The group quickly gathered in the combat briefing room, the atmosphere shifting into something sharper and more focused. Screens lined the walls, casting a cool glow over the space as everyone took their positions, waiting to hear what came next.
"Even if you don't trust my strength, it doesn't matter," Liam began, his tone calm but firm as his gaze swept across the room. His eyes paused briefly on Cyclops and Logan, the meaning behind his words unmistakable. "I'll prove it with results."
Neither of them responded. Their expressions remained tight, but they didn't interrupt, choosing instead to listen.
"First, we organize what we know. Then we act," Liam continued, already slipping naturally into a leadership role. His posture straightened slightly, and his voice carried a steady authority that drew everyone's attention without effort.
"Magneto has built a specialized machine," he said, gesturing lightly as if mapping it out in his mind. "It can forcefully activate the X-gene in ordinary humans through radiation, effectively turning them into mutants."
A faint shift moved through the room as everyone processed that.
"He's planning to use it on Liberty Island," Liam went on, his tone sharpening. "Specifically targeting Senator Kelly—the one pushing the Mutant Registration Act."
There was a brief silence as that implication settled in.
What Liam didn't say aloud—but understood clearly—was that Senator Kelly had already been subjected to that machine once before. It had activated his X-gene and allowed him to escape Magneto's control, but the result hadn't been stable. The machine wasn't perfect, not even close.
The flaw was fatal.
While it could trigger the X-gene, ordinary human bodies couldn't withstand the forced transformation. Their genetic structure would collapse in a short period of time, leading to inevitable death. It wasn't evolution—it was destruction disguised as power.
And Magneto didn't realize it.
He believed his invention was a success, which meant he was moving forward without hesitation, unaware that his plan would end in catastrophe.
"Liberty Island isn't just a random location," Liam continued, his voice lowering slightly as he connected the pieces. "Across from it is Manhattan. Right now, world leaders are gathering there for a summit."
That was when it clicked for everyone.
"If he uses that machine on them…" Storm murmured, her expression tightening.
"Every major government figure becomes a mutant," Liam finished. "At that point, no one would dare push anti-mutant legislation anymore."
The logic was simple. If those in power were forced to become what they feared, the entire political landscape would shift overnight.
"It's not a bad idea," Liam admitted, his tone neutral. "In theory, it could end the conflict between humans and mutants in one move."
He paused briefly, then added, "But the machine is incomplete. It's unstable. If he goes through with it, it won't solve anything—it'll cause a massacre."
The weight of that statement hung heavily in the air.
If Magneto activated the machine, not only would he kill himself from the strain, but the uncontrolled fallout could devastate everyone in the area. The number of casualties would be unimaginable, and the resulting hatred between humans and mutants would become irreversible.
In just a few sentences, Liam had broken down the entire situation—Magneto's intentions, his strategy, and the fatal flaw in his plan. It left Cyclops, Storm, and the others staring at him in surprise.
They hadn't thought that far ahead.
"So what's our move?" Cyclops asked, almost instinctively turning to Liam now instead of Professor X.
"Simple," Liam replied without hesitation. "We retrieve Rogue before Magneto can use her. And we deal with the machine before it becomes a problem."
His tone made it sound straightforward, but everyone knew it wouldn't be that easy.
"If Magneto pushes himself to use that machine, the consequences will be catastrophic," Liam added. "We can't let it reach that point."
There were multiple ways to handle the machine. Destroying it was one option, but not the only one. The key was to neutralize it before Magneto could activate it.
"Any objections?" Liam asked, glancing around the room. "If not, we move out."
"I've got one question," Cyclops said, stepping forward slightly.
"Go ahead."
"How do we deal with Magneto?" Cyclops asked, his voice steady but serious. "He's not going to just hand Rogue over."
That concern was shared by everyone in the room. Magneto's reputation wasn't built on rumors—his power was very real, and facing him head-on was no small matter.
Liam shrugged lightly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "That's the last thing you need to worry about."
The confidence in his voice caught them off guard.
For a moment, no one spoke. Then, almost in unison, realization began to settle in.
Liam wasn't the same person he had been a month ago.
His telepathic ability alone was already comparable to Professor X's, and that wasn't even his primary power. If all of his abilities operated at that level… then facing Magneto might not be as impossible as they feared.
Storm and Cyclops exchanged a glance, both of them seeing the same thought reflected in each other's eyes.
"Alright," Liam said, clapping his hands lightly once. "Let's move."
...
Not long after, everyone changed into their black X-Men combat suits. The uniforms fit snugly, designed for both protection and mobility, and Liam took a moment to adjust his before giving a small nod of approval.
"Weiss, what about us?" Polaris asked as she approached with Clarice beside her.
Liam glanced at them, then let out a quiet breath, realizing there hadn't been any preparations made for them.
"You two…" he began, then paused, thinking it through carefully.
After a moment, he shook his head. "Clarice, you and Kitty stay at the academy," he said, his tone firm but not harsh. "Come with me, Lorna. That's enough."
Clarice and Kitty hadn't seen much real combat yet. Bringing them into a situation like this would only complicate things if something went wrong.
Both of them looked disappointed, their expressions falling slightly at the decision. Still, neither of them argued. They understood the risk, even if they didn't like being left behind.
"Don't worry," Liam added, offering them a reassuring smile. "With me there, this mission will go smoothly. Just wait for good news."
"Wes, we're ready to move!" Storm's voice called out from a distance.
"Coming!" Liam replied, turning away.
With that, he and Polaris headed toward the underground hangar, their steps steady as the mission began.
....
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