Dr Doom, Who are you? (Marvel X DC)

Mutant Growth Hormone (MGH).

A drug derived from extracting compounds from mutants. 

It activates the latent X gene in humans, temporarily granting them superpowers similar to those of the extracted mutant.

These were the pills Ronan had swallowed and the main reason he chose to be sent to the Helicarrier, besides wanting them all to know he was the criminal.

And which mutant were his pills extracted from?

[Substance M.G.H detected]

[Changes have occurred accordingly]

[Extraction (10%): James Howlett (Logan)]

[Abilities: Enhanced Senses, Hardened Knuckles]

These abilities meant little to Ronan. 

What really mattered was the activation of the X-gene that made him appear to be a Mutant.

This way, they'd take him in.

Besides, this was the best of a bad bunch. 

His other choices were extractions from mutants named Gambit, Angel, Dazzler and a few other lesser-known mutants.

Though growing wings like Angel didn't sound too bad after remembering he had to jump off the Helicarrier to escape, he couldn't have his mutation change him physically.

This was because he was planning to tell them his mutation was his Psionics. 

Not that he could lie about it, they most likely already knew he had a form of Technopathy because of his Technobane.

Therefore, he needed something unnoticeable. Something like enhanced senses.

And Dazzler? Ronan didn't even know who that was.

He could only guess it was someone insignificant since even Tony didn't bother keeping info on them.

SHIELD was working on expanding the MGH's capabilities so that it could extract abilities from all super-powered individuals and not just mutants, but they had been unsuccessful so far.

However, it didn't come without any disadvantages.

No, addiction and induced rage were the most prominent side effects.

Ronan assumed his previous outburst when cutting off Ororo was most likely a product of the latter.

And even now, with his enhanced sense of smell, he couldn't help but continue sniffing, the scent of the distant pills filling his nostrils.

However, if he could ignore and suppress the tortuous pain he felt every time he used his Technopathy, he was sure he could bury these symptoms in the back of his mind.

'Wait a minute…my Technobane.'

"How long have I been asleep?"

He asked, finally taking a look around the small and simple bedroom they were in.

Other than the I.V. and pint of blood strapped to Ronan's wrist, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"39 hours. It's the middle of the night right now." Scott answered after looking at his watch, causing Ronan to sigh in relief while becoming wary at the same time.

'The MGH will leave my system in 48 hours.'

However, as he said this, he suddenly felt confused as he realised something.

"Don't worry, James here has been dealing with…the substance in your body." Ororo pointed to the third man who'd been quiet this whole time.

With a tall, muscular stature and long dark hair tied back, the man fashioned a neat moustache.

But perhaps the most notable aspect of his was the metal cybernetic arm he adorned.

Just by staring at it, Ronan could tell it was a highly advanced piece of tech and he probably wouldn't be able to override it with his current skills.

"Nice to meet you." James nodded. Though he smiled, the same dark circles that used to be under Ronan's eyes adorned his.

"I applaud you for living with that pesky poison inside you. You're quite the skilled Technopath."

Ronan pretended not to notice Scott and Ororo's glance toward him as James said this.

"I assume you weren't even able to sleep with it inside you, as you'd go into shock if I left you for more than an hour."

James complimented. Ronan could feel the force of his Technopathy within his body.

It was far more controlled and refined than his, the force feeling tranquil and focused.

'If I had to estimate, I'd say his Technopathy is currently at a 20 or perhaps a 30% mastery.'

Ronan quickly took the wheel as he could feel James' force retreating shortly after.

"It's fascinating. Both your Technopathy and the poison. I've never seen anything like it. We couldn't even put you in the medical bay because it would cause all the medical supplies to go haywire."

"Hank had to go old school with needles and stitches…"

-COUGH

Ororo cleared her throat, causing James to turn to her, seeing her sharp eyes glaring at him, causing him to chuckle nervously and stay quiet.

'Perhaps I can use him to solve this Technobane problem.'

Ronan thought, ignoring everything happening.

"It isn't just Technopathy."

Ronan caught their attention as he continued.

"I can do things with my mind like ignore pain and sometimes, when my emotions get the better of me, I can move things with my mind and sense malicious intentions toward me."

The latter two points were obviously a lie, however, he needed to let them know he had a Psionics perk and not just Technopathy without letting them know about the system.

Besides, he was hoping he could pick up Telepathy and Telekinesis soon.

As Ronan spoke, Ororo made it clear she was listening.

