Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 5752 - 4775: X Royal Family: Rebirth (15)

Steve found himself perched at the bar, nursing a drink from Polaris. A sip brought a smile to his lips as he commented, "Not bad at all, lady. You appear to be in quite a cheerful disposition."

"That's a surprise. Usually, I'd be the one posing that question to you," Polaris replied, drying her hands with a towel. She continued, "I heard your friend is unwell. It seems he's struggling to adapt to Clarkia's environment. Is he recovering?"

"Thanks to your intervention, he's doing much better. It was just a minor cold, and we've already secured a treatment for it."

"I understand your concerns," Polaris interjected swiftly. "Clarkia is a young nation, already facing sanctions from numerous countries. You fear we might become the next Cuba. However, our past circumstances were far more dire than this. So, why the continued worry now?"

"You've jogged my memory, I'd almost forgotten that," Steve admitted, taking another sip of his drink.

"You don't strike me as the type who'd frequent a bar during such times," Polaris observed, shaking her head. "It seems your concern for him persists."

"A little," Steve confessed. "Tony possesses remarkable resilience. When he falls ill, he's usually very well-cared for, so we seldom witness it. This is the first time I’ve seen him with such a high fever, and it's rather unsettling."

Polaris paused before speaking, "You might find this hard to believe, but we mutants do get sick. It happens especially when our mutant abilities falter; I've witnessed it numerous times... Nevertheless, why am I sharing this with you?"

"If you feel the need to talk, I'm here to listen. But I suspect those times are behind you now. Just as you mentioned, Clarkia represents a new beginning, a marked improvement over the past."

"That's accurate, yet my current happiness isn't solely attributed to that," Polaris's tone lightened considerably. "I managed to swap my schedule, granting me the next two and a half days off. I'm contemplating a destination for a getaway."

After a brief silence, she went on, "Do you happen to know about the hot springs located within the northern volcanic crater?"

"Oh?" Steve's interest was piqued.

"Clarkia Island itself is generally higher in the north and slopes downward to the south, owing to a volcano in the northern region. I'm uncertain of the volcano's exact nature, but there are indeed subterranean hot springs. I've seen them myself. The water appears quite hot, likely requiring the addition of cooler water to moderate the temperature. Fortunately, we have Iceman. I was considering asking him to take a couple of days off so we could visit the hot springs together."

"Might I inquire, is he your boyfriend?"

"No," Polaris stated firmly. "While I'm aware that in many alternate universes, I have entanglements with Quicksilver and Iceman, in this reality, I am unattached. I haven't dated anyone, and certainly not them."

Steve was about to ask for clarification, but Polaris anticipated his question. "The prophecy concerning the nine lives, brought forth by Moira, was known to the Professor a decade ago. He began his preparations then, and I was quite young, perpetually shadowing Magneto in pursuit of mutant nation objectives, leaving no room for romance. The same applied to the X-Men."

"Furthermore, after hearing accounts of my other selves' romantic endeavors, I've come to appreciate the merits of being single. Perhaps once the situation stabilizes entirely, I might consider it, but not at this juncture."

"I’m contemplating suggesting a trip to the hot springs for everyone," Polaris mentioned, polishing a liquor glass. "Lately, everyone has been exceptionally drained; it's high time for some proper relaxation. The new Professor appears quite amiable; I'm considering whether to broach the subject with him."

"You might be misinterpreting Charles," Steve began. He then paused, rephrasing his thought, "Though I can't be entirely certain, he consistently shows kindness towards mutants. Given how diligently and intelligently you all work, he might indeed approve a hot spring retreat."

"What do you mean? He isn't gentle towards others?"

"Not quite so accommodating," Steve replied, shaking his head. "Believe it or not, he might summon me to duty shortly..."

His words had barely left his lips when Charles's voice echoed, "Alright, Captain. I understand your concern for Tony. However, while he's recuperating, your assistance is required to oversee matters here. It's for his own benefit, wouldn't you agree? Finish your drink and make your way to the pier..."

Steve offered Polaris a shrugging gesture, downed the remainder of his drink, placed the glass back on the counter, and turned towards the pier. Polaris quickly intercepted him, then asked, "So, I can't ask him directly. Would you be willing to subtly inquire about his thoughts on the hot spring idea? Perhaps we could all go together."

Steve waved in reassurance, a gesture that conveyed 'no worries.' Shortly after, he found himself on a stone platform near the pier. The project was in full swing, its scale expanded significantly, clearly indicating greater ambitions harbored by the mutant leaders of the central cosmos.

"Are you planning to construct a port that will serve both military and commercial purposes?" Steve inquired.

"Yes, but it’s a recent decision," Charles stated, "The more they sanction us, the more a firm stance is required. We initially believed that insufficient resources and personnel made undertaking large projects imprudent. Now, it seems our prior politeness was excessive."

"I also intend to pull back personnel from the cosmos directly. If questioned, the reason will be that the dock is excessively large, and with our limited manpower, we must prioritize our own needs. Although the Shi’ar Empire is in disarray, it still presents inherent dangers. Allowing them an opportunity to regroup would pose a threat to Earth."

Steve observed Charles. He was aware that this universe’s Professor possessed the capabilities and resources to effortlessly navigate Earth’s political complexities.

