Chapter 38: Unraveling Mysteries

Max sat at the head of the conference table aboard the Storm Chaser, his mind lost in a whirlwind of possibilities. The X-Men were a complex enough issue on their own, but the mere mention of Wanda Maximoff—the other Wanda—had stirred something far more troubling in him. In all his knowledge of the multiverse, Wanda Maximoff, regardless of the universe, was a wildcard.

Her power was immense, uncontrollable at times, and all too often tied to her emotional state. Max knew the threat of the Scarlet Witch was not to be taken lightly. He'd seen—both through his own experience and through what he had learned about other realities—what happened when someone of Wanda's power lost control. Planets could be ripped apart, timelines fractured, and reality itself twisted beyond repair.

The truth was simple, though sobering: Wanda was dangerous, but not because of her inherent nature. More often than not, it was her environment, the lack of a mentor, or a familial structure that nurtured her emotional stability. Without proper guidance, her reality-warping powers spiraled into catastrophe. In this universe, he realized, Wanda's powers could be dormant or on the verge of a dangerous awakening. He had to find her before something—or someone—triggered the worst.

"The key to controlling Wanda's powers lies in balance, in giving her the right support structure," Max thought, pacing the room as the X-Men watched him quietly. "If she hasn't yet reached a point of no return, she can be reasoned with, mentored, guided. But if we don't intervene… well, then things could take a turn for the worse, very quickly."

He mulled over the question of which Wanda he should prioritize—the one from his universe or the one lost from the X-Men's. They were, in essence, the same, but each with potentially wildly different experiences and motivations. If he could locate his universe's Wanda, it might help lead him to the other one, or perhaps even prevent further chaos in both realities.

Max stopped pacing and turned to face the X-Men. "We'll start by searching for the Wanda from this universe first. If we can locate her, perhaps she'll be able to help us find the Wanda from your world."

Beast adjusted his glasses, his calm but intelligent eyes locked onto Max. "That sounds like a reasonable plan. But Wanda Maximoff isn't known for her stability. If we approach her, it must be done with extreme caution. We don't know how she might react."

Storm folded her arms, her silver-white hair cascading over her shoulders. "I agree with Hank," she said. "Wanda is... powerful, unpredictable. We must make sure we don't trigger her into anything. If she is in a stable environment, we should proceed carefully."

Max nodded. "Agreed. I'll do a broad scan first—look for her energy signature. It's distinctive enough, and with the Storm Chaser's technology, we can cover the entire planet in a matter of hours."

Kitty raised an eyebrow. "You can scan the entire Earth that quickly?"

Max smiled slightly. "It's a big ship with some very advanced tech. Finding one person, even someone as powerful as Wanda, is easier than you might think."

Logan remained silent, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. His instincts were telling him to remain cautious, to be wary of any plan that seemed too straightforward. He didn't like relying on technology to do the hard work, but he trusted his team's judgment—and so far, Max had proven himself to be both capable and trustworthy.

Max moved to the control panel on the wall and activated the Storm Chaser's long-range sensors, inputting Wanda's energy signature. "This will take some time. In the meantime, we need to discuss how we approach her when we find her."

Storm's voice softened. "We should approach her as allies, not as a threat. If she feels cornered or pressured, she may lash out."

Beast nodded in agreement. "If there is a familial structure in place—someone she trusts—it could help calm her down. We'll need to proceed with caution but also be prepared to act quickly if things go wrong."

Max rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You're both right. We don't know her current state of mind or her surroundings. But we'll be ready for anything. Hopefully, it won't come to that."

As the Storm Chaser began its search, Max couldn't shake the lingering worry gnawing at the back of his mind. Two Wandas in one universe… it's an explosive combination.

