Professor Charles Xavier's office was exactly what Marcus expected from someone who had spent decades balancing the roles of educator, counselor, and leader of a movement that was redefining what it meant to be human in the twenty-first century. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined three walls, filled with volumes that ranged from classical philosophy to cutting-edge genetic research. A large mahogany desk positioned near tall windows overlooked the mansion's grounds, and comfortable chairs arranged in a conversational semicircle suggested that this space was designed for dialogue rather than hierarchical authority.
The Professor himself sat behind his desk, his wheelchair positioned to allow easy engagement with visitors while still maintaining the dignity of his position. At sixty-three, Charles Xavier carried the weight of his responsibilities with the kind of grace that came from decades of making difficult decisions for the greater good. His expression was welcoming but thoughtful, the look of someone preparing to have a conversation that would require both honesty and discretion.
"Marcus, Marie," Charles said as Jean showed them into the office, his mental voice carrying warmth despite the inability to establish direct telepathic contact with Marcus. "Please, sit down. Jean, thank you for escorting them. I believe Scott was looking for you regarding tomorrow's danger room schedule?"
"Of course, Professor," Jean replied with understanding that this was a polite dismissal rather than an actual scheduling concern. She gave Marcus and Marie an encouraging smile before leaving and closing the door behind her, granting them privacy for what was clearly going to be a significant conversation.
Marcus settled into one of the comfortable chairs, noting that their positioning allowed Professor Xavier to maintain eye contact with both twins while also giving them space to feel less like they were being interrogated. Through his empathic connection with Marie, he felt her mixture of nervousness and curiosity—she wanted to understand how their abilities would be evaluated, but she was also anxious about potential judgment regarding her lack of control.
"First," Charles began, his voice carrying the kind of gentle authority that had probably reassured thousands of frightened mutant children over the years, "I want to assure you both that this conversation is entirely confidential. Nothing discussed here will be shared with anyone without your explicit permission, and my role is to help you understand your abilities rather than to judge you for circumstances beyond your control."
"Thank you, Professor," Marie said quietly, her hands clasped together in her lap. "That means a lot, especially given how my powers first manifested."
"David Collins's condition was not your fault," Charles said with absolute certainty that brooked no argument. "Uncontrolled absorption during first manifestation is a completely normal response to extreme emotional stress. The fact that you immediately sought help rather than running from the situation speaks well of your character and your ability to handle crisis situations responsibly."
Through their empathic connection, Marcus felt Marie's relief at hearing those words from someone whose authority on mutant matters was unquestioned. The guilt she'd been carrying since putting her boyfriend in a coma began to shift slightly, making room for the possibility that she wasn't fundamentally broken or dangerous.
"As for you, Marcus," Charles continued, turning his attention toward the young man whose mind remained frustratingly inaccessible despite Cerebro's amplification systems, "your situation is considerably more complex than your sister's, though no less understandable given what you've shared about your origins."
Marcus felt his enhanced intellect immediately begin calculating how to navigate this conversation—what to reveal, what to obscure, how to maintain credibility while protecting information that could fundamentally alter how Professor Xavier viewed him as both a student and a potential threat.
"You mentioned yesterday," Charles said carefully, "that you were previously someone named Caleb James Smith, and that you died in what you described as a 'clerical error' before being offered reincarnation by an entity you called Rob. Is that accurate?"
"Yes sir," Marcus confirmed, deciding that honesty about his cosmic origins was less dangerous than trying to maintain elaborate deceptions with someone who had decades of experience detecting inconsistencies in people's stories. "CJ Smith died on October 25th, 2024, in Jefferson, Missouri. He was killed by his girlfriend's father during what was probably the universe's most poorly timed baseball bat incident."
Despite the gravity of the situation, Charles's lips twitched slightly at Marcus's dry delivery. "And this entity—Rob—offered you reincarnation in any fictional universe with whatever powers you desired?"
