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Minutes later, Peter, Peggy, Steve, and Professor Xavier walked silently out of the prison, the heavy doors clanging shut behind them. The meeting with Bucky had been intense and emotional, mainly for Steve, who had been desperate to reconnect with his old friend.
Bucky had been restrained and locked back to his cell after the brief interaction with Steve. It was clear that he wasn't in a lucid state; his eyes had a distant, unfocused quality, and his responses had been robotic and defensive. Even the briefest hint of recognition in his eyes had quickly faded, replaced by a blank, programmed stare.
Steve's hands clenched into fists at his sides as he walked, frustration and sadness etched across his face. He had wanted to stay longer, to talk to Bucky and somehow bring his friend back to the surface. But Professor Xavier had gently insisted that pushing too hard too soon could cause more harm than good.
They came to a stop outside the prison entrance, the steel door looming behind them. Professor Xavier turned his wheelchair to face the group, his expression calm and thoughtful as always, though there was a hint of sympathy in his eyes as he looked at Steve.
"I know this is difficult for you, Captain Rogers," Xavier began, his voice gentle yet firm. "But Bucky is still under the influence of deep psychological conditioning. He's not truly present, not yet. What you saw in there... it's like he's in a trance, a preprogrammed state designed to protect him from anyone who might try to break through the brainwashing."
Steve nodded, though his jaw remained clenched. He understood the professor's words, but it didn't make the situation any easier to accept. "So, what happens now?" he asked, his voice tight with barely restrained emotion.
Xavier glanced between the three of them. "I'll continue to work with Bucky, but it will take time. The programming he's under is incredibly sophisticated, likely developed over many years. It involves multiple layers of psychological conditioning, each designed to reinforce the others. Breaking through that kind of mental fortification is not something that can be done quickly or easily."
Peggy nodded, her expression understanding but determined. "We trust you, Professor. We know that you'll do everything in your power to help him."
Xavier gave a small nod of gratitude. "Thank you, Peggy. My approach will be slow and methodical. I won't force him to remember or confront anything he's not ready to face. Instead, I'll work on slowly bringing down the barriers, dismantling the commands that have been drilled into him. It's a process that requires patience and care."
Peter listened carefully, absorbing every word. "How long do you think it will take?" He asked curiously.
Xavier sighed softly, his gaze thoughtful. "It's hard to say. Bucky has been through so much, and his mind is a maze of trauma and manipulation. But I am hopeful that with time and the right approach, we can begin to reach the real James Buchanan Barnes. But I want to make it clear that this won't be a linear process. However, If I had to provide a timeline, I would estimate a few months. However, it could be sooner depending on how willing he is to accept my help. That's why we arranged this meeting—to help jog his memory and show him that something is amiss, encouraging him to accept my assistance."
Steve nodded, though his frustration was still evident. "I just want to help him," he said quietly. "I feel like I owe him that much, after everything he's been through because of me."
Xavier reached out, placing a comforting hand on Steve's arm. "And you will help him. Your presence alone is a powerful reminder of who he is, of the life he once had. That connection will be invaluable as we move forward. You'll be able to visit him again soon, but for now, we must give him time to process what's happening."
Steve took a deep breath, nodding again. "Alright. I'll trust your judgment, Professor."
Xavier offered a reassuring smile. "Thank you, Steve. Trust is key here—for Bucky's sake and for yours. Now, let's give him some time. We can reconvene in a few days and assess how he's doing. I'm hopeful that we'll see some progress."
Peggy placed a hand on Steve's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll get through this, Steve. Together. Bucky is strong, and he's got the best people on his side."
Steve managed a small smile, though it was tinged with sadness. "I hope you're right, Peggy. I hope you're right…"
Peter watched the exchange, a small smile on his face. "Thank you, Professor," he said, his voice sincere. "For everything you're doing. Your help has been invaluable since the day we met."
Xavier nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "No problem. It's my duty to help those in need, you know that."
With that, the group turned to leave, each of them going their separate ways, their footsteps echoing in the cold, sterile hall. But as they were walked off, Peter called out, his voice cutting through the quiet. "Professor Xavier, do you have time to help me with something?"
Xavier paused, turning his wheelchair to face Peter. "Of course, Peter. What's on your mind?"
Peter approached him, his expression serious. "It's about this girl I know. She's in the infirmary right now. She collapsed while we were on the phone, and my phone exploded shortly after. She seems to have had a seizure due to some kind of influx of energy to her brain."
