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untitled
Here’s where they stand, Cyclops says, addressing the X-Men, agents of SWORD and their Breakworld allies within the walls of the breached prison. While Colossus wraps Kruun in bondages of bent metal, Cyclops continues that they have the Breakworld’s powerlord, inside his most impregnable prison. They pegged it quick enough, Wolverine quips. They’re the X-Men, Cyclops then reminds him.
Speaking up, Aghanne tells Cyclops that the soldiers will come. Sylatin will be massing a force even now. He’ll know how to get in. Turning to Special Agent Brand, Cyclops asks what kind of fight can they put up. Asked then by Brand to answer, SWORD commander Paulletz replies that they’ve secured the facility and picked up some impressive weaponry. If they come hard, they can still buy him a few hours.
Returning to Aghanne, Cyclops asks if they can use Kruun as a bargaining chip. They will do everything in their power to protect him, she replies, but… “Bargaining” probably isn’t a popular concept, Cyclops quickly surmises. And if they begin to see Kruun as weak, she then adds.
There’s a chance Sylatin may nuke the joint anyway, Brand then opines. He’s after Kruun’s throne. He was making a deal with them. No doubt at Kruun’s behest, Aghanne corrects. Treachery is for the civilized, she reminds Agent Brand. Sylatin will protect his powerlord with his life.
Standing around talking feels a lot like standing around talking, Wolverine interrupts. When does Pete get to throw him at something? They priority is the missile, Cyclops replies. They can either disable it up close or convince Kruun to stand down. They work both angles. Two squads. Speaking now to Hank, Cyclops orders him to get Kitty to the missile. If the two of them can’t disable that thing, it can’t be done.
When Colossus then states that he’ll make sure they get there safely, Cyclops replies that he won’t. Brand knows the terrain, so she’s in. Logan and Armor are escorts. When Piotr begins to object, looking down at Kitty, Scott states bluntly that he’s not asking. He’s their ace in the hole. He can actually do the thing Kruun fears most. Kill the planet. It’s ugly, but it’s a card they gotta hold.
Turning now to Aghanne, Cyclops states that she and Emma are with them. The rest of them are holding this fort. Make a big noise of it. The more forces they draw there, the better chance everyone else has. In reply, Paulletz states that their boys got worked over pretty bad. They’re ready for some firework. To this, Cyclops replies that it’s appreciated. Any questions?
Stepping forward, Hank tells Scott he needs a minute alone. When he begins to object, Hank coldly states that he’s not asking… before adding “sir.” A few moments later, some distance from the others, Scott asks Hank if he thinks it’s Brand. Someone’s behind this “prophecy,” Hank answers. Brand said very clearly they should make it happen. If it came to all that, Scott replies. Does he really think that’s her game? As a scientist, Hank begins, he won’t say for certain something he can’t prove. As a cat… the lady is lying. She’s hiding something big. Placing his hand on his teammate’s shoulder, Scott replies that he’s his biggest brain and his oldest friend. Moment comes he has to take action, he’ll never question it.
Changing subjects, Hank asks Scott how long he’s had his power back. Since before laughing boy there brought him back to life, Scott replies, referring to Powerlord Kruun. Emma didn’t even know. He figured it might serve. Well, it’s good to see him, Hank replies. All of him. Yeah, Scott replies solemnly. He shouldn’t get used to it.
Some time later, the battle begins, soldiers of the Breakworld descending from hovering crafts via lines, firing their weapons as they do. From below, the agents of SWORD fire back, defending the prison, per orders.
Nearby, Kitty and Piotr share a final embrace. She hates this plan, Kitty states, while the Beast and Agent Brand board the space craft. Not just the part where she can’t touch him for the next twelve hours, Kitty explains. She hates the plan. Scott’s putting him right where the prophecy said he’d be. She tells him not to let things get out of his control. To this, Piotr reminds “Katya” that he is an X-Man. He is not in the business of destroying planets. Especially when he is on them.
Further in the craft, Emma tells Danger that Scott would rather keep her close, but Emma thinks she’ll be of more use to the away team. Stop that missile, or… well, there isn’t much of an “or” for anyone, is there? Her eyes inhumanly cold, Danger replies that she doesn’t fear annihilation, as Emma does. She just wants to be sure she won’t go back on her word when they’re done. To this, Emma replies that Danger’s programmed to know her better than that. Help them save the world… and she’ll give to Danger Charles Xavier.
Having said her goodbyes to Piotr, Kitty enters the craft. She pauses a moment to look back and see Lockheed hovering nearby. Without saying a word, Kitty closes the hatch, punctuating that which separates the two.
Cyclops, Emma, Colossus and Aghanne find themselves in a massive chamber, which appears to descend to the heart of the planet itself. Suspended between that molten core and their position on a walkway, one of many crisscrossing the chamber from all directions, is a glowing ball of radiant energy.
Simple enough, Emma states. Peter walks into that little ball of light, rips the central distribution core from its mooring. Drops it into the main source down below… does she have this right? Yes, Aghanne replies. Chain reaction. Just a few hours till total core eruption. Turning to Aghanne, Piotr tells her it makes no sense. To put her world at risk with such a fragile, unstable energy source. They prize efficiency over safety, Aghanne replies. Is it very different on Earth? Not as much as they’d like, Emma retorts. Shall they begin? She believes he is waking up.
“No…” Powerlord Kruun snarls toothily. Approaching him, Cyclops tells Kruun that this is very simple. Their world for his. Defiant, Kruun counters to Cyclops that he doesn’t know what he’s done. They haven’t done anything yet, he replies. If Kruun disables his missile, they fade away. He’s the hero that saved the Breakworld. Ignoring the X-Man, Kruun states that the retaliator will fire as scheduled. There’s nothing he can do to stop it. Incredulous, Cyclops asks, seriously… is he trying to wipe out his world?
Elsewhere, a SWORD soldier hands Agent Deems a Breakworld weapon, asking if he’s sure he’s up to it. When Deems replies that he can point and shoot, the subordinate informs his superior that the weapon kicks up, not back. It’s pulse fire, so it gets hot fast. Examining the weapon, Deems says that this is sweeter than the shock sticks they got off the Byyntu pirates.
Deems’ marveling at the weapon comes to an end with a shhhk. Looking up, Deems sees the soldier grabbing his now bloody neck, just before his head rolls off. Ord of the Breakworld is free, wielding a razored hand weapon. Agent Deems fires his new weapon, but its blast ricochets off of Ord’s forearm plate, allowing the alien to slash Deem across the chest. As the now unarmed Deems clutches his wound, Ord asks where have they taken his lord. Ignoring the question, Deems replies that Brand shoulda killed him, day one. His life for her mistakes, Ord replies, reaching out his massive hands over Deems’ face. After a sickening crunch that follows, Ord states it will be his life for his own mistakes.
In space, once again a small craft makes its way to the Retaliator, the artificial moon-like weapon in orbit. Leaning over the pilot, Danger, Agent Brand states that this isn’t going to way she hoped. “It isn’t?” Beast asks, incredulously. Detecting his demeanor, Brand asks if he has something to say to her, to which he replies “scads.” It’ll have to sit, she replies.
Reporting her findings, Brand informs the rest of the team that they’ve got thirty vessels moving to intercept. She thought the powerlord’s private ride would slip them through, but they must’ve got word. They need a plan. Bridling at this, Wolverine snarks that the lady keeps talking like she’s in charge… makes his knuckles itch. Approaching Wolverine, Brand states that she’s looking for suggestions, all right? Last time Summers put himself in a rescue craft and died to keep them from getting tagged. Does she have the stones for that?
Listening to the bickering, Danger quietly asks herself how she cannot kill these morons. More loudly, Danger then announces that they can all relax. The intercepting craft are falling back. Their computer systems think they’re failing. Realizing that she is interfaced, Kitty asks if Danger can access the missile. Nothing, Danger replies. It’s not networked, or… “Or?” Beast asks. Explaining further, Danger states that she’s getting a signature from the base that she can’t decode. Running it against her records, she’s getting one name. “Rasputin.”
Still affixed to the wall via bent metal, Powerlord Kruun berates Aghanne, telling her that her madness has led them there. She should have died on the field of honor. Believe her, Powerlord… Aghanne replies… she did. It’s not too late, Kruun states. She can restore her good name… be a true champion of her people… “Negotiation?” Aghanne mocks, turning her head. How quickly it comes when his vaunted strength is gone. But he’s beyond her help. If he’s going to beg… he should start with the metal man.
Regarding the metal man in question, Scott and Emma watch him, already armored and ready to enter the glowing sphere. Both their eyes affixed, Emma telepathically asks Scott, her love, how far do they take this?
Before he can answer, Ord enters the chamber and fires the weapon he took from Agent Deems. With a blood curdling “DIE!!” Ord fires and hits Aghanne, who is knocked off the walkway and over the railing. As Emma runs for their falling ally, Cyclops turn to Colossus, ordering him inside the field. “NOW!” Seeing this, Ord fires the weapon at Colossus, but it is too late, as the X-Man enters the sphere.
While below, Aghanne’s fall ends with the impact on another catwalk, Cyclops fires at the catwalk above on which Ord is standing, knocking him down to the one on which the X-Man stands. Immediately, Cyclops orders Emma, on whose diamond-form debris has fallen, to move. Oblivious to this, Ord begins to ruse, commenting that, at lat, this ends as it was meant to. “Oh, please,” Cyclops replies, as he fires another blast, destroying the walkway beneath Ord’s feet and plunging him downward.
Elsewhere, the agents of SWORD find themselves overpowered and their commander orders his forces to fall back.
On the surface of the Retaliator, Beast, Wolverine, Armor, Shadowcat, Danger and Agent Brand fight the defending troops. When two such troops bring a new, much larger weapon to the fight, Agent Brand jumps in front of the blast, taking what had been aimed toward the Beast. As the rest of the team runs on, chasing after the remaining forces, Hank asks Brand why she did that. Her life already slipping away, Brand replies that he’s supposed to be a genius. Be a genius and disarm the missile. Save the dam world already… her voice trails before ending forever.
