Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Not long after Richard discovered that Trask Industries had developed a mutant gene-curing drug and scheduled a press conference for tomorrow morning, Professor Xavier also learned of this development.
While Charles Xavier couldn't match Tony Stark in terms of personal assets or high-level connections, obtaining insider information inaccessible to ordinary citizens wasn't particularly challenging for him. After all, the Xavier family had been established American aristocracy since before World War II, when they'd already amassed considerable wealth.
Though Charles himself had never shown interest in business ventures or political aspirations, both his family fortune and network of influential contacts had expanded significantly over the years. Upon learning about the X-gene neutralizing agent, he immediately summoned Jean, Cyclops, and the other X-Men.
X-Men Underground Base - Meeting Room
Professor X sat at the head of the conference table, methodically explaining the details of the X-gene cure before soliciting opinions from Jean Grey and the others.
"X-Gene is not a disease and does not need a cure," Scott Summers declared without hesitation. "We must destroy this so-called 'cure' at its source."
As the current field leader of the X-Men, Cyclops had more dealings with government authorities than anyone except Professor X himself. He understood the federal government's modus operandi all too well—and just how ruthless officials could be in pursuing their objectives.
"Even if they initially present this as a choice," Scott continued, his jaw tight with tension, "sooner or later the authorities will force every mutant to be 'cured.' It's the Mutant Restriction Act all over again, just in a different form."
He didn't need to remind anyone about their recent meeting at the Department of Mutant Affairs headquarters with Griffin Todd and Winston Lambert. The encounter had been deeply unpleasant, with Todd and Lambert's attitudes nearly causing even the perpetually even-tempered Professor X to lose his composure on the spot.
Charles had barely managed to stop Scott from demolishing the entire Department building with an optic blast. If the Professor hadn't intervened, Cyclops would have reduced the government facility to smoking rubble.
"I agree with Scott," Storm's regal voice added after Cyclops finished. "Given the government's consistent approach to mutant affairs, forced injections are only a matter of time. Rather than waiting until we've lost all leverage, it's better to act now while the initiative remains ours."
Jean Grey nodded in agreement with both of them. As Scott's girlfriend, Phoenix Girl naturally aligned with Cyclops' perspective.
Logan grunted his assent as well. While Wolverine maintained his gruff, cold demeanor around others, around Jean he transformed into something else entirely—lovestruck and eager to please. Though he disagreed with her refusal to leave Cyclops, he supported virtually all her other decisions. The others had noticed his puppy-dog behavior around Phoenix, even if Logan believed he concealed it well.
After listening to all four opinions, Professor X remained silent for several contemplative seconds before speaking deliberately.
"The creation of an X-gene cure isn't necessarily catastrophic," he said, his fingers forming a steeple before him. "For mutants with pronounced physical mutations who struggle with integration, or those with powers too dangerous to control, this treatment could allow them the normal life they desperately want. We cannot ethically deprive them of that choice."
His eyes grew more serious as he continued, "However, we must also prevent the authorities from making this 'cure' mandatory for all mutants. I'll locate the source of this cure immediately. Once we have complete information, I'll decide whether to neutralize the threat entirely or establish controls over its distribution."
Like Cyclops, Charles was acutely aware of how government agencies operated. Yet he couldn't support completely destroying the X-gene cure. For those mutants who yearned to live as ordinary humans again, this serum represented their only hope of normalcy. Unilaterally eliminating that hope contradicted everything he stood for.
Though Professor X hadn't fully endorsed his position, Cyclops wasn't surprised. He'd anticipated Xavier's ethical reservations from the beginning.
Brotherhood of Mutants Headquarters
Meanwhile, Magneto had also learned about the X-Gene Cure from Mystique's intelligence report. Unlike Xavier's measured response, Erik immediately ordered the Brotherhood to stop Trask Industries' press conference by any means necessary.
Where Charles saw a potential lifeline for suffering mutants, Magneto recognized only a weapon designed for mutant extinction. Though the injection wouldn't physically kill its recipients—merely stripping them of their powers and rendering them ordinary humans—Erik considered this effect tantamount to genocide. From his perspective, it wasn't curing a disease but erasing an identity.
