Professor Charles Francis Xavier is a mutant with superhuman powers of telepathy, and can also mentally detect the presense of other mutants. Unfortunately, he lived in a world destined to hate mutants. People hate what they don't understand, and once the humans realize that mutants are the next step in evolution, they will hate them even more. Xavier knew he could not let this happen, so he had a dream. His dream was of a peaceful coexistence between man and mutant. He pursued his studies of mutation on seclusion, in his mansion in New York State's Westchester County. He became one of the most respected authorities on genetic mutations.

Eventually, a young mutant girl, Jean Grey, was brought to Xavier in the hope he could help to control her telepathic abilities (Uncanny X-Men #309). Xavier was quite successful in helping her. His experience with the girl gave him the idea that would change his life. Xavier realized he not only had a responsibility to help mankind against evil mutants, but also a duty to train young mutants to control their powers. And he could direct a team of young young, highly-trained mutants in the work of stoppong criminal mutants from preying on society.

Hence Xavier organized the original X-Men, a group of 5 teenagers with mutant powers (Uncanny X-Men #1), whom he trained at the "School of Gifted Youngsters" that he established at the Westchester mansion. His five original X-Men were Jean Grey, a telekenetic who took the code name Marvel Girl; Scott Summers, known as Cyclops, who could shoot powerful force beams from his eyes; Warren Worthington III, called Angel due to his wings; Henry P McCoy, whose animalistic athletic abilities earned him the name Beast; and Bobby Drake, the Iceman, who could freeze water in the air into ice.

These five original X-Men worked together with Xavier for years, and as they grew into adulthood. These five were joined by a sixth member, Calvin Rankin (Mimic). Calvin quit shortly after, however. The X-men were devastated with the death of their mentor, Xavier. This led to the X-men disbanding. Iceman ended up in San Fransisco, where he met the mutant Lorna Dane (Polaris). She was thought to be the daughter of Magneto, because of similer powers, but this was proved wrong. The X-men reunited to combat the threat of Magneto, whom tried to convert Polaris (Uncanny X-Men #49-52).

Not long afterwards, the X-men attended the graduation of Alex Summers (Havok, Cyclops' younger brother). His powers erupted when he was kidnapped by the Living Pharoah (Uncanny X-Men #54-56). Alex did not join the X-men until sometime later though. The X-men were also helped out occasionally by Sean Cassidy (Banshee), and Shiro Yoshida (Sunfire), though they never actually became members until later on. After another battle with Magneto, it was discovered that Xavier was actually still alive. It was a mutant called Changeling that had taken his position and died. Xavier said it had been neccesary at the time.

During this time, Scott Summers and Jean Grey fell deeply in love with each other and became seemingly inseperable.

One day, Xavier had detected an immensely strong mutant presence in the South Pacific Ocean (Giant-Size X-Men #1), and sent the X-Men to investigate. At this time Alex Summers (Havok) and Lorna Dane (Polaris) had also joined the group. Beast and Iceman quit the team. Beast went to the Brand corporation, where after experimenting on himself, he gained blue fur over his entire body, truly earning the name Beast. Soon after Beast moved on to the Avengers. Iceman went to form the New Defenders and the Champions, though he occasionally helped out the X-men.

Xavier was unaware that the island itself was a gigantic mutant, a colony composed of a multitude of mutant beings linked together in a group mind. Krakoa sustained itself by draining the energies of other mutants. As soon as the X-Men disembarked at Krakoa, the island creature overwhelmed them. It held most of the team captive but sent the unconscious Cyclops back in the X-Men's strato-jet in hopes he would bring more mutants back in a rescue attempt - more mutants upon which Krakoa could feed.

Unwittingly, Xavier did exactly what Krakoa wanted. Xavier knew that someday he might have to recruit a new team of X-Men, either because the original team members had retired or became incapacitated or worse. Over the years, Xavier had learned of other mutants and had compiled a list of potential candidates. Using Cerebo, a computer-like devise Xavier invented that extended the range of his psychic ability to detect mutants, he located the whereabouts of these seven. "Once I summon them though," Xavier admitted to himself, "nothing will ever be the same again, for the X-Men and the school. For better or for worse."

Xavier spent the next several days in whirlwind travels around the world to invite them to join his team. Not one of them turned him down. They were: Colossus, Nightcrawler, Storm, Thunderbird, and Wolverine.

Most of these are younger mutants whom Xavier had previously been considering for X-Men membership. Logan was the second person Xavier approached, meeting with him at Department H's base at a secluded military installation in Quebec. Xavier has presumably learned about Logan through his own government contacts. Neither Logan nor Xavier know that Xavier's father, Dr. Brian Xavier, played a role in the development of aspects of the Team X Project.

Logan had no idea why he was summoned to this meeting by his immediate supervisor, Chasen. He regarded it as yet another of the continual annoyances he had encountered ever since he joined Department H. At this time, Logan has been in psychotherapy for ten years (Uncanny X-Men #96), some of it pre-dating his involvement with Alpha Flight, but he will later claim that little if any progress has made in helping him control his berserker rages.

Logan clearly never heard of Xavier before this meeting, much less recognizing a fellow mutant. Nor did Chasen know who Xavier was or why he was there. Otherwise, Chasen would not have been so calm. He told Logan that Xavier was present to make some sort offer.

This intrigued Logan, who may have well been looking for the opportunity to leave his position with Department H. Logan was curious, and not at all that concerned about his current position.

Neither was Xavier, who simply ignored it. "I'm offering you a chance to become a free agent - a chance to learn to put your powers to their greatest use!"

