To say that the X-Men were pissed would be an understatement. The reason: Spider-Man.
His recent behavior from the time he came to the Institute really rubbem them off the wrong way to the extent that those who were trying to figure out were why the sudden 180 were accused of betrayal, of siding with the betrayal and the start of brawls which became more frequent. Many of the Amazing Airachnid's friends renounced their ties with him bar a few such as his students like Hope Summers and Beak among others and surprisingly Kitty Pryde the last of his friends.
The last supporters of Spydey decided to do their research covertly.
And then Spider-Man released the infamous world shattering caused quite divide within the X-Men.
On one hand the group that believed Spider-Man was saying the truth begin to go over everything they knew about Ol' Webhead, and as they reviewed everything they couldn't help the mix or shock, regret and selfhatred. The chiefs were Henry "Hank" McCoy, and Robert "Bobby" or BEAST and Iceman respectively since they should have seen the signs Bobby especially since he and Firestar with Spydey formed the team "Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends". As much Saturday Morning cartoony the name sounded among the X-Men they knew how Spider-Man acted and the way he did wasn't like him at all and yet not even after hearing about the Spider Island and what not they didn't see it. Hank knew what Spider-Man used his tec and knew what his MO should have seen it coming and yet didn't. The part that didn't knew Spider-Man personally yet have tracked him and had a pretty decent picture of him as well his enemies or had a brain and thought who could have been responsible for this sudden attitude shift, and the two names that were at the top of the list were very credible as much as they didn't want to believe someone without powers could be able to pull something like this off. Most of the naysayers were from the faction that didn't have that much of a bond with the Webbed Wonder and found him annoying and were jealous of him and despite their pride their arguments were solid given what they knew at the time only Li could have done it and because it was impossible for Octavius to do it not only because he was in a highly secure facility but also because according to them he couldn't even attempt to do it because of the afore mentioned reasons not because of the likelihood of him being able to do it.
What broke the arguments was surprisingly Emma Frost.
"Really Scott? You of all mutants not being able to see it is shocking, but I guess your ego is bigger than anyone would have believed possible but I digress", she made a pause to let her audience digest her words, and with a regal bearing befitting of her codename she started.
"I myself have once switched bodies with Storm, and have manages to use her powers to a greater degree and proficiency than her at the time, but that is neither here nor there. What I'm trying to say is that one doesn't need to be a telepath to pull it off - especially given our history." She raised one perfectly gloved finger as if to point out how obvious it was if one gave it enough thought.
"One, a powerful enough sorceror could pull it off, as well as those who have the ability to seize bodies like ghosts and certain demons." As much as she wanted to, she didn't give anything to imply that she was referring to Magik mostly because she wanted to get this over with and she wanted her wprds to be heeded something that wouldn't happen if she picked a fight.
"Two...", she raised another finger, "With enough research one could modify anyone's branewave and give them a new personality both personality wise, and identity wise with the only problem being creating a machine that could do it without any obvious signs. Hypnosys is basically that only on a not-so-serious scale, since despite its dangers there are still flaws like willpower, a person that is deeply connected to you could also jog your memory."
"And from your faces it appears a lot of you don't think much of trained therapists and phychologists", she remarked in such a sour tone that lemons would appear sweet, but details. "With that out of the way, the second point leads me to the third one, that being awareness."
Blank stares.
Blank stares and confused faces.
"Really?!" she made no attempt to hide her exasperation. "Have you not paid attention to what we've been through unless it directly threatens your lives?", she was so done playing nice, but she still needs to keep her cool.
"How many times have aliens invaded us, how many times have we dealt with those that studied as so thoroughly so that they could kill or enslave us depending on their mood? How many times had we dealt with threaths that were the result of our vivisected kind? It is with this reasoning that I say that with enough RESEARCH you won't even need to result to KIDNAPPINGS!" The elegant, measured and emotional restrained voice was gone, replaced by anger in that moment, as if giving way to every injustice, frustration and resentmelt felt in two words!
Something only known to only the Frost heiress was that those feelings weren't only for the way her species was being treated, but that's a different matter.
"The research for someone smart enough isn't that hard to get if you know the right people and have the right talents, just as easy as you can collect alien tech if you play your cards right, and with the right knowhow regardless of suspects you could pull off a once impossible feat just as easy as trying to recreate a dish that you could only eat in certain restaurants or even improove the product, if you only have the skills, dedication and resources." Finished with her piece she went to get her mission outfit and a few change of clothes, since she wasn't going to spent a lot of time in the mansion for a while.
