A brilliant surge of blue-white electricity coursed from Storm's hand and into Mystique's body.
The current raced down her spine like a living river of lightning, causing Mystique's entire body to arch violently.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Every muscle seized simultaneously.
The half-formed disguise she'd been attempting collapsed instantly, her skin flashing wildly through half a dozen different identities before settling back into her natural blue form.
The smell of scorched fabric and ozone filled the cafeteria.
Her nervous system simply shut down.
Her eyes rolled back, and the strength left her limbs all at once.
THUD.
Mystique collapsed face-first onto the floor, unconscious. The lingering arcs of electricity danced briefly across her body before fading into nothing.
Storm held her gaze on the motionless shapeshifter for another long moment, ensuring there would be no more surprises.
Only then did she release her grip and turn back toward Jean, her stern expression softened.
"We will deal with her later."