Three Days after the Events in Mount Hood, Oregon.

The early May morning in New York City was quiet. The crisp air seeped through the windows of the Avengers Tower, contrasting with the hum of the city below. Captain America sat at the large round table, the Avengers’ emblem embossed at its center, sipping a cup of plain Folgers coffee. His fingers tapped against the printed documents in front of him—briefs detailing Carraro, Trask International, and the Sentinel Project.

A kill list. He had seen many in his time, but this one? This was different. These weren’t spies or enemy combatants. These were American citizens. Men, women, and even children, targeted simply because they were born mutants, well at least some of them. Others were known criminals, human/mutant traffickers, murderers, clinical psychopats.

The door slid open, and Tony Stark strolled in, clad in dark gym shorts and a black Stark Industries t-shirt, his signature coffee mug in hand. His eyes scanned the room, then settled on Steve.

"Alright, before you say anything, Cap—good morning."

Steve’s gaze lifted. "Good morning, Tony."

"Secondly, before you judge me for not wearing the armor, it’s ready. I just wanted to sit on something more comfortable." Tony gestured at the chair before plopping down into it, leaning back like it was his personal lounge.

"Acknowledged." Steve kept his tone neutral, but his eyes drifted back to the papers.

Tony exhaled and took a sip from his mug. "This about that mutant thing, Steve?"

Steve’s expression remained unreadable. "Yes, I’m afraid so."

Tony let out a sharp breath, setting his mug down on the table with a soft clink. "Didn’t Carol tell you to go comb the desert or something? I’m surprised she’s even entertaining this at all."

Steve took a sip of coffee before responding. "She has been spoken to."

Tony gave him a look, but didn’t press the issue. Instead, he folded his arms. "Alright, let’s get to the point—what’s the end goal here?"

Steve leaned forward slightly, lacing his fingers together. "To safeguard the rights of mutants, as protected by the Constitution—or at least, as it should be."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "By that, you mean?"

Steve’s voice was measured, deliberate. "The connection between Trask and Carraro has been proven. There’s a kill list of mutants. A hit list."

Tony sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Many of them are violent criminals, Steve."

"That doesn’t absolve them from the innocent mutants killed," Steve countered without missing a beat.

"Sure," Tony relented, lifting a hand. "I didn’t mean it like that."

"Trask has to answer for his funding of a domestic terrorist organization." Steve’s voice had an edge to it now. "One that’s responsible for the deaths of dozens—humans and mutants alike. Including those in Houston." His eyes darkened as he mentioned the city. "People like Thompson, too."

Tony exhaled, nodding slowly. "I see. And what’s the strategy then, Cap?"

Steve sat up straighter. "I’d like the Avengers to take a more passive role. We use our contacts to get to the truth, but the X-Men are the heavy lifters, not us."

Tony studied him for a long moment before giving a small smirk. "That is—if we vote in favor of the motion."

Steve met his gaze, unwavering. "I’m confident we have the moral fiber to support mutants in this time of need. Most of the X-Men are U.S. citizens. We should not ignore their plea any more than we would ignore human citizens."

Tony leaned back, tapping his fingers against the table. "Gonna be a tough sell to some of them, Cap."

Steve nodded, his eyes shifting toward the door as the sounds of footsteps echoed down the hall.

The door slid open, and Carol Danvers stepped into the room, her presence immediately commanding attention. She was in full uniform—her red, blue, and gold suit pristine, her boots clicking lightly against the polished floor as she strode toward the round table.

"Captain. Stark."

Steve gave her a firm nod. "Carol."

Tony barely glanced up from his coffee, smirking as he took a sip. "Blondie."

Carol’s eyes flickered toward him with thinly veiled amusement, though her tone remained sharp. "If you want to make it out of this meeting alive, Tony, I’d shut up."

Tony raised his hands in mock surrender. "Oh, fiery. Always a pleasure."

Carol exhaled sharply, turning her focus back to Steve. "Captain, is this about the issue we discussed?"

"Yes, Colonel Danvers."

Carol folded her arms, leaning slightly against the table. "I take issue with some aspects of this plan, but I believe we can reach certain agreements."

Steve nodded, appreciating the willingness to engage.

The door opened once again, and two more figures stepped inside. Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff.

"Banner. Nat," Steve greeted as they entered.

"Big guy, Red, take a seat," Tony said, nodding toward the coffee jug on the side counter. "We’ve got Colombian roast if that’s your thing."

