6 X-mansion

"What do you think?" Sebastian Shaw asked Tessa.

"Obvious high intellect, arrogant, well maintained but normal human physique. Could be a formidable opponent if he chooses to oppose us. He should make a success story in a couple of years." Tessa answered.

"What about his telepathy?" Shaw continued.

Tessa seemed to think for a while, "Instead of a telepathic shield, his mind's shield is a genius use of his own intellect. He created an ocean of useless information as a shield for his real thoughts and memories."

Shaw chuckled, "So anyone who dares to dive into his mind has to go through an ocean of useless information before getting to his mind? Savant indeed."

Tessa gave a wry smile at the mention of the name Savant.

"We will observe remotely for a few years to see if we can invite him into the club." Shaw declared as they headed to their next destination.

***************

Another four months passed and a new year had started. In January 1995, some news headlines broke out that caused a ruckus all over the world. The headlines read: '18 year old with 4 PhDs calls mutants the next evolution of mankind, half the world population to become mutants in 250 years.'

'Mutants or evolved humans? Is becoming a mutant an inevitability?'

'Warren Worthington II: Mutation is just a disease and we are looking for a cure.'

Similar provocative headlines popped up like mushrooms all over the world. Even Hank Pym called me to ask if I was doing fine.

I also got a call from an expected but still unexpected person. And so I took a plane to New York. I had decided to make this megacity my new base of operations.

After getting a breather in a hotel, I first booked a cab and went to a large Victorian mansion that also happens to be a school. I was wearing a fitting grey suit and glasses, going for the Superman Clark Kent look.

Getting off the cab at the gate, I met the famous X-men member Wolverine who was waiting for me.

"Hello, Mr. Logan. I'm Savant Smith. I believe I am expected?" I brought my hand forward for a handshake.

I could perceive the information about cells in Logan's body that seem to age slowly but are able to replicate rapidly. I could also perceive the familiar yet unfamiliar metal in his body as well as its natural resonance frequency, should the need ever arise to break Wolverine's claws.

"Stop talking weirdly bub. Just call me Logan. Follow me" Logan grunted and complained while he led me to the mansion.

"I heard that you are immortal?" I tried making small talk while observing the school and ignoring the eyes staring at me. Due to my photo being plastered in every newspaper, I am now a minor celebrity in the nation, especially among mutants.

"Heh. Everything dies. You just need to kill it hard enough." Logan gave a very Logan answer.

"Agreed, if you were disintegrated on a cellular level, you shouldn't regenerate." I mused academically but Logan stiffened up a bit.

After passing through some corridors and recognizing some mutants based on their powers and appearances, I finally reached my destination.

Logan opened the door and entered while I followed to see a bald professor sitting behind a desk that was placed exactly opposite the door. On the side, I saw the blue beast Hank McCoy sitting on a sofa with a beauty who I assume is Storm. Behind them, Cyclops with his iconic visor and Jean Grey were standing.

"Quite the welcoming party this is, I'm flattered Professor." I jovially went forward to greet the professor first.

"You are a person worth the welcome Mr. Savant. You are as your name describes." Charles shook my hand while sitting. Quite a rude guy I must say.

"Aren't we all? Your X-men take the concept to the extreme. Right Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, Beast, and I'm sorry I don't know your alias, Miss Jean." I joked as he sat across the group with Logan.

"You can just call me Jean Mr. Savant. By the way, you have caused quite the commotion out there." Jean teased back.

I shook my head with a feigned grievance, "I just made a hypothesis and a mathematical model. The ones causing the commotion are others. Also, I wouldn't cause such low-level commotions."

Charles furrowed his brows at the last statement, "How sure are you about your hypothesis Mr. Savant? That we are evolved humans?"

"I'm pretty sure, it'd be embarrassing to be called Savant if the most famous hypothesis proposed by me is proven wrong, no?" I chuckled. "As for definite proof, you'd better ask those guys who do human experiments since I'd need more time for research. As you might have guessed from investigating me, I'm quite averse to such practices."

Logan grunted in displeasure at my mention of human experiments.

Charles continued, "Indeed. We will all be waiting for the day you complete your research on this. Our kind needs all the help it can get."

I laughed at that statement leading to everyone in the room having unpleasant expressions while Charles looked expectant and interested.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. I thought you were making a joke." I gave a perfunctory excuse.

Scott with his nasty attitude instantly exploded, "You better explain yourself, Savant. Such disrespect of any elder much less the Professor is insolent!"