A short distance away from the warhead, Danger examines the facility’s computer systems, immediately noting it as being primitive. She reads constant position adjustment from the orbit thrusters, combustion detonation system, and a clock. No uplink to the missile. Standing over Danger’s shoulder, Kitty asks about the Rasputin signature she couldn’t decode. How is this connected to Peter? Not Peter, Danger replies. Illyana Rasputin.
Dammit! the Beast replies. Of course. It’s not Illyana; it’s magic. Danger can’t read it precisely ‘cause they’ve thrown up mystical protection for the thing. They’ve got no way of knowing what kind. Speaking up, Wolverine asks the group if anyone wants to hear about the army heading their way? It’s a colorful story…
Enough, Kitty states. She’ll take the shortcut. With that, Kitty dives to the floor, phasing through it the whatever lies below.
Within the energy sphere, Colossus finds himself alone, save for a smaller sphere, which floats a short distance from him. After a few moments, Colossus is joined by someone wearing an environmental suit, approaching from behind. Without turning, Colossus tells the newcomer that he is not a great thinker. But he believes he understands this now. Then he understands how it must end, the newcomer replies. Yes, Colossus rejoins. He rips out the core and destroys her world… “just as you planned, Aghanne.”
Kitty finds herself in a large, cylindrical chamber, in the center of which is the missile. Floating via her phasing power, she reports to Danger via comm. that she has reached the missile. No controls, hatches… the shell is perfectly smooth. To this, Danger relays that McCoy says to look inside. He is saying quickly, she reports. Struggling for a moment, Kitty remarks that she hates this stuff. After a few more moments, however, Kitty manages to phase; first her arm and then her whole body. From within, Kitty immediately declares, “Now this is weird…”
Back beneath the surface of the Breakworld, Ord has recovered from his fall and propels himself over the railing of the catwalk, kicking Cyclops from behind. Before Cyclops can fire his optic blasts, Ord grabs his head from behind, turning it to avoid aiming. “It is over!” Ord proclaims. Though now being surrounded by Breakworld troops, led by the now freed Powerlord Kruun, Emma replies that she thinks not. For her world, it is, Kruun laughs. The retaliator fires in seconds. It cannot be stopped.
Within the missile, Kitty finds nothing, literally. She replies that she’s gone more… than a mile… no wires, no works… she… This metal…
Finally, Kitty happens upon an open space, a small chamber with a smooth, metal floor and smooth, curving metal walls. Via comm. she reports that there’s a space near the top, but no damn controls. How the hell do they guide this thing?
Before anyone can offer an answer, movement causes Kitty to fall to her back. Outside, Wolverine immediately surmises that she’s firing. “Oh no… no…” Hank replies. A moment later, an explosive force shoots from the center of the gigantic sphere, from which the missile launches into space. Within her small chamber within, Kitty is held motionless on the floor by the G-forces of the launch.
Watching the missile disappear, Hisako remarks that it’s got no thrusters. Of course not, Beast replies. Precise timing. Perfect trajectory. But no guidance systems, no engine… just a giant rod of metal that’s hollow at the front. It’s not a missile, he explains. It’s a bullet.


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Gone
High above most of the buildings by which he passes, the amazing Spider-Man swings from skyscraper to skyscraper. As he releases one web-line before spinning another, Spider-Man muses to himself that you can’t say “I love New York.” Tourists can love New York. Himself? Who grew up there? Who’s lived his whole life, who’s crawled over every stone and swung off every cornice? He is New York.
It’s in him, in his blood, he thinks. Like a disease… you know. Like a blood disease but a good one. Like a happy… cancer… So clearly he was not bitten by a radioactive poet, he then muses, but one would get what he’s saying. When you’re part of a greater whole… when you’re… enmeshed… you know when something’s coming.
Suddenly, much to Spider-Man’s surprise, comes Nightcrawler, who appears in a cloud of brimstone right before his path. Caught off guard, Spider-Man begins to fall. However, before he can devise his own method of saving himself, he impacts on an iceslide, generated by the passing Iceman, and slides downward. Then, still not having recovered his senses, Spider-Man slides off of the ice structure, and back toward the city below. However, his fall is not far, as a hand reaches out to his, clasping it and stopping his descent. Looking up to the source of his assistance, who asks him to forgive them, Spider-Man gazes upon the airborne Storm.
Immediately, Spider-Man “wows” and then quips that he, all of a sudden, forgives them. As she leads him to a nearby rooftop, Storm explains that it is coming soon, and then didn’t wish him to be startled. To this, Spider-man defends that if they didn’t want to startle a guy, they shouldn’t teleport in his face a hundred feet above the city. They could text. Having arrived on the roof via another cloud of brimstone, Nightcrawler offers an “Entschuldigen Sie, bitte.” However, to this Spider-Man rejoins that he’s only forgiving Storm.
Arriving to the same roof, Iceman explains that Storm didn’t mean startled by them, “Web-Butt.” Sarcastically replying that Iceman is funny – but not “hah-ha” funny, Spider-Man begins to press for what Iceman means. However, his question is rendered moot after something immense high above cast a shadow which covers the entire roof of the building, and more. Adding that now he gets it, Spider-Man quietly muses that he’s not sure he wants it… Neither are they, Storm replies, gazing upon the airborne Mega-Sentinel which hovers above them. But it will take them where they have to go.
A short while later, the foursome have been taken to the orbital SWORD space station, called “the Peak.” Taking in the total assembled group of heroes, Spider-Man remarks that this is never good. You get this many big guns in one room not civilly warring, it’s either the end of the world, or… he doesn’t have an “or,” he suddenly realizes. In the chamber below them are the Fantastic Four, Iron Man and his Avengers, the X-Men and their students and Doctor Strange.
Flying up to the balcony on which they are standing, Angel greets Ororo. When she asks if the Professor is there, Angel replies that he’s not invited. No one will say why. Also joining their group, Thunderbird adds that the mutants are kept in the dark, as always. It’s their people out there… “Out where?” Spider-Man asks. Ignoring the question, Thunderbird remarks that they still tell them nothing. They will tell her, Storm replies with determination. Calling out to the group, Storm gathers their attention. She remarks that they are all assembled. If they are to act, they must act in concert. What has happened?
Sprawled on a seemless metal floor, Kitty slowly regains consciousness. Struggling to speak, she asks for help. Unfortunately, none are present within the chamber of the Breakworld bullet, which races through the void of space toward its target: Earth.
Within the energy sphere on the Breakworld, the armored Colossus dourly regards Aghanne, who stands before him in an environmental suit. Grimacing with determination, he tells her he will kill them all. His metal is unique, he explains. Only he can touch the core… and he will rip it free and doom her world. The augurs predicted it, because she told them to. Because they were always hers. Grimacing back, Aghanne replies that Dafi talks too much. No, Colossus rejoins. She does.
Continuing, Colossus explains that he has heard the speeches of men who sought to save the world. Twenty million of his countrymen are buried beneath those speeches. When she replies that she is not a dictator, Colossus counters that madness is not restricted to the powerful. Is it madness to want to bring peace to their suffering people? Death is not peace, Colossus replies. He knows this.
To this, Aghanne replies that he cannot imagine living in a world where murder is honor. Where children nurse on the blood of the weak. She thought they could change at first. She did. But… the universe wants them gone. Still grimacing, Colossus tells Aghanne that he is sorry for her pain, however the reply to his expression of compassion is a blow which sends him reeling. “Then end it!” Aghanne yells.
Outside the sphere, Cyclops and Emma attempt to old off the invading forces of the Breakworld. As she trades blows with Ord, Emma telepathically contacts Colossus within the sphere. She informs him that the missile’s been fired! They have to stop it! Go. She will finish there. Unaware that Colossus is struggling with Aghanne within the sphere, Emma continues with Ord until she has knocked him off of the walkway. Viewing his former ambassador clutched to the walkway by his fingertips, Powerlord Kruun remarks he’s as useless as ever.
Now turning his attention to Cyclops, Kruun compliments that he has fought bravely. If he calls out his Colossus, they can reach and understanding. To this, Cyclops suggests that, if he hasn’t reached it by now… he’s not sure he can help. With this, Cyclops releases the full scarlet fury of his optic blasts.
Elsewhere, two soldiers of the Breakworld have cornered the now unarmed Special Agent Brand. Pressing her against the wall, one soldier recognizes her, telling her that the Powerlord will reward them well for bringing her in. But, he continues, she’ll reward them first.
Reaching out her left hand to his face, Brand tells the soldier than there’re two things he should know about her… She never gets gang-raped on a first date… and “Brand”… is not her given name. In demonstration, Brand’s hand begins to glow fiery blue, causing the soldier’s face to erupt likewise. As he releases her and flees in agony, Brand punches to the chest of the other soldiers, her fist easily sinking into his chest.
Looking down from above, the Beast quips to Brand that, for this, he wasted concern for her…
A short while later, as the Beast helps Brand into their craft, Wolverine announces to the team that they should be going after Kitty. However, at the helm of the craft, Danger replies that they cannot catch up in their vessel. Adding to this, the Beast notes that Scott and Emma are en route, in Kruun’s fastest ship. They need to back up Peter. To this, Wolverine grimaces that Pete should do the job and get out. Eying Wolverine from his periphery, Hank asks Wolverine to tell him he didn’t just hear him suggest genocide. Quipping back, Wolverine asks Hank what does he thinks they’re trying to do to them?
As she is being helped into a chair, Brand changes the subject. If Summers gets close enough, he can bounce a message to the Peak, get some of Earth’s mightiest working this from the other end. They need to take one last shot at Kruun. “He can kill him, right?” Wolverine sarcastically quips, his arms folded defensively across his chest. Rather than agreeing, however, Brand remarks that he’s got something more diplomatic in mind.
Sitting a short distance away, Hisako voices a stray thought which comes to her mind. “Peter doesn’t know, does he?” she asks. “He doesn’t know about Kitty.”
Still on the metal floor of bullet nose chamber, Kitty haltingly asks if anybody is there.
An untold distance away, Doctor Strange – the center of attention among the heroes assembled in the Peak – tells the others that he has found it. Close? Iron Man asks. He’s not on a spatial plane, Strange replies. And he’s not at his peak. He’d appreciate…
Suddenly, Doctor Strange is enclosed in a vortex of magical energy, which fires beams of green light at and through those around him. After a moment, the energy seems to subside and Strange collapses into unconsciousness. Regarding the inanimate mage, Iron Man guesses that the “magical protection” of which they heard was just protection against magic. This avenue closed, he suggests they do this old school.
