Chapter 23: The X-Jet and the Modified Motorcycle

Chapter 23: The X-Jet and the Modified Motorcycle

"There's actually a plane here?"

George stared at the X-Jet in front of him, completely stunned.

He hadn't expected the X-Jet to still be stored in the school's basement, assuming it had been taken by Wolverine and Professor X when they fled.

Wolverine, now back in his favorite jacket after ditching the suit and shirt, puffed on a cigar as he explained to George:

"Too bad I don't know how to fly a plane. Otherwise, escaping with the Professor back then wouldn't have been so chaotic."

Back when the Professor's mind had lost control, killing all the mutants at the school, Wolverine had driven him to the hospital in a desperate attempt to save him. Although the Professor's condition had stabilized, they were soon pursued by a large number of FBI agents.

If Wolverine had known how to fly, he could have taken the Professor out of the country for treatment and avoided the government's pursuit altogether.

"Well, it's good to have it. It'll come in handy eventually."

It was then that George remembered Wolverine not only couldn't fly but also had a fear of heights and a tendency to get airsick.

In the movies, it was usually Beast, Mystique, Storm, Cyclops, and Jean Grey who took turns piloting the X-Jet.

But this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Although the X-Jet was over twenty years old, it had been modified by Beast, a highly intelligent scientist, and was almost as advanced as S.H.I.E.L.D.'s state-of-the-art Quinjets.

Not only was it fast, but it could also cloak itself to avoid satellite detection.

In the future, if anyone among them learned to fly, they could use the X-Jet to evacuate everyone quickly in case of danger.

For example, during the Chitauri invasion of New York, which hadn't been effectively stopped.

"By the way, you can use this motorcycle for scouting in the city. It was Scott's favorite, specially modified to be three times faster than the fastest motorcycle in the world."

After showing George the X-Jet, Wolverine led him to a seemingly ordinary motorcycle in the basement.

Wolverine, the Professor, and Caliban were too conspicuous to frequently appear in the city without drawing government attention. They could only step in during critical moments.

Therefore, the task of gathering intelligence on Tony Stark at Stark Industries in Manhattan would fall to George.

"Seems like Scott had good taste."

George took the motorcycle for a test ride and nodded in satisfaction.

Since their journey had gone smoothly and the mutant school was better than he had expected, George no longer planned to contact Tony Stark so soon and risk exposure to S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra, and other forces.

Thus, he didn't need to go to Manhattan to gather intelligence or kidnap Obadiah Stane to interrogate him about Tony Stark's location in the Middle East.

However, he still needed the motorcycle to scout the Bronx for information on local gangs and corrupt businessmen.

He planned to pull off a major heist in the Bronx before Tony Stark escaped.

His current plan was to spend the first three months diligently studying magic.

After three months, he would sweep through the Bronx, targeting all the powerful and wealthy gangs to amass a large sum of money. He would then use this money to buy Stark Industries stock at its lowest point.

Once Tony Stark returned and the stock prices rose, he would sell them off.

Then, when Tony Stark announced the closure of Stark Industries' weapons division, George would buy the stocks again, instantly securing a fortune that would ensure he and the children at the school never had to worry about money.

Of course, this kind of operation could only be done once. If he kept targeting gangs, it would inevitably draw the attention of Kingpin, the ruler of the underworld, and other powerful figures.

As the saying goes, "If you walk by the river often, you'll eventually get wet." If he did this too often, both he and the mutant school would be exposed.

But doing it just once, then laying low, would make it nearly impossible for anyone to find him, even Sherlock Holmes, especially in the Bronx, where surveillance was scarce.

So, this one operation had to be big, and he needed to gather all the necessary intelligence beforehand.

"He did have good taste, especially when it came to women. I used to dislike the guy, but now I kind of miss him."

Wolverine looked at the motorcycle, lost in memories.

George immediately understood. He knew Cyclops and Wolverine had both been in love with Jean Grey, but she had ultimately chosen Cyclops.

"By the way, if we use these facilities in the basement, we'll need electricity. Could that draw the government's attention?

Maybe we should get some generators. Even if the power isn't as reliable, it would be safer."

It had been twenty-five years, and the government had likely forgotten about the castle, let alone monitored its electricity usage. Still, George believed it was better to be cautious.

They had found such a good hideout; if it were exposed, they'd have to start all over again.

Once he learned the Muggle-Repelling Charm, he wouldn't have to be so careful. They could even reopen the school without worrying about the government finding out.

"Don't worry about that. The electricity for the two basement levels was specially modified after a certain incident.

Beast installed a unique power system separate from the castle's main supply, with extensive defensive upgrades. Even if we use all the facilities, there won't be any trace of electricity usage."

Wolverine waved off George's concern.

"That's good."

A certain incident? Was it the invasion by Apocalypse, or when William Stryker led troops into the school?

George didn't press for details. It didn't matter which incident it was; what mattered was that the place was safe, allowing him to focus on studying magic.

"During this time, I'll go out to gather intelligence when I can. If possible, I think you and the Professor could help train the children to better use their abilities in combat."

Finally, George made a suggestion to Wolverine.

Since the combat simulation room in the basement was functional, it could be used to train the children in using their abilities for battle.

Unlike the rough training methods at the experimental base, the Professor and Wolverine, as true experts, could better develop the children's potential.

George didn't expect the children to become major combat assets in a short time, but at least they could learn to protect themselves and not become liabilities.

Alkali-Transigen Corporation wouldn't let them go so easily. It was only a matter of time before they were tracked down.

When that happened, they might not just face Wolverine's clones, but also clones of the Professor, Magneto, Cyclops, and others.

Of course, George believed that the clones' strength would pale in comparison to the originals.

Except for certain unique types, many mutants' abilities required later development and understanding to reach their full potential.

Take Magneto, for example. When he first appeared, he wasn't nearly as powerful. It was only after the Professor guided him that he became the force he was known to be.

The clones created by Dr. Sander Rice had the intelligence of a young child and were mostly controlled remotely. There was no way their abilities could be fully developed.

In the movies, Colonel William Stryker had used Wade as a base, incorporating numerous mutant abilities, but in the end, he was still decapitated by Wolverine and Sabretooth.

This proved that unless the clones were freed from mental control, they could never surpass the originals and would remain mere cannon fodder.

Still, even cannon fodder could be a headache in large numbers.

(End of Chapter)