11 Chapter 11 - Come again?

1st POV Steve Rogers (Avengers Tower)

"A shame. Director Fury was an intelligent individual. Who will be responsible for our negotiations going forwards?" Barely glancing up from his work with Stark - who'd frozen at the news - Vader turned back to continue designing what looked like a sci-fi spaceship. 

"No one. SHIELD as a whole has been compromised by HYDRA, an organisation determined to bring humanity under their control by any means necessary." And hadn't that been a slap to the face. I gave my life to stop HYDRA from taking over the world only to find out they followed me into this modern world. (He refused to acknowledge the part of him relieved at finding something familiar in this confusing world)

"...I see. And to what extent is this corruption prevalent amongst the world's leading power's." Vader's tone changed as he looked away from his project and fully focused on me, Nat, and Sam. I'd tried to warn Sam beforehand but nothing really prepares you to face Vader for the first time. Credit where credit's due he wasn't handling it nearly as badly as I'd expected but the slight trembling of his limbs made it clear he'd need to step out sometime soon.

Nat stepped forward since she better understood the impact of what Dr. Zola told us then I did and Vader seemed to have something of a soft spot for her. "We don't have all the information but it's safe to assume over 50% of America's power structure is infested with HYDRA agents. With many occupying high positions giving them authority to move non HYDRA agents against us." Nat's tone was blank as she spoke. Fury's death had hit her hard. Hopefully when Clint meets up with us he'd be able to help clear her head. 

"Since they infiltrated SHIELD they have most of their power concentrated in the US. However, HYDRA is famous for its compartmentalization of its different parts. We have to assume centred around Germany where they were first created that they've branched outwards towards the whole planet." As Natasha finished speaking Stark started quickly ordering Jarvis around trying to validate her claims while Vader stood there motionlessly in vivid contrast to Stark's panic.

When he finally did speak I was completely blindsided by what he said "Come again?"

"Sigh. I asked, given the current compromised position of your leaders, do you have the power to sign off on my negotiations with Director Fury?" What is he talking about? Did he not hear me!? Fury's dead and the planet's controlled by HYDRA who cares about those damn negotiations. 

Before I could give Vader a piece of my mind Natasha steps forward and begins to approach Vader. Pulling out a stack of papers from her utility belt she presents them to Vader while speaking. "Under the circumstances I've been given the power to finalise the terms of your arrangement between SHIELD and yourself. The clauses are the exact same as you discussed, Director Fury has already signed." 

When did that happen? Shocked, speechless I could only stare as Vader grabbed a pen from the table in front of him and signed the contract Natasha had given him. Handing the papers back over to Natasha and leaving his copy on the table, Vader briefly turned his head to look at Stark - who had already put on his suit and was giving orders to Jarvis - before refocusing on Natasha.

"I admit when I agreed to help protect your planet from threats it produced I wasn't expecting to be needed so quickly. Truly your world is a mess of contradictions." Vader's tone was light, I guess our issues must seem so small to him if he's been telling us the truth of how versed he is in galactic warfare. (He ignored the familiar ache for his quieter world) 

"Yep, she's a handful but she's a beauty once you get to know her." Tony clapped Vader on the shoulder now standing just slightly shorter than the man in his armour. "So what's the plan Red? Are we gonna storm Parliament Hill cause last time I was there I kinda pissed everybody off so it'd be hard to tell who's HYDRA and who isn't." 

Natasha's lips twitched into something resembling a smile and for perhaps the first time since I've met him I appreciated Tony's ability to make light of any situation. 

"We're headed upstate Fury ha…had an acquaintance who wants HYDRA to take over even less than we do. They'll be a big help in sorting out who's who and will bring a lot of firepower to the table as well." Walking as she spoke, Nat led the 6 of us out onto Tony's landing pad and boarded the Quinjet that he'd 'acquired' from SHIELD. Inputting the coordinates she turned to face us as the jet's autopilot took off, starting to lay out the game plan for when we arrived.

3rd POV Jean Grey (Xavier's School for Gifted(dumb)) Children

Jean was just coming back from school with Scott and the others when she felt it. An overwhelming cold approaching the mansion at high speeds. A chill ran down her spine as she tried to identify where the cold was coming from. Not a minute later she noticed the rumbling sound of a ship and looked up just in time for a futuristic looking plane to land in front of their school.

Vaguely she was aware that the Professor and the rest of the X-Men had all exited the building and had come to stand by her as the ship's residents slowly disembarked. She attempted to enter the minds of the people inside but the cold launched itself at her probes everytime she approached the ship. Staggering back slightly after one particularly close call Jean stepped behind the Professor and immediately noticed a sharp upturn in the temperature around him.

Whatever was creating this cold was clearly psychic in nature. When the landing platform finished extending, Shock and awe overcame Jean and the rest of the X-Men as they observed the people coming down the stairs. 

In the front leading the group was Tony Stark aka Iron Man the world's first superhero. Following him were Captain America and the Black Widow, two of his teammates on the Avengers. Next to Captain America was a middle-aged black man Jean couldn't remember ever seeing with the Avengers.

Before Jean could attempt to dive into their minds again to find out why they came to the school she was distracted by the odd sound coming from inside the ship.

