"…In an astonishing and bewildering turn of events, New York's cherished superhero, Atomic, has found himself branded a terrorist by the U.S. government. This shocking turn of events has ignited a fervent firestorm of outrage, disbelief, and confusion across the nation, leaving many to grapple with the implications."
"…Emerging reports have detailed a harrowing incident in which Atomic, along with several alleged accomplices, orchestrated a devastating assault on a high-security government research facility located in Nevada."
"…This facility was reportedly at the forefront of developing groundbreaking cures for deadly diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer's. The scale of the destruction and the unknown motivations behind the attack have raised urgent questions and fears, sending shockwaves rippling through communities nationwide."
As the news spread, the atmosphere in New York City—a city that once celebrated Atomic as a symbol of justice and courage—quickly descended into chaos.
The streets have been flooded with police, FBI agents, SHIELD agents, and military personnel, all engaged in a frantic manhunt for the once-revered figure whose past deeds of heroism are now being scrutinized under a harsh light.
Tension permeates the air, with citizens gathered in public squares, their chants for Atomic's arrest reverberating ominously against the city skyline.
Graphic news footage has depicted the aftermath of what authorities allege was Atomic's rampage: a massive crater, now a haunting reminder of the destruction in the place that had been a beacon of hope for future cures for countless individuals.
As one news anchor solemnly noted, "As we feared, his facade as a superhero concealed a darker reality. His heroism was merely a front, a ruse designed to mask his real intentions."
Similar news stations and media outlets have galvanized public sentiment, framing Atomic as a symbol of betrayal and a stark warning against unchecked power.
The media frenzy has been relentless, with headlines splashing across screens and newspapers detailing the fallout. In a press conference that captured the nation's attention, the President's Press Secretary, Gregory Key, unveiled distressing images and video footage of the defaced research facility. "What was once a facility dedicated to the betterment of humanity now lies in ruins," he asserted, emphasizing the extent of the damage. "This tragedy stands as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by those who wield power without accountability," his words further polarizing public opinion.
Responses from the public have ranged from outrage to deep skepticism. Voices have erupted across various platforms, echoing the sentiment of betrayal.
A popular radio show host couldn't contain his incredulity, exclaiming, "Can you believe it? We were duped! I can't fathom how we ever trusted him. To think he could destroy years of research just like that!" Others joined in, echoing concern that the hero Atomic had been a carefully crafted facade, engineered to lower public defenses before he unleashed his deep seated contempt onto the public.
The emotional toll of these events has also been profound. A visibly distraught mother in Brooklyn expressed her heartache while speaking to a gathered crowd.
"What am I supposed to tell my children now that their idol has been labeled a terrorist?" she lamented. Her words resonated with many, highlighting the deep implications this scandal has had on families who once looked up to Atomic as a hero.
In sharp contrast, a vocal minority has pushed back against what they perceive as a hasty rush to judgment. A prominent podcaster pondered aloud in a widely shared episode.
"Why is this so-called research facility only coming to light now? Why would Atomic attack it if it was supposedly working on life-saving cures?" Her probing questions suggested a growing skepticism of the official narrative, with some supporters suggesting that the images released lacked concrete evidence directly linking Atomic to the alleged attack besides a few blurry shots of the hero flying in the air.
In Harlem, a group of supporters rallied around a well-respected community leader who declared passionately, "Something is off here! Atomic is one of the good ones, someone who has genuinely looked out for our community, especially when the police have failed us!" His words sparked fervent agreement among his peers, encapsulating the belief that Atomic represents a counterbalance to a government they feel has historically marginalized their voices.
Community leaders are also weighing in on the controversy, addressing the ramifications of labeling Atomic as a terrorist. Stephanie Delgado, a prominent voice in Manhattan, stated, "Atomic is far more than a mere superhero; he embodies hope, strength, and resilience for our city. By labeling him a terrorist, we undermine everything he's done for us. We need to be cautious about taking everything the government and media is saying about him as fact."
In a surprising turn, Emma Frost, the ambitious and influential CEO of Frost International, has also joined the debate. Standing confidently in a pristine white suit outside her newly launched building, she urged for restraint in judgment.
"I refuse to believe Atomic is guilty without hearing his side of the story. He deserves a platform to defend himself and the chance to prove his innocence at the Capitol Hill hearing this Friday," she asserted, emphasizing the need for justice and reason amid the chaos. Her rising influence urged the public to consider the nuances of the situation, igniting heated discussions about the roles of justice and media in shaping public perception.
