Chapter Twenty-Seven:
Professor Charles Xavier was sitting on the back balcony of his office, so deep in thought he barely moved as Logan walked up next to him and leaned against one waist-high stone railing. Xavier was leaning his head against his right hand, two fingers touching his temple and his jaw resting against his palm.
Logan folded his arms and waited patiently for Xavier to acknowledge him. The few silent moments that passed before Xavier spoke did not offend Logan. The Professor, he knew, was well aware of the presence in the room, but Logan also knew the man would speak when he was ready, and not before.
There was obviously a great deal troubling the Professor, and Logan figured it had something to do with the visitor this afternoon. Logan could still detect the scent of the other man, who had been wearing expensive cologne that did not entirely disguise the scent of emotions beneath it…a mixture of contempt and fear.
Unfortunately, what Logan had to discuss with the Professor was not about to ease Xavier's mind.
"What did you find on the tape?" Xavier finally said, without glancing up.
"We're not sure…" Logan began, staring out over the mansion's grounds as Xavier was, "It was definitely video of some kind of experiments, but there's no way to tell what exactly they were doing."
Xavier nodded thoughtfully, "Were there twelve? In the experiment, I mean…"
"Yes," Logan relied, "Footage must be almost fifty years old from the way they're dressed…"
"They were given injections?" Xavier asked.
"Yes," Logan replied, "And it doesn't look like they reacted too well with whatever they were stuck with…"
Xavier nodded, and Logan waited for the next question. He had learned quickly that Xavier's questions typically contained the answers.
"And…" the Professor said, "Could you understand anything Dr. Wanless was saying?"
"Dr. Wanless?" Logan asked, and Xavier turned his chair to look at him. Answers in the questions…
"You mean the guy who did the introduction…" Logan said, "Yeah, some of it. Definitely talking about 'lot' something but the audio was pretty much gone. You know about that guy, Professor?"
Xavier sighed, and rubbed his temple.
"Yes…unfortunately," he replied, and looked up at Logan, "Remember what I was saying about the young woman who could start fires? Her parents were two of the twelve subjects of Dr. Wanless on that tape. I actually had met Wanless in my youth. He was a well-known expert of pituitary gland development, and in my early studies of mutants, I referenced him often since the development of the pituitary gland in adolescence is linked to the appearance to mutant abilities. The Doctor was, of course, also well aware of this fact…"
"So, he was making mutants…" Logan said.
"I think he was trying to make a god…" Xavier said darkly, and Logan frowned until the Professor continued, "He came under the influence of some very powerful individuals…he went quite mad…"
"But, they let him continue his work…" Logan said, "As long as they liked what he was doin'…"
"And that changed with Charlene McGee…" Xavier explained, "That's the name of the young woman Erik and I met all those years ago. After she destroyed the place where they were continuing Wanless's work…I suppose she decided her own work was finished. She was able to disappear. She didn't have anyone else to run from…"
"She might have someone now…" Logan said and then added darkly, "If whoever made those claw marks I found is working for those SHOP guys or Systems Operations guys or other men like Stryker…"
"I don't think they would try again," Xavier said, "At least not with Charlene McGee. It's been almost twenty-five years…Stryker knew better than to look for her…"
"That still leaves the people who built the base I found in Colorado, right?" Logan said, and Xavier looked up at him significantly.
"Not if Stryker's men and the SHOP had become one in the same…" Xavier said, "Do you think two groups like that can survive without eventually trying to destroy each other? Instead of working against the SHOP, Stryker made it his own…nearly twenty years ago…when Stryker started looking for a 'cure' for his mutant son."
Logan stared at the Professor, taking in all Xavier was saying. The SHOP had existed for over fifty years. In that time, the power had shifted until it landed in Stryker's hands. But…Logan had seen Stryker bound in chains before the flood at Alkalai Lake. Logan had left him there to die…who could now be carrying on his work?
"Stryker's dead…" Logan said with finality, "So then who would be looking for evidence of those early experiments?"
Xavier looked up at Logan darkly, "Magneto."
Logan frowned, "But, why?"
Steepling his hands thoughtfully, Xavier sighed. It was obvious that he had been weighing every other possibility…but had reached the same conclusion each time.
