The X-Men slept in the Blackbird that night, with Scott piloting the giant ship throughout its long hours. Jean gently snored next to him in her seat, and her soft noises comforted him. He had the spotlights on, searching for Logan even through the night. He had made up his mind. Tomorrow they were going on the ground. They were much too high up in their plane to do their friend any good.
What kind of leader was he being? He hadn't even spoken with his team since leaving the mansion, with the obvious exceptions of Logan and Jean. Did Storm think she could be doing better? Was Angel bored? Did Beast have a better idea? Was Nightcrawler feeling guilty? He had no idea! Tomorrow, he vowed, he was going to give them their assignments, and he was going to right there with them.
He heard Jean stir next to him. "Switch spots with me honey. I'll take over."
"But Jean-"
"Don't argue, Scott. If you don't get any sleep, you're going to be one cranky husband in the morning, and I am not dealing with that."
They made the switch without any further arguing, and Jean opened her eyes fully as Scott closed his.
At 7:00, Scott woke up and found Jean's eyes penetrating him. "About time, sleepy-head! Half the team is awake! So, what's the plan for today?"
Scott took a bit of time to rub the sleep out of his eyes, and then answered, "I'm playing it by ear."
He wandered into the briefing room with a yawn and found himself staring at a wide awake, alert team staring at him. "I thought you said half of them were awake!" he mentally muttered to his wife.
"I lied!" She cheerfully responded, walking into the room herself.
Once she was seated, Scot began.
"Okay team, here's the plan. I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of waiting around up here hoping to spot Wolverine. Today we're beginning our ground search. Do you all have your com-links?" The group nodded in unison. "Good. Now, we'll need to split up.
"Storm, you're going to search west of here. Use whatever means necessary, and search for footprints, in case Wolverine's moved since he went overboard. If you find him, report back to me.
"Angel, fly low and slow east.
"Nightcrawler, I want you going south of here. Walk, teleport, I don't care what you, do, but look hard.
"Hank, you're with me. We'll go north. Everybody know what to do?"
Jean raised her hand quietly. "Where am I going to be, Scott?"
Scott answered, "You'll be up here in the Blackbird mentally scanning for any signs of Logan. Tell him to make a signal fire if you can."
Turning back to face the group, Cyclops finished. "If one of you finds something, tell me and Jean. If it's Logan, you all have the ability to get him up to the Blackbird. Okay, you've all got your parachutes ready. Let's move!"
In the mountains of Tibet, Mesmero's plans were being disturbed. According to the video bug he had on their plane, they were resorting to ground searching. Any one of those accursed mutants could find the Wolverine in a matter of minutes! He needed some way to intervene. Mind control had failed, but perhaps there was another, simpler way to get what he needed.
He walked over to a machine and pressed the intercom button. "Calling the Menace to the briefing room. Repeat, calling the menace to the briefing room."
He himself left the room and stepped into a different one, with nothing but a table and chairs to accommodate it. Before long, his team of mutants had arrived. Sabretooth, Pyro, Scarlet Witch, and Magneto. The last member in that list seemed to shake Mesmero. "Si-…Magneto, you needn't have come!"
The deep voice responded. "You called for the Menace, and I am its leader, so I came, Mesmero. Is something wrong?"
"No sir."
"Then please continue and tell us all why we were summoned. I for one, am curious."
"Yes master." Nervously turning away from the rest of the group, Mesmero regained his confidence away from the glare of Magneto. "All right, fellow mutants. The Menace was assembled as a team of evil mutants similar to the Brotherhood of old, and I think it is time we test our effectiveness before the X-Men find our wandering friend in the wilderness. They are currently performing a ground search for him, but Gray remained in the jet, so we are safe from her." Turning reluctantly back to Magneto, he asked, "What should we do now, master?"
Magneto stood like a true leader and handed out assignments. "Sabretooth, you go west. If you find an X-Man, kill them. Pyro, I want you moving south. I will go north. Wanda, go east. Mesmero, you will stay here and try to break Gray's will. I want her out of the way." He headed to the door but gave his head a slight turn before turning the doorknob. "Let's show the X-Men what we're made of!"