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5.55% MARVEL: Scientific Path / Chapter 5: Test papers

章 5: Test papers

Hank was sitting in his office checking the new identity documents that were prepared for Savant, now Savant Smith. He had some anticipation for the two-day deadline the young boy had given him that day. He was looking forward to what interesting things the boy will show.

While he was lost in his thoughts his assistant knocked on the door and in came the boy he was waiting to meet. Hank could already tell, there was something different about the boy from the last time they met.

It wasn't about the healthier appearance and rosy cheeks visible to the naked eye for which he had been given an astonishing bill. Nor was it the expensive suit the boy was wearing that he paid for.

It was that invisible aura, the demeanor that had changed. Hank Pym was sure, anyone on the streets could tell that the boy was a proper scholar.

"It seems that the hotel bills were not wasted on you." Hank joked.

Savant smiled, "Of course, I wouldn't waste even a single dollar of my investor. Each dollar has to go into the product development."

"So, how far has the development gone? Is it prepared for market testing?"

"Yes, I can assure you that it will hold up to any amount of scrutiny."

Hank was pleased with the confident and intellectual attitude shown by Savant. He gestured to his assistant who brought out some of the most difficult high school test papers from the country's most elite schools.

Before even looking at the test papers, Savant said something that surprised both the assistant and Hank. "Can you get me some SAT test papers as well as Undergraduate test papers for Biochemistry, Genetic Engineering, and Microbiology?"

The assistant still in his shocked state looked at Hank who had composed himself already and nodded affirmatively at the assistant.

With a smirk, Hank spoke, "Your confidence knows no bounds huh? This should be an amusing show."

Savant just nodded and delivered exactly what Hank asked for, an amusing show.

In front of Hank, Savant had completed all the tests within an hour and a half. The only delay was because he couldn't write fast enough. If he could write at the speed of his thoughts, the test wouldn't last two minutes.

Hank was truly surprised and amused. Right after completing the high school tests, Savant began doing the SATs and the undergraduate tests while Hank checked the completed high school test papers by himself.

The next couple of hours went by with the office in silence except for the rustling of papers being turned and the soft friction of pen on paper.

Although Pym Technologies wasn't focused on biotech, they had some excellent scientists related to biology. And on that day, they were called by the company's owner to his office.

"Why were all of us called? Is Pym Technologies branching out to biotech?"

"It'd be great if I could get funding for a new lab."

"Is it your turn yet? I haven't gotten the new equipment I applied for last year."

The group of scientists noisily entered Hank Pym's office only to see a completely silent scene. The assistant hurriedly gestured for them to be silent. While Hank Pym was looking at some papers and a young boy was hunched over a table continuously writing something.

"Mr. Richards, hello. What's going on here?" The old scientist in the lead asked the assistant.

"Dr. Robin. Mr. Hank asked you guys here to grade this boy's test papers." The assistant explained curtly.

Seeing the dissatisfaction amongst the scientists, he further explained, "He is not just any kid. He is a veritable genius. Right now he is doing undergraduate tests for three disciplines of biology."

Although they were still annoyed, the scientists were still very interested in the so-called genius.

The assistant Mr. Richards handed over the SAT and other completed test papers to the scientists who somewhat unwillingly sat on the side to grade the papers.

By the time Savant was done with the tests, his wrists were sore and he had to put an icepack on it.

"You live up to your name, kid. Did you really lose your memory?" Hank asked with some doubt.

"If I didn't, do you think I would need to ask for you to invest in me Mr. Pym?" Savant asked back.

"True. With your level of intelligence, you require almost no assistance if not for your memory loss."

While they were talking, the group of scientists started exclaiming in surprise.

"Brilliant!"

"Is this even human? He made no mistakes."

"Are all your grading full scores too? Damn."

"I want to see if his skull has a computer for a brain."

Hank smiled, "It seems I don't need to check the results. I will hold on to those two favors as a return on my investment."

****************************

{Savant POV

Six months had passed since the time I took the tests in Hank Pym's office.

Under Hank's recommendation, I smoothly entered the California University of Technology or Caltech. I had even become a local celebrity in Caltech for completing four graduate-level courses within six months.

During my course at Caltech, I also heard of my comparisons with geniuses like Reed Richards and Bruce Banner who attended Caltech before.

Except for the graduate degrees in Biochemistry, Genetic Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Microbiology, I also gained a new ability in the last six months at Caltech.

One evening around two months back, when I was getting out of the gym from my regular evening workout, I had the thought of stargazing. So I went back to the dorm, got on the roof, and laid down with a dozen or so astronomy books.

Technically I didn't even need to read the books, I could just perceive the information in it and I would already be proficient in all the knowledge in the book within moments. Its just that I had fallen in love with reading books, so much so that I deliberately started reading them slower.

