02 DNA Strands

[kid_apocalypse]

I know...you had your reasons Uncle Cluster, but...why couldn't you tell me? My whole life...everything about me is a lie. Am I just some way you could make up for killing him?

I want to be the hero you think I can be, but...I'm not sure if I can. I couldn't make the tough decisions...ended up relying on other people when I should've had the strength to act on my own.

I'll do my best to make you proud, but I don't know if it counts here or not.

Hi...my name's Evan Sabahnur, codename Genesis. I'm new to the castle. I don't know if many of you...or even any of you are familiar with mutants or the X-Men, but...I'm a student of the school in Westchester, and I came here with something that could be dangerous, if it fell into the wrong hands. It's a suit of armor created to enhance my powers above and beyond what I can do on my own. It was...originally created for a bad guy called Apocalypse. I've got it locked in my closet for now, but...I'm wondering if there's a safer place I could keep it? Once the castle returns to normal, I mean. I don't want to use it unless it's absolutely necessary, but I don't want anyone who could use it to do bad things to get their hands on it either. Thanks in advance.

[With those filters done, Evan can be found in the lobby, sliding back and forth as much as his winter boots will allow, playing with the penguins, while occasionally glancing at his journal as he slides by it.]

Comments

[hero filter]

[asseenontv]

I am a mutant, and I know of the X-Men, though I was never officially counted as one of them.

Unfortunately I'm not sure if there's any where in this castle truly safe - though I must ask. Why do you have Apocalypse's armor?

[Nope, he hasn't made the name connection there]

[hero filter]

[kid_apocalypse]

Really? I thought I was the only one!

That's too bad. I mean...I put some extra locks on my door, but it's just a closet, you know?

[He pauses. Evan wished he didn't know why he had Apocalypse's armor.]

Because...I'm...a clone of him. Made by Fantomex. The armor was given to me by Daken, Headmaster Logan's son. He...wanted me to become the new Apocalypse, forced me to put on the armor so I could save Headmaster Logan from drowning.

[hero filter]

[asseenontv]

There are others with powers like ours, though they are not from our world.

[He pauses, somewhat awkwardly]

I... hope you lack your genetic donor's genocidal tendencies?

[Because he likes to fight but he's pretty sure him versus Apocalypse is not a match that would end favorably.]

[hero filter]

[kid_apocalypse]

Like Mr. Wagner?

[He was sort of expecting that question.]

Yeah, I do. Daken and Mr. Creed tried to make me a killer, they thought that telling me the truth about who I am would make me want to kill Headmaster Logan for lying to me, but...I couldn't do it. Fantomex...he raised me to want to be a hero. That's why I was at the school, so I could learn what it took.

[hero filter]

[asseenontv]

Yes, I suppose. From other Earths, and places not even called Earth.

[There's something of a pause, and 'Star is a little more subdued when he continues]

I was raised to kill, and became a hero anyway. So I will not deny you that chance.

[hero filter]

[kid_apocalypse]

Wow, really?

[That makes him smile, and it gives him hope for himself.]

Thank you. I...know what Apocalypse did, I know who he is, and I promise you that I never want to be that. That's why I took off the armor as soon as I could figure out how. Sure, it makes me powerful, but it's symbolic too.

[hero filter]

[asseenontv]

You seem to be doing well for yourself, then.

And whether you take it as a threat or an assurance - if you do become him, I will stop you.

Hero/Avengers filter

[compromisedarrow]

I would ask Tony Stark, he'll probably be able to help.

Hero/Avengers filter

[kid_apocalypse]

Wow, Iron Man is here too? I can't wait to meet him!

Thanks though. I'll either have to wait and see if he responds to my message here, or go find him myself. He's sorta the expert on armor and stuff, isn't he?

Hero/Avengers filter

[compromisedarrow]

[Okay, someone knows Stark as Iron Man... Maybe from another stint here?]

Yeah, I think so.

[Don't want to reveal too much, Barton.]

Hero/Avengers filter

[kid_apocalypse]

[It probably helps that Iron Man's secret identity is the worst-kept secret in history.]

Well, maybe he can help me understand mine better. It's...sort of unusual.

Hero/Avengers filter

[compromisedarrow]

Oh, yeah? How?

[Totally not the point.]

Hero/Avengers filter

[kid_apocalypse]

Well, it was made by an alien race called the Celestials, and I think it only works with mutants, like me. It enhances my powers above and beyond what I can do with my own strength, to the point that I had a hard time controlling it. That's why I want it kept safe. I don't trust myself with it, and I don't want it falling into the wrong hands

Hero/Avengers filter

[compromisedarrow]

[Aliens... Why is it always aliens?]

And you trust Tony Stark with something like that?

Hero/Avengers filter

[builds]

Yeah, I'm sorta the expert.

Hero/Avengers filter

[kid_apocalypse]

Mr. Stark, is that you? I...have a suit of armor that I need kept safe. Could you help me?

Hero/Avengers filter

[builds]

I hope that it's not one of those medieval suits of armor, because I'm actually not the expert in that.

But if it's about keeping something potentially dangerous out of the hands of ne'er-do-wells, then I'm your man. Just ignore what happened with the other me who was here last time.

Hero/Avengers filter

[kid_apocalypse]

It's not. It's armor that enhances mutant powers to several times what they are naturally.

Other you? You've been here before?

[Back on topic.]

But yeah, that's what I want. I mean...I wished for some good locks for my closet door, but it doesn't feel like enough, and the armor can be really, really dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands.

Hero/Avengers filter

[builds]

There are people out there who would probably love to get their hands on that armor. So no, a closet is not good enough.

hero-type filter

[20thcentury]

You must be from a completely different world, as none of that makes any sense to me.

hero-type filter

[kid_apocalypse]

That's pretty common here? I mean...I've spoken to a couple of people I know by reputation, but I guess there are a lot of superheroes here, aren't there? I wonder if Arcade is behind this? I had to do a report about supervillains for my ethics class, and Arcade's M.O. is to kidnap superheroes and make them fight each other, and stuff.

hero-type filter

[20thcentury]

Far as I know, none of us are fighting each other, so it's likely not "Arcade." [Code names and aliases... so dumb...]

Why would you think your world is the only one with superheroes?

hero-type filter

[kid_apocalypse]

Fair enough. Still kinda suspicious though. Kidnapping so many superheroes, I mean. Isn't it?

Oh, I didn't. I mean...I was born in a pocket dimension myself. I just haven't really studied Multiverse theory in a lot of detail yet. I'm sure there are other worlds with superheroes, I've just never been exposed to that until now, you know?

hero-type filter

[20thcentury]

There are loads of normal folks as well. And a handful of villains, I think, though they mostly just sit idle. I reckon we're all being treated on a level playing field as far as prospective prisoners go.

hero-type filter

[kid_apocalypse]

Almost sounds like a weird kind of Purgatory. So there are villains here and regular people here, and there's no chaos or weird kidnappings every other week? It must get boring.