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X of Swords, Chapter 10
Krakoa. Some call it home. Some call it paradise. Others call it an open grave... where the dead are resurrected... and the dying have nothing to fear.
In the Healing Gardens, Sean Cassidy a.k.a. Banshee lies on a table, recovering, with bandages around his waist, left arm and left ankle. Some groans can be heard nearby, and Sean frowns as he looks over at another patient in the Healing Gardens, before turning his head away as this other patient – Apocalypse – cries out in pain, as the Healer, Dr Cecilia Reyes and Dr Hank McCoy the Beast tend to his injuries, and try to hold him down while he thrashes about and struggles to sit up. 'He's out of control! We can't hold him down!' Cecilia exclaims, while Apocalypse roars. Nearby, Magneto the Master of Magnetism, Professor Charles Xavier, Lorna Dane a.k.a. Polaris and Hope Summers stand and watch. 'Lorna, if you please' Magneto asks his daughter, who responds with a surge of energy that sends metal bonds up over Apocalypse, holding him down to the table.
Cecilia injects Apocalypse with something and tells him that it is for the pain – that it will help, but won't last. Cecilia admits that she doesn't understand what is happening, as Apocalypse is getting worse – nothing is working. 'We just may need to... accept the situation' she suggests. 'Hope?' Xavier asks. Hope announces that they are cooking another Apocalypse egg now, but they are starting everything from scratch, so it might take a day or two – even longer. Xavier asks about assisting Healer by augmenting his power, to which Hope remarks that she can do that. 'That could just as easily kill him as heal him' the elderly mutant points out. 'And then we're right back at resurrection...and maybe we will have lost more time' the Beast suggests, before asking what the chances are that Apocalypse makes it through. 'Better... than yours. Do it!' Apocalypse utters, gritting his teeth.
Healer stands over Apocalypse and Hope stands behind Healer, using her powers to boost his, which he uses on Apocalypse in an attempt to cure him of the poison coursing through his system. Apocalypse screams, but his appearance is still mutated, the poison having torn part of his skin off, and caused him to blister. 'It was...' Apocalypse utters as he strains to free himself from Polaris' metal bonds. 'He's so strong! I can't hold him!' Polaris calls out as she attempts to keep Apocalypse down. 'We can. Please... continue, Healer' Magneto declares as he uses his power to enhance Polaris', strengthening the bonds. Beast monitors Apocalypse's vitals on a computer, while Apocalypse screams again, then utters 'It was... it was...'. 'What's he saying?' Healer asks, while Hope shushes him and tells him to listen. 'It was... Okkara. The one land' Apocalypse utters.
Flashback:
It was ancient before that word existed, but not yet old in the way they were old. The Twilight Sword of the enemy tore the world asunder, and what was one became two. From the chasm between them – from that dark world – the enemy poured into this world. The living ikons of Okkara – the twin elementals of life – were the first to fall. Thousands – tens of thousands – followed. The broken lands ran red with mutant blood – more would surely have been spilled if not for the One Hundred – one hundred of the greatest champions who took the war to the enemy – one hundred champions and their champion – the White Sword. Apocalypse doesn't know what happened on the other side of that rift, but the horde's numbers dwindled, destroyed by the First Horsemen and the One Hundred Champions. The horde became weak, as the Krakoans became strong.
Then, there was Genesis – stronger than all, strong enough to break the horde, to turn them back and reduce the enemy to peace. When the battle ended, representatives of the Amenthi Daemons – the horde – met with Apocalypse, Genesis, the First Horsemen and a Summoner. Apocalypse tells the horde that they split the world, hurt them, but they have been punished. 'Now you ask to parley' he remarks, instructing the Daemons to speak, but if not, they can expect more of the same. 'There's no avoiding paying for what you've done' Apocalypse points out. One of the Daemons steps forward, holding a gold box, which it places on the ground before Apocalypse. 'That's one way of seeing things. There are others. Open me' the box utters. The Daemon opens the box, and a golden mask emerges, while the wide-eyed Daemon is surprised and steps away, another exclaims 'Annihilation will walk the land. As all gods made men do. Put it on'.
The Daemon sobs as she holds the mask above her face, and begins to cry, before groaning as the mask takes hold around her, then she speaks, 'Now... let me see you with true eyes...' Annihilation utters, gazing upon Apocalypse and the First Horsemen. Annihilation declares that she sees now what all the furor is about – and tells Apocalypse and the others that she could read them if she wanted, even a world away, which is closer than any one world should be to another. 'But there's no need. I know quality when I see it' Annihilation admits, adding that conquest is always best when facing a true test. 'Who is it that seeks out someone at their weakest? And in that spirit, I would like to make an offer – to you strong mutants of great quality' Annihilation remarks. 'So make it' Death tells her.
'If only I could simply... give it to you, but generosity is nowhere to be found in my nature. Sincerity, however, is....' Annihilation states as the Daemon body she is possessing begins to crumble. '... I want you to earn it' Annihilation adds. The Daemons watch in horror, while Apocalypse starts to stand up: 'Allow me, my love' he tells Genesis, but she steps forward, putting a hand on Apocalypse's shoulder, 'No.... They are mine' Genesis announces. One of the Daemons introduces itself as Hoork, a stealer of souls and paragon of death. Hoork boasts that they stole the great  horn from the mage, D'Juooi, and burned the last innocent man in Bchk-tel'on alive. 'I will test you' they offer. Another Daemon introduces itself as Dal-Damun and explains that they are the last preacher of dead religion, and the last apostle of a dead maker. They claim that they stole the salvation of his believers when they took the head of their false god, and so they will test her, too.

'You call this a test? That's one way of seeing things... there are others' Genesis responds as two triangle symbols manifest in the air at the command of her hands – and strange vines rise up from the ground and begin to tangle around the two Daemon, who scream. 'I am Genesis. A mutant mother who finds you wanting. Now. You were saying something about having an offer for us?' Genesis declares. Apocalypse wonders what words are whispered into Genesis' mind, but he knows how much more determined she became, how much stronger she seemed – until her sister, Isca the Unbeaten, turned. The idea of a simple end died this day – there will be no clean victory, and it broke them all – Genesis most of all.
Genesis announces that it seems their only choice is sacrifice. 'We know what we must do... so we simply must do it'. She adds that they were born of this land, and that this land will save them. Genesis boasts that they will seal the breach, that Arakko will hold as long as they stand, as long as they breathe. The Horsemen gather around her as she tells Apocalypse to watch them, that they will show him what a mutant does for their people. 'I want to go with you' Apocalypse utters. 'And yet, we both know you can't, my love' Genesis replies as she and Apocalypse kiss. 'You're not strong enough' she reminds him. A portal glows nearby as the Horsemen prepare to leave, and Genesis tells Apocalypse to stay, to use what time they buy him to make this world into something that they can stand against their enemy. 'Judge them, my love... Judge them' Genesis declares. 'So that they – that you – become what we need. See that only the fittest remain' she tells Apocalypse.
Now:
'It's... done. It's done' Healer utters as he and Hope step back from Apocalypse, who sits up and Hope announces that he is healed, that he is whole. Polaris, Magneto and Xavier look on, while Apocalypse hangs his head and utters 'Far from it'. He stands up and assures everyone that he is well enough to travel, and that he will return shortly. Xavier asks Apocalypse where he is going, and Apocalypse announces that he needs his sword.
Shortly, in Western Egypt, specifically the Libyan Desert, at the Temple of the Horsemen. A chopper belonging to the X-Men descends, blowing sand up into the air. When the dust clears, Gorgon steps out of the chopper and announces that it is clear, that he can smell it on the wind – and even if he couldn't, he would still know – there is nothing living here. Apocalypse steps out of the chopper and tells Gorgon that he remembers when pyramids were pyres – the fire kissing heaven and its twin inferno, swimming in the night sea – but now, he knows this one is a monument to the living – and it angers him. They approach the entrance to the Temple of the Horsemen and Apocalypse instructs Gorgon to wait behind.
Making his way through the temple, Apocalypse stops and looks down at his reflection in a pool of water, before he walks towards four coffins, each marked in the appearance of each of his First Horsemen – and then smashes them open, each revealing one of four parts that Apocalypse puts together to reassemble his Scarab sword, a deadly almost scythe-shaped blade. When he exits the temple, it collapses behind him. 'Looks like a sharp blade' Gorgon smiles. 'It is... now watch me as I wield it' Apocalypse responds as he steps into the chopper, and they take off under the shine of the sun.


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X of Swords, Chapter 12
Otherworld, at the Starlight Ciradel, which floats over the mysterious realm. The ancient mutant Apocalypse stands under a large tree, he hangs his head as he looks to the ground. 'This place feels like a refuge – where the weak go to hide. Are you hiding, my love?' a voice calls out. Apocalypse quickly looks up and sees his wife, Genesis, standing under an alcove nearby. Apocalypse tells Genesis that he wanted peace, just a bit of peace before tomorrow and what tomorrow brings. 'So you're a man of peace now? Have you fallen so far?' Genesis responds. Apocalypse notes that Genesis is carrying the Twilight Blade and asks 'Who, again, is it here that has fallen?' Genesis holds the blade up, 'What? This thing?' she replies. Genesis explains that the Twilight Blade is just a tool. 'Is it powerful? Yes. Is it dangerous? Yes' she states. 'Is it the most dangerous thing in this garden?' she asks, before shoving it into the ground and boasting that it most certainly is not.
