At the same time.
Rainwater still streamed down the façades of New York's buildings when Spider-Woman descended gracefully from the sky, landing in the heart of Times Square. The impact of her leap was light and precise, as if she were a natural part of the city itself. Almost at the same moment, George Stacy arrived with his team, pushing through the frantic crowd.
Police cars blocked the streets while sirens lit up the scene. At the center of the square, a blue-skinned man flickered with unstable energy, small sparks of electricity crackling off his body.
A clearly nervous officer clutched a megaphone, shouting questions the man didn't seem to understand. His gaze wandered, lost, as if he weren't even in the same world.
Spider-Woman stepped toward the officer, raising her hand in a firm gesture.
"Let me borrow that."
The officer didn't hesitate. After months of cooperation, the police no longer saw Gwen as an outlaw vigilante, but as a reliable ally. He handed over the megaphone without a second thought.
Gwen lifted it and spoke clearly:
"Hey, it's me — Spider-Woman. I'm here to help. Let's work this out the right way, okay?"
As she walked slowly toward the man, Ruby analyzed the situation in real time through her visor.
[Gwen, just as we thought, this man has only just awakened his powers. His emotional instability is high. If he loses control, the release of his electricity could cause a disaster here.]
"Got it," Gwen murmured. "Then it's on me."
The man raised his head at the sound of her voice. His eyes lit up in recognition.
"Spider-Woman…? Is that really you?"
"Of course it's me." Gwen smiled beneath her mask, trying to project calm. "I'm here. What can I do for you? But first, can you tell me your name?"
But his next words took her by surprise:
"Even you forgot me? Spider-Woman, you don't remember who I am?"
The frustration in his voice was palpable. Electricity around him sparked more violently, forcing the crowd to back away.
Gwen raised both hands in a gesture of peace.
"Hey, easy. Of course I remember you, but… you look very different now. Help me out, okay? When did we meet?"
His eyes softened, the tension beginning to fade.
"You… you helped me get my briefcase back. It had been stolen… You saved me that day."
"Max!" Gwen exclaimed, recognition dawning. "Of course I remember. You're Max."
An emotional smile spread across his face.
"That's me! You recognize me!"
The electricity around him seemed to settle, and Gwen used the chance to move closer.
One of the officers tried to stop her, but Gwen held up her hand.
"It's fine. He's my friend. Leave this to me."
At that moment, George drew closer. Seeing the scene, he felt an unexpected trust in Spider-Woman's presence. Without hesitation, he gave orders over the radio:
"All snipers, stand down. No one fires. I repeat — no one fires unless I give the order."
The crowd seemed to relax a little. Gwen kept moving forward, but Ruby's voice cut in urgently:
[Gwen, there's a sniper targeting you and Max.]
And indeed, from the rooftops, the sound of a gunshot rang out.
Time seemed to slow. Gwen fired her webs desperately, trying to redirect the bullet's path. She was ready to throw herself in front of Max if she had to.
But the bullet never reached them.
Suddenly, the projectile froze in midair, crushed against an invisible wall. The metallic clang echoed, and a murmur of shock rippled through the crowd.
"Leave it to me."
Jean Grey's calm voice echoed as she descended slowly from the sky, her red hair flowing with the psychic energy radiating around her.
Max, stunned, looked at her and then back at Gwen. He was afraid, but he no longer felt alone.
George, however, erupted with fury:
"Who the hell fired that shot?! I ordered no one to fire!"
The culprit was quickly identified. Jean pulled him forward telekinetically, forcing him to drop his weapon. George recognized him immediately — a notorious bigot within the department, someone who had nearly caused tragedies before.
"After this mess, you're coming straight to my office!" George barked, livid.
Meanwhile, whispers rippled through the crowd:
"She's a mutant!"
At that moment, Logan and Rogue arrived, pushing past the police cordon. Their presence heightened the tension in the air. Many didn't know who they were, and the word mutant still stirred fear in everyone present.
The crowd began to grow restless again, but Gwen raised the megaphone.
"Easy, everyone. They're my friends. They're here to help."
The weight of her reputation did its work. Slowly, the square fell quiet again.
Jean knelt beside Max, placing a hand on his shoulder. Rogue quickly followed, temporarily absorbing part of the unstable energy surging through his body. Within seconds, Max collapsed unconscious, his breathing steady.
"This is normal," Jean explained. "When someone awakens their powers, their body temporarily shuts down."
Gwen stepped closer, concern in her voice.
"And what's going to happen to him now?"
Rogue answered:
"My powers only last a short while. We'll take him to Xavier's Institute. There he'll have a safe place to learn to control this."
Unnoticed, the loudspeaker still carried her every word. And so, everyone heard the declaration:
"We're from Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters. We're all mutants, and our mission is to help other mutants and protect people."
Her words sounded rehearsed, clearly planted by Professor Xavier. It was a way to turn tragedy into opportunity.
Logan, reluctant, muttered the line Charles had insisted he deliver:
"This kid's going to learn to control his powers… and one day, maybe, he could even become an X-Man. Someone who helps everyone."
Privately, Logan grumbled: Damn Charles… always making speeches through us.
Even so, the effect was undeniable. For the first time, many there heard the name X-Men. For the first time, they saw mutants as saviors — not threats.
And with Spider-Woman standing beside them, that image grew even stronger.
---
(End of Chapter)
A/N: Maybe these two chapters have some mistakes, it's probably because I had to write this in a hurry.
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."