## Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters - Faculty Conference Room, 8:03 PM
The faculty conference room occupied a secure section of the mansion's lower levels, positioned between the war room where tactical operations were planned and the medical facilities where Dr. McCoy conducted his more sensitive research. Unlike the elegant public spaces that welcomed students and visitors, this room was purely functional—reinforced walls that could withstand significant force, soundproofing that prevented eavesdropping, and security systems that ensured complete privacy for discussions that often involved classified information about students' abilities and external threats to the school.
Charles Xavier sat at the head of a long conference table, his wheelchair positioned to allow easy visual contact with each faculty member as they arrived. The portable Cerebro interface rested on the table beside him, its presence suggesting that tonight's discussion would involve detailed analysis of psychic signatures and mutant capability assessments.
Logan arrived first, as he usually did for security briefings. He'd changed from his teaching clothes into the practical combat gear he preferred for evening patrols, and he carried two cups of coffee—one for himself, one for Charles. After decades of working together, they'd developed the kind of comfortable familiarity that didn't require extensive small talk.
"This about the D'Ancanto twins?" Logan asked as he handed Charles his coffee and settled into a chair that had been reinforced to handle the weight of his adamantium skeleton.
"Among other things," Charles confirmed. "But yes, their situation requires coordinated faculty response, and there are... complications... that we need to address carefully."
Storm entered next, her white hair still damp from the evening thunderstorm she'd generated to water the mansion's extensive gardens. Ororo Monroe approached weather manipulation with the same systematic care she brought to teaching meteorology, and her evening routines typically included optimizing precipitation patterns for the school's landscaping needs.
"Good evening, Professor, Logan," she said as she took her seat. "I assume this concerns our newest students? Jean mentioned their initial interviews went reasonably well, though she seemed somewhat puzzled by Marcus's psychic signature."
"We'll address that," Charles said. "Let's wait for the others before beginning the formal briefing."
Dr. McCoy arrived moments later, still wearing his teaching attire and carrying a tablet filled with genetic analysis data. His expression combined intellectual excitement with professional concern, suggesting he'd spent the afternoon processing the implications of teaching a student whose enhanced intellect matched his own.
"Apologies for my tardiness," Beast said as he settled into a chair specifically designed to accommodate his unique physiology. "I was reviewing Marcus D'Ancanto's performance in this morning's advanced biology course, and the data raises some fascinating questions about accelerated cognitive development."
"That's part of what we're here to discuss," Charles confirmed.
Scott Summers entered with Jean Grey, both of them having concluded their danger room coordination session minutes earlier. As the school's primary tactical instructor, Scott brought military precision to faculty discussions, while Jean's telepathic abilities provided insights into student psychology that complemented Charles's more comprehensive assessments.
The final arrival was Warren Worthington III—Angel—whose presence at faculty meetings had become more regular since he'd begun teaching advanced aeronautics and providing flight training for students with airborne capabilities. At twenty-five, Warren was one of the younger faculty members, but his experience with public mutant advocacy and his family's significant financial contributions to the school gave him valuable perspectives on political and economic pressures affecting Xavier's mission.
Once everyone had settled and the security systems had been activated to ensure complete privacy, Charles began the briefing with characteristic directness.
"Thank you all for coming on short notice. Tonight we need to discuss Marcus and Marie D'Ancanto, the twin siblings who arrived yesterday following their extraction from Weapon X pursuit in Virginia. Their situation is more complex than typical new student cases, and it requires coordinated faculty response to ensure both their safety and the school's security."
He paused, making brief eye contact with Logan and Storm—the only two people in the room who would be told the full truth about Marcus's cosmic origins. The others would receive information on a need-to-know basis, carefully calibrated to allow effective teaching without creating dependence on impossible foreknowledge.
"Marie D'Ancanto is relatively straightforward," Charles continued. "Sixteen years old, absorption-type mutation including life force drain and memory transfer. Her powers manifested traumatically three days ago when she accidentally put her boyfriend into a coma. She's currently wearing leather gloves to prevent accidental contact, and she'll require systematic training in conscious power control."