Apocalypse reaches for his Scarab Blade and remarks that he feels like Genesis is trying to test him. Genesis holds her hands out and points out that the testing comes on the morrow, before admitting that she was hoping they could talk. Apocalypse frowns, while Genesis asks him if he wants to know what happened to them, how they came to be here and how she holds this blade. 'You are less of a mystery. The High Summoner has kept us informed while keeping you misinformed – but I know how they speak of you and of this nation you helped form... So, surely... you'd rather talk than fight, no?' Genesis smiles. Apocalypse shoves his Scarab Blade into the ground and utters 'Every bone in me aches at the sight of you'. Genesis approaches him, hand reaching out as she tells him to come and walk with her. Apocalypse takes her hand and they walk off into the garden.
flashback images, narrated by Genesis in the present:Genesis tells Apocalypse that she knows he remembers the high halcyon days of mutantdom, and of Okkara the one land of mutants. 'It was ancient before that word existed but not yet old in the way they were old' she adds, before revealing that the Twilight Sword of the enemy tore the world asunder, and from the chasm between them – from Amenth – the enemy poured into this world. Apocalypse and Genesis battled the enemy army of Annihilation, until, at great cost, it was pusjed back through, along with Arakko itself, and the chasm was sealed shut. There were whispers in Arakko of why the husband of Genesis, the father of the Horsemen, remained behind. Some rumors kiss the edge of truth, while some are lies that offended Genesis.
Genesis tells Apocalypse that they both know the real reason he stayed behind – and the only truth that matters is that what should never have been cleaved in two was separated forever. Husband from wife. Parent from child. Arakko from Krakoa. She wonders how she describes the sound of the chasm closing. 'If I say it was as if one thousand angels died screaming bloody thunder, I know that number is low' Genesis remarks, adding that it was deafening, maddening – the alien song of the world of Amenth. Genesis reveals that hundreds of mutants lost their minds and fled into the wasteland that surrounded Arakko – they lose one tenth of their strength in less than hour. But, still, they steadied themselves, regrouped and readied for war. Genesis recalls looking out, and instead of an enemy army and a fight to the death, she saw nothing but an endless field decorated with the bodies of a fallen horde.
Thankfully, the White Sword and his One Hundred Champions were able to buy them time, and so they used it well. Genesis informs Apocalypse that she never witnessed such work as the wonders constructed by the brave mutant alchemists and engineers who made an armor for Krakoa, and they raised ten towers – and all the land between them became a killing field. When the army of Amenth finally came, they showed them what real mutants could become when forced to truly fight for survival – the mutants of Arakko became a machine of death – and for thousands of years, the Amenthii horde died at their border.
Genesis informs Apocalypse that generations of mutants lived and died never knowing defeat – the children of war, strong and fit for the days in which they lived. The Horseman called War even gave birth to a son, a Summoner. But they lived only inside the walls, and it made them arrogant and ignorant of what Amenth truly was. But, the high mutant prophet, Idyll, went blind after seeing their sure defeat in the future. Genesis remembers laughing at him and threatening to remove his weak head from his weak shoulders. Idyll sounded a warning, but Genesis knew – and knows – no fear. She cowers from nothing. So, she raised an army of mutant reavers, and for the first time, took their war to Amenth.
The mutant reavers left their walls behind and drove their way into enemy territory. Genesis swears to Apocalypse that she bathed nightly in the blood of those she had broken on the battlefield. Genesis reveals that two hundred years ago, they pushed so far that they reached the Ivory Spire, the stronghold of the long-thought-lost White Sword, Purity. Their greatest healer, External and immortal, the White Sword, resurrected his One Hundred Champions every morning and then rode out to slaughter Amenthi demons. The death and resurrection cycle that he lived each day had become his religion, and to say that the millennia had passed changed him is to sound like a fool. To everyone else, the White Sword was as alien as the horde he raged against, and they were the same to him.
It was not that the White Sword killed scores of mutants when he drove Genesis' army out that pained her so – she knows that if they were fit they would have survived – but it was more that when they first tasted defeat it was at the hands of one of their own. Spoiled meat was the first of many ill meals that followed, and Genesis and her remaining army returned to Arakko, where she found Isca waiting for her. Genesis asks Apocalypse if he remembers her sweet sister. She reminds him that Isca's mutant power was that she could not lose, and of how she wept when it drove Isca to join Amenth in the war against Okkara, so she was overjoyed to see her sister had returned, and imagined that Isca's return heralded not just their reunion, but their inevitable victory. But Genesis was never more wrong, and soon discovered that Isca had been sent to invite her to parlay with Annihilation at the seat of a golden helm's power – the capital city of Amenth. Isca begged, and Genesis broke – something which still shames her to this day. But she agreed to hear what the golden helm had to say, and would entertain the words of Annihilation.
When Genesis entered the great hall, the words of the prophet Idyll rang in her ears and she understood that she was witnessing Arakkii doom with her own eyes – those mutants who fled in the crossing – the one in ten they thought lost to the wastelands – Genesis found out what happened to them. What they thought was simply thousands of years of battle with the enemy was actually just the enemy biding their time – breeding the mutants they had captured with Amenthi demons to produce a hybrid warrior race. This was the birth of Summoners and the origin  of the bacl experiments of the vile schools – and Genesis was enraged. Nevertheless, she was led down a large path between the Amenthi forces by Isca, and presented to Annihilation who stood on the altar of a temple.
The golden helm offered Genesis a kind of peace – but instead, she offered Annihilation her sword. They battled to the death as all of Amenth looked on. She tells Apocalypse that he should have seen her – she fought for all of them – and won. She took Annihilation's life, took her head, and in doing so sacrificed her own. Genesis did not know what victory meant, did not know what it cost. Whoever defeats the helm claims the helm. Whoever wears that crown controls the land. It is called Annihilation for a reason. The golden helm is the only thing that keeps the Amenthi horde in check, and without it, the demons of that dark world would consume everything – or die trying. But, Genesis refused to wear it for one hundred years. And so, for one hundred years, as a prisoner, Genesis watched as the man horde, the true might of Amenth, cracked the walls of Arakko. She watched mutants die and towers fall – but still she refused.
Genesis reminds Apocalypse that she had led the mutants to Arakko to die if need be – to save the Earth from Amenthi hell – but informs him that there was still hope, and she held on to the hope that Apocalypse would raise a new mutant society, a greater one, and with its coming a mutant army that would save them all. But then, word came from inside the walls – the greatest mutants and mages of Arakko – damn fools who had forgotten their history – had carved holes in the heavens and re-opened what so many had died to close. Genesis knew that it was a cry for help, a surrender – and that all the old ways were lost.
And so, Genesis placed the golden helm on her head and surrendered to Amenth. She hoped to control it, to dominate it – but she failed, and Annihilation marched the horde into Arakko. Arakko surrendered to the golden helm, as did their children, as did the whole of the land. Annihilation wants it all – and because it wants it all... so does Genesis. And so, the horde moved on to Dryador, and forward to Krakoa.
Present:'So now you know what really happened' Genesis smiles. 'The price I paid... my greatest victory... my greatest defeat' she adds. Apocalypse tells Genesis that she can fight it, as she is the strongest person he knows. 'No one is that strong, my love. No one' Genesis replies. She adds that she fights for it, and now it wants everything – so she wants everything. 'Most of all... I want Krakoa' Genesis reveals.
Apocalypse folds his arms and tells his wife that Krakoa is not hers to take. 'I... we have built something there. For all mutants. That includes our children. And you' Apocalypse adds. Genesis asks if it can last, and points out that Arakko was forged in war – strong and fit, built to truly endure. 'What you have made... was it with soft hands and raised on a soft earth? I look at you and I think so' Genesis declares, before turning and walking away from Apocalypse, telling him that she will soon see what Krakoa has to offer. 'And what you, my love, have to offer as well' she adds.


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X of Swords, Chapter 20
Krakoa, where Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops looks out over the new home of mutantkind. Water cascades down the side of a large cliff into a blue lake surrounded by lush trees, bushes and strange colored plants. 'Are they ready?' Cyclops asks, turning his head slightly. Jean Grey a.k.a. Marvel Girl emerges from behind some bushes and informs Scott that everyone is waiting for them. 'Are you ready?' she asks. 'I never thought we'd have this, Jean. This place. Our family. A real home. I mean, I dreamed of it... but what good has that ever done us?' Cyclops asks, frowning. 'Not much' Jean agrees. 'Not much at all. But here it is' Scott remarks. 'Here we are'. Jean tells Scott that he looks ready, 'For years, all we had was a little hope and lot of prayer – it was nothing, and that whole tine I never stopped fighting' Cyclops states. 'So what do people expect we're going to do now that we actually have something to fight for?' Jean asks. 'Exactly. Let's go get our boy' Scott replies as he holds Jean's hand and they step through a nearby gateway.
