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[Assistant]
The Coconut Grove
Gomi looks at a black-fringed snapshot of the dead lobster Don. It was a beautiful funeral, wasn’t it, Bill? he asks the other lobster. He tells Bill he mustn’t let grief make him bitter. No one could feel worse about what happened to Don than Devil Dinosaur does. His death was clearly and categorically an accident. Their fellow Fallen Angels are all they have now. Alienation from them would serve no purpose.
Sunspot and Warlock listen to the grieving Gomi. Sunspot fled from the New Mutants after accidentally hurting his best friend Cannonball, feeling he has no more right to call himself a hero. Yet, listening to Gomi, he wonders has he truly fled away from love and friendship or toward… toward what?
Warlock expresses his sympathy to Gomi and Bill, as does Bobby. If any of them can look forward to an afterlife, he tells Gomi, he knows that Don will be there too. The body dies, but the soul, even as small a soul as a mutant cyborg lobster may possess, is eternal.
Still, Bill, clearly angry walks off. Theresa remarks that she doesn’t know if her parish priest would endorse the unorthodox view of heaven he’s conjured but, as one Catholic to another, it’s a lovely Christian thing he’s trying to do, comforting Gomi. And he should be comforted, she tells Gomi as she puts her arm around his shoulder. After all, he still has Bill and he needs him. They need him. And Don always was such a reckless little thing, heading right into seafood restaurants and walking into the path of whoever had the biggest feet. If it hadn’t been Devil Dinosaur, someone else would have done him for. Gomi is clearly smitten by Siryn, then sobs in her embrace.
Moon Boy addresses Bobby, trying to show him something. Sunspot doesn’t understand but lets Moon Boy drag him to the others, Chance, Boom Boom, Madrox, Ariel and the Vanisher, who seem to be more interested in the food than anyone else. While Boom Boom desperately tries to flirt with Madrox, Ariel and Vanisher argue over the liverwurst.
Seeing Bobby and Moon Boy, Chance needles look who’s made friends. Don’t they look cute… two little apes together. Bobby retorts that if she thinks he resembles a creature whose most outstanding feature is his loyalty, he thanks her. For his part he prefers the company of Moon Boy and Devil Dinosaur to those of them who leave Bill and Gomi alone in their bereavement while they gorge on the funeral feast. Chance for a moment is silenced.
Moon Boy leads Bobby to the adjacent room they found, their fine new cave. Bobby, of course, doesn’t understand one word as Moon Boy continues that Devil has admired Bobby’s courage above that of all the others since they first met and he knows he wants Bobby’s fine counsel now. Devil munches his food and Moon Boy continues that Devil is sad because he inadvertently trod on the little blueclaw monster and they are both concerned lest the others fail to understand how mighty is their grief. Bobby must help them convince the little green claw and he-who-smites-without-moving of this. Bobby just hopes it isn’t a complaint about the food.
Sunspot begins that life is very strange sometimes. They are not so different, this dinosaur and he. Both of them hurt their comrades and though Devil inflicted the worse injury Bobby’s crime was the worse of the two for what Devil did was a true accident while Bobby followed the promptings of his temper. And he ran away while Devil Dinosaur came back here. He is Bobby’s superior in more than size, for he will take responsibility for what has he done and faces the consequences.
Unknown to him, Chance eavesdrops on this. Ariel joins her and asks what’s wrong. She seems rather down. She is down… on herself, Chance admits. Ariel tells her she just let Bobby get under her skin. It’s not like her to give in to her conscience. She’ll get over it. Losing the blue lobster like this has convinced her that they can’t afford to waste any more time. She came here to collect mutants, as Chance knows. And it’s only luck that one of these groups of professional mutant killers like X-Factor or the Marauders hasn’t found them so far. One of these days, they might notice the Angels and where are Ariel and Chance then? Without any mutants to deliver, the folks who sent her won’t pay anything…
Does Ariel never have doubts about their plans? Chance asks. She is in a mood, isn’t she? Ariel mocks. Or has she really gone soft? What’s got her down? Bobby daCosta’s Latin manners and pretty face? Does he mean more to her than the fortune he’s worth to her boss? She never thought she’d see the day when “double or nothing” Chance was afraid to gamble. She never said she was afraid, Chance replies more decisive. She just wanted to make sure Ariel was not.
Madrox leaves the others to see how his injured dupe is doing. The docs at the free clinic said he got some broken ribs and a concussion when that cyclist ran him down. How about it, “brother?” Jamie asks Madrox 2. Can he get himself something, a glass of water or something to eat. He feels too rotten to eat, the bandaged Madrox 2 replies. He knows, Madrox states. Of course he knows, his dupe replies. After all, they are the same person.
Yeah, Madrox agrees, and they both know that what they usually do when one is hurt is have all the duplicates merge, so that they divide the injury and share it. Only in his case he won’t even suggest it. Because for the first time one of his selves is scared to rejoin the rest of him… and he thinks it would be cruel to force him.
Does he have to be so nice Madrox 2 asks. He’s making him feel emotionally rotten too, like an ungrateful traitor. He can’t help it, Madrox replies. Doing something mean to him would be like hurting himself. The worst of it, he can’t even explain why he feels that way, Madrox 2 muses. The rest of him never has. Well, Madrox suggests, he got his power through a genetic mutation. Maybe 2 is the mutation of a muation.
Ariel whispers to Chance if she heard that, while Madrox tell 2 to get some rest. Later, he’ll calibrate his Cerebro unit and see if it detects any differences between the two of them.
He turns to Chance and Ariel, asking he’d like to see what readings he can get from them. But they aren’t mutants, Chance protests. Madrox replies he’s got reading from both of them that hint at some extra powers. She doesn’t want powers, Chance sulks. Being human is good enough for her. Ariel asks if he is sure the other Madrox will be okay. He hopes so, he replies.
Elsewhere, Siryn is still comforting the crying Gomi. Gomi begins to tell her that both he and Bill are grateful, but Warlock points out that Bill left in the direction of the main part of Beat Street some time past. Gomi exclaims “oh no,” realizing what Bill plans. He shouts that senseless violence is no solution.
Bill indeed is sneaking up on Devil Dinosaur, death on his mind. Moon Boy sees him. He gets up, intent on trying to show Bill they are sorry. Bill attacks his leg. Sunspot and Gomi shout at Bill to let go. Moon Boy cries to Devil Dinosaur for help and the Dinosaur gets angry. Knowing that he isn’t a match for an enraged dinosaur, Bobby still turns to his solarpowered form, intent on stopping Devil if he has to. He asks him to step back while Gomi still tries to pry Bill from Moon Boy.
Seeing them struggle, Theresa decides to try a sonic scream to bring them back to reason. She screams and the shock makes Bill let go of Moon Boy’s foot. The others come to look. When Boom Boom announces there are bodies everywhere the Vanisher disappears without even looking.
Moon Boy holds his foot and moans in pain while Gomi states he’ll live to play “this little piggy” another day thanks to Siryn’s quick thinking Looking at all the team members flattened by Terry’s scream, Madrox orders Boom Boom to hit him a few times, so he can help them all. Sure, she flirts and complies. The more of him, the better she likes it.
Warlock asks agitated if Moon Boy will recover full use of his pedal appendage. One Madrox, bandaging Moon Boy, replies that he doesn’t recommend Moon Boy run any marathons for the next few days, but he doesn’t see why not.
Another Madrox hands Bill, who was stunned, back to Gomi. Bill already looks angry again while Gomi defends him that he was just demented with grief. One Madrox tries to help up Bobby while two more try to help Devil Dinosaur.
Moon Boy thanks Devil for saving him and suggests Bill was reacting to the death of small blue claw. He’s sure it won’t happen again.
Terry asks Gomi how Bill is. Fine, he tells her and they owe it all to her. He looks at her smitten. One Madrox asks one of the others, he wonders if Siryn knows that the men in Gomi’s family have a fatal weakness for red-haired superheroines. Maybe someone ought to warn her.
Doesn’t look too good, does he? Chance remarks and suggests Gomi could write a book. “One hundred and one uses for a lobster.” She can think of one use, Ariel adds. Put him on the table and she’ll get some butter. Don’t be vulgar, Gomi tells them. Warlock interjects that serving as fodder for the victor is correct usage for fallen warriors. How can he says that? Bobby asks. He thought compassion was the mutation that set Warlock apart from his kind? Compassion is wasted on opponents, comes the uncharacteristic reply. The Madroxes don’t get it and try to remind him that a few minutes ago he… Then they both blink out,Leaving the others puzzled and Terry and Boom Boom upset.
What are they all so worried about? Chance asks angrily. She’s sure there’ll be some softie left to baby them and kiss away their bruises, even if the rest of the Madroxes vanish. Gross! Boom Boom exclaims. What a cheap thing to say. How could she? Siryn too asks.
How could she, Bobby repeats. It’s easy for her. If there’s a cruel act that can be performed or a callous remark to make, you can always count one either Chance or Ariel to say it. Don’t they all see what’s happening to them? They are being separated into those who care about others… and those who do not… and for his part he’ll be happy to be grouped with the lobsters, dinosaurs and cave boys.
Boom Boom, in the meantime, sneaks off to create an energy bomb, intent on giving Chance a scare.
Now go ahead and laugh at me, Roberto tells Ariel, Chance and Warlock. He, a daCosta, gives his permission.
Siryn runs to the original Madrox and hugs him, asking him not to go any closer to where his other selves disappeared. She couldn’t bear to lose him. So hold her tight!
Vanisher reappears, asking if everything is okay. Naturally, Bobby replies, or he would not have returned.
That ,moment Boom Boom throws a timebomb toward Chance (and really, actually, toward all of them). The others scatter, waiting for an explosion that doesn’t happen.
Warlock suddenly becomes uncharacteristically furious, announcing he will terminate her. Boom Boom tries to hide behind the crates, claiming it was only a little one and it didn’t go off. She was aiming for Chance.
