The initial part of 2010 started
with new beginnings.

PETRA and WHISPER deliberated the legal applicability of Petra using her ability to create diamonds, for which Whisper would act as ‘agent’ for their sale. This would later result in Petra reconsidering the ramifications of having to produce the gems, by not being able to deliver when she ‘lost’ the ability to create the diamonds, and going to EPIPHANY, as well as Monet for help to get out of the contract with Whisper.

PYRO remained continually discontent and ‘outside’ the rest of the school. Several Danger Room exercises did little to dissuade his attitude, as he perceived the parameters of the tests to be personally against him or that he was unwelcome. An early confrontation with BEAST, who ended up literally tossing Pyro out of the Danger Room after becoming so frustrated with Pyro’s outbursts and behavior, did little to dissuade the fire-starter’s ire.

A plan for expanding the Danger Room’s diversity of environments and aspects of training was implemented by SHADOWCAT and NETWORK, bringing Beast and INKLING in for additional consultation and help with the upgrades. The Danger Room now had the ability to extract augmentable cinematic sequences, to apply familiar movies to training. Several films sections, such as the ‘Crazy 88’s’ from the movie ‘Kill Bill’, a ‘Castle Siege’ from Akira Kirasawa’s film ‘Ran’, and a few others have thus far proven the expansion useful.

A substance known as MGH (Mutant Growth Hormone) came into being, marketed as a street drug. The effects on regular Humans was akin to a heavy hallucinogen, but the additional affect upon Mutants was the hidden threat; the drug activated latent mutant genes and accelerated their power by an uncontrollable degree. DAZZLER’s sister, Lois (later to be called MORTIS) became the first case the school directly dealt with. Beast, Epiphany, Whisper, Dazzler, Pyro, THUNDERBIRD, GAMBIT and MAJIK were sent to retrieve Lois, but were intercepted by MAGNETO and several members of the Brotherhood, who saw a potential addition to the Brotherhood in Lois. Pyro was again dismayed and confused by Magneto not taking him back, but later reasoned that Magneto must want him to act as a ‘mole’ capacity within Xavier’s school, though exactly what directive he was to have was not stated. Although Lois was convinced by Magneto to join and escaped with him, several samples of MGH were procured. Beast worked for several weeks later, and was eventually able to formulate an antidote to the drug.

The activities of industrialist Donald Pierce (aka WHITE BISHOP of the Hellfire Club’s Inner Circle) came to the attention of SHIELD. Pierce was suspected of illegal weapons productions and sale on the mass scale, after years of self-imposed exile. NICK FURY went to PROFESOR X for help investigating one of Pierce’s Factory Islands, a dormant volcano in the S. Pacific. because the site was outside of any world government’s authorization to secure a warrant, and due to SHIELD’s clandestine efforts having failed. Upon arrival in the Blackbird, and breaking into 2 teams, the 1st 'Jungle' team (WOLVERINE, PSYCHE, CYCLOPS, NORTHSTAR, TALON, POWERHOUSE, and JUBILEE) faced the height of Pierce’s technological output, several towering androidish things called ‘Sentry’ units, all of which were armed with heavy, advanced weaponry, and armor composed of Polymantium, almost as strong as Adamantium.

A brutal battle began, with the Sentries putting up heavy resistance to the 'Jungle' team. Pierce himself engaged the 'Jungle' team, revealing himself to be a Cyborg. It was also discovered that the Sentries used human brains as their central processors, making them technically Cyborgs as well. While the 'Jungle' team acted as a diversionary force, the 2nd 'Tech' team (Beast, Epiphany, SAGE, Shadowcat, Network, LIGHTNING, and SPEED) made their way into the main factory. After sneaking in and securing the site, the extent of Pierce’s production became clear, and it became necessary to shut the operation down. The cumulative efforts resulted in the destruction of several hundred finished Sentry units, but triggered the geo-thermal tap on the volcano Pierce was using for a power source. The island sunk, and the battle-worn Pierce was left behind to meet his own fate.

