Marvel: Umbrella Corporation

Lorna gazed upon Baghdad, now engulfed in flames and chaos, and finally took out her phone.

*Beep... beep...*

After a moment, a voice she had longed to hear came from the other end, "Hello, who is this?"

"It's me, Lorna."

"Oh, Miss Lorna. What can I do for you?"

Lorna hesitated briefly, "The situation is getting out of hand. I ordered the mutant zombies to spread the virus in Baghdad, but it seems to have spiraled out of control."

She then explained the difficulties she was facing.

"So, you're saying that the mutant zombies under your control are too weak to command the larger horde?"

"Exactly."

"Maybe the zombies you control were too weak before they died, so their influence as zombies is limited."

"You mean... No, I can't do that..."

The strongest mutant she knew was, of course, her father—Magneto. But how could she bear to turn her father into a zombie?

"I didn't say anything specific. I'm just offering ideas. Follow your heart."

"My heart..."

After hanging up the phone, Lorna lowered her head. Her expression flickered between determination and doubt, her thoughts a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

"Everything I do is for the sake of mutants. Father, haven't you always said that it's all for our kind? Surely, you'll forgive me."

"No! I can't do it—he's my father!"

"But all of this is for the future of mutants!"

"But... he's my father..."

Tears began to stream down her face as she clutched her head. The internal struggle left her mind a blank void.

When she came to her senses, the first rays of sunlight were already peeking over the horizon.

"What's going on? Why is it morning already? And why are there so many tears on my face?"

Wiping her face, she was about to head downstairs when she saw Eclipse approaching her.

"Lorna, stop this. We can't let it continue. Look at how many innocent lives have already been lost.

We mutants may need a place to call our own, but we can't build it on the corpses of others."

Hearing his words, Lorna's gaze turned icy.

"Three hundred years ago, Americans slaughtered over 40 million indigenous people for land, same with British and other colonizers.

Now, when we mutants kill a few hundred thousand for survival, what's the problem?"

Eclipse took a step back, as if seeing Lorna for the first time. The coldness in her eyes was entirely unfamiliar, "You're not Lorna. Who are you? The Lorna I know would never say such things!"

"How long have you known me? At most, a year? Do you really think you know me?"

Lorna's tone turned mocking, though tears inexplicably welled in her eyes.

"What's wrong with me?"

Wiping her face, she continued, "Do you think I don't feel pain making these decisions? Do you think I do this for myself?

If it were for me, I'd just hide somewhere quiet, live anonymously, and be done with it.

Everything I do is for mutants.

I'm the one carrying all the guilt, the blame, and the condemnation! And yet, you—"

Tears streamed down her face as she choked on her words.

Eclipse hesitated, his heart softening.

*Sigh.*

He approached her and held her gently.

"I'm sorry. I overlooked your struggles. But your methods are too extreme. There's a more peaceful way—"

Before he could finish, a searing pain erupted in his chest.

He stumbled back, looking down at the iron shard embedded in his chest, blood gushing out.

"You... why..."

"For no other reason than I need someone strong enough to control all the zombies. My father is too old to do it anymore.

But you... you're perfect for the job. Didn't you say you loved me? If you do, grant me this final wish.

It's all for the future of mutants! Hahaha... sob..."

Lorna's voice was filled with both laughter and tears, as if she had plunged into madness.

Eclipse pointed at her, trying to speak.

"Mind... control..."

Before he could finish, a nearby mutant zombie, seemingly drawn by the scent of blood, broke free of its restraints and lunged at Eclipse, tearing into him viciously.

"No! Stop it!"

But the zombie didn't heed her commands, gnawing ferociously as if possessed by deep hatred.

Left with no choice, Lorna manipulated metal to pierce the zombie's skull, shredding its body to pieces.

Yet by then, Eclipse had already stopped breathing, his eyes wide open in death.

"No... sob..."

Collapsing over his lifeless body, Lorna sobbed uncontrollably.

Time passed unnoticed. As the sun rose fully, the other mutants, alerted by the commotion, came upstairs.

"Lorna, what happened?"

"What's with all this blood? Is Eclipse dead?"

"Was it the zombies? Did they lose control and kill Eclipse? Did Lorna stop them?"

The others surveyed the scene and nodded as one.

"Yes, that must be it."

"Lorna is so gentle. Why does such misfortune always befall her?"

"Miss Lorna, please accept our condolences."

Lorna turned to see Mystique among the group.

"No... it's not like that. I... I..."

She tried to explain, but when her gaze met Mystique's, a strange thought surfaced in her mind.

Why explain? Taking responsibility for Eclipse's death would only harm her cause.

But he was my boyfriend.

So what? He stood in the way of mutant freedom and equality.

After a long pause, Lorna stood up, pulled out a control spider, and placed it on Eclipse's chest.

"My love, for the future of mutants, offer your final contribution."

Her lips curved into a faint smile.

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