In a world that hates and fears mutants, Professor Xavier and Tony Stark sent their young, X-Corporation prodigies off to protect mutant-hating presidential nominee Senator Edward Kelly. However, in the process of doing this deed, Warren "Angel" Worthington III has learned that his former friend, Cameron Hodge, is indeed in partnership with several of X-Corporation's biggest competitors, including not only his estranged father, but, also Obadiah Stane and Bolivar Trask.

Additionally to this, Cameron Hodge and Obadiah Stane have revealed to Warren Worthington, Junior that they bought an island called Genosha. They are using the island to hold over twenty young mutants hostage in effort to test Warren Jr.'s mutant cure out on – despite the fact that Warren Jr. warned them that the cure is potentially deadly. Now, armed with this information, Warren Worthington, Jr. must face the consequences of his research and the decision of whether or not to reach out to his son for help.

Issue 15: Deception

Marsden Regional High School

Life for Bobby Drake seemed to be getting more complicated as the months passed by. After Senator Kelly's press conference in New Jersey the previous month, he'd been increasingly on edge. That was especially since recently, in the media, the news has been dubbing him and his friends from X-Corporation the "X-men." Just them having a label put on them for when they were in masks was what worried him, considering everyone was wondering exactly who these X-men were under their masks. This included Bobby's new classmates at Marsden Regional High School in Manhattan. Somehow, Bobby was managing to hide his mutant powers from his classmates, however, he did confide in only four people that were his closest friends: Angelica Jones, Peter Parker, Mary-Jane Watson, and Johnny Storm.

Johnny Storm was the younger brother of renowned scientist Susan Storm who was engaged to Reed Richards. Most definitely, that brought a comfort to Bobby. His other friend, Angelica Jones, was also a mutant. Angelica's powers included pyrokinesis and flight. However, ever since she revealed her mutant powers in the eighth grade the previous year in effort to save the lives of students while on the eighth grade class trip to Six Flags, Angelica's powers were known among the school. As a result, Angelica became alienated amongst her peers, which resulted in Peter, Mary-Jane and Johnny taking her under their wing.

As Bobby walked down the hallways of the high school with Peter at his side, his thoughts drifted to the fact that over a month ago, he'd had a label slapped onto him by the media. It was surreal, one side thinking of him as a superhero, while another side thought of him as a troublemaker who was just adding fuel to the fire. He still could hardly believe it. In many ways, it made Bobby nervous about being exposed as a mutant to his new high school. He'd spent the whole month or so trying to put the past with his old high school behind him.

"So, Bobby, if you need any tutoring with bio, let me know," said Peter as they made their way to their lockers.

"Yeah, Pete, thanks, considering the fact that math is pretty much the only subject that I am good at," said Bobby. "But, I did want to ask you what your thoughts are on that lesson we had in bio about mutation?"

"I just – I find it interesting that people are trying to cure something that probably cannot even be cured, if you know what I mean. I mean, it's not like mutations are deadly . . . as far as I am concerned, unless you're causing me bodily harm, I don't give a shit if you're a mutant, Bobby," Peter said, opening his locker.

Bobby let out a sigh as he shut his locker door. "Yeah, Pete, I know, I know," he said. "It's just, the fact that I am having a label put on me and that I am being known in the media, it's something that worries me. I told you, Angelica, Johnny and MJ from the day that I met you about what had happened at my previous high school. That was a horrible experience and I'd rather not relive it again."

"Yeah, I know." Bobby and Peter proceeded to make their way to the cafeteria for lunch. When they arrived, they looked to see that Mary-Jane and Johnny were there, but, Angelica was nowhere to be seen, which worried the both of them. The fact that Angelica was not in her usual spot beside Johnny was concerning, because she and Johnny always came to lunch together and were rarely seen apart.

"Hey, guys, did you see Ange?" asked Peter as he took his seat next to Mary-Jane.

"No, I haven't seen her since last period when she got called into the principal's office," said Johnny with a shrug.

"Why would she get called into the principal's office?" asked Mary-Jane. Angelica was a very honorable student, and she was not the type to just get called into the principal's office. She never got in any kind of trouble.

"God only knows," whispered Peter as he pulled out his bagged lunch he'd brought with him.

