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95.83% Superior Reed Richards / Chapter 69: Chapter 69

Chapitre 69: Chapter 69

—= Some time ago =—

The Xavier School was, in essence, an impregnable fortress because it was home to a mutant like Hank McCoy, who took the protection of his abode with utmost seriousness.

Numerous defense systems shielded Hank's students from many threats. After Reed Richards's visit, the level of security was amplified several times over, as he had brought with him a highly important device.

At the moment of the attack by the Sentinels and government mutants, nearly all the defense systems were activated.

Beast himself was in the medical wing, where a large number of teenage mutants had gathered.

"Bring them here," Hank instructed the students.

The incapacitated telepaths were the first casualties brought to him.

They laid Jean Grey and Charles Xavier on the table; at that moment, they were of the greatest importance, because without them, the combat capabilities of the X-Men diminished significantly.

"Thank you," the blue-furred mutant nodded.

He immediately began scanning the telepaths, and out of the corner of his eye, Hank noticed a slight smirk on the face of the girl who had brought Charles and Jean.

—= At the very moment Reed Richards destroyed the device =—

—= Xavier's School =—

When the interference subsided, I noticed something was amiss. Inside the school was an agent of Sinister who had taken Jean Grey. I was about to move in that direction when I felt the barrel of a gun pressed against the back of my head.

"I wouldn't advise you to go that way, Richards," said the owner of the weapon.

At that moment, the man stopped concealing his power. The level of psionic energy within him indicated that he was an Omega-level mutant.

"Signs of time travel detected," said Chronos.

Now I knew for certain that Cable was behind me—the son of Scott Summers and a clone of Jean Grey.

By this point, I fully understood who Cable was and what his weapon entailed. My initial wariness—caused by Cable approaching unnoticed—waned, as I now had a complete picture of Scott Summers's son.

"I suppose it's a matter of your life being at stake?" I asked without a hint of fear.

"Yes," Cable replied, lowering his weapon.

As soon as the gun barrel left the back of my head, I turned to look Cable in the face.

Nathan Christopher Charles Summers looked almost exactly like the Cable I knew from the comics, but there were differences... I frowned as I realized what distinguished Nathan from the one I knew: the techno-organic virus in his body hadn't progressed further.

"And why did you lower your weapon?"

"I know I'm no match for you," Nathan said. "Besides, the main task is already accomplished. My mother has arrived here."

Cable's statement made me frown.

"Why do you think I won't immediately start searching for Sinister's location?"

Nathan merely smiled and confidently declared:

"Because something is about to happen that will make you reconsider that plan."

After Nathan's words, an incredible surge of psionic energy erupted. In the mental plane, a gigantic fiery phoenix appeared for a moment.

"Damn..." flashed through my mind as the Phoenix took flight.

"How many times have you done this?" I asked with icy calm, though my thoughts were entirely consumed by the problem at hand.

"More times than I'd like," Nathan admitted.

"Where did she go?"

Cable didn't waste time and simply sent me the data.

"Thank you."

At that moment, I sensed energy accumulating in his device. The space around Nathan also began to slowly distort. Intervening at such a stage could create significant problems in the flow of time—not just the "usual" occurrence of someone ending up in a different era.

"Until we meet again," I added before Cable disappeared.

After Cable vanished, nothing held me back.

—= Nathan Christopher Charles Summers =—

Throughout his life, Nathan Christopher Charles Summers had witnessed an enormous array of events. Being a time traveler left its marks—especially when that traveler hailed from a distant, apocalyptic future relative to his year of birth.

With such rich experience, few things could frighten Nathan, but Reed Richards was someone who could. Nathan, due to his innate abilities honed to perfection through years of training, could clearly sense the power within this scientist.

The sheer ocean of psionic energy in his body was awe-inspiring. But when considering the other aspects of his power... the picture became truly terrifying.

What kept Nathan from killing Reed Richards in the past was not only the near impossibility due to Reed's pet enforcer named Immortus Phoenix but also that Reed Richards was one of the few people Nathan could call a friend.

Nathan's gaze fell upon his hand, which was entirely composed of techno-organic matter. He still remembered what he owed Reed Richards. Without Reed's help, Nathan would not only have lost an incredible portion of his power but also his life.

At that moment, the tunnel through the fabric of space-time ended, and Cable found himself in the near future—a cyberpunk world where corporations ruled supreme.

—= Reed Richards =—

The Sentinels had the potential to become an incredible thorn in the side, but they needed time to improve. The current iteration of Sentinels didn't possess the qualities that Nimrod would, so I effortlessly destroyed all the robots.

