The Man In Charge

A steely glint flickered in Nick Fury's eyes as the Sentinel plan resurfaced, a grim reminder of the dark intentions to eradicate Mutants. Though the reasons for Trask abandoning the plan Ravanned a mystery, Stryker persisted in its pursuit.

Behind closed doors, under Trisk's covert guidance, Sentinels continued to be developed, albeit without Ravan's genetic blueprint, rendering them imperfect.

Yet, even without Ravan's genes, these Sentinels possessed enough firepower to combat Mutants, drawing from the genetic data stored within the machines.

"Would restarting the Sentinel project stoke Charles' ire?" Phil Coulson furrowed his brow, his grip tightening on the Sentinel project dossier. The very thought of the experiments conducted on Mutants for this endeavor churned his stomach.

"Are we to sit idly by and wait for these Mutants to lay waste to New York?" Nick Fury's retort dripped with disdain.

"But I've heard reports that many heads of state were transformed into Mutants that night," Phil Coulson murmured, unable to shake the horror of such revelations.

"Agent Phil Coulson, remember your allegiance lies with the United States. The affairs of other nations are not our concern," Nick Fury's tone was cold and uncompromising.

"Understood," Phil Coulson acquiesced, his resolve firming.

"Let's pay Charles a visit first, then Stryker. I want to see if his Sentinels are truly worthy of consideration before we entertain the notion of restarting the Sentinel plan," Nick Fury declared as they made their way to the underground garage. Phil Coulson slid into the driver's seat while Nick Fury settled into the passenger side.

The car eased out of S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters, navigating through the bustling streets of New York toward Xavier Manor on the city's outskirts.

"Director Nick, let's not forget, Alex is Howard's adopted son and the mastermind behind Stark Industries' rise to become the leading industry in the United States," Phil Coulson voiced his concerns as he navigated the car.

"Stark Industries accounts for at least 50% of domestic employment, and any interference with Alex could seriously disrupt its operations. Plus, Stark Industries has stakes in numerous African countries, especially in diamond deposits and oil resources. It's safe to say they're wealthier than our adversaries," he added with a furrowed brow.

"We're not that naive. We don't need to make a direct move on him. A mere hair, some dandruff, or even a drop of blood would be sufficient for our research purposes," Nick Fury replied with a hint of amusement.

Nick had a solid grasp of Stark Industries' history. It wasn't just a single industry; its influence extended into multiple sectors, dominating many of them. From mobile phones to electronics, medical care to shopping malls, Microsoft to gaming, film and television to heavy and light industries, Stark had its fingers in every pie.

Under Alex's leadership over the past decade, Stark had acquired countless companies, expanding its reach even further. The economic crisis had seen many companies go bankrupt, only to be absorbed by Stark Industries, thanks to its advanced technology and forward-thinking strategies. The impact of their innovations had reshaped entire industries, rendering countless competitors obsolete in the face of their superior technology and efficiency.

Nearly single-handedly, one individual dismantles a sprawling business empire spanning across industries. Only the most adept asset predators can navigate this financial chaos.

Just as these predators were gearing up for a final, desperate stand, Alex, perhaps sensing the inevitable, pulls back once more, causing the already fragile alliance to crumble in an instant.

Yet, these scattered predators find themselves powerless to reclaim their seized resources. They're left to cling to whatever assets they still possess in a bid for survival.

Even in establishments like dance halls and bars, the reach of Stark Industries is palpable, with every bottle labeled as Stark's own.

Then, the man who once commanded the business empire vanishes into thin air.

Later he relinquishes control of the empire, opting instead for a life of leisure, spent fishing and basking in the sun at his manor on the outskirts of New York.

Furthermore, Nick Fury is aware that Alex is also a Mutant, though the extent of his powers remains a mystery. No one knows the full breadth of Alex's abilities; the data alone lists a myriad of possibilities—control over magnetism, psychic powers, teleportation, and more.

But one thing is certain: he is undeniably formidable, a Mutant of immense strength.

"Director Nick, we've arrived," Phil Coulson's voice snaps Fury back to the present from his reverie in the data.

"Let's go see Charles," Fury decides, opening the car door and stepping out.

(End of this chapter)

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