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  Sitting in their offiero, Maria, Sofia, and Diego were casually discussing the day’s events. The atmosphere was rexed, the kind of ease that came from a deep familiarity with the chaos of their lives. Anthony and Donald were out in Hell’s Kit with Sakura, keeping tabs on the Hand’s movements, while Nigel was off somewhere doing whatever it was that Nigel did. The old butler had a habit of disappearing, his ings and goings as mysterious as they were untraceable.

  Sofia was absorbed iop, fingers moving rapidly over the keyboard as she kept track of the ongoing operations. The soft glow from the s illuminated her focused expression. “Kira’s doh his part and has left the se. Toph and Sokka just checked in; they’re about to move in,” she reported, her tone effit but casual, as if she were talking about the weather.

  Nero nodded in aowledgment, leaning ba his chair. “Tell the Neogeo be on standby,” he instructed, his voice calm and authoritative.

  Sofia typed out the and quickly, her gaze never leaving the s. “sider it done.”

  Diego, lounging on the couch, stretched his arms above his head zily. “What do you think they’ll find down there?” he asked, his tone light but tinged with genuine curiosity. “It’s not every day you get to dig around in the Hand’s backyard.”

  Maria, seated beside Nero, crossed her legs and shrugged slightly. “Probably a whole lot of trouble,” she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice. “But that’s why we sent them in, right? To stir the pot.”

  Nero smirked, gng over at her. “You say that like we didn’t pn every step of this.”

  Maria raised an eyebroyful glint in her eyes. “Didn’t we? Or did you leave some things to ce?”

  Chug, Nero said, “I should summon Shay, so he drop his catchphrase right about now.”

  Maria g him, fused. “Shay?”

  Nero waved off her fusion with a grin. “Fet it. Not one of my better jokes.”

  Sofia, still focused oop, interrupted the banter by casting the s to the TV on the wall. “This is what Kira’s camera picked up in the underground facility,” she said, her tone shifting to something more serious.

  The s lit up with grainy footage from the facility below Hell’s Kit. The view was shaky at times, as if Kira hadn’t bothered with subtlety while capturing it. Rows of gss tanks filled with a murky green liquid lihe walls, each holding a suspended figure iants, or Neogenes as they were now called. Some looked unscious, their bodies still as the liquid swirled around them, while others thrashed weakly, clearly aware but uo escape.

  “Damn,” Diego muttered from the couch, leaning forward to get a better look. “That’s some messed-up shit. They’re using them as b rats.”

  Maria’s eyes narrowed as she studied the footage, her tone sharp. “No wo wahose mutants so badly. If he got his hands on them...”

  Nero finished her thought, his voice steady. “He’d have an army. One he didn’t have to recruit or vince, just brainwash and unleash.”

  Sofia zoomed in on one of the tanks, where a mutant with wings was barely scious. “They’re experimenting orying to find the limits of their abilities. The Hand is digging into some dark stuff here.”

  Diego shook his head, disgusted. “It’s not just dark, it’s ihey’re pying with fire. We’ve seen what happens when you push Neogeoo far.”

  “And they’re doing it under everyone’s noses,” Maria added, her tone ced with frustration. “The X-Meoo busy trying to keep their dream alive, and the Brotherhood’s too focused on their war. Meanwhile, the Hand is carving up mutants like b samples.”

  Nero nodded, his mind w through the possibilities. “That’s why we’re here. We’re not letting any of these fas take trol. The Neogenes deserve better than to be pawns in someone else’s game.”

  Sofia switched the feed oV with a chuckle, revealing the st moments of Kira’s footage. The grainy video showed him casually telling Mystique he wouldn’t stick around to help with what was i, and then leaving the underground facility without a care. Moments ter, Kira’s fmes erupted as he entered a swarm of Hand agents. His ughter echoed through the corridors before he took to the skies, the s cutting out just after he spotted the X-Men’s jet approag.

  “Subtle as always,” Nero ented, amusement evident in his tone. “But effective.”

