17 Escape from the school

While the soldiers frantically searched for any signs of life within the school, Striker ordered the hacking of the elevator to the underground facility. Theon was left incredulous at the sight. 'Wait, what? He already knows about Cerebro? This couldn't be Magneto; that guy isn't that stupid... a spy? Why didn't I consider this?' Slowly approaching Xavier, Theon whispered, "Professor, I suspect there's a spy among us."

Nodding in understanding, Xavier engaged his telepathy, probing minds with keywords like *Striker-Betrayal-order*. Upon finding his target, he rendered her unconscious—Clementina Rodriguez, a mutant capable of manipulating her hair. Sneakily checking her neck, Theon confirmed the telltale circular mark.

'If my memory serves me right, the effects of the brainwashing serum only last for a few hours. That means Striker has known about the school for an extended period,' Theon concluded, his thoughts interrupted by a sudden realization. His face stiffened. "Damn it! She had a tracker!"

"Everyone, get do—"

BOOOOMM!

An explosion rocked the bunker doors, cutting off Theon's words.

"Professor, she had a tracker!" Theon urgently reiterated, prompting Scott to take immediate action: "Revan, Jean, create a barrier to halt whatever they're about to throw at us! Wolverine, Colossus, incapacitate the soldiers while Storm and I protect Jean and Revan!"

BOOOOOM!

"Forge, couldn't you use adamantium for the door?" Revan shouted, tapping into the Force.

"Don't jest with me, kiddo. Where do you think we are? There's no Vibranium here! That stuff is rarer than calm at a morning café!" Forge quipped, trying to lighten the tense situation with a touch of humor.

Revan, Scott, Jean, Wolverine, Storm, and Colossus sprang into action, their coordinated efforts forming a shield of energy and metallic strength. The soldiers, taken by surprise at the swift response, struggled to breach the barrier, their assault repelled by the combined powers of the mutants.

With precision and teamwork, Wolverine and Colossus engaged the soldiers head-on. Claws clashed with armor as Wolverine's ferocity met Colossus's sheer might, overpowering their adversaries with calculated strikes and unyielding strength.

Meanwhile, Jean and Storm orchestrated a defensive strategy, manipulating the elements to disrupt the soldiers' advances. Winds whipped around, creating a whirlwind of chaos, while flashes of lightning crackled, keeping the enemies at bay.

As the battle raged on, Revan, tapping into the Force, added his own unique prowess to the defensive efforts. His telekinetic abilities blended seamlessly with Jean's telepathic strength, reinforcing the shield and further confusing their opponents.

Amidst the flurry of combat, Scott maintained a vigilant eye, strategizing each move and ensuring everyone remained protected within the shield. His precise optic blasts targeted the soldiers, thwarting their attempts to breach the defensive line.

The skirmish reached its climax, the group's synergy overpowering the assailants. With a final surge of combined force, they repelled the soldiers, scattering them in disarray.

"We've got an opening! Move!" Scott barked, signaling the group to escape through the chaos.

Rallying together, they swiftly navigated through the tumult, pressing forward towards safety. Dodging debris and evading the scattered soldiers, they moved with calculated precision, the urgency of their escape fueling their determination.

Amidst the chaos, Forge, utilizing his technological expertise, managed to reroute their path, leading the group to a hidden exit. With a few swift keystrokes, he unlocked the concealed passage, revealing an underground tunnel—a secret route to safety.

The team sprinted through the tunnel, their pace fueled by adrenaline and urgency. As they reached the tunnel's exit, daylight streamed in, offering a glimpse of freedom from the turmoil that had gripped the school.

Emerging from the underground passage, they found themselves on the outskirts of the school grounds, a temporary respite from the onslaught. Theon glanced back at the school, a mix of relief and concern flooding his thoughts.

"Is everyone alright?" Theon's voice broke through the panting breaths, concern etched on his face.

"We're good, kid," Wolverine grunted, wiping sweat from his brow. "But we can't stay here for long. We need to regroup and plan our next move."

As Theon and the team reached a safe post, they gathered all the students, ensuring their safety aboard the Blackwing, a secure and mobile sanctuary for mutants in times of crisis. Theon coordinated the evacuation, guiding each student onto the vessel, ensuring their well-being as they embarked on the journey to safety.

A day had passed since the harrowing escape. Theon, Jean, and Xavier convened to discuss the urgent need to locate the mutant responsible for the attempted assassination on the President. Theon, recalling Xavier's telepathic abilities and Jean's immense psychic strength, proposed a plan to unite their telepathic powers.

"Professor, Jean, I have an idea," Theon began, leaning forward with determination. "If we combine our telepathic abilities, we might amplify our reach and potentially locate the mutant who attempted the assassination. Our powers united could give us an edge in pinpointing his location."

Xavier nodded, acknowledging the suggestion. "It's a risky move, but a worthy endeavor. Theon, your suggestion holds merit. Jean, what do you think?"

Jean furrowed her brow, considering the proposal. "It's ambitious, but I believe it's worth trying. If we synchronize our powers effectively, we might achieve a broader scope in our search."

With a shared agreement, the trio prepared to merge their telepathic abilities, forming a powerful mental link. As they concentrated, a surge of psychic energy enveloped them, their minds intertwining to create an intricate network of thought.

In unison, they delved into the depths of their combined telepathy, reaching out across vast mental landscapes, searching for the elusive presence of the blue mutant. The sensation was overwhelming, the mental exertion stretching their powers to their limits.

Images flashed, fragmented thoughts echoed, and glimpses of locations danced in their minds as they scoured the psychic realm for any trace of the assailant. Time seemed to stretch as they delved deeper into the collective consciousness, each passing moment a testament to their unyielding determination.

Suddenly, a surge of recognition rippled through their connection—a faint trace, a flicker in the vast expanse of thoughts. Theon focused intensely, zeroing in on the pulsating sensation in their psychic link.

"I sense something," Theon murmured, his voice reverberating within their telepathic bond. "There's a presence, a faint echo in this vast mental network. It's faint, but it's there."

Jean concentrated, enhancing their collective reach, and Xavier honed in on the subtle threads of mental energy, solidifying their focus on the elusive target.

"There," Xavier exclaimed, a surge of realization crossing his features. "I've detected a remote signal. It's faint, but it's distinct. Theon, can you amplify our connection to trace its origin?"

Nodding, Theon channeled his concentration, intensifying their mental link to trace the signal's path. As they delved deeper, the faint echo solidified into a discernible location—a church, concealed within an abandoned area.

"We've found him," Theon stated, a mix of relief and urgency in his tone. "The signal leads to a church not far from here."

With a shared resolve, they broke the telepathic connection, their minds returning to their individual states. Theon, Jean, and Xavier exchanged determined glances, readying themselves for the next phase of their mission—to confront the elusive blue mutant and thwart any further attempts at chaos.

=============

Power: [Narrative omnipotence]

(Me)

Users are the authors of their verses, possessing "abilities" that authors would have over their own works, such as being able to change and alter any aspect of their work, know everything about it, and be completely unreachable to anything in it. They view their verse's characters, powers, and events, as nothing more than words on a page, as they usually are.