บท 99: The Professor X
Max felt a slight jolt, but he didn't halt his movements. Part of him was indeed fatigued, but with her already in the room, there was no reason to pause.
As one of the three enigmatic Cuckoo sisters began preparing for a bath, Max narrowed his eyes in thought. The Sentinels had started targeting humans, signaling an imminent shift in the Mutant situation. While not a complete overhaul, significant improvements were on the horizon.
Preparation was key.
"At the end of the day, money is just paper," Max mused. "But for me, wealth holds its value. Coins may be trivial, but gold, diamonds, and jewelry? Those are invaluable commodities. We might be confined here, but leveraging the brainwave machine for intelligence can still yield profits, preparing us for the new world."
Contemplating this new era, Max had also dedicated time to stabilizing the crossing gate, the wormhole. Progress was promising, boasting an 80% success rate upon activation. Physically, Max felt confident that within a month, he'd be ready.
However, a nagging question persisted: Could others safely traverse the crossing gate? Radiation posed significant risks during transit, raising concerns for companions' safety.
Perhaps these worries could be brushed aside once Max mastered the gate, but for now, the risks loomed large. Max enlisted Viper and the sage to enhance the silver samurai armor, hoping for targeted improvements.
Progress, however, crawled at a snail's pace.
"Don't tamper haphazardly; you can't put out a fire by feeding it," Max cautioned suddenly.
"We're three, though!" She retorted, approaching Max provocatively.
Max shook his head firmly. "I don't trust you. Even if all three of you serve me, it won't change. Trust isn't earned through such means."
"But you have a secret. While I don't know what it is, it hasn't hindered me yet. Plus, you're exceptionally useful. That's why you're still here," she reasoned.
Among the three Cuckoo sisters, Max harbored the least distrust towards them. Others could be understood through media portrayals, but the enigmatic trio remained an enigma, leaving Max cautious.
"We're striving to earn your trust," she asserted.
"Do you believe I'd trust you solely because of our connection?" Max countered.
She shook her head. "No, but it's a start. And you underestimate your allure! Your abilities, personality, and physique? They hold great appeal for women."
Max glanced at her with a warm smile before stepping out to grab a towel to help dry her off. She didn't utter a word, allowing him to assist in drying her body and fetching clothes before she took over to finish the task herself.
"Do you want to lend a hand?" she inquired, looking up at Max.
Max grinned and shook his head, then turned to exit the room.
Meanwhile, as Max contemplated, Sentinel intensified its efforts to apprehend humans harboring latent mutant genes. This shift sparked widespread panic among humanity. Streets filled with protests, urging the government to intervene as they had with mutants in the past. Unfortunately, this time their pleas fell on deaf ears.
On the news, prominent senators issued stern statements vowing to crack down on mutants and potential mutants, likening the mutant gene to a virus or plague.
"Sometimes sacrifices are necessary to eradicate a plague," they proclaimed.
As protests were quashed, more non-awakened children were detained or worse, leading to escalating panic and a growing alliance with mutants.
"People tend to confront problems head-on when they're the ones affected," Max remarked.
With the aid of sympathetic humans and intel from Max, Iceman rallied support to combat Sentinel, rallying more mutants to the cause.
War was brutal, demanding sacrifices, yet these sacrifices weren't in vain. In just over two weeks, the situation stabilized. Unlike Sentinel, mutants didn't crumble under pressure like mice on a busy street.
"The silver samurai armor has been upgraded. It might not offer 100% protection against the wormhole threat, but it's the best we can do for now," someone announced.
In Max's quarters, both Viper and Sage approached him.
"Where's the brainwave machine and the crisis room?" Max acknowledged Viper first, then turned his attention to Sage.
Viper replied, "We've sorted out the production process and created a small-sized prototype without any hitches. You can memorize the blueprint and procure materials in the new world for remaking."
"Summon everyone. It's time for a meeting," Max declared.
Viper and the Sage wore broad smiles, a clear indication that their mission to cross the gate had been successful, and they were back earlier than anticipated.
In the meeting room, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as others trickled in one after another, their faces lit up with joy.
Everyone had gathered except for one of the three sisters responsible for the brainwave machine. Max was just about to address the group when he noticed one of the Cuckoo sisters rising to her feet.
"Got some news, but it's not good," she announced solemnly.
"Spit it out," Max replied, his anticipation tinged with concern.
"Phoebe found the professor and Storm," she began, her tone heavy with foreboding.
"Isn't that supposed to be good news?" Kitty interjected, her excitement evident, nudging Rogue for confirmation.
But Rogue shook her head. "I couldn't sense his presence before reaching out to the professor. Initially, I thought maybe he was blocking Phoebe's psychic link, so I reached out to Storm. But..." she trailed off, her expression grim.
"What happened?" Kitty pressed, a knot of dread forming in her stomach.
"They were ambushed by Sentinels, and it's possible the professor didn't make it," Rogue revealed, her words hanging heavily in the air.
The professor dead?
Even though the professor had faced death before, the news was still a bitter pill for Kitty and Rogue to swallow. He wasn't just an elder or mentor; he was a beacon of hope for mutants everywhere.
"What about Magneto and Wolverine? They were supposed to be with him," Max inquired, grasping for any shred of hope amidst the grim news.
....
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