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  The team sat in their darkened office, eyes fixed on the multiple ss mounted on the walls. The els flickered, each station diving deeper into the fallout surrounding General Ross. With Donald out trag down his own past, Nigel had taken a seat he back after returning from Banner’s mission.

  A news anchor’s voice cut through the room. "General Ross, under intense scrutiny, faces allegations that his unauthorized experiments on mutants aahumans were part of a gover-funded project. The rea from both gress and the public has been swift. Senator Wilde, who has been outspoken on this issue, has released a statement ning Ross’s methods."

  They watched as the s shifted to Senator Wilde standing on the Capitol steps, surrounded by microphones. His tone was blunt, seething with disgust. “These as are not just an abuse of power; they’re an abuse of human rights. Experiments on mutants, deploying ued onry on U.S. soil… This is not the future we want for our try. And we’re holding everyone involved atable, starting with Ross.”

  Diego let out a low whistle. “Old man really dug his grave, huh?”

  Sofia shrugged, looking mildly amused. “Guess he thought he would be untouchable forever. Shame he fot the i exists.” She flicked through a few windows, pulling up social media. Each s buzzed with e, hashtag after hashtag calling for Ross’s immediate removal and iigation.

  One particurly damning post from an influencer popped up, the eion exploding with agreement: “Ross calls himself a patriot, but what kind of patriot tortures his own people? #RossGate.”

  Anthony leaned back, arms crossed. “Seems like they’re taking this one personally. The guy didn’t leave himself a single ally.”

  Another anchor’s voice filled the room, this time over footage of Ross trying to dodge questions. “As the sdal spreads, an iigation into Ross’s financials reveals bck funds tied to private corporations and offshore ats. Some of these funds appear to have beeed into unapproved projects focused oahuman tai.”

  “Ah, so they’re digging into his money now,” Sofia noted, barely taining a smirk. “When in doubt, always follow the money.”

  Nigel’s gaze stayed locked on the s, expression impassive. “They’ll want to know every t. If Ross was buying lunch with gover mohey’ll find out.”

  Sofia g him, amused. “Yeah, well, this isn’t just a lunch bill. We’re talking millions funneled into bs and projects that make Fraein look tame.”

  The news shifted to a military spokesperson who looked like he would rather be anywhere else, answering questions from reporters. “As of this m, General Ross’s position is under review. Until further notice, his clearance is suspended, and an internal audit is underway.”

  The reporters pressed forward, yelling over each other.

  “Does the military deny involvement ian Killer project?”

  “Is it true Ross maniputed data to exaggerate threats?”

  The spokespersoated. “I ’t ent on the specifics of any ongoing iigation, but I assure you that we take these matters seriously.”

  “Right,” Diego muttered, smirking. “Nothing says ‘serious’ like a ed statement.”

  Sofia clicked onto another s, this one dispying a Faote post that had already gone viral. A woman, g to be the sister of one of the mutants held in Ross’s bs, had written a lengthy post ning Ross and everyone ected to his project. “He destroyed my brother’s life in the name of ‘safety.’ No one signed up to be a test subject. Who’s holding him atable?”

  Anthony shook his head. “Looks like every skeleton in his closet’s ing out at once. People are furious.”

  “They should be,” Nigel added quietly, watg the s with a cold look. “He got too used to treating lives as numbers on a report. Now he’s just another hey want removed.”

  The camera cut to an angry crowd gathering outside a military building, holding signs with slogans like “Not in our name,” and “Ross out NOW.” ts filled the air, and the s zoomed in on one particurly vocal protester yelling, “We’re doh cowards hiding behind ‘national security’ as an excuse to py god.”

  The news tio show damning footage and interviews with former b workers, each clip adding to the spectacle. One former b tei, his face blurred, cimed Ross’s team routinely broke protocol. “I saw things that would make your skin crawl,” he said, his voice shaking. “They didn’t care about sequehey wanted results, no matter the cost.”

  Anthony frowned. “Even the b rats are speaking up now. You think Ross will take them down with him?”

  “Damn yeah he will,” Diego replied. “He’s in survival mode. No one’s safe when a man like him starts sinking.”

