Marvel: I Awake the Little Cosmos-Chapter 539 - 507: Humans, Mutants, and Us (Second Update)
Because of the "Sentinel Robot," an alien artifact, Professor X and others have been staying at the Quantico Base, working with the scientists here to help understand this alien artifact.
Professor X is the most attentive.
After all, the entire Washington has come to a standstill because of this alien artifact.
To be precise, the dignitaries in Washington seem to have received some news over the past few days and have chosen to leave Washington one after another.
Those on vacation went on vacation.
Those recuperating went to recuperate.
In short, although there are still many people in Washington at present, those who are truly in charge have chosen to temporarily leave Washington, while those who cannot leave have chosen to retreat into their safe houses.
For instance, President Baron Turner.
As is well known.
There’s a safe house under the White House, said to withstand nuclear bombs.
Most of the time, President Baron Turner is in this safe house.
The generals at the Pentagon are the same.
As for why things have become like this within just a few days, the reason is quite simple.
It’s this Sentinel Robot in front of us.
In the past three days, this machine transported from Texas, identified by scientists as a dead object, and even confirmed by Professor X through psychic detection, has started to heat up gradually.
The detection instruments identified a very obvious heat source inside the Sentinel Robot.
The abrupt rise in temperature also indicates one thing.
This machine, suspected to be an alien artifact, is slowly heating up over time. Who knows, when the temperature reaches a certain level, this machine might revive.
As a result, the scientists at the Quantico Base have been busy, circling around this five-meter-high Sentinel Robot almost around the clock.
Yet none of these people seem to have considered something.
When Professor X arrived at the laboratory that day, he looked at the alien artifact surrounded by everyone, just like before, and said to the president’s assistant accompanying him, Mr. Aida: "My opinion remains that we should get this machine out of Washington before it shows any signs of activity."
The president’s assistant Aida looked sidelong at Professor X sitting in a wheelchair with a bitter smile: "Professor, we’ve discussed this issue before. The Quantico Scientific Experiment Base is newly built and is the best in the entire Federation. Professor, you should know the cost of building such a large-scale laboratory."
Professor X heard this and shook his head with a smile.
A toilet in the Federation’s budget can go for eighty thousand US dollars, so Aida’s reasoning is impeccable.
At least for Professor X, who tries to maintain maximal goodwill toward humanity, he chooses to believe this explanation.
Because of what the president’s assistant Aida said next: "And with you here, Professor X, we trust you, which is why the President is trying to push the Mutant Act through Congress."
Professor X chuckled at Aida’s words, then his gaze fell on the five-meter-high Sentinel Robot in front of him: "But so far, our understanding of this thing is practically nonexistent."
Even though scientists have been tirelessly researching these past few days.
Professor X has also joined the research with everyone.
But—
Nothing at all.
The only conclusion is that both the scientists present and Professor X have come to believe that the Sentinel Robot is an alien artifact.
Assistant Aida beside him listened to Professor X’s words, subconsciously opened his mouth, hesitating as though he wanted to say something.
Professor X noticed this. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
"Aida?"
"Actually, there is a way to know exactly what’s going on with this machine, to relieve our anxiety."
"..."
Professor X heard Aida’s words and was moved, immediately understanding what Aida meant.
"You mean Hawk Phoenix? Jean’s father?"
"Yes."
Aida nodded, his expression somewhat inexplicable: "In fact, this suggestion has been put forward from the start, but because of two years ago... Professor, you understand, in case this alien artifact is that person’s weapon, so this suggestion has been shelved."
Weapon?
Professor X heard the focus of Aida’s words, once again looked at the five-meter-high Sentinel Robot, recalling the familiar residual aura sensed on the machine.
Could it be his weapon?
Professor X thought silently, looking at Aida with an unexpressive face: "So now Washington has relented?"
Aida smiled wryly.
"Professor, do you know what’s more terrifying than death?"
"Waiting for death."
"Yes."
