(Avengers Mansion)
As far as first days on the job go, this is in the top three for Peter. Like his first day as Spider-Man was a disaster, he was a teenager and going through some stuff, and his first day as a teacher. The less said about that one the better.
But as bad as those days were, this definitely beats them because it resulted in one friend killing another.
Peter leans on the table of the situation room without his mask and watches a holographic display of the news. The expression on the hero's face is grim, he is expecting plenty of negativity.
"No official statement has been made by any of the heroes over this event," a news woman on the TV says as she stands at the edge of the cordoned off area of the park, "Spider-Man had no comment to offer at this time. But Mayor Jameson had plenty to say."
Peter groans and rubs his head. He is hoping that he is worrying over nothing and Jonah will say something that will be pleasantly surprising. But he knows his former boss too well expect that.
"To my fellow New Yorkers," Jameson voice makes Peter look at the screen to see the mustached man sitting in his office, "What was supposed to be an momentous occasion, symbolizing progress towards uniting mutants and non-mutants, has turned into a day of tragedy. All because of a jealous few."
Peter grimaces at his boss's choice of words as he continues to listen, "A group of wanted criminal mutants, led by the unmistakable Cyclops, attacked the assembly gathered to hear of the new Unity team. The man was outraged over our illustrious hero, Spider-Man, was chosen to lead and speak for this team."
It sounds so weird for Peter to hear the man who has been calling him a menace for years now compliment him.
"Fortunately, thanks to his quick thinking and actions, Spider-Man was able to coordinate his team and prevented these men and women from hurting anyone caught in the battle."
'Well, if there is some solace to take out if this, it's that at least,' Peter thinks to himself.
"Though it was a tragedy a member of the X-Men had to kill one of her former friends and teammate, I believe she still should be applauded for her actions. Let this be a lesson to all those who would threaten our city," Jameson declares, his voice rising, "We will not tolerate violence, even from those who once claim to be our protectors. The Unity team has proven its worth today, and I stand behind them one hundred percent."
Peter hangs his head at his boss's words, 'Not tolerating violence but making threats. My god, how was he elected.'
The sound of doors sliding open make Peter turn to Alex walking into the room. Peter can see the pain and anger etched on his face, and Peter can only imagine what he must be feeling right now considering it was his brother that led a group of his friends to attack them in the middle of the park.
"Hey," Alex says, his voice low and strained.
Peter turns off the holograph and greets his teammate, "Hey."
Alex drops into an empty chair , "I can't believe he would do this," he laments rubbing his forehead, "I can't believe Scott would attack us like that, like we were enemies."
Peter nods and comments, "Kind of makes me think Magneto has a lot of influence on him."
Alex lets out a sigh, "My brother is not the man he used to be. He is not the student or leader Charles Xavier was once proud of."
Peter would like to offer some words of comfort to the Summers sibling, but he's got nothing. As close as he is to the X-Men, being an honorary member and all, recent years and events have made it hard for him to be as close as he used to be with them. Logan, Hank, and Bobby are the only ones he really talks to, Logan more so since that man is on so many teams.
Scott and him were always more acquaintances than anything. The former X-Men leader was not fond of the Queens-born-hero because like many, he found the hero's humor to be insufferable. He wasn't unfriendly or anything, but he hardly ever showed Spider-Man any respect. He was cordial and blunt.
"Listen to me you crook!" He hears Jameson's voice and turns to see him entering the room, phone to his ear, "What happened at that rally was not on me or my people! I will not be holding them fiscally or legally responsible for the damages!" Jonah hangs up, "Hmph! The nerve of that guy!"
Boy what Peter would give to have had the same conversation with Jonah in all the years since he's been Spider-Man.
He looks at the older man curiously and says, "So, Mr. Sunshine, who were you yelling at today."
Jameson scowls, his mustache twitching in irritation. "Some hotshot lawyer representing the park. Trying to pin the damages on us! Can you believe it?"
Peter can believe that actually. Now that there is a team of heroes that is being sponsored by someone that isn't Tony Stark and back by an army of lawyers, well the sharks will definitely be testing the waters to see what they can bite.
Alex looks up, his eyes narrowing. "The park was destroyed because my brother attacked us. How is that our fault?"
"Exactly!" Jonah exclaims, pacing the room. "These vultures are always looking for someone to blame, someone with deep pockets. Well, not on my watch!"
Peter sighs, feeling the weight of the day's events settling on his shoulders. "Maybe we should focus on what's important right now. Like how we're going to handle the fallout from this."
Jonah stops pacing and turns to face Peter, his expression softening slightly. "You're right, Parker. We need a strategy. The press is having a field day with this, and we need to get ahead of it."
Alex stands up, his fists clenched at his sides. "What about Scott? What about the others who attacked us? Are we just going to let them get away with this?"
Peter places a hand on Alex's shoulder, trying to calm him. "We'll deal with that too, Alex. But right now, we need to make sure the public understands what happened. We need to show them that the Unity team is still committed to its mission, despite what happened today."
Jonah nods, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "A press conference. We'll hold one first thing tomorrow morning. Parker, you'll speak on behalf of the team. Show them that Spider-Man, the leader of the Unity team, is still standing strong."
Peter feels a knot form in his stomach. Public speaking has never been his strong suit, especially not as Spider-Man. But he knows Jonah is right. They need to present a united front.
"Alright," Peter agrees reluctantly. "But we need to be careful about how we frame this. We can't vilify all mutants because of the actions of a few."
Alex nods in agreement. "We need to emphasize that this was an isolated incident. That the actions of my brother and his followers don't represent all mutants."
As they continue to discuss their strategy for the press conference, Peter can't help but wonder how things got to this point. How did they end up in a world where heroes were fighting heroes, where brothers were on opposite sides of a conflict that seemed to have no end in sight?
He looks down at his mask, lying on the table next to him. The weight of responsibility feels heavier than ever. But he knows he has to carry it, for the sake of the team, for the city, and for the hope of a future where mutants and humans can truly live in unity. For Charles Xavier's dream.
"By the way," Alex brings him back out of his head, "What's happening with Colossus's body?"
Jonah crosses his arms and answers gruffly, "It's being dealt with."
Peter does not like the sound of that and cautiously asks, "Dealt with how?"
Jonah scowls does not leave as he says, "He is being taken and placed in an unmarked grave."
Peter and Alex eyes widen in shock at this news, "What?"
"That man was a terrorist."
"Jonah!" Spider-Man reprimands his old boss, "He was a friend of ours!"
Jonah doesn't back down, "Doesn't change the simple fact that what he did today was inexcusable! Him and all of his friends need to be brought in or put down!"
Peter bites his tongue so as not to yell at his old boss. Much as he wants to tell him how wrong he is to say that, the last thing he needs right now is to get into a screaming match with the team's sponsor.
Fortunately, Jonah's phone rings, and he leaves the room to answer it. Leaving Peter with Alex.
Peter sighs before looking at bis teammate, "I'm sorry about him," he says to the Summers sibling, "To him, these things are always black and white, which is probably why he loved the newspaper so much."
Maybe not the best time for jokes, but that's just his thing.
Alex just lets out a tired sigh, "Well better I'm here than Logan or Rogue."
Spider-Man grimaces at the mention of the southern mutant, "I'd ask how she's doing, but that's stupid even for me."
Alex shakes his head and says, "Why do we keep doing this to each other? We're all on the same side and yet we fight each other almost as much as we do the bad guys."
Peter nods in agreement, "I was having the same thoughts, man," he says. "It's one of the many reasons why I was always so hesitant to share who I am underneath the mask."