Of course, even though it was slow, it wouldn't take more than fifteen minutes for me to read any book. So while in a meditative state, I read all the astronomy books I had brought with me until nightfall.

After putting down the last book, when my eyes met the starry sky, it happened again, I fainted. This time I only woke up in the afternoon the next day when the stinging sunlight was right above my face.

I had perceived some information from the stars before but it was never at this level. It was as if a whole dam broke in my mind.

The age of the stars, their compositions, civilizations, languages, cultures, technology, planets, minerals, and elements; there was just too much information, and not all of it was comprehensible. I knew that I lacked specific knowledge to understand them.

For example, the information about the civilizations beyond the stars was incomprehensible for the most part. Firstly I didn't understand their language, I could only perceive it but couldn't understand it.

It's like an American listening to Chinese for the first time. If he had a reference, he could slowly try to understand it but without reference, it is all useless information, noise.

Anyway, I woke up with some useful information like the Inhuman's City on the moon and the hungry roars of Galactus somewhere deep in space.

After this experience, I found that my abilities had increased once more and my mind seemed to have evolved again as well. This evolution was stronger than the last one and I had gotten weak telepathy and telekinetic abilities.

I could still read the minds of ordinary people and shield my own mind but I was nowhere near the telepaths like Professor X, Jean Grey, and Emma Frost.

I also found out through this experience that I have infinite memory. Normally this sounds like not a big deal but when used in creative ways it is a great ability. And the best use I thought of was a mind shield.

I perceive too much seemingly useless information every second like the composition of the breath I just took, the number of dust particles in my line of sight, the composition of said dust, and so on. And that information keeps getting saved in my infinitely increasing memory space.

If I placed all the useless information I have as a shield over my actual memories and thoughts, anyone trying to break into my brain would drown in that useless ocean of information that is endlessly growing.

So, if Professor X ever wanders into my mind, he better know how to paddle with his useless legs or he'll drown.

After gaining telepathy, the process of learning got even smoother for me as I could now get the knowledge directly from the source, the professors at the cutting edge of their subjects. I had to be cautious about whose brains I poked though, you never know when you'll bump into a mutant in this world.

And bump into a mutant I did. Right now I was meeting with one of the most famous mutant villains in Marvel who had come with his secretary.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting the famous Sebastian Shaw himself?" I asked with a cordial smile while walking into the room. My mind and eyes kept wandering to the eastern European beauty behind Shaw.

With her aloof attitude, black hair tied in a messy bun, piercing gaze through the peculiar glasses, and trademark tear-shaped scars on her face, she was my long-time fictional crush in the other world. Although she didn't seem to have huge muscles, she is a combat specialist.

"You know us businessmen. We like to invest in profitable ventures everywhere and what's more profitable than a genius?" Shaw gave a nonchalant glance at his beautiful assistant while talking, and she casually shook her head.

To those who don't know about their mutant status and powers, this is just normal. To those who knew their hidden identity, those casual movements can be interpreted as a question and an answer, "Is he a mutant?" and "No."

While sitting down I answered, "I have to disappoint you Mr. Shaw but I already have an investor. And I don't think I warrant any more investment than I already have."

Shaw gave a cordial smile, "That's unfortunate. Even then we can always still be friends."

While Shaw was speaking, I felt an impact on my mind shield. Then there was a surprised and shocked expression on Shaw's assistant.

"You speak of friendships yet your assistant attempts to break into my mind. It is quite contradictory don't you think Mr. Shaw." At my words, Shaw's calm smile turned into a frown as he looked back at his assistant in anger. Of course, I could tell it was fake, I don't need to read minds to perceive information about Shaw's body language and micro-expressions. He wasn't even trying to hide it.

"I apologize on behalf of my assistant Mr. Savant. It's a force of habit, as a businessman keeping tabs on your opponents is essential after all. But you are a genius beyond what is advertised it seems." Shaw made a perfunctory excuse and tried appealing to the vanity of the teenager in front of him.

"While I may not be a mutant, the natural evolution of all human minds is mental power. I just have some preliminary control over my brain waves due to my mind being stronger than most of humanity." I too played into Shaw's trap.

"Oh, what do you think about mutants then Mr. Savant?" Shaw probed.

"I don't think mutants should even be the right term. I have a paper that's soon to be published in Nature magazine where I call them evolved humans. They are just the next step in human evolution.

And as happens in any evolutionary process, we can see the number of evolved is gradually increasing. By my mathematical model, I expect half of every human on earth to become the so-called mutants within 250-300 years." I gave a very standard technical answer.

"Evolved humans… yes. Your perspective is quite interesting. But you must be prepared to face backlash since there are forces who wouldn't like your theories." Shaw gave a sly smirk. A little like he was teasing a kid who knew nothing of the world.