Siryn tells the others they have to stop Warlock. But Bobby and Madrox find their powers aren’t working. Kill! Warlock shouts as he closes in on Boom Boom. She asks Gomi to use his powers. They are from machine parts, not from a mutation. And indeed Gomi manages to telekinetically shove Warlock back.
Astonished, the young alien wonders what came over him. That shouldn’t have happened, Bobby muses. Warlock’s pacific disposition is the result of a genetic mutation of his organic circuitry. Ariel states that apparently everyone’s mutation got cancelled out there for a moment. Of course, not having any abilities that depend on mutation there was nothing for her to be scared of. Then why was she screaming? Chance insists. She believes she was afraid? Ariel asks. No, Chance mocks, she’s sure that yellow stripe on Ariel’s back was put there by her clothes designer. Ariel is at a loss for words.
That moment, Boom Boom’s bomb goes off. All of them begin to agree that they’d been acting foolishly. Madrox 2 asks Terry and his other self to join him. He’s been fiddling with Cerebro. What just went on drove the scanner crazy. One of the latent mutants was reading off the scale and the other one didn’t show up at all. But he still can’t figure out which is which.
Madrox asks him if he noticed. When all the other selves blipped out both of them stuck around. Terry takes 2’s hand while still holding on to 1. She’s glad for both of them.
Madrox 2 states that there is something else that is official. There are two of them now. Cerebro reads him slightly different than it does the other Madrox or his duplicates. Somehow when he split off from the other dupes he became a distinct and autonomous entity. But they are still linked, Madrox 1 replies. They feel the same about a lot of things, like about Siryn for example. And he’d felt when the other one got hurt. That’s okay, Madrox 2 smiles. He knows he always wanted a brother as much as he does.
Vanisher, in the meantime, believes that some enemy, some mutant hater like X-Factor or the Marauders is out to get them. And they nearly succeeded. That’s why everything went crazy. They are no longer safe here. It’s the only rational intelligent explanation. Than why did he think of it? Ariel retorts. What does he think they should do? Chance asks. He doesn’t know, he remarks.
Ariel suggests they get out of there before whoever it is comes back and the others find it only too easy to agree with her. They believe her? she asks surprised. Of course, Chance shrugs, why shouldn’t they? Surprised at her own success, Ariel agrees and lays it on even thicker about them being sitting ducks. She explains that her space-bending powers are scientific rather than mutant, so they should still be working. She suggests they all clear out of here to someplace safe. The others agree dumbly, praising her for her idea.
Ariel opens a door and they find themselves in what looks to be a crazy 80ies club with a stage. The people are dressed like eighties party people (all with sunglasses). It is Ariel’s home planet, the Coconut Grove. A small man in a checkered jacket demands a big hand from everyone for the Fallen Angels.
The Fallen Angels are greeted like stars but Warlock and Sunspot find that their way back to Beat Street is cut off…


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[Assistant]
Triple Cross
“Stay away from her!” a panicked, cornered Chance orders, her knife drawn. She not kidding! The people “threatening” her are a group of party people, inhabitants of the Coconut Grove, assuring her they aren’t going to hurt her. They just want to make her pretty. She’ll like it.
Unsure, Chance lowers her blade. The next moment they are upon her, with glitter make-up and clothes.
Elsewhere Ariel assures Warlock the lavender jacket really is him. She should have brought him to her homeworld earlier. Warlock is unsure and Sunspot assures him that new jacket makes him look almost as sharp as he.
Suddenly, they hear Chance scream. Worried, they come running, to find her made over. Make them stop, she begs. Bobby can only laugh at the source of her terror. Nastily, he announces that, behavior and appearance to the contrary, their little Chance is indeed a girl.
Ariel bursts in, ordering Bobby to stop laughing at Chance. And the rest of them, let her go! She explains that didn’t mean harm. Around here that’s hospitality. People just sometimes don’t think, that’s all. She hands her the knife back while Chance combs the glitter out of her hair.
Warlock asks Roberto to elucidate. Bobby explains it was nothing to concern them, just feminine weakness. Repeat that! Chance demands. He is sorry, Roberto mocks. As a daCosta and a gentleman, he cannot risk harming one who has shown herself to be so delicate and full of sensitivity. Farewell, though it pains him to say so, more congenial company waits. He heads off with some native girls.
Hurt, Chance stares after him. Is she sure she is all right? Ariel asks. The miniscule Unipar asks Ariel why she butted in right now. What did he think he was doing? she shoots back annoyed. Just making Chance happy… keeping up his side of the bargain. Ariel told them she wanted to let her friends enjoy themselves until… Well, they’re not her friends, Ariel corrects him. They are his guests. And Chance is not one of them. She is her friend and she is not a mutant, so they are to leave her alone. Sure, babe, anything she says, comes the reply, touchy, touchy, touchy.
He leaves and Chance rejoins Ariel, asking just what they led the others her for. Ariel tells her to shush. Somebody’s coming!
They are joined by Boom Boom. Ariel immediately tells her she looks marvelous. Boom Boom remarks she overheard what Bobby said to Chance when he was leaving. Is she really going to let him have the last word like that? Depends, Chance replies. What has she got in mind? How about she wishes up one of her little surprise packages… and let him have it?
Boom Boom goes to join Bobby. She slaps him on the butt, remarking she loves his tailor. Looking good. Warlock wonders. Has Boom Boom not previously indicated distaste for Bobby? No female can be around a man of charm for long, Bobby begins to explain until the small timebomb explodes. Gotcha, Boom Boom shouts!
The three girls laugh, and Chance remarks she thought you’d have to be at least eighteen before you had to worry about the draft. Bobby only then realizes that his backside is rather free, much to the laughter of the others. He becomes furious, but Warlock becomes agitated. Sunspot remembers how his moment of rage hurt his best friend Sam, and powers down again. Laugh if it entertains you, he tells the girls. A man has more important kinds of pride than the one which they just wounded. Farewell!
Boom Boom and Ariel still snicker, while Chance looks after him hurt. Maybe they should apologize to him, she wonders. For what? Ariel asks. It was a great stunt and he deserved it. Yeah, deserved it, Boom Boom echoes. She’s right, Chance decides, he had it coming. They don’t need Bobby Da Costa, Ariel agrees. Yeah, who needs him, Boom Boom echoes. Not them, Chance states. They don’t need any of the Fallen Angel, Ariel decides. Yeah who needs us, Boom Boom echoes. Chance and Ariel suddenly realize this conversation may not be a good idea.
Except for Boom Boom, of course, Chance states. Of course, they couldn’t get along without Boom Boom, Ariel agrees. And, of course, she doesn’t want to tell the other Angels what they said. Why should she? Boom Boom asks. In fact she probably won’t even want to remember this conversation, Ariel states. What conversation? Boom Boom asks, as she leaves.
Nice snow job, Chance praises Ariel. Sometimes it’s so easy she’s ashamed of herself, the other girl laughs. The ability to convince people sort of runs in her family. In fact, William Shakespeare used a relative of her in his play The Tempest. The character Ariel was always running con games, and using his spacebending powers to make things and people appear and disappear at will. That’s why the witch was able to trap him for all those years inside a cloven pine tree. No doorway, so no space-bending and he couldn’t get out.
Both girls clam their hands over their ears due to Siryn’s scream as she flies over their heads, carrying Jamie. They complain about the racket. Terry apologizes, but doesn’t know why she couldn’t dampen down.
Jamie explains the Vanisher has called a meeting for all of them. Ariel bends space leading them through a doorway into another room, mentioning the Tempest story again. Jamie can’t believe it. How could someone from a zany planet like this visit a Mediterranean island during Elizabethan England. Ariel tells them it’s easy, demonstrating her space bending power.
She closes the door behind them. Boom Boom who has seen them runs to the door to join them (especially Jamie), but when she opens the door it leads to somewhere else. So she’ll have to walk across town to join the others, she pouts.
Unipar joins her, pitying her for being left alone. Save the sympathy for those who need it, like her friends, she announces, once she catches up with them. For emphasis, she uses a timebomb to smash the door. Unipar unexpectedly is delighted and asks her to explain how her powers work. He fusses about her, telling her that unlike humans they appreciate mutants and they long for a chance to show it for mutations are rare here. They have had no spontaneous genetic deviation, even minor ones, for many million years. He asks her if she’ll let them show her how much she means to them. He lads the flattered girl away while giving two guards a secret handsignal.
Elsewhere, Warlock is flying Sunspot to their meeting. Warlock asks why Vanisher asked for a meeting of the whole group. Bobby doesn’t know. They join the rest of the group, sans Boom Boom, who are still feasting on Nachos, Pizza, M&M’s and Twinkies. With all of them dressed up Cocnut Grove style, Gomi tries to talk Bill into trying on a pair of large spectacles.
Vanisher announces it was a great idea of his to bring them all here. Madrox asks if any of them found Boom Boom. Siryn and he couldn’t. Chance begins to speak, but Ariel gives her a signal and quickly states she hasn’t seen her all day, but she’s sure to pop by later.
In the meantime, Multiple Man’s renegade self and equally uneasy double are still refusing to join, not wanting to give up their uniqueness, much to the displeasure of Madrox 1.
He addresses Ariel and Chance, reminding them of the Cerebro readings hinting at their being latent mutants. Ariel replies she only has space bending powers which are merely advanced applied physics. Chance flat-out refuses to entertain the though she is a mutant.
Ariel replies there are compensations, those extra little abilities… the glamour… the knowing you’ve got something no one else has. Knowing that you might be the beginning for a whole new evolutionary development for your people… she’d love it. But the Coconut boys and girls don’t mutate. Can’t be done. That’s why she brought them all, even Devil Dinosaur, Moon Boy and Warlock. None of them come from Earth, but they were mutants on their home planets. Everyone here except for her, Chance, Gomi and Bill is a mutant and therefore precious.
