Acquiring the Starship
The sudden turn of events left everyone in disarray.
Jean fell straight into a massive pit over fifty meters deep.
Before anyone could react, several figures in black combat armor appeared. They jumped into the pit, grabbed Jean's lifeless body, and prepared to leave.
Nick finally came to his senses and rushed forward, "Who are you?"
The armored individuals ignored him and moved toward a waiting helicopter.
The helicopter took off as soon as they were aboard, leaving no time for anyone to respond.
However, Nick caught a glimpse of Psylocke among the black-clad figures.
"Could these people be from the Hellfire Club?" he thought. "No, Psylocke betrayed the Hellfire Club and is even wanted by them. How could she possibly work with them again so soon?"
At that moment, Natasha and Barton approached Nick.
"Director, what should we do?" Natasha asked. "They killed Jean and took her body."
Nick's expression flickered between anger and hesitation. But looking at the heavy casualties among the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents around him, he eventually shook his head.
"For now, we pull back and regroup," he said grimly.
He had already lost so many agents. Explaining this to their families would be hard enough without adding another layer of chaos. Besides, Apocalypse was dead, and their primary objective was complete. There was no need to escalate further.
Nearby, Erik used his powers to lift several bullets from the ground, inspecting them closely.
His expression darkened. "Adamantium bullets."
Lorna walked over, pale and visibly exhausted.
"Father, let's go," she said softly.
The recent battle had drained most of her energy. If another fight broke out, she doubted she could even control metal.
Seeing his daughter's tired face, Erik nodded. "Let's leave."
As Erik and Lorna prepared to depart, Nick called out to them.
"Wait, you can't leave just yet."
Both Erik and Lorna turned, their expressions wary.
Sensing the misunderstanding, Nick quickly clarified, "Don't worry, I'm not here to arrest you. I'm here to lift your warrant."
"You don't want to keep being hunted by the Security Council, do you?"
Erik glanced at Lorna before nodding.
He didn't care about his own warrant—he was used to being a fugitive. But for Lorna's sake, it was better to ensure she could live a normal life.
The recent events involving Apocalypse had softened his once-radical views on mutant supremacy. The world was far more complex than he had imagined.
Meanwhile, Tony approached Hulk and patted him on the shoulder.
"Let's head back," Tony said.
"Hulk…" Hulk hesitated but eventually nodded, finding himself oddly fond of the armored man.
..........
Apocalypse's death was quickly broadcasted across the globe.
As the news spread, riots and chaos began to subside. Most people, it seemed, preferred peace over conflict.
Those who caused trouble during the chaos were swiftly dealt with. But these were minor issues.
Life gradually returned to normal.
Heroes like Iron Man, Hulk, Magneto, Polaris, Wolverine, and Sabretooth became household names, celebrated for their roles in the battle.
However, the swift passing of the Mutant Registration Act by various governments was the darker side of the aftermath. The fear of another Apocalypse loomed large, forcing mutants into the spotlight like never before.
..........
A week later~
At the headquarters of Starship Corporation in New York, a grand press conference was underway.
Luna, dressed sharply in a black suit and high heels, strode confidently onto the stage. The sound of her heels echoed as she approached the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Starship Corporation's press conference," she announced.
Cameras flashed relentlessly, filling the room with the sound of shutters clicking.
"Umbrella's investment in Starship will bring unprecedented collaboration and support," Luna continued.
"Our first project is the reusable rocket.
"Our second project focuses on communications, ushering in the 4G era.
"And our third project involves communication satellites. In the future, people won't need long cables or routers to connect to the internet. Satellite connectivity will revolutionize global communication."
The audience erupted in applause as Luna finished her presentation.
During the Q&A session, journalists bombarded her with questions.
"Ms. Luna, with Umbrella acquiring 51% of Starship's shares, will it become a private company?"
"Not at all," Luna replied smoothly. "Umbrella remains committed to open collaboration. Shares will be available for purchase."
"But the reusable rocket project has failed ten times over the past three years. Do you have any breakthroughs to share?"
"That information is classified for now," she said with a smile. "However, we plan to conduct our first rocket launch next month."
Luna answered every question with poise, captivating the audience.
In a corner of the room, Starship's former chairman, Maslow, watched Luna with a complex expression.
A week ago, she had approached him with a 46% stake in the company, offering to buy his remaining 5%.
Distracted by the chaos surrounding Apocalypse, he sold his shares at a bargain price.
Now, with the markets stabilizing and Starship thriving under Umbrella, he deeply regretted his decision.
Still, seeing representatives from the Life Foundation—the company that had sold most of its shares—offered him some solace.
..........
Later that evening~
A weary Luna finally returned to Umbrella Tower.
On reaching the top floor, she kicked off her heels and rubbed her sore feet.
"Exhausting," she muttered. "I deserve a reward from the boss for this."
Glancing toward the CEO's office, she hesitated.
"Adam's probably still in the lab. He's been spending so much time there lately," she thought.
Disappointed, Luna began gathering her things to head home. She lived in a spacious apartment nearby, so there wasn't much to pack.
Just then, the elevator chimed.
"Is he back?"
But as the doors opened, Luna froze in shock.
Adam stepped out, his body covered in blood.
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