  Sofia transitioo the live feed. The s now showed the Neogenes, already in a as they tuhrough the earth, steadily making their way into the facility. The X-Men and the Brotherhood were embroiled in a fight with the Hand agents, pulling attention away from the Neogenes’ covert operation.

  “They’re in,” Sofia reported, watg as the Neogenes began their careful advao the facility, staying just out of sight from the chaos above.

  “They’ll o move fast,” Maria added, eyes fixed on the s. “Ohe X-Men and Brotherhood realize what’s happening, things could get messy.”

  “They’re not gonna know what hit them,” Diego remarked, leaning ba the couch, his earlier curiosity now repced by fidence. “But we’ve still got to worry about those two Brotherhood mutants lurking around.”

  On the s, the Neogenes entered the first of the Brotherhood mutants—a hulking figure who barely had time to react before being taken down with a swift, calcuted strike. The seutant tried to fight back, unleashing a barrage of energy bsts, but the Neogenes moved with precision, incapacitating him within seds.

  “Handled,” Sofia noted with satisfa as she monitored the feed. “No arms triggered, no backup called.”

  “Just the way we p,” Nero said, crossing his arms, his gaze never leaving the s. “Let’s get those mutants out of there.”

  Maria nodded, her fiapping against the armrest of her chair. “We’ve only got a small window before everyoches on. They o extrad vanish.”

  Sofia’s fingers flew across the keyboard, coordinating the extra. “Already on it. They’ll have the mutants secured in under five minutes.”

  The camera feed showed the Neogenes expertly navigating the facility, avoidiion while log the mutants still trapped ianks. One by ohe tanks were opened, and the mutants inside were carefully removed and stabilized.

  “Warren’s team is smooth,” Diego remarked, watg the extra with pride and approval. “No wasted moves, no unnecessary risks.”

  “That’s what they’re trained for,” Nero replied, a hint of satisfa in his voice. “And they know what’s at stake.”

  The Neogenes tiheir work, systematically freeing the mutants while staying pletely uhe radar of the ongoing battle above. “They’re clear,” Sofia firmed, watg as the st of the mutants were freed and escorted out through the tunnel.

  As the Neogenes vahrough the tunnels, the gang in Nero’s office watched the se unfold with amusement. Toph’s voice, suddenly filled with faux tension, echoed through the speakers. "Oh no."

  Sofia snickered, leaning ba her chair. "Here we go."

  The X-Men and the Brotherhood were clearly on edge as they turo Toph, who was ag as though she had just detected something critical. Storm’s voice cut through the tension, tinged with . "What is it, Toph?"

  Toph's hands ched at her sides, her bare feet rooted to the ground as she preteo trate. "A group of people... they’ve carved a path underground," she said, her voice filled with fabricated worry. "They took all the mutants away."

  Ba the office, the group burst into ughter, clearly eained by Toph’s ving performance.

  "Who would’ve guessed she’s such a great actor?" Sofia said, wiping tears of ughter from the er of her eyes.

  Diego, lounging on the couch with a wide grin, added, "She could give the pros a run for their money. I almost believed her myself."

  Maria, shaking her head in amusement, chimed in, "She’s pying them like a fiddle. Look at the way the X-Men are reag—they’re buying it pletely."

  Sofia switched the feed to a different angle, showing the X-Men and Brotherhood already caught up in a heated argument over what had happehe tensioweewo groups alpable, each bming the other for the mutants’ disappearance.

  Diego snorted, "Cssic. They’re too busy pointing fio realize they’ve been outpyed."

  Maria watched the quarrel escate, a satisfied gleam in her eyes. "They’re so predictable. It’s almost too easy."

  Sofia nodded, still chug as she zoomed in on the se. "And to think they’re supposed to be the world’s best and brightest. They didn’t eve ing."

  The camera angle shifted again, showing the Neogenes emerging from the tunnels with the rescued mutants in tow. The extra had gone off without a hitch, and now they were safely away from the chaos above.

