Psionic Ch. 83 - M-Pox

[February of 2013]

[Earth]

3rd PoV

Andrew's smile faded as he turned his attention to the Avengers and the Inhumans, his gaze fixed on Black Bolt. With a serious expression, he addressed the Inhuman king, his tone carrying a sense of urgency.

"Black Bolt, we cannot underestimate the unpredictability of your brother. Maximus is clearly unhinged, and there is a real danger that he may resort to even more destructive measures. We must act swiftly and decisively to prevent any further harm to our planet. I propose that we gather our forces and launch an assault on Attilan, taking the fight to Maximus before he can unleash further chaos."

Andrew's eyes scanned the faces of the assembled heroes, his "determination" evident. "This is not a time for hesitation or second-guessing. We must unite and put an end to Maximus's reign of terror. Together, we possess the strength, the skills, and the power to overcome any obstacle. Let us stand together and protect our world from this imminent threat."

His words hung in the air, waiting for a response from the Avengers and the Inhumans. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily upon them, and the need for decisive action was palpable. The fate of the planet hung in the balance, and Andrew's call to confront Maximus head-on echoed with a sense of urgency and purpose.

Andrew cannot help but cringe inside him after he heard what he uttered but his narcissism overwhelmed it as he mentally praised himself for another great acting performance that deserved the greatest of acting awards.

He made sure to make his voice slightly high to ensure that the civilians around, who had their phones out, could clearly hear him. Meanwhile, Captain America, aka Steve Rogers, took a step forward with a determined look on his face as he spoke, "He's right. We cannot allow that man to walk freely on the moon while we sit here, afraid of his next moves. I don't want to be the one to initiate a battle, but we need to make an exception in this case."

Steve took a moment to let the weight of his words sink in. The urgency and gravity of the situation were palpable in the air. The fate of not only New York but the entire world hung in the balance. He knew that action needed to be taken, and he was ready to lead the charge.

"But how are we gonna do that, Cap?" Hawkeye's voice broke through the tension, a hint of skepticism in his tone. "We don't have anything that can take us to the moon itself. It's not like we can just hop on a spaceship and fly up there."

"Don't worry. You got me." Andrew, or as the citizens know him, Psionix, interjected with a calm and confident tone, his presence exuding reassurance.

"There's no need for that." A sudden voice took their attention, causing everyone to turn their heads and gaze towards the sky. Above them, a massive spacecraft floated effortlessly down from the beautiful clouds.

As the top of the craft gracefully opened, a colossal, monstrous humanoid figure emerged, towering at an imposing height of three and a half meters. Its appearance was unsettling, with bony protrusions jutting out from its elbows, shoulder blades, and back, accentuating its fearsome presence.

Perched on the creature's right shoulder sat Maximus the Mad, his smug expression betraying his self-assured demeanor. The monstrous entity came to a halt, hovering a mere few feet above the spacecraft, as if ready to unleash its power upon the world.

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

Swoosh!

A series of swift and rhythmic whooshing sounds permeated the air, intensifying the already charged atmosphere. The familiar spheroid bodiless energy entities known as Trikon emerged from the craft, their ethereal forms swirling around the monstrous figure and Maximus, creating an otherworldly spectacle that sent shivers down the spines of all who beheld it.

Maximus gazed down at the Avengers and Inhumans with his eyes slightly narrowing after seeing his brother Black Bolt. But his gaze returned to their crazy glint after he saw some cocoons on the streets, indicating that many have already started their terrigenesis transformation. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily upon him, and a wicked smile formed on his lips, revealing his twisted mindset.

Swoosh! A whooshing sound appeared once again as a group of people emerged in the distant sky. The figures slowly descended, revealing themselves to be the Meta Task Force led by Magneto. With an air of authority, they stood by the side of Psionix, their expressions stern and determined.

""Ahem!"" Magneto and his crew all coughed almost simultaneously, a slight interruption in their otherwise composed demeanor. But they quickly shrugged it off, refocusing their attention on the sitting Maximus.

"Perfect timing," Maximus muttered with a deranged smile, relishing the moment. He spread his hands dramatically, commanding the attention of his fellow Inhumans. His voice rang out with a hint of madness and a touch of arrogance.

"My fellow Inhumans! It is time that we reclaim what is rightfully ours. And what, you may ask, is that? This world! Why should we hide on the moon when we have the power to conquer and thrive here? Why should we cower in fear of these pathetic mortals? *Pthu!* We have no reason to fear them! So, what are we waiting for? Let us show these mundanes that their so-called heroes cannot protect them forever! Especially those mutant cunts. Why? Because they are on the brink of extinction as the Terrigen mist engulfs this entire planet! HaHaHaHa!" Maximus concluded his twisted monologue with a maniacal laugh that echoed through the air.