Cyclops and Jean walk hand-in-hand down the entrance way to the Grove. Cyclops thinks about how one hour ago their son, Nathan, cried out for them to save him – and now there is a voice screaming in his head “Why am I still here”. Cyclops knows the answer – the answer is because what they have built is bigger than what they want. Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost and Kate Pryde all turn as Cyclops and Jean appear behind them. Nightcrawler looks over while Magneto and Professor X remain silent. Mystique, Exodus and Sinister appear not concerned by the arrival of Cyclops and Jean. A manifestation of Krakoa looms over Xavier and Magneto.
Meantime, on Otherworld, within the Starlight Citadel, where Opal Luna Saturnyne sits on her throne. Shogo the dragon perches behind the throne, wrapping his body around the throne area, while two servants wait nearby. Saturnyne announces that they have come to the end of it, and remarks that it is fitting they are tied, even more so that it falls to the both of them to decide how all this draws to a close. 'Husband against wife...will one of you yield, or will one of you die?' Saturnyne asks as Apocalypse and his long-missing wife, Genesis, who wears the Annihilation mask, stand in an arena before her, both holding their swords at the ready. 'Let's find out' Saturnyne exclaims. Apocalypse casts his eyes down and frowns as he asks Genesis 'If I am to die – and die at your hand – is it really to be like this? With your face hidden from me? Behind that mask?' he asks. 'Yes' Annihilation declares, before Genesis removes the mask, assuring Apocalypse that she is not hiding anything.
'I simply hoped to spare you the shame of looking in my eyes as you remembered who between us is fit... and who is not' Genesis declares as she drops the Annihilation mask to the ground. 'Shall we dance?' Genesis asks, grinning. Apocalypse moves forward and raises his Scarab sword, which clangs against Genesis' blade.
Back on Krakoa, Charles Xavier leans forward over the table he sits behind as he states 'It's hard not to see it... it's impossible not to feel it... it seems that bad days have yielded to even worse days'. Xavier reports that he senses the urgency in Jean's mind, and asks her what happened. Jean reveals that they have heard from Nathan, that he reached out to them from Otherworld. 'Two telepaths – even of your strength – shouldn't be able to span that chasm... it would take enormous...' Xavier begins, shocked. 'Desperation. Yes' Jean declares. She explains that Cable is hurt, they think badly, and that their connection was severed before they could find out everything. 'And in spite of the position we find ourselves in – at the whim of Saturnyne's rules – you want to go get him?' Magneto asks. 'I am going to get him' Cyclops announces. 'But that's not the whole of it, Professor. Krakoa is...at risk' Jean states. 'Well then, sympathies, of course, but perhaps lead with that instead of whining about your personal misfortune' Sebastian Shaw suggests, while he examines his fingernails.
Cyclops frowns, and pauses before announcing that they are losing very badly, and tells the Queit Council that unless something unexpected happens, their army is going to be coming through the External Gate. He reminds the Council that under the rules they agreed to, there is nothing they can do to stop it. 'How badly?' Magneto asks, standing up and leaning against the table. Jean tells him that is not clear, and they were cut off before Cable could say. 'But the hopelessness in his mind... it was...' Jean's voice trails off, as Magneto tells her that he understands. Magneto turns to Cyclops and remarks that he assumes he has a course of action in his mind. Cyclops confirms that he does, and announces that it is pretty straightforward. He informs the Council that he would like to take a strike team – one large enough to shake Otherworld to its foundations – on a smash-and-grab to get their people back.
'You intend to go through the Avalon Gate?' Sinister asks. Cyclops remarks that things are fluid, and confirms that it is an option. 'Best of luck' Sinister grins wickedly. Cyclops turns away from Sinister and tells the rest of the Council that the plan is to get their people back, and then close the gates for good. 'Cutting us off... forever?' Emma Frost asks. 'Or until something better comes along' Cyclops tells her. Sebastian states that this is bold talk, but that he hears a lot of hope and bluster, and no actual evidence that Cyclops can actually succeed. 'Not the violence part, of course – I know you have that in you – but the closing of the gates – how do you mean to do that?' he enquires. Cyclops reports that Beast recently stole the technology from Hordeculture to hijack gate control from Krakoa, so they can shut it down if they need to. 'So... save our people then close the gates to our nation. Does that cover it?' Magneto asks. 'It does' Cyclops confirms.
Sinister turns to Exodus and asks if he wants to explain the giant gaping hole in his heroic plan. 'I think you should. You tend to use small words. It's easier for them to follow' Sinister suggests. Exodus tells Cyclops that he is assuming success – without accounting for what it might cost if he fails. 'Look at me, Exodus. I am the mutant who has yet to fail this council. Do you think I plan to start now?' he asks. Magneto tells Cyclops that he has bravado, which is well earned, but that Exodus does have a point. 'There's no talking me out of this' Cyclops informs the Council. 'Then we wish you well... brave boy' Sinister utters. 'You forget. He won't be alone. I'm going to' Jean calls out. Nightcrawler raises a finger and smiles, announcing that he will join as well. 'Frankly – with all this talk of swords – I'm offended I wasn't invited in the first place' he adds. 'Count me in too' Kate Pryde remarks, but Shaw calmly tells the Council that they can't allow that. 'You... or them' he states. 'What?' Emma asks, turning to Shaw.
Shaw tells the Council that they are the government of a nation, and that they cannot lose so many of them in one moment of righteous madness. 'Failure, death and a flawed resurrection could result in a broken council. I demand that we vote on this...and I vote that leaving means losing your seat, for this body must endure, no?' Shaw declares, before asking for a show of hands. As Jean and Cyclops stand in the circle surrounded by the Council, Xavier, Magneto, Sinister, Exodus, Mystique, Frost and Shaw all raise their hands, while Nightcrawler and Kate do not. 'So it's settled. If you leave... you're done here' Shaw tells Jean, who is also a member of the Council. Jean closes her eyes as she tells the Council that she is disappointed. 'But you can't honestly think that’s going to stop me. I'm going' she reports.
Nightcrawler stands up and announces that he will be joining Jean, but Jean tells him that he should stay, as he is the soul of this place. 'Look at what's happening already... these people would be lost without you' Jean tells him, before thanking him. Kate smiles and tells Jean that won't work on her, as she is a troublemaker looking for trouble and won't be talked out of it. 'Kate... we're traveling through a gate' Cyclops points out. Kate scowls and swears while clenching a fist. Cyclops looks over to Emma, who telepathically tells him that he really shouldn't lie to Katherine, as lying doesn't suit him. 'Do you want me to come?' she then asks, speaking, so that everyone can hear her. Cyclops responds to Emma with his thoughts, telling her that they both know she is staying, that there is too much money on the table for the ask – which is why he would never ask. Cyclops then speaks and tells Emma that it is the same as the others, and that she needs to stay. Emma telepathically tells Cyclops that she will have the girls meet him, and Scott thanks her.
Scott turns to the Council and is about to say something, but Exodus interrupts him, telling him that he has forgotten something -  the cost. 'The problem is if you go and fail – if you die – we could lose you and those who go with you forever. Acceptable to some, I'm sure... quite unacceptable to others' Exodus declares. Mystique folds her arms  as she tells Cyclops that she is assuming he will expect them to keep the gate oen for him, which means that if he fails, they will actually be holding the doors open for an invasion, 'Which is foolish' she adds. Exodus frowns as  he reminds everyone that they have their nation to think of, that they have a duty. He raises his hand, as Shaw suggests that they vote for this and be done with it. 'All for closing the gates?' he asks as he raises his own hand. Xavier, Magneto, Mystique and Sinister join Shaw and Exodus, and outnumbering Scott, Jean, Kate, Emma and Kurt.
Xavier tells Scott that he is sorry, and points out that he doesn't have the luxury of thinking of just one mutant anymore, or even a few – no matter how much they mean to him. 'I understand, sir. Just like I'm sure you understand this vote doesn't change what I have to do'. Cyclops claims that he knows the difference between right and wrong, and he knows that necessary evil has nothing to do with it. 'I know these things because it's how I was raised' Cyclops smiles. 'Yes. It is' Cyclops replies, before Magneto asks Cyclops what he is going to do. Scott announces that he knows that risking everything they have built for a few lives doesn't work for all of them, he understands they don't have the luxury of thinking that way. 'But hearing you say it out loud... tasting it in my mouth... I find it unacceptable. So I do not accept it'
Back on Otherworld, Genesis takes a swipe at Apocalypse, who dodges, and responds by reaching forward with his sword – so Genesis knocks his arm aside and uses the opportunity to shove her blade into Apocalypse's upper arm. Apocalypse stumbles backwards, but not defeated.
On Krakoa, Cylcops reminds the council members that they formed to be the Quiet Council to be the government of Krakoa, and declares that the X-Men are its heroes, and that they will save those who need saving – whatever the cost. 'You read?' Cyclops asks Jean, who takes his hand and tells him that she has been waiting for him, as they walk hand-in-hand away from the council. 'Good boy' Magneto remarks, while Xavier smiles.
