Chapitre 19: Target: Shuri
The island loomed in the distance, a patch of land seemingly untouched by the chaos surrounding the world. To the untrained eye, it appeared ordinary—just another remote chunk of rock amidst endless ocean. But as Bruce and Cable flew closer, subtle ripples began to disturb the air, as if the very fabric of reality was bending to hide something larger beneath its surface.
"Doesn't look like much from the outside, does it?" Cable said with his usual gruff voice they flew toward the island's shoreline. "But trust me, it's a fortress."
As they crossed into the island's airspace, Bruce felt a shift in the atmosphere—a kind of weight that told him they had entered something beyond a simple island. Cable's handiwork, or rather, the handiwork of some of the most brilliant minds the world had ever known, cloaked this place in a shield of invisibility, utilizing Tony Stark's designs. A technology that made the island vanish from the grid, even from the most advanced surveillance systems, turning it into an impenetrable safe haven.
The coastline was lined with jagged rocks. But once they landed, it became clear that the island was far from barren. An expansive facility was carved into the mountainside, its entrance blending seamlessly into the rocky cliffs. It was a sanctuary for the resistance.
Bruce followed Cable into the main entrance. Inside, sleek metal corridors stretched in every direction, humming with energy from the advanced technology embedded into the walls. The hallways were wide enough to transport large equipment. A big operation room sat at the heart of the base, filled with a mixture of holographic screens, communication hubs, and tactical planning tables. The room buzzed with activity as mutants and allies worked together, each preparing for the inevitable war with Magneto.
"How many people do you have here?" Bruce asked, his eyes scanning the space as they walked deeper into the compound.
"More than you'd expect," Cable responded. "We've gathered mutants from all over. People, Magneto cast aside, people he couldn't use. We've got the kids Harley rescued, plus some veterans of the resistance. We've also got a few tech geniuses running the place. It's been a tough road getting here, but we've managed to stay off the radar."
Bruce noticed the high-tech defenses scattered across the walls—plasma turrets, drones patrolling in calculated patterns, and an array of sensors monitoring every corner. Cable's modifications had ensured that if anyone dared step foot on this island without clearance, they wouldn't last long.
The two entered a large open chamber that served as a training facility.
"This is where the real work happens," Cable said, nodding toward the mutants. "We're training them to control their powers, to fight back when the time comes."
More than a dozen young recruits used their abilities in controlled exercises throughout the room. The most experienced were practicing hand-to-hand combat, under the watchful eye of a strikingly familiar blue man.
"Brucey!" a familiar voice rang out from across the room.
Bruce turned just in time to see Harley bounding toward him, her pigtails bouncing with each step, a wide grin plastered across her face. She leaped at him, and for a brief moment, Bruce was certain she'd tackle him to the ground. But instead, she skidded to a halt, her smile widening as she looked him up and down.
"You made it!" Harley exclaimed, bouncing on her heels. "I knew you'd find me eventually. And you brought Cable too! How sweet."
Bruce allowed a small smile. "Harley. You're looking... well."
Harley twirled, her oversized mallet strapped to her back, and winked. "I always do, Bats. You know me!"
"And... Wait! Did you use the suit's nanites to make that giant mallet?!" He narrowed his eyes.
"Hehehe... The suit was somewhat destroyed, so, I had Cable use it to make my hammer instead." She had a smug look on her face.
"Well, as long as you are ok." He sighed, and Harley immediately perked up.
"You were worried about me, ain't ya?" Harley said with a large grin.
"Yeah, can you blame me though?"
Cable grunted, crossing his arms. "We've got bigger things to discuss. Magneto isn't going to wait around for us to be ready."
Harley's expression darkened for a moment, but then her usual playful demeanor returned. "Yeah, yeah, serious business. But first, you gotta try the ice cream! The kiddos love it, and I know you will too, Bats."
Before Bruce could protest, Harley dragged him outside to the much more open area in the middle of the island. There, a group of kids was gathered around a tall man, each eagerly taking turns at his snack cart. Bruce recognized the man instantly as the Eye-Scream—a mutant who gained the ability to produce ice cream when he went through his mutation.
"Oopse. The ice cream guy is back," Harley scratched the back of her head, looking around for someone.
"And let me guess, you stole ice cream," Bruce sighed.
"Nope, I didn't. I might have borrowed a crate or two... or three," she gave him a guilty grin.
Bruce gave her that serious look...
"Ok. Fine, five crates, alright. I was hungry and they had so many flavors that I just couldn't stop myself. But I did share it with everyone," Harley admitted, rubbing the back of her head. And came a weird sound from her stomach as she clutched it with one hand.
"Ugh..."
"Don't tell me!"
"I shouldn't have eaten all of that ice cream," she moaned, holding her stomach, looking at him with those puppy eyes. "Just wait here for sec. I'll be back in a jiffy." She ran away like a bullet train.
Cable walked up to Bruce. After watching Harley, he couldn't help but wonder how in the world this guy deals with her, so, he decided to ask, "..." But before he could speak, Bruce noticed that face he was making...
"Don't ask," Bruce sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"That bad?" Cable asked, looking at Harley running away.
"Would you believe me if I told you that she stole a cargo ship, crashed on the moon, and tried to paint the moon with graffiti spray?" Bruce rubbed his face.
Cable's eyebrows shot up. "Seriously?"
"I wish I was kidding," Bruce said.
Thirty minutes later, the meeting room was filled with tense energy as the core members of the resistance gathered. The space was dimly lit, with holographic maps of key strategic locations projected on the table. Bruce, Cable, Mystique, Harley, and a few other mutants sat around the table, each ready for the discussion that was about to begin.
"Magneto's grip is tightening," Bruce began, his voice calm but commanding. "He's strategically placed his bases to control resources, communication, and power. The longer we delay, the bigger the risk. God knows what kind of shit he's cooking up with Wakanda technology."
The room was silent, all eyes on him.
"We can't fight him directly—at least not yet. But we can disrupt his control." Bruce pointed to the map, highlighting key areas. "Fury's info says that these bases are critical. Without them, Magneto won't be able to maintain his stranglehold. Harley and I will take point and hit these key locations."
"Just you two?" Mystique asked. "I know Harley is strong, I saw her fight and you are probably even stronger than her. Still, hitting this many locations with just two of you..."
Bruce shook his head. "We're not going in to fight armies. We're going in to cripple his infrastructure—communications, power grids, supply lines. We hit hard, fast, and leave before anyone knows what's happening."
Cable grunted in agreement. "Classic guerrilla tactics."
"Exactly." Bruce turned to the others. "While we're executing the strikes, I need the rest of you to stay here. You can't afford to take unnecessary risks. Magneto's watching for anyone who moves against him. So, we'll just annoy him enough for him to put his entire focus on us. Now, he has to lift the barrier around Wakanda if he were to send his forces or sentinels, right?" He smirked.
"So, our target is Shuri," Cable said while tapping his finger on the table.
"Yup! You'll get a brief window when Magneto lifts the barrier. Sneak in, get Shuri, and get out before the barrier closes," Bruce explained his plan.
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