Chereads / Alpha in the MCU / Chapter 16 - Jean Grey

Chapter 16 - Jean Grey

The next afternoon, Logan took some time to visit an old friend deep in the forest—a massive grizzly bear named Benjamin. As Logan approached, he saw the bear lounging by a stream, its fur shimmering in the sunlight.

"Hey, Benjamin!" Logan called out with a grin.

The bear raised its head and huffed, seemingly in recognition.

Logan chuckled, "Got any fish left, or did you eat 'em all?" Logan joked. The bear snorted in response, as if to say, You're too late.

Logan sat down on a large rock near the stream where Benjamin, the bear, lounged lazily. He watched the bear munch on some fish, enjoying the calm of the forest.

"Still up to your old tricks, huh?" Logan said with a chuckle, watching the bear enjoy his meal.

Benjamin lifted his head, gave Logan a casual glance, and then returned to his fish.

Logan smiled, feeling a wave of nostalgia. "You wouldn't believe where I've been, bub. Got thrown across dimensions, met some crazy powerful beings… even got a new mate." He sighed.

Benjamin huffed and lay down, stretching out beside the stream.

Logan chuckled "yeah, Life's never simple, isn't it?"

Logan spent a few moments in peaceful silence, enjoying the calm of the forest and the company of his old friend.

After a moment of quiet, Logan stood up. "Well, I'd better get going. Got a lot of catching up to do back home." He gave the bear a nod. "Take care, old friend."

Benjamin watched him leave, his eyes following Logan until he disappeared into the trees.

------

Later that day, Logan gathered with Hank, Selene, and Laura in the study. He explained what had happened after the Tesseract teleported him away—the encounter with the Phoenix Force and his discovery of mate connection with its host, Jean Grey.

Laura listened intently, her eyes widening at the mention of another mate. "The mate bond is unique, Logan," she said softly. "Sometimes, it's possible to be bonded with more than one. It doesn't diminish what we have."

Logan nodded, appreciating her understanding. He then showed them the mysterious metal prism that the Phoenix had given him.

As Selene and Laura inspected the object closely, their expressions turned serious.

"I've seen something like this before in ancient texts," Selene said, her brow furrowing. "It's called Mysterium. It has anti-magic properties, resistant to most spells and sorcery."

His eyes widened after putting all the pieces together, the Mysterium metal is said to be one of the strongest metal in comics where Tony stark made an indestructible suit with it. It is stronger than Vibranium and adamantium and also had magic properties.

Then a crazy idea popped up in his brain what if.... What if... He injects the Mysterium in his claws, that will make his claws indestructible.

Logan considering all this come to the conclusion. "Makes sense," he muttered. "The Phoenix mentioned it was a gift to help me grow stronger."

They raised thier eyebrows hearing what Logan just said but he continued to explain how he was later teleported to a place called K'un-Lun, a hidden city where he trained under various masters.

He had learned new techniques and honed his skills even further. He even learned to control tesseract with some extent.

-------

After hearing about all his adventures they are very surprised.

Logan then turned the conversation to what had been happening while he was away.

Hank and Selene filled him in on the progress made by Howlett Enterprises, the introduction of the DNA lock serum to the pack members, and the developments in the lab.

Laura also said about Erik, the kid they saved from Shaw.

"Interesting," Logan commented. "So he's out there, exploring the world, while his mother works for us."

Laura nodded. "Yes, he seems curious about everything. A good trait, considering his potential."

Hank mentioned the combination of Shaw's DNA with the Super Soldier Serum. "But I haven't tested it yet. I need to make sure it's safe."

Logan glanced at the vial containing the serum. Without hesitation, he grabbed it and injected himself.

The room erupted in chaos as everyone tried to stop him, but Laura held them back. "Trust him," she said, her voice calm.

Moments passed, and Logan didn't feel any immediate effects from the serum.

But then, a strange energy began to pulse from the Tesseract, which was kept on a nearby table. It glowed brighter, vibrating with an unstable energy.

"Something's wrong," Hank said, his voice tense.

Logan moved towards the Tesseract as his instincts kicking in.

As he grabbed it and tried to control it, then a surge of energy exploded from the cube, filling the room with blinding light. The serum in Logan's veins reacted violently with the energy, causing his body to convulse.

"Logan!" Laura screamed, rushing towards him, but the energy wave pushed her back.

Logan gritted his teeth, focusing on controlling the chaotic energy coursing through his body.

Soon, he managed to calm the storm within, absorbing the energy into himself. As the light dimmed, he found himself glowing, his body surrounded by a bright aura of energy similar to Captain Marvel's.