Along with that, I used telekinesis to immobilize the representatives of the Weapon Plus Program. Logan's former comrades were rendered motionless.

"What the?!"

"Is that Magneto?!"

"No," said Logan, who unmistakably recognized my scent. "It's Richards."

Logan's words calmed the mutants, but they didn't lower their guard.

When I entered the inner courtyard of Xavier's School, an interesting scene unfolded before me.

"My apologies for being late."

Logan smirked and said:

"Better late than never."

—= Some time later =—

"Thank you, Reed," said Hank McCoy.

At that moment, we were in the medical wing, where I was helping my furry friend restore the telepaths who had suffered from the attack.

"You're welcome."

I replied mechanically, my thoughts occupied with the task ahead. Doing the right thing at this moment was quite challenging, as the situation was extremely contradictory...

"I think I can handle the rest myself," added Hank, noticing out of the corner of his eye the X-Men waiting for me.

The X-Men and I ascended to the upper floors, arriving at a room that served both as Charles's office and a place for discussing upcoming missions.

Charles Xavier's office was the embodiment of harmony between classic charm and advanced technology. To students entering, it resembled a standard headmaster's office but with subtle nuances that immediately revealed its uniqueness. The dark wood-paneled walls created an atmosphere of warmth and solidity. They were adorned with numerous shelves filled with books on a wide range of topics—from psychology and philosophy to mutant history and astrophysics. Each book was carefully placed, as if its contents held significant importance on its own.

At the center of the room stood a large desk made of dark mahogany, covered with papers, fountain pens, and, of course, one of Hank McCoy's latest inventions—a miniature device capable of instantly scanning and processing vast amounts of information. On the desk also lay several antique books in leather bindings, adding a sense of historical depth to the office.

At that moment, no one was seated at Charles's desk. All of the X-Men were standing.

"Thank you for your help, Reed," said Ororo. "But we'd like to know what happened. Why did the Sentinels attack the school?"

Ororo's confusion was shared by all the X-Men, though Logan seemed to be starting to guess the government's motives. However, he decided not to share his thoughts just yet.

"From what I've learned," I began, recalling the data Chronos managed to obtain, "Tusk is dead. Someone else managed to initiate the Sentinel program, and that someone has significant influence over the Weapon Plus program, which is still active."

In truth, Chronos hadn't managed to find all the information. Someone was skillfully covering their tracks. I had certain suspicions that Sinister was responsible for this incident, but it wasn't time to share those thoughts yet.

"I couldn't find out more."

A silence settled for a couple of minutes. Each mutant tried to understand what this meant. The silence was broken by Logan, who said:

"Considering that Stryker was in charge of the Weapon Plus program, maybe we can get the details from him personally?"

Logan didn't even consider trying to find out the truth from the government-sent mutants, as such agents often have their memories wiped before missions.

"Find out the details in your own way?" Scott asked suspiciously, eyeing the clawed mutant.

A bloodthirsty smile appeared on Logan's face. The attack on the school had awakened the beast within him.

"Yes. Under my methods, people can't keep their secrets for long."

Before Scott could turn the conversation into a conflict, I intervened.

"If you're thinking of tracking down Stryker, you should be prepared for the government's response. Considering your methods... you won't be able to finish the operation quietly. I'd advise waiting for Charles and Jean Grey to wake up."

Scott himself had wanted to suggest waiting for Charles to wake up, so he nodded to me gratefully.

"And how long do we have to wait?" asked Rogue. "Do we have any information on when we can expect the telepaths to regain consciousness?"

"Considering that the main work has been done, I'd give them two days to recover."

Rogue looked at the X-Men and said:

"They can wait two days."

"And what if by then they hide Stryker in a hole where we can't reach him?" Logan asked, not in a worried tone but in the tone of someone thirsting for blood.

Logan's questions could sow unnecessary discord in the team, so I needed to act.

"Then I'll help you find him," I said. "Wait for Charles to wake up, and we'll figure it out from there."

—= Some time later =—

It took me two hours to leave Xavier's School after explaining my point of view, but it was worth it, as the team reached a compromise.

Leaving the mutants to deal with the aftermath of the attack, I teleported to New York—or to be precise, to the location of the Morlocks' refuge.

My arrival was noticed not only by all the reporters but also by Thor, who was examining the area with interest.

As expected, the area was cordoned off by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and police forces. Numerous onlookers and journalists tried to get through, but they couldn't.

The Avengers stood next to one of the defeated Sentinels. Apparently, they were trying to extract information from it.

"Hmm..." Stark mused when he couldn't retrieve the necessary data. "Empty. Nothing indicating who gave the command."