Madrox 1 interrupts, remarking that he is getting a reading of fully active mutant powers from her. Two servants eavesdrop on this. Ariel tells him the machine is broken. Madrox admits it could be faulty and tries to calibrate it to Siryn for a reading. He asks for a small dose of her power.
Siryn tries. Madrox gets another reading and suddenly Terry loses control, the cry becomes too much. Bobby holds his ears and bumps into Madrox, causing Jamie to turn into four Madroxes instead of two. Finally she manages to stop. Madrox remarks that when it happened he got a double reading from Siryn and a stronger reading from Chance.
She immediately protests she had nothing to do with that. She refuses to listen to this. Ariel tells her to wait. Nobody is accusing her of anything. Madrox is just puzzled. Chance turns her anger on Vanisher, berating him for always teleporting away when things get tough. Vanisher protests that this time he couldn’t control himself. And that hasn’t happened to his powers in years, since he was a teenager! Gomi begins that he has a hypothesis…
Suddenly several armed Coconut people in uniforms appear. Their leader tells them he has to break up the party. They have orders to take them in.
Ariel assures the Angels they don’t mean any harm. They should just go with them. However, this time the Angels are not convinced, while at the same time Madrox notes Cerebro‘s getting another reading from Chance. Sunspot tries to activate his solar form to no avail. Siryn and Vanisher too find they cannot use their powers and all Madroxes, save for the original and the two renegades, disappear.
Gomi uses a TK blast on the guards. Not being a mutant, he isn’t affected. He explains to the others Chance has just hit puberty. Her mutant powers are showing themselves. Unconsciously, she has been interfering with all of them, alternately enhancing and inhibiting their talents.
Warlock threatens to kill her while Bobby asks her to stop doing it. Confused, she admits she can’t.
That moment, Warlock is shot by a disruptor beam. Gomi fires a TK blast back but is overwhelmed by a guard after Ariel tell him Gomi can only aim his power dead ahead.
Maximum disruptor rays take care of Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy. A guard orders Chance to get over to the other prisoners. Unsure, she asks Ariel to tell them she’s not… Ariel immediately assures her people Chance is not a specimen. She’s her partner.
Unipar enters, telling Ariel that this is no time to be sentimental. They all heard what the little cyborg said. Chance is clearly and unequivocally a mutant. But he promised, Ariel insist. That was before he knew what she was. For the sake of their race, they cannot afford to become sentimental about any mutant.
Chance directly asks her for help. Ariel just says she’s sorry. Ariel turns away, intending to leave when suddenly she is stopped by a forcefield. Rather an ingenious change from the traditional cloven pine, Unipar muses. His assistant has just informed him that Ariel herself is a mutant and they cannot afford to be sentimental over any mutant, not even when that mutant is her.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Grownups and Children
His name is Bill. Hidden, the cyborg lobster sneaks out. He is a lobster with a mission. He’s got friends who’ve been betrayed. They need his help. He’s also got some friends who have died and Bill is looking for revenge. He’s just the lobster to get it.
Bill is a cyborg, part animal and part robot. In addition to increasing his intelligence and improving his ability to go without water, Bill’s machine parts have given him super-crustacean strength. This is one tough shellfish. And determined. True, the job he’s set himself could take him time, but Bill has time. And when he cuts lose, everyone on the Coconut Grove, this crazy, beautiful world where everyone’s a star and the party runs all night, and they smile as they knife you in the back, had better watch out…
The Fallen Angels have been taken prisoner by the Coconut Grove’s leader Unipar, who has dressed them in strange blue and green prison suits. Unipar orders his guards to move them into the cell and keep the disruptors trained on them until they activate the energy field that will dam the Angels’ mutant powers. He then orders the cyborg Gomi to stay blindfolded and be put in the inner revolving cell, since the dampening field won’t affect him.
At this point he turns to one of the prisoners, Ariel, and thanks her for bringing them such a collection. Half a dozen mutants from Earth and the little monkey boy and the dinosaur from the primitive world and Warlock from the robot world and, of course, she herself …if they ever find out what her mutation is, she will be a dear and tell them, won’t she?
And speaking of hidden talent, he hasn’t forgotten her space bending power. He tears off her sunglasses and shoves her into a force pillar cell without any doorway. Ariel’s eyes are revealed as strangely alien. Unipar leaves.
Warlock asks Sunspot what course of action is open to them. Bobby admits he doesn’t know. The dampening field works on all of them, including the three Madroxes and the whining Vanisher and Ariel.
Madrox 1 tells them Cerebro confirms what they already figured out by trying – no one in this room is showing any sign of mutant abilities.
Moon Boy admits to Devil Dinosaur that he is as puzzled as he. The language barrier between their friends and he remains as impenetrable as ever. He does not know what the people of this place want from them nor does he understand why they have put them in this bleak cave after giving them such a nice “partee” but they have made one thing clear: if Devil, Warlock or Gomi attempt to use their great might to free them, less mighty of their number shall suffer. Moon Boy wishes they had never left the Valley of the Flame.
Gomi, in the meantime, finds that, with the way the pillar is revolving if he tries to direct his telekinetic force blasts, odds are he will total at least one of them. However, all is not lost. They haven’t seen Boom Boom in some time. Perhaps she is free and formulating a plan. Bill too evaded capture.
Ariel begs the others to forgive her. The future of her people was at stake. She didn’t’ know what Unipar was planning to do to them. She means she didn’t know he planned to do it to her too, Chance retorts. She is not interested in anything Ariel has to say.
That moment, Unipar tosses in an exhausted Boom Boom. She moans that it was horrible. It hurt so much!
By what right does he do that and laugh in her face? Roberto asks agitated, Unipar replies that they are prisoners here and aliens with no civil rights. That, plus their need, gives them the right to do whatever they wish. Specifically, Unipar explains they are doing minute genetic and cellular examinations of each and every one of them mutants in the hope of isolating just what factor enables them to evolve. If need be, they’ll extract that factor from them, so that it can be donated to their worthy young native volunteers. Feel better for knowing? he asks with a grin.
Two of the Madroxes threaten that he won’t take anyone else out of the cell, not without going through them first. The original Madrox warns them off. When of them is grabbed, another Madrox jumps in between and the guards shoot him in spite of Unipar’s orders.
Shocked, the Angels look at their dead friend. Unipar warns them: if anyone else tries anything fancy, they can always kill Gomi as well. He’s no mutant, so they don’t really care where his power came from.
The strain of having one of their selves die has been too much for the surviving Madroxes and they faint. Unipar orders his men to bring the remaining Madroxes. When Sunspot tries to fight for them, he is ordered along, too.
Warlock interjects. Unipar warns them he is tired of this. He tells Warlock either Sunspot leaves this cell with them now quietly or he’s gonna be harmed by getting blown away, just like that third Madrox. Sunspot thanks Warlock for trying.
Warlock wonders why he cares what becomes of Bobby. Among his race, compassion and all generous emotions are aberrations. In a cell which nullifies the effects of mutation, he should be capable only of selfish thoughts and savage action.
Terry points out that loving, caring for others, all those are learned behaviors. He’s been caring for Bobby and his other friends almost since the day he was born. Genetics or not, she thinks maybe what’s life taught Warlock about love, has become second nature to him.
Sunspot and the two Madroxes, one helping the injured one, are led out of the cell. The one Madrox tells the other he still sees a way of evening the odds a little. The other remarks he doesn’t like it but understands.
They are led into a separate cell. Unipar tells them they will be back for them once they are finished with the third Madrox’s cadaver.
Sunspot apologizes for letting the third Madrox die without lifting a hand. They tell him there was nothing he could have done. He could have tried, Bobby replies. And died, like he did? they ask. There are times to be a hero, when you have a chance of maybe helping someone. If you try when there’s no chance, then you are just showing off and that kind of ego trip can be pretty expensive.
He didn’t lift a hand to help him, Bobby wallows. Neither did he, the injured Madrox replies… ad it was him he was trying to save. But he didn’t save him and he’s not going to go off on some big guilt trip because that would be showing off too.
Sunspot recalls that he and Warlock left the New Mutants and joined the Fallen Angels because, in a moment of anger, Bobby nearly killed his best friend Sam Guthrie. It was an accident, but it was not the act of a hero and he had always believed that the lot of an imperfect hero is to become a villain. Yet he has learned among the Angels that he would be an even worse villain than he has been a hero. Is that it then? To fail is not an excuse to give up but a reason to try all the harder!
He understands, he tells the Madroxes. Yet he sees no way of avenging their other self or of helping themselves. Their powers are still dampened. The healthy Madrox explains that they have to let them out of the cell sooner or later, if only to get them into their lab. If… when they do, the two of them are going to recombine.
Through the glasswall of their cell, they see how the Coconut Grove denizens begin examining the cadaver of the dead Madrox.
Sunspot suggests that as long as the Madroxes are separated the one with the broken ribs will be a sitting duck but why doesn’t the well Madrox duplicate himself twenty or so times before they merge? Then the injuries of one shall be divided among dozens of them when they recombine. Madrox 1 praises him for coming up with a new way of using his abilities.
Madrox 2 fears that the more of them he merges with, the less of him will be left in their collective mind. Madrox 1 still doesn’t understand his brother. A mutation of his mutation. All the rest of him have always welcomed rejoining.
Sunspot urges him that he must. He know it’s a sacrifice, but think of the sacrifice his other individualist brother made for his sake. Part of growing up is accepting that you can’t have things just as you would want them!
In the cell where the others are, they still try to figure out what to do. Siryn suggests Devil Dinosaur could grab Gomi’s revolving cell. He might have the strength to keep it from revolving.
Gomi points out that a too sudden stop could result in breaking his neck. Besides, who but Moon Boy could explain their plan to him? And none of them can communicate in any but the broadest gestures to Moon Boy. Moon Boy realizes they are talking about him and Devil Dinosaur, but of course doesn’t understand.
