Chapter 28: X-Men
<strong>Chapter 28: X-Men</strong>
<span style="font-weight:400">X-Mansion. AKA, Charles Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.
<span style="font-weight:400">A certain red-haired beauty was in the middle of teaching a group of mutant kids when amotion seemed to ur in their courtyard.
<span style="font-weight:400">She noticed thismotion due to her students all looking out the window while pointing outside.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Woah! What’s that!?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“So many people!?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are we under attack!?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Is that also a mutant ability?”
<span style="font-weight:400">The students in her ss mored as they ignored her lessons and leaned over to the window to look at what was happening outside.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s happening?”
<span style="font-weight:400">The red-haired teacher frowned and also looked outside.
<span style="font-weight:400">One of her students asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Teacher Grey, are we expecting visitors?”
<span style="font-weight:400">The reason why the student asked that…was naturally because Benjamin had just opened a portal directly into the school’s courtyard and led a group of mutants through it.
<span style="font-weight:400">Seeing Benjamin, Jean Grey frowned as she tried to recall this familiar face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Only after a while did she finally remember about the famous Captain Freed in the news a few days ago.
<span style="font-weight:400">He was none other than Benjamin Freed! The Captain of the newly established Enhanced Police Division!
<span style="font-weight:400">It was also where they just sent Robert Drake to join a few days ago!
<span style="font-weight:400">What is he doing here?
<span style="font-weight:400">“ss dismissed. All of you remain in the ssroom until further notice.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jean spoke and immediately jumped out of the window.
<span style="font-weight:400">Using her powers to levitate andnd softly on the ground, she then began to walk towards Benjamin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Captain Freed. To what do we owe this…”
<span style="font-weight:400">She looked at the portal behind them for a moment and continued.
<span style="font-weight:400">“... surprising visit?”
<span style="font-weight:400">She wanted to say he was ‘uninvited’ but felt that it would be too rude considering they sent Robert in his care a few days ago.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, sorry for the unannounced visit. I won’t be here long. I just recently freed some mutants from a HYDRA base and they wanted to join this school. I’m just here to drop them off.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jean blinked in surprise as she turned to look at the group of people behind him.
<span style="font-weight:400">She could see from the marks on their necks and wrists that these people had been bound for a long time and most like experimented on based on their paleplexions.
<span style="font-weight:400">She sighed at the cruelty of HYDRA and nodded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Understood. On behalf of the X-Men, thank you for rescuing them.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No problem…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, sorry, I haven’t introduced myself. My name’s Jean Grey.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jean extended her hand toward Benjamin who in turn shook her hand while introducing himself as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Benjamin Freed. Though I suppose you already knew that.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hehe, you’re very popr even here, Captain Freed.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jean chuckled.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin sighed as he was still not used to the poprity but shrugged it off.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just Ben is fine, Miss Grey.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then just call me Jean as well. Also, would it be alright to get your number?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Huh?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You know. So you can call next time you want to drop off someone and not just…what is that, teleport? Teleport in directly unannounced.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jean looked at the portal in wonder and was still confused about how it was formed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin chuckled and exined it simply.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s a portal. Magic portal.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Magic?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yep. Magic.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jean was a bit speechless.
<span style="font-weight:400">Mutant powers and all, at least Jean knows these things can still be exined by science but magic? Is that real?
<span style="font-weight:400">While the two exchanged numbers, several more figures appeared to greet Benjamin.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin looked at them and saw the familiar bald man in a wheelchair leading them. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that this must be Charles Xavier. Professor X himself.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Charles Francis Xavier - Professor X. Affiliated with the X-Men]
<span style="font-weight:400">Behind him pushing his wheelchair was a dark-skinned woman with long white hair. She had well-rounded curves and wore a V-neck shirt which made Benjamin look a few more seconds unconsciously.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Ororo Munroe - Storm. Affiliated with the X-Men]
<span style="font-weight:400">Beside them is a man wearing a pair of red sunsses. He seemed to have this scowl on his eyebrows when he saw Jean close to Benjamain.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Scott Summers - Cyclops. Affiliated with the X-Men]
<span style="font-weight:400">Standing behind them was a huge man whose body seemed to be made entirely out of some metal alloy.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Piotr Rasputin - Colossus. Affiliated with the X-Men]
<span style="font-weight:400">There was also a blue furry beast wearing sses beside him who, despite his appearance, looked strangely gentle.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Henry McCoy - Beast. Affiliated with the X-Men]
<span style="font-weight:400">A bit further away hanging on a nearby tree was another blue fellow who even had a tail.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Kurt Wagner - Nightcrawler. Affiliated with the X-Men]
<span style="font-weight:400">Leaning on a nearby wall was a woman with short brown hair and white locks who looked quite goth. She wore a short ck tank top and a see-through green long-sleeve over it. She also wore gloves on her hands and dark green stockings under her ck skirt.
