บท 58: Delving Into the Mind...

I was stunned speechless at the sight laid out before me as I'd never actually been to the 33rd floor before since it was Reed's laboratory and I had no reason to go there plus even though it wasn't said I still felt like it was off limits but now I regret never coming here because all around me is a beautiful ocean of technology and machines all haphazardly places around the place and yet they all fit and blend seamlessly together to create a spectacle and even though quite a lot of corners are cut with wires being exposed and machines being without their casing it all still looks awesome since I can tell that they are all still safe to use and perfectly functioning and I can only surmise the reason why they haven't been fully assembled is because Reed is constantly changing the layout out of his lab and building new stuff so he doesn't have time to worry about how everything looks and I have no doubt that to a regular person this place would look cluttered and messy but to someone educated and aware of the objects and items in the room it would look magnificent, I marvel at everything as I walk and follow Johnny who doesn't have any reaction so I guess he doesn't understand just how awesome this place is or he's just seen this type of setup so often that he's grown used to it and no longer finds it interesting but still I'm a bit offended that he's ignoring everything here as half of these things are just theoretical in other scientists works but here they are a reality and so I'll be making sure to take a closer look around the place and into the archives for more information since I now know that there's so much more here that might benefit me.

As I follow Johnny along through the 33rd floor I notice a big open space in one section of the room that's cluttered with devices and machinery and I also notice that the ceiling height doubles there so I can only surmise that that's the part of Reed's lab that spills over into the 34th floor but I'm about confused when I notice that there are devices clinging onto walls, hanging from the ceiling or piled on top of one another but there doesn't seem to be any stairs around to get to this device but then I remember that this is Reed's laboratory and he would be the only one using it so it makes sense that their are no stairs since he can just stretch himself to reach wherever he needs to reach and this makes sense since it makes more space for more machinery and tech, it's at this point that I've finally snapped out of my marvelling since Johnny has stopped in front of me and I nearly crashed into him but once I take a look around I realise why he stopped and it was because we arrived at our destination which is the other guys location and spreading my gaze to the surroundings I quickly take note of what's happening though it seems that the rest of the Fantastic Four, the professor and Ororo haven't noticed our arrival or if they have they don't deem it of enough importance to distract them from what is currently happening I understand that because at the moment they're are all watching as Ben is lying down on a metallic platform/table/gurney thing and Reed is putting securing some metal clamps on each of his limbs (including around his neck) that seem to be coming out from the metallic table though I'm confused as to why since the Thing would easily be able to break out of those as he's been known to go toe to toe with the hulk (before the Hulk got angry at the fact he wasn't winning and got even stronger).

Apparently sharing my concerns Ben asks Reed what I'm currently questioning. "Are you sure this thing is gonna to hold me, looks pretty brittle. Why are you even putting this on me anyway?" Ben questions although I know the answer to the last thing he asked as it is pretty obvious and Reed explains that in the next second. "Well Ben, we are putting this on you since we don't know how you are going to react when the professor delves into your mind. Also although this metal may look weak I've chosen it specifically because it will be able to take all your strength, at least I believe so." Reed tells Ben and the professor decides to add his opinion as well. "Quite convenient actually, it's just what we need since we don't know what your reaction will be. " The professor says and in response Reed chuckles. "Not coincidence Professor, it's actually the reason I wanted this meeting to happen in two weeks rather than straight away. I've spent the last two weeks designing this new composite metal so that it would be able to resist Ben's strength." The professor nods in understanding while Reed continues to strap Ben in place before he takes out some kind of metal harness which he places on Ben's orange rocky head, he starts to connect all sorts of wires to the contraption and hooks it up to a machine which begins to show some waves on it. "We will be using this device to keep an eye on your brainwaves and if anything happens we all know no I doubt it will since the professor is professional. I'm sure that if anything does happen though the professor will pull out before any harm is done." Reed starts to explain as he notices Ben starting to worry when he placed the contraption on his head though it seems his effort was for nought since he just gave Ben quite a few more worries, Ben is right to be cautious since the mind is a fragile thing and we don't know if even just looking at it would be dangerous.

Reed believing that he has calmed Ben's worries gets back to fiddling with his devices and setting everything up, the professor being much more aware than Reed notices that Ben is still having a mild panic and so tries to reassure him by using his words which is his preferred method to deal with everything though if that fails he doesn't mind altering people's minds, hold on Nick you promised to reserve your opinion until you've actually gotten to know the man instead of building up a view and opinion of him based on my meta knowledge that might not even have any basis in this universe. "You don't have to worry Ben, today's session is strictly just a viewing session. I'm only going to be looking into your mind and I won't be messing or touching anything so you don't have to worry, I'm just going to try and find any problems that you may have in your mind and after that and discussing it further with you we would take steps to resolve it." Ben seems to have visibly calmed down due to the professors words and Susan shoots the professor a grateful look in response, Reed being totally unaware of the going ons as he is too consumed with messing about with his devices finally finishes setting everything up. Before looking up and giving a sharp nod to the professor. "Okay Ben we are about to start, if at any time you start to have second thoughts or panic just think that you want to stop and I will know and do so promptly. Are you ready?" The professor asks and Ben deciding to nut up and shut up gives a firm nod filled with determination though you can't really tell since his head is being restricted by the clamp around his neck and the contraption upon his head, the professor seems to get the message though and places his hands on Ben's temples and closes his eyes while Ben does the same and they defend into silence.

All seems to be consumed by silence and while Susan and Reed begin to look at the brainwaves on the screen and Ororo keeps an eye on the professor me and Johnny are left with nothing to do, so I decide to keep an eye on the proceedings with a particular focus being on Ben since I want to know if having the professor in his mind is having any effects on his body since it might help me streamline my cerebral mind protection device but I don't think I'll be getting much information just by staring at them so I too walk over to behind Reed and Susan to keep an eye on the brainwaves while also keeping watch of Ben and the professor just in case the brainwave readings somehow ended up being wrong. "So… How long does this sort of thing usually take? Am I gonna be able to take a bathroom break and get some dinner before something actually happens?" Johnny being his crass self decides to start a conversation with Ororo trying to figure out how long this is going to take and if he could be doing something else while waiting for the results, I also wouldn't mind knowing how long this process takes since the professor is currently the foremost authority (as I don't think Jean has fully become the host of the Phoenix yet and Emma Frost while formidable still has less experience compared to Charles Xavier) on the subject of telepathy and the mind and knowing how long it takes him to do a full scan of the brain would really give me good idea of how dangerous telepaths are and if I need and more preparations and precautions. Ororo is about to answer Johnny when she is disrupted by a low growl sounding out in the nearly silent room and figuring out where the sound was coming from we all look towards Ben on the metallic slab whose jaw is clenched, all of a sudden his growl gets louder and deeper and he starts to move his limbs pulling on the clamps making them creak dangerously.

I guess something is going wrong in that mind of his but what? And is it the professors fault...

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<AN> I now have a Pa treon up and running and when a chapter is ready it will go up on Pa treon first so please take a look. Some support from you guys would be appreciated and motivate me.

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