Andrew's frowned upon hearing Maximus's derogatory words, causing him to turn his head and cast a gaze at the Meta Task Force standing beside him.

""*COUGH!*""

But the sudden coughing fit that ensued among Magneto, Blob, Toad, Avalanche, and even Sunder, who was interning with the Task Force, caught him off guard.

""*COUGH!*"" The sound of their rough coughs filled the air as they dropped to their knees, clearly affected by some unseen force. The gravity of the situation became apparent as each member of the Task Force expelled mouthfuls of blood, a rare sight that startled Andrew.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, Andrew's mind raced, trying to connect the dots. He recalled the dangerous nature of Terrigen mist and its detrimental effects on mutants. It was a known fact that exposure to Terrigenesis could trigger catastrophic consequences for certain individuals with the X-gene, leading to illness, incapacity, and even death. Maximus, it seemed, had exploited this knowledge, manipulating the Terrigen mist to create an even more potent and lethal M-Pox.

Steve Rogers, swiftly moved to the Task Force's side, his expression a mix of concern and anger. He confronted Maximus, his voice laced with frustration and urgency. "What did you do?!" he demanded, his voice carrying the weight of the perilous situation.

"HaHaHaHa!!" Maximus's maniacal laughter filled the air, a chilling sound that echoed through the chaos. With a smug grin, he taunted his adversaries, reveling in his destructive plan. "Let me enlighten you," he responded, his voice dripping with sadistic satisfaction. "A few months back, I discovered the inherent toxicity of our Terrigen mist to mutants. I merely tinkered with its properties, amplifying its toxic effects to an unprecedented degree. Now, these pitiful mutants before you will barely last an hour before succumbing to their impending demise."

Swoosh!

The air crackled with tension as the uncharacteristically silent Iron Man finally unleashed a powerful energy beam, his frustration evident in his actions. "Okay, you can go shut up now," he quipped, his voice laced with annoyance.

But to everyone's surprise, Maximus was prepared for the attack. The monstrous creature he rode upon swiftly raised its colossal arms, blocking the incoming energy beam with ease. Stark's astonishment was visible as he witnessed his attack fail to inflict any damage on the formidable foe.

The monster lowered its massive hand, and Maximus, with a maniacal grin, pointed at the Avengers and Inhumans, goading them on. "Attack! Hahaha!" he shouted, reveling in the chaos he had instigated.

In response, the Trikon, the ethereal energy entities that had surrounded Maximus, sprang into action. With astonishing speed, they streaked through the air, becoming a blur of motion as they surged towards the unsuspecting Avengers and Inhumans. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as a clash between heroes and the twisted forces aligned against them became inevitable.

—-—

[X-Mansion]

Inside the X-Mansion, the once bustling haven for mutants, a grim scene unfolded. Mutants of all ages and powers lay scattered on the ground, their bodies weakened and in pain. Coughing fits wracked their frames, and blood stained the floor as they struggled to rise.

Charles Xavier, the telepathic leader of the X-Men, lay in the midst of the chaos, his face etched with concern and determination. He reached out with his mind, trying to alleviate the suffering of his fellow mutants, but the effects of Maximus' modified Terrigen mist were relentless.

Students and seasoned mutants alike fought against the debilitating effects, their bodies trembling with effort. Some sought solace in each other's support, while others clung to the fading hope that a solution could be found. The once vibrant atmosphere of the X-Mansion was now overshadowed by the weight of uncertainty and fear.

Xavier's voice cut through the air, filled with a mix of urgency and reassurance. "Stay strong. We will find a way to counteract this affliction. Together, we will overcome."

Storm, with her hair splayed out around her like a wild storm, lay on the ground, her eyes barely open as she fought to stay conscious. Colossus, his metallic form glistening in the dim light, strained to lift himself up, his muscles trembling with effort.

Havoc, his energy blasts flickering weakly on his body, grimaced in pain as he tried to catch his breath. Cyclops, his visor cracked and shattered, clenched his fists as he pushed through the agony, determination etched on his face.

Rogue, her gloved hands clutching her chest, gasped for air, her powers temporarily weakened by the toxic effects of the Terrigen Mist. Shadowcat, her body partially phased through the floor, struggled to solidify herself, her pale face showing the strain of the poison coursing through her veins.

Iceman, his icy form melting and reforming, shivered uncontrollably as he fought to maintain control over his powers amidst the debilitating pain.

Banshee, his sonic screams reduced to feeble whispers, lay sprawled on the ground, his wings twitching with each labored breath. The rest of the New Mutants, their youthful faces marked with anguish, fought against the overwhelming sickness, their bodies trembling and weak.

Together, they all lay scattered across the grounds of the X-Mansion, their once formidable powers diminished, their spirits defiant despite the grim reality they faced. The mutant heroes, who had stood strong against countless threats, now found themselves brought to their knees by the toxic touch of the Terrigen Mist.