Alex looks at him curiously and asks, "So why do I know? I mean, you and I have hardly ever had any interaction with each other."
Peter nods, "True," he responds, "But it turns out you are a very trustworthy guy."
Alex raises a brow at this, "Okay?" He says uncertainly, "And what? Word of me was good enough for you?"
"Thats not what I meant," Peter says with a shake of his head before he continues, "You know my spider sense is a well-known power of mine. Mostly because I never really shut up about how I can't be surprised or caught off guard. But it turns out it is so much more versatile than that. I can tell who I can trust with my secret identity."
That revelation makes Alex's eyes widen in surprise, "Dang, for real?"
Peter nods, "Oh yeah. So when I showed Jonah my face, even with you in the room, my spider sense would have told me that it would have been a bad idea if it was."
Alex huffs in disbelief and comments, "Man that is so useful."
Before they can go deeper into that discussion, Logan walks in with a somber look as he hangs up his phone. "Just got off the phone with Kitty," Logan informs them.
The hero grimaces as the mood drops back down. He is aware that the metal-skinned mutant and Kitty had on and off again thing through Bobby. 'Cause the ice user also had an on-again-off-again thing with the headmistress.
Oddly enough, their thing is not all too dissimilar to what he used to have with MJ and Felicia. Before his current relationship status, which is more complicated to explain than it is complicated to be in. Which is a first.
"She's devasted," Logan continues morosely, "Was crying her eyes out and asking to talk to Rogue."
Now Peter is concerned, "Is she blaming her?"
Logan doesn't say anything. Which Peter takes as bad sign that Kitty does likely blame Rogue for what happened to her ex.
Peter looks at Logan and sees he has a thoughtful look, "What is it?"
Logan continues to look thoughtfully down, "Something ain't right about this whole situation," he growls, his voice low and gravelly.
Peter perks up, "What do you mean?"
Logan runs a hand through his wild hair, his eyes distant as if replaying the battle in his mind. "When Magneto threw me... it didn't feel right. I've been tossed around by him before, but this was different. It didn't feel like magnetism. It felt more like..." he struggles to find the right words before he recalls a certain redhead he loved, "A telepathic push."
Alex sits up straighter, his eyes widening with a hint of hope in them, "Are you saying it wasn't really Magneto?"
Logan shakes his head and shrugs, "I don't know. But something's off. My guts screaming at me."
Peter nods slowly, a grimace crossing his face. "Now that you mention it, I've been feeling off since the fight too. When Cyclops hit me with his optic blast, it hurt way more than it should have. I've taken hits from him before, but this... this was different."
He rolls his shoulder, wincing slightly at the ache he is feeling on his back, "I still haven't fully recovered from it," he informs them, "My healing factor is much stronger than it used to be, so this thing should have cleared up as fast as it would have for you."
Alex looks between them, confusion and concern etched on his face. "What are you two suggesting? That the X-Men we fought weren't really them?"
Logan pushes off the wall, pacing the room. "Maybe. Or maybe they've been... enhanced somehow. Either way, something's not adding up."
Peter rubs his chin thoughtfully. "It could explain why Scott would attack so brazenly. It's not like him to be so reckless, especially in such a public setting." He looks at Logan and says, "We'd have to talk to the others and see what they noticed too."
Logan frowns and looks down, "Well, good luck with that. The only three here are Carol, Wanda, and Rogue. And Rogue isn't talking to anyone," he informs them, "She's in shock."
Peter sighs and lowers his head. Barely a day back from his vacation and a day on the job, and things are bad as they can get.
"You should talk to her, Web-head," Logan suggests, his gruff voice tinged with an uncharacteristic softness. "Rogue could use a friend right now, and you've always had a way of getting through to people."
Peter looks at the feral man agape at the suggestion, "Are you serious? You do know I am the last person she would want to talk to. And that is including Wanda."
"Look, kid," Logan growls, his patience wearing thin thanks to the day they had, "I know you and Rogue have your issues, but this isn't about you. It's about her. She just killed someone she used to call a friend. Someone she fought alongside for years. That kind of thing... it changes a person."
Peter winces at Logan's words, knowing the older hero speaks from experience. Logan doesn't share much but what Peter does know comes from other sources like Steve, Natasha, or even Carol. People who have seen what few do.
He can understand what Rogue must be going through right now. The inner demons the southern girl is fighting against. The guilt, the self-loathing, the doubt. Hell, it wasn't that long ago he was having those same feelings.
Still, even if he can understand, is he the best to talk to her.
"Why me?" Peter asks, his voice filled with doubt. "Wouldn't she rather talk to you, or Alex, or... I don't know, anyone else?"
Logan rolls his eyes and shakes his head, "Because you've got a gift, Webs. You've been through hell more times than I can count, but you always come out the other side with that damn optimism of yours intact. Rogue needs that right now. She needs someone to remind her that there's still good in this world, that one terrible act doesn't define who she is."
Peter feels a little flattered by this. He's never been good at taking compliments, always deflecting them with a joke or a quip. But right now, he can't find it in himself to make light of the situation.
So, with some reluctance, he grabs his mask and slips it on before he walks out of the room in search of his teammate. Hoping that she'll listen and wont want to rip his head off the moment she sees him.
Yep, as far as first days on the job go, this one definitely is at the top of being the worst.
In the living, Carol sits with Wanda in silence, and both are having a drink, Carol having a soda and Wanda some wine. The day has taken it's toll on everyone, having watch someone they knew die so gruesomely. Maybe not very close with the metaled-skinned mutant when he was alive but they worked with him and were friends of friends.
Carol stares at the reflection on the marble table, listening to the bubbles of her soda rise to the surface and pop. She wishes she could have something stronger, but her days of drowning her sorrows in alcohol are long behind her. Instead, she focuses on the coolness of the bottle in her hand, trying to ground herself in the present moment.
Her mind keeps replaying the events of the day. Someone had captured what had happened and posted it online. The shock on Piotr's face as Rogue's punch went through his skull, the sickening crunch of metal as his body crumpled to the ground. She closes her eyes, trying to shake the image from her mind.
Wanda sits across from her, nursing a glass of red wine. Her fingers absently trace the rim of the glass, her eyes distant and unfocused. The silence between them is heavy, filled with unspoken thoughts and emotions.
"I keep thinking," Wanda says softly, breaking the silence, "if Charles were still alive, would this have happened?"
Carol lifts her head and makes eye contact with Wanda. The other woman's face reveals the remorse she feels, burdened by Xavier's death even though she was not the one to cause it. She may have been responsible for the extinction of mutants, but in the end, she and Hope were able to bring them back
Carol looks back down at her drink as she says, "Charles was a great man Wanda, but even he couldn't prevent every catastrophe."
Well, he technically could have, but he held himself back for good reason. That power he had would make most do the most vile and diabolical actions. Red Skull being an example of what the worst would do.
From the corner of her eye, she sees Spider-Man walking into the foyer. The hero looks around and sees the two heroines, "Hey you two," he greets them softly before walking in, "We need to talk."
Both of them look curiously at their team leader as Wanda inquires, "What about?"
He stands by them and says, "I know today was rough," he starts grimly, "Frankly, I wish we didn't have to talk about it. But I need to ask, did either of you notice something off about Scott and them?"
Wanda's brow furrows as she considers Spider-Man's question. She sets down her wine glass, "Now that you mention it," she begins, her voice low and thoughtful, "there was something... different about fighting my father." Carol and Peter lean in, their attention focused on the Scarlet Witch as she continues. "I've faced him countless times over the years. I know his powers, his tactics, almost as well as I know my own. But today..." She trails off, her eyes distant as she relives the moment, "It was like trying to push through molasses. My hexes, which usually disrupt his magnetic fields with ease, felt sluggish and weak. I had to concentrate harder, push more of my power into each spell just to make a dent in his defenses."