"With some limitations," Marcus clarified. "He couldn't make me omnipotent, and there were rules about timeline interference and cosmic balance that I didn't fully understand. But yes, essentially he offered me a second chance in exchange for the inconvenience of dying sixty years earlier than scheduled."
"And you chose this particular universe," Charles said thoughtfully, "specifically requesting to be reincarnated as Marie's twin brother with abilities designed to help her manage her own powers."
"Because in the comics, Rogue's—which is the name Marie will take—story is tragic," Marcus said, his voice carrying all of CJ Smith's passionate concern for a fictional character who had become real. "Years of isolation, manipulation by people who wanted to use her as a weapon, genuine belief that she was a monster who couldn't be loved or touched. I couldn't stand the idea of someone going through that alone."
Through their connection, Marcus felt Marie's emotional response to his words—surprise, gratitude, and a deepening understanding of why her brother had been so determined to help her from the moment her powers manifested.
"That's a remarkably selfless motivation," Charles observed with what appeared to be genuine respect. "Most people offered cosmic power focus on personal advantages or wish fulfillment rather than using their second chance to help others."
"CJ Smith spent seventeen years reading about superheroes," Marcus said with a slight smile. "He understood that power without responsibility was just wish fulfillment, and that the best heroes were the ones who used their abilities to protect people who couldn't protect themselves."
Charles was quiet for a moment, his expression thoughtful as he processed the implications of having a cosmically reincarnated student whose motivations appeared altruistic but whose capabilities remained largely unknown.
"You also mentioned a 'system,'" Charles continued, "that provides you with information about enhanced individuals and allows you to selectively absorb their abilities. Could you explain how that works?"
This was the critical moment—the point where Marcus had to decide how much truth to reveal about the Selective Absorption Gamer System and its full capabilities. Too much information might make him seem too dangerous to remain at the school. Too little might seem like deliberate obfuscation that would undermine trust.
Marcus took a deep breath and made his decision, choosing a version of the truth that was accurate but incomplete.
"When I make skin-to-skin contact with enhanced individuals," he began, "the system activates and scans their abilities. It gives me a menu of options—their different powers and capabilities—and I can select one ability to absorb. But there are significant limitations."
"What kind of limitations?" Charles asked, his attention fully focused on understanding the mechanics of Marcus's unique mutation.
"First, I can only scan each person once," Marcus said, which was technically true even if it didn't mention that he could store unlimited abilities in his inventory. "After I've made contact and selected an ability, that person becomes unavailable for future absorption attempts."
"A safeguard against excessive power accumulation," Charles observed approvingly. "What else?"
"Second, I can only actively assimilate three abilities at a time," Marcus continued, carefully avoiding any mention of the inventory system that allowed storage of additional powers for future integration. "Right now I'm working on integrating the healing factor I absorbed from Sabretooth, the enhanced physiology I got from Wolverine, and the enhanced intellect I absorbed from Dr. McCoy."
Charles's eyebrows rose slightly at the mention of Beast's intellectual capabilities. "Henry's enhanced cognition is quite sophisticated. How much of his intellectual capacity have you actually integrated?"
"Maybe three percent," Marcus admitted honestly, deciding that transparency about his current development levels would help establish credibility. "The system requires active development—I can't just absorb an ability and immediately use it at full capacity. I have to practice, train, and systematically develop each power through the same kind of effort that natural mutation would require."
"Similar to how Marie would need to practice control over her absorption abilities," Charles noted, drawing the parallel between the twins' different manifestations of similar power types.
"Exactly," Marcus confirmed. "The difference is that my absorption is selective and controlled, while hers is currently involuntary and uncontrolled. But we're both absorption-type mutants who need training and practice to optimize our capabilities."
"And what happens when you complete integration of an ability?" Charles asked, clearly trying to understand the full scope of Marcus's power development potential. "Does the system allow you to begin absorbing new abilities at that point?"
Here was where Marcus had to be particularly careful. The truth was that completing integration would free up an active slot while still allowing him to access the stored abilities in his inventory. But revealing the unlimited storage capacity might make him seem too dangerous—a walking arsenal of stolen powers that could potentially include abilities from every powerful mutant on the planet.
