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Harry spent the rest of that day and some of that night in New York speaking with representatives from the dozens of smaller nations in the UN, mostly answering questions about his long-term goals, and what it would mean for their country in particular that there was now an empire whose reach started at the outer edge of the atmosphere. It was almost astonishing to Harry how ignorant some of these politicians were regarding what he had been doing in space along with his overall policies. Most of them only knew what he had said in his earlier meetings with the UN, and what their countries' newspapers told them.
The delegates didn't even read the local American newspapers. And to say their local papers were merely underinformed would be a huge understatement.
Indeed, even the American news outlets put their own slant on what was going on. Bugle News seemed to be somewhat neutral if very wary of Harry, while CFN was very against Harry's creation of the EDF. And the third of the 4 Big News Agencies, ABC, was subtly anti-mutant and thus against Harry Potter. Still, with Lourdes News Network printing the truth, Harry was satisfied the rest would either be forced to do the same or would eventually be proven the shysters they were.
In many cases, these discussions showed a growing divide in several areas of the world. The South American Resource Union, the African Defense Organization and the Pan Asiatic Alliance, the smaller bodies who Harry had been dealing with before this in terms of getting the resources needed to build the Earth Defense Fleet and its immobile fortresses, seemed in some ways to be part of the problem, as they did not have equal representation of all the existing nations that should comprise their constituents.
Still, while the news they were being fed was part of the reason behind the delegate's ignorance, a large segment of that was caused by the delegate's own disinterest in Harry's space-based enterprises. Most of the Asiatic, a few of the South American, and many of the African countries simply didn't care, and in the pan- Asian and Asiatic countries only knew that Harry had made trade deals and other agreements with China and Japan.
Both of whom were very disliked by most of the other nations in that area. For Japan, that went back to World War 2 and the horrific way Japan had treated the rest of Asia during its attempts to become an empire. And as for China? China was the new bully boy on the block, the biggest nation with the fastest-growing economy. Not to mention that its population was larger than all the other Asiatic countries put together.
There, Harry knew he would probably have to step in soon to make certain they didn't try to use the PAA to simply rule over the other nations in the area. India had been a part of PAA and a counterweight to China's influence but had pulled out after the Eurasian War, making its own agreements with Magical Minds. That left China as the only major power in the PAA, which was not a good thing.
Mind you, occasionally talking to these representatives allowed Harry to do something right now. For example, the Taiwan and Nepalese representatives wished for something specific: to make new personal trade agreements with the Avalon Empire. They wanted Harry's help in creating a commercial infrastructure (roads, trains etc.) and to help get their education programs to the next level. In return, they'd allowed Harry to name his price, which was somewhat steep.
By the time he sat down to a rather late dinner at eleven o'clock local time, Harry was wiped. "There's only so much talking I can take," he groaned as he slumped into the dining hall at Emma's mansion.
"You will get no sympathy from me," Emma chortled, shaking her head with a laugh. She and Sage had also been busy that day. With the formal declaration of the Avalon Empire, it meant that the Empire was also open to foreign investment and industrial connections. She hadn't made all that many more such connections, but many of the previous agreements made with other members of the Hellfire Club had now come out into the open. "Give and take discussions like that are my bread and butter."
Snorting, Harry moved to pull her chair out for her, causing Emma to smile and lean up to kiss his cheek. That was one of those small romantic touches which had so endeared the man to her. Harry's power and mystery had been what had attracted Emma to him in the first place, but Harry's gentlemanly nature, humor and moral fiber (although she would never say that last aloud) were what made him Emma fall in love with them.
Stepping back and moving to his own chair, Harry looked around, noting how quiet the mansion was. "I thought Ororo and Hela were going to join us?"
Jean was still in bed. Her body had been rocked by the sudden reversal of its former fortunes. Even with the best of care, she was probably going to remain in bed for another week at best.
"The two of them are choosing colors for Jean's wedding." Emma sighed theatrically, shaking her head. "How someone can take such pleasure in that kind of activity is beyond me."
"As if you've never taken any pleasure in picking out dresses, my dear," Harry chortled, calling her out on her little bit of sophistry.
Then he sobered, leaning forward. "I haven't had time in the past few days to check-in, but how is work going on with the former prisoners of the Black Spectre?"
This time Emma's sigh wasn't theatrical, although it was heartfelt. "It's somewhat complicated. Of the group the Spectre was indoctrinating in his basement, only two men and one of the women that are above the age of sixteen didn't have pre-existing criminal records. And I am talking about serious infractions, ranging from drug dealing to various violent criminal acts, including murder and even, in the case of one of the women and four of the men, rape. Which I found harshly ironic. Despite how sympathetic I am to how they were treated by the Black Spectre, I can't say that many of them were on the side of the angels, to begin with."
"The few that were relatively innocent and the younger set of prisoners have all remained in the Magical Minds headquarters. We've only found a few of their families so far, but we have confirmed that a few others are either connected to organized crime themselves or dead."
