Marvel: Familia System

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Toph stood in the center of the courtyard at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, her bare feet planted firmly on the ground, feeling the vibrations beneath her. She could sense every shift in the earth, every movement of those around her—except for the one person she needed to keep track of the most: Storm.

The wind whipped around her, a gust that sent chills down the spines of those watching from the sidelines. But Toph, as always, was undeterred. Storm's attacks were relentless, striking from above where Toph couldn't sense them through the earth. It was frustrating, infuriating even, but she refused to let it get to her. Nero had warned her about this, about the dangers of facing an opponent who could take to the air, and he'd drilled her on Observation Haki relentlessly.

She inhaled deeply, focusing on the space around her, letting her other senses take over where her sightless eyes failed. Storm was somewhere above, using the wind to her advantage, and Toph had to rely on her newly honed Haki to feel her out. The air buzzed with electricity as Storm summoned lightning, the charge building up, ready to strike.

Toph could feel it—the subtle shift in the atmosphere, the way the air crackled just before the bolt came down. She moved, her body reacting on instinct, and the lightning struck the ground where she had been just moments before, leaving a scorched patch in the earth.

"You're getting better at this," Storm called out, her voice carried on the wind. "But you need to trust your instincts more. You can't always rely on the ground."

Toph gritted her teeth, frustration bubbling up inside her. Trust her instincts? It wasn't that simple. Her whole life, she'd depended on the earth beneath her feet, on the vibrations that told her where to step, where to strike. Taking that away from her felt like losing a limb.

Another gust of wind blew past her, and she could feel Storm moving again, circling her from above. Toph closed her eyes, not that it made much difference, and focused on her breathing. Nero's voice echoed in her mind, urging her to stay calm, to reach out with her senses beyond just what she could feel in the earth.

"Come on, Toph," she muttered to herself, her fists clenched. "You've got this."

The air around her grew heavy, thick with moisture as Storm prepared another attack. This time, Toph didn't wait for it to come to her. She stomped her foot on the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth, but she didn't expect it to hit Storm. It was a distraction, a way to force Storm to reveal herself, to make her move.

The ground quaked, sending ripples outward, and Toph felt the faintest disturbance in the air—just enough to pinpoint Storm's location. She smirked, twisting her body and launching a rock straight into the sky, not toward where she felt the disturbance, but where she predicted Storm would dodge to.

A sharp gasp followed by the sound of the rock shattering against an invisible barrier told Toph she'd hit her mark, or at least come close. She grinned, proud of herself for the briefest moment before the wind picked up again, this time more aggressive, more determined to throw her off balance.

"Nice try, Toph," Storm called, her voice laced with approval. "But you'll have to do better than that."

Toph huffed, brushing off the compliment as she tried to steady herself against the buffeting wind. "I can keep this up all day," she shot back, though she could feel the strain in her muscles, the toll this training was taking on her.

Storm was relentless, not giving Toph a moment's rest. The next attack came from above, a burst of wind that nearly knocked Toph off her feet. She dug her heels in, refusing to be thrown, but the effort left her exposed. Storm seized the opportunity, sending a bolt of lightning streaking down toward Toph.

This time, Toph didn't dodge. She couldn't—not with the wind pressing down on her like a weight. But she didn't need to. With a shout, she slammed both hands into the ground, pulling up a wall of stone just in time to absorb the impact of the lightning. The force of the strike shattered the wall, sending chunks of rock flying in all directions, but Toph remained standing, her stance unwavering.

"You're getting predictable, Storm!" Toph shouted, her voice defiant as she tried to catch her breath.

Storm descended slightly, just enough for Toph to sense her closer to the ground. "Am I now?" she replied, a hint of amusement in her tone.

Toph couldn't help but smirk. "You think you're so tough because you can fly and shoot lightning," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But guess what? I've got tricks too."

She felt the earth beneath her feet, the comforting solidity of it grounding her, giving her strength. But she didn't need it to fight Storm, not entirely. She closed her eyes again, forcing herself to tune out everything but the faintest vibrations in the air, the subtlest changes that would give Storm away.

There—a slight shift in the pressure around her, the tiniest movement that indicated Storm was preparing to strike again. This time, Toph was ready. She didn't move to block or dodge; instead, she went on the offensive.

