Chapter 123: X-Mansion -3

"So how can Ah save her? She must have been led astray by this 'Magneto' fella and the 'Mother' she talked about," Marie demands, her agitation evident.

"Instead of focusing on your sister, I would advise you to concentrate on yourself," Professor Xavier suggests gently, a small smile on his face. "Once you have full control of your abilities, then you may think about saving her."

Marie reflects on the recent fight, recalling how helpless she felt.

You place a reassuring hand on Marie's shaking shoulders. "Don't worry, I am here. I will help you with whatever you want to do," you say softly.

Marie looks at you, her bright smile radiating as she feels better with you by her side.

"The Brotherhood is getting too powerful, Professor. Especially Rogue. If not for Aeon, I am afraid even Storm wouldn't have been enough to take her on," Scottie remarks in frustration.

"Yes, I am very curious about how you managed to make her back off," Ororo adds, her eyes twinkling as she looks at you. You realise that she must be referring to the kiss.

Even Logan, Professor Xavier, and Jean are watching you, awaiting your explanation.

Instead of explaining, you turn to Scottie.

Scottie Summers, a female version of Scott Summers, who can shoot optic blasts from her eyes without control.

"What?" Scottie asks, feeling uneasy as you approach her.

"Uhm," Scottie blushes a bit as you take her hand in yours and then swiftly remove her glasses.

"Nooo!" Scottie yells in horror, hurriedly closing her eyes. Even Ororo and Jean are taken aback, but the Professor motions them to wait.

"It's fine, Scottie, trust me," you say softly. "Open your eyes. I want to see them."

"No, give me back my glasses. You don't understand! You will get hurt! Everyone will!" Scottie exclaims, almost hysterically.

You touch her face gently, using your Angelic Aura to calm her down. "You can trust me. Now, slowly open your eyes. It will be alright," you reassure her.

Scottie calms down a bit and hesitantly peeks out, seeing everything normal. She opens her eyes fully, astonished as you hold her other hand.

"How?" she asks, dumbfounded, looking at you with her pretty brown eyes.

"It's one of my powers. Through physical touch, I can temporarily cancel someone's abilities," you explain with a smile. "So, do I look better in colour or in red?" you ask cheekily, knowing her ruby-tinted glasses only allow her to see in red.

"The colour version isn't bad," Scottie replies with a wide smile as she looks around the room at the Professor, Ororo, and Jean, smiling at each of them.

"Hmm, that would explain it," Professor Xavier says, stroking his chin.

"So what about those electrical powers? I thought your abilities were similar to mine," Ororo asks, baffled.

"And what about the temporal powers that Aeon had? Are you not Aeon?" Jean inquires, also confused.

"I have multiple abilities," you reply with a smile, creating another identical pair of red glasses in your hand and placing them on Scottie as you let go of her hand, although she seems reluctant to lose your touch.

"Multiple powers? That's unprecedented!" Professor Xavier exclaims in wonder.

You almost chuckle, thinking how his son Legion in the comics was a host of multiple abilities.

Jean, Ororo, and Scottie are surprised by your reveal but they still choose to believe you, given the proof you have shown.

"I wonder if your abilities would work on Helen," Jean muses to herself.

"You should join us. Your powers will definitely come in handy!" Scottie says excitedly.

"Even without this revelation, I was going to invite you, Marie, and Logan to join us here in building this school," Professor Xavier says, looking at you seriously. "Lucas, the world is undergoing a change. Mutants were once a handful, but in recent years, there has been a surge of them emerging everywhere. The Brotherhood and Magneto are just one of the groups out there, ready to mislead them. And I am dearly afraid for their fates. That's why I have decided to open this school. I want to teach mutants a way to coexist with humans so we can all live prosperous and peaceful lives. Will you join me in my dream?" Professor Xavier asks sincerely.

"Yes, join us, Luke. We even have a team name—the X-Men!" Jean says, looking at you excitedly.

Ororo and Scottie also look at you eagerly.

Marie and the silently brooding Logan also turn towards you.

You take a deep breath and reply, "No."

"No?" Professor Xavier repeats in confusion. Even Marie is taken aback.

"Sorry, Professor, I can't join your X-Men," you say with a wry smile.

