Jean found herself pursued through an eerie, abandoned carnival by large and menacing clowns. The experience was a nightmarish ordeal, evoking terror within her
Soon she realised it was a dream, and when she woke up, she was still feeling fear from the nightmare. She quickly leaped in the arms of Ben. Only his embrace comforted her.
But before falling asleep, she hears an eerie sound. To find it she came out of the room, and she noticed a jack-in-the-box in front of the door. It was the same as she had seen in her dream.
Seeing it, she became so much shocked, and to her horror, a tattooed face emerged from the box, causing her to scream. And without knowing what happened, she fled from the Xavier Mansion to an unknown location.
The following morning, the Institute grounds buzzed with activity as all the X-Men joined in the search for Jean.
Xavier and Ben, both were concerned and puzzled, because they didn't know why and where Jean had gone.
"I couldn't find any sign of Jean," Beast said, when he entered the room. Beast was a New Mutant instructor, he had undergone a transformation through an experimental process.
In the beginning, he was initially terrified by his altered appearance, but Xavier arrived in the time. And not only he calmed him, but also invited him to join the Xavier Institute as an instructor.
"If Jean isn't utilizing her powers, Cerebro can't pick up any trace of her," Xavier explained to Beast and Ben, explaining that Cerebro also has its limit. It was harder to trace someone with mutant abilities when those powers remained dormant.
As Ben and the other X-Kids scoured Bayville in search of Jean, Kitty decided to investigate the Brotherhood house.
However, her visit took a chaotic turn as an explosion rocked the building, prompting her to hastily phase out through the front door.
Meanwhile, back at the Institute, Sam (Cannonball), Bobby (Iceman), Ray (Berzerker), and Jubilee descended to the Danger Room.
At the train station, Logan uncovered a crucial lead—Jean had been there, purchasing a ticket to Boston. Cerebro successfully detected her presence in the city, where she was actively using her powers.
However, something was amiss—Jean exhibited strange behavior, like she was possessed by something.
Breaking into a museum, she pilfered a ring from a display case. But, no one knows for what reason she did this.
Under the cover of night, Jean circumvented security measures and infiltrated the institute. Her destination was Kurt's room. As Kurt woke up and gazed at Jean, an eerie low humming sound permeated the air. His eyes glazed over, mirroring the possessed look that had affected other mutants.
The next morning, Scott looked troubled, when he knocked on Xavier's door to deliver the distressing news. "Professor, professor, wake up, Kurt is also missing."
In the computer room, Kitty and Beast immersed themselves in a flurry of activity, hacking into the computers.
Kitty discovered Jean and Kurt had been spotted by airport surveillance cameras heading toward New York City. Responding swiftly, Ben and Logan departed in the X-Jet, to intercept them.
In the heart of New York City, Jean and Kurt break-in at a bank.
Professor X, using his telepathic abilities, picked up their signal and informed Ben and Logan.
At the bank, Jean and Kurt teleported into the vault, Jean using her powers ripped open a safe deposit box. Inside awaited another ring, which she added to the one she already possessed.
Before Ben and Logan could set their sights on the bank. Jean using her powers pushed back the X-Jet. And with Kurt, she was ready to disappeared from there.
—
"Xavier, these rings are from Tibetan artifacts, dating back to the early Han dynasty. There are three rings altogether," Beast informed Xavier, explaining the origin of the mysterious rings that Jean had acquired.
In response, Xavier issued a command to Beast, "Find the location of the third ring."
Simultaneously, the X-Jet touched down on the Institute's front lawn, carrying Jean, although she had disappeared with Kurt. But since Ben was there, he paused the time before they disappeared.
Jean appeared to be under some form of possession. Xavier, sensing her presence, attempted to read her mind, only to encounter a struggle.
The familiar tattooed face from the jack-in-the-box haunted his psychic vision, but it was too late.
Seizing the chance, Jean and Kurt had already departed in the X-Jet, she had also make Kitty to become together with them. And they all leave the Institute.