"The scanning function reactivates once I've fully integrated at least one ability," Marcus said, which was technically accurate while avoiding the full implications of his inventory system. "So I can eventually build up a collection of powers, but it's limited by the rate at which I can master them."
It was a carefully constructed half-truth that preserved the core functionality of his system while making it seem more constrained than it actually was. Professor Xavier would understand that Marcus could become quite powerful over time, but he wouldn't realize the full scope of potential power accumulation that unlimited inventory storage represented.
Charles was quiet for a long moment, his expression thoughtful as he processed the information Marcus had provided. Through the empathic connection with Marie, Marcus could feel his sister's tension as she waited to see how Professor Xavier would respond to her brother's revelations about cosmic reincarnation and systematic power absorption.
"Marcus," Charles said finally, his voice carrying the weight of someone making an important decision, "I appreciate your honesty about your origins and your abilities. The situation you've described is unprecedented in my experience, but your motivations appear genuine and your demonstrated behavior has been consistently protective of your sister and respectful of others."
"Thank you, sir," Marcus said, feeling a surge of relief that the conversation seemed to be going better than he'd feared.
"However," Charles continued with gentle firmness, "I need to ask you some questions about the ethical implications of your absorption abilities. Not because I doubt your intentions, but because these are questions you'll need to answer for yourself as you develop your capabilities."
Marcus nodded, his enhanced intellect already anticipating some of the ethical concerns that systematic power absorption would raise. "I understand, Professor."
"First," Charles said, "do the people you absorb from know that you've taken their abilities? Can they feel the absorption happening?"
"They sense something during contact," Marcus admitted, thinking about the slight confusion that Sabretooth, Logan, and the others had demonstrated after their handshakes. "A vague feeling that something changed, but nothing specific enough to identify what happened. It's not painful or harmful to them."
"But it's also not consensual," Charles observed neutrally, presenting the ethical complication without judgment. "You're taking something from them—their genetic capabilities—without asking permission or even informing them of what you've done."
Marcus felt the weight of that observation settling on his shoulders. It was the central ethical problem with his selective absorption system—he could steal people's abilities without their knowledge or consent, and while the system apparently didn't harm them, it definitely violated their autonomy in ways that were morally complicated.
"You're right," he said quietly, deciding that acknowledging the problem was better than trying to defend the indefensible. "I've been taking abilities from people without asking because I believed it was necessary for protecting Marie and preparing for threats I know are coming. But that doesn't make it ethical."
"What threats are you preparing for?" Charles asked with sharp attention, his strategic mind immediately focusing on the implication that Marcus possessed knowledge of future dangers.
Marcus hesitated, feeling the weight of CJ's comic book knowledge pressing against his enhanced intellect. He knew about the Sentinels, about government registration programs, about Magneto's increasingly extreme approaches to mutant supremacy. But how much of that foreknowledge could he share without fundamentally altering timelines in ways he couldn't predict?
"I know things about potential futures," he said carefully, "because CJ Smith read comic books about this universe for years. But I also know that my presence here has already changed the timeline—my absorption system, my knowledge, my ability to intervene in ways the original Marcus D'Ancanto couldn't have. So I can't be certain which threats will manifest and which might be prevented by different choices."
"Give me an example," Charles requested, clearly trying to assess the scope and reliability of Marcus's supposed foreknowledge.
"Sentinels," Marcus said, deciding that the most obvious threat was also the most credible. "Advanced robots designed to hunt and kill mutants, built by government contractors who believe homo superior represents an existential threat to humanity. In multiple comic timelines, they're deployed as part of mutant registration programs that eventually lead to concentration camps and genocide."
Charles's expression became grave at the mention of genocide, his own experiences during World War II undoubtedly informing his response to descriptions of systematic persecution. "And you believe these Sentinels are inevitable?"
