Collective Soul: A Meeting
Dec. 16th, 2023 11:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsSummoned from Muir by reports of strange apparitions and Shatterstar's theory, Charles Xavier calls a meeting with Hope, Quentin, and Jean.
The meeting had been called in Charles' old study. Despite the years that had passed since his move to Muir Island, he had slipped back into the familiar setting as easily as a hand into a favorite glove. He was not behind the desk now, but rather had positioned his chair so he could address those seated on the sofa and the accompanying chairs on the same level. The elderly telepath's expression was neutral. Only the lack of tea indicated this gathering was distinctly not a social call.
"Thank you all for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice," Charles said, meeting the eyes of each of the three psis present. "I realize this is a rather unusual request. However, I would not have asked you here if I didn't have reason to believe your participation was crucial."
Quentin rolled his eyes. "You don't have to butter us up, Charlie. We know Ji . . . Haller's going through it. Just tell us what we need to do to wake him up before he becomes a living bedsore."
Letting out a breath, Jean nodded slightly. "All manner of Quentin's bluntness aside...he's right. I haven't seen anything like this before. I don't think the regular methods of astral surgery are going to cut it. Pun intended. What did you have in mind?"
Charles inclined his head to her before returning his attention to the others.
"David has been unresponsive since the incident at Haven. I now have reason to believe this is because his consciousness is no longer in his body, or at least not wholly so. While David's core ego states have been largely stable since his adolescence, over the years many alters have been born, split, merged. This is quite common. However, with Radha's intervention . . ." Charles laced his fingers together, like interlocking teeth.
"David's disparate personalities were forcibly folded into each other. This is contrary to how his mind operates. As such, it is my belief that when his system was placed under stress whatever Radha had done to it was more than simply undone" and here Charles separated his fingers, "it was torn apart. So violently that parts of it were flung across the astral plane itself."
Quentin sat up straight at the mention of Haven and Radha. He pointedly did not meet anyone's eyes when he spoke. "So now there's fifty shades of David Haller mucking up the astral plane?"
"When we were pulling the inhabitants out of Haven, it took everything to keep the plan together. It was so far from an ordinary strain we might as well been talking about the difference between hiking up a shallow incline or climbing Mount Everest." Hope turned inwards, reviewing memories that still seemed a little far away. "I think I could feel him shaking apart." She added. "But how do we put him back together?"
"When I initially suggested transferring him to Muir he became -- combative," said Charles, with extreme understatement. "Obviously something compelled him to remain here. I believe now that it has to do with your presence." He nodded to each of the young psis in turn. "You, Hope, were directly entangled with him, and you, Quentin, were the architect of the pathway through which they escaped. Your minds were the last he touched before his decompensation. The two of you stand like a lighthouse to the pieces of him adrift on the astral plane. They must have been making their way back over the past few weeks."
"And now we need to give them a home to return to," Jean said thoughtfully. "Rebuild the foundation. Mend the fractures."
"Correct . . . which itself cannot be done until what was scattered has been collected. The alters themselves are part of the foundation." Charles steepled his fingers. "My proposal is this. As David's alters appear to have an affinity for Quentin and Hope, the two of them should be able to locate them on the astral plane and lead them back. I anticipate they will be confused, and in my experience they are not always cooperative under the best of circumstances. While my powers are not what they once were, it is well within my capabilities to hold these pieces once they have been retrieved. Jean, I would ask you to perform the actual repairs. An aspect of David appeared to you. He trusts you."
"I do not doubt I could find him, but I do not have any power to influence the astral plane directly. I only have my connection to him and I would not say that is the strongest, even with our recent feat that we pulled off." Hope cautioned.
"I don't believe direct influence will be necessary. Aspects of him have already begun to appear in reality; he is already drawn here, we need only hasten the process." The telepath's lips thinned. "This is not the first time David's alters have manifested independently. The previous incident was more . . . focused . . . but the personalities that emerged had access to his telekinesis as well. While I do not believe any of the aspects manifesting mean harm, they do appear to be disoriented, and frightened. As these circumstances have historically led to intense power flares I suggest we act quickly."
Playing hide and seek with someone's imaginary friends wasn't how Quentin imagined he'd spend his day, but far be it from him to pass up the chance to play hero and lord it over everyone later. Plus, he owed Haller big time. "It's the right thing to do," he said resolutely out loud. "We can put up a flare and draw them in, or maybe if we find one, then the others will come running. We've got this."
Hope met Quentin's eyes firmly. "Then let us do this. Do you have a comfortable place around where I can leave my body, Dr. Grey?"
In most places that might have sounded like an odd statement, but not there. "You can use the couch in my office. I can confirm that it's a great place to take a nap," Jean said. She let out a breath.
"I'll stay with Charles and do what I can to mend the pieces back together once you get them."
Charles met the gaze of each of the young people gathered before him in turn. His expression was neutral, but, just perhaps, a little of the tension left his body. He smiled.
"I thank you all. I suggest we all take a few minutes to prepare ourselves, then reconvene in the Medlab. This is best done sooner rather than later."
