Everyone knows how the X-Men came to be. Imagine, if you will, a reality that occurred...slightly differently from that we all know. Where a few minor decisions lead to an entirely different reality for our mutant friends than the one we all know.
Chapter 1
Professor Charles Xavier sat in the 'hub' of the new underground facilities in his family mansion. He was looking over designs and estimates compiled by his associate, Erik Lensherr. Erik, with his mutant abilities to control metal and magnetism, was the one doing all the real work down here, Charles and their third associate, Dr Moira Mctaggert, had little to actually do save approve of Erik's building techniques.
The hub itself was remarkable already. There was a central round table with holo-emitters installed as well as a large computer screen capable of multiple displays at the same time. The medical facilities were completed and Dr McTaggart was already there stocking and arranging the supplies. The hanger facility was nearly finished as well, and Xavier's machine, Cerebro, was simply waiting for some more programming tweaks.
The Professor smiled. Things could not have progressed better than they have been. In fact, even it's current state, he had managed to lock on to several identified mutant signatures with his remarkable machine. He hoped those signatures would become his first students here.
He sat back in his wheelchair and smiled again. Yes, finally, the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters would be opening for new admissions shortly. Erik walked in then, interrupting the Professors reverie. Erik was obviously fatigued from the constant use of his powers over the past several days. But he too wore a smile.
"Tea?" Offered Xavier.
Erik took the offered cup with a smile then took a seat at the table across from his oldest friend. "Thank you." He took a sip then leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. After a moments pause, he said "The training facility is complete."
Xavier blinked, "That was ahead of schedule, Erik, I am impressed."
Erik half grinned, "I was determined. The training facilities are important to me. I want any students that come here to be fully able to defend themselves."
Xavier shook his head, "You are such a cynic Erik. The point of this school is to give hope for a peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants, not to turn mutants into some sort of military force."
Erik studied his old friend for a moment. "I hope you are right, Charles, but I cannot deny the cold reality of the life I have had to endure. You did not have to live through the nazi death camps. I know what mankind is capable of." He sighed. "We've had this discussion a thousand times it seems. I would not be here if I did not want to give your way a chance. I chose to hope for the best but prepare for the worst."
"On that, at least, we agree." Xavier nodded.
"Are ye boys at it again?" Dr McTaggart said as she entered the room.
"And once again the good doctor manages to prescribe just the right remedy for the situation, her very presence." Erik smiled as he held his cup at her entrance.
Moira shook her head. "Now now, ye know the rules."
"Ah yes, no romance between collegues."
Moira grinned, "Besides, this is business. Charley an' I 'ave a dinner to go to tonight."
"Oh?" Xavier asked. "Our calls finally yielded some interest?"
Moira nodded, "Aye, apparently quite a bit o' it. A couple a big government types want to see us."
Erik met Xaviers gaze and narrowed his eyes. "I do not like this, Charles, not one bit. It could be a set up."
Xavier shook his head. "No one outside of this room knows that I am a mutant, and Moira certainly is not. You worry too much, Erik, we will be fine."
Charles Xavier looked around the upscale New York restaurant, allowing his mental powers to passively scan the crowd, just in case Erik was right. Moira sat next to him in a beautiful green gown. The people they were supposed to meet were late.
"Quit fidgetin' and have some wine. Here." Moira said, reaching over and adjusting his tie.
'Thank you." He smiled warmly at here.
"Charles..." she began then looked towards the door. "I think they are here."
Xavier followed her gaze and saw two people approaching them. One a well built man with gray showing around his temples and an eye patch over one eye and the other a younger blonde woman with a determined set to her young features.
Moira stood and shook their hands respectively then Xavier greeted them from his seat. "I am Professor Charles Xavier, and my associate Dr. Moira Mctaggert. Pardon me for not standing to greet you."
The man showed the slightest hint of a grin. "I'm Colonel Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. this is my assistant Valerie Cooper."
The Colonel looked at them both for a moment then sat down. "I'm more of a get down to business kind of guy myself, Professor. Hope you don't mind."
"Not at all Colonel, not at all."
"First, I want you to know that right now only the two of us sitting here with you are aware of your schools real intent. Our Indian friend was very discreet. And so have we been."
