Thank you for the reviews and feedback! I try not to write characters out of character, because even if a character may act selfish or unreasonable at one point those actions may one day lead up to a turning point that helps the characters evolution. Sorry its been so long for an upload, I'm almost done with the next chapter so I'll try to have that up by this week.

Chapter 10

Where is Sophie?

I am revenge, I am the soul of the fight, I am the first gunshot that leads to battle.

I am War.

Where is Sophie?

I am HATE and I HATE you so very much.

I am War.

Where is...

I am the most free of any of Apocalypse's horsemen, without a thought, I only act.

There doesn't need to be much thought behind a punch, much reason behind a death.

I am War.

Where...this...isn't...

Death needs no meaning. Mine had none.

This isn't...this isn't right.

I am War.

Where...am...I?

The heat of the sun beat down on Hope Summers. The temperature was unnaturally hot for the time of year. But she was in a unnatural place after all, so it only made sense that the temperature be as well. Still Hope knew this was where she needed to be. The very place that angel had spent his final hours as archangel. She had learned about the incident that had lead up to what all the X-men had believed to be the end of the Apocalypse problem the end of Apocalypse himself.

Hope wasn't shocked that the mutant had returned, Apocalypse had been the nightmare that haunted Nathan Summers dreams and life. And if there was one thing that Hope knew about nightmares it was that they never really vanished just stayed buried for some time before springing back. I'll just have to be the one to bury him deeper this time. Hope smiled at the thought at the knowledge that she would get the chance to put Nathan's nightmare down herself. She was in the right place and in the right time for a confrontation and Hope knew that everything would boil down to the confrontation with the mutant. Cable was living proof that you could not leave Apocalypse alone.

She silently thanked whatever mysterious force that had decided the life fate dealt her. She may have grown up in a hellish world chased by a madman but it all lead to who she was now. Hope was not like the other young mutants watched over and guarded by the X-men, she would never be told where she could and could not go. Never be forced out of battle, in fact all restrictions on her had seemingly vanished after the battle with the Avengers and X-men. She had restored balance bringing mutants back in full force, seemingly completing her destiny as mutant messiah. After fighting so hard the Avengers told her that she had the right to go where she wanted, the X-men stepped aside and allowed her freedoms beyond what she ever had growing up under the watchful eyes of Cable.

And so with this freedom Hope had made a decision, she would free her friend Idie from the self-centered terrorist Quentin Quire and defeat Apocalypse. She had left the school by walking out the front door something her first target could not. Hope knew her real reason for wanting to be the first on the battle site was more selfish then noble. She knew that saving her friend and protecting her father from ever having to face his own monster again was not more important to the world then stopping Apocalypse and all his forces from destroying everything. It didn't matter, the reason was important to her and if the world was saved along with it? Well, she was the mutant messiah after all.

She looked up over the horizon and a strange sense of entitlement filled her reassuring her that she was doing the right thing whatever her reasons. Whatever strange past Kid Omega had with the missing Cuckoo that had the X-men scrambling was connected to Apocalypse. He would come, and he would bring Idie with him. She would save her friend and stop him from using her like a puppet. Kid Omega was a dangerously unstable terrorist a nuisance to mutant and human society alike. Nothing more nothing less. After making her decision Hope had copied one of the fellow students abilities to transport and had gotten ahead of the game. As soon as she arrived in this state she knew she had been right, the over-evolved ecosystem actually reminded of her of certain places she had grown up with Nathan. Dangerous and ever-changing. And there was no doubt in her mind that Apocalypse was close, like the foreboding feeling before a storm she felt Apocalypse's power hovering and ready to strike. The X-men would follow, Hope was sure of this and so would Kid Omega and her friend. She squirmed at a sudden strange gnawing in her chest that made her recall the conversation she had with a student when she left. A student that made her doubt some of the truths she knew. Not just any student either but Broo best friend to her little light.

"Are you leaving so soon Ms. Hope?"

"It's just Hope, Broo."

"I see, are you leaving so soon Hope?"

The red headed mutant turned to face the best friend of Idie.

"I'm going to find her Broo, I'm going to find Idie. I'll bring her back. I'll save her."

