Chapter 5: Chapter 5
Hawking thought of Universe 838 because he remembered that in the mad multiverse, the Captain America of that universe turned into Captain Carter of Britain. And coincidentally, that universe also had mutants.
The existence of mutants had been a known fact to Hawking ever since Oleg and Irena had told him about it when they adopted him. Wanda could telekinetically make objects float, Pietro could run much faster than normal kids, and then there was Hawking's own previously displayed abilities and his current tail.
In the eyes of the Oleg couple, these were sure signs of mutants.
However, most ordinary people were very fearful and prejudiced against mutants.
Sokovia was somewhat better, as the focus there was on internal warfare, so the animosity towards mutants wasn't as intense.
It was said that in places like New York, the local sentiment against mutants was much more severe.
Police officers, if they encountered mutants, were likely to shoot on the slightest provocation, especially if the mutants were... of other races, potentially resulting in a barrage of bullets.
There were even some officials proposing to reintroduce the previously abolished Mutant Registration Act to record all mutants for easier management and prevention.
Concerned about the safety of the three children if their mutant identities were exposed, the couple always cautioned them not to use their powers in front of outsiders.
Especially Hawking needed to conceal his tail well when he went out, and if it were ever spotted, to claim it was a decorative item.
"If this is Universe 838, then little Wanda might be in some danger."
Thinking this, Hawking couldn't help but rub his forehead.
If this were truly Universe 838, it meant that shortly after Thanos' invasion, the main universe's Wanda would use dream-walking to take over this universe's Wanda's body and then eliminate the entire Illuminati.
"Never mind, whether it's Universe 838 or not is hard to say for now. It's still early days; I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
Contemplating too much now was useless with his current level of power; he wouldn't be able to stop what was coming anyway. He'd wait until he unlocked more hero templates in the future and then try to solve these problems.
Shaking his head to clear it of worries, Hawking prepared to take a shower and cook noodles.
Three weeks later, as usual, Hawking woke up at five in the morning.
After a ten-kilometer run, 300 push-ups, 500 squats, and 1000 sit-ups in the basement, he began preparing a lavish breakfast.
Sandwiches, milk, noodles, grilled sausages, and fried eggs covered the table.
Any leftovers would be polished off by him, ensuring nothing went to waste.
Oleg and Irena, upon seeing the breakfast spread, once again marveled at how mature and skilled Hawking was for his age, predicting he would surely become an excellent chef in the future.
On the other hand, they silently resolved to earn more, as feeding everyone was becoming a challenge.
They saw Hawking, who was mature and precocious, almost like a little adult, as having likely had a very unhappy childhood.
The proverb "Poor children mature faster" applied universally.
They considered themselves poor, but at least Wanda and Pietro were relatively happy, not burdened with chores or cooking at such a young age, ensuring they had a happy childhood.
They could understand why.
Since both children were mutants, they often paid attention to news related to mutants.
Many mutants, after awakening, could not control their abilities and would unintentionally harm their family members. Some underwent significant physical changes that made them appear frightening.
Not all parents could accept their children if they were mutants; some would even despise and fear them, viewing them as monsters.
Perhaps Hawking's family had treated him similarly, which explained his maturity.
Thinking this made them feel even more sympathetic towards little Hawking.
"Wanda, Pietro, time to get up for breakfast!"
As Irena called out, the siblings tumbled down from the second floor in playful chaos.
Today was Sunday, and after breakfast, the family settled on the living room sofa. Oleg started playing episode 23 of season two of "The Dick Van Dyke Show."
When Sokovia was in chaos and Oleg had lost his job, he had sustained the family by selling DVDs.
Though now he had a formal job, there was still a large collection of DVDs at home.
Hawking, sitting among the family, wasn't particularly interested in the DVDs, but he cherished and loved the atmosphere because he had never experienced anything like it in his previous life.
"Ding-dong!"
As the family laughed at the sitcom, the doorbell suddenly rang.
"I'll get it," Hawking volunteered.
Opening the door, he was met by a bald man in a wheelchair and a young man wearing strange sunglasses.
"Good morning, young man!" the bald man greeted warmly.
However, as soon as the greeting was over, his expression turned to one of surprise.
"This is unusual."
As a top-tier class 4 mutant with telepathic and mind control abilities, besides his old friend Magneto, who wore a helmet, and the former White Queen who had been around the Black King, there were very few who could block his telepathy.
Just days ago, using a cerebral enhancer, he had detected a young mutant in Sokovia and had come to recruit him to his school for mutants.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the door opened, he encountered someone who could block his telepathy, suggesting not just one, but possibly two mutants in the house.
The other mutant had likely escaped his detection due to their ability to block mental scans.
"External psychic energy detected attempting to invade host brain, initiating automatic blockade to prevent system detection," a panel suddenly popped up.
Recognizing the visitors' attire, Hawking realized they were the renowned Professor X and Cyclops.
Fortunately, the panel had automatically blocked Professor X's psychic probing, keeping his secrets safe.
"Good morning, gentlemen. What can I do for you?" Hawking asked with a slight smile, showing no sign of perturbation.
Since the visitors couldn't use telepathy on him, there was nothing to fear.
He knew of Professor X as a mutant who was sympathetic to humans, belonging to a just and kind faction, unlikely to pose a threat to their family.
What puzzled him now was the purpose of Professor X's sudden visit.
It likely had nothing to do with him since he wasn't a mutant.
Could it be because of Wanda and Pietro?
But he remembered that in the main universe, Wanda wasn't a mutant; her powers came from the Chaos Magic of Chthon, and Pietro's abilities were obtained through reality-altering capabilities, later enhanced by the Mind Stone.
However, this was Universe 838, where many settings might differ.
He decided to observe silently for the time being.
(End of Chapter)
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