[Raccoon Mansion]

[March 5, 2022]

The meeting room was already bustling when I arrived. Maids were moving in and out, serving refreshments. Four guards were standing by the walls, but were staring at the the walls to be less rude to the guests.

Sofia Mantega smiled and stood as I entered. She waved and I waved back.

Of these four guests, I had only expected her to show. She seemed to have popped up a little quicker then I had expected. I was thinking she would appear next week.

The other guests? They were definitely not expected.

The three other guests seemed very relaxed as they chatted among themselves. Only Sofia seemed nervous at the sight of the armed guards.

To be fair, despite the major updates to the armor, the Type 42 Cerberus was still inhuman to look at. The gas mask like face accompanied by those deep, red eye sensors.

The design focus was to be fearsome. To intimidate others into hesitation.

Her anxiousness was a sign of money well spent. The Tailor did wonderful work, or so the previous Supreme Leader had often said to Fenris. We built on top of that base.

With Doctor Akagi’s revisions, the Type 42 had roughly three times the performance. The titanium composite gave it twice the durability. These new power armors were much tougher to crack.

Which was a good thing as I was sure that these four people could have invaded Val Verde, type 42s or not. The ‘superior’ armors were only annoyances to these esteemed people.

I wondered if they took the armed guards as a offensive gesture, or it was offensive that I didn’t have more on hand.

At least one set of eyes suggested it was the latter. The gruff man snorted, but his face relaxed into a smile as our eyes met.

The other two were ladies. Blond hair, white clothes, and blue eyes that studied me like a hawk did its prey.

“Miss Mantega, it is a pleasure to meet you again,” I smiled and stopped before her.

This time she took my hand and gave me a firm shake.

“Thank you Supreme Leader, the food has helped us so much,” Sofia smiled as we let go of each other’s hands.

“I see Ms Frost has accompanied you,” I smiled and nodded at the two blond women. I didn’t offer my hand as she didn’t even bother to rise to greet me, instead giving me a small smile.

Emma frost was a powerful metahuman. She was a full package type, with smarts, beauty, and wealth. Her telepathic powers could have already started digging through my thoughts.

I didn't dwell on it since I couldn't stop her. At least not yet.

I should look into whatever made Magneto’s helmet so special. Could have have been lead? It would explain so much if it was that, or mercury.

Emma’s smile widened, and one of her clones smiled with her. They shared a private joke of sorts. I pushed down that curiosity.

Bad Johnny! Bad!

It was tragic that she fell for the stalwart, emotional leader Cyclops. Though to be fair, it wasn’t as if he didn’t understand the man’s feelings. Losing loved ones changed you.

The last member, was a gruff looking man. Wild sideburns made him look bigger then he actually was. He was very short for such a famous man.

“Logan, it has been too long!” I greeted and walked over. Logan smiled and stood. We clasped arms.

“Pretty shiny title for a merc,” Logan chuckled as he pulled me into a hug.

I put in my full strength, and he gave me a ‘light’ squeeze. Still made my ribs hurt.

“Hah, you know it!” I laughed as we took a step back. I spied a set of untouched glasses on the coffee table. Condensation from the iced liquid made it almost sparkle in the setting light.

“Margaritas?” I asked as I made my over and chose the yellow one. Today was a lemon day. We could all die by tomorrow, and a sour note would sooth my knotted nerves.

“You know each other?” Sofia asked, her eyes wide. She had always known Logan as a serious type, and had more ‘friends’ then she she had hair.

It was surreal to see it unfold in real life.

Emma rolled her eyes as she picked up a glass. The soothing taste made her relaxed, and her gestured for her young Stepford protege to grab a glass.

Clara was good enough to leave the ‘meeting’ drink at low alcoholic volume. Enough to relax, but not enough to inebriate.

The young girl was eager to take a drink, and the refreshing taste tingled at her senses. She held the drink in her hands and sipped from the straw. It was a rare chance for her to drink such things when Emma was present.

I stared at the young blond, and gave up. I didn’t know which one she was, and it currently did not matter. I would be polite, and she wouldn’t turn me into a turnip.

Though if I saw them side by side, I would have a better chance. Celesete, Mindee, Phoebe. The three in one. The only survivors of Weapon XIV. A weapon designed off of clones of Emma Frost, and linked to a super computer to entrap the Phoenix Force.

I smiled as I took a seat across from them.

“So, I take it that Ms. Mantega has explained my request?” I asked as I stared at them. It was better to be safe then sorry.

“What is your stance on mutants?” Emma asked as she leaned back in her chair. It pushed her chest forward, and I had to focus to stay on her blue eyes.

Emma was beautiful, and she knew how to use it like a knife against men. I luckily got to stare at my girls all the time, tempering me against her very refined wiles.

“My stance on mutants, is that it is a derogatory word. Metahumans are not so different, and I will stand with my citizens. Regardless of whatever gifts they have,” I answered as I stared into her hard eyes.

“So you only stand with your ‘regulated’ ‘metahumans’?” Emma asked, her voice flinty.

I should have been angry. Instead I laughed.

The people in front of me stared in shock. I had surprised even myself.

“Ms. Frost,” I began as my laughter calmed. “I am a man of a simple, tiny nation in the world. I will do my best to protect my people. I have no resources, or desire, to stretch beyond my borders.”

My smile froze as I stared into Emma’s eyes. “I will defend my people, meta or not, until my dying breath.”

The room seemed to freeze over as Emma stared at me, her frown chiseled in ice.

“Well well well. It seems Sofia was correct in recommending that we meet,” her response was far warmer. That odd hostility was gone, and she smiled at me.

“I desire the best for Val Verde. They are my children as the Supreme Leader. I am lacking in knowledge on how to educate these gifted ones, which is why I wish to learn from you.”

“Utopia will offer up knowledge, and in return?” Emma asked as she finished off her glass. I stared at the pink stain on her white straw, and then flicked up to her eyes.

“I hear Utopia needs food. A constant supply of food. I can supply the goods, the technology, and the seeds so that you can become self sufficient.”

“What if we desire more?” Emma asked as she watched her young clone grab another set of drinks. She smiled and accepted the pink one. “We do have some rather sensitive information to trade of course. Very important to your talks tomorrow.”

I stopped and took in the smiling woman. She reminded me of the Cheshire Cat. Cryptic, but also helpful. If you played along that is.

Logan burped as he polished off his eighth drink. He had tried all the flavors and was now full. How regrettable.

He should have stuck to the lemon flavor. The sour note was as fun as this negotiations.

I smiled as I stood. Time to fulfill an old promise.

“Perhaps we can discuss more in depth over dinner? Tonight is going to be a feast as I had once made a promise to Logan. I would feed him until he died, or died trying.” I grinned as I stared at the gruff man.

“Ah, silver lining from that shit weekend. I still refuse to go to Bangkok because of you,” Logan growled out. Those memories were hilarious and frustrating.

“Listen Logan, they were not that bad. Jasmin was very helpful! The last time she emailed me, she mentioned Darjeeling asked about you again,” I said with a smile. My eyes tried to bore into his skull.

Logan burst out laughing as we got up to go eat. Emma raised a her eyebrow and thought better of it, ushering her cute little Cuckcoo up and out to follow me.

Damned Bangkok.

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Chapter 31: X-tra Guests