The little alien blinked as he adjusted his glasses, "That is very kind, but I'm sure lovely Idie would not have left if she believed she would need to be saved."

Hope frowned as she adjusted her weapons, "As long as Quentin Quire has her under his mind control, she is in danger that she needs saved from."

Broo gave out a small gasp of shock, "What ever would make you think that of friend Quire?"

Hope shook her head sadly at the small alien's naivety'. "Look, I do the hard things so you guys can have a chance of normalcy without violence. I don't want Idie to have to face the challenges she did when she was with me."

Broo shook his head, "I'm afraid that there is more to Idie then you know, more perhaps to Quentin to."

More perhaps to that little alien as well? Hope tried pushing the thought from her mind but it was difficult. The little alien had been so genuine in his shock. He really hadn't believed that Idie was under Quentin's mind control. No, that wasn't just it. He had seemed shocked to think that Hope would ever believe such a thing was possible of Kid Omega. But that didn't make sense. Hope had heard enough about Quire to know he was bad news.

The hellfire academy this was all connected to that place. Idie had been there with both Broo and Quire. But what had happened? Even Broo had dodged answering that question.

"Why do you trust him? Was it because of the hellfire academy? Because of something Kade Kilgore did to you?"

Broo looked up at Hope, "The only thing that happened at the hellfire academy was realization of who we were."

"But what does that mean? Why won't any of you-"

Broo held his scaly hand up, "I am very sorry to interrupt but I feel I must be direct. The only thing of importance that you need to know is that Idie went to the hellfire academy to take revenge for my being wounded whatever the consequence and Quentin went to bring her back."

"Why would he do that?"

"Why do you go after Idie now?"

Hope blinked, "She's my friend I care about her!"

"I do not believe his reasons were so far from your own you both care just in different ways."

"He's...he's you haven't heard what I have! What he's done! Its like its in his nature to destroy everything around him!"

The alien's red eyes held a glimpse of sadness as he shook his head, "No, destruction is in my nature." Hope looked away quickly even as the little alien pulled his glasses gently from his face continuing after the briefest of pauses, "Yet I do not destroy. My kind has a violent history that has shaped all brood over the years, if you look hard enough I think you'll find that many of the students here have one thing in common."

He lifted the glasses to his face adjusting them as he lifted his eyes to meet her directly a strong determination in his gaze, "We are willing to give everything that we are to see tomorrow as ourselves and not allow history to dictate who that may be."

Hope stood quietly grasping her gun and her knuckles seem to go white with the tightness. Not letting history dictate who I am? She looked up and her red hair fell from her face as she took a deep breath.

But without a history of being told I'm the mutant messiah, without being forced onto this path.

Without it...what am I?

It couldn't get worse, there was no way it could get worse.

"Quentin behind you!"

Kid Omega spun at Genesis's yell pointing his telekinetic guns in the direction and shooting almost as fast. Not fast enough.

It was like trying to shoot the wind.
Famine as he called himself had dissolved shortly after his arrival. His skin had withered and his body and become emaciated and starved until he literally had dissolved in a matter of seconds. The memory of the sunken flesh of the mutants body wasting away only to give way to air was not one that Quentin would get out of his head anytime soon.

He was a horseman of Apocalypse able to shift between air and flesh in an instance. How the hell were they suppose to beat that?To make matters worse he wasn't alone either and the black diamond cuckoo's attacks gave way to one reason he couldn't use his telepathy on the man. Speaking of which, Quentin's guns dissolved and he held his hands forward quickly as if to ward off an attack, blue telekinesis as flat as a brick wall appeared in front of him. With the sound of metal on stone the cuckoo's claw like nails hit the barrier keeping the sharp diamonds from slashing him.

Quentin swallowed hard, if he tried to focus his telepathy on the horseman named Famine he wouldn't be able to hold his ground for long. He would lose concentration on shaping his telekinesis and when she broke through his weakness...

She would gut him.

A elongated pale fist rushed past Quentin reminding him he wasn't alone and the diamond monster girl dodged the attack before it could land.

"What are we going to do?!" Even yelled as he held his other arm out and it elongated reaching for the monster and successfully clamping on he pushed the cuckoo into the tree hard.

What do we do?