To this, the Thing asks them to tell him he gets to hit a rocket. But the Pryde girl, the Invisible Woman notes. If she can phase out at just the right moment, Reed replies, they can pick her up. But the Earth is their first priority. He’s got a prototype for a dimensional disruptor in the craft. If they get the timing right, he can open a rift and send that bullet right into the negative zone. Chiming in, the Torch asks what happens if he gets the timing wrong. Speaking bluntly, Reed replies that Ben gets to hit a rocket.
Light years away, Ord reaches up and clasps the handrail of the walkway. Using this as leverage, he pulls himself up onto the walkway, to a sight which astonishes him: a cadre of SWORD agents, all with their weapons trained on Powerlord Kruun, who lies helplessly on a pile of rubble. Through gritted teeth he promises “No.”
Within the nearby sphere, Colossus also bares gritted teeth, mostly at the pain of Aghanne’s boot being pressed against his neck. Following this, Aghanne falls and impacts her elbow into his abdomen. For seventeen years she did nothing by kill, she explains. No strength, no righteous rage, can match her. As she then twists his arm behind his back, Aghanne tells Colossus that he will pull the core from its mooring and drop it in the reactor. Or she will use his arms herself.
Elsewhere, within the moving bullet, Kitty continues her attempt to rise to her feet. Almost cursing herself, she remarks that she can’t be that weak.
Attending to Brand’s injury, from where she was shot earlier, the Beast informs her that they’ve lost contact with the Peak. They’re suddenly getting static. Suddenly noting her injuries, or lack thereof, he notes that she’s barely singed. To this, Brand sarcastically apologizes that she didn’t die taking the hit for him. She’s keeping something from him, he replies. His friends – his world at stake, and she’s still hiding something. When she replies that it’s not relevant, he counters that he’ll decide that. It’s personal, she then states. Leaning forward, McCoy then menacingly tells her that there he is, in her personal space – so she should go ahead and open up.
Doing so, but in a different manner than expected, she informs the Beast that she’s so hot for him right now, she could frikkin’ pass out. Taking a moment to consider this, McCoy finally backs off and is at a loss to respond, giving Brand the opportunity to rise and walk to the door for their section. “Told you it was personal,” she reminds him.
Within the sphere, Aghanne stands behind Colossus, pushing him toward the metallic core of the sphere, stretching out his arms against his will. Telling him to stop resisting, she tells him he’ll only prolong it. He won’t even have to die! He can be worlds away before the end! And he will be a hero. Pushing backward with his legs, Colossus grits to Aghanne that she has no conception… The Breakworld needs to end. Aghanne replies.
Only he, Colossus replies. His metal is unique in all the universe. To survive this place. To set off the reaction. She would not have plotted these long years were it not, Aghanne replies. Can he not see? It truly is his fate. Not his fate, Colossus counters, closing his eyes. His metal. With this, Colossus begins to transform from organic metal, back to flesh and blood. As his flesh begins to burn from the environment of the sphere, Aghanne looks on in horror. However, her horror at this is quickly replaced by something else.
Grabbing Aghanne’s helmet from behind, a flaming Ord crushes it, exposing her flesh to the fiery environment. As her skin begins to burn, just as that of Ord’s, Aghanne screams, both in agony pain, as well as defeat.
From outside, one SWORD soldier asks another, a non-human, if he thought he saw something entering. When the non-human agent replies just for a moment, the first emphatically asks if he was armored up.
Inside the sphere, Aghanne, whose suit is disintegrating around her, claws at the burning flesh of Ord. Calling him a useless dupe, she tells him that she loves her people. She will save her people from the life he inflicts. “No,” Colossus replies, reaching around from behind and grabbing the front of her suit. “You will not.” With this, he rips the suit from her body, exposing her skin which explodes into agonizing flame. Grabbing her, he then tosses her outside of the sphere and to the chasm below.
Watching the flaming remains exit the sphere, the human SWORD soldier asks his partner if that was who he saw. Incredulous at identifying a flaming corpse, the other asks his commander if he is kidding.
Within the sphere, little remains of Ord, whose skin has all but burned off. On the verge of expiration, he cannot speak. Trying to reach him nonetheless, Colossus tells his former enemy that he has done it. Can he hear him? He has saved the world. Colossus makes every attempt to cradle Ord, however the man simply crumbles within the X-Man’s fingers, quickly reduced to dust.
Far, far away, Reed Richards regards a holographic schematic of the path of the bullet and declares that this is going to be hard. The precision of the launch is impressive, he remarks. The object actually gained speed from the gravitational slingshot around Desuris-Beta.
In the pilot’s seat of the space craft, Ben asks Reed if he’s saying his Neg-Zone lasso ain’t gonna work. It can, Reed defends, if he can push the ship harder than he ever has. HE can hold her, Ben replies, but the fusion pumps’ll burn if he doesn’t lay off. To this, Johnny replies that he can control that. Don’t fry the wiring, “matchhead,” Ben rejoins.
Still examining the display, Reed tells Sue that she’s going to have to place the gate with force field – they can’t get within a mile of the object or its radiant velocity waves will flatten them. When she tells him just to give the word, Reed replies that it’s eight minutes out. They only get one shot.
From within a bay of the craft, three red-lensed pods, connected by a silvery cable, extend along a longer, telescoping cable, all protected by an invisible forcefield. Slowly, the cables attached to the lenses begin to expand, creating and expanding an area within its “loop.” Slowly the area within loop begins to shimmer with blue energy until becoming a cascading aperture of light – in truth a portal to the Negative Zone. Racing at ballistic speed, the bullet approaches the loop of the device and enters one side and disappearing within the portal.
Smiling at their success, Ben remarks that that’s another X-mess cleaned up by the Fantastic Four. They still have to save Kitty Pryde, Sue reminds him. Using one of their old time-condensers, Reed replies, they’ll be able to get to her seconds after she entered the Negative Zone. “Blah-de-science-blah,” the Torch voices. They saved the world, he reminds Reed. Take a moment to enjoy it!
Indeed, Reed Richards smiles, though not from success. Staring forward with a grin coming not from accomplishment nor revelry, his is one purveyed by a lack of internal thought. Having held the grin for a long time, saliva begins to accumulate and escape the open mouth and drools down his chin. Reed, however, is not alone in his dumbfounded state. All of the rest of the assembled heroes are experiencing the same phenomenon.
Some distance away, though closing the gap rapidly, the speeding bullet continues on its course. With a flash of light, it is suddenly joined by a small craft, which exits hyperspace. Piloting the vessel, Cyclops reiterates their situation to Emma. They throw everything at it, it wouldn’t alter course. Hell, they ram the thing they’d just be a bug on a windshield. Unless she’s got a notion, he tells Emma, it’s up to the others.
Not receiving a response, Cyclops calls back to Emma, who has her eyes closed and head lowered. Though seemingly so, Emma is not inactive, as she has telepathically made contact with Kitty, who still struggles with her strength aboard the bullet. She tells the startled Kitty that it’s all right. That help is on the way.
In other realities which exist only in their minds, the Sentry uses his prodigious strength to alter the course of the bullet with but a single blow. For Iron Man, the speed of the bullet itself is reduced by the repulsor blasts from his boots. Unlike the others, the terrestrial-bound Spider-Man had to resort to using his webs, each affixed to nearby buildings to catch the bullet before it impacted upon the street below. Leaping up and down on the corner of a rooftop, Spider-Man celebrates his victory… until the logic of the situation suddenly hits him.
Back in the real world, Emma telepathically asks Kitty what she means “she can’t.” Sweating profusely, Kitty replies silently that she’s been trying, but this metal… it’s been affecting her since she first found Pete. And now… she barely made it in there. She won’t make it out. Beginning to pace within the cabin of the spacecraft, Emma tells Kitty that this is a very bad time to play the weak Kitten. She’s going to phase out and they’ll fly right through her. It’s not a request. When Kitty begins to reply that she doesn’t feel weak, but sick, Emma counters that’s too bloody bad. Not pain, Kitty explains. Just like it got in her. Like she’s meshed to this metal. It wants her there. She thinks she’s in the cage she freed Peter from. Her demeanor turning to somber, Emma asks Kitty if she knows any hope they have of stopping this thing… She knows, Kitty replies. She knows.
Back on Earth, Spider-Man lays a left-hook across the chin of Storm. Rage boiling over her self, her eyes turning white with her powers, she begins to retaliate, until Spider-Man apologizes profusely. When she then begins to ask if he has any idea what she just did, Spider-Man tells her. Saved the world, right? She stopped a ten-mile meteor with a great big breeze. Is he close? When she begins to agree, he points to the rest of the assembled heroes, each in Storm’s former vegetative state. “So did they,” he tells her.
Though surrounded by the X-Men and agents of SWORD, Powerlord Kruun’s attention is focused upon the armored Colossus, who tells the dictator that there is a way to stop the missile. When Kruun begins to explain that it is no mere missile, Colossus replies that his friends have told him. Everything. Agent Brand says that a Powerlord can never retreat. Can never create a contingency for an attack. But there is a weakness in the design. Some small glitch, and he will know of it. He will tell them what the weakness is. Not out of anything as distasteful as compassion. He will tell him, Colossus continues, taking Kruun’s left hand in his own, because he knows that even if his world is ended, he will not destroy his. With this, Wolverine slices and severs the left arm of Kruun, which Colossus hold. As Kruun reels in agony, Colossus explains what he will do instead of destroying the Breakworld. “I will rule it.”
Clutching the stump that was once his shoulder, Kruun begins to proclaim that his people would never… but Colossus interrupts. His people fear him as they never will him, he tells Kruun. And according to Agent Brand, he holds the symbol of his servitude in his hand. His time is done.
Squatting next to the bended Kruun, Agent Brand explains that, if they lose the Earth, they’re gonna need a place to crash. Forver. He’s not Powerlord anymore, she tells Kruun. He not longer bears the burden of his secrets. So unless he wants his world overrun by a host of very unhappy superpeople, he should use his new freedom. “What is the weakness?” Colossus reiterates.
