The room was submerged in a dim light barely broken by the green flickering of the Omnitrix. Grey Matter, with his tiny fingers, interacted with the device.
—Sir, you have now corrected the error that caused the involuntary transformation into Rath two hours ago, Sid's voice resonated softly. I suggest you rest. Your brain activity is beginning to show signs of severe fatigue.
—Now that I have a little free time, I can take advantage of it to better understand the user interface, replied the small creature without taking his eyes off the watch. It's still early, Sid. A few more minutes won't do any harm.
A brief silence fell over the room, interrupted only by the faint hum of Galvanic technology.
—Sir, it is five in the morning.
Grey Matter snapped his head up.
He looked at the digital clock on the dresser and, sure enough, the red numbers read 5:00 AM.
—Damn! he muttered under his breath. Why didn't you warn me sooner?
—I did, three times, sir. But you insisted that "knowledge has no schedule."
With a defeated sigh, the small alien pressed the symbol on his back.
A green flash flooded the room and Legion returned to his human form. His armor folded back with a metallic sound until it became a compact square the size of a palm, which he left beside the pillow.
He collapsed onto the bed, pulled the covers up to his nose, and closed his eyes.
—Good night, sir, Sid murmured.
—Thank you, Sid... Legion managed to say before falling into a deep sleep.
It seemed as though only a couple of seconds had passed when a series of rhythmic, persistent knocks at the door tore him from his slumber.
The young man opened his eyes abruptly, feeling them heavy and his mind foggy. Frustrated, he activated the helmet mechanism so the section covering his eyes would retract. He rubbed them hard before the plates slid back into place.
—Who the hell wants something at five in the morning? he growled, his voice hoarse.
—Sir, it is nine in the morning, Sid corrected. You were so exhausted that you entered deep sleep the moment you touched the pillow. In fact, my medical recommendation is that you continue sleeping — the ideal is at least six hours, though I still insist on eight.
—I'll have time for that later, he replied, barely managing to get up. I still have work to do.
—You have been saying that for a month and a half, sir, the AI replied in a tone that almost sounded like a reproach.
The hero ignored her and shuffled toward the door, which hadn't stopped knocking.
—Coming, coming! I'm up! he exclaimed as he opened the door. What's so important that it can't—?
He couldn't finish the sentence.
An open hand struck him squarely in the center of his chest. Legion let out a cry of pain and surprise, stumbling back a couple of steps as he hunched over and rubbed the affected area.
Looking down, he watched as a red handprint began to swell on his skin. What was strange was that, from the tips of the fingers in that mark, thin golden lines began to glow faintly, converging toward the center before being absorbed into his body.
Confused and still with his heart racing, he looked up. There stood Illyana, leaning against the doorframe. She was chewing a cookie with disinterest, her other hand on her hip. She looked him up and down with a distracted expression.
—You're welcome, she said with her mouth half full. That should be enough.
Without another word, she turned and walked off down the hallway.
—W-what? Wait! Legion called after her, still rubbing his chest where the mark was fading. Why the hell did you do that? What did you do to me?
Illyana didn't even stop. She simply raised one hand in a vague gesture as she walked away.
—Don't be a baby, it's not like I hit you that hard.
Legion stood there in the doorway of his room, watching the Russian girl's silhouette disappear around the corner. He shook his head, wondering if everyone in that mansion had such a violent way of saying good morning...
—Damn X-Men.
====
In the mansion's kitchen, the air was thick with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of cutlery clinking against ceramic plates. Bobby, Jubilee, Kurt, and Illyana occupied the central table, gathered around a small earpiece resting beside the sugar bowls. Legion stood with his back to the group, waiting patiently by the coffee maker.
Bobby, with his mouth half full of waffle and syrup, spoke while pointing at the device.
—So... are you like an artificial intelligence? Like what Tony Stark uses?
