Chapter 24
Aftermath
Disclaimer: Its that time of times! Also… Same recommendations as before! Check out the Korean series 'My Name' on Netflix, along with 'Rugal', good stuff. Space Sweepers is another good one to check out too.
In the weeks after the Battle of Northbrook, Illinois would see public perception of Mutants mixed more than usual due to their involvement in fighting back against Cobra's forces. Of course, public perception would also have an increased attitude of disgust and hate towards Cobra that hadn't been felt in years where that particular Terrorist organization's concerned. Kitty, once she saw how Lance was acting with the purple haired Mutant in the aftermath of the horrible fight after the Earth Shaker decided to finally stop going the slow path with Betsy and go all in much to her happiness, was unsurprisingly unhappy about the sight. Of course, she had more than that to be unhappy about thanks to the fact that Cobra Commander himself had hacked the airwaves sometime after the battle to reveal why he had launched the attack. Namely, to remind everyone that Cobra was still a force to be reckoned with and because Kitty Pryde is a former resident of Northbrook was another reason he'd chosen to attack the area.
Citing that her being involved with foolish do gooders was the price Northbrook had to pay. Of course, he was lying his ass off but no one outside of Cobra had to know that. This was one of the reasons public perception of Mutants was as mixed as it was. That, and Kitty was now practically persona non grata in her former home and through out Illinois in general. But despite that, Illinois was taking a more pro-stance on Mutantkind and angering those with unkind views towards Mutants in the process. The Misfits themselves were in heavy therapy sessions to deal with what they'd gone through and done during the battle and the Military was actually taking heat and not in the way you would think for having Mutants among them. But more because they had children involved in fighting when they had no place in doing so despite certain ages and the vaunted League of Soccer Moms was amongst the loudest of those declaring their displeasure of the whole thing.
The Misfits had even asked if they could help out in the clean up efforts for Northbrook and though Hawk and the others were hesitant about that for a number of reasons, they'd ultimately been given the okay by the Mayor of the town. Unfortunately, it'd be a long time before Northbrook would return to any sense of normalcy after all the Hell the town had been forced to go through. And that included the numerous losses the town's population had suffered with not only Humans but Mutants as well. The surviving Mutant population was even doing their part to help in the clean up and future re-construction efforts. One even had the ability to create and restore broken glass and would save a lot of money in that area despite their limited ability to use that skill due to a lack of training in it. Those at the Institute would find themselves re-evaluating a lot of things they thought where the Misfits were concerned as seeing just how truly skilled they are was proving to be an eye opening experience for them.
Of course, they were also miffed about the fact the team had some new members among them and that they weren't allowed to be involved in the clean up efforts on the fears/concerns fighting would break out between the two teams like it tended too. That, and Kitty's lifetime ban from Northbrook was another thing as well. Jean, from her family home reportedly had some negative feelings about the Misfits' actions during the battle. As she felt the more permanent means that were used could have been avoided had they just actually tried. Making it that it was a good thing the Joes and the Misfits were unaware of this and would be so for some time. But Philippa and Greycrow however would have some words with her over the whole thing given they themselves are Veterans. Eden 'Manifold' Fesi would be hailed as a National Hero due to his use of his portal powers to get the Joes/Misfits to Northbrook in time before things had gotten even worse than what it had.
Though he would feel some guilt for not having been part of a majority of the fighting thanks to how exhausted he was after using his powers to get the teams to the battle. Something that Psych-Out and the others would tell him very firmly that he had nothing to feel guilty about as getting that exhausted after using that much of his power couldn't have been helped. Now the Institute would gain another reason later on to be miffed towards the Misfits thanks to an interview they would do with a News Outlet and Lance would be the main reason why after he pointed out that the Institute should actually just be a school/safe haven and not part school/part safe haven/part vigilante paramilitary. Or at least, that its team should only be adults if they were gonna do that and drawing in a lot more scrutiny towards the Xavier Institute. He'd also pointed out some uncomfortable parallels in History where various Minorities were concerned and that Mutant Rights were another part in the on going struggle for Civil Rights.
That, of course, sparked some outrage, but mostly from hateful types. Lance, along with a few others during the interview had also pointed out how useful some Mutant abilities could be in society and if everyone wasn't so busy freaking out and passing judgement on Mutantkind, they would be able to see this a lot better and of course, angering some folks in the process. And because of the exposure he and the others had gotten because of the battle and in the weeks afterwards, one particular member of the Hellfire Club would be rather surprised once she caught sight of Lance on television. An incident involving Jubilee would end up bringing the X-Men and the Misfits together again for the first time in months and would also involve the Cleveland crew thanks to the fact that John Proudstar had been kidnapped in a failed effort to get information on the location of the Cleveland School.
