In the days following Luigi's tragic death, Serena and Wyatt moved through life on autopilot, their minds clouded by a heavy fog of sorrow. Wyatt, who was better able to cope with the grief of losing someone he now, albeit very late, considered family, took it upon himself to plan the funeral and memorial service.
Every meticulous detail—from the delicate arrangement of flowers to the selection of an elegant casket—was handled with care and respect, all funded out of his own pocket. He poured his heart into this process, determined to honor Luigi's memory. A good man taken too soon.
While the weight of grief pressed heavily on both of them, Serena chose to remain silent about Wyatt's alter ego, Atomic. For her, nothing mattered more than for her to honor her father's legacy with a farewell that would reflect his life and the love he gave her.
Even with this in mind, going through the funeral process was painful. Thankfully, she found strength in Wyatt's constant presence, and she was deeply thankful for his support. If he hadn't been there for her, she doubted she would have been able to do anything.
To Serena, Wyatt's company was a refuge, a protective buffer against the painful realities of her loss. She instinctively reached for him in their quiet moments together, seeking solace and clinging to him as one might grasp a beloved security blanket. His presence was a lifeline for her, born not from romantic inclinations but from an urgent need for stability.
In Wyatt's case, he could relax from his duties as Atomic thanks to the whispers and rumors of a new red and blue spider-themed hero emerging to patrol the city. Wyatt felt a modest sense of relief, knowing that the city was in capable hands while he helped Serena through such hard times.
The funeral service unfolded in an intimate setting, overshadowed by a somber atmosphere that seemed to absorb the heartache of all who attended.
The muted tones of the gathered friends—Luigi's chosen family from his decades living in Harlem—reflected their collective sorrow. With only a handful of relatives able to travel from distant states, those who could arrive wrapped their arms around Serena.
One dreary afternoon, a man clad in a dark, somber suit appeared at Serena's doorstep, delivering news that felt both unreal and heavy. He informed her of the substantial payout from her father's life insurance policy, a safeguard Luigi had arranged shortly after first being threatened by the Russians. For many, such unexpected financial gain might elicit excitement or relief, but for Serena, it sent her spiraling deeper into her sorrow, spirals of tears spilling down her cheeks.
Serena's Aunt, Lucile LaRusso, one of the few family members who made the trip from California, offered to step in and help Serena to navigate through the complex legal landscape, ensuring that the funds would be securely transferred to Serena's bank account.
Once the funeral ceremonies drew to a close, an overwhelming desire to sever any remaining ties to her past consumed Serena. As the now legal owner of her father's beloved restaurant and their family home, she found herself desperate to sell the building that had become an incessant reminder of that fateful night.
The very thought of stepping inside filled her with dread; instead, she decided to stay in a nearby hotel, the costs graciously covered by Wyatt, who remained her unwavering confidante through the storm of emotions.
With a heavy heart, Serena made the decision to sell her father's restaurant and the space above it. Two of Luigi's long-time friends expressed interest in purchasing the property. They were eager to expand their own restaurant and were excited about the opportunity to continue serving food in the location where Luigi's restaurant once thrived, as a way to honor him. Pleased with their offer, Serena agreed to sell them the building at a price they could easily afford.
When it was all said and done, her aunt Lucile had offered Serena to stay with her and her son back in California until she reached adulthood, when she could decide what she wanted to do. An offer Serena had accepted after several days of thinking.
Soon, the day of departure arrived with an air of heavy finality.
At John F. Kennedy Airport, Serena found herself standing shoulder to shoulder with Wyatt and her aunt. Clutching a single carry-on bag, she carried nothing but a few clothes and cherished family photographs—faded memories of her life with her father and late mother. Everything else was left behind or sold.
"Our flight should depart soon. I'm going to call Daniel and let him know we should be on our way back soon. I'll leave you two to say your goodbyes," Lucille said with a sad smile as she went to take a seat to call her son. Leaving Wyatt and Serena alone.
"Your aunt is a good person," Wyatt said to Serena, who had her arm locked around his. "I think you'll be in good hands. Still, you'll be moving to California. Talk about a downgrade." He joked, eliciting a genuine smile from Serena.
