WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Secret X-Men #1, now on sale from Marvel Comics
Some members of the X-Men, notably including their founder Charles Xavier, have committed some dark acts over the years -- including using their powers to strip away seemingly unalienable rights from others. While new generations have been trying to move past that age, there are some very dangerous mistakes still being made in secret.
Shi'Ar Empress Xandra's choice to erase dangerous memories from the minds of the mutant heroes in Secret X-Men #1, by Tini Howard, Francesco Mobili, Jesus Aburtov and VC's Clayton Cowles, shows she's repeating her father's most dangerous mistakes and it could bring ruin to the X-Men's most important alliance.
Xandra is the current Empress of the Shi'Ar Empire and is notably the daughter of Charles Xavier and his old flame, Lilandra. As such, she possesses a deep appreciation for the X-Men as a whole and possesses psionic abilities similar to her father. She's even potentially considered an Omega-Level threat. But due to her connection to the mutants and the Shi'Ar's generally close ties to Krakoa, Xandra has so far been a friend to all mutants. This is what leads a small team of mutants -- the Secret X-Men -- to rush to her aid when Sunspot is recruited by Deathbird to protect her when she goes missing. Although they are successful in their mission and reunited with a thrilled Xandra, Deathbird is captured by the alien mercenaries known as the Sidri, who quickly make their escape before Sunspot can rescue her.
However, Xandra's precog allies convince Xandra that Deathbird's absence is an important moment for the Shi'Ar Empire going forward. Deathbird's absence cannot be known, however, and Xandra is forced to wipe the X-Men's memories of Deathbird's fate. Reluctantly, Xandra is convinced to go through with it, leaving her crying and heartbroken. But nevertheless, Xandra commits to the plan, and erased Deathbird's disappearance leading the X-Men to return to Cannonball's home on the Shi'Ar throne world, none the wiser. It's a sad moment for Xandra, and one that longtime X-Men fans are familiar with. Some of Charles Xavier's most disastrous choices have come from his hubris in erasing memories and altering minds. He's done so to enemies and allies alike, and every time it came back to haunt him.
This habit even came close to splintering the X-Men away from Xavier permanently in the aftermath of those actions coming to light in storylines like "Deadly Genesis" and "Danger." Now, it appears that Xandra has begun to make the same mistake. Although she has the capability to erase those memories, it's not a power she should ever take lightly. It also sets a terrifying precedent for Xandra going forward, as she could ultimately learn the wrong lessons from this experience and begin using her psychic powers more liberally within her position as Empress.
Considering the importance of the Shi'Ar and X-Men alliance for both groups -- the Shi'Ar have repeatedly relied on the X-Men's strength for assistance, while the X-Men's galactic ambitions have been vastly assisted by Shi'Ar reach and resources -- this betrayal could have terrible ramifications. If Xandra's actions jeopardize Krakoa's position in the galaxy, chaos could spill out into every corner of the Krakoa government. The stakes have never been higher, and the old telepathic tactics taken by mutants like Charles Xavier carry far too much risk to be made without consideration. By taking after her father in one of his worst ways, Xandra might have lit a fuse that could bring about sheer chaos for some of the X-Men's most important alliances.