And when all was said and done, Jubilee would be back at the Institute in addition to Thornn and Lina Chakram and Angelica Jones would be taken in by the Joes/Misfits. Unfortunately, there would be some drama thanks to the fact that Kitty had gotten the wrong impression about Lance and Angelica after catching sight of him holding the girl in his arms at one point and she was naked save for Lance's jacket covering her as best as it could. Betsy would take to teasing him for awhile after that but her and Kitty would not be becoming friends anytime soon at all for obvious reasons. Shortly after this, Wanda would receive an offer from Agatha Harkness to become a full time apprentice to the woman and would take several days to think and discuss the offer with everyone else at the Base culminating in her deciding to take the older woman up on the offer in the end. Unfortunately, this would see her and Eden amicably ending their relationship due to accepting Agatha's offer since it wouldn't exactly leave her a lot of free time.
Two other incidents would also occur about two weeks after Wanda left with Agatha, namely: The Mutant that calls himself Apocalypse revealing himself to the world after being freed from a prison he'd been trapped in for close to two centuries and pissing off Historians in the process thanks to some knowledge he'd drop afterwards. The other incident? Well… Let's just say that Shipwreck nearly caused an international incident with Wakanda after the recently crowned King T'Challa had chosen to end their Isolationist Policies and apply for membership in the UN. Prompting for GI Joe to be asked to help provide security in the event Cobra decided they wanted to try something where T'Challa was concerned. And thanks to the fact that T'Challa had personally invited Storm to the event thanks to their past, this naturally caused issues to spark up thanks to Shipwreck.
Culminating in Storm actually going off on the Sailor on live television thanks to his inability to take a hint and sparking a number of debates in the process for some time afterwards. Now, Cobra did attack but they were successfully repelled mostly due to a highly aggravated Storm but because T'Challa was practically a vigilante thanks to his being the Black Panther and his refusal to agree to anything involving Vibranium thanks to concerns he had about what it would be used for made acceptance of Wakanda to the UN a little more difficult and annoying than he would've preferred. Not knowing that someone behind the scenes was causing all the trouble to begin with. Though the greater annoyance would be Shipwreck for the man after having to deal with him. "Do you know why you're in my office, Hector?" Asked Hawk a couple of days after the whole thing had gone down in a deceptively calm voice.
"My uhh, my actions at the UN." Shipwreck replied softly.
"That's right. You're lucky you're not in front of a full review board after that mess thanks to me calling in some favors to handle this personally." Said the man icily and causing the Sailor to flinch.
"Am I being thrown out?"
"You nearly were but thanks to me you won't be. However… You've not only been given a lifetime ban from Wakanda, but you aren't allowed to be anywhere near Xavier and his bunch until they say otherwise. Granted, the fact Storm's finally chosen to place a restraining order against you makes it unlikely they'll ever say otherwise, Hector. I had to personally apologize to her for all your actions, especially since I practically allowed it to happen when I damn well should've put a stop to it a long time ago."
Shipwreck flinched again as he continued to feel very low for how he had acted at the UN and in general where Ororo was concerned. "In addition to this, you will not only be receiving three months of jail time but you've been demoted down to Petty Officer Third Class for your actions." Continued Hawk.
"I… That's fair..." Though Shipwreck was surprised his jail time wasn't longer but figured Hawk's calling in favors had something to do with that.
Though fair it may be, he still didn't like it as it would be time away from all of his kids. "You'll also be required to attend MANDATORY therapy sessions to deal with your issues since Mara left you, AA meetings, and classes for sexual harassment and respecting women. Even after your sentence is up you'll still be required to attend these mandatory sessions. Is that understood?"
Flinching once again, Shipwreck nodded and saluted. "SIR! YES SIR!" Shouted the man.
Knowing he didn't have a leg to stand on where defending himself was concerned as two MP's came into Hawk's office and placed the Sailor in handcuffs. "I truly hope your time in jail will benefit you, Hector, as you are one of my best but I can't justify having you among us if you keep acting the way you do."
Some insanity is fine but when it causes the sort of problems like Hector had caused, well… That was definitely not fine. Hector couldn't even look the other man in the eye at that point and Hawk sighed heavily before speaking again. "Dismissed."
And with that, Shipwreck and the two MP's were gone. "Now to break the news to Althea and the others…" They were not going to be happy about this.
Something he'd be proven right on afterwards and the fact Storm was happy about the news once he told her and the rest of the Institute a little later did nothing to make the heaviness he felt lessen any.
Author's Notes: What happens with Shipwreck here is perhaps harsh and maybe over done but I've never particularly enjoyed how he's not all that respectful towards Storm except in certain situations and just can't take a hint. I know its meant to be amusing and this ISN'T a dig at RW at all and this is just how I ultimately feel.