The Blackbird, nearing Magneto's HQ
20:46 (8:46 pm)
Day 3

"The radar has picked up something."

Cyclops leaned over to see the screen that Storm pointed at. "It looks like a structure...could be Magneto's base."

Storm nodded in agreement. "We are nearing it. Shall we pay him a visit?"

Cyclops turned in his seat to where Jean was sitting. "Jean, could you try to look for them again?"

Jean looked frightened. "I...I don't know, Scott...that last time really scared me."

He sighed and glanced at Storm. "Go ahead 'Ro, land us."

Storm started preparations for landing the huge aircraft while Cyclops spoke to Jean. "Jean, are you going to be alright?"

She nodded hesitantly.

"What's wrong?"

She sighed. "It's just...I get a bad feeling about this...he has a lot more power than we suspected if he can create mutations and withhold them."

Cyclops's eyes widened behind his red-tinted visor. "Withhold mutations?"

Jean bit her lip. "Scott...I think that's what the block was. I was using powers to try to penetrate an area where no powers work...I think my powers reflected off the border and hit me...a boomerang effect."

Cyclops leaned back in his seat. "This is going to be harder than we thought then---we need to make a definite plan."

She nodded.

"Could you find out about the devices or methods used to withhold powers, Jean?"

Jean put her hands to her head and concentrated. After a few moments time she spoke up. "Studies run recently in a Northwestern lab are the most successful in inventing a mechanism to withhold mutations. It works by neutralizing the X gene in the DNA by sending out steady radioactive wavelengths, which affect mutated cells, over a limited area. The effects of the waves are temporary, and fade as soon as the mechanism is turned off."

Cyclops frowned. "But why would Magneto want to withhold mutations?"

Jean smiled grimly. "Withholding is not the machine's only facet," she said. "It can also do the opposite..."

Storm raised her eyebrows. "It can create mutations?"

Jean nodded.

"But what about the power withholding wavelengths?" Cyclops asked.

"He probably has an antidote, in the form of which he can shield particular people from the waves."

Cyclops shook his head to clear it. "So that's what he's up to...creating new mutations, then preventing them from escape until they are ready to be released."

Storm cleared her throat. "We have arrived at Magneto's Head Quarters. Shall I cloak the ship?" Storm's hand hovered over the invisibility button.

Cyclops nodded. "No use taking any risks...the Blackbird is the only weapon we have."

Storm pressed the button and began to land the ship.

Magneto's HQ, The Heart of the Savage Lands
20:59 (8:59 pm)
Day 3

"Owww..." Rogue moaned as the blackness faded, and her head began to throb. She slowly began to take in her surroundings, trying to remember what had happened. Pressing her face against the glass, she tried to make out the blurry figures in the neighboring tubes.

Logan. Where's Logan. She searched the room frantically, but there was no sign of his gruff features anywhere. Her heart pounded, and she felt nauseous. She clutched her stomach uneasily. What's wrong with me?

Leaning her forehead against the cool glass, she tried to collect her scattered thoughts. She swallowed hard to keep down the contents of her stomach.

I'm scared. That's it.

She gritted her teeth. Fear was something she was unused to, being invulnerable, being able to fly, being able to lift trucks off the ground with a single-handed flick of her wrist. But she felt fear now. There was no way she could escape from the clutches of the master of magnetism.

He was a madman.

It was almost impossible that the X-men could track them to this unknown continent. And her only hope was plastered against a wall. She felt tears seep down her face as she thought of him hanging there.

Then she remembered their argument, and her jaw hardened with resolve. He used me, she thought stubbornly, forgetting her previous thoughts of forgiveness. A sound startled her out of her self-pity.

"Well, well, it looks like we have some unexpected guests." She raised her head and tried to make out the blurry figure standing at the controls a few feet away. Magneto, she thought, balling up her hands into fists.

He gave a chuckle, then turned to his small team of minions who stood by the door, awaiting his commands.

A remarkable looking woman had joined them. She had piercing yellow eyes and blazing red hair, with amazing glistening blue skin, almost like a snake's. She was smirking maliciously. "Oh yes, I quite remember them. Xavier's little students, aren't they?"

Rogue felt her insides freeze. They're here?

Magneto laughed unpleasantly. "Yes, Mystique, you are absolutely right. Come to rescue our little friends, I assume. Would you be so kind as to unroll the welcome mat for them? Wouldn't want to seem ungracious."

With a nasty grin, the three exited the room. Magneto turned back to his controls, watching the whole encounter on a small screen.

After a while, he rose and paced the room, muttering aloud to himself. Rogue cringed in her tube, trying to make herself as small and unnoticeable as possible.

After what seemed ages, he walked back to the screen, and started pressing controls. A few moments later, the minions returned, each carrying an unconscious body.

Rogue stifled a scream as she recognized her friends.