While Magneto was absorbing that bit of news, the Professor was watching the same broadcast from the X-Men's Blackbird, en route from Salem Center, New York to Ann Arbor, Michigan. Storm was flying, Cyclops co-piloting, Jean was watching the broadcast with the Professor, and Wolverine was complaining.
"'Providing a special escort to take this broad to a safe house—meaning the School—in another state.' Jeezz—How long are we gonna be stuck with her? I mean, she's bigging up with a kid, and the next thing you know, she'll be having it at the Mansion. We'll be up to it in diapers."
"For as long as she needs our help, Logan. You should know by now that we turn no one away—no matter how disagreeable or troublesome they may be." the Professor told him amiably.
"Hey—was that to my address? I'm no trouble to anybody—." protested Wolverine.
A collective snort went up from his teammates.
"Wait a min—", he began, but Jean interrupted.
"Well, I for one wouldn't mind if she did stay throughout her pregnancy, both as a doctor and as a woman. As a doctor, the chance to study a mutant gestation would be invaluable—and as a woman, I might decide to go through it myself someday." She raised an arch eyebrow. "It would be nice to have an example. I realized I don't know a single mutant who's a mother."
"That's something which Magneto very conveniently ignores." mused Xavier. "Mutants today are not, for the most part, born of other mutants—they are born to normal humans. There are a few—very few—mutants who can claim one mutant parent. I know of no mutant living today who has two mutant parents."
"None at all?" asked Jean.
"None. In fact, the one fertile mutant pairing I know of had a child who was entirely normal and human. Until and unless that changes—until the greater number of mutants are born to mutant parents, mutants can hardly be said to be a species at all—we are more akin to mules—a genetic dead end. Imagine if someone like Stryker discovered a way to block the mutant gene in normal humans—mutants would die out in one generation." The Professor's face was unreadable.
"There's probably eggheads in laboratories right now trying to cook up ways of doing that." stated Wolverine.
"I would be quite surprised if there were not." replied the Professor.
"Here's Hank's clip." said Jean.
The anchor introduced the Beast with "And now from Washington, DC, the special liaison for mutant affairs, Dr. Henry McCoy, with a few words on the Engstrom case."
"Thank you." The blue and furry face of Hank McCoy filled the screen. "I believe I can speak for the mutant population as a whole when I say this crime against Grace Engstrom has shocked and appalled us all—as has the response to it. This is a hate crime of the deepest magnitude, because in this case the victim is no criminal or terrorist, nor a teenager whose new powers are beyond their control.
"Rather than being a menace to society, Grace Engstrom is a law-abiding citizen who has made active, positive contributions to the community. The attack upon her, first by the three vandals last night, and now by those who support their actions, can only breed distrust and fear among mutants everywhere, for if someone like Grace Engstrom cannot live among humans unmolested, who among us can?"
"Thank you, Dr. McCoy. I understand the governor of Michigan has appealed to the President for federal troops to aid in maintaining the peace—is this correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"How has the President responded to his request?"
"As an alternative to sending in troops, the President has arranged for a special escort to conduct Ms. Engstrom to a safe house in another state."
"Thank you, Dr. McCoy. Back to you in Michigan…"
"So much hatred and anger directed against one lone woman." said Storm.
"She won't be alone for long." answered Xavier.
The Blackbird soared over the waters of Lake Superior, growing ever closer to Ann Arbor.
A/N: A short but significant part.