On Otherworld again, Genesis raises her blade as she tells her husband that he is wounded and weak. She remarks that she will give him one last kiss, and then she will hear his surrender and welcome him back to his rightful place at her side. She moves forward and swings her blade ahead, shattering Apocalypse's Scarab sword. She asks Apocalypse if he will yield. 'Yield?' Apocalypse responds, before announcing that he will not yield – not to fear and not to doubt. Genesis rushes towards him again and strikes him with her sword. 'And not to love' Apocalypse adds as he grabs Genesis by her wrist and yanks the sword from her. She screams as Apocalypse shoves the blade into her. 'Though it be the death of me' Apocalypse mutters.
Genesis falls to the ground, blood pooling around her, she looks up at Apocalypse and tells him to finish it – it's what she would do, before the shame kills her. 'Shame?' Apocalypse asks, dropping the sword to the floor. 'The shame would be me warring for thousands of years to see you again and this be the end of it'. Apocalypse looks over to Saturnyne and tells her that he doesn't want this. Saturnyne replies by telling Apocalypse that would matter if one were to care about needs and wants – and even if it did, the day demands a victor, so things must be settled. 'Put me on' the Annihilation maks cries out from nearby. The wounded Genesis reaches over and places the mask on, although she appears hesitant in doing so. 'Put me on' the mask declares again. Genesis stands up, the Annihilation mask covering her face, Annihilation exclaims 'Settled? Things are a long way from settled, witch. I am not dead. I have not yielded. Nothing is settled. Nothing!'


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Sworded Out
Krakoa, where Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops and his children Rachel Summers a.k.a. Prestige and Nathan Summers a.k.a. Cable – the teenage version – stand on a hillside, looking out over the island, they are focused on a large volcano on the island next to Krakoa, Arakko, an island that is not as lush as Krakoa. 'So... how's this going to work?' Cable asks. Cyclops tells his son that he would be lying if he thought anything he would say would make sense, but he will try to do his best. Cyclops explains that the Arakko Point is a small, dormant piece of Arakko that joined with Krakoa – the two halves of what was once a single island. 'The one land. Okkara' Rachel remarks. 'Exactly' Cyclops tells her, before revealing that, right now, Krakoa is pushing the Arakko Point away from itself, and disengaging the smaller island – because that is where the External Gate is located. He adds that by inverting the gate, which glows with energy within the top of the volcano, is supposedly how they are going to get the whole of Arakko here.
'Okay. Sure. But, again... how's that work?' Cable asks, rubbing the back of his head. Rachel folds her arms, while Cyclops, hands on hips, admits that he has no idea. 'Well, whatever it is... it's starting' Rachel points out, motioning to the energy that is rising up from the Point. The energy is blinding, so the three powerful mutants shield their eyes – and then suddenly, it stops. The Summers family look back across at the Point, 'Oh... that's big' Rachel remarks. 'Pfft. I've seen bigger' Cable smirks. 'Shut up' Rachel tells him, as they look at a huge mountain that has appeared on Arakko, with several tall spire-like points reaching upwards. The vines connecting Krakoa to Arakko suddenly move closer together again, 'Oh man...  I... I don't want to watch this again' Rachel mutters as the vines writhe around each other.
But not for long, and the vines quickly separate, moving further and further away from each other. Cable asks if something is wrong, and tells his father that he doesn't think there is any love on these islands. 'No, son... it appears there is not' Cyclops agrees.
Later, Doug Ramsey a.k.a. Cypher looks out towards the transformed Arakko and asks Krakoa 'So how do you want to do this? Carrier pigeon? Do you even know what that is? Megaphone? There are other options...' his voice trails off, as the face Krakoa makes appears next to Cypher and starts speaking. 'I don't know how I'm supposed to -' Cypher starts to reply. Krakoa says something else, and Cypher asks him what he means by meeting in the middle. 'Oh. Okay' Cypher realizes. 'I get it now' he adds, as Krakoa transforms part of its body into a tall, humanoid figure that resembles a tall tree with arms and legs. 'Easy' Cypher remarks as Krakoa picks him up. 'I'm delicate' Cypher calls out as Krakoa lumbers towards the water that now separates Krakoa from Arakko. At the same time, a similar manifestation of Arakko can be seen walking in the same direction. 'All right' Cypher remarks. 'Let's figure this out' he suggests as both manifestations of Arakko and Krakoa sit down opposite each other in the water.
Later still, the Quiet Council have gathered, and Cypher stands in the middle of their meeting tables. 'Bad news, it's not going to happen' Cypher reports as he looks at Charles Xavier and Magneto. 'There's not going to be a reunification of the islands' Cypher announces. 'Why not?' Charles asks. Cypher explains that it has been thousands of years, and they don't seem interested in the idea, adding that he honestly doesn't think Krakoa and Arakko like each other anymore. 'Well... can't they just talk it out?' Kate Pryde asks as she sits alongside Sebastian Shaw and Emma Frost. Cypher turns to them and tells her that it is not that easy. 'I mean, sure, the base morphology is there, but lexicon drift, branching deviations in syncope and apocope... to say nothing of the environmental changes of how existing in a warlike setting affects an evolving vocabulary. Kate, seriously, they don't even speak the same language'.
'Then what was the point of all this? The swords, the rituals, the tournament...' Magneto's voice trails off. 'I've got a wife now' Cypher smiles. 'And I'm sure you're both happy' Emma Frost remarks, uninterested as she looks at her gloved fingers. 'I'm not' Mystique smirks. 'Nonsense. This is a time for joy. I applaud you on your conquest, young mutant. Love is... a complicated adversary and today you are a victor', Exodus smiles. Nightcrawler smiles and congratulates Doug, telling him that he is happy for him. 'And may your first mutant be an Omega mutant' Shaw adds. Cypher starts to thank everyone, before Xavier declares that they have other, more urgent, matters at hand. 'Isn't that right, Douglas?' Xavier asks. 'Yes, sir' Cypher responds. Magneto turns to Mr Sinister and remarks 'What about you, Sinister? You must have some insight into all this since you are, in fact, the only person in this room with experience on that island. Care to illuminate us?' he asks. Sinister scowls as he responds that he would rather not – he's been through a lot, and doesn't want to talk about it.
Charles turns his attention back to Cypher and asks him to please ask Krakoa if there is any way that their two islands can find some common ground. Cypher sighs, before turning to the manifestation of Krakoa who is nearby and asking 'Are you sure you won't change your mind?' Krakoa responds to Cypher, who tells the Council that Krakoa said it isn't really a problem on their end – it's the other island and its intractability. Cypher tells the Council that he can't stress how different Krakoa and Arakko sound, and that he thinks it might extend to all of them as well. 'Who?' Storm asks. 'The mutants on Arakko' Cypher reports. Nightcrawler remarks that the mutants on Arakko are so easily forgotten when you have never matched a name to a face, and adds that there are virtually no reference to them in any of the reports they have seen. Storm announces that a few who entered the tournament were from Arakko, but most of them old enough to come from when the islands were one. She adds that it is shameful, but this is really the first chance they have had to engage their long-lost brothers and sisters.

Kate asks how many they are, and Cypher reveals that he did find that out when the islands were talking – it seems there are about twenty times as many mutans on Arakko than there are on Krakoa. 'So many...' Mystique utters. 'That's a problem well beyond two islands talking to each other. What are we going to do with them all?' Emma asks. 'Well... that seems like an entirely different conversation than this one. Doesn't it?' Cypher remarks, while Charles and Magneto remain silent, looking lost in thought.
Later, on Arakko, a strange creature with one eye in the center of its head, and two large horns sticking out either side, makes its way through some part of the red-tinted forest – only for a sword to slash down into its back, killing it. Isca the Unbeaten emerges, holding the sword, 'I assume you don't know much of the creatures of Amenth. You have to root them out entirely. These...demons...reproduce asexually, and if you leave one alive, in a month it will have bred an entire pack' Isca announces, revealing that this is how the fallen world was – everything can kill you, but apathy would kill you just as surely as tooth and claw. 'So we make sure, understand? Leave no enemy alive. Ever'.
Magneto and Professor X walk towards Isca, with Xavier holding a Krakoan flower. Magneto tells Isca that they understand. 'You can never be too careful, I always say. Charles here, however, is a hopeless romantic. It's unfortunate, I know. He's quick to trust and gives us a wide berth' Magneto remarks. Running her hand along her blade, Isca remarks that she will keep that in mind, before asking how they wish to proceed with their situation. Charles asks Isca if she could expound on what she thinks their situation is. Isca states that she has spoken to the boy-husband of Bei – their Cypher – who has informed her of the intentions of Arakko – that the two islands will remain two lands. 'The question is, what of our two peoples?' Isca asks. 'Ah, of course. But before we get into that, we brought you a gift. A gateway flower' Xavier tells Isca. 'To ease our travel. For... comfort' Isca smiles.
