X-Traction

Once Logan cut all the right sections, Nightcrawler wasted no time in moving all the valuable equipment to the Blackbird.

"Alright, let's secure Dr. Strain and bring him aboard. Jean or the professor can find out more about his plans," Cyclops says over team comms. "Let's disable the transports and radios, check to make sure there's enough food for the Friends... of Humanity, then we leave them here."

The hold of the Blackbird was spacious, but still Nightcrawler needed a substantial space along the entire side of one wall to bring over the computer core. There was no way to reconnect it on the plane, Beast would have to figure it out once it was brought back.

It is a tight fit getting the computer and all of the freed mutants onto the Blackbird. Cyclops is worried the jet might have trouble taking off being so loaded down, and indeed it is rought going gaining momentum and ascending to flight altitude. But eventually the jet climbs up and is on its way back across the Atlantic and towards home.

Dr. Strain (now Dr. ReStrained) is bound and stored in the single holding cell. The other FoH members were corralled into the jail cells and left enough food and water to survive several days. An S.O.S. call was made the Ivory Coast mainland so with any luck rescue will come before they starve.

"Alright, people! There should be room enough for you at the academy until you get back on your feet! It’s safe there, and we can arrange to get you all home and where you need to be… tomorrow!" Wolverine says, figuring that everyone had had enough excitement for one day, and a rest was well-deserved in some cases, and well-needed in others!

Jubilee nods in agreement.

"Yep, we'll get you all sorted out in a jiffy!"

"You'll come back with us so that we can reverse the process for all of you."

"Let's get outta here and get everyone safe and sound."

As the freed mutants settle in, Gambit looks at the tied up Dr. Strain and shakes his head.

"Where'd you get de idea to take mutant powers anyway? How do you know it wouldn't mutate you too?"

Jubilee rushes up to hug her two friends.

"I brought souvenirs for you guys! Uh, besides the power gloves. And the new friends and enemies."

"There had better be!" Wolverine growls about dinner, though the sound is good natured and funny!

"Appreciate it! Let me know if you need something taken apart! I got pretty handy at it back on the base!" he boasts, before heading for the kitchen. He even ushers a few of the newcomers inside as he goes!

Cyclops does his best to make the new mutants feel welcome, introducing them to Jean and Beast and any others who come out to greet them. "Jubilee, why don't you order pizza for everyone? Put it on our tab." After making sure everyone has something to eat, Cyclops hugs Jean and they follow Beast to his lab.

Jubilee lets go of Jean and Hank, whipping out her flip phone and dialing the best pizza place in the area.

"Oh, pizza! Hang on, I'll show you guys your souvenirs after I order one of everything on the menu!"

The PC mainframe and the cybernetic gloves are stored in the lab. Beast's stomach growls and he smiles sheepishly. "Now that's finished let's eat. We can start the analysis first thing tomorrow."

The pizza arrives, along with two dozen 2-liter bottles of various sodas. There is not enough room even in the small cafeteria so paper plates and cups and blankets are set up on the rear lawn behind the X-mansion in an impromptu and late night picnic.

It's a half hour into the meal when Beast returns from the mansion after a long absence in the bathroom. He looks groggy and dizzy. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to greet you on your return. I must have been very tired after lunch and slept most of the day. Was your mission a success?"

MEANWHILE

Beast shuts the rear door of a box truck that contains Dr. Strain's computer hardware. He climbs into the driver's seat. His form shifts and changes, revealing a blue-skinned woman with red hair. She starts the truck with a smile and drives off into the night.