"And the Black Spectre himself? I presume you did your usual excellent job of ruining his brain?"
"In every sense of the word bar physically, the Specter's mind more resembles a kind of slurry, rather than an actual human brain." Emma smiled thinly. "Do you object?"
Harry shrugged. "It's not something I would've done, but I understand why you did."
"Oh, what would you were done?"
Harry's smile was just as thin and vicious as hers for a moment. "I would've handed him over to the people he'd abused. Men and women who have been wrong can be particularly vicious with those who have wronged them. 'If you find yourself lying on Afghan planes, and the women come up to cut out what remains…"
Emma laughed, shaking her head. Harry could be utterly vicious at times for all his people saving and heroic tendencies. Still, there was a decision on this topic Harry had to make. "So, what should we do with the individual's Spectre abused but who have criminal records?"
"Hand them over to their governments," Harry answered after a few minutes of thought. "It can be a little litmus test for them, I suppose. I will have Dennis watching what they do with them with interest. After all, given what was done to them, I think many of those people have already paid for their crimes. But that doesn't mean they should be let free until we know they won't go back to their old ways.
With that, the discussion turned to other matters, specifically, bringing in more businesses into the Avalon Empire, which Emma had been busy with since Harry's formal announcement of the empire that morning. Starducks and a few other such chains had approached her in her Diamond persona to open up shops on Fortress Mars and in the Savage Land. But Harry didn't really want food chains and so forth to butt in just yet. He was much more willing to give out loans to the people who were already in place in the Savage Land and Fortress Mars to create such local businesses. Indeed, he'd been doing that kind of thing all along, although most had to do with construction.
Emma and Sage had been overseeing that work in various forms, although Emma admitted that she hadn't been to the Savage Land in a few months. Whereas Harry had routinely stopped in at least once every other week.
"It's certainly becoming a rather interesting place," Harry said with a chuckle. In the tower Magneto had been using, we have the educational center and the Savage Land's overall parliament. To one side, the tower abuts directly into the lands controlled by She-ra's people and the jungle. In the other way, there is this corridor of cleared land to the lake, which is the center of the colonial presence, protected by those sonic-based defenses."
"The… I can't really call it a city, not yet, but it is certainly interesting thanks to the eclectic mix of individuals there. Scientists brought in because they literally begged on hand and knee to study the Savage Land when they learned through Carol's think tank that the Savage Land existed. Families and dependents of people who work in Fortress Mars or in Magical Minds and wanted to move. The natives who, despite what many of their leaders will tell you, are interested in technology and a better living. You have the two hundred or so teachers Ororo's hired in cycles over the past few months. And then there are the foresters, miners, and construction workers who work in the Savage Land or on the various projects in orbit and who live in the Savage Land. Oh, and security, both police and jungle rangers."
"That… that sounds like a lot," Emma answered, trying not to show her shock but knowing Harry could probably tell anyway.
"The last census taken was a few days ago, and there were two-hundred and forty-two thousand colonists. The look local natives add another three-hundred and nineteen thousand from the various tribes and clans."
Emma gaped. "That many!?"
Harry shrugged. "There is a reason why it was the first area ready to govern itself under the guidelines we created. It was also helped by the fact that the locals already had their own leaders and so forth in place. And if you're wondering, Pinoptes is running twelve different elementary schools pre-k to seventh, in conjunction with the various teachers, four high schools going from eighth grade to twelfth and Avalon Academy, an actual college. The college is situated in Magneto's former spire."
Emma shook her head with a chuckle and asked dryly about how often the prehistoric animals and so forth caused trouble, and Harry regaled with a few tales that Logan and his girlfriend, She-ra, had passed on to Harry during a meeting a few days ago. Logan had once more returned to the Savage Land, and along with his daughter, showed no sign of wishing to leave again. The tribals were his kind of people, and the jungle more his home than even the forests of Canada, with danger and beauty mixed.
That was more than fine with Harry, although he had requested that Logan be available for occasional 'wet-work' operations. But with Mystique and Natasha joining Sir Dennis and Diamondback, Asp and Black Mamba already evincing interest in doing the same, Harry doubted that Logan would be needed often.
From there, the conversation turned to other matters, specifically the first freighters being prepared to be sent to Corsair, what they would carry, and how Harry's discussion with Steve Scott had gone. The two of them had a meeting the day after Harry got back in which Harry had explained how Scott's brother had wished to be left behind with their father, Corsair. The fact his father was alive shocked Scott a lot more than the fact his brother wanted to stay with him obviously, as Scott freely admitted that he would've made the same decision. Still, the young man had nearly demanded to have some time off to go and visit with his father and brother, and Harry had promised to try and make that happen.
After that, they talked about Dr. Banner, Charles and his work with the man, which Harry would be looking into the next day. That led to the issue with the Winter Soldier and how they would deal with that can of worms. The answer was probably going to be a lot of money accompanied by many apologies both from Bucky and Steve. But the man's fate would truly be in Charles' hands as, if Bucky's mental conditioning could not be broken, then they would have to think about what to do with the man at that point.
