Soren smiled slightly and said, "If I can, I'd like to open a medical clinic in New York."
The room buzzed with excitement.
"You're coming to the U.S.?" Hank grinned. "Doctor Soren, if you do, you must visit us at Xavier's Academy. We owe you that much and more."
Charles nodded in agreement. "Mr. Macaluso, do you have a location in mind? If not, I have an old house in New York. It's not much, but if you're interested, I'd be happy to offer it to you."
Soren's heart stirred at the offer. Egypt was in ruins after the battle with Apocalypse, staying here wasn't an option. And truth be told, New York was the perfect place for him. In a world filled with superheroes and villains, no city saw more action than New York. Injuries, battles, chaos, it was the ideal hunting ground for abilities.
And now, Charles was offering him a place to set up shop? It was almost too good to be true.
Soren smiled. "Professor, that's incredibly generous. I was worried about starting over in a new place, but with your help, I might just find my footing."
Charles waved a hand dismissively. "You saved our lives, Doctor. Offering you a little assistance is the least we can do. Or better yet, why don't you travel with us?"
Soren considered it. His system's initial task was complete. Traveling with the X-Men meant less hassle, plus, he'd have direct access to some of the strongest mutants in the world. The potential for learning new abilities was enormous.
"That's the best offer I've had all day." He said with a grin. "Count me in."
Hearing Soren's agreement, Charles and the others were visibly pleased. Having a doctor with extraordinary skills on their side was a massive advantage.
Jean's eyes lingered on Soren for a moment longer than necessary before she quickly looked away, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Um, Dr Soren." Mystique interjected, arms crossed. "What about your clinic? Don't you need to pack up?"
Soren chuckled. "First of all, no need for formalities, please just call me Soren. And as for the clinic…" His lips curled into a mysterious smile. "That's already handled."
The group exchanged confused glances but didn't press further.
Minutes later, Hank arrived with a sleek, new X-Jet parked right outside the medical hall. One by one, the X-Men boarded the aircraft, preparing for takeoff.
Soren stepped outside, facing his clinic. He lifted his hand, and almost instantly, a ripple of invisible energy pulsed outward.
Before their very eyes, the massive medical hall vanished.
Gone. As if it had never existed.
Jean's mouth parted slightly. Scott rubbed his eyes. Even Charles, for all his wisdom, looked genuinely surprised.
Onboard the jet, Nightcrawler finally asked the question on everyone's mind.
"Soren, what happened?"
Soren chuckled. "Oh, nothing special. My clinic is… mobile. I simply packed it away. When we find the right place in New York, I'll set it up again."
A stunned silence followed.
"…You packed up an entire building?" Mystique asked incredulously.
Soren shrugged. "Well, I wasn't going to carry it."
"You're officially the most mysterious person I've ever met." Scott shook his head.
Soren leaned back in his seat. "You'll get used to it."
The jet's engines roared to life, and as they soared into the sky, one thing was certain… Soren Macaluso was about to make quite an impression in New York.
The X-Jet soared through the sky, cutting through the towering skyline of New York City. From above, Soren gazed at the vast metropolis with curiosity. It was his first time seeing such a modern, bustling city. The sheer number of skyscrapers, the neon-lit billboards, and the constant hum of activity made it a place like no other.
Yet, New York wasn't just a city of dreams, it was a city of chaos.
Even from the air, he could hear the wailing of police sirens. Helicopters roamed the skies, likely in pursuit of criminals or mutants. Crime was as much a part of the city as its towering buildings.
Soren observed it all with mild interest but didn't dwell on it.
The X-Men landed in front of a stately building that had clearly aged with time but still held a refined elegance. The structure had intricate details in its design, and though the street it stood on was older, it was alive with foot traffic. Museums, small shops, and restaurants lined the area, making it a prime location for a clinic.
"This is where I used to live during my university years." Charles explained, his voice carrying a nostalgic warmth. "After founding the Xavier Institute, it remained vacant. I thought it would suit your needs."
Soren took in the surroundings. The house, though aged, was well-maintained, exuding both history and luxury. What truly caught his attention, however, was the open space in front of the building.
Perfect.
It was a prime spot to set up his medical hall, and the area's high traffic meant plenty of potential patients.
"Professor." Soren said with a chuckle. "I have to say, you must've been quite wealthy back then."
Charles laughed. "Let's just say my family left me with… considerable resources."
Hank smirked. "That's putting it lightly."
"This is perfect. Thank you, Professor. You've saved me a lot of trouble." Soren nodded in satisfaction.
Charles handed him a folder. "Here, this contains the property certificate and land deed. It's officially yours now."
Soren took it with a smile. "I appreciate it. And if you or your friends ever need treatment, you're always welcome here."
Then, he reached into his coat and pulled out a business card. It looked ordinary at first glance, but there was a faint glow around it.
"This is special." Soren explained, handing it to Charles. "If you're ever in danger, just crush it. You'll be teleported directly to my clinic. As long as you're within these walls, I guarantee your safety."
Charles examined the card thoughtfully before slipping it into his pocket. "That's… quite an offer. Thank you, Soren. And if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to visit the academy."
After exchanging a few more words, Charles and the others bid farewell, boarding the X-Jet and departing into the sky.
Soren watched them go before turning back to his new home. Time to make it official.
Soren stretched out his hand, and a ripple of energy spread across the open space in front of the house. Within seconds, the grand Everlife Medical Hall reappeared, as if it had always been there.
The transformation didn't stop at just placing the building. Soren willed the medical hall to adjust itself to its new surroundings. The once-traditional design merged with modern architecture, sleek glass windows, stylish signage, and advanced interior enhancements making it blend seamlessly with New York's aesthetics.
Above the entrance, elegant ink-brushed letters spelled out:
Everlife Medical Center
Soren smiled in satisfaction, everything was in place.
Now, it was time to check his ability panel, he had harvested a lot of abilities this time.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Fellow Phantoms and aspiring Phantoms to be, if you seek to access advanced parts of this story procced to my shadowy realm of p@treon.
PhantomDream