"Standard absorption syndrome presentation," Beast observed, making notes on his tablet. "I've reviewed similar cases in the literature. With proper training and emotional support, she should achieve basic control within six to twelve months."
"What about her brother?" Scott asked, his tactical training immediately focusing on the more unusual case. "Jean mentioned something about selective absorption and complete telepathic immunity."
Charles chose his words carefully, aware that the full truth about Marcus's origins would remain classified information. "Marcus D'Ancanto possesses an extremely rare variant of absorption-type mutation. Unlike his sister's involuntary activation, Marcus can selectively choose which abilities to absorb through conscious intent. He also demonstrates complete resistance to telepathic contact—I cannot establish mental connection with him even using Cerebro's amplification systems."
The implications of that statement rippled through the assembled faculty members. Jean's expression showed recognition of the unusual psychic signature she'd sensed earlier. Scott's tactical mind was immediately calculating threat assessments. Beast's scientific curiosity was engaged by the unprecedented mutation variant.
But it was Logan whose enhanced senses detected something unspoken in Charles's tone—a deliberate withholding of information that suggested the situation was more complex than the basic briefing indicated.
"Chuck," Logan said quietly, using the familiar nickname that signaled he wanted honest communication rather than diplomatic obfuscation, "what aren't you telling us?"
Charles met Logan's gaze steadily, acknowledging the unspoken question. "There are aspects of Marcus's situation that are... unprecedented... in ways that require extremely careful handling. After this meeting concludes, I'll brief you and Ororo separately on additional details that have significant security implications. For now, I need everyone to understand the capabilities we're working with and the potential concerns they raise."
Storm's expression showed understanding of the implicit message—whatever Charles wasn't sharing publicly was serious enough to warrant restricted access, but not so dangerous that it prevented Marcus's enrollment at the school.
"What abilities has Marcus absorbed so far?" Beast asked, his scientific mind focused on cataloging the boy's current capabilities.
"Based on his own disclosure during our interview," Charles replied, "he's currently integrating healing factor from Victor Creed, enhanced physiology from Logan, and enhanced intellect from you, Hank. He describes these abilities as being at early development stages—approximately six percent integration for the healing factor, four percent for physical enhancement, and three percent for cognitive enhancement."
Beast's eyebrows rose at the mention of his own intellectual capabilities. "He absorbed my enhanced cognition? When did this occur?"
"Yesterday, during initial introductions," Charles said. "Brief skin contact during a handshake was apparently sufficient for his scanning and selection process. According to Marcus, the absorption is undetectable to the source individual beyond a vague sense that something unusual happened during contact."
"That's concerning from a consent perspective," Jean observed thoughtfully. "If people don't know they're being scanned and potentially having their abilities absorbed, how can they give meaningful consent to the process?"
"Marcus acknowledged that ethical complication during our discussion," Charles said. "In fact, he demonstrated considerable awareness of the moral issues his absorption capabilities raise. We discussed the importance of developing personal ethical frameworks for power use, particularly when those powers involve taking something from others without explicit permission."
"Did he agree to seek consent before future absorptions?" Scott asked, his tactical training focused on establishing clear protocols.
"We discussed it as an aspirational principle," Charles replied carefully. "But we also acknowledged that requiring explicit consent before every casual physical contact would be impractical and might create social isolation that would interfere with his development. I've asked him to be transparent about his capabilities with people he interacts with regularly, and to carefully consider whether each absorption genuinely serves protective purposes versus simple power accumulation."
Logan snorted quietly. "So basically, you told him to use his best judgment and try not to be a complete asshole about stealing people's powers."
"I would phrase it more diplomatically," Charles said with slight amusement, "but yes, essentially. Marcus is seventeen years old and demonstrating remarkable maturity for his age, but he's still learning to navigate complex ethical situations. Our role is to provide guidance while allowing him to develop his own moral compass."
"What's his integration limit?" Warren asked, speaking for the first time since the meeting began. "If he can absorb abilities from everyone he meets, he could potentially become one of the most powerful individuals on the planet."
