White House, Oval Office – Midnight
An emergency high-level meeting had been convened in the dead of night.
The room was filled with top-tier figures from the political and military sectors. At the head of the table sat President Matthew Ellis, flanked by Vice President Rodriguez. Representing the military, the highest-ranking figure present was General Scudder of the Army.
From the moment the meeting began, the atmosphere was volatile, sparks of tension crackling in the air.
"What is the military trying to pull? Attempting to control a Mutant to assassinate the President? Is this a coup?!"
"Mr. President," a senior military official responded stiffly, "this entire incident was the result of Wilhelm Stryker's personal actions. The military had no knowledge of his insane intentions."
"The President was nearly killed!" Ellis slammed the table. "And you expect us to believe you had no idea what was going on? Do you take us all for idiots?!"
"Sir, that's the truth. Stryker has been apprehended. If he's interrogated thoroughly, I'm confident we'll uncover the full story."
"The full story?" The President's voice dripped with sarcasm. "So in your efforts to push your Mutant programs, you tried to assassinate me to gain White House approval?!"
"Our plans are for the good of the country, the people, and the survival of the human race!"
"But your methods are inhumane," retorted a Cabinet member. "And your programs cost astronomical amounts of money!"
"I must remind everyone—we are at war!" a general barked. "If humanity doesn't fight back against the rising power of Mutants, we will be swept aside!"
"Big words," Rodriguez muttered coldly. "Then why don't you disclose where all that budget went, General? Can you?"
"You're implying corruption?!" Scudder's voice rose, brimming with indignation. "Are you suggesting military officers are lining their own pockets?!"
"I'm suggesting the results don't match the money spent," came the reply. "When the X-Men Initiative was launched, you swore up and down that you'd build a controllable, obedient elite force. Where is that force now? Gone—scattered to the winds."
"The Weapon X Program wasn't a failure!" another officer interjected. "We managed to seal away the data. With the right opportunity, we could restart it!"
"You still want to restart it?!" someone shouted in disbelief. "And where will you get test subjects? Do you intend to abduct people off the street?! Do you realize how many eyes are watching us now?!"
"It doesn't matter. The world has no shortage of Mutants. If we want test subjects, we'll find them."
"Have you gone mad?! The Mutant Registration Act didn't even pass! Even if it had, being a Mutant doesn't make someone a criminal!"
The room fell into an abrupt silence. Vice President Rodriguez had spoken—and that meant something.
Everyone present was a seasoned political operator. It wasn't hard to decipher the weight behind his words.
Legally, neither the Weapon X Program nor any of the other anti-Mutant experiments had official backing. In short, they were operating in the shadows. And now, those shadows had been cast into the spotlight—humiliating the military and ruining its reputation.
"Gentlemen," Rodriguez said sternly, pressing a hand onto the table, "you seem to forget something. Mutants are not cattle to be herded and butchered!"
He gestured to a nearby aide, who brought up a projection on the main screen.
It was a screenshot of a popular app—X Daily.
"This app can't be uninstalled," Rodriguez explained grimly. "Its installation rate is through the roof. Users post videos, share life updates, and it's catching fire across the country."
He turned back to the stunned officials. "In the short span since the Weapon X leak, thousands of videos have gone viral. People are calling Stryker a butcher, condemning the military, and demanding he be severely punished. Some even call for an investigation into your entire branch."
"Damn it!" a general cursed under his breath.
"They're clearly being manipulated!" Scudder snapped. "The Mutants are spinning this, trying to sway public opinion, acting like they're harmless! It's a full-scale psychological assault!"
Rodriguez didn't deny it. "Even so, what's wrong with them trying to seek legal recognition for their rights? They're citizens too. If they want to change their image peacefully, what right do we have to stop them?"
The room knew that was just political theater.
The real threat wasn't the Mutants themselves—but the growing support they were gaining among the general public.
Worse still, this support was spreading through legal, acceptable channels.
That's what made it dangerous.
"These videos must be removed!" one general growled. "And that X Daily app—who made it? We'll have the FBI track them down!"
A classic approach: when you can't solve the problem, target the one who caused it.
But the White House tech advisor shook his head. "It's not that easy. Our current technology can't influence X Daily."
