Chapter 49

"Our mad scientists are holed up in this area. The team will consist of me, Johnny, Ben, and Tony to lead the assault. Meanwhile, the second team—Sue, Bruce, and Betty—will search for the cure. Everyone agree with the plan?"

"I doubt I'd be much help to the brainiacs, Stretch," Ben grumbled.

Johnny simply smirked at Ben's comment.

"And definitely not you, Matchstick," Ben added, his tone final.

"What did you say, you walking boulder?!" Johnny exclaimed, his voice brimming with indignation.

"So, on top of being brain-dead, you've got hearing problems too?!" Ben retorted, refusing to back down.

I rolled my eyes, knowing their bickering could go on forever if left unchecked.

"Enough, guys," I intervened, trying to keep the tone serious. "We have an important mission. We can't afford to waste time arguing."

Sue, standing beside me, nodded in agreement.

"Reed's right," she said. "We need to stay focused. Bruce, Betty, have you familiarized yourselves with Reed's equipment?"

"It was tough getting used to such a difference in gear," Bruce said with a smile.

Betty nodded and added, "I thought the military had the most advanced tools, but what Reed has surpasses them by several orders of magnitude."

With that, they headed to the lab to work with what they had, particularly the DNA sample from Tony's daughter, which he managed to obtain.

"Ready?"

My team nodded. Then, I created a portal to the area closest to the Extremis facility.

Extremis

"Do we really have to wear this?" one of the scientists asked, examining the device on his wrist.

"If you don't want to risk your health, I suggest you keep it on," his colleague replied, not looking up from his instruments.

The man shook his head. He wasn't talking about the protective suit.

"I'm talking about this bracelet," he clarified, raising his hand, where the metallic band glinted.

The second scientist gave him a look that clearly said, "Are you an idiot?"

"I'm serious. Why do we have to wear it all the time? Sure, there are telepaths, but there are plenty of people on this continent! It's not like I'm going to spend time on the street thinking about the location of our lab!"

His colleague sighed, putting down his tools.

"Look, these bracelets aren't just for show. They don't just protect us from telepaths; they ensure the safety of the entire operation. You know we're working with the Extremis virus, and if it gets out, the consequences could be catastrophic."

The first scientist frowned, trying to process his colleague's words.

"Alright, I get that," he said, "but couldn't we make them a bit less intrusive?"

"It's a matter of security," the second scientist responded firmly. "Every detail is crucial in our work. These bracelets help us maintain the secrecy and safety of our research. We can't afford to take risks."

"Fine," the first scientist reluctantly agreed, glancing at the bracelet. "I just wish we had a bit more freedom."

"Freedom will come with results," the second scientist said, returning to his instruments. "When we finish developing Extremis, the world will change. Until then, we have to follow the rules."

"Alright," the first scientist said, his voice softening. "But if we find a way to make them less bothersome, I'll be the first to know."

"Deal," the second scientist smiled. "Now, let's get back to work. We've got a lot ahead of us, and we need to be ready for anything."

They returned to their research, knowing that each step brought them closer to their goal. Extremis was on the verge of completion, and their efforts could change the world. But for now, they had to follow the rules and ensure the safety of their work, knowing that every move could have global consequences.

"Hmm, are we working with 'coals' this time?" one of the scientists asked, scanning the data on the screen.

"Coals," or "Batch 7," mostly consisted of illegal immigrants from African countries. This was why the Extremis team referred to them as "coals."

"Yes. But I think—"

BOOM

He didn't get to finish his sentence as his words were drowned out by the sound of an explosion, and soon he didn't even have the strength to think, as darkness consumed him.

A Few Minutes Earlier

"There are currently a dozen scientists here with telepathy suppressors… And the test subjects are on a lower level," I said, analyzing the data.

Another organization with technology to conceal their minds was a significant problem. However, thanks to my electromagnetic control, now enhanced by my new omega-level telekinetic abilities, I was able to understand how these defenses worked. Once I understood their mechanisms, dismantling them was a simple task.