Aida nodded and then looked at Professor X: "The meaning from the Pentagon is that we can’t afford to delay. If this machine really is his weapon, or that so-called ’energy,’ we don’t know anything."
Professor X frowned.
"In that case, we should hide this thing and not let him know."
"You know how much harm he’s brought to us."
Ada’s bitter smile deepened as she looked at Professor X: "The Federation means to contact that person. If this machine is truly his, the Federation needs a guarantee, a promise made before, that he will leave our world immediately after obtaining his energy."
As Ada spoke, she earnestly gazed at Professor X: "And you, Professor, are the only one who can ensure that he fulfills this promise."
Professor X frowned: "You want me to contact him?"
Ada still wore a bitter smile: "Professor, no one in Washington wants to deal with him, you know that. Even the IRS people don’t dare to go to Palm Street."
Within the Federation, everyone thought it was the FBI that acted recklessly, but actually, it was the IRS.
After all, only death and taxes are unavoidable.
And for IRS agents to not dare to enter Palm Street, you can imagine Hawk’s renown in Washington now.
Professor X fell into silence.
"Professor, we don’t have much time left. We can’t guarantee how much longer we can keep this information on lockdown. Reporters who’ve caught the scent are trying every way to find out what’s happening at Quantico Base right now."
"And you know, regarding the attack in Washington two years ago, even though the White House denied it, some curious reporters still pinned it on the mutants."
"Now, the Mutant Act, the President is trying every way to push it through."
"If at this time, another problem arises here and it gets exposed, even the President can’t ensure the smooth passage of the Mutant Act."
"Because of the media’s sensationalism, the situation for mutants could be worse than before."
"So—"
"Professor, we need you. Not only do mutants need you, humanity needs you to step forward at this time."
Ada, seeing this, pressed on sincerely, simultaneously wielding the big stick of the bill’s failure and continuing to praise Professor X, elevating him to a moral high ground.
Professor X looked at Ada’s sincere eyes and expression, after a moment of silence, though he said nothing, he nodded imperceptibly.
After he left the laboratory building and returned to the building where the X-Men stayed, he found Jean and asked if she had told her father about the machine here.
Jean, upon hearing this, looked at Professor X with some curiosity: "Professor, we signed a confidentiality agreement. Rest assured, I will follow the rules that need to be followed, and my dad always talks about abiding by the rules."
Rules imply a baseline.
Especially since Hawk is already someone who makes the rules, a beneficiary, naturally likes rules.
Just like Professor X is a beneficiary among humans, thus choosing the latter between mutants and humans for the same reason.
Professor X nodded at her words, then looked at Jean.
"Now you can call your dad."
"Call my dad?"
Jean frowned, recalling her mom Wanda saying on the day they left New York City that her dad was experiencing a power tide during this period.
That was also why she hadn’t called her dad, as she didn’t want to disturb him.
But now?
Jean looked at Professor X curiously.
"Why?"
"Aren’t you curious why that thing has your dad’s aura?"
"Not curious."
Jean shook her head decisively, then looked at Professor X: "Dad said curiosity is a good thing, but sometimes, curiosity can kill the cat, and even if I’m curious, when I get back, Dad will naturally tell me."
There’s no need to disturb her dad during his power tide.
Though Jean still didn’t understand what the state of a power tide was.
Professor X didn’t hide it from Jean and recounted the conversation between him and the President’s assistant Ada.
After listening, Jean looked at Professor X: "Professor, what about you, do you also think my dad wouldn’t choose to leave here after gaining power?"
Professor X met Jean’s eyes and said gravely, "I must protect our world, Jean."
Jean felt a bit disappointed.
Not because Professor X also suspected her dad of being a sociopath, because in some people’s eyes, he indeed was.
Her dad also candidly admitted this.
Jean was disappointed because she had heard in Professor X’s words that ’our world’ didn’t include her.
For some reason, at that moment, Jean regretted coming to Washington.
At that moment, she had no idea what her purpose in coming to Washington was.
She had hoped to help Professor X with something before leaving.
But—
Professor X had already excluded her.
