Chapter 15: The Professor
As each group arrived back at the mansion they reported their success, and failures to Professor X. The professor was not surprised to see Scott, Sam, Kurt and Jamie looking as though they had somehow failed. "Sam, you did very well. You managed not only to follow your mission, but comforted your team member. Support is very important when working with a team." Sam nodded and went to bed followed by Jean.
"You did not fail Scott. We could not force them to give up the drug. After all, they were promised it was a new cure." The Professor then looked at Jubilee, "I realize that having doors slammed in your face can be discouraging, but I want you to know that I am proud of you for not giving up." They nodded and went to bed.
Kurt and Jamie came up from the med bay. They had fallen asleep waiting for Dr. McCoy to find out how the drug worked, if all fourteen pills had to be taken and how Emily and Rebecca were doing. "Kurt and Jamie, I want you both not to blame yourselves for not getting more of the drug." The two boys looked at the floor.
"But professor, if my vatch hadn't been broken…"
"No Kurt, it is not your fault. In fact, I believe it best that other people, human and mutant see you as you are. At least for missions and this was a mission."
"This being one of your first missions Jamie I must say that I am very pleased. You and Kurt not only managed to retrieve the drug, but also test subjects for Dr. McCoy." The professor smiled, Jamie nodded and the two boys went up to bed.
When Remy and Amara came in he breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at the packed bag and sighed again. Remy knew that look and jumped in, "Professor, deres 'lot o' dis junk 'round. Isn't dat right petite?"
Amara nodded, "Tons!"
The professor closed his eyes and shook his head. "I am pleased that you were able to get as much as you did."
"You threatened them, didn't you Remy."
"Only a lil' bit. De petite kept ol' Remy in line."
"I'm sure she did. I do wish you had asked instead."
"Remy did ask. If dey says non den Remy light a card."
"Amara, I just want to tell you that I am very happy with the work you and Gambit did tonight. The first mission is usually the hardest."
"Did he drive safely?"
"Yes, he was very careful."
"Did he blow anything up?"
"No, I stood in the middle." He looked at Amara trying to see if she was covering for Remy or if she was telling the truth. "There were no explosions!" Truth.
"Very good then."
Amara and Gambit headed up the stairs to their separate wings to get sleep.
Charles headed down the hall towards the elevator. Now that all his new recruits were back with their leaders he could rest a little easier. He still worried about his other X-Men in Hawaii. They were fourteen hours away and he could do nothing until morning when he would divide the teams up yet again. He would send one of the teams to go and assist Rogue's team and then two hours later he would send the second team.
The new recruits would stay at the mansion with him and assist Dr. McCoy. That way they could feel like they were still a part of the mission.
"Have you told them yet?" A calm cool voice asked floated down the hall towards Charles.
The professor looked up, "No Erik I have not. The last two just got in ten minutes ago. Let them sleep for now."
"Are Rogue and your other X-Men sleeping Charles?"
"That is not the point Erik. You knew the plans, though I take it Rogue took you off guard with the disturbing news that the drug was killing."
Magneto's face hardened, "Indeed it did Charles. Why not send me out now to assist. I could be there quickly."
"Because Magnus, I need your abilities to create your metal spheres. That is how you will be traveling with your team, and by that I mean the people I assign to you."
Magneto looked at Xavier, "There is something else you are not telling me Charles."
The professor looked at him and smiled, "You could always read me like a book Erik. Yes, there is more, but I wish to share it with the whole team. For now we both should rest the best that we can. I have a feeling we will need all our energy tomorrow."
With that he wheeled into his room and set his alarm to go off in two hours.
Magneto sighed and looked through the doors of the guest bedrooms. Pietro and Lance shared one. Lance appeared to be asleep and Magneto's son was flipping channels on the television. The next room was shared by Blob and Toad. Fred seemed to have fallen asleep in an armchair facing the television with a bag of chips in his arm. Toad was looking depressed due to the lack of flies. In the last room was Wanda. She was a light sleeper so he chose not to disturb her by opening the door any wider to check on her. She would go to her brother if she needed anything.
After checking on his group Magneto entered his own room. 'How can Charles sleep while mutants are dying? Why is he waiting to send out teams? Is Rogue not on Hawaii itself?" All these questions and more ran through Magneto's head. 'Had Mystique gained access to the facility yet?' He looked out the window at the starless sky. "I hope you know what you are doing Charles," he said to no one unparticular. He then proceeded to sit in one of the chairs in a corner. He could not and would not sleep until the base was wiped off the map and the drug was completely destroyed.