"I believe someone will try to build them," Marcus said honestly. "Whether they succeed, whether they're deployed, whether they actually pose the threat they did in the comics—that depends on choices people haven't made yet. But the underlying fear and prejudice that would motivate their creation? That's already present in the current political climate."
"Which is precisely why ethical use of power becomes so important," Charles said, bringing the conversation back to the central concern about Marcus's absorption abilities. "If you're preparing to face threats like the ones you've described, you need to ensure that your methods don't make you into the kind of person who creates more problems than they solve."
Marcus nodded, understanding the Professor's point. Power accumulated through morally questionable means could corrupt the person wielding it, regardless of their initial intentions.
"So what do I do?" he asked, genuinely seeking guidance from someone whose moral authority had been tested through decades of impossible choices. "Stop absorbing abilities entirely? Only absorb from people who explicitly consent? Accept that I'm going to violate some ethical principles in order to develop capabilities needed for protecting others?"
"Those are questions you'll need to answer for yourself," Charles said with the kind of non-directive approach that suggested he believed students needed to develop their own moral frameworks rather than simply adopting their teachers' values. "But I can offer some principles that might help guide your decision-making."
"Please," Marcus said, leaning forward slightly to demonstrate his attention and willingness to learn.
"First," Charles began, his voice taking on the lecturing tone of someone who had spent decades teaching ethical philosophy to students with dangerous capabilities, "consider the concept of informed consent. If you're going to absorb abilities from others, they should ideally know what you're doing and agree to it. That doesn't mean you need to seek permission before every handshake, but it does mean being transparent about your capabilities with people you interact with regularly."
Marcus thought about the implications of that principle. It would mean revealing his absorption abilities to everyone at the school, which could fundamentally alter how people interacted with him. Some might refuse physical contact entirely, others might be intrigued or offended, and some might see him as a threat to be monitored rather than a student to be trusted.
"Second," Charles continued, "consider the principle of proportionality. Is the ability you're absorbing truly necessary for achieving your protective goals, or are you accumulating power simply because you can? There's a significant moral difference between taking someone's healing factor because you need survivability for dangerous situations, versus taking their ability to generate pleasant fragrances because it seems interesting."
That principle made intuitive sense to Marcus's enhanced intellect. Strategic necessity provided better justification for ethical compromise than simple acquisition for its own sake.
"Third," Charles said, "consider the impact on the person you're absorbing from. Does taking their ability harm them in any way? Reduce their own capabilities? Create psychological trauma from the violation of consent? If your absorption causes genuine harm, that changes the ethical calculation significantly."
"The system doesn't harm people," Marcus said with certainty based on his observations of everyone he'd absorbed from so far. "Sabretooth, Wolverine, Beast, the students I've met—none of them showed signs of reduced capabilities or distress beyond mild confusion about feeling something unusual during contact."
"That's fortunate," Charles acknowledged. "But it still leaves you with the challenge of navigating consent issues and strategic necessity. My recommendation would be to develop a personal code of ethics regarding your absorption abilities—rules you set for yourself about when and why you'll use your powers, and what kinds of safeguards you'll put in place to prevent abuse."
Marcus felt his enhanced intellect immediately begin working on the framework for such a code. Strategic necessity as the primary justification. Transparency with people he interacted with regularly. Careful consideration of whether each absorption genuinely contributed to protective capabilities versus simple power accumulation. Regular self-assessment to ensure his motivations remained aligned with his stated values.
"That makes sense," he said finally. "Though I have to admit, it's going to be challenging to maintain that kind of ethical discipline when I know what's potentially coming for mutants in this timeline."
"Maintaining ethical discipline becomes more important, not less, when facing existential threats," Charles said with the authority of someone who had made similar choices throughout his career. "The moment you abandon your principles because the stakes seem too high, you become the kind of person who justifies any action through appeal to greater goods. That path leads to becoming exactly what you're trying to prevent."
Through their empathic connection, Marcus felt Marie's pride in her brother for taking these ethical concerns seriously rather than simply dismissing them as obstacles to power accumulation. She understood that the conversation was fundamentally about what kind of person Marcus would become as his abilities developed.