"What do you mean?!"
"The app was released under a shell company owned by someone named Katherine Pryde. She's a known reporter for the Mutant community. After uploading the app, she vanished. Everything else is a smokescreen."
For a moment, everyone just stared.
"So… the most powerful nation in the world is powerless to stop one app?" someone murmured with bitter irony.
"Maybe Tony Stark can help," Scudder said. "He's developed advanced armor, AI—surely he can counter something like this?"
A White House aide shook his head. "We've asked. Stark declined, claiming it's beyond his reach."
"Beyond his reach?" Scudder sneered. "More like he doesn't want to help. Has anyone considered Stark might have connections to Mutants that we don't know about?"
The room fell quiet again.
That was a dangerous question.
Rodriguez sighed. "Stark's public sympathy for Mutants is worrying. He's a key government contractor, a symbol of human excellence. If even he's swayed by recent events, what about other billionaires? Other leaders? Officials?"
The elites controlled wealth and influence. If they began supporting the Mutant cause...
That would change everything.
"Then we must act now!" Scudder declared. "Restart the Mutant Registration Act. Push it through Congress with full force!"
All eyes turned to President Ellis.
"Admiral Scudder," the President said calmly, "you must understand—there is no global consensus on Mutants yet. The White House has no unified policy. If you push for this act now, you're declaring war."
Scudder flinched. Clearly, the President hadn't forgotten about the attempted assassination.
"I understand the Mutant threat," Ellis continued, "which is why I approved the Weapon X initiative in the first place. I feared chaos, a loss of control."
"But now, aside from Magneto, most Mutants pose no threat. The X-Men, in particular, actively fight crime. That's not hostility—it's cooperation."
"To provoke them now would be foolish. If we push peaceful Mutants into open hostility, and ignite a full-scale war, who here will answer for that?"
His piercing gaze swept across the room.
"Most importantly—are you prepared?"
He leaned forward.
"If war breaks out, can your military guarantee victory? If you can, Rodriguez and I will back you without question. But if not… speak now."
Nobody responded.
Even Scudder was silent.
Rodriguez remained stone-faced, not confirming or denying the President's invocation of his support.
Scudder opened his mouth again, more cautiously this time. "Mr. President..."
But the meeting was already dissolving.
Everyone could see that, for now, the military had lost its footing.
Later That Night – White House Lawn
One by one, the military leaders filed out into the night. None looked pleased.
Scudder's face was thunderous.
"Wilhelm Stryker, that bastard…" someone muttered through clenched teeth.
Though they had disavowed Stryker early, the damage he'd done would take months—if not years—to recover from.
But strangely, not everyone looked defeated.
One man appeared calm, even satisfied.
General Ross.
Scudder noticed and stepped closer. "General Ross, what do you make of all this? Do you think the President is serious about cutting us off?"
Ross let out a dry chuckle. "He's just using the opportunity to rein in our influence. He won't shut down the Mutant programs. There are far too many… valuable assets involved."
Ross knew more than most.
He was in charge of several black projects himself.
Facilities like Worthing Lab were still operational. Trask Industries continued its work on Sentinels. Countless labs still had live Mutant test subjects—and not all of them were under military oversight.
Scudder nodded, but his concern remained. "This scandal is still a massive blow to our credibility."
Ross scoffed. "Let them squawk. We've been preparing for years. They think Mutants are strong? Wait till they see what we've got."
Scudder raised an eyebrow. "You've made progress?"
Ross leaned in, voice low and eager. "Very soon, I'll have Bruce Banner. With him, we can finally mass-produce Hulks."
He smiled with dangerous confidence. "Imagine it—an army of obedient Hulks. What Mutant could stand against that?"
Scudder's eyes lit up. "Ross… I will fully back you as the next Secretary of State."
The two began discussing gamma radiation weaponization as they walked.
But they didn't make it far.
A staffer rushed toward them. "Sirs! Urgent news—the Xavier Institute just publicly announced open enrollment for Mutant students. The President has called for the meeting to reconvene immediately!"
Ross and Scudder exchanged grim looks.
Their temporary optimism vanished like smoke.
"…Shit."
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