At Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the esteemed Lalia Azali serves as a dedicated teacher and is also this universe's Scarlet Witch. Endowed with formidable powers and a destiny she must face, Lalia confronts her fate amidst the school's hall...
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- Logan
We landed at Stryker's facility under the cover of night, the jet's engines humming softly as we touched down. The air was thick with tension, everyone on edge.
Ororo gathered us around a holographic map, her eyes sharp and focused. "Alright, this is the topographic map of the dam," she said, pointing to the glowing image.
Her finger moved to a section of the map. "This is the spillway. You see these density changes in the terrain?" She pointed to another side of the map. "They're tire tracks."
I squinted at the hologram, trying to make sense of it. "That's the entrance?" I asked, my voice gruff.
"Mhm," Ororo nodded. "And this shows the depth of the ice that's covering the ground." The map shifted, showing new data. "Now, this is recent water activity."
Lia cut in, her voice tinged with worry. "If we go in there, Stryker could flood the spillway."
Ororo turned to Kurt, her expression serious. "Can you teleport inside?"
Kurt shook his head, looking frustrated. "No. I have to be able to see where I'm going, otherwise I could wind up inside a wall."
As the team debated, my mind started to drift. This plan was risky, no doubt about it, but it sparked an idea in my head. "I'll go," I said, my voice cutting through the chatter.
Everyone turned to look at me. "I have a hunch he'll want me alive," I added, locking eyes with Ororo.
Lia's face twisted in concern. "No, Logan, you can't—"
Erik stepped in, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Wolverine, whoever goes into the dam needs to be able to operate the spillway mechanism." He walked towards me, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "What do you intend to do, scratch it with your claws?"
I looked around at the team, the weight of the mission pressing down on us. Erik's skepticism was palpable, his eyes boring into me with that familiar disdain. "I'll take my chances," I said, stepping forward, my voice steady but laced with grim determination.
Erik's lips curled into a mocking smile as he took a step closer, his voice cold and calculating. "But I won't," he replied, each word dripping with finality.
He turned sharply, his gaze shifting to Mystique. She met his eyes, a silent understanding passing between them before her gaze moved to me. A smile tugged at her lips, a hint of mischief and confidence.
— A HourLater
The team gathered in a tight circle inside the Blackbird, the low hum of the jet's engines barely cutting through the heavy silence. We watched the monitors as Mystique, cloaked in my likeness, slipped into the shadows of Stryker's base. The air was thick with tension, every breath we took seemed to echo in the confined space.
