[Assistant]
First story: This is Forever, part 1  -  Second story: Wolverine Returns  -  Third story: The Last Blindfold Story
First story:'Every X-Men story is the same' Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops thinks to himself as he stands at the fenced that surrounds the destroyed Xavier Institute in Central Park. He wears a hooded sweater, and has his hands in his pockets as he thinks that they all start with a simple idea – that mutants have the right to be happy, they have the right to be safe – they have the right to exist. But then something hits them – they get knocked down, and it turns out all the stories seemed the same, because he never knew the ending. He sees protesters, and sneaks into the underground hangar bar where one X-Men Blackbird jet remains. He passes a reporter who is being filmed, informing viewers that today the drug commonly known as the “anti-mutant vaccine” has passed clinical trials and is set to launch nationwide later this year, while other countries have already begun mandatory vaccinations of children. Cyclops is punched in the face by someone, and makes his way to Worthington Industries, where out the front of the skyscraper is a statue of the original X-Men – Cyclops, Jean Grey, Iceman, Angel and the Beast. Cyclops thinks to himself that this one is different – he knows that now. This is the last X-Men story.
Near the statue, a thug is spray painting “Death to all mutants” at the base of the statue. 'Hurry up!' his friend calls out to him. 'Real art takes time' the thug replies. 'I don't think the Worthington Foundation is going to appreciate your art. At least not on their art' the hooded Cyclops remarks as he approaches the thugs. 'Why don't you go -' the second thug begins, before Cyclops informs them that they misspelt “mutant”. 'Tyler, run! It's him! It's Cyclops!' the second thug calls out. The first thug, Tyler, drops his spraypaint can and begins to run. 'Maybe you didn't hear, kid... Cyclops is dead' comes the response from the hooded figure.
Later, there is snow on the ground outside Harry's Hideaway, where inside, Scott sits at a table, several files labeled “Worthington” in front of him. 'Here's your coffee, mister' the red-headed waitress remarks as she hands the bearded Scott his coffee. Scott thanks her, and she remarks 'So weird'. 'Pardon?' Scott asks. The waitress apologizes and admits to reading over Scott's shoulder, remarking that is some of the weirdest stuff she has ever seen. 'You must be new here' Scott responds. 'Six months. I see you in here just about every night with this stuff' the waitress replies. Scott turns to her and explains that he is just looking for something he lost. 'Cryptic. I like a mysterious man' the waitress replies. Scott isn't sure how to respond to that, so the waitress tells him that she will be in the back if he needs anything. Scott then thanks her, but as the waitress looks out a frost-covered window, she sees several men outside, surrounding a girl. She calls out to someone called David and tells him to call the cops, as there is a bunch of creeps giving that girl a hard time. 'That's the bad part about working in a place like this, mystery man. You can always -' the waitress begins, but as she turns to Scott, she finds that he is gone.
Outside: 'Don't you get it? Your time is up, freak. This is our -' one of the thugs harassing the young woman begins. 'Is there a problem here, gentlemen?' Scott asks. 'Mind your business, man. Girl's a mutie freak' one of the thugs calls back. 'Then she is my business' Scott announces as he steps forward. The girl has covered her face with her hands, as one of the thugs asks Scott if he is a mutie sympathizer or something. 'Don't use that word again' Scott responds. 'Or what?' the thug asks. 'I'll make sure you remember the bad decisions you made here tonight for the rest of your lives' Scott warns him, stroking his beard. 'Shut your mouth, big man!' one of the thugs exclaims, breaking a bottle over Scott's head. Scott spins around and punches the thug, 'Some folks just won't take the hint, eh?' Scott remarks. Another thug attempts to punch Scott, but he blocks them, while kicking the third thug in the face. 'So be it' Scott decides, as he breaks the second thug's hand, causing the thug to scream. 'My subtle days are behind me, anyway' Scott remarks as he punches the third thug in the back of his head.
Scott turns to the young woman, who tells him that he didn't lose something – something lost him. Scott is shocked to see that it is Blindfold a.k.a. Ruth Aldine. 'Blindfold? Ruth! My God, what are -' Scott begins. 'Looking for you' Ruth admits. 'Why don't we -' Scott starts to suggest, but Ruth tells him that she will stay out here. She informs him that she came here because she needed to talk to him. 'How did you find.... right. Sorry' Scott remarks. Ruth tells him that she didn't want to, but she thought he would want to know. 'They're dead. I see things and they're all dead' Blindfold announces. Scott starts to tell Ruth that they don't know the X-Men are dead, but she interrupts him, stating that nothing will ever be the same, ever, and that he shouldn't do what he is going to do. 'The mistakes we make now follow us. Even in death, you know. Even back. This is forever'. Ruth turns, stating that she has to leave now, and suggesting Scott leave some money for the window. 'Wait! Ruth don't go -' Scott begins, but before he can go after her, one of the thugs lunges at him, so Scott spins him around and throws him into the window of Harry's Hideaway, shattering it. Scott turns back in the direction of Ruth, he looks around the darkened streets, but finds that she is gone. 'Ruth? Where are you? Dammit, Ruth' Scott mutters.
Shortly, at the Daily Bugle Offices in Manhattan, 'Mr Urich?' a woman calls out, knocking on Ben Urich's door. 'Not now' Ben calls out. 'There's someone here to see you' the woman tells him. Scott pushes past the woman and looks at Ben, telling him that he thinks a reporter like him might be interested in someone like him. 'Shut the door, Marsha' Ben tells the woman, while Ben removes his glasses and asks 'Scott summers – it is you, right? How is...what are...?' Ben begins. Scott tells Ben that he will make a deal with him – help him and he will answer his questions. 'Help you with what?' Ben replies. 'Finding the X-Men' Scott tells him, pointing out that Ben is the best capes reporter around since Phil Sheldon died. 'He was a better photographer than he was a writer' Ben replies, before telling Scott that he appreciates this. Ben pours himself a drink of alcohol and tells Sccott that he is a hell of a story, a damn Pulitzer. 'But you don't want this. It's a real bad time to tell the world “Mister Angry Mutant” is back' Ben explains, suggesting to Scott that his life might be easier if he statys dead. 'Well I have -' Scott begins, but Ben tells him to let him finish: 'As for helping you...I can't. I looked when they all went missing. Everyone did. At this point you just have to accept it... the X-Men are all dead'.
Six beers and one bottle of whiskey later, Scott sits on a rooftop in Hell's Kitchenbn, the moon shines down on him as he mutters 'And another thing... if they're all dead... why am I still here? Huh, Urich? Who's smart now?' Scott hiccups, before tossing an empty bottle above his head, and firing an optic blast upwards, which shatters the bottle. 'Nice shot' a voice calls out. Scott turns to the direction of the voice, as Jamie Madrox the Multiple Man steps out of the shadows. 'Been watching you for 45 minutes and that's the first one I've seen you hit' Madrox remarks. 'Madrox? Is that really you?' Scott asks. 'That's what they tell me' Madrox responds, before asking Cyclops if he is doing okay here, that he never took him for the drinking himself to ddeath type – especially after his death. 'How did you find me?' Scott asks. 'It's kinda what I do...' Madrox reminds Scott, adding that he has been firing giant red strobe lights into the sky for over an hour, that helped. Madrox points out that he is shocked the Avengers haven't shown up and whaled on him already.
Scott tells Jamie that he needs his help, as he is trying to track down any mutants out there. 'You and half the world's governments' Jamie responds, before knocking back some of Scott's whiskey and telling him that he is sorry they are all gone, and now every mutant he knows has been killed, locked up, deported or went underground. 'Except for the ones who were already underground. They just stayed there' Madrox adds. 'Underground...' Scott begins, before snatching his bottle of whiskey back. 'Hey!' Madrox exclaims, before Scott asks about Blindfold – he saw her and then she vanished. 'Can you help me find her?' Scott asks. 'If she wanted to be found, she'd have come to the light show, man' Madrox suggests. 'I need this, Jamie' Scott tells Madrox, who replies that he will see what he can do – but no promises. Jamie then asks Scott if he is all right, and if he needs some money. 'I... yeah... I could use a few hundred' Scott replies. 'Don't spend it all in one place' Madrox tells Scott as he creates several dupes, all of whom hand Scott wads of cash.
Later, in the Midtown sewers, Scott trudges down a tunnel. 'Looking for something, pretty boy?' a voice calls out. 'Actually, I was looking for you. We need to talk' Scott calls back. 'I don't think we do' the voice tells him. 'What's going on out there in the world -' Scott begins. 'The world? We're not part of your world now, Cyclops?' a figure asks, stepping towards Cyclops. 'Callisto, that's not -' Cyclops begins. 'You want to tell me about the world?' Callisto declares. 'Why don't you tell me where the hell your precious X0Men were when the world came down here and dragged our people away last month? Where the hell were you?' Callisto shouts. 'I was dead' Cyclops replies. 'Well played, Summers' Callisto smirks, before pointing out that she thinks the days where he comes down here to tell them how the world works are long gone. 'You're right. You all seem to be doing great down here, Callisto' Scott replies. 'You wanna find out how we're -' Callisto begins, holding a knife towards Cyclops, when suddenly a telepathic voice tells Callisto to take it easy, as Cyclops is just taking the piss.
