Chapter 31: Chapter 30: End of HYDRA?

Chapter 30: End of HYDRA?

Seeing Rogue cry, Benjamin was momentarily surprised and scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Actually…he didn’t think much of it and only wanted to guard against her ability to protect himself and her…and anyone who might get hurt when she loses control of his powers.

He didn’t think that she would have such a reaction to finally being able to touch someone.

Although it’s technically not a direct ‘skin’ contact, the thin symbiote film covering him was so thin that one can’t really tell it was there even if they touch it.

Still, Benjamin understood after a while that for Rogue, this must be a big deal as someone who hasn’t been able to touch anyone without harming them.

So Benjamin waited for her to calm down and not rush her.

However…

“Umm, Rogue?”

“Hm?”

“You can let go now…”

“...Can’t I hold your hand for a little more?”

Rogue looked like a puppy about to be abandoned by her owner.

Benjamin shook and no longer forced her.

“Well…fine. I don’t need to move about much anyway.”

Sighing, he gave up and just let her do as she wants.

At the side, Jean smiled at them warmly.

Looking at Benjamin’s back, she can feel at ease and know he won’t hurt Rogue.

“That’s good Rogue. I’m happy for you.”

“...Thanks.”

Rogue nodded quietly.

It’s nice that Rogue would finally have a chance to get her happy ending.

On the other hand…

Jean sneaked a look at Scott with a bit of hope in her eyes.

“So are we moving already or what?”

“...”

Jean stared at Scott with half-closed eyes, almost like a glare.

“...What? I get that this is a moment for Rogue but we need to hurry and save the other mutants.”

Scott explained but Jean just sighed and shook her head.

Benjamin conjured another portal onto the next location.

“Let’s go.”

Seeing Benjamin and Rogue head inside the portal, Jean hurriedly caught up with them without replying to Scott.

Scott frowned and turned to Nightcrawler in confusion.

“Did I say something?”

“Dude…”

Nightcrawler sighed as well and shook his head.

Forget it. This guy doesn’t know how to read the room.

Although currently, Scott and Jean weren’t going out, there was this sort of tacit understanding between them that was ambiguous.

However, Scott was too afraid to make the move first while Jean was waiting for Scott to say something first to finally take their relationship to the next level.

This was obviously the best moment for Scott to make his move and reassure Jean who was feeling slightly jealous at Rogue and Benjamin’s moment.

Who knew this guy would ruin the mood instead?

He only has himself to blame for still being single!

Meanwhile. Several hours ago, in the last standing base of HYDRA, a man with red hair, beard, and mustache could be seen frantically shoving his research into his bag.

“Fuck! What the hell is happening!? All the HYDRA heads are suddenly disappearing one by one! Who’s targeting us!?”

This man was Johann Fennhoff. Or as others call him, Doctor Faustus.

Other than the Mr. Pierce hiding in SHIELD, he could be said as one of the only remaining leaders of HYDRA at the moment.

Well, there were still some ‘heads’ who had gone into hiding beforehand just for these kinds of situations.

Normally, they won’t have anything to do with HYDRA. No communication or any sort of relationship. Because of that, Benjamin also doesn’t know who they are.

Benjamin knew he couldn’t fully uproot HYDRA just yet but it was enough to cripple them severely for now.

“My research! My life’s work! I won’t let this be the end! Not until I see the Mother!”

Doctor Faustus agitatedly shouted while stuffing everything he could in his bag as quickly as he could.

After only a minute has passed, he decisively decided to leave and burn the rest of his research. He couldn’t let anyone catch on to him just yet.

Doctor Faustus looked at his burning office for a brief moment before disappearing into the dark tunnel.

Then…

*Boom!*

The tunnel entrance collapsed immediately, blocking anyone from following him.

A few hours later, a portal appeared in the base as Benjamin led the X-Men to destroy the base.

After a while…

“There’s no mutants here.”

“Nothing important too. It seems that whoever’s in charge of this place had decisively destroyed all things of importance and fled.”

Scott and Jean said.

Benjamin clicked his tongue.

