Chapter 7: Magnetism and racism yes!
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The underground auditorium stretched into darkness, vast and silent, like a forgotten cathedral in the depths of the earth.
The walls, carved from the bare rock, were covered with moss and lichen, and the echo of each step reverberated in the heavy, humid air.
The roof, barely visible in the gloom, was supported by roughly hewn columns that stood like stone giants, adding an air of primitive mystery to the place.
Rows of worn wooden seats, precisely aligned, descended in a semicircle towards a central stage.
The seats, dusty and covered in cobwebs, seemed to have been abandoned a long time ago, silently awaiting the arrival of an audience that would never return.
Some of the chairs were broken, and the wood splinters creaked under the weight of forgotten history.
In the center of the stage, an old grand piano stood, its keys yellowed and covered in dust, its strings perhaps still capable of emitting a melancholy sound.
Around him, other instruments, equally neglected, lay scattered as if they had been hastily abandoned.
The few lights hanging from the ceiling were dim and flickered from time to time, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls.
The electrical cables, visible and tangled, ran along the walls like black snakes, adding to the place an aura of latent danger.
The air was heavy with the acrid smell of humidity and decay, mixed with a faint trace of ancient perfume, as if the echoes of ancient performances and applause still lingered in the air.
In this vast, shadowy underground auditorium, time seemed to have stood still, capturing in its silence the essence of ages past, of voices that once filled the air with laughter and cries, now just a whisper in the memory of the eternal rock.
Now used to gather people seeking a leader with awaiting arrival this silence is almost palpable, broken only by the occasional drip of water from the walls or the distant echo of footsteps in the corridors.
In the vast and gloomy underground auditorium, hundreds of mutants had gathered, eager to listen to their leader.
The atmosphere was charged with expectation and hope. Everyone present knew that this was a crucial moment in mutant history, a crossroads that would define their future.
At the front, on a raised platform, stood Magneto, his imposing figure and his magnetic presence dominating the room.
With a solemn gesture, he raised his hands, and the murmur of the audience faded away. His eyes shone with a ferocious intensity as he began his speech.
"Brothers and sisters," he began, his voice resonating with a gravity that echoed in every corner of the auditorium.
—. Today we find ourselves at a turning point. For years, we have been persecuted, feared and hated by those who do not understand our existence. We have been marginalized and oppressed simply for being who we are. We are mutants! And our only offense, our only "fault", is having abilities that humans envy and fear. The audience responded with murmurs of approval, some nodding in agreement.
Magneto continued, his tone becoming more passionate. —Humans call us monsters, they call us aberrations, but the truth is that they fear what they do not understand. They have ruled this world with violence, prejudice and destruction. They have polluted the oceans, destroyed the forests and waged war among themselves. And now, they turn their hatred towards us. But not anymore.
Magneto paused, letting his words sink in. His eyes scanned the crowd, seeing the determination on their faces. —We mutants are not a threat. We are the next step in evolution. We are the hope of a better future, a future where we do not have to hide, a future where we can live in peace and harmony. We do not ask for tolerance; we demand respect. We do not ask for peaceful coexistence; we demand our right to exist and prosper.
The audience burst into applause and cheers. Magneto raised a hand to silence them, and continued.
—That is why today I declare our intention to build a mutant paradise. A place where we can live free from human oppression and hatred. A place where our children can grow up without fear, where our abilities are celebrated and not feared. This will be a sanctuary for all mutants, a nation that will protect and nurture our own. His voice rose, charged with emotion and conviction.
—This will not be an easy path. We will face challenges, powerful enemies who will want to destroy us. But we must not give up. We must not falter. We have the power and the will to make this a reality. United, we are unstoppable. United, we can build a world where we are not nails of human prejudices, but masters of our own destiny.
Magneto lowered his voice, speaking with an intensity that forced everyone to listen closely. —Brothers and sisters, this is our moment. This is our chance to create something truly great. I ask you to join me in this fight, not only for us, but for future generations of mutants. Together, we will build a mutant paradise. Together, we will forge a new world.
The entire auditorium exploded in a cacophony of applause, shouts and cheers. Magneto raised his arm, taking in the energy and passion of his followers.
He knew this was just the beginning, but with the support of the mutants, he was sure they could build the future they had always dreamed of.
A future where mutants would not only survive, but thrive in their own paradise.
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Aleis entered the X-Men training room, known as the Danger Room, with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
She had been waiting for this moment since she arrived at the X-Mansion, and now she was ready to learn how to control her powers of telepathy and vector control.
The Danger Room was a technological marvel, capable of simulating any environment and situation.
Today, it was set up as a vast green plain, with scattered obstacles that he would have to overcome using his abilities.
Emma Frost, his mentor in telepathy, was waiting alongside Ashley, a talented student in mind control.
Both women stood out not only for their power but also for their skill and beauty as mutants.
—Aleis, today we will work on combining your telepathic abilities with your vector control. —Emma smiled, showing a rare softness in her eye
s—. It is important that you learn to use both powers together to maximize your potential. Ashley, her honey-toned hair shining under the lights of the room, approached Aleis.
—First, we need you to focus on your telepathy. Let's start with something simple: read my thoughts. The boy closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he tried to calm his mind. He felt the pressure of expectations, but also the trust of his mentors.
Little by little, he began to feel the girl's mental presence, like a soft murmur in the depths of his consciousness.
"I'm thinking of a picture. Try to see it in your mind," Ashley thought. Aleis concentrated more, delving deeper into the telepathic link.
Suddenly, an image of a field of flowers appeared in his mind, vivid and clear.
"A field of flowers," said the albino, opening his eyes with a triumphant smile. Emma nodded, satisfied.
—Excellent, Aleis. Now, let's try something more complex.