Carol nods, her expression grim as she joins the conversation. "I felt it as well," she says, setting down her soda bottle with a soft clink. "Every time I absorbed one of Scott's optic blasts, it felt... wrong."
Spider-Man turns to her, curiosity evident even through his mask. "Wrong how?"
Carol leans back in her chair, her brow furrowed as she tries to put the sensation into words. "It's hard to explain if you haven't experienced energy absorption firsthand," she begins. "But usually, when I take in Scott's blasts, there's a certain... signature to them. A familiar warmth, a specific vibration that I've come to recognize over the years." She pauses, choosing her words carefully. "Today, though, it was different. The energy felt alive, somehow. More volatile. It didn't settle into my cells the way it should have. Instead, it was like trying to contain a swarm of angry bees under my skin."
Peter nods, absorbing this new information. "That lines up with what I experienced," he says as he grimaces and rolls his shoulders, "His blast hurt way more than it should have, and I'm still feeling the effects."
Wanda looks between them, her expression troubled. "What does this mean? Were they not really themselves? Or have they somehow been... enhanced?"
A frightening thought if they are now enemies if Peter were being honest.
Carol shakes her head, "I don't know," she says with frustration evident in her voice. But whatever it is, it's not natural. No amount of training could account for such a drastic change in their powers."
Peter nods in agreement and comments, "At least not without some outside source."
After saying that, Peter pauses and wonders if the Phoenix force had anything to do with it. Even though the Phoenix may no longer be inside of them, it's possible that it permanently altered them. This thought causes him to wonder about the potential impact it will have on himself, especially since he doesn't know which changes are from the Phoenix and which are from the Other.
He shakes his head and refocuses on why he came upstairs, "Have you guys seen Rogue?" He questions the two women.
Both of them have different reactions to his question. Wanda has something of melancholy look, as if she is feeling sorry for the southern mutant, while Carol has more of a conflicted one. And Peter can guess that while Carol may not be overly fond of the southern woman, but that doesn't mean she wants the worst to happen to her.
"Last I saw," Carol starts, "she was heading up to her room. She... she wasn't in a good state."
Wanda then adds, "She hasn't spoken to anyone since we got back. Not even a word."
Spider-Man sighs, his shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of the situation. "I heard," he says despondently, "Logan asked me to talk to her. Thought I might be able to help somehow."
Carol raises an eyebrow, skepticism clear in her voice. "You?" She Questions, "No offense, Spidey, but you and Rogue aren't exactly best friends. Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Peter shrugs, uncertainty evident even through his mask. "Honestly? I'm not sure. But Logan seems to think I can get through to her, and... well, we can't just leave her alone right now."
He can speak from experience on this. Not this specifically, but more like being alone doesn't help when dealing with serious guilt.
Wanda nods in agreement. "He's right" she says, recalling her from her own experiences, "Rogue needs support, even if she doesn't want it. The guilt she must be feeling..." She trails off, her own eyes clouding with painful memories.
The hero takes a deep breath, steeling himself for what's to come. "Alright. Wish me luck, I guess." He turns towards the stairs, then pauses, looking back at his teammates. "If you hear any girlish screaming or crying, assume it's me and come running, okay?"
Despite the gravity of the situation, both ladies can't help but crack a small smile and Carol comments, "Always with the jokes, huh, Web-head?"
He shrugs. "Hey, it's my coping mechanism. Better than some alternatives, right?"
Carol can't argue with that. Hers was definitely not the best choice for coping.
As Carol watches Spider-Man make his way up the stairs, she can't help but let her gaze linger on him for a moment longer. She quickly shifts her eyes back to Wanda when she notices the other woman giving her a curious look.
"What?" Carol asks defensively, trying to play off what she was doing.
Wanda shakes her head, "Nothing," she says as she sips her drink.
Carol goes back to drinking her own drink.
"So how long have you had a crush on him?"
She drops her hand and gives her giggling friend a small glare.
Spider-Man treks through the hallways of his mansion, feeling nervous and anxious. Rogue has not hidden her anger and disdain of him since they formed the team, and he is still not sure what he did to deserve it. And now here he is making his way to comfort the woman at her lowest.
He had never been close to Rogue, and she had made it very clear that she didn't trust or like him these days, but that doesn't matter right now. He has a job to do. He has to step up to be the leader the team needs. So when someone is down, he's gotta pick them up.
Easier said than done though.
As he continues to walk through the hallway, he gets a surprising sight of Jeff at a door, scratching at the wooden surface with his little clawed fins, soft whines escaping his toothy maw.
"Hey there, little buddy," Spider-Man greets his peculiar pet, kneeling down to Jeff's level. "Was wondering where you went. Trying to check on Rogue too, huh?"
Jeff turns his big, inky eyes towards the masked hero, his tail swishing back and forth in a slow, concerned manner. It's as if the little shark can sense the heavy emotions emanating from behind the closed door, his animal instincts urging him to offer comfort to his distressed friend.
Peter reaches out, gently patting Jeff's smooth, rubbery head. The land shark leans into his touch, a small, appreciative rumble vibrating through his body. It's a strange sensation, petting a creature that by all accounts shouldn't even exist, but in this moment, it feels oddly comforting.
"I know, Jeff," Peter sighs, his own worries mirrored in the shark's expressive gaze. "She's hurting right now. But we're going to do our best to help her, aren't we?"
Jeff bobs his head, as if nodding in agreement. His fins continue to paw at the door, leaving faint scratch marks on the polished wood. Peter wonders if Rogue can hear the little shark's pleas, if she knows how much her friends, both human and otherwise, care about her wellbeing.
Taking a deep breath, Peter stands back up, squaring his shoulders as he faces the closed door. He raises his hand, hesitating for just a moment before rapping his knuckles against the surface in a gentle, yet firm knock.
"Rogue?" He calls out, "Are you in there?"
Nothing. No response. Maybe he has the wrong room? But Jeff is here so he doubts that.
He gently knocks on the door again. "Rogue, I know you're in there. Can we talk? Please?"
Again, no response. Jeff whines, pressing his snout against the bottom of the door frame, as if trying to squeeze his way inside. A brief moment passes where he thought he should just leave her be, but shakes that thought out of his head. He said yes to this role and he will take it seriously. Despite Rogue's hostility towards the hero, she is hurting and right now she needs some support.
He takes another deep breath and gently opens the door. The room was dimly lit by one lamp, casting shadows on the walls and furniture. And Rogue is on the floor at the foot of her bed, not even looking at him, not even reacting when Jeff goes to sit beside her and snuggle up to her.
"Ah didn't say you could come in," she says, anger very evident in her voice.
He stands at the doorway and shifts his weight nervously, "I just...I wanted to see how you're doing," he says and steps into the room more, "After everything that happened today-"
"Ah killed my friend," Rogue interrupts him, "So go ahead and make a joke about it."
That actually hurts Peter more than it should. But he can't let that deter him. She is hurting, and if venting on him will at least help, then he'll stand there and take it.
So, he takes another breath and tries again, "Rogue-"
"No, you know what? It ain't right," Rogue suddenly stands up from the ground and squares off against the hero. Spider-Man does not back down as the southern girl gets in his face, "It ain't right that Ah fought and killed one of my closest friends!"
"I know," he responds.
She continues to shout, her voice filled with anger and pain, "It ain't right that people Ah've know for a long time, people Ah've lived and fought with, are now people Ah'm fighting against!"