  Sofia g the clo the wall. "They’ll be ba uwo minutes. No one’s even noticed they’re gone."

  Diego stretched, a satisfied grin on his face. "Another win for the home team."

  Nero’s eyes remained on the s, watg as the Neogenes ed up their mission. He pulled out his phone and dialed Warren. "Your team’s bringing them in. Make your show believable," Nero instructed, his tone leaving no room for interpretation.

  Warrehe drill. Sihe Brotherhood had seen the Neogenes in the underground facility, it wouldn’t be long before Mago started asking questions. Warren had to stage an eborate ruse, one where he appeared to have purchased the Neogenes’ freedom from a group of sve traders. It was a risky move, but Warren was used to operating on the edge. Nero had given him the opportunity, and now it to Warren to seal the deal.

  As he ehe call, uro Sofia. "Show L’s side."

  Sofia nodded and adjusted the feed on the s. The dispy flickered, and then a new se appeared—a dark, cluttered room where L sat hunched over a desk covered in papers and monitors. His face artially obscured by the shadows, but his sharp eyes gleamed with a cold focus. "This is Jessica's cam."

  Diego g the s, his casual demeaniving way to a more serious expression. "What’s he up to now?"

  Sofia zoomed in on one of the monitors in L’s room. The s dispyed a live feed from Hell’s Kit, where the Hand’s movements were being tracked iime. L’s fiapped rhythmically on the keyboard, his attention fully absorbed by the data streaming in. He was deep in his element, analyzing every detail, searg for patterns and anomalies that could lead him to the Hand’s move.

  "L’s been monit their operations for days," Sofia expined, her toter-of-fact. "He’s cross-refereng their ret activities with known drug routes and illegal shipments. He’s trying to pinpoint their supply lines."

  Maria, who had been quietly , leaned forward slightly. "And he’s doing all this without them knowing?"

  Sofia smirked. "That’s the idea. He’s using a bination of hacked surveilnce feeds and his owwork of informants. The Hand doesn’t even know he’s watg."

  On the s, L suddenly paused, his eyes narrowing as he zeroed in on a particur piece of data. His hand hovered over the keyboard for a moment before he quickly typed out a and. The image on his monitor shifted, revealing a map of the city with several locations highlighted in red.

  "He’s found something," Sofia noted, her voice steady as she tio watch.

  Nero’s attention sharpened, his eyes locked on the s. "What’s he zeroing in on?"

  Before Sofia could answer, L moved swiftly to Jessica, leaning close to the camera mounted on her chest. His voice cut through the room, clear and direct. “Boss, I found something,” he said, speaking directly to Nero.

  uro Sofia, who immediately activated the speaker. The room fell silent as they waited for L to eborate.

  L’s voice came through the speaker, calm but with an uone ency. “I’ve been monit the Hand’s supply lines, cross-refereng their ret activities with known traffig routes. There’s a pattern—a shipment ing in tonight, under heavy guard, at a location they’ve never used before. It’s big.”

  Diego sat up straighter on the couch, his earlier casual demeanor repced by keen i. “What’s the cargo?”

  “Uain,” L replied, his voice cool. “But the level of security suggests it’s something important. Possibly another batch on Bone, or maybe even something more valuable. Whatever it is, the Hand is going all out to keep it off the radar.”

  Nero leaned forward, his gaze intense as he processed the information. “Location?”

  “An old warehouse by the docks,” L answered. “It’s off the usual grid, activity on record. I’ve already sent the coordio Sofia.”

  Sofia’s fingers flew across the keyboard, bringing up the map on the rge s. The warehouse was marked with a red dot, isoted from the surrounding buildings. “Got it,” she firmed. “This pce is a dead zone—no surveilno activity logs, nothing. If the Hand’s moving something here, it’s definitely off the books.”

  Maria, who had been quietly listening, spoke up, her tohoughtful. “If they’re guarding it this heavily, they’re either expeg trouble, or it’s something they ’t afford to lose. Either way, we o find out what it is.”