While Jean Grey tried to calm the exploding Cyclops, I gave a teasing smile and looked at the faces of everyone present, and finally stopped at Charles.

"You say mutants need help professor, but from who? And for what exactly? The way I see it, Magneto can reverse or destroy Earth's magnetic field at will. You or Miss Jean here can wipe out almost every living being on the planet bar some truly powerful ones.

Miss Storm can create a literal Tsunami and bring the wrath of nature to the planet. And that's just the publically known powers and applications of the few of you. So just the people in this room have got the firepower to overwhelm the world.

If it's political power you need, I ask why? I'm young so correct me if I'm wrong but the political power those guys in Washington enjoy was built on their overwhelming firepower, no?"

Charles sighed, "The situation is not as you see Mr. Savant. The politics behind it is complex and we do not want to use violence and force against humans. We do not want to rule, we just want to live as we are with freedom."

I nodded and looked around, "And your solution is the X-men and this school? No offense but I want to ask you, professor, do you and Magneto represent all of the mutant-kind?"

From the expressions of the people in the room, I could tell that it was how they felt. Charles hadn't spoken when Jean answered, "Professor is our spiritual leader but Magneto is just a terrorist who doesn't represent our ideals."

"You're an accomplished scholar Miss Jean. I'll give you a small statistics problem. There are about 7 billion lives on this planet. Of those more than half are from Asia, primarily China and India with both having about a billion lives each.

Now Miss Jean, can you tell me statistically a ballpark figure of how many mutants there are actually in those countries? And can you tell me how many Chinese and Indian mutants you've ever met or seen in your life?" I asked my questions.

But Scott angrily interrupted at the object of his affection being questioned, "What are you implying? What do you mean to say?"

"It's simple really. The 'world' and mutants you're fighting for are just in the USA. While I understand that you lack the resources and manpower to go beyond US borders, I just think you should be more aware that four whole continents exist with a much larger mutant population than this country."

The X-men comics, movies, and cartoons in my past world were based in the USA. At most, they would have a few missions in Africa because of their black characters and Wakanda. For other parts, especially Asia, there might be some obscure one-shot stories somewhere but that's all.

Most of the X-men except Logan and Charles were fuming at my insinuation that they're ignorant. Logan was reminiscent while Charles had a sad expression on his face, "Thank you for reminding us of our inattentiveness Mr. Savant. It is as you say. We represent a very small minority of the mutants."

I showed an expression of understanding, "I understand. I'm sympathetic to your cause. It's just that for me both you and Magneto are two extreme approaches to solve the problem. The path you chose is almost equal to inaction in my view. As for Magneto, he overdid things.

But let's leave these ideological discussions behind. I'm not a mutant so it doesn't really matter what I think."

Charles shook his head, "No Mr. Savant. Every opinion of our friends matters. You are even a rising genius scholar."

As he was talking I felt an impact on my mind shield. Looking at the baldy's expression it seems he couldn't resist a covert mind search after all.

I sighed, "This is the second time someone talked about being my friend while trying to get into my mind telepathically. I take back my earlier words. At least you take action to breach people's privacy, Professor."

The expressions in the room were a mixed bag. Some seem to be shocked while some had expected him to try. The only thing common is their shock at me who claims to be a normal human being able to detect Professor X's intrusion.

Charles smiled sadly, probably fake for the master manipulator. "The safety of a lot of children rests upon my shoulders. So I have to always remain vigilant. I'm sorry for the offense Mr. Savant."

I shook my head as I stood up to leave, "If only you showed such initiative to read the minds and manipulate those who oppose you instead of creating child soldiers and manipulating friendly forces, maybe mutants would have had a better life. Thank you for your hospitality."

Without waiting for any of them to say anything, I walked out of the Xavier Manor.

I am not hypocritical to be angry at Charles for trying to read my mind when I've read the minds of multiple people in Caltech. I just don't like the man for his hypocrisy.

He manipulates his own people, even tampering with their memories but shouts morals when it comes to doing the same to his enemies. A lot of my dislike for the man comes from what he did to my crush Sage as well. Throwing a young mutant girl into the hellfire club to be his spy and abandoning her.

At least the mutant supremacist Magneto is clear about his moral values.

Oh well, I should just follow my plans and live the life that I want. Caring about such issues isn't my style anyway. I wonder what Sage must be doing right now.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Author's Note:

I'll release bonus chapters for every 100 stones. So do gimme more guys.