Lauren Strucker

Lauren let out a sigh, a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of her young age and a future filled with uncertainty. In a society that discriminated against Mutants, being one was anything but easy, and often brought shame and hardship.

For Lauren, her father, Reed, was a district attorney who prosecuted Mutants. Growing up hearing about Mutant discrimination and witnessing the struggles of Mutants like Eclipse Marcos, it was natural for her to worry about the plight of Mutants.

"Are you afraid they'll find out you're a Mutant?" Max's voice suddenly filled the room.

Lauren jumped in surprise, turning around to face the stranger who had appeared out of nowhere.

"Who are you? Mother..." Lauren began to speak in panic, but her words trailed off.

"Are you sure this is the right path?" Max asked with a calm smile, not rushing.

Lauren hesitated, her eyes locked onto the mysterious intruder.

"Who are you, and why did you break into my house?" Lauren's voice trembled with fear.

"My name is Max, or you can call me Sacred Gates," Max replied with a gentle smile.

"Are you a Mutant?" Lauren asked, eyeing him warily. "What do you want?"

"What do you think I want?" Max shook his head, still smiling. "I couldn't help but notice that you seem quite distressed. I'm just here to offer some advice and perhaps make an investment in the future. Lauren, you don't need to worry about your Mutant identity. In fact, there's more to Mutants in your family than you might realize!"

"What, what do you mean?" Lauren's eyes widened in surprise.

"Mutants typically undergo the Awakening of their X-gene during adolescence. You've probably just Awakened recently, right? Your brother, Andy, is also a potential Mutant, and he'll likely Awaken in a year or two."

"That's impossible! How do you know?" Lauren stammered.

Max smiled and replied, "Your family is quite unique, and these things become apparent at a young age. If you want to help your family, my advice to you is to start quietly saving money now and protect your secrets."

"I'll see you when I have the chance."

With those words, Max waved his finger, and in an instant, a door materialized in the air. He opened the door, smiled at the bewildered Lauren, stepped through it, and the door vanished.

Lauren stood there in astonishment, her hand reaching out to touch the empty space where the door had been. Max? Sacred Gates? It all felt like a surreal encounter.

Lauren hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to tell her parents about her Awakening.

Downstairs, a voice could be heard. It was likely her father returning home. Lauren decided to leave her room and, as she did, encountered a middle-aged man in a suit walking upstairs. He had a professional air about him.

"Dad, you're back," Lauren greeted him.

"Yes, I'll wash up and get ready for dinner," Reed replied with a smile, then headed into the bedroom.

Lauren hesitated briefly and then went downstairs.

In the bedroom, Reed put his briefcase aside, removed his suit, and changed into more casual clothing. Afterward, he left the room.

As the door closed behind him, another door appeared in the room. Max emerged from it and swiftly located the information he sought.

However, Max frowned upon examining the contents. He placed the information back where he found it, then left the room through the door.

Back at the Mutant underground base, John and the others anxiously awaited Max's update, readying themselves for a rescue mission. Lorna's phone suddenly rang, and she hurriedly answered.

"Did you get it?" Lorna inquired.

"We did, but unfortunately, it might be too late. They're planning to move the prisoners in half an hour. The Sentry Secret Service is handling the escort route, and Reid doesn't have that information. I'll give you the location now. If you hurry, you might make it in time," Max quickly conveyed an address. On the other end of the call, Lorna relayed Max's words to the rest of the team, and they prepared to depart.

After ending the call, Max frowned slightly.

"If it's just at this level, the mission won't be accomplished," he muttered. He then dialed another number.

Under the night sky, the Mutant Placement Center was heavily guarded. Searchlights illuminated every corner, and heavily armed soldiers patrolled regularly. High-voltage fences surrounded the area.

Several individuals hid just beyond the perimeter, growing increasingly anxious.

"I'm afraid we might be too late," John expressed, observing that the prisoner transfer seemed imminent.

"Should we split up to chase them?" suggested a blond man, Gus, John's close friend, and Mutant with the codename Pulse, capable of disrupting power systems.

"No, splitting up won't work. Even if we catch up, we can't save them," John dismissed the idea. He turned to Lorna and Jenifer.

Lorna took a deep breath and declared, "I'll go after the escort truck."

Jenifer inquired, "What about us?"

"Maybe, we can still rescue people right here," Gus suggested. "There are plenty of Mutants detained here. If I can infiltrate and disable the power system, chaos will ensue. The Sentry Secret Service agents just moved the prisoners out. They won't expect us to raid this place."

.....

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