"Professor," Marie said quietly, speaking for the first time since the conversation had turned to ethical considerations, "can I ask about my own abilities? How they might develop, what kind of training I'll need to gain proper control?"
Charles smiled warmly, clearly pleased that Marie felt comfortable enough to engage with the discussion. "Of course, my dear. Your absorption abilities are actually quite similar to your brother's in terms of underlying mechanisms, though with some important differences in manifestation and control."
He wheeled his chair slightly to face Marie more directly. "Based on what you've described about your first manifestation and the empathic connection you share with Marcus, I believe your powers include life force absorption, memory transfer, and potentially temporary power mimicry. Is that accurate?"
"Yes sir," Marie confirmed, her voice steady despite the obvious anxiety she felt about discussing abilities that had traumatized her. "When I touched David, I felt his life draining into me along with all his memories. It was overwhelming and terrifying, and I couldn't make it stop until Marcus touched me and somehow helped me shut it down."
"The fact that your brother could establish safe physical contact suggests that your absorption has built-in limitations for people with compatible power sets," Charles observed thoughtfully. "That's actually quite fortunate—many absorption-type mutants struggle with complete inability to touch anyone without causing harm."
"But I still can't touch normal people without hurting them," Marie said, her voice carrying the weight of that limitation.
"Not yet," Charles agreed. "But with proper training and development of conscious control, there's every reason to believe you'll eventually be able to regulate your absorption abilities the same way Marcus regulates his. The difference is that your powers manifested involuntarily, so you'll need to learn conscious activation and deactivation rather than selective choice from a menu of options."
Marcus felt a surge of hope through their empathic connection. The idea that Marie might eventually control her powers well enough to have normal physical contact with people was exactly what they'd been hoping to achieve by coming to Xavier's school.
"What kind of training would that involve?" Marcus asked, his enhanced intellect already trying to anticipate the methodology that would optimize Marie's development.
"A combination of meditation techniques for conscious mental control, systematic practice with controlled exposure to voluntary subjects, and careful monitoring of her emotional state during power activation," Charles explained. "We've had success with similar approaches for other students whose abilities manifested involuntarily."
"How long does it usually take?" Marie asked, clearly trying to manage her expectations about the timeline for achieving control.
"That varies significantly depending on the individual," Charles said honestly. "Some students achieve basic control within months, others require years of systematic practice. The key variables are consistency of training, emotional stability, and the complexity of the abilities being controlled."
He paused, his expression becoming more serious. "But Marie, I want you to understand something important about your journey toward control. The goal isn't to suppress or eliminate your abilities—it's to develop conscious choice about when and how you use them. Your absorption powers are part of who you are, and learning to use them responsibly will make you stronger, not weaker."
Through their connection, Marcus felt Marie's emotional response to those words—relief, gratitude, and growing confidence that she could eventually become someone who controlled her abilities rather than being controlled by them.
"Thank you, Professor," she said softly. "That's exactly what I needed to hear."
Charles smiled warmly before turning his attention back to Marcus. "Now, regarding your current development and training needs. Dr. McCoy mentioned that you're already showing exceptional aptitude for advanced genetic theory. Should I assume that's a result of the enhanced intellect you absorbed from him?"
"Yes sir," Marcus confirmed. "The integration is still minimal—maybe three percent—but it's already significantly improving my ability to process complex information and recognize patterns in academic material."
"And your other abilities?" Charles asked. "The healing factor and enhanced physiology—how are those developing?"
"About six percent for the healing factor, four percent for the enhanced physiology," Marcus replied, drawing on the system's constant monitoring of his integration levels. "I did an early morning training with another student—Piotr Rasputin—who's going to help me develop systematic approaches to physical conditioning."
"Excellent," Charles approved. "Piotr is an ideal training partner for developing enhanced strength capabilities. His disciplined approach to physical development will serve you well."
The Professor was quiet for a moment, clearly considering something important before deciding to share it.
