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*****
After Mike told Tony about Mr. Sinister's backup system, Tony's expression grew serious. He rushed upstairs, and moments later came running back down. Looking at Mike, he said, "I'll need computing equipment to develop the program."
"You don't have some kind of secret lab tucked away?" Mike asked curiously.
Tony shook his head. "The best equipment I had was in my house and the Avengers Tower. But in this world, both places have already been destroyed by the Star Organization."
Mike thought for a moment, then said, "I'll have Jason Stryker arrange it for you."
Tony's eyebrows rose in surprise.
Not long after, Mike sent Tony to one of the Star Organization's secret bases. There, Tony was the only one present, free to use the base's powerful computing systems.
The moment he entered, Tony had his AI butler Jarvis take control of the base's network. Once Jarvis confirmed there were no hidden dangers, Tony immediately began developing the deletion program.
Meanwhile, Mike returned home and opened a portal.
After leaving the battlefield, the Starbreakers had hidden their Starbreaker-class jet in a prearranged location. When the portal appeared before them, they activated the jet's cloaking system and returned to the farmhouse through the portal.
"Dad, did it work?" Gwen asked hopefully.
Although she had already guessed the answer the moment she saw Mike, she still wanted to hear him say it out loud.
Mike nodded. "It worked."
The five of them cheered, even Three-Eyes letting out an excited howl, swept up in Gwen's emotions.
"But…"
Mike's tone suddenly shifted, making the group tense.
"It's not completely over yet."
The five exchanged confused looks, not sure what Mike meant.
Mike waved them over. Sitting down on the sofa with Ororo in his lap, he explained everything he had learned from Jason Stryker.
Their faces shifted constantly as they listened, ending with heavy sighs.
If Mike and Tony hadn't crossed over into this world, they would never have stood a chance against such a colossal entity as the Star Organization.
Excitement welled in Gwen's eyes. "Dad, did you just say… Clark?"
"Yes. He may still be alive."
At that, Gwen's eyes reddened with emotion.
After Mike's disappearance, it was Clark who had always looked after her.
Now, even hearing just a possibility that he was still alive gave her renewed hope.
"When do we move?" Peter asked.
Now… victory was within reach.
"Once Tony finishes developing the program that can erase Mr. Sinister's backup consciousness."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
They believed Tony could pull it off.
Listening to the conversation, Ororo couldn't help but grin.
He had never met his father, but over the past few days he had learned much about Clark through Mike's stories. The moment he discovered that his father was none other than the legendary superhero Superman, he had been so thrilled he rolled right off his bed onto the floor.
Now, hearing that his father might still be alive, he was perhaps the most excited person of all—second only to Mike and Gwen.
Knock, knock!
Suddenly, Mira, who had been staring at Mike with a mischievous glint in her eyes, tapped on the table. "So, when are we eating? I'm starving."
"You foodie," Gwen laughed, poking Mira on the forehead.
Mira shook her head mysteriously. "You just don't understand my happiness."
Was it really about eating?
No—it was about watching.
These people had no idea how irresistibly sexy and enticing a man in an apron looked when seen through her x-ray vision while cooking.
She swallowed hard, her gaze toward Mike heating up even more.
Gwen froze, then helplessly pushed Mira's head down. "You're shameless! Always trying to take advantage of my dad."
Mira's face suddenly turned serious. "You're right, it is shameless."
After a beat, a sly smile spread across her face. "So why don't you let your dad take advantage of me instead? I wouldn't mind—it'd be fairer that way."
Gwen: "Ugh! I'm going to kill you!"
Mira sniffed disdainfully. "Hmph!"
Watching the two girls bicker, the heavy atmosphere lightened instantly, laughter filling the room.
…
Tony worked faster than any of them had expected. In just three days, he completed the program.
Of course, Mike and the others hadn't been idle during that time either.
Mike had Jason Stryker release Storm—Ororo Munroe—from her imprisonment in the deep-sea prison, and also managed to track down Bruce.
As for Jean…
They hadn't found her. According to Ororo, after the destruction of the X-Mansion, Jean's emotions had become dangerously unstable. For that reason, Mike decided to postpone searching for her.
Because of her long confinement, Ororo wasn't in good condition either, so she would not be joining this mission.
Bruce, too, would remain at the farm. His Hulk transformations caused too much commotion, making stealth impossible, so he stayed behind with Ororo to watch over Ororo Jr.
With Mike's character cards in hand, their team wasn't short on manpower anyway.
On the fourth day, at Mike's home…
After once again reviewing every detail of their plan, Mike opened two portals.
One appeared deep within the forest of a small island. The other opened on a beach across from that same forest.
Several cards appeared in Mike's hand.
Name: Invisibility.
Skill Description: Bend light to make oneself invisible.
Note: Works without removing clothes.
The cards dissolved into motes of light, and Gwen's team vanished before Mike's eyes.
"We're heading out," Gwen said to Mike before she and the others, along with the wolf, stepped through the portal. They quickly reached the nearby base and found a place to lie low.
Watching the portal disappear behind them, the team checked their positions through their communicators.
Until Mike made his move and drew out Mr. Sinister and his clones, they would not act.
Their mission was simple, yet critical.
They had to infiltrate Mr. Sinister's secret base, locate the machine storing the backup consciousness, upload Tony's deletion program into it, and use Sinister's private communications network to wipe out all backup data. At the same time, they needed to identify all bases housing clones and destroy the clones within.
After dispersing Gwen's portal, Mike walked toward his own.
"Mr. Kent, I'll be waiting for you to come back," Mira said with 'deep affection' as she waved.
Lacking real combat ability, she would remain behind with Ororo and Bruce.
Bruce gave Mike a firm nod. "Be careful."
Ororo smiled softly. "Good luck."
Mike waved back at the three, stepped through his portal, and appeared on the island's beach.
Activating his super-vision, Mike tried to peer into the island's center, but he couldn't see through the facility's outer walls. They were reinforced with lead.
Raising a brow, Mike dismissed his vision. With a flick of his hand, several character cards appeared.
This was a legendary team.
Their name: Akatsuki.
(End of Chapter)