You have thought about this before. You didn't even join the Fantastic Four when Susan invited you. You like your freedom. The Fantastic Four you might have considered for joining, but you didn't want to deal with Ben, Johnny, and Reed all day.

Meanwhile the X-Men have specific goals of mutant and human coexistence, based on Professor Xavier's idealistic dream. You are not Magneto, advocating for mutant supremacy, but you have read enough comics to know the flaws in Proffessor Xavier's ideology. And you definitely don't want to be tied to a chariot driven by someone blinded by idealistic visions.

Still, it's not like you will sever ties with the X-Men.

"I will still do my best to aid and support you and the school, Professor," you say, sensing the depressed looks around you. "And I still think Marie should definitely join your school," you add, looking at Marie.

"Huh? Why? I want to be with ya, Luke!" Marie exclaims, shocked.

You gently touch her cheek. "Silly girl, the school is still in New York. I can visit you anytime, and you can do the same. Don't worry about your aunt; the Professor or I can explain that you are going to a prestigious boarding school," you say with a smile.

"B-but," Marie stammers, looking at you pitifully.

"Don't you want to meet your sister again? I am sure staying here is the best chance you will have," you say sincerely.

She sighs and nods, hugging you tightly. You pat her back as Jean suspiciously watches you both.

"So instead of joining the X-Men, how about a partnership with the Watson Group? I have many things you would be interested in," you suggest with a smile.

The Professor sighs, then nods. "A partnership it is then," he agrees with a small smile.

Marie releases you and looks at the Professor. "I would like to join the X-Men, if you'll have me," Marie says hesitantly.

"We would love to have you join us," the Professor agrees readily.

As Ororo tries to hug her, Marie backs off. "I don't think touching me would be good for you," she says with a wry smile.

"Oh, don't tell me you have the same power as your sister," Scottie asks in wonder as Marie nods with a wry smile.

"Uhm, we can just call you 'Lil Rogue,'" Jean chimes in.

"But we are twins, ..." Marie sighs, looking at her shorter body compared to her sister's.

As they talk, you approach the brooding Logan. "It's unusual for you to stay this silent, Logan," you ask curiously.

"It's nothing, bub. Just some things the Professor said. I think he can help me recover my memory," she says with a sigh. "But I am afraid what I will find won't be pleasant," she says with narrowed eyes.

You know a lot about Logan's history, but that's just meta-knowledge. You don't know if it's still true in this jumbled world, so you haven't told her, not wanting to feed her half-truths or outright lies.

You place a hand on her shoulder. "Whatever happens, don't forget you are still my security consultant, and I will reject your resignation. So don't even think about it," you say mock-seriously.

She looks at you with a smirk. "Yeah, I remember, 'Boss,'" she says with a smile.

"I should have recorded this!" you exclaim, wide-eyed.

"Well, you missed your chance," she jabs at your stomach.

"Ouch," you feel the metal arm punch your hard abs.

"This is for hiding the mutant and power stuff from me," she says with a hidden smile.

"That is all very recent. Even I didn't know about it," you say with a wry smile as you both look at each other.

"So, I will be staying here for a while," Logan says, looking at you. "But you still owe me a bike!" she says seriously.

"I already have it ready," you say as you bring her out of the mansion, with the others following, having heard the conversation.

You put the metal suitcase that you brought on the ground and use your Metal Constructs and Data Warping a few times. Voila, a yellow and black brand new chopper bike appears before you.

"You really did it, bub," Logan says, punching your shoulder with a wide grin as she inspects her new bike.

Even Scottie seems very interested in it.

"Okay, I will take my leave then," you say, looking at the rest of the group. Marie comes forward and hugs you. You know she's too shy to kiss in front of everyone, so you kiss her forehead gently. "Don't worry, I will visit regularly, and I will send all your stuff here from your house, so don't worry about that too," you assure her.

"Love ya, Luke" She whispers silently with her head in your chest.

"Love you too, my lil rouge" You whisper in her ears with a smirk. She chuckles with a blush as she reluctantly lets you go.

"Meet you soon, X-Men," you say with a smile as you wave your hand, creating a portal on the ground. You step through it, vanishing from the sight of the astonished crowd.