'Nobody told me we had company. And it's an old mate to boot' Chamber a.k.a. Jonathan Starsmore remarks as he approaches Cyclops. 'I can handle it' Callisto tells him. 'I'm sure you can, love. But that's not the point, right?' Chamber replies. Cyclops asks Chamber what he is doing down here, to which Chamber explains that this is where he is supposed to be, and tells Cyclops that lots has changed since he left. 'Died' Scott corrects Chamber. 'There's the rub. You lead the X-Men in a war against the Avengers, the Inhumaans, anyone who looks at you wrong, right? You make the world hate us. And then you drop dead. The kicker? Your bloody wanker of a son comes back to finish the job you started'. Chamber remarks. 'Nate was very sick -' Cyclops begins, but Chamber interrupts him, pointing out that now Cyclops comes down here where he is running the show, and struts his stuff – and to top it off, he has the bollocks to ask him why he is here. 'I'm here because we're all we got, innit' Chamber declares. Cyclops tells Jono that he believes there is another way, but Chamber interrupts him again, telling Scott that he bets he does, but that the world is done with the X-Men. 'And so are we. So piss off'.
Later, snow falls over Central Park, Manhattan, where Scott looks at the fenced off ruins of the Xavier Institute for Mutant Outreach and Education. 'Hell of a metaphor, isn't it?' a voice remarks. “Mutant Education and Outreach” - and they're just plowing it to the ground. Scott sips a cup of coffee and replies 'Got me again. You are really good at finding people, Jamie'. 'Yeah. I know' Jamie responds. Cyclops turns around and sees several dupes and asks Jamie what is with them. 'Honestly? I have a paranoid side. Jamie Prime's the one by the trees' Madrox responds, adding that he really wasn't sure if Scott was going to try something on him. 'Geez, Jamie! Why would I -' Scott begins, as Jamie tells him that these days, nobody is getting hurt by being too careful, especially not guys with “mutant” tattooed on their face.
Cyclops informs Jamie that he found Chamber, 'I thought I smelled sewage. You know he hates you, right?' Madrox remarks. 'Yeah. I got that' Scott replies, before Madrox hands Scott a piece of paper and tells him that here is the address. 'You found her? What is she doing?' Scott asks. 'Hiding, Scott... she's hiding' Madrox reveals, before stating that he has done what Scott asked him to, and now he is out. 'Don't come looking for me next' Jamie tells Scott. Cyclops looks at the address and tells Jamie that Blindfold knows something, that she can help them figure it out. 'Spare me, man' Jamie declares, before walking off with the dupes and asking Scott if he wants some advice. 'Not really' Scott replies. 'Leave the girl alone' Jamie calls back as he and the dupes walk away into the snow-covered haze. 'Nothing good ever came from Scott Summers being involved' Jamie adds.
In Prospect Park South, Brooklyn, a dimly bathroom glows red. The bathtub is filled with blood, as Ruth Aldine lies motionless in it. Slumped to one side, “This is forever” is scrawled in blood on the tiles next to the bath. 'What did they do... no, Ruth. What did you do?' Scott gasps.
Soon, at the Empire State University in Manhattan, a woman named Ms Prestel stands on stage, under a banner that reads “The Future is Human”. She address a crowded hall, announcing that this vaccine was introduced only a few months ago and already the changes they have seen are indicating this is a safer world. She adds that she knows her opponent, Senator Allen, had a chance of heart, to which someone shouts 'BOO! TRAITOR!', to which Prestel states that it is true Senator Ashton spent a lot of time around the genetically abnormal, and says the vaccine was the wrong thing to do – she thinks it is wrong, too – it doesn't go far enough! Prestel declares that it is time for the ticking timebombs among them to be stopped, that it is time for humans to feel safe again, time for them to tack back their future – a future for humanity. 'YES!' someone in the audience shouts. 'Humanity!' another calls out, while someone holds up a sign that reads “Prestel for Senate”.
Cyclops wears his hood covering his face as he stands amongst the crowd and calls out 'Ms Prestel! What do you have to say to the families whose mutant children have been killed by the government? What do you have to say to the families whose children have been deported?' Prestel turns in Cyclops' direction and declares that she sees they have a mutant-lover in the crowd. 'You want to know what I say to mutant fmailies? I'l ltell you what I say!' she retorts as she declares 'How many classmates did you child kill today? What sort of private army is your child joining?' The crowd begins to turn on Cyclops, 'What about my kid?' one of them shouts. 'Humanity for humans!' another exclaims. '#$%& you, mutie lover!' a third exclaims, punching Cyclops from behind. Another punches him, and his glasses are knocked from his face. 'Wait! My glasses! Stay back!' Cyclops warns the crowd. 'Remember Beaver Lake!' another exclaims, tugging at Cyclops' hooded sweater. 'Hit him!' someone calls out, as Scott is kicked to the ground. 'What's that glowing?' one of the mob asks, as Scott sits up on his knees and shouts 'Stay away from me!' as he fires an optic blast which knocks back several of the angry mob. 'Who's there?' Scott calls out as he fires another optic blast, which suddenly deflects off a shield – 'That's enough!' Captain America exclaims, holding his shield steady, while the mob begin to run.
'Close your eyes, Summers!' Captain America calls out. Scott does so, 'That's better' Cap tells him as he walks over to him and hands him his ruby quartz glasses. 'You dropped these' Cap remarks. Cap then welcomes Scott back and tells him that he wishes they were meeting up under better circumstances, though. Scott thanks Cap but tells him that he doesn't think there are better circumstances for people like him these days. Scott puts his glases back on and Cap admits that these are trying times, for sure. 'I think that depends on what you look like, Steve' Cap replies, before reminding Cap that he once told him he regretted not doing more for mutants, and asks him if he remembers that'. Cap falls silent, as Cyclops informs him that he came back to find mutants being hunted and driven to extinction again, and then he finds him, here, draped in the flag in the middle of a hate rally. 'That's not fair, and you know I'm here to make sure people don't get hurt -' Cap begins, as Scott interrupts him: 'Your people, you mean. Because you sure didn't do that for mine'.
'Whatever happened to the X-Men...' Cap begins, before he motions for some armed soldiers to fall back, and tells Scott that he is sorry, he wished he had done more. 'But what did you hope to accomplish coming here?' Cap asks. 'A person was on stage endorsing the end of my race to a cheering crowd. I wanted to see it with my own two eyes. I wanted to challenge it to its face' Scott explains, adding that he thought standing up to fascism was something Captain America might understand. 'In a crowd of angry people? Surrounded by police snipers? This wasn't an act of protest. It was a suicide attempt' Cap points out. Cap puts a hand on Scott's arm and suggests that they go somewhere and talk. '$%&# you, Rogers!' Scott exclaims, pushing Cap away from him. Cap motions to the cameras recording nearby and tells Scott that this isn't helping him. 'You don't want the world to see you like this' Cap tells Scott. 'No...I do' Scott replies, before turning to one of the camera operators and asking him if he wants a real story. 'O-okay' the camera operator replies. 'You have to promise to broadcast it unedited. I need the world to see this' Scott tells him, before Scott introduces himself as Cyclops, leader of the X-Men. 'If there are any X-Men still out there, now is the time. Our people need you, I need you' Scott says to the camera, before announcing that in two nights' time, he will return to where this all began. 'Come find me' he asks them.
Salem Center, Westchester, two nights later: Scott stands where the original Xavier Institute was once located. The grounds are covered in snow, the trees surrounding the grounds are dark, snow-covered, too. He The wind blows around Scott and he turns as he hears a snap. 'Hello? Is someone out there?' Scott asks. 'You've come back to save us!' a voice calls out to him. 'Who's out there?' Scott asks. 'My heroooooo!' someone shouts, while another bursts into laughter. Scott sees Donald Pierce, Bonebreaker, Skullbuster and several other Reavers walking towards him. 'Reporting for duty, Professor Cyclops' Pierce jokes. Cyclops turns in another direction to see several men in long black cloaks with white crosses on them. 'You shouldn't have come back, boy. The Purifiers have been waiting' one of them announces. In another direction, several men in white masks are perched in the trees. 'Did you really think we weren't all going to come running for a shot at the last X-Man?' one of them asks. 'Sapien League is here to finish this. You're gonna die, Summers' another of them threatens Cyclops. 'Probably, but I'm going to get to take a lot of you with me' Scott responds.
The three different anti-mutant factions march together, closing in on Scott. Pretty Boy can also be seen amongst the Reavers, as Pierce remarks that, before they all get started, he just needs to know, after all this time – what is it like knowing that Cyclops failed? 'Knowing your friends died, the world doesn't care and that you're going to die all alone?' he asks. 'He ain't alone' a voice calls out. The Reavers, Purifiers and Sapien League members look around for the origin of that voice – before they hear a loud SNIIIIIKT that echoes through the wind and snow. 'This is gonna be fun' Wolverine a.k.a. Logan declares from a tree nearby. The anti-mutant factions look up at him, while Cyclops fires an optic blast into his opponents, before Logan leaps from the tree, claws at the ready. Cyclops' optic blast tears through several of his foes, knocking them back, while Wolverine lands on Pretty Boy, forcing him into one of the Sapien League.