As a weapon specifically engineered to eradicate mutantkind, Magneto believed the X-gene cure must be destroyed at all costs.
Silver Manor - New York Suburbs
Unlike Professor X and Magneto, who focused intently on the mutant cure, Richard's thoughts were elsewhere. His primary concern wasn't Trask's serum but rather when Jean might lose control of her powers.
That's Vergil's true demon form!
No one would ever complain about having too much power, and Richard certainly wouldn't. The Template System had granted him abilities—and he relished each new acquisition.
In the first-floor dining room of the manor's main building, Richard and Emma Frost enjoyed lunch after spending nearly two hours engaged in "morning exercise" in the bedroom.
"I'll head over to Xavier's school later to collect Clarice and bring her back to the manor," Richard mentioned between bites.
"Mmm," Emma responded with a nod, showing no displeasure at his statement.
Though Richard planned to bring another woman to their home, Emma Frost saw nothing objectionable in the arrangement. In truth, she now welcomed additional partners to help share what she privately considered an exhausting burden.
Richard said nothing more, instead focusing on enjoying the delicious Chinese lunch before him. After relocating from Emma's apartment to Silver Manor, he had specifically recruited several highly-paid Chinese chefs. While they didn't represent all eight major Chinese culinary traditions, these few master chefs more than satisfied his daily cravings for authentic Chinese cuisine.
After finishing his meal, Richard didn't immediately depart for Xavier's School. Instead, he retreated to his study to research Trask Industries online.
In the cinematic version of events he recalled, Worthington Corporation had developed the cure, not Trask Industries. His brief internet search revealed that in this universe, Trask Industries had indeed been founded by Bolivar Trask, who had also invented the Sentinel robots as in other timelines.
The key difference was that this universe lacked the time-travel elements from the films—there would be no future X-Men returning to prevent a dystopian outcome. Though Richard could only access public information through his search, it provided sufficient background for his purposes.
After absorbing what he needed about Trask Industries, he teleported directly to his destination.
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Upon arriving at the mutant academy, Richard had intended to briefly inform Professor X of his visit before collecting Clarice and departing.
Xavier, however, had other ideas.
"When did you learn about the X-gene cure?" Professor X asked, his piercing gaze fixing on Richard with unexpected intensity.
"This morning," Richard replied simply.
"Then what do you intend to do about it?" Professor X continued.
"Nothing for now," Richard said, his expression neutral. "Whether this X-gene cure exists or not, my principle remains unchanged—I don't interfere with others unless they interfere with me first."
He leaned forward slightly, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "If anyone believes they can challenge me just because they possess a genetic neutralizer, I'll be happy to demonstrate how gravely mistaken they are."
He straightened again. "If there's nothing else, Professor, I'd like to see Clarice now."
Professor X quickly raised a hand. "Actually, I have something to ask of you."
"What is it?" Richard asked, genuine confusion crossing his features.
"If anything happens to me," Xavier said, his expression suddenly solemn, "there's someone I want you to meet."
Meet someone?
Richard frowned slightly at the Professor's grave tone. He couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that Xavier was making advance arrangements for his own funeral.
"Who exactly am I supposed to meet?" Richard pressed.
"I can't tell you that yet," Xavier replied, his gaze steady. "But I've made arrangements. If anything happens to me, someone will send you a letter with all the necessary information. You'll understand everything after reading it."
Though Xavier hadn't revealed the identity of this mysterious contact, one name immediately flashed through Richard's mind:
The Illuminati!
Could he really be asking me to meet with the Illuminati? Richard wondered silently.
He knew the organization's membership roster from the comics—Reed Richards, Black Bolt, Namor, Doctor Strange, and others—but had no way to confirm whether the group existed in this universe. The only thing he could be certain of was that if the Illuminati did exist here, Tony Stark wasn't among their number. The Tony of this world lacked the gravity and trustworthiness of his comic counterpart.
After considering for a moment, Richard nodded. "If someone sends me such a letter, I'll meet with this mysterious person you've mentioned, Professor."
Though uncertain about Xavier's intentions, he saw no harm in agreeing to the request.
Xavier studied him with evident satisfaction before nodding his thanks.