"I know."
"It ain't right that the man we followed to bring equality to our people, is now working with the man that stood against that!"
"AND IT AIN"T RIGHT THAT YOU'RE HERE AND CHARLES XAVIER ISN'T!" she yells, tears welling up in her eyes as her frustration boils over.
All throughout her tirade, Peter stands there, absorbing Rogue's words, feeling the weight of her pain and anger. He knows she's hurting, knows that her lashing out at him is just a way to cope with the overwhelming emotions she's experiencing. But her last statement hits him hard, and he can't help but flinch slightly.
"You're right," he says softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's not right. None of this is right."
Rogue's chest heaves as she tries to catch her breath, her eyes still blazing with anger and unshed tears. But Peter doesn't back down. Instead, he takes a breath and speaks from the heart.
"If I could, I would trade places with Xavier in a heartbeat," he says, making her eyes widen in surprise, "A man like him, who has done so much for his people, deserves to be here more than some guy running around in red and blue spandex beating up muggers and old men in bird costumes."
She can see through his lenses the sincerity in his eyes as he continues, "I know what your feeling right now Rogue. When someone like Xavier dies, the whole world should feel it. It shouldn't keep spinning around like nothing happened. But it does, and it does not seem fair."
"I guess that's why I said yes to leading this team. Because if he isn't here to make that dream of his happen, where mutants aren't feared or hated by the masses, the least I can do is help finish or at the very least continue what he started."
Rogue's anger slowly dissipates as she listens to Spider-Man's heartfelt words. She can hear the sincerity in his voice and it catches her off guard. She figured he didn't care like the rest of the heroes that weren't X-Men. They all just moved on, like nothing had happened. And yet, here he is, saying differently.
She is still angry though. Because she is still wondering one thing.
"Why did you get ta come back?" She asks the question that has been bothering her and so many others.
She heard from Logan and Beast that it had something to do with small spiders tearing the hero apart and putting him back together, but she knows that's just nonsense.
Spider-Man grimaces and rubs the back of his neck, "That is… a long story," he tells her.
"I ain't got no other places to be," she stubbornly states.
The hero looks at the white-streaked haired woman and sees she resolute in knowing. He sighs and tells her, "I'll tell you about it on the way to the school."
Rogue gets a confused look, "The school? Why?"
"When we were fighting them, did you notice some things off about them?" He inquires.
Rogue recalls the battle against Emma as she wipes the unshed tears from her eyes, "Frost was never able ta use her telepathy while she looked like a diamond. An' she sure as heck couldn't morph her hand into a sword or nothin'.
Spider-Man nods, "Yeah, Carol, Wanda, and Logan noticed some things about them, too."
"So, what does this mean?"
He shrugs and says, "No idea. Best place to get answers is at the school where you all had tests done on you."
Rogue nods and concedes to the valid point before she follows him out with Jeff, "So what? Ya'll just gonna stroll in and ask them ta show all our dirty secrets."
"No, I'm gonna talk to Hank and see what he thinks."
(Death Valley)
Deep beneath the scorching sands of the famous California desert, a hidden base is abuzz with activity. Soldiers and scientists are running around, scrambling to get their jobs done. In a separate room, in a dimly lit chamber, the X-Men team Cyclops had led to attack the Unity team are huddled together, their faces etched with a mixture of exhaustion and unease.
Cyclops is pacing back and forth, obviously nervous and frightened, Magneto is sitting down at the table, fingers drumming on it, Emma Frost is standing in a corner in her diamond form, Magik leaning back in her chair, and the young man who shoots golden balls is laying his head on the table.
A loud clang gets all of their attention and they look to the entrance of the room to see some soldiers walk in before two men do. One is a decorated general and the other is a man in a suit. A man that is well known enemy of Spider-Man.
Norman Osborn.
The man practically struts into the room, all the confidence and arrogance a man can muster. But it wasn't just confidence, he also had a menacing arura around him that put Cyclops and his people on edge.
"Well, well," Osborn's voice drips with sarcasm, "Quite the performance today, my dear X-Men. You really had them fooled."
Cyclops takes a breath, "We did what you asked," he says, his voice devoid of emotion. "Now, when do we get what you promised?"
Osborn menacingly glances at the man, making Summers shirk under his look, "Patience, Summers. All in good time." He walks further into the room, his gaze sweeping over each of the faux X-Men. "First, we need to discuss your... shortcomings."
Emma Frost shifts uncomfortably, her diamond form shimmering, as she musters up the courage to speak "Shortcomings? We did exactly as you instructed. We attacked the Unity team, caused chaos, made it look convincing."
Osborn glances at the woman, making her flinch back and avert her gaze, "Oh yes," Osborn says with a nod, "You certainly caused chaos. But you also managed to get one of your own killed. That wasn't part of the plan, was it?"
The room falls silent, the weight of Colossus' death hanging heavy in the air. Magneto steps forward and says, "That was... unfortunate. But we still achieved our goal. Anyone who sees what happened today will see how dangerous the mutant filth are."
Osborn nods, "Indeed," He steps more into the room until he is in the center of it, "But that means very little when our plans can easily be discovered if they take a close look at your friends' body."
Golden Ball speaks up and asks, "Why can't you just retrieve it?"
Osborn shakes his head, as if he is disappointed by the question, "Oh if only it were so simple," he says condescendingly, "If I were to send a few men to retrieve it with official documentations, that would attract a lot of unwanted attention." He turns his predatory sights to the young man, "Do you think that is a wise course of action right now."
The young man holds head up and maintains eye contact with Osborn for a few moments before he looks down in frustration, "No sir."
Norman nods approvingly, "Good. The only way to avoid any suspicion is to send an outside source. Like say a group of individuals who firmly believe God despises mutants."
Magneto nods before he removes bis helmet and pulls out his cellphone, "I'll call my people from the Church."
Osborn nods, "Good. Be sure to let them know the body is on 14th street police station," he informs them before he goes to walk out. He stops at the entrance and glances back into the room, "And while you're at it, tell them to go to plan B and kill the Mayor as well. That won't be a problem will it?"
Magneto seems eager by this as he sneers and responds, "Killing the man who is supporting these filthy mutants? Hardly."
Norman nods and leaves without another word with the general and soldiers in tow. They walk down the corridor for a few minutes before the stop at some large bunker doors. Norman presses his palm on a scanner and the heavy bunker doors slide open with a hiss. Osborn and the general step into an observation deck with monitors and such, overlooking a vast chamber filled with cutting-edge technology. The centerpiece of the room is a massive containment pod, pulsing with an otherworldly blue energy. Scientists in hazmat suits scurry about, monitoring various readouts and adjusting controls.
The well dressed man eyes the pod hungrily, "How soon until Project Cosmic is fully ready, General Whadon?" Osborn asks.
The general is handed a tablet and informs their benefactor, "Our top scientists estimate another week, maybe two. The energy is still resisting the process."
"Not surprising," Osborn states as he leans on the console to look closer to the pod, "After all, the Enigma force is not merely energy, but power of the universe given thought."
"It would have taken us years to be able to achieve what we did with the X-Men," the general states as he hands the tablet back to a scientist and goes to stand next to Osborn. The general says nothing for a few moments before he says, "Based on our research, this power chooses a host to become this Captain Universe on an irregular cycle. There is no clear pattern in who it chooses." Whadon shifts his gaze at Osborn and asks, "So, how did you do this Mister Osborn."
Norman smirks, rather sinisterly, and answers, "I have my ways General. You don't need to concern yourself with such trivial matters."
