X-MEN
The First Class 9/10
Chapter Nine: New Semester
Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters
Westchester County, New York
The cold air had settled over the estate like a blanket, soft, crisp, and still. Most days, the sun never quite broke through the haze of winter, and the grounds remained quiet, serene, a deceptive calm after weeks of chaos.
Inside the mansion, Jean Grey moved slowly through the halls, wrapped in a soft gray hoodie over her uniform top, the yellow and navy fabric peeking through at the collar. Her movements were careful, not sluggish, just… tired.
The fight with Namor had taken more from her than anyone expected. Her powers had begun to surge in waves, bursts of incredible energy. Flickers of thought and impulse she hadn't intended, lifting cups without meaning to, hearing thoughts she hadn't reached for. And when she focused too hard, things started to burn.
For a week now, she'd been skipping Danger Room sessions. She only did what was necessary no more, no less. Fewer group workouts. Letting herself rest. Not because she wanted to, or because she was told to, but because she needed to.
Still, she smiled when Bobby appeared from the common room, a popsicle in his mouth, waving at her like he hadn't just frozen the entire vending machine for a root beer. Whoops, there it was again. She'd read Bobby's mind without meaning to.
Then the intercom blared through the building. The Professor's calm voice echoed down the halls. "Jean, could you please come to my office?"
"Uh oh," Bobby said with mock drama. "Professor called you to his study. What'd you do?"
Jean raised an eyebrow. "Why do you assume I did something?"
"Because it's always the redheads," Bobby said, grinning, though Jean couldn't quite tell if it was an insult or just a bad attempt at a joke.
Hank stepped around the corner with a book under his arm and offered Jean a warm smile. "Ignore him. If the Professor wanted to scold you, he'd have sent Scott."
"Comforting," Jean muttered, smiling as she made her way up the main stairs.
Out of her view, a small plant suddenly caught fire. Without missing a beat, Bobby froze the flames, and Hank quickly made a "keep quiet" gesture. Bobby just nodded.
Once Jean was completely out of sight, Bobby whispered to Hank, "Man, I thought it was bad, but this is getting ridiculous. I've put out fifteen fires just today. She really needs a break from superhero work."
Hank nodded solemnly and said in confidence to Bobby, "I sincerely hope the Professor gives her one."
As Jean traveled toward the Professor's office, a thought came to her mind, the Institute was growing. She passed several classrooms, some freshly painted, others filled with new desks and digital whiteboards. Bookshelves lined the walls, maps and posters neatly pinned, but the seats were still empty.
A few classrooms already had names on the doors, professors assigned to teach there.
Mathematics was assigned to Hank McCoy. This wasn't a surprise even though he was only 18 years old, after all he was a genius, already a Harvard graduate before joining the team. Then Jean saw the door for World Literature and found the name Ororo Munroe. Jean made a mental note to ask about her later. And finally in Ethics was the Professor, Charles Xavier.
The halls echoed with a strange anticipation. This was going to be a real school soon, filled with students, friends… maybe even a future.
But that was an idea for another time. Right now, the Professor was waiting. Jean had arrived at his office.
The doors to the Professor's study opened at her mental push, a habit now. Charles Xavier sat behind his antique desk, a cup of steaming tea beside a thick folder marked with the FBI logo.
He looked up and smiled as she stepped in. "Come in, Jean. It's always nice to see you. Rest assured, you're not in trouble."
She smirked. "You know, Bobby said you'd say that."
Charles chuckled, motioning for her to sit. The fire crackled in the hearth behind him, casting warm shadows across the wood-paneled walls.
"I've been monitoring your powers since the encounter with Namor," he said gently. "You've felt it, haven't you? The surges."
Jean nodded slowly. "Yeah. It's like there's… more. And it wants to come out all the time."
"You're evolving, Jean. Your mind is pushing the boundaries of what it's known. But it also means we must proceed with care. Your strength is remarkable, but so is the potential for instability." He folded his hands. "I want you to take a break from all field missions for now. No more Brotherhood or Namor encounters for a while."
Jean looked surprised, then nodded slowly. The Professor tapped the folder beside him.
"But that's not the only reason I called you here."
Jean straightened. "So there is a mission for me?"
"Yes," Xavier said. "And it's an important one. As you've noticed, the Institute is nearly complete. In just a few months, we'll open enrollment. Mutants from across the country will be invited to join us—to be educated, protected… understood."
He opened the folder and slid a series of documents across the desk. "These were provided by Agent Duncan. There's been recent activity near Midtown High, in Queens. The FBI suspects at least three individuals with suspected or active mutations are attending the school."
Jean picked up the first file. A mutant codenamed Sketch, it's abilities related to bringing drawings to life. There were reports of a T-rex sketch appearing in the stands at a football game, but nothing concrete.
The second file contained the mutant with the codename Push, a telekinetic. Basic manifestations only. Either their powers had only recently emerged, or something was causing them to repress them.
And the third file was... Huh. Jean had to do a double take. Half the document was redacted.
SUBJECT: SPIDER-MAN
Status: Unconfirmed mutant.
Observed strength, agility, wall-crawling, spider-themed weaponry.
Multiple sightings near Midtown High.
No verified identity. Possible mutant origin.
Jean blinked. "Wait. Spider-Man? That Spider-Man? The wrestler turned hero, that Spider-Man?!"
Xavier nodded. "Yes. At first, I heard of him the same way you did, a wrestler with a spider motif. But something changed. He became a hero, patrolling New York and fighting crime. The FBI began investigating him soon after. They now suspect he may attend Midtown High. His identity remains hidden, and they can't confirm if he's a mutant, but he's young, powerful, and potentially dangerous if left unsupported."
Jean sat back. "And you want me to… transfer?"
"My plan is for you to attend for a semester, perhaps longer if needed, all depends on what we discover. You'll enroll as a student, blend in, observe. If any of these students are mutants, your job is to connect with them. Guide them, if possible. If not, contact me. It will also serve as a much-needed break. I strongly advise you not to overuse your powers. We don't yet know what consequences that might have."
Jean glanced back at the files, at the photos, at the small fragments of lives no one else really understood.
She thought of her outbursts. Of how each of her friends in the X-Men had come here after their own tragedies. Maybe she could help these mutants at Midtown High before that happened to them.
She looked at the Professor. "I'll go."
Xavier smiled. "You'll start next semester—January. Though I may use a few contacts to enroll you sooner, perhaps before the Halloween parties begin. How long you'll stay… remains to be seen."
To Be Continued...