Sick

After a day of public instruction, Alex’s reputation at X-Mansion rose once again. Now, whenever he walked the streets of the Floating Giant Island, people constantly greeted him, and some even ran over to ask for his autograph.

Alex had never experienced anything like this before; his hands even trembled when he signed. Yet his mood only improved, and he even took the initiative to help Emma handle some matters and assist in establishing the defenses.

"What’s wrong with you?" Emma looked at Alex strangely. Alex had always avoided anything that required thinking whenever possible, so his sudden enthusiasm left Emma somewhat unable to adjust. "Ever since you came back from AIM, you’ve been acting strange. It feels like you’ve become a different person!"

Alex curled his lip and protested indignantly, "What, is it bad for me to help out?" Alex knew his emotions had been fluctuating quite a bit these past two days, but he did not pay much attention to it, attributing it to AIM’s experimental zone.

He followed Emma around diligently for the entire day. When night fell, Alex rubbed his forehead wearily and returned with Emma to the Floating Temple.

"Still no reaction at all from Strucker’s side?" Alex dropped into a chair beside the holographic console, turned to Howard beside him, and asked in surprise.

Ever since returning from Poseidonia, Alex had been waiting for Strucker and the others to make a move. Yet after several days, Strucker had remained completely silent. Even the dinosaur army that had been preparing to set out seemed to have retreated. For no apparent reason, this filled Alex with a growing sense of unease, and he had secretly sent quite a few people to gather information.

Hearing Alex’s voice, Howard turned away from the holographic console and looked him up and down as though examining a monster, his expression one of utter novelty. In a strange tone, he said, "Well, well. The great slacker is actually taking the initiative to work!" Word of Alex voluntarily helping out had long since reached Howard’s ears. After all, Howard practically lived at the Floating Temple now.

Alex was embarrassed by Howard’s words. He wanted to retort, but considering his usual record, he could only chuckle awkwardly and change the subject, doing his best to put on a serious expression. "I asked you a question. Be serious!"

Unfortunately, Howard did not fall for it. He merely glanced sideways at Alex and stared at him without saying a word.

Alex truly became angry out of embarrassment. With a low shout, he reached out and clamped a hand around Howard’s head, threatening viciously, "Talk. Are you going to talk or not?"

"I’ll talk, I’ll talk!" Restrained by Alex, Howard’s face flushed red as he begged for mercy.

After the two messed around for a while, they sat down quietly, neither of their expressions looking particularly bright.

"Could they be plotting something again?" Looking at Poseidonia on the holographic console, Alex unconsciously furrowed his brow and recalled that vast experimental zone. With AIM’s scientific capabilities, plus the alien technology from the Savage Land, who knew how far they could develop!

Emma sat to one side with the same worried expression, her gaze constantly sweeping over the holographic map. She felt regretful and somewhat self-reproachful. "Back then, I should have wiped them out completely!" She was referring to when AIM had first entered the Savage Land, when AIM had not yet fully taken over the Savage Land’s alien technology.

Alex patted Emma’s hand and smiled as he comforted her. "If anyone’s to blame, it’s me. I didn’t discover their arrival sooner, or so many things wouldn’t have happened."

Looking at Alex and Emma’s clasped hands, Howard could not help feeling a little sour. He muttered to himself, Should I go back to New York and have some fun too?

Alex had only been diligent for one day. The next day, his laziness flared up again, and he stubbornly stayed in the Floating Temple all day without doing anything. He sat listlessly by the holographic console, doing nothing but staring into space.

Before he knew it, another two days had passed, and Alex’s condition grew increasingly strange.

After another busy day, Emma returned from outside and immediately saw Alex sprawled across the holographic console, sleeping in a daze. She had seen him like this when she returned yesterday, and now he was the same again. Emma finally realized something was wrong. Alex had always been exceptionally energetic; a state of exhaustion like he had shown these past two days was simply unheard of.

Emma pushed Alex awake and watched him rub his eyes with a worried expression. She asked anxiously, "Alex, what exactly is wrong with you?"

Alex had only just awakened, and his mind had not fully cleared. He mumbled vague responses, not understanding what Emma was saying at all.

Emma grabbed Alex by the shoulders and shook him hard, then repeated her question.

"What do you mean, what’s wrong?" Alex finally woke up. Hearing Emma’s question, he looked utterly confused.

Emma knitted her brows tightly and stared at Alex for a long while before speaking in a very serious tone. "Alex, do you know how long you’ve slept in total over these past two days?"

"Sleeping?" Alex froze, then his face reddened as he explained awkwardly, "I’ve been too tired these days, so I’ve been sleeping more." Alex knew what his state had been like these past two days. He would get sleepy while sitting there, an irresistible drowsiness, and then before he knew it, he would slump over and fall asleep.

Instead of relaxing after hearing Alex’s explanation, Emma became even more nervous and worried. "Do you think that’s normal?"

"I…"

Alex had just opened his mouth to explain when a lovely figure came running over. She threw her arms around his neck and enthusiastically left a bright red lip print on his face.

"Monroe, why are you here?" Alex gently held Monroe, who was unwilling to get up, then gave Emma an apologetic glance before turning to Monroe with a surprised look.

Though Monroe was clingy with Alex, she understood the situation. After staying in Alex’s arms for a moment, she stood up. "My new movie is finished, so I came here for a vacation!" After explaining to Alex, Monroe turned to Emma and asked in surprise, "Sister Emma, what’s wrong?" The moment she entered, Monroe had noticed that Emma did not look well.

Emma hesitated for a moment, but still told her about Alex’s recent condition.

After listening to Emma’s account, Monroe tilted her head and looked at Alex. Based on Emma’s description, it was exactly the same as how she reacted when she was sick. Hesitantly, she said, "Could he be sick?"

Emma was stunned. She turned to look at Alex in surprise. Alex had an exceptionally strong constitution, and she had never seen him fall ill before. But after Monroe pointed it out, Emma realized that it really did seem to be the case. Do not assume mutants could not get sick. On the contrary, because of their unusual genes, mutants were more susceptible to illness, and when they did get sick, it was never anything minor!

"Should we get a doctor to take a look?" Thinking that Alex might be ill, Monroe became deeply worried. Holding Alex’s hand, she asked with concern.

Emma immediately stood up and began making arrangements as she spoke. "I’ll get someone over right away!"