The general frowns, clearly not satisfied with the vague response, but knows better than to press further. The man is under orders to follow and do whatever Osborn says, no matter what. He turns his attention back to the containment pod, watching as arcs of blue energy dance across its surface.
(Jean Grey School)
Just above in the air of the school, Logan is landing the quinjet on the front lawn of the school. It wasn't a quiet ride from the mansion to hear and that's because throughout the whole thing, Spider-Man regaled the tale of his death and resurrection to Rogue and him.
And if Logan were honest, if it wasn't for all of the outlandish tales he's heard and experienced firsthand, he'd thought the hero lost his mind.
"So let me get this straight," Rogue says as they begin their decent, "You died, got torn apart by mystical spiders, and then put back together by some cosmic spider-god?"
As the quinjet touches down on the front lawn and the feral man unstraps himself from his seat, he turns to see the look of disbelief on Rogue's face. He looks at Peter and sees him nodding with a shrug, "Pretty much, yeah. New and improved for the most part."
Rogue's face only has a hint of disbelief as she is still heavily filled with remorse and guilt over the incident.
As the trio descends from the quinjet, the cool night air greets them, carrying with it the scent of freshly cut grass and distant flowers. The school looms before them, its windows glowing warmly against the darkening sky. The grounds are quiet, save for the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.
Suddenly, Rogue freezes in her tracks. Standing at the entrance of the school, illuminated by the soft glow of the porch light, are some of her friends like Bobby, Hank, Ororo, Rachel, and Remy. But her eyes are fixed solely on one person. Kitty Pryde.
Her face is a mixture of emotions – grief, concern, and something else that's hard to define. Rogue's breath catches in her throat, her eyes widening with fear and guilt. She takes a half-step back, her body tensing as if preparing for a confrontation. But before she can retreat further, Kitty is moving towards her with purposeful strides.
Almost everyone around is concerned for what's about to happen. Some even want to intervene and prevent what is likely going to be a harsh confrontation. But instead of any physical confrontation like they expected, Kitty just instead hugs Rogue tightly. And while some are shocked and relieved by this action, none are more so than Rogue.
The sudden action catches Rogue off guard, her arms hanging limply at her sides for a moment before she hesitantly returns the hug.
"Its not your fault," Kitty gentle voice in her ear makes the southern girl tremble, "What happened is not your fault."
That broke the dam that was holding back the emotions Rogue was holding. Tears that held up in Rogue's eyes, are now spilling over as the weight of Kitty's words sinks in. She hugs the girl back tightly as she can without hurting her. Softly sobbing as she feels relief at one of her closest friends comforting her instead of lashing out at her like she expected.
The audience around them feel relieved at this scene.
Spider-Man releases a breath, "Phew, glad that went the way it did," he comments he whispers to Logan, "Though I am not gonna lie, a vindictive side of me would have liked to see her get slapped if only for all the grief she's given me.
After pleasantries and explaining why they are at the school, the group now stands in Hank's laboratory where the blue furry man and Spider-Man stare at screens filled with old data of their friends.
"So is it possible that the Phoenix had a hand in them being different?" Spider-Man inquires to Beast as he stands beside him.
Hank, in his chair staring at the monitor as the screen is reflected off his glasses, answers him, "I do not believe so. Magneto was not possessed by the Phoenix Force and yet you say he gave Wanda trouble."
Spider-Man nods, "And Logan says when he got thrown, it wasn't like it used to be. " He leans in to look at the screen closer, "Carol even mentioned that when she absorbed Scott laser beams, it didn't feel like they used to."
Beast hums, intrigued by this information, "Interesting," he says as he scrolls through the files, "We have the energy readings of Scott's optic beam from the old files, but unless we are able to a reading of how it currently is, we cannot say for certain what has changed."
Spider-Man groans as he hangs his head, "God my first day as team leader sucks."
Beast nods, "Yes indeed, and I don't see how it could have gone worse."
"Thanks," Spidey responds sarcastically.
Hank just shrugs, "It'd be pointless to lie to you. But I have faith you'll rally."
"What makes you so sure?" Spidey asks.
"Why do you think I brought your younger self here, along with my younger self and his friends?" Hank returns.
Spider-Man tilts his head, curiosity peaked. He has been wondering why, and he hasn't had a chance to hear Hank out with everything that he was trying to get done before he left.
Hank reclines in his chair, his gaze locked on the computer creen. "You see," he begins, "when the Unity team was first proposed, there was significant pushback from certain students here. They struggled to accept a non-mutant as the leader of a team meant to unite mutants and humans."
Spider-Man nods knowingly, "Yeah, I got that vibe from Rogue."
"Indeed," Beast nods as well, since Rogue hasn't exactly hidden her discontent from anyone in the school, "Many here felt that you couldn't truly understand the mutant experience. The fear, the discrimination, the constant struggle for acceptance." Hank looks at Spider-Man, "But few of us knew different, because we knew you for a long time. We recall a young man who was not born with great power but instead had it thrusted upon him. And since that time, has tried to make the best of it.
Spider-Man, while flattered looks down in shame and says, "I didn't start out that way Hank."
"I suppose not," Beast says, "And that is what many of the students here do not know. I wanted them to see first-hand how young you were when you decided to do good with your gifts and how much you can understand their plights, thanks to the constant ridicule you received by the media."
Huh, he never thought of it like that. Looking back now, he couldn't deny the impact of Jameson's biased newspaper articles on the hero. They basically forced him to see the world through the eyes of a mutant and understand the discrimination and struggles they face. In a twisted way, it was a blessing in disguise for Spidey to experience this kind of empathy and broaden his understanding of a world he only observed as an outsider.
He looks at his fellow genius and says, "Thanks, Hank. That still doesn't make what you did okay though." Something then just occurs to him, "Hey, I just realized you're not pink anymore," he points out, making Beast chuckle with his friend.
As the two geniuses continue with their discussion, behind them at the back of the room Kitty, Bobby, and Rogue have one of their own. The three of them trying to make sense of what had occurred today.
"It seriously got to this point?" Bobby inquires with a despondent look, "The guy I grew up with, who led us and believed in the dream of equality, is now attacking us like Magneto used to."
Kitty sympathetically pats him on the back, "I know, Bobby," she says, her own voice depressed.
Rogue stands slightly apart from Bobby and Kitty, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if trying to hold herself together. The events of the day replay in her mind like a nightmare she can't wake up from. The sound of metal crumpling, the look of shock on Piotr's face as her fist connected, the sickening thud as his body hit the ground. She squeezes her eyes shut, trying to block out the images, but they persist, haunting her.
She can hear Bobby and Kitty talking, their voices a low murmur in the background, but their words don't quite register. Instead, her mind wanders to earlier times, happier memories of the X-Men. Game nights in the common room, Piotr's quiet laughter, Scott's determined speeches about making the world a better place, and Xavier smiling like a proud father overlooking them all. How did they get from there to here?
'What changed?' She wonders with some frustration, 'What did we do that made everythang go wrong?'
So many questions, yet there doesn't seem to be any answers in sight.
"It's just so stupid," She voices aloud.
Bobby nods in agreement and says, "Yeah and it's that stupidity that got our friend killed," Rogue winces at the reminder, and Bobby quickly realizes his error, "No offense."
"It wasn't her fault, Bobby," Kitty firmly states to her ex, "Piotr made his choice."
Though she says that, Rogue can hear the struggle in her friend's voice in actually believing her words.
Kitty then takes a breath and steadies her voice, "As much as it hurts, as hopeless as it looks, we can't give up," she tells them, "We have an obligation to the students here, and to everyone who has given their lives for this dream, for Xavier's dream."
