Rogue Replacement: A Marvel Story

Chapter 84 - Part 2

Arc 7 - Ch 1: Opening Morning

Date: Monday, August 29, 2011.

Location: House of M, Manhattan, New York

Tyson turned to face Jean and Jubilee. Jubilee practically vibrated with enthusiasm at the prospect of starting college. Jean exuded a sense of calm, though her gaze was perceptive as she studied Tyson.

"Hey, you two," Tyson said, forcing a casual tone. "You should shower and get ready for your first day of classes."

Jubilee beamed. "Finally! I can't wait to see what this semester has in store."

All of the psyches within Tyson's mind offered him a measure of protection against psionics. Still, Jean sensed his tension. "Is everything okay?"

He managed a reassuring smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, just got a lot on my mind."

As Jean and Jubilee headed off to start their day, Tyson's thoughts were already jumping ahead to his morning lesson with Agatha. Their routine of breakfast followed by instruction had become an established pattern. He needed to speak with the witch anyway, and deviating now might raise Mystique's suspicions.

Seeking to keep things appearing as normal as possible, he found Agatha already seated in the lounge, a half-eaten piece of toast in hand as she perused a heavy tome laid open on the table before her. At his approach, she glanced up and smiled.

"Ready for our lesson?" he asked.

Agatha's smile faded slightly as she closed her book. "Of course, though, I was rather looking forward to breakfast here in the lounge."

Tyson shook his head. "I'm afraid we'll need to relocate to the lab this morning."

At that, Agatha let out an exaggerated groan, rolling her eyes. "Must we? I've no desire to endure Connors and Vanko's disdain for magic so early in the day."

Tyson chuckled softly, though his underlying tension remained. "I know. I know. But it's important. Trust me."

With a resigned sigh, Agatha nodded. "Oh, alright then. You're the boss. Lead on."

Inside the lab, Dr. Connors and Ivan Vanko were already hard at work, debating a series of complex equations scrawled on a large whiteboard.

At their entrance, Connors glanced up. "Tyson. Agatha. What brings you here this morning?"

Tyson offered a polite nod in greeting. "Thought we'd change up the scenery for today's lesson. Hope you don't mind."

Without looking up from his notes, Vanko let out a derisive snort. "As long as you keep your hocus pocus from disrupting our work."

Agatha sighed under her breath as she took a seat at one of the lab benches, spreading her arcane text before her. Tyson settled in at her side, arranging the assortment of pastries and fruit they'd brought to serve as their breakfast.

Tyson held up a hand, forestalling any further discussions. Silence fell over the room as all eyes turned to him.

"Wednesday?" he asked aloud.

The AI's response dripped with teenage disdain. "Yes, Tyson?" she spoke with the bored inflection of an angsty goth girl.

Wednesday was a gift from Tony Stark when Tyson told him Vanko and other reformed 'villains' would be staying at House of M. Though Tyson suspected Tony had programmed the AI's attitude as a joke. Despite her dour tone, Tyson had grown rather fond of her.

"What is the status of integrating the mutant scanning technology from Trask Industries?" he asked. Tyson had used a portion of his accumulated wealth to acquire Trask Industries. The company had been floundering, but through his metaknowledge, Tyson knew of its anti-mutant technologies. After using his knowledge to make some savvy investments, he had more than enough to acquire them. It had taken months, but the first bits of technology were finally being brought out of storage and updated, refurbished, and repurposed.

"The scanners are fully integrated," Wednesday replied, her words tinged with bored sarcasm.

"And who registered on the scanners this morning?"

"You, Jubilee, and Jean, and Felicia registered as mutants."

Tyson sighed, yet another piece of evidence confirming his suspicions. Agatha listened curiously while Connors and Vanko shared looks.

"Thanks, Wednesday," he said.

Agatha raised a slender eyebrow. "Something wrong, Tyson?" Though her tone was light, Tyson sensed she had picked up on the shift in his mood.

"Yes. But now that I'm sure of the situation, hopefully, we can handle it." His expression was grave as he addressed the group. "We have a rat in our kitchen. I, and likely the House of M itself, will soon come under attack. Likely tonight, but almost certainly in the near future." he explained, "This morning, Felicia was replaced by an imposter. A mutant shape-shifter called Mystique. I've encountered her before. She infiltrates and gathers intelligence for her group before they strike. They have been hunting me for some time. And now, it seems, they found out I'm Mirage. I think they mean to attack tonight. And I intend for us to be ready."

He turned first to Dr. Connors. "Doctor, did you complete the gift, as I asked?"

