Something Has Gone Terribly Wrong

Posted on Fri Feb 7th, 2025 @ 2:20am by Charles Xavier & Scott Summers & Jean Grey & Angela Williams

2,085 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 6: X-Fernus Agenda
Location: Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters
Timeline: December 4th, 1990

Angela was in one of the classrooms listening to a lecture on Greek Literature when her stomach exploded in pain. The pain quickly subsided, but she knew somehow that something had happened to her brother.

Having just flown back from his conference, Hank was hyped up and excited for the future, perhaps for the first time in recent memory. Such passion flowed through every word of his lecture.

"It is an error of modernism to compartmentalize the Hellenist movement into insular categories," Hank said, his baritone rising and falling in the way of someone trying to hype up young kids who held no interest in the subject matter. "Ah, but to separate Greek poetry from Greek mathematics is to misunderstand them both entirely!"

Holding up a finger, Hank's passion took on a sense of urgency. "Consider Pythagoras—not merely a mathematician, but a mystic, a philosopher, a seeker of harmony in all things. To him, numbers were not just quantities, but the very fabric of existence, woven into the cosmos with the same divine precision as verse in a poet's lyre. His tetractys was a hymn, his ratios the silent music of the spheres. The Greeks did not see mathematics as cold calculation, nor poetry as idle ornamentation; both were sacred expressions of order, beauty, and truth."

Now a pregnant pause as Hank surveyed the small group gathered in the parlor, hoping someone was grasping the preface to his point. "To love one is to love the other, for both sing of the same eternal symmetries—one in measured word, the other in measured form. And to claim understanding of one without grasping the other?" Hank chuckled at the absurdity of it. "Well, that is like claiming to know the sea while fearing to touch the tide."

Angela looked Henry and took a deep breath before speaking. "Um, I think I need to go see the Headmaster, sir. It's...it's hard to explain."

Hank paused mid-gesture, his fervor momentarily halted as Angela's quiet words cut through the room. He adjusted his glasses, studying her with a mixture of curiosity and concern, but when he spoke, his voice was gentle.

"Ah, well, I suppose that is as fine a note as any upon which to conclude today's discourse," he said, straightening his posture. With a wave of his hand, he addressed the rest of the small gathering. "For your assignment, each of you will select a Greek poet and explore their mathematical or scientific contributions—whether direct or, as we have seen, through their broader philosophical influence. Present your findings in a well-reasoned report, and do strive to see the inherent connection between art and reason, will you?"

Everyone began gathering their notebooks and preparing to leave before Hank was even finished speaking.

The impetuous scrambling of the handful of students told Hank he had been correct. He offered them all a knowing smile before flicking his wrist in dismissal. "And with that, I release you all back into the wilds of academia. Go forth, learn, and please, for the love of Euclid, do try not to wait until the last moment to begin your research."

Angela rushed out the door and ran to Professor Xavier's office. She stopped just short of the office door and paused. She wondered for a moment if what she felt was real. She couldn't shake the feeling that Drew was in danger, but was he really? She had been standing there for only a few seconds when the door opened on its own to reveal Scott and Jean sitting across from Professor Xavier and all staring at her with expressions of concern.

“Hello, Angela,” Jean greeted her as she telekinetically opened the door. She leaned forward in her seat so she could see past Scott’s impressive frame to make eye contact with the teenager.

Jean’s eyes were verdant green in color, like sunshine passing through a canopy of trees. But there was worry in her eyes, the faint red rims and the puffiness told Angela the woman had been crying. Whatever they had been talking about before her arrival had been upsetting for Jean.

“I can tell you have a concern you need to talk to the Professor about.” That observation wasn’t necessarily gained from Jean’s telepathic insight but it probably helped. “We can excuse ourselves and give you two some privacy if you wish.”

"We should probably find out where Rahne ran off to anyway," Scott added. His normally even voice hitched with emotion as well.

The Professor said nothing, rather allowing everyone else to have the space to sort their feelings in this intersection of personal concerns. Order could arise from chaos if given the chance. His eyes returned to Angela, giving preferential consideration for her to decide just as Scott and Jean had done.

Angela was unsure of wanting to speak in front of Scott and Jean. She decided that the Professor was better at determining if they should be told or not afterwards. She nodded, then waited for the couple to leave the office.

“Of course,” Jean agreed for both her and Scott. Their psychic rapport caused them to share and experience each other’s grief and pain, making the duo rather melancholy. “Professor, I’m going to try and use Cerebro for a bit. It’s a longshot based on what we know but I have to try. We’re on borrowed time with the baby being due next month.”

~Agreed. Update me the moment you find anything~ Xavier broadcasted the thought hard enough for everyone in the room to hear it.

They stood in unison and Scott reached out for her hand, holding it tightly as if to remind her they were in this together.

“If you or Drew need anything,” Jean looked over at Angela. “Please feel free to ask. Have a good evening.” Sad and worried, Scott and Jean left the office.