  Nero frowned, a thought crossing his mind. "Could it be Bck Sky?" he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. In the MCU, the Hand had hunted individuals with incredible powers, but those were uo that universe. The Hand he had dealt with here was more aligned with the Marvel Earth-616 version—deadly, anized, but without those supernatural elements.

  Turning back to the s, he addressed L. "Any news on the heroin mixed with dragon bones?"

  L’s fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, pulling up a new set of data. "Sakura and Donald are w on analyzing the samples we’ve gathered," L replied, his voice clear through the speakers. "They’re paring it to what we know about previous batches. So far, the results are inclusive, but there’s definitely something off about this mix."

  Nero leaned back slightly, thinking. "And the others?"

  "Sakura’s ic is under heavy guard. Finn’s on watch there, just in case. Anthony and Hercule are on standby, ready to assist if needed," L tinued. "Danny and Matt are sg out smaller Hand operations around Hell’s Kit, looking for anything ected to this new shipment. Luke’s rounding up anyone affected by the drug, bringing them to the ic by force if necessary."

  Sofia, still focused on the s, nodded in approval. "They’ve got the ground covered. Whatever the Hand’s pnning, we’ll know before they make a move."

  Diego, lounging on the couch with his usual casual demeanor, chimed in. "You think they’re tying up loose ends with this shipment? Clearing out the st of the dragon bones?"

  "ing in somethio repce them," Maria suggested, her tohoughtful. "Either way, we o be ready."

  Nero’s eyes narrowed as he sidered the possibilities. "If they’re still dealing with dragon bones, it means they’re not doh their experiments yet. We o know what they’re pnning before they deploy whatever it is."

  Sofia adjusted the feed again, bringing up live footage from various locations around the city. "We’ve got eyes everywhere. The moment something shifts, we’ll know."

  Nero shook his head, the weight of the situation bearing down on him. “Not knowing what’s in that shipment worries me,” he said, rising from his chair. “Time t out the big guns.”

  He pulled out his phone and dialed quickly. “Erwin,” he began, his voice firm. “Tell Fury you’re onto a big lead that might ge the future of New York if not carefully handled. Use L’s o vince him. Let him know L is already on the operation.”

  As Nero ehe call, Sofia looked up from her s. “What’s the py?” she asked, her tone even, but with an edge of .

  “I’m pulling Donald and Anthony back,” Nero replied. “They’ve doheir part. We’re not risking exposing them for something this uable.”

  Diego, still lounging on the couch, raised an eyebrow. “You think Fury’s going to bite on this?”

  Nero slipped his phone bato his pocket, his gaze unwavering. “He doesn’t have a choice. If there’s even a ce we’re right about what they’re moving, he’ll want to be involved. It’s too big for him to ignore.”

  Maria nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Fury’s not the type to let something like this slip by. If he thinks it’s a threat, he’ll act. But we o make sure we’re oep ahead of him.”

  Sofia g the live feed on the s, where the Neogenes were ing up their extra. “I’ll keep an eye on the Hand’s movements. If there’s any sign of them reag to our operation, we’ll know.”

  Nero moved to the window, staring out at the city below. “Sofia, prepare a secure line for L to coordinate directly with Fury. I don’t want any surprises.”

  “On it,” Sofia responded, her fingers already flying over the keyboard.

  Diego’s usual id-back demeanor was repced by a more focused iy. “You think the Hand’s figured out we’re onto them? Or are they still in the dark?”

  urned back to the group, his expression unreadable. “They might suspeething, but they don’t know the full extent of what we’re doing. And we’re going to keep it that way.”

  Maria leaned ba her chair, a hint of a smile pying on her lips. “Then it’s about time we turhe tables ohey’ve had the upper hand for too long.”

  Sofia brought up another s, this time showing a secure unication line beiablished. “Fury’s about to be looped in. I’m setting it up now.”