But eventually, the serious talks faded, and by the time dessert and Emma's wine had come out, they were in full-on flirt mode. And once dessert, cherry tarts cooked up by one of the house-elves who Harry had stationed here, were eaten, another hunger took its place.
Upstairs, Cordelia and her friend Firestar and possibly more, both of them were a little curious in that direction, heard a series of thumps. "What was that?" Firestar murmured.
"I don't know. Let's go see," Cordelia answered, hopping to her feet.
"You just want to get out of watching my choice for tonight's TV show," Firestar grumped, hopping to her feet and pushing the cards they'd been playing with to one side as she followed her friend. "Despite the fact I've won three out of five hands."
"I hate Fluffy! Don't you remember how much teasing I got having the same name and even something of the same background as that bint, Cordelia Chase?" Cordelia snapped back. "Vampires are nice and all, but can we have more sexy, brooding vampires and not bimbo teenagers?"
"How about some Star Wars then?"
Cordelia nodded at that suggestion and slowly opened her door, leaning her head out slightly to look down the hallway. Firestar stuck her head out above her, turning in the same direction, biting her lip to keep from gasping. Below her, Cordelia clamped her free hand over her mouth to stop a similar noise from escaping.
Both of them stared as Emma and Harry wound their way up the long staircase to the second floor and along the hall towards Emma's bedroom, bumping to a halt occasionally as they seemed to lose their sense of direction. The reason for this was the intense make-out session the two of them seemed to be locked into.
Emma was in Harry's arms, her legs around his waist, his hands underneath on her rear, squeezing as they made out. Occasionally they pulled away, nuzzling into one another as Harry continued to carry her, a giggle escaping Emma as they made their way down the corridor, until she swooped up for another kiss, twisting them around somehow, Harry's back banging against the wall as Emma literally began to hump Harry.
Their course was slow and almost tortuous because of this, but eventually, the two girls had to duck back inside Cordelia's room, closing the door before they could be noticed. Exchanging giggles, they raced back to their beds as Starfire asked, "Do you think we could get away with trying to listen in? It might be educational."
Cordelia shook her head, almost mocking the other girl's interest but not quite, considering that she was also a bit interested in what would be happening in Emma's room any moment now. "No thanks. That is my sister we're talking about, after all. Let's just watch some TV. We can always interrogate her tomorrow."
OOOOOOO
Harry spent that night buried to the hilt in Emma, waking up several times to make love. The next morning when they entered the dining room, several of the mansion's inhabitants looked at them with blushing, amused or curious faces. "Damn, I forgot, Emma's room isn't soundproofed! Sorry, Love," Harry sent through their telepathic link, feeling Jean in Scotland laughing at his misfortune.
"Harry, I'm not exactly a prude. I didn't complain last night. I certainly won't complain now," Emma replied with a chuckle.
Before they could sit down at the table, Emma saw Cordelia, Firestar, Kitty and Wanda, and Rogue stand up, moving towards them purposefully, their eyes locked on Emma. Kitty, Wanda and Rogue were here at her mansion because they were going into the city later that day for a shopping trip. "I think I'm about to be kidnapped, Harry. Help?" She said sent telepathically.
However, Harry simply smirked, turned around, took Emma into his arms, and, before she could protest, leaned in, kissing her. It was a very thorough, possessive kiss and left Emma gasping and wondering if perhaps she could get away with dragging Harry back to bed.
But then Harry pulled away and smiled, bowing towards Cordelia and the others. His tone was quite upbeat as he left Emma to the wolves, dancing around them and heading towards the dining table. "She's all yours, ladies."
"Traitor!" Emma sent before Cordelia took one arm and Wanda the other, pulling her back out of the dining hall. Her protest of "Damn it, I need breakfast first, you bitches!" didn't stop matters, as two of the others had already grabbed up some plates.
The only one of the women currently in the mansion who didn't join this rush was Danielle, and she smirked as she leaned back in her chair, watching as Harry exchanged what she had heard called bro nods with Sandman, and Emma's chief of security, and Kurt, the older two men leaving soon after to start their own day. "Hey Kurt, I take it you were roped into joining the girls on their shopping trip? You have my sympathies."
"Ah, but mine Freund, the fair Wanda has mentioned actually letting me see what she'll be trying on. Using my teleportation powers to take their purchases back here is but a small payment for such as that," the young German replied.
"Good answer," Harry approved before turning to Danielle, asking quizzically. "Why aren't you joining them, Dani?"
He knew she'd done the same thing with Ororo and Jean a few times.
The Cheyenne woman shrugged her shoulders, setting her hair, tied in two long pigtails down her chest at present. "I wanted to talk to you about Spiderman, actually. Did you read the full report about what went on before us smacking down the Black Spectre?"
Harry frowned, thinking back and nodding slowly. "He was involved in the investigation side, right?"