<span style="font-weight:400">One look and you can tell she’s afraid of anyone touching her skin.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Anna Marie - Rogue. Affiliated with the X-Men]
<span style="font-weight:400">Hmm, this one’s a bit dangerous. System, what happens if she touches me? Will she get you too?
<span style="font-weight:400">[Host, it’s impossible for the System to be stolen by anyone. However, she will still be able to acquire all of host’s abilities and memories. But with host’s current abilities, acquiring them may prove to be too strenuous for the current her, and she wouldn’t be able to control them. Memories that include the System will also not be acquired.]
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin nodded in his mind and asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">Any way to prevent her from using her powers on me?
<span style="font-weight:400">[There are currently two ways avable for the host. One, as long as the host is covered by the Untainted Symbiote, her powers would not work. It would work if it was a Symbiote with an ego like Venom but the Untainted Symbiote is more like a living armor and her powers would not work on it.]
<span style="font-weight:400">[Another way is for host to buy the Power Absorption ability in the System Store. Since both sides have the same ability, it will cancel each other out.]
<span style="font-weight:400">Ohh, how much is this thing then? Won’t this be super useful in the future? I won’t need to buy more powers and just get them myself.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Host can buy it for only 10,000,000!]
<span style="font-weight:400">…Alright never mind.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin sighed and shook his head.
<span style="font-weight:400">Since this ability was too expensive at the moment, he could only opt to choose the first option so he covered himself with the symbiote and made it so thin that it was transparent. Almost like a second skin.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Congrattions to host for wearing a body-sized condom!]
<span style="font-weight:400">…Fuck you System!
<span style="font-weight:400">[Host, it’s just a joke. Even if host unloads, it’s too thin and would still be useless. So host can rest assured and pull Rogue into the host’s harem and make a lot of babies!]
<span style="font-weight:400">…
<span style="font-weight:400">Ignoring the System who was clearly making fun of him, Benjamin looked back at Rogue.
<span style="font-weight:400">Hiding from behind her while asionally peeking was a young woman with long ck hair. Unlike the other women present, her chest was a bit modest but she still looked good.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Katherine “Kitty” Pryde - Shadowcat. Affiliated with the X-Men]
<span style="font-weight:400">Finally,st but not least, Benjamin spotted a grumpy figure ring at him from under a tree’s shadow a few meters away.
<span style="font-weight:400">When Benjamin saw him, he was momentarily dumbfounded.
<span style="font-weight:400">After all…his looks were too simr to the actor Hugh Jackman in his previous life!
<span style="font-weight:400">Damn! Don’t tell me Deadpool really does look like Ryan Reynolds before he mutated!?
<span style="font-weight:400">While Benjamin was shocked, it strangely feels…right?
<span style="font-weight:400">There was something in his appearance that made him more familiar to Benjamin ever since crossing over to this world.
<span style="font-weight:400">Despite being red at, Benjamin was more than happy to see a ‘familiar’ face so he didn’t mind it.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Logan / James Howlett - Wolverine. Affiliated with the X-Men]
<span style="font-weight:400">After seeing the whole roster of X-Men, Benjamin chuckled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I feel honored to be greeted by the whole X-Men. Professor Xavier, I presume?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin turned to the baldy in wheels.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Captain Freed. It’s our pleasure. However, I do hope you will inform us in advance next time you visit.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ah, my bad. I thought I’d appear outside the school but I guess I portal-ed a few ways off.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin scratched his head.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was indeed a bit embarrassing as he miscalcted a bit.
<span style="font-weight:400">“With that said, as a token of apology, how about I cure those legs of yours?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Not only Charles but the others were also surprised to hear such a thing.
<span style="font-weight:400">Unconsciously, Charles used his powers to read Benjamin’s mind to confirm if he was telling the truth but…
<span style="font-weight:400">“Argh!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">He was suddenly hit with a massive headache!
<span style="font-weight:400">When Charles yelled in pain, the X-Men around Benjamin instantly sprang into action, thinking that Benjamin just attacked Charles.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin sighed and clicked his tongue.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tsk tsk tsk. You know, just because you have the ability to read people’s minds, doesn’t mean you should use them like that whenever you want. Mental attacks or the like won’t work on me. Anyone who tries to read my mind or attempts a mental connection with me…well, that happens.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Charles raised his hand to calm down the X-Men while using his other hand to hold his head that was still in pain.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Stand down…he’s right…I apologize for trying to read your mind just now.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin narrowed his eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll forgive you just this once but next time won’t be so pretty. At worst, you’ll be braindead if you try to pull something like that again.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I’ll keep that in mind.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Charles shivered as he knew that this could indeed happen.
