Utah, Old Dugway Proving Ground, the Cellar base.
"Humm-"
The flaming gateway flickered violently as the last figure stumbled through the curtain of light.
Miles staggered, nearly falling as he landed, but forced himself to stay upright. He took several ragged breaths and looked behind him.
The gateway began to shrink, until the last trace of fire disappeared.
So Bobby stayed at the academy after all?
Miles drew a deep breath, then looked around.
The vast underground base was crowded with academy members who had just evacuated. The injured were quickly carried toward the medical area, while children and civilians supported one another. Familiar figures like Quentin, Colossus, and Cable were all there.
"...Thank goodness."
He murmured under his breath.
Then the world went dark.
"Miles?"
David, standing nearby, had only just noticed something was wrong when he saw Miles pitch forward.
He had reached his limit long ago.
When Miles opened his eyes again, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar room.
A bare concrete dome stretched overhead. Several old fluorescent tubes cast a dim yellow light, and a faint smell of machine oil and dust hung in the air.
His coat had been removed, and his arms and chest were loosely wrapped in bandages.
"You're...awake?"
A voice came from beside him.
Miles turned his head and saw Soraya, "Dust," dressed in black with her face veiled, praying beside his bed. When she noticed he was awake, she looked at him with a hint of nervousness.
"This is the Cellar's temporary infirmary."
Soraya said, "You were unconscious for fourteen hours."
"Fourteen hours..."
Miles frowned and tried to push himself upright, only for a violent wave of dizziness to send him back onto the pillow.
"Don't move."
Soraya reached out and held his shoulder down.
"The doctor said you