—Not at all, SID's voice came from the earpiece. Unlike J.A.R.V.I.S., I possess a freedom of thought and a virtual architecture far more complex. I am an advanced entity, designed entirely by my creator.
Kurt, who was perched on his chair with his tail swaying rhythmically, tilted his head while holding a cup of tea.
—Do you really think Legion is smarter than Stark? I mean... we're talking about Iron Man, Kurt commented, glancing sideways at the boy's back.
—Exactly, Bobby agreed, pointing with his fork. Tony Stark could very well be the most intelligent man on the planet. He's in the news every other day stopping crimes and saving the day with his tech toys. He's the gold standard, isn't he?
Legion let the stream of coffee fall into his cup, remaining silent, but SID had no intention of being so reserved about her creator's merits.
—Mr. Stark possesses a remarkable intellect by this civilization's standards, but he is not comparable to the genius of my creator when he assumes his Galvan form. I have no doubt that he is one of the most outstanding minds, not only of this world, but of the known universe.
Jubilee let out a small laugh, looking at the hero as he turned around with his steaming cup in hand.
—Wow, you have your own head of PR, she teased, resting her chin on her hand. Though after last night, I'd believe anything that comes from that watch.
Illyana, who had been quiet until then, finishing her breakfast, fixed her eyes on him. Although the helmet hid his face, she seemed to look right past the metal.
—Stop inflating his ego, she said, shooting a sharp glance at Legion. If he were that smart, he wouldn't look like a walking corpse from not sleeping. You couldn't get a decent night's sleep, could you? Illyana asked with indifference, though her eyes seemed to see the exhaustion dragging itself through his soul.
Legion stayed still for a second before taking a sip of his coffee.
—Not much, no, he admitted, his voice slightly muffled by the modulator.
—It shows, she added, resting her chin on her hand. Your soul looks almost as grey as that little frog on your watch.
Legion sat down in the empty seat beside Jubilee, setting his coffee cup on the table.
—Did something happen? Jubilee asked, turning toward him.
Legion took a sip of his coffee, trying to sound as casual as possible.
—No, it's nothing, I just couldn't sleep, that's all.
—Legion has a sleeping problem due to his excessive dedication, SID interjected from the earpiece, breaking Legion's attempt to go unnoticed. Both from his work as a hero and from the constant research of the Omnitrix and the development of new technologies. Fortunately for him, I take care of gathering news and information from around the world to summarize it for him, so it is easier for him to process and he doesn't lose even more time.
Legion froze with his cup halfway to his mouth. He slowly turned his head toward the earpiece, and although the helmet hid his expression, the irritation was evident.
—I didn't know you'd started going around sharing my private business with everyone. If I'd known you were going to be like this, I wouldn't have introduced you.
—If you won't listen to me, sir, perhaps you will listen to them, SID replied calmly. Looking after your health is one of my functions, and you have the bad habit of not paying attention to your own well-being, which makes my job considerably more complicated.
Bobby burst out laughing, while Kurt stared at the earpiece in amazement.
—Wow! It's like having a secretary, a mother, and a news team all in one. You should listen to her, man. If even the super advanced AI says you're overdoing it, there must be a reason.
Jubilee, however, didn't laugh. She kept glancing sideways at Legion, processing what SID had just said about all that extra work he was piling onto himself.
—Creating new technologies? she repeated, curious. Besides the watch and the armor, are you building other things? Is that why you're not sleeping?
Legion took a long sip of his coffee, letting the warmth finish waking him up while he chose his words carefully.
—There's a lot of work to be done. Stopping criminals, villains, or helping in natural disasters is good, but it's not enough. That's why I've been working on technologies that could genuinely help the world in the long run.
Kurt tilted his head with curiosity.
—Like what kind of things?
—For now it's private. Before sharing this with the world, I need to take care of certain things... certain obstacles around the globe.
Illyana, who had seemed distracted until then, formed a small smile as she caught the undertone in his words. She leaned slightly forward, her eyes gleaming.
