"Give us some space," Adrian said, turning to the guard. The man obediently lowered his baton and stepped aside. Adrian picked up one of the helmets from the table and handed it to Matt.
"As I said before, it'd be a waste to use something this good on just one person."
The old Daredevil didn't hesitate. He took the helmet and tried it on but quickly removed it, frowning slightly.
"This design doesn't work well for someone who relies so heavily on hearing," Matt said, setting the helmet back on the table.
"Take it anyway," Adrian instructed, his voice firm. "We'll need it later."
Adrian then walked toward the cell containing Jamie's clone. He stopped in front of the bars, flashing a grin. "How's life treating you here, Jamie?"
The clone hesitated, avoiding Adrian's gaze. He seemed uneasy, which wasn't surprising.
Once a bandit who roamed the wasteland robbing and killing at will, Jamie had found himself captured and beaten by the man now standing before him. Worse, he was being used to mass-produce a helmet for someone else's agenda.
The thought of becoming a mere tool for someone else's ambitions made the clone shiver. He'd once believed himself untouchable, thriving in the chaos of the wasteland. But now, he realized how naive he'd been.
Seeing Jamie's hesitation, Adrian raised his hand and snapped his fingers sharply.
The sound jolted Jamie from his thoughts. "I—I'm getting used to it," he stammered, his voice shaky.
Adrian smirked, satisfied with the response.
Jamie Madrox's mutant ability allowed him to create clones, each one replicating not just his body but also his clothing and some personal items. However, this power had limits.
Adrian's mind wandered for a moment. What if Jamie could duplicate legendary artifacts like the Infinity Gauntlet or Thor's hammer? Wouldn't that be something? Unfortunately, that wasn't how his power worked.
Still, the ability to replicate Magneto's helmet—a crucial piece of equipment—was impressive enough. Adrian's gaze darkened as an idea began to form.
He motioned to a guard and whispered, "Search Zemo's warehouse for vibranium or anything similar. We need to test something on this guy."
The guard straightened, saluting with newfound enthusiasm. "Understood!" he replied before rushing off.
Jamie watched the exchange, swallowing nervously. A sense of impending doom weighed heavily on him.
---
Adrian stepped away from the cell and approached another prisoner, Clint Barton, who lay on a battered cot in the corner. He crouched down and gently shook Hawkeye's shoulder.
"Clint, wake up," Adrian said softly.
Clint groaned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. Just as he was about to complain, his gaze fell on Matt. His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Matt? Matt Murdock?! You're alive?"
Matt offered a small smile. "Yes, still alive."
Before the conversation could continue, Adrian interrupted, pulling another helmet from the table and handing it to Clint.
"We'll talk later. Put this on and come with us."
Clint examined the helmet, his face lighting up with recognition. "Magneto's helmet? Where did you get this? And why do you have more than one?"
Adrian didn't answer, moving to distribute the helmets to Punisher and Quicksilver before leading the group out of the Weapon X facility.
---
Outside, the clear blue sky stretched endlessly, unmarred by clouds. The sunlight bathed the landscape in a warm, golden glow, but the peaceful scene failed to lift Adrian's spirits.
Instead, he turned to Matt, his expression unreadable. "Do you remember what I asked for?"
Matt nodded, pulling a metal staff from his side. He raised it toward the sky and murmured, "Look up."
Everyone followed his instruction, craning their necks to gaze skyward.
A low mechanical hum filled the air as a sleek, crescent-shaped aircraft appeared. Its metallic surface gleamed in the sunlight, adorned with faint, glowing blue lines.
At the center of the crescent, a transparent cockpit offered a view of the long metal cabin inside. The craft's design was strikingly unique, unlike any traditional aircraft.
The ship descended gracefully, stirring the snow below as it landed. Adrian gestured for the group to board.
"Why are you standing there? Get in. This is much faster than Spider-Man's car," Adrian said, disappearing into the cabin.
The crescent-shaped aircraft, custom-designed by Moon Knight, was a marvel of engineering. After Moon Knight's fall, it had somehow ended up in Gunsou's possession.
Once everyone was inside, the craft lifted off smoothly, rising into the sky.
The energy shield enveloping the ship created a silent, comfortable environment, shielding them from the harsh elements outside.
"Where are we going?" Pietro asked, his curiosity piqued.
Adrian didn't turn around as he headed toward the cockpit. "Chicago—the forbidden land for mutants."