The aftermath of Flux's experiment hung heavily in the air, a mix of triumph and chaos that lingered in the makeshift lab. As the recruits busied themselves with cleaning up the scattered remnants of their first test, Himawan stood off to the side, his mind racing. The potential of their serum had become both a gift and a curse, and he couldn't shake the feeling that their actions would soon draw unwanted attention.
Outside, the city was quiet, but it was a deceptive calm. New York was a place teeming with power, heroes, and villains, each vying for dominance. Himawan understood that his little operation, hidden away in a dilapidated warehouse, would not remain a secret for long. They had already danced with chaos, and soon, he feared, they would have to face the consequences.
As the recruits finished cleaning, a low hum broke the silence—a familiar sound that sent a chill down Himawan's spine. He recognized it instantly; it was the sound of drones, hovering just above the warehouse, scanning the area. Himawan's heart raced as he rushed to the window, peering out into the dimly lit streets.
Outside, sleek, metallic drones moved in a precise formation, their lenses flickering as they captured every detail. Himawan cursed under his breath. "It's them," he muttered, recognizing the unmistakable technology of the Avengers. The heroes had a reputation for investigating anomalies, and they wouldn't take kindly to the chaos his group had just unleashed.
"What's going on?" Alpha asked, striding up beside Himawan, his eyes narrowed as he too caught sight of the drones.
"We've attracted some attention," Himawan replied, his mind racing. "Those drones belong to the Avengers. We need to act fast."
Flux, still recovering from his earlier experience, stepped closer. "Can't we just fight them off?"
Himawan shook his head, his expression serious. "We can't afford to engage them directly. They're more organized and powerful than we are. Right now, our priority is to gather information and lay low."
He turned away from the window, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "We need a plan. If they're here, they'll be looking for signs of mutant activity, and we've just given them more than enough reason to investigate."
"What should we do?" Alpha asked, crossing his arms, his brow furrowed in concern.
Himawan's mind churned, formulating a strategy. "First, we need to hide any evidence of our experiments. Get rid of the serum vials, anything that ties us to Flux's transformation. Then, we'll establish a temporary perimeter. I want to know where those drones are at all times."
As the recruits scrambled to comply, Himawan focused on the drones outside. He needed to understand their capabilities and identify how they were tracking their movements. He approached a small workstation in the corner of the lab, his fingers dancing over the keyboard as he pulled up a series of blueprints and schematics he had gathered about the Avengers' tech.
"I need to tap into their communications," he murmured to himself, rifling through his data. "If I can intercept their signals, I can find out what they know."
After a few tense moments of typing and recalibrating, he managed to establish a connection to the drones' feed. The screen flickered to life, displaying a live feed of the area outside. Himawan's heart raced as he watched the drones zoom around, their lenses scanning the warehouse with unnerving precision.
"I've got something," he called out, drawing the attention of the recruits. "I'm tapping into their comms."
Alpha and Flux crowded around the screen, curiosity and anxiety etched across their faces. Himawan listened intently as voices crackled through the speakers.
"This is Unit 7. No sign of significant activity in the immediate vicinity. Scanning for energy signatures," one of the drones reported.
"Copy that. Keep monitoring. We can't let anything slip under our radar," another voice responded, the authority in it unmistakable. "We know there have been reports of heightened mutant activity in this area."
Himawan's stomach churned. They were aware of the increased mutant presence, and they were actively searching for it. He needed to move quickly before they found any evidence of his experiments.
"What do they mean by 'energy signatures'?" Flux asked, confusion written all over his face.
"Mutant powers," Himawan explained, still focused on the feed. "They can detect the unique energy that mutants emit. If we don't eliminate that signature, they'll find us."
The recruits exchanged nervous glances. The reality of their situation was becoming increasingly evident. They were now on the radar of one of the most powerful groups on the planet.
"We have to disperse," Himawan continued, his mind racing. "I want you all to head to the secondary location. I'll stay back and monitor their communications. If they start moving in our direction, I'll let you know."
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Alpha asked, concern creeping into his voice.
Himawan nodded, determination burning in his chest. "I'll be fine. I can hold them off if it comes to that. Just get to safety."
Reluctantly, the recruits began to gather their things, and Himawan could feel the weight of responsibility settling heavily on his shoulders. He was the one who had drawn them into this world, and he wouldn't let them down now.
As they moved to the exit, he caught Alpha's eye one last time. "Remember, no heroics. Just get to the secondary location."
With that, the recruits slipped out of the warehouse, leaving Himawan alone with the flickering screens and the encroaching threat of the Avengers. He took a deep breath, focusing his attention on the drones outside.
The voices crackled through the speakers again, the tension in the air rising as Himawan leaned closer.
"Unit 7, we have an incoming energy spike detected in Sector 9. It could be the source of the reports. Prepare for engagement."
Himawan's heart sank. They were closing in, and he had to act fast. He quickly began to devise a plan, his mind racing as he gathered materials from the lab.
He pulled together makeshift devices from his research—anything that could help obscure their energy signatures. A series of scrapped components, old batteries, and wires filled the table as he worked furiously, determined to create a diversion.
As he assembled the devices, he heard the distant thrum of the drones growing louder. They were getting closer. He needed to buy time, and the only way to do that was to create a diversion that would pull the drones away from his location.
Once he had finished assembling the devices, he set them up around the perimeter of the warehouse, positioning them to emit false energy signatures that would hopefully confuse the drones. He activated them, watching as they flickered to life, sending out bursts of energy that he hoped would mask his own.
"Come on, come on," he whispered under his breath, his heart racing as he monitored the drones' movements. The screen flickered with activity as the drones began to change direction.
"Unit 7, we've detected multiple energy signatures in the vicinity," one of the drones reported. "Diverting to investigate."
Himawan felt a surge of relief wash over him. The diversion was working, and the drones were moving away from the warehouse, at least for now. He took a moment to steady his breathing, allowing himself a small grin of satisfaction.
But he knew it wouldn't last. He had bought himself a little time, but soon enough, the Avengers would be back. He needed to gather his resources and regroup with the recruits before they returned.
As the minutes ticked by, he felt a growing sense of urgency. The longer he stayed exposed, the greater the risk. He quickly packed up what he could—research notes, the remnants of the serum, and anything that could link him to the experiments.
Just as he was about to head out, the screen flickered again, and he caught sight of a new figure on the drone feed—one that sent a jolt of panic through him.
"This is Iron Man. I've detected unusual activity in this area. We need to secure it now," Tony Stark's voice echoed through the lab, filled with authority.
Himawan froze, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. He had to leave, and he had to do it quickly. He couldn't let the Avengers discover his operation, not now when they were so close to unraveling everything he had worked for.
With no time to waste, he bolted for the exit, his heart pounding in his chest. He slipped into the night, the cold air biting against his skin, but he didn't look back. The shadows of New York loomed around him, filled with danger and possibility.
As he moved through the streets, he felt the weight of the city pressing down on him. The Avengers were now aware of his presence, and the chase had only just begun. But he was determined to stay one step ahead.
He would continue his experiments, expand his knowledge, and ultimately, he would not only survive but thrive in this new world of superhumans. The Avengers may have been closing in, but he was not finished yet. This was just the beginning of a much larger plan.