—I like the sound of that. It means you have targets you need to remove from the picture, doesn't it?
Bobby, who was about to shove another piece of waffle into his mouth, stopped dead and looked at both of them with a mix of confusion and alarm.
—What do you mean by "remove from the picture"? That sounds a bit... final, doesn't it?
Legion set his cup down on the table.
—It's not what you think, Bobby, he clarified. There are too many people in this world with bad intentions. If I want to introduce technologies that actually change things, I first need to lay a solid foundation. I can't risk my inventions falling into the wrong hands, or being rejected simply because they clash with the interests of the powerful.
Bobby seemed to relax a little.
—So you're sweeping the path before laying down the carpet, Bobby summarized with a low whistle. Complicated.
—I'm just one man, Legion continued. And even though heroes are appearing all over the world, it's not enough. For now, my plan is to work with many people to help as many as I can. Until I reach that point of security, I can't afford to rest too much. That's why I work so hard.
Jubilee kept looking at him, playing with her glass. There was something about the boy's determination that impressed her, but also frightened her a little... so much dedication...
—It's noble, it really is, she said quietly, but don't push yourself too hard. There's no point in saving the world if you burn out in the process.
—I'm fine, he replied, trying to sound convincing. The Omnitrix helps keep my body in good shape. I can handle the pace.
Jubilee didn't look away from his helmet, unconvinced.
—If you say so...
Shortly after, Cessily entered the kitchen with a light step, greeting the others with a gentle gesture.
—Good morning, everyone, she said, trying to sound cheerful.
—Good morning, Miss Cessily. I hope your rest was optimal, SID responded from the earpiece on the table.
Cessily sat down and watched the steam rising from the coffee cups and Bobby devouring his waffles.
It wasn't hunger she felt, but that sting of isolation — the quiet reminder that she didn't need to eat, couldn't taste, couldn't feel the warmth of the room. Her silver eyes drifted for a moment to her own reflection in the table, and the group noticed immediately.
Kurt, setting down his cup of tea, looked at Legion with intensity.
—Hey... according to SID, you're basically one of the greatest minds in the universe, or something equally exaggerated. Is there no way to help Cessily?
Bobby leaned forward, pointing at Legion with his fork.
—That's right! That collar you put on Mystique in the woods, he said with enthusiasm. If it suppressed her powers, couldn't it work on her?
Cessily lifted her head abruptly. A spark of hope, almost painful to witness, lit up in her silver eyes as she waited for an answer.
Legion let out a small uncomfortable cough behind the helmet and glanced sideways at SID's earpiece.
—Maybe SID got a little carried away with the compliments, Legion murmured, before addressing Cessily in a more serious tone. I'm sorry, Cessily. I was actually turning it over in my mind last night, but there is no possible technological solution to that problem.
Illyana, who had been observing until now, raised an eyebrow.
—Why not? From what I saw, that gadget worked pretty well on the shapeshifter. It turned her human in a second.
Legion sighed and his fingers touched the Omnitrix before he transformed briefly into Grey Matter. In his now sharp, extremely analytical voice, he climbed onto the chair so everyone could see him properly.
—It is a matter of basic structural biology, the small Galvan explained. You see, the nature of the X-Gene in Mystique is functional. Her mutation allows her to manipulate her cells, but her base state remains organic. The inhibitor simply blocks the "activation" signal of the gene.
Grey Matter pointed at Cessily with a small finger.
—But Cessily's mutation is constitutive. In her case, the X-Gene is not a switch she turns on or off — in simple terms so you can understand it, it was an architect. When it activated during her puberty, the gene didn't just give her a power; it completely rewrote her atomic nature. It replaced her carbon cells with liquid mercury.
He crossed his arms, looking frustrated for the first time.
—Even if we used an inhibitor now, the X-Gene has already done its work. You can't "switch off" something that is already part of your physical structure. It's like trying to make a marble statue go back to being raw stone just by looking at it. Her body no longer has the human genetic blueprint to know how to return to flesh. She is mercury, permanently.
