I am jolted awake by my phone vibrating on the table. I look down and see that Marie is sweating a bit but otherwise sleeping soundly. I remove the blanket so she doesn't feel hot and pick up my phone.
"Luke, the attack you warned about ended up happening," D.A.I.S.Y. says, showing me a scene in front of Baxter Building where there is a traffic jam right now.
Suddenly, there is a small hole in the road, and out of it comes a green-skinned bipedal creature. It yells and goes to the nearest structure, attacking it. Soon, the road is filled with multiple holes. But before they can cause more harm, the Fantastic Four appear.
I smirk, as I had seen these small creatures attacking the Baxter Building in a glimpse from the future during Precognition. So I had warned Susan, and it looks like she was ready with the whole team.
Well, it may be a bit overkill, but who asked them to attack my girlfriend's base?
"DAISY, keep on the lookout and tell me of any new up–"
"L~uke!" I hear a sensual sound from behind and turn around.
"Let's do it one more time!" Marie says with a horny look, leaning forward with her tongue out.
It looks like Marie has recovered; I look at her sexy wet body and my dick gets hard instantly, this time she asked for it, so I won't be holding back.
I go ahead and claim her lips.
Kiss!
Before I can grasp what is happening, I feel as if electricity is coursing through my body straight from my lips leaving me paralysed, as something begins to drain from me. My vision starts to darken, and in a panic, I activate my ability: Personal-Anti Power. The draining sensation abruptly ceases.
I feel a push as I am thrown off the bed. "L-Luke!!" I hear Rogue yell in shock.
"W-what happened?!" she asks in panic.
I shake off the dizziness and get up. "Nothing, I'm fine," I say as I go ahead to grab her hand.
"No, stay away! Don't touch me!" Marie yells, backing away from me.
I sigh, take a deep breath, and grab her hand before she can get away. "Luke, nooo!" Marie screams in terror.
"I am fine, see? Look," I say, showing that I am completely fine as I actively use my power to neutralise hers.
"H-huh? Then what was that just now? Ah just felt somethin' weird happenin', and ya face was all pale too!" Marie says, looking at me in panic.
I sigh mentally. The trauma from her childhood is still there it seems, but seriously, her Absorption Power is no joke. Even though I was subconsciously looking out for it and was just late by a second, it still made me feel really dizzy. I would have definitely passed out if she had kept her touch for a longer time.
"Rogue, I mean Marie… there are some things I have to tell you. I think I know what happened to your sister and what is happening to you," I say seriously, holding her shoulders.
I proceed to explain everything about mutants, mutates, X-genes, superpowers, and even about my own powers.
"So Ah'm a mutant? And mah sister was one too?" Marie asks with a confused expression.
I myself am a bit confused, as according to her, she didn't get any memories from me after the kiss. Only she is feeling very good right now, and I notice that even her pale skin has turned healthy. I on the other hand am still feeling weak.
I didn't have many obvious powers activated at that moment, so it is understandable if she didn't gain or feel any of them, assuming she did absorb them.
Before I can say anything more, my phone blasts with a red warning siren.
"Huh?" I hurriedly grab it.
"Luke, the creatures aren't just attacking the Baxter Building; they are targeting all the Nuclear Power Plants around New York City," I look at the screen, where multiple nuclear power plants were displayed, and at all those locations small green creatures have emerged and are assaulting the surroundings.
"So the Baxter Building was just a distraction. Fucking Mole Man!" I curse. "Inform Susan that I will handle these creatures. They need to focus on wrapping up their side as soon as possible; the mastermind should be in their vicinity," I instruct, gesturing with my hand to activate my Power: Psychokinesis. My clothes fly to me, and within seconds, I am dressed.
I step forward and gently grasp Marie's face, who is still in a state of confusion. Activating my Anti-Power, I give her a soft kiss. "Wait for me here patiently, okay? I will try to return as soon as possible, and then we can continue our conversation," I say with a gentle smile before hurrying downstairs.
Marie watches Luke go away and traces her lips, deep in thought.
I turn myself Invisible and, using my Forcefield, I fly to a secluded spot. There, I take out a small pill from my pocket and swallow it.
Gulp
"I was blind, but now I see," I mutter to myself as my field of view expands from 114 degrees to a full 180!
The basic version of NZT-48 doing wonders as I can see everything in higher quality, my thoughts which were scattered now feel organised. I don't feel much smarter, but I am definitely more focused.
"D.A.I.S.Y., it should take about 33 minutes to reach from Mississippi to New York in Ghostwing, which can fly at max Mach 2.1 speed. Let's reach there in under a minute," I say with a confident smirk as I proceed to ask her to show me abandoned locations from here to New York.
After seeing them all, I bring my smartphone to my mouth and mutter softly.
"Henshin!"
I simultaneously use my Metal Constructs Power as the mobile phone starts expanding and enveloping me, and in just seconds, I am suited up.
