Explosions echoed through the structure, making the very grouh them quiver. Debris fell from overhead. Tyson and Illyana exged wide-eyed gnces, both uanding the gravity of the situation. The cacophony seemed to shake Professor Xavier from the trahat had held him. His normally posed face looked disoriented as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. "Tyson, Illyana," he murmured, his voice shaky. "What’s happening?"

  Before either could answer, a burst of blue smoke filled the space, its acrid st hanging in the air. From within it emerged Storm, her white hair flowing like a silken cloud, and Nightcrawler, his blue-skinned, demonic appearance trasting with his jubint expression. "Wunderbar!" Nightcrawler excimed, doing a little pirouette in the air, tail swinging. "A blind teleport and I still have all my fingers and toes!"

  Storm's crystal blue eyes darted around, assessing the situation. Her brow furrowed as she took in the se; the still form of the unknown mutant, and Xavier's dazed state. The wind swirled around her as her innate e to the elements resporowing .

  "What's going on?" she demanded.

  Xavier removed the Cerebro helmet and then clutched the armrests of his wheelchair, his fingers white with the strain, "Wait," he mumbled, his voice a trembling whisper, "It's... it's ing bae." There was a haunting silehe weight of tless memories crashing bato him. His voice broke the stillness, full of disbelief and horror. "Oh no... What have I done?"

  Tyson stepped forward, his posture was resolute but seemingly burdened. "It wasn't you, Professor," he began, "I'm sorry... It was me. Mago wao use you as a on against all of humanity, and we couldn't stand by and watch… I exploited your vulnerability. Every human oh has fotten that mutants ever existed. It may seem like a holloology, but I 't express how sorry I am for maniputing you this way. But I don't regret it. I did what I thought o be done."

  Xavier's face, a mask of shock, was slowly overtaken by a profound sadness. But Tyson pressed on, pelled by a drive to expin himself. "I hope one day you uand why I did it," he tinued. "You've dedicated your life to building bridges between mutants and humans. But the chasm of mistrust and hate... it's deep, Professor. Too deep. At least now, there's a bnk ste. A ce to build anew."

  Illyana stepped beside Tyson, her eyes, too, shined with the weight of their decision. "We thought it was the best way," she whispered, though whether as an expnation or an apology, it was unclear.

  Tyson struggled to maintain his posure amid the weight of everything that had just occurred. He looked directly at Professor Xavier, his voice came out strained but clear, "Professor, I think Stryker set off some explosions within the dam."

  Storm's eyes widened, already sidering the quickest exit. Nightcrawler looked around anxiously, his tail flig with unease.

  Tyson tinued, "This pce isn’t safe anymore. You should get to the jet. Ehe safety of the children that were taken from the Institute."

  The gravity of the situation alpable. Xavier's face, still reeling from the revetion, now also showed for the young mutants under his care. But before he could say anything Tyson and Illyana locked hands, and in the brilliant fsh of Illyana's teleportation magic, they vanished. Xavier and the X-Men were left amidst the dim glow of Cerebro, grappling with the vast implications of their as.

  Illyana's powers fshed brightly as the surroundings morphed from the dimly lit Cerebro chamber to the steel-den hallways outside. The instant they materialized, Tyson quickly released her hand, not wanting to keep prolonged tact. Instead, he snaked an arm around her waist, ensuring they stayed close.

  Tyson's eyes darted around, pinpointing their position. The yout of the base was mapped in his mind from Jason's memories. He visualized their jump. Using that knowledge, he took trol of their teleportation routes. With Illyana's trust in him, they jumped again, bypassing corridor after corridor, moving them closer to freedom. But just as they were about to make another jump, Tyson stiffened. His nostrils fred. An all-too-familiar metallig filled the air, but it was intermingled with the unmistakable and overp aroma of death.

  Omega Red.

  The Russian mutant's death spores were impossible tet once you'd entered them. But that wasn't all. Underlying it was another st. Ohat Tyson would know anywhere. "Logan..." he murmured.

  Illyana looked sharply at Tyson. "Logan? Is he nearby?"

  Tyson nodded slowly, his gaze focused. "And he's not alone. We o be careful. Omega Red is not someone I want you to get close to."

  ~~ Rogue Rept ~~

  The underground chamber echoed with the sounds of two primal forces g. The metallic sheen of Omega Red's carbonadium tentacles glinted ominously in the dim light as they lunged forward, seeking to ensnare Wolverine. Each time they came close, Logan ducked, jumped, or rolled out of harm's way.