Meanwhile, in Nick Fury's Safe House

Nick Fury sat behind his desk in the dimly lit room, his single eye fixed on the reports in front of him. He leaned back in his chair, absently tapping a finger against the wooden surface as he read through the latest debriefings. Two files lay open before him—one from Natasha Romanoff and the other from Clint Barton. Both were detailed accounts of the Chitauri invasion, each written from a unique perspective. They weren't just recounting the battle, but also giving a clear analysis of the Chitauri's capabilities and the unsettling dominance of Max Stark's technology.

He picked up Natasha's report first.

SHIELD Report

Agent: Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow)

Subject: Battle of New York – Chitauri Invasion

Classified Level: Top Secret (Level 9)

The Chitauri presented several weaknesses, notably in their reliance on numbers and their limited adaptability once their chain of command was disrupted. Their forces were heavily concentrated on brute force rather than strategic deployment, making them vulnerable to coordinated attacks. However, the sheer scale of their invasion made traditional defensive measures nearly impossible to maintain.

The arrival of Stark's unknown dreadnought, the Storm Chaser, was a game-changer. The craft's presence alone provided overwhelming aerial superiority, but it was the deployment of automated drones—technology I've never encountered before—that turned the tide decisively in our favor. These drones displayed incredible precision and adaptability, eliminating Chitauri forces with surgical efficiency.

Strengths of the Chitauri: Their ability to overwhelm ground forces through sheer numbers, aided by their whale-like war beasts. They possess high mobility in urban combat zones, with strong air-to-ground support.

Weaknesses: They are overly reliant on central command structures and become disorganized when key leaders are removed. Their weapons, while deadly, are less effective against advanced energy shields like those deployed by Stark.

Conclusion: Without Stark's intervention and the capabilities of the Storm Chaser, the battle could have had a drastically different outcome.

Fury set the report down, nodding grimly. Natasha's insight was sharp, as always. But the next report, from Clint, offered a slightly different angle.

SHIELD Report

Agent: Clint Barton (Hawkeye)

Subject: Chitauri Invasion – Aerial and Ground Combat Analysis

Classified Level: Top Secret (Level 9)

The Chitauri's aerial forces proved to be their most dangerous asset. Their warships and whale-like creatures, capable of breaking through city infrastructure and air defenses, posed a major threat to both civilian populations and our ground forces. Despite their formidable presence, it became clear that they had not anticipated facing off against advanced extraterrestrial defense technology.

The appearance of the Storm Chaser flipped the scenario. The dreadnought's drones, deployed in swarms, eliminated entire Chitauri squadrons with what can only be described as overwhelming firepower. These drones, equipped with internal shields and acting like high-impact projectiles, tore through Chitauri forces in a way we were incapable of matching.

Strengths of the Chitauri: Sheer numbers, air dominance, and heavy ground forces. Effective in chaotic combat situations and city environments.

Weaknesses: Reliance on central command and predictable tactics. Their technology, while advanced by Earth standards, was severely outclassed by Stark's forces.

Conclusion: The Chitauri invasion could have resulted in massive casualties had the Storm Chaser not intervened. Stark's technology has pushed our understanding of warfare far beyond current limitations.

Fury leaned back, folding his hands together as he pondered the implications. Max Stark wasn't just an eccentric genius with advanced tech. He had built a weaponized system capable of outclassing nearly every known threat on Earth. The man had single-handedly shifted the balance of power, and for someone like Fury, that was both a blessing and a concern.

Max wasn't dangerous in the way Loki or other villains were. But his technology, if it fell into the wrong hands or went unchecked, could potentially bring more harm than good. And now, with the X-Men involved and mentions of a multiverse threat, things were only growing more complex.

Back on the Storm Chaser, Max watched as the results from the planetary scan filtered through the console. The system beeped softly, showing several possible matches for Wanda's energy signature. He took a deep breath, knowing that finding Wanda would only be the first step in what could become an even more dangerous journey.

Turning to the X-Men, Max gave a firm nod. "We have a lead. Let's see where it takes us."

The hunt for Wanda Maximoff had begun.