  Diego chuckled, though there was no humor in it. “This should be iing. Fury’s ly known for his patience.”

  Nero’s phone buzzed, and he g the s before answering. “Erwin, update?”

  Erwin’s voice came through, calm but with an underlying urgency. “Fury’s in. He’s sending a team to back us up, but he wants to kly what we’re dealing with. He’s also asking for L to brief him directly.”

  Nero nodded, already anticipating the request. “Tell him L’s preparing the intel. We’ll coordinate from here.”

  “Uood,” Erwin replied before the call ended.

  Maria tapped her fingers lightly against the armrest, her gaze on Nero. “What’s our move?”

  Nero’s eyes narrowed slightly, his mind already rag with the possibilities. “We keep everything on track. Sofia, stay in tact with L and make sure Fury’s team doesn’t overstep. Diego, I want you to monitor any unication ing out of Hell’s Kit. If the Hand starts talking, I want to know about it.”

  Sofia gave a curt nod, her foever wavering. “L’s ready to go. Fury’s line is secure.”

  Nero looked at the s and said, "Show me Jessica’s cam. I want to know what they’re talking about."

  Sofia nodded and quickly pulled up the feed. The s flickered, then cleared to show Jessica’s cam feed. It was a low-angle shot, capturing the dimly lit room where L sat, still hunched over his desk, papers scattered around him. Across the room, the holographic figure of Nick Fury flickered into view—tall, imposing, with that signature eyepatch giving him an even more intense look. The room was silent as they all watched, waiting for the versation to begin.

  Fury spoke first, his voice steady but carrying an unmistakable authority. "So, you’re the infamous L. ’t say I expected to meet you like this."

  L didn’t look up from his papers, his tone as ft as ever. "The feeling is mutual. But circumstances dictate the y."

  There was a slight pause on Fury’s end, as if he was assessing L. "I’ve heard a lot about you. None of it good."

  "Then I suppose you’ve done your homework," L replied coolly, still not making eye tact. "I’m not here to impress you, Director Fury. We have a situation to handle, and time is of the essence."

  Fury’s gaze didn’t waver. "The’s cut to the chase. What exactly are we dealing with?"

  L finally looked up, his dark eyes log onto Fury’s through the hologram. "The Hand has been moving something—something big and dangerous. We’ve been trag their shipments, and there’s a new one ing in tonight. We don’t know what’s in it, but the precautions they’re taking suggest it’s not just another drug shipment."

  Sofia, watg the exge from Nero’s office, quietly noted, "L’s being direct. He knows Fury’s type—no patience fames."

  Nero nodded, his eyes fixed on the s. "Good. Fury doesn’t he full story, just enough to act."

  On the s, Fury crossed his arms, his tone hard and skeptical. “If you don’t know what it is, how do you know it’s a threat? And who the hell are these 'we' you're talking about?”

  L leaned back slightly, his fareadable as he addressed Fury. "We," he emphasized, "are a group of individuals itted to stopping the Hand’s corruption in Hell’s Kit and Harlem. Not really your jurisdi, is it, Director?" L’s tone was mog, a subtle jab at the fact that the gover, including SHIELD, had rgely abahese neighborhoods. If it weren’t fintes like Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Hercule, these areas would have been overrun by criminals long ago.

  Fury’s gaze bore into L, his expression stony, but he didn’t refute the point. The sileween them was thick with unspoken uanding; both khe truth of the matter.

  L tinued, his voiwavering. "I’ve been trag the Hand’s activities for a while now. They’ve been experimenting with something called Dragon Bone—a substahat enhances mutant abilities far beyond their natural limits, and even grants powers to ordinary humans. We believe they’re refining this drug to create an army. Whatever they’re moving tonight, it’s tied to these experiments."

  As soon as the words "Dragon Bone" left L’s mouth, Fury’s rea was immediate and explosive. "Motherfug what now?" he barked, his usual cool demeanor shattered by the revetion. His outburst drew chuckles from Nero and the others in the office—Fury’s bluion was all too familiar to them.

