Avengers Academy (2010 series) #32

As part of the Avengers Vs X-Men event the X-teens from Utopia Island were relocated to Avengers Academy for the last 3 issues. However they were eventually allowed to leave. Since then the Phoenix Force has arrived (in AVX#5) and given its power to 5 X-Men (Colossus, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Magik and Sub-Mariner) who have set about changing the world.

Juston Seyfert's Sentinel was damaged during the difference of opinion between the Academy and X students so he's repairing it. The robot objects that it is perfectly capable of self-repair but Juston says he does it better. The Sentinel announces a hostile mutant and it's X-23 (Laura Kinney) with her claws extended. She points out that the Sentinels were created with but 1 function, to exterminate mutants. Juston says he's reprogrammed it not to do that, but as so often it blurts out "Destroy all mutants". The boy claims it's just a glitch he can't eradicate. But Laura asks it to list its prime directives. They are in order:- Don't abandon Juston. Protect Juston. Protect all life. Do no harm except to protect Juston, self or other beings. Defend and preserve itself. And finally - Destroy all mutants. Juston finally admits he couldn't get rid of the original prime directive without wiping the robot's mind, so he added all the other directives as higher priority.

Kinney says the Sentinel's mind *should* be wiped. Seyfert protests that it's his friend, She says it's programmed to kill, but he counters that so is she. He adds that this school is dedicated to giving its students the chance to do good. They don't get punished for bad things they *might* do in the future, or for their bad upbringing. This strikes a chord with X-23 so she walks away ...

... and meets White Tiger who unmasks to talk to her girl to girl. Ava Ayala asks Laura if she's dating Juston because she wanted to invite him to a Lila Cheney concert. Laura says it's OK and Ava says that 1 of the things that attracts her to him is his relationship with the Sentinel. Laura says it's a genocidal killing machine but Ava says it's more like a pet and asks if the other girl has ever had 1. X-23 says as part of her assassin training she was given a dog and allowed to become attached to it. But then was ordered to kill it painlessly or watch it be tortured to death. She put it off as long as she could but then euthanised it. But the robot's not alive.

Headmaster Giant-Man/Henry Pym (extremely giant as it happens) asks to see Laura to discuss the X-Men situation. We see TV news screens showing the Phoenix 5 feeding the world, bringing clean water and abundant power, and destroying weapons (including Sentinels). He admits to being worried at 1st when they were given the power, but now he sees them spreading their Utopia to the whole world. So he'll understand if Laura wants to leave to join them. But she says there's no place for *her* in a utopia.

As Laura leaves him she's approached by Hazmat (Jenny Takeda) who asks her if the Phoenix 5 could cure her of the toxic superpower that condemns her to live (mostly) in a hazmat suit? And could mutant Laura ask them for her? But before she can answer Striker (Brandon Sharpe) runs past shouting that the Sentinel is freaking out. They and GM go outside to see the robot protectively holding Juston, Ava and Reptil (Humberto Lopez) and warning everyone about an Omega-level mutant threat ...

... which turns out to be Emma Frost in her new 'Phoenix' costume. She greets Dr Pym but the Sentinel lets go of its 'passengers' and attacks her. But her new power level allows her to slap it down, and she promises to leave as soon as she's melted it down. Juston of course objects loudly that his friend isn't like other Sentinels. She points out that it *did* attack her but the boy counters that it doesn't attack ordinary mutants but she's so powerful it was afraid for *him*. He invites her to ask X-23 what it's like (risky!).

Instead Emma asks Laura to return to the fold now that the Schism is over and all mutants are united. Kinney reminds her that Wolverine hasn't joined them. Frost asks her not to remain outside out of loyalty to the man she's cloned from, but then her (enhanced) telepathy tells her that Laura feels too damaged. She offers to fix that by deleting her traumas, but X-23 says her mind's been manipulated enough already.  She also volunteers that this Sentinel has hurt no-one, but has to admit that it's mutant-hunting directive can't be removed.

So White Queen turns back to destroying the robot. Juston objects again and Hank Pym supports him and asks for a compromise. Emma admits she has a soft spot for children and suggests she just erase its mind. Dr Pym will be able to give it a new benign AI, and she suggests he remodel the body to make less obviously a Sentinel. Pym's all for it but Juston won't agree to his friend's personality being erased. And behind him others seem to be ready to stand by him. Frost dismisses him out of hand by enclosing him in a force bubble. Which the Sentinel sees as an attack on its friend so it responds in kind. The Phoenix smashes it down again and tells Dr Pym to take his students away so they don't see what happens next

Giant Pym now holds the struggling Juston and thinks giving in is the best option. Striker wants to save the Sentinel but GM reminds him it's only a machine. Brandon responds that so was Jocasta (who quit the Academy). Hank says he can't let them go up against a Phoenix that can destroy planets. Emma Frost starts to take the Sentinel apart, taking petty pleasure in destroying possibly the last Sentinel on Earth. The students can't bear to watch and Juston cries "I love him". Laura Kinney remembers her little dog ... and unsheathes her claws and attacks Frost. Emma is shocked, and the Academy crowd are galvanised into action. HP gives in and joins them in defiance over the shattered body of the robot.