'Yes. As to the other, do you have a proposal? Intentions beyond peace or some kind of unification?' Charles asks, informing Isca that they were hoping for a coalition or to offer some kind of shared power structure between them. Isca explains that the Great Ring of Arakko is the government here, and that beyond the fallow years, it has been so for thousands of years. 'What of yours?' she asks. Magneto informs her that it is called the Quiet Council and that it is a noble body full of wise leaders who will rule for thousands of years and beyond. Isca falls silent and smirks, before informing Magneto that she sees through him – all the way to the truth. 'You are children running a child government' she declares. She points out that is not necessarily a bad thing, just inexperienced and prone to bearing fruit of that tree. She asks her visitors to tell her of this world that they rule and to tell her of Earth.
Xavier pauses, before reporting that it is a beautiful place, but that it has its problems. 'What world doesn't?' he adds, explaining that they don't rule it – they share it with humanity. 'Humanity? Humans? I must confess... I'm surprised that's... a thing that persists here' Isca replies. 'Still, thousands of years. Growth, invention, survival...these have a way of sharpening a tool. And if you share the world with them, they must be formidable. Worthy of an impasse'. 'They're just men' Magneto tells her. Isca falls silent, before telling Magneto 'I know that our ways are not yours. Time has changed our two lands – changed us – but I need you to listen to me'. Isca then declares that her people are a hard people made harder by war, and that they have no peace in them. 'Perhaps, with time, with a little grace, we may become as you. Accepting. Gentle. Soft. But until that day...I have to warn you...do not come to this place again like this – with dreams in your head and flowers in your hand...for this is a land of swords' Isca declares. Magneto and Xavier look shocked and say nothing, before Isca turns and walks away, informing them that she will take their offer of unity to the Ring, and that they will consider it.
Later still, back on Krakoa, Jean Grey and Cyclops meet with Xavier and Magneto at the empty Grove, where the Quiet Council usually gather. 'So you think they're going to be a problem, Professor?' Jean asks. Xavier tells her that he thinks they will need to be at their strongest to weather these uncertain times. He tells Jean that, with her resignation and Apocalypse's prolonged, and possibly permanent, absence, there are now two open seats on the Quiet Council. Magneto remarks that there will have to be a vote, of course, but he thinks they will have the numbers to push it through. 'Jean, your reclamation should be a formality. Scott, your reputation should make yours one as well' Magneto states. Xavier informs the two that he would like for them both to fill the empty seats.
Jean and Scott look at each other, and Jean pauses, before responding 'No', while Cyclops thanks Professor X, and states that he can't take it, either. 'Why not?' Magneto asks. Jean explains that it feels like they have something more important to do now. 'The X-Men. If there's one thing that Scott and I have learned through the beginning of our great Krakoan experiment, it's this... the people of our nation need to feel like someone is acting on their behalf. Not deciding what's best for them – not deciding what is and is not in their best interest – but someone who fights for them. And that's us' Jean declares. Magneto asks Cyclops about his specific responsibilities to the Council, to which Cyclops assures him he will still be a great captain and that the Council can call on him whenever the nation needs defending – but this has to be separate from that.
Charles remains silent, before smiling as he states that he can tell there is no talking either of them out of this. 'No, Charles. There isn't' Jean responds. Magneto asks if they have decided who is going to be on their team, and Cyclops points out that hr could always handpick a team that could get the job done, but that feels wrong. Charles asks them what they are going to do, and Jean suggests that if the X-Men are for the people, then they figured they would best leave that decision up to them. 'Were going to let the people vote' Cyclops smiles.


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Empty Nest
(flashback images)
The supercluster of galaxies that make up this sector of the universal quadrant are in turmoil. For thousands – tens of thousands – of years, the one thing that outlasted wars, invasions, annihilation events and celestial disruptions was what held most of these ancient societies together – commerce, trade and welth. Warlike or savage, ancient or cultured, the great civilizations of this supercluster always maintained a formal or informal network of interconnectedness. Either by banking guilds, a unified credit system or black markets, the great economic balance that propped up all society remained intact. Until now. A huge armada of space ships converges on one area in space. The Kree, the Kymellians and the Skrull stand ready. But, along with those races, the Shi'ar, and all galactic currencies are collapsing, along with worlds, and are only kept in line by Gladiator, who along with Imperial Guard members like Hussar and Manta keep worlds in line. These may not be the black days of end-times, but the sun is setting. There is a new regent on the throne in the Shi'ar Empire, and like all new monarchs, this is a particularly vulnerable time for Xandra Neramani. Court politics and imperial machinations were bad enough, but now, Xandra, despite being watched over by her aunt, Deathbird, and Imperial Guard members Oracle and Mentor, has disappeared.
Present:
'I suspect foul play. Court betrayal or an alien assassination attempt. The problem is this: I cannot let word of this spread' Deathbird announces as she appears before Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops, Jean Grey and Ororo Munroe a.k.a. Storm via hologram. Deathbird tells the mutant heroes that she needs someone to find Xandra, discretely, while she maintains control on Chandilar. 'My paramour promised that you not only could do this favor for the empire, but that I could also trust your discretion. Was he correct?' Deathbird asks. Wearing his blue and white X-Factor costume, Cyclops tells Deathbird 'Well, we do have a certain quality, and, frankly, we're in the saving-the-day kind of mood'. Jean is wearing her classic red and yellow X-Factor costume, and Deathbird asks them 'How soon can you get here?' to which Cyclops smiles.
One hour later, a Krakoan gateway opens on Chandilar, the Throneworld of the Shi'ar Empire, which is also home to two of the New Mutants. 'Hey, Izzzy. We're here. Put us to work' Jean Grey calls out as she, Scott and Ororo step through the portal. 'Wow. That was fast. Let me tell the boys we're headed to the palace, and we'll all get going' Izzy, known as Smasher, the wife of Cannonball, responds.

Shortly, the Imperial Palace, where Cyclops, Jean, Storm and Smasher step out of a bug-like spacecraft, and Storm asks Smasher 'What do we know?' Smasher reports that Deathbird is keeping things locked down, but that from what she understands, Xandra disappeared sometime last night, and that she was in the royal wing, while the guards who were on duty were found dead, but security footage doesn't show that anyone entered or exited the room. Smasher suggests that this means either an inside job, or that whoever this was has the technical prowess to bypass the best security the empire has to offer. Storm asks about the staff, and Smasher informs her that they are normally seriously vetted, but desperate times lead to desperate people doing things they normally wouldn't. 'Either way, thats up to you guys to find out. Deathbird has everyone waiting for you. As requested'.

Soon, in a room within the palace, Deathbird stands with Oracle, Mentor and several other Shi'ar, where Oracle informs the mutants that this is everyone who was on call the night of the abduction, and that she has probed them telepathically, both as a group and individually. 'I found nothing, so I'm not sure why we need to waste time -' Oracle begins, but Jean interrupts her, explaining that they just want to be thorough and leave no stone unturned in the hunt for an imperial princess. Jean concentrates hard as her astral form begins to explore the minds of those gathered before her. She is sure that telepathic scanning is understood to be a normal security function of the Shi'ar state, and as such, it is not uncommon for assassins, spies and sociopathic careerists to be trained in the art of concealing their true nature. Jean looks at one of the Shi'ar, who hangs their head. Jean's astral form returns to her body and she states that in situations like these, she has often found it effective to not look for what someone is thinking, but to focus in on an absence of certain thoughts entirely, and see the mask for what it is.
'That one!' Jean exclaims, pointing at the Shi'ar who hung their head when her astral form looked at her. 'Death to Xandra! Death to all tyrants!' the Shi'ar suddenly shouts, pushing those around her aside, she leaps forward, only to scream as she is blasted backwards from an optic blast fired by Cyclops and a surge of lightning that Storm hurls at her. 'Was that me or you?' Cyclops asks. 'Hard to tell' Storm replies. Mentor goes over to the fallen Shi'ar and discovers that she was not Shi'ar at all. 'Deathbid. Look. The assassin's disguise is fading' Mentor calls out, reporting that the assassin is a Stygian, and noting that their innate resistance to telepathy explains how she got past them. 'As for why, well...' Mentor's voice trails off, while Deathbird narrows her eyes and claims that it is all becoming clear to her.
Meanwhile, in the catacombs of Chandilar, a figure with dark skin, some parts of his body appear to be machine, armor covering part of him, while purple robes flow around him, stands before several others, including two who stand over Xandra, who sits at their feet. 'Hoor'Osk. Bettiyze  Prime. Gal-Durann. All of these heavy-gravity worlds, the empire gave to us. Mine them, the Shi'ar said. Make the empire rich, and the empire will provide for your people. Where are the Shi'ar now, I ask? Where is their money and gratitude it buys?' he declares. 'Gone. With the great collapse. I'm sorry, they say... no one could have seen this coming. We regret that your people starve...even more, we regret that there's nothing we can do. We should be grateful. It's not often that the unseen hand of subjugation is revealed...and revealed to be that of an entitled child' the mysterious figure states, pointing at Xandra.

