Part II: The Sleeping Titan/Mission: Skin Deep

==Mission: Skin Deep==
A group gathers at the Wild Cliffs as Hunter prepares to depart. Caretaker can't believe that Hunter is going through with this, and Charlie is even there. Hunter notes that she has been all over them since putting on the Demonchylde suit, and tells her to stay and wait for their return.
Magik opens the portal, straining against the demonic energy barrier, and Hunter steps through. Suddenly, Charlie jumps into the portal after them, and they both arrive at Banner's facility. Since Charlie is a hellhound she was able to pass through the demonic energy barrier as well.
The suit is working; the Lilin in the facility do not notice anything amiss when encountering Hunter and Charlie. Charlie leads them to the device that is generating the barrier. As Hunter approaches the device to deactivate it, something stirs. Hunter is startled to see a Hydra Mystic inside the machine, and lets out a surprised gasp. When the Lilin in the area hear this they realize there is an intruder and they attack.
After defeating the Lilin and destroying the device, the demonic energy barrier falls. Suddenly more Lilin rush in, so Hunter and Charlie leap through a glass window to an area below. They find the Gamma Accelerator, but it is guarded by Fallen Scarlet Witch. She taunts Hunter, suggesting that their friends abandoned them, and sent them on this mission to die alone. She begins to mesmerize Hunter with a hex, but suddenly a portal opens and Magik emerges from it, breaking the spell.
The heroes and Fallen Scarlet Witch fight. Hunter absorbs her darkness three times before attempting the incantation from The Book of Thoth. When Caretaker hears the spell over the radio, she warns Hunter that Wanda can't be saved. 
As Hunter finishes the incantation, a vision of red eyes burning in the darkness flickers in their mind. Fallen Scarlet Witch says, "Chthon" and flies up in the air as a burst of green and red energy pours out of her.
==That Night==
The squad drops out of a portal back at the Abbey. The Gamma Accelerator floats down after them, being levitated by Scarlet Witch, free of Lilith's corruption. Everyone is thrilled to see Wanda, as Agatha watches happily over the scene in the distance.
Wanda who seems to be in shock. Hunter tries to calm her, telling her that she's back at the Abbey and amongst friends. Wanda says that she doesn't feel like herself and that she can't believe the things she did. Hunter reassures her that Lilith made her do those things, and that it was not her will. Wanda is in awe that Hunter was able to absorb her darkness and bring her back.
Nico wants to celebrate, but Wanda isn't up for it and just wants to sleep. Magik agrees that rest is the best idea for now.
After Wanda goes inside, Nico and Magik both express their gratitude to Hunter. Tony, on the other hand, is more excited to have one-upped Banner and retrieved the Gamma Accelerator. 
Doctor Strange is in disbelief that Wanda is back. Caretaker admits to Hunter that she had been a fool for not believing Wanda could be saved.
Inside the Abbey, Agatha calls Hunter a wonder, having done the impossible -- removed corruption and saved Wanda's soul, without losing themself in the process.
As Hunter sleeps, they dream of Lilith again. She tells Hunter that she didn't think they had it in them to save Wanda. But she is not angry; she knows that Hunter must have absorbed the darkness, and can sense a new crack in their collar. She wonders how long before it breaks, and tells Hunter that the barriers between the two of them are crumbling, as the dream fades.
==The Next Day==
Hunter meets Wanda in her room. She tells them that she couldn't sleep last night, feeling like Lilith would be waiting for her in her dreams. Hunter commiserates with her. She talks about the vision of the Temple of Chthon that she had at the moment Hunter freed her, and wants to help the team stop it from coming true. Hunter questions whether she is up for it, and Wanda replies that serving Lilith revenge would be the best way for her to heal.
Tony calls Hunter to the Forge, where the Gamma Accelerator is now located. Tony is still excited to have it back and takes the opportunity again to gloat about beating Banner. Doctor Strange is in a more positive mood than he has been, but feels that Tony's idea to stop the apocalypse won't work because the only thing that can stop Chthon is Chthon. 
Captain Marvel and Captain America are talking about Tony as Hunter approaches. They confide in Hunter that they are a little concerned that Tony is becoming fixated on his plan to stop the apocalypse. The world can't afford for him to be so focused on this one idea that he misses something. 
Caretaker wants to know how Wanda is doing. She apologizes to Hunter for not believing that they could save Wanda, but she never believed it would be possible.
==That Night==
Robbie is excited that Wanda is back, but Nico and Magik tell him not to overdo it with her, since she has been through a lot. Blade suggests they start slow, like with a movie night, and Nico agrees.
Wanda talks with Hunter as they enjoy the movie. She comments that the witches in the movie should hide their powers, which leads her to talk about her experiences growing up with magical abilities. Power frightens people, she explains, and when people get frightened things like the Salem Witch Trials happen. She wonders if it would have been easier if she had been born without powers.
Next: Part II: The Sleeping Titan/Mission: All the Devils Are Here
Category:Story