With a sharp inhale, she extended her senses outward, letting her Observation Haki guide her movements. The air hummed with energy as Storm charged up another lightning bolt, but Toph didn't flinch. She could feel the exact moment when the attack was about to come, the split second before Storm released it.

Toph moved in a blur, faster than she had before, launching herself toward the source of the disturbance in the air. Her hands shot out, and for the first time, she felt it—Storm's presence, not through the earth, but through the air itself. It was faint, like a whisper in her mind, but it was enough.

She twisted mid-air, swinging her leg in a wide arc. The motion sent a shockwave through the air, disrupting the lightning bolt Storm had just released. The bolt fizzled out before it could even reach the ground, leaving Storm momentarily stunned.

Toph landed with a thud, a wide grin on her face as she straightened up. "Gotcha," she said, a note of triumph in her voice.

Storm hovered above, a look of surprise crossing her face before it softened into a smile. "Impressive, Toph," she said, genuine admiration in her tone. "You've come a long way."

Toph shrugged, trying to play it cool despite the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. "Yeah, well, I had a good teacher," she said, not entirely willing to admit just how much this victory meant to her.

Storm touched down lightly, the wind around her settling as she approached Toph. "But don't get too cocky," she added, a teasing glint in her eye. "There's always room for improvement."

Toph rolled her eyes, but she couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, yeah, I know," she said, though she couldn't help feeling a surge of pride. This was progress, real progress, and it felt damn good.

All of a sudden, Sokka's frantic voice broke the silence, ruining the moment as always. "Look at the sky! Look, Toph, can you see it?"

Toph, suppressing her satisfied grin from the earlier spar, couldn't resist messing with him. She turned her head towards a random part of the sky, waving her hands dramatically. "Do I? Of course I do!" she exclaimed, sarcasm dripping from her voice. She then clasped her arms across her chest, turning away with a bemused snort.

Sokka caught himself, realizing his blunder. "Sorry," he muttered sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Storm, meanwhile, had her attention on the fiery message burning in the sky. She squinted, reading it aloud with a hint of concern. "'The Hand, your King demands an audience?'" She scanned the message, her mind already working through the implications. "Is that Kira?"

Sokka nodded, his earlier embarrassment gone as he focused on the situation. "Yeah, it's gotta be him. He's been causing all sorts of trouble, just blasted Pier 37 to bits. Hank mentioned something about Magneto being involved too. Wolvi thinks we should check it out."

Toph, who had been listening quietly, felt a surge of curiosity at the mention of Kira. Though she couldn't see the sky, the vibrations in Sokka's voice and the tension in Storm's words told her everything she needed to know. "So, what's the plan?" she asked, keeping her tone casual despite the underlying excitement she felt.

Storm took a deep breath, her mind clearly racing through the possibilities. "We need to figure out what's going on. If Kira's making a move, and Magneto's involved, it could mean trouble for all of us."

Sokka nodded, glancing at his phone as it beeped with a new message. "Hank and Scott are on it. The Hand's this shady organization with ties to all kinds of crime—" He paused, his face darkening as he read the incoming text. "Shit. This is not good."

Toph, always attuned to the shifts in people's voices, picked up on the tension immediately. "What's wrong, Snoozles?" she asked, turning toward the sound of his voice, already expecting some bad news..

Sokka hesitated, then sighed. "The Hand's got an underground facility where they're experimenting on mutants. Kira cut a deal with Magneto—he causes trouble for the Hand, and Magneto gets to free the mutants. But you know what that means. We can't let those mutants fall into Magneto's hands. He'll brainwash them into devoted 'superior homos!'"

Toph rolled her eyes, a smirk tugging at her lips. "It's Homo Superior, fool."

Ignoring their bickering, Storm stepped forward, her tone sharp and commanding. "How do you know all this, Sokka? We've only just heard about Kira's move."

Sokka glanced up from his phone, his expression serious. "I used to survive in Hell's Kitchen. I have a contact there still." He held up his phone, showing the message he'd just received. The sender's name flashed on the screen: Saintess Sakura.

Storm's eyes narrowed slightly, recognizing the name. "Saintess Sakura... She's that healer from Hell's Kitchen, right? We tried recruiting her once, but she turned us down. Said her help was for everyone, free of charge."

