Chapter 5
A Father's Legacy
Three days had passed since the funeral.
The once lively Javier Estate had become eerily quiet.
Every servant spoke in hushed voices.
Every hallway felt empty.
The laughter that had once filled the mansion had disappeared.
Five-year-old Edison wandered through the house alone.
He wasn't searching for toys.
He wasn't searching for food.
He was searching for them.
For his father.
For his mother.
Deep inside his heart, he still believed they would return.
"...Mom?"
"...Dad?"
Silence answered him.
---
Late that afternoon...
A knock echoed throughout the mansion.
The estate's butler, Sebastian Hale, opened the front door.
Waiting outside was the family's longtime lawyer.
William Carter.
"Master Edison."
"The documents left by your parents have arrived."
---
Inside John's private office...
William placed a small black case upon the desk.
"It was Dr. Javier's final instruction."
"He told me this package could only be opened after both he and Mrs. Javier had passed away."
Edison looked at the case.
His small hands trembled.
William entered a security code.
A hidden lock clicked open.
Inside were three objects.
A silver data drive.
A sealed handwritten letter.
And a small holographic projector.
William quietly stepped back.
"I'll give you some privacy."
The room fell silent.
Edison picked up the letter.
Across the front, written in John's familiar handwriting, were the words:
To Our Son, Edison.
With trembling fingers, he opened it.
---
"If you're reading this..."
"Then your mother and I are no longer with you."
"First, we're sorry."
"We wanted to watch you grow up."
"We wanted to celebrate your birthdays..."
"Teach you science..."
"Watch you chase your dreams..."
"But fate had another plan."
Tears slowly rolled down Edison's cheeks.
The letter continued.
"Never blame yourself for our deaths."
"The people responsible made their own choices."
"Do not live for revenge."
"Live because your life is precious."
"Protect those who cannot protect themselves."
"That is what true strength means."
The handwriting changed.
It was Elizabeth's.
"My precious son..."
"Your beautiful blue eyes always reminded me that even after the darkest storm, the sky becomes clear again."
"Never let hatred steal that light from you."
"No matter how lonely you become..."
"Remember..."
"Your father and I will always love you."
The letter ended there.
Edison quietly lowered the paper.
For the first time since their deaths...
He smiled through his tears.
---
He turned toward the Computer.
After inserting the silver data drive...
A blue light filled the room.
Static flickered.
Then...
The images of John and Elizabeth appeared.
Recorded months before their deaths.
John smiled.
"Hello, Edison."
"If this recording is playing..."
"Then our emergency protocol has worked."
Elizabeth gave a gentle wave.
"We wish we could be there with you."
John's expression became serious.
"There are things you must know."
"Our research was never intended to create weapons."
"We wanted humanity to become healthier..."
"Smarter..."
"And able to survive the future."
"But organizations like Hydra only see power."
Elizabeth nodded.
"That is why every research file has been destroyed."
"The only complete version remaining..."
"...is inside you."
Edison's eyes widened.
John continued.
"Your body naturally carries the successful results of both our life's work."
"You are not an experiment."
"You are our son."
"Never forget that."
The recording paused briefly.
Then John smiled once more.
"There is one final gift."
A hidden compartment opened beneath the desk.
Inside rested a sleek black laptop.
Beside it was a small access card engraved with the emblem of Morgenroete Industries.
John's recorded voice echoed through the room.
"Everything we knew..."
"Everything we've learned..."
"It now belongs to you."
"When you're ready..."
"Continue what we started."
"But promise us one thing."
"Never stop being human."
The recording ended.
The room became silent once again.
---
That night...
Edison sat alone in front of the study window.
Rain quietly tapped against the glass.
He stared at the city lights beyond the estate.
Fragments of memories from his previous life continued returning.
Marvel.
Heroes.
Villains.
Hydra.
The Winter Soldier.
Everything slowly became clearer.
His natural sapphire-blue eyes reflected the lights of New York.
For only a brief instant...
A green shimmer flashed across his pupils before fading away.
He took a deep breath.
"I'll protect everything you built."
"I'll protect Morgenroete."
"And one day..."
"I'll make sure no child loses their family the way I did."
Outside...
Lightning illuminated the skyline.
Somewhere within the shadows...
The first step toward the birth of Red X had quietly begun.