[Note: This story arc continues from X-Men #82 - The Hunt For Xavier! Part Two: Charley]

An object splashes down into the San Francisco Bay, and soon, the Cerebro unit designated Cerebrite Beta rises onto the shore, intent on locating Professor Charles Xavier. Xavier is currently in hiding within the former prison on Alcatraz Island, along with the Toad and other members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

Also searching for the Professor are the X-Men, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Shadowcat and Marrow, who have set down their aircraft in Golden Gate Park. Nightcrawler cloaks the jet, and, with Wolverine tracking Xavier’s scent, they continue their quest in Berkley. They come to a condemned building, which Shadowcat phases into. Inside, she finds the mangled remains of the Professor’s wheelchair. After that, Wolverine continues to trace the scent, which dead ends at the shore. He then mentions a local contact who can help them pick up the trail again.

Meanwhile, in a top secret holding facility in Utah, Cerebro Prime stealthily sneaks in and back out, taking with it a secured sample of Bastion’s nanotechnology.

In Chinatown, Wolverine leads his team to the pharmacy of Black Crane, his clairvoyant acquaintance. Black Crane tells them he ‘sees’ Xavier and the Toad on Alcatraz, but also to beware of another who poses a serious threat.

The team sneaks into the former prison, but are immediately set upon by the Toad, the Blob, the Mimic and Post. As they battle, the Brotherhood exhibit new fighting tactics that seem familiar to the X-Men, as they are similar to those taught to them by the Professor. Acting on that hunch, Shadowcat and Marrow dodge the scrap, quickly finding Xavier in a nearby cell.

As Xavier tries to explain that, at least temporarily, the Brotherhood has allied with him, a wall caves in and Cerebrite Beta makes its entrance.

[Note: This story arc continues in X-Men #83 - The Hunt for Xavier! Part Four: Tomb of Ice]