Sokka turned to Storm, urgency in his voice. "This just got bigger. You talk to the big boss. I'll get Hank to prep the jet. Toph, go grab Jane and the others. We've got a mission."

Storm let Sokka's commanding tone slide. Despite his younger age, he knew how to rise to the occasion when things got serious, and this was definitely one of those times. Sokka wasn't one to mess around when the stakes were high.

Toph gave a curt nod, no time for banter. She launched herself into the air, landing with a thud that sent ripples through the ground. With a powerful stomp, she sent a massive vibration through the earth, feeling out the locations of everyone in the school. It was her way of sweeping the area, making sure she knew exactly where to go.

Her senses extended outward, the vibration spreading through the ground like a wave. She felt the walls, the floors, the students milling about inside. It was like reading a map, each person's position coming to her in an instant. There was Jane, near the science labs. The others were scattered around, but none too far.

Toph took off, her feet barely skimming the ground as she made her way to the labs. The world around her was alive with movement, the subtle shifts in the earth guiding her as she darted between buildings. She could feel the ground pulsing beneath her, a living, breathing thing that she was intimately connected with.

As she reached the lab, she slammed her hand against the wall, sending a shockwave through the room. "Jane, we've got a situation. Sokka says we're on a mission—grab your gear and meet at the jet."

Inside, Jane jumped slightly, feeling the tremor in the floor beneath her. She didn't need to ask questions; Toph's tone said it all. "Got it," Jane called out, already moving to gather her things. She knew when Toph meant business, there was no time to waste.

Toph didn't wait around. She turned on her heel and shot off toward the dorms where the others were. Each step sent more vibrations out, tracking her friends. She found Jubilee lounging on the steps, and Kitty was just inside the entrance, chatting with Colossus.

"Jubilee, Kitty! Get to the jet, now!" Toph barked, her voice cutting through the casual atmosphere. The urgency in her voice snapped them out of their relaxed state immediately.

Jubilee's playful demeanor vanished as she scrambled to her feet, recognizing the seriousness in Toph's tone. "On it, Toph!"

Kitty phased through the door and gave Colossus a quick nod. "Come on, big guy, we're needed," she said, her voice steady as she took off after Toph.

Colossus didn't need more than that. He followed, his heavy footsteps echoing through the hall as they made their way toward the jet.

Toph moved through the school like a whirlwind, collecting everyone they needed with a speed that only she could manage. She reached the hangar just as Sokka and Hank were running final checks on the jet. The vibrations of the engine were strong, humming through the ground, ready to spring into action.

"Sokka, everyone's on their way," Toph reported, her tone all business.

"Good," Sokka replied, barely looking up as he and Hank finished their prep work. "We've got no time to lose. Storm's handling things with the Professor. We move as soon as she gets here."

Toph nodded, planting her feet firmly on the ground as she waited. One by one, the others arrived, each with a determined look on their face. Jubilee and Kitty slipped inside, already suited up for action. Jane appeared a moment later, her usual calm replaced by a sharp focus. Colossus brought up the rear, his massive frame making the hangar feel smaller than it was.

Storm arrived last with Cyclops and Logan, her expression grim but composed. "We're cleared for takeoff," she said, her voice carrying the weight of what lay ahead. "The Professor's aware, and he's trusting us to handle this."

Hank finished the last of the checks and gave a thumbs-up to Sokka. "You're good to go," he confirmed.

Logan turned to the group, his face serious. "Alright, listen up, bubs. We're heading into a situation with a lot of unknowns. Kira's involved, and that's bad enough, but with Magneto and the Hand in the mix, we need to be ready for anything. Stick to your training, and stay focused. We do this by the book, no heroics."

When they arrived at the shopping district, chaos was already in full swing. Toph could feel the vibrations of hundreds of feet pounding against the ground, the frantic energy of the battle surging through the earth like a living thing. The air was thick with tension, and even without seeing, Toph could sense the danger surrounding them.

As the jet landed, Toph immediately sprang into action, her feet connecting with the pavement in a solid thud. The vibrations raced up through her legs, giving her a clear picture of the battlefield. She could feel the clustered masses of Hand agents moving in erratic patterns, their steps heavy and uncoordinated, like they were trying to regain control of a situation that had already spiraled out of their grasp.