"Yes. We've tried to reach out to Spiderman a few times, but I know we haven't made a real effort in that direction. I think it's time we did."
Harry cocked an interrogative eyebrow, and she said simply, "Harry, he's wasted where he is. The guy's a genius, I mean, he is probably not on par with Dr. Doom or Mr. Fantastic, but he's at least at a Master's degree level in chemistry and electronics."
From there, Danielle explained how Spiderman used his own web-shooters, trackers, and other homemade gadgets. "He's built those things on his own from things he's bought in hardware stores and pharmacies. That's impressive, right?"
Harry nodded again at that, then asked if she had looked up this Peter Parker. Danielle hadn't and admitted that it felt like a breach of trust to be doing so after she told him that they weren't going to use his secret identity against him.
"There's using it against him, and then there is trying to do it for his own good." Harry frowned thoughtfully, then shrugged. "He's of an age with the rest of you, so I doubt he's had more than a year if that of college. We can tell that without looking into Spidey more deeply. So here's what you're going to do: find him and make him an offer of a full scholarship to the Avalon Academy as well as us paying the bill for any of his hero-style duties."
Danielle nodded at that, understanding the draw and looking forward to her studies with Pinoptes. Like Amara, Piotr, and a few of the others in Camelot, Dani had begun to take college courses, although rarely in person. Instead, they all followed different classes designed for them by Ororo and Pinoptes.
That was just the tip of the iceberg, of course. With Ororo helping, Pinoptes had created one heck of an educational system, which had grown with the society it had to serve. At this point, as Harry had mentioned the night before to Emma, this went up to the college level. And it was free up to that point for any dependent of the Avalon Empire.
Danielle wondered idly how that was going to play out in the future, considering that technology was most decidedly a part of that education from the very start, and education would continue to improve as technology did, which was most decidedly not the case in public schools in places like America or elsewhere.
When she voiced that, Harry shrugged. "That problem's going to occur in Europe too when other countries are going to be comparing themselves to Latveria. It might seem like an anachronism of the Middle Ages on the surface, but under that, it's about as technologically advanced as we are. The education system doesn't have Pinoptes, and it isn't mandatory, but it's there if the civilians want it."
"As for Spiderman, we might want to think about something we can do now. Before this, we've used only words and offers of money. If we have something on hand that can really help him, he might jump on it. After making sure that it doesn't have a tracker in it, anyway," Harry finished drolly.
"You might also promise to help him cover up his secret identity. How much do you want to bet the FBI or some other group knows his identity?" Kurt suggested, then brightened. "Hey, what about something like my image inducer?"
"That's a good point, Kurt. You have an extra, right?" When Kurt nodded, Harry instructed Dani to head to the X-mansion first and grab it.
Dani agreed, and their conversation shifted to Danielle's place on the world guard, as well as Kurt's position with the X-men. He was very happy there, but these days there weren't as many small-time missions as there had been when he first joined the group. Charles was on him to put more time into his schoolwork, still being in High School, and that was okay, but Kurt had no idea what he'd do at college and so wanted to volunteer to help Stinger's retrieval team for now. "Maybe more work in that direction will let me decide on my course for the future."
"I'll pass that along, but remember if your grades slip, you'll only be called in on emergencies," Harry warned. "And what about you, Dani? Do you want to keep working mostly solo?"
Dani's work on hunting down and killing the Kingpin and this latest bit of espionage had impressed Harry. She was also, like Amara, Dani, and the Proudstars, very much a leader. But the problem was, in the Custodes, Amara, Piotr, John and Steve filled those roles very well, as did Harry and Ororo when the big guns were needed. The X-men also had their officer's slots filled, so to speak with James having been transferred to them fulltime. And Stinger was doing a great job with her own group too. So there really wasn't a position that would let Dani use her leadership skills to their full potential. Hence, Harry wondered if she would prefer to use her other skills.
Danielle, however, surprised him by shaking her head. "I realize you mean well, Harry, and while I know my powers lend themselves to investigation even more than combat, I think that I prefer to be a more active member of the world guard. If we're not going to be running missions, I'll cheerfully back up Stinger. And no, I don't want to take over for her. Nor do I want to be a full-time part of Sir Dennis's spy network, either.
"It's your choice, of course," Harry shrugged as he finished his last sausage patty. "I just thought as a hunter, you would have enjoyed that kind of position."
I do enjoy hunting down criminals, although not having to do so would be a wonderful thing," Dani answered, her eyes going dark and gaze far away as she remembered why she had killed the Kingpin: his ordering the very messy death of a family whose father had begun to work with Magical Minds.
Watching silently, Kurt and Harry waited for her to come back to herself, which Dani did with a shake of her head. "Anyway, I much prefer camaraderie to that kind of thing."
