On the return flight to New York aboard the X-Jet, Hawking opened his status panel.
As expected, the justice points from saving humanity during the Apocalypse crisis had filled his progress bar to the brim, giving him a chance to draw a new template.
“I’ll draw it once I’m home,” he decided. Satisfied that his progress bar was full, he wasn’t in a hurry. He preferred to wait until he could sit quietly at home and draw the new template properly.
These protagonist templates provided him with new bloodline talents and knowledge and could significantly enhance his strength at crucial moments. Without the boost from his current templates, he wouldn’t have stood a chance against Apocalypse and Magneto.
“Hawking, are you really from another planet?” Professor X asked, stopping Hawking after the X-Jet landed at the mutant school at eleven o’clock that night.
Hawking shook his head. “Of course not, but I’m also not a mutant.”
“Then why did you say you were from another planet? That revelation will make many government officials very uneasy,” Professor X said, showing a hint of worry.
Having lived for so many years, Professor X was all too familiar with the ways of government officials. They would be highly suspicious of an alien, especially one leading a group of superpowered individuals.
Hawking smiled. “I know. I did it on purpose. Professor, you should understand that even if I claimed to be human or someone who gained powers by accident, do you think the government would truly trust me after this incident?”
Hawking was fully aware of what Professor X was implying. Even Superman, despite his unwavering dedication to humanity, faced suspicion and difficulties due to his alien origins. Hawking’s situation wouldn’t be any different.
He had thought it through thoroughly. Regardless of his claimed identity, given his demonstrated power and the potential to gather a large number of superpowered individuals, the government would never just let him be. They would always seek to control him and his Hero Alliance company, much like Nick Fury would.
Would Hawking let them? Absolutely not.
Conflict was inevitable. Thus, he decided to present himself as an alien.
Firstly, his story, akin to Superman’s, would naturally draw parallels in the public’s mind. He would earn their trust because he had genuinely risked his life to save the Earth. This way, any government actions against him would draw public backlash, as they would relate it to Superman’s experience.
Secondly, he wanted to give the government a reason to challenge him immediately. Claiming to be an alien provided the perfect pretext. If he were human with substantial contributions, the government would be hesitant to act immediately. They would wait for the current wave of gratitude to pass before making their move. But as an alien, they could act right away, using his alien status as an excuse.
He intended to confront the government head-on while the public sentiment was in his favor, aiming to resolve all issues in one go so he could focus on training and helping people without constant interference.
Thirdly, given his current strength, he had no reason to fear the government. Professor X supported him, and Magneto was in custody at the mutant school. The only real government asset was Captain Marvel.
Nick Fury wouldn’t be foolish enough to think Captain Marvel alone could control the situation after seeing Hawking battle Apocalypse. The balance of power had shifted, and Hawking’s Hero Alliance stood unrivaled.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was significantly weakened by Hydra’s interference and had to deal with ongoing threats from Hydra. Magneto and the Brotherhood were in custody, and if it came to a showdown, Hawking believed they would willingly assist against the government.
Hawking’s strength was undeniable.
The government wouldn’t act foolishly, and neither would Nick Fury. Most importantly, Hawking wasn’t Superman—he wouldn’t hold back. He wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate forcefully if the government challenged him, making an example of them.
He would demonstrate that all plots were futile in the face of absolute power. He didn’t seek to control human governance, but if any officials targeted him, he would deal with them decisively, ensuring the next in line understood the consequences of crossing him.
However, he needed the government to make the first move to justify his actions. This way, he could claim self-defense and earn public understanding in the future.
“You make a valid point. Still, I hope we can guide humanity down the right path without fostering mutual hatred,” Professor X sighed, worried that government provocation might lead Hawking to extreme measures.
“Rest assured, Professor. The Hero Alliance was established to promote harmony between humans and mutants, ensuring public acceptance of mutants. I believe today’s events will help achieve that goal. I won’t take extreme actions unless necessary. But for those few in power who target us, I will take necessary measures. We can’t be as extreme as Magneto, but we can’t be too soft either. Otherwise, we’ll end up as tools in their hands, straying further from our goal,” Hawking replied firmly.
Without other established heroes like Iron Man, Hulk, or the Fantastic Four, and with Thor not yet on Earth, the only significant power he faced was the reclusive Ancient One, who wouldn’t intervene in such matters unless the Earth faced existential threats.
This was the perfect time for Hawking to assert himself, curbing government ambitions to meddle in his affairs, allowing him to focus on his mission.
Besides, he believed in the justice of his cause. Establishing the Hero Alliance to recruit superpowered individuals and mutants for good deeds was inherently righteous. If anyone opposed that, dealing with them was simply another act of justice.
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