Chapter 35: Revelations and Discussions

The Avengers and Max sat in a circle on the rooftop terrace of Stark Tower, their bodies relaxed but their minds anything but. The events of the last hour had left them with more questions than answers. Loki's invasion had been repelled, but the sudden appearance of the X-Men and the revelations Max had hinted at made them uneasy. As the golden sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the rooftop, the group's attention was focused on Max.

"So, let me get this straight," Tony started, leaning back on the bench, one hand resting on his chin. "In this universe—this very one we're sitting in—there are no active mutants. None at all?"

Max nodded, his expression calm. "That's correct. There are no active mutants in this universe, at least not in the way you'd expect."

Clint frowned, leaning forward with a skeptical look. "How does that even happen? People just… don't get born with powers?"

"It's more complicated than that," Max replied. "I've done some extensive research, and what I found is that the mutant DNA is still present. It's just... suppressed."

Natasha, ever the pragmatic thinker, raised an eyebrow. "Suppressed how? By whom?"

Max paused for a moment, organizing his thoughts before continuing. "Statistically speaking, about 68% of this earth's population has the DNA capable of developing mutations. But something—some cosmic event—happened that is preventing that gene from activating."

"Wait," Bruce Banner said, joining the conversation. "68% of the population? That's… an insane number. How did you figure this out?"

Max shrugged slightly, as though the answer was simple. "I have access to advanced genetic scanning technology. It wasn't difficult to analyze and calculate once I knew what I was looking for."

Natasha's eyes narrowed, the gears in her mind turning. "And you're saying there's another group of people? Another 14%? What's their story?"

Max nodded, impressed by how quickly she'd picked up on the detail. "Yes, there's another subset of the population—about 14%—that doesn't have the potential for mutations, but they possess something else. Something that, with the right catalyst, could unlock powers."

"Catalyst?" Steve Rogers chimed in, leaning forward. "What kind of catalyst?"

Max glanced around the group, aware that the information he was about to reveal would likely blow their minds. "It's a substance known as Terrigen. It can activate dormant abilities in certain individuals, turning them into something similar to mutants, but they're not. They're called Inhumans."

Tony's eyebrows shot up. "Inhumans? Seriously? I thought that was just some alien fairy tale."

Max chuckled softly. "Inhumans are very real, Tony. And they're here on Earth, hidden for now, but their abilities can only be triggered by exposure to the Terrigen Mists."

The group exchanged glances, absorbing the massive revelation.

Clint broke the silence, "Okay, but if there are so many people with this mutant gene… why aren't we seeing more superpowered individuals running around?"

Max's expression darkened. "Because something happened. A cosmic event—a Nexus event, to be precise—in a parallel universe. It affected the multiverse in ways that are difficult to explain. In many universes, the effects were reversed. The suppression of the mutant gene was lifted, and mutants thrived once again. But in this universe, the suppression is still active."

The Avengers were silent for a moment, processing the weight of Max's words. Finally, Natasha spoke again. "And you know all of this because…?"

Max sighed, folding his hands in his lap. "Because I've always known. Since I was a child, I had knowledge of the multiverse and the events that affect it. It's part of who I am."

Natasha's eyes narrowed further. "You mean to say, you've always known about alternate universes, about mutants, Inhumans, and everything else? All of this knowledge, and you've just been sitting on it?"

Max shrugged. "It wasn't relevant until now. And let's just say the technology you've seen me use—what you've witnessed—is all a part of that knowledge."

Thor, who had been silent up until this point, suddenly spoke, his deep voice cutting through the air. "So you are saying, mortal, that this world has faced adversities beyond what it even knows? That there are forces that have yet to awaken?"

Max nodded gravely. "Yes. And the awakening of those forces would bring about challenges unlike anything this world has faced before."

As if on cue, the X-Men, who had been unconscious just moments earlier, began to stir. They lay on the far side of the rooftop, now wide awake and listening intently to the conversation.

