Across New York, at the Xavier Institute for Gifted Children, Charles was deep in thought. The effects of the ARCA on his school alone were mortifying. Children collared like animals was a horrendous thought, and that was only the start.

He was brought out of his musing as he felt a subtle vibration thrum through the mansion. He frowned as he saw the tremor lines in his undrunk cup of tea, sat on his desk. As he wheeled his chair towards the window he looked out, shocked they would be so brazen. A squad of Sentinels had just landed on the tennis courts.

“Erik!” He yelled, “Can you sense those?”

As Erik reached out a hand he shook his head. There was something but it was strange to his powers, like a shadow in the Earth's magnetic field. “Vaguely, why?”

Charles swore and pressed a switch on the phone on his desk, “Everyone. An invader is attempting to Blink the mansion. Get the children into the shelter and have anyone with more than ten hours in the danger room to the front gate.” As Charles wheeled himself out from behind his desk he grasped onto Erik’s hand. “I’m sorry old friend, but you should leave as well. It's the Sentinels.”

Erik frowned, Sentinels? They were really stupid enough to send those machines here? Even if his eyesight was gone, and they were only a blip to his senses, he could eradicate them himself. To send a single squadron was pure idiocy, but Charles was worried, and so he agreed with his oldest friend. "I suggest using your new X-Men. If they are more than meets the eye, then it will be a welcome test for them."

Erik knew better than to leave anything to chance. He had lost too much, to random accidents. Bolivar Trask had pushed for a mutant registration act. Pushed out his agenda that mutants were somewhere more dangerous than a madman with a nuclear bomb. Erik and Charles had stopped him. 

It had cost them more than they bargained for. Bolivar pulled a gun on Raven, his nerves and terrible aim had bullets flying at the president. Raven dived to protect him, and in a single instant saved every mutant in America, but at the cost of her own life.

In his anger, he had crushed every Sentinel he could find and to everyone else. As he sat slumped in shock, an even more shocked Bolivar suddenly turned the gun on himself and fired. Erik knew though, his hand was behind Bolivars. His hand guided the bullet into the man, pulping his brain until Erik's anger had abated. It was only Charles calming him that stopped him from killing everyone there. Even the president would not have escaped his wrath. Charles saw the pain in the man's eyes and in a burst of anger, he altered the president's memories. To protect everyone, mutants were once more forgotten.

It was the loss of Raven, and the murder of Trask, that led Erik to leave America. Sick of the violence and the constant vigilance against the hate he had moved back to Latveria. It was close enough to home he wouldn't be found, by America or Doom's soldiers, and there he lived. Happy. Until today.

The rage at Raven's sacrifice being for nothing rose. The anger that once more they would persecute those whose only crime was being different. That they would send these machines to harm children relit a fire in Erik. As he lay a hand on Charles's shoulder, “Let me use your eyes, old friend,” the world sprang into life around him.

As he saw the world through his friend, several small strips of metal, sewn into Erik's clothes, ripped free. They twisted until they became perfect points, and they pointed at the group on the tennis court. They flew and spun as they shattered armour, they pierced and destroyed joints. Each Sentinel was designed to be non-metallic, but that made no difference. He couldn't sense them, but now, he could see them. Those ugly giant purple monstrosities, designed only to hunt his kind. Even their processor was a new carbon polymer design it made no difference. The only part of the machines he could sense was their armoured coating. A thick layer of something new, something strange. It barely registered to his powers but he would save his curiosity until the threat had passed.

Erik’s anger didn't care they weren't metal. He had taken Peter's advice, picked up a book and learned. The Sentinels suffered for it and soon, Bolivar Trask's legacy would learn the anger of a quiet man.

As the Sentinels lay in pieces he looked up at himself. It was the first time he had seen his face since the dam. He looked old. He looked tired, but most of all he looked angry. He had forgotten just how deep that anger ran. And now it had new fuel. The camps, Raven, His wife, and now they threatened his children. Trask would suffer the same fate as his father, as his machines. "They will send more, and we should be ready."

“I know,” Charles said, “But it's not our responsibility anymore. Let the younger generation deal with them this time. We need to plan for their future, we had ours.” He patted Erik on the hand.

