Warning And The Sentinel

"Hey, I just rolled out of bed and realized I haven't had breakfast yet. Mind if I crash your morning routine?" Tony grinned as he sidled up to Alex.

"Absolutely! Breakfast it is." Alex ushered Tony into the manor.

Sure, he's got a chef who can whip up some dishes, but it never quite hits the mark. So Alex takes matters into his own hands.

"It has a nice fragrance," Anna remarked as she poured herself a glass.

On the dining table the food were laid out, and Katie and Anna eagerly dug in.

"Take your time, girls. There's plenty more," Raven smiled warmly at Katie and Anna, chewing leisurely unlike the two eager eaters.

"Good morning, Uncle Tony," Anya greeted Tony cheerfully. Having met Tony numerous times, she felt comfortable around him.

"Anya, you're such a sweetheart. Here's your allowance for today," Tony said, playfully pinching Anya's cheek as he handed her five hundred dollars. For a middle schooler like Anya $500 was a substantial sum.

"Thank you, Uncle Tony!" Anya beamed, already planning how to spend her newfound wealth on toys.

"Don't worry, everyone gets a share," Tony chuckled, handing Katiana a crisp bill as well.

"Don't spoil them too much," Alex shot Tony a glance, though he made no move to retract the money. It wasn't about lacking the funds; rather, Alex aimed to instill good financial habits and discourage a sense of entitlement.

"What's the harm? This is the age for spending—dolls, cosmetics, perfume, fashionable clothes," Tony shrugged, unfazed by Alex's disapproval.

"Hey, hurry up and finish your food. You talk a mile a minute even with your mouth full," Alex teased, rolling his eyes. Who in the world splurges on cosmetics and perfume at fifteen anyway? And as for clothes, there's already a mountain of them in the closet. What more could they possibly need with five hundred bucks?

After scarfing down their meal, the trio stuffed the cash into their pockets, gave Alex a quick wave, and dashed out the door.

"Watch yourselves, and don't be late," Alex called after them, but whether they heard him amidst their haste was anyone's guess.

"Oh, by the way, bro, what was up last night? Feels like the whole city went bonkers overnight," Tony inquired, flashing a grin once the kids were out of earshot.

"Eric triggered all the X genes in mutants last night. Loads of folks have gained mutant powers—some got busted, others are laying low. Like that winged nutjob you just dealt with. Long story short, being the heir to Stark Industries puts a target on your back. You better watch yourself. Either hire some mutants with decent powers as bodyguards or stick close to me. Most folks around here won't dare to touch you," Alex explained casually.

Alex didn't delve into why troublemakers weren't swarming around Tony, and Tony was shrewd enough not to ask. He knew Alex had everything under control.

"Absolutely. And if I catch you sneaking out to play with those models and endanger your life, you know what will happen, right?" Alex warned.

"Me? Never. Wouldn't dream of it," Tony replied with mock innocence.

....

At S.H.I.E.L.D Headquarters

"Lately, it seems like there's an uptick in criminals, and now even gangs are cropping up left and right. S.H.I.E.L.D's special prisons are practically bursting at the seams," Nick Fury remarked, massaging his temples as he reviewed the information in his hands.

Despite his rapport with Captain Marvel, who had voluntarily arrived in New York City to take down these super criminals, they were all Mutants and required containment in specialized facilities. Regular prisons just couldn't hold them.

Nick admitted he'd be in a real bind if it weren't for Charles' Mutant School aiding in apprehensions and rehabilitation efforts.

"These crooks we're dealing with aren't the hardcore killers, thankfully. The real murderers are already behind bars in S.H.I.E.L.D's prison, waiting for their time," Nick explained.

"Perhaps you could consult with the old hands over at S.H.I.E.L.D before reaching out to other superhero outfits. Maybe a brainstorming session is in order," Phil Coulson suggested.

"Yeah, it might be worth a shot. If it's just Charles, Ms. Marvel, and maybe even Magneto lending a hand, it could ease the load and keep things from spiraling out of control," Nick mused, his mind already considering the benefits of establishing stronger ties with superhero organizations.

It seemed like the best bet for effectively tackling the surge in super criminals.

Phil Coulson perused the information before remarking, "So, Howard's adopted son, Alex, is also a Mutant. He and Magneto were once imprisoned together in a Nazi concentration camp, forming a strong bond. They were classmates with Charles, and they got along well."

On hearing this Nick started to recall how he once considered calling Alex when Eric kidnapped Senator Kelly. However, judging by Alex's disinterest, it seemed he wasn't keen on getting involved.

"But now, with all of New York in chaos, courtesy of Magneto, Alex's close ties with him might warrant his involvement," Phil observed.

"Agreed. Let's reach out to Carol and head to Charles first," suggested Nick. "With his influence, we might have a shot at assembling a superhero team under SHIELD. Otherwise, we'll keep playing catch-up. The divide between humans and Mutants is just too vast..." He shook his head with a sigh.

Even though humans possess guns and cannons, they're hesitant to use them in downtown areas. If innocent people get hurt, the backlash from the public will definitely bring them down.

Moreover, numerous encounters with Mutants have proven that conventional human weapons struggle to be effective against them.

Take Magneto, for instance.

Unless specialized weapons are employed, dealing with Mutants is nearly impossible.

"Coulson, how's the progress with the research team? How long until we can neutralize these Mutant abilities?" Nick Fury inquired as he strolled, his thoughts focused on Phil Coulson by his side.

"It'll take at least a week. The genetic sequence of the X gene in their bodies varies, resulting in diverse abilities. Crafting weapons to counter these abilities takes time. However, they mentioned Colonel Stryker proposed the Sentinel plan previously, but it wasn't taken seriously," Coulson explained.

"The Sentinel project? Any intel on it?" Fury questioned.

"Got it." Phil Coulson swiftly retrieved information on the Sentinel project.

After reviewing it, Fury remarked casually, "Let's revive the Sentinel project, and I want all the details on Weapon X from back then."

"Should we head to Alex's manor now?" Coulson inquired.

"Absolutely," Fury's single-eyed gaze gleamed with determination as he replied firmly.

.....

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