  But Wolverine wasn’t just on the defensive. With each dodge, his adamantium cws sshed through the air, meeting Omega Red's tentacles with a shower of sparks, the resonating g eg off the walls.

  "You ot escape me!" Omega Red hissed, his deep Russian at filled with venom. The deadly coils shot fain, this time ing around a metal beam, pulling it down in an attempt to crush Wolverine.

  But Wolverine was quick. He vaulted over the colpsing beam, charging forward and ramming into Omega Red with the full force of his body. "I don't run, bub!" he spat back, their faces inches apart, his eyes bzing with fury.

  Omega Red used his tentacles to fling Wolverine across the room. But Logan was ba his feet almost instantly, using the momentum t bato the fray. Their bat was relentless, her willing to yield. As the minutes dragged on, their movements, though fierce, had an almost chraphed quality to them. Each was learning the other's moves, anticipating and tering. Suddenly, Wolverine lunged forward with a powerful swing of his cws aiming straight for Omega Red's heart. But it was a feint. At the st moment, he ducked low, sshing at Omega Red's legs, attempting t him down.

  Omega Red stumbled but caught himself. The two cshed again and again, the room a cacophony of metal against metal, grunts, roars, and taunts.

  The metallic g and guttural roars reached Tyson and Illyana as they stumbled upon the brutal battle between Wolverine and Omega Red. The se was a chaotic blur of stantly shifting adamantium and carbonadium. But as soon as Illyana stepped into the room, her pale face turned even paler, a look of distress taking over her usually fierce te wasn't the sight of the two battling titans that uled her, but the invisible death spores emitted by Omega Red.

  Tyson's instincts kicked in, and he swiftly pulled Illyana away, "Stay here," he anded, his tone filled with urgency. "It'll only be a minute."

  Tysoered the room, "Omega Red!" he bellowed, drawing the mutant's attention away from Wolverine.

  As Omega Red's cold, emotionless eyes met Tyson's, it was as if time had slowed down. Tyson tapped into the power of illusions he had acquired from Jason. With a mere thought, Wolverine vanished from Omega Red’s perception.

  The sudden disappearance of his oppo baffled Omega Red. Fury repced the brief moment of fusion on his face. He turo Tyson, now the only target, and charged at him, his tentacles filing, ready to ensnare aroy.

  But Tyson jured a portal beh Omega Red. His tentacles whipped and writhed, desperately trying to tto something, anything. But it was futile. His battle with Wolveriroyed anything rge enough to halt his fall. Within moments, the behemoth was swallowed whole, the gateway to Limbo closing behind him with a faint echo of his surprised shout.

  Wolverine looked at Tyson, an appreciative nod aowledging his timely intervention. The very structure of the dam seemed to groan and shudder, its agonized cries eg ominously through the air. The ground trembled beh their feet, an uling reminder of the impending disaster.

  "We’ve gotta go!" Tyson's sense ency alpable. Logan’s clothes were in tatters from his intetle, so Tyson did his best to grab onto the smaller man without making skin tact. His other arm ed around Illyana, and Tyson invoked her teleportation powers. Their bodies shimmered and disappeared, reappearing in a different corridor, then outside the base, rapidly c the distao the Bckbird.

  As they blinked ie the bottom of the Bckbird's ramp, Tyson cast a gnce over his shoulder. ures emerged from the base. Storm led the ushing Professor X’s wheelchair surprisingly quickly while Nightcrawler agilely hopped beside her. Surprisingly, the 5 blondes ran just behind them.

  Logan suddenly seemed to lose his bearings. He doubled over, "Think I’m gonna be sick," he grunted.

  A trio of young mutants desded the ramp. "Logan, are you okay?" Jean asked, her voice ced with .

  Bobby, in an attempt to lighten the mood, quipped, "Guess not everyone's got the stomach for telep, huh?"

  Jubilee shot him a gnce. "Not the time, I."

  The urgen Tyson's voice was unmistakable. "Guys, get inside! Quick!" he implored, his voice eg off the metal ramp.

  Bobby pulled Logan up with a sturdy grip. "e on, Logata move," he said. The two of them, along with the others, swiftly moved ihe Bckbird. Storm, Nightcrawler, and Professor X were closing the distance.

  "There's not much time left," Tyson mumbled.

  Jean narrowed her eyes as she attempted to link with Tyson’s mind. Normally, when he was this close, her telepathic abilities would allow her to gain insight, to uand the depth of the situation, but she was met with a barrier. His mind was even more difficult to read tha time she’d tried, atempts just skimmed the surface. Frustrated, she admitted, "I don't uand."

