Charles knew exactly what Shaw and Erik had said.
During their conversation, Erik had maintained a mental link with him. Through that, Charles had already learned Shaw's plan.
But-
There was no need to care.
To Shaw, it was a grand conspiracy. One that would inevitably split Erik and Charles apart.
That judgment was based on Shaw's understanding.
If things had followed the original timeline, Shaw would have been right. Erik and Charles would have gone their separate ways, and the conflict between mutants and humans would have continued to escalate until it became impossible to resolve.
But now, under Morin's guidance, Charles and Erik had found a new road.
A road Morin called "mutant characteristic socialism."
And they were confident.
Because they had strength.
Enough strength.
They didn't need words.
They looked at each other and smiled.
At the same time-
The Pentagon. United States.
"I propose that the entire fleet launch a full bombardment on the plane," a general raised his hand.
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
Hands went up one after another.
They had all seen it.
They had seen what mutants could do.
If this threat couldn't be controlled-
Then it had to be destroyed.
"I-" The CIA director was about to raise his hand.
The deputy director beside him grabbed his wrist and forced it down.
"We still have an agent on that plane."
"She died for her country," the CIA director said flatly.
"That's an honor."
He raised his hand again.
"Seconded."
"Unanimous vote. Entire fleet-missile volley."
The Kremlin. Soviet Union.
"Unanimous vote. Entire fleet-missile volley."
"They've locked onto us!" Hank shouted, staring at the radar alarms.
"Locked onto us?" Moira asked.
"Everyone," Hank replied.
Below them, Soviet and American warships simultaneously adjusted their cannons.
All barrels aimed at the plane.
"Wait!" Moira grabbed the communicator.
"Fleet commander, this is XB-70 team leader. Repeat, please stop the attack immediately! The insurgents have been dealt with!"
The radio operator looked at the captain.
"Sir, the plane is requesting an immediate ceasefire."
"Do you think the people in the Pentagon don't know?" the captain scoffed.
He sighed and waved his hand.
"Fire."
"Yes, sir."
The next moment-
Both fleets opened fire.
Missiles and shells poured into the sky, locking onto the plane.
If they hit, there wouldn't even be wreckage.
Not even ashes.
"To be honest," Erik said calmly, "if it weren't for what the teacher taught us, I'd probably have thrown everything back already."
"There's no need now," Charles sighed.
The decision to attack without hesitation disappointed him.
It also hardened his resolve.
Working with Erik was the right choice.
"Make your move," Charles said quietly. "Then I'll speak."
"Okay."
Erik clenched his fist.
In the sky, every missile and shell froze.
Fuel valves shut off automatically.
Then-
They turned around.
All of them.
And flew straight back toward the fleets.
Erik had Hank reopen the hatch.
He and Charles floated out of the plane and landed on the warships.
"Ready?" Erik asked.
"Wait until you're done," Charles replied.
"Heh. Already finished."
"Start."
"Ahem," Charles said. "Can you hear me? This is Charles Xavier."
His voice traveled through the magnetic field Erik controlled.
It echoed through ship speakers.
Through radios.
Through the Pentagon.
Through the Kremlin.
After showing strength, benefits had to follow.
Otherwise, what was the point?
"As you know," Charles continued calmly, "I am a mutant. Mutants are the result of genetic mutation, but they are still human."
He paused.
"Due to the special nature of mutant abilities and their potential danger, we have concluded that mutants require a new set of laws-laws that protect and regulate them."
"However," he continued, "based on your actions, we do not believe you are qualified to handle this matter."
"So," Charles said softly, "after discussion, we have decided that I will negotiate with you as our representative."
"Please don't misunderstand."
"This is not a request."
"And it is not a threat."
"It is a decision."
"We do not want war. But we will not allow our people to be bullied, dissected, or treated as monsters."
"If you insist on war," Charles said calmly, "then believe me-the power we can unleash exceeds your imagination."
"We look forward to future cooperation."