After study of Sentry schematics and information gained from Pierce’s island, offshoot technologies began to be researched at the school. Some work began into the production of Nanomites, extremely small machines cabable of carrying out limited directives by remote, including their use in establishing chemical ‘tracking’ agents. This research is as yet unfinished, but remains ongoing. It was also learned that a man named “TRASK” was connected somehow to the development of the Sentries, but that as well remained incomplete.

Jubilee’s past caught up with her on very bad terms when Wilson Fisk (a.k.a. KINGPIN) had her tracked down, drugged and kidnapped, planning to extort money her deceased parents had borrowed for the furthering of her original goals as a gymnast. During her ‘procurement’ ROGUE and Whisper were also taken to prevent witnesses. However, Inkling who was also tranqued during the abduction, was not taken and alerted MONET. Monet led the rescue squad of MONET, INKLING, PETRA & WILD CHILD, Magik, Shadowcat, WOLF CUB, SUNPYRE, Pyro, and DEAD GIRL. After forcing their way into Fisk’s building, it was discovered Whisper had negotiated the release of Jubilee, Rogue and herself with Fisk for a hefty sum. It was largely rumored Whisper did this to save her own skin at the time, and not out of altruism. Fisk has thus far not bothered anyone at the school again... yet.

The altercation with Fisk was also the impetus of Monet’s plan for an ‘alternate’ to Xavier’s ‘dream’, by formation of her own sub-group of like-minded individuals within the school, called the ‘Upstarts’.

SHIELD once again came to Professor X, finding evidence of Pierce’s less moral side-operations still going strong. Satellite photos reveal Human Trafficking, but the people brought to the island, this time near Polynesia, never left. Considering the biological ‘processors’ Pierce was known to use, the production of further Sentries was a likely cause to the disappearances. The Main Team was sent, composed of Wolverine, BEAST, CYCLOPS, EPIPHANY, GAMBIT & PSYCHE. Upon arrival however, they found the factory abandoned, and several signs led to Pierce’s people having been informed of their imminent arrival; it equated to someone in SHIELD being a ‘mole’. To make matters worse, upon further investigation at the site’ storage area, the Team was ambushed by a second, differently-armed generation of the Sentries. Upon nearing eventual defeat, a universal ‘self-destruct’ signal was sent to all the Sentries attacking the team, who were barely able to escape the shockwave that decimated the Polynesian island and the complex behind them, leaving no evidence to further study. It did however point to Pierce still being alive, somehow. If he is, he remains 'off the general radar' of society.

A school field trip to the Central Park Zoo in New York City proved to be anything but relaxing, nor educational. Shortly after their arrival and beginning of the tour, the Hulk was released to stop the rampaging JUGGERNAUT, and the fight spread briefly into the Zoo. As a result, all those on the field trip were obligated to help where and who they could, including damage control for collapsed buildings, evacuation of trapped and injured civilians, and assisting directly with released, panicked animals. As well, several members of the school took direct action to separate the HULK and Juggernaut. Eventually, the Hulk was subdued by an impromptu chemical tranquilizer bomb delivered by Wolverine, and Juggernaut laid low by the combined efforts led by CYCLOPS. Central Park and the Zoo, however, was decimated and required massive re-building. General Thaddeus ROSS, having been responsible for misguidedly releasing the HULK in the first place, played up the fact of Mutants being involved after asserting control with MRD forces. A media frenzy of anti-mutant subject matter ensued, as during the altercation, various pictures and video clips people and news agencies had captured, came to be broadcast on everything from CNN to YouTube. Magik died during the fight, the first casualty of the school.

In the wake of the anti-mutant media storm, Col. Nick Fury paid a visit to the school with the notable inclusions of Captain America and Agent Carol DANVERS. While CAPTAIN AMERICA and Agt. Danvers, with two other agents, were given a tour of the school, FURY had a brief meeting with Xavier. Cyclops, Psyche and Wolverine were present, but the overall outcome of the meeting was aimed at lessening the impact of the media assault. Despite some conflicting opinions on methods used, Prof. Xavier assured Fury all necessary steps would be taken to ensure the safety of those at the school. During the tour, Capt. America was directly confronted by an impertinent SUNSPOT, who challenged Capt. America to prove his worth via a Danger Room exercise with him. Sunspot was outclassed in the contest, but remained resolute.

