Elias POV
My phone was ringing.
I groaned and fumbled for it blindly. The second I cracked my eyes open, the drowsiness vanished, replaced with that sharp, instant clarity I was starting to get used to after my neural enhancements.
There was something in my mouth. I spat it out – a soggy piece of my shirt. Did I rip through the shirt? I thought, baffled at the idea. I found the rest of the shirt next to me on the bed, pushed it aside, and tried to get up.
I rolled over and sat up slowly. My whole body felt sore, like someone had taken a meat tenderizer to every single cell. I felt bone-weary tiredness throughout my body. I reached over to the still-ringing phone, wincing as the sound irritated my sensitive ears before I focused, took a breath, and dialed back my hearing.
I picked up the phone, flipped it open, and looked at the caller.
Gloria
Why is she calling me...? I looked at the time on the top of the screen. It was late into the evening. Shit, did they already leave?
"Hey, Gloria," I answered, voice still rough with tiredness. "Sorry, I passed out hard."
"Eli," she said, sounding relieved. "I've been calling you for the last twenty minutes. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... really needed the sleep. What's going on?"
"The Professor and the others are on their way. They should be here soon. Are you still coming with us?"
I rubbed my face, trying to shake off the aftereffects of the ritual. "Yeah. I'll be out in a minute."
"Okay," she said softly. "Thank you."
I hung up the call, swung my legs off the bed, and stood up in one motion. I staggered, nearly tripping over my own feet, but caught myself on the small table beside my bed and frowned.
Had I... grown?
I looked down at myself, then at the familiar marks on the bedroom wall I used to measure height back when I was a kid. Yeah. I was definitely taller. It wasn't a lot, maybe an inch or so, something I could hide by claiming to wear thick-soled boots. I flexed my arms and shoulders and realized I had increased in muscle mass and strength. It wasn't something that would allow me to pick up a car yet, but I was stronger than I had been before the ritual. I knew then I could push myself more physically, and that I could now sustain high-speed movements before my body broke down. And that window would only keep growing in the coming weeks.
This is interesting. So the codex does not necessarily need to cannibalize my own body, huh...? But why, though? Something to figure out at a later time, I thought.
I didn't feel massively different on the surface, but when I closed my eyes and focused inward, I could sense it.
Blood flowed stronger through my veins. My muscle fibers were now noticeably denser than before. I could feel a new gland in my brainslowly pumping a unique hormone, working to fulfill the growth aspect of the ritual.
I didn't know exactly how much I was going to change, but I had a sinking feeling that in a week or two it was going to be really damn hard to hide.
I shook my head and got dressed in some practical clothes. I made sure to strap on my Glock and a spare mag, along with my K-bar and my everyday carry.
There was no way in hell I was going unarmed. A thought crossed my mind, causing me to falter for a second.
Hell was real in this universe...
Snapping back to reality, I made my way out of my apartment, hearing the whine of the X-jet. I locked the door to my apartment just in time to see Ororo Monroe leaving the Campbells' place, followed by the rest of the group. I could see Ruby, Yukio, and Gloria carrying some bags.
So they've made up their minds, huh...?
Surprisingly, Matt was part of the entourage too. I wasn't sure bringing a kid into an unknown, potentially dangerous situation was the best idea, but I could understand Gloria's reasoning; she probably didn't want to leave either of her children behind.
Yukio spotted me first. Her face lit up, brighter and more cheerful than I'd seen her since we rescued her.
"Hi, Eli!" she called, waving enthusiastically.
I couldn't help smiling back. "Hey, Yukio."
Her energy was infectious, even after everything.
Ororo turned toward me, her voice soft and calm. "I'm glad you decided to come as well, Mr. Calderon. You won't regret it."
Woman, did you just jinx it? I thought dryly.
We walked down the stairs to the back of the building, where the X-jet had landed, still invisible to the naked eye. The ramp lowered with a hydraulic hiss.I stopped for a second, and so did Gloria beside me. Ororo noticed our hesitation and walked forward first, stepping confidently up the ramp.
Well, I thought as I climbed aboard, the X-Men are one of the better groups out there. At least as a source of information... or allies.
The inside of the jet was futuristic yet comfortable: matte black panels, soft leather seats, and a low hum of advanced electronics surrounded us as we walked further in. Professor Xavier greeted us warmly as we stepped aboard, his voice calm and welcoming.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable. We have a bit of a flight ahead."
