Eyes buttered. I really should not have watched so many true crime scandals before writing this chapter.
Branch M: Key Ingredient Act 1 Equivalent Exchange
At a small outpost in Terra Verde.
Inferno Base
They say if you become a hero you will never be able to say you have seen it all. This is true for two reasons. The first is when your career is cut short and the other will be when your career is long and will have seen every new wonderful/horrifying thing the universe has to offer. Which is a feeling the two webheads were feeling as the two of them were following a giant pinball-shaped creature with rabbit-like Moodears.
They were in some remote area far away from any town. It was one of several bases used by the insurrection now repurposed as a base for the Extraction team as evidenced by the Black and Gold paint job. However, that was just on the outside the inside tells a different story. As the black and gold color wasn't painted. From a single glance, you could tell it was some kind of organic metal.
"Spiderman I know the Champions need help in fighting Roxxon but I'm pretty sure this is a trap."
"Listen I know these guys look bad but they do good work." The look on Cindy's face showed that she didn't believe him. "Look I know this base is weird but this place is where they make their equipment and apparently they have to make it this…weird."
"Weird is undercutting it. There have been allegations of illegal human experiments and arms dealing along with planting monsters to capture them later."
"The human experiments are overblown, unfortunately, the truth is stranger than you think." Miles's voice had the tone of nervousness and disgust that he was trying to hide.
"Spiderman, I've known you long enough that you're hiding something. If you don't tell me now I'll get the Web Warriors to get it out of you later."
The black-suited Spiderman didn't slow down but he couldn't look at her. It was until the creature in front of them stopped at a closed door that he spoke. "They talk about anything involving something green or fairy-like we are well within our rights to deny their request."
"Miles. What happened?"
"Trust me when I say this; with this company, the truth is far stranger."
The doors open to no little fanfare save for the man in front of the door. The man was around 6,2 and well built. He was bald and was wearing several belts on his face. The man takes a beet out of the bowl next to the door to the creature which it happily accepts and goes back on its way. The man noticed the two web slingers and bowed to them.
"Ah, you two must be a part of the Champions! I'm Senior Agent Eugene of the exaction team. Please come in!"
Eugene did a bellhop pose to welcome the heroes to the room, Miles had been proven right on how weird got at this company. As they entered the mood of the base changed, the room had a golden light that simulated a sunset. The source of this light was a tree in the middle of an indoor pool in the corner making it look like an island in the middle of a lake. In front of the tree was a medium-sized roundtable with a woman in a black coat with golden circuit patterns. She was busy looking at her tablet to notice the heroes in the room.
"Hey boss, our guests are here!"
The woman simply slotted the tablet into the table and took a good look at her guests. "Friends of Spider-Man? I thought we were getting the champions?"
Miles just sighed and explained. "We are allies of Spider-Man and a part of the Champions, I'm almost named Spiderman and this is my partner Silk."
As the two approached the woman they could see how off she looked. Her eyes looked robotic and her face had the same circuit board pattern seen everywhere else in the base. "I apologize I've been living in a hole for the last decade so I haven't kept up with the times. I am Moira MacTaggert. Everyone, please have a seat."
As everyone in the room took a seat Moira pulled up some information and had the table project a map of the globe for everyone to see.
"Be sure to pay attention because I will not repeat myself." The map was showing a dot traveling slowly. "Today's meeting is about an abnormality that has recently materialized in northern Denmark. Using the updated detection system we have determined it to be Teth and it has a target somewhere in the country and it will reach it in ten hours unless we suppress and capture it. Any questions?"
Slik, ever curious, was the first to ask a question. "How did you determine it has a target? It looks as if it is in the middle of nowhere."
"I've been tracking it before the meeting started. It was in the middle of the city before moving into the forest. It made a sudden turn before moving back to the city. Next question."
Eugene was the next to ask a question. "So boss, who else in the company is going to join us? Like I can't help these guys fight the abno and weaken it at the same time."
Moria wordlessly pulled up the profile of two other Agents. "Agent Yugi of the Control team and Agent Yujin of the Information Team will be Joining us for this mission. Having an Insight Agent¹ will maximize the efficiency of the mission."
