Chapter 15

Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning

Nestled in the heart of Westchester County, the sprawling mansion that housed the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning stood as both a sanctuary and a training ground for young mutants. The stately manor, with its ivy-covered walls and grand architecture, exuded an air of history and purpose. The meticulously maintained grounds were dotted with students, each with unique abilities, training and learning to control their powers. This was the home of the X-Men, the first line of defense against threats to mutantkind and the world.

Inside the mansion, Professor Charles Xavier sat in deep contemplation. The events of the past week weighed heavily on his mind. He had been jolted awake by the blaring alarms of Cerebro, the machine specifically designed to detect mutants by amplifying his telepathic abilities. The alarm signified the detection of an unusually large mutant signature, one that rivaled the likes of Jean Grey. Charles couldn't shake the feeling of unease. 'It's the same as three months ago, Could this really be another Omega-level mutant? If so, Magneto would certainly catch wind of this as well. But why did the signature vanish so abruptly?'

"Professor."

The voice pulled Charles from his thoughts. He turned to see Hank McCoy, also known as Beast, standing at the door of his classroom. "Class dismissed," Charles announced, turning to follow Hank.

As they moved through the hallways of the mansion, Charles inquired, "What's the progress?"

Hank adjusted his glasses as they walked. "I've recalibrated Cerebro to detect those on the verge of activation as well as register new energy signatures. Logan and Ororo are already there, and I've instructed the students to stay in their rooms."

"Thank you, Hank," Charles replied. They continued their journey down to the basement, where Cerebro was located. The basement, far into the left-wing, was an area few ventured into and always seemed to remain unscathed during attacks on the manor.

At the entrance to Cerebro's chamber, Hank activated the biometric scanner. "Accepted…00 Professor X…01, Beast…02," a metallic voice echoed, and the door slid open with a soft creak.

Inside the hollow chamber, Cerebro sat in the center, a beacon of technology and mutant detection. Hank moved to adjust the machine, while Charles addressed the others present. "Report."

Logan, ever the pragmatist, growled, "Beast says it was a false reading."

Ororo Munroe, also known as Storm, frowned. "Is such a thing possible, Professor?"

"I'm afraid not, Ororo," Charles replied. "Mutant signatures are distinct compared to other superhumans. Cerebro was designed specifically to detect them."

Beast, now dangling from the ceiling, flipped down and landed gracefully. "Cerebro detected a signature a week ago it's the same as the one we detected three months ago, but it's unlike any I've seen before. It vanished completely again, almost as if it didn't exist." He handed Charles a tablet with the details.

Charles studied the tablet, humming thoughtfully. "Well, let's see if we can locate finally the source." He rolled towards Cerebro and placed the helmet on his head.

As Cerebro activated, the colors on the display indicated human signatures in blue and mutants as red. Charles closed his eyes, allowing the voices of billions to flow through him. He focused on New York City, the origin of the anomaly, but found nothing. His thoughts raced. 'How could I not sense them? Could the mutant have died?'

Logan, sensing Charles' frustration, asked, "What's going on, Chuck?"

"I still can't locate the person responsible for the energy signature," Charles admitted. He decided to try a different approach. "I want to test a theory."

The room's display shifted to blue, indicating a search for potential mutant activity through the minds of the humans. Ororo watched intently. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Testing a theory," Charles replied, his mind probing for any trace of the anomaly. Suddenly, he noticed something unusual. "That's strange," he muttered, delving into the minds of people present in New York during the event.

He saw flashes of memories: a figure with his back turned, fighting a massive creature. Charles recognized the beast. 'The Abomination and... Hulk?'

He shifted his focus to Tony Stark's mind, whispering, "Forgive me." Through Tony's eyes, he replayed the battle, catching glimpses of the mysterious figure. "Gojo Satoru," he heard Tony say.

Charles' eyes widened as he processed the name. He realized the figure was not only young but currently residing in Bayville. His mind raced back to the mansion, and the room turned red, indicating a mutant presence. Just then, Jean Grey and Scott Summers entered the room.

"How's the progress, Professor?" Scott asked, noticing the tension.

Logan answered, "He's still on it, as you can see."

Charles' mind focused on the location he had seen in Tony's memories. He sent a gentle probe, only to hit an impenetrable mental barrier. He winced from the impact, feeling immense energy in the Astral Plane. Suddenly, he was pulled into a different reality, floating in space.