I focused, feeling the electromagnetic fields around me respond to my will. Every device, every telepathy suppressor, was like an open book to me. My mind penetrated the space, sensing every detail.

A wave of telekinetic energy swept through the room, destroying the protective devices. The electromagnetic fields collapsed under my control, and soon the telepathy suppressors ceased to function.

I closed my eyes, immersing myself in the world accessible only to telepaths. My telepathy reached into the minds of the scientists, reading their thoughts and extracting information. Each consciousness was like a book revealing its secrets.

In an instant, someone high up in the organization sensed something was wrong and instinctively altered their body. The virus activated, changing them.

Marcus's body barely resembled a human. Telepathy didn't work on him.

"Damn it."

BOOM

A pillar of fire erupted, and along with it, ten people infected with Extremis, who had transformed due to the upper echelon.

"The captives are alive," I declared, instantly putting them to sleep and sealing the room to protect them from the chaos.

"That's great, but we need to deal with these guys first!" Tony shouted, taking the initiative.

BOOM

One of the infected was struck by Stark's repulsors. The fiery body was slammed against the lab wall under the pressure of the energy.

"Careful!" Ben shouted, taking on four of the infected. Thanks to his stone body, he didn't feel the blows from the superheated, Extremis-enhanced people. However, Johnny's fire outmatched them by several orders of magnitude.

BOOM

The body of an infected person who tried to catch Stark was flung back by the force of Sue's younger brother's flames.

"Are you my fans?!" Johnny shouted, dodging another attack from the infected in mid-air. But this was merely a distraction for the infected nearby. They were leading him into a trap.

"DIE!" I heard, just as Marcus's fist collided with my shield. Marcus's fire didn't even scratch my shield, crafted from electromagnetism and telekinesis.

I increased the tension in the barrier, pushing Marcus back. Tony continued his assault, his repulsors striking with precision, but the infected didn't retreat. Their fiery bodies were incredibly resilient, and the Extremis virus granted them inhuman strength.

"Stand down," I said, unleashing my newfound power.

BOOM

A massive wave of energy obliterated Marcus. The energy wave tore through the lab as easily as a hot knife through butter. A perfectly round hole now lay before me.

I then turned my gaze to the remaining infected, who burned from within. While they had gained incredible power, they couldn't withstand my allies for long.

Just as the infected were about to explode… I created a barrier around each of them, containing the blast.

—\\—

"The fireworks were a bit of a letdown," Ben grumbled, surveying the wreckage around us.

Each member of my team fully understood the nature of the infected and those who created them. There was little surprise left in any of us. We had all been through countless trials that had shaped and changed us.

"What surprises me more is how quickly they decided to turn themselves into living bombs," Tony said, his voice full of contemplation.

Tony's words triggered a memory of what I had encountered when I invaded the minds of those who had recently become living bombs. Telepathy not only allows for precise manipulation of others' minds but also enhances one's ability to analyze their own. Even before I gained telepathic abilities, my memory was impressive, but now my capabilities had multiplied.

Thanks to this, I was able to retrieve from the depths of my mind what had occurred just a few minutes earlier. Reliving that situation brought a new perspective to the event.

"There was a trigger embedded in their minds," I realized, as the solution dawned on me.

This realization only confirmed my suspicions that Hydra had its own telepath who assisted in developing defenses against telepathic intrusion.

"If we assume Extremis is a side project of Hydra, then it's not surprising they've adopted some of the organization's traits," I said, considering the new information.

There was little anyone could say in response. We all understood the gravity of the situation.

"Have you started extracting the captives?" Tony asked, his voice tinged with concern.

I smirked and accelerated the process. The ground beneath us began to tremble as if struck by a five-magnitude earthquake. The intensity peaked when the facility was just three meters from breaking through to the surface.

"Got it, didn't even need to ask," Tony muttered, watching my actions.

A portion of the building, which had been protected by both my powers and its own structure, began to rise from the ground. Massive walls emerged, revealing the hidden labs and cells where the captives were held.

