Hello again! This was actually ready to go a couple days ago, but I had some trouble uploading it :( But on the bright side, it's here! And thank you so much to my faithful reviewers,your comments aremuch appreciated. Kindly R&R, it makes my day to know that people actually care about what happens or if i screw up. J
And as always, I don't own a thing. Please don't sue, as I make very little money teaching children to swim.
Chapter 3: An Evening Meeting
Charles Xavier watched quietly as his students filed into the living room, chattering in twos and threes. There are so many of them, he thought idly. And yet, so few, in the larger scheme of things. It was true. Every day, it seemed, Cerebro would pick up another hit indicating that somewhere, some young person's mutant powers had catalyzed into being. Charles desperately wanted to help them all, as he was trying to help the children entrusted to his care. But his 'children' had already grown in number over the last year, so much that there were few rooms in the mansion left that could house them all comfortably. Fortunately the living room—with its comfortable couches and chairs and beautifully carved ornate fireplace—was one of them, making it an ideal spot for a school-wide meeting.
Ororo finished her silent headcount and nodded at the Professor, indicating that all of the students were present—an unnecessary gesture, given Xavier's substantial telepathic talents, but a familiar one that also served to put her own mind at ease. She knew the purpose of the meeting, as did the rest of the faculty, and though she didn't believe her students were in any real danger, she couldn't help but dwell sadly on the conversation that she and the Professor had had early that morning.
"Ororo, I'm not trying to frighten the students," Xavier had explained patiently. "I merely want to put them on their guard. We don't know the extent to which Magneto is involved in this, if he is at all. I am trying to protect them the best way that I can." Ororo had been sitting in front of his desk, eyeing him intently as he gazed out the window. She knew he was probably right, that telling the students what they already should know was the safest course of action. But they were children still. They shouldn't be forced to grow up as quickly as various events were forcing them to. "I don't know, Charles, I'm still not entirely convinced. I know that going into Kelly's mind is unethical, to say the least, but would it not better serve the greater good if you could make sure that he does not know enough to try and persecute our children?" Ororo had implored him. Xavier looked over at her wistfully. "I wish it were that simple," he confessed, "but that could very well make this delicate situation worse. If Magneto is involved, which I strongly believe he is, he will most assuredly replace any information about the students here that I manage to erase from Kelly's mind. And for the worse—Kelly will only know what Magneto tells him, which will no doubt include my involvement in his memory loss. In addition, Magneto will know that I have interfered in whatever it is he is working toward, and may target the institute as a result. If Magneto was not involved, or Kelly does not have any knowledge about our particular specialty, then there is nothing I can do to better the situation. I cannot reverse the events of last evening, or change the soul of a man. You know what Kelly is, Ororo, as much as I do.
"In any case," Xavier continued, shifting slightly in his chair, "the students need to be warned. We've already failed them as far as their first principal goes," he added, with a hint of irony in his voice. "They deserve better this time around."
Reflecting back on the conversation, Ororo knew that the Professor was indeed correct. She could recognize that what angered her most about the situation was the fear she knew the meeting would inspire in some of the students. Fear of accidentally exposing themselves, fear of the dark world that they were living in, fear of themselves and of their own abilities. Nobody should have to be afraid to be themselves, she thought tiredly. None of these children should have to go through life thinking that we expect perfection from them. But that's what this is going to sound like.
"Good evening, students. Thank you for arriving so promptly," Xavier began, smiling warmly around the room. "I will do my best to keep this meeting short, as I know a few of you still have several hours of homework to complete." Several students giggled as Xavier's eyes lingered on Bobby, who raised his eyebrows and placed a hand over his heart in a mocking gesture of wounded innocence. The professor allowed himself an indulgent smile before continuing:
"Very late last night, Cerebro detected several mutant signatures around the residence of your principal, Mr. Kelly. News reports this morning indicate that a shocking display of vandalism took place, and although the news reporter covering the story was kind enough to mention repeatedly that there was no evidence that mutants were responsible for the damage, it is certainly suspected. And unfortunately true," he added.
Sensing what was causing the hint of fear in the serious expressions that surrounded him, Xavier rushed to clarify. "I do not believe, for one moment, that anyone in this room was responsible in any way. However, Principal Kelly, as you may remember from the enlightening soccer championship match earlier this year, does not think kindly of mutants, and this will do nothing to change his opinion. And at this time, we are unaware of how much Kelly knows about our identities as mutants."
Xavier paused, giving Rogue a chance to raise an eyebrow at Kitty, who swallowed and nodded back. Tomorrow they would find out if their suspicions about who was behind the attack were true. Kitty flicked her eyes quickly at Jean, who was curled up in an armchair in front of their couch, and looked back at Rogue inquiringly. Rogue hesitated, but shrugged her shoulders in acquiescence. She wasn't sure that they could convince Jean to go along with their plan, but if she agreed and they had a telepath on their side, so much the better. She quickly looked back at Xavier with rapt attention as he began to speak again.
"Whether or not Kelly's anti-mutant sentiments will cause any rash action on the part of the school board remains to be seen. However, with that said, signs of mutant activity on school grounds will certainly be watched for most carefully, and if Kelly does suspect that you are more than you appear, than I have very little doubt that the activities and behaviour of each and every one of you will be monitored closely.
"All I am requesting of you is something that you should already be doing: keeping your powers under control while in public, and especially when on school property. It is especially important now, and while you have all been very compliant with this for the most part, our room for error has been lessened immensely. You all know procedure for containment should anyone have an accident. However, I would greatly prefer that we never have to use it." The containment procedure that the professor had devised was brilliant in its simplicity: any student who had been seen exhibiting their power would project the problem telepathically to Jean, who would contact whomever was closest and immediately begin altering perceptions of the incident. The contacted student would excuse him or herself from class long enough to phone the institute. That call was merely a backup; both times in which the procedure had been activated, Xavier had been alerted by Cerebro to the problem and had been assisting Jean telepathically by the time the phone had rung.
Logan wasn't listening as the professor made some closing remarks. Instead, he was wondering why the key detail, concerning a mutant presence inside the house during the strike, had been left out. Lotta holes in that story, Chuck. Kids are gonna want to know why you cant just make the Kelly situation go away. And some of 'em are too smart, not to mention too nosy, for their own good. He had not missed the exchange between Rogue and Kitty.
Xavier was pleased with how the meeting had gone, and was certain that his students would be careful. He had done what he though was best for them all, and was proud that they had seemed to grasp the importance of his words. He frowned slightly as he began to wheel himself toward the open doorframe. Now if only that pounding headache would go away.