"That's true," Serena said. "But… I think it's a good change. This city… these streets… they all remind me of him. I can't handle that. At least not right now."
Wyatt nodded. "Yeah… I understand. Still, I'll be sure to visit."
"Thanks... I'd like that," Serena said. "How fast can you fly by the way?" She added in a whisper. This was the first time she had ever asked him about his powers.
"So far, if I really push myself, a little over 1200 kilometers per hour," Wyatt said with a grin. "It would take me around 4 hours to get to California, give or take."
"Isn't that… kind of slow?"
"Hey, when I first started flying, the most I could do was 300 kilometers an hour. 1200 is a big jump in speed!"
"My flight is gonna take 6 hours. You're telling me that the great Atomic can't fly any faster than 4 hours?"
"…never mind. I'm not visiting you anymore." Wyatt said and looked away from Serena. After a second, the two began to chuckle lightly.
"Flight 616 from JFK to LAX will now depart in thirty minutes. All passengers, please proceed to gate 7." Came the announcement from the airport speakers.
Serena frowned and tightened her grip on Wyatt as everyone sitting outside gate 7 began to line up. Lucille stood up and waited for Serena with a patient smile.
"Well… this is it," Serena said.
"Yeah…"
Serena stepped back and looked into Wyatt's eyes. They stared at one another for what felt like forever until Serena moved forward and hugged Wyatt with as much strength as she could muster.
"Be safe. Okay? Be sure to visit me, okay?" Serena said into Wyatt's chest. Wyatt agreed to everything she said without any hesitation. With a shaky breath, Serena let him go and walked over to stand with her aunt.
Before she entered the jetway, Serena stopped and looked back to give Wyatt another look. As if to burn this moment into her memory. He smiled and gave her a small wave.
"It's time to go, Sweetie," Lucille said with a warm, motherly smile. "You'll see him again. I'm sure of it."
Serena nodded, fresh tears in her eyes. Turning to Wyatt, she gave him a large, warm smile, which he returned. Sensing the passages behind them beginning to grow annoyed, Serena rushed into the plane and took her first class seat. A parting gift from Wyatt.
Wyatt moved to the large glass windows and watched as Serena's plane rolled onto the runway and departed. A small part of him wanted to fly beside it, but if he did, he felt as if he would just travel to California with Serena. He settled for watching the plane disappear from behind the glass of the airport.
Now all alone, Wyatt turned around and left the airport. The ticket he had bought to enter the departure lounge went forgotten in his jacket pocket.
Once outside of the airport, Wyatt's somber expression tightened into one of determination. Donning his suit, he flew through the skies and began his new mission.
To find the men responsible for Luigi's death and bring them to justice.
••o••o••o••
After sneezing, 14-year-old Jubilation Lee quickly covered her nose with a tissue and groaned. For the past month, she had been suffering from the worst cold of her life. It had become so concerning that her worried mother took her to the hospital for a checkup.
The doctors were puzzled by her cold's prolonged nature and performed routine tests to determine the cause, including a blood test. That had been a week ago, and Jubilation hadn't received any updates. Fortunately, it seemed that her long cold was finally coming to an end, with only a few random sneezes and bouts of drowsiness lingering.
"Jubi? Are you okay? Is the cold coming back?!" Hannah Lee, Jubilation's mother, asked quickly as she stepped out of the kitchen. "I'll make some tea."
"Mom, I'm fine. That was just a sneeze-"
The front door of their modest townhouse cracked open with a deafening crash, splintering wood and scattering shards of plaster into the air like confetti. A flash bang stun grenade tumbled in, rolling across the floor with a metallic clatter.
Jubilation's eyes widened in shock, adrenaline surging through her veins as she instinctively leaped to her feet. She opened her mouth to shout a warning to her mother, but the blinding detonation of the grenade cut her off, an explosion of white light that left her and Hannah momentarily dazzled.
Amid the chaos, the living room erupted with commotion as a squad of men in combat uniforms burst through the entrance, their faces obscured by sleek black masks. Clad in tactical gear with weapons drawn, they moved as a cohesive unit, swift and efficient. On their shoulders, a patch emblazoned with the acronym M.R.D. stood out starkly in white against the darkness of their attire.