Hank Pym, who had been tinkering with the robot's innards, emerged and said:

"It has a very strange construction. The design is unusual... I've never seen anything like it."

Tony and I quickly understood what Pym meant, but not everyone present was knowledgeable in robotics.

"What does that mean?" Steve asked, noticing that the conversation was heading into territory he wasn't familiar with.

"In robotics, there are certain design templates developed over years of research that are relied upon when creating a new robot. If Hank noticed that the design is strange, it means the creator of this robot is either a genius or something's not right."

"I suggest we discuss all this in a more private setting," Natasha proposed, noting that more and more people were gathering.

"I can transport us to the Tower."

The Avengers exchanged glances and nodded. Then I teleported us to Avengers Tower.

"The first teleportation is always interesting," I remarked, looking at Steve Rogers, who barely kept himself from falling over.

The blond man tried to smile, but it came out as a rather strained grin.

Natasha and Barton, to be fair, adapted more quickly, though they felt slightly nauseous. Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne were prepared, as they often increased and decreased in size. And Tony had already experienced such teleportations, so he felt no discomfort.

"Hmm... This is somewhat similar to traveling via the Bifrost," Thor remarked.

By this point, Captain America had composed himself and said:

"Let's get back on topic. Do you think aliens could be involved in this?"

It must be admitted that Rogers was quite perceptive in certain matters.

"Quite possibly," Tony stated. "Considering that the government has scientists who were raised in Germany... I'd bet they have some developments in this area. Not to mention that they most likely have Chitauri technology."

"Damn," said Steve.

"Natasha, Barton," I began, looking at the two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. "Does Fury have any answers from the government yet?"

The red-haired spy smiled and said:

"I knew you'd ask that."

—= Nicholas Joseph Fury =—

"What the hell does this mean?!" roared one of the politicians who had been zealously pushing the Sentinel program.

In response to such questions from the politician, Fury's agents simply intensified their pressure and broke his wrist.

"Argh!"

"If I were you, I wouldn't try to lie," Fury said, looking at the politician. "My people have already discovered that the access codes were leaked from your side."

The politician's eyes, full of pain, were now filled with fear. He realized his career was over.

"Yes, you're in deep trouble."

Read chapters ahead on p@treon.com/patreonarcane


Chapitre 70: Chapter 70

"Director Fury is doing everything in his power to find those responsible for what happened," said Natasha.

Rogers was quite good at understanding people but not so adept at grasping the nuances of situations, and for that very reason, he asked Natasha:

"That means he already knows who's responsible for what happened, doesn't it?"

Natasha Romanoff merely gave a meaningful smile. Her confirmation wasn't necessary, as everyone knew that Fury was a professional, and such matters were precisely his specialty.

"Ha!" exclaimed Tony, expanding a screen across the entire room where Fury's face appeared.

From Fury's appearance, one could tell he wasn't particularly pleased with Tony's actions but was powerless to do anything about it.

"Long time no see, Dr. Richards," said Fury.

"Indeed, I'm very glad to see you're safe and sound. I take it you've had more on your plate since the Sentinels went out of control?"

Only the deaf couldn't hear the sarcasm in my tone.

"Dr. Richards, I didn't think you'd be interested in this matter," Fury replied.

"It's of interest to my friends. The X-Men wish to receive clear answers about what happened. Considering they have Omega-level mutants, I'd recommend you provide explanations as soon as possible."

The one-eyed director of S.H.I.E.L.D. drilled me with his gaze for a few seconds before saying:

"Since you're all gathered in one place, I think it will be convenient... The culprit has been found, and soon he will be punished to the full extent of the law."

Fury's statement calmed me, as it meant I had something to offer the X-Men, but...

"What about Stryker?"

Nicholas Joseph Fury, barely restraining his irritation—which I could feel even through the screen—said:

"And what does he have to do with this?"

The Avengers looked at me in confusion. Most of the team didn't understand who Stryker was. This misunderstanding was corrected by Tony, who brought up the information on Stryker that he had managed to obtain.

"Not only did the Sentinels attack Xavier's school, but also a squad under Stryker's command."

"Shit," muttered Fury.

And then it became clear to me that this information hadn't reached him.

—= Some time later =—

As a result of the conversation with Fury, the one-eyed director of S.H.I.E.L.D. would be searching for information about Stryker. At first glance, Fury heeded my words and would fulfill his part of the deal regarding providing information to the X-Men. If my one-eyed friend didn't keep his promise, I'd have to help the mutants find Stryker.

However, all this was currently a third-tier problem. The primary issue was the Phoenix, and after that, the problem of Sinister, who had set this chain of events in motion.

Leaving the tower, I immediately teleported to my island laboratory, where the ship I had designed for long-distance flights was located.