The mysterious man asks Xandra if she was born evil, and whether her family name, and the damned throne that billions have died for, tain her entire existence. 'You have to know someone will come for me' Xandra tells him. The man ignores that comment, and hodls up a large mallet-like weapon, energy crackling around it, he asks Xandra if she sees the weapon and declares that it is gthe greal Maul of Stygia, and with it, he executed every member of their puppet Shi'ar government. He reveals that his own brother, his own blood, tasted this metal. 'For I am justice for the people. I am Urr' he announces. 'You're a monster!' Xandra calls out as Urr looms over her. 'I am what the universe made me' Urr responds. 'I am what the Shi'ar made me. And the bill has come due, little empress. Time to pay!' Urr exclaims.

At that moment, Jean, Cyclops, Storm and Smasher drop down through some sort of tunnel, with Jean telling the others that the assassin's mind was like a fog, but clear that a deep-seeded anti-imperial sentiment was there. She supposes that the financial collapse must have made it worse, but that she is sure it wasn't that hard to position their people into place for something like this. 'After all, they clean up after the Shia'r. They wash their clothes. They make their food. This... has probably been a long time coming' Jean points out. Storm asks how many there are, but Jean tells her that she has no idea, as it was like a soup in the assassin's mind. Smasher announces that she has had enough, and taps a button on her costume. Cyclops asks her what she is doing, to which Smasher reports that she is making sure they don't get the empress killed.
In the catacomb, Urr declares that, first, they will make an example, that they will break the throne, which will then break the hold the empire has on its vassal work. 'This begins with a blood sacrifice. Hold her' he tells his allies. As he raises his weapon, he asks Xandra 'Any last words, tyrant?' Xandra grits her teeth as she tells Urr that she has ruled for less than the blink of an eye, and that her short term will almost certainly be defined by the collapse the universe is currently facing. 'You have no idea what I would have done – and I believe I would have done well – but that doesn't matter to you. You think you are righteous... but this? This just makes you a murderer. So swing true, villain. We children care so very little for dying badly over sins we did not commit' Xandra tells Urr. 'You cannot guilt us with hell, Your Majesty...we are already in it!' Urr responds as he swings his weapon backwards – only to scream as he is blasted backwards by an explosion that ripples through the catacomb wall.

Storm enters, lightning crackling around her as she instructs Smasher to protect the empress, while Cyclops fires an optic blast that knocks back several of Urr's associates. 'We'll handle the rest!' Cyclops calls out. 'Is that so? Is that really what you believe?' Urr asks as he gets to his feet and slams the side of his weapon into Cyclops, sending him crashing into a catacomb wall. 'Scott!' Jean calls out. 'Ther're more of them than we thought. You need to -' Jean begins, but Smasher tells her to go ahead. 'I'll take care of this' she assures Jean, while firing blasts at the men standing over Xandra. 'And so few of you? And for a task well beyond bravery and valor. We are a desperate people. We are willing to die here today. Are you?' Urr asks as he blocks Storm's lightning surge with his weapon. Wide-eyed, Jean informs Storm that Cyclops it out cold, and tells her that they need to leave now.
Xandra tells Smasher to join in the fight if she needs to, offering to make a run for it and send help as soon as she is clear. 'That won't be necessary, Your Majesty. I came prepared' Smasher responds as she holds up her communicator, which beeps. Okay, Sam. Send them in' Smasher remarks into her communicator. 'Hell, who's this?' Bobby DaCosta a.k.a. Sunspot asks as he appears on the communicator monitor. 'Bobby? What the – where' Sam?' Smasher asks. Bobby tells her that Sam is in the other room with the kid. 'Listen, can this wait? I'm on the other line' Bobby remarks. 'What?' Smasher exclaims, annoyed. Bobby tells her that she isn't going to believe this, but his money guys called and there is a fire sale on. 'Oh, hey, Izzy. How goes work?' Sam Guthrie a.k.a. Cannonball asks as he can be seen behind Bobby. Sam and Izzy's kid, Josiah, clings to Sam's goggle strap which hangs around Sam's neck. Bobby turns around to Sam and tells him 'Not now, Sam. We're talking about money'.
Bobby continues talking to Smasher, telling her that he claws back some of that X-Corp cash, diversified, whatever that means, and now they are buying everything. 'Pennies on the dollar' Bobby smiles. 'Kinda gross, Bobby' Sam remarks, before Bobby points at him and asks him if he wants to start paying rent. 'Both of you! Shut up!' Smasher exclaims, before telling Bobby that their discussion is to be continued, and Sam that this is her telling him to do the thing. 'Got it' Sam replies as he pulls a book from a shelf, which opens a secret computer panel. 'Here they come' Sam announces as he presses a button on the panel.
Back in the catacombs, as Jean cradles the motionless Scott, Xandra and Smasher stand near her, and Storm continues to hold back Urr. Urr tells Storm to look around her, as this is how it always ends for tyrants – always. Storm responds by telling Urr that she doesn't know him, but she does know them and a little of the circumstances that pull at them both. 'It begs for grace – this spot you find yourself in – so for you, I have grace...but in small measure. Stand down' Storm instructs Urr. 'Never!' Urr snaps back. 'Well, she gave you a chance' Smasher points out as a loud rumbling can be heard, and a moment later, several other Smashers, burst into the catacombs. Smasher leads them in the fight against Urr's allies, telling them that if they want to replace her one day on the Imperial Guard, if they want to be a superguardian, then this is how they do it. 'Protect the throne! Protect the empire!' she tells them.
'We may all die here today, Empress. Butb it's a fair price to pay to see the end to Neramani rule' Urr calls out as he raises his weapon to Xandra when she has her back turned – only for Storm to come between them, blocking the weapon with a surge of lightning, she tells Urr that wherever tomorrow finds him, he needs to remember that he was warned, before he is engulfed in lightning, a massive KRAK-A-THOOM echoing throughout the catacombs.
Later, Xandra sits on her throne, with her aunt Deathbird standing next to her. Sunspot stands several feet from Deathbird, while Smasher and Cannonball stand on the other side of Xandra. Cannonball waves at Cyclops, Jean and Storm, while Cyclops rubs the side of his head. Jean congratulates Xandra on being back where she belongs. 'With only a slight headache to show for the trouble' Jean jokes. 'Yes. I have returned...but changed, I think. My royal advisor, Deathbird...has educated me on how to handle these complicated times. In winter, an iron hand is never a good idea' Xandra replies. 'And weakness must not be seen as an opportunity' Deathbird smiles, adding that, to that end, she has volunteered the recent good fortune of her inamorato to be used to the betterment of the Stygian people. 'I'm not happy about it... but I'm also happy for everyone. Allegedly' Sunspot responds, arms folded.
Storm asks Xandra about Urr and those involved in his plot, to which Xandra informs her that the good people of Stygia will be sent home, and as for Urr, he was a zealot and a brute, so she is punishing him, by making him a diplomat to the throne on matters of Stygia. 'I'm making the true believer a politician. Hypocrisy is a fate worse than death, wouldn't you say?' Xandra asks, before announcing that Storm of Krakoa, vanquisher of a rebellion and friend to the Shi'ar throne, she owes a debt to. 'And in the coming days, should you need anything of me...feel free to collect at any time' Xandra remarks, to which Storm smiles.


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Inside the Vault
South America, at the old Master Mold which sits partially demolished within a jungle. It is the entrance to the Vault. From this point forward, one cannot depend on time to function in any manner resembling normal – it waxes and wanes, like temporal tides. With a little help from their fellow mutants, Laura Kinney a.k.a. Wolverine, Armando Munoz a.k.a. Darwin and Everitt Thomas a.k.a. Synch have successfully breached the external defenses of the Vault and proceeded inside without detection. Easier than expected – but they will take the win, as they expect things to go south, and quickly.
This is day one.  Synch, Wolverine and Darwin stand on platform that looks out over the sprawling city within the Vault before them. Their objective is to ascertain the threat level and potential weaknesses of the Vault and the full capabilities of what lies within, and those of the children. Synch remembers being told “good luck” as he and his companions entered the Vault – he thinks they are going to need it.
'Oh, man... look at the size of that place. Massive. There's gotta be, what, a million people in there? Maybe more?' Synch asks. Darwin notes that the Vault could definitely hold that, no doubt, but he thinks it is pretty unlikely. He asks Synch if he read the file, and remarks that one of the main reasons the three of them are in here is because they just don't know enough about these people.
As Darwin's face shifts, transforming so that it contains several analytical scanning devices, he remarks that it has been theorized that, for whatever reason, the Children of the Vault have engaged in strict population control. He decides that the theory seems sound, and acknowledges that there may be a few who don't register a heat signature, but from what he is seeing, that city is pretty sparsely populated. Synch has copied Darwin's powers and his face uses the same scanning devices, and he agrees that Darwin is right. 'Hey, maybe we can do this without getting caught. Or even seen. Get home in time for dinner' Synch suggests.
Synch knows that Darwin's powers of rapid evolutionary adaptation make him perfect for both data collection and analysis, while Wolverine's abilities are essential to their long-term survival – against both environment and adversary. He decides that she is quite prickly, though, as she pushes past him and declares 'Not gonna happen if the two of you don't keep it down'. Synch looks at Wolverine and wonders how he feels about that. Wolverine stares back at him, 'What are you looking at?' she asks, popping her claws. 'I'm feeling pretty good' Synch thinks to himself, smiling at Laura, while his colorful aura glows around him.