His world went dark as Charles withdrew his sight and as the faint lines of metal lit it up again. A poor substitute, but better than the darkness of the void.

“Erik, I want to get everyone ready to leave. Anyone who wants to fight can stay behind but we need to evacuate at once. If they knew about the school then they know about everything.” Erik stood as Charles began to press switches on his desk. He had a control panel to lock the mansion down, in case of emergency. “I do hope Selene is okay.”

“We don’t have time for that Charles. Those machines were different than last time. They are strange, and the metal is something I've never felt before. My powers can brush against it but it's almost like smoke. It exists but at the same time, it,” Erik shook his head, “I can’t explain it to someone who doesn't have my gift.”

“It's fine. The X-Men can defend us while we evacuate, and once we’re far away from here, then we can leave them to their stupid games.” 

Erik snorted, “You mean to Peter. You know he’s rushing out right now too” and Erik paused, “Wanda is at the warehouse, and Pietro is on Genosha. Charles, I can’t leave them, not to those things.” 

Charles wheeled himself to be sat in front of Erik, “I know, but you won't make it to either. You have to trust that Peter, even with all his faults, will kill anything that threatens his loved ones." Charles chuckled, "And while I can see that scowl, you know he loves Wanda. Selene and Genosha will be safe, and again while I am loath to admit it, I doubt very much anything can stand up to Cain. We have to get the people who are here to safety. Then I can have Blink open a portal for you to Genosha and the Warehouse.”

Erik shook his head, “Charles, You know I trust you more than anyone, but these are the lives of my children. I already lost their mother, I can't-” 

Charles patted him on the hand. “I know, and I will do anything in my power once we make sure everyone else is safe. But right now, all you will do is waste your time when you need to trust them.” Without hesitation, Charles felt for his mind. Erik was conflicted, he knew Charles was right but this was his family and with a small mental nudge.

“You’re right. Peter can be trusted above all else to lack restraint. Selene will be safe as Cain is more than a match for anyone, even those gamma monstrosities. Guide everyone with your power, and I can keep a barrier around the school to keep track of those, things.”

Erik's power ionised the air, and while his own hair stood on end briefly Charles laughed. He absentmindedly ran a hand over his own smooth head.

“There, anything coming close to the mansion will disrupt the field. I have my strips hovering, there shouldn't be any more problems. Begin the evacuation.”

Charles nodded. And pressed a finger to his temple.

“Blink, open as many portals as you can, evacuate everyone but make sure you do not hurt yourself. And warn Forge. we are going to need the machine once we’re done. The start of our plan needs to be moved forward.” 

The more mature teens were lining up in the corridors as Charles and Erik made their way outside. He spotted the colourfully dyed-haired teen smiling as she led them through a rip in space. Once a class was through she would close it and open another. Blink was a very powerful Augment, and her power seemingly had no limit on distance.

“Professor.” A young woman, with light brown hair and a scowl on her face nodded as he approached. “You should evacuate as well, the Sentinels aren't affected by your powers.” but he shook his head,

“I am acting as eyes for Erik, but are the X-Men ready?” 

She nodded and touched her earpiece. “Negasonic here, gather at the front gate. Erik says another group are approaching, and we have five minutes. Get suited.” 

As Bobby Drake approached, she nodded at him in approval. “Professor, Nega.” His form shifted as it turned from a normal flesh colour to brilliantly clear pale white ice. “How long?”

“Erik says five minutes. Where’s everyone else?” Negasonic asked as Bobby looked apprehensively at her, “Oh he wasn't?” 

Bobby shrugged while smiling embarrassingly pointing at the door. Gambit was laughing as he and Jubilee came up the corridor together. Negasonic Teenage Warhead tutted. “Do your zip up for god sake, Remy,” 

Gambit shrugged and looking down, grabbed his zipper and pulled it all the way up. “Stops you from being nervous, no?” he said as he smirked but she shook her head.

“I'm never that nervous, and Jubilee is only seventeen, you fucking pervert.”

