It Was All A Dream.

Will those be the words carved upon the gravestone where you lie, Professor Charles Francis Xavier? Or perhaps they will instead be the markings etched upon the gates of that famously illustrated cemetery where all your students are finally laid to rest. It wouldn’t be fair to say it was for nothing since the X-Men franchise has fascinated fans of the 616 Marvel Universe for 60 years. Sadly, we all knew this day would arrive with classic events such as Days Future Past, etc. all foretelling of the ending of the human-mutant crisis. But to come now doesn’t quite compute with the timelines from travelers like Bishop or Prestige. Though there may be instigators or certain coefficients that are accelerating the Fall of X, there is one major factor to consider as well.

Now before we get too far, let’s take a few moments to look at you – professionally and what qualifies you to take on the role you chose – on behalf of all mutants; and essentially humanity.  While your degrees are in various fields of studies, Professor, with PhDs in Genetics, Biophysics, Psychology and Anthropology, it is these plus the exclusion of a few others which made your mission unorthodox.  Degrees in Economics, Sociology and Political Science not only would be more fitting for your “humanitarian” effort, they also may have provided some of the planning necessary for the fallout from the predicament that awaits the mutant population.  

Nevertheless, we can’t disregard that you Charles are indeed a mutant.  At least at the moment – things change sometimes?  Your power places you in such a unique position, being a transmitter and receiver of mental information, anyone can imagine this would be overwhelming.  Particularly when what thoughts pour into your mind from others is mostly the same message, that what you are is wrong.  Having slurs and insults hurled in your directions – along with the occasional stick and stone, being classified as an abomination creates a feeling of deep self loath in anyone.  It is that same individual that often has the tendency to do things, even if unintentional, which are traceable to these stirred up insecurities and fears.  

It was an encounter during your younger days with a mutant of similar abilities, although somewhat different motives, that would initiate what would start out as admirable only to end as an obsession. During this battle with the mutant named Amahl Farouk, who would later go on to be known as the Shadow King, you saw the potential calamity that a single mutant could cause without properly being educated on the magnitude of moral weight that accompanies mutant powers.  This would cause you dire concerns about the perception the public would have and the violent ramifications it could bring upon all mutants.  

People often talk about having the power to create change and along came your comic series.   

You envisioned a world where mutants and humans could coexist.  In order to prove that you..well what exactly the endgame.   

Because Krakoa has the feel of a retirement community.  Then again, at times Xavier’s didn’t exactly seem like a school.  Speaking of that, what is interesting is that people have long mistaken the name of the team, even the comic book to be a tribute to, borrowing Jean’s words at her wedding, the man who brought us to the dance.  You, yourself, actually saw it as a reminder of the one variable, the gene that made the difference among the species.  

It seems there is some truth to both, and yet still missing something.  As readers would finally discover in 2019 as long hidden X Facts began to surface.  That is when fans first got glimpses by multiples of tens what futures and struggles loomed for the last vestiges of civilization.  The X, a Roman numeral, was in fact a variable, and a testimony for years to come of what you were essential in creating.  

To Me My Ten Men is a bit hard to swallow.  

Let Me Lubricate My Mind

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Mojo may have famously cast the X-Men in a remake of the Judy Garland classic, but the mutants were considered merry long before traveling Where Happy Little Bluebirds Fly.  All that was required was an impromptu, even abruptly life altering, invitation to accept admission into the prestigious Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters.  Now, not to overlook the evidence that indicates there was some adherence to academics, the majority of the lessons were designed to acclimate each student with a better understanding of how to utilize their abilities – for themselves and as a benefit to mankind.  

This would have been a most noble effort, deserving of awards no doubt, except for two glaring issues with your approach to academia.  The first is that although you operate a school, even the most specialized halls of learning have some means of gaining admission.  Many of your original X-Men and even the New Mutants were draft picks.  Slowly there was an integration of stowaways and tagalongs, such as Kitty, Rogue or Havok, seeking refuge within the walls of Westchester.  But what readers were either not aware of then or only briefly considered was the power of Cerebro.  

The device not only gave the wearer the ability to track all mutant signatures, it also amplified their psychic abilities.  So every time you (or anyone) would don the helmet you were essentially analyzing audition footage.  Allowing you the opportunity to screen and then select who would be admitted.  For those not selected, you were still able to catalog each individual as an entry into databases such as your Xavier Protocols.  These files would contain specific details about the detected mutant from their location to plans on how to deal with any potential threat the mutant may present.  Unfortunately, given the threat to your species, this would present a major security issue.  Cebebro could be considered a computer, and it was not always kept secure.  It was accessed when the Phalanx infiltrated the mansion, allowing the species to target Synch and other future Generation X members.  Bastion was even able to decrypt the entire archive.  

Not only was the admission process and record keeping clearly below standards the actual coursework and standards of learning did not really adhere to any prescribed standards.  Xavier’s never felt like a school, other than the name on the door and the dormitory.  Long before Cable showed up it felt like a military preparatory academy 

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As a psychologist surely you could have assigned more efforts to deal with the mental health issues that were present in several of your wards.  Just take a look at three of your original students who happened to be Omegas level mutants, that being Jean, Ororro and Bobby, these individuals, at various times, were each battling depression and anxiety issues.  With the power to take out a town if their emotions got the better of them, the real danger room would have been inside their heads.    

One final thought about the structure of the school setup.  Was there such a thing as an exit interview as Xavier’s?  Come now Professor X, surely you are familiar with this procedure as both a culmination of a student’s scholarly journey and a compass and lantern to help guide them towards their next endeavor.  John Proudstar’s early departure would start a trend where the catchphrase, Welcome to Xavier’s, Hope you survive the experience, was indicative of the fact that there was only one escape from the life of an X-Men; with the exception of Sunfire.  Being a mutant in the Marvel Universe, to be cast as a minority and deal with prejudices, all while fighting to protect the very people who are against you is just dealing with the card life has dealt.  Though this one too often bears a specter, an image of a shadowy figure.  The Death Card.   

Very superstitious, yes not very scholarly.  But you cannot deny that the stars are aligning for the Fall of X even as you are getting dressed for this year’s Hellfire Gala.  It was, after all, on a bench with tarot cards in the past that a woman would present a vision of this future.  

When Will I Use It In the Real World 

Given how academically you operate, no one would have expected you to place the level of trust in prophecy and apocrypha you did with -[A]- in the pages of Excalibur.  Divination definitely isn’t a degree that most readers would associate with any hallowed halls bearing the name of Xaviers.  However, even if these days you can deny Destiny to her face, what you cannot argue with is real life experience.  To be more specific, information gained from living several lifetimes, which is what Moira was offering.  Still, your students may have lived their existence by placing their faith in your dream, this was asking for more than a mustard seed.  And faithfulness, even reverence, such as that displayed by Exodus towards Hope was never something you required – given the certainty in the assumptions and solutions you had about the situation between the species.  It did appear in the pages of Power of X that this information took you by surprise.  That would be justifiable since it would indicate your initial idea was based on an ill conceived evaluation of the operators at work.  

When readers were first made aware of the “mutant” species, you opened the doors to your famous school with a simple philosophy that would be the cornerstone of your lengthy career, Professor X.  To emphasize that despite any extraordinary capabilities, at the most basic level mutants and humans were genetically not two different species – what creates the illusion of separation between the two, what separates us all is but a single strain.  On that even Dr. Stasis would agree.  Regardless of sounding reductive, either something newly created is a mutation or a clone.  The nickname used to address your students, Children of the Atom, attests to the evolutionary nature of all mankind.   

If someone wanted to compose the scientific equivalent, or formulaic representation to the world when you began your school it would likely look something like x + (-h) = 0.  Here x represents mutant kind and h the remainder of humanity.  Even with the lack of coefficients one thing is already clear; negative reaction towards Homo Sapiens leads to an extinction of both species.  Given the state of the world when you began your mission this all would appear to be perfectly logical, with things only getting worse through the years.  However, there is also a bit of redundancy if you use this equation.  Properly evaluated, this equation solves to x = h also written as x = x, your argument since the start.  Written instead as x + h = 0 would solve x = -h.  Unfortunately this pattern is consistent with humanity’s lowest common denominator; regardless of differentiate; be it class, race, sex or species.  Any apparent difference discovered during an encounter will lead to a negative result.  

Viewed either way, your initial assessment of the situation between Homo Sapiens and Homo Superiors was simply a polynomial to the first power.  Regardless of the number of variables involved in this type of equation, none of them are to a degree greater than one, with everyone able to be considered equal to some degree.  After the conversation with Moira the complete equation should have become clearer.  With her additional knowledge of the full level of the threat posed by the Orchis facilities’ attempts to bring Mother Mold online, you could solve the actual problem you were dealing with.  

Your argument is that humans and mutants are the same, even if in a prime facie sort of way. If that is in fact true then wouldn’t this aspect be a requirement to any equation looking to evaluate that particular problem. So the use of another variable, in this case h, is a hindrance to arriving at the solution. The correct format for this situation would look something like this ax^2 + bx – c = 0.

Presenting the potential conclusion to Xavier’s Dream as a quadratic equation creates a union from the information you gained from Moira’s past lives and your initial ideology.  It is safe to say that if mutants and humans are, as you claim, the same then an expression of this equation would use the same variable for both humans and mutants.  How would you represent even the possibility of a deviation between the two then?  By presenting the power – something mutants never hesitate to do, only heightening humanity’s level of concern.  

The inclusion of coefficients a and b indicate a quantity of each variable.  It could be one, one million or 198.  While it merely indicates there is a collective, Orchis’ increased behavior corresponds to future data from former ally Karima Sapandar now known as Omega Sentinel about where the numbers are trending.  You might notice that ‘c’ lacks a variable.  It is there to indicate there is a constant coefficient.  Something that must be accounted for that finds its way into almost any interaction.  For mutants it takes a form that represents the hateful reaction and response from humans.  One that now under Orchis’ control is imminent an threat to the future of all mankind.    

Your inability to successfully destroy the Orchis space station before facility actually coincides with the algebraic procedure for handling the constant coefficient.  And further highlights how this value impacts the lives of both seemingly separate species.  While Orchis is a compartmentalized organization it runs like a well oiled machine.  Maybe that is because the mind behind it is in fact a machine.  AI is doing its own calculations.  Quite possibly they are using the same equation with one advantage.  As Nimrod callously has admitted, machines see no differentiation between these two X.  It finds it humorous how man will empower them to become the future tools of their own destruction.  The constant positions itself in its proper place, ending up on the opposing side.  In essence, AI completes the square, essentially grouping humans and mutants together.  With the quadratic formula now derived we can finally solve for X.  

This week points to the start of the Fall, Professor X.  In keeping with the quadratic formula we instead arrive at the height; a vertex.  This apex can be interpreted as the act which would usher in a shift in the state of affairs between the mutant and human species.  A visual representation of this for our example would look like -b/2a.  Is this suggesting that this end reached its crescendo when the mutant situation was used as propaganda, in order to alter the public’s perception, in order to divide humanity.   Negative views of humans towards mutants, whether it is envy, pity or disgust, is all it takes to begin the movement towards the inevitable destination.   

If we keep this strictly mathematical, this would be the point where the discriminant was discussed.  Though knowing the number of roots is a helpful bit of information, it is by utilizing the words’ other meaning.  Also, by taking the term to mean a characteristic from which can be used to make distinctions allows us to keep in alignment with this discussion.  Is there a better way to mathematically express the power of humanity raising up to do absolutely nothing as mutants face what may be their most formidable and final foe than b2 – 4ac?  

Good In-X-Tions

In order to arrive at the answer for this quadratic polynomial it is necessary to remember the order of operations.  Since your school is located in the United States, Professor, you would have most likely taught your students the PEMDAS method.  While there are some clever conventions available, we won’t be dealing with anyone’s Aunt Sally.  Instead, let this serve as one final opportunity to reflect during this final step upon the many that were made which led to the Fall of X.  

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The P stands for parenthesis.  It is no secret that for the majority of this franchise’s 60 years as a secret is exactly how you operated.  Both a function of your mutant ability and as a necessity for maintaining your agenda.  Krakoa was something entirely different however.  This was you creating a civilization, severing most ties with the outside world, significantly limiting their ability to access your nation while still offering to be of service – now for a cost.  You simply could not sustain your mutant society without outside sources, so you engaged in international treaties – offering medicines created from Krakoa that had medicinal properties that would benefit the world.  With all the preparations attended to by your students, the Dawn of X began with you making a monumental announcement.  Never before had you opened your mind to speak to so many before.  Not to mention the message you were delivering to your allies, enemies and the rest of the world.  Did you even give it an afterthought?  

E may be for Extinction, but algebraically speaking, E would be the exponents – when we raise everything to a power.  An exponent is also someone that promotes a truth; benefitting from the idea or theory.  Given the custom with the X-Men franchise titles to use linguistic tools like contractions, a possible mnemonic device is this is the arrival of the x-ponents – as in ex opponents.  Sinister has been getting most of the credit for being the snake on the island and deservedly so.  Since most of what was accomplished, and what audiences have been reading for the past 60 years, has been due to Moira, her place on Krakoa was secure – you just had to keep her a secret.  Adding Erik, or Max, was necessary, not because he has been your consistent foil.  Both Jiminy Cricket and Devils Advocate, his simple presence was all it would take to stand up against any wrong – confirming finally that Magneto was right.  Last, why wouldn’t you bring along -[A]-, after all this time your strategy had proven to be strong and you could use his strength among mutants who didn’t wear the cross.  

Giant Size X-Men #1 ends with a question, what are we gonna do with all these X-Men?  Which makes the final of the Three Krakoan Laws – Make More Mutants – the simplest to follow while also being the most concerning historically.  M is for multiply, with evidence through the years confirming there is a correlation between the congregation of mutants and another ‘M’ – massacre.  From the Morlock tunnels, to Genosha and even the X Mansion.  With the Dawn of X, along with the legion of former students Krakoa’s portals welcomed every other mutant.  Even more are arriving thanks to the efforts of The Mauraders and the younger New Mutants/New X-Men.  That is okay, Krakoa is for ALL mutants.  Including the Arakki people, mutants who were finally freed from the land of Amenth at the culmination of the X of Swords event.  Unable to completely assimilate to life on Earth, at the first Hellfire Gala you terraformed Mars.  Giving these people a place to call home.  As well as ensuring the trend of mass casualties of a mutant collective.      

As much as Krakoa is about brotherhood, that name is a reminder of the earliest divisions among the mutant population.  So what did you expect would happen as mutants stepped through the Krakoan gateways who for many years were on opposing sides.  Thankfully with the exception of one group of Exiles there has been very little visible aggression displayed between the island’s inhabitants.  The names Marauders and Hellions are now even official X Teams.  Though not everyone is on Krakoa for the same reasons.  In Shaw’s case, mutants are still purely profit which lead him to making deals that only serve his interest.  The same could be said about Beast‘s actions as Director of X-Force though he would argue his actions served the nation’s interest.  Meanwhile, a large portion of the Krakoan population had no idea  what to do.  Nightcrawler may have shown some of them The Way of X but others like Nature Girl had their own ideology. Not unlike the Pits first prisoner, she too sent a message to humans threatening her place on the planet.  With the news spinning the narrative now when the general public hears news of any mutant activity it is a reflection of all of Krakoa.  Of Xavier’s.  

