The sign-in completed without a hitch, and this time, the system rewarded Liam with a new ability: Energy Absorption. The moment he reviewed it, the mechanics unfolded clearly in his mind, as if he had always understood it. There was no awkward adjustment period, no trial-and-error phase—just immediate mastery.
In simple terms, this ability was an upgraded, refined version of Rogue's power. But unlike Rogue's uncontrollable, passive drain, Liam's version was precise, deliberate, and entirely under his command. He could choose when to activate it, how much to absorb, and even what type of energy to take.
Life force, mutant abilities, electricity, heat—anything that could be classified as energy was fair game. Once absorbed, that energy could be temporarily converted and used as his own, amplifying his strength or sustaining him in critical moments. More importantly, it could be redirected inward, accelerating healing and recovery.
The control aspect was what made it truly dangerous. There was no risk of accidental harm, no unwanted draining just from physical contact. This wasn't a liability—it was a weapon.
Liam couldn't help but feel satisfied. Another trump card added to his growing arsenal, and a versatile one at that. In a world like this, where power determined survival, versatility was often more valuable than raw strength.
With that thought settling in, his mood stayed light as they continued their journey. Before long, he and Clarice boarded a flight bound for Mexico City, where Polaris's underground mutant organization was based.
The hum of the aircraft filled the cabin as they settled into their seats. With hours ahead of them and little else to do, Liam turned his attention to Clarice, casually asking about the structure of her group.
She explained things in bits and pieces, and gradually, a rough picture formed in Liam's mind. The organization was still small—barely more than a dozen members—and clearly in its early stages. It wasn't some established faction with deep resources or influence. It was something fragile, something still trying to find its footing.
The leaders were Polaris and Thunderbird. That part alone surprised Liam a little.
From what he remembered, Polaris had ties to Magneto and had even been raised under his influence at one point. Logically, she should have ended up with the Brotherhood. Instead, she had chosen to build something of her own.
That decision alone spoke volumes.
As for the other members, many of them were familiar faces—at least to Liam. Clarice mentioned a girl who could emit a pink mist capable of altering memories, someone close to Polaris. There was also Wes, who specialized in creating illusions, and Marcos Diaz, a mutant who once used his powers for drug dealing before eventually joining the group.
Marcos, if Liam recalled correctly, was also Polaris's boyfriend in another timeline—or version of events. Though from the way Clarice described it, it seemed like he had only recently joined. The relationship, if it existed, was probably still in its early stages.
While the conversation flowed, Liam suddenly glanced at Clarice, curiosity flashing across his expression. "So… do you have a boyfriend in the organization?"
The question caught her off guard. She shook her head quickly, almost too quickly. "No."
Liam chuckled lightly, leaning back in his seat. "Got it."
He had assumed her urgency to return was tied to someone special waiting for her. Turns out, he had misread the situation. Not that it mattered much.
With that cleared up, Liam closed his eyes, deciding to get some rest. Mexico City was still several hours away, and conserving energy was never a bad idea.
Beside him, Clarice glanced over, her lips pressing together slightly as if she wanted to say something. Her gaze lingered for a moment, conflicted and hesitant, before she let out a quiet sigh and leaned back in her own seat, closing her eyes as well.
The rest of the journey passed in silence.
By the time they landed, the sky had already darkened, and evening had settled over Mexico City. The city buzzed with life, neon lights flickering to life across the streets, and towering billboards casting bright advertisements into the night.
One of them immediately caught Liam's attention—a massive promotional display featuring Tony Stark.
He studied it for a moment as they passed by. Up to this point, he hadn't heard anything about Iron Man. That likely meant Stark hadn't undergone his transformation yet. Interesting.
After grabbing a quick bite to eat, Liam and Clarice made their way toward the location of the underground organization. Their destination turned out to be an abandoned steel mill, isolated enough to avoid unwanted attention but large enough to house a hidden base.
The moment they stepped onto the premises, they were noticed.
"Who's there?"
A beam of light cut through the darkness as a man approached, flashlight in hand. As he got closer, his features became clearer under the dim illumination.
"Clarice Fang?"
Clarice immediately brightened, recognition flashing across her face. "Yeah, it's me. Harry!"
Liam studied the man briefly. He recognized him—Harry, a mutant with a stealth-based ability that made him incredibly hard to detect.
That explained why Liam hadn't sensed him earlier.
Though, to be fair, with the darkness around them, the man probably didn't even need to activate his power to blend in effectively.
"Clarice, you weren't captured?" Harry asked, relief and suspicion mixing in his tone as his gaze shifted toward Liam. "And who's this?"
"Relax, he's a mutant too," Clarice replied quickly, stepping slightly forward as if to shield Liam from any immediate doubt.
At that, Harry's posture visibly eased.
"Alright. Come on, follow me."
He turned and led them deeper into the steel mill, guiding them toward a concealed entrance that opened into an underground section. Despite being hidden beneath an abandoned structure, the interior was surprisingly well-maintained. The space had been repurposed into a functional base, complete with lighting, resting areas, and signs of daily activity.
"Hey, look who's back!" Harry called out as they entered a larger lounge area.
Heads turned immediately.
"Clarice?"
"No way—you made it back!"
"What happened to you?"
Voices overlapped as several mutants gathered around, expressions ranging from relief to curiosity. There was genuine concern in their reactions, but also confusion.
Clarice took a breath and began explaining everything—how she had been discovered by the Sentinel Services, how she got separated from the group, and how she ultimately teleported to the Mutant Academy to escape.
As she spoke, the room gradually settled, the pieces falling into place for everyone listening.
Then, after a moment of scanning the room, Clarice frowned slightly. "Wait… where's Lorna? Did she go out?"
The question hung in the air.
One by one, the expressions around her shifted. The earlier energy faded, replaced by an uncomfortable silence that said more than words ever could.
A bad feeling crept into Clarice's chest.
"Lorna… was taken by Sentinel Services."
The one who spoke was John Proudstar—Thunderbird—one of the leaders of the group. His tone was steady, but there was a weight behind it.
Clarice's eyes widened. "How? What happened?"
"That night, after we split up, she was ambushed. They knocked her out before we could react," Thunderbird explained, his brows knitting together. "I didn't have a choice. I had to pull back."
Liam's expression sharpened slightly. "Then why haven't you gone to get her back?"
His question cut cleanly through the tension, and for a brief moment, the room went still. Only then did several people seem to fully register his presence.
Thunderbird turned toward him, his gaze measuring. "And you are?"
Clarice quickly stepped in. "Oh—right, I didn't introduce him. This is Liam. I met him at the Mutant Academy, and he helped me get back here."
Liam offered a small smile and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you."
Thunderbird studied him for a second before reaching out and shaking his hand firmly. "Welcome. And… thank you for helping Clarice."
"It's nothing," Liam replied easily. "Mutants should look out for each other."
That simple statement earned him a noticeable shift in Thunderbird's attitude. The tension eased just a bit, replaced by a quiet, growing sense of approval.
....
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