Author's Note: Does Xavier say 'indeed' too much? I just always see him saying it in that great 'Patrick Stewart' voice. Oh, well...
Chapter Twenty-Four:
"Hello, Charles," Quintin Travers said with a smug, overly-polite grin, "It's been a long time, old friend."
Xavier moved his chair closer to his guest, and shook Travers's hand with a smile. They were in his office, and to Xavier's surprise, Travers had not been accompanied by his usual entourage of assistants.
"Hello, Quintin," he replied, "How have you been?"
"I've been quite well," Travers said, and moved to sit as Xavier politely directed him to one of the tall guest chairs, "And, as always, very busy. It looks as though your school is thriving."
"Indeed," Xavier said, "We seem to have new students arriving all the time. Most of our graduates have gone on to become quite successful in their chosen fields..."
"You mean, the ones who don't choose to stay," Travers interjected quickly, almost harshly.
Xavier frowned slightly, though never lost an inch of his composure. Travers sighed and lowered his eyes apologetically.
"I was saddened to learn of Jean's death," he said to Xavier, "She was a wonderful woman, and always very dedicated to you and her students."
Xavier nodded, a forcibly polite smile forming on his face, "Thank you. I know how highly you regarded her, Quintin. She turned down quite a few lucrative positions the Council offered her. I was privileged to have her as my student, and later as a teacher here, for so long."
Travers nodded and smiled, but the coldness in his eyes was undeniable. Xavier waited patiently for him to continue, knowing Travers well enough to catch his subtle invectiveness. Xavier was not about to allow him to use any guilt he may harbor for Jean's death to throw him off his guard.
"Yes, yes," Travers said finally, "I imagine it must have been especially difficult for the children..."
"We have mourned together," Xavier said, "Just as we stay strong together."
Tell me why you are here, Quintin, Xavier sent telepathically to the other man.
Travers grinned unpleasantly, "I suppose you've had some new additions to your staff..."
And one new student as of recently, Travers added in his mind.
"Yes," Xavier said aloud, "We were lucky enough to have Dr. Henry McCoy take over as head physician..."
Are you referring to the young lady from Arizona? Xavier sent back, What interest does the Council have in her?
"Well, that's wonderful, Charles," Travers said, "He is a quite renowned doctor..."
That is none of your concern, he returned in thought, angrily.
"I understand the Council has been quite busy with the situation in California," Xavier shot in, and Travers flinched as Xavier's sent a mental message along with it.
She is now my student, and is most definitely my concern.
"That situation is well underhand," Travers said aloud, gritting his teeth.
She's been watched by the Council for much longer than she's been your student, Charles. You know very well what our policy when someone interferes...
"Of course," Xavier said aloud, "The Council's methods are very effective."
And I am quite familiar with them, Xavier continued telepathically, But I will not turn away someone who asks for my help.
"How has Scott been coping with Jean's death?" Quintin said, his voice losing its polite tone, no longer masking his attempts to make Xavier falter.
We've seen what happens to those who receive your 'help.'
"He's been coping well," Xavier replied, "As have we all…"
Don't try these games with me, Quintin. Just tell me what the Council wants with Mary and perhaps we can work together…
"Yes," Quintin replied aloud, "The Council also pulls together to work through their losses…"
Out of the question, he sent back.
"It's important to work together," Xavier said, frowning.
Yet, she came to us for assistance. How do you plan to help her?
"The Council has many facets that allow it to function as an autonomous body, dependent only on itself," Quintin said, with a sneer.
We have our own people to teach her, Charles. And if you continue to harbor her here, we have people to reeducate you as well on Council policy…
"That is not always a benefit," Xavier said.
And what have you taught her so far? She's had this gift for a long time and no one has ever tried to help her understand it before now. She's in possible physical danger from her gifts…
Quintin looked surprised by Xavier's last thought, and did not bother to maintain the verbal façade of conversation
We know of her ailments and we will attend to them, Travers thought, Don't belittle my intelligence, Charles.
"Then don't threaten my school, Quintin." Xavier replied aloud, resounding the words in both mind and voice, which would have made anyone else recoil at the intensity of the statement.
Travers stood quickly, attempting to hide his alarm from Xavier, and began to storm out of the room. Xavier watched him go with a cold glare, until Travers turned to face him again. The smug arrogance on his face was full of bitter pride and anger.
"She's not a mutant, Charles," he said almost viciously, "That's why the Council is involved. Do a DNA test yourself, if you must? She does not have the mutant gene. Yet, like other human beings in the Council, she possesses an unnatural gift, and we do not intend to allow a mutant interloper like yourself keep us from this child."
Xavier narrowed his eyes, angrily. Had he the ability to stand he would have towered over the other man, and still did in most ways.
"Do you think that really matters to me?" Xavier replied, "She has a gift that might be killing her, and you think I'm going to deny her help because of her genetics? Yes, you would think that wouldn't you? Since the Council can so easily brush mutants aside."
Xavier moved his chair closer to Travers and gazed at him intensely. Travers met his stare and sneered as Xavier's thoughts filled his head.
Do you really expect any member of the Council to just walk into my school and take one of my students? Send who you will. We'll know when you are coming, and we'll be ready for you when you're here.
Travers laughed spitefully, "You're not Erik Lensherr, Charles. Don't expect me to cower at your warnings. Just remember…"
...We watch…and we wait…and we always know when the time for watching is over…
Xavier's cold glare slowly faded back into a strangely pleasant smile, and Travers frowned.
"And we'll be waiting to greet you again," Xavier said, "Whether our next meeting is good…or ill…will be up to you."
"Very well…" Travers said darkly, "Until next time, Professor Xavier. Give my regards to your students…"
Xavier followed Travers out to the front doors, and did not moved from the entrance until his expensive rented car was well past the school's front gates. He rested his chin against one fist and frowned in deep thought.
So, Mary was not a mutant. That would explain why he had never been able to reach her with Cerebro. She was a human precognitive, which may mean her powers originated by some artificial or supernatural means. But, there were many such psychics and seers…why was Travers so vehement about Xavier's involvement with this young woman?
Xavier sighed heavily, and then blinked in surprise as he noticed Melinda standing next to him, frowning with concern. Her dark purple hair was tied back from her face, her sparkling silver eyes glistening curiously. She was only ten, and easily the youngest student at the School.
"Professor?" she said, "Are you ok?"
Xavier smiled warmly, feeling quite touched at the child's innocent concern.
"Yes," he replied, "I'm fine. I've just had a very long day."
"Oh," Melinda replied, and suddenly her expression changed to one of complete elation, the way only a child's can, "Do you want to see what I made today?"
"Of course, what is it you made?" Xavier replied and turned away from the empty road, and back towards his school, lead along by one of many happy, once lost, children.