He sat back in his chair, his thin shoulders straightening.
"I think David has wandered long enough."
The meeting had been called in Charles' old study. Despite the years that had passed since his move to Muir Island, he had slipped back into the familiar setting as easily as a hand into a favorite glove. He was not behind the desk now, but rather had positioned his chair so he could address those seated on the sofa and the accompanying chairs on the same level. The elderly telepath's expression was neutral. Only the lack of tea indicated this gathering was distinctly not a social call.
"Thank you all for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice," Charles said, meeting the eyes of each of the three psis present. "I realize this is a rather unusual request. However, I would not have asked you here if I didn't have reason to believe your participation was crucial."
Quentin rolled his eyes. "You don't have to butter us up, Charlie. We know Ji . . . Haller's going through it. Just tell us what we need to do to wake him up before he becomes a living bedsore."
Letting out a breath, Jean nodded slightly. "All manner of Quentin's bluntness aside...he's right. I haven't seen anything like this before. I don't think the regular methods of astral surgery are going to cut it. Pun intended. What did you have in mind?"
Charles inclined his head to her before returning his attention to the others.
"David has been unresponsive since the incident at Haven. I now have reason to believe this is because his consciousness is no longer in his body, or at least not wholly so. While David's core ego states have been largely stable since his adolescence, over the years many alters have been born, split, merged. This is quite common. However, with Radha's intervention . . ." Charles laced his fingers together, like interlocking teeth.
"David's disparate personalities were forcibly folded into each other. This is contrary to how his mind operates. As such, it is my belief that when his system was placed under stress whatever Radha had done to it was more than simply undone" and here Charles separated his fingers, "it was torn apart. So violently that parts of it were flung across the astral plane itself."
Quentin sat up straight at the mention of Haven and Radha. He pointedly did not meet anyone's eyes when he spoke. "So now there's fifty shades of David Haller mucking up the astral plane?"
"When we were pulling the inhabitants out of Haven, it took everything to keep the plan together. It was so far from an ordinary strain we might as well been talking about the difference between hiking up a shallow incline or climbing Mount Everest." Hope turned inwards, reviewing memories that still seemed a little far away. "I think I could feel him shaking apart." She added. "But how do we put him back together?"
"When I initially suggested transferring him to Muir he became -- combative," said Charles, with extreme understatement. "Obviously something compelled him to remain here. I believe now that it has to do with your presence." He nodded to each of the young psis in turn. "You, Hope, were directly entangled with him, and you, Quentin, were the architect of the pathway through which they escaped. Your minds were the last he touched before his decompensation. The two of you stand like a lighthouse to the pieces of him adrift on the astral plane. They must have been making their way back over the past few weeks."
"And now we need to give them a home to return to," Jean said thoughtfully. "Rebuild the foundation. Mend the fractures."
"Correct . . . which itself cannot be done until what was scattered has been collected. The alters themselves are part of the foundation." Charles steepled his fingers. "My proposal is this. As David's alters appear to have an affinity for Quentin and Hope, the two of them should be able to locate them on the astral plane and lead them back. I anticipate they will be confused, and in my experience they are not always cooperative under the best of circumstances. While my powers are not what they once were, it is well within my capabilities to hold these pieces once they have been retrieved. Jean, I would ask you to perform the actual repairs. An aspect of David appeared to you. He trusts you."
"I do not doubt I could find him, but I do not have any power to influence the astral plane directly. I only have my connection to him and I would not say that is the strongest, even with our recent feat that we pulled off." Hope cautioned.
"I don't believe direct influence will be necessary. Aspects of him have already begun to appear in reality; he is already drawn here, we need only hasten the process." The telepath's lips thinned. "This is not the first time David's alters have manifested independently. The previous incident was more . . . focused . . . but the personalities that emerged had access to his telekinesis as well. While I do not believe any of the aspects manifesting mean harm, they do appear to be disoriented, and frightened. As these circumstances have historically led to intense power flares I suggest we act quickly."
Playing hide and seek with someone's imaginary friends wasn't how Quentin imagined he'd spend his day, but far be it from him to pass up the chance to play hero and lord it over everyone later. Plus, he owed Haller big time. "It's the right thing to do," he said resolutely out loud. "We can put up a flare and draw them in, or maybe if we find one, then the others will come running. We've got this."
Hope met Quentin's eyes firmly. "Then let us do this. Do you have a comfortable place around where I can leave my body, Dr. Grey?"
In most places that might have sounded like an odd statement, but not there. "You can use the couch in my office. I can confirm that it's a great place to take a nap," Jean said. She let out a breath.
"I'll stay with Charles and do what I can to mend the pieces back together once you get them."
Charles met the gaze of each of the young people gathered before him in turn. His expression was neutral, but, just perhaps, a little of the tension left his body. He smiled.
"I thank you all. I suggest we all take a few minutes to prepare ourselves, then reconvene in the Medlab. This is best done sooner rather than later."
He sat back in his chair, his thin shoulders straightening.
"I think David has wandered long enough."