"According to Marcus, he can only actively integrate three abilities simultaneously," Charles explained. "Beyond that limit, the system—his term for whatever mechanism governs his absorption capabilities—would require him to complete integration of existing abilities before acquiring new ones."
It was a carefully constructed truth that preserved the core limitation while avoiding any mention of unlimited inventory storage. The assembled faculty would understand that Marcus could become quite powerful over time, but they wouldn't realize the full scope of potential accumulation.
"Three abilities doesn't sound particularly limiting if he chooses strategically," Storm observed. "Healing factor for survivability, enhanced physiology for combat capability, enhanced intellect for tactical planning—that's already a formidable combination."
"Indeed," Charles agreed. "Which is why it's crucial that we provide proper mentorship regarding responsible power use. Marcus has expressed genuine commitment to using his abilities for protection rather than domination, but good intentions without proper guidance can still lead to problematic outcomes."
"Speaking of protection," Scott interjected, "what exactly is Marcus preparing to protect people from? During my brief interaction with him this morning, he mentioned something about understanding threats that most people can't imagine."
Charles had anticipated this question and prepared a response that was truthful without revealing Marcus's cosmic foreknowledge. "Marcus demonstrates sophisticated understanding of political trends affecting mutant rights and safety. He's aware of government programs targeting enhanced individuals, anti-mutant sentiment in various communities, and the potential for technology to be weaponized against our population. Whether this awareness comes from extensive research, intuitive strategic thinking, or other sources, it's making him proactive about developing capabilities to counter future threats."
"That's actually a healthy approach," Warren said approvingly. "Most students don't think strategically about broader threats until they're directly affected by them. If Marcus is already considering how to protect the community, that suggests mature perspective on power and responsibility."
"My concern," Jean said quietly, "is whether his protective motivations might evolve into something more problematic. History is full of examples of people who started with good intentions but eventually decided that the ends justified increasingly questionable means."
"Which is precisely why ethical guidance is crucial during his development," Charles confirmed. "If we can help Marcus maintain his moral principles while building his capabilities, he has potential to become a significant positive force for mutant rights. If we fail in that guidance, he could become exactly the kind of threat that justifies anti-mutant prejudice."
The weight of that observation settled over the assembled faculty. They'd all seen examples of young mutants whose abilities developed faster than their ethical frameworks, leading to situations that ranged from tragic to catastrophic.
"What about his sister?" Storm asked, redirecting attention to the other half of the twin equation. "Jean, you mentioned meeting her this morning. What were your impressions?"
"Marie is dealing with significant trauma from her initial manifestation," Jean replied thoughtfully. "She accidentally drained her boyfriend's life force during an intimate moment, and she's carrying enormous guilt about having hurt someone she cared about. But she's also remarkably resilient—she's already forming friendships, engaging with coursework, and trusting that we can help her develop control."
"The empathic connection between the twins is particularly interesting," Beast added, consulting his notes. "According to Marcus, they can sense each other's emotional states and share surface thoughts when under stress. That suggests their mutations may have developed complementary features specifically to facilitate mutual support."
"Twins with compatible power sets often develop enhanced connections," Charles confirmed. "In Marie and Marcus's case, that connection appears to provide her with an anchor point for emotional stability, while giving him direct feedback about her wellbeing."
"It also means they're potentially vulnerable if separated," Logan observed with tactical pragmatism. "Anyone who wanted to manipulate one twin could use the other as leverage."
"An unfortunate reality that we'll need to address through security protocols," Charles agreed. "But for now, the empathic connection appears to be supporting both students' adjustment and development."
Scott shifted the discussion toward practical training considerations. "What's our approach to power development for Marcus? If he's integrating abilities from multiple sources, he'll need coordinated training across physical, intellectual, and tactical domains."
"I've already begun working with him on advanced genetic theory," Beast said. "His enhanced intellect is processing material at rates that match my own cognitive capabilities, despite only having achieved three percent integration. By the time he reaches full integration, he may actually exceed my theoretical processing speed due to starting from a younger baseline with greater neuroplasticity."