"What... what just happened?" Selene asked, awe-struck.

Laura immediately went to Logan and hugged him tightly as if her life depends on him.

Hank was ready with his equipment and began scanning Logan with a handheld device that emitted a faint blue light. "Hold still, Logan,"

Hank muttered, his eyes glued to the screen displaying various readings. "I need to get a baseline before we proceed with the what happened to you."

Logan smirked, holding his position. "Never could hold still for too long, you know that, Hank."

Hank chuckled softly. "Yeah, but this is important. We need to understand what's going on inside you after that Tesseract blast."

Selene stood by, observing the scans on a larger monitor. "The energy readings are off the charts. It's like your body absorbed the Tesseract's energy and is now emitting some kind of low-frequency electromagnetic field."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "since when did you become expert in science"

Selene smirked "From the time you're away"

Logan shook his head "In English, please?"

Laura laughed softly. "She means you've got a glow about you, Logan.... Literally."

Hank looked up from his scanner, his expression serious. "It's more than that. The serum you injected—the one derived from Shaw's DNA and the Super Soldier Serum—it's been activated by the radiation from the Tesseract. Right now, I'm detecting elevated levels of gamma radiation and exotic particles in your cells, similar to what we see in gamma-irradiated individuals but... more stable."

Logan looked at Hank with curiosity. "What does that mean for me?"

Hank switching to a different screen that showed a series of cellular diagrams. "Well, Logan, it means your cells have undergone some kind of mutation. The Super Soldier Serum is enhancing your physical capabilities further, but the inclusion of Shaw's DNA has introduced an element of energy absorption and manipulation into your physiology."

Laura frowned. "Is it dangerous?"

Hank shook his head. "For a normal person yes but for Logan No. Logan's Wolfgene and healing factor seems to be mitigating any harmful effects, but the changes are significant. His body is now capable of absorbing kinetic energy and converting it into raw power, which he can then use as a sort of... energy blast."

Logan glanced down at his hands thinking 'Like Captain Marvel?'

Hank quickly done some more tests to logan.

He then concluded "Your abilities are tied to kinetic energy, meaning any physical force—like a punch or a bullet—can be absorbed and redirected. This is a new form of bio-kinetic manipulation."

Logan is trying to process what he was hearing. "So, I'm like a walking battery now, huh?"

Selene interjected, "More like a capacitor. You can store energy, release it, and even potentially use it to enhance your physical attributes further."

Logan nodded, his mind already considering the possibilities of his new powers.

Laura asked as she eyed the blue cube "Alright, but what about the Tesseract? That thing's too dangerous to keep around here."

Hank agreed. "We've already seen its effects. The radiation from it triggered the changes in you. It's unpredictable and could pose a risk to everyone around it. I suggest we hand it over to someone else. It's the safest course of action."

Laura nodded, placing a hand on Logan's arm. "The Ancient One said something similar. It needs to be with S.H.I.E.L.D. for now. But before we do that, I want to make sure you're alright."

Logan smiled at her concern. "I'm fine, Laura. Really. I've been through worse."

Selene watched the exchange quietly, then spoke up. "We need to be cautious, Logan. Your new abilities are powerful, need to keep it under control."

Hank finished his scans and shut down the equipment. "Just take it easy for a while, Logan. We'll keep monitoring your condition, but for now, it looks like you're stable."

Logan looked down at his glowing hands, amazed by the new power and looked at Tesseract. "We need to hand the Tesseract over to S.H.I.E.L.D. That thing is activating whenever it wants, it gave me trouble even in other dimension."

Everyone agreed. Though Logan wished he could entrust it to the Ancient One, he knew the timeline's stability depended on S.H.I.E.L.D. having it.

------

That evening, Logan was testing his new powers, Laura alon with Selene came to him saying Laura received an urgent call about unusual events in Whitehaven.

"Something happened at white heavan, Logan," she said.

Selene added, "I sensed a surge of unusual power earlier. It didn't feel like anything I've encountered before."

Hank who brought some of his devices shows up a report showing high temperature levels in Whitehaven.

Logan frowned, a sense of dread creeping up his spine. "I think I know who might be behind this," he said grimly.

Laura nodded, sharing his concern. "That town does seem to attract trouble."

Determined to find out if his guess is correct or not, Logan decided to investigate Whitehaven that night.

-----

Whitehaven, once a beautiful town full of fond memories for Logan, was now in ruins.

"Damn, now I agree with Laura, this town sure is cursed."

As he approached the town, he could feel the energy in the air.

He sensed a presence at his old cabin and quickly made his way there.

