章 6: Past Shadows #6
Evan sat comfortably in the leather chair behind the imposing desk inside Xavier's grand office at the X-Mansion. The room exuded an air of elegance and authority, with shelves adorned with books and various artifacts collected from around the world. The subdued lighting cast a warm glow on the polished mahogany furniture.
Across from Evan, Professor Charles Xavier sat in his wheelchair, looking regal and composed in his tailored suit. His bald head glistened under the soft light, and his wise eyes peered at Evan with a mix of curiosity and concern.
On the other hand, Evan's appearance had undergone a transformation since his encounter with Domino. Gone were the unkempt hair and tattered clothes. Now, he sported a clean-cut look that matched his near attire. His dark, wavy hair was neatly styled, and he wore a well-fitted dark suit that accentuated his lean and agile physique.
His eyes held a spark of intelligence and determination, hinting at the depth of his experiences and the secrets he carried. While Evan had acquired a presentable appearance, there was still an air of ruggedness that most soldiers shared.
Xavier leaned back in his wheelchair, studying Evan with a mix of curiosity and caution. The office around them remained tranquil, the soft glow of the lamps casting a warm ambiance. Evan's confident smile, tinged with a hint of playfulness, met Xavier's steady gaze.
"So, Mr....?" Xavier began, clearing his throat to initiate the conversation.
"Evan Shepherd," Evan replied, his tone amiable and relaxed.
Xavier nodded, processing the name, and continued, "So I'm to understand that you expect me to hire you as a combat instructor for my students, Mr Shepherd...?"
Evan nodded in confirmation, his smile unwavering. "That's the gist of it, yes."
The slight frown on Xavier's face betrayed his concerns. "And you realize this is a school for mutants?" he inquired.
Evan's nod was silent but assured, showing that he was well aware of the nature of the institution. Xavier sighed, contemplating the situation. "While I appreciate your enthusiasm and confidence, I can not simply hire you as I know nothing about you..."
He knew hiring someone without a thorough understanding of their background and abilities was risky, especially in a school dedicated to nurturing young mutants. "What's more..."
Before Xavier could voice his apprehensions, Evan preempted him, finishing the professor's sentence confidently, "You can't read my mind."
Xavier's expression turned somewhat ashamed, but he still nodded. Evan lightly knocked on the side of his head, revealing, "Adamantium Alloy. No one could access my mind even if I gave them an invitation..."
With a gesture that appeared almost casual, Evan reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and retrieved a file, its cover stamped with the words "Top Secret." He handed it to Xavier, offering the content of his mysterious past for scrutiny.
"Here's my resume, so to speak," Evan said, his voice tinged with an air of secrecy and allure. "Everything you need to know about me is in there..."
Xavier accepted the file with measured intrigue. He opened it carefully, scanning its contents with his keen eyes. As he perused the information, he discovered the depth of Evan's past experiences, the challenges he had faced, and the extraordinary abilities he possessed.
Having skimmed through the file, Charles Xavier noted the various official signatures and stamps that confirmed its legitimacy. He looked up, meeting Evan's gaze, and acknowledged, "Your service was indeed exemplary... though I don't understand how you were able to obtain your own file after your discharge, honorable as it may be..."
Xavier's eyes returned to the file, and a concerned furrow appeared on his brow. "The content is disconcerting, to say the least..."
Evan offered a nonchalant shrug in response, his demeanor relaxed as he replied, "Let's just say I have my ways... I made many friends and accumulated many favors over the years..."
Acknowledging that Evan had no intention of divulging more information on the subject, Xavier decided to shift the focus of the conversation. He pointedly said, "Be that as it may... you certainly have the qualifications to become a combat instructor, but we already have one..."
Xavier hesitated for a moment, and then, finding his words, responded, "What makes you think you're more qualified than Wolverine?"
Evan's chuckle was light, and he couldn't resist teasing, "Besides the fact that I'm not a violent alcoholic with constant episodes of psychotic rage?"
Xavier was taken aback, finding himself momentarily at a loss for words. Evan didn't seem fazed by the awkward silence, continuing to express his thoughts.
"I'm not interested in teaching your students hand-to-hand combat or taking Wolverine's job, though I'm fairly certain I could do a better job..." Evan shook his head dismissively before adding, "I'll be teaching your students how to better control their powers and work as a team."
Xavier raised an eyebrow and said, "Teaching young mutants to be in control of their powers is indeed the purpose of our institute, however..." He trailed off as he turned back to Evan's file, scanning through the pages with a thoughtful expression. "...nothing in your file suggests any experience with mutants."
Evan's face turned serious, and he leaned forward in his chair, ready to explain. "If you look into my file in detail, you'd realize it only covers the first two years of my service," Evan paused, his gaze steady on Xavier. "However, I've served for over four years before my discharge."
Intrigued by Evan's words, Xavier leans back, encouraging him to elaborate. "The last two years of my service were... off the records due to the nature of the work; hunting down mutants, that is" Evan explained.
The weight of his statement hung in the air, and Xavier's brow furrowed in concern. "You... what?" he questioned, trying to grasp the full extent of Evan's previous actions.
Evan nodded, not shying away from the truth. "I've spent two years of my life hunting down dangerous mutants." he parroted. "Please notice the distinction in my words. As someone who strives to achieve equality between humans and mutants, you must understand there are bad eggs on both sides."
Xavier's mind swirled with conflicting thoughts. On the one hand, he believed in giving everyone a chance to change and grow, including those with darker pasts. On the other, he had a responsibility to protect his students and ensure that they were in the right hands.
Sensing the uncertainty in Xavier's expression, Evan decided to provide more context. "You see," he continued, "The operation started squeaky clean... we only ever went after dangerous mutants who could and would do serious damage for no obvious reasons..."
Evan's eyes narrowed as he continued, "Then General Ross took charge of the operations..." Xavier's couldn't hide his surprise at those words, and Evan nodded, confirming what the professor had already suspected, "Yes, the very same General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross..." He said with a scoff.
"Once General Ross took charge, he turned the operation inot a witch hunt..." Evan concluded with a sigh.
Xavier's expression grew more somber as he listened to Evan's account. He understood the complexities of being caught in the midst of military operations and political maneuvers, and the weight of responsibility that came with it.
"Would I be right to assume General Ross had something to do with your early discharge?" Xavier asked, his voice gentle yet probing.
Evan chuckled warily and nodded, "Yes, well, if General Ross had it his way, I'd be lying in a ditch or rotting in a prison cell for what I did..." His voice carried a hint of bitterness, but he quickly composed himself. "But, as I've said, I made many friends and accumulated many favors for that not to happen..."
The truth was that Evan had navigated through treacherous waters during those two off-the-record years, building alliances and using every resource at his disposal to protect himself. He knew he had made enemies as well, but he was willing to accept the consequences of his actions.
Evan's mind drifted back to the incident that led to his honorable discharge. He had planned to stay in service for at least two more years to accomplish his goals, but General Ross's presence had disrupted his plans. In the end, Evan was faced with a moral dilemma: to blindly follow orders or to do what he believed was right.
He had chosen the latter, putting the well-being of one innocent mutant above following questionable orders. Ultimately, Evan had managed to get General Ross transferred to another operation, effectively severing the ties that bound them. But the fact remained that he had disobeyed orders, and that had consequences.
Evan's eyes glistened with a mixture of resolve and remorse as he continued, "I don't regret my actions, Professor, not for a moment. I did what I believed was right, even if it meant sacrificing my military career." He paused, his voice softening. "But I do regret one thing—the one thing I couldn't do."
...
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