  Tyson took a deep breath a her gaze, "Jea me in, just for a moment." She felt a psionitrusion from Tyson which surprised and briefly stunned her, but she trusted him enough to lower her defenses for whatever he intehen, deliberately, he shifted his gaze to Bobby, then to Jubilee, the sparks from her fingers betrayed her ay. Finally, he looked at Logan.

  With an urgent hustle, Stuiding Professor X's wheelchair, led the group into the Bckbird. Nightcrawler assisted the group of five nearly identical blondes. As the st foot stepped aboard, a sudden fsh indicated the disappearance of Tyson and Illyana through a shimmering portal.

  Suddenly, a monstrous crash echoed throughout the valley. Turning their gazes outside, the X-Men watched in horror as the rgest se of the dam split open, releasing a colossal wave of water. It thundered down into the riverbed rushing straight for them.

  Storm slid into the pilot's seat. Her fingers danced over the trols, igniting the Bckbird's ehe hum of the aircraft's maery filled the .

  "Strap in!" yelled Storm, her voice slig through the temosphere. Her eyes were wide with arm. Her fingers moved with lightning speed, maniputing the trols to get the Bckbird airborhe jet shuddered as it began its ast, its powerful engines r to life.

  The group let out a collective sigh of relief as the jet cleared the height of the oning wave.

  Soundlessly, and without the apanying fsh, Tyson reappeared in the middle of the jet.

  Jean's eyes widened in surprise, and Bobby let out a relieved chuckle. Jubilee, never oo mask her emotions, excimed, "Where’s Illyana?"

  Storm replied, "Illyana is with Tyson. It seems they won't be joining us," her voice held a tinge ret.

  There alpable pause, the octs of the jet traded looks of fusion.

  Then, Tyson's voice echoed in the , although only a few could truly hear or see his illusionary form. "I'm not here. She 't see me. I'm just an illusion." He pointed upward and tinued, "The real me is actually on the roof… I'm sorry I didn't have time to expihing. The short version… I have a new power. We had a disagreement. I made some decisions ihe dam, decisions I 't take back. Illyana and I 't return to the Institute, not after what I've done."

  Jubilee's eyes brimmed with tears as she cried out, her voice crag, "What? Tyson, it 't be that bad! Just... e back with us. We sort it out."

  Storm, not privy to Tyson's illusion, looked around, her brow furrowed in fusion. "What's going on?"

  Xavier’s responded, "It seems Tyson is saying his goodbyes to his friends." The headmaster was still processing the events that had occurred and wasn’t in a state to interfere with Tyson’s benig.

  The atmosphere within the Bckbird was thick with emotion as Tyson began his poignant farewell. To those who could see it, the illusion of him was indistinguishable from the real thing. It captured every nuance of his expression and the weight of his feelings.

  Addressing Jubilee first, he gave her a small, wistful smile, "Sorry, Jubes," he began, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia, "But it is that bad. Promise me you won't stay gloomy for long, alright? I remember yamer tag. Maybe, just maybe, I'll get a sole one day, and we’ll py together again." He winked pyfully.

  Jubilee, trying to hold back her tears, let out a small snort, the ers of her lips twitg into a relut smile. "Yeah, okay. I won’t hold my breath," she quipped. She bit her lower lip, fighting back the overwhelming wave of emotions. "Just remember, you were the newbie, and I made you feel at home. Don’t fet about us.”

  , Tyson’s gaze shifted to Jean. There th of gratitude and respe his eyes. "Jean," he started, his voice den with emotion, "Your strength and fierce protectiveness have always been something to behold. Those breakfast dates? They have a special p my heart. And I’ll never fet how your power saved me from Mago and allowed me to protect the institute. Every time I’ve been at my best, it’s because your strength propelled me there. I hope, someday, I find a way to repay the debt I owe you."

  Jean gave him a small, bittersweet smile. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper, "Just... take care of yourself, Tyson."

  He turo Bobby, his expression solemn. "Bobby," he began, g his hands together as though searg for the right words, "Thanks for taking care of everyone when I wasn't there. I heard about your family, and I'm sorry. But things have ged now. There might be a ce to rebuild those bridges.” He paused, looking away momentarily before adding, “And I think John... he chose to join Mago. Thought you should know.”

  Bobby's icy blue eyes held Tyson's for a long, charged moment. There was a silent uanding, "Thanks for the heads up," he replied.

  Tyson focused on Loga his Adamantium cws extend fully from his fiips, glinting in the soft light of the Bckbird. The sight was striking, a haunting refle of Logan’s fearsome cws. "Guess we're twins now, huh?" Tyson remarked with a smirk, aiming t some levity to the moment.