{Kahhhh} {pehhhh} {thunk} {thunk} {Kahhh} {Pehhhh}

A blast of coldness slammed onto their position as the final person disembarked from the ship. If it could even be called a person. A giant monolith of black slowly stepped down the ramp. Every step brought forward an unbearable cold that dulled the world grey. Jean's breath caught in her throat the moment he set foot on solid ground and the cold intensified a hundred fold.

Beside her Kitty fell onto her knees and both Logan and Ms. Munroe stepped forward there Mutant powers activated as they faced down this new threat.

'Everyone relax our guests mean us no harm. He is only reacting to my unannounced intrusion into his psyche.' The Professor's voice sounded in their heads as the cold slowly began to slip away leaving them all there shivering slightly as they attempted to get their bodies back under control.

"Allow me to make this clear now. Any further attempts to access my mind will result in the destruction of this institution." A cold robotic voice carried across the yard as the man slowly walked forward till he was an arm's distance in front of the Professor towering over him. 

"You were granted mercy only at the behest of the people behind me who speak positively of your character and ability to help solve our current crisis. You have wasted their kindness by recklessly trying to enter into my mind. Know this psychic, and know it well. No being that's entered my mind has ever come back intact." 

Logan shifted forward slightly and started to growl at the clear threat in his tone while Ms. Monroe had the opposite reaction and deactivated her powers while shooting the Professor, an exasperated look that spoke of this being a recurring problem. A small part of Jean was annoyed at how often the Professor seemed to use his powers out of context yet always preached to her of controlling her power and staying out of people's thoughts.

Maybe she'd have a better time of it if he practised what he preached. But a far larger part of her understood that the Professor had to be careful, many people watched the school and hoped to exploit the young Mutants within it for there own gains hence why they'd formed the X-Men. So like the Professor taught her Jean took her irrational annoyance and smothered it with her powers.

"Xavier, it's recently been brought to light that HYDRA didn't die out in world war 2 but instead infected SHIELD and slowly grew stretching their claws into all sectors of the world. It was only 2 weeks ago thanks to the help of Darth Vader that Director Fury was able to uncover their existence. Unfortunately he was killed soon after. Logan you fought in world war 2 we can't allow HYDRA to fulfil their goals or we risk the end of freedom as we know it." As the Black Widow spoke she made a gesture to the dark crusader in front of them making it clear he was the 'Darth Vader' she spoke about.

"I know your first priority is to your school but are you honestly okay with staying here and leaving the rest of the world to rot Xavier. We could use a skilled telepath to help distinguish who is aligned with HYDRA and who isn't. WIth Cerebro's power we can reduce casualties massively." The Black Widow or as she learned through a quick mind skim Natasha Romanoff spoke in an imploring tone.

The ridiculousness of the situation almost made Jean laugh if it wasn't for her power telling her that all the people in front of her believed what they were saying completely. Looking over at the rest of her teammates she saw a wide range of emotions from terror to awe and strangely even a little bit of excitement. That last one was mainly from Laura though so she guessed it only made sense. She always seemed to look forward to a fight.

"I understand the situation but as you said my first priority is protecting this school. Connecting myself to Cerebro for such a large scale task is like lighting a beacon for all those who know what to look for. The most I could do i…" The Professor began to speak but was abruptly cut off by Vader. 

"I can hide any psychic energy residue you release while connected to your machine." The way Vader spoke was off putting to Jean he sounded almost robotic. Concise and to the point with almost no connotations in his voice.

"However, I believe it would be a much better idea to use your 'Cerebro' as a beacon to lure as many of our enemies as possible to us instead of using it to hunt them down. Not only would it drastically speed up the process but would also serve to eliminate a majority of the psychic powers the enemy may possess." Vader suggested to the Professor who visibly flinched at the idea.

"Absolutely not, I will not allow any risk to befall the students of my Scho…" The Professor started to refute before once again being cut off by Vader.

"Ignoring the contradictory logic of allowing the enemy more time to prepare to fight you and therefore increasing the risk your school faces; we do not require your school to perform this action. All that is needed is the 'Cerebro' if you will not participate then I will relinquish the machine from your hands. By force if necessary." Slowly Vader's hand began to lower towards his waist where a small metal stick is attached to his armour.

"That won't be necessary." Quickly speaking up the Professor dissuaded Vader of his actions and voiced his support. "Your right being to passive in this conflict won't do us any good… Very well provided you choose a fitting location I and Cerebro alongside Logan will join you in your efforts to combat HYDRA."

"What?! But Professor this is what we've been training for. Why won't you let us help?" Scott stepped forward protesting immediately followed by the rest of the team. Personally Jean wanted no part in any conflict involving Vader no matter who's side he was on. The thought of once again facing that cold aura but at even more strength made her tremble in terror.

"That's quite enough Scott! The X-Men will stay here and protect the school, is that clear?!" Falling silent at the Professor's words Scott gave a reluctant nod before stepping back temporarily pacified. 

'Well then we best get to work, lots to do. Let's see this machine of yours baldly." And with that THE Tony Stark started to skip down the front garden of the institute in a suit of armour made of hundreds of pounds of metal.

"Sigh. Best follow after him before he starts taking things apart." Captain America (Steve) spoke with an exhausted tone sounding the 100 something years old he's supposed to be.