Issue #2

(Sorry for not releasing yesterday. Wanted to see how much my rank would drop by end of week if I missed a day. Will post another 1 or 2 later to make up for one I didn't post yesterday)

While the Frost Family was discussing their future schemes and plans, other groups were holding meetings of their own to discuss how they would proceed. One such group was a gathering of some of the greatest minds on the planet.

With the Institute safe, the Professor snuck out of the mansion to meet several other heroes at a secret location.

When he arrived, he realized that only 1 other member had arrived before him and it was the person he got along with the best.

"Hello, Strange. I am glad that it is just the two of us here right now. I must say thank you for saving my students earlier today," Xavier said sincerely. If not for Dr. Strange's arrival, the New Mutants would have surely faced casualties

Strange waved his hand dismissively.

"No need for thanks, my friend," Strange said honestly. He did not think he did anything too important because if he didn't help the New Mutants there, then the entire planet would have had a full-scale demon invasion.

The next to arrive was Namor. He walked in without speaking to anyone else, clearly in a bad mood. He had no chance to show off during the conflict and also felt as if his nation was being looked down upon since it was not invaded.

Dr. Strange and the Professor shared a look but did not say anything. They were not masochists who wanted to get yelled at by an arrogant king just because he was not in a good mood.

Over the next 20 minutes, Black Bolt, Reed Richards, and Tony Stark all arrived one by one before taking their seats around the table. And with all of them present, the 13th meeting of the Illuminati could begin.

"We all know why we're here so let's not waste any time. The world was just invaded and I want to know who was behind it," Tony said as soon as he sat down

"There was no unusual magical waves or anomalies besides the normal ones you should expect from a demonic invasion. That means that this couldn't have been organized by a magical being. At least the chances of that happening and me not being able to find out anything is far too low," Strange started out.

The others nodded and didn't question him. He was their magical expert so they would definitely trust his judgement on this matter.

"And there was also no large amount of psionic energy that should have been unleashed in someone wanted to organize 5 armies. The attacks were far to coordinated for it to all be such a coincidence."

Xavier was the next one to speak up. He used not only his powerful telepathic abilities to look for any traces but even used Cerebro to enhance his powers in hopes that he could find even the most minute psychic traces over the past few days that might have led to this but he could not find anything.

"Then that leaves technology. I will get in contact with SHIELD and SWORD to see if they have gotten any information on their own," Stark understood that this was the most difficult type of coordination to track since someone who could organize so many forces from all over had to be very advanced

"Black Bolt says that he will search for any unusual energy spikes. His people usually keep track of things such as that for research purposes. I'll also have the top scientists in the Institute try their best to search for anything," Xavier added

"And I'll get into contact with our intergalatic friends. Johnny is friends with several of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Maybe they might have heard something. I can also talk to Doom since this may have even been his plot," Reed was also willing to reach out to his contacts in order to find the origin of this attack.

None of them could risk repeating this incident. They were lucky that Jack had coordinated their forces because if they continued to fight as they were, it would have been even heavier losses on their side.

The civilian casualties were already in the thousands. With their carelessness, it could have ended up in the millions if all the threats were plugged up where they were.

"We were careless. We coordinate in this meetings but we also need to coordinate outside of them. If any issue such as this happens again, we need to get in contact with one another as soon as we can. Our prides cannot allow us to let it get so bad again," Strange reprimanded himself and the others ruthlessly

"You dare speak to me like this! I would warn you to watch your words, Strange," Namor hissed back at the sorcerer

"Black Bolt says he is right. He says he will be faster to call in his people to lend a hand next time," Xavier spoke on behalf of the psuedo-mute man.

They had formed the Illuminati to work together for large threats and share information but they were nothing more than a secret club at this stage. If they truly wanted to do good, they had to do better.

"Then I say we start taking some preventative measures. The Skrull-Kree war is getting too chaotic. Just last month, several Skrulls landed here to make a holdout position against some Kree they were battling which ended with the deaths of 17 humans," Tony said solemnly

"Then let us warn them what shall happen the next time they take their war to our world," Namor spoke up excitedly. "We can go there and tell their king that his war shall not be fought on land that does not belong to him or the Kree."

"I actually agree with Namor. Best way to prevent a war or letting either side think we are taking the other's side is to express our neutrality and reluctance to be a part of their war," Reed agreed with Namor for the first time in over half a year

"All those in favor of telling the Skrull and Kree we want no part in their war, raise your right hand."

Reed and Namor were the first to raise their hands since they had already agreed on it. Tony was barely half a second behind them. He preferred to take preventative measures such as this.

Black Bolt and Xavier thought about it for a few seconds before they raised their hands as well. Soon, everyone except for Strange had their hands raised. All of the members turned to look at him.

'No point in arguing it.'

Knowing that they were going to go through with the plan whether he agreed or not, Strange decided to just make allies instead of enemies by disagreeing.

And with that, the first domino was set in place to fall. What the final result would be, only the author and those with precognition would know.