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When talking about A, or addition, it might be a good time to speak about when things would stop adding up.  And when mutants became main edition news.  The corpses of fallen mutants such as Nightcrawler and Cyclops seemed to contradict them appearing alive and well.  Nor did the very public death of Jumbo Carnation only to show up in time for the inaugural Hellfire Gala.  There was another way you chose to encapsulate the mutant population.  It had taken years before the rest of the world was any wiser, but on the eve of the 2nd Hellfire Gala everyone knew it wasn’t Krakoan drugs or technology which was responsible for longer lifespans among mutantkind.  Through the powers of the Five – mutants Proteus, Elixir, Tempus, Egg and Hope – along with the data archives from Cerebro anyone who died could be returned to the land of the living; appearance and memory alterations optional.  You yourself experienced which is a testimony that the process was working perfectly until someone slipped in an additive.  Not only did this act by Sinister compromise a quarter of the Quiet Council, it has now brought about doubts regarding the authenticity of future resurrections.  

Finally, the last step in the process of solving this equation – subtraction.  We could just wait and witness as the 2023 Hellfire Gala ushers in the Fall of X.  Instead, while we wait there is one question, do you feel lost?  Already you and many of the other X-Men were a bit like the Ship of Theseus.  How much of the original Xavier is there left after each resurrection?  The potential of the Sinister X-gene laying dormant only reinforces that Charles, now you are different.  Though the takeaway may not be so obvious.   

When Sinister spiked the resurrection protocols with his X gene he effectively made you into x^3 variable. Likewise Rasputin IV, a chimera from the Sinister Timeline who recently showed up on Krakoa, would not be merely an x^2 variable. So is there any wonder why the unaffected members of the Quiet Council question your motives now? You’re not like them anymore, are you Professor X? And that is what scares them, causing them to see you as a negative. The mere presence of your heighted powers is what causes the predicament.

Take a look back at the very first equation presented in this piece again.  In x + (-h) = 0, the negative (coefficient) for the variable h indicates that it is a negative human (reaction) which creates the problem.  That is contradictory to your usual pacifist, positive outlook, you are rather unwilling to accept that any individual is inherently evil or negative.  While it is never proper to speak in absolutes, using this type of value is both mathematically and philosophically sound.  This is why as a quadratic neither x variable should be presented with a negative coefficient.  It isn’t that man or mutant is “negative”, rather the way their interactions are presented which allows outside observers to assign their own values with whichever power of X they identify with.  Imagine if Krakoa could show the world XENO’s assault and receive a similar reaction as the town of Milford did after the mutant explosion Orchis staged.  Completing the square is an act of manipulation, creating division and empowering it to their purposes.   

This is the dilemma that has always long daunted your dream.  For there to be a peaceful coexistence between the species requires all to realize that destructive capabilities are not genetically specific.  The problem will always be that an identifiable gene or distinction, X, can have such an impact on the lives of both the mutant and man.  You cannot completely solve for X because there will always be some form of variability.  Dr Stasis would even agree that is the very nature of not just our species but any organism.  Once they are finished with the mutant race, it will be the meta humans and then on to whatever apparent variation registers as an anomaly.  Following their most basic programming this would eventually lead to even forms of expression and public outcry; thoughts are powerful even without telepathy.  

Let’s get back to this week’s event.  The 2023 Hellfire Gala and the Fall of X.  In the film Die Hard, John McClaine states if you’re not part of the solution then you are part of the problem.  Orchis has decided that you are the problem that needs solving.  Sadly for the X-Men, the citizens of Krakoa and perhaps the mutant species Sentinel’s look at the problem only one way.

As a man thinketh.