I realized with a start that we didn't encounter a single soul outside. Astoria was not a quiet place; there was no way the streets would be empty at this hour. I looked at the bald man in the wheelchair as I realized what had happened.
I'll have to be careful...
We took our seats, Gloria and the girl taking the seat next to Jean. Scott was up front, piloting the jet, as Ororo settled into the co-pilot seat beside him. Jean introduced the mousy-looking boy with brown hair sitting near the back as Bobby Drake. As for me, the only seat left was right next to Wanda.
Of course.
I hesitated for half a second, then slid into it. Wanda turned her head, raising an eyebrow, a faint smirk playing on her lips as her eyes slowly dragged over my form. As I buckled in, she didn't even try to hide her gaze as she steadily ogled me. I steadfastly ignored her gaze.
And soon enough, with a confirmation from Scott and Ororo, the jet rose up from the ground and quickly gained altitude as the Professor said,
"Ororo, if you would be kind enough to grant us some cover."
The woman in question leaned her head back. Her eyes turned pure white.
Through the front windows, I watched dark storm clouds suddenly swirl into existence around us, wrapping the jet in a thick, rolling blanket of thunderheads.
Matt let out a quiet "Whoa..."
I glanced forward, curious. "I thought the jet was invisible?"
Jean turned slightly in her seat. "It is. But the cloaking tech is still experimental. It burns a lot of power, so we use it sparingly. The storm is easier."
Well, okay then. It makes sense people can see a jet even in the night.
A pocket of turbulence hit us suddenly. The jet jolted, and my hand slipped, brushing against Wanda's thigh. She looked over at me, that smirk deepening.
"So what's your story... Danger?" she asked, voice low and teasing as she leaned a little closer. Her eyes sparkled with amusement.
I kept my face neutral, even as my pulse jumped. "My name is Eli."
"Hm. No, you feel dangerous. Clearly the dark and broody type. So I'm calling you Danger." She tilted her head. "What can you do?"
I replied carefully, keeping my tone even. "I'd like to keep that to myself. No offense... I don't really know you."
"Hm. Mysterious. I like it."
I'm not sure I do...
Thankfully, Matt piped up from behind us, clearly buzzing with excitement. "I know Ororo can do climate stuff — she told us back home. So what can you do?" he asked Jean, leaning forward in his seat.
Jean smiled patiently and started explaining. As the flight continued on, the hours passed comfortably with some quiet conversation and without any incidents. I stayed mostly silent, watching the clouds roll past the windows, feeling a hunger pang begin to hit.
I should get something to eat soon...
Eventually, the jet began its slow descent. The storm clouds Ororo had summoned parted around us, revealing dark skies and rolling dark hills below. Through the front window, I watched the ground rise to meet us until a massive section of the lawn slid aside with a deep mechanical rumble, revealing a wide underground hangar lit with artificial lighting.
The jet lowered smoothly into the bunker.
When the ramp finally hissed open, everyone started filing out. I unbuckled my seatbelt and began to stand, only for Wanda to rise quickly beside me. She stepped past without warning, one leg swinging over mine as her jean-covered ass brushed firmly against my upper thigh as she moved into the aisle.
"Excuse me," she said, her tone filled with amusement.
I exhaled slowly and followed her out.
The underground hangar was impressive, far bigger than it looked from above. The X-Jet settled into its docking bay with a mechanical hiss. Professor Xavier rolled forward at the front of the group, his wheelchair gliding smoothly across the polished floor. He turned toward us with a warm, welcoming smile that somehow made the whole place feel less intimidating.
"Welcome," he said, voice carrying gently through the hangar, "to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters."
We followed him as he led the way deeper into the facility. The futuristic facility gradually transformed into the interiors of a wealthy mansion, decorated with paintings and art pieces worth fortunes.
We stepped into a large elevator, and the doors slid shut with a quiet hiss.
Once we were moving, Xavier turned his chair slightly toward us.
"Why don't Mrs. Campbell and Mr. Calderon join me in my office for a private talk?" he suggested gently. "The children can head to the mess hall for some much-needed food. Jean and Scott can show them the way."
Jean and Scott both nodded in agreement. Gloria looked completely out of her depth but she gave a slow, hesitant nod anyway.
Wanda, who had been walking just behind us, spoke up. "I'm not one of your students," she said coolly, "but I'm coming too."
Xavier smiled, unfazed. "Of course, dear."
Okay then...