"And that'll give you time with Piotr and Amara?" Harry asked slowly, hesitantly. He made a point of not butting into his people's relationships unless they asked for advice, but he knew that Amara and Piotr were almost but not quite as serious about their relationship as his own polycule was and that Piotr was something of a staunch Russian orthodox. He knew that Dani and, in the past before Steve Rogers had joined them, Betsy, had shown interest in joining them but had been turned aside.
Yet Danielle simply shrugged, now grinning at him. "You leave that to me, Amara and Piotr. I'm not going to butt into their relationship Harry, and I don't really know where we stand. But whatever is going on between us, it's good enough for me."
Harry shrugged. "I thought that maybe you were still interested in Spidey," he admitted, without any hint of embarrassment.
Danielle guffawed, shaking her head. "No, thank you. Besides, I haven't actually seen his face, so any kind of attraction there doesn't have much fuel, you know. From what I've seen of him, he's a bit too much of a mouthy little so-and-so for my taste. Besides, I prefer the more artistic type."
Harry rolled his eyes at that, knowing both Amara and Piotr were artists on their own time. Indeed, the two of them had begun a small project since Amara had returned with Harry. They had put up paintings all over Camelot, asking people to rate the different styles.
At that point, Emma and the girls came back, with all of them looking at Harry and giggling between themselves while Emma firmly moved to his side and gave him a bit of payback, kissing him very thoroughly, running her nails up and down his clothed chest, which she knew got his engine running. Then it was her turn to pull away, sitting down primly as if nothing had happened. "So, what is on your agenda for the day?"
What was on the agenda for Harry that day was heading up to Canada. Connected to Harry's agreements with the UK and the British crown, Canada had worked very well with Harry and his faction (they didn't have a name for it all at the time) during the Eurasian War, and they'd had good but informal ties since then. This meeting was about formalizing that agreement as he had with the UK and setting down a trade deal between Canada and the Avalon Empire, along with what they had told Sage were 'a few other things'.
However, walking into the meeting room in the West Block in Ottawa, Harry's eyes fell on the maple-leaf-colored Vindicator, and he understood that the Canadians might not have told Sage everything. "Jean, if you could warn Sage and Emma, I might need their opinions on things soon? And that lawyer fellow who hangs around Magical Minds."
The lawyer in question was actually a British lawyer recommended to Harry months back. He was an expert on international law, British, French, Germanic, and Canadian law. Harry had kept him on retainer and made him the head of Magical Mind's personal law and contract division but had only rarely actually talked to him personally.
A telepathic snort was quite a thing to experience, and Harry fought to keep a smile off his face as he heard it now, followed by Jean's mental giggle. "You just won MJ some money, love. She bet Sage that the Canadians were going to jump you with something new, but Sage didn't think so. Emma's busy with her own business right now, something about…" Jean trailed off.
The next moment Emma's voice took her place, the two telepaths linking all three of them for a moment. "I am about to fire a few fools for not following my work policies and then look very closely at the whistleblower. I am getting a feeling from the reports which reached me before this that he is playing his own game here, and I wish to nip whatever it is in the bud. You're on your own, love."
"Ah well, then I will just have to deal with those new glasses Reed designed and Sage being my shoulder angel this time."
"Heh, that better only be metaphorically speaking, Harry," Emma warned mockingly, not meaning it but wanting to tease Harry.
"Trust me, my dears, four women is more than enough for any man. Well, any man with a lick of sense, basic intelligence and a romantic bone in his body," Harry retorted. "I might not have common sense, but I think I'm intelligent enough to see that."
"Ooh, nice answer, and I will pass on to Hela that you count her against the total already," Jean caroled. "She'll get a kick out of that, hehe."
Shaking off this mental conversation, Harry nodded coolly at Vindicator. He'd learned more than a bit about the other man, his wife, Alpha Flight, and Weapon X since they'd last met in person, and to say what he'd learned had changed his opinion of the man was, to put it mildly. "Gentlemen, I thought this would simply be a trade agreement of some kind, but it appears I was mistaken. And Sasquatch, Mr. Hudson, I thought the both of you were thinking about hanging up your spandex."
While Harry and the Custodes had worked with the Canadian military during the Eurasian War, the former members of Alpha Flight, the government sanctioned superhero team, hadn't been part of that. They had been mauled by the Abomination and Hulk's rampage, the two green beasts having been under control of the alien, Thanos at the time. The Custodes had come to their rescue then, but too late for most of Alpha Flight.
James Hudson flinched a bit at the knowledge that Harry knew his secret identity, Sasquatch chuckled at his turn of phrase. "While I don't wear spandex, the business of being a hero is hard to just drop when you look like I do. And just because we got our rears kicked does not mean that our country has ceased needing such as us. We're not going to be projecting power beyond our borders, but we still have a few homegrown villains, including one who seems to be on the verge of taking over our entire criminal underworld. That is not exactly a good thing."
Harry nodded thoughtfully at that, then turned over and shook hands with Sasquatch, asking politely about Aurora, the only other survivor of the original Alpha Flight as everyone sat down. She was doing alright but had no desire to be involved in Alpha Flight in any way anymore. Indeed, she had gone back to school and was currently trying for a degree in Physics.