Hearing this, Xavier's brows furrowed in concern. He could sense where Peter was going with this line of thought. "You think she's awakened the X-Gene?" he asked, his tone cautious yet understanding.
Peter nodded. "It's the only thing that makes sense. There's nothing else wrong with her. If she's not a mutant, then I have no idea what could be causing this."
Xavier considered this for a moment, his mind working quickly to assess the situation. "If she has awakened the X-Gene, we'll need to determine what kind of abilities she might have manifested. What happened to your phone is likely a clue to that," he said thoughtfully. "I'll go and take a look at her. But to be certain, we'll need to test her blood."
Peter nodded in agreement, relieved that Xavier was willing to help. "Thanks, Professor. I just want to make sure she's okay."
Xavier offered a reassuring smile. "Of course, Peter. I'll do everything I can to help her. I'll call Hank and have him bring the necessary equipment to test her blood. In the meantime, let's go and have a look at her."
With that, Peter led him to the Infirmary…
…
..
.
An hour had passed since Peter and Xavier arrived at the Infirmary. The Jedi healers and Shield doctors had been working tirelessly, their expressions gradually shifting from focused determination to confusion and frustration.
Despite their best efforts, they couldn't find anything physically wrong with Mikaela. Her vital signs were stable, her brain activity normal, and there were no signs of injury or trauma.
Peter stood by the window, his arms crossed over his chest, his mind racing with possibilities. He had suspected something was different about Mikaela from the moment she collapsed, but he didn't want to jump to conclusions without evidence.
Beside him, Xavier sat in his wheelchair, his hands steepled in front of his face, deep in thought. He had taken a moment earlier to look over the doctor's tests, but they weren't of much help. His experience told him there was a strong possibility that Mikaela was a mutant, but they needed to be sure.
Suddenly, a mechanical voice crackled over the PA system, announcing, "Attention, all personnel: a helicopter is approaching hangar 03. Please stand clear and prepare for arrival."
Peter and Xavier turned toward the window, watching as the helicopter entered into the hangar. The aircraft touched down smoothly, and moments later, Hank McCoy emerged from the helicopter, carrying several pieces of advanced medical equipment. His blue fur and imposing yet gentle presence made him instantly recognizable.
Hank quickly made his way to the infirmary, accompanied by a few Shield agents who helped him transport the equipment. He was greeted by Peter and Xavier, who quickly explained the situation and their suspicions about Mikaela's potential mutation.
"Well," Hank said with a nod, "let's get to the bottom of this." He immediately began setting up his equipment with the help of the doctors and the Jedi healers, transforming the infirmary into a makeshift genetics lab.
Once everything was in place, Hank approached Mikaela's bedside. He carefully prepared a syringe and turned to Peter and Xavier. "I'll need to draw a blood sample to run the necessary tests. It should give us a definitive answer as to whether she's a mutant or not."
Peter nodded, watching closely as Hank gently extracted a sample of Mikaela's blood. The room was tense with anticipation, everyone silently hoping for answers to the questions that had been plaguing them.
As Hank began running the tests, Peter waited nearby, curiously watching as he worked. Peter's concern for Mikaela was evident in his tense posture, though he was also impressed by how skillfully Hank worked despite his large size.
Xavier, meanwhile, maintained a calm exterior, having been in this situation countless times before. "…"
Minutes ticked by, each one feeling like an eternity. The steady hum of the equipment filled the room, accompanied by the occasional beep as Hank checked the progress of the tests. Finally, after what felt like forever, the results started coming in.
Hank leaned over the screen, his eyes scanning the data with practiced precision. After a moment, he straightened up and turned to face Peter and Xavier, a serious expression on his face. "It's confirmed," he said, his voice steady. "Mikaela is a mutant. The tests show a clear activation of the X-gene in her DNA."
Before anyone could react, a soft groan filled the room. Mikaela's eyes fluttered open, her expression dazed and confused as she tried to orient herself. "What… what happened?" she murmured, her voice weak.
Mikaela blinked, her gaze slowly focusing on Peter's face before shifting to the others in the room. Her eyes widened slightly as they landed on Hank, who was standing beside her bed, his blue-furred appearance unmistakable. "W-What…?" she stammered, clearly startled by his appearance.
A/N: 1800 words :)
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