At the moment, my clones were working on it. One of them saw me and relayed some information.

"In that case, let's get to work..." I whispered.

—= Some time later =—

Thanks to having clones at my disposal, as well as Kronos, the work proceeded at an unhurried pace, during which I managed to finish everything I had planned.

I completed the work after nine months. The long-distance spacecraft, in my opinion, turned out extremely well. I hadn't spared any effort or resources on its armaments and defenses.

Making sure everything was functioning correctly, I deactivated the time bubble.

Now it was necessary to ask the team who would be willing to embark on a journey that, according to preliminary calculations, would take about nine months. The Phoenix's rate of departure from the planet was incredible. And it wasn't that Jean Grey was flying at an unbelievable speed, but that her powers were warping the fabric of space-time.

"Kronos, connect me with the team."

"Executing..." said the AI.

And soon, holograms of my team members' faces appeared before my eyes.

"What's up, Stretch?"

"Reed, is everything okay?"

"Brainiac, I hope this is something serious!"

"Reed, Betty and I were about to watch a show; I hope this is important?"

Before answering the barrage of questions, I leisurely took out the infographic showing the events that had occurred on Earth some time ago. It wasn't just a set of numbers and charts; before me lay a high-tech tablet connected to an orbital network of satellites designed specifically to monitor unusual energy phenomena.

These satellites, installed in various orbits around Earth, were not mere observers. They were capable of detecting psionic energy.

On the screen appeared a map of Earth covered with a network of lines and colored spots. Each line represented a flow of psionic energy, and the spots indicated places where the concentration of this energy had reached a critical level. The satellites not only recorded its level but also determined its origin, sources, and direction of movement.

Showing everyone the infographic, I began to speak:

"We have a very serious problem..."

—= Some time later =—

"Are you sure?" I asked my girlfriend with a slight smirk.

Sue had quickly agreed to accompany me on this journey that even Odysseus would envy.

"Oh? So you want to get rid of me, Reed?" Sue asked, her gaze suddenly so cold that I couldn't help but realize my mistake.

"No, of course not," I replied faster than I expected.

"I'm sure, Reed," Sue said with a slight smile.

To be honest, having Sue on this journey reassured me, as it meant someone close to me would be by my side.

"Who do you think from our group will agree to come?" Sue asked.

"I think Ben and Johnny will definitely agree, but Bruce and Betty will probably stay here. But we'll get a definite answer soon."

Ben and Alicia were the first to arrive, and judging by how excited Alicia was, it was safe to conclude that they both had decided to join us on this journey.

"Thanks for coming."

Ben merely smirked and said:

"Alicia would have eaten me alive if I'd missed out on a trip like this."

At that moment, Alicia was chatting with my girlfriend. By the way, it was worth mentioning that she had undergone basic enhancements necessary for her body to withstand the conditions that space held for us.

"I don't doubt it..."

At that moment, the room flashed with light. Johnny and Crystal arrived in grand fashion.

"See? I told you we weren't late!" Johnny exclaimed with a satisfied grin.

Crystal merely shook her head in response, but the smile on her face revealed the true emotions hidden within.

"I hope my presence won't inconvenience you," Crystal said.

Sue waved it off, declaring:

"Nonsense, without you this trip would be extremely boring!"

A couple of minutes later, the rest of us were surprised when Bruce and Betty arrived, laden with bags.

"Hope we're not late?" Betty asked with an awkward smile.

"No," I shook my head. "You're just in time."

I didn't expect Betty and Bruce to agree to embark on a space tour, especially since Bruce was still dealing with the Hulk issue, and Betty hadn't undergone the enhancements I had offered her. I was curious why she had turned down my proposal… Now it makes sense why… Bruce and his girlfriend were indeed lucky.

After everyone arrived, things progressed quickly, cheerfully, and merrily. Despite the impending journey being fraught with dangers… the pleasant company soothed my mind, which was beginning to envision incredibly grim potential futures.

"All engines are functioning," announced the ship's AI.

"Excellent," Ben declared with a smirk on his face.

Ben and Johnny expressed their desire to take the helm of the ship, at least initially. From what I gathered, it was about closing some childhood gestalt.

"Is everyone ready?" Johnny asked without turning around.

We were in the cockpit, as it offered the best view. Each of us had a seat that secured our bodies in place using innovative electromagnetic technology.

"Ready?" I asked Sue, who was seated to my right.

I posed the question because the look in her eyes, directed at the seats, was full of irritation.

"Don't you think a different color should have been used?"

I glanced around our surroundings. To my eye, all the colors looked organic and sleek for a long-distance spacecraft.