"Marcus," he said finally, "I'm going to be direct with you about something that concerns me. Your telepathic immunity—your complete resistance to mental contact—is extraordinarily rare. I've encountered perhaps three other individuals in my entire career who possessed similar capabilities, and in each case, it was either the result of significant psychological trauma or deliberate technological enhancement."
Marcus felt his enhanced intellect immediately understanding the implication. Professor Xavier was concerned that the telepathic immunity might indicate problems that extended beyond simple mutation.
"The system includes it as a baseline feature," Marcus explained, which was true as far as he understood Rob's cosmic programming. "Rob mentioned that telepathic immunity was necessary to prevent mental manipulation by people who might try to exploit my absorption abilities or control my decision-making."
"A reasonable safeguard," Charles acknowledged. "But it also means that I can't assess your mental and emotional state through the same methods I use with other students. That makes it more difficult for me to ensure your wellbeing and provide appropriate psychological support when needed."
"I understand your concern," Marcus said honestly. "But I can tell you that I'm not experiencing psychological trauma from my reincarnation, and I haven't been subjected to any technological enhancement beyond the system itself. The telepathic immunity is just a protective feature, not a symptom of deeper problems."
"I'll take your word for that," Charles said, though his expression suggested he remained somewhat concerned. "But Marcus, if you do find yourself struggling with emotional or psychological issues—whether related to your cosmic origins, your absorption abilities, or simply the normal stresses of adolescence—please understand that my door is always open for conversation, even if I can't access your thoughts directly."
"Thank you, Professor," Marcus said sincerely, recognizing the genuine care behind the offer. "I appreciate that."
Charles nodded, apparently satisfied that he'd addressed his primary concerns about Marcus's unique situation. "Now, regarding your academic placement. Based on Dr. McCoy's assessment of your performance in this morning's class, I'm inclined to place you in advanced coursework across multiple subjects. Does that align with your interests and goals?"
"Absolutely," Marcus confirmed without hesitation. "I want to learn everything I can about genetics, physics, and strategic analysis. Understanding the science behind what we can do seems crucial for developing responsible approaches to power use."
"A mature perspective," Charles approved. "Very well. I'll arrange for you to be placed in advanced courses with Dr. McCoy, along with additional tutorials in physics and strategic theory. The workload will be substantial, but based on your enhanced intellect, I believe you'll find it manageable."
"What about me?" Marie asked, clearly wondering about her own academic placement.
"You'll continue with age-appropriate coursework while we focus on helping you develop control over your abilities," Charles said reassuringly. "Academic acceleration can wait until you're comfortable with your powers—trying to manage both simultaneously would create unnecessary stress."
Marie nodded, clearly relieved that she wouldn't be expected to match her brother's enhanced intellectual capabilities while still struggling with basic power control.
"If there are no other questions," Charles said, preparing to conclude the meeting, "I'd like to schedule regular check-ins with both of you—perhaps weekly for the first month, then monthly thereafter as you become more settled. These meetings will give us opportunities to discuss your development, address any concerns, and ensure that you're both thriving in your new environment."
"That sounds perfect," Marcus said, standing as the Professor's words indicated the formal portion of their conversation was ending.
"One last thing," Charles added as they prepared to leave. "Marcus, I want you to know that despite the unprecedented nature of your situation, you're welcome here. This school exists to help young people develop their abilities responsibly, and your cosmic origins don't change that fundamental mission."
"Thank you, Professor," Marcus said, feeling genuine gratitude for the acceptance despite the complexities his presence created. "I promise I'll do everything I can to be worthy of that welcome."
As Marcus and Marie left Professor Xavier's office and made their way back through the mansion's corridors, Marie projected a wave of relief and affection through their empathic connection.