Gambit was well known in the school, and he had stayed on after the Shaw incident to teach combat after Logan left. He was different, free and uncaring about rules until he got caught. He lived up to his name in every way. And while most young women were repulsed, some found him fascinating. It was rumoured he had slept with almost all of the upper class, not that he had been caught.

“While I hate to break up your little spat, they will be here in a few moments. Please get ready,” Erik announced as he held onto Charles's shoulder.

“We are.” Nega touched her earpiece, “Blink, evacuate the professor and Erik. Your shield is handy but we need to be able to fight on our own.”

Erik nodded, “then we shall depart, Charles?” 

But Charles shook his head, “I will stay as long as possible. They may send other more powerful foes. Erik, Can you guard me while I use Cerebro?” but he was interrupted as the sound of giant thrusters filled the air.

“Mutants Detected. Charles Xavier, Erik Lensherr, You Are Guilty Of Harbouring Mutant Fugitives. You Will Surrender To The Authorities. Please Do Not Resist.”

“Out of time,” Nega said and as the four X-Men ran from the building the Sentinels faced them.

“Unregistered Mutant-” but the Sentinel never finished as the X-Men Attacked. Jubilee sent fireworks sparkling in their faces. Bobby created an ice pond at their feet, then Gambit threw several playing cards. As they exploded, the Sentinels were rocked, slipped and fell over.

“Bobby, limbs only. Gambit, wait till they're frozen then shatter. Jubilee, distract their sensors,” following her orders, the X-Men obeyed.

The first Sentinel twisted and its armour became spiky. Laying a newly gripped hand on the ice, it rose to one knee. “Mutant Countermeasures Deployed.”

As Jubilee threw globes of light its faceplate darkened. “Proceeding with Non-Lethal Countermeasures.”

Gambit threw more cards at the Sentinel. It raised its arm, blowing it backwards, and shattering the armour around its wrist. “Non-Lethal Ineffective. Use of Lethal Force Authorised.” 

The Sentinel Gambit had targetted twisted once more. The bands rippled and its armoured plates seemed to thicken. As it stomped down, shattering the ice, the cards exploded harmlessly against it. It raised a hand and a beam of bright yellow light streaked out. The porch of the mansion exploded, throwing the X-Men and scattering them.

Gambit rolled and undid his bo staff, sending more cards, to no effect. Nega clenched her fist and concentrated letting the energy gather at her chest. She yelled and the Sentinel was hit by an intense beam of energy, blowing a large chunk of its chest away. The other Sentinels twisted, and their armour reconfigured. They were now covered in spikes but with a metallic sheen, a highly polished mirror.

Negasonic charged up another blast at the same Sentinel. While it blew the Sentinel off its feet it smoked slightly and the mirrored surface was unharmed. “Countermeasure Successful. Adding To Database.” Unharmed, the Sentinel raised its hand once more.

When nothing happened it gave an almost confused look as it lifted its arm once more to no effect. Erik stood at the door, using Charles’s eyes, “Run you fools. Run!”

Colossus had just finished making sure his sister was safe when he heard the explosions. When he arrived Blink was holding the portal open. "Nyet. I will help." She nodded and walked through the portal, sealing it behind her. 

Shifting into his armoured form he ran to the door, “throw me,” he yelled. As he was lifted off his feet he wrapped his arms around his legs. Erik used him as a human cannonball, smashing his into each Sentinel until they were scrap. Once he was done, he winced as he saw they had still scratched through his metal skin. "I am not badly hurt, but they should not have been able to pierce my armour."

Charles nodded. The first three were still smouldering wrecks, with the original configuration. The second set was now more heavily armoured, and he came to a startling conclusion. “They can adapt to our powers. We need to use brute strength and not our abilities,” Charles said. The group, still picking themselves up nodded. “Finish the evacuation. Leave only the strongest physically powerful behind to defend while everyone else escapes.”

Charles looked out of the smashed window. He knew he should contact Selene, but right now, she had made her choice when they dealt with Shaw. Genosha was closed, and a blanket of interference settled over New York to hide it once more. She had made her involvement in the school quite apparent. He hated having to abandon her, but he needed to make sure his own people were safe first, then he would help.

If he could.