Hello, all. I am once again writing for another person's universe (with their permission, of course). This time, it's for Persiana13, whose Persiana-verse consists of both the Marvel and DC universes. This story takes place in the Marvel section of the Persiana-verse.

Now, without further ado, let us begin!

Prologue: A Lesson to the Teacher

New York City…home to a spectacular number of superhumans. At least one hundred of these superhumans have their names, powers, and other information registered with the government, a government controlled by a truly sinister man. Norman Osborn holds the city, perhaps even the entire country of North America, in the covert grasp of his iron fist.

Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, had spearheaded the registration movement. After encountering several invasion forces, however, he was removed from his position as head of the government agency S.H.I.E.L.D. This was where Osborn came in, disbanding S.H.I.E.L.D and reforming it with a cast of corrupt men under the banner of H.A.M.M.E.R. He even formed his own replacement team of Avengers, filled with a dark group consisting of several supervillains and the feline-like Persiana.

Reed Richards, the man known as Mr. Fantastic, sat alone in a darkened cell provided by Osborn, a fate shared by many heroes of the day. The guards never even spoke to him, and Reed had no way of using his elastic powers to escape. Osborn had calculated everything perfectly.

"How could this have happened?" Reed muttered.

Two thumps outside caught his attention, and he looked up to see a nineteen-year-old boy standing in front of him with unconscious guards. The boy had shoulder-length black hair matched with a pair of wide sunglasses covering his eyes. He seemed to be wearing a dark green trenchcoat with the sleeves cut out, replaced by a pair of strange devices that covered his upper arms. The boy glared at Reed through his sunglasses, and began to speak in a fast-paced deadpan tone of voice.

"Thought you were the country's smartest man," the boy said. "Should've thought better."

"Who are you?" Reed asked.

"Borderline," the boy said simply.

"What's your name?" Reed repeated.

"Just told you," Borderline said simply.

"I meant your real name," Reed insisted.

"Not telling," Borderline replied as he shook his head. "Don't really care. Have better things to do, anyway."

"So, why are you here?" Reed asked. "Are you here to help me?"

"No chance," Borderline scoffed. "Besides, it's class time."

"Class?" Reed repeated. "But—"

Borderline interrupted by pointing one arm towards Reed. A three-foot metal pole shot out from the device on his arm and between the bars of the cell door, stopping just short of Reed's forehead. The pole became electrified, pulsing with crackling electricity.

"Quiet," Borderline snapped. "Teacher's talking. Now, onto your lesson."

"Do you know who I am?" Reed snapped.

"Mr. Fantastic," Borderline began. "Real name Reed Richards. Former leader of Fantastic Four. Powers acquired through exposure to cosmic radiation. Said powers include elasticity and limited shape-shifting. Genius-level intellect. Pro-registration. Currently incarcerated."

Reed simply stared dumbfounded at Borderline, both the boy's strange speech pattern and undeniable intelligence befuddling the genius. What's worse, the youth refused to help him escape, and was still holding the electrified pole in front of him. What was he?

"Your lesson today is remedial ethics," Borderline said. "You just have to answer some questions."

"And you'll help me escape?" Reed asked.

"Don't know," Borderline shrugged. "Depends on if you learn something. First question…you're going down the street. You see a woman being mobbed by thugs. Said thugs have guns and knives. You have your powers. What do you do?"

"What kind of question is this?" Reed sniffed.

"One you should answer honestly," Borderline replied simply.

"Well, then, I would call the proper authorities," Reed answered.

"Wrong," said Borderline before lightly jabbing his metallic pole into Reed's forehead, administering a small electric shock. "You have powers. You're in the area. You get off your lazy butt and stop the thugs. You're a superhero. You are the proper authority."

"But—" Reed attempted, but Borderline struck him in the head, silencing him.

"Second question," Borderline continued. "Your wife—in this case, ex-wife—is accused of committing a crime. She did not commit said crime. Police are convinced said wife committed crime. What do you do?"

"Let the police sort it out," Reed replied, and was shocked, though this time Borderline jabbed slightly harder.

"Wrong again," Borderline admonished. "Police don't always come through. Your wife would be locked in prison for life. You would be at fault."

Borderline paused for a moment.

"Shouldn't be surprised you picked that," Borderline said. "You let your wife die. And you still call yourself a husband."

"I am!" Reed cried angrily.

"Case closed," Borderline said. "Third and final question…Registration Act is about to be passed. Support or not?"

"Support, of course," Reed said.

"Wrong once again," Borderline said, jabbing his electric pole into Reed's forehead at full-force. "Self-respecting superheroes would be against it. Registration Act condemns all acts of heroism. Superheroes would be wiped out by a single smart supervillain."

Borderline withdrew his pole and put his face near the bars, glaring darkly at Reed.

"You haven't learned a thing," Borderline spat with a barely-detectable tinge of bitterness.

"But, you have to let me out!" Reed cried. "I can—"

"Sign up with Osborn like the coward you are," Borderline finished. "And you call yourself the smartest man in the country."

Borderline turned and walked away, leaving Reed Richards alone once again.