  The s shifted again, showiions from the public across various social media ptforms. A news report dispyed an assortment of posts, eae attag Ross’s reputation:

  “Is this what our taxes fund? Torture and experiments on i people?”

  “Ross represents everything wrong with unchecked power. Time for real ge.”

  Nero stood up and cpped once, cutting through the noise of the news broadcasts. "Alright, listen up. We’ve dealt with Ross. Neogenes have made their mark in Harlem, is were spared, Banner’s under our watch, and our three ptforms are growing faster than any of us pnned. With the st leak, they’re solidified as the pce people trust to vent, expose, ahe truth.”

  Maria sauntered up to Nero, chug, “So, what’s , boss? You digging into Donald’s past?”

  Nero shook his head. “Donald’s past will need our attention, sure, but that’ll take its own course. For now, let’s focus on something more… immediate. Seems like our friend Iron Man might be walking into some trouble soon.”

  Anthony frowned, curious. “What kind of trouble are we talking?”

  Nero o Sofia, whht up a s, dispying an image of a stocky man with electric whips coiled around his fists, eyes fixed on the camera with a crazed, defiant gre. “This guy, Ivan Vanko. Also goes by Whipsh,” Sofia expined. “Fresh out of a Russian prison, and with a personal vea against Stark. Daddy issues and all. But Vanko’s not just a bruiser; he’s built his own tech using Arc Reactor designs.”

  Diego raised an eyebrow, leaning in. “So he’s on Stark’s level, tech-wise? A rogue genius?”

  “Not quite, but close enough,” Sofia replied, scrolling through Vanko’s known assets. “He doesn’t have Stark’s resources, but he’s resourceful. He’s been s parts from the bck market and a few old es he hasn’t burned.”

  Nigel, watg from the back, smirked. “So, he’s out there wielding Stark’s own tech against him? This’ll be fun.”

  Nero corrected, “ly Stark’s tech. Vanko cims his father and Tony’s were partners before Howard Stark deported Anton Vanko, acg him of selling the Arc Reactor designs on the bck market. Anto his life after that drinking himself to death and leaving his grudge for his son to carry on."

  Anthony raised a brow. "So he was guilty, then? Maybe he deserved it?"

  Nigel shook his head. “It’s not that simple. Stark deported Anton, sure, but it’s not like Howard kept the Arc Reactor teder lod key. He sold it to the military himself.” He shrugged, gng at the others. “It’s a messy lio draw. Howard atriot’—but in the end, that just means he was selective about who got to use his ons. The same tech that Vanko’s father nearly got thrown in jail for was killing Anton’s people ba Russia, all uhe banner of ‘patriotism.’ It’s the kind of thing that has two faces, depending on which side you’re looking from.”

  Anthony sighed, crossing his arms. “And Vanko’s vi’s his job to ‘correct’ the injustice, huh?”

  “Something like that,” Sofia replied, pulling up additional information on Vanko’s activities. “He’s been in the underground circuit for a while now, making es, getting resources wherever he . The guy doesn’t care if he burns the world down as long as Tony Stark goes down with it. It’s personal to him, and he’s bringing everything he’s got.”

  Diego tilted his head, eyeing the footage of Vanko on one of the ss. “So, he’s got enough tech to actually cause damage? Or is he just out there pying mad stist?”

  “Oh, he’s got the power,” Sofia said, typing up a report. “His little arc reactors are nowhere near Stark’s inal, but he’s smart enough to build something that’ll hold up in a fight. He’s mao design some seriously dangerous tech despite the budget—whips made from pure energy, and a power source that could put the Arc Reactor to shame if he could get the right pos. Guy’s not just a thug swinging gadgets around; he’s got pns.”

  Nero poi the s, his eyes hardening as he studied Ivan Vanko’s image. "I get why the guy’s out for blood. Stark’s dad screwed over his family, left them in the dirt while Howard made millions off teton helped build. But this guy’s gone from justified ao a vea with no boundaries. He’s risking is just to make a point. If he’s not stopped, there’ll be a hell of a lot more."

  Diego rolled his shoulders, eyes fixed on the dispy of Vanko’s known associates. “So what’s the pn? Wait for him to make a move on Stark and swoop in for up?”

