Chapter 33

Seeing that he was still fuming, Pepper gently suggested

"Tony, why don't we just go back to L.A.?"

"Leave with my tail between my legs? Won't that make me look scared?" Stark retorted, still indignant. "He wants the tallest building, right? Fine, let him have it! Go buy up all the land around the Osborn Tower and build a wall of skyscrapers surrounding him!"

Pepper opened her mouth to speak…

But Stark was too angry to listen to reason.

So she could only nod in agreement.

"Are you still going to tonight's World Expo?"

"No!" Stark replied without hesitation. "You can handle it!"

"Alright, I guess I better catch the plane then."

"That's our private plane. It should wait for us!"

"Well, we still have to go, right? It won't fly itself here."

Just as the words left her mouth, a Quinjet appeared hovering over the top of the nearby Dawn Tower, picking up Vex and Natasha before flying away.

Pepper: "..."

Stark: "..."

...

On the Quinjet, Vex had no idea that one of his remarks had caused Stark and Fury to fall out.

At the moment, he was admiring the luxurious decor of the cabin, nodding in satisfaction.

"Did we confirm the appointment with Professor X?" Vex asked.

"Professor X is more than happy to welcome you," Natasha replied. "However, his telepathic powers are quite strong, so, sir…"

"Don't worry," Vex said nonchalantly. "He's powerful, but my people, the Starborn, have mental shields. He won't be able to breach them. And if he does, well, our whole fleet would show up."

That statement made Natasha tense up.

No wonder Vex had once said that probing his mind was an act of war...

Good thing Professor X failed when he tried back then.

Otherwise, Earth would be facing the Starborn fleet right now!

Just one Vex was enough to defeat General Zod—imagine if there was a whole fleet…

Unthinkable!

"Rest well, sir. Let me know if you need anything."

Natasha stepped outside the cabin and immediately reported the intel to headquarters.

As soon as Fury received the information, he called Professor X directly.

Better safe than sorry—he needed to warn him!

Otherwise, if this led to major trouble, it would be a disaster!

...

New Jersey, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

The Quinjet landed on the school grounds, attracting the attention of many students, though they were used to it by now.

The X-Men also had vertical take-off jets in the underground hangar, and they were a common sight during missions.

After disembarking the jet, Jean Grey, "Phoenix," pushed Professor X forward in his wheelchair.

This Jean wasn't the older version from the original "X-Men" films but the young, vibrant Jean from "X-Men: Dark Phoenix."

She was the classic tall redhead with blue eyes, exuding a regal aura that made anyone who looked into her eyes feel a little intimidated.

Like a walking queen, one would feel the urge to conquer her.

And...

The "Phoenix Force" was a primordial cosmic entity, akin to an Infinity Stone, birthed at the dawn of the universe.

It rivaled the power of "Chaos Magic."

"I knew I wasn't mistaken! To encounter a fragment of the Phoenix Force here… How foolish to try and imprison such power." Vex remarked.

Both Professor X and Jean were taken aback by his words!

"Are you talking about the other power inside me?" Jean asked urgently. "I accidentally absorbed it in space, but I can't control it, so I had to..."

"Of course you couldn't control it," Vex scoffed. "The Phoenix Force was born with the universe—it's the origin of all things. No one can control it."

Jean was left speechless.

Professor X, on the other hand, quickly caught on.

"So how can we ensure the Phoenix Force doesn't go berserk?"

Vex turned to Jean.

"Before we get to that, I need to ask you something, Jean. How would you respond to someone who hates you, even wants to kill you?"

...

Jean responded without hesitation, "I'd kill them first."

The X-Men weren't exactly saints—they fought to protect the world but weren't soft-hearted.

Wait!

Jean's eyes widened.

"Are you saying…"

"Exactly," Vex nodded. "The Phoenix Force has emotions; it's not some dead thing you can't communicate with. Would you reject or even want to kill your companions?"

Professor X nodded thoughtfully.

"So, what Jean needs to do… is to embrace it, fight alongside it?"

"The reason the Phoenix Force goes berserk is because Jean fears it, tries to destroy it, so it reacts instinctively," Vex shrugged, the answer obvious.

"But if I lift the suppression, it'll go out of control," Jean fretted. "It's never communicated with me."

"Indeed," Professor X sighed. "Last time Jean went out of control, it nearly... Even with Cerebro, it's hard to restrain it again."

An unsolvable dilemma.

But...

Vex had come today specifically for Jean!

The Phoenix Force was formidable, but if it was just a fragment, Vex could handle it for now.

With his mental defenses and the system's barrier, any psychic attack would be neutralized.

And as for the Phoenix Force's power of destruction, Vex could use his "Vector Manipulation" to counter it.

Perfect control.

"So, if it's just a fragment, it won't harm me," Vex said with a smile. "I'm intrigued by this primordial cosmic power, which is why I'm here today."

Jean was startled!

She rushed forward, leaving Professor X behind, and stood before Vex.

"Can you really do it?"

"I have no reason to lie," Vex said, shrugging. "If I wasn't confident, I wouldn't be gambling with my life."

Jean was overjoyed

"That's amazing! Really amazing!" Jean exclaimed. "For years, I haven't been able to sleep well, always afraid it would suddenly erupt and harm my friends…"

"Hey, you've got the wrong attitude," Vex interrupted. "I already told you, treat it like a friend. Understand it, accept it."

Jean smiled awkwardly.

Changing her mindset wasn't something that could happen overnight.

"Jean, go prepare yourself," Professor X suddenly said. "I'll have a word with Mr. Vex."

Jean nodded and looked at Vex. "I'll be waiting nearby."

"Get your head in the right place. Leave the rest to me," Vex smiled. "Natasha, stay with Jean."

"Yes, sir."

Jean walked away reluctantly, glancing back several times, clearly afraid Vex might leave.

Vex smiled reassuringly, indicating he wasn't going anywhere.

Only then did Jean relax and walk off.

"Jean's been through a lot," Professor X sighed. "Because of the Phoenix Force, she's never even been able to get close to anyone romantically."

Oh?

What's he hinting at?

Catching Professor X's knowing look, Vex realized the professor had already figured out his intentions.

"Why don't you push me for a walk? I'll show you around the school," Professor X suggested.

But Vex shook his head.

"I'm not into pushing other men around."

He raised his hand, touching the top of Professor X's bald head.

The professor looked confused for a moment, but then...

He slowly stood up from his wheelchair, staring at his legs in disbelief.

"I… I'm healed?"

"Just a simple nerve repair," Vex replied casually. "Consider it a betrothal gift."

He was laying it all out—he'd come for Jean!

Professor X, ever composed, quickly regained his calm.

"Jean's decision is her own. I can't control that."

"You're like a father to her," Vex said confidently. "As long as you don't stand in the way, the rest is up to fate."

Professor X nodded, accepting that there was no use arguing.

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