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Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
Piotr Rasputin Colossus had just wrapped a combat training session with a group of new mutant recruits when Professor Xavier's telepathic summons echoed in his mind.
"Professor?" Piotr asked, stepping into the main building.
"Someone's coming," Charles replied, seated in his wheelchair, massaging his temples. "You and Ororo should receive him."
"Who is it?" Piotr frowned.
"The one they call… Superman."
Colossus stiffened.
The last time he encountered Nolan, that one punch left a permanent memory so vivid, it haunted his dreams. Nolan hadn't just outclassed him; he'd made Piotr feel pain in a way he'd never known.
Metal skin or not, that punch had cracked something deeper.
But Piotr nodded. "Understood. Do I need to do anything?"
"No," Charles replied softly. "In fact… he's here to see you."
"Me?" Piotr blinked. "Why?"
"You'll understand soon enough," Charles said, choosing not to elaborate further.
---
Outside, on the academy lawn, Storm (Ororo Munroe) had just wrapped up a precision control lecture for the students. Charles' message hit her mid-sentence, and her brows furrowed.
Nolan. Again.
She'd seen his meteoric rise. Every time they crossed paths, his power had grown exponentially. At first, she'd suspected he was a mutant-a mimic, perhaps, like Rogue. But no… Charles had told her the truth.
Nolan wasn't a mutant.
He was a scientist. One who had broken down extraordinary genes and rebuilt them. Even the Sentinel Program, dreaded among mutants, had been inspired by his theories.
Now, Mystique lived in daily regret, knowing her abilities had helped design the machines that hunted her kind.
Ororo looked at the young students. She didn't trust Nolan. And she definitely didn't want him near these kids.
"Everyone back inside. No one leaves until further notice," she ordered firmly.
She added, "Especially you, Rogue. Don't believe anything anyone says."
Nolan had a reputation. The Sentinels had grown quieter recently, mostly thanks to Oscorp cracking down on unauthorized activity. But just in case, Ororo wasn't taking any chances.
Then his voice echoed from above.
"Ororo. It's been a while."
Everyone froze and turned skyward.
Nolan hovered in midair, casually drifting downward like gravity barely applied to him.
"We saw each other not long ago," Ororo replied, walking forward and shielding the students.
"I was being polite. Isn't that how Americans greet each other?"
"Maybe you've misunderstood us," she said coolly.
"If I came unannounced, I apologize."
Behind her, the rest of the X-Men gathered Logan, Bobby, Emma Frost, Juggernaut, and even Erik (Magneto), all tense, ready.
"Relax. I'm not here to fight," Nolan said, glancing around. "Today… I'm here for someone."
That made them pause.
"Who?"
Erik's voice cut through like a knife. His powers had nearly fully returned and combined with recent studies into electromagnetic warfare, he felt sharper, more dangerous than ever.
"Colossus," Nolan said plainly.
Piotr stepped forward. "Me? What do you want with me?"
"It's about your sister. She asked me to bring you to her."
Piotr froze.
"You know where Illyana is?"
He started toward Nolan instinctively, but Logan grabbed his arm.
"Don't buy it. Not even Charles found her," Logan growled. His mutation had been glitching ever since Nolan got involved. Sometimes when he got mad, his body partially transformed into more of a lizard than a man.
Nolan's gaze moved calmly to Logan.
"She's not on Earth," he said. "She's in a dimensional pocket on the Border of Hell."
Before they could question further, Nolan raised a hand.
A golden portal unfurled beside him. Through it stood Mordo, Wanda, and…
Illyana.
Magik.
She stared wide-eyed through the portal as the tall figure of Piotr appeared.
The connection was instant. Blood called to blood.
"Piotr?" she whispered, stunned.
"Illyana…" he choked. "It's really you…"
She stepped forward instinctively but before she could pass through, Nolan snapped his fingers.
The portal vanished.
"No!"
Piotr's scream echoed across the lawn. His metal skin flared instantly as his body transformed into his armored form. He charged Nolan, roaring:
"Give me back my sister!"
But he slammed into an invisible wall an unseen barrier that held him back mid-lunge.
The rest of the mutants braced for battle.
Before any powers were unleashed, a gentle, commanding voice rippled through the air:
"Calm yourselves."
The tension drained from the air like fog in sunlight.
A strange, peaceful energy settled over them, as if whatever force had spoken wasn't just strong it was ancient.
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