Setting this theatrics aside, I get back to the task at hand as I use my Power: Earth Portal Creation to jump to the first place that was shown by D.A.I.S.Y.
I go through the motions, but my mind is still on Marie. I should have realised that the sweat on her body was from her powers activating.
I had theorised before that her powers might awaken because of having sex with me, but after hearing her story, I was sure that her twin sister must have gotten the X-gene and the powers, while Marie didn't inherit any.
Which at first honestly, felt like a relief. As I didn't want her to endure the hardships the original Rogue suffered, especially the inability to touch someone without causing harm.
Anyway, it has happened already, she has powers now, and I will deal with it just like I will deal with this present situation, as just in under 30 seconds and after using 8 consecutive portals, I reach my destination: the first nuclear power plant where the attack has just begun.
"Haa… Haaa…" I try to regulate my breathing and work through the exhaustion, as I have never really used 8 portals in succession. I honestly wasn't even sure if I would be able to do it, but I pulled it off.
In retrospect, I should have postponed today's meeting with Marie, as I knew about this attack and should have just stayed in NYC, but I was very weak to her requests, and in the end, I ended up saying yes to the goth girl.
Using just the Forcefield, I take to the air as I gaze at the Nuclear Power Plant below. I can even hear the warning siren that is buzzing.
This is just one of the sites, as according to D.A.I.S.Y., the attack is happening simultaneously at three Nuclear Power Plants which all are just on the outskirts of New York City.
D.A.I.S.Y. directs me to the area, and I can see that it has fallen in chaos, with security guards firing frantically at an ever-increasing horde of Moloids.
Moloids, small goblin-like subterranean creatures, who are relatively weak but are equipped with night vision. What they lack in individual strength, they make up for in sheer numbers. They are emerging from the ground in hordes, targeting the transformers that power the plant.
BANG! BANG!
Their numbers are so great that even as guards manage to fell some with bullets, the rest mindlessly press forward in relentless waves.
My first priority is to protect the guards. Before they can reach the security guards, I extend my hands, creating a shimmering forcefield in front of them.
THUD
The Moloids slam into the invisible wall, their rush momentarily halted.
Electricity crackles at my fingertips. "Time to clear some space," I mutter.
ZAP
With a swift motion, I unleash a bolt of lightning that arcs into the Moloids, sending several flying.
FWOOSH! WHOOSH!
Simultaneously, I conjure fireballs in my other hand and hurl them into the crowd. The flames explode on impact, burning many Moloids.
Unfortunately, in front of almost a hundred Moloids, these are the only two AOE attacks that I can use. The good thing is my aerial advantage and their limited intelligence, the bad thing is their numbers and mindless assault.
The guards, now shielded and regrouped, cheer as they recognise me. "It's Aeon! We are saved!" one shouts, while another yells, "They can't reach us!"
"Stay calm, you are safe now," I call out to them.
It is amazing how popular I have become even if I had just made my debut recently.
I maintain my forcefield, ensuring the guards' safety, and focus on thinning the horde. I can see the Moloids emerging from holes in the ground, their numbers seemingly endless.
'Need to cut off their supply,' I think as I fly above the plant, dodging the Moloids' projectiles, which are spears and rocks. Spotting the largest breach, I land and reach out, touching the nearby metal security fences.
CLANK RATTLE
The fences shudder and bend to my will, transforming into massive metal constructs. I reshape them into a sturdy barrier and place it on the hole, blocking the Moloids' primary entry point, stuffing them back down as I keep using my electricity at them.
"That should slow them down," I say aloud.
Suddenly, a group of Moloids break through a secondary hole, rushing toward the transformers. I land in front of them and use my Forcefield push to shove them all back. I take to the air again, electricity dancing across my body.
ZAP! ZAP!
I fire off bolts of lightning with pinpoint accuracy, picking them off as the electricity travels from one Moloid to another, paralyzing or incapacitating them.
Despite my efforts, more Moloids emerge as they continue to swarm. I switch tactics, using my forcefield to create a dome over the transformers, protecting them from further attacks. "Let's see you get through that," I say with a smirk.
With the primary threat neutralized, I focus on mopping up the remaining Moloids. I summon fireballs and lightning, weaving through the chaos with practiced ease.
WHOOSH! ZAP! BAM!
Each attack lands with devastating effect, the ground littered with defeated Moloids.
As the last of the Moloids fall, I take a moment to catch my breath.
The guards, now safe, cheer and applaud. "You did it, Aeon!" they shout, relieved and grateful.
"You all should be safe now," I reply, smiling inside my helmet. They cheer happily, hugging each other.
"One down, two to go," I mutter, taking heavy breaths and steeling myself for the next battle.
***
[Straight Crit! 120% increase in Marie's energy reserve: Gained a Mutation]