A subway train derailed in early Summer in NYC, and Fury, seeing a chance to generate positive PR mutants, as well as assist civil authorities, contacted Professor Xavier once again. A rumor had also circulated, and substantiated by emergency personnel, that the derailment was purposefully caused, so a secondary goal was investigation of the scene. Once arriving on site, the large group split into Blue and Gold Teams (respectively led by Cyclops and Wolverine), beginning their efforts at opposing sides of the affected subway tunnel. In the midst of the evacuation, several of the Gold team (Psyche, Dead Girl, CHAMBER, Wild Child, PIXIE, and Inkling) were abducted by a ‘tribe’ group known of the Morlocks, factionalized mutant refugees living under NYC. An immediate rescue squad was formed (Wolverine, Cyclops, Epiphany, Beast, WISDOM, Rogue, Sunspot, Powerhouse,DOMINO, Jubilee, Lightning, Monet, Cypher, CYPHER, WOLFSBANE, CLOUD, MONDO & BISHOP), and was assisted by NIGHTCRAWLER, who had left for a few months but returned from Germany, and was familiar with the Morlocks. The leader of the tribe that had taken them, named CALLISTA, initially informed her captives, whose powers were cancelled out temporary from the young Morlock ‘LEECH’, declared them part of her tribe.

Callista had also taken precautions to keep out intruders and set a trap, flooding the would-be rescue team’s tunnel, and washing then into an underground resevior. There, the rescue team came under attack by a multitude of small, degenerated humanoids resembling ‘goblins’, and an excessively large albino alligator rumored by Morlocks to be called ‘BUBBA’. At the same time, a rival Morlock tribe, led by a surly mutant called MASQUE, had brought a young mutant who took on the name FREAKSHOW forcibly into his own tribe; he was later freed through Psyche’s efforts. This was witnessed by Gambit during his own investigation. Masque, thinking CALLISTA’s tribe was responsible for cutting their tunnel access with the subway attack, led a war party to exact vengeance; Gambit followed them.. Callista was under similar presumption of culpability toward Masque’s tribe, so was about to send her own war party, until Northstar, during his own investigation found them, challenged Callista for the freedom of the captives. Though Northstar technically lost, Callista still agreed to get to the bottom of the captives’ problem. After escaping the underground resevior, the Rescue team came up in a central area known as ‘The Alley’, a main transfer hub of the Morlock Tunnels. Both Callista’s and Masque’s tribe also arrived shortly, and a brief battle ensued. Masque was defeated, but both tribes soon realized they, and those from Xavier’s, had been manipulated into thinking the other Morlocks at fault for the subway attack. An outside influence was at work, although exactly what their aims were remained hidden, just like the perpetrator.

Wolverine, having taken on an initially solo investigation into dealers of MGH, eventually wittled down leads to find a production warehouse for the drug. He gathered a small team of his own (DOMINO, Bishop, GAMBIT, LONGSHOT, WHISPER & WISDOM), and led them on a late-height mission to the site. After security those either producing the drug or guarding, they proceeded with interrogating them. Several forms of evidence were gathered, including samples of the drug, and ID’s from the ‘staff’. Along with that, Whisper’s main drug contact, warned of brutal retaliation from the “Pale man”, naming him only as “SHAFFRAN”. Shortly after that, an on-site explosive was trigger, forcing an evacuation. Though having no fatalities, any defined records at the site were destroyed, aside from what the team was able to take with them. Wolverine reported his team’s findings to Professor Xavier the next day.

A girl is in distress in Britain. SCAMPER’s family wanted brain surgery to remove her powers from her. In a frantic attempt to save herself, SCAMPER fled and found an alliance in PSYLOCKE.

The X-Men send BEAST, CHAMBER, DAZZLER, LIGHTNING, MONET, MONDO, SPECTRE, SUNSPOT, WISDOM & WOLFSBANE after getting word from MOIRA McTAGGART of the problem. Following the clues from McTAGGART the team traces the girls back to a local group of Mutant Haters who have brought numerous mutants back to their warehouse in order to murder them. As evidence by their trophy collection of photos of dead mutants on the wall.