The Shi’ar Empire’s armies might not pose a significant threat, but this is solely in relation to the mutants. Figures like Magneto or Apocalypse could readily breach their defenses and annihilate them. However, the diminishing ranks of The Avengers might not fare as well, and ordinary humans would stand absolutely no chance.

At this critical juncture, any hesitation from the mutants could precipitate a major crisis. Any astute observer could discern that this situation arose due to the Earth Government’s announcement of sanctions. Regardless of whether these sanctions are rescinded, they will inevitably serve to exert pressure and demonstrate to any opposition that confronting Clarkia while relying on mutants for Earth’s protection is a fundamentally flawed strategy.

"This approach may not be entirely effective," Steve pointed out a potential weakness, "Clarkia is situated on Earth. If the army launches an attack, they won’t achieve any real benefit either. It’s possible other governments will gamble on the assumption that you are unwilling to completely disengage."

"That leads into my subsequent plan," Charles declared. "The mutants must eventually depart from Earth. They have oppressed us for so long; retrieving a few mementos shouldn’t be an unreasonable request, should it?"

Steve’s eyes widened slightly. "You aren’t contemplating taking the entire island, are you?"

"And why not?" Charles inquired, meeting his gaze. "In any case, ordinary individuals cannot inhabit this island. It is entirely unsuitable for them; transferring it to our possession would be mutually advantageous."

"This isn’t a gift; it’s outright appropriation," Steve stated, shaking his head but refraining from outright opposition. The mutants' influence over Clarkia runs too deep. Failing to take the island entirely and leaving a contingent behind could ignite more significant conflicts.

"Tony shares that sentiment," Charles commented. "Otherwise, why do you suppose he has been relentlessly investigating the dock’s location? If we intend for the entire island to achieve lift-off, its center of gravity is paramount, and the engine configuration requires meticulous planning. The current dock’s position may be critical, thus his desire to relocate it."

"And yet you persist with construction here?" Steve asked, surprised. "What if this interferes with the engines later on?"

"Isn’t Tony unwell?" Charles responded with a hint of exasperation. "We couldn’t possibly be so callous as to assign such demanding tasks to someone who is ill. Given his condition, we are compelled to entirely forgo technological solutions."

"So, your intention is to leverage mutant abilities?" Steve surmised. "Magneto should be capable of this, especially considering he could even move an entire planet."

"Absolutely not," Charles firmly stated. "Have you not observed? This island also possesses the characteristic of suppressing mutant abilities. Certain less powerful mutants find their powers completely nullified, and even the formidable Omega and Alpha level mutants experience significant diminishment."

"Such a phenomenon exists?" Steve expressed genuine astonishment. "Then why did the mutants select this particular island?"

"It is intrinsically linked to the totems, naturally," Charles elaborated. "Furthermore, while the suppression of mutant abilities is disadvantageous for powerful mutants, it proves to be a boon for numerous mutants with inherent flaws. They are finally liberated from the burden of their imperfect powers and can lead fulfilling lives as ordinary individuals."

"In that context, the leaders of this cosmos are indeed idealists," Steve reflected. "Willing to make sacrifices for the sake of weaker mutants."

"While that may constitute a partial motivation, the primary reason is that powerful mutants can depart the island with relative ease. Being confined to the island poses minimal inconvenience; at most, it merely complicates the construction of dwellings. Otherwise, why has this dock project consumed such an extended period?"

Steve nodded, recalling his earlier assumption that a solitary dock would not necessitate the involvement of numerous mutants—Polaris alone could have managed the entire undertaking. He hadn’t anticipated that the delay was due to restrictions placed upon their abilities.

"Approximately how much longer until the dock is completed?" Steve inquired.

"It remains uncertain. I observe the exhaustion of the younger ones and am considering granting them a respite soon. The adage ‘sharpening the axe does not delay the job’ holds true," Charles remarked with a chuckle.

"Polaris expressed a desire to speak with you... Ah, forgive me, I am certain you are already aware. What is your perspective on the matter?"

"They will undoubtedly indulge in the hot springs, but the process must not be made too simple. Otherwise, they would be frequenting them every few days. Aside from impeding progress, the volcanic activity presents considerable risks."

"And what is your proposed course of action then?" Steve asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Apocalypse and the rest are making their return tonight. Magneto, here in this universe, informed me that Apocalypse is keen to witness the capabilities of the emerging mutant generation. Therefore, our plan is to erect a competition arena on the island; the victor will be awarded a hot spring pass, and the vanquished will be assigned labor duties."

"Isn't that excessively harsh?" Steve voiced his concern. "While others revel in the hot springs, those remaining behind won't have the opportunity to foster camaraderie."

"I omitted the detail that they'd be solely responsible for dock construction; don't hot springs also require building?" Charles explained with a shrug. "The victors shall savor the privileges, while the defeated will lend their hands to the hot spring's construction. Ultimately, they too shall have the chance to luxuriate."

"That arrangement is more equitable," Steve conceded. "Very well, I shall go and oversee the site. I observe individuals lingering near the crane, seemingly eager for a challenge, yet conspicuously lacking safety helmets."

"Professor." Charles detected a voice calling him, tinged with a note of weariness. He responded, "What troubles you, Shiller?"

"Tony has been plagued by nightmares once more; kindly attend to him and assist in calming his psyche. Honestly, I have no desire to confront colossal Jurassic dinosaurs or the blinding glare of Darth Vader's lightsaber within his mental landscape again."