Pierce watches, while Cyclops blasts two Sapien League members back. Skullbuster has fallen, blood soaking his clothing, while Wolverine shoves back another Reaver, yet sstill more of the Sapien Leauge and Reavers close in on he and Cyclops. One of the Purifiers attacks Wolverine from behind, but Cyclops comes to his assist, blasting the Purifier with an optic beam, while a Reaver fires a weapon into Wolverine's chest at close range. Suddenly, Cyclops cries out in pain as one of the Sapien League shoves a shard of metal into his back. Scott drops to his knees, while Wolverine roars and skewers the Sapien League member, his claws going through the human's body as he holds the Sapien League member up over his head, the moonlight glowing down on them. More claws through bodies, more optic blasts slamming into opponents – until eventually, only Cyclops and Wolverine remain, standing atop a pile of anti-mutant trash. Cyclops turns to Wolverine. 'Logan' he remarks. 'Slim' Logan replies. They look at each other in silence as the snow continues to fall down around them. 'Now that we're all caught up, let's go. We got work to do' Wolverine declares, as he starts to walk away.
Second story:'You're sloppy, old man' a slim figure wearing a cloak over his face thinks as he watches Cyclops through a target on his gun. The target surrounds Cyclops as he walks down the snow-covered streets of Ridgewood, Queens, four days ago. 'Gonna get yourself killed again. I didn't bring -' the cloaked figure remarks from where he is perched on a nearby rooftop, stopping himself when he hears a SNIKT behind him. 'Oh, for -' the cloaked figure begins, as Wovlerine is crouched behind him on a chimney. Logan then roars as he drops down towards the cloaked figure, who spins around but doesn't have time to fire his gun, as Logan shoves his claws through the gun, tearing it into pieces. 'Wait!' the cloaked figure exclaims. 'Nowhere to run' Wolverine tells him as he looms over the mystery person, who suddenly pulls a gun out from behind their back, 'Logan, I said wait!' he shouts as he fires two bullets into Wolverine's face, bringing Wolverine's rampage against him to a stop.
'You are Logan, right? So many damn Wolverines running around these days. But you're him? The real one?' the cloaked figure asks. 'I know you?' Logan responds, covering his wounded face. 'You will' the mystery man replies, his cloak falls back, revealing the young time-displaced Cable. 'I'm a bit fuzzy on some of my past, but I remember you being older. What happened?' Wolverine asks. 'Nothing yet' Cable replies, adding that Logan owes him a rifle. 'And you owe me an eye' Wolverine responds, removing his hand to reveal the gaping hole where his eye is supposed to be, before asking Cable why he is trying to kill his old man. 'I'm not. I saved him' Cable claims, before extending a hand to Wolverine and asking him why he is out here. 'I don't know' Wolverine admits, accepting Cable's hand, as Cable helps him stand up. Logan explains that he was looking for the X-Men, but got caught up in some dumb $#%& along the way, and when he finally got here, everyone tells him that they are all gone. Logan adds that Slim is still here, and that he figured that if anyone knew anything, it would be Slim – only he seems just as lost. 'You didn't talk to him' Cable remarks. Logan tells him that he doesn't want anything to do with the usual Summers crap – no offense – he just wants answers.
Cable reveals that Cyclops knows exactly what Logan knows, that the X-Men are all dead – and Cyclops doesn't believe it, either. Wolverine supposes that he is done here, and turns, but Cable tells him to wait, and that he has to look out for Cyclops. 'He's not my daddy, kid' Logan responds. Cable informs Logan that he can't watch Cyclops anymore, that he has to go, but something bad is coming. 'What?' Logan asks, turning back to the young Cable. Cable admits that he doesn't know. 'This cryptic tough-guy act really work on people?' Logan asks. Cable assures him that if he knew what it was, he would tell him, but he doesn't – all he knows is that bad things are headed Cyclops' way. 'And yours' Cable adds. Logan asks what he is supposed to do. 'Find someone who knows what's coming' Cable tells him as Cyclops emerges from a building, putting something into his bag. 'Bishop's dead' Logan reminds Cable. 'Not him' Cable replies.
Shortly, Wolverine rings a doorbell in Lawrenceville, Kansas. 'Hell – oh. You gotta be kidding me. What do you want, Logan?' Jamie Madrox asks when he answers the door. 'Actually, I don't care. I'm out' Madrox remarks, but before he can close the door, Logan pushes past Jamie, telling him that he isn't here for him. He goes into the living room, where Layla miller, holding a baby in her arms, looks up at Logan and smiles. She greets him and asks him how he found her. 'C'mon, Layla. That's sort of what I do' Logan smirks. 'That's a cool line' Jamie decides, before leaning against a doorframe and asking if this is about Scott. 'No...maybe...Cable told me to look after Scott, but -' Logan starts to reply as he sits on a table, and Layla interrupts him, pointing out that Cable is dead. Logan informs her that he's a kid now, and as much of a jerk as one would expect. 'I was just trying to find answers on the X-Men -' Wolverine begins, rubbing his head, as Layla interrupts him, announcing that she doesn't know what happened to him – that she doesn't know things anymore.
'Dammit. Cable said I need to watch Scott. He said something bad is going to happen. But I don't know if the bad thing is going to happen to Scott...' Wolverine's voice trails off, as Layla finishes his sentence: 'Or if Scott is the bad thing'. 'Yeah' Wolverine agrees. Layla suggests to Logan that he finds Blindfold, that perhaps she can help. 'All the X-Men are gone' Logan reminds her. Layla tells Logan to trust her, and to go to the tunnels. Logan asks Layla if she wants to come with him, as he could use her help. 'I'd like to keep Davey here as far away from the sewers for as long as I can' Layla replies. 'Let what's-his-face watch him' Logan suggests, motioning to Madrox. 'Hey!' Madrox exclaims, throwing his arms into the air. Layla tells Logan that as tempting as he makes a trip to the sewers seem, she is happy just being a mom for now, and that it is nice getting to know what's-his-face all over again.
'Maybe next time, then' Logan tells Layla as he turns to leave, adding that she has a cute kid and that it takes after her. 'You sure you don't want to stay for dinner? I made beef stroganoff' Layla invites Logan, who tells her that is his favorite. 'Did you...never mind. Have a good night' Logan calls back as he leaves their home. 'Goodbye, Logan' Madrox exclaims as he slams the door and turns to Layla, telling her that he knows that look. 'Cyclops is in trouble' Layla tells him. 'And?' Madrox asks. 'And you can go be a hero for a little while instead of hanging around here all day getting in my way' Layla smiles. 'Sweetheart, your dear husband was never much of an X-Man' Madrox reminds her. Layla tells Jamie that he isn't much of a husband, either – but that doesn't stop him from pretending.

The Midtown sewers, where Wolverine trudges his way through the muck, stopping until he comes to a blood-covered body. He pops his claws, as several armored soldiers make their way through the tunnels. 'Tighten it up. They'll know we're here now. We need to gind out objectives this time' one of the soldiers declares. Another of them apologizes, 'Little fella spooked me -' he begins. 'That's the best apology you can do, Agent Young? Agent Young?' one of the soldiers asks as they come to a stop – they turn around and see that Agent Young's head has been sliced off. 'What the hell?' one of the soldiers asks, before Agent Young's body collapses, and Wolverine is revealed to have been standing behind him. 'It's the Wolverine!' one of the soldiers shouts, as they open fire on Logan, who rushes towards them, slicing his way through the soldiers, tearing them apart. He shoves his claws through one of their chests, and holds them up above him, 'Why are you here?' Logan snarls. Blood spurts out of the soldier's mouth as he reveals that they are after the kids and the girl. 'What girl?' Logan demands. 'The one who can't see. Please let me -' the soldier begins, before someone shoots him in the head. 'Up yours, mutie!' another of the soldiers, sitting up in the muck utters, before turning the weapon on himself, and blowing his own brains out.
'Nice job, Logan. I owe you one' Callisto remarks as she emerges from the shadows. 'Who were they?' Logan asks. Callisto informs him that they were O*N*E* - the friendly government agency that turned the Xavier Institute into a concentration camp and parked killer robots on their lawn. Logan asks Callisto why the O*N*E* are here, to which Callisto tells him it is because the X-Men almost ripped the world in half. 'I'm not an X-Man anymore' Logan tells Callisto, who points out that no one is – and that's the problem. 'They were afraid of the X-Men. Magneto, Xavier, Summers...you. You all scared the %$#& out of them, but that kept them in line. Then Legion and X-Man had their little war and almost destroyed everytbing. Then all the X-Men died' Callisto explains, adding that the humans aren't scared anymore – they're just angry. Logan asks if the O*N*E* are taking prisoners, but Callisto reveals that they are just killing. 'What about Ruth?' Logan asks her. 'I don't know a Ruth' Callisto responds as she walks away, telling Logan that it is time for him to head back to the surface, as they are done here.