Still en route to Earth alongside the bullet, Cyclops contacts Storm via a vid-com. When he asks if she can’t wake anyone, Storm explains that the most powerful seem to be the most powerfully hit. Spider-Man is still trying to rouse Dr. Strange. (At least, she thinks that’s why he’s hitting him, she mutters.) Exasperated, Cyclops informs Storm that they’re getting very close. They’ve been told that a direct head-to-head hit by something big might buckle the bullet, or at least divert it. It’s got to be dead one, he then adds. And it’s gotta be soon.
Hovering a short distance from the Peak space station, the Mega-Sentinel has been monitoring the transmission between Cyclops and Storm. Understanding the meaning of Cyclops’ words, it suddenly takes flight, leaving orbit. Within, small constructs hover between Storm and Spider-Man, speaking for the Mega-Sentinel. Through them, the Mega-Sentinel explains that it is responsible for the deaths of millions. It has since been give life, and an understanding of what its life means. It hopes that it’s helpful.
Still struggling and unable to rise to her feet, Kitty telepathically asks Emma that it can’t be much longer, right? In reply, Emma says that they’re trying to put something in between her and the Earth. They don’t know if it’ll work, but either way… she should feel like phasing out of there. Say, oh, about now? Sounds great, Kitty replies with a slight smile. Sounds really great.
Changing subjects, Emma tells Kitty that she can put her somewhere else. She can make her less afraid. Nah, nah, Kitty replies. She’s gonna see this through. Peter should know… Well, he should already know, so don’t worry about it. “This was never meant to…” Emma trails. “Not to you.” Yeah, she was supposed to take her out as she recalls, Kitty finishes, referring to Emma. Asked if she’s disappointed “Ms. Frost,” Emma instead tells “Ms. Pryde” that she’s “astonished.”
At the head of the craft, Cyclops watches with unlensed eyes as the Mega-Sentinel appears from out of the inky void and on a collision course with the bullet. The impact is as violent as it is sudden. A cloud of luminous debris signals the end of the Mega-Sentinel, whose final action was in vain. Undeterred in any capacity, the bullet continues along its path, toward a small, blue marble an impossible yet closing distance away.
Within the nose of the bullet, Kitty struggles, calling out to God.
On Earth, Spider-Man continues to try to bring Doctor Strange back to his senses. To anyone who will listen, unfortunately only to the returning X-Men via remote video, he pleads with someone to do some magic.
At ballistic speed, the bullet enters the Earth’s atmosphere, the point of impending impact being a coastal city.
Within the bullet, Kitty asks to be given strength.
Less than a moment later, the bullet impacts the city. However, rather than a violent confrontation, the bullet instead passes through the city, phased into immaterialness. As Kitty sweats profusely, her eyes rolling back in her head, the X-Men, Spider-Man and the whole world watch in a state of disbelief. Shortly thereafter, the bullet emerges on the other side of the planet, rising up through the atmosphere and back into space.
Questioning Scott, who sits behind the headmaster’s desk and is flanked by Emma, Piotr asks if he means she’ll never come back. What they tell him, Scott replies – Strange, Richards, all the “top men” – they figure she’s bonded with the bullet. That size, it’s the only way she could’ve… and even if she could break the connection, the bullet might be in the middle of a planet, or it’ll hit one, sooner or later, before or after she could phase out… assuming she’s even strictly alive. Every moment they talk, Piotr points out, she’s further away. Surely Doctor Strange or Richards can… They’ve tried, Scott interrupts. Which is not to say they won’t keep trying, but…
As Scott and Piotr’s conversation continues, Emma no longer listens. Instead, she turns away as if to gaze out the window. Rather than doing so, Emma lowers her head into her hand, hiding the tears which stream down her cheeks.
“Shouldn’ta been her,” Logan remarks, finishing yet another beer. Looking down at her teacher, who is sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall, Hisako asks if she can help. Sarcastically, Logan asks back if she’s a beer. All their crap, he continues through his drunken stupor, how’d it fall on her shoulders? Her and Pete, they… they were like… two…
Logan’s words trail as a psionically armored fist makes a sucker right-cross against his chin. Apologizing, Armor tells Logan that he was about to become poetic, and she thought they’ both prefer he didn’t. When Logan begins to protest, Armor cuts him off. He wants to grieve, she points out. She needs to train. Unsheathing his claws, Wolverine reminds Armor that he can piece that armor of hers. Producing psionically-generated claws of her own from her gauntlet, Armor grins back that he can try.
Elsewhere on the grounds, the Beast tells Agent Brand that he guesses he will start… He’s fairly certain he hates her. Well, that’s kind of the point, she replies. She needs someone to hate her. Professionally, she’s good at… well, she’s uniquely qualified for... her job. But she made some crap calls this time around. And they both lost men they shouldn’t have. He’s smarter than any dozen guys and he’ll question her every waking gesture. On the job, there’s nothing she could use more.
“And off the job?” he asks. Pretty much wants to break him like a pony, she replies. It’s a win-win. He’s a blue-furry monster, he reminds her. So was her father, he counters. She’s got green hair, which she did not dye. She speaks offworld languages the human tongue cannot form. She’s got hot, glowy hands, and she runs the most important security organization in their system without benefit of social skills of any kind. “I’m an alien, genius,” she summarizes. “On my father’s side.”
This is a hard time for him, Brand tells McCoy. So, she’s not gonna push. But… the safety of the entire plane probably rests on him and his decision and he and she are compatible in way she doesn’t have words for. So… she’s not gonna push.
Gazing out of the window of the headmaster’s office, still via his naked eyes, Scott calls out to Emma, telling her it’s time. Reaching into a drawer and taking out something, she views his glowing red eyes and tells him that she’s amazed he held it as long as he did. Clarity, he explains. It was a beautiful gift, but it’ll go, and he doesn’t want to wait for that. As she sits before him, Scott tells Emma that her eyes are red. “Look who’s talking,” she retorts. Telling her he loves her, Scott accepts the containment visor of Cyclops, which Emma places tenderly on his face. She tells him she loves him too. They kiss.
Elsewhere in the school, life continues. Wolverine and Armor spar in the Danger Room, adamantium claws against psionic armor. In a laboratory, the Beast addresses a class of students. Outside on the grounds, very much alone, is Piotr Rasputin, who watches the sunset.
Everything is so fragile, he remembers Kitty’s words.. There’s so much conflict, so much pain… You keep waiting for the dust to settle and then you realize this is it: the dust of your life going on. If happy comes along, that weird, unbearable delight that’s actual happy… I think you have to grab it while you can. You take what you can get. Cause it’s here, and then… gone.
Out in the void of space, a silvery, smooth bullet continues on, unimpeded into the depths of the unknown.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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untitled
The X-jet has reached Chaparanga. Cyclops orders Emma to set them up. When Ororo asks what that means, ï¿½field protocol,ï¿½ comes the reply. All team members get a one-day download of the language local to the mission theater. Thatï¿½s new. She likes it, Storm approves. Scott adds that he and Emma had to improvise during a situation in China once. It worked so well that they made it text book. So, if everyone can keep their hands off their brains for a moment, Emmaï¿½s going to set them up withï¿½ what?
Bahasa Indonesian, Emma explains, the national language, holding a Sulawesi dialect in reserve. Local tips: Donï¿½t make extended eye contact, donï¿½t put your hands on your hips, donï¿½t take or offer anything with your left hand. And in the name of all that is sacred, do not use the toilets! And yes, she is a massive snob, and there was no need for all of them to think it at once!
They land at the beach where spaceships go to die and locals are busy scuttling the wrecks. The X-Men exit their jet. This is horrible, Hisako admits. There are kids out there! Ororo understands. She spent a lot of time in places like this as a child in Cairo. There are tiny villages inside Cairoï¿½s garbage dumps, recycling trash, metal and even bones to survive. People do what they must to live.
So how do they do this? Hisako asks Cyclops. Should they ask the locals? Telepathic search, comes the curt reply. Hisako doesnï¿½t get it. Miss Frost looks for the one guy whoï¿½s thinking about the guy he killed back home? One, Emma replies, Hisakoï¿½s an X-Man now, so itï¿½s ï¿½Emma,ï¿½ not ï¿½Miss Frost.ï¿½ Two, theyï¿½re in the field anyway, so itï¿½s codenames, he insists. Three, she tells Armor to focus. Sheï¿½s looking for the one person whoï¿½s not thinking in Indonesian!
And heï¿½s up there! she shouts a moment later and points at a certain shipwreck floating above the ground.
How the hell did he get up there? Armor wonders. Besides the point, Cyclops decides. If the shipï¿½s still up there, it has intact systems and no oneï¿½s going to bother him up there. Except them. Can Storm give them a lift? In two stages, she replies. Wolverineï¿½s a little heavy.
Hisako armors up and offers to move Wolverine. Sheï¿½s been watching old training recordings. There was this thing he and Colossus used to do?
Sheï¿½s kidding him! he swears. Cyclops commends her good thinking and orders Wolverine on point. Armor lifts him, complaining that he is heavy. Adamantium skeleton, he grunts. Not the beer? she asks and fires him up at high speed. Nice shot! Scott tells her. A little fast, but it probably wonï¿½t kill him. Heï¿½s sure Wolverineï¿½s survived being thrown at a parked spaceship at five hundred miles an hour before.
Wolverine lands more or less elegantly and tears off the door. A moment later, he is covered in green slime and asks Emma via telepathic link why that is the case. She replies that Scott thinks itï¿½s to protect the crew from radiation in space. Itï¿½s probably only the teensiest bit toxic. So he shouldnï¿½t try to drink too much. They are right behind him.
Wolverine moves inward, announcing he has Subject Xï¿½s scent. Hard to keep his bearing in here. He thinks heï¿½s south. A moment later, he tells them to shut up the telepathic conversation. Itï¿½s loud up here and he wants to focus.
He finds Subject X sitting on the ground, working on what looks like a cube mad of circuitry. Hello, Subject X remarks without looking up. Heï¿½s an unhealthy, almost withered looking individual with greyish skin, red eyes and a buzz-cut of grey hair. Does he want to put that torch down? Wolverine asks. Okay, kneel down, hands on your head, ankles crossed.