However, as he finished, the three adults looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"I think you're a full-fledged Psion, Ronan." Forge smiled, the others showing their surprise as well.

"Not even Jean has all that good stuff," Scott mentioned while the others nodded in agreement.

"I think you'll fit in just great here." Ororo, her words warm and welcoming as if she'd done this countless times before, gently pressed her hands against Ronan's leg.

"Now, if you'll all excuse me, I'd like to get some shut-eye. There isn't much of the night left." Forge joked after a slight pause, rising to his feet as the others followed him.

"You're right, try to get some rest, Ronan. We'll be back first thing in the morning to check up on you." Ororo waved as the other two wished him a good night.

And just like that, they left, the room returning to its tranquil silence.

But despite this, Ronan didn't move. 

He kept sitting upright with his head raised as he soon had a thought.

'This…is more useful than I thought.'

Despite them leaving the room, he could still hear them in the hallway, conversing.

"Are you sure we shouldn't ask him why he was in the state he was or why he arrived in a SHIELD jet?" 

Scott, whose voice Ronan could distinguish, asked.

"Definitely not. The boy…is too unpredictable. We don't know how he'll act or if he'll even tell the truth. We need to ease into it rather than spooking him."

Ororo replied, quickly shutting down the idea.

"I ran him through facial recognition. Not just that, I used every way possible to identify him but to no avail."

Ororo rubbed her forehead.

"We need to know more before we engage. Hank is running tests on the boy's poison. While doing so, he found something was off about his DNA."

'Shit.' 

Ronan thought, hearing this. 

'I hoped the MGH was perfect, otherwise, they'd be able to notice the anomaly.'

And by "They" Ronan really meant Hank McCoy, AKA Beast.

The scientist and doctor of the X-Men and also one of the people partially responsible for the creation of MGH.

"His DNA? Like his X-Gene. Wait, are we sure he isn't just a special case like Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four?"

"Well, Psionics is a learnable skill, even by regular humans. But to be at his level, he'd have to be training longer than he's alive." 

Forge added, but Ororo shook her head.

"No, he's definitely a mutant. The X-gene is active in his body. Besides, those special cases are special because they can be counted on one hand. I doubt he is like them."

"Hank's working on it, so we'll know soon enough."

'I knew I didn't have much time but between this and how desperate Stark is to take me down, I'd estimate I have close to a week.' 

"James?"

"Oh, sorry. I…was just thinking. The poison in that boy's body…it would make using his Technopathy near impossible."

Ororo blinked confusingly as Scott leaned in.

"Then how does he do it?" Scott asked.

"That's the thing, he shouldn't be able to. To do so, the boy must endure unimaginable pain every single time."

Ororo, the more sensitive among the three, felt her heart drop as James said these words, the latter continuing like he'd read her mind.

"Just pushing back the poison like I've been doing all this time can't feel pleasant for him…but he has no choice."

The other two were lost for words as silence descended.

"Not to mention how he'd arrived. I thought he was a dead man standing."

"No man…just a boy."

They'd be surprised at an adult appearing with these injuries. However, with just a boy? 

It seemed like something straight out of a nightmare.

"I haven't been this horrified since I learned of what Logan went through."

Ronan widened his eyes as this last voice entered his ears, followed by the faint squeaking of wheels and a mechanic hum.

The voice was aged, carrying a wise undertone.

'It's him.'

And as if to confirm his thoughts…

"Professor Xavier." 

***

"Professor Xavier," Scott spoke in a firm tone as if to show respect.

In the dimly lit hallway with wooden floorboards and lamps hanging from the walls, a suited bald man approached the small group in his mechanically operated wheelchair.

"Is the boy awake?" Xavier asked, his expression straight, his tone stern and serious.

"Yes. He woke up a little while ago. We left to let him rest." Ororo confirmed.

However, despite her words, Xavier approached the door.

They knew the professor quite well, so just from his expression, they could tell something wasn't right.

"Would you like me to follow you in, Professor?"

"No thank you, Scott. I think it best if I go in alone."

"Is something wrong?" Ororo asked, causing Xavier to pause as he stared at the door.

But after a second, Xavier turned to them as he smiled.

"No, I'd just like to meet him. He's quite the mysterious boy, isn't he?"

Despite saying this, it was a lie.

Xavier had very different thoughts in his mind and didn't know how to organise them.

And after learning of the criminal who'd massacred SHIELD agents and escaped their custody while killing two Avengers, who could blame him?