Pushing open the door, he found a young woman with fiery red hair and striking blue eyes sitting on the floor, cradling a bottle.

She looked up, startled by his arrival. For a moment, they just stared at each other.

Logan could feel a powerful psychic presence trying to probe his mind. But his training with Selene and the masters of K'un-Lun had prepared him well.

"You're going to have to try harder than that," he said calmly, his eyes meeting hers.

The young woman flinched, her concentration breaking. "I'm sorry," she stammered. "I can't control it..."

Logan's heart softened as he realized how scared and lost she seemed. "It's okay," he said gently. "I'm Logan, What's your name?"

She hesitated, her fear palpable. But something in Logan's presence seemed to reassure her.

Jean Grey took a deep breath, trying to steady herself as she sat on the steps beside Logan.

The night air was cool, but she could feel the warmth radiating from Logan's presence, a strange comfort in the midst of her turmoil. She had seen so much in the past few hours, and it was all still a jumbled mess in her mind.

Logan, sensing her hesitation, gave her a reassuring nod. "Take your time," he said gently, his voice low and steady. "You don't have to rush."

Jean nodded, closing her eyes for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. She then looked at Logan, her blue eyes filled with a mixture of fear, confusion, and guilt.

"I'm... I'm Jean Grey," she began, her voice shaky but growing stronger with each word. "I came here with my family. We were just visiting, you know, on a little trip. My parents wanted to see the old towns up here, something different from the city."

Logan listened intently, his gaze never leaving her face. He could see the pain etched into her features, the weight of something she hadn't fully processed yet.

Jean continued, her eyes starting to water as she recounted the events. "We were just walking through town, looking at some of the old shops. Then... out of nowhere, this group of men came up to us. They were shouting, demanding our money, our valuables. My dad tried to talk to them, tried to calm them down, but..." Her voice cracked, and she took a deep, shuddering breath. "But they wouldn't listen. One of them hit him. I... I just panicked."

Logan's eyes narrowed slightly. "What happened next?" he asked softly.

Jean swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as she spoke. "I don't know exactly. It all happened so fast. I just remember feeling this... this rush of energy inside me. It was like something broke loose, something I couldn't control. I screamed, and then... everything around me just... disintegrated."

Her voice broke, and she buried her face in her hands, sobbing quietly. Logan placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, giving her a moment to release her emotions.

After a few moments, Jean lifted her head, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. "When I opened my eyes," she continued, her voice barely above a whisper, "my parents... the men... everyone... they were gone. Just... ashes. And it didn't stop there. It was like I couldn't turn it off. The whole town... all these people..." She choked on her words, her grief evident.

Logan's heart ached seeing her like this, he leaned forward slightly, trying to catch her eyes. "Jean," he said softly, "I'm so sorry for what happened. But you're not alone in this. I know what it's like to lose control, to hurt people without meaning to. But we can figure this out together, okay?"

Jean nodded, her eyes meeting his with a glimmer of hope amidst the despair. "I don't know how to control it, Logan," she admitted. "I don't even know what 'it' is. I just want it to stop."

Logan gave her a small, reassuring smile. "We'll figure that out."

He then make a first and extended his bone claws out. She gasps seeing this.

He chuckled seeing her reaction "See, you're not the only one with powers."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Mind telling me a bit more about when it all started?"

Jean hesitated, searching for the right words. "I have powers ever since I was young, I can lift things without touching them and sometimes hear what other people thinks. But this is different... It was like... like a voice in my head, but not a voice. More like an instinct, a feeling of something ancient and powerful waking up. It felt like fire, like something burning inside me, but it didn't hurt. It just felt... overwhelming, like it was too big for my body to contain. And then, it just... exploded."

Logan nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That is the Phoenix Force," he said to her. "An entity of immense power. It's tied to your emotions, amplifying them, feeding off them. It must have sensed your fear and reacted."

Jean looked at him, confusion and fear in her eyes. "The Phoenix Force? What is that?"

Logan sighed. "It's a cosmic entity, Jean. Something very old and very powerful. It seems to have bonded with you somehow, choosing you as its host. That's why you're feeling what you're feeling. It's why you lost control."

Jean's eyes widened, and she shook her head slightly, disbelief evident in her expression. "Why me? Why would something like that choose me?"

"I don't know, kid. But we're gonna find out. You're not alone in this, and I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. We'll figure out a way to help you control it, to understand it. I promise."

Jean nodded, taking a deep breath as she tried to steady herself. "Thank you, Logan," she whispered.

Logan squeezed her shoulder gently. " I'm gonna be here for you, Jean."

She then hugged him and soon lost consciousness in his arms.