Does he mind if he doesnï¿½t? comes the reply with a cadaverous grin. Honestly, this place is making him feel a bit sick.
They already know heï¿½s a firestarter. If he even gets warm, heï¿½s gonna gut him, Wolverine warns him. Oh heï¿½s not the kind who can set things on fire just by looking at them, Subject X remarks, gets up and moves closer to Wolverine, his hand emitting fire. Wolverine warns him to stay put. He touches Loganï¿½s arm. He has to touch! As Wolverineï¿½s arm burns, Subject X kicks him to the ground, then sets fire to the ground.
He turns back to the box. Another five minutes, is that so much to ask? Another five minutes and he would have been gone. All he had to do was calibrate he power feed to the Ghost Box. Now he has to rush. Thatï¿½s just rude as hell!
Again, Wolverine tries to attack but Subject X sets fire to the air around him. The next moment, though, he is sent to the ground by one of Stormï¿½s gusts of wind. The cavalry has arrived.
Cyclops warns Subject X that Wolverine had orders to take him unhurt and alive. That can change pretty quickly. Stand down or his girlfriend will rip what they need right out of the front of his dying brain. Leave me alone! comes the furious reply as Subject X attacks with his flames.
Wolverine warns the team that this is no ordinary flame. He could feel his damn cells exploding when he got him. Sticks like napalm.
Can Emma get into his head from here? Cyclops asks. Emma tries, but he has screens up.
Subject X returns to working on the Ghost Box which begins to glow.
Wolverine warns Cyclops who canï¿½t fire a shot in these confines that heï¿½s powering something up off the shipï¿½s batteries. They need to skrag the electricity. She can take care of that, Storm announces hesitantly, butï¿½
Something is happening with the Ghost Box. As it glows suddenly, antique pillars and naked beings appear around it. Cyclops fires a shot and orders everyone out. Storm is to strike as soon as they are clear.
They get out and Storm complies and the ship goes down spectacularly, exploding on the ground. Below, the Indonesians flee.
As they all fall Cyclops shouts for Stom. Now arenï¿½t they glad she came to visit? she asks teasingly as she lowers their descent with her wind powers. She adds critically that she said Logan was heavy as he keeps on falling. Itï¿½s the beer, Armor remarks helpfully. Shaddap! Logan shouts before hitting the ground spectacularly. Emma asks if he is okay. Sure, he growls. Just let him regrow some organs and heï¿½s all set.
Scott looks at the wreck, telling the others he wants the box he was building and the body.
As they search the wreckage, Storm asks if Cyclops thinks she killed him. He thinks they have several new problems, if she didnï¿½t, comes the reply. Shouldnï¿½t they be going faster? she replies. If he can be savedï¿½ Heï¿½s not carrying a medical kit, comes the reply, is she? The issue was stopping him from powering that thing up, whatever it was. She doesnï¿½t want to have killed him, Ororo insists. No one enjoys killing Scott replies, not even Logan really.
But his first responsibility is to keep mutants alive, everything takes second place to there being enough mutants alive to protect the new generation. If that means electrifying a spaceship and dropping it three hundred feet with a murderer inside, then thatï¿½s what he does. Heï¿½d rather Subject X was alive too, because he doesnï¿½t like killing and because he wants him to talk. But if it turns out Storm killed him, he wonï¿½t lose any sleep over it and neither should she.
Itï¿½s different for her, Storm insists. No itï¿½s not, he shoots back. Sheï¿½s queen of Wakanda. If Wakanda declared war on Zimbabwe tomorrow, which isnï¿½t beyond the realm of possibility ï¿½ heï¿½s read the papers ï¿½ sheï¿½d have to sign the declaration of war too. And thatï¿½s killing people. They grew up. These are the jobs they do.
Sheï¿½d find another way, Storm disagrees. So did he, comes the reply. He didnï¿½t have Logan just gut him on first sight, and he didnï¿½t obliterate him, when he had the shot. If she never wants to be put into a situation where someone might have to be killed, she should go home now.
And donï¿½t start with that ï¿½youï¿½ve changed, Scott,ï¿½ he warns her. He hasnï¿½t changed. All heï¿½s done is accepted who he is, and what the job is. He killed a man once. So did she. She killed in self-defense. He killed by accident. Neither of them will do it lightly again. Thatï¿½s the way it goes.
Bastards! a very much alive Subject X hisses at them. If they think heï¿½s going to let them make him tell them things, they are insane! One of them will get through! They canï¿½t stop the annex! Theyï¿½re all dead already! He touches his face and his head explodes.


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untitled
Back at the X-base, Beast looks puzzled at the cube Cyclops’ team has brought back from Chaparanga. It’s nice they brought him a gift, he finally states, but he has no idea how to unwrap it. They’re just going to have to spoil the surprise and tell him what it is.
The idea was that’he’d tell them, Scott Summers points out. Please, Hank retorts, he may be a genius-level biochemist, but in the fields of physics and technology he’s merely a dazzling amateur. Something’s moving in there.
Wolverine remarks that the guy, Subject X, was trying to power it up off a spacecraft’s reactors. ‘Roro took out the ship’s electrics before he could get the juice into the box.
And what, pray tell, is this? Henry asks, looking at the syringe in Logan’s hand. Sample from Subject X, comes the reply. He found a sterile syringe in the medikit. Dare he ask how Subject X came to donate his blood, Hank asks, suspicious. He killed himself, Scott retorts. Logan didn’t help? he asks. Not this time, Scott remarks. Subject X wanted to make sure the X-Men didn’t learn anything from him. He’s not surprised, Hank remarks while looking at the blood. He didn’t want to expose his friends. He’s been processing the rest of the notebook they found. Subject X has comrades. They are definitely looking at what they used to call a “secret war” here.
Oh God, how dismally dull, Emma Frost sighs dramatically. If she ends up with superheroes traipsing all over the grounds, looking for someone to hit, she shall quite simply be sick! Instead of saying anything about that, Storm diplomatically asks for the way to bathroom and Hisako leads her there.
Sitting in front of a computer, Beast remarks that he thought Emma would make herself available for young men wrestling in tight clothing in front of her… Anyway, not much of a chance of that, he’s glad to say. They are talking about people hunting each other under the blanket of great secrecy.
Had not their victim gotten sloppy and had not Subject X gotten disturbed at his work, they would never have learned of it. The notebook is an artifact of one faction chasing the other. Their last stop was this place “Tian,” although the provided coordinates don’t… he hesitates, then seems to find something in the blood sample.
He reminds them that their dead man had three-stranded DNA with the X-gene on the artificial strand. Subject X has plain old double helix with an X-gene. So he’s a mutant they couldn’t see? Cyclops asks. Oh they absolutely couldn’t see him, Hank explains, because his X-gene is on chromosome 13, completely the wrong place.
Could it have been inserted there? Scott asks. Conceivable, Hank muses. So they could be looking at two factions of artificially created mutants, Scott continues. Conceivable, Hank agrees.
That’s insane, Emma announces disgusted. Hank admits something is still missing. But they clearly have the source of the conflict. Two groups of pseudo-mutants, one stalking the other, and violence wherever they meet. And this, of course, Hank points at the box. He would like to call Abigail in, if that’s all right with Cyclops.
Scott in fact isn’t all right with it. He doesn’t particularly want the Sentient World Observation and Response Department all over this one. She knows better, Hank promises. Not in his experience, Scott retorts and finally relents. As long as he doesn’t have to see any of their “medical experiments” on each other. In any case, they should check out the previous location in that journal, this “Tian.” He said something about the coordinates?
Hank explains they point to a region of China where nothing has happened in the last five hundred years. There’s nothing there? Scott asks. Well, he imagines there’s a great deal of ferns and guano, comes the reply. Nothing he’d really start a secret war over.
Logan asks to let him see the notebook. After a moment of reading, he suggests Hank get his ladyfriend here sooner rather than later. What has he got? Scott asks. Something from the bad old days, maybe, Logan replies. This is them, Scott sighs. The “bad old days” could be as recent as three weeks ago.
And so a little later Agent Brand has left SWORD’s orbiting station and lands at the X-Men’s base. Before she leaves her jet, Hank warns Scott to be nice. Convince her to give him two of those ships and he might even smile, Scott retorts.
The greenhaired commander of SWORD exists and greets Hank, remarking she thought they were waiting until the weekend to play “alien science pervert?” Um, not completely alone here, he remarks embarrassed. Scott welcomes her more formally and adds this is a business call, he’s afraid.
A little later, Agent Brand informs them the cube is a Ghost Box. They haven’t put any power into this, have they? Hank says no, but doesn’t understand. They’ve never seen a Ghost Box? she asks incredulous. What the hell have they been doing all those years that they’ve never seen a Ghost Box?
She explains that a Ghost Box opens gates between parallel Earths. They figure maybe twenty alternate worlds developed Ghost Box technology;they all look pretty much the same. It’s not the only way to travel parallels. There’re Einstein-Rosen bridges, Quantum Mirrors, but they’ve seen more than a few Ghost Boxes over the years.
Well, that changes everything, doesn’t it? Hank realizes. Subject X’s X-gene is on the wrong chromosome because he isn’t from around here. He’s a mutant from an alternate universe where the X-gene happened to sit on a different chromosome.
So where the hell did they get this? Agent Brand interrupts. They took it off a guy at Chaparanga beach, comes the reply. And where’s the guy? she asks. Killed himself, Cyclops replies curtly. A live Ghost Box is more her field than theirs, she points out. No, stop right there! Scott warns her. What? she asks. This isn’t going to turn into SWORD business, he announces. Clenching her fists as does he, Brand announces that if she says it is SWORD business, then that’s exactly what it is.
Cyke replies he swears to her he will cut her head off and hide the ****ing body, if that’s what it takes to keep SWORD out of mutant affairs, because he is done with this—
Did he just say ****ing to her, Brand asks, irritated and surprised. Scott just said ****ing to his …um, Hank breaks off not sure how to describe their relationship. Actually what is she? he asks. “Girlfriend” doesn’t sound quite…
“Xenophiliac Experimentation partner,” Brand suggests. He settles on “Scott, you just said ****king to my girlfriend instead.”