*That went better than I expected,* she thought toward him. *You were honest without telling him everything, and he seemed to accept your explanation about the system's limitations.*
*Partially honest,* Marcus corrected gently. *I didn't lie, but I definitely didn't mention the unlimited inventory storage or the fact that I've already absorbed abilities from half a dozen students and faculty members.*
*Do you think he suspects you're hiding something?*
*Probably,* Marcus admitted. *Professor Xavier didn't become one of the world's most successful educators by being naive about teenagers' tendency to strategically omit inconvenient truths. But I think he's willing to give me the benefit of the doubt as long as my actions remain consistent with my stated values.*
*So now what?* Marie asked as they reached the intersection where their paths would diverge toward their respective dormitory wings.
*Now we develop our abilities, make friends, learn everything we can from the faculty here, and prepare for the threats we know are coming,* Marcus replied with more confidence than he felt. *And we do it while trying to be the kind of people Professor Xavier believes we can become.*
As they parted ways—Marie heading toward her room to rest before afternoon classes, Marcus planning to spend time in the library researching advanced mutation theory—Marcus reflected on how profoundly his situation had changed in just two days.
He'd gone from being a cosmic refugee with stolen abilities and no clear plan to being a student at Xavier's School with access to training, education, and mentorship from some of the most capable people in the Marvel Universe.
But he'd also committed himself to developing a personal code of ethics regarding his absorption abilities, acknowledging that unlimited power accumulation without moral constraints would eventually corrupt him regardless of his intentions.
*CJ Smith dreamed about being part of the X-Men,* Marcus thought as he entered the library and began searching for books on advanced mutation genetics. *But he also understood that being a hero meant more than just having cool powers and fighting bad guys. It meant making difficult choices about how to use those powers responsibly.*
*Now Marcus D'Ancanto has to figure out how to live up to that understanding while preparing for threats that most people can't imagine.*
*No pressure or anything.*
**[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]**
**[ETHICAL FRAMEWORK: IN DEVELOPMENT]**
**[TRANSPARENCY WITH AUTHORITY FIGURES: PARTIAL SUCCESS]**
**[SOCIAL INTEGRATION: POSITIVE PROGRESS]**
**[POWER DEVELOPMENT: CONTINUING]**
**[LONG-TERM STRATEGIC POSITION: IMPROVING]**
**[WARNING: INVENTORY SYSTEM REMAINS UNDISCLOSED]**
**[RECOMMENDATION: MAINTAIN CAREFUL BALANCE BETWEEN HONESTY AND STRATEGIC SECRECY]**
**[COSMIC FORCES MONITORING: PHOENIX RESONANCE STABLE]**
As Marcus settled into his library research, surrounded by books about genetic theory and the scientific foundations of extraordinary abilities, he couldn't shake the feeling that his conversation with Professor Xavier had been just the beginning of much more complicated ethical negotiations.
But for now, he had abilities to develop, knowledge to acquire, and a sister to protect.
Everything else would have to wait its turn.
---
*In his office, Professor Charles Xavier sat quietly after the twins had departed, his mind processing the extraordinary conversation he'd just concluded.*
*A cosmically reincarnated student with selective absorption abilities and complete telepathic immunity. A girl with uncontrolled life force drain who might eventually develop into one of the most powerful mutants alive. And between them, an empathic connection that suggested their abilities were more intertwined than either of them fully understood.*
*Charles activated his communication system and sent a brief message to his most trusted faculty members.*
*"Team meeting tonight, 8 PM. We need to discuss the D'Ancanto twins and their potential impact on the school's long-term strategic position. This situation is unprecedented, and we'll need to coordinate our approach carefully."*
*As he sent the message, Charles found himself thinking about the ethical questions Marcus had raised—not just about absorption abilities, but about the broader challenge of wielding power responsibly in a world where fear and prejudice constantly threatened to turn potential heroes into weapons.*
*It was exactly the kind of philosophical complexity that made his work both frustrating and profoundly meaningful.*
*After all, teaching young people to be ethical wasn't just about rules and principles—it was about helping them develop the wisdom to navigate impossible situations with their humanity intact.*
*And if Marcus D'Ancanto's story was any indication, that wisdom would be tested sooner rather than later.*
---
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