"Of course, any society has a few idiots. Anyway, a hypothesis becomes a fact once proven. Maybe one day I can study enough to awaken the so-called mutation in every human. Who knows?" I grinned, giving a nonchalant glance at Shaw's secretary who flinched a little.

Looking at my watch, I got up to leave, "Sorry Mr. Shaw. I happen to have a meeting with a professor in another 10 minutes. I'll have to take a leave from this pleasant conversation."

Shaking my hand Shaw smiled, "Of course, a scholar should be busy with scholarly things. Thank you for your precious time, Mr. Savant."

I then put my hand forward toward Shaw's secretary, "I didn't catch your name miss?"

She gave a beautiful smile and answered, "I'm called Tessa. I apologize for my earlier offense."

I waved my hand, "Don't mind it. I should be glad that such a beautiful lady took interest in me."

While teasing Tessa, I walked away.


章 6: X-mansion

"What do you think?" Sebastian Shaw asked Tessa.

"Obvious high intellect, arrogant, well maintained but normal human physique. Could be a formidable opponent if he chooses to oppose us. He should make a success story in a couple of years." Tessa answered.

"What about his telepathy?" Shaw continued.

Tessa seemed to think for a while, "Instead of a telepathic shield, his mind's shield is a genius use of his own intellect. He created an ocean of useless information as a shield for his real thoughts and memories."

Shaw chuckled, "So anyone who dares to dive into his mind has to go through an ocean of useless information before getting to his mind? Savant indeed."

Tessa gave a wry smile at the mention of the name Savant.

"We will observe remotely for a few years to see if we can invite him into the club." Shaw declared as they headed to their next destination.

***************

Another four months passed and a new year had started. In January 1995, some news headlines broke out that caused a ruckus all over the world. The headlines read: '18 year old with 4 PhDs calls mutants the next evolution of mankind, half the world population to become mutants in 250 years.'

'Mutants or evolved humans? Is becoming a mutant an inevitability?'

'Warren Worthington II: Mutation is just a disease and we are looking for a cure.'

Similar provocative headlines popped up like mushrooms all over the world. Even Hank Pym called me to ask if I was doing fine.

I also got a call from an expected but still unexpected person. And so I took a plane to New York. I had decided to make this megacity my new base of operations.

After getting a breather in a hotel, I first booked a cab and went to a large Victorian mansion that also happens to be a school. I was wearing a fitting grey suit and glasses, going for the Superman Clark Kent look.

Getting off the cab at the gate, I met the famous X-men member Wolverine who was waiting for me.

"Hello, Mr. Logan. I'm Savant Smith. I believe I am expected?" I brought my hand forward for a handshake.

I could perceive the information about cells in Logan's body that seem to age slowly but are able to replicate rapidly. I could also perceive the familiar yet unfamiliar metal in his body as well as its natural resonance frequency, should the need ever arise to break Wolverine's claws.

"Stop talking weirdly bub. Just call me Logan. Follow me" Logan grunted and complained while he led me to the mansion.

"I heard that you are immortal?" I tried making small talk while observing the school and ignoring the eyes staring at me. Due to my photo being plastered in every newspaper, I am now a minor celebrity in the nation, especially among mutants.

"Heh. Everything dies. You just need to kill it hard enough." Logan gave a very Logan answer.

"Agreed, if you were disintegrated on a cellular level, you shouldn't regenerate." I mused academically but Logan stiffened up a bit.

After passing through some corridors and recognizing some mutants based on their powers and appearances, I finally reached my destination.

Logan opened the door and entered while I followed to see a bald professor sitting behind a desk that was placed exactly opposite the door. On the side, I saw the blue beast Hank McCoy sitting on a sofa with a beauty who I assume is Storm. Behind them, Cyclops with his iconic visor and Jean Grey were standing.

"Quite the welcoming party this is, I'm flattered Professor." I jovially went forward to greet the professor first.

"You are a person worth the welcome Mr. Savant. You are as your name describes." Charles shook my hand while sitting. Quite a rude guy I must say.

"Aren't we all? Your X-men take the concept to the extreme. Right Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Beast, and I'm sorry I don't know your alias, Miss Jean." I joked as he sat across the group with Logan.

"You can just call me Jean Mr. Savant. By the way, you have caused quite the commotion out there." Jean teased back.

I shook my head with a feigned grievance, "I just made a hypothesis and a mathematical model. The ones causing the commotion are others. Also, I wouldn't cause such low-level commotions."

Charles furrowed his brows at the last statement, "How sure are you about your hypothesis Mr. Savant? That we are evolved humans?"

"I'm pretty sure, it'd be embarrassing to be called Savant if the most famous hypothesis proposed by me is proven wrong, no?" I chuckled. "As for definite proof, you'd better ask those guys who do human experiments since I'd need more time for research. As you might have guessed from investigating me, I'm quite averse to such practices."

Logan grunted in displeasure at my mention of human experiments.

Charles continued, "Indeed. We will all be waiting for the day you complete your research on this. Our kind needs all the help it can get."

I laughed at that statement leading to everyone in the room having unpleasant expressions while Charles looked expectant and interested.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. I thought you were making a joke." I gave a perfunctory excuse.

Scott with his nasty attitude instantly exploded, "You better explain yourself, Savant. Such disrespect of any elder much less the Professor is insolent!"

While Jean Grey tried to calm the exploding Cyclops, I gave a teasing smile and looked at the faces of everyone present, and finally stopped at Charles.

"You say mutants need help professor, but from who? And for what exactly? The way I see it, Magneto can reverse or destroy Earth's magnetic field at will. You or Miss Jean here can wipe out almost every living being on the planet bar some truly powerful ones.

Miss Storm can create a literal Tsunami and bring the wrath of nature to the planet. And that's just the publically known powers and applications of the few of you. So just the people in this room have got the firepower to overwhelm the world.

If it's political power you need, I ask why? I'm young so correct me if I'm wrong but the political power those guys in Washington enjoy was built on their overwhelming firepower, no?"

Charles sighed, "The situation is not as you see Mr. Savant. The politics behind it is complex and we do not want to use violence and force against humans. We do not want to rule, we just want to live as we are with freedom."

I nodded and looked around, "And your solution is the X-men and this school? No offense but I want to ask you, professor, do you and Magneto represent all of the mutant-kind?"

From the expressions of the people in the room, I could tell that it was how they felt. Charles hadn't spoken when Jean answered, "Professor is our spiritual leader but Magneto is just a terrorist who doesn't represent our ideals."

"You're an accomplished scholar Miss Jean. I'll give you a small statistics problem. There are about 7 billion lives on this planet. Of those more than half are from Asia, primarily China and India with both having about a billion lives each.

Now Miss Jean, can you tell me statistically a ballpark figure of how many mutants there are actually in those countries? And can you tell me how many Chinese and Indian mutants you've ever met or seen in your life?" I asked my questions.

But Scott angrily interrupted at the object of his affection being questioned, "What are you implying? What do you mean to say?"

"It's simple really. The 'world' and mutants you're fighting for are just in the USA. While I understand that you lack the resources and manpower to go beyond US borders, I just think you should be more aware that four whole continents exist with a much larger mutant population than this country."

The X-men comics, movies, and cartoons in my past world were based in the USA. At most, they would have a few missions in Africa because of their black characters and Wakanda. For other parts, especially Asia, there might be some obscure one-shot stories somewhere but that's all.

Most of the X-men except Logan and Charles were fuming at my insinuation that they're ignorant. Logan was reminiscent while Charles had a sad expression on his face, "Thank you for reminding us of our inattentiveness Mr. Savant. It is as you say. We represent a very small minority of the mutants."

I showed an expression of understanding, "I understand. I'm sympathetic to your cause. It's just that for me both you and Magneto are two extreme approaches to solve the problem. The path you chose is almost equal to inaction in my view. As for Magneto, he overdid things.

But let's leave these ideological discussions behind. I'm not a mutant so it doesn't really matter what I think."

Charles shook his head, "No Mr. Savant. Every opinion of our friends matters. You are even a rising genius scholar."

As he was talking I felt an impact on my mind shield. Looking at the baldy's expression it seems he couldn't resist a covert mind search after all.

I sighed, "This is the second time someone talked about being my friend while trying to get into my mind telepathically. I take back my earlier words. At least you take action to breach people's privacy, Professor."

The expressions in the room were a mixed bag. Some seem to be shocked while some had expected him to try. The only thing common is their shock at me who claims to be a normal human being able to detect Professor X's intrusion.

Charles smiled sadly, probably fake for the master manipulator. "The safety of a lot of children rests upon my shoulders. So I have to always remain vigilant. I'm sorry for the offense Mr. Savant."

I shook my head as I stood up to leave, "If only you showed such initiative to read the minds and manipulate those who oppose you instead of creating child soldiers and manipulating friendly forces, maybe mutants would have had a better life. Thank you for your hospitality."

Without waiting for any of them to say anything, I walked out of the Xavier Manor.

I am not hypocritical to be angry at Charles for trying to read my mind when I've read the minds of multiple people in Caltech. I just don't like the man for his hypocrisy.

He manipulates his own people, even tampering with their memories but shouts morals when it comes to doing the same to his enemies. A lot of my dislike for the man comes from what he did to my crush Sage as well. Throwing a young mutant girl into the hellfire club to be his spy and abandoning her.

At least the mutant supremacist Magneto is clear about his moral values.

Oh well, I should just follow my plans and live the life that I want. Caring about such issues isn't my style anyway. I wonder what Sage must be doing right now.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Author's Note:

I'll release bonus chapters for every 100 stones. So do gimme more guys.


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