Locke paused for a moment, slightly caught off guard by Ethan's complete shift in attitude. The man had gone from lifeless resignation to absolute devotion in seconds, but honestly, that worked out perfectly.
Less resistance meant less wasted effort.
"Come with me," Locke said calmly. "I'll help you bring your family back."
"Yes! Yes!" Ethan nodded repeatedly, his voice trembling with urgency and hope.
Locke didn't waste another second. He grabbed Ethan by the shoulder, and in the next instant, space twisted around them. The two vanished from the square as if they had never been there.
Only after they disappeared did the suppressed tension in the town finally break. The starving civilians surged forward, no longer caring about anything except the food that had been left behind.
…
In a blink, Locke and Ethan reappeared inside an underground laboratory.
The environment was cold, clean, and filled with advanced equipment that far surpassed anything Ethan had seen before. The moment Locke arrived, two figures hurried over from deeper within the facility.
"Master!"
Sophie and Phoebe called out in unison, their tone respectful but carrying a hint of playful energy beneath it.
Locke let out a quiet cough, his expression turning slightly awkward. "I've told you before—when there are other people around, just call me by my name."
Among the five Stepford Cuckoos, Celeste and Esme were the most composed and obedient. But Sophie, Phoebe, and the youngest, Trixie, had a mischievous streak that never seemed to fade.
"Yes, Master," Sophie and Phoebe replied immediately, nodding with perfectly straight faces.
Locke's lips twitched. Clearly, they weren't taking him seriously at all.
Deciding it wasn't worth the effort, he turned his attention back to Ethan. "Listen carefully. I can't revive your family right now, but that doesn't mean it's impossible."
Ethan froze, his breathing hitching slightly. "What do you mean?"
"I have an ability," Locke continued, his tone steady. "It allows a person's consciousness to travel back into the past. If used correctly, you could change events—and prevent your family's deaths."
Ethan's eyes widened instantly. "You mean… I could go back? I could save them myself?"
Locke shook his head.
"Not you."
The single answer hit Ethan like a blow.
"Your soul isn't strong enough to withstand the strain of traveling through time," Locke explained without sugarcoating it. "Even if I forced it, your consciousness would collapse before you got there."
There was a reason someone like Wolverine could endure time displacement—his regenerative nature extended beyond his body, giving his soul a resilience most people simply didn't have.
Ethan, on the other hand, was an ordinary man.
Even if he somehow survived the process, what could he actually do? Against armed terrorists, he wouldn't stand a chance.
"I…" Ethan's voice faltered, his face losing color again. The fragile hope that had just been reignited was already on the verge of shattering.
"Relax," Locke said, cutting through his spiraling thoughts. "I didn't say it was impossible."
Ethan looked up sharply.
"My ability isn't fully developed yet," Locke continued. "Right now, I can only send consciousness. But it won't be long before I can send both body and mind back together."
He paused briefly, letting the words sink in.
"When that happens, I'll go back myself—and I'll save your family."
Ethan stared at him in silence.
There was no hesitation this time.
"I believe you," he said firmly.
There was no doubt in his voice, no skepticism left. After what he had witnessed earlier, he didn't question Locke's words anymore.
"Good," Locke nodded. "Then from now on, you'll stay here and assist with my research."
"No problem," Ethan replied without a second thought.
He didn't even need convincing. Compared to the promise of saving his family, everything else was insignificant.
Watching him immediately throw himself into the laboratory work, Locke felt a flicker of satisfaction. Bringing Ethan here had been the right move. With his expertise, progress on several projects would accelerate significantly.
As for going back in time?
That was trivial.
Once he reached Level 5, manipulating time itself wouldn't be out of reach.
"Master~"
A pair of soft, teasing voices pulled him out of his thoughts.
Locke turned his head to find Sophie and Phoebe standing far too close, their expressions bright with amusement.
"What is it?" he asked, already sensing trouble.
"Master, you've grown so much lately," Sophie said, her tone light and playful.
Phoebe leaned in from the other side, their shoulders brushing against him as they clung to his arms. "We were just thinking…"
Locke stiffened slightly, then cleared his throat and stepped back, quickly pulling himself free. "You two—act serious for once."
His reaction only made them grin wider.
"I have something to handle. I'm leaving," he said, not giving them another chance to push further.
Before they could respond, space distorted again, and he vanished from the laboratory.
The moment he disappeared, Sophie and Phoebe exchanged glances—then burst into laughter.
"He was so embarrassed just now!" Sophie said through their shared mental network.
Phoebe giggled. "Right? The way he reacted was priceless."
From within the network, another voice joined in. "What did you two even do?"
"It's big sister," Sophie replied cheerfully. "We just teased him a little. You should've seen his face."
"And you're not worried about getting punished?" another voice asked dryly.
"What's there to worry about?" Phoebe shot back. "At worst, we just let him do whatever he wants."
"…You two are unbelievable."
Soon, the rest of the sisters joined the conversation, their shared consciousness buzzing with amusement. Fortunately for them, Locke wasn't paying attention to their mental network at that moment.
Otherwise, they would've been in serious trouble.
…
By the time Locke returned to the Mutant Academy, night had already fallen.
"Wes, you're back!"
Polaris greeted him the moment she saw him, her expression lighting up slightly.
"Yeah," Locke replied with a small nod. "How are the two kids? Are they awake yet?"
"They're up. Come take a look."
Without waiting, Polaris grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the infirmary.
Inside, the two siblings were already sitting up.
Wanda and Pietro.
Their eyes immediately shifted toward Locke as he entered, recognition flashing across their faces.
"That's him," Polaris said, gesturing lightly. "He's the one who saved you."
The two exchanged a glance before speaking at the same time.
"Thank you."
Locke smiled faintly, stepping closer as he looked at them. "No problem. What are your names?"
"I'm Wanda," the girl said, her voice soft but steady. "And this is my brother, Pietro."
"Nice to meet you," Locke said, reaching out and gently ruffling their hair. "I'm Locke. You can call me Wes."
"Big Brother Wes," they said obediently.
Locke's gaze softened slightly as he looked at them.
"When we found you, your entire town was gone," he said quietly. "You were the only ones left alive. What happened… wasn't your fault."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"But you're still here. So don't give up on living."
....
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