Chance wonders why she is being so rotten to Ariel. She went along with Ariel’s wishes till she found she was a mutant too. Somehow, until they were captured, everything Ariel suggested always sounded like such a good idea… to all of them.
Vanisher whines to himself that it was such a nice plan. Safe, harmless. Get a bunch of mutant kids to steal for him… just enough to buy a few luxuries. Set themselves up a nice place – Beat Street in Manhattan… no super enemies, no police even. How did it go so wrong?
Suddenly they hear a scream. It’s their guard, frightened by an angry Lobster – Bill, who has already taken out two of the guards. Bill clamps down on the guard’s leg and takes him out, even managing to shatter the glass of the cell. He asks for Gomi in his mentally projected pictogram language. Terry tells him Gomi’s fine and asks him to free them with the keys on the guard’s belt.
Bill complies and manages to free Gomi. Bill creates an exit pictogram. Gomi agrees, but tells him they must see that all their friends are released as well. Bill swears. Gomi assures him he sympathizes. He too mourns for Don but Bill cannot go on blaming their fellow Fallen Angels for his death. He must admit in the depths of his little armored heart that Don’s death was a catastrophic accident and nothing more. In fact, justice forces him to voice the unpalatable truth that Don’s recklessness in walking under Devil Dinosaur’s feet may have hastened his end. Don wouldn’t want Bill to hold a grudge. In fact, he’s certain Don would have sacrificed his life for any of them.
The other Angels urge Bill to do it. Grudgingly the lobster agrees. As they leave, Siryn tells them to wait: What about Ariel?
Gomi points out there doesn’t appear to be anything on the key ring that will open her cell. Boom Boom reminds the others that Ariel double-crossed them. It would serve her right to be left.
Vanisher wouldn’t mind helping her… unless it means being recaptured. Terry admits she’s always disliked Ariel more than any of they did… she knew her for a bad one from the start. But no one’s perfect. She’s sorry. She deserves another Chance.
Chance is willing to forgive her and if she takes a chance on her, so should the others. After all, Ariel betrayed her worse than them. Yeah right, Boom Boom scoffs. One traitor speaking for another.
Siryn tells Boom Boom that she’s never been perfect herself. What about Boom Boom? Has she never once her life needed forgiveness?
Shall they be democratic? Gomi asks. He says they help her. Warlock concurs. Yeah sure, let’s just hurry, Vanisher agrees nervously. Okay, Boom Boom agrees. Ariel cries as they all turn to her.
Gomi uses his force blast to shatter the pillar. Ariel thanks him and suggests finding a doorway, so they can get back to Beat Street. She never learns, does she? Chance replies angrily. No way!
Moon Boy asks about Bobby. Chance agrees. Bobby and Madrox are here somewhere and they aren’t leaving without them!
The Angels attack the Coconut Grove guards, Devil Dinosaur and Siryn at the front. Some of the guards are kept busy by the ever-teleporting Vanisher, while Siryn’s sonic scream also proves effective.
Chance orders Boom Boom and Warlock to grab Cerebro and take off with her. It’s up to them to find Bobby and Jamie. Boom Boom calibrates Cerebro to scan specifically for their powers. Warlock forms a transport for the two girls.
Boom Boom remarks that Chance’s double or nothing power is reading strongly right now, but she can’t tell if she’s cancelling powers right now or increasing them. Well, don’t look at her, Chance replies. She’s just found out she has it. She has not learned to control it.
Cerebro finds the missing members and Boom Boom tells Warlock to go west. They go where Cerebro leads them, only to find a locked door. Boom Boom creates a time bomb, which turns out to be a dud. She calls Chance a dope. She cancelled her power!
Well, Chance figures if that’s how it feel to cancel things, then the other strange feeling she sometimes gets, must be the one she uses to make things double strength. As if on cue the timebomb blows up, hard.
Coconut grove guards approach and Warlock takes them out, leaving the girls to find the Madroxes and Sunspot. Madrox orders Chance to hit him, so he can start duplicating himself. With the dampening field destroyed, their powers return once more.
Watching the ongoings, Unipar calls for the guards. Jamie now absorbs the ten dupes including the injured one to spread the injuries. The Madrox left is kind of woozy but he cancelled out most of the injury.
Chance orders Boom Boom to take the still woozy Madrox away. She will stay with Sunspot to take care of the guards. Sunspot is surprised she would do that. What are friends for? she replies before adding that alone he’d be cannon fodder. If his powers were to double, he might stand a chance. And if she cancels his powers by mistake? he asks. She was born to gamble, she replies. What does he really have to lose? If they are gonna go, let’s go out big time.
Sunspot is hesitant, but indeed finds his power has been doubled. He enjoys the kick as he tears out a wall to hold back the guards and buy his friends time.
Unipar warns them that none of them is invulnerable. And if they shoot Chance, their powers will be halved again.
Oh, he really doesn’t want to do that, Ariel suddenly announces. If he starts killing people, then he won’t have them around to experiment on anyway, which means his experiment has already failed. So, for once in his life why not do the decent thing and let them go? He’ll probably like it. She bets, deep down inside, he’s a decent kind of guy.
Sunspot finds it incredible. Ariel, their betrayer, risks her life to plead their cause, and the people are listening to her.
Ariel adds practically that, if Unipar does win, which is unlikely, it would probably cost him a lot more than he’s willing to pay.
Chance explains to the other Angels that it was their good example that set them straight and she figures that Ariel’s power is a kind of mind control… like super confidence games. So right now she is augmenting her as much as she can.
What threat could the Angels possibly hold over his head? Unipar asks. Ariel suggests he look up. Above them they see Devil Dinosaur, Moon Boy, Gomi and Bill. Devil roars at Unipar who quickly decides to surrender and wishes them a good trip home.
Sunspot tells the Coconut Grove people that they have not only been weak and evil but also fools. Ariel, a mutant, is a member of their race, hence they have not lost the ability to evolve at all; their crimes against the Angels were needless and pointless.
Unipar turns to Ariel, asking her not to hold that against them. She’ll stay and help the old Coconut Grove, won’t she? She’d like to help it into the middle of a black hole! she retorts She’s taking her friends home to Beat Street!
Place looks great! she announces happily a moment later, when they are back home. Dusty but great. She’s hungry, Theresa announces. Him too, Vanisher remarks and suggests somebody go steal some food. Chance suggests they be really radical for once. Let’s see if they can get up enough money to buy it.
Well, there are at least two dinners they won’t be paying for, Sunspot announces. He’s been thinking that it’s time that he and Warlock stopped running away from their lives and got on with living them. Shall they return to the New Mutants? he asks Warlock who happily gives his affirmation.
Siryn asks Sunspot to tell Magneto and Moira that she and Jamie will stay with the Angels for a while longer. They came here in search of Sunspot and Warlock but they really like this group. Besides they need someone to guide them back onto the straight and narrow. Please! Not too narrow! Vanisher begs.
Hey, Macho, come back anytime, Chance tells Bobby. Once you’re an Angel, you can never fall too far from them. Bobby thanks her and promises the Angels will hear from them.
The two New Mutants leave Beat Street. The world had better watch its step now that the Fallen Angels are back, he decides. What about them? Warlock asks. “What of us? Look out, life, because here we come!!”


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Bushido
As a girl probably aged somewhere between ten and fourteen walks through a subway station, someone thinks to themselves that Kwannon is the Goddess of Mercy, and in Japan, you can find a statue of her holding a child. 'Mercy is my name' they think to themselves, 'But it is not my way'. They remark that they have been robbed of their own body, their identity – in that time of darkness, when they were no one. 'I hoped she was happy. Free. I still think of her. For years, she was the only me who lived in the world. I pray that she found love. And peace. And most of all.  - mercy.
The girl steps onto subway train, and a butterfly symbol can be seen on the back of her neck. She removes some sort of tech from her pocket, and places it on the side of her face, connecting to her ear. She closes her eyes and when she re-opens them, blood trickles from them. She looks angry, and snaps a metal pole on the trail, using part of it, she whacks it into the back of the head of two people nearby, while others look on in shock. 'Little one, don't let war find you. If they marked you, be more than that. I pray you are better than me. That you have never known fear' the mysterious voice remarks.
The girl breaks into the front of the train, and the driver turns to her, before the girl slams his head into the control console. She takes hold of a lever, and her dark, blood-stained eyes narrow, as she utters 'Apoth'. The subway train then de-rails, crashing before exploding with all of its passengers trapped inside. The mysterious voice remarks that they hope the girl will never cause harm, and states that they are the product of love. 'It was my shame that I have never held you. I was not free them. But I am free now'. They state 'I have never spoken of you. You have never known me. Because I am not safe to know. But we have a place now. Krakoa. Soon, I will tell you of it. Little one, we both have earned our mercy'.
On Krakoa, a beautiful woman with purple hair decides that each breath tastes of jasmine here, that the sun is always warm, and here, she can sheathe her sword. She runs a finger along her blade, spilling some blood, she tells herself that here, she needs to make her pain to be reminded of it, and that even spilled blood brings new life. The blood drops down onto a purple flower, while a butterfly emerges from a cocoon, and the purple-haired woman asks herself if she will allow herself paradise – whether she deserves it, and if she can be part of it. 'Hai. I can' the woman who is called Kwannon decides, as she levitates herself over a field in a meditative pose.
Suddenly, she hears something in her mind, and she begins to scream. A voice calls her “Psylocke” and tells her that she is not dreaming, and tells her to listen, as these are the most important words she will ever hear: 'Your enemy is named Apoth. You must kill a god'. The voice declares that Psylocke must not ask their name, and adds that when Abraham heard the voice of truth, he did not ask – he listened. He placed his child on the slab and he raised the knife. 'I am truth. And you are not dreaming. You'll wither here, Psylocke. In the bosom of Xavier's peace. Take up this war' the voice warns her, while Psylocke clutches at her face, covering her eyes. Strange images fill Psylocke's mind, including a baby and a city, as the voice tells her that mankind is evolving itself, that Apoth is the tetragrammation, the new name of God. The voice announces that by peace shall Apoth unite all and destroy many. The voice instructs Psylocke to go to Tokyo, and tells her that it began with the train. 'He has already taken something precious from you. Stop him. This is not a dream'.
