The hydroponic rig hummed on Lily's Hope—greens sprouted, fish stocks grew—but hunger gnawed deeper, mutants gaunt, children's cries piercing Bill's cosmic senses. Clara rationed—Lily's fire cooked scraps—Rok, Buzz, Ellie, and Spike hunted, but the island's limits tightened—comics' Days of Future Past, starvation breaking spirits—Bill's resolve hardened—templates his arsenal, family his soul.A storm loomed—dark clouds, cosmic intuition warning—fish fled deeper, gardens faltered—then a roar—ships on the horizon—not Trask's, but scavengers—rogue humans, armed, eyeing the island's stores—Bill's comics dread flared—Marauders, raiders preying on weakness."They're coming," Bill said—Captain Universe glowing—Upgrade's HUD tracked—three ships, cannons, men with guns—"They want our food."Clara gripped her vibroblade—Lily's fire flared—Lena rallied her mutants—"We fight," she said—Rok cracked stone knuckles—Buzz took wing—Ellie sparked—Spike bristled.The system chimed:
"Host emotional state: Protective fury. Templates engaged: Captain Universe, Upgrade, Steve, Quadra-Hulk, SCP-173, SCP-096. Threat detected: Raiders. Objective: Secure food, defend island."Ships fired—Bill soared—Captain Universe's energy blasted—cannonballs vaporized—Upgrade merged with a turret—cosmic-enhanced arrows sank a ship—Quadra-Hulk roared—four gamma arms leapt—smashing a deck—SCP-173 snapped crew necks unseen—raiders screamed, guns blazing.Clara slashed—vibroblade glowing—Bill upgraded it, edge searing—Lily's fire torched a sail—Ellie's sparks fried a cannon—Rok hurled boulders—Buzz dive-bombed—Spike's quills pinned foes—mutants fought, food their lifeline—Bill webbed a ship—cosmic strength towing it—Upgrade fused, turning it into a fishing rig—nets hauled deep-sea bounty—fish piled.The lead ship charged—Bill fused—Quadra-Hulk smashed—four fists sinking it—cosmic energy sealed the wreck—SCP-096 howled, rage scattering survivors—raiders fled—Lily's Hope held—food secured, but stores still strained.Bill landed—panting—cosmic glow dim, gamma bulk fading—Upgrade stabilized—Clara and Lily hugged him—"You're unstoppable," Clara said—Lily grinned—"Fish for days!"Mutants cheered—fish roasted, greens harvested—but Bill saw the limit—comics' Atlantis, self-sustaining—Captain Universe soared—cosmic power terraforming—soil enriched—Steve crafted fields—Upgrade built aquafarms—Lily's fire warmed—Clara planted—weeks later, crops bloomed—fish thrived—hunger faded.The system chimed:
"Host emotional state: Relieved triumph. Templates utilized: Captain Universe, Upgrade, Steve, Quadra-Hulk, SCP-173, SCP-096. Objective complete: Resolve food crisis, fortify Lily's Hope."Bill stood—Clara and Lily beside—mutants feasting—Lily's Hope a true sanctuary—comics' chaos defied—family, mutants, templates—hunger conquered.