" Everybody knows the good guys lost. " - Everybody Knows; Wildfire
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"It's happening everywhere," Tony Stark explains to the heroes before him. The Illuminati has once again gotten together due to another global threat. "Children across the world are becoming homicidal maniacs overnight. There was a bloodbath at kindergarten in Miami, Florida...which is bad, even by Florida's standards," he adds, with a hint of dark humor in his voice and Richards furrows his brow at the analytics displayed before him.
"The readings suggest a celestial energy source. Stephen, is this familiar to you?" Richards asks the sorcerer, who sighs heavily in response.
"Yeah, I might...Ren has returned," he says reluctantly, and Tony's head snaps towards his direction.
"Since when?" he asks in surprise, and Stephen shakes his head.
"About a month ago. Gaia broke through my wards and just...dropped her at my feet."
"And you were going to tell us this, when?" Stark asks in frustration, and Stephen looks over at him with a glare.
"What was I to tell you? That the woman we handed over to Gaia has been practically catatonic in the Sanctum? She's been cowering in the corner of her room for a month now, refusing to speak, feed, or even move. I just got her to feed the other day and even then...Look it isn't good," he explains, and an uneasy silence envelopes the room.
Richards sighs and looks over to the sorcerer. "Regardless of the circumstances, we need her insights. If this is another possession scenario, she's our best hope."
"I can't even get her out of her room. I can barely get her to talk. I had to command her to speak. She hasn't even been in a room with more than one person yet. She's terrified. What makes you think I can get her here?" Stephen asks, and Namor scoffs at the sorcerer.
"She's your slave. Looks like it's time to start acting like her master," Namor says, receiving a glare from Stephen.
"No," he responds sternly, and Tony shakes his head.
"If this is like it was last time, the longer we wait, the more people will die. Go get her, Wizard," Tony says, and Stephen sighs.
"Fine, I'll try," he says, and Namor shakes his head.
"Don't try, do. You have control over her."
"I will not force her to do anything against her will," Stephen argues, and Cap scoffs.
"It's a bit late for moral high grounds. She has no will. You made sure of that," he says, and Stephen sighs and nods at the group before dismissing himself.
Upon his return, the sorcerer stands outside the succubus' door in contemplation with Bats at his side.
"How has she been?" Stephen asks and Bats shakes his head.