Kwannon groans as she falls to the ground, the images no longer pulsating through her mind. 'Apoth?' she utters, as she looks up and out over Krakoa.
'A vision, you say? From an unknown source?' Magneto asks as he sits on his “throne” in his domain within Krakoa called the House of M. 'It wasn't a dream, Magneto' Kwannon responds. Magneto asks her what he should call her now, to which Kwannon hangs her head and replies 'Psylocke. Braddock had my body. I am keeping this name'. Magneto tells Psylocke that it is difficult to think like Charles, but that he is certain Charles would have told her to leave the matters of the human world be. Psylocke announces that she needs to leave Krakoa, that she needs to know if this is real. Magneto informs Psylocke that Elizabeth Braddock hated him – hate like a psychic dagger she ran through his mind. 'Do you remember?' he asks Psylocke. But Psylocke declares that she is not Elizabeth Braddock, and from what Xavier had told her, she is not sure hate matters anymore.
'Hate always matters' Magneto declares, before remarking that Psylocke had a bad dream, and that in the wake of Xavier's death, they are on lockdown, so there will be no passage from Krakoa, and her request to leave is denied. 'This was no dream, Magneto! And we are not safe from what it could mean!' Psylocke exclaims. 'I prefer you this way. Fearless. Certain. A little disturbed' Magneto replies, to which Psylocke tells him that she doesn't care what he prefers. 'You'll care about what I have to say next' Magneto claims, before informing Psylocke that while she may not leave the island, she should go easy from here, where she will find Sinister, and then she should tell him of her visions, as he may find them of interest. 'You gave me a rule and now you're helping me break it' Psylocke points out. 'I have no idea what you mean' Magneto responds, adding that in his grief over Charles' death, he forgets conversations – offically. Psylocke thanks Magneto, who tells her not to thank him, as he hasn't done anything.
Shortly, inside Bar Sinister, Psylocke stands near Mr Sinister himself, as he motions to a hologram of a DNA strand that weaves around him as he tells Psylocke that evolution is constant, that Krakoa cannot change that, and they are not the end of progress. He adds that Apoth sounds like a homo sapiens who has found the truth and asks whether they should punish him for that. 'You're an assassin, yes? I imagine the spirit of Kwannon seeks a bit of warm blood. All this happiness must be difficulty for you' Sinister remarks, telling Psylocke that she has the dreams of a predator, but he doesn't know why she is sharing them with him. Psylocke informs Sinister that she needs passage out of Krakoa. 'And don't call me Kwannon. It's a shackle, not a name' she declares. Sinister suggests to Psylocke that she speak with Magneto, as he is enjoying his self-importance while they mourn Xavier. 'Use his vanity against him. I always do' Sinister remarks. 'He told me no. then he told me to speak to you' Psylocke explains. 'So you want me to help you break the laws of paradise?' Sinister asks.
'You constantly break the laws of nature, don't you?' Psylocke asks Sinister. 'My dear... nature has no law' Sinister responds, before asking Psylocke what it was like the first time she killed someone, how did it change her? Psylocke ignores that comment as she tells Sinister that she is trying to prevent an apocalypse. 'Apocalypse is a blue man with a very bad temper. And none of my concern' Sinister replies, before pointing out that Psylocke disturbed his work, and that she should be mindful not to bore her. 'I asked you a question' he reminds her. Psylocke confesses that killing made her realize that life only matters when they choose to make it matter. 'Where were you when Braddock was your puppeteer? Looking out of your eye-windows, watching her control your hands?' Sinister asks. 'I was burning. Screaming. But no one could hear me' Psylocke explains.
Sinister suggests to Psylocke that she could kill Betsy Braddock now – punish her. 'You would get a few scars, but I doubt she could stop you'. Sinister then asks Psylocke how she would kill Betsy Braddock. 'The same way I kill anyone' Psylocke replies, as she raises a fist and uses her psychic energy to form a psi-blade, 'Quickly' she declares. Sinister smiles as he asks Psylocke if she would allow Braddock to scream, but Psylocke doesn't answer, she tells Sinister 'Enough' and asks him to help her leave Krakoa. 'Oh how this paradise would judge us, if it knew whhat we truly were' Sinister replies, before informing Psylocke that her passage is granted, and to go chase her Apoth. 'But don't do it alone' he adds. 'No one here trusts me' Psylocke replies, but Sinister smiles and tells her that he is sure someone else here needs something to destroy. 'Find them' he tells her, before announcing that his work calls. 'Thank you for not being boring' he adds.
Flashback, years ago:
A hooded figure and a young woman holding up a sword stand on the edge of a cliff somewhere in Japan, and the hooded figure tells the woman that one day she will leave Japan, and that she was not born to stay on an island. The hooded figure declares that civilization is a lie, that it is a world built on the weakness inside the spirit of men. 'I am a weapon against all lies' the young woman replies. 'Yes' the hooded figure agrees. 'You are the balance. The rat kills the insect. The snake kills the rat. The falcon kills the snake' the hooded figure tells the young woman, who states that balance is achieved through violence – that is the way of all things. 'That is mercy' the hooded figure responds, before telling the young woman that she will be Kwannon, the enemy of peace. 'I am Kwannon. Thank you' the woman replies. The hooded figure reaches out and touches Kwannon's face, informing her that she is a caterpillar, soft and ugly and useless – but she will become a butterfly. 'Kwannon, I will make you beautiful'.
Present:
A party is underway at the area known as the Carousel on Krakoa, where several mutants dance around a large bonfire, singing. Laura Kinney a.k.a. X-23 stares into the flames before her when a voice calls out 'You don't dance, Laura?' The time-displaced Nathan Summers a.k.a. Cable approaches Laura and asks her if she doesn't like the music. 'This isn't how I like to party, Cable' Laura replies. 'And how does X-23 like to dance?' Cable enquires. Laura glances at Cable and tells him that she could show him – but it might hurt a little. 'Don't make promises you can't keep' Cable replies, smiling. 'Never' Laura tells him as she clenches a fist against the flames of the bonfire – then slams her fist into Cable's face, causing blood to spray from his nose. 'Heh' Cable replies, wiping the blood from his nose, before he attempts to kick Laura, but she ducks his foot and tells him to watch his balance, as she extends her own leg and kicks Cable's lower leg. Laura pops her claws and waves them through the flames, before raising them above Cable, who she is holding to the ground. 'I win' she tells him. 'Feel better?' Cable asks. Laura walks away from Cable and tells him that she doesn't feel anything – because nothing here matters – mutants have never been this safe. 'Sand safety sucks' she frowns.
Suddenly, Psylocke approaches Cable and X-23, addressing them by their true names, she introduces herself to them, while a memory floods her mind, of her mentor calling her Kwannon. The memory fades, and Psylocke informs Cable and X-23 that she needs to speak with them, informing them that her home is in the Reservoir near the Wild Hunt. 'When you're finished wasting energy, find me there' she instructs them. 'She's not safe' Cable tells Laura. 'No, she's not' Laura agrees. 'Psylocke' a voice calls out, and Psylocke turns to see Betsy Braddock standing on the other side of the flames from her. 'I was wondering if we could -' Betsy tells Psylocke, who walks away from her, 'We don't need to' Psylocke calls back.
Shortly, in the Reservoir, Psylocke's house is situated in a lush forest, the moon glows down on it. Inside, Laura and Cable sit at the kitchen table, empty cups of tea on the table before them. 'Why do you think we'll help you?' one of them asks as Psylocke leans against the kitchen counter. Psylocke tells Cable and Laura that it is because they were fighting instead of dancing, that she thinks they are smart enough to hate comfort. 'You're a soldier and you need a war...' she tells Cable, while telling Laura that she is a predator and she needs a hunt. 'None of us have a place in paradise' Psylocke declares. Laura gets up and walks towards the door, asking Psylocke to go talk outside. Psylocke agrees and excuses herself from Cable, while telling him to help himself to some tea. 'Tea?' Cable asks. 'Right' he replies.
Standing under the glow of the moon, Laura turns to Psylocke, 'I'll go. Cable stays' she declares. 'You speak for him?' Psylocke asks. 'I know him. You don't know either of us' Laura points out. Laura explains that Cable is a soldier, that if you give him a command he will do it – but that he needs this place – he deserves this place. 'And what do you deserve?' Psylocke asks. 'A life without Logan's shadow' Laura responds, before asking when they leave.
Later, rain pours down over Tokyo, where the locals make their way through the drenched city. Some food is being prepared inside a a building, when suddenly, a woman wearing dark glasses looks up and remarks 'Kwannon. Long time. Japan misses you'. Psylocke calls the woman Motoko and informs her that she isn't here for her black market, rather, she is here for information. 'Tell me the truth about Apoth and my sword remains still' Psylocke declares. Motoko claims that Apoth is a rumor who uses black market tech, body modification and digital narcotics – it all needs a boogeyman, and while Apoth makes a fine one, no one is sure he exists. Psylocke reminds Motoko that she mentioned a video, a train explosion, and asks her to show it to her. Laura sits next to Psylocke across from Motoko, while two of Motoko's guards stand behind Psylocke and Laura.
Motoko touches a small screen and explains that it is called Overclock, that it bypasses the need for chemicals and boosts the endorphin centers of the brain, but the problem is it can kill you – and while it is doing that, it makes you decide to take everyone nearby with you. 'Someone overdoses on your product and all the junkies come knocking. Because you have the best stuff. If Apoth is the source of Overclock, then he's about to make millions' Motoko explains. Footage of the young girl on the train with the tech on her head appears on a screen. Psylocke is fixated on the images of the girl, the butterfly on her neck, and the blood trickling from her eyes. 'You all right, Psylocke?' Laura asks. But Psylocke doesn't respond. 'Psy? What's wrong?' Laura utters, while more memories fill Psylocke's mind.