The following day, Xavier, determined to unravel the mystery, employed Cerebro to extract the image of the tattooed face from his mind, seeking clues to the identity of the enigmatic figure.
"Sir, I know who he is," Rogue declared, turning the crank of the jack-in-the-box, unveiling the face. "He's Mesmero, and he was a part of the 'Circus of Mystery' carnival that we visited last week."
Beast also entered the room, and he showed them the news. The screen displayed Kitty phasing through the glass of a display case. And she retrieved the final ring and handed it to Jean, who, in turn, added it to the bag containing the other two rings.
Beast, Xavier, and Rogue, joined by Ben and Logan, swiftly flew to New York City, en route to the Circus of Mystery. Upon their arrival, the X-Jet touched down, and the X-Kids proceeded to a large tent.
Xavier instructed Ben, "Control them while I take on Mesmero."
"Okay, professor," Ben nodded.
Kury tried to teleport unpredictably, but Ben, using his Time Pause ability, froze Kurt in place before he could vanish. "It will hurt, but you need a good sleep." He knocked out Kurt unconscious and turned his attention to Spyke.
As Spyke unleashed a barrage of spikes aimed at Rogue, Ben skillfully froze them in midair, shielding Rogue from harm. He gives him a stern warning, "If your aunt isn't beautiful, I'll already turn you into a pig's head." And knocked out the Spyke.
Jean's powerful telekinetic force sent Scott hurtling through the air. With a close call, he narrowly missed Logan as he soared across the carnival grounds.
Sensing a nearby presence, Logan instinctively unsheathed his claws, only to retract them when Kitty phased up from the ground, her ethereal form momentarily startling him.
"I will never hurt you," Logan reassured Kitty, but his words were met with a swift kick to the shin as she phased right through him.
Unwilling to let the situation escalate, Ben used his time-stopping powers to freeze Kitty in place. He carefully knocked her out.
Meanwhile, Xavier, recognizing the impending danger, attempted to intervene as Jean moved to hand over the rings to Mesmero.
But before Jean gives it to Mesmero, Ben utilizes his time-freezing abilities once again. Approaching Jean from behind, he swiftly knocked her out.
Despite the interruption, Jean, in her weakened state, managed a final act. With a surge of telekinetic force, she flung the bag containing the rings into the opening of the tent.
As Jean collapsed, Xavier dropped to the ground, the strain of the mental duel taking its toll. Mesmero emerged from the tent, chuckling confidently.
Xavier challenged him, "You were able to take control of the children, but can you handle me?" The mental duel ensued, and Mesmero quickly found himself overpowered.
But before Xavier wins the mental duel, a mysterious voice interjects and appears in his ears, "You have no idea, who are you messing with?" accompanied by a force that sent him sprawling to the ground.
Swiftly, Ben caught Xavier, aiding him back into his wheelchair. Meanwhile, Rogue utilized Jean's dormant telekinesis to tear the tent apart, revealing an empty space—Mesmero had fled away from there.
Concerned, Beast addressed Xavier, noting Mesmero's apparent harm, "Mesmero hurt you."
Xavier corrected him with a sense of revelation, "It wasn't Mesmero at all; Mesmero was a puppet like Jean, and someone else was in control the whole time. A mind more powerful than I have encountered."
Curiosity gnawed at Logan as he questioned Xavier, "What did he want to do with the rings?"
"I don't know," Xavier replied, a hint of uncertainty clouding his expression. Assessing that the immediate danger had passed, they decided to return to the academy.
Meanwhile, in the remote mountains of Tibet, Mesmero stealthily infiltrated a concealed temple. Delving into the ancient structure, he discovered a hidden chamber where he unearthed a gold rod from a pillar.
Mesmero adorned the rod with the three rings, forming a mysterious key. As he inserted the key into a massive door, a radiant light split it open, revealing yet another imposing stone door adorned with a beetle carving.
Confident in his success, Mesmero spoke into the void, "I have done as commanded. The first door has been opened. I await your instructions on the location of the other two keys."
As his words echoed through the chamber, a strange humming noise appeared.
No one knows what voice this was, but it was something dangerous.