As the hearing looms closer, passions are flaring on both sides of the debate.
Will Atomic rise to defend his name and regain his status as a hero, or will this mark the tragic end for a figure once viewed with admiration?
Amidst a tumultuous backdrop where conflicting narratives vie for supremacy, the fragile thread of truth hangs precariously in the balance.
As the days unfurl leading up to the pivotal hearing, tensions simmer and emotions run high, poised to shape the destiny of the once beloved hero who stands at the crossroads of fate.
••o••o••o••
"How long are we going to ignore the elephant in the room?" Serena asked as she and Wyatt sat at a table outside a small coffee shop.
"You're right… When were you going to tell me your cousin was teaching you karate?" Wyatt said with a small smile and took a sip of his iced coffee.
Serena's flat expression caused Wyatt's smile to fade.
"It's not true, you know. What they're saying, I did." He said.
"I know," Serena quickly said. "What I want to know is what you're going to do about it? Are you really going to show up to the hearing in Washington?"
"…yes, I am," Wyatt said and looked out at the surrounding area. Unlike his home city in New York, the streets in the Valley, California, were much larger and less populated. Even so, life moved on along the sidewalks and streets. "What I did in Nevada, it's not over yet. Not by a long shot."
Serena nodded and rubbed the built-up precipitation on her cup. "Can you tell me what happened?"
Wyatt took another sip of his drink and nodded.
Quietly and carefully, he gave Serena a quick summary of why and what had happened at Nevada.
The government kidnapping innocent mutants. The secret Nevada facility that kept mutants under lock and key. And his subsequent infiltration and extraction of the captives and his fight with Erik.
"Wow… that's a lot," Serena said.
"Yeah. I like to stay busy," Wyatt chuckled dryly and rubbed the back of his head.
"I guess I can see why you're avoiding New York now. It must be hectic over there right now,"
"I feel terrible that the city is under a state of emergency… but I can't be there right now. I don't want the people there to get caught up in the middle of whatever organization is trying to catch me. I'm sure they'll use everything in their power to capture me. I can't risk anyone getting hurt because they got caught in the crossfire." Wyatt said and finished his drink. Discreetly, he refilled his drink, much to Serena's exasperation.
"You're still drinking too much coffee, you know," Serena said with a playful smile, hoping to shift the focus away from Wyatt's ongoing troubles. "I thought you were going to cut back a little." She watched him for a moment, gauging his reaction, and then her eyes lit up with a sudden inspiration. "Hey, I have a great idea! How about I take you to the Miyagi-do dojo where Daniel trains me? It's such a beautiful place! I think you'll really love it!"
With that, Serena stood up, her enthusiasm contagious, and reached for Wyatt's hand. As they stepped out together, she began to guide him through the vibrant streets of the Valley.
The sun streamed down, casting warm shadows on the sidewalk, and the air was alive with the sounds of laughter and the distant hum of music. She pointed out the little café where she and her new friends grabbed pastries and the park where kids often played, weaving in stories from her new life in California as they walked.
It was the perfect distraction, and she hoped it would lift his spirits as they made their way to the dojo.
••o••o••o••
Wyatt's jaw tightened as he gripped the door handle to his hotel room, pausing for just a heartbeat. He narrowed his eyes, his instincts on high alert.
With a deep breath to steady himself, he pushed the door open and stepped inside with an expression that appeared relaxed and unsuspecting.
The moment the door clicked shut behind him, he tossed his room key and phone onto a small table. Placing the takeout bag he bought on a nearby table, he let out a tired groan escaped his lips as he pulled off his red and white hoodie, but the sound that followed—a soft squeak—made him freeze.
"You know, I've been meaning to come and meet you myself," Nick Fury's voice cut through the silence, his tone as intimidating as Wyatt had imagined. He lounged in a large recliner chair while the shadows kept his figure hidden. "Coulson put in a good word for you, so I stayed away. But you and a group of mutants just had to go and destroy a major government facility."
Despite the situation, Wyatt's heart remained calm at the sight of Nick Fury. He let out a pulse that rippled through the walls of the hotel, confirming that there were no hidden agents lying in wait. Still, this was Nick Fury. Even if the man was technically powerless, he wasn't one to be underestimated.
"You don't seem surprised to see me," Nick said, his eyes glinting with a challenge.
"Yeah, well, when the entire country wants to take you in, you figure someone with decent skills is bound to find me sooner or later," Wyatt replied, leaning against the door. "So, you know Coulson. I'm guessing you're part of SHIELD too?"