<span style="font-weight:400">The bacsh he felt just now…made him dread the unknown power within Benjamin.
<span style="font-weight:400">This power…was unlike anything that he had felt! It was as if it was the work of a much higher being!
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin then pulled out a Medium Recovery Pill since, ording to the System, a small won’t be enough to heal Charles'' legs since the injury is too heavy and he was a mutant.
<span style="font-weight:400">He tossed the pill to Charles but it was caught by Logan who had somehow appeared already by his side.
<span style="font-weight:400">Logan sniffed the pill a few times before tossing it to Charles.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin rolled his eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s not poison. If I wanted to harm him, none of you would’ve been able to do anything.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hmph!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Logan snorted and red at Benjamin a few more times before turning around to return to his earlier position.
<span style="font-weight:400">Charles looked at the pill in his hand and took a deep breath before taking it in his mouth!
<span style="font-weight:400">It only took a few seconds for the pill to take effect.
<span style="font-weight:400">In no time at all, Charles immediately felt an itch on his leg…a feeling he had lost a long long time ago!
<span style="font-weight:400">“I…can feel my legs…!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Charles gripped his armrest tighter than he had ever been in his life as he prepared himself for the next moment.
<span style="font-weight:400">Slowly, he put some force on his feet and began to lift himself up.
<span style="font-weight:400">Storm held his arm to support him from beside him as they all waited for him to finally stand up.
<span style="font-weight:400">Charles’ feet touched the ground and…he stumbled!
<span style="font-weight:400">But this was expected since it’s been a long long time for him since he had stood up.
<span style="font-weight:400">Time passed as they patiently waited for Charles to regain the feeling and finally…he stood up!
<span style="font-weight:400">Granted he still can’t walk properly without stumbling but for the moment…he really stood up!
<span style="font-weight:400">“Professor…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jean’s eyes teared up a little seeing Charles finally get off his wheelchair.
<span style="font-weight:400">Charles, while being held by Storm, slowly walked in front of Benjamin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Captain Freed…thank you…truly…”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s fine. If you want to repay me, then help these mutants I just rescued.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I will. This, I promise you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Also…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin leaned forward a bit and whispered in a voice that only Charles would hear.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You better not put anything in their heads as you did with Jean.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Charles’ eyes widened as he was surprised that Benjamin knew about this.
<span style="font-weight:400">Naturally, Benjamin knew this thanks to the System scanning Jean earlier.
<span style="font-weight:400">[Jean Grey - Phoenix. Affiliated with the X-Men. 80% of her abilities are currently sealed.]
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin knew that the reason for the seal was because of Charles attempting to contain Jean’s unimaginable power. The Phoenix Force.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin pulled back and spoke in his normal tone.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A piece of advice. You best tell her the truth soon before it all falls apart.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...I understand.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“???”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jean was confused about what they were talking about but didn’t dwell on it too much since it had nothing to do with her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well then. I should get going.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are you heading back already?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Jean asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah. Still a few more HYDRA bases I need to clean up.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then…can I tag along? In case you meet more mutants imprisoned by them.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hm?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin turned to look at Jean with a raised eyebrow and then to Charles.
<span style="font-weight:400">Charles smiled and simply nodded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s fine. She can leave if you agree. In fact, how about I get a few more to join you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Charles turned to the rest of the X-Men who understood what he meant and some of them stepped forward excitedly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Ooh! Me! Me! I want toe with you as well!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nightcrawler teleported and appeared in front of them with a raised hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Since Jean’s going, I’ll go too.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Scott frowned under his sunsses as he red at Benjamin.
<span style="font-weight:400">He didn’t like how Jean seems to be too close to this guy…
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll go too. Seems fun.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Rogue shrugged and stepped forward as well.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I want toe too!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Kitty, no. You still have sses.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“But Teacher Grey-”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No buts! Now go back to the ssroom!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Boooo…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Kitty pouted but still went back as she was told.
<span style="font-weight:400">With that, Benjamin will be bringing along Jean, Nightcrawler, Rogue, and Cyclops.
<span style="font-weight:400">Benjamin thought for a moment before shrugging.
<span style="font-weight:400">Oh well. At least I can rx a bit with these guysing along.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Suit up then. We’ll leave soon.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The four then went back to gear up while Benjamin chatted with the others while waiting.