In Washington D.C., on the lawn of a secluded manor away from the city, the X-Jet slowly descended.
"Professor, it's so good to see you're alright!"
As Hawking pushed Professor X out of the plane, a burly man covered in blue fur, wearing glasses and a suit, strode over and happily embraced Professor X, who was in a wheelchair.
Professor X smiled and replied:
"This time, I owe a great deal to the newly enrolled young Hawking; otherwise, I might be in a S.H.I.E.L.D. prison right now.
By the way, he happens to need your help with a small matter."
After speaking, he introduced Hawking to Beast.
Hawking also politely greeted him:
"Hello, Professor Hank."
"Hello, young Hawking, what can I help you with?"
Hank turned to look at Hawking, his eyes full of admiration.
Professor Charles had briefly mentioned Hawking's contribution to the rescue operation in their phone call yesterday.
"Professor Hank, it's just that when I activate my ability, a weapon with special powers materializes, and this weapon can better help me use my abilities.
So, I was wondering if it's possible to examine this weapon, extract its characteristics, and apply them to other existing weapons."
Hawking explained the wand's abilities and his general needs in terms that were as understandable as possible.
Beast nodded after listening:
"This isn't particularly difficult, but I'll need to go back to the school in a few days and use instruments to test the performance characteristics of your weapon before I can confirm anything."
"Thank you very much, Professor Hank."
Hawking's eyes lit up immediately, sensing a possibility.
Beast smiled and waved his hand:
"These are all minor matters; helping students create things that aid in controlling their abilities is part of my job."
"Long time no see. It seems you've finally stopped using that rubbish serum and reverted to your true self."
At this moment, Magneto also spoke, greeting him.
However, Beast clearly disliked Magneto; he instinctively roared at Magneto, then forced himself to calm down and replied:
"Eric, I advise you not to try any tricks behind Professor's back, or I won't forgive you!"
"Hank, we haven't seen each other in so long, is this how you treat an old friend?"
Mystique stepped forward and touched Beast's cheek.
Beast looked at Mystique, his expression very complex:
"Raven, I... sigh."
From the first time he met Mystique, he fell in love with this very individual and lively woman, even when Mystique eventually left their original team with Magneto.
But after 1973, Mystique's personality suddenly changed drastically.
The original Mystique, while disliking humans, wasn't extreme, but the later Mystique became intensely hateful of humans, to the point where she never hesitated to kill innocent people, including the elderly and children, when necessary.
"Hank, you haven't experienced my pain; you don't understand how cruel humans can truly be."
Perhaps sensing the complexity in Hank's eyes, Mystique withdrew her hand.
Meanwhile, Hawking, listening to their conversation, felt a stir in his heart.
He knew that the pain Mystique spoke of likely referred to the cruel human experiments she had undergone at the hands of Bolivar Trask.
Bolivar Trask, a Military scientist and the founder of Trask Industries, was Colonel Stryker's former superior. Compared to his old boss, Stryker was insignificant.
Trask believed that Mutants and humans were not the same species and would eventually lead to the extinction of humanity. For this reason, he began capturing Mutants for experiments, creating Sentinel Robots that could identify and kill Mutants.
During the years when Magneto was imprisoned for assassinating the President and Professor X was in a slump, Mystique was captured by Trask and subjected to various inhumane and perverse experiments. Ultimately, Mystique's abilities were successfully integrated into the Sentinel Robots.
In the future, powerful Sentinel Robots began hunting Mutants and all humans with Mutant genes, to the point where even Magneto and Professor X, working together, were only able to reverse the future.
Although this Universe might not develop in the same way, he still needed to be vigilant. If he had the chance, he could preemptively find and destroy the places still researching Sentinel Robots.
He assumed this would also earn him a good amount of justice points.
"Let's go. I've already prepared the car. It will take some time for you to get there."
After a moment of silence, Beast returned to normal, leading Professor X and the other three to the manor's entrance.
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters, the Triskelion, is located on the Potomac River between Washington D.C. and Virginia. It would take at least an hour to drive there from their current location.
Meanwhile, in the Director's office at the Triskelion.
"Have you found them?"
Nick Fury, with his hands behind his back, asked Hill, who was in a S.H.I.E.L.D. tight leather uniform.
Hill operated her laptop for a few moments, and a projection immediately appeared on the office wall.
"They appeared at the entrance of a suburban manor half an hour ago and quickly drove away. According to their route, they should be heading in our direction and will arrive at the building's entrance in approximately forty minutes."
The images on the projection showed Professor X and the other three, with Stryker, getting into a car at the manor's entrance, captured by satellite.
"Immediately activate the large-scale brainwave interference device, covering the entire headquarters. Temporarily evacuate all non-combat units, and all combat Agents are to enter a state of alert.
As soon as they enter the headquarters' perimeter, monitor them comprehensively from all angles, ensuring they don't cause any trouble here at headquarters.
Especially that Mutant child named Hawking; he might possess some kind of invisibility ability. Have Barton keep a close eye on him, even if he goes to the restroom, Barton must follow him!"
Nick Fury issued a series of orders with a serious expression.
Having experienced the previous battle, he knew too well the destructive power of Magneto, Professor X, and Hawking, three top Mutants, combined. He had no choice but to treat the situation with the utmost seriousness.
"Fury, don't worry so much. I don't think Professor Charles is a bad person, and besides, you have me."
Captain Marvel, seeing Nick Fury's grave demeanor as if facing a formidable enemy, stepped forward and held his hand, comforting him.
Hill, still single, pursed her lips and coughed, reminding him:
"Director, regarding what the Secretary of Defense mentioned?"
"Tell him it's not possible now. I will hand William Stryker over to him completely unharmed in two weeks."
Nick Fury frowned at the mention.
Regarding Colonel William Stryker, because he was involved in the Mutant assassination of the President, Fury had originally planned, if the evidence was conclusive, to imprison him for life after extracting all intelligence about Mutants.
However, he hadn't expected that Trask Industries, which had deep cooperation with the Military, seemed to have very close ties with Colonel Stryker and had actually found the Secretary of Defense to intercede.
Given that he had only been Director for a few years and many of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s future development plans depended on dealing with the government, he had no choice but to grant this favor.