“Well, it was bound to happen given that we already trashed so many of their bases. This is the last HYDRA base I know of. Whoever was running this place…he’ll turn up eventually. We should head back now.”

Benjamin was about to conjure a portal when he paused and looked at his other hand again.

“Are you still not letting go?”

“Ah…right…”

Rogue hesitated for a moment before sighing and removing her hand.

She touched her hand a few more times, seemingly trying to grasp the feeling again.

In the end, she sighed and wore her glove once more.

Seeing her look like an abandoned puppy, Benjamin smiled wryly and patted her head.

“Feel free to visit whenever you want some company. You know where to find me.”

Rogue’s eyes lit up and realized something.

However, she didn’t say it just yet and simply nodded.

After cheering her up, Benjamin opened a portal back to Xavier’s school.

Upon their return, Charles greeted them again and invited Benjamin to join them for dinner.

Benjamin shook his head and refused.

“Another time Professor. I still have some things to do.”

“Next time then.”

Charles nodded and no longer insisted.

Just as Benjamin was about to return, Rogue asked Charles.

“Professor…I want to join the EPD as well.”

“Hm? Are you sure?

Charles was surprised and asked to confirm her choice.

He knew that Rogue was somewhat of a ‘loner’ type like Logan. Even within a group, she keeps to herself most of the time and doesn’t mingle much.

At best, she is close to a few female mutants but that was it.

This was mostly because she is afraid that her powers would go out of control and she might end up hurting others.

For her to suddenly ask this…

Rogue nodded without hesitation and looked at Benjamin.

“I’m sure.”

Benjamin smiled helplessly as he knew it must be because of him.

Well…thankfully the Rogue in this world is already 20 years old and not underaged so Benjamin won’t mind if she doesn’t.

While he does think that there was a chance for them to be together, it still needs to be seen if she will accept Benjamin’s…other lovers.

Benjamin knew that for Rogue, this won’t be a fling or a one-time thing. Naturally, he can’t just rashly push her down and might need more time.

Benjamin shook his head and no longer thought about it.

Whatever happens, happens. Let’s just leave it to fate…

“I’ll watch out for her Professor if you’re worried. I won’t let her lose control.”

“In that case…please take good care of her, Captain Freed.”

“I will. If the X-Men needs it, I’m just a call away.”

Benjamin waved goodbye to them and left together with Rogue.

Upon returning to New York, Benjamin called Natasha, Ophelia, and Felicia in a group call.

“I’m done cleaning up most of HYDRA’s bases. I’m unable to find any more of their bases at the moment. One of the HYDRA heads got away though. How are things on your end?”

Ophelia and Felicia answered first.

“We dealt with Arnim Zola already and secured some other intel. You can take a look at it later.”

“I also transferred all their cryptocurrencies and earned millions!”

Benjamin nodded.

“That’s good then. How about you Nat?”

“Ah, we also just finished. It was strangely easier than I thought…Well, we stopped Project Insight from launching, blew up the three Helicarrier, and caught Alexander Pierce who is actually HYDRA all along, oh, we also met someone from Steve’s generation. Bucky Barnes.”

“The Winter Soldier huh? Where is he now?”

“You know him? He’s currently locked in a secured facility now till we learn more.”

Benjamin nodded and said.

“Tell Steve not to worry. I’ll help remove his brainwashing later.”

“That’s good. He’s been pacing left and right like a husband waiting for his pregnant wife to give birth.”

“I heard that. And tell Ben thanks.”

Benjamin heard Steve’s voice from the other side as well.

Natasha laughed.

At this moment, his He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named ability triggered another vision.

Seeing this, he smiled.

“Alright, I gotta go. There’s a traitor I need to catch. Meet me at the EPD building tonight.”

Benjamin ended the call and looked at Rogue.

“Well, I need to go deal with something. Do you have any plans?”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Okay then.”

Benjamin opened another portal.

“Let’s go.”

In a certain abandoned warehouse at the edge of the city.

Grant Ward stopped the van and got out.

He opened the door at the back and untied everyone.