These were no ordinary officers; they were former soldiers repurposed as federal agents within the U.S. Government's Mutant Response Division—an elite unit dedicated to tracking and apprehending mutants deemed a potential threat to public safety.
"Target confirmed," one of the agents stated, holding up a picture next to Jubilation to compare. She was clutching her ears and squeezing her eyes shut. "Take her."
Three men holstered their weapons and forced Jubilation to the ground. "W-what's going on?! Let me go! Mom!" she cried. The agents ignored her pleas as they secured her hands behind her back. Heavy, reinforced steel cuffs were placed around her wrists and ankles. As her vision cleared, a black bag was pulled over her head, muffling her screams.
"What are you doing?! That's my daughter!" Hannah shouted, trying to intervene against the men who had broken into their home. One of the agents swung the stock of their assault rifle into Hannah's face, causing her to scream and crash to the floor. As she fell, her head smacked against the coffee table, rendering her unconscious.
At the sound of her mother's pained cry, Jubilation's panic shifted to rage. That anger awakened a dormant power deep within her, and like a firework igniting, it erupted. Sparks of colorful embers danced from her hands, capturing the agents' attention.
"Shit. She's using her powers!" One of the agents raised their rifle and prepared to fire at Jubilation's head. Only to be stopped by his squad leader.
"Godamnit, Spencer! Calm the fuck down!" Agent Hamilton yelled and pushed Spencer's weapon away. "Outside! Now!"
"But, sir! I-"
"Did I stutter? Get the fuck out and calm your ass! Hirsh! Why the Hell haven't you injected the target with the sedative!?"
"Injecting sedative," Hirsh said as he pulled out an injection needle from a black case. With swift precision, he injected the drug cocktail into Jubilation's neck.
"No! N-no… mom…" Jubilation managed to mutter before falling unconscious. The agents that had been holding her down relaxed and hoisted her up.
With their objective secured, the agents emerged out onto the quiet suburban street, where a fleet of sleek armored vehicles idled, their engines humming softly. Surrounding them, a contingent of heavily armed agents stood alert, firearms poised and ready, eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of trouble.
Curious onlookers peered out from their patios and doorways, their expressions a mix of intrigue and concern, as the M.R.D. agents carefully maneuvered Jubilation into the interior of a robust armored truck.
"I can hardly fathom it. The Lee family actually had a mutant among their ranks?"
"Good! It's about time they rid my neighborhood of that damned mutant scum! Finally, my tax dollars are put to good use," came a voice dripping with disdain.
"I always thought they were such nice people. To think one of them lived so close... It's utterly terrifying," murmured another, eyes wide with a mix of shock and fear.
As the M.R.D. agents prepared their equipment, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The once-friendly neighbors of the Lee family began to cheer enthusiastically, clapping and cheering for the agents as if they were heroes returning from battle. On the verge of stepping into an armored truck, Spencer raised his arms triumphantly, celebrating like it was a World Series victory. His display sparked another wave of applause, swelling his pride and inflating his already overblown ego.
"Get in the fucking truck, Spencer,"
"Hah! You got it, sir!"
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the small town in Virginia, the agents of the M.R.D. maneuvered their armored vehicles down the quiet streets. They were heading to one of the agency's secure bases in the United States, where they would prepare to airlift their latest captive to a facility in Nevada.
This operation was merely one of countless missions executed by the M.R.D. in the wake of the government's ruthless response to the catastrophic upheaval known as the Sasha Conner incident. In the aftermath of that chaos, the agency was endowed with a chilling mandate: to hunt down, apprehend, and contain mutants deemed a dire threat to national security.
During this time, they had successfully apprehended over two hundred mutants, employing a combination of tactical expertise and advanced technology to keep these individuals securely locked away, often in solitary confinement to minimize any risk of escape or unrest. Jubilation Lee was the most recent addition to their list of captives.
——
AN: Posting this chapter before watching Superman 2025. I'm pretty psyched to watch it and to gain inspiration for my story. If you haven't noticed, I'm a pretty big Superman fan.