The remaining X-Men and Brotherhood members go to Area 51 to rescue their captive members. They team up with the Brotherhood and Nick Fury points them in the right direction, they save the others, but Cyclops leaves Mystique behind.
Tropes included:
- Area 51: After Mystique reads out the directions that Fury gave them, Iceman checks a map and sees the base is in Nevada. He's certain that means they're headed to Area 51.
- Badass Fingersnap: Mystique when attempting to sic the Brotherhood on Nick Fury, but he outdoes her with one that signals a squadron of heavily armed agents to reveal themselves.
- Bittersweet Ending: The captured X-Men are rescued, but Xavier is still missing and the world openly fears mutants.
- Didn't See That Coming: Wolverine fully expected the other X-Men to eventually arrive at the base for a rescue, but he never thought Mystique would be along for the ride.
- Dumbass Has a Point: Toad points out the best way to see if Magneto survived is to check out a news van and look over recorded footage.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Mystique is the only one to get left behind when invading Area 51. She had it coming though, after she kidnapped Professor X and destroyed the mansion. Cyclops was willing to help her if she had just told him what he wanted to know, but she refused to and was abandoned.
- Loophole Abuse: Officially, Nick Fury is not allowed to get involved in this situation, but nothing can stop him from giving the mutants vital intel and leaving them to make use of it.
- Moral Myopia: Avalanche is enraged when Cyclops leaves Mystique behind to be captured, despite everything that she and the Brotherhood have done to him and the X-Men. Cyclops doesn't back down and tells Avalanche pointblank that Mystique deserved it.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Cyclops left Mystique in a position to be captured to force her to tell them where Xavier is, but she refused and the team was forced to leave her behind. Cyclops kicks himself for gambling away their best chance to find Xavier.
- Pet the Dog: Wolverine reassures Cyclops that he would've done the same thing to Mystique if he hadn't done it and tells him they can find Xavier without her help.
- Properly Paranoid: Mystique openly doubts that Magneto is dead, so she sends Toad back to the city to investigate (with Wanda volunteering to come along).
- The Reveal: Toad and Wanda find video footage confirming that Quicksilver saved Magneto at the last second.
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: When Mystique strongly "suggests" he go away and signals the Brotherhood to step up, Nick Fury introduces them to his heavily armed entourage.
- So Much for Stealth: Iceman accidentally dropping the wire cutters triggers the base alarm. Nightcrawler lampshades this development.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: The X-Men and the Brotherhood, particularly Storm and Mystique clash for dominance.