The friends sat there, contemplating what was going on and why Angelica Jones of all people would get called into the principal's office all a sudden and get pulled out of class like that. She hadn't done anything that would raise concern from anybody. Even though she was a mutant, Angelica didn't just use her powers whenever she felt like it. In fact, she kept her powers on the down low. Throughout the seventh grade she'd gotten teased and got pegged as "Angelica Jinx". Peter, Mary-Jane and Johnny could only assume that that was because of slip-ups with her powers which were out of control at the time. Johnny remembered how that had been at the time, because that was around the time that his mother had died after a severe car accident. It had led to his older sister, Sue, attempting to mother him and be the woman of the house. There was definitely a kindred spirit between Mary-Jane, Bobby, Johnny and Peter. Peter lived with his aunt and uncle because his mother and father had dropped him off at his Uncle Ben and Aunt May's doorstep. Mary-Jane had a drunk for a father. Bobby's parents were probably about to disown him. As far as they knew, Angelica was the only one that didn't have a screwed up family life. Her father and mother loved each other, and at least they accepted her mutation.

"Do you think that . . .?" asked Johnny in worry for his girlfriend. It suddenly hit him that part of the reason why Angelica probably got called into the principal's office was because she was about to get pulled out of school like several other mutants in the past few weeks.

"I do not know," said Bobby. "I mean, it's not like she flaunts her powers to the school, so we should not worry yet about that."

"Good point," Mary-Jane said, brushing her red hair out of her face. "She knows better than that. Because Angelica understands not to use her powers publicly, especially after everything that had happened last year. I'm still surprised she had managed to suppress her powers as long as she did."

"It's just, ever since what happened a month ago with Senator Kelly's press conference, I've been on edge," Bobby said.

"Yeah, tell me about it Bobby. You should take your own advice and chill out," said Johnny jokingly.

"Coming from the hot-head blonde future underwear model," said Bobby with a roll of his eyes. "Though, Johnny, I can say this about you. I'm the one that has to tutor you in math all the time, because let's face it. When it comes to math, I take it seriously and I do everything right. This kid here, he shows up late and just last week, took his pants off in class!"

"And you do the same in Spanish class so you're no better," Peter pointed out.

"Thank you for pointing out my hypocrisy Pete. We all need friends like you," said Bobby jokingly.

Suddenly, that was the moment Angelica walked over to their lunch table, her auburn hair flowing down her back as she held her backpack in one hand. She had an expression on her face that Bobby couldn't read clearly, but, he did know that it could not be anything good.

"Hey, guys," she whispered. "Don't expect that I'll be staying for lunch . . . I just . . . I'm coming here because . . ."

"What's wrong, Ange?" asked Johnny out of worry for his girlfriend.

"I got called into the principal's office. Apparently, there are some officials here that want to ship me off to some island somewhere . . ." Angelica started to say.

"Wait, what island?" asked Peter incredulously.

"I do not know . . . they wouldn't tell me much. All they told me is that they are sending me off somewhere, and my parents complied with it. I've got no choice I have to go," Angelica said. That was Angelica. She was the type of person that didn't want to cause any trouble. If she had to go somewhere with those officials, she was going to go, and she was going to go quietly. She was calm despite her fiery, passionate personality.

"But, they've got no right to just pull you out of school, babe," Johnny said.

"Oh alert the media! Johnny Storm, Marsden Regional's resident wise-cracking slacker suddenly cares that I am getting pulled out of school!" Angelica said sarcastically.

"I'm serious here, Angelica," said Johnny. "For once, I am not joking okay? Just . . . what the hell is happening? This is the third time this month that mutant classmates of ours have gotten pulled out of school to talk with private officials. There's something fishy going on here. I am starting to wonder if President Osborn has got any clue."

"No, and even if he did, Harry would tell me something," said Peter, referring to his close friend, Harry Osborn, who was President Norman Osborn's son. Harry didn't go to school with them, but, he did go to a fancy prep school out in California. It was no lie that Harry and Norman's relationship was strained. Peter had seen it firsthand as a kid.

'There's something about this that doesn't feel right,' Bobby thought to himself. 'I mean, I know for a fact that Warren's dad is looking for a way to test his mutant cure . . . no . . . no Warren's father wouldn't be behind this. There has got to be something else going on . . .'

"Well, whatever is going on Angelica, we wish you the best," Mary-Jane said, feeling saddened that her and Peter's friend had to leave school at a time like this.

Angelica made her way around to hug Johnny. He kissed her forehead softly.

"I love you," Johnny told her.

