Kapitel 66: Interview #66
Evan and Ororo made their way outside the X-mansion, and Evan couldn't help but arch an eyebrow at the horde of journalists and reporters gathered at the imposing gates. Turning to Ororo, he shot her a quizzical expression.
"They've been waiting for you to wake up for a while now," she explained with a knowing smile.
Evan sighed, feigning exasperation. "And no one thought to warn me?"
Ororo grinned in response. "Where's the fun in that?" she countered, leaving Evan to deal with the press. "I'll be waiting for you in the car," she added as she headed for Evan's car.
Chuckling to himself, Evan made his way toward the gate. The journalists, spotting him, descended upon him like a swarm of bees. They bombarded him with questions, each reporter trying to outdo the others, resulting in a cacophony of incomprehensible noise.
Evan raised his hand in a calming gesture, his voice steady as he addressed the eager journalists. "Calm down, folks, and let's keep this civil. I don't have a lot of time, so I'll only be able to answer a few questions for now," he announced, successfully quieting the crowd.
He scanned the sea of faces, eventually focusing on a woman with long black hair and warm brown eyes. "Let's start with you... What do you want to know?" he asked, giving her the floor.
The woman, Cindy Moon, smiled and skillfully maneuvered through the crowd, her cameraman trailing behind. "I'm Cindy Moon with the Fact Channel News," she introduced herself.
Evan returned the smile politely. "Evan Shepherd, a pleasure," he replied.
"Mr. Shepherd, reports say that you were found in a terrible state after the battle. Are you currently well?" Cindy Moon inquired, adjusting her microphone to capture Evan's response.
Evan chuckled, his demeanor relaxed. "As you can see, I'm as fit as a fiddle," he replied with a casual shrug, gesturing to his healthy appearance.
Cindy nodded appreciatively. "That's good to hear. You were the hero who ended the machine threat after all. By the way, was your role in its destruction planned or a spur-of-the-moment thing?" she inquired, delving into the specifics of the battle.
Evan listened to Cindy's words, his expression humble. "The real heroes were the soldiers and police officers. They had nothing but their guns to fight an almost unbeatable enemy, but they never faltered," he said, acknowledging the bravery of those on the front lines. "As for me, I only did what was expected of me," he added modestly.
Cindy, however, wasn't so quick to let him downplay his role. "You say that, but there are recordings of you fighting an army of those machines on your own even before the big guy appeared," she pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "That's exactly what people call heroic," she emphasized.
Evan couldn't help but smile at her persistence. "With great power comes great responsibility-- or so a wise man once said. Again, I was only doing what was expected of me," he reiterated, citing the famous quote. "Do you have any other questions?" he asked, ready to address any further inquiries from the crowd.
"Well, the people are curious about you, Mr. Shepherd. You suddenly appeared out of nowhere and took down an enemy that threatened the entirety of the human race..." Cindy Moon said assertively before anyone else could get a word in. "Anything you can share about yourself would be appreciated," she concluded.
Evan nodded, his gaze thoughtful as he considered how much to reveal. "Well, I grew up in an orphanage, graduated high school at the age of 14, ran away, and traveled abroad on a self-discovery trip," he began, a faint chuckle escaping his lips.
"I came back when I was of age, I joined the army, and here I am now, working as a combat instructor for the X-men," he concluded, offering a rough outline of his life.
Cindy Moon, ever the inquisitive reporter, furrowed her brow. "And how did going on a self-discovery trip and joining the army make you capable of punching a giant robot into nonexistence?" she asked, her curiosity palpable.
"If you're fishing for the usual cliche scenario of a freak accident, then you'll be disappointed..." Evan responded with a chuckle. "My strength was something I earned for the most part," he added, pausing as he heard the horn of his own car sounding behind him.
He turned around and spotted Storm with a raised eyebrow, signaling for him to wrap up his conversation with the journalists.
Evan smiled at Ororo before shifting his attention back to the journalists. "And it looks like my time is up, but before I leave..." he began, letting his words hang in the air for a moment, "please listen to what I have to say and convey it to as many people as possible," he added, his tone shifting to a more serious note.
The journalists and reporters present exchanged glances but remained silent, giving Evan their full attention.
With their rapt attention secured, Evan continued. "The recent incident, the creation of the Master Mold and the Sentinels, was a result of blind prejudice and hate against mutants," he stated calmly, his words carrying weight.
"Bolivar Trask created a destructive weapon with the sole purpose of exterminating all mutants on Earth, and it not only brought about his demise, but his creation turned against humanity," he added, pausing to let the gravity of the situation sink in.
"On the other hand," he continued, "the fall of the Master Mold and its agenda to rule over humanity was brought about by the combined efforts of both humans and mutants, heroes, and servicemen," Evan emphasized the unity that had led to their victory.
"Instead of fighting each other, we should focus on preparing for other threats, such as the Master Mold. Because-- make no mistake, they are out there, and they will come for us all in time... whether we were mutants or regular humans," he concluded, leaving the journalists to ponder his words.
...
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the grounds of the X-Mansion, Evan and Ororo, the weather-controlling mutant known as Storm, stood beside a sleek black car. Evan had assumed the role of the driver, taking the key and slipping into the driver's seat.
Ororo leaned against the car's side, her white hair catching the fading sunlight as she observed Evan. "So, where to first?" she inquired, her blue eyes fixed on him.
Evan's fingers danced over the steering wheel as he replied, his voice carrying a sense of purpose. "To meet up with Domino and a new acquaintance of mine," he answered, his gaze locked on the dashboard.
Ororo's brows furrowed slightly at his response. "Domino? Is this about Kelly?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her tone.
Evan nodded solemnly. "Yes. The thief I hired managed to dig up enough dirt to end Kelly's career," he explained as he turned the key, causing the car's engine to rumble to life. "Now we just need to make it public, and no one will have to hear his bigotry ever again."
A small smile played on Ororo's lips as she pushed away from the car. "I see... now that's something to look forward to," she remarked, her voice tinged with satisfaction. With that, they left the X-Mansion behind, both looking forward to Kelly's fall.
...
On the moonlit rooftops of New York City, the nimble figure known as Black Cat darted from one rooftop to another, her lithe form moving with cat-like grace as she clutched a sleek suitcase tightly in her hand. She couldn't help but curse under her breath as she bounded across the uneven terrain, her agile movements guided by years of experience.
Hot on her heels, a relentless pursuer in a sleek black bodysuit raced behind her. The man's forehead bore an ominous target symbol, and he moved with a deadly precision, making him a formidable adversary.
As they traversed the rooftop labyrinth, Bullseye didn't miss a beat. "Give up and hand over the suit case, little kitten. I'll think about killing you painlessly if you do..." He hurled all manner of deadly objects at his agile quarry, each projectile whistling through the night air with a lethal intent.
"Fuck off, Bullseye! You don't even know what this is!" Black Exclaimed through gritted teeth, picking up a rock she found on a roof and throwing it at her puruser before she continued running.
"True. I don't know what's inside that thing, and I honestly don't care. Robery Kelly offered a lot of money to whoever can get it back, and that's enough for me!" Bullsey said as he caught the incoming projectile with ease, showing no intention of stopping.
His pursuit and relentless accuracy kept Black Cat on her toes, forcing her to rely on her quick reflexes and acrobatic prowess to evade the deadly barrage.
The city below them continued to bustle with its nocturnal activities, unaware of the high-stakes chase playing out in the shadows above. In the heart of this urban jungle, two formidable mercenaries engaged in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, where the stakes were not only personal but also potentially life-changing for those they worked for.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein