By the time Charles and the other two returned to the CIA, it was already daytime.
Their operation had gone fairly smoothly. Although they hadn't encountered Shaw, they had captured the White Queen.
The White Queen could turn her entire body into diamond. With that ability, she resisted Charles's telepathic powers.
But Erik broke through her defense, leaving her temporarily unable to transform into diamond. Charles then searched the woman's mind and learned Shaw's entire plan, discovering that the madman intended to start World War III.
They hurried back to warn everyone, only to find that the base had been destroyed. All the agents were dead, and only Raven and the others had survived.
When they arrived at the base, Charles saw Raven and the others sitting on benches outside.
Seeing that these young people were safe, Charles finally let out a sigh of relief.
He hugged Raven and said sincerely, "Thank goodness. I'm so glad you're all right."
Raven looked toward one end of the bench, "We're all alive. We should be thanking Mr. John."
"Mr. John?", Charles followed Raven's gaze, and his eyes fell on Alex.
Out of habit, he tried to probe Alex's memories. But just as he entered Alex's mind, he heard a voice say, ["If I were you, I wouldn't do that, Charles."]
["It's very rude."]
He saw Alex looking at him with a smile, lightly tapping his own head.
Charles immediately withdrew from Alex's mind and said quietly, "Mr. John has telepathic abilities too?"
"Telepathic abilities?"
Raven paused, then said, "No. Mr. John can fire something like lasers, just like Alex(Havok). His speed and strength are unbelievable. He smashed one of the enemies to pieces with a single collision."
"But he wants us to keep it a secret. He doesn't want the woman with him to know he has such powerful abilities."
When she mentioned the "woman with him," Raven sounded a little sour. She couldn't help looking at Caitlin beside Alex.
Caitlin had already woken up. Thanks to Alex's "care," no one had told her that Alex had killed two enemies in an instant.
By the way, because she had intended to join Shaw earlier, Angel had been too embarrassed to stay after Shaw left. While Alex was taking a shower, she flew away on her own.
Letting go, Charles walked over to Alex and the others and said, "We already know what happened."
"I'm sorry you had to go through all that."
"Next, I'll send you home, back where you belong."
"Home."
Charles had originally planned to gather a group of mutants to fight Shaw. But after what had happened last night, he felt Shaw was too dangerous. These young people were still immature, and they shouldn't be dragged into this.
At the same time, what happened last night had changed Charles as well.
He began to shed the carefree nature of a playboy. He started to develop a sense of responsibility and duty and began moving toward becoming Professor X.
"No."
The mutant Darwin shook his head, "I'm not leaving."
"That Shaw, I can tell he's a madman."
"He told us last night that a revolution was coming."
"I think he's planning to do something earth-shaking. I don't know exactly what it is, but I'm sure it won't be anything good."
"I think it's my duty to stop him. If I know about it and don't do anything, I won't be able to live with myself."
Alex(Havok) nodded as well, "They killed a lot of people last night. I've never seen anyone so crazy."
"Darwin's right. If we didn't know, that would be one thing. But now that we know someone this dangerous exists, we have a responsibility to stop him."
"I want to do my part, sir."
"And besides, wasn't this your reason for gathering us in the first place?"
Charles shook his head, "No. It's over."
"It's too dangerous."
"I don't want anything to happen to you."
"They're not children anymore."
Erik walked over as he spoke.
"After what happened last night, they're no longer the same as before."
"I see a change in them. They can make the world a better place."
Charles frowned and turned around, "Can we talk over there?"
The two of them walked aside. Charles spread his hands, "Erik, I don't think we should keep dragging them into this."
"They're already involved, Charles."
Erik said calmly, "Shaw has already seen them. Even if you send them home now, do you think Shaw will leave them alone?"
"No. I know him too well."
Erik remembered what had happened more than ten years ago.
Back then, he had just awakened his abilities.
Shaw had been very interested in his powers and conducted many experiments. The cruelest one was forcing him to demonstrate his ability within a time limit, or else Shaw would kill Erik's mother.
Erik failed.
Even now, he could not forget the gunshot that killed his mother.
It appeared in every midnight dream, reminding Erik that he had to kill Shaw and avenge his mother.
It was his hatred for Shaw that had supported Erik all the way to this day.
It was also that hatred that drew out Erik's potential.
Erik's words made Charles waver.
He knew Erik was right. Even if he sent these young people home now, Shaw would still come after them.
Seeing Charles hesitate, Erik continued, "Sending them away only lets you convince yourself that you've fulfilled your responsibility."
"But in reality, Charles, teaching them, guiding them, giving them the ability to protect themselves, that's fulfilling your responsibility."
"We're the ones who dragged them into this. Now, you can't solve it by simply pushing them away."
"All right."
Charles walked back with his hands in his pockets and looked at the young people, "You can stay. But you'll have to undergo special training."
"No problem," Darwin nodded, then asked hesitantly, "Could we have Mr. John train us?"
Alex(Havok) also said, "That's right. Mr. John definitely has the ability to train us."
The previous night, Alex had easily dealt with the Red Devil and the long-haired man, leaving a deep impression on these young people.
If they needed training, then naturally they wanted guidance from someone strong.
Without question, Alex was the most suitable person.
Raven also said, "Charles, trust me. Mr. John is beyond anything you can imagine. He's the strongest person I've ever met."
"All right," Charles rubbed his nose and walked over. Standing beside Alex, he gave a light cough, "Mr. John, I wonder if you'd be willing to stay."
"They seem to rely on you."
Alex smiled, "No problem."
If Alex had wanted to leave, he would have done so last night after killing the Red Devil and the long-haired man.
Although he had considered leaving this morning.
After thinking it over carefully, he decided to stay.
Because before long, the stories involving Apocalypse and the Dark Phoenix would happen.
Those two were among the things in the X-Men universe that interested Alex the most.
So Alex thought he might as well do Charles a favor now.
Later on, whether it was getting close to Jean, who possessed the Phoenix Force, or testing himself against Apocalypse, it would be more convenient.
But most importantly, by staying with Charles, he would meet Shaw again.
Alex was quite interested in Shaw's energy absorption ability.
And so the matter was settled.
Afterward, since the base was no longer safe, everyone began relocating to a new place.