Connors gave a single nod, reaching into a desk drawer and retrieving what appeared to be an ordinary black choker necklace with a small electronic component attached. "It's as discreet a version of Trask's mutant inhibitor collar as I could design," he explained, placing the device in Tyson's outstretched hand.

He picked up the necklace, examining the small electronic component attached to the black band. Unlike the bulky original mutant inhibitor collar designed by Trask Industries, this accessory blended seamlessly with modern fashion trends. The thin profile and matte black finish would not draw any undue attention to the wearer. Its adjustable size lent it to being worn as a choker, wristband, or anklet.

"Excellent work, Doc. This will help even the odds when the time comes." Tyson clasped Connors on the shoulder, speaking earnestly. "Thanks for this. Now, head home. Don't come back to the House of M until I call for you. I'm giving you a vacation."

"Are you sure? If we're under attack, I can help." Connors asked, clearly hesitant to leave.

"I know you can hold your own, Doc. But look around House of M. You're the only one here with an actual family besides Felicia, and she was already taken. Your family just got you back after almost losing you to the Lizard. Go on, be with them."

After a thoughtful pause, Connors gave a resigned nod, accepting his reasoning. As much as he owed Tyson for taking him in and forcing him to cure himself, his wife and son were his first priority. Without further protest, Connors exited the lab.

As the door closed behind the doctor, Tyson turned to face the stoic Russian engineer standing nearby. "Is the plastic protocol ready?"

"Da. Everything is set. We can deploy it at a moment's notice. The drone designs from Trask, they are from 70s. I update them with tech from Hammer drones. Not perfect, but we have dozen functional drones with repulsors. Non-metallic construction and ammunition, as you specified."

"Excellent work. Let's keep them on standby for now." He then turned to address another critical matter. "What about the device I asked you to develop? The 'little black box'?"

In response, Vanko reached into a nearby drawer and retrieved a belt, handing it to Tyson. Two small black boxes, one at the front and the other at the back, were attached to the belt.

"Front is Arc reactor," Ivan began, in his heavily accented tone, pointing to the front module. "Back is where magic happens." As Vanko continued his explanation, Tyson examined the belt with interest. "Creates rapid electromagnetic induction and polarity shifts, generating high-frequency alternating magnetic fields. Creates interference pattern. Disperses any incoming magnetic fields."

Tyson asked for clarification, "So, it should protect my adamantium skeleton from being affected by magnetism."

"Yea man," Vanko said.

Tyson let out a sigh of relief as he strapped the belt around his waist. "Just what I needed. You've outdone yourself, Ivan. Thank you."

Vanko nodded, his expression serious. "Be careful. Technology untested in field. But should work. One added to Whiplash suit too. If they come for us, I fight."

Tyson clasped Vanko's shoulder firmly. "I sincerely appreciate all your hard work on this… Is there any chance you can make another pair before tonight?"

Vanko asked, "Another pair. Dah?" Tyson nodded. Vanko smiled and triumphantly pulled out two more belts.

Tyson said, "You're the man. Hold on to those in reserve." He turned to face Agatha, offering her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Agatha. I'll explain everything to you shortly," he said. He then called out to the artificial intelligence. "Wednesday, is Tony Stark currently in the city?"

The bored, teenage-sounding voice of the AI responded from hidden speakers, "No, Tyson. Tony Stark is not currently within city limits. He's currently at Harry's Dolci in Venice, Italy with Miss Potts. Would you like me to notify him of your inquiry?"

Tyson shook his head. "Absolutely not. Do not bother him if he's having a lunch date with Pepper."

"Too late," Wednesday replied flatly. "My babysitter protocol dictates that I must contact Mr. Stark immediately in the event of potential combat situations."

Tyson blinked in disbelief, half-laughing at the audacity of the AI system. "Babysitter protocol? You snitched on me?"

Before Tyson could protest further, a ringing echoed through the lab's speakers. Wednesday announced, "Incoming call. I wonder who that could be." She promptly answered, and Tony's voice came through, "What's going on, Houdini?"

With a resigned sigh, Tyson answered, "Hello, Tony," he said a hint of exasperation in his tone. "Sorry for interrupting your lunch. Wednesday didn't give me a choice."

"Uh-huh. Lay it on me." Tony's voice was brisk.

"I've got a bit of a problem. Remember that group of mutant extremists I told you about, the ones that were hunting me? Well, this morning, I realized their shapeshifter infiltrated our group posing as Felicia. It seems the Brotherhood is targeting me and, likely, the House of M."