Bobby glances up at Kitty before a smile tugs at his lips and he makes to stand up, "You're right, Kitty," he says, "We owe it to him, to all those who gave up their lives, to keep fighting for a better world. A world where mutants and humans can live together in peace."
Rogue listens to her friends' words, their determination and resolve slowly chipping away at the numbing despair that had settled over her. She takes a deep breath, trying to center herself, to find that same strength within.
"Hey," she says, grabbing their attention, "I never asked ya'll this but how do ya'll feel about Spider-Man leading the Unity team instead of Alex?"
Kitty and Bobby exchange a glance, considering the question. After a moment, Bobby speaks up. "Honestly? I think it's a good thing. Spider-Man… he's always been an ally to us. He's fought alongside us, stood up for us, even when it wasn't popular. Hell, at one point, everyone thought he was a mutant and he took it like he took everything else."
Kitty nods in agreement. "Yeah, I mean, the guy's been through a lot himself. The media's always giving him a hard time, calling him a menace and whatnot. In a way, he knows what it's like to be an outsider, to be misunderstood."
"But what about Alex?" Rogue presses. "He's one of us. He understands the mutant struggle better than anyone."
Kitty shrugs. "Alex is great, don't get me wrong. But I don't think he would do as well as Spider-Man," Kitty looks at the back of the hero as he continues to converse with Hank, "He has this way that inspires people."
Rogue looks at her friend curiously and asks, "Where's all this coming from?"
Kitty tries to act nonchalantly as a faint blush creep on her cheeks, "Well, I mean, he is a hero we worked with a lot, so I try to stay informed."
Bobby raises an accusing eyebrow at her, "You sure it has nothing to do with the fact that you used to have a huge crush on him?"
Kitty clears her throat and quickly states, "That was a long time ago."
"Then why haven't you stopped staring at his butt?" Bobby questions her.
Kitty blushes more, but in embarrassment, and bites her lips, "Well can you blame me?"
All three look at the back of the hero and while Rogue will not admit it out loud, she can see what Kitty is talking about.
Unknown to the three of them, Spider-Man had heard their whole conversation. He is focused on what he is looking at on the screens, but he is still learning to tune things out now that his hearing is better than ever.
'And Kitty having a crush on me is a surprise. Wonder why Bobby never said nothing.' As he thinks that, he mentally switches places with his cryokinetic friend and immediately understands why he said nothing, 'Yeah if MJ or Felicia said they had a crush on him, I'd keep my mouth shut too.'
Before he laments on that anymore, his spider sense triggers, with an intensity he is familiar with. He knows what's coming - another vision of the future, courtesy of his newfound Phoenix powers. But he can't let the others see, not yet. He's not ready to reveal this with the wound between the heroes still being fresh.
"Hey, uh, I need to step out for a sec," he says, his voice strained as he fights to keep his composure. "Nature calls, you know? Too much web fluid."
Beast motions to his private bathroom in the lab, "By all means."
The spandexed hero rushes to the bathroom and shuts the door behind him. He goes to the sink and takes a deep breath. He closes his eyes and focuses on the sensation and the world around him begins to blur, reality melting away like wax under a flame. His vision tunnels, and suddenly he's no longer in the school...
...He's in a dimly lit parking garage, the air thick with the scent of motor oil and concrete dust. The sound of gunfire echoes off the walls, accompanied by the metallic clang of heavy footsteps.
Through the haze of his vision, Spider-Man sees Mayor J. Jonah Jameson, his face a mask of terror as he crouches behind an overturned car. Beside him, her silver hair gleaming in the flickering fluorescent lights, stands Silver Sable. Her guns are drawn, her eyes scanning the area with predatory intensity.
"Stay down, Mr. Mayor," Sable hisses, her accent thick with tension. "They're coming."
As if on cue, a group of figures emerges from the shadows. They're clad in hulking mechanical suits, each easily twice the size of a normal man. The suits are adorned with religious symbols - crosses, holy water vials, and what looks like scripture etched into the metal.
The Church of Humanity, Spider-Man realizes with a jolt. They're using the same tech when they attacked Emma Frost's escort and he had to come rescue his .
"Come out, mutie-lover!" one of the mech-suited attackers calls out, his voice distorted by his helmet's speaker. "Face God's judgment!"
Jameson, despite his fear, bristles at the words. "I'm not afraid of you fanatics!" he shouts, though he doesn't move from his hiding spot. "New York stands with all its citizens, mutant or human!"
Silver Sable fires off a volley of shots, the bullets pinging harmlessly off the mechs' armor. "We need to move," she says to Jameson. "This position isn't defensible."
But as they prepare to make a run for it, one of the mechs raises its arm. A compartment opens, revealing a missile launcher. "For the purity of humanity," the pilot intones, taking aim at Jameson and Sable's position.
Just as the missile is about to launch, the vision begins to fade.
Spider-Man gasps, finding himself back in the bathroom with knocking sounding out.
"Hey Webhead!" Iceman's voice muffled by the door, "Somethings going on outside! C'Mon!
Spider-Man bursts out of the bathroom, his heart racing from the vision he just experienced. He barely has time to process what he saw before he's rushing out of Beast's lab, following the others as they hurry towards the commotion outside.
As he emerges onto the front lawn of the Jean Grey School, the cool night air hits him, and he sees the a blue swirling flame out in the middle of the lawn. He looks around and sees that the whole school is out loonking at the scene too. Including his younger self and the original X-Men.
Spider-Man does a double take at his younger self, "What the-? Mini-me? How'd you get here?"
Iron Spider taps on his chest, "This suit can fly," he points out, reminding his older self the suits capabilities.
Before he can ask any more questions, from the swirl emerges a group that nobody expected to see so soon. Standing on the manicured grass, illuminated by the school's exterior lights and the soft glow of the moon, are Cyclops, Emma Frost, Magik, and Magneto. Along with some other people nobody recognizes, except the slightly rotund young man that was able to shoot golden balls back at the park.
Cyclops stands at the forefront, his visor gleaming with red optic energy. His posture is rigid, almost militaristic, a far cry from the leader Spider-Man remembers. Emma Frost stands beside him, her balck attire nothing like her usual white outfits except for skin reveal. Magik's soulsword glows with an eerie light, casting long shadows across the grass. And Magneto, his white cape billowing slightly in the breeze, but his gaze as intimidating as ever.
All in all, they are nothing like they were just this morning when they attacked the Unity team.
The air crackles with tension, like the moment before a thunderstorm. Students whisper among themselves, some taking defensive stances, others looking to their teachers for guidance. The younger Scott in particular is conflicted in seeing his older self, especially after what he just saw on the news.
Wolverine steps in front of the crowd and growls as he unsheathes his claws, "You got a lot of nerve comin' here, after the stunt you pulled, Slim."
Emma speaks up and says, "That wasn't us."
That stops everyone short as Rogue says, "What? What do ya mean it wasn't-?"
"It was not us who attacked you Rogue," Magneto says to his former lover, "We would not instigate a war between our people after reviving them."
Logan scoffs, "And why the hell should we believe you?" He questions.
Scott looks undeterred by his old friends hostility and says, "Do you honestly believe I would have attacked you like that?"
Spider-Man steps up beside his teammate and counters, "Dude, it was one of your people that killed me. And I'm pretty sure she isn't sorry about it considering the look she is giving me right now."
Everyone glances at Magik and does indeed see the woman is glaring at the hero. "Seems pointless to apologize for it considering you are here now," the young Russian girl states, "A fact that seems to be overlooked and ignored."