The trio make their way down a set of stairs towards some sort of tube with a platform that lowers down through the tube, like an elevator. Synch reminds himself that his powers make him a redundancy – a literal backup for both – extra surveillance and survival when needed or extra muscle if that is what is called for. He hopes that with any luck, they will be out of here in a day or two, a week at tops. 'So here's one for luck...' he thinks to himself as he touches a panel that lowers the platform downwards. 'This is Synch. Descending into the Vault' he thinks to himself, realizing that the real mission begins now.
In the center of the Vault is the Dome. In the heart of the Dome is the City, where one of the Children of the Vault, Serafina, is currently connected to some equipment, which scans her for contagion. The equipment states that the scan is complete and the subject is clean. The computer system identifies her, the child, as Serafina, and notes that she is level two. 'The Vault welcomes you home' the computer tells her, still connected to her via several wires, it asks her to report. 'Downloading...' Serafina remarks, as the computer absorbs her memories, and discovers that the mission was a failure. The computer makes a secondary analysis and notes the increased threat activity level of non-augmented, naturally occurring human population, adding that non-posthuman resistance is expected, and that threat level is secondary. It notes the increased threat level activity of Homo Superior, and expects mutant resistance, allocating it a primary threat level.
The computer concludes that the Vault opening should be delayed, as child-level three is necessary for successful occupation/subjugation of external environment – the world. The computer states that their City upgrade should go global, with all AI class and at level three. 'Hard not to learn a hard lesson. They've grown into something greater than anticipated. Were not strong enough for them. We need to be... more' Serafina announces. Several other Children of the Vault are gathered nearby. 'So back into the pot we go. Terrific' the gray-skinned Sangre mutters. 'Make it well done, I say. A little kiss of creation. Then we emerge in fire and blood' the muscular Perro declares. 'The problem is the cycle. It's always the cycle' the blonde Aguja suggests, while the fiery Fuego adds 'Which yields for nothing. I will fall forever that the city stands. It would be -', but he is interrupted as the computer states 'Attention!' and reports that there is an asymetrical breach. It scans for contagion, and when it completes the scan, detects that the Vault has been contaminated.
The computer states that the subjects are unidentified, their class is unknown and level is unknown, meaning an anomaly has been detected. 'Protect the city! Protect the city! Protect the city!' the computer repeats, as the Children – Serafina, Aguja, Fuego, Perro and Sangre – leap into action.
As Synch continues to stand on the platform that lowers him, Wolverine and Darwin down to another part of the Vault, he tells himself that there is something to keep in mind regarding memory reports – as he understands it, or had it explained to him, the brain stores memories atemporarily and in an interconnected manner that resonates. He knows it sounds like nonsense, but what it actually means is that people remember what matters most. After all, that is what makes nostalgia so powerful.
The door at the bottom of the tube opens, and the Children of the Vault are there waiting. 'Burn it' Sangre orders. Fuego unleashes a powerful surge of flame towards the tube, which blasts through the open door. 'No screams. I'm impressed' Perro remarks as he and Aguja move closer to the tube. Aguja sniffs the air and supposes that the intruders must have got off the tube somewhere before it reached the bottom.
'Oh no' Serafina remarks as she looks up and sees Wolverine leaping from a nearby ledge.
Synch and Darwin remain standing on the ledge, as Synch thinks to himself that if something happens five years from now, but reminds him of something that happened last week, that means he stands a better chance of remembering that specific memory in the future instead of the other memories that surrounded it. But the thing is, this doesn't have anything to do with facts or logic, or what actually happened – it's just how you remember it, how it affected you. Serafina looks horrified as Wolverine drops down above her, claws at the ready, she strikes, slashing her claws across Serafina's left side, the woman drops to the ground.
'In your head... and in your heart' Darwin thinks to himself. He, Laura and Darwin, in the Vault, counted the days – but what they remember, what mattered to each of them colors their memories of this experience.
Synch and Darwin drop down to the ground behind Wolverine, and the trio rush towards the remaining Children of the Vault. Fuego blasts Synch with fire, engulfing him and causing Synch to scream, as Aguja traps a bubble of water around Darwin's head. Darwin struggles to breathe, while Wolverine steps between Synch and Fuego, and as she shoves her claws through Fuego's skull, she touches Synch, she tells him that she has got him, and to use her to heal himself. 'It...it burns' Synch utters as he copies Laura's healing power, restoring himself, he stands over Fuego and touches him, too, while Darwin appears to have adjusted to breathing within the water bubble around his head.
'Eh?' Sangre asks as he and Perro look on, surprised. Laura is surprised, too, as she turns to Synch, who is now engulfed in flames, but controlling the flames. 'I didn't think you could copy anyone's powers except mutants' Laura remarks. 'I couldn't... looks like that's changed!' Synch responds as he unleashes two powerful beams of flaming energy directly at Perro and Fuego, incinerating them in an instant. 'NO!' Aguja screams in horror. 'You're going to pay for that' Aguja snaps as she finds herself surrounded by the three mutants. 'Oh man... she's  gonna blow. Back up! We need to get clear. Now!' Synch exclaims as he grabs Wolverine by her hand and tries to pull her back.
Energy begins to glow from several domes on the sleeves of Aguja's costume, as she exclaims 'You mutants... thinking you can run from this... run all you want. Run as fast as you can. It's not going to matter. You can't outrun us. You can't outrun the future!' she warns the mutants, as the energy increases around her.
Synch thinks to himself that their mission is to remember what they learn and report back – to escape with the knowledge. He knows that they did their best. On day one, they entered the Vault. No one will know what it took to get out.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Inside the Vault
The Past:
South America, inside the Vault. You can measure in hours – maybe minutes – how quickly Everett Thomas a.k.a. Synch realized life in the Vault would be an exercise in sacrifice and pain. It was all too much. He notices that the City was too big, and the Vault itself even larger. The enormity of it is paralyzing, and the scale inconceivable. Before they run, before they heal, they watch the destroyed section of the City begin to rebuild itself. Mutants don't come from a naturally self-healing world, but the Children of the Vault do. So Synch knows why he, Laura Kinney a.k.a Wolverine and Armando Munoz a.k.a. Darwin were chosen – because in combination, the trio could survive anything – that they could somehow survive the raw creation found in this genesis tomb. But Synch has no idea what “survive” means until entering the City. Wolverine uses her healing power to restore Synch after they  were both scorched with energy, while Darwin's body begins to regenerate itself. The trio look at each other and smile, before running away deeper into the City.
The first fifty years were the longest. A makeshift command or control area is established in quadrant one of the Vault's outer ring. All attempts to send a message from inside the Vault  to the outside world are, as expected, unsuccessful. Attempts to breach a temporal bubble to synchronize the time difference is also unsuccessful. Darwin's adaptations imply that internal/external time passage is not consistent or proportional. A time debt inversion occurs, and later, the Child known as Hordar is encountered by recon team, which gives Synch the ability to teleport the team, and the Hordar DNA is preserved in stasis pod for future use. A successful mapping of quadrant one of the Vault is undertaken, and food processors, equipment and power nodes are identified. Quadrants two and three are mapped, and quadrant four is bypassed so the trio can proceed into the inner ring. The location of the City brain is identified, and the Child replication/generation center is discovered – and later, the mutant incursion is detected.
Synch supposes that the Children must have assumed the three of them were dead – vaporized and atomized or something – because they didn't try to find them. They lay low and set up inside the outer ring to avoid the builders that were engaged in edge creation. Darwin figures out pretty quickly that there are also genetic sniffers built into much of the architecture of the City. His body adapts to shed a field of Child gene replica to mask their comings and goings. They learn to either recognize and avoid them, or disable them and fool them. They have time, so they watch and learn. They become aware of the City pulsing and breathing as it undergoes the ebb and flow of evolutionary leaps. The trio acclimate themselves to the cycles of the Vault and time their reconnaissance missions for when the City sleeps and the Children grow. Two months of dormancy for every two of growth. So, during the season of night, the trio hunt the dreams of sleeping Children, and by the end of the sixth of these cycles, they had gained a surface understanding of the Vault – City mapping of power nodes, hatching chambers and the brain of the City itself.
More time passes. There is a successful misdirection/evasion by the mutant recon team, but later Darwin's DNA is recovered and preserved by ther City. A second command/control area is established in quadrant three of the Vault's outer ring. A tactical assault by the mutant recon team takes place, and then there Child classes and evolutionary plan is discovered, followed by an attempt to escape from the Vault. Later still, the Vault shield is discovered, which was erected after the mutants entered. Attempts to pass through the shield results in physical damage from the shield burners and loss of mutant ability due to dampers – but the duration of this is unknown. Multiple breach attempts fail, and the mutant reconnaissance team is trapped inside the Vault. The team then fractures, as Wolverine starts to hunt alone. Synch finishes construction of stasis system to preserve the accumulated Child DNA (including samples from Fuego, Horadar, Diamante and Madre). Darwin evolves again, adapting for isolation, and the mutant recon team reforms. The City assault is planned – and fails.