"I can provide combat training alongside Piotr Rasputin," Logan offered. "The kid's already got some of my enhanced physiology, and he'll need to learn how to use it effectively in confrontational situations. Plus, working with Colossus will expose him to someone whose power philosophy emphasizes protection over aggression."
"I'll coordinate with Jean on tactical scenarios," Scott added. "If Marcus is thinking strategically about future threats, he'll benefit from systematic exposure to complex decision-making under pressure."
"And I can provide perspective on political realities affecting mutant rights," Warren said. "Understanding the social context where his abilities will be used is as important as developing the capabilities themselves."
Charles nodded approvingly at the coordinated approach. "Excellent. This level of faculty coordination will be essential for ensuring Marcus's development remains ethically grounded while optimizing his protective capabilities."
"What about Marie's training?" Jean asked. "She'll need equally careful guidance, just focused on different challenges."
"I'll work with her directly on conscious power control," Charles said. "Systematic meditation practice, controlled exposure scenarios, and careful monitoring of her emotional state during ability activation. With consistent effort, she should achieve basic control within six to twelve months."
"I can help with the emotional regulation aspects," Jean offered. "Absorption abilities often create psychological complications from unwanted memory transfer. Having someone who understands telepathic intrusion might help her process those experiences more effectively."
"I'd appreciate that coordination," Charles said warmly. "Your experience with managing invasive mental content will be invaluable for Marie's development."
The meeting continued for another hour, with faculty members discussing specific training schedules, academic placements, and security protocols for protecting both twins from external threats. But throughout the detailed planning, Charles remained aware of the information he hadn't shared—the truth about Marcus's cosmic reincarnation, his systematic power theft from multiple students and faculty, and his knowledge of future events that could fundamentally alter the timeline.
Those secrets would be revealed to Logan and Storm after the general briefing concluded, but for now, the broader faculty needed only enough information to provide effective guidance without becoming dependent on impossible foreknowledge.
Finally, as the meeting approached its conclusion, Warren raised the question that had been implicit throughout the discussion.
"Professor," he said carefully, "what's our assessment of the broader threat situation? If Marcus is preparing for dangers that most people can't imagine, should we be taking additional security measures beyond our normal protocols?"
Charles was quiet for a moment, considering how to address legitimate concerns without revealing information that would compromise Marcus's trust or create unnecessary alarm.
"Our threat assessment remains consistent with previous evaluations," he said finally. "Government interest in mutant capabilities continues to escalate, anti-mutant sentiment remains prevalent in certain communities, and technological developments suggest that weaponized responses to our population are likely within the next five to ten years. Marcus's awareness of these trends is sophisticated but not fundamentally different from our own intelligence gathering."
It was a carefully calibrated response that acknowledged real threats without suggesting that Marcus possessed unique foreknowledge. The faculty would understand that vigilance remained necessary, but they wouldn't feel compelled to rely on Marcus's supposed insights rather than their own capabilities.
"So we maintain current security while optimizing the twins' development," Scott summarized with military precision. "No dramatic changes to protocols, but careful attention to their specific needs and vulnerabilities."
"Precisely," Charles confirmed. "Unless there are additional questions, I believe we've covered the essential coordination requirements."
Beast closed his tablet with a satisfied air. "This has been most illuminating. I'm looking forward to working with young Mr. D'Ancanto on advanced genetic theory. It's rare to find students whose intellectual capabilities can genuinely challenge my own."
"Just don't let him absorb too much of your enthusiasm for polysyllabic vocabulary," Logan said with dry amusement. "Kid's already got enough going on without adding excessive sesquipedalianism to his communication style."
"The judicious application of sophisticated terminology enhances pedagogical precision," Beast replied with theatrical dignity, then grinned. "But point taken. I shall endeavor to maintain accessibility alongside intellectual rigor."
As the faculty members began gathering their materials and preparing to leave, Charles made brief eye contact with Logan and Storm—a silent signal that they should remain for additional briefing after the others departed.
Jean caught the exchange and paused at the door. "Professor, is there something specific you need Logan and Ororo for, or should Scott and I stay as well?"