Kid Omega shook his head dazed he took a step backwards his eyes on Evan as he held the cuckoo away. Then without looking in his direction Genesis yelled, "Above you!"

A second shield stopped a attack from Famine and Quentin frowned.

How is he doing that? Predicting this guys attacks? He knows there coming before I can even react. I can't even get into this guys head.

Quentin could feel an invisible pressure pushing against the wall and then suddenly it stopped. Nervously Kid Omega took a step back warily looking around.

A deep chuckle echoed through the air sounding dark and sinister.

"This will not do at all," Famine said, "War can not be blocked, dodged or prevented. She came all this way to have a private word with you mutant. Its simply rude to avoid this inevitable battle. I suppose its my duty to assure that destiny not be stopped."

Quentin frowned and turned at a yell from his fellow classmate. The wind storm surrounded Genesis engulfing him as pieces of rubble and dirt were lifted from the ground blurring Evan's features. Quentin turned to point his guns at the attack only to have them dissolve quickly and pull up a telekinetic shield at another attack from the cuckoo.

"Quentin-" Genesis yelled before his voice was abruptly cut off. Quentin's eyes darted to the direction of Evan's voice but no one was there. Both famine and Genesis were gone.

"Wha-" he began before he pushed the cuckoo back pouring all of his concentration in his telekinesis. Briefly he remembered Esme seemingly vanishing when a storm of dust surrounded her this mutant famine must have the ability to transport.

"Fan fucking tastic," Quentin mumbled.

He was alone, both Glob and Idie were to far to be able to help him.

To far to be able to help him.

Quentin shook his head and scowled at the thought quickly pushing it from his mind. What was he thinking? He didn't need there help. It was better that neither of them were here anyways. This wasn't anyone's fight but his.

We all have to face our fears sooner or later and since your skeleton might not be dead your going to have to face it now.

Quentin frowned at the memory of wolverine's words a painful ache raced through his chest.

Sophie.

"Facing fears huh?" Quentin murmured. The cuckoo lifted her face and the shark like mask attached to it, she cocked her head to the side and Quentin flexed his fingers the telekinetic gun forming.

He smiled and the cuckoo or War or whatever the hell she was calling herself leaned forward her hands to her sides the black diamond extended to sharp points as long as knives. Quentin held the blue telekinesis forward pointing the barrel at her and gave a laugh.

"What the hell do I have to be afraid of? Nothing that's what! Nothing! And when we're done Esme you'll tell me where Sophie is."

The diamond creature cocked her head to the side once more and lunged forward, Quentin stepped back quickly dropping his hand to his side in the quick motion the gun shifted lengthening into a bullwhip, a weapon that he hadn't used since the Omega Gang. The whip flicked and wrapped around the cuckoo's leg in her mid lunge. Twisting his arm she fell her back hitting the ground hard. Quentin sprang forward the gun reappearing and he put the barrel to her forehead.

"Quentin!" a voice called from the distance. Idie and Glob both arriving to the party late. Quentin grinned, didn't matter.

"I win," Kid Omega exclaimed with a grin.

The diamond creatures face was expressionless just as a true mask but quite suddenly a small crack formed. Quentin frowned and the fissure ran down the entire middle of the mask and the black diamond shattered into shimmers starting from her face and going down her body. His gun was no longer pressed against diamond but instead was pressed firmly against pale skin. Her eyes and mind met his less then a second after the transformation. His eyes widened in horror, not Esme but Sophie. He pulled his gun back falling back from her quickly. She followed just as quickly putting one hand on his chest he felt the lightest push of pressure from the touch before a sharp pain struck him. He gasped and his eyes flicked quickly from Sophie's slightly crazed eyes to her hand which was now diamond to her wrist. He blinked once as his mind try to process what had happened to him how her fingers could be ...he could feel the pain pulsating through his chest ….where her claws impaled him. He choked as he tried to breathe and found the process difficult. Sophie's lips rose and her grin was just as mad as her gaze as she pulled the spear like claws from his chest ripping more flesh as she pulled the claws back through him. Quentin felt his body fall back, saw Sophie's maniacal grin as she held her huge claws in the air now dripping with his blood.

He heard screaming.

Blackness, blurred his vision and then he heard nothing at all.