  Logan's eyes flickered to the cws, then back to Tyson's face, taking a moment tister the profound transformation his young friend had undergone.

  But as Tyson tinued, his tourned somber, eg with gratitude, "Logan, back at that bar... you chose to give a kid who you didn’t know a ce, and it set me on this path. Crazy as it's been, you've had my back from the get-go. I’m gd I was able to give you some answers about yourself and I hope it helped you find a purpose." Tyson's voice softened, "But I know your journey isn’t done. More ao find, and mhosts from your past to chase. Just watch your back, alright? Stryker is still out there.” With a smirk, he said, “Ororo seems sweet on you, you should show her a little love before you go.”

  Jubilee pyfully yelled, “Stop projeg!”

  Tyson quipped back, “I’m an illusion, I ’t help it.” He finished addressing Logan, “Maybe on your birthday, I'll pop by, and give you your yearly thrashing."

  Wolverine couldn’t help but chuckle at his audacity. His rough voice held warmth and a hint of pride, "Sure, kid. You've got guts, I'll give you that. If you think you kick my ass year, you're wele to try." He took a step forward, firmly grabbed Tyson’s illusionary hand, and pulled him into a hug. "You've e a long way sihat bar. Go find your way. Take care, kid."

  As Tyson's illusion started to fade, the finality of his decision began to sink in. The camaraderie they shared had been disrupted, but they each hoped for reciliation iure.

  ~~ Rogue Rept ~~

  Hours had passed sihe dramatic events at Alkali Lake. The sky began to darken, casting long, stretg shadows oarmac. A bck helicopter nded with a gehud, its rotors slowing to a halt. Dust and small debris were thrown up in whirlwinds, causing anyone nearby to shield their eyes.

  The side door of the chopper slid open, revealing the imposing figure of William Stryker. His usual steely demeanor was somewhat ruffled, hinting at the exhausting ordeal he had been through. His sharp blue eyes sed the viity briefly before he desded, his polished shoes making a muted k against the metal steps.

  There, waiting for him was a bck car, its tinted windows hiding the interior. Without a sed gryker got in. As he settled into the plush leather seat, an afterthought seemed to strike him. He turned slightly, addressing his silent panion who had just disembarked from the chopper. "Yuriko," he mumbled, his voice carrying the fatigue of a long day, "I'm going home. Take the rest of the week off. Go get some rest."

  Yuriko nodded with an impassive expression. The car sped off, leaving Yuriko standing alone amidst the tarmac. After a brief moment of ption, she made her way to a nearby hotel. She checked in with a few words. The hotel room was luxurious, but Yuriko barely noticed. She made her way to the bed. As she y down, sleep quickly cimed her.

  The first rays of m sunlight filtered through the gaps in the heavy curtains, casting a golden hue over the room. Yuriko stirred from her slumber, and as sciousness seeped in, the weight of realization hit her. The gnawing, relentless pulsion that had been Stryker's grip on her mind was gone. Her chest heaved, and she felt aion she hadn’t felt in what seemed like eons. Pure, unadulterated joy bubbled up within her, and tears began to stream down her face. They weren't tears of sadness but of liberation. Months of being trolled and maniputed poured out. She let herself cry, letting the tears se away the remnants of Stryker's influence.

  Eventually, the wave of emotion ebbed, and Yuriko took a shaky breath, colleg herself. She rose from the bed. Walking to the bathroom, she fronted her refle. The sight of her tear-streaked face was both fn and familiar. Slowly, as she took in her refle, a wicked grin began to spread across her fabsp;

  She was free. Free from the shackles that had bound her will to another's whims. And with that freedom came a burning, all-ing rage. The thought of Stryker, of the man who had trolled her for so long, ignited a fire in her heart. And all the others who hadn’t tried to help her. Hydra, Omega Red, on X, and so many others.

  Reve was a single word, but it promised so much. Stryker had takehing from her, and now, she would take everything from them.

  ~~ Rogue Rept ~~

  Overlooking the vast expanse of Alkali Lake, Tyson, and Illyana stood side by side as the day began to wane. Below them, the waters of the ke roiled and frothed, whipped into a frenzy by the colpsing dam. The sleek form of the Bckbird and its r engines had faded into the southern sky. Illyana's white-blonde hair danced in the wind, her eyes traced the jet's path, sadness evident in her gaze.

  Lost in thought, Tyson's eyes widened suddenly. A single memory, clear as day, shot through his mind.

  Logan had gripped the hand of his illusion in a rugged handshake followed by aion-filled hug. But the surprising part, the e to his illusion was apanied by a plex tactile sensation.

