Several hours have passed since the Master Mold's ominous declaration had resounded through the city. In that time, the diligent efforts of the heroes had ensured the safe evacuation of the civilians from the immediate area. Though they couldn't save everyone trapped in the collapsed apartment building, many lives had been spared thanks to their swift intervention.
The perimeter of the danger zone was now firmly established, cordoned off by a continuous line of police and military vehicles. Their presence lent an air of organized authority to the chaotic situation, bolstering the unity among those gathered to face the colossal threat.
Amidst this orchestrated effort, Evan stood alone on the street, his arms crossin in a stoic display of readiness. His unwavering gaze remained fixed upon the towering figure of the Master Mold, its mechanical form a stark contrast to the city's skyline.
As he maintained his vigil, the subtle sound of approaching footsteps reached his ears. Evan turned, his expression shifting from contemplation resolve to a faint smile as his eyes fell upon a striking red-haired woman clad in a form-fitting leather bodysuit. Black Widow had arrived.
Without preamble, she initiated their conversation with a reflection on the surreal nature of their lives. Her words carried a hint of dry humor as she gestured toward the immense presence of the Master Mold.
"It's strange, isn't it..." Her voice held a wry note, prompting Evan to raise an intrigued eyebrow in response. She gestured toward the Master Mold. "One day, you're fighting bad guys with guns, and suddenly you find yourself fighting aliens, gods, and whatever the hell this is..."
Evan's chuckle had a sense of understanding, Black Widow's words resonating more deeply with him than she could even imagine.
Unlike the red-haired spy, whose life had been immersed in espionage and intrigue long before she became entangled with Earth's mightiest heroes, Evan had once been an ordinary man. The transition to this chaotic world, filled with fantastical threats and beings, had been a whirlwind-- to say the least.
"It's a crazy, crazy world we live in..." Evan's voice held a slight hint of amusement and resignation. His head shook as if to acknowledge the sheer absurdity of their circumstances.
As he broached the topic of their previous encounter, Evan sought to clear the air. "No hard feelings, right?" His words conveyed a genuine desire to put the past behind them.
Black Widow's response was candid and devoid of any lingering animosity. "None. But my feelings are irrelevant—It's Fury's feeling you should be worried about..." Her smile hinted at the complexities of their enigmatic leader.
"Does Nick Fury even have feelings?" Evan asked, giving Black Widow a bemused look.
Fair enough," Black Widow responded with a chuckle, her demeanor relaxed despite the impending crisis. Her professionalism was unwavering, but moments of camaraderie amidst the chaos were a welcome respite.
"Anyway, they're preparing to discuss how we'll deal with the Master Mold. Your presence is required..." Her words carried a sense of urgency, a reminder that the situation demanded their full attention.
Evan's smile was tinged with a hint of amusement as he glanced at his wristwatch, a subtle indication of his readiness. "Oh, it's about time, I suppose," he quipped, his tone light. "Lead the way..."
...
Entering the commandeered restaurant alongside Black Widow, Evan took in the sight of the gathered individuals. General Huntley, a familiar face from Evan's days of active service, stood there. Alongside him was New York's police commissioner, Tony Stark, Forge, and the venerable Professor Charles Xavier.
Despite the collapse of the underground lab, Domino, Xavier, and the other captives had managed to escape, thanks to the army of modified sentinels under Forge's command. They bore various injuries, but Evan had already put his power to work, healing their wounds.
Tony Stark's wry remark met Evan as he entered. "There you are. And here I thought you'd sprouted roots after staring at that giant tin can for so many hours..." Stark's arms crossed, his tone laced with his trademark sarcasm.
Evan, however, had little patience for banter at this moment. He responded curtly, his focus on the impending discussion. "Let's just get this over with," he stated, his words brimming with a sense of urgency.
"Business-like as ever, I see, Shepherd," General Huntley remarked, a small smile gracing his lips as he greeted Evan. "It's good to see some things haven't changed," he continued, his nod acknowledging the passage of time.