He never mentioned founding a mutant nation.
Only new laws.
It was deliberate.
If they had demanded a nation outright, no country would agree.
A few mutants were already terrifying.
Gather them all?
That would instantly create the strongest power on Earth.
No nation would tolerate it.
So Charles chose a slower approach.
Stabilize first.
Lay the foundation.
Two years.
When the time Morin mentioned arrived, everything would be ready.
Charles gave Erik a signal.
Erik cut the broadcast.
Then he controlled all missiles to collide midair.
Explosions lit up the sky.
After that, they returned to the plane.
Hank flew away.
"Have you considered the consequences?" Moira asked quietly.
"I thought you'd say we shouldn't have done it," Charles raised an eyebrow.
"If this were before," Moira said, shaking her head, "I would have."
"But now... you had a reason."
Mutants.
Agents.
Even herself.
They were discarded without hesitation.
She understood the decision.
She just couldn't accept it.
"We dared to do it because we had a plan," Charles said.
He and Erik exchanged a smile.
Moira: "..."
I should have been outside the plane.
Not inside.
Why does your relationship feel so strange?
"Alright," Morin suddenly raised his notebook.
"Assignment complete. As your teacher, I've graded your work."
Everyone stiffened instantly.
Grades were terrifying.
"First-Charles," Morin pointed.
"Lowest score. You know why."
"...," Charles smiled bitterly.
He knew.
In theory, he could have controlled Azazel immediately.
But he hesitated.
If Azazel hadn't chosen Morin as his target-
Someone might have died.
A serious mistake.
He accepted the score.
Just... not the punishment.
"We'll talk about punishment later," Morin said cheerfully.
Charles: "???"
Why would you say that now?
That just makes it worse.
"Second-Erik."
"Second lowest."
"It's one thing that Charles reacted late. But did you really use everything you had just to control those weapons?"
"Breaking off iron particles and distributing them in the cabin was that hard?"
"...," Erik nodded obediently.
"We'll discuss your punishment later too."
Hank ranked highest.
Diligent.
Careful.
No mistakes.
Alex, still dependent on the focusing plate, ranked near the bottom.
Sean did well.
He used resonance to embarrass Shaw.
Fourth from the bottom-
Which was basically near the top.
As for Raven-
The battle ended too quickly.
She did nothing.
Morin didn't even give her a score.
Slacker.
Couch potato.
Still, with Charles and Erik protecting her, she could afford it.
The rest of the flight passed in silence.
Morin didn't care about reactions in Washington or Moscow.
That wasn't his responsibility.
A teacher taught skills.
The rest was on the students.
If Morin handled everything himself, it would be easy.
Too easy.
And useless.
Students who never practice never grow.
Even if Morin built a mutant nation for them, it would collapse after he left.
Easy gains were never cherished.
And he had no obligation to do it for them.
There was only one thing left.
Punishment.
Though Morin's punishments were always beneficial.
Charles and Erik knew that.
On the lawn of Charles's estate-
"This is the last thing I can advise you," Morin said seriously.
"We understand," Charles and Erik replied.
"Good," Morin said, holding out his hand.
"Pay first."
Charles and Erik: "???"
"This knowledge has never been taught to anyone else," Morin said solemnly.
"To make you understand its value, I have to charge."
In truth, he just needed one last push to advance his [Teacher] profession.
But they didn't know that.
They understood it as tradition.
A ritual.
They paid immediately.
More than necessary.
Morin accepted it without looking.
Then he spoke.
"I can see fragments of the future," Morin said.
"I chose you to change fate. To prevent war and tragedy."
"But remember-fragments can be changed."
"Study hard."
"Manage scientifically."
"Adhere to socialist core ideology."
"And your future will succeed."
"Then... what about you, Teacher?" Charles asked.
"I'm going to travel," Morin smiled.
"Don't let me hear that you were defeated."
"Or I'll come back."
"And punish you."
Then-
He vanished.
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