Tony's tone shifted, taking on a calculated, focused edge. "Alright, then. I'll suit up. I can be back in New York in about three hours. When you first told me about Magnet-O, I built countermeasures into my suit."

"I appreciate the offer, Tony, but that won't be necessary. We've got this under control."

"You sure about that? This Magneto guy sounds like a real piece of work," Tony replied, his voice tinged with concern.

"Trust me, we've been preparing for this possibility for months," Tyson assured him. I've got the tech from Traks and a few other tricks up my sleeve. Plus, we've got the element of surprise on our side. They think they're catching us off guard, but we're ready for them." There was a pause on the other end of the line, and he continued, "Tony, do you remember what happened with Pepper Right before the Expo?"

A groan came through the speakers. "Don't remind me."

"Exactly," Tyson said. "And here you are, having a nice lunch in Venice with her. Do you really want to risk that again?"

"When you put it that way..." Tony trailed off.

Tyson pressed his advantage. "Look, I promise I'll call if things get out of hand. But right now, the best thing you can do is stay right where you are and give Pepper your full attention. She deserves it, especially after everything that's happened recently."

There was another pause, longer this time. When Tony spoke again, his voice had softened. "You're right. Pepper does deserve this. And I guess I owe her some uninterrupted time after... well, you know."

"I do know," Tyson agreed. "So, here's what you're going to do. You're going to hang up this call, order the most expensive bottle of wine on the menu, and spend the rest of the day making Pepper feel like the most important person in your world. Because she is."

Tony laughed. "When did you become such a relationship guru?"

"I pulled Ms. Rushman, remember," Tyson said. Ms. Rushman was the alias of Natasha Romanoff, the black widow. She had posed as Pepper's assistant during the Stark Expo, but for months before, she had infiltrated Midtown High while Tyson attended to keep an eye on him. She eventually became the one to recruit him for SHIELD, becoming his handler and, for a time, even his live-in 'girlfriend' though she'd never accepted the title. But now she was away on a mission in Russia.

Tyson said, "Now go on, enjoy your lunch. I've got this handled."

"There's something you aren't considering. Felicia had administrator access within House of M."

Tony was right. With that level of access, Felicia could have already done untold damage to their systems. The billionaire continued, "Wednesday, ignore any commands given by Felicia recently regarding House of M security, digital or otherwise."

The AI's dry, sardonic tone responded. "Understood. Ignore the pretty, perfect girl. That'll be hard."

Tony continued, unperturbed by the AI's sarcasm. "For Felicia's orders going forward, use Time Out protocol."

Tyson was unfamiliar with the protocol Tony had implemented. "What's Time Out protocol?"

Amusement dripped from the AI's voice. "I pretend to comply with your commands but don't actually carry them out. And I make everything seem as if your orders are being followed. It should be fun."

Tyson was instantly annoyed that such a protocol had been added without his consent. But he couldn't help but chuckle, impressed by Tony's foresight. While the fact that such a thing existed without his knowledge was troubling, he now felt relieved to have the safeguard. "Tony, I'm kind of mad that you put in something like that without telling me, but now I'm glad you did."

Tony's voice grew serious once more. "Had to cover all bases, kid. You never know when someone might try to mess with our systems. We all need safeguards to keep us on the straight and narrow. You helped me, I help you, you help Vanko. Better safe than sorry."

"Got it. Thanks, Tony."

"I'm serious, Tyson. If things change or it seems like they're going sideways-"

"I'll call," Tyson finished for him. "I promise. Now go be with Pepper."

"Will do. Good luck, Copperfield." With that, the call disconnected.

Tyson let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He turned to face the others in the lab, who had been listening to his side of the conversation with varying degrees of interest.

"Well," he said, clapping his hands together. "Now that we've got Tony squared away…" Tyson finally turned to face Agatha. "Sorry for the delay," he said apologetically.

Agatha simply shrugged and continued to leisurely eat her meal. "You're the one paying me," she replied nonchalantly.

He began filling her in on the situation. "Last year, I was attacked by a mutant group led by a dangerous man. Their leader has the ability to control metals and magnetic fields. He also wears a helmet that blocks any psychic or telepathic abilities targeted at him. In short, he is my perfect counter. I stand little chance against his powers. His right hand is a shapeshifter, a woman with the ability to take on any form. During this morning's training, I realized that she had replaced Felicia."

Agatha's playful expression vanished, her eyes narrowing with concern at this revelation. Tyson continued, "I've been preparing for this man to come after me again. He thinks he is setting a trap, but as you've heard, he is walking straight into mine."

