AUTHOR'S NOTE: The comics are extremely ambiguous about Stryfe; I think you only see him as a baby, like once, in the entire series. So, most of this is coming from me. Enjoy.
Nathan Asakani'son had never seen anything like the "voole". It was round, but in a long kind of way, with a blue line going through it that grew and shrank, almost like it was alive. The "voole" was very small, small enough to fit into his palm. But, for some reason, everyone held it like it was big and heavy. Mother had been staring at it for a really long time, and every so often, she would turn to gaze at him with a look in her eyes. It wasn't a look that said, "No," or a look that said, "Be careful." No matter how hard he tried, Asakani'son couldn't figure out what Mother's eyes were saying.
She could tell he was trying to read her mind. She could feel him there, staring into her eyes, right beneath her knees, even though she knew he was sitting yards away from her toes. She turned toward him and forced a tight smile. For a moment, the 3 year-old boy looked disappointed that she wouldn't allow him inside her head. Then he was distracted, when his twin gave a squeal of delight. Asakani'son followed, as his brother chased a rolling ball down a sandy dune. Mother Asakani returned to the vial in her hands, and to the thoughts that had been haunting her.
The past 3 years had been amazingly intense and uncertain. Upon discovering the identity of Destiny's 12, the Clan Asakani had found itself in the midst of an uproar. Everyone knew Nathan Summers to be the first recorded host of a deadly Techno-organic Virus, which mutated the host's DNA into a computer program designed to attack the X-Gene. Surely, some argued, the Chosen One couldn't be a feeble infant, with a maximum life expectancy of 16 years! But Mother Asakani, backed by every 1 of the Elders, insisted that Destiny's prophesy would come true. So, 2 Hunters were sent to Mainstream Earth, where they found Nathan, and took him to his new home.
The controversy didn't end there. Young Nathan showed no signs of illness or weakness. In fact, he was beginning to develop a very primitive level of telepathy. Thus, it was concluded that he would contract the virus later in life. For this reason, many Asakani pushed the Council of Elders to preserve a piece of the baby's DNA, in order to make "back-up clones", should he become infected before he could fight Apocalypse. Mother Asakani despised the idea of playing god with a human being's genes, especially in order to make an army of objectified clones. But, after weeks of unceasing squandering, she conceded to make a single genetic copy. This copy was named Nathan Asakani'son, and, though no one thought it possible, became Nathan Dayspring's twin, rather than just his clone. Everyone fell in love with Asakani'son, and treated him as Nathan's equal. For a while, Mother Asakani had convinced herself that she'd made the right choice, in creating him.
However, she began to question herself, when Hunters snuck into Apocalypse's base, to find thousands of vials of the infamous Techno Virus in his lab. Now she knew. Nathan would be the first to contract the disease, because it didn't originate in M.E. as an instrument for genocide. It originated here, in the Dark Age of Mutants, as an instrument to kill the only person capable of saving the human race. And the virus may have never been invented, had she allowed Nathan to be raised in his birthplace, until his time had come to fight Apocalypse. It was because of her that he would suffer such pain. It was because of her that the mutant race would meet near annihilation in realities all across the galaxy. And now she faced the prospect of losing both her boys. There were now 2 victims, and, should 1 be able to fight the disease, they would have to watch their brother, whom they loved most in this world, die before their eyes.
"They are growing so fast."
Mother Asakani turned to find Sanctity watching the children over her shoulder. "They're amazing," she replied.
The Elder sat beside her friend, folding her legs beneath her. She gave her a small pat on the knee, and said, "Things are not so bad as they may seem." Mother Asakani threw her a sarcastic look. "Truly, now," Trask retorted. "Your boys are playing in the sand, surrounded by thousands of loved ones, who would die for them in an instant! They have each other. They have you. They know nothing of fear, nor hunger, nor hostility. Their lives are fulfilling, and they are happy!"
Looking at the 2 figures tumbling over each other, Mother Asakani sighed. "Yes, Tonya, they are happy. For now. But I've ruined them."
The old woman looked thoughtful for a moment or so. "Okay, if you insist on being the martyr, we'll do it your way. Let's look at the worst-case scenario. Say they do contract the Techno Virus, both of them. They will experience a lot of pain, I understand that much. They will die at a very young age, as well. But they will still have everything else I just described. They will still be happy."
"No, Tonya!" Mother Asakani shouted. "You would be happy! You don't need anything to have joy, but they do. They are just normal children; they can't withstand what you can. They'd be miserable."
Trask smiled grimly. "No, Mother. You would be miserable."
"And what of the Clan? What about the human race? Nathan is supposed to become the Chosen One."
"Oh, listen to you!" Sanctity was becoming irritated. "You knew he would become the first host long before you knew why. You didn't doubt him then, so why now?" Mother Asakani looked into the horizon, a bit ashamed. How was she being lectured by a woman half her age? Wasn't she supposed to be the wise Mother of her Clan? Sanctity placed an arm around her shoulder. "If Nathan gets the Techno Virus, it will be destined; it will not be a mistake. And look around you. The Clan Asakani is thriving, happy and healthy, and strong. Things are not so bad, Apocalypse or no Apocalypse." Mother Asakani felt her shoulders relax slightly. Maybe the crazy woman was right.
Suddenly, a shrill cry burst through the air, from over the dunes. Mother Asakani was off her feet in an instant, and flying toward the sound of the voice. The sight that met her eyes was her worst fear. Nathan was lying face down in the dirt, blood seeping from his skull. And Asakani'son was nowhere to be seen.