ax_main | Professor Xavier, Jean, Wanda, Tessa, Pam, and Magneto

Professor Xavier receives some unexpected visitors - and an even more unexpected invitation.

Although Charles Xavier harbored no regrets concerning his decision to make teaching his lifelong vocation, he did occasionally wish there were more hours in a day, or more days in a week. More time, in general. Time he could use to offer his students the kind of one-on-one attention they all deserved, and which was, in his opinion, the ideal educational model. Unfortunately, he had only a few short hours spread over a few short weeks spanning a mere nine calendar months to make whatever positive impact he could. He made the most of it, but it always seemed trivial, in comparison with what he might do, with the opportunity to connect to all of the young mutants now in his care on a really personal level.

It was an unrealistic wish, of course, compounded by the fact that a few of the school's adolescent mutants required a great deal more of his time and energy than others, as a matter of practical necessity. Jean, for example, possessed a raw scope of ability that could readily topple nations, if it were harnessed to that purpose. Her temperament was a natural check on that outlying possibility, of course, with regular psi-training helping to channel her telepathic and telekinetic strength along the most productive channels. Emma was, arguably, equally qualified to instruct Jean in the latter, though their personalities were different enough Charles worried about the effect it would have on the former.

Besides, there were any number of equally important personal reasons Xavier enjoyed their time together. Much as he enjoyed the time he was able to spend with Scott.

"Well done," he congratulated her, taking a sip from the teacup at his elbow, Mystique curled comfortably in his lap. It had been subtle, but she'd just managed to increase her active scanning range by a few more feet--a net bonus of several hundred, considering it had been considerable to begin with. "Would you like to stop now, or do you think you can continue?"

Jean sat up from her recline on the couch - albeit with some care. "I think we should call it for the day, Professor. I'm hitting that point where it feels a little weird to be back in my own body."

The sheepish smile playing about her lips faded.

"I think I just..." Her confusion snapped into certainly. "Someone's coming. I mean... incoming. Teleporting in."

"That would be us," Wanda said as she stepped through the newly formed portal, Sage following behind. "Sorry we didn't call ahead, but my father's concerned about security." She directed a crooked smile and a shrug towards Jean before turning back to the Professor. "Hello, Professor," she began again, her expression serious. "My dad needs your help. Would you be willing to pay a visit to Genosha?"

Behind her, on the other side of the portal, Pam waved, then sat down on the ground to wait. No point closing the portal only to reopen it again.

The Professor had just wheeled himself from behind his desk, shooing Mystique onto the floor, when the familiar portal opened, admitting two equally-familiar faces into his office. "Wanda," he greeted her with a small smile. "Tessa." The cyberpath inclined her head in acknowledgement, her expression typically grave. "I would hope Erik accepts by now that I am willing to assist him when he requires it--assuming that help lies outside the bounds of our ideological differences. I'll accompany you back to Genosha, if you wish--Jean and I were just finishing up, in any case."

He cast a look toward his student, one brow rising in question. Xavier had no issue making the journey on his own; if Magneto or the Brotherhood meant him any ill, there were less roundabout ways to achieve it--and besides, he sensed no ulterior motive behind Wanda's request. Only a deep concern for secrecy. Still, having two sets of eyes--and two powerful telepaths--in the freshly-minted mutant nation might lead to their picking up on little details he would otherwise miss on his own. It was Jean's decision to make, however.

Jean read his intent easily. "Is it OK if I come along?" she asked, looking from her teacher to Magneto to Pam for permission. "I've only heard what's on the news, and I'd like see how Billy and Goodnight are settling in."

"But not Alex?" Pam badgered sarcastically from the other side of the portal.

Wanda gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head - now wasn't the time for Fatale to be a pain in the ass - and a more obvious roll of her eyes, her lips quirking up a fraction. "Fine by me," she assured Jean, then gestured towards the portal. "Pam can take you to see Billy and Goodnight if you want."

"Well, then," Xavier said, wheeling his chair to the threshold of the portal. "Please escort me to your father. I'm curious to know precisely what has inspired this most unusual invitation."

Pam jumped to her feet and made a gesture that could probably be construed as waving them through as Wanda offered an awkward smile. "Pretty sure you're always welcome," she pointed out. "But yeah, he needs your opinion on something."

"Of course," the Professor agreed with a warm smile. "But there's a world of difference between accepting my dropping in from time to time without complaint, and actually asking me to come. I've known your father for most of our adult lives, Wanda. It's strangely refreshing to learn he can still find ways to surprise me."

"An unusual phenomenon has come to his attention," Sage offered, stepping aside to allow Xavier and Jean to pass through Pam's portal first. "A phenomenon of potentially special significance to the mutant community, in particular. Collaboration seemed the most efficient path to advancement."

Jean waited until they were through the portal and everyone gathered on the other side to ask; she'd never actually tried talking while being teleported and didn't want her words getting lost in-between somewhere.

"What kind of phenomenon?"

Wanda stepped through the portal, then glanced around to make sure there was no one in earshot who shouldn't be. "A non-human, sentient kind of phenomenon. Or at least, Sage thinks it might be."

"I am certain enough to have suggested this course of action," Sage put in. "I am reasonably confident we are dealing with sentience, of a kind. Though one so alien that it leaves some room for doubt. I think a more powerful telepath would be capable of making a more precise determination."

"In that case," Xavier said, "lead on. I have some experience with non-human intelligence--I may be able to provide whatever answer Erik is looking for. And I hope he would be open to my suggestions, should this indeed be the scenario now facing us."

"If I weren't open to your suggestions, I'd hardly have sent for you, old friend," Erik Lenscherr replied as he swooped through the door. "This is, I'm afraid, outside the scope of my experience." He nodded at Fatale, who offered a faint smile and opened a second portal, through which could be seen an untamed wilderness, and stepped up to extend a hand to Charles. "First, though, allow me to welcome you to Genosha. I'd hoped you would have visited sooner, but perhaps it's for the best." He turned his attention to Jean and smiled. "It's a pleasure to see you as well - Jean, isn't it? I hope you'll have positive things to report to your fellow students."

"So do I." Jean wish she could have managed a smile, for appearance's sake if nothing else, but there was something about Magneto's easy familiarity with her teacher that always roused her protective instincts. Whatever their past together, these days they were more at odds than ever. And it seemed whatever choices Magneto made, however much Jean might understand the reasoning behind them (or think she did), it seemed like it was everyone outside of Magneto's sphere of influence who paide the price.

But for right now, there was nothing to do but follow and learn.

Taking Erik's outstretched hand without reservation, Xavier offered a small but genuine smile. "I'd hoped to visit sooner, as well, but there's been a great deal of furor associated with the change in administrations here in Genosha." He did glance past Magneto curiously, at the far wilder landscape visible beyond the second portal. "It seemed wiser to keep a discreet distance until the tumult had settled a little. And it's a shame indeed you haven't had an opportunity to meet Jean sooner--she's a prize student of mine, and one with whom I share a unique rapport.

"But I believe our main area of interest today lies there," he went on, gesturing to the passage Fatale had created, bordered by flickering light. "I detect ... thought beyond. A sussuras of consciousness. Simultaneously vast and, at the same time, indistinct ..." Xavier wheeled his chair in the direction of the portal, seemingly unconsciously, his whole attention riveted on the shifting leaves and swaying tropical trunks beyond, and the suggestion of thought and perhaps even purpose in those whispers of psychic presence.

Just what had Erik discovered?