"I think everything is wonderful…"

My words calmed Sue, but I realized that changes were imminent.

"In that case, ready," the girl declared.

Johnny, who was watching what was happening behind him with interest, smiled and said, "Since everyone's ready, let's start the ascent."

"Ben, check the stabilizers," I said, nodding toward the massive control panels. "We need everything to go smoothly."

"That's for you to know, Reed," Ben muttered, his hands deftly sliding over the touchscreens, checking the readings. "I wouldn't let this junk fall apart."

I smirked, knowing I could trust Ben in any situation.

"Johnny, start the engines on first thrust," I addressed the youngest member of the team, who seemed in his element.

"At your command, Captain," he responded with a mischievous grin and began his work.

The sound of the engines igniting filled the cabin, and I felt the ship begin to vibrate, preparing for launch.

I glanced at the monitors once more to ensure everything was on track. The gravitational generators had stabilized, and the ship was ready for the jump into space.

"Switching to full power," I declared, and Ben nodded, moving the lever forward.

The ship accelerated sharply, and I felt gravity begin to wane. The sound of the engines intensified as we rapidly ascended, leaving Earth's atmosphere behind.

"We're ready for the hyperspace jump in five seconds," Johnny's voice sounded confident, and I felt all the muscles in my body tense in anticipation.

"Three... two... one..." Ben added, his hands confidently controlling the ship.

The world around us warped, like a painting transitioning into a blurred image. Space and time shifted, and we instantly found ourselves in the black void of space, where the light of stars seemed even brighter and closer.

At that moment, the entire bridge was filled with joyful exclamations.

—= At This Very Moment on Earth =—

 —= En Sabah Nur =—

The ancient, immortal mutant was not blind and clearly saw that something extraordinary was happening in the astral world.

"Phoenix… This is interesting," En Sabah Nur remarked, a satisfied smirk appearing on his face.

At that moment, his consciousness was already processing what his suit had received. Streams of data flowed through his mind so rapidly that Apocalypse, by this time, was well-versed in this world.

The ancient mutant froze for a moment as he saw someone familiar… Someone who had once fought alongside him in the arena. Someone who had conquered the Goddess of Time.

"And you're here… Reed Richards…"

Apocalypse's satisfied smirk widened. He realized that this era would become one of his favorites.

"I hope you haven't weakened since our last meeting."

En Sabah Nur's pyramid had lost its functionality by this moment, and for that reason, he destroyed it without any extraneous thoughts.

"But before that… We need to gather new Horsemen…" For a moment, the faces of his children and wife, trapped in an eternal battle in the demonic dimension, flashed through En Sabah Nur's consciousness.

—= Jean Grey =—

Everything was engulfed in fire. An all-consuming flame that brought and took lives. The spectacle was mesmerizing and yet terrifying… But the moment this mass of fire took the shape of a fiery bird… the fear Jean Grey felt evaporated as if it had never existed.

"I am PHOENIX!!!"

These words were spoken not so much in the girl's consciousness as in her soul. And these words meant something greater to her.

If someone else had been nearby in open space with Jean Grey, they would have witnessed a majestic and thus beautiful scene. The girl's body was covered in a cloak of fire. Her red hair, which already resembled tongues of flame, now embodied the very essence of the fire of life. Her eyes, which once gleamed emerald, were now milky white.

Perhaps because Jean Grey hadn't trained to master the Phoenix's power, or maybe because she couldn't withstand Sinister's attack, or perhaps because Phoenix was something all-encompassing, none of it mattered. What mattered was the present reality: Jean Grey had been consumed by the Phoenix. And now, this incredibly powerful entity moved in a direction known only to her.

—= Peter Quill =—

Peter Jason Quill, Star-Lord, the scourge of space, was currently occupied with a mission assigned to him by Yondu.

This mission had led Star-Lord to a planet inhabited by extremely ugly lizards. And if we talk about the atmosphere prevailing here… it's better not to think about it at all. Morag was already an extremely lousy place, and there's no need to worsen it with disheartening thoughts.

Peter knew exactly what to do in such moments. His hands quickly found the right song.

"And I miss you…" Peter repeated a verse from the song that was playing in his helmet at that moment.

To this song, Peter playfully entered the temple that opened before him. Numerous traps in the temple were activated for Peter as if they weren't traps at all.

Star-Lord's helmet had a built-in map of the area, where all the upcoming adventures were meticulously marked.

A satisfied smirk appeared on Peter's face. Turning up the volume of the song, Peter headed straight to the center of the temple, where his mission awaited.

Because Peter was inside the temple… he didn't get to see the gigantic fiery bird that flew by nearby.

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