Chapter 21: The Professor's Proposal

Chapter 21: The Professor's Proposal

While hiding in the water tank, Gabriela and Isa had watched the entire battle outside through the surveillance cameras. They gained a clearer understanding of Wolverine and George's combat abilities, and after hearing some words from Professor X, their perspective shifted.

According to the Professor, attempting to reach New York, gather information about Tony Stark, and then rescue him from the Middle East within just six days was nearly impossible. Even if they managed to pull it off, the risks would be immense.

This plan essentially put Wolverine and George's lives on the line.

Moreover, the well-traveled Professor advised against sending the children to Canada to be placed under government care. After careful consideration and discussion, Gabriela and Isa decided to abandon their previous agreement with the Canadian government. Instead of heading to the North Dakota border, they would find a safe place to settle down first.

From there, they could carefully plan how to rescue Tony Stark.

Even if the rescue mission ultimately failed, as long as they worked together, they could overcome the seemingly insurmountable challenges posed by the experimental base and ensure the children's survival.

After all, despite the enemy's formidable forces this time, they had been driven away in a panicked and disorganized retreat."

Previously, they had believed it was impossible to stand against the powerful Alkali-Transigen Corporation alone. But now, it seemed that victory wasn't entirely out of reach.

"Professor X truly lives up to his reputation. Even without his powers, his ability to persuade is unmatched."

Hearing Gabriela's decision, George's eyes lit up.

He fully agreed with Gabriela's choice. Rescuing Tony Stark in six days, while not as perilous as the Professor had suggested, was still no easy task.

New York was a place of complex power dynamics, and there were no guarantees that everything would go smoothly.

If they had more time to prepare, and if George could further develop his abilities—such as deflecting sniper bullets or learning more spells at Hogwarts—their chances of success would increase significantly.

Besides, if he remembered correctly, in the movie, Tony Stark had mentioned to Pepper that he had been held captive in the cave for over three months.

So, realistically, they didn't need to rush.

Alternatively, if George could grow strong enough over the next few months and secure enough money to buy shares in Stark Industries, rescuing Tony Stark might not even be necessary.

His initial goal in rescuing Tony Stark was for the money and the protection Stark could offer them.

But if they became powerful enough and had sufficient resources, seeking Tony Stark's help might no longer be essential.

Collaborating with Tony Stark would inevitably draw the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D., and with S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attention came the risk of Hydra's involvement, leading to even greater complications.

"Six days is indeed tight. Since you've made your decision, let's leave this place, find a safe location, and then discuss our next steps."

George nodded at Gabriela, then began collecting submachine guns and grenades from the fallen soldiers. Afterward, they quickly left the abandoned factory.

Given the current situation, as long as they moved away from the border and settled in a more distant location, it would be difficult for the experimental base to reorganize and track them down.

Alkali-Transigen Corporation could access surveillance in this small border town because the area was chaotic enough that many things could be handled with money.

However, they weren't a national organization like S.H.I.E.L.D., the FBI, or the CIA. Officially, they were just businessmen, and their influence didn't span the entire United States—otherwise, they would have been dismantled long ago.

In the movie, Donald had only managed to track down Wolverine and the Professor by leveraging Caliban's abilities.

With X-24 now dead, and without a new clone ready, it was unlikely the enemy would come after them again—they simply couldn't win.

Therefore, barring any unforeseen circumstances, after this battle, the experimental base would likely remain inactive for several months, giving them time to plan their next move.

On the highway, Isa drove the truck while George, Gabriela, Wolverine, Caliban, and Professor X sat in the back with the children, discussing their next destination.

After some deliberation, they outlined the following points:

1. Location: They couldn't stay in the heart of a city, as it would make them too visible and draw attention from both the government and Alkali-Transigen Corporation.

2. Accessibility: The place couldn't be too remote, as the children needed education, the Professor required medication, and they all needed a decent quality of life. Additionally, remote areas would make it harder to acquire funds. If they weren't going to rescue Tony Stark, they would need money to buy Stark Industries stock. How could they quickly earn money? Legal methods were out of the question, so they would have to resort to less savory means, such as targeting criminals and corrupt businessmen.

3. Proximity to New York: They needed to stay relatively close to New York. On one hand, they had to keep an eye on Tony Stark's news and be ready to launch a rescue mission if necessary. On the other hand, George had his own reasons—New York was a hub for major events, especially with the impending Chitauri invasion in a few years. He needed to be nearby to observe and prepare. If things went south, he had to be ready to act. After all, if the Earth were destroyed while he was busy practicing magic, he wouldn't survive either.

"Actually, we could return to the school—the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters," Professor X suddenly suggested.

However, Wolverine's expression darkened, and he immediately objected:

"No, it's too dangerous. The government is still after you. Going back to the school would be walking straight into a trap."

In truth, his concern wasn't just about the government's pursuit.

After all, that was twenty-five years ago. They had been in hiding for so long that the government's leadership had likely changed multiple times, and the current officials probably assumed they were dead.

What Wolverine truly feared was that returning to New York and the school would trigger Professor X's repressed memories—memories of how he had killed all the mutants at the school.

Tears streamed down Professor X's face as he responded:

"Logan, you should know... during the battle earlier, I remembered everything. I remembered all that happened back then.

Given the crimes I committed, I shouldn't even be alive.

But now, I want to live—not for myself, but for these children.

I want to recover my abilities, protect these young mutants, and atone for the sins I committed."

Pausing to collect himself, the Professor continued:

"The cerebro chamber in the school's basement, designed by Beast, can be sealed and activated with a special switch. It can block my brainwaves, ensuring that if I lose control again, the same tragedy won't repeat."

(End of Chapter)