Chapter 16: HYDRA? Why Is It Always You?

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Dante's conditions were the kind the X-Men couldn't possibly refuse.

Actually, scratch that—wouldn't dare to refuse.

For them, this wasn't just cooperation. It was survival.

Mutants had always hidden in plain sight. Why?

Because no matter how you phrased it—no matter how "scientific" it sounded—having a weird gene that gave you powers made people panic.

This wasn't about racism anymore.

This was about people who could accidentally (or not) vaporize a small town with a sneeze.

So, naturally, regular folks got a little twitchy.

But now, with the official stamp of the Federal Bureau of Investigation?

Mutants didn't have to fear exposure anymore. Sure, they still wouldn't go flashing powers in public—but now it was about avoiding hassle, not lynch mobs.

And that "guaranteed job placement" thing?

That hit hard.

Looking at Professor X's serene, slightly smug smile, Dante suddenly realized something.

He'd thought he was the one making a sweet deal—recruiting a team of superpowered peacekeepers.

But actually?

He'd been played.

These guys were all in. Total buy-in.

Not just joining the Bureau.

They were about to move in.

Whole family. Furniture. Psychic-powered lawn gnomes and all.

From now on, the X-Men weren't just cooperating—they were the Bureau.

Dante scratched his head.

Man… the FBI's brand was just too shiny.

They didn't just represent the United States anymore. They repped the whole damn World Federation.

"In that case," Dante said, "I'll be expecting your onboarding paperwork at HQ in Washington D.C."

…

Back on the Airbus, Dante and the others returned to find Fury already out of the medical pod.

His ribs were freshly set. He could walk now. Just... not walk-walk. Like, "waddle threateningly" at best.

"How'd it go?" Fury asked, one arm resting on his side like an old man with a grudge against his own skeleton.

"From now on, there's no more 'X-Men' or 'Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.' Only the 'Federal Bureau of Investigation' and the 'FBI Academy.'"

"Professor X was that decisive? Just rolled his whole organization into us?"

"Look, given their situation, joining the Bureau is the best deal they've ever had. And what they want in return? Honestly, it's nothing we don't already provide by default."

Dante dropped into a seat across from Fury in the Airbus's ops briefing room and started running through the negotiation report.

"Oh right," Fury said, pulling up a dossier on the main screen. "Here's what HQ dug up. HYDRA has fully absorbed the Umbrella Corporation. And their founder—Oswell Spencer—has joined HYDRA's inner circle."

"He's the one who sent Wesker to Westchester County. He was targeting the local Mutant population."

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[Mission: Biochemical Maniac – Complete]

[Mission Characters: Nick Fury, Wesker, Oswell Spencer]

[Random reward rolling...]

[Acquired: Nick Fury's Experience]

[Acquired: Wesker's Enhanced Speed]

[Acquired: Oswell Spencer's Bio-Virus Knowledge]

"Tch."

Dante clicked his tongue.

This one was a mixed bag.

Fury's experience? Kinda redundant. He'd already been a damn good agent before this.

Wesker's speed? Not bad—but it didn't exactly make you Superman.

And the last one?

Bio-virus knowledge.

Whoop-de-doo.

In a world where energy weapons and alien tech could atomize a tank, who still cared about bioweapons?

Even the scariest B.O.W. would get roasted by a single plasma blast.

He'd kinda hoped this mission would net him something tied to the X-Men too, but thinking it over… they technically didn't count.

Ada had been part of the first mission—so she got included.

Batman played a key role in his mission—so he counted too.

But the X-Men?

They'd only shown up after Wesker was toast. No direct link.

Damn shame.

"This biohazard stunt is probably just HYDRA's warm-up act," Fury muttered.

"Exactly," Dante replied. "They wouldn't put all this effort into one half-baked move."

"I've already issued orders to the FBI divisions worldwide. Everyone's on alert for possible HYDRA cells operating within their countries. We'll have a preliminary intelligence report in a few days."

"Focus especially on places like Latveria," Dante said. "HYDRA's got deep pockets. Manipulating a few small countries from the shadows? That's chump change for them."

"I know. But we can't just go kicking down doors in other people's territory. That's a World Federation problem."

Fury's face was grim.

Dante had already picked up from intel briefings that HYDRA in this universe wasn't the same back-alley secret society as before.

They weren't just going up against S.H.I.E.L.D. anymore.

This HYDRA was built to challenge the world.

But the good news?

HYDRA feared Mutants. Wanted their power, but feared what they couldn't control.

Now that the X-Men were allies, they had the perfect card to play in the war against them.

…

Back at FBI HQ, Dante filed a full report on the Mutants, their capabilities, and the scope of their academy.

Fury, meanwhile, was so pleased he started eating six meals a day.

Apparently, victory and high-calorie snacks were directly correlated.

Some people worried about whether the Mutants might pose a threat to civilians or the Bureau.

But according to Dante's report?

These people had at least a dozen telepaths who could rewrite your brain into fanfiction.

If they'd wanted to go rogue, it would've happened already.

But they hadn't.

Their entire structure screamed "quiet survival mode."

The X-Men weren't vigilantes. They were farmers with backup plans.

And honestly?

If it hadn't been for Dante's high praise of Professor X, Fury probably would've thrown up red flags immediately.

But Dante was his trump card now.

Fury didn't know exactly how strong Dante had gotten.

But that fight with Wesker had shown enough.

The self-healing ability alone put him past most Agents on record.

And for reasons even Fury couldn't fully explain.

He trusted the guy. Completely.

"…Your face looks weird," Dante said, giving Fury a side glance. "I like women, okay? Long legs, slim waist, preferably over thirty. Don't get weird on me."

"Disrespecting your superior! I represent the law! I'll shoot you!"

"What with? You know I've got regeneration. Bullets just tickle."

"I don't care if it's ticklish or not, I'll shoot you twice just for my own satisfaction!"

Dante never treated Fury like a superior.

And Fury never treated Dante like a subordinate.

Which, in its own weird way… was probably why they trusted each other.

Right then, a civilian staffer stepped into the room.

"Report! Director Fury, Agent Dante—the personnel from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters have arrived and are waiting in the meeting room per your orders."

(To be continued.)

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