  He felt the illusion as if it was his real hand, his own body.

  And Rogue’s power, his power, hadn’t triggered.

  His heart raced. "Holy shit," he breathed out, almost in disbelief.

  Illyana turo him, her brows knitting in . "Tyson? What's wrong?"

  He looked at her, his blue and green mismatg eyes alight with excitement. For a moment, his lips parted as if he were going to share the enormity of his realization. Instead, he broke into a mischievous grin and the weight of their ret challenges was momentarily fotten. "Absolutely nothing," he replied with a chuckle, as they watched the waters of Alkali Lake surge forward.

  AN: And that’s the end of the Arc! The X-Men are all heading home, with the cuckoos, and no Jean sacrifice this time. Omega Red is in Limbo, Stryker’s alive, as is Deathstrike - free from any influend wanting revenge, and Tyson & Illyana are on their own. Tyson gaining illusions has given him one of the ways to ‘bypass’ Rogue’s drawback, but it's not ‘true’ trol.

  Arc 3 will be the clusion of this “book” and does not follow the plot of a Marvel movie or show. Sorry if you’re a fan of The Last Stand, but I won’t be doing that storyline now for a few reasons. Primarily I wao write an MCU story; this one is up to 100k ish words and we’re still not in the MCU yet. Most of the X-3 plot threads be used in other pces. I want to save Phoenix for a more Jearic arc. The mutant cure plot could be better used further iure when mutants are mainstream once again. I will miss introdug some of the cool characters from that movie sooner *cough* Juggernaut *cough*.

  Behind the ses

  - Jason Stryker’s illusion power is vague in the movie. In the first draft, I thought the power required eye tact because I remembered his mismatched eyes that matched the little girl’s illusionary proje. I went bad watched the movie… to establish rules for the power, si was something Tyson was acquiring. Unfortunately, I did this after I’d already finished writing Arc 3 and had to re-edit all the illusion ses in Arc 2 and 3 to pensate for this, so hopefully it’s all fixed by the time of posting. The applications and limitations of the illusions will be further explored in future Arcs. Some observations:

  - When Storm and Nightcrawler teleported into Cerebro, it was empty. That indicated eye tact wasn’t necessary, and that Jason could affect multiple people at once, with different illusions.

  - Xavier and the little girl illusion hold hands. This indicates that power affects more than just vision.

  - The only reason Jason was able to trol Xavier was the psychihibitor, once he was fully trolled, they removed the inhibitor so Xavier could use Cerebro. When Mago enters Cerebro, he’s pletely ued by Jason. This indicates that those with mental resistance resist the illusions.

  - When Stryker brings Jason to Xavier he faces him directly at Xavier. This could just be a ce, but it seemed iional. Additionally, his mismatched eyes are emphasized. I interpret this as eye tact strehe illusion power, and allows a bit of mind trol.

  - During Arc 2 there were 2 ses that I inteo add, but I spaced and never wrote.

  The first should’ve been during Chapter 21 (Arc 2 - Ch 9: The White Room). At the campfire Mystique and Nightcrawler meet. This se should’ve gone simir to aybe a little more e from Mystique because of Tysoending to be Azazel and telling her he waheir child in Chapter 10. The sed should’ve been during Chapter 24 or 25 (Arc 2- Ch 12 or 13). During the drag-out battle between Omega Red and Wolverihey would’ve ended up in the hallway where Storm, Nightcrawler, Jubilee, and Jean were leading the kids to safety. When Omega Red went to attack the newers, Jubilee would’ve used her powers, bsting him away. Wolverine would’ve pursued to tihe fight, and Jubilee would’ve gotten her ‘hero’ moment.- Tyson’s interfereh cerebro puts mutants underground as far as the general public goes, much as hoires, Werewolves, Magic, etc are. Agencies and Corporations will still have records, in some cases, they’ll be dismissed, but groups like Shield, Trask, and Essex, will have extensive enough records on mutants that they’re quickly rediscovered and reized as real. Tysoed the way he did because it was the best he could think of at the time. He had a few hours to decide while in Limbo, but he didn’t know the extent of Xavier’s powers or the time he had before the base was flooded. He khat Xavier could kill billions, but he didn’t know if it was easier to snuff out a life, than to trol that many people. He tried to keep the and simple “Fet all Mutants.” It was in lih the movie's ands. Could he have done more? Maybe. I initially thought he would say “Like all mutants.” But there’s a big differeween making people fet and maniputing their opinions. I didn’t think that using Xavier to force his viewpoint on everyone would be within character.