Evan returned the sentiment with a salute. "It's good to see you, sir," he replied respectfully.
Huntley, however, quickly dispensed with the formalities. "You can dispense with the formalities, son; you're no longer in active service. General Huntley will do just fine," he insisted, dismissing the need for the salute with a casual wave of his hand.
Evan nodded in acquiescence, and General Huntley wasted no time in initiating the meeting. "Now then, we don't have the luxury of time here, so let's get things started," he began, his tone serious and commanding.
"We need to work out a plan to dispose of the threat looming over our heads in both figures of speech," General Huntley declared, his tone shifting into one of utmost seriousness.
He cast a sweeping glance around the room, his gaze falling on each member of the assembled group in turn. "For that, I'll need you all to share everything you've learned about those machines— their strengths, weaknesses, how they fight, and everything in between."
Evan, recognizing his unique experience with battling the Sentinels, took the initiative and stepped forward. He provided a comprehensive overview of the Sentinels' vulnerabilities, focusing on their primary weakness: the energy source nestled behind the armored plates on their chest. Evan emphasized that conventional methods couldn't breach their formidable armor and that superhuman strength was required.
Continuing his explanation, Evan delved into the Sentinels' adaptive nature, highlighting the unpredictability this quality introduced into their confrontations.
Tony Stark followed up, sharing his insights into the Sentinels' network system. He mentioned his successful hack into their previous network, which had allowed the heroes to immobilize the machines.
However, he revealed a concerning development: the Sentinels had transitioned to a different, undetectable network, emphasizing the increased challenges they now faced.
Forge, renowned for his expertise in reverse engineering, particularly with the Sentinels, took a significant step forward. With a deep understanding of the inner workings of these machines, he shared invaluable insights about their unique internal components. His focus was on their uncanny ability to relocate these components, which added to the Sentinels' adaptability and complexity.
Evan acknowledged Forge's observations and highlighted the Sentinels' learning capabilities, suggesting that they might even shift the positions of their energy sources in response to threats.
Once Evan had finished, Forge went into even greater detail, offering an in-depth explanation of the Sentinels' capabilities, much to everyone's chagrin. While some might have found his level of detail overwhelming, it proved crucial.
He delved into specifics, including the rapidity of their reaction times to process information and the precise duration required for their armor plates to adjust and adapt under varying pressures.
With a calm and measured demeanor, Professor Xavier took his turn to address the gathering. His words carried the weight of his insights into the Sentinels and the Master Mold, insights he had gleaned directly from Trask.
Xavier began by delving into the original purpose of these mechanical behemoths, tracing their lineage back to a failed government project to create an army of intelligent robots capable of hunting down and exterminating mutants.
He meticulously outlined how the modern Sentinels were derived from these initial designs, emphasizing that they shouldn't be treated as mere machines. Xavier stressed a crucial point: these Sentinels had evolved far beyond the realm of simple machinery.
Unlike conventional machines devoid of will or desire, these colossal entities exuded a palpable sense of purpose and determination, even from a considerable distance away from the Master Mold. Xavier's ability to perceive their desires, despite the absence of a biological brain, underscored the complexity of the situation they faced.
General Huntley, a stern and seasoned military figure, lent his unwavering attention to each explanation offered by the gathered experts. As the wealth of information unfolded, his visage gradually adopted a graver countenance.
He bore the weight of countless medals on his chest, a testament to his years of service and unyielding dedication to his duty. Yet, even a man of his fortitude couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation in the face of the Sentinel threat. Nevertheless, he maintained an outward facade of unwavering composure.
The general, never one to mince words, directed a pointed question at Tony Stark, the genius inventor and technological prodigy among them.
His voice, though firm, held a note of gravitas as he sought a solution in the face of this formidable adversary. "Are you capable of hacking into these machines again, Stark?"