Finishing fielding some questions about Phoenix and her powers as well as what Ororo was up to, Harry leaned forward, tapping the table. "Now that the small talks are over with, perhaps we can get to the real reason behind this meeting? If you're going to ask me for help against this criminal mastermind of yours, then you should've indicated that when you reached out to Sage to start this meeting."
"That is not what this meeting is about, unfortunately. You see, while the government is willing to provide some funds for Alpha Flight, we aren't entirely on board with the idea either, for several reasons," One of the two unintroduced men answered before introducing himself as Marvin Aruga and his companion as Boris Tringle. "We don't want to tie Alpha Flight's actions behind a ton of red tape. That would cripple their effectiveness. And if we pay for their activities on our own, there's no way that we can successfully distance ourselves from them. But if you provide the money, you can do that."
"On the other hand, we don't want to be part of your growing conglomeration, the world guard, like the fantastic four or the X-Men down in America," James interjected.
Boris waved one hand from side to side. "Still, we need some non-monetary aid, specifically transportation. Canada is huge, Mr. Potter, and we don't have a fifth of the super-powered hero-type help that America has. Indeed, we don't even have as many mutants with truly combat-usable powers. But we do have both super-powered villains and, um… supernatural occurrences that we need to combat."
"In other words, you want access to my technology along with my money," Harry hummed thoughtfully, setting aside the mention of supernatural occurrences. Logan had mentioned something about a Wendigo spirit, so there might be more like that out there somewhere.
"Yes. Your method of travel is amazing, and Canada is, as Boris mentioned, extremely large, with a scattered population. We could do a lot more for the nation if we could get to problem zones quicker than we can currently. Only a few of us can fly, and not for very far, or very fast in terms of jet travel," Vindicator elaborated.
"And you lot aren't willing to just pay me for access, you want me to fake taking Alpha Flight under the Custodes envelope?" Harry was kind of incredulous. "I was here originally to sign business agreements with your government, to open new factories and power plants. I know you have the money for it. Frankly, not having any control of your actions means I don't really see an upside to this concept."
James shook his head firmly. "Those treaties will still go through, but they are something we can be upfront about. Continuing to pay for something like Alpha Flight, a team of superpowered individuals that are supposed to act beyond the laws in many ways is not."
"Then who funded the weapon X project?" Harry answered sharply, glaring at Hudson. "You and your wife were both involved in the start of that project, weren't you?"
Vindicator started, then scowled, his teeth clenching. "There have been rumors that you were involved with Wolverine. I suppose that comment makes it obvious where you got your information on me. You do know he is still wanted in Canada for several crimes, correct? Including murder?"
"You do know that people involved in the Weapon X program were unilaterally sentenced to death by both the Avalon Empire and America for crimes against humanity?" Harry rejoined.
"America has no leg to stand on! Not only did they welcome the remnants of that very program, it was but one of their attempts to recreate the Captain America experiment," James rejoined. "The needs of the nation always outweigh the rights of the individual."
"But I do have a leg to stand on, as you put it," Harry answered mildly, although his face was like stone. "While I may have broken international laws and ignored local laws hundreds of times, I certainly have never attempted to indoctrinate or experiment on people. And as for your statement, I have always put the rights of the individual and individual freedoms in front of everything else. Or at least I've tried to."
He stood up. "I think we're done here. Prove to me that you won't misuse this money I'll be giving you, prove to me you won't run some kind of indoctrination program or some such shite, and then we can talk."
"What, like you've done to your Custodes? What is the median age of your troopers besides the FF, Potter!?" James growled out, while Sasquatch just frowned, not liking how this conversation had gone. Boris looked somewhat annoyed while Marvin was watching with interest, his thoughts very well hidden, but Harry felt he might have detected a bit of annoyance that Harry wasn't just going along with things.
Harry cocked his head to one side. "I've trained the Custodes from the start, instituted a payment plan with combat benefits, convinced them with word and deed that we are fighting the good fight and have proven it by making this world a better place not just for mutants but all humanity. At no point have I attempted to indoctrinate or experiment on them. Something you certainly cannot say, seeing as you turned in your best friend at the time to the inhuman experiments being conducted by Weapon X. All I hear from you is simple attempts to turn these arguments against me, rather than anything that can truly defend your own actions."
Vindicator growled, trying to get to his feet, but Harry lashed out with some magic, sticking him to the chair, turning to the others. Marvin was still mostly unreadable, although Harry detected a bit of anger underneath it. Huh, so perhaps James was being someone else's stalking horse? "As I said, I think we're done here."
"I think not," said a voice from the doorway, a feminine voice, one Harry had not heard before.
Turning to look, Harry had to blink in surprise, staring and cocking his head to one side. Because in the doorway was the woman named Snowbird, one of the members of Alpha Flight who had died in the battle against the two green behemoths. "I see that the rumors of your death were greatly exaggerated, Miss," he said slowly. "I'm afraid I don't know your real name, only your codename, Snowbird."