"I'm not part of SHIELD. I am SHIELD," Fury said, rising from the chair, his presence filling the room with authority. "Nick Fury. Director of SHIELD. Let me make this clear: you're in a world of trouble, son. Powerful people want you in custody. I trust Coulson, so when he said you could be trusted, I believed him. But you need to give me a damned good reason not to drag you in kicking and screaming."
Wyatt's mouth twitched slightly upward. "You do realize that no prison can really hold me, right?" He strolled toward the duffle bag in the corner, every movement calculated, aware of Fury's piercing gaze locking onto him. "I'm guessing you've already gone through my stuff, but I made sure to keep this to myself." He fished out a flash drive from his pants pocket, the small device feeling heavier than it should.
He set a laptop on the table, his fingers flying across the keys as he booted it up, the tension thick enough to slice through with a knife. "What do you really know about that research facility in Nevada that I allegedly destroyed?" Wyatt asked, plugging in the flash drive with little concern.
Nick blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Wyatt's nonchalance and sarcasm. "Go off the assumption that I know nothing. Enlighten me."
Wyatt wanted to roll his eyes, exasperation flickering across his face for a second, but the oppressive weight of Nick's penetrating gaze pressed down on him, demanding answers.
His fingers danced over the laptops keys, entering an intricate sequence of characters that no normal human could remember to unlock the flash drive.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally turned the laptop around. The dim glow of the screen illuminated Nick's sharp features as he stared at the avalanche of files and images unfurling before his lone eye.
What Nick discovered were not merely documents; they constituted a tapestry of secrets, revealing a scarred history of everything the so-called research facility—which in reality was a mutant prison camp run by the MRD—had been conducting in the shadows in the guise of creating an army of super soldiers.
The horrors of their cruel treatment and experimentation on mutants were laid bare. Nick's single eye widened almost imperceptibly, disbelief flickering within him as he began to scroll through the countless atrocities captured in pixelated fragments.
Nick had known that the US government, under the command of General Greller, had been taking emerging mutants away to secure facilities in order to prevent another catastrophe, but he hadn't been aware that the children that were being captured were subjected to inhuman testing and borderline torture.
He was led to believe by his superiors that the mutant situation was well under control by the US government. That they were taking the extra steps to help regulate and train any new mutants to control their abilities to avoid another Sasha Conner incident.
But to think such egregious acts had been occurring under his watch as the Director of SHIELD left Nick in utter disappointment at himself. He should have dug deeper into the MRD and the Nevada facility.
With a heavy sigh escaping his lips, Nick slowly closed the laptop, his expression shifting from anger to acceptance. "When do you plan on releasing this?"
"The morning of my hearing," Wyatt replied, his voice steady. Unshakable. "The world needs to know the truth. They need to know what really happened in Nevada—the families they ripped apart, the lives they disregarded. It has to end. I will end it."
Nick placed his hands on his hips, narrowing his lone eye as he processed this revelation. "I can't believe this all happened under my nose. How?" The question hung in the air, laced with disbelief, mostly directed inward.
Wyatt closed his eyes for a moment, a frown creasing his brow. I think I know why... it's because HYDRA is involved. He thought, his stomach sinking at the realization. The implications of this connection sent a shiver down his spine. Should I tell him? No, I can't. Not without any substantial proof. Damn it.
"You can't blame yourself, Director," Wyatt offered, his voice calm but firm. "What matters now is finding a way to ensure that this never happens again." As he spoke, he felt the intensity of the moment shift; there was so much at stake. "While I'm sure the evidence I gathered is substantial enough, I could always use more help."
Nick had always prided himself on being the best spy in SHIELD, a master of stealth and strategy, slipping through the shadows like a ghost. His training and instincts had honed him into a figure who was always one step, if not ten, ahead of everyone around him. Each mission he undertook solidified his reputation—his cunning and resourcefulness were legendary among the organization.
Yet today, the stark daylight of reality was casting harsh shadows on his pride, revealing cracks he had never noticed before. He had always trusted his instincts, but now, they felt like treacherous whispers, warning him that there were forces at play far beyond his control and knowledge.
There's more at play here. There's no way all this could have been kept away from me. Not unless there's someone at the top who made sure I never found out. Nick thought grimly.
With renewed resolve, Nick stepped toward Wyatt, extending his hand. Wyatt met him with a small, determined smile as their hands clasped firmly.
"Talk me through your game plan," Nick said, his voice a low growl, determination etched into every syllable.