Thud!
"Viper" dropped to one knee, pressed a hand to her chest, and said solemnly, with a hint of sorrow:
"I, Ophelia Sarkissian, head of the Superhuman Projects Department, am here to answer for my negligence."
Miss Viper's clear, magnetic voice echoed through the throne hall. She bowed her head deeply. After a brief silence, the voice from the throne replied casually, unconcerned.
"No need for that. Get up first."
James waved a hand and lifted his chin slightly toward the people below. Cyclops Scott immediately understood and stepped forward to remove the restraints covering the four prisoners' mouths.
"This is Havok's younger brother, young Summers. That's Miss Laura, young Kurt, and Professor X. And that's Mrs. Rogers from S.H.I.E.L.D."
After getting up, Viper quickly retreated to the back of the line, her chin still tucked humbly. Her eyes swept over the faces, silently matching them to the names.
She had done her best to learn about the Howlett Family's important veterans and promising young talents.
"Dr. Richards, Mr. Grimm, if the information I was given is correct, you two caused this disaster."
James leaned back against the throne with one hand hanging down, rubbing Pietro's bristly head. In a setting like this, only he could sit beside his grandfather without a care in the world, playing with a new toy he had just gotten from the Science Division.
"Mr. James Howlett, is this a federal court or some kind of tribunal? What gives you the right to lock us up like this? You—"
"Mr. Howlett!"
Susan Storm loudly interrupted Reed and shot him a sharp look. Her sweet, pretty face had gone pale with tension. She took a deep breath, then hurried to explain:
"Sir, I'm a member of the Group's Science Project Review Department. This is my younger