Wolverine is in the Downtown sewers now, making his way through the murky waters, a voice tells him 'She's not telling the truth, ya know'. 'I know you?' Wolverine asks, turning to the shadows, where a figure replies 'You don't remember me? I was told you wouldn't. But I was also told they'd catch me, so...it's Gabe... Cohuelo... Velocidad' the young mutant, who looks particularly old and haggard, with wrinkles on his skin and a long gray beard announces. 'Velocidad? You look...' Logan begins. 'Like $#%&? Yeah. It's been a rough couple of weeks' Velocidad remarks. Logan asks him what happened, and Velocidad explains that it was his powers, he sped up time around himself so the last few weeks for Logan have been a lot longer for him, it has been rough, helping the Morlocks and ruth. 'So she was here?' Logan asks. Velocidad confirms that she was, but not for a few days now. Velocidad explains that Ruth liked being around other mutants, that she said it made her feel safe – or it did, but now she is moving around. He adds that Ruth isn't well, that she is having trouble separating the present from her memories of the past and her visions of the future – it is all occurring to her at once. Logan asks Velocidad if he knows where Ruth is now, to which Velocidad tells him that she doesn't want to be found. 'I know, kid... but she needs to be' Logan replies.
Soon, on a park bench in Prospect Park South, Brooklyn. Logan sits on the bench, looking around, when suddenly, 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, Mr Logan' Blindfold utters as she appears behind Logan. 'Dammit!' Logan gasps. 'My abilities...' Blindfold begins, as she carries on towards the road, stepping out in front of traffic, which causes a driver to honk at her and tell her to get off the road. 'How did you know I was out here?' Logan asks, to which Ruth reminds him that her abilities are great. She steps towards a door, and as they enter a building, Logan tells her that she has a nice place here. 'My abilities are greatly valuable...' Ruth remarks. 'That's good' Logan tells her, before asking her if she has been okay. Ruth informs him that she has been running, that her abilities are greatly valuable to those willing to abuse her, but that she moved here to hide. 'Well-off people don't want to know your troubles. They don't want to look you in the face. You can disappear around them. So I became well-off' Ruth explains.
Logan follows Ruth into her kitchen as Ruth fills a watering can. Logan tells Ruth that he is sorry things aren't going well, and that it is rough for eveyone right now, but he needs her help. 'I talked to Layla and -' Logan begins, to which Ruth interrupts him, stating 'I don't know who that is.
Sorry'. 'Layla Miller? Doesn't matter. I need to know what's coming' Logan tells Ruth, who replies 'You already know. Death'. Logan asks Blindfold if that is what Scott told her. Ruth waters some plants in the kitchen and informs Logan that she hasn't told Cyclops yet, but she will tell them both soon. Logan reveals that he talked to the waitress at Harry's, so he knows that Ruth spoke with Cyclops two days ago. 'I told him not to do what he is going to do. He will' Ruth states, before turning to Logan and telling him that he can save Cyclops though, and that Cable was right. 'I don't care about him' Logan tells Ruth, adding that he doesn't think he wants this anymore – the hero thing, and that he is not Scott Summers' keeper.
'No. sorry. You're not. But often he was yours' Ruth reminds Logan, adding that this life, they don't get to quit. 'This is forever'. Blindfold suddenly leans forward onto the kitchen counter, touching her stomach. Logan asks her if she is okay, and Blindfold replies that she will be, she knows that, and asks Logan to promise her he will keep an eye on him. 'Sure, kid. Fine. I'm more worried about you -' Logan begins, to which Ruth remarks 'I told you now. Sorry. Now I have to take a bath'. Logan assures Ruth that he will go, but that if she needs anything, he wants her to reach out. 'I won't' Ruth responds as she shows Logan to the door. Logan bids Ruth goodnight. 'Goodbye, Logan' Ruth responds. Logan walks away from Ruth's home, although he appears somewhat uneasy.
At the Empire State university in Manhattan, a mob of anti-mutant extremists have gathered to listen to Ms Prestel, a woman whose stance is “The future is human”. She stands on a stage  and addresses the crowd in a televised event. Captain America is on hand, keeping an eye on the civilians as they enter the auditorium, he catches a glimpse of a hooded figure. 'Oh, no...what is he doing here?' Cap wonders as he rushes off into the crowd. Logan is there, too, and sips a coffee as someone behind him remarks 'If I didn't know any better, I'd say the X-Men were up to something'.  The Black Widow and Winter Soldier step into view as the Black Widow tells Logan that he is getting sloppy, letting them sneak up on him like this. 'Knew you were there. Just didn't care' Logan replies without turning to look at them. 'I get mad when old friends come to town and don't call. But back from the dead? And not even an email?' the Black Widow remarks. 'Seems rude' the Winter Soldier agrees. Logan looks at his coffee and tells the others that he has nothing to say.
The Winter Soldier begins to ask Logan what he is doing here, because it feels a bit suspicious. 'Was just about to say the same thing about all the Avengers who showed up to protect a hate rally, Buck' Logan responds. The Black Widow assures Logan that they are not protecting this filth, they are here to keep the peace. She adds that he has been gone so long, that she will cut him some slack, but that things have become tense around mutant issues. 'If there was any kind of incident, the MLF, the Brotherhood...the X-Men. We're justb trying to make sure it doesn't get worse for everyone' the Black Widow assures Wolverine. Logan suggests to her that they stop worrying about everyone and just worry about the ones being killed. The Black Widow asks him if that is why he is here – revenge. Logan narrows his eyes and tells hert that if he wanted revenge, they would need more Avengers than this. 'I'm here for the same reason as you – making sure there're no more incidents. So you watch your boy scout, I'll watch mine' Logan declares.
Suddenly: 'Might be a bit late...' Winter Soldier points out as an optic blast is fired upwards from the crowd. 'Dammit' Logan mutters, popping his claws. He heads towards the crowd, but the Black Widow tells him to let Cap handle it. People in the crowd begin to run away from the rally, while the Black Widow tells Logan that she knows him, and that everyone still thinks he is dead, that she knows part of him must want to keep it that way, and tells him that this is his way out, this is his chance at peace. 'You don't want to be Wolverine for this world anymore...and the world doesn't want another Wolverine' the Black Widow adds, telling Logan not to get caught up in Scott's war. Logan tells the Widow that he made a promise, 'You've made a lot' the Black Widow reminds him. Logan tells her that he has got to keep this one, to which the Black Widow tells him that she is sorry for what is coming. 'Me too' Logan responds as he walks away from the Black Widow and Winter Soldier.
Two days later, the snow falls down over Salem Center in Westchester, where Wolverine is perched on a tree branch on the grounds of the old Xavier Institute. A message has gone out from Cyclops, pleading that if there are any X-Men still out there, that mutantkind needs their help – he needs them – and that in two night's time, he would return to where this all began. Cyclops stands stoic as the snow falls around him, while Wolverine hears some voices, 'You want to go first?' someone calls out. 'No, we go first. He's ours' Donald Pierce declares as he and several Reavers march forward towards Cyclops. Members of the Sapien League and the Purifiers are gathered, too. 'Thousand bucks to the one who kills him' someone calls out. 'Deal' another replies. There is a snap as someone stands on a twig, breaking it. 'Hello? Is someone out there?' Cyclops calls out. 'You've come back to save us. My heroooo!' Pierce mocks from the trees. Several Sapien League members laugh, while Cyclops asks 'Who's out there?'
Donald Pierce reveals himself and reports that he and the Reavers are reporting for duty, while one of the Purifiers warns Cyclops that he shouldn't have come back, as they have been waiting. 'Did you really think we weren't all going to come running for a shot at the last X-Man?' one of them enquires. Wolverien listens from the trees as one of the Sapien League boasts that they are here to finish this. 'You're gonna die, Summers' they threaten Cyclops. 'Probably. But I'm going to take a lot of you with me' Cyclops replies. Pierce moves closer to Cyclops and tells him that before they get started he needs to know – after all this time – what it is like knowing that he failed. '#^&% this' Logan snarls to himself. He knocks back a beer, while Pierce asks Cyclops 'Knowing your friends all died, the world doesn't care and that you're going to die all alone?' Suddenly, Wolverine pops his claws and exclaims 'He ain't alone'.
Third story:
'I have always been gifted' Ruth Aldine a.k.a. Blindfold thinks to herself as the snow falls around her and Gabriel Cohuelo a.k.a. Velocidad. 'Blindfold! We have to go!' Velocidad exclaims urgently. 'We have to go to the tunnels now!' he exclaims. Blindfold apologizes to Gabriel and asks if they have had this conversation already. 'No, Ruth. Please. We have to go. The Morlocks will help us' Gabriel tells Ruth, who asks 'What about Loa?' as she thinks 'I have always been cursed'. Gabriel reaches out to Ruth 'She's dead' he tells her as they stand over Alani Ryan a.k.a. Loa's motionless body, her blood staining the snow. 'So peaceful...' Blindfold remarks, before telling Velocidad that he is going to get caught. 'No, I'm not. And neither are you' Gabe replies.
Later, Velocidad is sleeping on a mattress on the ground of the Morlock Tunnels. The Morlock known as Bliss lies several feet away from him. 'I can see the future. But something is going wrong' Blindfold tells herself as she walks towards Gabe and Bliss, who sits up and tells her that she is going to get caught, that she can't just sneak out. 'I know' Blindfold replies, admitting to herself that she is getting confused. Gabe wakes and looks up at Ruth and asks her what is going on. 'I have to go find Cyclops. Thank you' Ruth responds, but Gabe reminds Ruth that Cyclops is dead and tells her that she is confused again. Blindfold sits down next to Gabe, and thinks to herself that as the future becomes present and the present becomes the past, the distinctions are blurring for her. 'Yes. I have to warn them. They're all going to die' Ruth tells Gabe. 'Who?' Gabe asks. 'The X-Men' Ruth replies. Gabe tells her that already happened – the X-Men already died. Ruth has a vision of herself, engulfed in flames, screaming. 'This isn't now' she tells herself, before getting to her feet, 'They'll come here soon, but it will be too late. And they won't remember you, Gabriel. I'm sorry. I need to convince him to help... I need help' Ruth remarks. Gabe starts to tell her to wait, but it's too late, as Blindfold leaves him and Bliss behind. 'I know what that means' Ruth thinks to herself.