Above, she could sense the faint hum of energy that indicated Storm was flying overhead, ready to strike at a moment's notice. But then Toph felt something else—a presence cutting through the air with a swiftness that set her senses on edge. It was Kira, his laughter echoing through the streets, his presence a dark void in the sky as he soared away from the battlefield. The vibrations in the air told her everything she needed to know: Kira was in control, and he was enjoying every second of it.

For a brief moment, Toph could feel Storm's hesitation in the air, like the crackle of static before a lightning strike. Storm was torn, caught between the urge to chase after Kira and the duty to stay with her team. But the chaos on the ground demanded her attention, and Toph felt the shift as Storm made her decision, redirecting her focus to the battlefield below.

Toph smirked, catching the movement of her teammates as they spilled out of the jet. "Guess it's our turn to clean up the mess," she muttered, feeling the energy of the earth coursing through her, ready to be unleashed.

The ground beneath her feet shifted as she sent a powerful tremor through the pavement, targeting the dense cluster of Hand agents that were converging on the bookstore. She felt the shockwave ripple out in a wide arc, the earth responding to her command as it buckled and cracked, throwing the agents off balance. The vibrations told her they were stumbling, their rhythm broken, and that was all the opening she needed.

"Stay focused," Cyclops barked, his voice cutting through the chaos as he fired a precise blast at a group of agents trying to regroup. His beams were sharp and controlled, carving a path through the enemy ranks with deadly accuracy. "We need to keep them contained. Don't let them scatter."

Toph nodded, already sensing the agents trying to regroup after her attack. She stomped her foot, and the earth answered, jagged spikes shooting up from the ground to hem them in, forcing them back toward the entrance of the bookstore. Each step she took sent tremors through the ground, pushing the agents closer and closer to their inevitable confrontation with the X-Men and the Brotherhood.

Kitty phased through a nearby wall, reappearing behind a group of agents who had broken off from the main cluster. With a swift, fluid motion, she disarmed them, her movements ghost-like as she danced through their attacks.

Jubilee joined the fray, her hands crackling with energy as she unleashed a barrage of explosive blasts. The bright flashes of light and color disoriented the agents, sending them scattering in confusion. Toph grinned, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline. She didn't need to see the explosions to know they were effective; the vibrations told her everything she needed to know.

Colossus barreled through the chaos like a living tank, his massive frame plowing through the agents with unstoppable force. He didn't need to be fancy—his sheer strength was enough to send the Hand's soldiers flying in every direction. "Keep the pressure on!" he rumbled, his voice deep and unwavering as he continued to bulldoze his way through the enemy ranks.

Jane, who had been holding back slightly, finally stepped into the fray with calculated precision. Her telekinetic powers lifted debris from the ground, turning it into projectiles that she launched at the agents trying to break away from the fight. She was methodical, each strike measured and deadly.

Logan, claws out, was already inside the bookstore, cutting down any Hand agents who had managed to slip inside. His growls and the sound of metal meeting flesh echoed through the building, adding another layer of intensity to the fight. "They're trapped now," he snarled, his voice carrying out into the street. "Let's finish this."

With the last of the Hand agents cornered between the X-Men and the Brotherhood, Storm finally descended from above, her presence bringing a sudden stillness to the battlefield. The wind swirled around her, carrying an aura of authority that silenced the chaos for a moment. "This is your last chance," she called out to the agents, her voice calm but with an edge of steel. "Surrender, or face the consequences."

The agents, their backs against the wall, hesitated. Toph could feel the uncertainty in their movements, the faltering of their steps as they realized they were outmatched. But they were trained to fight, to resist until the end, and she could sense them steeling themselves for a final, desperate stand.

"Looks like they made their choice," Toph said, the ground trembling beneath her as she prepared to strike.

Without waiting for further orders, she sent a massive chunk of Earth through the earth, the force of it rippling through the street and slamming into the agents with bone-crushing impact. The ground buckled and heaved, throwing them off their feet and into the waiting arms of the X-Men and the Brotherhood, who wasted no time in subduing them.

As the dust settled, Toph could feel the remaining agents lying motionless on the ground, their fight drained from them. She stood in the middle of the battlefield, her chest heaving as she caught her breath.

The group barely had time to catch their breath before they found themselves facing the Brotherhood. Mystique stood at the front, her arms crossed, a sly grin playing on her lips as she positioned herself in front of a trapdoor leading down into the earth. The tension between the two groups was palpable, the air thick with anticipation as they sized each other up.

