American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

Little Rascal sat at a table in the corner, with three other young people. One was Kurt, a night owl Lynn knew; his blue skin and yellow eyes made him stand out in the crowd. Another was a red-haired girl, about Little Rascal's age, who was talking enthusiastically. The last was a tall, thin boy wearing red sunglasses, with a somewhat sly expression.

Lynn was surprised to find that Little Rascal seemed relaxed. She still kept her distance from the others, but she was listening, occasionally nodding or saying a few words. This was completely different from the withdrawn, guarded girl he had seen before.

“She’s adapting quickly,” Professor X’s voice came from the side.

Lynn turned his head and saw the professor's wheelchair parked beside him.

“Indeed,” Lynn said. “I thought it would take her longer to open up.”

“Young people are often more resilient than we think,” the professor said. “And Anna-Marie was eager to be accepted. All she needed was an opportunity.”

"Who are those people over there?" Lynn asked, pointing to Little Rascal's table.

“Kurt Wagner, you’ve already met him. The redhead is Jean Grey; she has telepathic and telekinetic abilities. The one wearing sunglasses is Scott Summers’ brother, Alex; his ability is to unleash plasma blasts. They are among the friendliest students here; I specifically arranged for them to approach Anna Marie.”

"Was this arranged on purpose?"

“I sent them a suggestion telepathically,” the professor smiled. “Of course, it was voluntary. Jean has always been good at befriending new students, and Kurt is a natural optimist who can put anyone at ease.”

Lynn looked at the table. Kurt was making some kind of funny gesture with his tail, making Jean and Alex laugh. A faint smile appeared on the little rascal's lips—though faint, it was definitely a smile.

“She hasn’t had a real friend in three years,” Lynn said softly.

“I know,” the professor said, “that’s why I think it’s important for her to interact with peers. Adults can provide protection and guidance, but only peers can give a true sense of belonging.”

They went into the dining hall together, and the professor led Lynn to a table with the faculty and staff. Hank McCoy was already there, enjoying a large plate of vegetable salad.

“Agent Lynn,” Hank saw him, stood up, and shook hands, “it’s good to see you arrived safely. I heard you had some trouble on the way.”

“Some of it is an understatement,” Lynn said with a wry smile, “but we survived.”

"How's your injury?" Hank examined him with a professional eye. "It looks like your ribs haven't fully healed yet."

“It still hurts,” Lynn admitted, “but it’s much better than it was a few days ago.”

“Come to the medical room after you finish eating,” Hank said. “I’ll give you a full check-up to see if there’s anything that needs to be addressed.”

Dinner was plentiful—roast chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables, and homemade bread. Lynn hadn't had a proper meal for several days, and now she devoured it, feeling that every bite was a delicacy.

During the meal, he kept glancing towards Little Rascal. She seemed to be having a serious conversation with Jean, whose expression was focused and compassionate. Lynn remembered the professor saying that Jean was also a telepath—perhaps she could understand the pain caused by the chaotic memories in Little Rascal's mind.

“She’ll be alright,” the professor seemed to read his mind once again. “Anna Marie is stronger than she thinks.”

“I hope so,” Lynn said. “She’s been through too much.”

After dinner, the students began to leave the restaurant in twos and threes. Little Rascal and her new friends also stood up, seemingly discussing something. Lynn saw Jyn point towards the door, and Little Rascal hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“They’re going to the garden,” the professor said. “The garden is beautiful at night, and it’s firefly season.”

"firefly?"

"Yes, there's a small pond in the college garden that attracts a lot of fireflies every summer. Students like to go for walks there in the evenings."

Lynn hesitated for a moment, wanting to follow, but the professor gently shook his head.

“Let her go,” he said. “She needs to learn to be independent and build her own social circle. You can’t protect her forever.”

Lynn knew the professor was right, but he was still a little worried. He had gotten used to protecting the little rascal, and suddenly letting go made him uneasy.

“I’ll go to the medical room to find Hank,” he said, “if there are any problems—”

“I will let you know,” the professor said. “Don’t worry, Agent Lynn. She’s safe inside the walls of Xavier’s School.”

The medical room, located on the basement floor of the main building, is a state-of-the-art medical center. Lynn remembered the days he spent recovering here a few months ago—lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if he would ever be able to stand up again.

Now, he feels strange to be back here as a visitor.

Hank gave him a thorough examination—X-rays, blood tests, and neurological tests. The results showed that his rib fractures were healing, but he would need several more weeks of rest. The other wounds were mostly superficial and showed no signs of infection.

“Overall, you’re in better shape than I expected,” Hank said, while recording data on his computer. “Considering everything you’ve been through—plane crash, walking through mountains, gunfights, explosions—it’s a miracle you’re still standing here.”

“I have good teachers,” Lynn said. “Logan taught me a lot of survival skills.”

“Logan is a good coach, although his methods are somewhat extreme,” Hank smiled, “but there’s no denying that his training is effective.”

Lynn sat up on the examination table and stretched her shoulders. "Where's Little Rascal? How's she?"

“I haven’t given her a full check-up yet,” Hank said, “but on the surface, she’s physically healthy. What really needs attention is her mental state.”

Will the professor help her process those memories?

“Yes, but it will take time,” Hank said. “Victor’s memories are complex and have many protective mechanisms. The professor needs to carefully peel them away layer by layer to avoid harming Anna-Marie’s consciousness.”

"What about Jason's abilities? She absorbed Jason's power and a portion of his memories."

“That’s more tricky,” Hank frowned. “Jason’s abilities—super strength and rapid healing—will gradually fade within her, possibly taking days to weeks. But his memories will have a longer-lasting impact.” Lynn fell silent. He recalled the expression on Rogue’s face when she absorbed Jason—that almost ecstatic look. The allure of power was real, and she now possessed the abilities and memories of three different people.

