Chương 98: The Training Room
At the entrance to the Training Room, Max shed his clothes, revealing a body marked by scars. Yukio took them, only to find them drenched, as if they'd been submerged in water.
"The Danger Room works wonders. You should give it a try too. I'll grab a shower first," Max suggested to the others.
"I'll accompany you," Rogue offered, her gaze lingering on Max's scars.
Max agreed, following her lead out of the room.
Three grueling hours later, Max emerged, visibly drained from the intense session. He walked slowly, silent throughout the journey, until they reached their destination after a fifteen-minute trek.
Acknowledging Rogue with a nod, Max disappeared into the shower. The hot water washed away his fatigue, revitalizing his body. Surprisingly, Rogue remained at the door, seemingly waiting for him. Max, intrigued, inquired, "Is everything alright?"
Rogue shook her head, uncertain of her own reasons for staying. Perhaps it was mere boredom, or a lack of direction.
Max smiled, eyeing the neck ring adorning Rogue's throat. "If you're okay, go rest. Take some time to recalibrate, and when you're ready, hit the Training Room. Embracing your abilities might lead to unexpected growth."
"It never hurts to grow stronger," he added.
Rogue nodded in agreement.
The Training Room, akin to a physical manifestation of the brainwave machine, offered opportunities for improvement to all, not just those with mental abilities. Max intended to have Kitty and the others explore it further, possibly even replicating its technology.
After a brief respite and a few words exchanged with Yukio and Sonia, Max dove back into Training.
"Just three months, let's make them count," he reminded himself.
As night fell, Max retired to his quarters, too exhausted to engage further. The following morning, he resumed Training, only to find Yukio and Sonia occupied in the Training room.
"Why aren't you in there?" Max inquired of Rogue, noticing her absence.
Rogue shook her head, torn between her reluctance to enter and the futility of resisting.
Max noticed the absence of her neck ring.
"You can try replicating the abilities of those around you without physical contact," Max instructed Rogue before retreating to the danger room to join the fray.
Fight, rest.
Fight, rest.
....
....
....
Max cycled through this routine tirelessly, pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion each time, only to wait until he recuperated before plunging back into battle. He didn't unlock the door until he estimated Kitty and the others had arrived, allowing them to enter directly.
On the evening of the third day, Kitty and the rest returned.
Kitty, Polaris Yukio, Blink, Sage, Viper, and the Cuckoo triplets. Alongside Rogue, Yukio, Sonia, Max noticed a considerable gathering, predominantly comprising women.
In any other circumstance, he might have hesitated. Not out of disdain for women, but due to the conventional belief that they were less capable on the battlefield. Yet, in this world, variant abilities could challenge and even overturn such notions.
Xavier's Institute, once desolate, now buzzed with activity as the reinforcements arrived. Max's routine remained unchanged despite the influx. Others busied themselves, some Training in the danger room during Max's respite, like Lorna, Kitty, Viper, Yukio, and others. Sage delved into studying the danger room and brainwave machine, ensuring they understood them thoroughly for potential replication.
The Cuckoo sisters were given access to the brainwave machines to locate other X-Men. With the Sentinel threat neutralized, or at least minimized, through the absence of replication, rallying Mutants or leveraging acquired intelligence against them offered a glimmer of hope to prevent further escalation.
For Max, there was no benefit in allowing doomsday to unfold.
.....
Max leaned against the wall, letting the water cascade over him, his body trembling from extreme fatigue.
Unbeknownst to him, a month had slipped by. In that time, Max had progressed from enduring three-hour bouts to enduring five, his recovery significantly swifter than before.
"Crack."
The door swung open.
Max glanced over his shoulder to find Cuckoo standing in the doorway, her presence breaking the stillness of the room.
Esme, unfazed by Max's attention shifting, began to speak. "The mutant population has dwindled significantly, but there's been a recent shift in the situation. Sentinels have been causing harm to humans during their operations."
Max's response was nonchalant. "This is just the beginning."
Esme studied Max intently. "You don't seem surprised."
Max shook his head. "The reports I received weren't mere accidents. Last time, Sentinel failed to differentiate between mutants and non-mutants due to an upgraded testing program. Many individuals carry variant genes, even if they haven't undergone the awakening to become mutants. They're at risk of being identified as mutants by Sentinels."
"It won't be long before humans start aiding mutants discreetly," Max continued. "They can't be certain whether their own offspring carry mutant genes or whether they'll fall victim to Sentinel detection and persecution."
Esme paused, absorbing Max's words, before adding, "There's something else. I've made contact with the X-Men."
"Professor X?" Max inquired.
"No, it's Iceman from the X-Men," Esme replied.
"You can provide him with information in exchange for payment," Max suggested.
"Understood," Esme acknowledged.
As Esme prepared to leave, she hesitated, offering a smile. "Need a hand? You seem exhausted and could use a shower."
Max remained silent, simply turning his back slightly.
Soon, he sensed movement behind him, the rustle of fabric, and then a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
As he turned back, he silently expressed his gratitude.
....
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