Capter 30: Unprecedented situation
A week had passed since Darius's blatant show of power made waves in the world. In that time, he had kept a low profile(as low as someone like him can possibly manage), watching the world, observing its changes, and contemplating his next move. But trouble always found him, or perhaps, he was drawn to it.
On this day, he found himself walking toward St. Elara Hospital for the Enhanced, a sanctuary for mutants and other individuals with extraordinary abilities. The hospital had been taken over by a terrorist group seeking to exploit the patients for their powers. The world outside was in a frenzy, the media buzzing with news of the hostage situation.
As Darius approached the hospital, he wore his usual long white robes with golden accents, his long white hair flowing behind him. Beside him, Zuri, the black panther pup, trotted along, hidden within his shadow, only visible to those with the keenest of senses. The entrance to the hospital was heavily guarded by armed terrorists, their faces masked and their weapons ready.
Darius walked calmly, almost nonchalantly, towards the entrance. The guards spotted him immediately and aimed their guns.
"Halt! Who goes there?" one of the terrorists barked, his voice filled with authority and fear.
Darius stopped and looked at the man, his eyes calm and unyielding. "I am here to end this madness," he said simply.
The terrorists exchanged glances before the leader shouted, "Open fire!"
The sound of gunfire erupted, bullets flying towards Darius with lethal intent. With a casual wave of his hand, Darius created a shimmering barrier that deflected the bullets, sending them ricocheting harmlessly into the walls and ground. The terrorists were momentarily stunned, their eyes wide with disbelief.
Taking advantage of their surprise, Darius moved with inhuman speed. He appeared in front of one of the gunmen, disarming him with a swift motion and rendering him unconscious with a single strike. The remaining terrorists began to scatter, trying to regroup and form a defensive line.
One of them, a burly man with enhanced strength, charged at Darius with a roar. Darius sidestepped the attack effortlessly and delivered a precise blow to the man's solar plexus, knocking the wind out of him and sending him crashing to the ground.
A terrorist with the ability to manipulate fire launched a torrent of flames at Darius. The fire engulfed him, but when it dissipated, Darius stood unharmed, his clothes untouched by the inferno. He raised a hand, and the flames were sucked towards his palm, forming a fiery orb that he hurled back at the attacker, neutralizing him.
With the entrance cleared, Darius stepped into the hospital. The halls were eerily silent, the usual bustle of patients and staff replaced by the oppressive presence of more terrorists. He moved with purpose, his senses heightened, ready for any threat.
In a nearby corridor, he encountered a group of terrorists herding a group of patients. The patients, many of them children with various abilities, looked terrified. One of the terrorists spotted Darius and yelled, "It's him! Take him down!"
The terrorists opened fire again, but Darius was a blur of motion. He weaved through the hail of bullets, disarming and incapacitating the attackers with precision. One by one, they fell, unable to match his speed and strength.
A young girl, no older than twelve, watched with wide eyes as Darius dismantled the attackers. She had the ability to manipulate ice, but fear had paralyzed her. Darius approached her gently, kneeling down to her level.
"You're safe now," he said softly, his voice soothing. "Can you help me protect the others?"
The girl nodded, her fear giving way to determination. She raised her hands, forming icy barriers around the remaining patients, shielding them from harm. Darius gave her an encouraging smile before moving on.
In the main ward, the situation was dire. The terrorists had taken several hostages, including doctors and nurses. Their leader, a man with the ability to control minds, stood at the center, his eyes glowing with malevolent power.
As Darius entered the ward, the leader turned his attention to him. "Ah, the infamous Darius," he sneered. "I've heard of you. But your powers won't save you here."
Darius felt a wave of psychic energy wash over him as the leader tried to seize control of his mind. For a moment, the world seemed to blur, but then Darius's eyes flashed with a golden light, and the psychic attack was shattered.
"You will find that I am not so easily controlled," Darius said, his voice resonating with authority.
The leader snarled and gestured to his men. "Get him!"
The terrorists lunged at Darius, but he moved with fluid grace, his movements a dance of combat. He dispatched them swiftly, his strikes precise and devastating. The leader, seeing his men fall, decided to use his trump card.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a device, pressing a button. Immediately, the hostages began to writhe in pain, their eyes glowing with the same malevolent light as the leader's. He had implanted them with psychic bombs, ready to detonate at his command.
"One more step and they die," the leader hissed.
Darius paused, his eyes narrowing. "Release them, and I will let you leave."
The leader laughed. "Do you take me for a fool? No, Darius, you will kneel before me, or they all perish."
Darius took a deep breath, his expression calm. "Very well," he said, slowly lowering himself to one knee. But as he did, he whispered an incantation, his voice barely audible.
The air around him shimmered, and suddenly, the psychic bonds holding the hostages shattered. The leader's eyes widened in shock as his control over them was broken. Darius rose to his feet, his eyes glowing with power.
"You underestimated me," Darius said, his voice cold. "And now, you will face the consequences."
With a wave of his hand, he sent a blast of energy towards the leader, knocking him off his feet. The device fell from his hand, and before he could react, Darius crushed it under his heel. The leader scrambled to his feet, but Darius was already upon him, delivering a final, decisive blow that rendered him unconscious.
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With the terrorists defeated, Darius turned his attention to the hostages. He moved among them, using his powers to heal their injuries and calm their fears. The hospital staff, now freed, began to organize the patients, ensuring everyone was accounted for.
Zuri emerged from Darius's shadow, the pup's presence bringing a sense of comfort to those around her. She nuzzled against the children, her playful antics bringing smiles to their faces.
As Darius walked through the hospital, he could feel the eyes of the patients and staff on him, their expressions a mix of awe and gratitude. He had saved them, and in doing so, had shown the world once again the extent of his power and his compassion.
==
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The X-Men were in the middle of a strategy meeting when an urgent distress signal flashed on the screen. Ororo Munroe, also known as Storm, immediately recognized the location: St. Elara Institute Hospital for the Enhanced, a place where mutants and other enhanced individuals received specialized medical care. Terrorists had taken over the hospital, holding patients and staff hostage.
"Let's move out," Cyclops ordered, his voice tense. "We need to get there as quickly as possible."
The X-Men boarded the Blackbird, the team's advanced jet, and flew towards the hospital. Onboard, Ororo's mind was racing. She hadn't seen Darius in nearly 4 months since he left Wakanda. The thought of him resurfaced, hoping he was alright. But her focus was on the mission; they had to save those people.
Upon arrival, the scene was chaotic. The hospital, once a beacon of hope, was now under siege. The X-Men disembarked quickly, ready for a fight, but they were met with an unexpected sight. The terrorists were already subdued, scattered across the hospital grounds, unconscious or restrained by various means.
"What the...?" Wolverine muttered, his claws retracting as he looked around in confusion.
...