Chapter 8: Echoes of Sokovia and Rising Horizons
Alex Stark-Wayne's life had accelerated into a whirlwind since Genesis's inception. Launched quietly under the umbrella of Stark Industries and Wayne Enterprises, the company operated in the shadows of his family's empires. Only a select few—Elias, Helena, Tony, Bruce, Pepper, and Alfred knew the truth: Alex, at 14, was the real owner and architect behind NZ-48. To the world, it was just another innovative venture from the Stark-Wayne conglomerate, a pivot toward cognitive enhancement tech amid their clean energy and defense portfolios.
The diluted NZ-48's market debut caused an uproar that rippled through global headlines. Stock markets dipped as pharmaceutical giants scrambled, investors panicked over disrupted industries, and ethicists decried the "god pill." Conspiracy theorists flooded forums, demanding to know the discoverer's identity. "Who cracked the brain's code?" blared one CNN panel. Stark Industries' PR machine, backed by Wayne Enterprises' legal muscle, shut it down swiftly—non-disclosure agreements, strategic leaks pinning it on "anonymous R&D teams," and veiled threats of lawsuits. The frenzy died, but whispers lingered.
Then came the bigger bombshell: Genesis's announcement to actively recruit mutants. In a world where the X-Men's exploits clashed with SHIELD's oversight and Vought's supe scandals (still unknown to Alex), the move ignited opposition. Protests erupted outside Stark Tower, senators railed on C-SPAN about "unstable elements in the workforce," and anti-mutant groups like the Friends of Humanity picketed Wayne Manor. Alex didn't care. "Diversity drives innovation," he stated in a rare interview, his Limitless-enhanced mind weaving responses that disarmed critics. Three months later, 40% of Genesis's employees were mutants—telekinetics optimizing production lines, empaths negotiating deals, shapeshifters testing security. The company exploded worldwide, branches sprouting in Tokyo, London, and Berlin, revenue surging as NZ-48 variants hit shelves.
SHIELD placed bulk orders for the advanced version, citing "operational enhancements." Only a tight circle Nick Fury, Phil Coulson, Maria Hill, Clint Barton (Hawkeye), and Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) knew Alex's genius was the source. To the rest of the agency, he was just a smart kid from a powerhouse family, his subtle hints over the years planting seeds of suspicion in Fury's mind about SHIELD's internal rot. "Keep an eye on your house, Nick," Alex had quipped during a family visit, meta-knowledge guiding his words without revealing too much.
Now, as summer waned into fall, Alex prepared for high school—a mundane milestone in a life of simulations and secrets. He tinkered in the estate's lab, Butterfly Knife spinning idly in one hand while he refined a NZ-48 injector prototype. A sweet voice echoed from the doorway: "Alex, dinner is ready."
He turned, a smile breaking through his focus. There stood Wanda Maximoff, her long, wavy auburn-brown hair cascading loose over her shoulders, framing a face that blended youthful vulnerability with Romani heritage. Lithe and agile at around 5'7", her pale skin and high cheekbones accentuated piercing green eyes that simmered with quiet intensity. She leaned against the frame, a simple ponytail taming her locks today, her presence a grounding force in his chaotic world.
To understand Wanda's place here, one had to rewind to the weeks after Alex's family summit on NZ-48. His Limitless-boosted memory and cognition had sharpened, unlocking recollections from his past life: future powerhouses like Jean Grey, already under Professor X's wing (best avoid telepaths for now), the Fantastic Four (fund them when Reed Richards's experiments went cosmic), and Spider-Man (save Uncle Ben later, when Peter Parker swung into the spotlight). Then, a spark—Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, orphaned siblings destined for heroism and heartbreak.
Using Stark drones for reconnaissance and Wayne charity fronts as cover, Alex ventured to Sokovia, a war-torn corner of Eastern Europe scarred by Stark munitions. He found them in a rundown orphanage, surviving on scraps, their hatred for the Stark name etched deep from the bomb that killed their parents. As he approached, the system's chimed twice:
*Ding*
*Ding*
[Credits Earned: +2 (Contact with Heroes - Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver)]
[Current Credits: 4]
The siblings were wary, Pietro's speed a blur of suspicion, Wanda's nascent chaos magic flickering in her eyes. "Stark," Pietro spat, ready to bolt. Alex explained patiently Hydra's manipulation of Stark weapons, the real culprits behind the tragedy (though he kept his meta-knowledge vague). Their hate softened, not vanished, but enough to listen. He offered sanctuary: "Come with me. I'll help find the truth."
He relocated them to a private villa on the estate's outskirts Alfred was occupied with Bruce's Batman ops, and Alex didn't want to burden him. Months blurred into bonding: shared meals where Alex cooked Sokovian dishes from researched recipes, training sessions blending Pietro's speed with Alex's reflexes, and quiet talks with Wanda about loss and power. "I'll find who did this," he promised, knowing Hydra's shadow loomed but admitting his current weakness. The siblings grew closer, a surrogate family forming. Pietro teased Alex like a brother, Wanda's green eyes softening with trust.
Now, back in the present, they were all set for high school Alex pulling strings for discreet enrollment, the Maximoffs under assumed identities to shield them from prying eyes. As Wanda called him again, Alex set down the knife. "Coming," he replied, pocketing the injector.
But before dinner, the system's menu tugged at him. With 4 credits, he initiated a re-roll, the interface refreshing:
[Simulation Menu]
[Available Worlds: Random Selection Based on Host Knowledge]
[Option 1: ... ]
(The menu would populate with new worlds, but for now, Alex pondered his choices, the multiverse's possibilities endless as high school—and greater threats—loomed.)