Angela turned to Professor Xavier as she stepped in front of his desk. "I apologize for the interruption, but I was sitting in Dr. McCoy's lecture on Greek Literature and I felt this sudden surge of...I'm not really sure what. I just knew that Drew was in trouble. Nothing specific, nothing I can even really describe." She still felt a sense of dread, but again, she had no reasonable explanation for why. "I don't know how to explain myself." Angela felt like she was on the verge of tears as the terror she felt inside grew.

"I see," the Professor said, clearly gathering his thoughts from the prior conversation and stowing them in order to focus on Angela's present concerns. "Anecdotal reports of fraternal twins sharing empathic bonds are not as abundant as those of identical twins, but they do exist. Separation anxiety can have a powerful effect on emotional connections. Have you felt this way before?"

Angela thought about the question, her expression akin to looking far away as she pondered the past. "Nothing this strong before. There have been times when I would know he was upset or distracted by something just before I would see him. Usually he was just nervous about an upcoming track meet, cross country run or him nervous about a girl he liked. This is something that goes beyond that...I think he's scared or hurt...I just don't know what specifically."

Brow furrowed in thought, Charles considered the possibilities. He could tell Angela certainly believed what she was telling him. Furthermore, her own body believed it, as well, what with the physiological tells he could detect from her unconscious mind reflecting her autonomous nervous system. Was it possible the twins shared a psychic rapport that connected them beyond mere flesh and blood? But that would suggest one or both of them held a latent psychic capability, however faint. That was something to be explored at a later time.

"When was the last time you spoke with Drew?" the Professor asked carefully. As a first-class telepath, he was not in the habit of divulging secrets which were not his to tell.

"This morning at breakfast." Angela thought about seeing her brother and what happened at breakfast. "It was kind of weird. He turned his head as if he was listening to someone and then just got up and left. He didn't even finish his food, which...he always cleaned his plate."

Checking the time, Xavier figured it would be in the middle of the night in Genosha by now. "I see your point of concern." He cracked a half smile. "Drew does have a singular appetite." Turning more serious, the Professor casually asked, "Did you talk to him at all after that?"

Angela shook her head. "We were supposed to have a history lecture together, but someone said he was on a field trip off campus. Nobody would tell me anything other than sometimes a few of the students are chosen to go on these field trips."

Field trips. That was a stretch but not technically untrue. For whatever reason, Drew had elected to withhold such vital information from the one person with whom reportedly shared everything. That made it privileged information which Xavier would never disclose without permission.

"Then that must be where he is," the Professor replied. "I have not received any reports of ill fated field trips, so for now I suppose no news is good news."

Angela was pretty good at judging when the people she knew well were telling the truth. She didn't know the Professor all that well yet. "This field trip Drew went on. Where is it they went? Perhaps you could call and talk to the staff and make sure everything is alright."

"That is a question for Drew," the Professor replied. Whatever Drew's reasons, it was not Xavier's place to disclose to Angela what had been kept unrevealed. "It might have been best had the conversation happened before he left, but as it stands now, I'm afraid it must wait until his return." He offered a conciliatory smile. "I will reach out at first opportunity to confirm their status, however, that regrettably cannot be at this moment."

Touching his fingers to his forehead, the Professor reached out to Jean who had descended below to use Cerebro as she had previously indicated. ~Jean, have you found anything? I have a grave feeling that matters may become more complicated~

~* ‘Sorry, nothing yet.’ *~ Jean replied and Charles felt the support and amplification Cerebro provided alongside her usual telepathic presence. She immediately picked up on his concern and they mentally reviewed the conversation Angela had just had with Xavier. ~* ‘It’s too bad that she asked us to leave, I could have provided some insight and advice for dealing with empathetic connections. But your worry about the X-Men is noted, I’ll take a break from searching for Aurora and see what I can glean from Genosha. It’s shielded, but I can try. Of course, it would probably be better if you tried with Cerebro, whenever you’re available.’ *~

Angela was studying Professor Xavier's expression as he communicated to Jean. She didn't know who he was in a telepathic conversation with but his face held that look of concentration. She stood up and nodded. "Thank you for looking into it." She didn't wait for a response. She picked up her backpack and headed out the door.

First Aurora's disappearance, by all accounts running off with the very man who had haunted her dreams and led to her mother abandoning her. Now Angela was asserting premonitions despite no apparent empathic bond between the two siblings or any telepathy on her part.

It made Xavier nervous to be out of touch with his team. It reminded him all too well of the First Class disappearing on Krakoa. The man he knew as Nathaniel Essex had been responsible for that, but Xavier knew from his own research that this sinister man had been at work for over a century. He hoped against hope that Angela was suffering indigestion and that everybody was all right.

Perhaps Jean was right. He should take another shift on Cerebro and see what he might turn up. There was always a chance.

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