Last preview to Ch.34

(Avengers Mansion Meeting Room)

Jameson watches as the heroes converse and file in while awaiting for this meeting to be called to order. He isn’t nervous or worried about how this meeting will go. He has been preparing for this after his interview with Spider-Man. He agreed to sponsor this new team after he finished his interview with the masked hero. It was a very informative and enlightening interview that changed his perspective on so many things, like how the Avengers can help not just by saving the world but by being an inspiration for the next generation of powered individuals. That got him thinking about how to better manage this new team that consists of both Avengers and X-Men. 

A team that is meant to be more of a PR stunt than anything, but a very important one at that. It’s to show mutants and non-mutants can cohabitate and work together. A Unity Team. 

‘I’ll have to come up with a better name than that,’ he thinks to himself, ‘Captain Rogers is a man of many talents but branding is not one of them.’

This was one of the many matters he is going to be bringing up in this meeting. Granted it’s one of the more minor ones, but he feels it’s still important to discuss. Only because he wants the best outcome for this new team that his former employee will be leading. However he will bring up the more important points first and make sure this team understands what he expects from them. 

“Alright,” Spider-Man's voice takes him out of his thoughts. He watches as his secret former employee stands straight at the head of the table, looking around the room at his fellow heroes. Jonah is at his right with SIlver Sable behind the mayor, “I hereby call this Unity Team meeting to order. Please be seated.”

Jameson raises a brow when he sees the other heroes give Parker various peculiar looks as if what he said is something they aren’t used to hearing in general. 

He hears the gruff voice of the Wolverine speak up, “Bub, if you want us to take you seriously, then you want to avoid sounding serious. It’s not your style.”

Spider-Man, offended by the notion, crosses his arms and huffs, “I can be serious.”

Everyone, including Jameson, gives the hero dull looks. 

“Oh, just sit down!” Spider-Man commands rather childishly, in Jameson's opinion. 

Some of the others chuckle or huff in amusement, except for one. The woman with the white streak in her hair. Rogue. She keeps the same hard look she had when she walked in here as she sits down along with the others and himself. 

Jonah doesn’t know much about the X-Men member other than the fact she used to be of the mutant terrorist group known as the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. A supremacist group like all the others in his opinion. Deeming anyone that isn’t like them or not on their side to be their enemy, ‘Not much better than the Church of Humanity.’

But that is her past, as far as he can tell. So long as she doesn’t give reasons for him to doubt her, then he’s okay with her. 

“Okay,” Spider-Man starts, “There are a lot of things we need to go over before we go to the press conference and make the official announcement. I wanted to add another member to this team before this was official, but we’ll make do,” Jameson does not like how cavalier the hero is being, “First and foremost is what our official role is.”

Jameson raises a brow, that is not something he was aware had to be discussed, “What do you mean role?” He questions. 

Spider-Man folds his hands on the table and looks at Jonah as he explains, “To put it simply, what we will be focusing on primarily. Right now there are two major problems we need to deal with. Red Skull is one.”

At the mention of the former Nazi leader, Jonah hears a low growl coming from the Wolverine. He looks and sees he, along with Rogue and Wanda, have murderous expressions on their faces. He can understand why too. That man mind controlled so many people to kill mutants and anyone defending them in a single day. And these two women he made sure to stand there and take the underserved abuse from him and other angry citizens. 

He debated whether or not he should apologize for that when he came by. 

Spider-Man pulls out the file Thor gave him, “Steve left me a file on the man,” he informs them and places the file on the table, “He’s adamant that we catch him before he makes another move.” He then sighs and continues, “Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can go on right now. Skull is laying low and likely licking his wounds after the ass kicking we gave him and his goons.”

Some of the heroes huff amusement at the statement as one speaks up, “He won’t stay that way for long,” Wolverine’s gruff voices sounds out, “I don’t know him like Steve does, but I’ve fought in the war against that sick bastard and Steve talks plenty about him.”

“So any useful insights you can offer?” Spider-Man inquires. 

Everyone’s attention turns to the old mutant as he gets a troubled look, “For one thing, something is off about him now. Last time we saw him, he wasn’t that supremacist he was back in the war. He was all about world domination and using all sorts of means of power to do it. But that day, it was like traveling back in time. Which makes no sense.”

“He was dead,” Thor speaks up this time and now everyone looks to him as the Norse god has a grave expression, “Captain Roger shared this news with us some time ago. How he came back is the true mystery.”

One we will deal with. But unfortunately with nothing to go on for now, we’ll divert our attention elsewhere. 

Rogue seems especially bothered by this notion, “Where the hell else is ar attention suppose ta go?”

Spider-Man takes a deep breath and says, “Wilson Fisk.”

Jonah sees most of the heroes give him curious looks. Clearly wondering why the need to go after a crime boss requires a team like the Avengers. 

Rogue looks affronted by the notion, “The Kingpin?” She says incredulously, “Are ya kidding meh? You want us tah waste time on some local crime boss?”

“He’s not local anymore from what I’ve heard,” Spider-Man says in a light tone, “He’s been expanding and branching out into new territory.”

Jameson gives the hero a curious look since he wasn’t aware of that information. He only knew what he heard about the crime boss through the grapevine. That he has been quiet for the most part since the Spider Island incident. Barely a peep about any activities. Granted he hasn’t been actively looking into it or had anyone else for that matter but he figured the police would be dealing with it. 

“So what?” Rogue says challengingly, “Let the feds and other heroes deal with him.”

“For one thing, he smuggled a nuclear weapon into the city,” Sable speaks up for the first time since the meeting started.