The parking lot was long abandoned, its cracked concrete overtaken by stubborn weeds that clawed through the fissures. The rain had just stopped, leaving scattered puddles that mirrored the fading orange of the evening sky. The place felt cold and forgotten.
A battered gray sedan rolled into the center of the lot. Its engine coughed to a stop, and Bullseye stepped out in a hurry. He scanned the area, his body tense and his eyes restless.
"Came rushing here before dark, did you?" a familiar voice cut through the silence from behind him.
Bullseye spun around, startled, only to see Daniel stepping out from behind a broken concrete pillar. Relief washed over his face, and he exhaled heavily.
"It's not that I'm rushing, it's that things just got… big. Kingpin's locked up and nobody's watching me right now," Bullseye muttered, leaning against the car. His shoulders finally eased at the sight of Daniel.
Daniel's gaze sharpened as he thought, 'Something's definitely wrong.'
"Speak. What happened?"
Bullseye's lips curled into a bitter, humorless smile. "Did you know Kingpin has a daughter? And guess what—she's a mutant."
Daniel \'s expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed.
"Vanessa's under house arrest, and James Wesley's been handling Fisk's business since the arrest. Then, out of nowhere, this daughter appears—along with a big problem." Bullseye's voice dropped. "The Sabretooth came with her."
Bullseye's frustration was evident. With Fisk in prison, he'd hoped to wrest control of the organization by maneuvering around James Wesley. But Wesley introducing this unknown daughter, and bringing Sabretooth into the mix—changed everything.
Daniel immediately understood the implications. "This means Magneto is moving in New York."
"Exactly," Bullseye said with a grim nod. "With the X-Men, the U.S. military, the FBI, and S.H.I.E.L.D. all on his tail, Magneto's freeing up his hands. And now Sabretooth's here. I can't handle that. I can take on humans, but that guy… He's a monster."
"How many people know Sabretooth is in the city?" Daniel asked, his tone suddenly cold.
Bullseye hesitated, catching on to Daniel's thought. "A few. Me, Elektra, some of the remaining lieutenants. Anyone who was there saw him."
His brow furrowed. "You're thinking Magneto wants this known, aren't you?"
Daniel didn't answer directly, but the silence said enough.
The underground world knew mutants far better than the general public, who were blinded by the government's anti-mutant propaganda. The moment Sabretooth appeared, those who recognized him fell silent, knowing the kind of devastation he could bring.
Sabretooth's reputation was legendary—nearly matching Wolverine's. Their battles, even after Logan's adamantium enhancements, had always been brutal and evenly matched.
Now Sabretooth's presence here could only mean one thing: a shift in the balance of power.
Daniel frowned, glancing instinctively toward the northwest. Recent intelligence said most mutant activity—alongside U.S. military operations—had been centered around the Great Lakes region. That area had once been Canada, and Daniel remembered something about a dam there. The pieces clicked together.
Colonel Stryker.
The name alone was enough to conjure chaos and bloodshed. Maybe some details were different in this timeline, but Daniel suspected the ending would remain the same.
He had no intention of getting involved. If he moved openly, both Magneto and Professor Charles would see him as another wildcard, possibly even as Stryker's ally. That kind of misunderstanding could turn two of the most powerful mutants on Earth against him.
And then there was the Phoenix… the Dark Phoenix.
Daniel shook his head while thinking, 'I can't afford that kind of trouble.'
With Sabretooth's appearance being common knowledge among Fisk's lieutenants, it wouldn't be long before word reached official ears. Kingpin's arrest had left his organization vulnerable; some of his men would inevitably cut deals with law enforcement, trading information for lighter sentences. Sabretooth's presence was too big a secret to stay hidden.
James Wesley's decision to reveal Sabretooth so openly was reckless. Sure, it would intimidate rival gangs, but it would also draw the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D., the FBI, and even the X-Men. The cost outweighed the benefit—unless, of course, it was part of Magneto's strategy. A distraction.
Magneto might be deliberately shifting attention to New York, creating chaos here so he could act freely on the U.S.-Canada border. A bold move, but undeniably clever.
"And James Wesley?" Bullseye asked cautiously.
"He's just another pawn in the game," Daniel said with a dismissive wave. Then, after a pause, he added, "You should use this opportunity. Reach out to Kingpin privately. With Sabretooth here, the cops will double down on Fisk's remaining crew. You're under pressure too."
"And after that?" Bullseye frowned, unsure of Daniel's true plan.
"Kingpin won't be giving you orders for a while," Daniel said quietly. "Leave New York. Hell, leave the entire East Coast. Wait for this storm to pass." His gaze turned distant. "A big event is coming, Bullseye. Bigger than you realize."
Bullseye nodded reluctantly. "Fine."
"One more thing," Daniel continued, his tone firm. "Keep an eye on Fisk's finances. If something happens to Wesley, you will take control of the money. That's your priority."
Bullseye blinked. "The money?"
"Trust me. We'll need it soon," Daniel said. He was already thinking of Magneto's movements—and beyond that, the looming Chitauri invasion. If Wesley slipped up, Fisk's fortune could become a powerful resource.
"Kingpin isn't getting out anytime soon," Daniel added. "Even if his lawyers pull strings, Rogers is watching now. I'll make sure Fisk stays buried. Meanwhile, you, Wesley, and that daughter of his… will handle the rest."
Bullseye shifted uncomfortably. "There's one more thing. Elektra. I want her gone before I leave."
Daniel raised an eyebrow. Of course Bullseye would want to deal with his rival now that Fisk's grip had loosened.
"Kill her?" Daniel asked, almost amused.
Bullseye didn't flinch. "It's the perfect time."
"No," Daniel said firmly, shaking his head. "Now is as good a time for her to kill you. I'll handle Elektra. When I'm done, she won't be a problem for you."
Bullseye hesitated, then gave a curt nod. "Got it."
Without another word, he slipped back into his car and sped away.
Daniel's thoughts shifted. Elektra. The secret ledger he had taken from Roxxon Energy still hadn't been used. Perhaps it was time. Elektra wanted that ledger more than anything—especially now, with the power vacuum left by Fisk.
Working for Fisk had given her proximity to her father's killer. But the Hand—that was her true enemy, and her greatest obstacle. Daniel could use that.
He had been keeping a low profile to avoid drawing the Hand's attention, but that didn't mean he couldn't strike indirectly. Let them turn on each other. Let them bleed themselves dry while he prepared for the real threat.
The Chitauri invasion was drawing closer. Daniel felt it like a storm on the horizon.
Preparation was everything. He needed plans, alliances, and resources.
Some people also needed to be sent far from New York—away from the chaos to come. Fortunately, winter break was approaching at Empire State University. Jane Foster would soon return to England. Darcy Lewis could be sent along with her. Gwen Stacy, Betty Ross—they too would be safer away from the city.
The countdown to war had begun.