'Where am I? How did I get into space?'

Charles wondered, panic rising as he observed the vast expanse of stars and supernovae around him.

A pair of gigantic planet-like beautiful blue eyes, like gemstones, opened behind him. The immense psychic energy was overwhelming. "First it was Yao and now you? I don't have time to entertain you but try to intrude on my mind again, Xavier, and believe me, I will subject your mind to an unending cycle of torment without any hope of release. Now, GET OUT."

Charles' astral form was consumed by a wave of energy, jolting his physical body. Ororo hurriedly removed the helmet. "Are you alright?"

Charles nodded slowly, regaining his bearings. "It's definitely a mutant… But I fear I may have just left a bad impression on the young man."

"Is he in any danger?" Ororo asked.

"No, he's the one who helped the Avengers last week. I don't think he's a danger," Charles said, pausing to catch his breath. "I could feel a bit of his emotion, mostly frustration. But there was no sense of danger, apart from his warning to keep out of his mind."

Jean moved closer to check on the Professor. "Who is the mutant?" she asked.

After a moment of silence, Charles replied, "I am sure you and Scott know him as Gojo Satoru."

Jean and Scott exchanged shocked glances. "Gojo Satoru? As in Bayville High Gojo?" Jean asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Scott and Jean exchanged glances, their minds racing with a mix of astonishment and shock. For Scott, the revelation that their friend Gojo Satoru was a mutant brought a wave of conflicting emotions. He had known Gojo for years at Bayville High, where they had shared classes and occasional conversations. Scott respected Gojo's intellect and quiet confidence, but never suspected the extent of his abilities. Now, confronted with the knowledge that Gojo possessed powers comparable to their own, Scott couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship and solidarity.

Jean, on the other hand, felt a surge of empathy and understanding. "He's like me!" As a fellow telepath, Jean had experienced firsthand the challenges and responsibilities that came with their abilities. Discovering that Gojo shared their gifts invoked a sense of connection and shared experience. She wondered how Gojo had managed to keep his powers hidden for so long, and what struggles he might have faced in doing so.

"Yes, Jean," Charles confirmed, his tone serious. "From what I saw in Tony Stark's mind, he possesses extraordinary powers."

Logan, ever the skeptic, grumbled, "So what's the deal with this kid, Chuck? What's he capable of?"

Charles took a deep breath. "Based on the memories I accessed, Gojo has formidable telekinesis and telepathy. He was able to fight off the Hulk and the Abomination with ease. His telekinesis is incredibly precise and powerful, and his telepathy... it's unlike anything I've encountered. He created an impenetrable mental barrier that even I couldn't breach."

"Another telepath and telekinetic at that level?" Ororo mused, her eyes wide. "That's concerning."

Jean's mind raced. "Professor, could he be an Omega-level mutant?"

"It's possible," Charles admitted. "His abilities seem to go beyond what we've classified as Omega-level. His mental defenses are so strong that I was transported into a different reality just by attempting to probe his mind."

Hank adjusted his glasses, deep in thought. "This level of power could be both a blessing and a curse. If he's not in control or if he doesn't understand his abilities, he could be a threat to himself and others."

Scott, always the strategist, asked, "So, he's like Jean with his power set but also capable of teleportation like Kurt?"

"Yes," Charles confirmed. "He can teleport, and his telekinesis and telepathy are incredibly advanced. We need to approach him carefully."

Logan crossed his arms. "So what's the plan, Chuck? Do we bring him here?"

Charles considered the question. "We need to make contact with him first. Given his abilities and the warning he gave me, we must be cautious. It might be best to approach him in person, with some of us ready to provide support if needed."

Jean nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'll prepare myself for the contact."

Ororo added, "And we'll be ready to support you if needed."

Hank looked at the Professor with concern. "Do you think he'll be open to joining us?"

"It's hard to say," Charles admitted. "He's clearly wary of telepathic contact, but he did help the Avengers. There's a chance he might see the value in what we're trying to do here."

As they formulated their plan, Scott and Jean remained deep in thought. The prospect of another powerful telepath and telekinetic in their midst was both exciting and daunting. They had to proceed with caution, understanding that Gojo Satoru could either become a powerful ally or a formidable adversary.