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S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters – Stark's Office
Tony Stark sat in his office, eyes fixed on the screen showing the newly passed Superhuman Registration Act. His face was dark with frustration.
"Sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported, "the government has ordered the formation of a special task force to assist the Supreme Team with registration enforcement."
"How thoughtful," Tony rolled his eyes and started typing rapidly on the holographic keyboard. "Pull up all the data on Supreme Team members. I want to know their weaknesses."
"I've tried, sir. Their files don't exist in any public or private database."
Tony narrowed his eyes. "Then contact others—let's see where they stand."
X-Mansion – Professor X's Meditation Room
Charles Xavier sat still, eyes closed, his psychic amplifier softly glowing.
"Charles, you saw it, didn't you?" Erik stood by the window, his voice tense.
"Humans want to control us again."
"I saw it, Erik." Professor X opened his eyes slowly.
"But fighting back with violence will only make things worse."
"So what? We just roll over and register? Let them put us in cages?"
"No." Charles shook his head. "But we need to be smart. We need a better way."
Hell's Kitchen – A Small Apartment
Matt Murdock's fingers skimmed a Braille newspaper, his brow furrowed.
"They really think a single superhuman team can control all of us?"
Karen Page looked at him nervously. "Matt… you're not thinking of—"
"I'm not registering."
Daredevil stood up, red-and-black suit catching just a hint of light.
"But we'll need allies."
The next day, the sun rose over New York—but the city didn't feel the same.
Giant screens in Times Square were broadcasting the U.S. President signing the Superhuman Registration Act. A bright red ticker at the bottom repeated the warning:
"All superhumans must register within 72 hours. Failure to do so will be considered a criminal offense."
On the streets, protestors held up signs:
"Stop the Control!"
"Superhumans are People Too!"
Their chants filled the air, but it didn't last long—riot police moved in. Tear gas exploded in the crowd. Screams and coughing echoed off the buildings.
Peter Parker stood on a corner, holding a bouquet of flowers, his face tense.
He wasn't wearing his Spider-Man suit. Aunt May had begged him not to go out today. But he couldn't sit at home doing nothing.
"This is insane…" he muttered.
Then—
BOOM!!
A massive explosion shook the street across from him!
Panic erupted. People screamed and ran.
Peter looked up just in time to see a regular office worker—just some guy in a shirt and tie—suddenly convulse and grow grotesquely. His muscles swelled, twisting and bulging uncontrollably.
In seconds, he transformed into a 10-foot-tall monster, his skin a sickly gray-green.
"I'm not registering! I won't be locked up!" he roared, slamming his fist into a fire hydrant.
Water shot into the sky as people fled in terror.
Peter instinctively raised his hand—but before he could make a move:
Whoosh!
A sleek black fighter jet roared overhead. Its hatch opened, and a powerful figure dropped from the sky!
It was Power Princess—her silver armor gleaming, sword drawn. The ground trembled as she landed.
"Idiot," she said coldly, eyes locked on the mutant. "Defy the law, and you'll be punished."
The giant roared and charged, his massive fists swinging down like sledgehammers.
But Power Princess barely moved. She sidestepped—lightning-fast—and her blade flashed.
SWISH!
The giant's arm was sliced clean off at the shoulder!
Blood sprayed. He fell to his knees, howling in agony.
Power Princess stepped on his back and pressed her sword to the back of his neck.
"This is your last chance," her voice echoed through the street."Register... or die?"
The giant trembled, broken.
"I—I'll register!"
Power Princess smiled. She pressed her earpiece.
"Target subdued. Preparing for containment."
Her eyes scanned the terrified crowd, then paused on the phones filming the scene.
"Remember this," she said, voice icy but clear.
"We, the Supreme Team, exist to protect you."
"Any superhuman who refuses to cooperate with the law... is a potential criminal."
"And criminals... must be eliminated."
With that, she grabbed the whimpering mutant and leapt back into the jet.
It roared off into the sky, leaving behind wreckage—and stunned silence.
Peter Parker stood frozen, fists clenched tight.
His phone buzzed.
A text. Unknown number.
[Tonight. 5th Street, Queens. We need to talk.]
Peter stared at the message, frowning deeply.
Anonymous. But something in his gut told him it was connected to what just happened.
He glanced around, made sure no one was watching, then ducked into a nearby alley.
Typing quickly, he sent a message:
"MJ, I've got a study group tonight. Can't make dinner."
All while keeping an eye on the street.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Command Center
Holographic screens flickered, displaying urgent reports from across the country.
Tony Stark stood in front of the data stream, scanning fast.
Agent Coulson walked in quickly, encrypted file in hand.
"Director," he said quietly, "we've got a problem."
"More than 87 superhumans have been forced to register nationwide. Twenty-three were arrested on the spot by the Supreme Team for resisting."
Tony's eyes stayed on the constantly updating numbers and maps—each one marking another forced registration or arrest. The Supreme Team was disturbingly efficient.
Coulson lowered his voice.
"The government has officially labeled S.H.I.E.L.D. a superhuman sanctuary. All our operations are now under surveillance. If this keeps up, they'll brand us criminals too."
Tony was silent for a moment, then spoke.
"J.A.R.V.I.S."
"Yes, Mr. Stark?"
"Get me Jiro."
A few seconds later, the call connected.
In the holographic projection, Jiro appeared, sitting calmly on the couch of his Long Island villa. His expression was cool and composed.
In the background, Wanda and Kara were visible too — it looked like they'd just finished some sort of training.
"Tony. Looks like you're in trouble," Jiro said casually.
Tony didn't waste time: "It's worse than we thought. The Supreme High School Team has taken over the White House. The act is being enforced. Every enhanced human has to either register or get arrested. Even S.H.I.E.L.D. is now under scrutiny."
Jiro raised an eyebrow slightly. "So?"
"I need your advice," Tony admitted, with a trace of hesitation.
"If we fight back now, we're openly going against the government. But if we do nothing…"
"We'll become the next Injustice League," Jiro cut him off.
Wanda walked over with a plate of fruit. "What the hell are you waiting for? They've already started rounding people up!"
Kara glanced at Tony and shook her head. "Do the heroes of this world only know how to sit around and hold meetings?"
Tony gave a bitter smile. "Not everyone can afford to act like you. We've got laws, the public, and international politics to deal with."
Jiro stood up, his golden eyes locking onto Tony's. "Then what's your choice? Keep compromising? Or fight back?"
Tony stayed silent for a few seconds. Then he took a deep breath and said, "You know, Stark Industries…"
But Jiro didn't let him finish. Instead, he asked, "Who do you think their next target is?"
Tony's eyes narrowed. "S.H.I.E.L.D.? Or the Avengers?"
"No," Jiro shook his head.
"It's me."
"They know I'm the biggest threat. So they'll come for me first."
"And you, Tony… you only have one thing to do now."
The call ended. The projection vanished.
The command center fell into silence. Everyone turned to Tony Stark.
Coulson looked at him. "Sir, what now?"
Tony closed his eyes, took a deep breath—then suddenly opened them, eyes full of resolve.
"Activate the Final Protocol."
"Call every ally we can still reach."
"Let the world know—"
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is standing on the side of freedom."
Tony suddenly remembered something and called out, "Jarvis, are there any unregistered heroes left in New York?"
"Sir, Spider-Man, Daredevil, and a few others haven't registered yet. According to intercepted communications, they're planning to meet tonight in Queens."
[Spider-Man Theme Restaurant]
Tony took a deep breath and turned to Coulson with a firm tone. "Alert the Avengers. Get ready for a fight!"
"....."