AutumnXd
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Chapter 143
🕑 Added 2025-08-28 15:03:11 +0000 UTCDawn crept across the Xavier Institute grounds with the lazy pace of early autumn, painting the sky in soft pastels that made the yellowing leaves seem to glow from within. Morning dew clung to grass blades like tiny diamonds, each droplet catching the light before gravity pulled it earthward in slow, hypnotic slides. The air carried that crisp bite that promised cooler days ahead, tinged with the earthy scent of leaves beginning their final transformation.
After a full night of technical briefings and system walkthroughs, Banner had a solid grasp of his new responsibilities. The task list was ambitious but manageable: repair the alien mothership, reverse-engineer Chitauri technology, upgrade the defensive robot systems, and somehow figure out how to transform Leviathan corpses into entertainment-worthy arena combatants.
The T-virus integration possibilities alone could keep him busy for months, but there was something else on the priority list that made his engineer's heart race with anticipation—launching Baymax Corporation's first dedicated satellite. The orbital platform already had a space pillar integrated into its framework, waiting for the perfect launch window to carry humanity's newest technological advancement into the void.
The mission parameters showed an eighty percent success rate, which in aerospace terms might as well have been a guarantee. Barring some catastrophic malfunction or act of divine intervention, they'd have their eye in the sky within days.
After his farewell with Banner, Aidan made his way back toward Xavier's Institute at a leisurely pace, his senses taking in the subtle changes that marked the turning of seasons. The walk gave him time to process the magnitude of what they'd accomplished and what lay ahead. The morning air felt good in his lungs, carrying scents of dying leaves and morning coffee from the Institute's kitchens.
When he finally approached the main grounds, he spotted two familiar figures sitting on a bench near the playground. Professor Xavier and Magneto sat side by side, watching students demonstrate their abilities with the casual interest of old men observing the world's continuation. The sight of them together, peaceful and contemplative rather than locked in ideological warfare, struck him as profoundly hopeful.
Optimus Prime and his fellow Autobots had already departed for their new assignment with Banner. The Autobot leader's expertise in both combat and scientific research made him the perfect liaison for spacecraft restoration work. Most people didn't realize that many Autobots were primarily researchers and engineers rather than warriors—their technological capabilities often made the difference in conflicts with the more militaristic Decepticons.
"So Eric, what's the verdict?" Aidan asked as he approached, settling onto the bench beside them with the casual familiarity of someone who'd earned his place in their counsel.
Erik remained silent, his steel-gray eyes tracking the movements of young mutants as they practiced abilities that could reshape the world or destroy it, depending on the wisdom of their wielders.
"Look, your approach to the mutant problem isn't wrong," Aidan continued, his voice carrying the measured tone of someone laying out complex realities. "But completely wiping out humanity? That's just not gonna happen." The Ancient One alone would put a stop to such plans before they could gain real momentum, not to mention the dozens of other cosmic-level threats that would mobilize against genocidal ambitions.
"And what Professor X wants peaceful coexistence that's possible too, but only as long as you two are around to enforce it."
"Once you guys die and there's nobody to take over, mutants are screwed."
"But Baymax Corporation can build a bridge between mutants and humans that nobody's gonna question the safety of." The logic was sound, built on demonstrated competence and public trust rather than fear or ideology.
Magneto finally turned his head, studying Aidan's youthful features with the calculating gaze of someone who'd spent decades reading threats and opportunities in human faces. When he spoke, it was with the calm certainty of a man making a momentous decision.
"Let's fight."
"Are you serious?" Aidan couldn't quite hide his amusement at the direct approach.
"Yeah. Even if I lose, I'll go along with your plan." Magneto's agreement came from more than just pragmatic calculation. The Professor's description of the Hand incident had painted a picture of someone whose ruthlessness matched or exceeded his own, backed by resources and capabilities that dwarfed anything the Brotherhood had ever commanded.
He'd been contemplating some grand gesture of destruction to reinforce mutant deterrent capabilities. Now he was sitting across from someone who'd already demonstrated that level of commitment to protecting what mattered to him.
"You ready to do this now?" Aidan asked, his expression carrying a mix of curiosity and mild concern.
"Of course." Magneto began to rise from the bench, confidence radiating from every line of his posture.
Professor X's understanding of Aidan's capabilities was limited to that massive mecha he'd deployed during the invasion. In Magneto's assessment, any purely technological threat was essentially a toy something to be dismantled with a thought and the proper application of magnetic fields.
Just as Erik reached his full height, red sparks began dancing around Aidan's fingertips with the lazy grace of fireflies.
"Oh right, I still have your helmet," Aidan said with genuine amusement as Magneto's eyes went blank and his body froze mid-motion. The master of magnetism stood like a statue, consciousness temporarily displaced by forces beyond his considerable experience.
