Brooklyn, St. Nicholas Avenue.
Miles arrived outside Xavier Community College and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
A moment later, shuffling footsteps sounded from behind it.
"Coming. Stop knocking."
The lock turned, and a short man with gray-green skin poked his head out.
Mortimer wore an oversized apron bearing the college logo and held a mixing paddle coated in cream in his left hand. He had clearly been busy in the kitchen before Miles arrived.
"Miles?"
Mortimer visibly froze when he recognized him.
"Hey, Mortimer," Miles said with a smile. "Is anyone at the college?"
"Oh, you've come at just the right time," Mortimer replied. "It's Labor Day weekend, and the college is holding a back-to-school community open house. Everyone's helping out. Are you here to join us?"
"I..." Miles hesitated for a second. "Yeah, that's right."
"Haha!" Mortimer seemed to catch on, but he didn't mind. "That's great! Come on, let's find Hank. He'll be happy to see you."
"Wait, Mortimer," Miles called. "Before that, let me introduce you to a new friend."
"Oh? Who?" Mortimer asked.
"Come on, Saba Nur."
Miles waved toward the side.
Then Mortimer saw a two-meter-tall boy with a hulking build slowly approach. Every step made Mortimer feel as though the ground were shaking.
Mortimer's mouth slowly fell open.
"Oh my God..."
A few minutes later.
"So what you're saying is..."
Hank looked at Saba Nur, his expression turning deeply conflicted. "He's a clone of Apocalypse?!"
"Yeah." Miles nodded and tried to reassure him. "That sort of thing is pretty common in the mutant world, isn't it? There's me, X-23, and..."
"No, he's different." Hank's face grew grave. "Apocalypse is different! You've fought the real En Sabah Nur. You should know that better than anyone!"
"Ha... I figured." Miles pressed a hand