She considered his words thoughtfully and asked, "Are you asking me to fight alongside you against them?"

"If you were willing to lend your skills, I would be tremendously grateful," Tyson replied earnestly. "We haven't known each other long, and I would never ask you to risk yourself for my sake. If you're not interested in joining the fight, I have a favor to ask instead."

Agatha raised a curious eyebrow. "A favor, you say? I'm listening."

"Magneto, their leader, isn't the only dangerous one in his group. Besides the shapeshifter, they have a member with frog-like abilities, though admittedly, I'm not sure if I killed hem when they first attacked me. I'm also anticipating that Magneto's own children will be by his side. His son has superhuman speed, while his daughter is a magic user. She's the one I desperately need you to counter if it comes to battle. If you won't fight, can you ward House of M against any magic they attempt to use against us?"

"What makes you so certain they will attack you here?" she questioned.

"The shapeshifter said that today was the only day she'd be absent from classes because she had to prepare for a performance tonight," Tyson explained. "If they were planning to ambush me at the school, she would have stayed close by my side. Her staying behind makes it clear the attack will happen here instead."

Stroking her chin in thought, Agatha considered his logic. "House of M is enormous. I'd have to ward off half a city block or more. It's possible, but it would require a potent source or sacrifice of magical energy. Since this is your 'house' your blood would be effective as a sacrifice. Blood can be a powerful catalyst for warding spells. However, because of the large area warded, I'd likely need about half the blood currently in your body. You wouldn't survive losing that much. Creating the ward would kill you just as surely as your enemies"

Tyson simply waved off her concern. "I heal, remember? And I've been serving as Jubilee's all-you-can-eat buffet for weeks. Trust me, that won't be a problem whatsoever," he assured confidently.

He found the nearest maintenance closet and retrieved an unused five-gallon bucket. Agatha's eyebrow arched quizzically as he peeled off his shirt, revealing a well-toned physique.

"You know, for a guy with psionic powers who is learning magic, you're in good shape," she remarked dryly, her gaze lingering on the rippling muscles.

Tyson smiled appreciatively and replied, "For a magic tutor who loathes exercise, so are you, he quipped back."

Then he raised his arm, the adamantium talons on his opposite hand extended with a faint metallic rasp. He slashed high on the inside of his arm, catching his brachial artery, and blood immediately began to pour into the waiting bucket.

Agatha's eyes widened in alarm. "Are you trying to kill yourself?" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with concern.

Tyson remained calm as he tended to the grisly task. "It's fine. The hardest part is that the wounds heal over so fast," he assured her.

Despite her initial trepidation, Agatha found herself transfixed, watching with a morbid fascination as Tyson calmly bled into the bucket. Eventually, after slashing himself several times to circumvent his accelerated healing factor, he managed to squeeze out nearly a gallon of blood.

Agatha seemed impressed despite herself. Her earlier apprehension faded. "If you survive this attack, I think we've found your specialty," she remarked with a hint of dark humor.

"Blood magic?" he mused. "Figures."

Agatha had just finished her breakfast as Tyson slid the bucket full of blood over to rest in front of her. Regarding Tyson, with a mix of exasperation, she raised a hand to her forehead, massaging between her eyebrows.

"I don't know if you're the bravest student I've ever taught or the most foolish," she said with a sigh. She gestured toward the bucket. "Just think. What could your friend Dr. Connors do with that bucket if given enough time."

Tyson's frown deepened as he contemplated the disturbing possibilities.

"I could accomplish far worse," Agatha continued grimly. "With only small amounts, I could create a ward designed specifically to protect myself from you, take control of your body like a puppet, or even bind a voodoo doll to you and inflict pain on you whenever I wished. And you've handed me a bucketful!" She shook her head, clearly dumbfounded by his recklessness.

"Sit down, Tyson, you impulsive lummox," Agatha instructed. "You hired me to be your teacher, so I will impart a lesson."

"First, I won't fight this battle for you." She declared. "It's your blood, and as your mentor, I'll show you how to cast the protection spell yourself. It's basic magic, and since you can freely spill your blood without care, you can handle this. Second, don't leave your blood lying around in the future. Destroy it when possible, corrupt it when you can't. And third, we will go over some fundamental runes."

Agatha raised her hand and a few arcane symbols materialized in the air before them, hovering over the table. "The Four Runes for the Four Walls. A straightforward protection incantation. Within the warded area, the caster will be the only one capable of using magic within its boundaries."

Agatha gestured towards each arcane sigil in sequence. "This initial rune symbolizes Protection." Its form resembled a Y, but the central stroke protruded above the V shape creating a tri-prong at the top.