After leaving the Professor's office, Richard quickly located Clarice. She hadn't yet heard about the X-gene cure and was chatting with a group of girls her age on the lawn behind the school's main building.
When Clarice spotted Richard approaching, surprise flashed across her face before she trotted over to meet him.
"What brings you here?" she asked eagerly. "Did you come specifically to see me?"
"I'm here to take you to the manor," Richard explained. "I've just spoken with the Professor. Your classes here are complete—or rather, you've graduated."
Clarice's expression sharpened. "Has something happened outside?"
Though she lacked extensive life experience, Clarice was far from naive. She immediately sensed something was amiss.
"Yes," Richard confirmed, not elaborating. "We'll explain everything after we return to the manor. Is there anything you need to collect? If not, we can leave immediately."
"I don't have much to take with me," Clarice said softly, "but I need some time to say goodbye to my friends here."
"No problem," Richard replied. "I'll wait for you here. Find me when you're finished."
Clarice nodded and turned back toward the girls she'd been chatting with earlier.
Richard settled onto a nearby bench to wait patiently. Time passed gradually, and before he realized it, more than ten minutes had elapsed.
Before Clarice returned, a young couple approached Richard. Though he had never met them personally, he recognized them instantly: "Iceman" Bobby Drake and "Rogue" Marie.
Bobby halted before him, clearly unsure how to begin the conversation, an awkward expression frozen on his face.
"Can I help you with something?" Richard prompted, noting the young man's discomfort.
"Um... Mr. Wesley," Rogue spoke up before Bobby could find his voice, "Bobby and I are both huge fans of yours. Would it be okay if we took a picture with you?" Her face shone with expectation.
Mr. Wesley?
Richard smiled at the formal address. "I'm not much older than you—possibly even younger. There's no need for formalities. And yes, photos are absolutely fine."
He stood from the bench, though he could tell that despite Rogue's claim about them both being his "huge fans," Bobby seemed distinctly uncomfortable and possibly even resistant to the idea. His mild-mannered nature alone made him an unlikely candidate for fandom of someone with Richard's reputation.
Rogue ignored Bobby's reluctance, happily retrieving her cell phone and handing it to Iceman, instructing him to take several photos of her with Richard first. After capturing those shots, she insisted Bobby join them for a few group pictures as well.
When the impromptu photo session concluded, Bobby immediately attempted to steer Rogue away, but she pulled a notebook and pen from her bag.
"Would you mind signing this for me too?" she asked Richard.
"Of course," he agreed, accepting the items. As he prepared to sign, he said casually, "Your names are Bobby and Marie, right?"
"Yes!" Rogue's eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Wesley, you know who we are?"
"I do," Richard confirmed. "I'm also familiar with your abilities."
His expression turned serious as he handed the notebook back. "I'll offer you both a small piece of advice: the powers you possess are far more significant than you currently realize."
While it remained uncertain whether Iceman and Rogue would ever develop their abilities to the extraordinary levels depicted in the comics, their powers were formidable nonetheless. Had they been his enemies, Richard would have nullified those abilities without hesitation—especially Bobby's, which possessed Omega-level potential far beyond ordinary cryokinesis.
"Bobby's powers are amazing," Rogue said with a frown, "but mine are terrible. If I could choose, I'd rather not have mutantpowers at all."
Hearing her response, Richard knew she would likely volunteer for the X-gene cure given the opportunity, just as she had in the film timeline. From his perspective, her choice was profoundly misguided, but he had no intention of intervening.
Let go of the need to fix everyone else's fate. Respect their choices, even the foolish ones.
After tucking away her notebook, Rogue thanked Richard warmly before departing with Bobby.
Seeing Rogue's successful encounter, other mutant students nearby began moving toward Richard, clearly hoping for similar autographs and photos. Before they could reach him, however, Clarice returned, dragging a small suitcase.
Without hesitation, Richard slipped his arm around Clarice's slender waist.
Teleportation!
In an instant, they vanished from the mutant students' sight, reappearing in the reception room on the first floor of Silver Manor.
There, Clarice immediately noticed Emma Frost dressed in an elegant white pencil skirt that accentuated her curves perfectly. She turned to Richard with wide, questioning eyes.
...
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