"Enough," Scott firmly tells her, "We didn't come here to start anything. We came here for our people."
"Your people?" Logan questions with a growl, "You don't got people here, Slim."
"I disagree," Scott says, unafraid of his former friend. He looks at the gathered crowd and speaks at them, "I know so many of you believe you understand what happened but you don't. I know many of you are confused, angry, and scared. You've seen the news, heard the stories. But I'm here to tell you that there's more to this than what meets the eye."
He sweeps his gaze across the crowd, making eye contact with as many students as he can. "We've established a new school, a safe haven for mutants who want to learn how to control their powers and make a difference in the world. A place where we can work towards coexistence without compromising who we are."
Beside him, Emma half listens to what is being said, because her she feels a mental knock in her mind. Three actually.
'Well, well,' Celeste's mental voice echoes in Emma's mind, tinged with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. 'Look who's come crawling back.'
'Crawling?' Mindee chimes in, her mental tone dripping with sarcasm. 'More like limping. Can you feel how weak her shields are?'
Phoebe's mental voice joins the fray, 'It's true. Her psychic defenses are nothing like they used to be. We could probably overpower her if we wanted to.'
Emma grits her teeth, fighting to maintain her outward composure while simultaneously reinforcing her mental shields. It's a struggle, one that would have been effortless for her not too long ago. But now, it takes all her concentration just to keep the girls at bay.
'I'd advise against trying, girls,' Emma projects back, her mental voice strained but still carrying that hint of authority she's always wielded. 'You might find I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.'
The triplets' mental laughter echoes in her mind, a discordant chorus that sets Emma's nerves on edge.
'Oh, please,' Celeste scoffs. 'We can see right through you, Miss Frost. You're not half the telepath you used to be.'
'What happened to you?' Mindee probes, her mental touch uncomfortably invasive. 'Did the Phoenix burn out more than just your morals?'
Emma falters for a moment, memories of the Phoenix force coursing through her, the intoxicating power and the devastating aftermath. She pushes the thoughts aside, focusing on the present.
'That's none of your concern,' she snaps back mentally. 'We're here for those who want to join us, nothing more.'
'Join you?' Phoebe's mental voice is incredulous. 'After what you did? After Piotr?'
At the mention of Colossus, Emma's composure cracks slightly, a flicker of confusion and pain crossing her face before she can suppress it. 'That wasn't us,' she insists, her mental voice wavering. 'We would never-' She feels a probe on her mind, 'Girls, Behave yourselves.'
Her memories are exposed as she feels the girls go looking for the event in question. When they find nothing they pull away.
'Hmm seems you are telling the truth,' Phoebe says.
'But if it wasn't you, then who?' Celeste questions.
'A good question,' Emma tells them, 'One that I'm sure will be looked into after you tell them.'
As she tries to close the door on her mind, Mindee's voice stops her, 'Wait,' she says, 'The damage on you is frankly deserving but perhaps there is a solution.'
Emma looks at the girl curiously as she mentally asks, 'What are you talking about?'
Mindee explains, "One of our classmates Broo was shot and had his head blown off. According to Ida, Spider-Man, the older one, fixed him by using his webbing."
Hmm. You believe that this ability can help us with our problem.
Yes, because he also used it on Professor McCoy when he was dying because of his mutation.
Well, that certainly caught Emma's attention. Her eyes are now fixed solely on the hero. The one that can help her. Back when he came to aid his friends when they were attacked while escorting her, she wondered why the Phoenix wanted him dead and why he came back.
The only question is how she will convince him to help her and her friends.
Her gaze shifts to the young X-Men and- Oh! Not a terrible idea. Certainly one that will be extremely beneficial.
"Alright girls listen up, I've got a job for you three."
While Emma is relaying her plan to the triplets, Scott had just finished his speech. Logan, his claws still extended, takes a step forward. His voice is gruff but measured as he speaks, "You've said your piece, Slim. Now I think it's time for you to leave."
Scott nods, his expression unreadable behind his visor. "We'll be back tomorrow," he announces, his voice carrying across the lawn. "Anyone who wants to join us, to be part of building a new future for mutantkind, will have the chance to come with us then."
As he speaks, Emma's gaze remains fixed on Spider-Man, a calculating look in her eyes. The hero notices this and becomes rather uncomfortable by it, wondering what is going through that womans head.
Magik lifts up her sword and stabs the ground. Blue fire swirls around them again and they vanish in moments. As the swirl disappears, not even leaving a scorched patch of grass, the tension in the air slowly dissipates. Students begin to disperse, their concerned chatter filling the night air as they discuss what just transpired.
Bobby releases a breath of air, "Well that was a thing."
Rogue, with a hopeful expression on her face, looks to her friends and asks, "Do ya think they were tellin' the truth?"
Logan walks back to them and heard Rogues question, "I could hear his heartbeat from here. He wasn't lying."
Logan's words hang in the air, heavy with implications. The assembled group - Spider-Man, Rogue, Bobby, Kitty, and Beast - exchange glances, each processing this new information in their own way.
"If it wasn't them," Kitty begins, her brow furrowed in thought, "then who was it? And why?"
Beast strokes his furry chin, his scientific mind already racing with possibilities. "A shapeshifter, perhaps? Or some form of advanced holographic technology?"
"Or clones," Spider-Man adds, remembering his own experiences with such things. "Trust me, those are never fun."
Bobby shakes his head, ice crystals forming in his hair as his agitation grows. "But why? What's the endgame here? To discredit Scott and his team?"
"To discredit all mutants, more like," Rogue says bitterly. "Make us look like we can't be trusted, that we'll turn on our own at the drop of a hat."
Logan grunts in agreement. "Wouldn't be the first time someone's tried to pull that kinda stunt."
Spider-Man, feeling the weight of the day's events pressing down on him, turns to Logan. "Hey, uh, any chance I could catch a ride back to New York with you?" he asks, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "As much as I enjoy a game of 'Guess the Billain', I've got a feeling things are about to get crazy, and I need to be there when they do."
Logan looks at his team leader curisouly before he nods and they both head for the hanger. Spider-Man feels like he should mention how Jameson is going to be attacked but he doesn't know how to bring it up without revealing his role as the host to the Phoenix force.
One thing is certain, he will not be able to keep it a secret for long.
(Mayor's Office)
It's late in the day when one can find Mayor Jameson in his office, impatiently tapping his finger on his wooden desk. He had been waiting for Ms. Sable close to half an hour, which he knows some would say is not that long but he was the Mayor dammit! And frankly, he is not known for being a patient man and today was no exception.
Everyone else had gone home except for his security staff. The former newsman is waiting for Silver Sable to come in and receive her payment for her investigation. Much as he liked having her around, the woman was expensive. Besides, now he can hand the investigation to the Unity team and get a huge tax break as a result.
As he waits for the mercenary, Jonah thinks about the days events. That press conference he had organized to announce the Unity team was meant to be the first step in bringing mutants and non-mutants together. It was a bold move considering how divided the issue was, but Jonah knows it was the right one. Although with the days events, he is now wondering if he should have tried a different approach.
'No,' he reprimands himself mentally, 'It was the right move.'
As Jonah's thoughts swirl, a gentle knock on the door interrupts his reverie. "Come in," he calls out, his gruff voice masking his relief. The door swings open, revealing Silver Sable in her trademark white outfit, her silver hair gleaming under the office lights.
"Mayor Jameson," she greets him with a slight nod, her accent as crisp as ever. "I apologize for the delay. There were some... complications with my previous engagement."
Jonah waves off her apology, eager to get down to business. "Never mind that. Let's wrap this up, shall we?" He reaches for a drawer, pulling out a thick envelope. "Your payment, as agreed."