'I need help' Ruth utters as she sits on a sidewalk. Two men walk past her, then turn back to her and one of them hands her some money. 'Here ya go' he tells her. 'No. I need to convince him to help' Ruth remarks. 'What? And what's with the blindfold' the man replies. Ruth has another vision, she has been beaten. She thinks that one’s future stretches infinitely before them forever – it is unknown. Ruth then pulls back her blindfold, revealing the blankness of her face where her eyes once were. 'People don't like to look at this. Sorry' Ruth responds. 'Holy -' one of the men gasps. 'You're a freaking mutie? I thought you were all dying!' the other man exclaims. 'No. Soon' Ruth replies, before one of the men shoves her, 'Don't you get it? Your time is up, freak. This is our -' he begins, before someone steps out of the shadows and asks 'Is there a problem here, gentlemen?'
'Is there a problem here?' Ruth asks as she stands at a store counter. 'No, honey, no problem. It's just...this all the money you got?' the old man behind the counter asks. 'For now. Yes' Ruth replies as she holds her money out towards him. 'And you're gonna spend it on a lottery ticket?' the old man asks. 'Yes. I want a nice house to die in' Ruth smiles. She has a vision of thugs stomping on her while she covers her head with her hands. 'But it isn't infinite because we don't know it. It is infinite because it will always have been. Forever' Ruth thinks to herself, before taking the lottery ticket and walking away from the shop keeper who asks her if she wouldn't rather save up for some new clothes, or get some food. 'No. I'm not hungry' Ruth responds.Later, Ruth sits at the end of a table in a darkened room. Boxes of takeaway, and a large roast chicken are laid out on the table, when there the doorbell chimes. Another vision, someone covered in blood, as Ruth thinks that when you get to the end, it doesn't mean it wasn't infinite, it just means it is forever behind you. Ruth opens the door to find Madrox the Mutltiple Man holding a box of pizza, and raising one slice of pizza to his mouth. 'Since I paid your delivery guy, I figured it was okay if I took a slice, okay?' Madrox remarks. 'No. I'm not hungry' Ruth responds. Madrox greets her and asks her if she is surprised to see him. 'Hello, Jamie. I don't get surprised and I don't see' Ruth responds. Jamie apologizes and points out that if she doesn't get surprised, then she knows Scott is looking for her. 'I know' Ruth admits. As he eats the pizza, Jamie tells Ruth that if she says no, he will say he never found her. 'So, I'll just ask. Do you want to see him?' Jamie asks. Ruth takes the box of pizza and tells Jamie that she doesn't, but that Scott can see her. 'Tell him where I am. I won't see him' Ruth remarks.
'You're a weird little kid, even by X-Men standards. You know that, right?' Madrox asks. He shoves more pizza in his mouth and remarks that he has a feeling Ruth only let him find her so that he would tell Scott where she was, so he will do that. 'But if I were you I'd be long hone when he gets here' Madrox adds. Blindfold has another vision – she is shackled, and thinks that she is running out of future. As Madrox leaves Blindfold's apartment, Ruth tells him that she always liked him and that she is sorry for what isgoing to happen to him. 'Yes. Tell Layla i'm sorry' she remarks. '...oookay. You've lasted this long on your own, I know you're good, Ruth' Madrox calls back. Ruth tells him that she will be, and thanks him for finding her so that others won't be lost, before bidding him goodbye, while Wolverine stands in the shadows nearby, watching.
Later, Cyclops stands before Blindfold, who tells him that he didn't lose something, something lost him. 'Blindfold? Ruth! My God, what are you -' Scott begins. 'Looking for you Ruth tells him. Cyclops starts to suggest that they go somewhere else, buth Ruth announces that she will stay out here, and that she came here because she needed to talk to him. 'How did you find...right' Scott remarks. 'I didn't want to, please. But I thought you'd want to know. Thank you' Ruth replies. 'They're dead I see things and they're all dead'. 'We don't know they're dead, Ruth. Nobody -' Cyclops begins, but Ruth interrupts him, declaring that nothing will ever be the same. 'Don't do what you're going to do' Ruth tells Cyclops, explaining that the mistakes they make now follow them – even in death, even back. 'This is forever' Blindfold utters.
Two days later, Wolverine stands in Ruth's kitchen, as Ruth tells him that this life they have, they don't get to suit. 'No. Sorry. You're not. But often he was yours'. Logan tells Ruth that he doesn't think he wants this anymore, the hero thing, and that he is not Scott Summers' keeper. 'I don't care about him' Logan adds. 'You can save him though. Cable was right' Ruth tells Logan as she begins to tend to a potted plant. She begins to water the plant as she informs Logan that she told Cyclops not to do what he wasgoing to do, but he will. Logan reveals that he talked to the waitress at Harry's, so he knows that Ruth saw him two days ago. 'I haven't told him yet. I will tell you both soon' Ruth replies. 'Is that what you told Scott?' Logan asks. 'Death' Ruth replies. 'You already know' she tells Logan. 'Layla Miller? Doesn't matter. I need to know what's coming' Logan remarks, folding his arms. 'I don't know who that is. Sorry' Ruth responds. Logan reminds Ruth that it is rough for everyone right now, but that he needs her help. 'I talked to Layla and – listen. I'm sorry things aren't going well'. Logan tells Ruth. 'This is forever' Blindfold utters.
Ruth reminds herself that she was born with a gift, while seeing a vision of herself set ablaze. Another vision, weapons fired towards her as she knows that any gift can become a curse. That people might try to take it from you. Another vision, she is caught in an explosion. Another vision still, she is kicked and stomped on, as she decides that you might find the gift is not there when you need it. Or, maybe people just hate you for having it. She see herself shackled, and admits that her gift is seeing the future – while her curse is knowing that she no longer has one. Blindfold then pours herself a bath....


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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This is Forever, part 2
Every ending has a beginning....'Dammit' Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops complains as Logan a.k.a. Wolverine uses surgical instruments to remove bullets lodged in Scott's back. 'It hurts 'cause you're squirming' Logan remarks. 'I'm squirming because it hurts' Scott responds as he sits straddling a chair, while Logan continues to remove bullets. Scott then thanks Logan, who tells him to save it, that an X-Man was in danger, he helped – it doesn't need to be made bigger than that. Scott tells Logan that there is no “X-Men” anymore, and asks him if he gets that, as everything they have worked for, everything Charles built is all gone. 'And for what?' Scott asks. 'Well, it was nice to believe for a while' Logan remarks. Scott rubs his back, while Logan pours two drinks of alcohol. 'I did this. I ended the dream. I can see all my mistakes so clearly now. I never should have led the X-Men' Scott declares. 'Is this where I'm supposed to argue with you? Because I wasn't your biggest cheerleader before and that hasn't changed, but you did okay' Logan replies. Scott tells Logan that it doesn't matter, as they are all that are left. 'About that... what if I told you there were others?' Logan asks.
Later in a bar somewhere, off-duty officers of the O*N*E – the Office of National Emergency – are relaxing. 'And this blue kid is just crying and crying, and I can't stop laughing because her wings won't stop flapping' one of the officers tells the other. 'I never see the good stuff. Callahan has me -' the second officer begins to reply, before Wolverine appears before them. 'Nice to see the Office of National Emergency is still finding new ways to use our tax dollars to torture kids' Wolverine snarls. 'This is a private conversation, man' one of the officer replies, before Wolverine asks them which of the two are closer to his size. 'Listen, we're just trying to relax after work, man. So why don't you go -' one of the officers, a man with a beard, starts to say, to which Wolverine interrupts him, and slowly releases his claws, as he tells the officer that he would watch what he says next – because he only needs one of them.
A short time later, an armored vehicle arrives at an undisclosed location, stopping at a barrier. 'Uncoming shipment for the labs' the bearded O*N*E officer tells the guard at the barrier. 'It's not on my list' the guard replies. Wolverine, disguised in the other officer's armor, announces that it is a special delivery for Callahan, and suggests to the guard that he waves them through before Callahan gets pissed at him for keeping him waiting. The guard is defiant though, and declares that he has gotta call this in. He instructs the bearded officer to open up the back of the truck for him. 'It's a trick! They're trying to sneak in!' the bearded O*N*E officer suddenly shouts, so Wolverine pops his claws, while several O*N*E soldiers gather around the truck, 'Light them up!' one of them shouts, as they open fire, bullets spray into and through the truck, striking the bearded officer, while Wolverine mutters 'The one time I make a plan...and you have to try and be the hero. Jackass' as he puts his foot to the accelerator, driving the truck through the barrier, knocking several guards over as he crashes the truck into the side of the building up ahead.
