Rai_jin
patreon
#27 VCM
🕑 Added 2025-03-25 04:00:11 +0000 UTCIn the end, Professor X agreed to the request brought back by Ethan.
Having someone with level-five clearance within S.H.I.E.L.D. was an invaluable asset, and Charles saw this as an opportunity to foster goodwill and strengthen ties between the mutant community and the organization.
With Jean Grey’s assistance, Tony underwent his first major surgery.
Her telekinetic precision far exceeded Fury’s expectations—so much so that the attending surgeon was relegated to a mere assistant, only responsible for minor tasks like clotting wounds and bandaging.
Tony, of course, was ecstatic when he learned of the success.
But when he found out the entire operation had been arranged because of his father’s past connections, his joy quickly turned into stunned silence.
Ethan, however, had no stake in Tony’s emotions.
He had merely delivered a message and gone back to his normal life at the Xavier Institute.
During this time, Fury didn’t reach out to him, and he was perfectly fine with that.
At the New York Museum of Natural History, a tour group of students weaved through the exhibits, led by a handful of adults.
The group was an odd mix—some looked as young as seven, while others were college-aged.
It was a rare sight to see such a broad age range on a single school trip, but for the Xavier Institute, it was just another day.
Ignoring the curious stares from other visitors, a tall woman with flowing white hair stood before an Ice Age exhibit, her voice smooth yet commanding.
“Alright, students, take a good look. This is a Neanderthal. For a long time, we believed Neanderthals were wiped out when they encountered the more advanced Cro-Magnons.
But recent genetic research has shown that the two actually interbred, leaving traces of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans...”
Meanwhile, standing near the edge of the group, Ethan glanced at a teenage girl beside him. “Katie, how are you feeling?”
“Honestly? It’s hard to believe.” Katie flexed her fingers, her voice tinged with amazement.
“The doctor said I’d be in the hospital for at least a month, but here I am, fully recovered in under two weeks.”
“Probably because you awakened as a mutant,” Ethan mused.
Even without Wolverine’s crazy healing factor, mutants naturally possessed stronger physiology compared to regular humans.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say they were superior in nearly every aspect.
“Ethan!” a sharp voice interrupted their conversation.
Storm turned to face him, arms crossed. “Can you focus on the lesson instead of distracting Katie?”
Ethan smirked but said nothing.
He knew better than to argue with Ms. Munroe, especially in teacher mode.
Ororo glanced at Katie, who had been glued to Ethan’s side ever since he brought her to the Institute.
Something about the way the girl stuck so close to him made Storm sigh internally.
'Am I getting old? Maybe I should take a page out of Jean’s book and find someone...'
“Ms. Munroe, what are you thinking about?” one of the younger students asked, tilting his head.
“Nothing,” she replied quickly before turning back to Ethan. “By the way, have you seen Bobby and the others?”
“Last I checked, they were headed to the food court,” Ethan said after a moment’s thought.
Storm sighed. “Of course they were. Go get them before they cause trouble.”
“On it.” Ethan nodded and gestured to Katie.
“Come on, let’s round up the ice cube and his crew.”
As they navigated the museum, Ethan glanced around. “Alright, let’s figure out where the food court is.”
Katie pointed at a nearby touchscreen display. “Just use the electronic map.”
As she interacted with the screen, Ethan leaned in, scanning the map.
But before he could make sense of the layout, the display flickered violently.
A sharp buzzing sound filled his ears, like a swarm of invisible insects.
His head throbbed as an all-too-familiar sensation washed over him—an overwhelming wave of psychic energy.
It wasn’t just strong; it was volatile.
He had only encountered this level of raw power from two people—Professor X and the White Queen.
But this? This was different.
More chaotic.
More violent.
And it was growing stronger by the second.
“Damn it,” Ethan muttered, clenching his jaw. “What the hell is that?”
Katie looked at him in alarm. “Ethan, are you okay?”
His expression darkened. “We need to move. Now.”
“You want me to phase us through?” Katie asked hesitantly.
Using mutant powers in public wasn’t exactly subtle.
“Yes. Now.”
She hesitated for only a second before grabbing his arm and pulling them both through the wall.
Most of the museum visitors didn’t notice.
Those who did blinked, rubbed their eyes, and dismissed it as a trick of the light.
On the other side of the wall, a woman with short red hair stood frozen in place.
Jean Grey.
Around her, electronic devices flickered wildly, sparks jumping from circuits like miniature lightning storms.
But Ethan saw past the surface.
His perception—his ability to read the psychic world—showed him something far more terrifying.
Reality itself twisted around Jean.
An energy vortex swirled at her core, its gravitational pull distorting everything within reach.
And deep inside that maelstrom, something stirred—a presence with glowing blood-red eyes, straining against the chains binding it.
It saw Ethan.
It recognized him.
And in that instant, it lashed out.
A psychic shockwave erupted from Jean, sending waves of agony through every mind in the vicinity.
Bystanders clutched their heads, groaning in pain. It was a warning.
Ethan, however, barely flinched.
He stepped forward, unshaken.
“I am... the Phoenix,” Jean’s voice echoed, layered with something ancient and primal.
Ethan smirked. “Phoenix? It Doesn’t matter. For now, please go back in your nest.”
He placed a firm hand on her shoulder.
The energy surrounding Jean stilled.
The raging storm reversed course, spiraling back into her body at an accelerated rate.
The red glow in her eyes dimmed as her breath came in ragged gasps.
Jean clutched her head, trembling. “What... what did I just do?”
A familiar voice called out. “Jean!”
Cyclops rushed over, worry etched across his face.
Jean took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
“I’m fine, Scott. Just... having trouble concentrating lately.”
Scott frowned. “Jean, this isn’t just a concentration issue. A month ago, you could barely float a book. Now your nightmares are shaking entire rooms.”
Ethan crossed his arms.
“Yeah, if this is just ‘trouble focusing,’ then I’d hate to see what happens when you really lose control.” He gestured toward the terrified onlookers.
Only then did Jean register the looks of fear around her.
A woman sat on the floor, trembling, too afraid to even scream.
Then—everything stopped.
Time itself seemed to freeze.
A voice cut through the silence.
“It seems I arrived just in time.”
Professor X rolled forward in his wheelchair, his gaze steady and knowing.
Jean swallowed hard. “Professor, I—”
He held up a hand. “It’s alright, Jean. We’ll discuss everything when we return to the Institute.”
"Scott, go and help Ororo bring the children, we should head back," Professor X instructed Cyclops.
"Understood, Professor." Cyclops hesitated, his concern for Jean evident, but with Professor X present, he felt reassured.
As Cyclops departed, Professor X turned to Jean, who still looked dazed.
With a gentle sigh, he reassured her, "It’s alright. These people will soon forget what happened here, and this moment will pass. Let’s go."
"That might not be enough," Ethan interjected. "John, Bobby, and Rogue slipped away to the food street."
Professor X blinked, momentarily lost in thought before a peaceful yet strong presence radiated from him.
"Those little troublemakers," he mused before focusing.
"It seems they’ve found themselves in a bit of a predicament. Let’s handle it."
"Wait a second!" Katie’s voice cut through the moment.
She was standing in front of a digital display, scrolling through flashing data on the screen using a small tablet.
"What are you doing, kid?" Professor X asked, his gaze shifting toward her.
"All done." Katie unplugged a data cable and looked up.
"Professor, you can erase their memories, but there are security cameras here too. It’s best to wipe those as well."
Professor X paused, then smiled in approval. "Smart thinking, well done."
Meanwhile, at the food street, Bobby and John faced two cocky young men, both of whom had an air of provocation about them.
"Why are you acting all scared in front of us?" one of the gangsters sneered.
The encounter had started when the thugs had spotted a girl and tried hitting on her, only for her two male companions to completely ignore them.
Their lack of reaction enraged the gangsters.
John twirled his lighter in his fingers, smirking. "It’s simple—I don’t need to pretend. I actually am that good."
"Then why don’t you keep running that mouth?" Bobby suddenly interjected, his usual calm demeanor slipping as he caught the way the two thugs were eyeing Rogue.
His irritation boiled over. "They’re looking at someone I care about. Why should I just sit here and take it?"
John, uninterested in Bobby’s provocation, scoffed. "Not my problem. I’m not getting into a fight over it."
But just as John spoke, one of the thugs suddenly lunged forward, snatching his lighter.
"Give that back." John stood up abruptly.
"Why should I?" The thug smirked, using John’s own lighter to light a cigarette.
"Thought you were tough? You don’t look so scary now."
John clenched his fists, ready to act, but his eyes suddenly shifted toward the street, where he saw Ethan approaching.
The thug turned, noticing the newcomer. "You got backup?" He eyed Ethan skeptically but quickly dismissed him.
"This guy doesn’t look like much. I bet a little intimidation will do the trick."
"Hey, punk, you—"
SMACK!
Before he could finish, Ethan backhanded the thug with enough force to send him flying three meters backward, not even sparing him a glance as he turned to the group.
"Alright, guys. Extra-curricular activities is over. Time to head back."
The downed thug groaned, clutching his face. "You son of a—!" He shot back up, face red with fury.
Ethan turned to him, his expression sharp. "Try me again, and I won’t be so gentle."
Something in his tone made both gangsters hesitate.
The one who had been hit could still feel the sting on his face—he knew he wouldn’t stand a chance.
"What’s going on here?" A policewoman approached, her hand on her radio. She was clearly part of the security force for the area.
"Officer!" The thug immediately pointed at Ethan. "This guy attacked me for no reason!"
Ethan remained calm, pulling out a small black notebook and flipping it open. "S.H.I.E.L.D. business. Move along."
The officer’s eyes widened when she saw the insignia inside.
She stiffened. "I see. Apologies for the disturbance." Without hesitation, she turned away, not wanting any part of this.
The two gangsters exchanged panicked glances. "S.H.I.E.L.D?!"
Confusion hit them like a freight train.
'What the heck is S.H.I.E.L.D, and where could I get a card like that?' They simultaneously thought with their pea-sized brain.
"Scram," Ethan ordered dismissively.
They weren’t worth his time.
As the two thugs turned to leave, Ethan’s gaze flicked to the drinks on the table.
"Hold up." He waved down a server and ordered two more glasses of juice.
"You two, pay the tab."
"What?!" the gangsters yelped in unison.
Ethan ignored them, handing one of the drinks to Katie, who had just caught up.
Sometimes, putting people in their place was satisfying.
The small things mattered.
John, watching the scene unfold, gave Ethan a thumbs-up.
"Dude, that was awesome."
But Ethan wasn’t paying attention—his focus shifted as Professor X approached in his wheelchair.
"Don’t flaunt your powers so carelessly in the future," Professor X admonished John, his tone laced with disappointment. "I saw everything. If Ethan hadn’t intervened, you would have exposed yourself."
John bristled. "That’s not fair! He—"
"Ethan is different," Professor X interrupted.
"He won’t let things spiral out of control. You, on the other hand, are too reckless.
The moment you unleash your flames, you announce to the world that you’re a mutant."
John clenched his fists but said nothing.
"Let’s go," Professor X said.
But just as he turned his wheelchair, the television screen above them flickered to a news broadcast.
"Breaking news! Live from Washington: The White House’s Oval Office has been attacked.
Details are still unfolding, but sources confirm that President McKenna is unharmed. However, reports suggest that the attacker—or attackers—may be mutant-related."
Professor X’s face darkened. "This is bad."
After a moment of silence, he turned to Ethan.
"I need you to go to Nick Fury. He should have the information we need."
Ethan hesitated, glancing at Jean.
The last time she had used Cerebro, the Phoenix’s psychic seal had weakened.
If she lost control, there was no telling who could stop her.
Professor X seemed to read his thoughts. "Don’t worry. The entity inside Jean isn’t emerging just yet. We have time."