Her audience didn't react that well since some looked like they wanted to riot.
"Emma, that's ridiculous and you knot it!" Surprise, surprise, Scott Summers thundered. For a guy that has a mountain of contingencies not seeing it was a blow to his pride - especially when you consider he's the chief of the naysayers. "And where do you think you're going for that matter? Who knows when we're going to have a mission that needs you?"
"I'm going to New York! Spider-Man may have quit - rightfully so in my opinion - but we're going to help with the rising Supervillains vying to make New York their playground", Emma Frost has surprised her allies once again today.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm not one for mindless heroism, or that higher purpose and duty crap, but at the very least we could use this to boost our image. Given that so success or failure we won't get the shaft as hard as we would otherwise it's a something."
"Why would we worry about a few C-listers at most?"
"Especially those the street heroes can take care of with time to worry about normal criminals too."
Those were respectively Summers and Illyana Rasputin, arrogance could be seen from a mile away while Piotr was nodding in approoval at that. Does he go even 10 feet without holding his sister's hands?
"Am I the only one who has looked into how bad it is? For Heavens' Sake even Avengers had to intervene, much sooner that I'd have ever believed too!" Not waiting for them to respond she continues to get her necesities, and then go to her Penthouse Suit in New York.
After!
Only after, she gives the Avengers a few pieces of her mind to the Avengers. If Peter Parker was a new member or a more reclusive member instead of someone who was on the team for years she'd still sing the same song but she'd be less harsh on the poor bastards responsible for this misfortune regardless of their relationship with Peter Parker, as well as trying a few different ways of consoling the returned Airachnid, but unfortuantely Spider-Man was who knows where. Emma hoped the guy was in a better place.
Once things were calm enough she's going to interrogate a few people that should have been able to see the changes.
Until the situation in NYC reached the point of piercing through certain knuckleheads' pride that they HAVE TOintervene only BEAST, Iceman, Kitty, Hope Summers and Jubilee went with the rest of the students - especially Spider-Man's - being forbidden to assist given they're yet to be battle ready or having the necessary degree of control for their powers.
As for Angelica Jones she had a headstart over Frost and the others: a few good hours, that she used to get a read on how bad it is, and what spare time she got she first went to - in this order - throttle Wolverine, than Captain America, Ironman, Hulk and whatever member of the 'Earth's Greatest Failure' that she knew has known Spider-Man long enough to testify to his usual attitude.
Next on her list was Mary Jane Watson. Someone she would have visited earlier if she had the time and the whole scenario for their convo planned out. She really wanted to dish out some rightful vengeance.
While not given enough credit Firestar is smart enough to piece the identity of her maybe-possibly-former-crush. Spider-Man disappearing not long after Parker Industries was closed is suspicious, but when you take into account who was his most ardent supporter and who gave him the upgrades and the fact that the guy who is known for taking pictures of Spydey was never seen with the latter at the same place and at the same time, followed by height and body type, said and the piece de resistance: Spider-Man had a personality shift around the time Peter Parker became a CEO is suspect.
Granted while it could have been a coincidence she both isn't one to put too much stock in them given her life and making a little digging into Spider-Man's first appearance as a crime fighter combined with the fact that the ex-CEO dropped off the face of the Earth after finally closing his company was another point for that theory.
Take this and combined with the fact most often than not if you remove the impossible than no matter how unlikely it was whatever remained was the truth. Especially that after Captain America came clean with the truth she interrogated Cap again and finally found out that she was 100% right regarding the man behind the Spider's mask. As well as knowing Mary Jane knew too her ex's secret.
One conversation later she dealt out righteous vengeance by her loneself.
Aunt May was harder to crack but after she did she felt massive sympathy for the woman. All the things she did and said and how much she regretted them after finding out she could only console the elderly woman.
Angelica also found out the team of Mutants that came before shit hit the fan was also doing relatively what she did.
While she did end up forgiving and inviting Bobby and BEAST into her previous all-female Fellowship of Revenge, she still had her doubts whether the two male members and Emma were genuine, but she accepted their help for trying to figure what schemes they could pull for Ol' Webhead's sake.
Needless to say Stark better watch out.
As for the state of the City, it was a long way till some normalcy was going to be established and that's when they'll spring the trap.
As for a certain redheaded club owner Angelica did enjoy ruining her days as much as much as possible before serving her own especial maindish. She was petty but she also loved Peter Parker at one point masked ego or not it didn't change what the bitch did.