Billy, processing the information, asked Tommy, "Why didn't you mention this earlier?" he wondered. "I mean, we, I would have helped you." Tommy smiled, knowing his friends would have done anything for him. "I know that; they were already looking for me, only me; they had no reason to go after any of you, and you guys attacking them would have only gotten your names put on the list if you weren't already." Kate mentioned, "I would have been more than happy to take several shots at them."
The look Tommy gave Kate that said it all. The one that says you think they wouldn't have put you on the list as well? "They were taking regular people too!" Kate replied, slightly raising her voice. "Baseline, that was what they called it." Tommy answered, and Kate's only response was "I'm assuming that means no powers, otherwise, I'd just be insulted."
Everyone realises how horrific it was. Billy and Noh-Varr remember their experience in the cube, understanding what he must have endured through. A question was raised by America, Viv, and Ahura about the fight club: had Tommy been forced to kill his opponent, or did he just knock them out? Nobody knew what to say. Everyone began their separate ways to think about and consider everything they had just learned. After a few moments, Luna found Tommy sitting on a window bench, looking out. Luna didn't need to be an empath to see how this affected him, and she sat with him without saying anything. Billy was in his room, leaning against a wall, holding his knees. He was reflecting on what he missed before he left the earth and what he is missing, living in another part of space.
Teddy, Kate, Cassie, and Eli were sitting in the throne room, thinking back to when they first recruited Tommy, originally for one mission, to save Teddy, but after that it was his and Billy's connection to Wanda, mission after mission. Now looking back, the times the group broke up, and Tommy dealt with all this by himself. "Tommy really didn't want us to know." Eli said, "He didn't show any signs of what he was going through." Teddy said, and Cassie stared at the floor, saying, "Behind all his laughter, jokes, and everything, he was looking over his shoulder the whole time." "He said he did this to protect us, to keep us off some list, I'm sure as soon as we broke him out we were on the list." Kate said punching the wall. "It hurts to know he didn't tell us, like we couldn't handle it." Kate muttered, lowering her hand.
While standing in the training room, America, Noh-Varr, Dawn, Viv, and David knew that this wasn't their battle, but they were willing to be a part of it however they could. Caleb, and Ethan knew they didn't have powers and would be more of a hinderance in a fight, needing to be protected as much as possible. However, admiring their big brother and his friends, they would help where they can. They all knew what was coming, so they prepared for whatever the others wanted to do.
Ahura wasn't directly attacked like some others, nor was he as close to some of them. He understood why Tommy didn't want to talk about it as it was none of their business, and he would talk about it when he was ready. He had gone to see Billy, who was one of the few people who was close to him. When he found Billy, he sat with him. "You want to talk about it?" Ahura asked. Billy looked at him, asking, "How did I miss so much?" "We're there when they need us." Ahura said, putting his arm around Billy.
Tommy and Luna sat looking out the window, and eventually Luna broke the silence by asking, "What do you want to do? Go find the people behind this and take them down, or keep staring out the window, feeling sorry they dragged the family into this." "It's not just the fact that they went after you and the others; it's the fact that they could never break me. Even before I got my powers, I was never close to my parents; my friends distanced themselves from me after the whole school thing, and I didn't get close to anyone inside. They had nothing to use against me, Tommy said. "Then why come after everyone now? I mean, it's been years." She asked, "I don't know; maybe they think they've found someone who can catch me; maybe they could be after someone like you or Viv or Billy, and I'm just the bait."
"Stop that, you're more than just Billy's brother. If he's this sentient life force, fine, but if you stop doing this, holding yourself back, then you might even surpass him. We're not leaving you. You're just used to running, you don't know where you're headed. But remember you're an Avenger, Tommy, Son of the Scarlet Witch and the Vision, grandson of Magneto, a citizen of Karkoa, a speedster, and say the word and anyone of us can get you an army." Luna stood up, realising Tommy had been thinking about a plan in his head. This wasn't just about him anymore. "Let's get everyone, I'm planning a break-out."