  Ba the s, L remained posed, letting Fury absorb the information before pressing on. "The shipment tonight could be more Dragon Bone, or it could be somethiirely new. Either way, it’s crucial that we intercept it."

  Fury, rec quickly, narrowed his eye at L. "And what makes you so sure this isn’t just another dead end? You expect me to divert resources based on a hunch?"

  L’s tone was firm as he responded, "It’s not a hunch, Director. It’s a calcuted risk. We have reliable intel, and we’re not asking for a favor. We’re an opportunity to stop the Hand before they deploy whatever it is they’re cooking up. You either take that opportunity or let it slip through your fingers."

  L's expression remained unged as he stared directly into Fury’s eye. "The only question you o ask yourself is, does it worth angering your superiors who are on the Hand’s and Fisk’s payroll or not?"

  Fury’s response was instant. He leaned forward, his tone low and menag, "Yetting too sassy for your own good, kid."

  L didn’t flinch, his voice cool and posed as he replied, "I’m not here to py nice, Director. I’m here because I know you’re the only one who cut through the bullshit ahings done. We both know the clock’s tig."

  Sofia g the others, a small smirk pying on her lips. "He’s really pushing Fury," she remarked, clearly eained by the iion.

  Maria tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest, her gaze fixed on the s. "He knows exactly how far to push Fury."

  Nero watched the s closely, his expression unreadable as the tensioween L and Fury crackled through the speakers.

  "Let’s get ohing straight," Fury tinued, his voice carrying a sharp edge. "I don’t take orders from you or anyone else outside my of and. You might have your little operation going, but don’t think for a sed that puts you in trol here."

  L remained unfazed, his gaze steady as he responded. "I don’t need trol, Director. I need results. And so do you, if you want to stop the Hand before they solidify their hold on this city."

  Sofia’s fingers moved swiftly across her keyboard, adjusting the feeds. "He’s right, you know. Fury ’t afford to let this slip through his fingers, and L’s making sure he knows it."

  "Fury’s too proud to admit it, though," Diego ented, his tone light. "But he knows he’s caught between a rod a hard pce. If he doesn’t act, it’ll blow up in his face."

  Maria g Nero, raising an eyebrow. "Think L will get what he wants?"

  Nero’s eyes remained on the s as he replied, "He already has."

  On the s, Fury finally exhaled, his gaze narrowing. "You better be damn sure about this, L. If this turns out to be a waste of time..."

  "It won’t," L interrupted, his voice firm. "And when it’s over, you’ll see just how deep the rot goes."

  Sofia switched the feed back to the main s, cutting off the versation just as Fury’s hologram flickered out. "Fury’s on board, like it or not," she said, her toisfied. "He’ll move his team in tonight."

  Diego stretched his arms over his head, his earlier tensioing away. "Looks like everything’s falling into pce."

  Nero nodded just as Anthony and Donald walked in, brushing the dust off their jackets from their trip through Hell’s Kit.

  "Good, you’re back," Nero said, his tone all business. "Follow the operation closely."

  Anthony gave a quiod, already sing the monitors Sofia had up, while Donald moved toward the drinks et, p himself a gss of water.

  "L, you hear me?" Nero asked, his voice clear and direct.

  "Affirmative," came the response from the speaker.

  "You’re in charge," Nero tinued. "I don’t want to expose the main team, but you call them in if needed."

  "Got it, boss," L replied without hesitation.

  Sofia, still at her station, gnced up, curiosity in her eyes. "Where are you headed?"

  Nero adjusted his jacket, smoothing out the wrinkles as he moved toward the door. "I o see someone," he said simply.

  Diego, lounging on the couch, arched an eyebrow. "Need backup?"

  Nero shook his head with a smirk. "Not this time. Just keep an eye on things here."

  As Nero reached the door, Maria’s voice cut through the room, calm but with an edge of . "Be careful."

  urned back briefly, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Always."

  --

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