He wouldn’t say anything like this, Scott replies. Logan comes in, remarking he heard Scott from down the hall. Don’t do it ever again. It’s like catching a rerun of “Happy Days” and seeing Ron Howard picking up hookers. Did Worthington’s crew get that map room up and running? he asks Hank who reacts only after a second question.
Logan tells Brand he needs her. Brand turns back to Cyclops, insisting that a working Ghost Box is serious business. They’re talking about covert incursion from a parallel universe. Scott telepathically calls Emma to tell her, apparently he said ****ing to Abigail Brand. Does that sound like him? Well done, Emma commends him That snot-haired cow had it coming. She’s very proud. God, he loves her, he says aloud.
He says anything like that again, he’s gonna puke right in his visor, Wolverine warns him. Seriously, what’s with him? Scott replies he’s had enough. Really, he’s tried being polite, he’s tried being reasonable, he’s tried compromise and every other thing. If it comes down to just yelling like a maniac to make people stay the hell out of their business? Then he’ll do that.
They enter the map room. This sucks, Brand sulks. Her map room is much better, Yeah, yeah, Logan replies disinterested. They’ve got a location to check out. And the coordinates remind him of something she’d know about. He ain’t got the clearance. Brand doesn’t follow. Something he heard about back in the old days, when people in intel still talked to him.
He points at a continent. That’s China, Brand remarks. Yeah, now there’s a spot in the southwestern forests. Oh, he’s talking about the dead five miles, she realizes. Logan replies the coordinates of this “Tian,” they found in the book. They correspond to five square miles of Chinese forest that’s totally reflective to any kind of scanning ever invented. And the word was, back then, even the Chinese didn’t know what was in there. Whatever Tian is, Brand just confirmed that it’s smack in the middle of the greatest secret in the history of intelligence.
Oh God, Scott moans. In the old days, everything seemed much closer, he complains. The Mimic? At the coffee shop in town. Cobalt Man? The creepy farm down the road. Now? A cloaked five-mile chunk of China! He continues that they’ve still got the old Shi’ar cloak hooked up in the new plane, right? If they open her right up… that’s five hours in the air, fifteen hours time difference…
Logan continues. If they take off at noon tomorrow, that puts them in the dead five miles… eight a.m. local? Sounds like a plan, Scott agrees.
Brand remarks she is not happy about this, a parallel world still counts as off-world, and that puts the caper in her jurisdiction. He didn’t sign any treaties with her, Scott remarks. Okay, he calls it mutant business, she decides, she’ll cut him some slack, but the minute this starts to go tough on them…
He’ll call her, Cyclops promises. They take off at noon tomorrow. That gives her tonight to commit crimes against nature with Henry. Cool. Brand replies.
The next day, they take off. That rather dusty old cloaking box is running a little hot, darling, Emma observes to Scott. They are about to cross the line into Logan’s dead five miles, so they’ll stay unseen, Cyclops replies. Also, his codename is not Darling. Then they should change it as soon as possible, Emma replies, unimpressed.
Scott’s retort is lost as he takes a look at what’s in front of them. Did none of them pause to look up what “Tian” means? Hank asks as they watch the almost fantastical majestic floating buildings harmonically integrated into the paradisical landscape. “Heaven.”
Incredible, Cyclops admits, while Hank notes that there is nothing on the motion detectors. All quiet. Emma, Cyclops states and she focuses, before informing them she doesn’t read anybody. The entire site is empty. Empty of life maybe, Scott muses and decides to put them down on the top one. He asks Storm to take Emma along and check over the rock further down.
The jet lands. She wouldn’t take this opportunity to just drop her, would she? Emma asks Storm. Of course not, the other woman assures her. Well, not far.
Armor up, Armor, Scott tells Hisako. See, that’s why her codename sucks, she replies. He wouldn’t say Wolverine up, Wolverine, would he? Maybe she should just be X-Girl. Armor up, X-Girl. That’s better. Beat up Wolverine, X-Girl.
Wow, she utters a moment later as she, Cyclops, Beast and Wolverine enter the beautifully constructed and decorated building. Anything defensive they need to know about? Scott asks Hank. Not as such, comes the reply. Getting a lot of weak magnetic energy pings. Nothing to worry about, but… good grief… it’s spintronic activity, he announces. He knows what this is. He looks around. These floors, these walls, they’re slabs of spintronic computing material. Spintronics use the spin of electrons to store information, he lectures the others. They open the way for quantum-based calculation. This entire building is a spintronic supercomputer. All of it.
Can they taste the difference in the air? he asks. The slight ozone tang? Even the air molecules in here might be computational substrate…
Air? Armor asks. Wow. In the X-Men, even her phone sucks.
They enter what looks to be a central command. They are not alone in here, Wolverine warns them. Scents are jumbled, but there’s definitely someone else around. Is that his someone else? Scott asks and points at a corpse on the ground. Wolverine is not sure. He warns them that they are awfully exposed in here. He’s not liking this a bit. So noted, comes the reply.
Hank examines the body. So would they like the bad news, or the really bad news? This is not a fresh corpse, but something in here seems to generate preservative qualities. Impossible to say how long he’s been dead. But that’s not what’s bothering him. That is a post-M-Day mutant. He was a mutant, and Wanda shut off his X-gene.
Cyclops telepathically asks Emma for a sit-rep. She quickly reports that she and Storm have a wrecked building and three dead bodies so far. All wearing a charming costume of red and white. The corpses are quite putrid. Ororo thinks they’ve been down there for several months.
He’s developing a disturbing theory, Beast announces. He hopes his Chinese is up to operating their systems and proving it. Apparently it is, as he gets the computes to work. Cyclops tells the others what Emma told him. There’s corpses in the fallen building and they could have been there since M-day. He doesn’t doubt it, Hank agrees, and then exclaims: “Oh no!”
The computer shows them three-dimensional holograms. Hank tells them this is the home of the Chinese X-Men. That’s impossible! Scott exclaims. Logan reminds him these are the dead five miles. Not even Cerebro or Cerebra could get in. This was Tian, Hank continues. The hidden home to a team of Chinese mutant who remained undercover and undisturbed to go about heir work. The screen they created, the dead five miles, allowed them to do nothing but think, research, understand themselves and dream. Until M-Day.


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On the ground, in the ruins of one part of Tian, Storm and Emma Frost look around. A Chinese mutant team? Storm asks. That’s what Henry’s telling Scott, Emma clarifies. So half their city is floating and has all systems working, including some preservative system in the air… and half is down here.
Yin and Yang, Storm suggests. She would guess that this half of the city was held up by the will of a mutant or mutants, and the systems were powered by the same intent. And then M-Day happened. Of course, their mutant abilities were subtracted and suddenly nothing was holding this rock up, Emma continues. She hasn’t seen a single machine yet. Perhaps this half of Tian was about psionics… or prayer, Ororo suggests.
Emma hisses at her to be quiet. Telepathically, she continues that they are not alone in here. He’s shielding his mind, but not well enough. However, if they meet him, she’ll likely have to go to her secondary mutation, which mean she loses telepathy. Understood, Storms sends back, and tells her to lead the way.
In another part of Tian, Cyclops is telepathically told by Emma that she thinks she has company down there. This ain’t right, Wolverine states. All right, Cyclops decides and orders Wolverine and Armor to go hunting. And he wants a live catch.
As they leave, Hisako asks Wolverine how they play this. Like they practiced on the headlands all month. She watches their backs, she breaks and circles when he gives her the sign. And not kill anyone right? she asks. Cyke’s a good guy, he states. She should listen to him. But if it comes down to it with some bastard out there, she kills him without even thinking about it.
Left behind, Scott admits to Beast that thinking about parallel universe stuff always makes him feel like he’s getting a brain tumor. That’s probably just a sign he’s still sane, Hank remarks, while watching a monitor. God, none of them are sane, Scott exclaims. They are in a hole here, they really are.
Okay, he summarizes, they’ve got two factions. The triploids with the artificial genetic structure and the alternate-world mutants with their X gene on chromosome 13. At some point they meet. The 13s head here, the triploids follow them. How do the 13s know it’s here, and why do they come here?
Hank suggests perhaps the 13s had their own Tian on their world once and knew full well there would be a massive, pristine database about their Earth there. The timing is tricky, he admits. Forge told him that M-Day affected the entire multiversal structure. But, when the baby was born… there’s no telling how that affected things. Theoretically, entirely new parallel world full of mutants could have sprung into being at that point. And then started looking around for Earths like theirs, with depleted mutant populations.
The guy, Subject X, Scott recalls, he used a word when they caught him: Annex. How does Forge know about multiversal structure, anyway? he asks a moment later. He knows Forge is a mutant engineer, but…
Forge learns quickly and greedily, Beast explains. He consulted with him after M-Day. He was actually looking into parallel worlds. Huh, clever guy, Scott admits. Very clever guy. Never completely trusted him. One of those people who unerringly did the wrong thing for the right reason. Remember how badly he treated Storm? …Hank knows they are not alone in this room, right?
Cyclops fires at the cloaked being and hits his arm. He screams. Beast somersaults and manages to put said person down. He decloaks and is shown to be a scaly, reptile-like being. He attacks the two X-Men. From below, Cyclops shoots at the creature’s knee and it goes down, looking much smaller all of a sudden.
He loathes chameleonic mutations, Hank announces. For some reason they always smells so bad when they bleed. Vomit and old eggs.
Cyclops contacts Emma, telling her to pull Wolverine and Armor in. A moment later, he announces that his telepathic link with Emma is down.
Further down, Emma announces to Storm that she has lost telepathy completely. Can she still shift to her diamond form? Just, Emma admits and proceeds to do so. Have they walked into an inhibitor field? Possibly, Storm muses. Fine talents like PSI tend to be affected before gross ones like metamorphosis. She can feel some change now. They have to assume it’s going to get worse, if they continue in this direction. Well, let’s absolutely do that like they’re complete bloody idiots then, Emma suggests.
How well is she going to be able to cope without powers? Storm asks her. Scott’s been instructing her in hand-to-hand and she can feign a dead faint. And Storm? She’s coped without powers before, Storm replies. But goddess knows it’s starting to feel a little oppressive in here. Emma assures her that she can still feel the breeze from outside. She isn’t trapped at all.