"Security consultation regarding external threats," Charles said smoothly. "Nothing that requires tactical team coordination at this time, but I want their assessment of potential Weapon X follow-up operations."
It was plausible enough that Jean nodded understanding and continued out with the others, leaving Charles alone with his two most trusted advisors.
Once the security systems confirmed that the room was completely private, Charles's expression became more serious.
"Thank you for staying," he said quietly. "There are aspects of Marcus D'Ancanto's situation that I haven't disclosed to the broader faculty, and I need your counsel on how to proceed."
Logan's expression shifted into the focused alertness that preceded important strategic discussions. "This about the kid's telepathic immunity? Because that level of resistance isn't natural, Chuck. Something's either protecting him or he's been through trauma that created serious psychological barriers."
"Both, in a manner of speaking," Charles said carefully. "Logan, Ororo—what I'm about to tell you is classified at the highest level. It cannot be shared with other faculty members or students without my explicit authorization. The information raises questions about causality, free will, and the nature of identity that could fundamentally affect how we approach Marcus's development."
Storm leaned forward, her expression serious. "We understand, Professor. What is it about Marcus that requires this level of secrecy?"
Charles took a breath, preparing to share information that would sound like complete fantasy if it came from anyone other than the world's most powerful telepath.
"Marcus D'Ancanto is not entirely who he appears to be," Charles began. "Three days ago, a seventeen-year-old boy named Caleb James Smith died in Jefferson, Missouri—killed by his girlfriend's father during what he described as a 'baseball bat incident.' Instead of experiencing normal death, CJ Smith encountered what he calls an omnipotent being named Rob, who offered him reincarnation in any fictional universe as compensation for dying sixty years earlier than scheduled due to a cosmic clerical error."
Logan's eyebrows rose toward his hairline. "You're telling me the kid's a reincarnated soul from another universe?"
"That's his claim, and I have no reason to doubt it," Charles confirmed. "His telepathic immunity prevents me from verifying the story through mental contact, but his behavior, knowledge, and motivations are all consistent with someone who has genuine memories of a previous life."
"What universe did he come from?" Storm asked, her tone suggesting she was trying to process information that challenged her understanding of reality's fundamental structure.
"According to Marcus, he came from a universe where our reality exists as fiction," Charles explained. "Specifically, as comic books published by a company called Marvel Comics. CJ Smith spent years reading stories about mutants, the X-Men, and various threats to our population. He chose to be reincarnated as Marie D'Ancanto's twin brother specifically to prevent her from experiencing the isolation and trauma that characterized her storyline in those fictional narratives."
Logan was quiet for a long moment, his enhanced senses telling him that Charles was being completely sincere about information that sounded utterly insane.
"So the kid knows our future," Logan said finally. "Or at least, he knows possible futures from comic book storylines that may or may not apply to actual reality."
"Precisely," Charles confirmed. "And that knowledge is informing his strategic planning, his power development choices, and his protective motivations regarding his sister and the school's broader population."
"That explains his sophisticated threat awareness," Storm observed. "If he's read stories about government persecution, and other dangers to mutants, he's operating with intelligence that we've had to gather through decades of careful observation."
"It also explains why he's being so systematic about ability absorption," Logan added grimly. "Kid's not just building random powers—he's assembling a strategic toolkit designed to counter specific threats he knows are coming."
"My concern," Charles said carefully, "is whether we should rely on Marcus's foreknowledge for our own strategic planning. If his information is accurate, it could provide significant advantages for protecting our students and advancing mutant rights. But becoming dependent on cosmic refugees with impossible knowledge seems like a dangerous precedent to establish."
Logan considered this with the tactical pragmatism that had kept him alive through decades of violent conflict. "Two questions, Chuck. First, has anything the kid predicted actually happened yet? And second, does he understand that his presence here has probably already changed whatever timeline he thinks he knows?"
"Both excellent points," Charles acknowledged. "Marcus admits that his foreknowledge is unreliable because his presence represents a significant deviation from the comic book storylines. He's a cosmic insertion with systematic power absorption capabilities—that alone probably invalidates many of the specific events he remembers."