"It's been eight months since Alkalai Lake, Logan," Xavier said, "Eight months since he was freed from Stryker's tyranny. It took him nearly a decade to forge his first attack on humanity…however, I fear his patience has lessened as of late. He is searching, gathering others to his cause…rebuilding his Brotherhood."
"And you think he might be tryin' to recruit this 'firestarter' you met?" Logan asked, and Xavier frowned.
"Perhaps," he said, "However, I doubt he would be able to find her by his usual means. I fear he may try to draw her out…"
"How?" Logan asked, intensely, and Xavier met his hard gaze firmly.
"By finding her children."
Logan stared at the Professor a moment with surprise. Xavier lowered his eyes apologetically, and sighed.
"I didn't mention it before," Xavier said, "But…when Erik and I met her, she had been pregnant. Erik didn't know, of course, until I told him later, but…I could sense the lives she carried inside of her. She was heading south, from Chicago, but I doubt she knew where she was going and I don't know where she finally settled. Neither does Magneto, but given the destructiveness of her gifts, I cannot think of a more powerful ally."
"And if her kids are mutants…why not find the whole family, right?" Logan growled sarcastically, "You think she might have hidden her kids too?"
Xavier shook his head, "No, she didn't. I have known of their existence for two decades. Their father came from a strong family, who had very strong ties to the very same group which Erik Lensherr abandoned long ago."
"That 'watch group' you belonged to…" Logan said and Xavier nodded.
"Shortly before my own departure from the Council," Xavier explained, "We were made aware of their birth, and the Council was sure to keep a close watch on them, both together…and apart from each other."
Logan frowned, "So that was the guy from England, huh? One of these 'watchers'? Was he here about McGee's kids?"
Xavier's expression changed and he shook his head.
"No…strangely, no," he said, "He was actually here about our new student, Mary. It seems…she has also been watched by the Council for some time, though for what reason, I could not draw from Travers."
Logan nodded, "Guess that means we should keep an extra eye on her, too."
Xavier smiled, "As long as she needs our help, we will do what we can for her. In the meantime, I think I will locate Charlene's children again with Cerebro. If Magneto does interfere with them, I want to be there to stop him."
"No argument here," Logan said, "I'm really not interested in Magneto having a living human bomb working for him..."
Logan suddenly paused, a thoughtful crease forming on his brow, and a new thought dawning on him.
"What about Pyro?" he asked quickly, "You don't think he's McGee's kid, do you?"
Xavier shook his head, "No, John was…is too young. Her children would be at least twenty-two or twenty-three. But you do pose an interesting point. After all, who better to teach John Allerdyce about his ability to manipulate fire than the 'firestarter' herself…"
"Shit…" Logan said, "Guess that's why he's got a sudden interest after all these years. His 'Brotherhood' was more brawn than brains. Now he's gotta deal with a teenage kid packin' a fucking flamethrower…"
Xavier nodded, "Indeed. Please find Storm and Scott and bring them here. We're going to need to organize what our next steps will be. Call Rogue and Bobby as well. As of now, these will only be preliminary actions. We have many theories, but may not have any surety of the situation until some action is taken…whether by the SHOP…or by Magneto."
"Or by your Council…" Logan added and Xavier sighed.
"The Watchers' Council has existed for centuries longer than any other threat we may be presented with," Xavier said, "They, however, are less interested in mutants than their own internal affairs. I may have disrupted a watch by bringing Mary Sloane here, but I doubt they will take action. They can, after all, watch her as easily here as in Arizona."
"But, now they know you're watchin' her too," Logan said with a sarcastic grin, "I'm sure that'll piss a few of them off."
Xavier nodded, but did not return his grin, "You may be right…"
…But I hope you're wrong, he finished in private thought.
The Council had more effective means than guns or bombs to rid themselves of their problems, and Xavier wondered if Travers would ever be able to convince the Council to use them against a school filled with innocents.
Logan left to gather the others, and left Xavier alone again with his thoughts.
So much had happened so quickly…he again wished he could speak to Jean. But, that was not an option.
So, Magneto may be looking for the firestarter.
The Council of Watchers had threatened him about keeping a student in his school.
And Cerebro is detecting more mutants…powerful mutants…every day.
Around the world, people fell to their knees in pain…
Xavier again massaged his temple with his right hand, and thought sadly on his troubled world…
To be continued…