[h3][i]Hunter’s Point South Park
Long Island City, Queens, New York, USA
July 4th, 2023 9:40PM EDT (Tuesday)[/i][/h3]

[color=82ca9d]“This is so awful,”[/color] David cried, looking back up at the chaos all around them. It seemed the rest of the barges had finally gotten the message that something had happened and the fireworks stopped. Luke followed Danny as he walked towards Caty, and over the next few minutes, most of the other people in the park who were still alive swarmed around the interns as well, frantically demanding answers about what had happened. Most of the panicked questions were directed at Caty, who had been the most visible of the three while up on stage. The voices were pounding against David’s head. He looked down at his hands, balling them into fists. He felt a sudden rage boil up inside of him, clenching his teeth and beginning to breathe heavier. 

[color=f7976a]“Hey, is he okay?”[/color] Luke asked, pointing at the young intern on his knees. [color=f7976a]“His face looks severely wounded.”[/color] David seemed to have started hyperventilating, his entire body tensed up. Suddenly blood began pouring out of his nose, but midstream it turned from red to a greenish tint. He began punching the docks below him over and over, letting out a pained scream before he feinted and dropped forward. Luke immediately rushed over to check that he was still breathing. [color=f7976a]“Well, he’s not dead,”[/color]  

Meanwhile, Owen had scoffed at Waylon's response and crossed him arms, turning his back to them. Donny disregarded his brother with a wave. [color=6ecff6]"We should help as many people as we can, but Petra, you do make a good point -- we are not scientists. Maybe it's better to go right to the hospital."[/color]

Soon everyone began looking up as they heard sirens nearby, the flashing lights of emergency services beginning to appear. Within minutes paramedics and police were swarming the park, and the news cameras from the various events seemed to consolidate in the area. While David was loaded onto one of the stretchers, the reporters began hounding Caty and Danny, pinpointing them after playing back the camera feed from when they first began warning people. 

[color=fff79a]“How did you know this was going to happen?”[/color] asked one. 

[color=fff79a]“Is this a terrorist attack?”[/color] demanded another. 

[color=fff79a]“Is Greyburn Labs involved in some sort of biological warfare? Why was a civilian location targeted?”[/color]

[color=fff79a]“Is the Ten Rings terrorist cell involved?”[/color]

[color=fff79a]“Why are some people completely fine while others are dead?”[/color]

The questions were coming faster than Caty or Danny could adequately answer, it was all so overwhelming. Then suddenly a new presence pushed it’s way into the park – federal agents. 

[color=fff79a]“All right everyone, clear out!”[/color] one of the agents in charge commanded the reporters. [color=fff79a]“You’ll get your answers after we get ours. Listen up, everyone! I know this is a difficult time, but I need everyone to remain calm! If you have any loved ones being transported to one of the hospitals, please go with them. Even if you are not experiencing any symptoms, you need to get checked out as well.”[/color]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/Iec4VTF.png[/img]

[color=f7976a]“Who are you?”[/color] Luke asked him as he approached Caty and Danny. 

[color=fff79a]“Agent Castle, FBI,”[/color] he replied, holding up his ID badge. [color=fff79a]“We’re always on standby when major events are happening, just in case. A few forensic experts from the Scientific Response and Analysis Unit will be here shortly, and they will be especially eager to speak with you, Miss Davis. Yes, we saw the livestream as well when you jumped on stage and announced your name and employer.”[/color]

______________________________________________________________________

[h3][i]The Dillinger Room (Boardroom H-409)
Floor 43
Stark Tower
Midtown Manhattan, New York, USA
July 4th, 2023 9:55PM EDT (Tuesday)[/i][/h3]

The five scientists had been watching everything unfold on the television, but by the time the feds had swarmed the park, the cameramen were ushered out of the area and the feed was cut. 

[color=fff79a]“So, it looks like there is a potential for one hundred to one hundred and fifty stable mutations, including my three interns,”[/color] Sterns said happily. [color=fff79a]“That also depends on how many survive the night in the hospital.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]“I still zink zey need to die,” [/color]Vanko added. [color=fff79a]“But I cannot argue zat allowing zeir potential mutations to unfold may prove beneficial. However, zey are about to tell zose agents everyzing.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]“So we say they are lying,”[/color] suggested Osborn. 

[color=fff79a]“But they may have the footage of us discussing our plans recorded, don’t forget,”[/color] pointed out Essex. 

[color=fff79a]“There is no doubt the feds will trace the mist back to Project Terrigenesis and Grayburn Labs,”[/color] said von Hassen. [color=fff79a]“Trying to hide it will only make us look guilty. No, the logical course of action here is to [i]blame[/i] it on the interns. Call them out as rogue actors who stole the Terrigen Crystals. Sam, that camera feed your kids put in here had to have been local – check their dorms.”[/color]

Sterns nodded and hurried from the room, coming back a few minutes later holding the laptop David had left sitting on the table when he had rushed out of the dorm. [color=fff79a]“I’ll be damned, you were right, Victor! But the little stinker had the good sense to lock the screen before leaving.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]“That’s fine, we can hack into it fairly easily. All we’re checking for is to ensure they didn’t record the footage anywhere else, and then dispose of the laptop.”[/color] replied von Hassen. [color=fff79a]“Then we need to get to work setting the stage for the kids to take the fall...”[/color]