It was enough time for fear to have disappeared and the mutants' thin layer of knowledge to hide an ocean of ignorance. The mutants learn that the Child called Madre exists inverted from the rest of the Children, and while they sleep, Madre works – while the Children live and grow, Madre rests. The mutants make a pass through the Creche, where, like in the mutant Arbor Magna, the bodies of reborn Child classes wait for rebirth and upgrade, they avoid Madre by chance. But with their second visit, luck runs out. The mutants make a mistake. 'Are we sure that -' Synch begins as he, Darwin and Laura hide in a tunnel. Their costumes are torn and they look exhausted. 'Do it!' Darwin calls out – and Laura and Synch hold Darwin as he places his arm through an energy beam, severing it. Synch covers Darwin's mouth to muffle his scream. There is an explosion, and the mutants escape through a shaft. Synch decides that their mistake isn't in getting caught – it's their plan of how to deal with this happening.
The mutants have established a safe house of sorts as close to the inner ring of the Vault as possible. They prepare an exit strategy, which includes leaving behind evidence of their second death in the Vault. But their error is believing in the idea that if you give the Children a win, it would be enough. That the mutants' defeat – and the Children’s victory – would satisfy them, that they would treasure the trophy. The mutants don't understand that these Children don't celebrate victory – they take their trophy and use it for other means. Primarily, beating one to death with it. In this instance, two Children, one large male with four arms and a smaller Child with a green and red costume, locate Darwin's severed arm in amongst the rubble of the explosion.
By now, Synch decides that the mutants have taken their game of little discoveries and survival as far as they could, and decide to change the rules. Darwin's arm regrows, and the mutants sneak up on Madre and take her out. They seize fire from the source, and accumulate real knowledge, exploring the chamber full of stasis tanks where the Children of the Vault grow. Synch stands before the tank where the Child called Diamante is placed and discovers that Diamante is a living repository of Vault history. Diamante's power was memory – he knows the City – and everything that the mutants know.
Synch knows that years ago, the X-Men had an encounter with the Children of the Vault – they were first-generation Children. From their defeat at the hands of mutantdom, Earth's first post-humans learned that they too had to evolve – and the second generation of Children were produced and let loose on the world. These children were captured, dissected and repurposed by Orchis as potential weapons at the creation of Krakoa. Serafina escaped and when the City learned of their fate, it was decided that another evolutionary leap was needed – this was to be the third and final generation of Children before they were released from the Vault to claim the Earth as their own – and with this, Synch, Darwin and Wolverine had learned what they needed – and that it was time to return home.
But they can't. Even after one hundred years, they cannot find a way through the Vault shield trapping them inside. In their temporal prison, they have one option – continue to study, to learn, until they find a way to escape and make their way home. They change, physically, growing older. Eventually, at the apex of a dormant cycle, they gamble and infiltrate the heart of the Vault, the City itself. They gamble – and lose – as they are overwhelmed by Children, who have laid the perfect trap, waiting patiently for decades for the mutants to walk right into it. Synch realizes that it is obvious the Children are after Darwin. Synch and Laura are simply an afterthought. Darwin is captured, placed in some energy bubble by the Children, and Laura is dragged away by several Children. Synch is devastated – he knows he should have held on, done more to save her.
The years that follow are made worse in isolation, but it is the regret that makes Everett feel old. He attempts to rescue his teammates, but all attempts fail due to Child alertness and enhanced security. Darwin and Wolverine remain prisoners, and unable to rescue his friends, and as a result of being unable to regenerate/restore/extend his life, Synch is forced to escape the Vault timeline. So, he ambushes and steals the power of the Child called Terramoto, and collects necessary supplies for dormant periods. Using Terramoto's earth-moving abilities, Synch confirms his belief that the shield does not extend directly beneath the Vault. He tunnels beyond the Vault's temporal bubble, and waits one-week – then re-enters the Vault over a century later. Synch then frees Wolverine, but Darwin cannot be located. They search for Darwin, refusing to leave him behind. They endure, and the child Serafina is captured. Her powers are copied, the City datacore and location of Darwin are now accessible.
Synch has decades – longer – alone with his thoughts. Survival and observation can only fill so many hours, or weeks, or years. He lives at the whim of post-humanity, which stirs memories of the past. Death looms, demanding an audience with the ghosts of Synch's childhood. He can't help but remember when he was  younger, still posing as human with his human mother and human father – a few years before he became something more. He remembers his dad catching him looking at him as he was looking at her, and he said to Everett “Son, most people don't know how to explain it... but I sure do, so listen closely...Do you know the difference between caring for someone and loving them? If you love them... then you're willing to die for them. That's the difference. That's how you know it's real”.
Synch builds a weapon, like a staff of sorts, and confronts several Children of the Vault – he shoves the staff into the ground, and the resulting wave of energy opens a strange box where Laura has been imprisoned. Laura emerges from the box and she and Synch embrace. More Children of the Vault rush towards them. Later, under the cover of night, they cuddle, resting against the side of a wall. Synch thinks his father was wise on that day. He thought he would carry that truth with him forever.
Synch and Laura go on to attack Serafina, and soon, they locate Darwin as they find themselves surrounded by dozens of Children, seated in some sort of arena, with Synch and Laura as the spectacles in the center of the arena. 'There he is. Oh my god...I think I know what this is...I think I know what they're doing to him...' Synch utters as he looks at Darwin, suspended above them in some sort of energy beam – which then explodes, and energy radiates out throughout the City. Synch knows that most people have no idea what forever means. But he does – and so does Laura. Holding hands, they turn and run through the City, as dozens of Children stare at them.
Afterthe location of Darwin is discovered, the revelations of the Diamante/City datacore are aligned, and Synch learns that prior to Krakoa-era mutantdom, the projections for mutant displacement required the creation of the third-generation children. Post-establishment of Krakoan-era mutantdom, this third-generation of Children were no longer projected to be successful in the displacement protocol, so fourth-generation Children were required, and were created beyond the current capabilities of the City. Examination of the mutant Darwin's acquired genetic material revealed highly adaptable evolutionary structure. So Darwin was acquired, and subjected to atomization and reconfiguration on a loop count of 10.278. Genome integration was achieved and harmonic convergance was made possible. Darwin's final atomization and biomass seeding was complete, and the fourth-generation Children were made possible. Child evolution began. And soon after, the mutant recon team attempts Vault escape using stasis DNA of Merbavon, a Child disruptor.
'I can disrupt it... but going through the shield is still going to hurt' Synch remarks as he and Wolverine rush towards the shield. 'Gotta do it though, right?' Wolverine replies. 'The Professor has to know' Synch tells her – before they both scream as they pass through the shield. Their clothes are scorched, and the emerge naked on the other side of the shield. 'We... we... I can't believe how bad this hurts... we just have to get clear. We...' Synch utters, curled over on the ground. 'We've got company' Laura reports, as she turns and sees Aguja and several other Children on the other side of the shield. 'I have had enough of you mutants!' Aguja calls out. Laura looks at Everett and tells him that he has to go, that one of them has to make it – and he doesn't have his powers. 'You don't have your powers' Everett replies. He puts a hand on Laura's neck and they bring their faces closer to each other, as Laura admits that she might not be able to stop them, but she knows she can slow them down. 'Listen, Everett...you saved me once... now let me save you' Laura utters. She pops her claws, as Synch runs down the corridor, and the Children of the Vault attack Laura, who fights back, drawing blood.
Eventually, Synch escapes the Vault – he's outside. But then he screams, as a powerful blast of energy strikes him down. He lays naked on the ground. 'Professor' his voice calls out, while smoke rises from his body. 'Professor can you hear me?' Synch asks. Aguja and the other Children gather around Synch: 'I can hear you, mutant. Just fine. Now before you die. I want you to hear me' Aguja declares. She boasts that they are going to wipe mutantkind from the face of this planet. 'Understand? We're the future' she exclaims. 'Not you'. She readies another blast of energy, and everything goes dark for Synch.
Now:Everett Thomas emerges from an egg in the Hatchery. 'He was listening. The Professor heard me in time. So I made it out. I made it back'. Professor X and Cyclops stand near Synch as he gets to his feet, and Xavier welcomes Everett home. 'You were missed' he adds. Synch realizes that he was resurrected with all the secrets of the Vault – what the Children had become – what they were becoming – and some ideas of how to stop them. But he knows that is just information, data – what he really learned: 'Friend, confidant, partner, lover... those are human words to describe a human relationship measured in human years. I can still hear him... my father saying that he loved my mother so much he was willing to die for her. Human words. Useless words. Love is not dying for someone – it's living for them'.
Everett turns as Xavier stands over Laura and Darwin as they emerge from their eggs. Synch looks at Laura and thinks of the lifetimes he has spent with her, that he knows her better than anyone else on the planet – maybe more than anyone ever will, and he has to wonder: 'How do you explain such a thing? How do you even start the conversation?' Laura frowns at Everett, and pops her claws: 'What are you looking at?' she asks. Synch smiles, 'Yeah, okay... that'll work'.