Chapter 37: Trust and Trajectories

As the chaos on the rooftop of Stark Tower settled into an uneasy calm, the faint shimmer of cloaking technology became visible on the horizon. A Puddle Jumper, sleek and silent, materialized on the rooftop, catching the attention of everyone present. Mason, ever vigilant, moved toward the small craft, carrying the scepter in his gloved hand. Its eerie glow flickered as he secured it within the Jumper's hold. The Avengers, observing quietly, exchanged looks but made no objections. The consensus was unspoken but clear—keeping the scepter off-world and out of the reach of potential threats on Earth was the best course of action.

Max turned to the X-Men, gesturing toward the Puddle Jumper with a welcoming nod. "You can come with me. We'll get you medical attention, figure out what's really going on, and see what we can do to help you get back to your world."

Logan, ever the skeptic, narrowed his eyes at Max. "We don't know you, bub. Why should we trust you?"

Max met Logan's steely gaze, his voice calm but unwavering. "You don't have to trust me, but I'm your best shot right now. Besides, if I wanted to harm you, you wouldn't be standing here asking that question." There was no arrogance in Max's tone, only a matter-of-fact certainty. His logic was irrefutable, and Logan knew it.

Storm stepped forward, her white eyes flickering as the breeze swirled around her. "We will go with you, Max Stark. But know this—if you deceive us, we will not hesitate to defend ourselves."

Max nodded, appreciating her resolve. "Fair enough. But I have no intention of deceiving you. Let's get you all patched up first."

One by one, the X-Men—Logan, Storm, Beast, Kitty, Colossus, and Illyana—boarded the Puddle Jumper. The sleek, futuristic craft's interior was compact but deceptively spacious, with advanced technology integrated seamlessly into its design. As the X-Men settled into their seats, Max stood at the helm, his fingers moving expertly over the controls. With a low hum, the Puddle Jumper ascended into the sky and set a direct course for the Storm Chaser, the mighty dreadnought orbiting above New York.

Inside the Puddle Jumper, the tension began to ease. The soft glow of the control panels illuminated the space, casting shadows on the X-Men as they exchanged wary glances. Kitty Pryde, sitting toward the front, broke the silence with a sly grin. "So… this 'Storm Chaser' ship of yours, Max. Did you name it after our Storm?" she teased, her eyes flicking playfully toward the weather goddess sitting next to her.

Storm, who had been calmly gazing out of the window, raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard. "What? No!" she protested, her voice tinged with surprise. Her usually regal composure was momentarily shaken, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.

Colossus chuckled, his deep voice rumbling. "It seems fitting, da? Our Storm is a force of nature."

Logan grunted in response, clearly not in the mood for banter, but Beast smiled warmly. "It is quite the coincidence, wouldn't you say?"

Max, laughing softly, glanced back at the group. "As flattering as that theory is, the name actually comes from one of my favorite songs. 'Storm Chaser'—it's been on my playlist for years."

Kitty snorted in amusement. "Right, sure. We believe you." She winked at Storm, who shook her head, still looking slightly flustered but smiling nonetheless.

The Puddle Jumper continued its smooth ascent into the sky, and before long, the Storm Chaser came into view. Its massive, sleek form hung in orbit like a sentinel watching over the planet. The X-Men's eyes widened in awe as they took in the sheer scale of the dreadnought.

Kitty leaned closer to the window, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Okay, I take it back. This ship is impressive."

Max couldn't help but grin. "Wait until you see the inside."

The Jumper glided effortlessly toward the Storm Chaser's docking bay, and with a gentle thud, it landed. As the door hissed open, Max motioned for the X-Men to follow him out. Mason and Yelena remained on alert, watching closely as their charges disembarked.

Logan took a deep breath, the clean, sterilized air of the ship filling his lungs. "Smells like a hospital," he muttered, his enhanced senses picking up every detail.

Max chuckled. "That's because we're heading to the Med Bay first."

The corridors of the Storm Chaser were sleek and advanced, the design reminiscent of both SG-Asgardian and Ancient technology. Lights flickered on as they passed, and soft hums of machinery echoed in the distance. The X-Men followed Max down a long hallway until they reached the Med Bay, the doors sliding open with a soft whoosh.

Inside, the Med Bay was state-of-the-art. Clean, bright, and equipped with every piece of medical technology imaginable. There were even stasis pods lining one wall, ready to be used for more serious injuries.

Max gestured to the beds. "Take a seat. The automated systems will scan for injuries and start the healing process."

Logan, always suspicious, remained standing. "I heal on my own, kid. Don't need your fancy tech."

Max nodded. "Fair enough. But for the others, this should speed things up."

Kitty, Colossus, and the others cautiously took their places on the beds. The moment they sat down, small mechanical arms emerged from the sides of the beds, scanning their bodies with beams of light. A soft hum filled the air as the machines began their work.

As the X-Men settled in, Max tapped a panel on the wall, activating the ship's speaker system. Soft music began to play, the familiar notes of Storm Chaser filling the room. The melody was calming, yet filled with a sense of adventure and hope.

"There," Max said, smiling at Storm. "The song that inspired the ship's name."

Storm listened for a moment, her expression softening as the music flowed around her. "It's… beautiful."

Max's voice grew more serious as he stepped back toward the door. "Once you're all healed up, we'll meet in the conference room. We need to go over everything—your situation, your world, and how we can help."

The X-Men nodded in agreement, though Logan remained standing, his eyes never leaving Max.

As Max left the Med Bay, he couldn't help but wonder about the full extent of the chaos in the X-Men's world. A part of him hoped that he'd be able to fix it, or at least help them find a way to save their Earth. But he knew that it wouldn't be easy. There were too many unknowns, too many variables. For now, though, getting the X-Men patched up and learning more about their reality was the priority.

A few minutes later, the X-Men, now fully healed, were escorted to the conference room. It was a large space, with a long table in the center and holographic displays surrounding it. Max stood at the head of the table, waiting for them. Mason and Yelena flanked him on either side, their faces set in a stoic expression.

"Take a seat," Max said, motioning toward the chairs around the table.

The X-Men complied, though Logan remained standing in the back, his arms crossed.

"Alright," Max began, his voice steady and serious. "I need all the details. From what I understand, your Earth is under attack by the N'Garai, and Wanda Maximoff is the key to stopping them. But from what I've seen, your plan involves using the Darkhold. That's where things get dangerous."

Beast nodded gravely. "Exactly. We must locate Wanda and return to our world before the N'Garai overrun everything."

Max leaned forward, his mind racing with possibilities. "There are ways to fight off the N'Garai without destroying Wanda. But if your only option is the Darkhold, you're looking at an irreversible decision. If you use that book, you won't save the world—you'll doom it."

Storm leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "Then what do you suggest?"

Max activated the holographic display, showing an image of their Earth and the forces invading it. "We need a plan that doesn't involve sacrificing someone to dark magic. We'll start by using the resources of the Storm Chaser to gather more information. There might be a way to defeat the N'Garai without turning to the Darkhold."

Kitty exchanged a glance with Logan. "And if there isn't?"

Max met her gaze, unwavering. "Then we'll find another way. But I promise you, I'm not letting anyone else get sacrificed for the 'greater good.' Not on my watch."

The X-Men sat in thoughtful silence, considering his words.