Inside the X-Mansion's strategic command room, the air was thick with tension. The Vanguard and the senior X-Men sat around a long, sleek table, the glow from the holographic projector casting stark shadows across tired faces.
Adrian leaned forward, arms resting on the polished metal surface, the bruises and scorch marks on his suit barely hidden. "So why the hell did Magneto try to recruit us? He seemed… desperate. Desperate enough to confront us in public."
Cyclops narrowed his gaze, then tapped a control pad, activating a holographic display.
"Because he needs more manpower. Specifically, he wants to use you to capture a mutant child."
"A child?" the Vanguard said in unison.
"Yes," Cyclops confirmed grimly. "But not just any child. This is Elio. Eight years old. Omega-level mutant. Abducted when he was four."
The hologram shimmered to reveal an image of a small boy, eyes wide with fear, dark curls matted against a pale forehead. It shifted to footage: Elio in a containment cell, convulsing as energy pulsed violently from his body, warping the surrounding air.
Peter paled. "That's… horrible. He was just a toddler."
Cassie's voice dropped to a whisper. "You mean Magneto's recruiting us to help him catch that child?"
Cyclops brought up another screen. "This is a readout from Cerebro and Nightcrawler's intel run. Elio's ability is molecular manipulation and density control. He can disassemble matter and rearrange it down to the smallest particle and control how dense it is. The catch? His effective range is only about seven inches."
Beast stepped forward, arms crossed. "That's his weakness, yes. But imagine what happens when he learns to extend it. Or when he panics and loses control. We've seen containment rooms melt like wax when his emotions flare."
"God damn," Bobby whispered. "That kid's gonna be a monster when he grows up."
Cyclops nodded. "We don't know his exact location, but the Brotherhood's movements suggest he's somewhere near Mutant Town. Several abandoned facilities and tunnels could be hiding their base. Magneto's recruiting anyone he thinks can help him find or control Elio."
Adrian's expression hardened. "So what do you want us to do?"
A familiar voice broke in from the doorway.
"I'll take it from here."
Professor Charles Xavier rolled in, serene but resolute. The room quieted immediately.
"Adrian, your team, the Vanguard… we need your help. We've identified four possible sites. The X-Men are stretched thin. Even with your help, it won't be enough to cover them all. But your team can be the spearhead. You've already faced Magneto and survived."
Xavier looked directly at Adrian. "Will you help us protect this child?"
Adrian looked around the room—Cassie, Bobby, Peter—all nodded without hesitation.
He smiled. "Who do you think we are? We're the Vanguard. We've got your back."
"Good," Xavier said with a nod. "We move out in a few hours. Rest, refocus, and prepare."
As the meeting broke into clusters of discussion and prep chatter, Adrian leaned against a wall, rubbing his forehead. A strange sensation ran through his body—a sudden relief of pressure. He straightened, breathing easier.
"That was weird…" he murmured.
"Hey," Bobby called. "This big blue guy wants to show us something."
"You can just call me Beast," Hank McCoy said, adjusting his glasses with a polite smile.
Adrian chuckled and pushed off the wall to follow.
But behind him, where his hand had rested, a spiderweb crack spread through the reinforced alloy. Dust crumbled from the seam, and a deep fracture snaked outward.
The wall began to give.
Whatever was happening to Adrian… it wasn't done yet.