Ding-dong! Removable storage device detected.
As Eric treated the gunshot wound on Alex's arm, a strange image flashed in Alex's mind: a computer desktop screen with a pop-up in the bottom-right corner.
"What's with my power?" Alex wondered. The image was tied to his awakening ability.
He thought carefully. His power had activated when his hand got scratched, bloodied palm merged with a laptop. Was it computer-related? The scratch on his hand, crusted with dried blood, likely triggered it. Had his blood touching the computer unlocked his hidden ability?
Alex realized he was in the X-Men movie world, where mutants and tech could intersect. The "removable storage device" prompt reminded him of plugging a USB drive or external drive into a computer.
Curious, Alex mentally opened the "computer" icon in his mind. It resembled a typical PC, with four drives: C, D, E, and F. Only the C drive was accessible; the others were grayed out and unusable.
Entering the C drive, Alex found files containing his body's genetic information. Like a computer's C drive storing system files, his stored his DNA—a clear comparison.
After browsing, Alex exited the C drive. He noticed four additional "removable" drives, like external drives plugged into a computer. Only one was accessible; the others were grayed out.
Glancing at Eric, who was removing the bullet and bandaging his wound, Alex realized the accessible removable drive belonged to Eric. His power didn't just digitize his own body—it could access others' too.
Opening Eric's C drive, Alex found genetic files similar to his own. One file stood out: "Metal Manipulation Magnetic Field Mutation." It confirmed Eric's identity. In the X-Men world, a mutant named Eric who controlled metal? This was Magneto.
"Wait…" A spark of insight hit Alex. On a computer, you can copy and paste files from a removable drive. Could he copy Eric's gene file to his own C drive?
Alex copied the 10GB gene file and pasted it to his C drive. A progress bar appeared, showing the transfer.
"Okay, this injury isn't serious. It should heal in a few days," Eric said, finishing the bandage. He let go of Alex's arm and headed to the bathroom to wash his hands.
Removable drive safely removed.
When Eric broke contact, the computer screen in Alex's mind showed the prompt. The copying progress bar halted, and Eric's drive vanished.
"It must need physical contact to copy genes," Alex thought. "Like keeping a USB drive plugged in to transfer files."
To copy someone's genes, Alex needed to maintain physical contact, like keeping a USB drive plugged into a computer. How could he justify physical contact with Eric, though?
Most guys wouldn't want a stranger holding their hand without a good reason.
"By the way, Alex, are you a mutant too? What's your power? Something space-related?" Eric asked, emerging from the bathroom after washing his hands.
The question sparked an idea. "Yeah, I'm a mutant," Alex replied, nodding. "But my power isn't space-related. It's… palm reading."
"Palm reading?" Eric looked puzzled.
"Well, think of it like astrology or prophecy," Alex explained, choosing terms Eric would understand. "I can see glimpses of the past or future."
Eric's eyes widened. Mutant powers varied wildly, but prophecy was rare and intriguing. Even if it lacked raw destructive force, it could be incredibly useful.
"There are different methods, like palm reading or other techniques," Alex continued. "My power only works through palm reading." It was a perfect excuse—palm reading required hand contact, letting him copy Eric's genes. Plus, having seen the X-Men movies, Alex could use plot details to back up his claim.
"Can you predict the future?" Eric asked, curious.
"Not just the future—sometimes the past, too. But it's random, just fragments," Alex said carefully. He couldn't pretend to know everything, only what he recalled from the movies.
"That's still impressive. Give it a try," Eric said, extending his palm. He seemed eager to glimpse his future or test Alex's claim.
It worked! Alex hid his excitement, keeping his face neutral. He took Eric's hand, pretending to study the palm lines.
Ding-dong! Removable storage device detected.
As expected, the computer screen in Alex's mind reappeared. He opened Eric's C drive and resumed copying the "Metal Manipulation Magnetic Field Mutation" gene file to his own C drive. The 10GB file would take half an hour—slow, like an old computer.
While the progress bar ticked along, Alex didn't need to focus on it. He acted like he was reading Eric's palm, mentally recalling X-Men plot points. Despite three years in the apocalypse, he'd watched the movies before the world fell apart. Eric, as Magneto, was a key figure, and at this point, he looked to be in his thirties.
"Eric, have you heard the name Magneto?" Alex asked.
"Magneto?" Eric shook his head. "No."
"That'll be your name someday," Alex said cryptically.
Silence followed. Then Alex spoke again. "I see a boy. A man holds a coin, demanding the boy move it. If he fails, his mother dies."
Eric's face darkened, hatred flashing in his eyes. "That's my past…" he muttered.
The progress bar crept forward as Alex and Eric talked. Alex dropped occasional hints about the future, mixing in details from the past to prove his "power." Past events carried more weight than unproven predictions.
Finally, the copy finished. The gene file appeared in Alex's C drive. He released Eric's hand.
Testing his body, Alex felt no immediate change. That made sense—young Magneto in the movies struggled to control his power. Alex would need to train to use it.
Eric looked disappointed. "That's all you saw? Nothing about Sebastian Shaw?" His voice was low, heavy with frustration.
Alex understood Eric's hatred for Shaw, the man behind his childhood trauma. Eric had hoped for a glimpse of revenge. Though Alex knew from the movies that Magneto eventually succeeded, Eric was lost now.
After a pause, Alex said, "Actually, I saw one more thing. You get help from a friend, and together, you take down Shaw."
He decided to nudge Eric toward Charles Xavier, Professor X, to guide his path to revenge.
"Oh? Who is it? Can you help me get revenge?" Eric asked eagerly. The idea of succeeding with a friend's help sparked hope in his eyes.
"A mutant named Charles, a professor who can read minds," Alex said, sharing the details openly. "You can find him."
"Professor Charles, a mind-reading mutant," Eric repeated softly, his expression determined.