Banner lifted a small cardboard box, shaking it slightly. "Got the donuts you asked for, Tony. And that paper you wanted—on the structural integrity of biological plasma manifestation."

Steve’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked toward Stark. "Really, Tony?"

Tony shrugged. "I’m just trying to understand our friend’s powers."

Steve exhaled, but before he could say anything, Hawkeye and Wasp entered. Clint Barton stretched his arms above his head, cracking his neck as he took a seat, while Janet Van Dyne slid into a chair effortlessly, her perfectly manicured nails drumming against the table.

"What’s on the agenda today?" Hawkeye asked casually, before reaching for the coffee.

"Something tells me this isn’t just a team brunch," Wasp quipped, crossing her legs.

Falcon arrived next, offering Steve a nod before settling into a chair.

Then, Thor entered.

The room almost seemed to shift as the Asgardian strode inside, his crimson cape billowing slightly, Mjolnir clutched in his right hand. His golden hair cascaded past his shoulders, and his expression was one of noble curiosity. He took a moment to survey the room before addressing them.

"Many greetings, Avengers. I trust this meeting shall serve as a means to advance the interests of Midgard?"

Tony smirked, leaning back in his chair. "That’s more or less the gist of it, Goldilocks."

Thor’s gaze turned toward Steve, his voice carrying the weight of ages. "Captain, I have pondered deeply upon this matter. Dost thy allegiances now lie with the mutants of Midgard?"

Steve met Thor’s gaze evenly. "It’s not about allegiance, Thor. It’s about giving people the benefit of the doubt. Allowing them to live their lives freely, without persecution."

Thor stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Ah, very much so. I have heard whispers of this ‘Sentinel Project.’ It does not trouble me overmuch. It appears that these so-called ‘mutants’ have caused much discord upon Midgard before. If they be reputable warriors, then they shall find their way to Valhalla once the battle is done."

Steve’s brow furrowed. "Thor, we’re not sending mutants to die. We’re trying to protect them."

Before Steve could say more, Tony cut in.

"I’ll stop you right there, Goldilocks. I know Earth politics are a little obtuse for you, but we’re not fighting against the mutants. Not all of them, anyway."

Thor tilted his head, his blue eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Are they not akin to the Frost Giants? A people separate from the rest, known to bring destruction upon their own lands?"

Steve shook his head. "No, Thor. Mutants are not Frost Giants. They are not by nature unlawful or destructive. They are people—people who have been hunted, forced into hiding, and made to suffer simply for existing."

Thor considered this. "Pardon my ignorance, Captain Rogers, but I believed the duty to safeguard these ‘mutants’ was bestowed upon the warriors of Xavier’s Order."

Steve sighed. "That’s not an official role, Thor. The X-Men are not an official organization, nor are they recognized by any governing body. They act because they must. Because no one else does."

Thor nodded, resting Mjolnir on the table with a soft thud. "And what do these mutants seek of thee, Captain? Do they ask for vengeance, or do they seek sanctuary?"

Steve took a deep breath. "They seek justice. They want Trask and Carraro to answer for their crimes—their funding of a domestic terrorist organization, their hand in developing weapons to be used against American citizens."

Thor’s eyes darkened slightly. "If what thou speakest is true, then these men have committed grave injustices against the people of Midgard. In Asgard, such dishonorable acts would demand retribution."

Steve nodded. "Then you understand why we need to act. But not as warriors. Not as Avengers sweeping in with fists raised. We must act in a way that ensures long-term protection, not just temporary safety."

Thor’s expression was thoughtful as he leaned back, considering the weight of Steve’s words.

Carol exhaled, her arms still folded. "You’re asking the Avengers to take a political stance, Steve. And that’s not something we do lightly."

Steve’s jaw tightened. "It is not of our concern to politicize our roles, but this is about protecting lives, not politics, Carol."

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Carol nodded slowly, clearly still considering her stance. "Then let’s hear the full plan before we decide."

Steve glanced around the table, scanning the faces of his teammates. "Let's move to it"

Captain America moved to the side of the projector, adjusting his stance as the dim light cast long shadows across the room. His shield, usually a steadfast symbol of defense, now rested against his chair, his helmet beside it. The silver strands in his hair gleamed briefly under the artificial light before the room darkened to accommodate the first slide.

He inhaled, steady and deliberate. "First, we must assess the threat and remind ourselves of the importance of this matter—not just to national security, but possibly on a global scale."

With a press of a button, the first slide appeared on the screen.