"Psychic energy?" Professor Xavier asked, leaning forward with scholarly interest despite the demonstration being performed on his oldest friend.
"Mind magic. Just a little trick." Aidan waved his hand dismissively, and awareness slowly returned to Magneto's steel-gray eyes.
"I didn't expect this world really had magic!" Professor X's voice carried the wonder of someone whose understanding of reality had just expanded significantly.
"Didn't I use magic before?" Aidan seemed genuinely puzzled by the oversight. "The portals when I was in the mecha?"
"I wasn't watching you specifically," the Professor admitted with a slight smile.
"Well, there's a lot of hidden stuff in this world. But you mutants are pretty impressive yourselves."
The first thing Magneto did upon recovering was look sharply at Professor X, searching for signs of telepathic interference.
Xavier quickly raised both hands in a gesture of innocence, making it clear he'd had nothing to do with the mental manipulation.
"Alright, you lost," Aidan said, raising an eyebrow at the still-stunned master of magnetism.
"You're a mutant too?" Magneto's voice carried more curiosity than accusation.
"Nope, magic!" Aidan snapped his fingers with theatrical flair, expecting the familiar red sparks that usually accompanied such gestures.
Nothing happened.
He tried again. Still nothing.
"Uh, no sparks today I guess. But yeah, definitely magic." The moment was saved when he opened his palm to reveal a small, golden magic circle rotating slowly above his skin.
Despite his advanced age and experience with impossible things, Magneto still needed a moment to process this fundamental revision of his worldview. But decades of adapting to extraordinary circumstances served him well he accepted the reality of magic with the same pragmatic flexibility that had kept him alive through countless conflicts.
"So what do you need from me?" Magneto asked, his voice carrying the resigned tone of someone who'd acknowledged a superior force and was ready to negotiate terms.
"I want you to round up the Brotherhood, then handle some internal cleanup. The mutants who've crossed lines we can't ignore." Aidan's tone shifted to business-like efficiency as he laid out the scope of Erik's new responsibilities.
"What happens to them?"
"Anyone who killed people just because they think humans are inferior gets executed. Period. Those who killed because of discrimination get life in prison. Self-defense cases where someone was getting bullied or attacked, maybe one to two years depending on circumstances..." Aidan produced a detailed list from his dimensional storage, handing it over with the casual efficiency of someone who'd already done the investigative work.
"Their crimes are all documented there. I need you to handle the enforcement personally."
Magneto accepted the papers with grim understanding, scanning names and offenses with the methodical attention of someone reviewing a military casualty report.
"This is necessary stuff. A lot of Brotherhood members have serious psychological damage—anti-social personalities, revenge fantasies, the whole package. Baymax Corporation can't accept people like that. But I'll give you discretion on who's salvageable and who gets offered employment."
"Just make sure the people on that list don't show up looking for jobs."
Professor Xavier leaned over to review the documentation, and his shoulders relaxed slightly when he confirmed that Raven's name wasn't among the condemned. The relief was subtle but unmistakable.
Most Brotherhood members weren't particularly powerful—their abilities were often the kind of mutations that made normal life difficult rather than granting impressive capabilities. Some had chosen rebellion, others had simply tried to hide. All of them carried the psychological scars of systematic discrimination.
Magneto held the list in silence for long minutes, his expression cycling through calculation, regret, and finally grim acceptance.
"Alright. I'll get the Brotherhood organized and settled as quickly as possible."
"Good." Aidan gestured, and a rectangular metal case materialized from thin air with the casual display of power that was becoming his trademark. "Here's a batch of suppressants. Anyone who wants to go back to being normal can have the option."
Magneto accepted the medical supplies with a nod, already mentally cataloging which of his followers might welcome the chance to abandon abilities that had brought them nothing but suffering.
"During this transition period, you'll work with the Professor to track down hidden mutants across the country. You handle any situations that require force, he handles the talking."
The division of labor made sense, but Magneto looked puzzled. Based on everything Charles had told him, this young man seemed to disapprove of reckless mutant behavior.
"After we get everything stabilized, I'm getting the suppressant shot," Professor Xavier said, noticing his friend's confusion and offering clarification with a peaceful smile.
The announcement hit Magneto like a blow. He stared at Charles in complete shock, struggling to understand why someone would voluntarily surrender the very abilities that defined their identity and purpose.
Comments
Book Warm
Btw does Aidan have his own self made source of magic to use yet? Or I guess he could use that mini all spark to fuel his magic spells? I mean he seem to still use external magic source to fuel his spell like others marvel sorcerers, which would come at price in the future. From what we know Aidan understand of space is pretty high, even created a permanent pocket dimension should be doable for him so maybe he could try to create his own dimension that could self generate his own magic source like those dimensional lords being, which would be cool . ( Well since space some and mind stone is with him which should able to fuel his spells , he don’t have to worry much, but after all they are also external powers )
Book Warm
Thanks for the chapter