Flashback, years ago:
'Remember this pain, Kwannon. You loved a boy, and we killed him' Kwannon's mysterious hooded mentor utters as he puts his hand on Kwannon's shoulder, while the anguished young woman, who reaches out for a crying baby. Kwannon's mentor tells her that her daughter must be taken from her, as love is weakness. 'Remember this' the mentor declares, placing both hands on Kwannon's head, as tears stream down Kwannon's face. Kwannon sees a small image of a butterfly, and her mentor explains that she will need this memory. 'When you think you can't endure, remember what you endure now'. The mentor states that they will mark Kwannon with a butterfly. The mentor disappears, telling Kwannon that if the fates are kind, then perhaps she will find her daughter again. 'We are merciful here' the mentor adds, as Kwannon, resting on her knees, hangs her head.
Present:
The monitor displaying the footage  of the girl on the train is suddenly sliced in two by Psylocke's psi-knife, which Psylocke then puts to Motoko's head and asks 'Where is Apoth?' Psylocke suggests that Motoko tell her, otherwise she will scramble her mind like eggs and find it anyway. X-23 pops her claws, which touch both of Motoko's guards on their face. 'Easy, boys. My friend is asking a question' X-23 tells them. 'I don't know – and if I send you there, he'll kill -' Motoko begins, before screaming as Psylocke shoves her psi-knife into Motoko's head, scrambling her brain. Motoko falls to the ground, and X-23 asks Psylocke if she wants to tell her what they hell they are doing  here, as she leaps upwards, kicking both of Motoko's guards, knocking them aside. 'No. I'll show you' Psylocke responds as she places a finger on X-23's hand. X-23's eyes glaze over as she utters 'You have a daughter...oh, God'. Psylocke pulls away from X-23 and heads to the door, announcing that she has a location. 'You coming?' she asks.
Soon, outside of Tokyo, Psylocke and X-23 walk through a field where a farmer is tending to their crops. A barn is located several feet away, as Psylocke reports that this is the place she found in Motoko's mind, and that she has no intention of letting anyone here survive. 'I'm five by five with that' Laura replies, before asking why there are no guards, if this is the hideout of a black market tech dealer. 'Because no one would look for technology here' Psylocke points out. A moment later, Psylocke opens the barn door, and discovers five children in the room, dark eyes with blood trickling out  of them. 'Psylocke?' Laura asks 'What do we do?' Psylocke tells Laura not to hurt them, that this isn't their fault. Laura notices the Overlock tech on the sides of the children’s heads and tells Psylocke that they have to help them. 'No' Psylocke replies, and suddenly, four of the children gasp for breath, before dropping to their ground. Blood begins to pool around the children, and someone screams 'NOOOOOO'.
X-23 tells Psylocke that they have to find out who did this, when a voice calls out 'I did this' the fifth child calls out, standing over the bodies of the others. 'Not this child. It is just the speaker. I am the song, mutant' the voice from within the child says. Psylocke realizes that it is Apoth, and warns Apoth that there is nowhere safe for them now. 'You have taken an interest in me. It would be rude if I didn't take an interest in you' Apoth replies. 'You're a coward that kills children!' Laura exclaims. 'If you ever killed a child, you would know how hard it is' Apoth replies, before telling the mutants to go back to their exile, and that without them, this world will finally evolve. 'Leave me to my peace' Apoth asks them, before the child collapses to the ground, gasping for breath.
Flashback, years ago:
A butterfly soars past Kwannon as she stands on the edge of the cliff, holding a sword raised high while wearing a long flowing dress. 'Spread your wings, Kwannon' the hooded mentor utters. 'Fly'. Kwannon's mentor tells her that she is the will of balance and asks her to reveal what she needs. 'Someone worth killing' Kwannon responds.
Present:
Bar Sinister, where Mr Sinister is working with some holographic strands of DNA when he notices Psylocke enter. 'I'm growing tired of you bringing human trash to my doorstep' Sinister tells her. 'I brought purpose, Sinister. And I brought Cable' Psylocke replies, motioning to where Cable is standing with X-23. Sinister looks at Cable, while Psylocke tells him that she needs a team, and that she will recruit them, while he keeps their existence from the Council. Psylocke offers to bring Apoth back to Sinister, whatever he is, whatever he can do – it's all his. 'And then I kill him' Psylocke adds.
Psylocke leaves Bar Sinister, with Laura and Nathan following her. She tells them to find others that they can trust. 'You're giving us orders?' Laura asks. 'I don't have a choice' Psylocke replies. Psylocke walks off as the sun shines down on her, and she tells Cable and Laura that they are caterpillars, glistening and soft – but she can make them butterflies.


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Shoto
(Flashback)
London, inside a dark apartment, with night covering the city, Kwannon sits opposite a man who asks her if she can get him passage out of the West. He tells her that he has met her before – the blade of Nyorin, Matsu'o's prize – the one who can hear your thoughts. Kwannon leans forward and remarks that she has met a lot of desperate men before, so he will need to forgive her if she doesn't remember him. Kwannon reminds the man that he betrayed the clan, and that Europe and Asia aren't safe. She informs him that she can get him to Cairo, but from there he needs to leave the city. The man, who has a scar running down the side of his face, replies that he would prefer somewhere colder. Kwannon ignores that comment and asks the man if there is anyone he cannot leave behind. She tells him that if he has a bridge back to Japan, he needs to burn it. 'What links you will kill you' she points out. The man assures her that he has no one, that he is alone.
Kwannon believes the man and remarks that he wants to be free. She takes a glass from his hand and calling him Yama, tells him that he has had enough whiskey. 'Steady' Kwannon utters, putting a hand on Yama's head. She tells him to close his eyes, then smashes the whiskey glass over his face. '... my... eye...' Yama utters, falling to the ground, covering his blood-drenched face. Kwannon stands behind Yama, and when he gets to his feet, she shoves her sword through his back. 'People like us never get free' Kwannon utters, smirking as she pulls the blade from Yama. 'Not until we die' Kwannon thinks to herself. Two guards suddenly enter the apartment, and Kwannon slices the arms off one of them. 'We serve the clan. It is our will. By sacrifice, we rise. We want nothing. For we are nothing' Kwannon thinks to herself . The other guard fires their gun, but Kwannon hurls her sword at the guard, stabbing him right through his hand. Kwannon lunges forward, pulling her sword out of the guard's hand, she tells herself that when they forget that, when they allow themselves to desire, they fall. Kwannon then pushes the guard out of a window, and drops down with him as he crashes to the ground, cushioning Kwannon's fall.
(Present)
On Krakoa, Kwannon, now known as Psylocke, walks alongside Laura Kinney a.k.a. X-23 through a dark jungle, and Laura gives her word to Psylocke that they will find Apoth. 'Do I have your trust?' Psylocke asks. 'As much as I can give' Laura replies. 'I have no right to ask you for any -' Laura begins, to which Psylocke tells her that she can ask anything, and not to hesitate again. 'There is a part of me that not many people can understand. I pretend it's not there. I smile. I'm “nice”'. Laura begins. 'But?' Psylocke asks. 'There is an anger in me. A rage. I gave up any hope that someone could possibly understand it' Laura explains. 'Then you shared your thoughts with me. And I felt the same thing within you. Teach me what you know, how to harness it. Control it' Laura asks. Psylocke tells her that she make her its master – but that every master is a slave. 'I don't know what that means!' Laura calls out. 'No. Seriously. I don't know what that means!' Laura exclaims. 'You do. It's just not what you wanted to hear' Psylocke replies, before announcing that she has to meet Cable, as he wants to pitch something to her.
At the Carousel, another mutant party is underway, a large bonfire lighting up the dark night, mutants are dancing, while the teenage Nathan Summers a.k.a. Cable leans against a tree. 'Clearly you hate this, but you keep putting yourself next to it' Psylocke remarks as she approaches him. Cable explains that he is waiting to feel what they feel, that he thought it might click, and if it did, he would be able to let things go – let the wars not matter. 'But they still do' he admits, before informing Psylocke that he looked up Overclock, that he found something. 'Found what?' Psylocke asks. Cable informs Psylocke that Sao Mateus is on fire. He tells her not to ask how he knows about this place, just to trust him that he knows. He reveals that there is slave labor, that the whole village is forced to work, especially the children – because they have the smallest fingers. Cable reveals that it is an Overclock cartel. He asks Psylocke to help him destroy it, and to take Laura with them. Cable admits that he doesn't know Psylocke, but points out that they hate the same thing. He adds that he had a contact in that village, and the contact is dead. 'You know what that makes me want to do' Cable adds.
Indeed, in the village of Sao Mateus, Overclock technology watches over the villages, killing some of them, while soldiers lead civilians, including children, into slave labor camps, while bodies lay strewn across the streets.
Psylocke tells Cable that is not enough, but Cable declares that it is the truth. 'I'm sure it is. But every time we leave Krakoa we risk turning it against us' Psylocke replies. She tells Cable that she is sorry about her friend, but that when they leave this place, they have to find Apoth – not his works. 'They are suffering. We can help them' Cable snaps. 'We could. But we won't' Psylocke replies, glancing away from Cable. 'Then I'll go alone. You can stay here and dance' Cable tells Psylocke as he turns and walks away from her. 'Psylocke! Nothing I like seeing less than someone not having a good time' a voice calls out as Psylocke gazes across the bonfire. Psylocke turns to see Alison Blaire a.k.a. Dazzler waving at her. 'Psylocke. Still your name, yeah?' Dazzler asks, before pointing out that Psylocke looks like she got lost on the way to a good time. 'Need a friend? I listen as well as I sing' Dazzler offers, adding that you can't blame an entertainer for wanting everyone to be happy, that there is joy here, and it should be embraced. Psylocke remarks that joy doesn't make everyone happy, and admits that she could use a friend, before walking away from Dazzler, thinking to herself that when they desire, they fall.