CARRARO SECURITY – A COVER FOR EXTREMISM

The image displayed Carraro Security’s corporate insignia alongside a timeline of its founding and operations.

"This is Carraro Security. A company created in 2006 by then-CEO Walter Maddox, a former Navy SEAL from Alabama. The intent was to create a corporate security firm specializing in elite protection—designed to safeguard assets against technologically advanced criminals, such as those we encounter in New York."

The next slide appeared, showing images of known criminals—Aleksei Sytsevich, better known as Rhino, and Otto Octavius, the infamous Doctor Octopus.

"Carraro initially maintained its image as a high-risk security contractor. It dealt with situations requiring firepower and precision against enhanced threats. However—"

Another slide appeared—this one from September 2020. It showed a photograph of Maddox shaking hands with another man—a figure with piercing blue eyes and reddish-brown hair.

"In September of 2020, the company was purchased by Thomas Kane. Now, we know for a fact that Thomas Kane is an alias for Graydon Creed."

The next slide appeared, a montage of Graydon Creed over the years, standing at rallies, microphones in hand, a sea of supporters behind him. The timestamps ranged from 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022.

GRAYDON CREED – THE POLITICAL FACE OF HATE

"Graydon Creed founded the Friends of Humanity in 2000, an anti-mutant militant group. What started as fringe extremism gained legitimacy through the internet’s rapid expansion. Initially, it spread across early social media and forums, but today, the group thrives in specific online circles, often within communities already harboring extremist ideology. But make no mistake—"

The next slide appeared. Friends of Humanity protest marches. Armed rallies. Street clashes. Coordinated attacks.

"They are more than just an online presence. They have established themselves physically as well—both in America and abroad."

A few murmurs passed through the room.

Then, the next slide came up.

CARL DENTI – THE X-CUTIONER

The screen displayed a haunting image—a man cloaked in darkness, a crow-like chrome mask obscuring his face, a short red cape draped over his shoulders, and a Sentinel blaster in his grip.

To the right of this ominous photo was a SHIELD mugshot labeled Carl Denti, alongside an older FBI personnel file from years prior.

"This is Carl Denti, better known as the X-Cutioner. He is the primary enforcer of the Friends of Humanity."

Steve let that settle before continuing, his voice steady but filled with restrained frustration.

"Formerly FBI, Denti was involved in multiple black ops missions targeting mutant cartel leaders in Guatemala, working in collaboration with the DEA. That was before his official departure from the Bureau."

The next slide showed a classified timeline from SHIELD’s investigative records, marking his disappearance and subsequent resurfacing in conflict zones.

"After leaving the Bureau, he returned to Central America—not as an agent, but as an executioner. Reports suggest he engaged in unofficial operations against mutant warlords in Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and across the southwestern United States—including Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona."

A map of confirmed and suspected X-Cutioner sightings flashed across the screen, red dots highlighting each confirmed kill zone.

"We know little about his activities during those years. The evidence remains circumstantial, but field reports indicate Denti was operating as a violent anti-mutant vigilante—outside the law, but with extreme efficiency."

Another click. The screen shifted.

It now displayed his more recent exploits in America.

"Once back in the States, he aligned with the Friends of Humanity, becoming their chief enforcer. His targets ranged from known threats—like the Marauders—to innocent mutants caught in his crusade. He was also Chief of Operations for Carraro"

Steve exhaled, glancing around the room before pausing on Tony.

A brief silence passed before Clint Barton finally spoke up. "Have we interrogated this guy?"

Steve turned back toward the group, his tone even.

"Not yet. But we will. Soon."

With a steady motion, Captain America flipped to the next slide.

The screen displayed a woman clad in black power armor, her chrome mask giving her an almost spectral presence. The surrounding images showed her in various military gear—BDUs, tactical vests, always armed, always flanked by similarly dressed guards, their white masks obscuring their faces.

Steve’s voice carried a weight of authority as he introduced her.

"This is the Leper Queen, leader of the Sapien League. We know little about her—nothing, in fact, beyond what we’ve gathered after her arrest in Houston."

The next image shifted to her SHIELD mugshot, and the reaction around the table was immediate.

The woman’s face was grotesquely scarred—burned beyond recognition. Her lips were nearly gone, her skin a ruined canvas of melted flesh and old wounds. But what drew even more attention was her right arm—or rather, the stump where her hand had once been.

Alamo had crushed it beyond saving.

