Chapter 10
My name is Charles Francis Xavier, PhD. I am usually called Professor Xavier, or Professor X, or simply "The Professor," though I must confess that the latter always reminds me of Gilligan´s Island.
I have devoted my life to helping mutants like myself. My dream is a world where mutants and non-mutants alike live in harmony. My old friend Erik tells me that this is foolish, that even before mutants appeared, humans never managed to live in harmony. "Yes," I said, "But we are a step forward, are we not?"
It was an issue we never saw eye to eye on.
So when a young girl, an android, and an alien visited my office to warn me of an alien invasion, I thought that perhaps this would be the perfect opportunity for humans and mutants to unite, working together against a common enemy.
After thinking about it some more, however, I do not believe this will be the case. I believe that like so many other battles my X-Men have fought, this one will be painful and secretive; that once again humankind will be blissfully unaware of the battle being fought on their behalf by those many of them despise. But, perhaps one day, the truth can be told.
For now, I faced the three remarkable beings in my office. Their story was incredible, but I knew—as only a telepath can know—that they were telling the truth. I also knew that there were more than three—more than two, really, since I didn't perceive the android—minds in the room.
"And the three of you have fought the Yeerks alone?" I asked.
"Actually, my programming forbids me to perform any violent act," Mr. King, the android, said.
Cassie, the human girl, cleared her throat and said, "Actually, there are a couple more of us."
Aximili, the alien, said telepathically, Prince Jake? Rachel? Tobias? Marco? We believe it is safe for you to reveal yourselves.
Suddenly, a boy and a girl began growing out of nowhere on my carpet, their bodies hideously grotesque for the first minute. A squirrel and a hawk appeared on my windowsill. Cassie walked over to open the window, and the squirrel hopped in and began to change into a boy. The hawk flew over to the blonde girl's shoulder and stayed there.
The hawk looked at me and said, Hello, Professor Xavier. My name is Tobias. I'm what's known as a nothlit—I stayed in morph longer than 2 hours, and now this is my permanent shape.
They were definitely different from Mystique, who had no time limits on her morphing and who merely changed from human to human.
"It's nice to meet you, Tobias. I'm sorry to hear about your condition."
He ruffled his feathers—the bird equivalent of a shrug? It's not so bad, being a bird. Awhile ago I was given my morphing powers back, but mostly I'm just used to being a hawk.
I'd filled Jean in telepathically, but she hadn't seen the earlier demonstrations of morphing.
"My God," she said. "This is fascinating. How does it work?"
Aximili swiveled his two stalk eyes to peer at Jean. It is against the laws of my people to explain our technology to aliens.
The boy who had been a squirrel laughed and said, "Yeah, well, it's illegal to use our technology on us too, isn't it?"
"So this technology really was triggered by technology? It's not a natural mutation?" Jean asked.
The alien's strange face somehow conveyed disapproval, but he answered No, the morphing ability is not natural. It is imparted through use of the Escafil device, developed by Andalite engineers earlier this century. Currently all Andalites have been given morph capabilities, though of course there are a few vecols whose bodies did not accept morphing capabilities. My five friends are the only non-Andalites who possess morphing technology.
"Has this been studied thoroughly? Are there side effects?" pressed Jean, and I knew she was remembering Senator Kelley, the real Senator Kelley, and Erik's—Magneto's—disastrous attempt at forcing mutation.
Aximili shifted his weight slightly among his hooves; he was annoyed. Andalite scientists are much more sophisticated than human scientists. The Escafil device is safe, provided the 2-hour time limit is adhered to. One stalk eye swiveled toward Tobias, the bird.
"And provided you're not allergic to the animal you acquire," added the blonde girl with a grimace. "I'm Rachel, by the way."
"Pleased to meet you," I said, glancing at the other two.
"I'm Marco," said the boy who had been a squirrel.
"I'm Jake," said the boy who had been a flea. "I'm kind of the leader."
I met his gaze and noticed how old he seemed. He was a good leader, I sensed.
"Well," I said, "You must be hungry. Why don't we have some dinner? We can introduce you to the others."
The children looked at Jake, who nodded. "Yes, thank you, Professor." Then he turned to his companions. "Ax? Tobias?"
Immediately, the two began transforming to human. Mr. King projected his human hologram.
Jean gasped. "Tell me, Mr. King, do you know a Jonathan Brown?"