Inside the grand halls of the X-Mansion, life went on as usual. The incident at the Statue of Liberty had not disrupted the academy's harmony. Classes proceeded, students laughed and learned, and for a moment, it felt like peace had taken root.
Then, a golden ring of light shimmered into existence in the center of the main corridor. From it stepped Kurogai.
"Professor Xavier," Kurogai said as he approached calmly, his voice laced with cold familiarity, "I assume you summoned me for something important. I've been... preoccupied."
Professor Charles Xavier faced him with a composed expression. "You already know why you're here. I want you to release Mystique."
No pleasantries, no buildup—just the truth laid bare. Xavier knew Kurogai well enough by now to avoid unnecessary dialogue. He wasn't a man who responded to sentiment.
"If I were you, I wouldn't even bring that up," Kurogai replied, eyes narrowing. "If I hadn't intervened at the Statue of Liberty, Mystique would've died. I spared her—for now. But I'm not one to leave a grudge-bearing snake slithering behind me."
He said it without malice, just certainty. Magneto's death had already sealed a path. Mystique, driven by loyalty and vengeance, would never let it go. She'd hunt him down, strike when his guard was down. And her powers made her an unpredictable and dangerous threat.
Kurogai didn't tolerate future liabilities.
However, there was still use for Mystique in his upcoming work. That was the only reason she was still alive. For now, this was mercy.
Xavier's face tensed with disappointment. "Has it really come to this? You won't spare anyone who might resent you? What if I came to hate you too?"
He chuckled bitterly. "Would you kill me?"
Kurogai met his gaze without hesitation. "If it came to that... yes. Would you resent me, Professor?"
Xavier was silent for a moment, searching Kurogai's face. "I don't know. Maybe... there's still a part of me that believes there's hope for you."
That answer gave Kurogai pause.
Xavier continued, "Even after all these years, I still can't see through you. You're an enigma, Kurogai. Everyone else here sees a monster because of what you did. You stole mutant genes. You disrupted the X-Mansion. But you didn't use those genes for destruction."
Kurogai didn't respond.
"You sided with us against Magneto. Even when Jean was involved, you stood your ground. Maybe you walk in the grey, Kurogai. But maybe, just maybe, that's where certain heroes are born."
Xavier thought of Wade Wilson—Deadpool. Unpredictable, chaotic, but undeniably crucial when real threats emerged.
"I still believe there's a place in this world for people like you."
Kurogai's voice was calm. "Then hold onto that belief. It's the only thing keeping me from erasing you."
At least Xavier never used the people Kurogai cared about as leverage. That was why he was still alive.
"If we're done here, I'll be going," Kurogai said. Then paused. "But I'll leave you with this—Mystique is with Jean now."
He opened a portal midair and stepped into it, vanishing before the Professor could reply.
Xavier blinked, stunned. "Thank God..." he muttered. At least with Jean, Mystique would be safe—temporarily.
Unbeknownst to Xavier, Kurogai hadn't left the mansion entirely.
Elsewhere in the building, deep within a concealed chamber, he stood before Cerebro. In his hand, a sleek alien device hummed with silent energy. It resembled a futuristic camera, but its functions were far more advanced. Kurogai had acquired it from deep space—an instrument capable of scanning and recreating entire environments, down to material composition and object structure.
He activated it, letting the device absorb every detail of Cerebro.
The blueprints, the interfaces, the composition—it captured everything. Xavier could locate replacement parts; so could Kurogai. That wasn't a concern.
Once the scan was complete, he shut the device and slipped it away.
Another portal opened. He stepped into Rogue's room.
It was quiet—empty. She was likely in class. But he didn't leave immediately. He had business with her too. Something that needed to be settled.
A few minutes passed. Then he heard soft footsteps. The door creaked open, and Rogue walked in.
She froze.
"Kurogai?"
Her voice cracked with surprise, then bloomed into joy. She rushed forward and threw her arms around him, pressing her body tightly against his.
"I missed you," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Maybe it was the battle at the Statue of Liberty. Maybe it was the fact that he always came through when it counted. But for Rogue, seeing Kurogai again was like seeing light in the dark.
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