"I love you, too," Angelica said quietly before she exited the cafeteria.

X-Corporation Tower – Tony's Office

"Now, in other news, there is an increasing number of mutant teenagers and children missing, ranging in ages from nineteen to as young as ten years old. Some were taken from their homes while others were pulled out of school by authorities from Hodge International and Stane Enterprises. Why these mutant children are going missing, nobody knows. But, in the wake of Worthington Industries about to announce what they are going to do with the Legacy Cure project . . ."

Tony let out a sigh as he and Pepper continued with watching the news. During the past couple of weeks, they were hearing rumors of mutant children going missing suspiciously. They knew for a fact that Professor Xavier knew which was why he was creating strict curfews for Warren, Bobby, Jean and Scott to make sure that they got home safely if they were going out anywhere. They were additionally going to be having Happy drive Bobby to and from school from that moment on. Tony drummed his fingers on his desk before shutting the news off.

"I can't believe this. I mean a month after these kids do something good, this shit hits the fan," whispered Tony bitterly as he poured himself a glass of Jack Daniels.

"Yeah, plus, they're getting a nickname in the media: the X-men," said Pepper. "You gotta admit, it has a nice ring to it."

"Yeah, you can admit it, Pepper, it does make sense given that they are having their futures secured by X-Corporation," Tony said, leaning in closer to Pepper to attempt taking her by the hand.

"Tony . . ." Pepper started to whisper.

"Pepper," Tony said.

"Tony, no . . . okay? We have to keep this professional because everyone knows how you are with girls," said Pepper in a stern voice, trying to hide the fact that she was secretly turned on by Tony's eccentric charm.

"Like that matters, Pepper. You're killing me here," Tony said to her with a small shake of his head.

"Somehow, I think that that is the booze talking."

That was the moment Professor Xavier came into Tony's office, a look of concern on his face.

"Mr. Stark, Miss Potts, you two might want to come to my office. I am calling Warren as well . . . his father called," said Charles.

"Wait, what?" asked Tony in shock as Professor Xavier telepathically called Warren to meet him in his office. Tony and Pepper followed the professor out into the hallway and to his private office, where they walked in to see a holographic image of Warren Worthington, Jr.

"Mr. Worthington, to what do I owe this conference?" asked Tony. He didn't know why Warren Worthington, Jr. was calling him, of all people in the world, but, the older Worthington had to be desperate.

"This is important, Mr. Stark. It-It could be something that could potentially help your X-men," said Warren Junior, keeping his facial expression neutral, but, Pepper, Charles and Tony could tell that he was anxious.

"Why would you want to help X-Corporation? After all, we are your biggest competitor," Tony pointed out to the father of one of his first employees.

"I know . . . I know, the owner of Worthington Industries helping X-Corporation sounds like an oxymoron right now. But this is vital, Mr. Stark. I-I need to speak to my son," Warren Jr. said urgently just as Warren Worthington III walked into the room.

"Hello, Professor, what do you –?" Warren started to ask. As soon as he saw the holographic image of his father, he started to walk out of the room. "Goodbye," he said coldly.

"Warren, wait," Pepper said. "This is vital."

"Oh I'm sure it is," Warren spat bitterly as he turned back around. He thought to himself, 'What the hell does my father want from me? He doesn't speak to me for six years and now he wants to talk to me? He must really be desperate! I can't believe him! I really cannot believe him. Piece of shit that he is! Who does he think he is? I mean for God's sake he throws me out, and now he wants to talk to me! Yeah, that's nice!'

"Warren, you've got every right to hate me right now. I understand if you do not even want to look at my face. Hell, it'll be justified if you want to choke the life out of me after I tell you what it is that I am about to say to you. But, Warren, son, this is important. Something happened, and I need your guys' help." As Warren Junior said those words, he sounded completely sincere, enough to make Warren III stop in his tracks. "Son, I mean it. This is something that I cannot handle because it is completely out of my hands."

"What is it?" Warren asked his father, his tone still filled with anger and disgust. He really didn't want to stand there and have to hear his father talk, but, at the same time, there was a small part of him that was hoping his father would apologize and really mean it. He would hear his father out, but, that did not mean he liked it in the slightest.

