MARVEL: TOAA

Raven looked at John with wide, innocent eyes. "No one here can deal with him except you. You won't just stand by and let us get killed, will you?"

John scoffed. "You know you can't beat him, yet you charge in with your crew, looking all aggressive."

Raven smiled faintly. "Because I saw you. We're old friends, so I figured I'd say hello."

"We're not friends, not even close," John replied quickly, casting a wary glance at Sebastian Shaw. With a polite smile, he added, "Sorry, we're just passing through. We're not part of this, so if you could let us go..."

Sebastian's eyes gleamed with amusement. Before he could respond, Raven cut in slyly, "His name is John. He's Charles' twin brother."

John's face twitched. "Charles? As in Professor X? My brother? Ha! I've got nothing to do with that guy."

Raven's revelation hung in the air, effectively muddying the waters.

Sebastian laughed. "Well, isn't this interesting? I just heard something shocking from Emma, and now you've given me even more intriguing information. Care to elaborate, John?"

Sebastian radiated confidence, certain that his overwhelming power would bring anyone to their knees.

Turning his attention to Raven, he added, "I must say, Raven, I admire your initiative. You've got your own little team now. Clearly, my judgment about your potential was spot on."

Emma Frost, the White Queen, narrowed her eyes at Raven, sensing Sebastian's interest. A shape-shifter like Raven, capable of endless transformations, was a dangerous allure to any man.

Raven didn't flinch. "She," Raven gestured toward herself in Sebastian's memories, "and Charles, and Eric killed you once. And I followed Charles for years."

Sebastian's amused expression stiffened. "Oh? Then tell me, why do you think this little man next to you," he sneered, nodding toward John, "could possibly kill me?"

Sebastian's gaze darkened as he studied John, suspecting there was more to him than met the eye.

John sighed inwardly as Raven looked at him. Her meaning was clear: If you can't take him, I might just switch sides.

"Raven," John said, feigning nonchalance, "do you know how Ravion got his name?"

Raven's brows furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

John smirked. "Ravion, show them your true self."

Behind him, Ravion nodded. His form began to shift and expand until his more than three-meter-tall mechanical body was fully revealed.

"A Sentinel robot?!" Raven gasped, taking several steps back. Her fear was palpable; she knew the terror these mutant-killers brought.

Gambit, unimpressed, flipped a playing card between his fingers. "That's it? A big tin can? How's it a mutant-killer?"

He flicked two cards at Ravion. The cards should have exploded on impact, but Ravion caught them effortlessly.

"What?!" Gambit stared in disbelief as Ravion's glowing eyes changed. Then, with a flick of his mechanical wrist, Ravion hurled the cards toward a nearby dead tree.

Boom! Boom! The cards detonated, obliterating the tree trunk into sawdust.

"See? He can channel more energy into the cards than you can," Raven said, smirking at Gambit' astonishment.

"How is that even possible?" Gambit stammered.

Raven explained, "The Sentinel robot was designed to kill mutants. It can copy the abilities of any mutant it encounters and even amplify them."

Sebastian's curiosity was piqued. "What are the conditions for this copying ability?"

"Direct contact, ability contact, or none at all. It can detect mutant factors at the genetic level and restructure itself to replicate those powers," Raven replied grimly.

Sebastian smiled coldly. "Fascinating. A robot that can replicate powers..."

"Ravion isn't just a robot," John interrupted. "He's a sentient being. He's family."

"Family?" Raven repeated, incredulous.

Ravion's mechanical voice resonated. "I am John's family. When he was cast into the void as an infant, I saved him and raised him."

Reina, who had been silent until now, stepped forward proudly. "And me. Ravion saved me too. He's family to all of us."

John nodded. "Ravion isn't a mindless killing machine. He has self-awareness and a soul. That makes him far more than a Sentinel robot."

Sebastian's smile faltered. He wasn't sure if this revelation complicated his plans or made them more interesting.

Raven's mind raced as she processed everything. Her fear of the Sentinel robot was immense, but something about Ravion's loyalty to John gave her pause.

"Raven," Sebastian said, his voice heavy with intent, "it seems we have much to discuss. But for now, let's see what your family can do."

The tension in the air thickened as everyone prepared for the inevitable confrontation.