She’s been without powers? Storm tells her she was once shot with an inhibitor gun that Forge built during a more… confused phase of his life. Clever little sod, Emma states. Yes, Storm agrees. Compelled to solve problems and yet somehow never fixing the right ones.
Her gift is fading, she announces. But she doesn’t think it’s an inhibitor device. In the dark before them stands a tall creature with lots of toothy mouths at several impossible places on his body.
Bugger! Emma shouts as she loses her diamond form. She just lost her powers, too, Storm announces, She draws a knife. As she said, she can cope without them.
Elsewhere. Unaware of the being hanging from the ceiling, Armor needles Wolverine. So… he can detect and hunt anybody because he’s the best there is at what he does, right? Shaddap, Wolverine retorts. No one escapes the Wolveroonie, Hisako continues. It’s this place, Logan explains. If he didn’t know better, he’d say something in the air is processin’ scents before they reach him.
The undetected being fires energy blasts at Armor. She screams and finds she is actually hurt. With her armor, she hits him forcefully. Wolverine orders her not to drop her armor. How did he get through it anyway? She thinks it was a laser. The armor kinda has to let light in, right?
Their bald foe creates a cage of laser beams around Logan. Ah hell, he mutters. Another laser beam goes through Hisako’s armor again and pierces her foot.
Wolverine attacks and brutally headbutts and beats the other mutant. He slams him to the ground, and then unsheathes his claws. He’s not screwing around, he warns his foe. He pierces him with his claws. When he pulls his claws out, he explains it’s gonna take him a few hour to die. And it’s gonna feel like fifteen friggin years of agony before. He feels that? he asks, calling him bastard. He brought a doctor and medical gear with him, Logan continues. He tells him everything he wants to know and he’ll remember where he left them. Screw with him just once and the last thing he’s gonna see is his own guts on the deck.
Logan? Hisako asks uncertainly. What? They ain’t met before, or somethin’? he snarls.
Cyclops and Beast’s prisoner groans. Is he waking up? Scott asks. Henry lectures him not to presume anything bout mutant physiology. That sound could just be… he doesn’t know, brain-bladders losing tension or something. He really just makes that stuff up, doesn’t he, Scott asks. He does not, Henry replies dignified. He once met a mutant with brain-bladders. Terrible breath.
He was waiting for the right moment to say hello, their prisoner announces weakly. If they are who he thinks they are, they have a mutual friend.
Storm kicks her attacker and repeats: Stand down and no one has to be harmed. X-Men the mutant snarls. She kicks his face with both feet and slices his arm with her knife. He knows them! he shouts, holding his injury. They are working with him! They are working with…
Forge! all three prisoners exclaim.


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What does he know of Forge? Storm threateningly asks the monstrous mutant that attacked her and Emma Frost. He is their enemy, he hisses. They are their enemy. Storm demands he tell her why Forge is his enemy. You will rot together in the dirt of your Earth, the creature promises her. Perhaps he will whisper his crimes to her then, before worms eat his tongue. Or perhaps I will cut out your tongue and show it to him.
Not to be a pest, Emma remarks to Storm, but she knows… lack of powers, can’t protect herself, can’t grind her heel into his little brain… etcetera… By all means, cut out his gizzard and do a little rain dance around it, but a little haste wouldn’t kill her. And, in fact, taking her own sweet bloody time might get them both killed! Excellent point, Storm agrees and raises her knife.
In the above part of Tian, another prisoner revealed the same name to Cyclops and Beast. When’s the last time they even saw Forge? Cyclops asks. He’s seen him, Beast reminisces. He consulted with him, when he thought there might still be a chance to reverse the effects of M-Day.
It was Forge, in fact, who told him that the M-Day effect extended out into the multiverse itself. Mutants went away everywhere, from the top of the bottom to reality. Forge was scanning parallel Earths. Frankly, he was a little crazy.
How crazy? Scott asks. He means, they’ve seen him loose before. He may have had to deploy a small amount of physical violence, Hank admits. He takes off his glasses. On M-Day, aside from 198 survivors, all X-genes were switched off, everywhere. However, later a child was born with a functioning X-gene. It is conceivable that, at that moment entire new parallel worlds came into being that had always had mutants. Perhaps with their X-gene sitting on different chromosomes, but still mutants. And Forge would not have detected them then, but certainly would detect them now.
This is actually really hurting his head, Cyclops remarks while still tying up the prisoner. What’s the point? The point is that due to the peculiarity of the multiverse and the timescale of M-Day they are very probably being invaded by an Earth that always had mutants and their first line of defense have been artificial mutants created by an unstable genius.
Subject X talked about annexation, Scott recalls, he said the annex would go on. He is starting not to like the implications of this.
It’s an invasion, Cyke, Wolverine announces as he joins them with Armor. He found their guy. Had a talk. Where is he? Scott asks. He shot the kid, Wolverine explains. Turns out the Armor don’t do so well with point-blank laser strikes. He took the guy down, but he bled out fast…
Right, Scott states, but he talked? He and his pals, including Subject X, are part of a recon force. They’re supposed to be looking at the state of this Earth, then juicing up their Ghost Box for their return to report their intelligence. Seems they bumped into Forge somehow…
…and Forge has been trying to make his own mutants Beast concludes. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Hacking DNA to make a functioning triploid with an entirely synthetic third chromosomal set… it an engineer’s solution.
Beast apologizes, seeing Hisako’s bad state. He was miles away. What happened to her? Laser, she replies weakly. He lifts her up to get her onto the plane where he can treat the injuries. This isn’t right! she complains. She’s a proper X-Man. He wouldn’t pick up Logan like this! He couldn’t pick up Logan without doing himself near-fatal mischief, he states. It’s the beer, she assumes.
On the ground, Ororo stabs and kicks away at her foe. When his concentration breaks, Emma can switch on her diamond form again. Storm orders her to leave the room.
Emma complies and feels a detonation in the room behind her. Only Storm is left standing. A very brief, very localized RF5 tornado, she explains. Is he still alive? Emma asks. Of course.
Emma turns human again and telepathically contacts Cyclops they have a live one. An inhibitor. Ororo had to break his concentration. Also, every bone in his body, by the looks of him. Scott asks Emma to bring him up. They’re going to compare two stories. And then he thinks they are going to visit an old friend.
Later… Emma touches the forehead of the creature Storm beat almost to a pulp. It’s unconscious, she explains but she can still explore his brain with complete ease. She turns to Cyclops’ and Beast’s prisoner, telling him he will speak. She will compare his story to the other’s memories. If he lies, she will know. Each time he lies, Mr. Logan will remove one of his internal organs and show it to him. He is efficient and practiced. He may see as many as five before he finally dies. Does he believe her? Yes. Excellent. Begin, she states.
The prisoner starts. Forge has been tracking parallel Earths and can see ghost boxes cutting tunnels between universes. And when he realized they were under observation by alternate-world mutants he made them mutants to fight them. And he really doesn’t want to see his internal organs, please, thank you.
Does Forge know why they’re coming here? Cyclops demands. The prisoner explains that ghost boxes mess up the environment. Time and space get all bent and rotten. And they haven’t got as many mutants as others places.
How did he end up here? Cyclops asks. Followed them here, the prisoner replies. Had to split up; they couldn’t find a way to power up the ghost box here, so one left with it. One of his partners trailed him. Things here… didn’t go so well. If the air here didn’t have all this weird crap in it, he’d have starved to death a week ago.
Fighting a secret war, does that sound like Forge’s style? Cyclops asks Logan. This guy from Georgia who ran with the CIA once called Forge crazier’n a run-over dog and that was twenty years ago, comes the reply. But he’s got to say, the man knew about all this and they didn’t. Yeah, Scott admits. Em? he asks. Emma assures him that the story matches the memories in the other’s head. Fine, Cyclops decides the prisoner comes with them. Time to visit Forge.
What about the other one? Logan asks. They don’t need him, comes the reply and he orders Wolverine to follow him, Emma and the prisoner out in a couple of minutes.
What will he tell Ororo? Emma asks when they are alone. He could tell her that the prisoner bled out from the wounds sustained when she took him out, he muses. Don’t! Emma orders. She knows that part of him would like to sting her back for the things she said at Chaparanga. But telling her that would do more harm than good and he’s a terrible liar. So what does he tell her? Scott asks. He doesn’t, she decides. She’ll tell Storm he died from the shock of the telepathic probe. She is an excellent liar.
That should worry him, Scott states. Oh she’d never lie to him she promises… That is the worst mindgame she’s ever played on him, he accuses her. No, it’s not, she informs him. He simply hasn’t noticed the others, because… Stop, please, he asks her.
The jet takes off, inside Cyclops explains to Hisako that Forge is a man with a mutant gift for engineering who’s also has one or two mental problems in the past. Even with his head on straight, he’s never made the best choices in the world. Regardless of how long they’ve known him, Scott doesn’t think they should just stop in and say “hi.”
She’s done a little reading Hisako pipes up, calling him “Mr. Summers.” “Cyclops,” he corrects her. This is mission time still. Okay, she states, but she doesn’t know if she wants to sneak up on a guy who’s built anti-mutant guns, weapons for DARPA and robot death-legs and stuff. Isn’t it just possible he might have some personal security issues?
Death legs, Cyclops repeats. She read it in the files, she replies defensively. Forge’s got weapon in his cyborg bits. Including his legs. Death legs! What? Death legs, she insists.
Okay, Cyclops tells Hank to plot out the GPS their guest gave up, and he thinks, test the radio frequencies he listed, too. He favors getting in touch then? Hank asks, he thinks that’s wise.
Or not, he decides a moment later, this does not bode well. It’s a location in Transia. They know what that means. Terrific, Scott mutters. He tries the frequency, asking if Forge can hear him. This is Cyclops calling. This is the X-Men calling Wundagore Mountain…
Wundagore, a monstrous citadel sits atop the mountain.
Scott is that you? Forge asks back. Scott asks where he can park. He is told to hold on while he is running his voiceprint.
Storm interjects it’s them. She hopes he’d still remember her voice. Undeterred, he tell them to stand by. The system struggles with verifying more than one voiceprint at a time.