'Truck's down! We breach that door in three... two... one...' an officer calls out as several of them approach the truck, only for a powerful blast of optic energy breaks the back of the truck away, and knocks the O*N*E officers backwards. 'Hell of a plan, Wolverine' Cyclops remarks 'You are attacking a United States government facility! Surrender at -' a O*N*E officer calls out, but Cyclops just knocks them back with an optic blast. Wolverine leaps from the truck, growling and claws at the ready, he slams into an officer and slices his claws into them as he asks Cyclops if they are inside the compound yet. Cyclops blasts another officer, while Wolverine asks him what is next. 'We go inside and save the day...after we deal with this' Cyclops replies as a strange Sentinel lumbers towards them.
'This is new' Scott remarks, looking up at the strange black and yellow colored Sentinel. 'Feels old to me' Wolverine mutters, claws at the ready as another Sentinel appears. The Sentinels open fire, so Scott ducks to avoid the blast. 'Stop. Please' one of the Sentinels states as Logan slashes his claws across the Sentinel's chest, opening the Sentinel up, before another Sentinel slams Logan into a wall. 'Compared to the old models, these ones barely put up a fight' Scott points out as he fires an optic blast at the Sentinel, blowing its arm off. 'Says the guy they didn't put through the concrete' Wolverine mutters as he moves away from the wall. 'Maybe I've just gotten better since I came back' Cyclops suggests. 'That doesn't sound right, either' Logan replies. Scott tells him not to worry about it, that he can end this himself if Logan wants to take a nap. 'Cute...' Logan replies, while Scott fires another blast towards the strange Sentinels.
Logan then sniffs what appears to be blood on his adamantium claws, and tells Cyclops to wait. Cyclops stands in front of a Sentinel, as Logan points out that the Sentinel is bleeding. 'You're getting soft, Logan. Sentinels don't bleed' Scott replies as he looks the odd Sentinel straight in the eye. 'Stop. Please' the Sentinel states. 'That was my point' Logan declares as he uses a claw to pry open the front of the strange Sentinel – and he and Cyclops are shocked to find Strong Guy inside the Sentinel. 'Looks like they've been up to a few things while we were gone' Wolverine suggests, while Strong Guy, who has been infected with the Transmode Virus, remarks 'Thank you, friends'. Cyclops addresses Strong Guy by his real name, Guido, and asks him what is going on. After climbing out of the Sentinel, Strong Guy replies 'We became sick. Self's whole team became infected with the Transmode Virus. At first Self thought the O*N*E was here to help us. They weren't. They wanted to experiment on us' Guido reveals.
'Good ta see ya again, Dani' Wolverine calls out as he helps Danielle Moonstar out of another Sentinel, while Strong Guy informs Cyclops that they were put into these machines to power and control them, but they couldn't override their orders – not fully, at least. Wolverine and Moonstar begin opening another of the fallen Sentinels, and inside this one is Karma. 'They're trying to weaponize mutants for their own goals. They want to find a way to use us against each other' Moonstar explains, while Wolverine welcomes Karma back. 'They created horrors in here you can't imagine' Karma utters. Wolverine tells her that he is sorry, but that she is free now. 'Good... now let's go get the rest' Karma replies.
Wolverine stops at a sign which the O*N*E has put on a wall, giving explicit instructions about how prisoners here should act – and responds by slicing his claws through the sign, and through a wall, where a young green-skinned mutant with several eyes on her face asks 'Who are you?' 'We're the X-Men. Everything's going to be okay' Cyclops tells the girl, as Logan, Dani, Karma and Strong Guy stand with him. They move on to another cell, where several men with large M's on their face are sitting around a table playing cards. One of them wears a patch over one eye, and the other is missing a hand. 'Jamie, what happened to you? I just saw you -' Cyclops begins, but one of the Madroxes tells him 'No, you didn't' while another explains that they are not Madrox Prime. 'Hello' the one with the patch over one eye smiles.
As Dani, Karma and Strong Guy help free mutants from other cells, Wolverine and Cyclops come to the end of a corridor. 'Last two' Cyclops points out as he fires an optic blast that smashes open the door to one of the cells. 'Took you long enough' Illyana Rasputin a.k.a. Magik mutters as she emerges from the cell, wearing a power-dampening collar around her neck. 'Magik, you look...' Cyclops begins. 'You were expecting more Warlock?' Magik asks. 'Kind of' Cyclops admits, while Rahne Sinclair a.k.a. Wolfsbane emerges from the other cell and smiles as she hugs Wolverine. Magik explains that she and Rahne were both sick with the virus, they still are, but somehow, they mostly fought it off. Wolverine uses a claw to snap the collar around Rahne's neck, as Rahne shifts into a lupine form and explains that her theory is that she and Illyana are both shape-shifters of a kind, so their bodies can handle the infection more than the others, but either way, it meant that the O*N*E didn't know what to do with them. 'I do. Let's go' Cyclops exclaims.
Magik reports that she still won't be able to teleport them all out of here, as there is some sort of field around this place that blocks her. Cyclops points out that they got everyone, so they will just leave the same way they came in. As Wolverine breaks Magik's collar open, Magik tells Scott that he has to come with her – as there is one more.
'Alex...' Scott utters soon after as he looks up at his brother, Havok, who is suspended in some sort of contraption that seems to be using his mutant abilities to power this facility. Cyclops climbs up a ladder, and starts to fire optic beams at the cables connected to his brother. 'It's okay, Alex' Scott calls out, grabbing Alex before he falls to the ground. 'I've got you. It's okay' Scott tells his brother, climbing down the ladder with his brother, as energy crackles around them. 'Scott... is that you… you came for me?' Alex utters. 'Of course I did. Not going to let my little brother be the big marytr' Scott remarks. 'Am I dead now too?' Alex asks, to which Scott tells him that he is okay. 'I'm sorry, Scott. I wanted to tell you that...' Alex begins, to which Scott tells him that he has no reason to apologize. 'It should have been me. It should have been me who died' Alex utters, before they regroup with Logan and the others, who are now battling some O*N*E soldiers. 'Slim, we found others, but it's getting ugly out here' Logan calls out to Scott.
Cyclops grits his teeth and tells the X-Men to form up and cover the other mutants. He instructs Wolverine and Wolfsbane to get on point and push towards the entrance, while he covers them from behind. 'Stick to cover and move in groups of three' Cyclops calls out as he fires an optic blast at a O*N*E soldier, and Havok releases a plasma blast towards another. Some of the mutants race towards the exit, while one of the Marox dupes suddenly clutches his stomach and announces that he doesn't feel so good. 'It hurts...' he begins, while another dupe reaches out to him, 'What are...oh no! They put a bomb in us!' he exclaims, before the Madrox dupes are torn apart by an explosion which appears to engulf the entire group of mutants – but when the dust and smoke clear, Magik looks up, and sees Guido's body has been torn apart. 'Get up!' she calls out, crawling over to Strong Guy's body, 'Stand up. We need you!' she tells him, shaking his face. 'Not...this time...I think...' Guido replies. Magik takes his hand and tells him to get up, as Strong Guy reveals that he absorbed the explosion, and asks if he saved everyone – before he passes away. 'No no no...' Illyana utters, before Logan goes over to her and announces that they have to go – now.
'No' Magik replies, but Logan explains that the blast knocked the power out, so whatever was stopping her from opening her portal is now down. 'Good' Magik decalres as she starts to open a portal. Logan assures her that there will be time for swords and revenge later, that Guido is done and it is time for them to leave. 'He was my teammate' Magik frowns, hanging her head. 'And more of your teammates will follow him if you charge off and leave them behind right now' Logan points out. Cyclops fires and optic blast at another O*N*E agent and tells Illyana that there will be time to mourn everyone later, but now she has to get them out of here. 'Where are we going?' Illyana asks. 'Anywhere but here' Scott tells her. Illyana extends her portal around Dani, Wolfsbane, Karma, the girl with the green skin, Cyclops and Wolverine, while Cyclops calls out to Havok, telling him that it is time to go. 'I'm not going...' Alex replies as he releases a powerful surge of energy into the facility. 'ALEX!' Cyclops calls out as Magik's portal begins to wash over them. 'Let me finish! Let me -' Havok exclaims, before Cyclops pulls him into the portal at the last second, then, they vanish.
From the rubble of part of the facility, a O*N*E officer calls out 'Attention!' and approaches General Callahan, who stands over Guido's remains. The officer reports that they are evacuating the building now, that Havok's blast looks like they have lost this facility. The agent apologizes to General Callahan and tells him that he doesn't know how this happened. Callahan frowns as he replies 'It would appear the X-Men are back'....


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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This is Forever, part 3
We're together again. Now we need a reason why.
'Thank God you're here... I'm so bored, Logan. Want to play me?' Alex Summers a.k.a. Havok asks Logan a.k.a. who enters Harry's Hideway to find Alex about to shoot a pool ball across the pool table. Alex then asks how come Logan is allowed to go in and out the front door. 'Because I don't look like an alien, and I'm not a known fugitive, Alex' Logan explains as he looks at Xi'an Coy Manh a.k.a. Karma and Danielle Moonstar, who are both currently infected with the Transmode Virus, giving them an alien appearance. 'That the perk of everyone thinking you're dead?' Alex asks. 'One of 'em' Logan remarks, while Illyana Rasputin a.k.a. Magik and Rahne Sinclair a.k.a. Wolfsbane sit at a table nearby, drink in hand. Alex turns away from the pool table and tells Logan that he knows things are rough right now, but that the X-Men living in the back of a bar is pretty embarrassing. Logan explains that Harry is an old friend, and that he told him they were in a tight spot, and he was willing to put himself at great personal risk by letting them use this space and stay upstairs. Logan adds that the world would be a better place with more folks like Harry. 'And yeah, it's pretty embarrassing' Logan admits.
