Shorter chapter the next one will be longer : )

Chapter 9

Listening to one of Professor McCoy lectures.

Detention with Rachel Summers.

Wolverine threatening to stab him.

Watching one of Goop's home videos.

Any of the above options were preferable to Quentin as opposed to spending another minute with any of his fellow students at the Jean Grey Academy after what they just found out about him. Or rather what they must have guessed about him. He remembered the dread he felt as he could see Idie put the pieces together. All Kid Omega could feel at the realization was a strange feeling a mix of terror and disappointment that was definitely not guilt.

And perhaps he hadn't looked at Idie in the eyes, maybe he even felt relief at Glob's volunteering to go with her. But maybe, just maybe it might have been better to walk with her. Face whatever she would say to him. After all it couldn't be much worse then what he was dealing with now walking with Genesis; a self righteous future villain who's eyes were stabbing into him like he was the bringer of...well the Apocalypse.

The irony was not lost on Quentin Quire.

He and Genesis walked steadily to the place where he had first seen Esme, where all the hopes that Sophie's ghost haunting his dreams were nothing more then a imagination evaporated.

The walk wasn't far, walking in the long minutes of silence they were already closer after only fifteen. Honestly there was little to no reason to have them split up. The X-men were scrambling to save there fellow member Psylocke. Quentin had known this ever since he had realized that Summers hadn't been scanning for his mind even when he had slipped and let the barrier down when he had Sophie screaming in his mind. The telepath knew that Psylocke had been injured badly. Probably because of...no not thinking of that right now. The X-men would be rushing to save her. Maybe they would dispose of some of there ranks to track down Quentin and his fellow classmates but Kid Omega didn't doubt that the event would buy him time. Enough to stay two steps ahead of them.

That was all he really needed, just a little time. Enough to find Esme and through her find Sophie. Quentin winced as he remembered the scream. The others had heard the scream as well, what they hadn't felt was the pain. The small telepathic connection had given Quentin enough insight to see that Sophie's mind was...fractured? He shook his head not entirely sure if the term was correct. All he knew was that he had to find her, maybe if he saved her he could finally find penance. Of course all of this could only follow a confrontation with Esme, the resurrected cuckoo who's mind did not seem broken. He knew that he should be focusing on what to do if he and the others found Esme when they arrived. For this surely was a trap, Quentin needed to come up with a plan that was better then the enemy's.

And he could.

If someone wasn't staring at him.

"What?" he growled at his fellow student.

"Why?" Evan asked.

"Why what?"

Evan didn't answer simply stare with a sad look on his face, a mixture of disappointment and sadness.

That's it.

"What is it you wanna hear?!" Quentin snapped.

"The truth Quentin only the truth, though it seems to be the only thing many are incapable of telling."
Quentin felt the rage boil up inside him at Genesis's self-righteous demeanor. He spun around, "The truth? Is that it? No problem at all, which truth in particular would you like to hear? That I started a riot? Or how about the fact that I barely can remember why I started it because felt like I was going fucking crazy?"

"I..." began Evan, but he sentence never even got the chance to fully form.

"You know what?" snarled Quentin, "You know nothing! Nothing about how I trapped Xavier in his own head. Or the mental battle I had with the cuckoo's that only resulted in Sophie dying!"

The words had exploded out in rage. Now that Kid Omega's skeleton's had been thrown out of the closet and apparently tossed all over the floor Quentin wasn't being particularly sensitive in regard to them.

I'm done. Let them think what they want.

"You don't act like a cold-blooded killer," Evan replied thoughtfully.

Are you -fucking- kidding me.

"You think you can judge me Kid Apocalypse?" Quentin asked.

"I think you do that well enough on your own."Evan answered.

Quentin shoved his hands in his pocket as he turned away, "Judge myself? I don't have a reason to. I did everything I could, tried taking it back"

"Take it back?" Genesis asked lightly, "How do you take a death back?"

Silence met the words, and Genesis stepped forward.

"What did you do?" inquired Evan.

The memory came quickly.

He had done it.

The X-Men were beaten at least long enough for him to bring Sophie back to life.

He could feel the Phoenix's power, not so unlike the drug kick.

It would be so easy to lose control.

Not this time. This time he needed to focus to bring Sophie back. The Phoenix reached out.

"What did you do?" Evan repeated.

He needed this, needed to right the wrong and unlike any other before him he had the power to.

But she hadn't wanted his help hadn't wanted to even give him the chance at redemption.

"None of you business," he answered.

Evan straightened himself, "I see, so your admitting it then? That your not just a killer but a liar as well. What makes you any different then a villain? I need you to give me a reason."

"Why?" Quentin laughed, " So you feel like less of one?"

Evan's breath drew in sharply, "Don't say something you'll regret."

"To you? Not likely."