  Nero nodded, gng at the crew assembled around the dimly lit ss. “Yes and no,” he started. “In the inal timeline—Vanko’s ‘plot' is two folded. First, he hits Tony alone, goes public, gets humiliated. Then, a ons dealer steps in to break him out, arms him with tech, as him wreak havoc all over the city. First part? We let it py out. Let Stark handle him—py hero, gain his spotlight. Sed part? Not happening. We’re not letting Vanko get out of hand just because someone wants a vea-fueled puppet."

  Sofia houghtfully, pulling up the details on the ss. “Right. If we’re blog the sed part, I’ll keep eyes on the pyers that could break him out. I have some intel on Hammer; he’s tied up in all kinds of dirty deals.”

  “Good. Hammer’s the one who funds Vanko after his first fight with Stark. We’ll cut that before it starts,” Nero said. “Otherwise, we’ll just be on the sidelines, letting him trash the city, watg is get dragged into some private war.”

  Maria tilted her head, one eyebrow raised. “So we’re letting him bomb his debut and making sure no one else joins the show?”

  “Exactly,” Nero replied. “It’s a good ce for us to py the hero, earn snition. But if we let him loose with Hammer’s bag? We’ll be no different from Ross, letting chaos happen just to sweep in ter.”

  As Sofia was flipping through her els, her pho up. She tapped a button, putting the call on speaker. "Erwin, what’s the situation?"

  From the other end, Erwin’s voice came through, ced with irritation. “He’s refusing to take the medie. If he keeps this up, it won’t be a vilin that kills him—it’ll be alcohol or the metal poisoning. He’s partying more than he’s resting.”

  The team’s faces grew tense, a collective frown spreading across the room. But Nero chuckled, unbothered. “He’ll be fine. Just stubbor him feel the sequences a little. How’s everything else going on your end?”

  Erwin sighed, a hint of frustration seeping into his voice. “I’m alright, boss, just tired of this tightrope act. Fury’s on my neck more than usual. I think he’s still suspeg something’s off.”

  Nero chuckled, unfazed. “Not surprising. Don’t let that grizzled look fool you; the man’s sharper than he looks. Fury’s a super soldier with turies of instin his side. He’s got a knaelling out things that don’t add up. Stay under his radar. Anything else?”

  “Yeah, ohing.” Erwin’s voice lowered slightly. “He’s getting more insistent on gathering intel about the Neogenes. Wants details, possible recruits. Right now, he’s trying to piece together what he from small scraps of data. He thinks SHIELD trol them if he trol Warren.”

  Sofia rolled her eyes, leaning back with a smirk. “Good luck with that, Fury. Neogenes arely waiting in line fover sponsorship.”

  Nero was unbothered. “Let Fury chew on that for a while,” he said, gng over the group. “Warren’s safe, and it keeps Fury chasing shadows instead of real leads. He’ll be busy.”

  Erwin’s affirmation faded as the call clicked off, leaving the team in silence for a beat, eyes shifting back to Nero.

  Nero gave a final nod. “Until Ivan Vanko makes his move, you’re all free to handle your own business. But stay close. We’ll o haark’s mess when it goes off. And Donald’s…situation should be surfag around then, too.” He crossed his arms. “So be prepared for things that might not fall under ‘normal.’”

  Anthony chuckled dryly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Supernatural? We talkin’ magionsters here?”

  Nero’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Anthony. "Higher," he said simply, leaving the rest in suspense. He had kept Donald’s secret closely guarded, even from Maria and the crew. Donald’s true identity—the God of Thunder—wasn’t Nero’s story to share, but rather a truth that Donald would uncover for himself in time.

  Anthony squi him, clearly not satisfied with Nero’s cryptiswer. “Higher than supernatural? What, we talking a relics? Aliens?”

  “Aliens?” Diego cut in, smirking. “Look, if we’re doing aliens, I’d better be armed with something more than that dinky ring you passed me, man.”

  Sofia raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. “ we stay grounded? It’s ohing to deal with disgraced generals ata-fueled Russians, but aliens? Do we even have anything that’d stand up to tech like that?”

  Nero just shook his head, ughing quietly to himself. “Trust me. We’re ly out of our depth here. It’s more about being prepared for what’s ing, even if we ’t quite see it yet.”

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