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Mark's suspicion that he might be residing in Earth-838 originated from his recollection of events depicted in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In that universe, Captain America, Steve Rogers, had been replaced by Captain Carter, a British variant. Additionally, it was a universe in which mutants demonstrably existed.
The presence of mutants was not speculative in Mark's current reality, it had already been verified when Olek and Iryna chose to adopt him. Wanda displayed telekinetic abilities, manipulating small objects at will, while Pietro possessed superhuman speed. Mark himself had previously exhibited extraordinary powers and now possessed a prehensile tail, distinct traits that, from the couple's perspective, clearly marked him as a mutant.
At present, most ordinary citizens continued to harbor fear and prejudice toward mutants. While Sokovia's internal turmoil had left little room for widespread anti-mutant sentiment, other regions, such as New York, were far less tolerant. Reports had emerged of local police opening fire on mutants at the slightest provocation. Particularly when the mutant was a person of color, excessive force often escalated into full-blown execution. Some officials were even lobbying for the reinstatement of the Mutant Registration Act, which had previously been repealed, to facilitate centralized monitoring and regulation of mutant individuals.
Out of concern for the safety of all three children, Olek and Iryna consistently warned them never to reveal their abilities in public. Mark, in particular, had been instructed to conceal his tail whenever he left the house. Should it be inadvertently exposed, he was to dismiss it as a decorative accessory.
"If this really is Earth-838, then Wanda may be in grave danger."
The thought compelled Mark to rub his forehead, overwhelmed by the implications. If indeed he was in Universe 838, then shortly after Thanos's defeat in the Prime Universe, the Wanda Maximoff of his reality would likely be overtaken by the main universe's Wanda through dream-walking. That, in turn, would ultimately result in the annihilation of the Illuminati.
Still, he shook his head and sighed.
"Speculating is pointless. Whether this is truly Earth-838 remains uncertain. Regardless, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."
Given his current limitations, any effort to change future outcomes would be futile. It was wiser to focus on strengthening himself. Later, when he had access to more protagonist templates and the power they conferred, he could attempt to intervene effectively.
With this resolution, he discarded his anxieties and prepared instead to shower and cook noodles for the children.
Three Weeks Later
Mark rose at precisely 5 a.m., maintaining the discipline he had cultivated. His morning routine unfolded without deviation a ten-kilometer run outdoors, followed by an intense regimen in the basement, three hundred push-ups, five hundred squats, and one thousand sit-ups. With his training complete, he turned his attention to breakfast.
He prepared a full spread, sandwiches, milk, noodles, grilled sausages, and pan-fried eggs a hearty assortment that could feed multiple people
Wanda and Pietro rarely finished everything on the table, but Mark never allowed food to go to waste. Whatever remained, he consumed himself.
Upon awakening and seeing the elaborate breakfast prepared, Olek and Iryna were once again filled with admiration and concern. On one hand, they were deeply impressed by Mark's maturity and culinary aptitude. They often remarked that he was destined to become an exceptional chef. On the other hand, they silently renewed their commitment to earning more income, as even affording food was becoming increasingly burdensome.
To them, Mark was like a miniature adult, remarkably responsible, emotionally restrained, and self-sufficient. It was obvious, they believed, that he had experienced considerable hardship during childhood. The saying "children of poverty mature early" held true universally, regardless of nationality.
Though their own financial situation was tenuous, Olek and Iryna ensured that Wanda and Pietro could still enjoy a relatively carefree childhood, free from the burdens of housework and financial worry.
They empathized with Mark's early maturity and had their own theories as to its origin. Both of their biological children were mutants, and the couple regularly followed media coverage about mutant-related incidents. It was well documented that many mutants, upon awakening to their powers, lost control and accidentally harmed those around them. Some underwent extreme physical mutations, becoming outwardly terrifying.
As such, not all parents could accept mutant children. Fear, revulsion, and resentment often dominated familial dynamics, resulting in abandonment or abuse. It was entirely possible, they concluded, that Mark's biological family had rejected him for similar reasons. That, in their eyes, explained his prematurely adult demeanor.
The thought made them all the more protective of him.
"Wanda, Pietro, it's time for breakfast!"
At Iryna's call, the sibling duo came bounding downstairs from the second floor, still engaged in playful banter.
It was Sunday, and after breakfast the entire family gathered on the living room couch. Olek inserted a DVD and began playing episode 23 of the second season of The Dick Van Dyke Show.
During the peak of Sokovia's political and economic instability, Olek had lost his job and resorted to selling DVDs to support the household. Now that he had secured full-time employment, their home still contained a large collection of leftover discs.
Mark sat with the family, though he had little genuine interest in the sitcoms. What he cherished, however, was the familial atmosphere, a warmth he had never experienced in his previous life.
"Ding-dong!"
The doorbell rang abruptly, interrupting their laughter.
"I'll get it," Mark volunteered.
Upon opening the door, he was greeted by two strangers, a bald elderly man in a wheelchair and a younger man wearing peculiar red-tinted glasses.
"Good morning, young man," the elder greeted him with a warm, affable smile.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, his expression shifted to one of visible surprise.
"How curious. This has never happened before."
This man, Mark instantly realized, was a high-level telepath, likely a Class 4 mutant with formidable psychic and empathic capabilities. Apart from individuals protected by specialized equipment, such as Magneto's helmet or Emma Frost's psionic shielding, very few could resist his telepathic scans.
Several days prior, he had detected a powerful young mutant in Sokovia through the use of Cerebro, a machine designed to amplify psychic signals. He had journeyed here with the intention of recruiting this individual to his mutant school.
What he had not anticipated, however, was encountering a second individual who was entirely immune to his mental probes.
"Detected foreign psychic intrusion. Activating automatic shielding to ensure system integrity."
This message flashed across Mark's internal system panel. Looking at the two men before him, their appearance, demeanor, and aura, he realized at once that he was face-to-face with the legendary Professor X and Cyclops.
Fortunately, his system had autonomously blocked the Professor's telepathic intrusion. Had it failed, every secret he harbored would have been laid bare.
"Good morning, gentlemen. What brings you here?" Mark inquired politely, his expression calm and unassuming.
Now that he knew Professor X could not penetrate his mind, he did not feel threatened.
Based on his prior knowledge, Professor X was known for advocating peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants. He was aligned with the forces of justice and benevolence and thus posed no direct danger to the family.
What Mark needed to discern now was the true purpose of their visit.
He doubted it had anything to do with him. After all, he wasn't technically a mutant.
Perhaps they had come for Wanda or Pietro?
Then again, in the Prime Universe, Wanda's powers weren't mutant in origin. Her abilities stemmed from the chaos magic of Chthon, while Pietro's speed was thought to be the result of experimentation, later enhanced by the Mind Stone.
However, this was not the Prime Universe. It was likely Earth-838. Consequently, the foundational premises might be different here.
For now, Mark resolved to remain vigilant and observe the situation closely.