"There they are," I said, using telekinetic energy to carefully lift the captives to the surface. "We need to evacuate them immediately."

Johnny and Ben quickly rushed to assist the captives. Tony activated his systems, ready for any potential threats.

"We should check for any remaining traps," Tony said, his suit scanning the surrounding area. "We can't afford any surprises."

"Don't worry. I've already neutralized the traps, and the hostages are unconscious," I replied, maintaining control over the situation.

Despite my assurance, Tony continued his scan, eventually confirming what I had said moments earlier.

"All clear," he nodded, his expression focused. "Now let's get them out of here."

I contacted our team on the island.

"Sue, how are things going?" I asked. By my calculations, they should have completed their task by now. They had all the necessary tools.

"We're done," Sue replied, her voice calm and confident. "With this team, creating the cure was surprisingly straightforward."

In the background, I could hear the joyful voices of Bruce and Betty. It seemed they were relieved and pleased with their success.

"Excellent," I said. "We're evacuating the captives. Be ready to receive them and begin treatment immediately."

"Understood, Reed," Sue responded. "Everyone, you heard him."

After Sue's words, the jubilant cheers from Bruce and Betty subsided, and I couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

"And how about we go out for dinner afterward?"

Some Time Later

150 test subjects. That was the size of Extremis's experimental base. And that was the number of people we needed to cure. It would have been simple since we had the cure in hand, but there were variables requiring an individualized approach.

For this, I had to reach out to Xavier because among the captives were mutants who needed a home.

"I take it you won't be able to help?" I asked, looking at Charles through the holographic screen.

Professor Xavier shook his head.

"They won't be able to live peacefully in this country after what Extremis did to them," Charles replied, and between the lines, I detected the implication that the state might have an interest in these mutants.

"In that case, we'll have to contact Eisenhardt. His Genosha could help these mutants. You still have a connection with him, right?" I asked, frowning slightly.

Charles Xavier nodded again and focused. I felt his powers come into play.

"I'm already reaching out to him," Charles said, his eyes closing in concentration.

Seconds stretched into what felt like minutes as I waited for Magneto's response. We knew these mutants needed safety and protection, and Genosha could offer them that sanctuary.

Finally, after some time, Xavier opened his eyes and informed me:

"Erik is willing to take in anyone who needs refuge. You can start preparing them for transport."

"Will you send someone who can pilot the plane to avoid unnecessary complications?" I asked. The professor nodded, knowing that Max would still approach the situation with some degree of discontent, at the very least.

"Scott can handle the task," Charles said.

"Perfect," I replied, feeling a sense of relief. "We'll start preparing them for evacuation."

Charles nodded in gratitude but then fell silent. Thanks to my ability to catch his telepathic communication with one of Magneto's people, I knew exactly what the professor was about to ask.

"Would you mind accompanying Scott on this flight?" Charles asked.

"I have time for it."

"In that case, could you do it? Magneto wants to hear about the situation directly from you."

Magneto was extending an olive branch. It was in my best interest to accept, especially considering what lay ahead.

"Alright," I nodded.

Max Eisenhardt

Max Eisenhardt gazed out over the paradise they had created together, not without a sense of pride in their work. Genosha had become a place where mutants could have what they deserved: safety, recognition, and freedom. Every corner of this island was filled with the labor and effort of those who believed in a better future for their people.

At that moment, his abilities detected an approaching aircraft heading toward Genosha. Max Eisenhardt, known as Magneto, instantly recognized the signature and understood that this was the transport carrying the mutants Reed Richards had promised to deliver.

"Time to get to work," Magneto murmured, rising into the air.

He glided over the ground, watching as the plane approached. His powers effortlessly guided the aircraft, helping it land safely on the prepared landing strip. Magneto always felt responsible for the safety of his people, and today was no exception.

As the plane touched down, the doors opened, and the first mutants began to disembark. Their eyes showed fear and uncertainty, but Magneto greeted them with open arms.

"Welcome to Genosha," he said, his voice warm and reassuring. "Here, you will find peace and safety. We will take care of you."

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