“She’ll be alright,” Hank seemed to sense his worry. “Anna Marie is a strong girl. And she has us supporting her.”

Lynn nodded, but the worry in her heart did not completely disappear.

After leaving the medical room, Lynn decided to go to the garden to check on Little Rascal. Not to keep an eye on her, just to make sure she was alright.

The gardens of Xavier's College are truly beautiful at night. Moonlight bathes the meticulously manicured shrubs and blooming roses, and the air is filled with the fragrance of flowers and fresh grass. Solar-powered lights along the paths cast a soft glow, guiding the way.

Lynn walked along the path toward the pond and heard the laughter of young people in the distance. He slowed his pace and hid behind a large oak tree to observe quietly.

Little Rascal stood by the pond with Kurt, Jean, and Alex. Kurt was performing his teleportation ability—disappearing suddenly, then reappearing on the other side of the pond, then disappearing again, and reappearing on a tree branch, eliciting gasps of amazement from the others.

"How long have you been here?" Little Rascal asked Qin.

“It’s been three years,” Jean said. “I came here when I was thirteen. My ability had just awakened then; I could hear everyone’s thoughts, which almost drove me crazy. The professor found me, brought me here, and taught me how to control it.”

"You can hear everyone's thoughts?" Little Rascal's voice carried a hint of surprise.

“I used to be able to, but now I’ve learned to block it out,” Jean said. “Unless I actively seek it out, other people’s thoughts won’t enter my mind. It takes practice, but it’s achievable.”

The little rascal was silent for a moment. "Do you think my abilities can be controlled?"

Qin turned to her, her expression serious. “I don’t know, Anna. Everyone’s abilities are different. But what I do know is that before coming here, I thought I’d never be able to live a normal life. Now, I can go shopping, I can walk among crowds without being overwhelmed by other people’s opinions. The teachers here are amazing; they’ll find ways to help you.”

“And even if you can never fully control your abilities,” Kurt jumped down from the tree and landed beside them, “you can still live here. Many students here have abilities that are ‘permanently active,’ like me—” he gestured to his blue skin and tail, “I can’t turn off my appearance. But that doesn’t stop me from making friends, attending classes, or even going out on missions.”

"On a mission?" Little Rascal asked curiously.

“The X-Men’s mission,” Alex said, the first time Lynn had heard him speak, “is that some upperclassmen join the X-Men to help the professors with rescue and protection missions. Of course, it’s voluntary; no one will force you.”

The little rascal's gaze became thoughtful. Lynn could tell she was processing this information and reassessing her future.

Then, the first firefly appeared.

It flew up from the reeds by the pond, emitting a faint yellowish-green glow. Then came a second, a third, and more and more. A few minutes later, the entire pond was surrounded by shimmering points of light, like stars floating in the air.

“Wow,” the little rascal whispered, his eyes reflecting the glow of fireflies.

"Is it beautiful?" Qin asked.

“I’ve never seen so many fireflies,” said the little rascal. “There are some in Meridian, but not this many.”

“The professor specifically protected these,” Kurt said. “He said fireflies are nature’s magic and should be cherished.”

Several young people stood by the pond, watching the fireflies dance. Lynn noticed that Little Rascal was much more relaxed than before—she no longer deliberately kept her distance from the others. Although there was still no physical contact, she stood closer, as if she had truly become part of this small group.

Lynn quietly turned and left the garden.

He doesn't need to worry anymore. The little rascal will be alright.

Over the next few days, Lynn rested at Xavier's School of Business while handling some necessary work matters.

He made multiple calls via secure line to the FBI's New York field office, reporting on the entire operation. Victor has been safely transferred to a federal facility to await formal trial and prosecution. Jason's whereabouts remain unknown, and the other members of the fraternity have also vanished without a trace.

“This is not the end,” Lynn said in his final report. “The Brotherhood is still around, their leadership hasn’t been touched. Victor is just a field agent; the real threat is still lurking in the shadows.”

“We’ll continue the investigation,” her boss said on the phone, “but for now, you need a break. You’ve had enough, Lynn.”

"Yes, sir."

Logan, Cyclops, and Storm arrived at Xavier's School the following afternoon, carrying Victor's handover documents and looking exhausted. Lynn greeted them at the door, seeing that Storm had fully recovered, Cyclops was as serious as ever, and Logan...
“You look good, kid,” Logan said, patting Lynn on the shoulder. “At least better than when you were in that beat-up pickup truck.”

“You too,” Lynn said. “I’ve heard you’ve done very well in battle.”

“Just did what I was supposed to do,” Logan shrugged. “Those pursuers were nothing; I’ve had far more difficult ones.”

"Where's Victor?"

“He’s been taken away by federal agents,” One-Eyed said. “He’ll be kept in a specially designed facility with a restraint device operating 24/7. He can’t escape unless a miracle happens.”

“I hope so,” Lynn said, but he wasn’t entirely reassured. Victor was a cunning enemy; he wouldn’t give up so easily.

That evening, Professor X convened a small meeting, attended by Lynn, Logan, Cyclops, Storm, and Hank. They sat around in the professor's study, discussing their next course of action.

“First, regarding Anna-Marie,” the professor said, “she’s adapting better than I expected. Over the past few days, she’s made friends with several students and started attending some basic classes. Her mental state, while still unstable, is improving.”

“What about those memories?” Lynn asked. “Victor and Jason’s?”

“I’ve begun helping her process and isolate those memories,” the professor said. “It’s a long process, but she’s been very cooperative. Importantly, she’s starting to distinguish which are her own thoughts and which are external.” (End of Chapter)