Zakhuras had never dared enter the room of thought as Apocalypse called it until today. He was overwhelmed with curiosity at his master's innermost thoughts on mutant kind. Most of all though he wanted to find out if he was counted amongst his master's strong or the weak that were to fall under his boot. In all his years of servitude to the man known as En Sabah Nur he was never quite sure where he stood. Today he would find that out and more because knowledge is power. That was one lesson Apocalypse taught well and when Zakhuras was one day freed he would use that knowledge against his slave master.

Slowly Zakhuras crept into the room though he really didn't have to because so many machines were whizzing and whirling away that you couldn't have heard the Juggernaut stomping. He moved quickly to the main computer in the center of the room where Apocalypse kept all his secrets specifically who he considered strong and weak. With great haste Zakhuras opened the files of his master.

Alastaire
Designation: Strong
Analysis: An obedient servant and an even better leader. He commands a presence with both his person and his power. And what an awesome power he has. I believe only he can push himself to the next level because he is already so high up. I know Alastaire will lead my Dawn into glory when the time is right.

Archangel
Designation: Strong
Analysis: This mutant has denied the power I have given him twice, yet in the end he attained a greater power. Warren is strong because he fights with anger, guilt, and hate. All the ingredients of a truly deadly opponent are wrapped in Archangel's soul. He will fall towards me again because he cannot help it. His soul is naturally attracted to my own. Archangel will only be able to deny me for so long.

Banshee
Designation: Weak
Analysis: Sean spends his time training children in their mutant abilities while he should be trying to push his to the next level. He's started to settle for the skill level he has and that makes him weak. If he would push himself to the next level he could give the Inhuman Black Bolt something to worry about. The same for his daughter Theresa though she is willing to do anything (make a deal with Sinister) to keep her mutant abilities. That might be able to be molded.

Bishop
Designation: Weak
Analysis: To lose your abilities and not try to gain them back is truly the epitome of low! Even Storm made some attempt though it was feeble at best. I was once believed Bishop to be a warrior of greatness always striving for perfection, but to lose one of the main things that makes you great and not try to gain it back shows a grand degree of cowardice on Bishop's part. I will personally have Holocaust skin him alive.

The Brotherhood
Designation: Weak
Analysis: Every last one of these mutants will wallow in the mud of the great war to come. Though I will include them, as part of my army after my conquest is complete they will be quickly forgotten. Marrow's temper and lack of control will be her downfall. The Dark Beast has no true vision and only uses his genius for entertainment. As for the Toad there is not even
the slightest hope of making him strong. He has been a lackey and he will always be a lackey. Avalanche has potential though his vision is too narrow and his mind too brittle. Prelate allows his anger to rule him and his hatred for a Cyclops he barely even knows is laughable. I know my alternate reality counterpart must have had the same opinion about him. The Brotherhood does prove one thing though. When a few weak gather together they can become one strong.

Cable
Designation: Strong
Analysis: My greatest foe and he does not earn this title lightly. He has been an obstacle in every thing I do and every move I make he's there to make a roadblock for me. Nathan has the raw power of his mother and the leadership of his father. A deadly combination to say the least. I know when the time comes for the great war to start he will be at the head of the rebellion against me.

Cannonball
Designation: Strong
Analysis: A fellow External and a wielder of great power much like myself. He was once the protégé of Cable and it shows in the way he fights, and thinks. Though strong in power he does have one weakness and that is the family he cherishes so much. I will personally go out of my way to destroy the Guthrie farm and watch as Sam falls off the deep end. Then he will easy to shape into a being of chaos.

Colossus
Designation: Weak
Analysis: The way this man seems to emit love and peace sickens me to my soul. He would do anything protect the weak. I think he would commit suicide for them if it ever came down to it. While his nobility is honorable it is only one more element in what makes him so weak. And in all his years of honing his powers he's never advanced past what he knew when he first came to Charles. Colossus will be among the first of the weak to fall.

Deus
Designation: Weak
Analysis: This man seeks peace in a way that would incite war. He is foolish in ways that I can't even begin to understand. He contradicts himself claiming to be doing something all the while he's up to no good. I wonder though if under this contradiction of character is really an evil
powerhouse waiting to bust loose with only the right catalyst.

Emplate
Designation: Weak
Analysis: Marius's need to feed inhibits him and makes him vulnerable to many of his enemies. Yet perhaps in time he could learn to manage his hunger and turn his weakness into his ultimate strength. As of right now he is among the weak, but even they can surprise you. Emplate will be an intriguing subject to watch with the right pushes.

Exodus
Designation: Strong
Analysis: Though Bennet may try and deny it his place is here with me. He will be a grand general in my armies when the time is right. His raw power is all I could hope for in one my strong. Exodus shall bring fire and brimstone to the weak and they will tremble at the sounding of his name. I will mold the resentment inside of him into utter destruction.

Trevor Fitzroy
Designation: Strong
Analysis: This man's willingness to do anything and everything to get what he wants and needs is probably his greatest asset though the ability to move back and forth through time doesn't hurt much either. I can only hope Trevor kills Bishop before the great war begins because I don't want to have to put up with the meager resistance he would present to me. I would much rather not have to worry about wasting time. I must have Holocaust approach this man so as to ensure his place in my grand army.

Gambit
Designation: Weak
Analysis: Remy gave up his own potential to Essex without even thinking of the truly horrible consequences. He was too weak to try and gain control of his power so he had them reduced. He's almost as bad as Bishop! No wonder the two seems to always be so intertwined. Despite all of this Gambit could be still be a kink in my plans so he will be right alongside Colossus when
they die in my primary strike.