"So we can't depend on his predictions," Storm summarized, "but we can use his general awareness of threat categories to inform our own intelligence gathering and strategic planning."
"Exactly," Charles agreed. "I don't want the faculty becoming passive observers waiting for Marcus to tell them what happens next. But I also don't want to completely ignore information that could help us prevent catastrophic outcomes."
"What about the kid's power absorption?" Logan asked. "You told the others he can only integrate three abilities at a time. I'm guessing there's more to it than that?"
Charles nodded grimly. "Marcus's absorption system includes what he calls an 'inventory'—unlimited storage for abilities he's scanned but hasn't actively integrated. He can apparently hold dozens or hundreds of powers in reserve, waiting to activate them when strategic slots become available."
"That's a hell of a lot more dangerous than the limited version you told everyone else about," Logan observed.
"Which is why I haven't disclosed it publicly," Charles said. "If the faculty knew Marcus could potentially absorb abilities from every powerful mutant on the planet and store them indefinitely, they might view him as a threat rather than a student. And if that information leaked beyond the school, it would make him a priority target for every organization interested in weaponizing mutant capabilities."
Storm's expression showed understanding of the security implications. "So we protect Marcus by limiting who knows the full scope of his abilities, while ensuring he receives proper ethical guidance to prevent abuse of his power accumulation potential."
"Precisely," Charles confirmed. "Logan, Ororo—I need you both to serve as mentors for Marcus, providing tactical and strategic guidance while also monitoring for signs that his power accumulation is affecting his ethical framework. If he begins showing concerning patterns, I need to know immediately."
"You want us to be his teachers and his watchers," Logan said flatly. "Making sure the cosmic refugee with unlimited power storage doesn't turn into a walking weapons platform."
"In less dramatic terms, yes," Charles agreed. "Though I should note that Marcus has demonstrated consistent commitment to protective rather than dominating uses of power. His motivations appear genuinely altruistic."
"For now," Logan said with the cynicism that came from long experience with power corrupting good people. "But Chuck, you know as well as I do that unlimited power accumulation changes people. Kid might start out wanting to protect his sister, but eventually he's gonna realize he can do whatever he wants and nobody can stop him."
"Which is why ethical mentorship is crucial during his developmental period," Charles said firmly. "If we can help Marcus maintain his principles while building his capabilities, he has potential to become a significant force for good. If we fail, he becomes exactly the kind of threat that justifies anti-mutant persecution."
Storm was thoughtful for a moment before speaking. "Professor, has Marcus shared any specific information about threats we should prepare for? Not predictions about when things will happen, but general categories of danger that his foreknowledge suggests are likely?"
"Several," Charles said, appreciating Storm's focus on actionable intelligence rather than deterministic predictions. "He mentioned Sentinel programs—advanced robots designed to hunt mutants. Government registration initiatives that could lead to concentration camps. Increasing coordination between anti-mutant organizations. And something he called 'cosmic-level threats' that he was less specific about."
"Sentinels would require significant technological development and government funding," Storm observed. "We should monitor defense contractor activities and relevant legislative proposals."
"Already coordinating with Warren on that front," Charles confirmed. "His family's business connections provide useful intelligence about military technology programs."
Logan shifted the discussion back to immediate concerns. "What about the kid's sister? Marie's situation seems straightforward enough, but if Marcus is a cosmic refugee, does that mean she's something unusual too?"
"Marie appears to be exactly what she seems—Marcus's twin sister whose absorption abilities manifested traumatically," Charles replied. "Though I should note that Marcus chose to be reincarnated specifically as her brother, which suggests he views their relationship as central to his protective mission."
"Strong motivation for keeping his moral compass aligned," Logan observed. "As long as protecting his sister remains his primary goal, he's less likely to go off the rails with power accumulation."
"My assessment as well," Charles agreed. "Which is why I'm encouraging the empathic connection between them rather than trying to reduce it. Marie serves as Marcus's emotional anchor, reminding him why he's developing these capabilities."