Eugene had fist pumped into the air at the news. "So will we get some new Equipment some new EGOs perhaps?"
"No, but it does remind me that I will have to make EGO suits for our allies on our way to the mission."
"Wait, what are you talking about?" Miles was shocked by that offer. The fact that they were making equipment for them was new.
"Yes. the capture of the Spider Bud and the Fairy Festival with the help of the champions allowed for increased production of EGO. This has allowed for new breakthroughs and Enoch wants to reward and apologize by giving you all personal EGO.
Miles put his head down. He had mixed feelings about this. On the one it was cool but Pinpoint was still injured from that mission which happened on his watch. " I don't know if I should accept that."
"Accept or not we still have an Abnormality on the loose and super endurance only goes so far. And we are pressed for time."
"Listen Miles I don't know what happened but we have faced worse and with two Web Warriors we can't lose" Cindy spook up trying her best to cheer up her companion.
Miles lifted his head up and put his guilt aside, for now, to focus on this mission.
"Ok, I'll accept the EGO for now."
"Excellent." Moria had opened the door on the opposite side of the room. "The ship will be taking the crew and equipment I need to make the suits. It also has a coffee machine because I'll definitely need the boost."
At the same time.
The Mutant Nation of Krakoa inside The Grove the Quiet Council Chambers
Inside the prestigious chambers of Krakoa stood two of the most powerful mutants politically and in ability present was the head of X-Force Beast and one who arranged this meeting Emma Frost and their guest Enoch. While the older mutants have experienced much in their long lives, someone wearing a robe made out of skin. Although calling it a robe was a bit generous; it looked similar to a religious monk robe with the sleeves cut off and wrapped around his forearms made with a red substance similar to flesh with a gigantic face sewn onto the torso area. It completely matched his current smiling expression. Creeper yet he was wearing a skin veil that completely obscured most of his face leaving the mouth exposed.
Almost every month Enoch reported he wore a set of armor created from the abnormalities he contained. Considering the fact he looked like a demented Touhou cosplayer of a certain well it is the reason why he never gets invited to the gala.
"Enoch are you ok? Are there any unusual events happening" Emma asked, concerned for the young man and his well-being. "I'm doing quite well, Miss Frost. As you can see-" Enoch did a spin showing off his outfit. 'This EGO suit is currently the most reliable and resilient we have extracted to date. Our newest abnormality,
Shy Look Today, has increased our Positive Enkephalin production by five percent. Which has allowed us to finally stabilize Terra Verde's economy around five months ahead of schedule."
The mention of Terra Verde had Beast roll his eyes. Still sore over the loss of control over the country which brought joy to the black diamond-encrusted heart of Emma.
"Excellent. And have you contained the abnormality that escaped last month, has it been recontained?" Emma inquired. Hank had been blocking the requests for additional funding for the abnormality suppression system and when the creature escaped and killed dozens of innocent people Krakoa had to pay restitution because as it was in Terra Verde and to save face.
"Indeed
O-04-84-Z has been recontained and moved to the new Genoshan site. We have since reclassified it to Teth and revamped our threat level assessment Including a new level for the sake of future-proofing."
Enoch took out a few booklets he kept in the mouth of the robes and passed them to everyone. just by turning the booklet which was very simple to avoid confusion. The first risk level was
Zayin which was low risk, low energy production, and low management.
Teth was similar but had a medium management level.
He level is where things got weird. As Enoch had actually included the pictures of uncaptured He level abnormalities along with level increases. They were weird and macabre like something thought up for creepypasta like the plant that created drugs so powerful that your mind was literally blown.
Waw was the most detailed But also the vaguest made from entirely secondary sources and a picture taken by Wolverine of a tall Amazonian woman wearing a red hood with only one eye visible. The newest threat level
Aleph had "Get help or nuke the area.
Naturally, this got the attention of Beast who did his best to hide his contempt for the young. "Enoch as far as reporting has gone, there hasn't been any sign of creatures powerful enough to warrant such under your original classifications."