Storm stepped forward, her expression calm but her voice firm. "We know mutants are being held below, Mystique. But we won't let you take them."

Mystique's eyes narrowed, the smirk fading from her face. "And what makes you think you have any say in this, Storm? Those mutants are coming with us, where they belong. Not to be brainwashed into playing nice with humans."

Cyclops moved to stand beside Storm, his posture rigid, one hand hovering near his visor. "This isn't up for debate, Mystique. We won't let you use those mutants as pawns in your war."

"War?" Mystique scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "You still don't get it, do you, Scott? This isn't about war—it's about survival. Those mutants down there need to learn who they really are, not be coddled by Xavier's dream."

"You mean manipulated into becoming weapons," Kitty shot back, phasing through the debris as she joined the standoff. "That's all you ever want, Mystique. More soldiers for your cause."

Mystique's gaze shifted to Kitty, her eyes cold. "Better soldiers than victims."

Before the argument could escalate further, Toph, who had been silently feeling the vibrations around her, suddenly stiffened. "Oh no," she muttered under her breath, her expression tightening.

Everyone's attention snapped to her, the argument halting as they registered the urgency in her voice.

"What is it, Toph?" Storm asked, her focus shifting entirely to the earthbender.

Toph's hands clenched at her sides, her bare feet rooted to the ground as she concentrated. "A group of people... they've carved a path underground," she said, her voice "tense". "They took all the mutants away."

"What?" Cyclops snapped, his voice laced with disbelief. "How could they—"

"Whoever they were, they knew what they were doing," Toph interrupted, her tone clipped. "The ground shifted, but I couldn't pick it up until it was too late. They were too deep, too fast."

"Dammit!" Logan growled, his claws extending as he turned to face Mystique. "Is this your doing?"

Mystique's eyes widened, genuine surprise flickering across her features. "We had nothing to do with it," she replied, her voice steady, but her expression betraying her frustration. "We came here for the mutants, but it seems someone else got to them first."

Storm glanced back at the trapdoor, her mind racing. "We need to find out where they've taken them. Toph, can you track them?"

Toph shook her head, her "frustration" evident. "No. They're too deep, and the tunnels are collapsing behind them. Whoever they are, they covered their tracks."

Mystique cursed under her breath, clearly annoyed at the sudden turn of events. "Great. Now we've lost them," she muttered, glaring at the X-Men as if they were somehow to blame.

Cyclops tightened his grip on his visor, his mind running through their dwindling options. "Then we have to find another way to track them. Maybe Cerebro—"

"Forget Cerebro," Mystique cut him off, her tone sharp. "If they're underground, even Xavier will have a hard time pinpointing them. We need to spread out, search the area for any clues."

Storm shot Mystique a look of warning. "We're not splitting up. We do this together, or not at all."

"Then stay out of our way," Mystique snapped, stepping aside to allow her team access to the trapdoor. "We don't have time to argue."

Logan's growl deepened as he moved to block their path, his claws glinting in the dim light. "You're not going down there alone."

Before the situation could spiral further, Toph stomped her foot, sending a ripple through the earth that silenced everyone. "Enough!" she barked, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "The mutants are already gone. Fighting each other won't bring them back."

Everyone fell silent, the weight of Toph's words sinking in. Mystique's glare softened, and even Logan sheathed his claws, though his eyes remained locked on the Brotherhood.

Storm nodded, her expression resolute. "Toph's right. We need to focus on finding those mutants. And if it means working together, then so be it."

Mystique hesitated, her eyes flicking between the X-Men and her own team. After a long moment, she sighed, her posture relaxing slightly. "Fine. We'll cooperate... for now. But make no mistake, Storm. The moment those mutants are safe, they're coming with us."

"We'll see about that," Storm replied, her tone measured but unyielding.

From the start, Nero had no intention of letting Magneto or Xavier take the mutants, not when he had the Neogenes, led by Warren, under his wing. Kira's offer to Magneto was simple: cause chaos and let Magneto's people believe they were saving the mutants. But he never said he'd let Magneto keep them. And as for Sokka, his alert to the X-Men was nothing more than a clever distraction, keeping the Brotherhood and the X-Men busy while the Neogenes swooped in and took everyone.

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