"Her name is Clara Page. All records of Ms. Page appear to have been destroyed, and she was presumed dead in 2006."

Steve looked across the table, meeting the eyes of each Avenger in turn.

"We will conduct an interrogation, if we are all in agreement."

No one spoke, but there was an unspoken understanding among them.

Then, another slide.

The image was unmistakable.

Bolivar Trask appeared on the screen—CEO of Trask International, his aging face sharp and shrewd.

"Most of you are aware of Bolivar Trask," Steve continued. "He is the CEO of Trask International, the creator and chief designer of the Sentinels. Born in 1945, Trask was a pioneer in automation and AI technology."

Another slide appeared, showing a timeline of government contracts and military approval forms.

"The Sentinel Program was first sanctioned after Magneto’s attack on Washington, D.C. in 1963—an event that resulted in the deaths of several great heroes, including Thomas Halloway. Men who had served during the war. Good men."

The slide showed the ruins of the Capitol, the wreckage that had taken years to repair.

"The project took roughly twenty years to complete, culminating in one of the most expensive defense programs in American history. Since its inception, every sitting president has either expanded or maintained funding for the program."

Tony let out a low whistle. "Bet that was a fun budget meeting."

Natasha Romanoff, who had remained silent so far, tilted her head slightly.

"Didn’t the Russians have a similar project?"

Steve nodded toward her. "Natasha?"

Nat crossed her legs, thinking back. "Yes. The Soviet government launched a program called People’s Defense in 1971 after Magneto nearly destroyed the Kremlin and wiped out the Soviet Super-Soldiers. Crimson Dynamo spearheaded a project similar to the Sentinels, but it was abandoned after the Oil Crisis in 1973."

Steve nodded, processing the information. "Noted."

The next slide displayed modern Sentinel models, the schematics familiar but dated.

"The Sentinel program endures today, but no new models have been purchased by the Department of Defense since 2014. After pressure from Congress, acquisitions were halted in favor of more defensive countermeasures rather than active deployments."

A voice cut in from across the table.

"Yeah, you can thank me for that."

All eyes turned to Tony, who leaned back, sipping from his mug.

"The Sentinel program was inefficient," he continued. "I testified before Congress about cost inefficiency and practicality issues. I might not be the biggest mutant advocate, but even I knew those things were an overfunded disaster."

Steve nodded but quickly moved forward.

"This brings us to the central issue at hand."

The next slide displayed financial records, including offshore accounts, internal memos, and classified funding requests—all linking Trask International to Friends of Humanity and Carraro Security.

"Evidence gathered by Alamo and the X-Men suggests that Trask has been funding the FoH through Carraro Security to continue Sentinel operations illegally."

The following slide showed a transaction log—Trask transferring funds to Graydon Creed, using Carraro Security as an intermediary.

"We also believe Trask was the one who financed Creed’s acquisition of Carraro Security. Further, he likely commissioned the modified Sentinel Titan that X-Cutioner deployed against us in Houston."

The screen now displayed a familiar face—Thomas Thompson.

"And we suspect Trask was the one who paid the Leper Queen to murder Thomas Thompson, a veteran who was cooperating with the X-Men before his death."

The atmosphere in the room shifted—more than a few hardened gazes now locked onto the screen.

Steve moved to the next slide.

This time, the screen showed classified SHIELD documents, blurred redactions covering portions of the pages. Beside it, scientific diagrams of an advanced Sentinel system.

"Furthermore, Carraro employees have been caught selling Trask’s technology to former AIM scientists, who are currently working for SHIELD on Staten Island."

That got a reaction.

Hawkeye leaned forward. "Wait—SHIELD?"

Steve’s voice was controlled, but heavy. "Technology that was used in illegal cybernetic experiments—forcing citizens to function as processing units for anti-superhuman threats."

Tony exhaled. "That is some next-level cyberpunk horror."

Clint frowned. "Why the hell would they use human brains for that?"

Steve switched to a slide showing classified SHIELD memos alongside biological schematics.

"They believed a biological brain would be harder to hack than a cybernetic one."

Tony let out a low whistle. "Questionable methodology and results, also really creepy."

Clint elbowed Natasha. "Almost Ultron creepy."

Tony mock laughed. "Haha."

Nat only gave Clint a deadpan smirk in response.

Steve didn’t break his focus. "This is not the time to joke."

Tony held up his hands. "Sorry, Steve."

Clint nodded. "My bad, Cap."