The first to rise was Beast, his blue fur slightly singed but his mind sharp as ever. He adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat before speaking. "It seems we've missed quite the enlightening conversation," he said, his deep voice both calm and inquisitive. "Might I inquire as to the status of our current reality?"

Max turned to face Beast. "Welcome to a universe with no active mutants, Hank. You're in a world where your kind hasn't yet emerged."

Beast's expression shifted to one of fascination. "Fascinating... and troubling. So what you're telling us is that we've crossed over into a dimension where the genetic potential for mutation has been suppressed?"

Max nodded. "Exactly. And it's a cosmic-level issue. It's not something that can be fixed with a snap of the fingers."

Hearing this, Logan sat up, rubbing his head, still recovering from the rough landing. "Great. So we're stuck in a world where we're the only freaks with claws and blue fur. Just what I needed."

Tony, ever the one to lighten the mood, leaned in with a smirk. "Well, at least you'll stand out at parties, right?"

Before Logan could retort, Max continued, his tone growing more somber. "In most universes where mutants exist, there are patterns—issues that crop up time and time again. In fact, in nearly every timeline where mutants rise, they face incredible adversity. The struggles of your kind... are immense."

"Such as?" Steve asked, his brow furrowed.

Max exhaled softly, organizing his thoughts before diving in. "First, there's a prehistoric bacteria, an entity known as Sublime. It can possess organisms, but not mutants. Because of that, it views mutants as a threat and actively tries to exterminate them. It manipulates governments, media, military leaders—all in an effort to wipe out mutantkind."

Beast's eyes widened in recognition. "Sublime… I've heard from a scientist with the same name."

Max nodded. "Sublime has been responsible for some of the most heinous actions against mutants. But that's just the beginning. You've also got alien invasions—the Skrull and others—who see mutants as a threat and seek to destroy them."

Thor raised his hammer, his voice loud and full of determination. "If these creatures seek to harm innocents, then I shall be ready to fight them, wherever they may arise!"

Max smiled, though there was sadness in his eyes. "I'm sure you will, Thor. But it's not just aliens. There are people like Mister Sinister—a man driven mad by an ancient mutant from Egypt—who has the ability to clone himself, manipulate genetics, and create armies of mutant slaves. He's been known to capture mutants and sell them to governments as lab rats."

Logan's fists clenched instinctively. "Bastard…"

Max continued, "Then, there's Jean Grey."

At the mention of her name, the X-Men's expressions stiffened.

"She's under layers of mental conditioning," Max explained, "trapped by her own mind and the influence of a cosmic entity known as the Phoenix. Jean is... capable of destroying entire planets if she ever loses control."

The Avengers sat in stunned silence, processing the gravity of what Max had just revealed.

"And then," Max added, his voice tinged with bitterness, "there's the governments. Afraid of what they can't control, they build giant robots—Sentinels—designed to hunt mutants. But eventually, the Sentinels realize that most of humanity carries the mutant gene, and they turn on everyone, starting a war that wipes out the majority of the human population."

Max leaned back in his seat, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Every time I think about all this… I can't help but feel depressed."

Thor, ever the optimist, stood and raised his hammer once more. "Fear not, friend Max. Should such darkness arise, I will fight with all my strength for the innocent."

Beast stepped forward, his voice soft yet authoritative. "Unfortunately, our troubles do not lie in such future events. Our world is facing a threat far more immediate."

The Avengers turned to Beast, their curiosity piqued.

Beast adjusted his glasses once more. "Currently, the Sentinels in our universe are locked in battle with an ancient evil known as the N'Garai. The Sentinels are losing, and our only hope lies in finding a certain individual who was imprisoned, but has recently vanished."

Max leaned forward, his interest piqued. "And you were following that individual when you ended up here?"

Beast nodded gravely. "Exactly. We must return to our world and locate her before the N'Garai overrun everything."