"Warren, son, as you know, Worthington Industries continued to develop the Legacy Cure, even after your mother and I disowned you . . . until now, we hadn't had it tested at all, to see if it was dangerous or not. But, recently, I tested it on a young boy named Artie Maddox. His father came to me asking me to test it out on his son because his son's mutant powers prevents him from being able to speak. He's mute, and I did. And let's just say that the mutant cure, it has some side effects that leave me very concerned. It didn't just attack the X-gene, it attacked some of the vital organs in Artie's body and he very well could have died if he hadn't been rushed to a hospital. Just the other day, I visited Cameron and Obadiah Stane over at one of their facilities in Ohio. They told me that they have already taken at least twenty mutants . . . mostly children, to send them off to some island Cameron owns called Genosha. He is planning on experimenting the cure on those mutants. I do not know how he managed to hide this deception from me for so long, or even from Senator Kelly, but, he managed to make sure that nobody knew about it," Warren Junior was saying.

"You could have just said no!" Warren spat out angrily. He hardened his gaze, keeping his guard up. He was worried if he let his guard down again, he would end up getting stabbed in the back and betrayed.

"I would have if he hadn't threatened to put a bullet in my head," Warren Jr. said to his son. "This isn't right. I did not want to create this cure to kill mutants, let alone mutant children. I-I honestly saw it as curing an illness . . ."

"I'm not sick Dad!" Warren yelled, glaring hard at his father in disgust and loathing. He could feel his face starting to turn bright red. "I never was! And now, suddenly, all control gets taken out of your hands and you're now on your knees begging for my help? Wow, that's rich! That's really, really rich coming from you!"

"Son, hear me out. I'll never use anything especially if it means costing the lives of people, Warren. I was actually going to terminate the project completely to prevent it from being used. But Cameron and Stane were willing to blow my head off if it meant using this cure on their mutant test subjects on Genosha. I have the coordinates. I need you and the X-men to go there and stop the both of them."

"And why the hell should I do anything for you?" asked Warren. "Why should I? What have you done for me in the past six years?! You act like that cure you created was for me? It was only for you! It was always about you and your reputation of having the perfect, "normal", American family! You'd put me on that pedestal my whole life, and when I'd lost that "perfect" image, you tossed me out!"

"Because I screwed up, son. I can admit it when I've made a mistake."

"It took you six years to realize this?" Warren still sounded contemptuous and repulsed.

"Please, son, hate me later. You-You have got to do this and expose this deception to the public. Because what Hodge and Stane are doing is illegal, inhumane experimentation. This is so wrong, I don't know how I can possibly make it right."

"You can start by taking some accountability for your own screw-ups," whispered Warren, his chest starting to hurt.

"I know son, but, I-I want to find a way to try and make this up to you, and part of that is by alerting you and telling you that you've got an opportunity now to stop this before it's too late. You have the power to do that, Warren . . . I just . . . I'm so sorry, son."

Warren swallowed hard. Was he hearing this right? Did his father actually apologize? He never apologized for anything, ever. "Are you drunk right now? Because that's probably the first time I've ever heard anything sincere from you in years."

"I know. I know I've got a lot of making up to do, Warren, but, you have a chance to prevent something worse from happening," Warren Junior said.

Warren let out a sigh. He was hoping and praying to God that his father wasn't secretly planning to screw him over like he did with Senator Kelly at that press conference a month ago. "Okay, Dad. Okay," he said.

"Alright, what are the coordinates to Genosha?" asked Tony.

Candy Southern's Apartment

That evening, Candy was getting ready for her evening classes that she and Warren took together at Pace. Rather than dorm at Pace, Candy had preferred to live in her own apartment with a roommate and take the train every day to school. She did that every day when she attended parochial school since she was twelve, she didn't want that to change. She was going to take a train and walk ten blocks to school until the day she died.

Candy stood there, looking at herself in the mirror as she brushed her hair to make herself look as presentable as she possibly could before heading to school for the rest of the night. She let out a sigh as she stepped out of her apartment, locking up behind her and walking down the hallway.

As Candy proceeded to step into the elevator, she didn't notice that somebody else was in the elevator as well. However, when she turned around, she looked to see a familiar face she hadn't seen in years.

"Oh, hi Cameron." Candy forced a smile onto her face at the sight of her and Warren's former friend, Cameron Hodge. He looked the same as he did six years ago: blonde, blue-eyed and horn-rimmed glasses, wearing a Louis Vuitton suit and tie. He was definitely someone she hadn't expected to see at all. The last time she'd spoken to him, it was an argument about her choosing Warren over him. Candy felt loyalty to Warren due to her having been his friend since they were in pampers. She wasn't going to just abandon him because he wasn't a throw-away friend to her.