Logan turns to Wolfsbane and asks her if there has been any sign of that eyeball kid they rescued, but Rahne reports that the girl just up and ran after they got her out of the O*N*E facility. Rahne adds that she isn't sure how O*N*E caught her in the first place, as she couldn't find any trace of her. 'Dammit. Not a good time for someone that looks like her to be out there' Logan points out, before going over to a fridge and getting himself a bottle of beer, asking about their fearless leader. One of the others reports that he is still upstairs, and that they think he is trying to figure out what the hell they are supposed to do now. 'He's probably gonna be a while' they add, when suddenly, No, I'm not' Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops announces as he enters the area where the others are, carrying a pad of paper. Wolverine drinks his beer, while Wolfsbane asks Cyclops what they are doing. 'We're the X-Men. We will do what we always do. Nothing has changed' Cyclops replies.
Alex tells his brother that he hates to disagree, but points out that a lot has changed – the X-Men are gone and are not coming back. 'Ye don't know that' Wolfsbane interjects. 'Yes, I do' Alex declares, reminding the others that after what Nate and Legion did, the world wishes all mutants went with them – not to mention this “anti-mutant vaccine” means that there aren't going to be future generations of mutants for the X-Men to protect and fight for. 'Which is fine, because the school is gone, too' Alex reminds the others. 'You done?' Cyclops asks. 'All our friends are dead. Everyone hates. No future... yeah, I think that's it' Alex replies, holding up three fingers and smiling.
The others gather around the pool table as Cyclops puts his pad down amongst the pool balls. 'What is this document?' Karma asks, noticing a list of names. 'It's the worst guest list I've ever seen' Havok declares as he reads the list to himself: Dark Beast, Mister Sinister, Cassandra Nova, Magneto, Apocalypse, the Shadow King, Omega Red, Legion, Vulcan, Nanny & Orphan Maker, Mortis, Proteus, the Marauders, the Externals, Children of the Vault, the Acolytes, Mutant Force, the Neyaphem, the Nasty Boys, Clan Akkaba, Gene Nation, the Mutant Liberation Front, the new Brotherhood, the Upstarts, Factor Three, the Neo, the Savage Land, the Morlocks, Krakoa, the New Mutants – and at the bottom of the list FIND THE X-MEN scrawled largely across the page.
'It's a suicide pact' Magik tells the others. 'It's a kill list' Wolverine explains. But Cyclops tells him that it isn't, and that they aren't solving things that way anymore. 'It's the best way to make sure they stay solved' Logan points out. Scott turns to Logan and tells him that they get it, that it looks like the solution to every problem is stabbing people for the guy with knives in his hands. 'And it looks like it isn't for the guy looking at the world through rose-colored glasses' Logan replies. 'You've been waiting to use that one for a while, haven't you?' Scott smiles. '... maybe' Logan admits.
Magik steps between them, 'Okay. It's not a kill list. So what now?' she asks. Scott reports that it is a list of their biggest problems – X-Men problems. He tells the others that if they have no future, as his brother so gently put it, then this is what they leave behind – they make this a better place for everyone, better than anyone ever made it for them. 'We're going to show the world what the X-Men meant' Scott explains. 'So... I was right. It is a suicide pact' Magik mutters.
Scott tells Magik that he wouldn't call it that, but he doesn't want to lie to them – these are some of their most dangerous foes, and their most difficult problems. 'And it's just us out here, it seems. So if anyone wants out now, I understand. No judgment. But if these are the last days of the X-Men, I'm going to set things right. Or die trying' Scott tells the others, before asking if any of them are with him.
'I'm in' Magik responds first. 'Me too' Wolfsbane agrees. 'Of course' Alex announces, before both Dani and Karma state 'Yes'. Everyone then looks to Logan, 'What?' he asks wide-eyed. 'I'm still a damn X-Man, aren't I?' Logan asks, to which Alex tells everyone that this is great and all, but they have no money, no base, no plane, they don't even have uniforms. Logan then reveals that he went to see what he could salvage from the tunnels under the school before anyone realized they were there and started to dig them up. 'I took what I could' Logan announces, as he opens a duffel bag. 'What year do you think it is?' Alex asks with surprise, looking in the bag.
A warehouse in Long Island City sits in darkness, which light up slightly when a blue stepping disk cuts through the dark and the X-Men emerge. 'Looks abandoned' Cyclops, wearing his 1990s blue and gold costume, reports. He adds that Wolverine said this was definitely a working lab, and asks Magik if she is sure she brought them to the right place. 'Yes. Is he?' Magik, wearing the standard gold and black X-Men costume with eldritch armor across her shoulders, replies, while Wolverine sniffs the air, and reports that there is something out there. 'Somebody get us some light' Wolverine asks, before Magik holds her Soulsword up above her head, and a glow emanates from it. 'Incoming, X-Men! Look sharp!' someone calls out as dozens of strange cyborg creatures rush towards them. Wolverine, who wears his old brown costume, lunges towards one of them, shoving his claws through the creature's head, while Cyclops fires an optic blast into their midst, and Dani, wearing the standard black and gold costume, readies a psionic arrow, as Havok, who wears a more modern black costume with blue lines across his chest, leading to a large blue circle, and also clunky boots and gloves, blasts some of the cyborgs with his plasma powers.
'Question: What are these?' Karma, who also wears the old black and gold costume, asks as she knocks one of the creatures aside. 'Practice' Wolverine tells her as he slices through another. Magik kicks one of the creatures in the face, while Havok fires another surge of energy at one of them, who suddenly screams. Magik stops and turns to Havok, asking him if her opponent just screamed. 'Yeah... I...;' Havok starts to reply as the X-Men start to gather around the strange cyborg-like being, and Wolfsbane suddenly realizes that it is Jamie Madrox. 'Oh, c'mon! No!' Havok exclaims. 'What did you do?' a voice in the shadows calls out, and the X-Men turn to see Jamie Madrox the Multiple Man push his way past them, to the cyborg creature, 'Lemme through!' he exclaims, while Magik raises her sword to him, Cyclops tells her to take it easy, as that is the real Madrox. Cyclops stands over Madrox and asks him to tell them what is going on here.
Holding the cyborg dupe in his arms, Madrox reveals that Dark Beast captured some of his dupes and has been experimenting on them, doing experiments on him – same as everyone these days. Cyclops asks where the Dark Beast went, to which Madrox reports that he doesn't know, that he tracked him here, same as they did. 'This was my last lead. Everything else has been coming up dead ends' Madrox explains. 'What about him?' Wolfsbane asks, referring to the dupe. 'You got a psychic? Because he can't seem to speak... and he doesn't have much time left' Madrox points out. 'But you have other ways of getting information out of him, don't you?' Cyclops asks. Madrox looks down at his dupe and replies that he is going to die, that he can't save him – even if he reabsorbs him, it won't save him now.
Cyclops continues to pressure Madrox, telling him that the dupe may know something that could help them. 'He'll die inside of me. You have no idea what that feels like' Madrox utters. 'I don't' Cyclops acknowledges, before turning to leave along with Wolverine, Havok, Magik, Moonstar, Karma and Wolfsbane as Madrox asks them to give him some privacy. A moment later, there is a horrid sound as Madrox resorbs his dupe. Tears in his eyes, he walks over to the X-Men. 'Jamie, I'm sorry you -' Cyclops begins, before Madrox reveals that he knows where the Dark Beast is. 'Let's just go' he tells the others.
Elsewhere, a large truck moves through the night down a road nestled between a thick forest. Inside, some sort of cyborg drives the truck, while Dark Beast sits in the passenger seat, looking at a sandwich, 'I swear on everything I hold dear... if they put pickles on this sandwich, we're going to gturn around, and I will slowly skin every mouth-breathing, minimum-wage-earning Troglodyte in the building'. An instant later, a huge, powerful optic blast tears down the road, straight into the truck, splitting it open. The X-Men move towards the truck, 'Not sure you're not trying to kill him?' Magik asks Cyclops, who tells the first squad to move in, that they don't leave here without the Dark Beast. Robots emerge from the back of the truck, and Wolverine exclaims 'These ones aren't alive. Put them down fast'.
The X-Men engage the robots in battle, with Wolverine slicing his way through them, Cyclops firing optic blasts at them and Madrox bashing them with a baseball bat. 'Self finds your definition of “alive” myopic' Moonstar remarks as she creates a psionic arrow. Suddenly, there is a powerful surge of green energy and Wolverine and Moonstar are knocked backwards through the air, thanks to the Dark Beast, who emerges from the wreckage, and with some sort of energy weapon strapped to his wrist, he greets his fellow mutants and tells them that it has been a long time. Cyclops and Havok both open fire at the Dark Beast, but he uses a piece of the wreckage as a shield, so their energy blasts rebound away. Dark Beast announces that he was under the impression Cyclops had died. 'Although maybe you heard that I died as well. We'll have to compare notes' Dark Beast suggests, adding that his death was sadly short-lived, and thata friend of the room, Mister Sinister, saw fit to save his head and put it on this brand new body, so he is back to his old self – but with some improvements. Long tentacle-like cables suddenly energy and latch onto Madrox and Wolfsbane, before the Dark Beast moves clear of the rubble – revealing the large insect-like cyborg legs that he is now connected to.