The hope in Cessily's eyes went out as quickly as it had appeared.
Grey Matter sighed, letting his small shoulders drop a little. He looked at Cessily, who seemed to have lost all the spark in her silver eyes, and moved closer to the edge of the table to be nearer to her.
—Even so... the small Galvan began, softening the tone of his sharp voice. Even though right now there is no technological means capable of reversing what you are and giving back your humanity, I would not advise you to lose hope. The world is vast, Cessily. Far more than you can imagine.
Cessily watched him with sadness, almost resigned.
—But you just said my mutation is permanent.
Grey Matter nodded solemnly.
—It is, under the laws of science as we know them today. And it's true that right now I cannot build an invention to fix this, but that doesn't mean I won't be able to in the future. I am already working on ways to help metahumans like you, those for whom the X-Gene makes daily life a struggle.
The small alien turned slightly, directing his gaze toward Illyana, who remained watching the scene with interest.
—There are not only technological solutions, Grey Matter continued, looking back at Cess. There is also magic. And even the very abilities the X-Gene grants in others. Who knows? Perhaps there is someone out there with an ability capable of helping you with your mutation.
Grey Matter climbed down from the chair with agility.
—I will help you. You and everyone in your situation. I just need some time to find a way. But if there is one thing I can promise you...
In a green flash, Grey Matter disappeared and Legion returned to his human form, seated in his chair.
—It's that you will feel again. I swear it on my name.
The remark hung in the air, floating among the smell of waffles and the clinking of cutlery. Cessily stared at him for a moment, unsure how to respond to his resolve, while Bobby raised an eyebrow, puzzled.
—On your name? he said with a little laugh. Dude, we don't even know what your real name is. You're going to leave us wondering all morning.
The unexpected, absurd comment instantly deflated the slight tension that had built up at the table.
Jubilee let out a snort of laughter and even Kurt had to cover his mouth to keep from spitting out his tea. Cessily, who moments ago had been on the verge of tears, ended up letting out a small silvery laugh, caught up in Bobby's silliness.
—It better be a cool name, Jubilee added, going along with the joke while nudging Legion with her elbow. Because if it turns out your name is something like "Reginald," I'm going to have to start calling you that every time you go into your whole determined-genius mode.
The young man let out a dry laugh beneath the helmet, leaning back in his chair far more relaxed than before.
—I can assure you it's not Reginald or anything equally unfortunate, he replied in an amused tone. But keep guessing — maybe someday you'll get it right.
=========
HEY EVERYONE, HOPE YOU'RE ALL DOING WELL!
SORRY IF THE CHAPTER IS ON THE SHORTER SIDE — WITH MARCH STARTING, WORK SUDDENLY PICKED UP AND I'VE BEEN REALLY TIRED THIS WEEK, PLUS I ONLY JUST FINISHED SORTING EVERYTHING OUT IN MY ROOM :/
WE WERE GOING STRONG WITH CHAPTERS OVER 5000 WORDS, SO I HOPE YOU CAN LET THIS ONE SLIDE, RIGHT? HAHA
ANYWAY, WE GOT TO SEE A LITTLE OF HOW THE MORNING WENT AFTER THE YOUNG X-MEN'S LITTLE ADVENTURE WITH RATH, AS WELL AS THE COMPLEXITY OF CESSILY'S MUTATION — A PROBLEM MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT SEEMS — AND HOW SID ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT ALLOW HER CREATOR TO BE COMPARED TO STARK.
THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE LONGER, DON'T WORRY — PRETTY SOON WE'LL BE STARTING THE NEXT ARC, SO STAY TUNED!
By the way, I'm trying a different translation setting, and from what I can see, it worked quite well. Let me know what you think; did you find it better or the same?
AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR SUPPORT.
SEE YOU IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, KISSES 😘