Warning! Spoilers ahead for X-Men #10!X-Men will once again have to fight the Phoenix should the cosmic being turn on the universe. Luckily, Cyclops has a contingency plan, and he knows exactly which mutant has the powers to defeat the Phoenix: Kid Omega.

In X-Men #10 by Jed MacKay and Netho Diaz, the agency O*N*E attacks the Alaska X-Men base, and when agent Lundqvist threatens war on the X-Men, Cyclops drops the threat that should they kill him, the Phoenix would destroy the planet. This dark warning gets O*N*E to back off, but it also stresses a terrifying possibility that Cyclops’ death could trigger a vengeful Jean Grey to end the world.

Quentin Quire asks Cyclops what his plans are should this happen, and Scott reveals that he, Kid Omega, is part of his contingency plan.

Cyclops' Plan to Defeat the Phoenix Force Comes Down to Kid Omega

X-Men #10 by Jed MacKay, Netho Diaz, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, Sean Parsons, and Clayton Cowles

Cyclops' choice to make Quentin Quire his main contingency plan to defeat the Phoenix makes considerable sense considering Quentin’s status as an omega-level mutant whose power rivals Jean Grey’s own powerful psychic abilities. Kid Omega has already demonstrated his incredible potential by going head-to-head with Cassandra Nova and breaking out of her mental trauma chamber. While Kid Omega doesn’t quite reach Jean Grey’s power level, especially with the Phoenix Force amplifying her abilities, Cyclops notes that Quentin also has the added benefit of once being a host for the Phoenix Force.

Should it come down to it, Kid Omega just might have what it takes to stop the Dark Phoenix from destroying the world.

On top of being able to psychically break free from Cassandra Nova, Quentin has become a master at controlling both his telepathic and telekinetic abilities. In Generation X #87 by Christina Strain and Amilcar Pinna, he was able to psychically influence Xavier’s entire Institute into inciting a rebellion, and in Mighty Thor #19 by Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman, Kid Omega was able to convince the Phoenix Force into making him it’s host. Should it come down to it, Kid Omega just might have what it takes to stop the Dark Phoenix from destroying the world.

Quentin Quire’s Hero Arc Finally Comes Full Circle as Kid Omega

Could Kid Omega Defeat the Phoenix?

Kid Omega has had a chaotic redemption arc, from originating as a very unlikable brat and a villain to becoming a hero and an X-Men member that even Cyclops can put his faith in. Cyclops telling Quentin Quire that he is the plan for if the Dark Phoenix returns is evidence of how far Kid Omega has come. Quentin has been able to reason with the Phoenix Force on several occasions, and he is destined to be the Phoenix’s host in the future, so should the Phoenix try to end the world, Quentin has established that he can outsmart it.

The fear of the Dark Phoenix returning just became more likely with O*N*E threatening war against Cyclops and the X-Men, but Scott appears very confident in his choice to make Quentin Quire his contingency plan. Even if Kid Omega isn’t on the Phoenix’s power level, he is still an omega-level telepath who has proven that he is more than capable of reasoning with the Phoenix. Considering Quentin Quire’s powers and history with the Phoenix Force, Cyclops made a strategic decision to have Kid Omega on his X-Men roster in case the Phoenix again becomes deadly.

X-Men #10 is available now from Marvel Comics!