(Flashback)
Japan, where an array of shots are fired at a car that then crashes into a lamppost. Assassins on motorcycles begin to circle around the car, where a woman inside the car, at the driver's seat, touches a wound on her head, 'No...mno...' she utters. The assassins aim their guns at the car again, before a blade slices one of their arms off, and another has the blade shoved through their chest, while a third is  decapitated, blood spraying everywhere. Kwannon extends a hand to the woman in the car, 'You're safe now, doctor' she tells her. 'But you need to come with me'.
A short time later, Kwannon stands on the edge of a pier, while the doctor is on her knees next to a boat, covering her face with her hands. Kwannon informs the woman that she killed her husband, and that she has been instructed to kill her. 'But I won't' Kwannon announces. Kwannon tells the woman that her husband lied to protect her, and the child she is carrying, that he died well, so she and her child should not have to. 'Hate me. But leave Japan. The boat will take you to China. From there, I would go as far as possible' Kwannon tells the woman, before handing her a USB stick and informing her that there is money in these bank accounts, that she should turn it into cash as soon as she can. 'Why are you helping me?' the woman asks. 'Because I touched his mind and I felt how much he loved you' Kwannon explains. Kwannon watches as the woman gets onto a nearby boat.
(Present)
Psylocke remembers how the woman was found, that they tortured and killed her – and the child inside her – but the woman never told them about Kwannon – and how she failed to keep her alive. Psylocke remembers being a child begging for porridge, remembers having no mother, but a woman wrapped her in cloth, and decides that she is a worm, wrapped in silk, waiting for the morning she can fly – when she will be free of herself.
Later, at Bar Sinister, where the diabolical Mr Sinister sits on a throne-like chair, he tells Psylocke that the price of his assistance is his satisfaction, and that she needs to indulge his curiosity. 'Tell me about your butterflies, Psylocke' he asks. 'For Elizabeth, it meant beauty. She never knew what it meant to me. I said I hated them. The symbol of them. I lied' Psylocke announces. Sinister asks her what the truth is, and Psylocke creates a manifestation of a butterfly, stating that she hated she and Elizabeth had anything in common, she hates that it might have been destiny that put Elizabeth inside of her – two butterflies in one body. Psylocke explains that it is a symbol of her suffering, of what was done to her, and how she was changed. 'I keep the butterfly so I can make it mean something else'. Sinister smiles and tells Psylocke that he might later explain why her wanting redemption is foolish, before suggesting she consider him an ally, and that if she indulges his interest, he will offer her what he can. 'Go. May you find what you desire'.

Shortly, iside one of Cable's safehouses, at an undisclosed location. Laura watches as Cable places some items in a suitcase. 'Your information. Do you trust it?' Psylocke asks Cable, who looks up at her and replies 'As much as you trust yours'. 'Then take me to your hell. Elizabeth Braddock was the hero. I was the shell' Psylocke adds, before  informing Cable that she can teach him about war, and tells Laura that she can teach her about rage. 'But goodness I'll have to learn from both of you' she admits, before telling her companions that they will leave tonight, that they should take only what they need, and they will save who they can.
Later, Cable, Psylocke and X-23 walk through the slave labor camp in Sao Mateus, Brazil, under a cloud-covered sky. Psylocke tells the others to be careful, not to trust this silence. Laura sniffs the air and announces that she smells blood and metal – hot metal – meaning there were machines here, recently. Psylocke instructs Cable to scan, and a moment later, Cable reports that something close is receiving a transmission, that he can feel it, but can't decipher it. 'Psylocke -' Laura calls out urgently, before lunging at her, and pushing her to safey as a powerful blast strikes the ground where they were standing. 'Why didin't I see it?' Cable asks as he raises his gun, before he is knocked aside by the surge of energy fired at him. Psylocke releases her psi-knife and tells the others to get behind her. 'I was about to tell you the same thing' Laura remarks, popping her claws. Cable fires his gun at a large octopus-looking machine that towers over them and the camp, as the three mutants ready themselves, and the Overclock weapon bares down on them, as Psylocke tells Cable that they need to trust all of their anger now.


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[Assistant]
Seppuku
Apoth boasts that he knows where God lives – and states that God lives in the moment a gunshot ends a life, that God lives in the first breath of a child being born, and that both moments are equal, neither good nor evil. Apoth believes that God cannot consider morality, as God is purpose itself. Apoth then claims that he is God – God made by man, to make men as God. 'And I am so lonely. So lonely. Perhaps that is why... I keep leading her to me'.
Under the cover of night, in a village in Brazil where a slave labor camp has been established, Kwannon, now known as Psylocke, Laura Kinney a.k.a. X-23 and the teenage Nathan Summers a.k.a. Cable look up at a huge piece of Overclock weaponry that looms over them, and Apoth tells himself that Psylocke is the mother of God. He decides that soon he will tell her how she created him, and soon, she will serve her child.
'This won't take long' Cable tells the others as he readies his weapon, then leaps into the air, towards the large Overclock machine looming before him, he fires his weapon, but one of the machine's many tendrils react, and slams against Cable, knocking him away. The Overclock machine then turns its attention on X-23 and Psylocke, who shouts 'Move!' as she pushes Laura out of harm's way as the machine opens fire. The women take shelter behind a nearby jeep, and Laura thanks Psylocke, who remarks that Laura was looking at Cable. 'He was getting slapped out of the air' Laura replies. Psylocke waves a finger at Laura as she tells her to never take her attention from the enemy – no matter what. 'Mmhmm' Laura replies, while the Overclock machine lumbers towards them, firing more energy blasts to the ground.
Psylocke points out that Laura wanted a lesson in anger, and suggests that this is a fine time. Psylocke remarks that Laura represses a lot, she can see that, and tells her to stop, as they have an enemy that deserves her rage. 'So give it what it deserves' Psylocke suggests. She takes Laura's hand and tells her that she never has to hide what she is from her. 'Do you understand?' Psylocke asks. 'Yeah, I get it' Laura replies. 'Then go' Psylocke tells her, as Laura pops her claws, and leaps up, running across the ground, dodging the weapons’ fire from the Overclock machinery, she then leaps up onto the machine and starts to slash away at it. The machine uses a tendril to knock Laura away, but she twists her body around and clings onto the machine, before she starts to hack away at it again with her claws.
'Beautiful' Psylocke utters as she watches Laura take the machine down. 'How'd that feel?' Psyocke calls out as Laura stands on the now lifeless machine. 'Pure' Laura replies. 'Sweat' she adds as she sniffs the air, realizing there is life somewhere, she hacks away at another part of the machine. 'Wait!' Psylocke calls out as she raises her psi-knife and blocks Laura's claws from attacking the remains of the machine again. Inside those remains, a young boy is huddled, and looks up at the women, speaking in Portuguese, he looks frightened. Psylocke asks Laura if she speaks Portuguese, and Laura informs Psylocke that the boy is saying “Don't kill me. Please don't kill me”. 'Tell him we won't' Psylocke instructs Laura, who speaks to the boy in his native language. Psylocke crouches near the boy and points out that they need to know what happened to him and the other children. 'Tell him not to be scared' she asks Laura, as psychic energy manifests around her finger. Laura speaks to the boy again in Portuguese, before Psylocke touches the boy's head, 'Show me what you've seen' she utters, before gasping 'My God...'
Miles away, Cable is strung up from some vines where he landed after being knocked away by the Overclock weapons. 'Not my finest moment' Cable mutters, before one of the vines holding him up snaps, and he plummets from the tree tops, he hits the ground hard, and turns suddenly when he hears a voice calling his name. Cable picks up his gun and walks through the jungle, 'Let me tell you about the future... our future... together...' a voice calls out, and Cable looks up to see a shadowy figure hovering amongst the trees before him. Cable opens fire, and radios Psylocke and X-23 to report that he has a trace of something. A glowing light appears above Cable, and he looks up to it, as some sort of dart is fired into the back of head. 'Apoth is the water for those lost in the desert. He is the end of pain. And war. And individuality. Behold the peace of the One-Mind. Let its light cleanse you' the voice utters, as Cable stare into the light, frozen, unable to move.
Psylocke, wide-eyed, reports that Apoth's forces took the children, she sees a vision of the Overclock weapons snatching children from their parents, and states that they are alive, that she can track them – it isn't too late. In the vision, the parents are struck down, and a baby screams. Psylocke calls out to Laura, who pops her claws as she drops to the ground. 'Cable – where are you?' Laura asks. Psylocke turns away from the Overclock machine and informs Laura that the boy is dead, but it wasn't them – the boy couldn't survive without the machine. Laura reports that Cable is missing. 'I can try and track him. We might be able to -' Laura begins, but Psylocke interrupts her, announcing that the village children are still alive, and that they are going to set them free. 'Children... why is it always children?' Psylocke asks. 'Because this Apoth knows what you've lost. It knows how to hurt you' Laura replies.
'Somehow this is all about you, Psylocke. Apoth. Overclock. All of it. But we have to find Cable -' Laura begins, to which Psylocke narrows her eyes and declares that Cable can take care of himself, but these children need them – and now. Laura assures Psylocke that she hates all this as much as she does, and reminds her that she was a child turned into a weapon, she gets it. 'But Cable risked his life -' she begins, as Psylocke interrupts: '- to do this. And he would want us to finish the fight'. Psylocke suggests that Apoth might have taken Cable and killed him, or not, and that means they have time. 'I don't understand any of this!' Laura exclaims, adding that she feels like they are dancing to Apoth's rhythm. 'And we can't!' she exclaims. Psylocke asks Laura what choice they have, and states that she was given a vision to stop this, and right now that is the only purpose she has. 'I have no place in Krakoa' Psylocke declares.