"No, those rumors were quite accurate. But death for many people isn't quite the end-all that most assume. In my case, I got better," The woman said simply, walking into the room.
Sasquatch had stood up and now pulled out a chair for the woman, incongruously reminding Harry of how his date last night with Emma had begun. But there didn't seem to be any kind of romantic affection between the two of them, simply friendship, at least if Harry was reading Sasquatch his body language right. Snowbird was almost as hard to read as Emma would be without Harry's intimate knowledge of the woman.
"But you are correct in believing that our initial requests toward you were far more like demands than we should have allowed. For now, please leave us Mr. Potter. We will discuss things and develop a better agreement to offer you. Can we assume that you will at least be happy to go forward with your public agreements with our government?" Snowbird went on, waving one hand airily and somehow canceling the sticking spell Harry had used on James Hudson.
"My agreement to set up a factory here to build power generators, yes. And I will also be willing to sell you my Saab-hover ambulances. As for the rest, I will cheerfully step outside to allow you all to talk." Harry continued staring at the woman even as he moved around the table. "But I have to wonder, why are you the one giving orders here?"
Snowbird looked at him, and her eyes were white, almost like Ororo's did when she was using her power, and her presence suddenly magnified to Harry's senses to a level approaching that of Hela.
"Does this answer your question?" she asked before smirking and looking over at the four men on the other side of the table, her voice and presence returning to normal. "As I said, we will be discussing this."
Harry nodded acknowledgment, more of what she was than Snowbird's words. Although how a goddess of… I suppose the indigenous peoples has come to still be around, let alone hold a position of power where she can make demands of their government is beyond me. And that is more than fine with me, I suppose.
Outside, Harry moved to one of the windows, staring out into the city beyond, remembering the last time he'd been here, and why. Staring out over Ottawa, Harry didn't see the city, only the purple face of the alien who had manipulated the Hulk and the Abomination to do his bidding. Thanos.
Contrary to what many among his people thought, Harry had known there was a chance that Thanos was out there somewhere. Regardless of the fact his Bloody Insane spell would not have left anything behind, Harry was certain that the reason he didn't find any evidence of the creature wasn't just that, but the fact Thanos had somehow gotten away. Ever since that fight, Harry had begun to plan out a battle against the purple bastard in the back of his mind. And crippled or not, that means he will be coming back here. Still, I know a lot about what he can do, just as much as he knows about me. And I've got both the power-up after the Eurasian War, the fight against Galactus to call on for experience, and even the work I've begun on that rune that Lady Death and the Phoenix Force gave me. Heh. You might be the one to set the time of our next dance, Thanos, but you'll find I'm going to be the one calling the tune.
Several minutes passed with numerous voices raised in anger within the room, but eventually, Sasquatch came to the door, asking Harry to come in. When he did, Harry saw that Vindicator and the two government officials looked particularly dyspeptic. It was very clear that Snowbird and their higher-ups had given orders.
"We have come to an agreement. While we wish to continue to act independently, that is a necessity, we will be willing to give you, or someone you choose, oversight of how we spend the money you are willing to gift Alpha Flight with. We are also willing to sign agreements that this money will be used in such a manner. Further, we will allow you to create any curriculum needed to train further super-powered mutants we might add into our ranks and our education of any mutants found within our territories requiring additional physical requirements to see to their education. In return, you will have no oversight as to our actual combat missions, and you will provide the team with limited military technology."
"I still say you are overstepping your authority there," Marvin growled out. "We have eighty mutants scattered across Canada with powers that are combat-capable. We need to train them to…"
"To control their powers. Not to be unthinking weapons primed to be aimed at whoever your government points them at," Snowbird rejoined. "Remember that this country does not condone indoctrination of that kind. Nor would I. And I would hear about it, no matter how you hide it from me."
Her eyes flashed, and Marvin quailed, but Harry wondered if that had been his idea or someone else higher in the government. Regardless, Harry decided to leave it in Snowbird's hands. She seemed to have the bit between her teeth and didn't need his help there.
James still looked as if he would object, but what he said was somewhat strangled and about a far more personal point when Snowbird looked at him. "We also want an agreement that Logan will not be allowed to set foot on Canadian soil. If he does, we will be free to arrest and try him."
Hearing that, Harry reflected, that was probably more about how Logan had once told him about how James and his wife had been among Logan's friends for a time until the man had decided to volunteer Logan for the weapon X program. And how the wife and Logan… might have begun to feel a little closer to one another than just friends. If that was indeed the case, Harry was fully willing to James some slack on that point. "Agreed. Now, let's get your lawyers in here and get all this down on paper."
Harry signed the dotted line eventually, then headed out into the city under disguise to grab some food before he had to head to another meeting.