"I want you to try to communicate with Ashley telepathically while using your vector control to move those objects," the older blonde indicated, pointing to a group of heavy metal boxes in the distance.
He just nodded, feeling the adrenaline rush through his veins. He focused on his mate first, establishing a telepathic link.
—Ashley, can you hear me? —the boy thought.
"Yes, I can hear you clearly," the blonde answered in his mind. With the connection established, he focused on vector control of her.
He raised a hand, feeling the power latent within it. The boxes began to shake slightly before rising into the air.
Aleis felt the physical and mental strain of maintaining both tasks, but she remained steadfast.
"What do you want me to do with the boxes?" he asked telepathically.
"Move them in a circular pattern," Ashley answered. He began to sense the surrounding vectors and manipulate them, striving to maintain concentration.
The boxes began to move in circles, first slowly, then faster. Aleis felt a surge of satisfaction seeing that he could wield both skills simultaneously.
Emma watched carefully, evaluating every movement.
—Very good, Aleis. Now, I want you to try the same thing, but this time under pressure. —Emma activated a program in the Danger Room.
Suddenly, the plain transformed into a ruined city, with debris falling and explosions echoing in the distance.
You need to maintain your concentration even in stressful situations. The psychic swallowed, feeling the pressure increase.
He maintained his telepathic link with the blonde as he lifted the debris with his vector control, clearing the way.
"We have to move quickly," Aleis thought, trying to stay calm.
"I'm with you," Ashley responded, her mental voice firm and encouraging. The two advanced through the ruined city, communicating telepathically and working in perfect synchronicity.
Aleis moved debris and blocked explosions, while she guided him and provided support. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they reached a safe place. Emma deactivated the simulation, returning the Danger Room to its original state.
"You did an excellent job, Aleis," Emma said, approaching with an approving smile. You have shown that you can handle your powers under pressure and work as a team. Ashley nodded, placing a hand on the albino's shoulder.
-I'm proud of you. You are stronger than you think, and today you have proven it. Aleis felt a wave of relief and pride.
She knew she still had a lot to learn, but with mentors like Emma and Charles, she was on the right path to becoming a powerful Mutant.
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The unknown room confused her, this was definitely not her room, the room only consists of the bed she was now in, a lamp next to it, a chair and a mirror next to the door and a small window... nothing more ...
The hard looking door to the room, which was definitely solid metal, made a squeaking sound as it slowly opened, from there, a woman was revealed.
She has a kind face and appears to be in her late to mid-thirties, a slight smile adorned her face as she slowly walked towards him, stopping at the side of the bed while holding papers and looking at him,
"How are you? Alice?" .
"Who are you and...why am I here?" The girl known as Alice spoke as she frowned at her confusion, she swore that her eyebrows were now tired of all the confusion right..
"Can't you remember anything?...
"Hmm, it's possible... after all, you had a serious concussion, apart from being in a coma..."
"Wait...what do you mean...arghh!!–." Alice asked trying to clear up the confusion, but suddenly a throbbing headache struck her head.
Her head felt like hammers were hitting her brain right now and she couldn't help but scream in pain.
"Are you OK?!" The doctor immediately ran to her side and looked at him with concern.
Then he said, "Take a deep breath, okay? Inhale, exhale..." Alice is still torn apart on her bed in agony, this lasts five minutes as the pain slowly subsides in her head.
Her body was soaked in her own sweat as she shifted uncomfortably on the bed, then she raised her head, looked at the doctor in front of him and repeated her question: "Who are you and where am I?" .
"I'm Dr. Cecilia Reyes and you are at Milbury Hospital right now." She said with a harmless smile on her face.
"After your power defected and a fall damaged your brain..... but you survived... your body started moving on its own after we took your body... So, can you remember anything now?" She continued.
"Is that so?" Alice said with her head bowed and staring at her hands.
"As I said before, you are now at Milbury Hospital, this is where we raise people like you who have special abilities and train them."
"People like me?" said the blonde.
"Yes, people like you who have special abilities, we call them... Mutants." Dr. Reyes said as she pulled the chair next to her and settled into it. "The mutation occurs mainly at puberty, you can spend the next thirteen to fifteen years of your life relatively normal, but after that, you just collapse. Yours and your cousin's case is not unusual since your mutation activated around The same ability is definitely rare since the mutation varies from person to person, even if they are related." Dr. Reyes stands up and says,
"I and the other patients will have a session later in the study. Patients who are just like you, you are not the only ones here, I know you have been through a lot Alice, but remember . You're not alone".
She gets up from her bed as her body made some light pops, then she walked towards the window as a vast green field with some trees surrounding the place greeted him. She opened the window and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh, healthy air that seemed to be filled with vitality washing her lungs.
"I can go?" She said as she savored the fresh air.
"No. Not yet, not after your mind suffered too much damage, we will have to evaluate if you can still save yourself or…no. But until then, you will have to stay here." Dr. Reyes said in a calm voice.
"Well." Alice said neutrally.
"Hmm." Dr. Reyes nodded while looking deeply at Alice, who had her back turned to her and then left the room.
Alice stayed in the room, looking out the window at the vast green field. She knew that Dr. Reyes was right, that she needed time to recover and evaluate her abilities, but she couldn't help but feel trapped.
The confusion and headache from earlier had been partly an act, an attempt to keep the true extents of her powers hidden.
Her ability to visualize possible futures, although unstable and often overwhelming, had allowed him to see fragments of what could happen.
She didn't remember all the details of how she had gotten to the hospital, but she knew that her life had changed drastically.
Her cousin also had similar abilities. Together, they had played with her powers until a family accident separated them.
She just stared with imperturbable calm at the view from the window as if she expected all the memories of her to come back with the breeze.
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