Sable takes the envelope, her sharp eyes scanning its contents before tucking it away. "It's been a pleasure working with you, Mr. Mayor. I hope the information I've provided proves useful."
As she turns to leave, Jonah can't help but feel a twinge of regret. Despite her mercenary nature, Sable had proven to be a valuable asset. "Ms. Sable," he calls out, causing her to pause at the door. "I... appreciate your work. If the Unity team ever needs additional support, well, you'll be at the top of my list."
A ghost of a smile flickers across Sable's face. "I'll keep that in mind, Mayor." She opens the door, ready to step out into the night.
Suddenly, two uniformed officers appear in the doorway, blocking Sable's exit. Jonah recognizes them from the rally earlier that day. "Mayor Jameson," one of them says, his voice tight with urgency. "We've received intelligence about a credible threat to your life. We need to get you to a secure location immediately."
Jonah's brow furrows as he steps out from behind his desk and questions, "What kind of threat? Is it those mutant terrorists again?"
The officers exchange a glance, and in that split second, Sable's instincts kick into high gear. They both reach for their guns and she acts fast by pulling out her own and leveling as they point theirs at the both of them.
"Nobody move," the first officer growls with cold determination.
Jonah's eyes widen in shock, his face reddening with anger. "What is the meaning of this?" he bellows, "I'll have your badges for this!"
The second officer, a younger man with a sheen of sweat on his brow, speaks up. "I'm sorry, Mayor. We don't have a choice. The Church of Humanity sends its regards."
Sable acts quickly and fires two rounds into both of their arms, maiming them both before they can react. The two officers cry out in pain as the bullets tear through their arms, causing them to drop their weapons. In one fluid motion, Sable steps forward, flipping both to the ground and disarming them completely as she kicks their guns across the room.
"Mayor, behind me!" she barks, her voice sharp with urgency. Jonah, still reeling from the sudden turn of events, stumbles back behind his desk.
"The Church of Humanity?" he sputters, his face a mix of rage and disbelief. "Those anti-mutant fanatics? What do they want with me?"
The wounded officers, clutching their bleeding arms, glare at Sable and Jonah. The older one spits out, "You're a traitor to your own kind, Jameson. Siding with those mutant freaks. The Church won't stand for it."
Sable keeps her gun trained on the men as she addresses Jonah. "We need to get you out of here, now. There could be more of them."
As if on cue, the sound of gunfire and shouting erupts from outside the office. Sable's eyes narrow as she assesses the situation. "Looks like your security team is engaged. We'll have to find another way out."
Jonah, his face pale but his jaw set with determination, nods. "There's a private elevator. Through that door," he points to an inconspicuous panel in the wall.
Sable nods, keeping her gun trained on the wounded would-be assassins as she backs towards the hidden door with Jonah. "You two, on the ground, hands behind your heads," she orders the officers.
As they comply, Sable quickly zip-ties their hands and feet. She then turns to Jonah, who's fumbling with a keycard to open the hidden elevator. "Mayor Jameson, we need to move fast. Once we're in the elevator, I'll contact my team for extraction."
The panel slides open, revealing a sleek, modern elevator. As they step inside, the sounds of conflict grow louder. Jonah punches in a code, and the doors slide shut just as they hear footsteps thundering towards the office.
As the elevator begins its descent, Sable taps her earpiece. "This is Silver Sable. Code Red. Extraction needed at City Hall underground parking. Two minutes." She turns to Jonah, who's leaning against the elevator wall, his face a mix of anger and shock. "Mayor Jameson, I need you to stay focused. When these doors open, we run. My team will meet us, but we need to move fast. Understood?"
Jonah just nods, not his first rodeo in dealing with situations like this.
The elevator arrives at the the dimly lit parkinf garage, the sound of screeching tires echoes through the concrete structure. Before they can make it to Sable's extraction point, three massive, hulking figures step out from behind a row of cars, blocking their path.
The Church of Humanity has come prepared. Each assailant is encased in a crude but formidable mech suit, standing nearly ten feet tall. The suits are a patchwork of welded metal plates, hydraulic limbs, and what appear to be repurposed construction equipment. Their hands end in vicious claws, and mounted on their shoulders are makeshift rocket launchers.
"Nowhere to run, mutie-lovers," one of them growls through a distorted speaker.
Sable pushes Jameson behind a concrete pillar and opens fire, but her bullets ping harmlessly off the mechs' armor. The lead mech takes a thunderous step forward, the ground trembling beneath its weight.
Just as the situation seems dire, a familiar "thwip" sound cuts through the air. A glob of webbing splats across the lead mech's faceplate, obscuring its vision. Spider-Man swings into view, his red and blue suit a blur of motion as he lands atop one of the mechs.
"You know," Spidey quips as he dodges a swipe from the mech's massive arm, "I'm pretty sure the 'No Parking' signs apply to giant robot suits too. You might want to check with management about that."
The mechs turn their attention to Spider-Man, giving Sable and Jameson an opening. As Sable tries to guide the mayor to safety, Spider-Man leaps and bounds between the mechs, his enhanced agility allowing him to stay just out of reach of their lumbering attacks.
"Come on, guys," Spider-Man taunts as he webs one mech's arm to its torso, "I thought the Church of Humanity would have better toys than this. These look like something out of a budget sci-fi flick!"
One of the mechs manages to grab Spider-Man, its hydraulic fingers squeezing tight. But the hero's new strength surprises even him as he pries the fingers apart with a grunt. "Okay, maybe I spoke too soon. These things pack a punch!"
As Spider-Man continues to engage the mechs, Sable and Jameson make a break for the exit. But their path is cut off by a fourth mech that emerges from the shadows, its rocket launcher trained on them. Just as it takes aim though, the mechs arm is sliced off by a sword and before a large red form grabs it and launches it away.
Both Sable and Jonah look at their savior and while Jameson doesn't know who this woman is, Silver immediately recognizes her as Red She Hulk.
Spider-Man, still grappling with the other mechs, does a double-take at the new arrival. "Whoa, is that… nope Jen is green last I checked," he quips as he leaps and kicks a mech down, "Unless I missed a memo. Bruce had a habit of changing colors on a whim too."
Red She-Hulk doesn't respond to his quip, instead focusing on dismantling the mech piece by piece with both her strength and her sword. With a final, thunderous punch, she sends the mech's head flying across the parking garage, where it embeds itself in a concrete wall.
As Sable and Jameson near the exit, two more Church of Humanity members appear, brandishing energy weapons. Before they can fire, Spider-Man intervenes and disarms the men before knocking then out by slamming their heads together.
They all look to see the Red She Hulk subdue the last of the mechs with her sword slicing through the center. She bisects the metal monstrosity but leaves the man intact. Until she picks him up from the collar and throws his into a car, knocking him out.
Spider-Man looks at her curiously, "You know, this is the second time someone with a sword helped me out. I wonder if its gonna be a habit."
Red She-Hulk turns to face Spider-Man, her yellow eyes glowing with a harsh intensity, "The name's Red She-Hulk. I'm here to make sure the mayor stays in one piece."
He reels back at the harshness of her tone, "Okay," he says before he looks to the mayor, "You okay?"
"Fine," the man tells him as he dusts himself off. He looks at the two curiously and asks, "How did you I was in danger?"
The sound of screeching cars gets their attention and Spider-Man can feel his spider sense telling him to move. "I can explain everything later," he tells his former boss, "The mansion isn't too far from here. Lets go!"
He grabs his boss and swings out of the garage, with Silver and Red She Hulk not far behind him.