Chapter 20

The researchers in the Metallurgical Department were already scattered across their workstations, deep in discussion or preparing for their first tasks. Dr. Myron, standing near the center of the lab, was quietly talking with two of the senior researchers.

Charles, though standing a few feet away, overheard the conversation clearly—thanks to his telepathy.

"How long do we have before the deadline?" one of the seniors asked, his voice tense.

"About a year at most," Dr. Myron replied.

"That's not nearly enough time to run all the tests on this new metal," the second researcher chimed in. "We're still stuck in the problem identification phase with our own supposed 'indestructible' alloy. We haven't even started proper testing yet."

"I'm aware," Dr. Myron said, his tone more resigned than frustrated. "That's why we've been sent this new metal. But its origin is still classified. We'll need to run a full battery of tests just to uncover its basic properties."

The first senior sighed, rubbing his temple. "Our careers are on the line with this one. Do you really think we can pull it off?"

"That's why we've brought in the new recruits," Dr. Myron said. "Some of them are prodigies. We need their minds to push this forward."

As they continued talking, Charles sensed someone approaching him. A tall woman with sharp features and a stern expression stopped in front of him.

She'd been eyeing him since he arrived, clearly skeptical about involving someone so young in such a high-stakes project. Her name tag read Dr. Levina.

"You must be the child prodigy everyone's talking about," she said, her tone flat, but laced with doubt. "I'm not expecting miracles from you. You'll be working under me, and I'll show you the ropes. But let me be clear—I won't tolerate any amateur mistakes."

"I understand," Charles replied calmly.

Dr. Levina led him to a workbench, where a small sample of the mysterious metal sat in a containment unit. Its dull, gray surface gave nothing away, but Charles recognized it immediately.

She handed him a stack of papers, filled with data from recent scans. "We'll start by analyzing the atomic structure. Tell me what you see."

Charles glanced over the information, his pulse quickening. 'Vibranium.' He recognized it instantly. His eyes shifted to the metal, and a thought crossed his mind: 'With a sample this size, it's perfect for that frisbee'

Clearing his throat, Charles spoke. "The atomic structure is... unusual."

Dr. Levina folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Unusual? How so?"

Charles pointed to the analysis on the papers. "At first glance, the atoms are arranged in a crystalline form, which makes sense for something so durable. But there's more to it. The atomic bonds aren't just strong—they're also flexible. According to the data, when we increase the pressure, the bonds don't weaken. Instead, they seem to shift, almost like they're absorbing the energy."

Dr. Levina quickly scanned the results again, her eyes widening. "How did we miss that?"

Charles shrugged, feigning innocence. "Don't ask me. It's all in the data."

She looked at him for a long moment, then asked, "Is there anything else?"

Charles flipped through the papers. "Not from what I can see right now."

But inside, his thoughts were racing. 'I can recreate Vibranium.' He knew it was only a matter of time and gathering more data before he could replicate the metal. One-to-one.

Later that afternoon, the team ran their first pressure test on the Vibranium. Charles watched as the containment chamber filled with heat and pressure, but something unexpected happened.

The metal didn't just absorb the energy—it emitted a strange pulse. The sensors flickered, and the lights in the lab dimmed for a moment.

"What was that?" Dr. Levina asked, her voice tight with alarm.

Charles remained quiet, already knowing exactly what it was. It's absorbing everything.

...

Once things had settled down, Charles approached Dr. Levina, his expression serious. "Dr. Levina, can I have a moment?"

She glanced up from her notes. "What is it, Charles?"

"I've been reviewing the data, and… there's a chance this metal could become unstable. It might even explode if the energy it's absorbing isn't properly released," Charles said, his tone calm but urgent.

Dr. Levina's face tightened with concern. "Explode? How likely is that?"

"There's no immediate danger, but we need to be cautious. I've thought of a few methods to prevent it. The most important thing is to find a way to safely siphon off the energy it's storing and release it in controlled bursts."

Dr. Levina's worry deepened, but she nodded. "I'll inform Dr. Myron. In the meantime, keep checking for any abnormalities in the metal. We can't afford to miss anything."

"On it," Charles replied, turning back to the data.

As Dr. Levina walked away, she thought to herself, 'That kid is far more useful than I anticipated. If I play this right, he might just be the key to pushing this project forward—and maybe I can brainwash him later.'

Charles returned to the containment unit, studying the metal closely. He flagged down one of the analysts who had been monitoring the readings.

"How much radiation is this thing emitting?" Charles asked.

The analyst, a man in his late 30s, looked up from his screen. "According to the data we've gathered, it's around 20 percent of what we'd expect from similar metals. Highly toxic to humans, but strangely, it doesn't seem to affect plant or animal life the same way."

Charles nodded thoughtfully. "That's interesting. I also heard there's another alloy being tested."

The analyst raised an eyebrow. "How do you know about that? Dr. Myron's side projects aren't common knowledge."

"I overheard a conversation," Charles said smoothly.

"Ah, makes sense. Just be careful, kid. Even with your brains, you're still exposed to a lot of danger in here."

Charles gave a small smile. "I appreciate the concern."

The analyst softened. "You remind me of my son, that's all. He's bright like you."

Charles extended his hand. "I'm Charles. Charles Xavier."

The analyst shook his hand warmly. "Blake Aaron. Good to meet you."

After their brief exchange, Charles returned to reviewing the data, his mind racing as he pored over the numbers.

Hours passed, and the constant focus was starting to take a toll. He leaned back and sighed. "This is exhausting…"

Still, he couldn't shake the thought that something about this Vibranium felt familiar. 'I've seen this pattern before,' he mused. 'I'm not sure which variation this is, but it's behaving like the Wakandan version of Vibranium—the way it absorbs and stores energy...'

He stared at the containment unit, his thoughts swirling. 'I'll need to keep a close eye on this. If I can decode the exact properties, recreating it might not be as difficult as I thought.'