Chapter 188 — Reunion in Chains
The jungle swallowed them quick. Thick vines hung heavy, the air damp and buzzing with unseen insects. The moonlight barely pierced through, but to Logan it was enough. His nose twitched, lips curling as he tasted the scents on the wind.
Kitty stumbled over a root, muttering, "Ugh, this is like walking through soup. Does Magneto water his jungle or something?"
Nightcrawler leapt lightly to a branch above her, tail flicking as he crouched. "Careful, Katzchen. The jungle bites back."
She glared up at him. "You're not helping, Kurt!"
Colossus pushed through foliage like it was tissue paper, sweat dripping down his brow. Without his armored form, every cut from thorns drew blood. He winced. "I am… too slow like this. I should be stronger."
Storm walked close, her hand brushing his shoulder. "Strength is not only measured in metal, Peter. You are more than what Magneto strips from you."
Logan slowed, sniffing deep. A frown cut across his face.
"There," he growled, pointing. "Got a scent I know. Old. Familiar."
"Magneto?" Kitty whispered.
Logan shook his head, smoke curling from his cigar. "No. Someone else. Someone we used to run with." His eyes narrowed. 'Cyclops. Ain't no mistakin' that scent. Summers always smelled like control and cheap cologne.'
They pushed forward, following him deeper. The brush gave way to a clearing and the hard line of steel. A door, reinforced, half-buried in the earth. Guards had once stood here — Magneto's lackeys — but it was empty now, quiet.
Logan pressed his ear to the wall. The scent was stronger. His claws itched.
"Somebody's in here."
Storm stepped forward, her eyes gleaming in the dark. "Then let us free them."
Colossus set his jaw. "Without my strength—"
Logan cut him off, grinning sharp. "Don't worry, Rasputin. I got this one."
SNIKT. The claws slid out with a metallic kiss. Sparks flew as he carved a line through the steel, smoke hissing from molten edges. He kicked the slab inward, the sound echoing into the chamber beyond.
A figure looked up from inside the dim light. Slim, square jaw, a single red lens glinting even without his visor charged.
Scott Summers.
"Scott!" Kitty gasped, eyes wide. She nearly tripped rushing forward, only to hesitate, her feet skidding. "You're— you're alive!"
Scott stood, his uniform torn, dirty, but his spine still straight as a flagpole. His mouth tugged into the faintest ghost of a smile.
"Kitty. You've grown." His gaze flicked over the rest. "Ororo. Peter. Kurt. Logan." He paused at Logan, who smirked back. "Didn't think I'd see you all here."
Nightcrawler grinned. "Ve have a habit of showing up at the worst possible times."
Scott's smile vanished, his tone heavy. "You're not wrong. Magneto has something… something dangerous." He looked toward the shadows where another figure stirred. "Lee."
A woman stepped forward — Lee Forrester, her clothes torn but her eyes still fierce. She gave the X-Men a nod. "I don't know who you all are, but you picked one hell of a time to visit."
Storm dipped her head. "We are friends, Lee. And you are safe with us."
Scott gestured sharply, voice tightening into command. The old leader tone. "Listen. Magneto calls it his world device. I've seen him show it off to me — like I was a prisoner he could mock. He thinks I'm helpless without my optic blasts." His jaw tightened. "He's not wrong. But you're here now. Together, we can stop him."
Colossus stepped forward, relief flickering in his voice. "Tell us what to do, Scott."
Scott pointed. "There's an inhibitor generator deeper inside. That's what's choking your powers. If we destroy it, the playing field changes."
Logan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, claws tapping the metal. "Destroy it, huh? I like that plan. Simple. Direct."
Scott gave him a look. "Don't get cocky. Magneto's programmed it so if you shut it down wrong, it'll trigger prematurely. We can't risk a chain reaction."
Kitty raised her hand like she was in class. "Um. I've been taking computer science. I could maybe— I dunno— mess with it?"
Logan chuckled, smoke curling from his nose. "Kid's got guts. Let her try."
Storm stepped closer, hand brushing Kitty's shoulder. "If anyone can thread that needle, it is you."
Scott nodded. "Then we split. Logan, you cut us a way in. Storm, you've still got those lockpicking skills you used in Cairo? Put them to work."
Storm arched a brow, but her lips curved faintly. "A lifetime ago. But yes."
Logan pushed off the wall, smirk tugging his mouth. "Look at you, Summers. Not even five minutes back and already barking orders."
Scott's mouth twitched. "Someone has to keep you in line."
Logan snorted. "Good luck with that."
'Feels damn strange,' Logan thought, as he drove his claws into the next barrier, sparks flying. 'Smells like old times. But this time, it ain't Scott's show. Not all the way.'
The steel gave way under his claws, glowing orange at the edges. The path into Magneto's heart lay open.
The X-Men stepped inside, shadows and danger waiting.