Marvel: Open Up, It’s the FBI

Inside the underground clinic, tension hung heavy in the air.

Surrounded by armed FBI agents, the shady underground doctor sat on the floor, hands behind his head, looking every bit the picture of submission.

The moment Lynn Hall and Agent Coulson entered, the man raised his voice anxiously, "Mr. Hall, I swear I've told you everything I know! Adam Morris did come here for some emergency treatment, but I had no idea where he went afterward. I never get involved in mutant affairs, I swear!"

Lynn pulled up a chair and sat across from him. "You know who I am?"

"Of course! I saw you on TV—the press conference with Tony Stark."

The man's voice trembled. "Please, Mr. Hall, believe me. I'm not an accomplice. I didn't know what Adam had done until I saw the news about the concert attack!"

Lynn smiled, calm but pointed. "Honestly, I'd love to believe you. Doctors save lives—that's what they're supposed to do. But the moment you found out Adam was a wanted terrorist and chose to help him escape instead of reporting him, that crossed a line. That's aiding and abetting. Under the law, you could be charged as an accomplice."

He leaned in slightly, voice still pleasant.

"But hey, we in the Bureau have some discretion here. Whether you walk away free or end up in a high-security cell—that all depends on your cooperation."

"You've got three chances. Use them wisely."

The doctor knew this game. Psychological pressure like this was standard FBI interrogation procedure.

But what he didn't know was just how much Lynn Hall already had on him.

Images of mutant prisons—especially the ones under Colonel William Stryker's control—flashed through the man's mind. He shuddered.

After a few moments, he offered tentatively, "I really don't know where Adam went. He didn't tell me… But I do know he accepted a black market bounty. That's why he attacked the concert."

"I'm aware of that already. That's one strike."

The man winced.

"He also mentioned," the doctor tried again, "that the person behind the bounty wasn't ordinary. They—"

"Already know that, too. Two strikes."

Lynn's tone never changed, still cool and composed. "One more shot. Choose carefully. Oh—and just so you know, Colonel Stryker loves getting his hands on mutants like you."

That did it. The color drained from the doctor's face.

Being locked in a mutant detention facility was bad enough. Falling into Stryker's hands? That was a nightmare.

But he stayed quiet, biting his lip, sweat beading on his forehead.

Lynn exhaled softly, shaking his head as he started to stand—

Then, a clear female voice cut through the room.

"You're looking for me, aren't you? I'm Barbara Kent—'the Smuggler.'"

Everyone turned.

Barbara stood there calmly, seemingly having appeared out of thin air. The doctor's head snapped up, eyes wide.

"Barbara, you—?"

"No point in hiding anymore, Dad," she said, voice calm but resolute. "The FBI clearly knows who I am. That's why they came to you."

Turning to Lynn, Barbara added, "Mr. Hall, I can tell you where I sent Adam. I can even take you there myself."

"But I want assurance—protection. You leave my father and me out of this."

Lynn studied her. She couldn't be older than eighteen or nineteen, youthful but confident.

"That explains a lot," he said with a slight grin. "No wonder no other mutants knew who the infamous 'Smuggler' was. You've kept your identity locked down—and turns out you're father and daughter."

He nodded thoughtfully. "I can work with that. But first—what's your ability?"

"Teleportation," she answered, a little wary but honest. "I can transport people to any location on Earth. If I have exact coordinates, the margin of error is zero. But the longer the distance, the more mental energy it drains."

"Mr. Hall, please… Will you drop the charges against us?"

Lynn glanced at the doctor again—now visibly anxious—and then back to Barbara.

"If you do what you say—yes," he said. "You have my word."

"Really?"

"Of course. I've always been fair. Mutant or not, I don't discriminate."

He waved Dennis over. The younger agent came quickly.

"See him?" Lynn said, nodding toward Dennis. "He's one of my agents. But he's also a mutant—just like you."

Barbara's eyes widened slightly, and a bit of tension left her posture.

Even the X-Men members—Jean Grey, Storm, and even Cyclops—exchanged brief glances. Their favorability toward Lynn ticked up noticeably.

Because if Dennis looked at Lynn with that kind of admiration, it couldn't be faked. If Lynn did discriminate against mutants, Dennis never would've stayed—much less looked at him with such respect.

Honestly, that statement wasn't just for Barbara—it was for every mutant in the room.

And it worked.

Having just earned goodwill from the Phoenix herself, Lynn now had another goal in mind—recruit Barbara.

Teleportation, after all, was a rare and incredibly valuable ability.

In fact, it was basically the mutant equivalent of a sorcerer's portal spell.

"I believe you, Mr. Hall," Barbara said with conviction. "Adam Morris—I teleported him to Europe. I can take you there."

"But I'll need to rest for a night. The last jump drained my psychic reserves."

Lynn could tell she wasn't lying.

He nodded. "Of course. But until then, you and your father will be held separately—for precaution."

"That's fair," Barbara said without hesitation. "Thank you, Mr. Hall."

Lynn motioned for Alice to escort her to the car.

Checking his watch, he turned to Coulson. "Shift's over. The doctor's all yours."

"No problem," Coulson replied. "But let me ask you something—are you planning to recruit Barbara?"

"I am. Why? You interested too?"

Coulson grinned. "Who wouldn't be? Someone who can teleport anyone to anywhere on the planet? S.H.I.E.L.D. could really use someone like that."

Lynn raised an eyebrow. "Well, good luck trying to poach her from under my nose."

With a smirk, he turned and walked off—leaving Coulson chuckling behind him.