This one occurred in High Note, or rather, the prison complex where Dr. Banner had been placed. Walking into the large cavern assigned to Bruce, Harry paused, staring in shock at the green giant sitting at the main table. He wore clothing built for his size, a formal shirt, pants, suspenders. He looked like he needed a shave but was otherwise almost dapper.
Bruce, and it could be no one else, was working on a computer of some kind when Harry came in, talking animatedly to Charles, but both of them turned their full attention to Harry as he entered. After a second spent staring, Harry chuckled. "Okay, this is not what I was expecting, and now I know why you and Emma were unwilling to tell me anything about him.
"Harry, welcome to my abode!" Bruce laughed, waving a large hand towards the seat next to Charles at the table. "I have to thank you for the use of this computer. While I know my access to the internet is heavily monitored by that fascinating AI that Stark created for you, it has still been a godsend."
"I'm glad to hear it. Although I'm somewhat astonished that this was the solution you two reached," Harry waved his hand, indicating Bruce's new body. "Can you two walk me through what precisely this means?"
Bruce looked over at Charles, who nodded at him, and after taking a deep breath, the large green giant, who Harry realized, wasn't quite the same size as he had been when he had fought alongside abomination in Canada, began. "I ah, I apparently have a deep-seated temper issue. I, um, I get it from my father, but part of the reason why I suppressed it, denied it, for so long is also because of what my father, my father…"
Smiling synthetically, Harry interrupted to caution Bruce. "You don't have to go on if it's painful for you, Mr. Banner."
"Please, call me Bruce. Without your help, who knows how much more blood would be on my hands. Not only that, but you protected me for being tried as the animal had been before," Bruce interrupted.
"Only if you call me Harry then. Still, I take it there was a direct link between your anger and the Hulk? I remember you saying at one point that the angrier you got, the stronger the Hulk became."
"Exactly. The Hulk was created when I was inundated by Gamma Ray Radiation, but that only allowed a physical change connected to my beating heart to be embedded into my DNA. However, a secondary aspect of that, an inner Id, the Id that was the symbol of my oft-ignored anger, had come alive. It somehow became mentally connected to that physical change, and when I was in Hulk form, my anger was in full control. Thanks to Charles aid, I came to acknowledge this fact."
Bruce sighed, remembering all the time he'd wasted looking for a cure to the Gamma Ray's impact on his body, attempting to control his body so he wouldn't become the Hulk in the first place instead of looking to control both the Hulk and himself more. "Before that, I always thought…well I thought that the Hulk was a curse, something that I had to do away with entirely, that nothing in it came from me. But that wasn't the case."
"That level of denial and the walls Bruce had already built up around his anger and other negative emotions are what really caused us a lot of trouble," Charles admitted freely. "The two of us walked Bruce through his mindscape, through the memories of his father."
Here the older man gently touched Bruce's large forearm. "Bruce's hate and anger at him was the basis for Bruce's own anger issues, as it is so often in cases like that. We then walked several control exercises, mental training on accepting his anger, and slowly, the so-called monster within him began to disappear."
"At that point, well, it was as if my inner anger had also somehow been the control switch, so to speak, on my transformation. When I acknowledged my inner anger, that control switch disappeared, and the change became permanent. I am like this all the time now, unfortunately. I will say it's better than the alternative, although it does come with quite a few limitations, both social and physical. I had to ask for this computer to be built specially with my large fingers in mind, and um, that is the least of my concerns in that direction…"
Harry nodded slowly, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "Do you have enough clothing in that form? I like the outfit you're wearing, but I want to make sure that you have enough to get on with. And do you believe that you are fully in control now?"
That question was directed at them both, and Harry breathed a deep sigh of relief when both Charles and Bruce nodded their heads in unison. "Yes, I have enough clothing, and yes, I believe that I am in full control. I won't say I don't have a temper, though. Part of accepting the fact that I had this inner monster of a temper was the fact that I had to acknowledge the fact that the potential of it was within me, and that removed my mental inhibitions against it."
"I see. Well, that isn't exactly a problem, all too many people have tempers, and if you know about it, you can stop yourself from losing control. Does anger still make you stronger now?"
"Not nearly as much," Bruce said with a chuckle. "We actually tested it and found that I'm about half again as strong as I was before and can only barely reach my previous strength no matter how angry I become."
Harry blinked. "How exactly did you test that?"
"We had him watch modern-day children's video, Ben and Stimpy, Robert and Stuckey, and that purple dinosaur Darney were particularly rage-inducing to both of us," Charles admitted, chuckling. "Honestly, if I ever start taking in children that young into the mansion, there is no chance in the universe that I will allow them to watch shows like that."
"Personally, I think Jeevus and Rearhead are worse," Harry commiserated, having seen them occasionally when shopping. "But I see your point. I don't allow any cartoons like that in Camelot."
As the other two men laughed at that, Harry leaned back in his chair, touching his forehead scar thoughtfully. "All right, I think we will take a chance on this, but I don't think I want to release you to the Canadians just yet, Bruce."