Evan frowned sadly, "Your hurt, feeling guilty. Lashing out at those around you."

"What are you my therapist?" Kid Omega asked incredibility.

The comment didn't deter Evan who attempted to continue reasonably, "Look I understand-"

"Understand?" Quentin hissed, "You understand? Guess what you don't understand a thing about me. You and I have nothing in common, Apocalypse."

Evan straightened at the comment, his lips pressed firmly together in a thin line before answering, "Don't call me that."

Quentin rolled his eyes, "Oh, Yeah forgot to add the 'Kid'."

"I am not APOCALYPSE!" Genesis yelled his voice laced in rage, pain and shame.

Power accompanied his words, raw and wild it pushed against the trees and shredded the bark. It happened quickly and violently, a silence passed between the two boys as Genesis's eyes flicked warily to the damage and with a shaky breath held himself as he stepped back. Quentin regarded the damage and turned toward his fellow student with one raised eyebrow. The sudden surge of anger from the normally calm Genesis had broken through Quentin's anger as quickly as dunking an unconscious person in cold water would have awakened them.

Genesis licked his lips and lifted his head as he swallowed, "I am not Apocalypse," he replied evenly as if speaking the words in a calm tone might take back the previous one. Quentin didn't have a chance to answer before another did.

"Obviously," a deep voice replied, "To my master you are by comparison pitiful."

Both mutants turned at the voice and saw a man standing his skin held a dark skin tone a mix of gray and green. The man's hair hung past his face and held the color of white and gray despite the fact that he looked to young for such a color. His body was thin with clothes much to large hanging off his frame. He should have look sickly but did not rather he looked wiry with light muscles. To his right a girl of black diamond stood, a terrible mask covered her entire face made of the same black diamond that held her skin making it look as if the mask was melded to her body.

The mask of my dreams, though Quentin to himself. What was Esme playing at? Was it a cheap attempt to piss him off or scare him?

"The same Cuckoo I fought?" Genesis whispered touching his side lightly.

"Probably," Quentin answered off handily as he ignored Genesis. I can't read her mind. Can't while any of the Cuckoo's are like this. If Esme's been the one fighting all along where is Sophie?

"She seems more prepared then last time." Genesis replied warily, "How far are the others."

"Far enough," Quentin said, "I just got through to Glob. But they took another way and were closer then us..."

The words trailed off and Genesis clenched his fist as he readied himself for battle. The strange mutant across from them simply smiled.

"Ah, yes call your little friends. War is hungry for battle and I? Well I'm truly Famished."


"How bad is she Hank?" Wolverine asked.

Beast paused as he stood back from his patient Elizabeth Braddock the X-men Psylocke, "She'll have to be in bed for a couple of weeks while the wound heals. However I have every faith that she will live."

The blue mutant frowned in sadness as he turned and looked toward the scene of the young human girl who was on her knees her arms wrapped around herself. Her body shook only slightly as silent tears fell down her face. She watched as a thin sheet was put over her friends body.

The sight was to much and bringing a shaky hand to her mouth the girl attempted to suppress a sob. Storm walked over and put her arms around the girl.

"No," a voice whispered. Wolverine closed his eyes in recognition , "What are you doing here Slim?"

Cyclops stepped forward and looked down at the unconscious Psylock, "Betsy," he whispered lightly and despite the fact that his eyes were unable to be seen his tone carried enough emotion to reflect the sadness he felt at seeing his past teammate in such condition.

Silence stretched for a moment.

Storm stood with the girl and shot a frown towards Scott Summers direction as Emma Frost and Magic joined him. Ororo kept her comments to herself however as she turned walking with her arm around the girl. As both living and dead were carried away Cyclops watched with grief before finally turning towards both Wolverine and Kitty.

"This needs to stop here, no more deaths no more wounded."

"And we'll stop it," Wolverine answered quickly.

"No," Emma said just as fast, "No you will shut up for a minute and listen you overgrown neanderthal!"

"Emma," Scott replied gently and the blond haired telepath turned away from him arms crossed as she stared away a bitter frown on her face.

"Listen," Scott replied calmly, "You probably have information that we do not, and I know we have information you do not."

"Doubt it," Wolverine shot back.

Cyclops lifted his head up, "No?"

"No." Logan growled.

"How are your kids doing Logan, any skipping class? Or out?"

Wolverine growled as his fist clenched, Cyclops's lips lifted in just the slightest of knowing smirks before he returned to a more professional and serious look this was no time to show Wolverine up even if the clawed mutant was being an idiot. This was a time to work together. Scott Summers was a natural leader and he knew sometimes a leader had to bend for the good of everyone.

"If you won't talk to me then listen," Scott said

"Give me one good reason," Wolverine snarled, "one good reason why I should listen to a word that comes out of your mouth Bub."

"Done," Scott answered, "Apocalypse."