The Helicarrier's medical bay was quiet except for the soft sounds of equipment and gentle voices.
Twelve kids sat on examination tables while SHIELD medics worked with careful movements, checking for injuries and malnutrition.
Lucien watched through the observation window as the doctors did their work. These weren't the cold examinations from the facilities—these people actually cared about helping rather than harvesting data.
Still, he could see the tension in every face. The way they flinched at sudden movements, the careful distance they kept even from people trying to help. Trust didn't rebuild easily once it was shattered.
He turned to find Fury standing in the corridor.
"We need to talk. Conference room three."
The walk was silent. Other SHIELD personnel gave Lucien curious looks—word had spread about the teenager who'd cleared multiple facilities alone and walked out of an explosion like it was nothing.
The conference room was standard SHIELD—stark, functional, with a metal table and chairs. Fury activated a privacy screen before sitting down.
"Nathaniel Essex," Fury said without preamble. "What happened in there?"
Lucien leaned back, considering how much to share. SHIELD might be on his side now, but they'd been compromised too many times. Some secrets were too dangerous to trust to any organization.
"He brought a Sentinel to fight me," Lucien said simply. "Advanced model, different from the others. But still just a machine."
What he didn't mention was the adaptive capabilities. He did not know if the technology was already in use, but he wouldn't be the one to share it.
That information was too dangerous—if SHIELD knew such technology existed, they'd want to study it, improve it. And if SHIELD knew, eventually others would too.
Fury nodded, "Did you get anything useful before the place went up?"
"He was working on some kind of drug," Lucien said, his expression darkening. "Something that would change the 'power dynamic' between mutants and humans. Didn't give specifics, but knowing him, it's nothing good."
Fury nodded grimly. "We'll put out alerts. Essex is dangerous enough kidnapping mutants—if he's working on something for the broader population..."
"He won't stop," Lucien said with certainty. "Whatever he's planning, those facilities were just the beginning."
They sat quietly for a moment. Finally, Lucien asked the question that had been bothering him.
"What happens to the kids we rescued?"
Fury's expression became more careful. "I've already made arrangements. They'll be moved to the Xavier Institute—the X-Mansion. Almost all the remaining mutants have been relocated there for protection."
"Protection?" Lucien's voice carried a sharp edge. "You mean kept under observation by the government?"
After coming out of the facility, he knew the situation with the X-Mansion better than before.
Fury sighed, looking genuinely tired. "That's the best we can do. At least they're not being harmed, not being experimented on. They have food, shelter, education—"
"And surveillance," Lucien interrupted. "And restrictions. And the knowledge that they're not free to leave."
"It's not ideal," Fury admitted. "But with how few mutants are present after M-Day, it's the only way to keep them safe."
Lucien scoffed. "Safe. Right."
The tension was building. Fury's jaw tightened with frustration.
"There might be a chance to get them out of constant observation," Fury said carefully.
"Due to the Avengers' absence, criminal organizations are taking advantage. SHIELD doesn't have enough personnel to handle everything. If the mutants agreed to help with some situations, they wouldn't have to be restricted to just the mansion."
Lucien stared at him, then shook his head. "And do you really think they would agree to help? After everything they've been through?"
"I do," Fury replied with conviction. "There are former X-Men among them who would gladly help the world. Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Kurt Wagner—these are people who dedicated their lives to protecting others."
"That would have been the case," Lucien said coldly, "if they weren't caged like endangered animals."
The words hung in the air like an accusation. Fury's expression darkened.
Natasha, who had been observing from near the door, stepped forward as she sensed the conversation escalating. But Fury let out a long breath first.
"You're right," he said quietly. "But those weren't decisions I could control. The political pressure, the public fear, the government oversight—I work within the system."
"And the system is broken," Lucien replied without sympathy.
Fury nodded slowly. "Maybe it is. But it's the only system we have."
He straightened. "I want you to go with Natasha to the mansion. We were planning to transport the children there tomorrow."
"I won't help convince them to work for SHIELD," Lucien said immediately.
"That's fine," Fury replied. "The only reason I'm sending you is because you're a mutant yourself, and those kids trust you more than they trust us."
Lucien considered this, then nodded. "It's the kids' choice if they want to live there. If they don't want to go, nobody can force them. I'll take the kids who want to stay with me, and the others can go to the mansion if that's what they choose."
Fury's expression shifted to alarm. "Until the X-Mansion accepts the off—"
"I don't care about anything you're going to say," Lucien interrupted, standing. "It's their choice and it's final."
He turned and walked toward the door, leaving Fury sitting at the table.
As the door closed, Natasha let out a quiet laugh.
"He really did shut you up, huh?"
Fury glared at her, then rubbed his forehead. "Kid's got more backbone than half my senior agents."
"He's also right," Natasha observed. "About the mansion, about how we're handling the mutant situation. We are keeping them caged."
"I know," Fury said quietly. "But knowing something's wrong and being able to fix it are different things."
"Then back to you getting shut--" Natasha said with a smile, before getting interrupted by Fury.
"Not a word about this conversation outside this room."
Lucien made his way to the medical bay where the rescued kids were finishing their examinations. Twelve pairs of eyes looked up as he entered, and he could see the mix of hope and wariness in their expressions.
"How's everyone feeling?" he asked, keeping his voice gentle.
A few murmured responses came back—better, tired, grateful. He spent a few minutes learning their names, making sure each of them knew they were safe now.
"Alright," Lucien said once introductions were finished. "I want to talk to you about what happens next. There are two ways forward."
The room grew quiet as everyone focused on him.
"First option is the X-Mansion. You'll definitely be safe there—there are experienced X-Men like Scott Summers who can help you understand your abilities and deal with what you've been through." He paused, making sure they understood.
"But you can't move around much outside the mansion grounds. The government keeps pretty close watch on everyone there."
Some of the kids exchanged glances. The older ones seemed to understand the implications better than the younger ones.
"The thing that's sure is that no harm will come to you there," Lucien continued. "You'll have food, shelter, people who understand what you've been through."
He took a breath before continuing. "Second option—you can come with me. No harm will come to you either, and you'll be able to move around freely. But it won't be as structured, and there won't be as many people around to help."
The room was silent as the kids processed this information. Lucien could see them weighing their options, thinking about what they wanted for their futures.
"So," he said finally, "anyone want to come with me?"
Most of the kids looked uncertain, some scared at the idea of not going to an established safe place. But three hands slowly rose.
One belonged to a girl with dark hair and intense green eyes who looked like she could tear someone apart with her bare hands.
Laura Kinney—the one who'd gone completely berserk when they'd first freed her from her restraints during the rescue. She'd attacked everything in sight until Lucien had been forced to knock her unconscious. She'd only calmed down after waking up in the Quinjet.
The second hand belonged to a blonde girl who looked younger but carried herself with surprising confidence. Illyana Rasputin—she was the only one who did not react much after seeing the bloodshed.
The last one was surprisingly Daniel, one of the guys who felt meek and reserved.
Lucien didn't ask why they'd made their choices or try to convince anyone else. He just nodded.
"You three come with me," he said simply. "The rest of you, I'll take you to the X-Mansion tomorrow morning." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novel✦fire.net
As the group began to disperse, Daniel, Laura, and Illyana moved to follow him.
POWER STONE GOAL: 700 ( 1 Extra Chapter)
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