If Enoch was annoyed he didn't show it. Instead, he took out another picture and handed it to Beast "What am I looking at? All I see is a field of mushrooms."
"That is in the Blue Area of the Moon. Captain Summers informed us of its presents near his home this morning. Our Central Team and Extraction team are working with the X-Men to remove the abnormality and-"
"Enoch, why don't you save that information for later. Our time is running short and we can't keep the other leaders waiting." Emma cutting this childish game short. This was not the time and place for a petty one-sided rivalry.
"To make a long story short, I've consulted many different psychics and scientists to revamp our contamination methods."
"Excellent, now Enoch I have a good word you've teamed up with the Champions is that correct? Now tell me why exactly would Lobotomy Corporation seek outside help?"
The subtext had been clear; why not go to your sponsor and ask one of your own. Enoch's expression on his EGO turned neutral and he started walking back and forth.
"I apologize Ms.Frost but it's because of our scope that I have sought out outside help. As I've said earlier there is an abnormality on the moon and I didn't hear about it until a few hours ago. The simple fact is that I need eyes everywhere and not just in areas we control."
Emma looked at the young man. He was one of the few individuals she didn't need to use her powers to know his intentions. And what he said is true, each gain and expansion has come with a cost and allies so fickle they might as well be enemies.
"Very well. But I expect you to cut your losses as soon as they become a hindrance to you."
"Very well. Is there anything else?"
This is where Beast starts his own line of questions.
"Kid Omega and Domino have reported Lobotomy Corporation agents in contact with Russian aligned mutants and cases of Enkephalin in their possession explain and might go easy I go easy on you."
Might is too everyone in the room was I'll come after no matter what you say. If Enoch was worried his body language and expression didn't show it.
"It is unavoidable to have to work with your enemy. Enkephalin is more than just a power source, it is a powerful drug with mild narcotic effects. We don't want people dying because of products"
"So you didn't contact X-Force or the Marauders if Enkephalin is so dangerous? You know full well what Russia does with her allies."
"Agents of the Extraction team have more leeway compared to other teams so long as abnormalities are involved. This means EGO, Enkephalin, and capturing abnormalities are all they only answer to me, the Sephirah of the Record team and Extraction team. Not unlike X-Force and the counsel."
"Cute. But you're not off the hook yet. Why did your agents let them have the boxes?"
"Because refining Enkephalin involves splitting it positive and negative. Positive is safe, negative will spawn abnormalities which is why having everyone armed is a requirement to work at Lob Corp."
Beast quiet at this revelation. Emma on the other hand spoke up with a smirk. "In short, where they are refining the energy will collapse soon?"
"Yes. Abnormality containment is still seen as a low priority for many countries so it is unlikely to pursue the concept until the future."
If the Cheshire Cat had a seductive younger sister it would be Emma Frost right. For her, this meeting has nothing but good news with the extra benefit of annoying Beast. This joy didn't last long as the doors to the chambers opened up revealing two out of three founders of Krakoa Charles Xavier and Magento walking into the room. The frosty voice of Magneto was the first to speak.
"Good morning Frost, McCoy. Have the two of you concluded your inquiry?"
"No, I still have questions Enoch has to answer."
"I on the other hand do not." Hank got up and collected his notes and began walking out. "Oh and before I forget I'll be contacting Lobotomy Corporation for an operation that will require your cooperation, have your sister contact me."
"I will Mr. McCoy."
As soon as Beast left the room Emma telekinetically slammed the door shut.
"Please don't slam the door. Emma just because we are rice doesn't mean we don't have to take care of our possessions."
"Don't be such a fuddy charlie. I didn't even slam it that hard."
If Charles wasn't wearing Cerebro you could have seen him roll his eyes.
"Regardless, we know what we are here for.
The two men sat in their usual seats at the table to begin the meeting. Charles took the lead.
"Let us begin the meeting. Today we have converged to discuss the continued containment of Moira MacTaggert."
To be continued.
1 lobotomy corporation agents are trained according to their highest virtue. It is not unlike a dnd party but much less restricted on what you can build and no overpowered spells.
After this chapter we will continue with Miles, Cindy, And Eugene.