Strucker rubbed his wrists with a dark face.

“Hmph! Zat Captain Freed thinks he is so great. He didn’t even know that the one he’s with is one of ours! Let’s go. We need to regroup with the others and talk about how to deal with zat guy. As they say, revenge is never too late.”

Suddenly, a portal appeared behind them and Benjamin walked out of it along with Rogue.

“Good plan. That is, if you can escape.”

“C-Captain Freed!?”

Grant’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw Benjamin.

“Of the people recruited to the EPD, you were the one that had the highest chance of being a HYDRA agent so I figured I’d give you a test. Sadly, you failed.”

Grant was surprised, however, he was also confused.

Why was he the one with the highest chance of being HYDRA? What about Viper?

Hearing this, Strucker noticed that detail as well but kept silent.

On the way, Grant was reporting to them everything that happened while he was undercover so they knew that Viper was also hiding in the EPD.

If Benjamin hasn’t realized it…then there may be a chance for HYDRA to rise once again!

Strucker thought for a moment and decided to see if he can confirm this.

“You fool! Do you think you can end HYDRA by capturing us!? Cut off one head, two more shall take its place! HYDRA will never disappear!”

“Give it up. Besides your place, I already visited your other bases. Even the one in SHIELD had been purged out by Fury. This is the end.”

Benjamin sneered.

Of course, he was just acting mostly. He needed them to think that he was getting arrogant and careless after defeating HYDRA. This way…HYDRA will be ripe for the taking!

All he needed to do was ask Viper to round up the remaining HYDRA under the guise of revenge and then…HYDRA will be in his control too.

Naturally, Benjamin still won’t be careless.

He had been through the various bases but he didn’t even see some of the HYDRA leaders he knew such as Baron Zemo, Daniel Whitehall, and such.

These people are probably in hiding from the start.

Benjamin had no doubt that they will rise up one by one in the future and attempt to revive HYDRA.

As expected, Strucker and the rest chose to surrender. They will bid their time for now and wait for Viper to revive HYDRA from within the EPD!

Seeing them give up so easily, Rogue frowned and felt it was suspicious.

She turned to ask Benjamin.

“Want me to absorb their memories and see if they have contingency plans?”

Hearing that, Strucker and the rest froze.

Their inner gloating suddenly turned to nervousness.

Thankfully for them, Benjamin shook his head.

“No need. They won’t be able to do anything.”

Benjamin called Natasha again and asked where to send Strucker and the rest.

After confirming a location, he portal-ed them away, leaving him with Rogue.

He patted her head and smiled.

“Don’t worry. I know what they’re planning. Let them think they’re going to succeed for a while to give them hope. The more they hoped, the greeted their despair when that hope is crushed. Hehehe…”

“...I wish you won’t pat me while saying such villainous lines.”

Benjamin laughed.

“Right. Where are you staying by the way? Any place to crash?”

“Uhh, I don’t…can’t I come with you?”

Being asked so directly, Benjamin smiled awkwardly.

“Well, I’m sharing an apartment with my girlfriend actually. If you don’t mind that, you’re welcome too.”

“Huh? Y-you have a girlfriend?”

Rogue’s body shook.

“T-then…why are you still inviting me…? Aren’t you afraid she will misunderstand?”

“Ehh…how to say this…although she’s my girlfriend, she doesn’t mind it if I sleep with others too…so I doubt she would mind you when we’re not even sleeping with each other.”

Rogue’s jaw dropped to the ground.

She was speechless.

“H-how many girls have slept with exactly?”

“Hm, including my girlfriend…seven?”

Before he knew it, it was already that much huh?

Benjamin didn’t really bother counting it before so he was a bit surprised at the number too.

“And…she knows this? All of them?”

“Well, yeah?”

“...I can’t believe this…”

Benjamin chuckled, a bit embarrassed.

“Well, it’s really like that. Anyway, you can talk to her later yourself. Oh, and don’t worry about hearing us at night. I’ll put up a noise-canceling barrier around us so you can sleep properly.”

“...”