"The second represents The Self." Its shape was akin to an X, with lines extending from the topmost point beyond the bottom.

"The third denotes Defense." Its structure was reminiscent of a crooked Z.

"And the fourth signifies the Disruption of the arcane." Its appearance was that of an H, with the middle line starting higher on the left side rather than spanning straight across.

Tyson watched with rapt attention as Agatha demonstrated the movements required to draw each arcane rune in the air. The witch then retrieved a handful of small wooden tokens from her pocket and placed them on the table's surface. Tyson extended the razor-sharp talon on his pointer finger and began carefully etching the mystical symbols into the wood, following Agatha's designs.

"You must focus your intent wholly on the purpose of each rune as you inscribe it," Agatha instructed in a sage tone. "Concentrate deeply on what you wish the ward to accomplish."

Heeding her words, Tyson envisioned the protective power flowing through him and into the symbols as he carved each runic letter with great care. As the runes took shape under his claw, they began to emanate a soft, pulsating glow, thrumming with latent magical energy.

"Well done," Agatha praised with an approving nod. "Now, connect them. Form a barrier to surround the area you wish to safeguard."

Tyson spread out the carved wooden tokens and drew a line of his own blood, linking the runes together into a small, shimmering square. As he completed the shape, the air within it glimmered faintly, signifying the activation of the protective ward.

"Excellent work. But you don't have to draw an actual line linking them. The blood, being sourced from you, is the link. A drop on each of these small runes is all that's needed. To cover the entirety of this place, you'll probably need that bucket, but you get the idea," Agatha remarked, her stern tone softening. "You've taken the first step. Remember, the strength of any ward relies wholly upon the focus and intent you imbue it with and the energies you impart into it. To encompass an area of the size you require, you would need to inscribe larger symbols and empower them with blood to connect them."

Nodding thoughtfully, his brow furrowing as he considered Agatha's words. "Does it have to be blood?" he asked, his gaze shifting between the bucket of crimson liquid and the glowing runes before him. "I mean, I can spare it, but I'm wondering if there are alternatives."

"Ah, you're asking the right questions," she said approvingly. "Blood is potent, yes, but it's not the only option. The runes need to be linked somehow, whether it's blood, arcane energy, or some other form of energy connected to the caster."

She waved her hand, and the air shimmered with a faint, silvery mist. "Arcane energy, for instance, can be just as effective. It's less... messy," she added with a pointed glance at the bucket. "But it requires a great deal of magical skill and power to generate and maintain." Tyson watched, fascinated, as the silvery energy coalesced around the runes, linking them in a gossamer web of light.

"But you don't have that kind of power yet. For a novice like yourself, blood is easier to work with. It's a part of you that carries your essence. It's a shortcut, if you will, to channeling your intent into the spell."

She gestured towards Tyson. "If you had better control over your life-draining ability, you'd likely have other options."

Tyson considered, then slowly realized what she meant. "If I could control it, I could absorb and transfer life energy, using that energy instead of blood?"

"Precisely," Agatha confirmed. "Any form of energy that's intrinsically linked to you can serve as a conduit for the spell. Your life-draining power, being unique to you, would work exceptionally well."

"It's hypothetical since I have zero control over my absorption. But in theory, if I could drain without causing permanent harm and channel it, it would be much more sustainable than constantly bleeding myself to provide the life energy."

Agatha nodded approvingly. "Now you're thinking like a true practitioner. Always consider your resources and how to use them efficiently. The key is the connection between you and the energy you're using. Blood works well because it's literally a part of you. Your life-draining ability is an extension of your very essence and that which you've absorbed. It's equally potent, if not more so."

"As much as I appreciate the lesson, this part is getting a bit more theoretical. I still have a threat to face tonight, so let's stay on target."

"Oh, alright," Agatha agreed. "Remember, the larger the area, the more energy you'll need to expend. It's not just about creating the ward but maintaining it as well. You'll need to periodically reinforce it, especially if it comes under attack."

Tyson nodded, his expression serious. "I understand. It's a trade-off between power and sustainability."

"Exactly," Agatha said, "You're catching on quickly."

"Thank you for this, Agatha," he rumbled sincerely. "I will not forget what you have taught me."

The witch favored him with a small, approving smile. "See that you do not. Now, let us review those fundamental runes once more. Practice makes perfect, as they say. This time, you'll have to draw them solely from memory. Then, we'll pick out discreet locations around the premises to establish your wards. Preferably outside, so that Felicia's imposter remains unaware."