Gateway
Designation: Weak
Analysis: He's just another Remy in terms of being a nuisance though I believe instead of killing him I'll just capture him and use him as transportation. If only this man didn't rely so on his pathetic Dreamtime he would be at least considered as part of my army. I should have reformed
Aborigine religion when I had the chance.

Joseph
Designation: Strong
Analysis: Though I have seen many a mutant come back from the dead never did I expect see this one return. Obviously he's a chip off the old block. There's more of Magneto in him than he cares to admit except he does surpass his father in one thing and that is power. While Magnus beats him in skill Joseph mangles him in terms of power. In time Joseph shall be included amongst my elite.

Jubilee
Designation: Strong
Analysis: This child is a quick learner and an even faster fighter. Her blows could soon begin to affect things and people on the atomic level with time. Sean and Emma trained her well. Also Ms. Lee's secondary power is something of great interest to me as well. She's the only member of that accursed Generation X that I consider strong.

Karma
Designation: Strong
Analysis: She's the proverbial diamond in the rough and I intend to shine her to a great intensity when the opportunity presents itself. Xian is vindictive and unforgiving under all the philosophical banter she carries around. Her power can be brutal as she has shown numerous times and I
intend to one-day take advantage of that brutality.

Magneto
Designation: Strong
Analysis: I have always considered Magneto strong ever since the day Sinister and myself watched as he unleashed his power on the mob that killed his daughter. I couldn't have orchestrated that event any better I must say. I wonder if Magnus would be surprised to know that incited the events that would lead to his little Anya's death and his becoming the Master of
Magnetism?

Meltdown
Designation: Strong
Analysis: Young Tabitha has grown a great deal from her first dealings with Xavier to her now current "employment" with Magneto. If Magnus plays his cards right he has unimaginable power on his hands. Once Meltdown learns to rapidly increase the growth of her energy globes she will be one of the most dangerous mutants on Earth. A moment I can't wait to see happen.

Mister Sinister
Designation: Strong
Analysis: After Cable this man is my greatest foe. He is as cunning, conniving, devious, and manipulative as myself. I taught him well, but perhaps too well. I may end up paying for helping that scientist he was so long ago though I can say with confidence it has been strangely delighting to watch him grow ever since his split from my tutelage.

The Morlocks
Designation: Weak
Analysis: These weak and lowly mutants are the fruits of the Dark Beast's pathetic and sick labors. I only wish Sinister's Marauders had wiped them all out when they had the chance. Why these creatures exist is beyond even my comprehension. I want to pop off the heads of every last one of these worthless mutants.

Mutant Forger
Designation: Strong
Analysis: This is my greatest potential enemy. Anyone with the ability to create mutants and retain their creation's abilities is truly an awesome force though he has been in seclusion almost ever since he came to this world. If someone does manage to incite him to join against me I will truly have a war on my hands the likes this world has never before seen.

Rictor
Designation: Weak
Analysis: Julio is a poor man's Avalanche. Though he is not weak enough for me to completely stomp him like the pathetic Morlocks he isn't strong like Cable or Magneto. If only Rictor could rid himself of his childish core he could be considered amongst my strong, but until then he is just another lamb to the slaughter as his leader Sunspot.

Shadow King
Designation: Strong
Analysis: Now with Xavier's passing this is the telepath I'm most cautious of. His sheer nature of existence is something to give one alarm though if Psylocke could handle him I'm sure I'll be able to as well if it comes down to that which it most likely will because Farouk has ambitions all his own.

Storm
Designation: Strong
Analysis: Ororo's power has grown exponentially over the years with her many experiences with the X-Men. If she gives into her emotions she could carry the same power that the Phoenix entity did. Her potential is just as great as her other female X-Men, Jean Grey and Dazzler. Now if her will power weren't such a large factor psionic manipulation would be easy to
accomplish.

Sunfire
Designation: Strong
Analysis: If a mutant has enormous amounts of raw power they are usually considered amongst my strong and Shiro is no different. Once I pull him onto my side his powers will be the beginning of what Holocaust describes as cullings.

Wolverine
Designation: Strong
Analysis: Logan's powers may not be the strongest, but his ferocity and vigor in combat make him one of the deadliest mutants on Earth. He should be easy to manipulate into my servitude considering all the manipulation that has been done to both his body and mind. The same goes for Sabretooth who I'm sure I won't have to do much talking to convince to be part of my strong.

Zakhuras slowly backed away from the computer. He had not seen his name on this list of strong and weak. Perhaps Apocalypse had been updating it or maybe he just had some entries hidden through codes. But Zakhuras knew that whoever wasn't given the designation of weak or strong was simply stock for Apocalypse to poke and play with as he saw fit.

"I can't believe you would be so bold Zakhuras," a booming voice said. Zakhuras turned around slowly and saw his master standing there in all his glory. He wanted to speak, but he was lost for words completely. It was as if his throat had been sealed from him.

"I hid you from both Sinister and Ozymandias because I never wanted their tainted views to reach you. I hid you from everyone because I thought you would be of use to me in the coming chaos, but I see how wrong I was."

Apocalypse left the room leaving a scared Zakhuras to contemplate his situation. After about fifteen minutes of whimpering and quivering he got up out of his seat and moved towards the door. As he did so the brick door slammed with a mighty crash leaving Zakhuras in total darkness. Then as he felt his way around in utter panic the room began to shake and things began to fall from the roof. The room was caving in and Zakhuras was going to be buried in it.