Steve flipped to a final slide—images of Graydon Creed, Bolivar Trask, and Albert Hoss side by side.

"Creed’s whereabouts remain unknown. He has gone completely off the grid. Meanwhile, Albert Hoss, the man responsible for selling Trask technology to rogue scientists, has also disappeared."

He clicked off the projector, the room darkening for a moment before the main lights came back on.

Steve turned toward his fellow Avengers, hands resting on the table as he looked at each of them in turn.

"That concludes the briefing." He straightened his posture, taking in a deep breath. "So I now put forward the motion—that we, the Avengers, should officially aid the X-Men in uncovering the truth behind this case."

He let that sink in.

"Our role should be primarily legal—helping expose the corruption and ensuring that Trask’s funding of terrorist organizations is shut down. Furthermore, we ensure that mutants who abide by the law are protected under the law."

Silence.

Carol was the first to speak, her arms crossed over her chest, her expression unreadable as she processed everything laid out before her.

"This is a lot, Steve."

Steve met her gaze, his tone steady. "It is not much to ask, Carol."

Tony sighed. "What about the people, Cap? They're already on edge after Houston. If we expose ourselves too much, they might start targeting us too."

Steve turned to Tony, whose fingers tapped idly against his coffee mug. "Does that bother you, Tony? That doing the right thing might upset people?"

Tony’s smirk faltered slightly. He straightened in his seat. "Ahem, no, I just... Not everyone reads Time Magazine to know I’m the Person of the Year. Some people might live under a rock and, uh, not like what they see when we stand next to the X-Men."

Carol gave him a knowing look, but it was Natasha who followed up.

"Tony is right, Steve," she said, arms folded, expression neutral but sharp. "There are elements here that could make it difficult to work with certain organizations in the future. People like Wolverine have a lot of enemies."

Steve turned to her. "And that’s supposed to stop us from doing the right thing?"

Natasha shrugged slightly. "I’m just laying out the facts. Not all X-Men even like us, Steve. A lot of them think we’re government stooges."

Thor, silent until now, leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. "I deem Xavier’s Order as fierce fighters, noble warriors. If they face oppression, we should come to their aid."

Bruce Banner, who had remained quiet up until this point, exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. "Being an outcast is hard on anyone," he admitted. "It was hard on me. Still is. People trust me the least as an Avenger. The Hulk scare is always going to be real, and they're not completely wrong."

His fingers drummed against the table. "But they’re not right either. We should give mutants a chance. Not all of them are Magneto’s Brotherhood."

Carol shifted in her chair before she spoke again. "But some of them were in his Brotherhood."

The room fell silent.

Steve inhaled deeply. "Carol. We talked."

Carol looked at him, then away. "We did. And I won’t go back on my word." A pause. "But Rogue still… bothers me."

Steve studied her, then softened. "What happened between you isn’t easy to mend. But with time, understanding will come. I’m sure it haunts her just as much as it haunts you."

Carol’s fingers curled slightly before she let out a breath. "Thanks, Captain."

Janet Van Dyne, who had been listening intently, leaned forward, her voice sure and warm. "We fought with them in Dallas—me, Tony, Cap. And I think they’re good people. All of them. Rough, yeah, but good. And they deserve love and kindness just like any of us."

Tony smiled. "This Janet Van Dyne, you should be called ‘Bee’... with all that sweetness of yours."

Janet smirked. "Aww, thanks, Tony."

Then Sam Wilson spoke. "Jan’s right. I understand what it means to be ignored, to have people doubt you, to keep fighting to make the world better even when no one believes in you. Cap believed in me once, and if he believes in Alamo and the X-Men, they have my trust."

All eyes turned to Tony.

He sighed theatrically. "Well, all the way to Bombay, I guess."

Steve’s gaze shifted. "Nat? Clint?"

Natasha exhaled. "I don’t believe it’s the best approach. But I’d be a hypocrite not to believe in second chances."

Clint Barton smirked. "Me too. Just… keep Wolverine away from me. He scares me."

Steve nodded, satisfied.

"Great. We’ll need legal counsel, too." Steve finally nodded.

Bruce nodded, pulling out his phone. "I’ll talk to Jennifer."

Tony grinned. "Yes, we need some gorgeous green help here, Dr. Banner."

Bruce ignored him, already dialing.

Steve stood up, placing his shield back onto his arm. "Call her now. I’ll reach out to the X-Men and Alamo."

The vote had been cast. The Avengers had chosen their side.

And the fight was just beginning.