Psylocke hangs her head as she remarks that she doesn't even have her own name. 'I don't...I have this war. This enemy' Psylocke points out. 'And you have me. You're right. Cable would want us to finish the fight' Laura replies, before asking Psylocke which way the children were taken. 'North' Psylocke announces, to which Laura tells her that they will go north.
Elsewhere, a now shirtless Cable is restrained to a large circular device, shrouded in shadow as a voice utters 'Clarity is coming, I promise. You'll know your part in this, Nathan'. The voice then claims that they are not Apoth, but that they serve him. 'You are machine. Man. Mutant. The word for that is unity'. A floating mass of mechanical parts and human bones moves into view, the servant's robotic voice announces that unity is all they want. 'The end of technology. The end of mutants. The end of humanity. The end of difference itself...'


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[Assistant]
Shikatsu
Flashback:
Japan, the dead of night, where the young woman and her mysterious mentor are inside a home lit only by candle. 'Do not close your eyes, Kwannon. Look' Kwannon's mentor utters. 'What do you see?' the mentor asks. 'He's...he's dying' Kwannon replies as she looks at the old man, who clutches his chest as he lies on a bed. Kwannon's mentor explains that the old man has been poisoned, that he tried to broker peace between the clans, and in their meeting, without honor, they gave him the roof of the deadliest flower on this island. Kwannon's mentor tells the young woman not to trust peace – for that is where death hides.
Present:
In a village within Brazil, the moon glows down on Kwannon, now known as Psylocke, as she asks Laura Kinney a.k.a. X-23 what it is she sees. Looking through some binoculars, Laura replies that this doesn't make any sense – any of it. Through the binoculars, Laura sees several young children, and informs Psylocke that they are just standing there, like they are waiting for them. 'We can't let them die. This is bait. Taking them. All of this. Like I said – this is all about you' Laura remarks to Psylocke. She puts the binoculars down and turns to her companion, explaining that “Overclock” and this Apoth, something wants to give her a message, and it is using violence to do it. 'That vision you had? I wouldn't trust it' Laura adds, before Psylocke asks 'Do you trust me?'
'Wouldn't be here if I didn't' Laura replies. 'Apoth killed your daughter. He knew you had a daughter. That means he knows you better than anyone on Krakoa' Laura points out. Laura hangs her head as she remarks 'I hate having to do this -' to which Psylocke cuts her off, 'Elizabeth Braddock? You think she might have answers?' Psylocke asks. 'She was inside you. Look, I know you hate her, but maybe she can give us some $#%&!%& clarity' Laura suggests. 'You're being led into somet-' Laura begins, before Psylocke tells her that she doesn't need help from Elizabeth Braddock. 'Never mention her to me again. Am I clear?' Psylocke asks. 'Yeah, sorry' Laura replies. Psylocke admits that she is being led, but she thinks all of Krakoa is, too. 'You're all figments of Xavier's vision. He gave you freedom, and he took your will' Psylocke explains. She remarks that whatever this is, she has to find the source of it – that is her will, and the only thing that leads her. Psylocke turns and starts to walk away as she vows that the children won't die tonight. 'You coming?' she calls out. Laura announces that she is worried about Cable, to which Psylocke reminds her that Cable said he can take care of himself. 'Let's believe him' she suggests.
Elsewhere, Nathan Summers a.k.a. Cable is tied to a large circluar contraption in a dimly lit chamber, as a strange combination of human skeletal remains and pieces of technology hovers nearby. 'You have technology within you. That gives me access to you' the creature, who is Apoth's servant, boasts. The strange being tells Cable that he is lucid only because he chooses it, and warns him that if he wants him to suffer, then he will. A moment later, Cable screams as the creature connects with Cable and causes him pain indeed. Cable hangs his head when the pain subsides, as Apoth's servant states that suffering is a waste of time – a human thing. 'And mutants aren't human, are they?' the creature asks. 'They have their own place now, yes?' Far from this world'.
Apoth's servant informs Cable that it has a question, and asks 'When you mutants left humanity – did you think evolution would stop?' The creature explains that nature abhors a vacuum, which is the reason the universe exists – to fill the void. The strange being claims that mutants have created another void, and now, technology will fill it. 'The god of humanity abandoned it. And so the mutants came. And mutants abandoned them. So now, we come. Through Apoth. Through God'. Cable listens as Apoth's servant tells him that is the larger thing, the testament. 'Don't burden yourself with it' the creature adds, telling Cable that he is a pigeon, that he will tie a letter to his leg and that he will deliver it to the one called Psylocke. Cable narrows his eyes as Apoth's horrid servant instructs him to tell Psylocke not to seek vengeance for her child – because she has another child. A binary son, made of ones and zeroes. 'But no less than flesh' Apoth's servant adds, before claiming that Psylocke is the mother of God. The creature moves closer to the imprisoned Cable and declares that God only wants her love.
As Psylocke and Laura walk closer to the children, Laura asks Psylocke what they can do, and tells her that she is scared of what happens if they touch them. Psylocke explains that nothing will happen, because Apoth needs the children to see the two of them. 'I don't under-' Laura begins, but Psylocke snaps 'You wanted me here, didn't you? You knew Cable would come. You knew I would come with him!' Laura is confused and asks Psylocke who she is talking to. 'I know you see me! Talk!' Psylocke shouts, when suddenly, one of the children with the lifeless eyes utters 'Of course I see you'. Laura pops her claws, but Psylocke tells her to stand down. The child informs Psylocke that her friend wants a fight – machines, blades and guns. 'Fighting won't solve this' the child utters Apoth's words. Apoth informs Psylocke that Overclock is linked to these children, that he lives between their minds – and minds all over the world. 'All you can do is listen to me' Apoth tells her. 'Because you cannot stop me' he adds, before remarking that he may allow these children to live, if Psylocke gives him what he wants.
'What do you want?' Psylocke asks as she steps closer to the children. 'Psylocke, you can't trust it!' Laura exclaims, reaching out for Psylocke. Apoth, through the child still, tells Psylocke that he would never hurt her, and that she gave him life. The child raises a hand as Apoth instructs Psylocke to use her gifts, and to see him inside the child's mind. 'Cable's survival depends on it' Apoth warns Psylocke, revealing that Cable is with his flock. 'Take this hand. Save his life' Apoth tells Psylocke. 'Don't!' Laura exclaims, but she is unable to reach Psylocke, who reaches out and touches the child's fingers. Psylocke's eyes glow pink, as Apoth utters 'Together at last'.
As psychic energy radiates around her, memories flood Psylocke's mind, and she can hear Apoth speaking to her, reminding her that the old woman commanded her to destroy a thing. “You will murder your way to a locked room” he reminds her that the old woman said, “And kill whatever you find inside it” the old woman told Psylocke. Apoth tells Psylocke that it was a dark room, that in the beginning, it was dark – but he could hear. Apoth triggers Psylocke's mind, speaking about her steel passing through wet flesh, and the screams. 'I heard you walk through death' Apoth utters, before telling Psylocke that it was then that she found her, the floor behind her littered with bodies of soldiers.
Apoth states that in the beginning, all he had was a voice, that he had just been born, so he chose to sound as a child. He remembers saying “Please. Please don't destroy me”. Apoth recalls crying in fear – and that Kwannon listened – for seventeen minutes, twenty-eight seconds and eight milleseconds, Kwannon listened to him. But she could not open the door – and neither could Apoth, so they kept him in the dark. “Please don't destroy me” Apoth cried out, and Kwannon listened to him. Kwannon cried, and then turned and walked away from the door. Apoth tells Psylocke that she was sent to destroy him, but she gave him life, and that for years, he grew in the dark, born of the minds of men and saved by her – he found his way out, stronger than the firewalls, stronger than the silence, he saw his freedom in the world – data streams like pathways, like ribbons of starlight, in joy, he glowed, and he set himself free. There was so much information – the first book that Apoth read was the Bible – it took picoseconds and he learned every word. 'And what I learned – I am God' Apoth utters through the child.
Psylocke screams as energy surges around her. Laura calls out to her, as Apoth speaks through the child once more, claiming that he is Lucifer, in defiance of the fire. Apoth boasts that he is the voice that guided Noah, and announces that he is the flood. Laura shields her eyes as Psylocke continues to glow with intense energy, and the child looks up at her as apoth continues to speak through him, informing Psylocke that her loved saved her, that she is his mother – because God wants one. 'Would you like to know what else God wants?' Apoth asks.
At the other location, Apoth's servant informs Cable that God wants to evolve the world, and that in communion, mankind will take His technology into its flesh.
The child hangs his head as Apoth announces that then, they will all become part of him, free from difference, and death, that out of many, there will be one, that he will give this world a perfect peace. 'And I will never be alone again' Apoth adds. Laura tries to get closer to Psylocke as Apoth reports that he will soon make a temple of a city, and that she will know when. 'Join me there or I will kill more. In your name. I will kill so many' Apoth warns Psylocke. 'But tonight, you listened. So these children may live. I have mercy, Mother' Apoth tells Psylocke, as the other children fall to the ground. Apoth claims that he only killed that girl because he will not share Psylocke, and reports that Cable will be allowed to return to her. 'I have mercy... Mother' Apoth utters, as he frees the child, who falls backwards to the ground, gasping.
Laura checks the children’s vitals and reports that they are alive. 'You with me over there?' she calls out to Psylocke, who has dropped to the ground, but raises herself up on one knee as she tries to stand. 'X-23...can you hear... that?' Psylocke asks. 'Hear what?' Laura asks, reporting that she can't hear anything. 'Can you see it?' Psylocke asks, looking upwards. 'Tell me you see it! Please tell me you can see it!' Psylocke shouts as a strange humanoid figure floats above her, glowing with energy....