The three of them continued discussing strategic implications, security protocols, and mentorship approaches for another thirty minutes. By the time the classified briefing concluded, Logan and Storm had a clear understanding of Marcus's true nature and the delicate balance required to guide his development without either becoming dependent on his foreknowledge or allowing his power accumulation to proceed without ethical oversight.
"One last question," Logan said as they prepared to conclude the meeting. "Does the kid know we know about his cosmic reincarnation?"
"He knows I'm aware," Charles confirmed. "But he doesn't know I've shared the information with you. I'd prefer to maintain that discretion—if Marcus believes only I have access to his full story, he's more likely to continue being honest about his development and motivations."
"Works for me," Logan agreed. "Kid trusts you, and that trust is valuable for keeping him on the right path."
As Logan and Storm departed for their evening responsibilities—Logan to begin his patrol of the mansion's perimeter, Storm to conduct her nightly weather monitoring—Charles remained in the conference room, considering the extraordinary situation he was managing.
A cosmically reincarnated teenager with unlimited power storage potential and foreknowledge of possible futures. A traumatized girl with life-draining abilities that could eventually rival some of the most powerful mutants alive. And between them, an empathic connection that represented both their greatest strength and their most significant vulnerability.
It was, Charles reflected, exactly the kind of impossible situation that defined life at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
But it was also an opportunity—to help two extraordinary young people develop their capabilities responsibly, to prevent tragic storylines from manifesting in actual reality, and to demonstrate that even cosmic refugees with stolen powers deserved guidance rather than persecution.
*The question,* Charles thought as he prepared to return to his private quarters, *is whether my guidance will be sufficient to prevent Marcus from becoming the kind of threat that his power accumulation potential represents.*
*Or whether I'm simply watching the origin story of someone who will eventually decide that unlimited power justifies unlimited action.*
*Time will tell.*
*It always does.*
---
**[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION - COSMIC OBSERVATION LOG]**
**[SUBJECT: MARCUS D'ANCANTO]**
**[CURRENT STATUS: INTEGRATION PHASE PROGRESSING]**
**[FACULTY AWARENESS: PARTIAL - KEY PERSONNEL BRIEFED ON REINCARNATION]**
**[ETHICAL FRAMEWORK: DEVELOPMENT IN PROGRESS]**
**[POWER ACCUMULATION: ACCELERATING ACCORDING TO PROJECTIONS]**
**[OBSERVATION: SUBJECT DEMONSTRATES CONSISTENT PROTECTIVE MOTIVATIONS]**
**[CONCERN: UNLIMITED STORAGE POTENTIAL CREATES LONG-TERM CORRUPTION RISK]**
**[RECOMMENDATION: MAINTAIN CURRENT MENTORSHIP APPROACH]**
**[COSMIC FORCES MONITORING: PHOENIX RESONANCE STABLE]**
**[TIMELINE DEVIATION: MODERATE AND INCREASING]**
**[PROBABILITY OF MAJOR STORYLINE ALTERATIONS: 73.4%]**
**[ROB'S NOTATION: "Subject exceeding expectations. Recommend continued observation and minimal intervention. Let's see if he can actually save this timeline, or if I just created a more interesting version of the same problems."]**
---
*Somewhere in the cosmic realm where omnipotent beings monitored the fates of reincarnated souls, Rob updated Marcus D'Ancanto's file with growing interest.*
*The game was progressing nicely.*
*Now to see if the player could handle the increasing difficulty level.*
---
Hey fellow fanfic enthusiasts!
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Whether you loved it, hated it, or have some constructive criticism, your feedback is super important to me. Feel free to drop a comment or send me a message with your thoughts. Can't wait to hear from you!
If you're passionate about fanfiction and love discussing stories, characters, and plot twists, then you're in the right place! I've created a Discord (HHHwRsB6wd) server dedicated to diving deep into the world of fanfiction, especially my own stories. Whether you're a reader, a writer, or just someone who enjoys a good tale, I welcome you to join us for lively discussions, feedback sessions, and maybe even some sneak peeks into upcoming chapters, along with artwork related to the stories. Let's nerd out together over our favorite fandoms and explore the endless possibilities of storytelling!
Can't wait to see you there!