As Alex contemplated resolving matters in the United States before journeying outside of Earth to explore the vast universe, Nick Fury made a significant discovery on his end.
"Director, you wanted detailed information on 1962. I've got some leads," Phil Coulson approached Nick Fury, holding a file.
"Really? Where did you find it?" Fury inquired, visibly surprised.
Despite SHIELD not yet established in 1962, Fury sought to uncover details about the Cuban Missile Crisis, in which Alex was involved, aiming to gauge his strength.
"This file was tucked away in the old CIA archives. It took some digging to unearth it," Coulson explained with a hint of frustration.
Following the Cuban Missile Crisis, many CIA personnel were replaced. It was a stroke of luck that Coulson stumbled upon these detailed records from 1962, which included information on Magneto, Charles, and Alex, detailing their abilities.
"Copy Ability?" Fury's brows furrowed as he read the files.
Copying abilities? Now, that's a formidable power.
Fury's eyes gleamed with intrigue. The ability to copy others' powers could be immensely powerful, allowing the user to replicate telekinesis, teleportation, magnetic manipulation, and more. It was clear that many of Alex's abilities might stem from this extraordinary capability to mimic others' powers.
"This copying ability still has its flaws. It requires physical contact to copy someone else's ability. Stryker's son, Jason, with his ability, could handle him well," Phil Coulson suggested.
"Jason?" Nick Fury looked taken aback. "So, this Stryker is also in the mix. He's quite the ruthless character."
Jason is his son. Due to the brain fluid he produces, he can control people, even going so far as to open his head for easy access whenever needed. And Jason's ability to create illusions further complicates matters.
Speaking of Stryker, he's quite the unfortunate soul. He initially harbored hatred towards mutants, only to have his own son turn out to be one. While this brought him immense grief, he couldn't bring himself to harm his own flesh and blood, could he?
However, his wife met a tragic fate at the hands of their mutant son. This turned Stryker's resentment towards mutants into outright animosity. He promptly turned his son into a puppet, obeying only his commands.
"That's a solid plan," Nick Fury agreed. "With Jensen's mastery of illusion, it shouldn't be too difficult to catch Alex off guard."
Taking advantage of Alex's susceptibility to illusions, they could strike and eliminate him. No matter how formidable his ability might be, it's no match for death.
"Let's proceed with this plan and deal with Alex first. Both Charles and Magneto have their vulnerabilities, and we can tackle them one by one," Fury concluded.
....
As Alex idly trimmed the trees in his manor, a sudden chill swept over him, signaling an unsettling sensation.
Furrowing his brow, Alex sensed a malevolent presence targeting him.
"Stryker? Those Sentinels are no match for me. Who else would try to mess with me?" Alex pondered, touching his nose, despite the lack of wind or cold weather. He couldn't shake the inexplicable chill, indicating something was amiss.
"Amusing, really amusing," Alex smirked.
Unaware of Nick Fury's calculations, Alex remained unperturbed. His absolute strength rendered him indifferent to conspiracies and schemes.
…..
As a month passed uneventfully, an eerie peace settled over them.
Meanwhile, Charles grew increasingly anxious amid the calm. His students were children, with only a handful capable of combat. The rest were too young and vulnerable.
In contrast, Alex embraced the tranquility, indulging in love affairs, teasing the young girls, training Storm and Jean, and enjoying life as he pleased.
On this particular day, as Alex strolled into his castle-like villa, laughter echoed, seemingly from the three young girls. Jin and Storm conversed quietly, everything appearing normal.
But Alex halted abruptly.
Something felt off, too normal to be true.
Even Jean and Storm's whispers seemed oddly faint, despite Alex's enhanced senses. This abnormality stirred a sense of unease within him.
"My dear, what's the matter?" Raven descended the stairs, her expression filled with concern as she approached Alex.
"It's nothing," Alex reassured her with a shake of his head, though his worry lingered.
Outside the manor, a man in his twenties, confined to a wheelchair, was slowly wheeled closer to Alex's residence, his movements akin to someone afflicted with Parkinson's.
It was Stryker.
Sentinels descended upon the perimeter of Alex Manor, nearly a hundred in number, gradually encircling the estate.
Lost in his own thoughts, Alex was oblivious to the unfolding situation around him.
Ps: (I want to clarify why MC is oblivious. In the original book, Charles also remains unaware. He hasn't realized he's lost in his own fantasies, but the protagonist has sensed that something is amiss. This already addresses the issue.)
"Phil Coulson, your plan is still solid," Nick Fury observed the scene through surveillance, nodding in approval at Phil Coulson.
Phil Coulson appeared conflicted. "Director Nick Fury, Alex hasn't posed any threat to humanity. In fact, he's saved the world multiple times. Is it really wise for us to treat him like this?"
"Agent Phil Coulson, if he were human, he'd be hailed as a hero, showered with accolades by the United States. But he's a mutant. Even if he saves the world, it doesn't change the fact that he's a mutant. I'm not aiming to eradicate all mutants; I want to cultivate mutants who serve SHIELD, not those who refuse to abide by our rules. Do you understand?" Nick Fury explained patiently.
Why put in so much effort for these mutants? Is it all just for a handful of mutant kids?
Well, mutant abilities come in many forms, and once they're brainwashed into becoming S.H.I.E.L.D agents, they can be invaluable assets to the United States.
Take Kitty, Anna, and Anya in Alex Manor, for example. Kitty's ability allows her to infiltrate any location and gather confidential information effortlessly. Anna can absorb the memories of others, eliminating the need for interrogation altogether. Just let Anna absorb the memories of enemy spies, and you'll have access to a wealth of information.
Then there's Anya's ability. In wartime, she can use birds and even poisonous insects as scouts to spy on enemy positions and create detailed maps of their defenses.
This is precisely why Eric, Charles, and Alex must be eliminated.
Their abilities are incredibly valuable to the United States, and with various methods of brainwashing available, these mutants can be turned into agents contributing to the country's interests, much like Steve.
Hence, dealing with these three mutant leaders is an unavoidable necessity.
If they were to discover that S.H.I.E.L.D's true intention is to brainwash mutants into serving them, they would undoubtedly put up fierce resistance. It's better to take preemptive action.
By eliminating the top three leaders, the remaining mutants would have no choice but to fall in line and work for S.H.I.E.L.D.
(End of this chapter)
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