Many of the X-Men found it hard to restrain themselves from killing those who had tormented and killed so many mutants before they had found SCAMPER & PSYCLOCKE. Finding the girls the team quickly brought them back to the Blackbird before a further mob could kill the mutants.

PYRO and PETRA separately go to find MGH to help them with their powers. PYRO’s dose causes him his body to superheat, but is unable to manage it. The heat from his own body causes danger to himself and the mansion. POWERHOUSE, STORM & WOLFSBANE aid PYRO by trying to talk him down and cool him off before he kills himself.

PETRA takes her dose in a cheap motel away from the mansion. As her powers overtake her and start to turn her body into a diamond, GAMBIT finds her and breaks her free. This changes PETRA’s outlook on her own desperate life and where her life is going.

Stark 2010 Expo opens up its doors at the Rockefeller Center. With all the gadgets and inventions to admire BISHOP, CLOUD, CYPHER, JUBILEE, LONGSHOT, NETWORK, POWERHOUSE, SHADOWCAT, VULCAN & WILD CHILD, found themselves in the mist of a genuine geek fest. After having seen Tony Stark give a grand entrance the students, chaperoned by WOLVERINE, made their way around the expo.

When giant robots landed in the strategic places in the Expo, no one thought anything of it. When the giant robots started to shoot at the crowd, the X-Men quickly took action.

It was soon discovered that WHIPLASH had rigged the robots to start killing in an attempt to pick a fight with IRON MAN. IRON MAN, not one to be punctual, was uninformed of the menace until after several of the X-Men, including WOLVERINE, attempted to take down WHIPLASH and his giant robots.

IRON MAN did come to the aid of the X-men and took down WHIPLASH. Aware that without the X-Men’s help more people would have died at the Expo, IRON MAN thanked the mutants and took a new found respect for the Mutant Race and what the X-Men were trying to do.

In the midst of summer, an initially encoded message from Muir Island was received at the school, from Dr. Moira MACTAGGERT, and requesting urgent assistance from PROFESSOR X. Her message reported that the Muir Island Genetic Research Center had come under attack by a group calling themselves the ‘Marauders’ (BLOCKBUSTER, HARPOON, HAVOK, MALICE, PRISM, RIPTIDE, SCRAMBLER & VERTIGO). Apparently, these Marauders were sent by a man called SINISTER and had intended to kidnap the being known as ‘Mutant X’, in actuality MacTaggert’s own son, who was restrained for the potential danger his mutancy posed to himself and others. The initial response via Team 1 (BEAST, CYCLOPS, DAZZLER, EPIPHANY, GAMBIT, ICEMAN, SAGE, & WILD CHILD) left immediately, and had just begun their approach to the main facility on Muir when they were ambushed by the Marauders, severely injured during the ensuing fight, and were taken back with the Marauders to Sinister. Having lost contact with Team 1, Professor X worried for what befell them and promptly sent a 2nd team (Wolverine, Psyche, Psylocke, Spectre, Agni, Shatterstar, Powerhouse, Scamper, and Wisdom) to track them down and retrieve them.

Upon arrival at SINISTERS’ lair, an abandoned and augmented Marine Studies outpost off the coast of Iceland, Team 1 was restrained and tortured further by Sinister and the Marauders. Confrontations ensued, such as MALICE using EPIPHANY’s body to mistreat CYCLOPS, HAVOK’s rationale for the Marauders following Sinister, RIPTIDE using the entirety of those held as target practice, and none of Team 1 was seemingly ignored from the sadism of the antagonistic mastermind. At one point, Sinister decided to display his prowess over genetic manipulation, as he had on his Marauders, by triggering a 2nd stage mutation in Beast, substantially altering him to a monstrous degree, and forced the rest of those present to watch. At this time Sinister also revealed he had created the mutagenic compound MGH, was responsible for the New York Subway derailment linked to the Morlocks, and had some intimate knowledge of the party responsible for the death of WHISPER and Epiphany’s parents.