Improving Cerebro

[balancingminds]

Charles has spent most of the day in the room at the top of the building or in the little office that was found for him, but now its time to find Hank.

His visit to Milliways provided some ideas and he wants to see what might be possible. He also needs to provide Hank with some of Erik's background and try to find a way to ease the tensions between them.

The first place he looks is Hank's lab, which is a beautiful space and he spots the newest volume of one of the journals he follows. His notes on Cerebro are set down as he sighs at the article, there's still much work to do.

Comments

[no_more_hiding]

Hank starts a bit as he wasn't expecting anyone in his lab. Then a hint of guilt colors his thoughts as he wonders what Charles would think of his spending time with Raven alone with no chaperone.

"Oh Charles," he says awkwardly. "Did we have an appointment? I hope I haven't kept you waiting long?"

[balancingminds]

"No, no appointment. I just wanted to talk with you as I've been thinking about ways to improve Cerebro,"

The guilt and thoughts of Raven make Charles smile, he's glad someone's relationship is going smoothly.

[no_more_hiding]

Hank perks up at the thought of improving Cerebro.

"I'd love to hear you ideas. Shall I send for some coffee? Oh, wait, you drink tea don't you?"

[balancingminds]

"Coffee would be fine. I drink both. Yes, I also want to get Erik involved at some point as he's probably aware of aspects of it that we aren't. To start with, here are my notes recounting the experience."

[no_more_hiding]

At the mention of Erik, Hank's jaw works a bit before he takes a calming breath.

"Coffee then," he says picking up a phone to call for some. "Now let's see you notes. I do hope you've recovered?"

[balancingminds]

"I have, yes. Hank, to understand Erik, you need to know his history. How much do you know about what happened in Germany and in the camps?"

He sets the notes down and sits near Hank with a sigh, he's going to get these two working together.

[no_more_hiding]

"Well I've read some of the reports from the solders who liberated Buchenwald," Hank says uncomfortable. The reports were very disturbing to say the least. "To be honest I'm more familiar with the events in the Pacific theater."

[balancingminds]

Before Charles continues, their drinks arrive and Charles cradles his as he considers how to say this. He knows that Erik wants Hank to know some of his history but not all.

Charles is aware that he knows more than Erik expected him to, "Erik was held by a man who discovered his ability and experimented on him."

[no_more_hiding]

Hank is shocked and it takes him a moment to connect some dots.

"That's why he was so uncomfortable in Cerebro?" He still doesn't think he could like Erik but maybe he won't need to if he can understand him a bit.

[balancingminds]

"Yes, it calls up old memories for him. I think once we adjust it so that it doesn't hurt me as much, he will be better. He wishes to find other mutants as much as we do,"

Charles won't speak of the confusion of feelings between him and Erik that add to the confusion.

[no_more_hiding]

"Does he have any technical skills? Maybe if he helped us adjust the machine it will help," Hank offers before another thought hits him. "Or what are his powers? Maybe they could help."

[balancingminds]

"His mutation is an affinity with metal and he felt a lot during the first test. I would like us all to speak at some point because between the three of us, I believe we can make Cerebro work optimally."

[no_more_hiding]

"Fascinating," Hank says thinking of the possibilities of Erik's abilities. "If he is actually sensing the fields Cerebro is creating,we should be able to calibrate it until it is not only optimal but comfortable to use as well!"

Hank can forgive Erik for science it seems.

[balancingminds]

"Yes, I think that's quite possible since there's so much that Cerebro can do. Also it was only uncomfortable at the beginning and ending, when I was in it and amongst the minds, I wasn't uncomfortable."

[no_more_hiding]

Hank stands to pace as his mind has always worked better while he moved.

"So it is in the transitory states that we have the problem. Cerebro was warmed up so it wouldn't be that the dynamos weren't at peak energy. Did you feel any discomfort during out initial test? With the settings low?"

[balancingminds]

"No, I didn't feel any discomfort than just when it was at full power. It was rather overwhelming."

[no_more_hiding]

"Would you say it was like listening to a stereo at full volume then? Or was it something more?" Hank's hopes not as he'd have no idea how to turn the "volume" down.

[balancingminds]

That's not a metaphor Charles would have chosen so he's quiet,

"Not exactly. I was within the minds."

[no_more_hiding]

Sorry Charles, Hank is going on his imagination for metaphors.

"So you're not listening exactly then? Okay." Hank chews his lip as he tries to think beyond his familiar senses.

[balancingminds]

"Yes, but I'm also out among the minds. My consciousness reaches outward."

[no_more_hiding]

"So it would be more like radiation than sound waves, if you were to try and put it into physical terms."

[balancingminds]

"Yes, that's a decent way to think of it

's not perfect but then Charles always has a difficult time talking about his mutation.

[no_more_hiding]

"I wonder if perhaps there is a problem with the alignment between your mind's brainwave frequency and Cerebro? Or it could be between Cerebro and the atmosphere," Hank speculates. "Or it could even be a sort of cacophony between all the other minds."

[balancingminds]

"Erik mentioned the relays, which I'm afraid I don't understand. Let me get him and he can explain what he sensed. I was able to manage the minds once I was used to it, there was just some time to adjust,"

He knows Erik's not far away and carefully sends out a mental message.

Erik, will you come to Hank's lab to speak to him?

[no_more_hiding]

"Wait, you've already been here with him?" Hank says a bit tersely. He knows it's foolish to feel possessive of Cerebro since it's a CIA asset but it's still his invention. "I hope you did try and run it on yourself without proper supervision?"

That could be very bad as there is so much to the machine.