Just as Magneto had predicted, the release of the X-Men Documentary caused an immediate and far-reaching uproar across the globe.
Public opinion shifted dramatically. The portrayal of the X-Men's courage, sacrifice, and moral commitment left countless viewers stunned—and moved. For the first time, many began to reconsider their prejudices against Mutants.
But not everyone welcomed the change.
Governments reacted swiftly. One after another, nations issued demands for the documentary to be taken down. They attempted to shut down X Daily, the media platform responsible for its release. Legal pressure mounted. International sanctions were discussed. Firewalls were thrown up.
But it didn't matter.
They couldn't stop it.
Because Alice had already evolved into an omnipotent force online. The AI developed by Joseph was now like a ghost in the internet's machine—present everywhere, invisible, and impossible to suppress.
If there was anyone who could possibly match Alice in cyberspace, it was J.A.R.V.I.S.—Tony Stark's artificial intelligence.
And the governments knew it.
When all attempts to contain the documentary failed, the U.S. administration turned to the only person they believed had the technological firepower to rein in Alice.
Tony Stark.
But when they approached him through back channels, the billionaire didn't even pretend to be interested.
"What's the charge?" Tony had said, eyes cold behind his shades. "It's not illegal. It doesn't endanger civilians. So why should Iron Man care?"
His response wasn't just a rejection.
It was a declaration.
Tony Stark was many things, but he wasn't a government lackey. He didn't owe anyone favors—and certainly not for suppressing free speech.
Especially not when it came to Joseph.
Even if Tony didn't completely buy Joseph's claim that his father might have been a Mutant, the idea had left an impression on him. There was something compelling about Joseph's charisma—something that resonated deep inside him.
And so, Tony let the documentary spread.
Unhindered. Unchallenged.
He even admired how effectively Joseph was using the moment.
Because this documentary wasn't just a film.
It was bait.
And Joseph?
Joseph was fishing.
Mystique and Magneto had only been the first to bite.
Another one—one far more dangerous—was about to emerge from the shadows.
His name?
Wilhelm Stryker.
Alkali Lake.
A bleak and remote area where snow never seemed to melt. Beneath the icy surface, hidden under a colossal dam, was one of the military's most secretive facilities.
The birthplace of the Weapon X program.
Here, for decades, horrifying experiments had been conducted on Mutants. Torture, brainwashing, mutilation—all in the name of science and control.
And at the heart of it all stood Colonel Wilhelm Stryker.
He was the architect of suffering. The man who turned Logan into Wolverine. The man whose obsession with eliminating Mutants was second only to his hatred for what they represented.
As the X-Men Documentary went viral, it inevitably found its way into this underground bunker.
Crash!
In a fit of rage, Stryker hurled his phone across the room. It struck his desk monitor, shattering the screen and sending sparks flying.
"Despicable Mutants!" he bellowed, his face flushed with fury. "Now they want to rewrite history? Turn themselves into heroes?!"
His eyes burned with hatred.
A lifetime of military strategy, of controlling information and suppressing threats, told him one thing:
This wasn't just a PR stunt.
It was a coup.
He wasn't wrong.
Wilhelm Stryker wasn't just a high-ranking officer—he was one of the sharpest tacticians in the U.S. defense infrastructure. And when it came to Mutants, few knew more than he did.
He didn't need months of analysis to piece it together.
The documentary.
The X-Men's public rescues.
The sudden disappearance of Xavier's School.
This was a coordinated effort.
A full-scale campaign to rehabilitate the Mutant image.
"They want to stand in the sunlight," he muttered, disgusted. "They want to be seen as equals."
A low growl escaped him.
"Not on my watch."
Outside his office, a security officer stood stiffly, waiting for the right moment to enter. After a few tense seconds, the soldier stepped forward.
"Colonel," he said, "the situation is escalating."
Stryker glanced at him, his jaw tense.
"It seems X Daily can't be taken down," the officer continued. "We've tried every protocol. The AI behind it—it's not human."
"No kidding," Stryker muttered. "That AI is Alice. I've read the reports. It's smarter than any of us."
The officer hesitated, then added, "Some in the Pentagon suggested reaching out to Tony Stark, but—"
"I know," Stryker cut in. "He told them to go to hell."
He laughed bitterly. "Of course he did. Another genius seduced by the mutant dream."
The officer frowned. "Sir, the more this documentary spreads, the more public support Mutants are gaining. It's not just the masses… Political leaders, investors, even military brass are beginning to shift."
"I know."
Stryker walked over to his filing cabinet and opened a drawer.
"We can't let that happen."
He pulled out a thick dossier and placed it on his desk. The cover bore a label in bold black print: Nightcrawler – Subject 17B.
Inside was a photo of a blue-skinned, yellow-eyed Mutant with a prehensile tail.
Wilhelm Stryker's expression darkened.
"Mutant empathy is a disease," he growled. "And I'm going to cure it."
Years ago, his son Jason had awakened his powers—powers that could create illusions so vivid, they blurred the line between fantasy and reality. Jason had driven his own mother insane.
That day, Stryker made a decision.
Mutants weren't special.
They were dangerous.
He'd since used Jason's brain fluid in a horrifying series of experiments—one of which allowed him to control other Mutants.
Nightcrawler was the perfect subject. Agile. Teleportation abilities. And now, under his complete command.
"Is it time to launch the operation?" the officer asked cautiously.
Stryker nodded.
"The assassination plan proceeds immediately."
"Target?"
"The President."
The words dropped like a bomb.
The captain froze.
"Sir… assassination? That's a—"
"I'm well aware," Stryker interrupted coldly. "The President is considering the formation of a Mutant Affairs Department. He's listening to fools who think cooperation is possible."
He clenched his fist.
"One strike. One tragedy. And public fear will surge again. Sympathy will evaporate."
He looked up at the captain with eyes like ice.
"Fear is the strongest motivator of control."
Back in his office, Stryker sat alone.
The screen before him glowed with paused footage from the documentary—Joseph standing before a crowd, speaking with passion and charisma.
Stryker sneered.
"You think public opinion can change the world?" he muttered. "You think humanity will accept your kind?"
He leaned back in his chair.
"Let's see how long that dream lasts… once the sky starts burning."
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