Now so far Xavier had said nothing at all substantial. Logan knew nothing about him, nothing about why he needed mutants so badly, no facts that would demonstrate to him that he would b better off working for Xavier than for Department H. Logan's animal senses told him enough: Xavier posed no threat to him. Xavier was calm and sincere in what he said, presenting not the slightest indication of trying to trap Logan. Logan's instincts told him to trust Xavier.

Besides, Logan wanted to get out from under Department H's shadow for quite some time. Xavier had only just begun his sales pitch, but Logan already heard all he needed to know. "I'm offering you a chance to become a free agent."

With that, Logan shook Xavier's hand. "All right, Professor, you've found your man."

Chasen was flabbergasted. "What-?" He hadn't expected anything like this. His surprise, though, swiftly turned to barely-suppressed fury. "The government has spent a great deal of time and money training you into what you are now," Chasen thundered. "You try walking out on us - and I'll have you locked up."

If Logan had any doubts about accepting Xavier's offer, Chasen's threat resolved them. "It seems you didn't get my meaning, friend," Wolverine said with an eerie, deceptive calm. "This is still a free country, isn't it." He unseathed one claw, and suddenly lashed out at Chasen, ripping open his jacket and severing his tie, missing drawing blood only by a scant fraction of an inch.

"I'm resigning my commission - effective immediately." Then pointing his claws just beneath Chasen's nose, he continued, mock-apologetic, "Unless, of course, you have any further objections."

Chasen undoubtedly knew Logan's psychological profile well enough to understand that he was lucky Logan hadn't killed him instantly. "Believe me, mister," Chasen threatened, "you haven't heard the last of this."

Chasen would indeed try to find Logan. As soon as they were gone, Chasen stormed into James Hudson's office to complain abot what had just happened. The events that would lead to Hudson taking on a costumed identity himself to become the new leader of Alpha Flight were already being set into motion. And Hudson's first assignment, using a more sophisticated version of his battlesuit (Deadpool/Death '98 Annual) which has been in development since shortly after Department H's foundation, would be to hunt down and recapture Logan using the codename Weapon Alpha. The codenames of "Vindicator" and "Guardian" (Alpha Flight #12) have been previously suggested and will in fact both be used by Hudson in later years.

Hudson and other members of Alpha Flight will be dispatched at least twice in unsuccessful efforts to force Logan to return to Department H (Uncanny X-Men #109, 120). Eventually, Department H accepts the situation, and Logan's Canadian national military records are sealed until 2026 (Venom: Tooth and Claw #3).

Whatever Logan's reasons for resigning were, he has for the most part kept them to himself. Years afterward, however, aftr her husband had died, Logan told Heather Hudson that one of his reasons for leaving was that he had fallen in love with her (Alpha Flight #33). "From that night in the cabin 'til the day I finally got it through my adamantium-reinforced skull that you were realy married t' him and weren't gonna leave him for no one. Especially not me."

Heather was shocked. "You left Department H because you couldn't have ... me?" She regarded Logan as only a friend. Perhaps subconsciously she even regarded him as a surrogate son, since she had cared for him when he had been reduced to the level of a savage shortly after the Hudson's found him.

Soon, at Xavier's mansion in New York, Logan net his new teammates. Besides Cyclops, there was Sean Cassidy, the Banshee, an Irish mutant with sonic powers who fought and aided the X-Men in the past. Sean Cassidy was Logan's Interpol acquaintance, although Cassidy apparently does not recognize Logan from his intelligence days for some time.

Likewise, there was another former foe of the X-Men, Shiro Yoshida, alias Sunfire, a mutant from Japan who could fly and generate heat and light.

From the Soviet Union came Peter Rasputin, whom Xavier renamed Colossus, who could transform his body into an organic substance resembling steel.

Another Euroean recruit was Kurt Wagner from Germany, a demonic-looking youth who could teleport himself. Wagner, whom Xavier gave the codename Nightcrawler, would soon become Logan's closest friends (Classic X-Men #4).

Then there was Ororo Monroe, whom Xavier called Storm after her power to control the weather. Though she was born in America, Xavier had found her in Africa, where she acted as goddess to a native tribe. In future years Storm would change considerably from the innocent outsider she was then, becoming a hardened warrior whom Logan would regard with great respect.

Almost no sooner had the new X-Men first met one another than they wre set off to the South Pacific with Cyclops to rescue his missing teammates. It wasn't until after the new X-Men found and freed the others that they discovered the true nature of Krakoa, that the island itself is alive and dangerous. But, working together, the old and the new X-Men succeeded in hurling the mutant island into outer space, where presumably it perished.

On the flight back to NYC, Angel raised the obvious question, "What are we going to do with thirteen X-Men?" Many, and perhaps all of the people aboard the returning strato-jet, felt that thirteen was far too big a number for a combat team. Xavier recognized the problem in having so many on the team, but didn't believe it was insoluble.

In any event, the dilemma soon become academic. Too bullheaded to take anyone's orders for long, Sunfire was determined to quit the X-Men as soon as the first mission was over. Havok and Polaris decided to go to graduate school now that there were plenty of new recruits to the team to take their place.

Although Logan quickly becomes more comfortable with the freelance nature of the X-Men's activities, he is slow in adjusting to the different standards by which his new team operates. It will be several months before he even reveals his name to his fellow X-Men (Uncanny X-Men #139).

Similarily, Marvel Girl and Angel both were now wondering if this was not the opportunity to see what it was like to live an adult life outside the seclusion of Xavier's sanctum.