He was in her mind again before she could make another move. He held her head in his hands and grunted loudly.

Release! Give in!

No! No...!

Thanos approached Stephen and held out his hand. "The girl."

Genesis felt Stephen let her go. She looked at him in disbelief, but he motioned for her to go.

"Stephen.."

He held both of her hands, tightly. "I love you. Remember that."

Her eyes glowed with anger as she felt Thanos pick her up as if she weighed nothing. She thrashed and screamed as Stephen turned his head away, unable to watch. He felt pressure in his throat as she cried out his name.

Mordo appeared in the memory and watched Genesis struggle against Thanos. "Didn't you feel betrayed? He gave you away, his love."

"Shut...up," she grunted.

"Give into your gift. We can bring him back," Mordo insisted.

Genesis struggled hard, as she fought ignoring his speech. Stephen's look of regret kept replaying over and over. He wouldn't look at her. He kept his glance at the ground.

The memory changed to Thanos keeping her in his tent with the old rags she had on. She remember his touch and heavy breathing when he got too close. Her heart started beating faster as she held her breath.

Mordo stared and grinned at her. "This planet cannot thrive with the decisions Thanos made. Bring everyone back, Genesis. Let me help you, I know your father awakened something in you."

Genesis felt the memory going away as Mordo loosened his grip of control. Seizing the opportunity, her left leg stomped forward, she thrust her unbroken arm out, and sent a blast his way. Quickly, he pulled his staff out with a spin to lessen her blow. His boots scraped the ground as he was pushed back a few feet from her. He held up his staff, ready to swing, and spun towards her, turning it into a sword. Genesis held her hand up to try and take possession of it with her mind.

With Mordo swinging it too fast, she couldn't focus on it.

Okay, next move. Come on, dumbass.

She moved her hand in a circular pattern to create a protective orb around her. Mordo raged towards it and slammed his sword against it, creating a loud zapping noise. "With so many unchecked sorcerers like you and Strange, this world will suffer more than it already has."

"Stephen only ever wanted to help you!" Genesis cried back from inside the orb.

He held the sword with both hands and shoved it down onto the orb. A blinding light and the orb burst open. Genesis felt her own energy surge back into her from the burst, making pain zap through her body. Her body slumped to the ground as she groaned. Mordo's boot stomped onto her broken arm, as she gave a scream. Hissing from the pain, she squeezed her eyes shut.

"With you gone, it seems Stephen's focus will change. And, he will realize his true purpose and place," Mordo slowly realized.

"This was never about Stephen...was it?" Genesis groaned.

Mordo gave her body a slight shove with his feet as he walked away from her. With a wave of his hand, he created another sword. "If he's as quick a learner as the Ancient One believed, he will heed to my bidding. And, especially, when his beloved is no longer alive to distract him."

Genesis's mind took control of her broken arm and made it so it would not move. She lifted herself slightly above the ground and glared at him. "The Ancient One knew Stephen would come to her."

"She knew all things," Mordo replied with a dull voice.

She shook her head, remembering her meeting with the Ancient One with Bruce. "I saw her when I escaped Dormammu's dimension. I could feel her calling me...showing me a way out. It was a different space in time. In New York."

He had had enough and he swung his sword at her. Genesis flew up to get away, but he followed with his anti-gravity boots.

"She told my friend that we were too early to find Strange. That he wouldn't become her student for another few years," Genesis continued.

His rage only grew as she kept avoiding the fight. With his magic, he appeared behind her but she was already ready. She elbowed his chest and used her magic to send him rocketing to the ground. Hand held out, she did her best to hold him down on his back.

"Enough!" he demanded.

"She knew he was coming. That he would be trained, and she picked you of all her students to train him," Genesis continued as she kept her hold on him.

She slowly floated down towards him, but maintained a safe distance in the air.

"She trusted me because I followed the laws of our study; the laws that make us who we are," Mordo spat.

Genesis raised an eyebrow, as she didn't need to search his mind to see his jealousy arising. "You did, and you expected a reward for that, didn't you?"

Mordo grit his teeth as he struggled against her hold.

"You expected to take her place...sooner or later," Genesis said as she sensed his insecurities began to buzz in his mind. His desires, his aspirations.

"You suspect Kaecilius will kill me?" The Ancient One asked as she and Mordo stood alone in her room.

Mordo stared at her with worried eyes. How much she had rescued him from, he remembered. "Yes. He knows that you are growing restless."

"You may be correct. I see...one who will restore all this. Do you see it too?"

He tried to hide his smile. "I-"

"He has not yet arrived, but he will overthrow this growing evil," The Ancient One said, confidently.

Mordo blinked. "What...who?"

"You must be the one to train him when he comes," she said, turning to face him.

"No!" Mordo yelled aloud.

"She said that Stephen was going to be the best of any of you."

"Stop it!"

"You thought she was talking about you. And that didn't seem to sit right with you. Yet, you obeyed her and trained Stephen," Genesis observed.

He revealed a smirk. "Because I tend to know my place, and soon.."

Suddenly, he broke through her hold and launched himself up to grab her. He pulled her into a choke hold, and said, "...you will know yours."

"That evil that was growing...she sensed it in you," Genesis spat before he covered her mouth with his hand.

He hissed in her ear as he placed his blade at her throat. "There is no evil within me."

A sound in the air made them freeze. Mordo turned and saw a man flying through the sky with metal wings. Genesis noticed him too. Several sparks filled the air as portals opened. Genesis felt her chest tense as Mordo held her close against his body.

One portal opened, and revealed everyone she met on Thanos' home planet: both Peters, Mantis, and the others. The silhouette of the one behind them made her stare in shock. His cape moving along the wind, and his determined face coming into the light.

Stephen.

The others who had been snapped away raged into battle with a loud cry. Stephen had kept his eyes on Genesis since he exited the portal, and he flew towards her and Mordo. Mordo kept his hold on her as he pointed his blade at Stephen.

"Let her go, Mordo. What you want doesn't involve her," Stephen said, sternly.

Mordo prepared to slice her throat, but Stephen reacted quicker. He sent a whip of sparks their way and snatched the sword away from Mordo's hand. Genesis held up a fist of glowing energy, and slammed it against Mordo's chest. He stumbled through the air, as Stephen flew after him. He grabbed Mordo's neck and raised a glowing fist.

Mordo kicked him away and took out his wooden staff. He swung it at the sorcerer and landed a blow at his face. Stephen held up his fist to stop another blow, and grunted in pain. The staff turned into a flight of birds by Stephen's magic, making Mordo grin.

"Plenty of time to practice turning things into birds?"

Stephen brought him hands together in a praying pose, and separated them to reveal several versions of himself. Mordo nearly rolled his eyes, as he raged towards the real Stephen. He sent several punches to his face, before a force separated them. Genesis held out her hand and kept her force on Mordo. He growled in anger and squeezed his fist. Her head felt as if it was going to explode. She held her head with both hands and screamed.

"Stop it!" Stephen yelled.

"Why didn't I see it? There's pieces of Dormammu in her. I was trained to destroy that evil magic," Mordo smirked, "And she will die with it."