Chapter 17: The Border Factory
Chapter 17: The Border Factory
Hearing Wolverine's words, George didn't feel worried. Instead, he smiled.
The fact that Wolverine was considering this angle meant George had guessed correctly. Wolverine was tough on the outside but soft on the inside. Deep down, he wanted to help.
"What kind of person Tony Stark is, we'll judge after we meet him.
If he's not trustworthy, you can still walk away with a hefty reward.
With money, you can take the professor and live the life you've always wanted, without worrying about us.
How does that sound?"
"I need to think about it."
Wolverine grabbed a bottle of strong liquor from the car seat, chugged it down in one go, then closed his eyes and thought for a long time before finally responding:
"Alright, I'll help you. But on one condition—we can't bring the professor.
The professor's condition isn't as good as you think. He can't control his abilities, and if he shows up in New York, it'll cause a government panic. That'll only make things worse."
"Deal."
George thought for a moment and nodded.
He had been so focused on using Professor X's abilities that he hadn't considered the implications of the professor, a "weapon of mass destruction," entering New York. It might even attract S.H.I.E.L.D.
In that case, it was better not to bring him.
If necessary, they could resort to torturing Obadiah Stane. Under the threat of death, he would likely reveal Tony Stark's location.
This approach might actually be better. Professor X's mobility was limited, and with just him and Wolverine, they could act more efficiently.
"Let's get out of here. Those gangsters fired shots, so the police will probably be here soon."
Seeing that George had reached an agreement, Gabriela breathed a sigh of relief. Then, noticing the bodies of the gangsters on the ground, she quickly reminded them.
Wolverine bent down again, ready to reattach the car wheel.
"Don't worry. The gunshots mean the police will take their time getting here."
"Right. How responsible of them."
George crouched down and began gesturing with his hands:
"*Reparo!*"
The Repairing Charm took effect, and the detached wheel reattached itself.
This was the second spell he could now perform with hand gestures.
"Looks like you've got more than just Professor X and Magneto's genes in you?"
Wolverine looked surprised.
George shrugged with a smile:
"Honestly, I'm not sure how many mutant genes they stuffed into me."
"Your situation reminds me of a very talkative friend I once had. He also had multiple mutant genes fused into him, and they even sewed his mouth shut."
Wolverine sighed, recalling a memory from deep in his mind.
"Sadly, they're all gone now."
"Friends come and go. Life goes on. Don't be so pessimistic."
George casually offered some comfort.
In truth, he had a lingering question: Had Wolverine experienced the events of *Days of Future Past*? Did he have memories from two different timelines, or did this universe simply not have multiple timelines?
In *X-Men: Days of Future Past*, changing the past altered the present.
But in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, changing the past created a new timeline without affecting the present.
However, this wasn't the right time to ask. He'd have to wait until they knew each other better.
Wolverine gave him a curious look:
"Seems like you really do have some of the professor's genes in you."
---
With the car fixed, Wolverine drove the stretch limo ahead, while Isa followed in the truck with George and the children, heading toward the border.
Professor X's condition was special, so Wolverine had hidden him in a remote area near the border.
"This used to be a factory owned by a multinational smelting company based in Shanghai. They had to abandon it because of the chaotic security situation. Normally, no one comes around here."
Wolverine explained as they stopped in front of an abandoned factory near the border.
El Paso's proximity to Mexico and the influx of illegal immigrants made it a chaotic place, which was why they had managed to stay hidden.
In a city with better security, they would have been discovered long ago.
"Logan, who are they?"
A man wrapped in a scarf and hat, with only his eyes visible, cautiously emerged from the factory and looked at George and the mutant children with confusion.
"Caliban, these kids are mutants. Let's go inside, and I'll explain everything."
Wolverine waved his hand and led everyone into the factory.
George glanced at the scarf-wrapped man, and relevant information flashed through his mind.
Caliban, a mutant with the ability to track other mutants. He had once been a black-market dealer, profiting from selling information about mutants.
He had even helped Alkali-Transigen hunt mutants for money.
Later, he developed albinism and could no longer be exposed to sunlight. Overcome with guilt for his past crimes, he began helping Wolverine and Professor X hide.
In the end, after witnessing Professor X's death, he detonated two grenades, taking his enemies with him.
So, for now, he was a trustworthy mutant.
---
"No wonder... no wonder he always said he was communicating with people telepathically, that there were still new mutants out there. So it's true. But Logan, are you sure about this? It's dangerous."
Inside the factory, Caliban frowned deeply after hearing Wolverine's explanation.
He felt sympathy for the mutant children, but he was more concerned about Wolverine's safety.
Of the old generation of mutants, only the three of them remained. Over the years, Caliban had come to see Wolverine and Professor X as his only family.
"George is right. This might be the only way to truly help the professor. You know that water tank won't hold him forever. This can't go on.
We need money, better equipment, and medicine to treat him.
Besides, I don't trust the Canadian government to treat those kids well. Human governments are never good."
Wolverine tossed a bag of medicine and a card to Caliban.
"There's enough medicine here for the professor for a month. That card has all the money I've saved over the years. I was planning to buy a yacht and take you and the professor to live at sea.
If something happens and I don't come back, take care of the professor for me."
"Fine. I know I can't stop you. But if you don't come back, I'm not sticking around to take care of that difficult old man. I'll take the money and leave."
Caliban took the medicine and the card, thought for a moment, and then replied with a smile.
Wolverine chuckled:
"You won't. Otherwise, you wouldn't have given up all your savings to help us in the first place."
"It's your turn to give him his medicine. I've been dealing with him all night."
Caliban shook his head helplessly and handed a bottle of medicine from the bag to Wolverine.
Clearly, Wolverine had hit the mark.
(End of Chapter)