"Hi Candy, I haven't seen you in quite a few years," Cameron said.

"Yeah, yeah it's been like, what? Six years or so?"

"Yeah, it has been." Cameron nodded.

"Well, what are you doing here? How did you figure out where I live now?" Candy asked, curious.

"You know I've got contacts in high places, Candy," Cameron told her.

"Well, I really wish I can stay and chat tonight, but, I've got my evening classes tonight and I can't afford to be late," Candy said when they reached the lobby. "I graduate in December, and that means after graduation, Tony Stark is promoting me and Warren to be CFOs of X-Corporation. It's a big deal for the both of us because that means Tony is entrusting us with the company's finances. He's putting a lot of faith in the both of us, so Warren and I cannot screw it up."

"I can give you a ride if you want." Cameron flashed Candy the smile he'd give her whenever he'd attempt flirting with her back when they were in high school together. It didn't surprise Candy in the slightest, because Cameron had always had a thing for her.

"No, no, Cameron, I'm good with taking the train to school. You know I prefer going on foot and taking the subway." Candy smiled, trying to be polite about it and shake Cameron off. For the first few years she'd known him, he'd been a good friend to her and Warren, but after Warren's mutation happened, Cameron's true colors had been exposed. It was a time where she and Warren learned who their real friends were.

"C'mon, Candy, really?"

"Cam, no, okay? You were always a flirt with me, but, I chose Warren," Candy said sternly.

"Why in the fuck did you choose him?" asked Cameron as they walked out of the apartment complex. The fact that he was turning around this quickly didn't surprise Candy either. Cameron could go from really sweet and polite to enraged and unstable at the drop of a hat. It made him come across to Candy as a very unhinged, troubled person, and it came to show that he hadn't changed.

"C'mon Cam, you know that's not me." Candy rolled her eyes at him. "Besides, why are you talking to me? I haven't spoken to you in six years because you never bothered to try and keep a relationship with me!"

"Come on, you know that's not true, Candy. You could have had a relationship with me and not Warren," Cameron insisted. "You know you're too good for the mutie! The only reason why you choose to be with him is for his money! I mean, I can't say I blame you 'cause after you marry him he'll put you in a beautiful home and give you a lot of wealth . . ."

"Cameron, no, shut up!" Candy said angrily. "Don't ever speak about Warren like that. I am not with him for his money. I don't care about his money! You made it sound like he picked up off of Fifty-Second Street, and he fucking put me here! Don't ever speak to me like that again, you piece of lowlife shit!" She felt Cameron grabbing her wrist and dragging her along somewhere. "Cameron, get your hands off of me, now!" She started trying to shove him off of her as he dragged her around the corner to where a private car was awaiting. She then felt something against her back. She looked to see that it was indeed a handgun. She blanched, suddenly having the sensation of feeling sick to her stomach.

"Get in the car, Candy. Do as I say, and there won't be a problem," Cameron whispered. He shoved her into the backseat of the car, and Candy peered inside to see Obadiah Stane in there too. As soon as she was inside the car, Candy could feel her wrists being handcuffed behind her back.

"Cameron . . . what the hell is this?" she asked, worried about where this was headed.

"You're coming with us," Cameron said.

"Well where are we going?" Candy asked. "Because I like to know when I am handcuffed in the back seat of a car with Cameron Hodge and Obadiah Stane where it is that I happen to be going."

"You don't have to know just yet, Ms. Southern," said Obadiah in a voice that was deadly calm, too calm.

"He's right, Candy," Cameron told her softly. "Now, you will be quiet for the remainder of the car ride, or we will have to force you to shut up." Candy noticed Obadiah had a piece of cloth in his hands, most likely for her. She felt bile rising in her throat as the car drove away, her hands starting to tremble.

'I don't know what Cameron thinks he's doing . . . but, I do know that it cannot be anything good,' Candy thought to herself, the cold metal of the handcuffs tight on her wrists and bruising her as she sat there in the car.

Up next: Genosha

A/N:

Like I said, from here on, I will be posting weekly just to help wrap this story up. Therefor, be on your A game with the reviews and keep them coming. Because before you know it, volume 2 will be posted on here! -

DC-MarvelGirl 1997

Also, be sure to check out my new story, The Evolution Project!