"Thank you for you discretion, Colonel, it is greatly appreciated."
Fury nodded. "I have to say though, that if the government were to become aware of what you are trying to do, well, the results would not be pretty."
Xavier narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Fury sighed. "You are going to attempt to gather a large population of mutants at one place."
"I do not follow, I would think that would be less of a worry for you as you know where they are and what they are doing."
Fury shook his head again. "With all due respect to your experience and your achievements, sir, I believe you may be somewhat...naive. Imagine for a moment that you go through with this and you have one hell of a campus filled with mutant children. I'll even grant you that you somehow manage to contain them and control them all to prevent them being a threat. What's to stop someone in the government from trying to capture them all since you have them in such a nice place all together? Or worse, some hate group comes along armed to the teeth to take them out? Either they succeed and there are dead mutant kids on the news or they don't and there are dead normal humans on the news. Either way, Xavier, I fear you may start the war you want to avoid so badly." Fury sat back in his seat to let Xavier absorb his words.
"There is an option." Valerie spoke for the first time.
"We're listenin'" Moira responded.
"You can have your school and gather your mutants. But let us help you train them to work with the government. Many of them would possess substantial gifts that we could make use of in the field..."
Xavier slammed his fist on the table, "Absolutely not! I'll not be a party to training children to be used as weapons of war." Xavier glanced from one to the other. "If that is all you have to say to us, I'm afraid we have no further need to discuss anything. Good night Colonel, Miss Cooper."
After Xavier and Mctaggert left, Fury lit a cigar and glanced to his assistant. "Smooth, Val, real smooth."
Val grimaced then hit a hidden signal button on her outfit.
"Let it go, Charles. They were government, what'd ye expect?"
The two had decided to not return to the school right away, Xavier needed to clear his head. So the were by a dock near the George Washington bridge looking out over the river.
Xavier sighed. "Am I being naïve, Moira? Both the Colonel and Erik believe so. Is the vision of a peaceful coexistence impossible?"
Moira took his hand. "I dinnae think so, Charley, and neither do you. The world needs someone like you to balance out the Nick Fury's and Erik Lensherr's out there. Ye have to play the part your heart tells ye to."
"I don't know, Moira. I just...wonder sometimes If I am right."
Erik had been visited by yet another nightmare this night. His visions of the death camps would not fade, no matter how much time and distance he put between them and himself. So, he left the mansion. Testing his powers ability to allow him to fly, he floated over the lake and over the woods beyond where he lost himself in thought.
Why was he giving Charles his faith? He knew this coexistence stuff would not work. Did he just want to be around when Charles failed to gloat? Or did he dare, even just a little, hope that Charles was right? That there was some way for man and mutant to live together. Moira was human, and she did not hate them. She was different, though, this was all science to her.
In his heart of heart, Erik new there would be a war between the two species, one he was determined to win. That's why he had secreted away the equipment and files he had. He knew he would one day need them.
He looked at his watch. Charles and Moira should be back by now. He began the flight back to the school. Just after he crested a hill and it came into view, the building erupted in a fireball that shot high into the night.
"Charles...Moira...!" He screamed as he increased his speed to the scene.
A quartet of soldiers was entering a hum-vee outside of the gates, two with rocket launchers. Erik raised his hand and the hum-vee floated into the air. With a flick of his wrists the doors were wrenched from it. Another move of his fingers and the rocket launchers floated out from the vehicle and turned to face it. The humans inside were begging for their lives. Erik sneered. The rockets fired, destroying the vehicle, incinerating all within.
Erik faced the remains of the school and shook his head. Charles and Moira were dead. He had no tears for he knew this would one day happen. "I am sorry it took your life to prove I was correct, Charles, I am...truly sorry...old friend. But now the war has begun, and I promise I will win it!"
"Oh my god! Erik!" Xavier screamed as they pulled up several moments later to see the mansion engulfed in flames. "Erik..."
Spotting the police sirens in the distance, Moira kept driving. She was unsure where she was going at first. Only that they needed to leave here. Over and over she heard Charles mumble to himself "He was right....I was wrong...he was right..."