Sorry that it took me a while to update, but what with school starting, I was a little busy. Besides, after the finale of last chapter, it saddened me to leave Wolverine and go back to the X-Men. But don't worry, the story's not over yet. There's still more thrills to come, and a special surprise at the end of the story… Enjoy!

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            Mesmero, in his quiet control room, had learned via security cameras, of the X-Men's entry into his secure base. He knew that Logan and Silverback had left, but knew not of their fate.

            "No, no, no!" he shrieked, when the X-Men approached the door of where he was. "They can't come in here! They can't!"

            "Calm yourself, Mesmero," said a calm, cold voice behind him. "I will defend you, weakling that you are."

            Mesmero whirled around and fell to his knees in relief and fear. "Magneto!" he cried. Indeed, the master of magnetism hovered before him, the red and purple armor all on, the helmet still intact. "Master! Thank you, master! I have no fear anymore!" He grabbed Magneto's leg like a toddler grabs his mothers. He looked indeed like a crying little baby.

            Magneto gave him a disgusted look and spat upon the ground. "You do not fear now that I am here, Mesmero?"

            Mesmero cried out, sycophancy in his voice, "Never, great one! I would never fear!"

            Magneto gave an evil chuckle. "Then you are more of a fool than I had anticipated." He gestured toward the wall and Mesmero was hurled against it brutally, like a cannonball against a fortress.

            "Master!" cried out Mesmero in confusion.

            "You have outlived our usefulness, Mesmero. And when the X-Men succeed in bursting in here, you will not get in my way!" He emphasized the last word as he threw Mesmero against the steel door, bursting it open. The X-Men, Cyclops in the lead, ran in and Scott stopped suddenly, a look of bewilderment on his face.

            Magneto gave a chilling snigger. "You should have remembered that my helmet blocks all psychic ability. All. Not just mind control. And Ms. Gray's bubble was psychic. Now, what are you waiting for? Come at me!"

            Scott led the charge, and all his team followed suit. He was able to fire one optic beam before Magneto waved and he flew over to where Mesmero's unconscious body lay. Scott shouted, "Team, split up! He can't take us all at once!"

            He started to shout another order, but was interrupted when his wife landed on his head. "Sorry, hon. Magneto."

            "Look on the bright side. It could have been vice versa."

            Jean laughed and formed a telekinetic bubble around them.

            When Magneto turned his back to go against Storm, Scott whispered, "Make me a fire-hole." Jean complied and cut a perfect circle through her circle. Scott turned his visor on high and let 'er rip. Jean had to strain to keep the hole from being cut wider. Because she held it, the beam increased as it went out, and Magneto was knocked to his knees when it hit his back full force.

            He turned around to go for Scott, but was knocked back down by a strong wind from Storm. "Attempting to defeat us is pointless, Magneto," she said, holding him down with the wind. He hurled her backwards with his magnetic power, and was met with a punch to the mouth from Beast.

            Scott fired again, and Magneto was bruised as he flew into the wall behind Storm.

            She had to turn to focus her wind again, and he took the opportunity to send her into Scott and Jean's bubble. She gave a short cry and fell to the floor. Beast leapt upon Magneto's back and using a great judo move, flipped him backwards in midair. As the master of magnetism descended down, Scott let loose once again and sent him back into the wall.

            Storm, recovered now, let her wind hold him as he struggled to break free from the invisible grip she had imprisoned him in.

            Jean looked at Scott, who nodded. She took away her bubble and all the X-Men present walked over to their enemy. Scott said, "Okay, Magneto, you're battered, bruised, and broken. We know you're not the only one behind this. Where are your partners, and where are Nightcrawler and Angel? Talk, mutie!"

            Magneto spit on Scott's face.

            Scott advanced forward, but a hand on his shoulder from Jean stopped him. "Okay team," he said, reluctantly pulling away from the now-unconscious Magneto, "let's go find our friends."

            Magneto waited until they shut the door and pulled out his com link. 'Sabretooth, everything is going according to plan. I was 'beaten' and they believe me to be unconscious. Any idea in how Silverback fared against his long-lost-brother?"

            "No idea," squacked the com link. "But Pyro's waiting out there just in case the runt won. Don't worry, boss. The X-Men aren't winning this time."

            Magneto rose, his wounds forgotten. "Excellent."

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A little short, I know, but they can't all be perfect!