That doesn’t bode well, Storm admits. Okay, he tells them to come on in. Follow the yellow brick road… And neither does that, Scott adds. The hangar gate opens and the jet lands.
Stepping out, they find themselves surrounded by guns. Friendly, Logan remarks. She read the High Evolutionary was a geneticist, not some gunfreak engineer, Armor wonders. Wolverine advises her to take a closer look. That gun platform is breathing…
This may have been a mistake Scott admits to Emma. Coming to confront Forge? she asks. Not blowing the side off the mountain first, he replies.
No matter what, Forge has always had a god heart, Storm defends her former lover. He’s always tried to do the right thing. Ah, Ororo, if only that were true, a ragged-looking Forge replies as he joins them.


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Wundagore:
A ragged and not altogether friendly-looking Forge asks his former allies, the X-Men, what they are doing there. Their leader, Cyclops, gets right to the point. Ghost Boxes… Ghost Boxes and pseudo-mutants Forge built and let loose across the planet to fight a secret war with extra-dimensional soldiers. What the hell was he thinking?
Oh, Forge replies, not at all touched by the agitation in Cyclops’ voice. Have they come to help?
Storm interrupts. They’ve followed a trail of death and menace over half the planet, and it leads right to his door. They’ve come to try and finish this, not add to the body count and abet whatever war he thinks he is fighting here. He does understand that, doesn’t he?
Forge turns his back on the group that looks at him expectantly. He steps towards one of the team’s members, fellow scientist Henry McCoy. Henry knows what he did, he states matter-of-fact. Beast agrees. He broke the chain, Forge continues. The M-Day effect. He did it. Beast corrects him. Forge did not make mutants. He knows he thinks he did, but… he hammered some genetic synthetic material into the DNA of God knows how many poor victims and made himself some freaks. The X-Men have in their possession an idiot chameleon who appears to consider standing still for a week the height of military deviousness.
Disappointed, Forge retorts he thought Henry of all people would understand what he’s done here. They need mutants. They need evolutionary development. They have to continue moving forward.
Spoken like an engineer. Beast observes. Agitated, Forge shouts back he is an engineer! And while they were all asleep he discovered a real threat! He is an engineer! He fixes problems! He is fixing this problem!
Of course, he is, Emma Frost interjects condescendingly. They found one of his little technological solutions burned to death behind a foul-smelling fast-food trough in San Francisco. Well done, that man.
“Emma Frost,” Forges says. He didn’t recognize her with her legs together. Angered, Cyclops begins to protests at that treatment of his girlfriend.
They do nothing! Forge interrupts him. They talk and pose and strut and people like him do the actual work. He intends to show them what he does. Come on, he orders them, see how he’s saved the mutant race and how he’s going to save the entire world. Meet the New Mutants!
Disgusted and horrified, they stare at a group of truly monstrous part biological part mechanic creatures that used to be human.
He doesn’t care what Henry says, Forge continues. These are mutants. They’re something, all right, Henry admits. Do they talk? Can they talk? They can kill the X-Men, if he indicates it would amuse him, Forge warns him. Think about that. Oh, and he just had his systems release his friend in their hold. Let him show them something.
Wolverine whispers to Cyclops that he’s pretty sure Forge is running an X-gene inhibitor in here. He can feel it in his bones. Cyclops agrees. His eyes are itching. Can Logan track the thing before they get completely shut down? Logan doesn’t know.
Forge addresses them, telling them he gets it. They think he’s confused, crazy, all the usual crap. But he found out this was going on long before they even suspected it. That has to count for something. And he has a plan. Look at what he’s found. He points toward a Ghost Box, connected to several cables.
Anxious, Cyclops asks what the hell he is doing. Forge smiles as he touches the Ghost Box’s surface. He has his army now. His surviving New Mutants are here. The X-Men are here. He can open up a Ghost Box right now, right inot the center of their lair on another Earth in another universe. And they can finish this right now, today.
The X-Men are not enthusiastic. He’s not serious, Cyclops states. They’re trying to invade our Earth, Forge retorts. Why would he not be serious? All his life he’s been last man in. People picked their wars and then drafted him to fight them. This is his war.
So he’s going to save the world? Emma states coldly. Yes, he is, Forge replies and warns her not to even dream of running a mind game on him. He took the precaution of activating an inhibitor when they landed…
Is that a phone ringing? he asks irritated. Armor apologizes as she takes out her cell. She’s been talking to people on Twitter. Hold on… She doesn’t even know how she’s betting coverage in here… Hello? Um, it’s for him, she tells Forge and hands him the cell.
Surprised, he takes it. It’s Abigail Brand, director of SWORD. She curtly introduces herself ands warns him she has a two-zettawatt quantum laser pointed at his location from two hundred miles up.
Okay, how did she do that? Scott asks Henry. She probably bugged the plane while she was in the hangar, comes the reply. She is very clever. He should have let Logan stab her that time, Scott sighs, then turns back to Forge, telling him to use logic. Some authority from a parallel Earth sent a team in to see of they were ripe for invasion. All the members of that team have now been taken out, right? So that’s all the information they need. They sent a team in, nobody came back alive. If Forge opens a Ghost Box back to their parallel…
Agitated, Forge spits that they were not the first team. This is the Ghost Box belonging to the first team they sent in. The second team was here to find out what happened to the first team. Doesn’t he see it yet? They’ll keep sending annex squads in! They have to act!
Yeah, about that… Logan smirks. Nice inhibitor. It finally shut off his enhanced senses a minute ago. Forge is a pretty smart guy, hiding the inhibitor where he did. There’s only one thing he forgot. He doesn’t need a working X-gene to pop his claws. So stated, Wolverine does so and then proceeds to cut through Forge’s prosthetic leg, where he has hidden the inhibitor.
See? Armor states triumphantly. Death legs! That’s better, Emma states, as her telepathy works again. Now, then, she tells Forge, perhaps he’d like to tell Agent Brand he’s going to be a good boy?
No, Forge replies and presses a button. I’m going to make you save the world with me, you spineless bastards…
The Ghost Box begins to glow with energy. Scott calls him a damned fool. Forge retorts that Cyclops is the one who can’t see that everything has been leading them to this point.
The energy outpour from the Ghost Box doesn’t allow the X-Men to come close to it. Now we go to war, Forge rambles. Throw the X-Men in first.
Well, she thinks their work is done here, Emma remarks. Jake the peg is now clearly talking to himself… A moment later, she sees. Forge was talking to his New Mutants which he has released and who now surround the X-Men.
Please do excuse him a moment, Henry announces. He has a phone call to make. He takes Armor’s cell and asks if Abby is still on the phone. He tells her to calibrate the diameter of her beam to sixty-eight centimeters and then track the final position of this phone. Thanks awfully. He tosses the phone atop the Ghost Box - They should leave now. Yeah, make a hole, Cyclops tells them.
Storm reaches out for Forge, asking him to come. He’s not going anywhere, he retorts. They are all coming with him. She refuses to believe he has lost his mind. It is over, Ororo tells him. Staying here means death.
Then he chooses death over being worthless, he hisses back. He chooses death over being laughed at and ignored and dismissed and being made to feel worthless. By her. Ororo Iqadi T’Challa.
Storm withdraws her hand as though he hit her. Then she regains her composure. You’re already dead, aren’t you? My poor maker.
The rest of the team is still fighting. This is taking too long! Cyclops complains and accuses Wolverine of getting old. Old enough to spank the front of his brain with one of his claws, comes the reply.
Storm now intervenes, blowing the New Mutants away with a controlled blizzard. Waving away a tear, she orders the team to leave. A Sentinel’s hand comes out of the Ghost Box. Now would be good! she shouts.
Horrified, Forge screams. He told them! Oh God, he told them!
While the X-Men run Beast calmly points out that his girlfriend has a space cannon aimed at them and patience has never been her signal virtue. If she detects something exiting the Ghost Box… They get it! Cyclops interrupts him.
In the jet, Scott announces he is taking off whether they are sitting comfortably or not. He’s not waiting here to be shot by Abby Brand and her space gun. It’s a little more than a space gun, Henry begins to explain. A Zetawatt is…
Later, Scott interrupts him. Engines to the max.
The jet takes off and leaves Wundagore behind. Which is hit by the “spacegun” moments later and eradicated.
Damn, Wolverine exclaims with a smirk. He doesn’t like the woman but he’s gotta say her problem-solving skills amuse the crap out of him.
He owes her a new phone, Armor tells Henry. What exactly was he doing with hers?
Telling Abby precisely how to focus her particle beam in order to send the initial burst right through the Ghost Box portal. So? Armor asks. So, he continues, the laser beam traveled through the portal to wherever it opened at. The parallel Earth that their happy annexers emanated from. Very likely the precise location they traveled to here from.
How much is two Zetawatts? Hisako asks. Around ten thousand times the total power received by the Earth from the sun, comes the reply. He is trying to imagine. He’s imagining a world already shredded by intense Ghost Box usage. A place so toxic to mind and body that the designers and operators of the boxes began looking for somewhere to move permanently and start again. And discovering them: The epicenter of M-Day.  World with less than two hundred surviving mutants to deal with. They send in their teams to gather intelligence. The teams don’t come back. Perhaps they wrote them off then. Or perhaps, as in Forge’s nightmares, they intended to return in force to punish them for the loss of their scouts.
It doesn’t matter, for today a Ghost Box opened in their stronghold. They may even have established where the portal came from. They may have awaited their retuning team, rich with knowledge of this defenseless blue world.
And then a woman he cares very deeply about poured two zettawatts of quantum laser through the portal. It would be very like landing a piece of a star in the room. Even ten miles out the polariton storm at the edge of the beam’s field of effect would have torn people and buildings into foam.
He is silent for a moment. He had to consider the possibility that Forge could have been right, he adds as though defending himself.
He did what had to be done, Scott agrees. And listen: he didn’t fire the gun. She did. And she was doing her job at that, much as he hates to admit it.
Hmm, Henry muses. Does he remember when they were kids? When everyone called Scott Slim and him Hank? “Honestly?” Scott replies. “Not so much, anymore.”
He asks Ororo who has been silent if she is okay. Fine, she replies. As he said, things have changed. She is fine. Fine, he agrees. Heading home. And that they do.