CHAPTER 36 - UNDERCURRENTS I
[Vision POV]
Faced with what I had to say, Sarah had no choice than to accept my proposal. Really, what other choice did she have?
There is no way she can go back to her former life before the Facility as they'd just find her, kill her and take their X-23 back.
I was her safest bet and the fact that we were an autonomous group, and the Avengers no less, sold it better to her.
The reason I needed her was simple; while calculations and high processing speed were good, it just couldn't beat the innovative human mind. Vision was made by humans after all.
I was not the smartest in the room when geniuses were involved. And also, while I could build bodies to take up any task I wanted done, it'll make me be exactly like Ultron since I'll start thinking I no longer need people.
As for Laura, despite her stoic cold face, her feelings were more vibrant so I knew beforehand what choice she would make when it came to the options of living a normal life or putting her abilities to good use.
"So what are we now?" Sarah asked after she confirmed that she and her daughter were out of harm's way.
Right now we are walking through the hallways after Laura fell asleep, leaving me and Sarah alone in our conversation.
"Technically, you're free to do what you want."
She scoffed lightly at that. "Right, technicalities." She then looked at me and prodded. "What do you want from me other than my knowledge and assistance as a geneticist?"
"Despite the ambiguous nature of your words, nothing much. A subordinate, an underling, an assistant – any how you will describe yourself in those settings is what I need from you."
"That doesn't sound like the words of a hero at all."
Now it was my turn to scoff. "Heroes are humans too."
"But you're not." I stopped and looked at her and she did the same, but I could feel the tiny tempo of her erratically beating heart. She was nervous, yet appeared confident.
"Really, what gave that away? Was it my looks, the voice or my obvious inhuman abilities?"
I almost couldn't help but break my cold face at the look of utter confusion on her face as she couldn't decide between whether I was being sarcastic or curious.
"I look forward to working with you, Sarah Kinney." Without waiting for her response, I left for Davis who was still unconscious.
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[General POV]
While Vision was attending Davis' conditions, the world was in panic as the news of General Ross' death was leaked to the public and along with it came the report around the speculations of his death and the nature of 'those' involved.
What was regarded as an urban legend suddenly became the topic of international paper's headlines.
'The rise of the new human?' The New York Times and the Daily Bugle had engaged in a very heated debate about the perceived nature of the new human species, the veracity of the information released and the effect it will have on the world and how modern warfare will change to accommodate them.
While the papers went to war with their words and vocal verbose, secret organizations were already making plans to adapt to the new changes and the public society.
In one of such organizations, a meeting was going on to determine the benefits and favors they could get from this open reveal.
A group of ten people, men and women, sat in a chamber, each decked with the most expensive amount of jewelry and clothing money could buy.
Gold, diamond, fine silk and every other material of opulence could be found in this room in abundance and more. Everyone of them in attendance carried an air of nobility but they were anything but.
At the head of the table sat a man and women, both stark opposites of the other. The man was clad in all black and gold embroideries, while the woman was in an all white revealing dress, if it could still be called that with how scandalous and sinful it hugged every pore of her body.
The Hellfire Club.
"It does not need to be said twice the reason we are all gathered here at this moment." The man in black, Sebastian Shaw - The Black King of the Hellfire Club, and also the highest ranking member.
"We've long known about the mutant species, Shaw. The main problem is that the current spotlight being given to them at this moment is not good for any of us." A tall blonde haired man spoke with a soft voice that would have been feminine if not for the aged undertone it carried. Edward Buckman – The White King of the Hellfire Club – spoke.
He then turned to his young woman sitting on his left. "What do you think, Emma?"
Sitting on the right hand side of Sebastian Shaw was Emma Frost, The White Queen of the Hellfire club.
"I believe it doesn't matter that much. It's not as if just us alone could shield such a secret and it was only time before it came out. Our concerns should be who leaked it and for what purpose did they do it." Emma Frost gave her own opinion.
Unlike what most might think, and many more oblivious of, the Hellfire Club was a secret organization for the elites and those who had a major hand in moving the world's economy.
A few of the club's highest ranking members were mutants, unknown to their human brethren, and it was with this influence that they stirred the current mutant community but the surprise reveal was something that none of them predicted.
Shaw looked at Emma for a brief second before agreeing with her words, along with Edward Buckman.
Shaw then directed at Buckman, "I reckon Ross' death dealt a major setback to your secret project. I heard another one of your bases were destroyed."
Buckman snarled as he remembered the news he got a few hours ago, and even now he was still having a hard time believing that his Project Armageddon was being delayed due to these setbacks. "It's the work of a blasted mutant. All it'll take is time and I'll have them right where I want them."
If he had paid attention at the moment he said those words, he would've caught the faces of a few members darkening in sneer.
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