The X-Men surround Dark Beast, and Cyclops tells his team that if they can get a shot, to take it – but not do damage his head. He opens fire, but his optic blast rebounds off off one of the Dark Beast's insect-like legs. Havok attempts an attack from the other side of the Dark Beast, firing his plasma blasts towards their foe. The Dark Beast declares that they have all spent their lives obsessing over genetic evolution, the whole world has, but when Sinister brought him back, he realized they are blind to the truth. The Dark Beast claims that technological evolution is their future, that their genes are elusive, hard to predict, hard to control, but technology can evolve them just as well – even better. Wolverine then leaps up onto the Dark Beast's back, roaring as he starts slicing away at the large tentacles connected to the Dark Beast. The Dark Beast points out that he is still a mutant, he would even say he is now more mutant than ever – but he controls his own evolution. 'Behold!' he exclaims as he releases a surge of energy that shocks Wolverine.
The Dark Beast narrows his eyes and tells Cyclops that he would love to show him the way he could bring the X-Men back to their glory, adding that some of Madrox's creations already volunteered. 'Well, not exactly volunteered' he admits, while Cyclops and Havok increase their energy assault against the Dark Beast.
Karma reports that the Dark Beast has psi-shields up, 'We aren't getting through his physical ones either' Havok points out. Noting that four of their team are down, Cyclops instructs Magik to prepare to teleport them out. 'No. I can get him' Magik responds from her position behind the Dark Beast. She runs towards him, her Soulsword poised and ready to strike. 'A pathetic attempt' the Dark Beast snarls as he turns and sees Magik, whoe then closes her eyes and the Soulsword disappears. 'Where did it just -' the Dark Beast asks, before the Soulsword rematerializes – right through his back and out his chest.
The Dark Beast screams, then drops motionless to the ground. 'Treacherous witch! I'm going to play around in your guts before -' the Dark Beast utters, before falling silent as Magik pulls the sword out of his back. Madrox approaches Magik and asks if he can see her sword. She gives it to him, and Madrox holds it up, over Dark Beast's body. 'This is for what you did to me -' he begins, ready to plunge the sword into Dark Beast again, until Cyclops holds him back. 'He tortured me' Madrox exclaims. 'And we have to be better than him' Cyclops reminds Madrox. 'I wasn't going to torture him...I was just gonna kill him' Madrox replies. Dark Beast looks up and tells Madrox that he can't kill him – because Scott needs him, he needs his big brain. 'I'm too valuable' the Dark Beast boasts. 'Wanna test that theory?' Wolverine asks as he pops his claws next to the surprised Dark Beast's head. 'N-no...' Dark Beast utters, nervously, so Logan suggests he listen to Scotty.
Later: 'Scott?' a voice calls out in the room where Scott is sleeping in a single bed. Scott looks up to see Alex standing in the doorway. Alex apologizes and tells his brother that he didn't mean to wake him. Scott tells him that it is okay, and asks what is wrong. 'Nothing...I'll come back later' Alex  replies. Scott tells Alex to hang on while he grabs his glasses, and puts them on, before asking if everything is okay with Dark Beast. Alex tells him that the Dark Beast is chained up in the basement, and Dani and Shan are watching him. He supposes that they don't need to sleep anymore since whatever happened to them. Cyclops drinks some water and Alex informs him that he wanted to talk to him about Dark Beast. 'This isn't like old times. We can't be taking prisoners anymore'. But Scott tells Alex that they can't just let the Dark Beast go, as he is a very dangerous man, a fugitive. 'So are we' Alex reminds Scott.
Scott puts on a shirt as Alex tells him that the mission today, out in the open, if the world knew they were out here...his voice trails off to which Scott reminds Alex that there are still mutants out there, and maybe theyu should know he X-Men are here – maybe that would give them some hope. 'Or maybe everyone would start killing them faster to make sure things don't go back to the way they were' Alex suggests. 'What does that mean?' Cyclops asks. 'The way you were. What you made the X-Men. At the end. We can't go back to that I won't let you' Alex warns his brother. Cyclops doesn't get a chance to respond as Rahne enters his room, apologizing for interrupting, but she has something they might want to see.
Cyclops and Havok join Wolverine, Magik and Madrox at the bar, where they watch a reporter on a television stating that following the reappearance of Scott Summers last week, new evidence has emerged pointing to the fetgurn of the radical mutant group called the X-Men. The reporter announces that security cameras caught them attacking the Middle River Health Clinic in Danbury tonight. 'Well, $#%&' Havok mutters. An blurry image appears on the television of Forearm breaking into the clinic, as the reporter informs the audience that this is the fifth attack in as many days on facilities that are handling the now-mandatory VAXX injections, more commonly referred to as the “anti-mutant vaccine”. 'Those aren't X-Men! That's the Mutant Liberation Front! They can't even tell us apart anymore?!' Magik exclaims. Wolverine reminds her that the MLF was on their list, and decides that it looks like they have jumped up a few places. Suddenly, he asks someone to pause the TV, as he notices someone on the screen. 'Well, brother, you said the world needed Hope – there she is' Cyclops tells Havok. 'And Banshee' Havok utters, as they see Hope and Banshee alongside Forearm breaking into the clinic....


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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This is Forever, part 4
The faster the end comes, the more everything seems to slow down. I am watching my life's work slip away in slow motion.
Bushwick, Brooklyn, the rain beats down as a figure runs down an alleyway, splashing through puddles, while two police officers chase him. 'All units – suspect is described as male, six feet tall, black hair and gray skin – proceed with caution' an announcer can be heard over a police communications system. 'Don't tell me this guy's a friggin’ mutant' one of the officers mutters as they continue to pursue the mystery man, who can be seen carrying a bag of supplies, some of which fall out and drop onto the rain-soaked alley.
Meanwhile, in Salem Center, at Harry's Hideaway, current home of the X-Men, where a glamorous blonde woman sits at the bar. Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops, sitting at a table nearby, thanks her forv coming, adding that he knows their relationship in the past hasn't been ideal. 'You know this isn't my purview anymore, right?' Dr Valerie Cooper asks as she glances to her right, where Wolverine a.k.a. Logan is sitting, and holds a drink towards her mouth. 'What is “this”, Ms Cooper?' Cyclops asks. 'Don't play coy' Val tells him. 'This. Mutant affairs. You' she points out. Scott tells Val that he is aware she is no longer with the Office of National Emergency, but he thinks she can be of some use to him.
Back in Bushwick, the police officers head down the alleyway, where the man they are following kicks a door down, and rushes inside, where the rain no longer pounds down on him, he crouches near a window, and watches as the officers run past – they didn't see him enter the old warehouse.
At Harry's Hideaway, Cyclops tells Val that  he knows her well enough to know she must feel the same about him – or otherwise she wouldn't have come. 'Or maybe I was just curious, Scott. It's not often a girl gets invited out by a dead guy... and this is a twofer' Val replies, before seeing hello to Logan. 'Hello, Val' Logan replies.
In the warehouse, the mutant suddenly finds himself under a bright light – and he is identified as  Pantu Hurageb a.k.a. Reaper. 'Hello, Reaper' several Mutliple Man dupes call out from the shadows. Reaper looks shocked, and holds the bag of supplies close, as Madrox tells him that they have been looking for he and his friends – but he seems to be the only one dumb enough to be  getting motel rooms using his real name. 'I didn't do anything!' Reaper protests.
At the bar, Scott tells Val that now it is his turn to ask her not to play games. 'Okay, I'll bite. What's up?' Val asks, turning to Cyclops, who informs her that they need a favor. 'Really?' Val replies quickly. 'You're wanted men! Maybe even terrorists' Val points out, asking if they even considered how much trouble she might get in even being seen with a bunch of big scary mutants. Why do you think I'd do anything for you?' Val then asks.
At the warehouse, the Madrox dupes reveal they are armed with baseball bats, 'I don't believe you' one of them tells Reaper, while another tells him that they want to ask some questions. 'Please fight back' a third remarks. Reaper ducks when one of the dupes swings their bat towards him, 'Leave me alone!' Reaper cries out as he punches one of the dupes in the face.
Cyclops continues, telling Val that she is smart, and knows the value of having men like he and Wolverine on her side. Val glances downwards and tells Scott that she assumes he knows where she works now. 'Neither the State Department nor the current administration looks kindly on mutant groups who -' Val  begins, to which Scott interrupts her and points out  they aren't asking the State Department or this administration for help.
'Batter up! One of the dupes calls out as Reaper knocks two of the dupes to the ground. The dupe takes a swing art Reaper, and knocks his bag of supplies out of his hand. Reaper uses this moment to flee, out of the warehouse and back into the rain. 'Let him go. The spooky kids can get him' one of the Madrox dupes remarks, as Reaper rushes down the alleyway, darkness surrounds him – he doesn't see clearly as he runs, and slams into Illyana Rasputin a.k.a. Magik, who blocks the alleyway with Dani Moonstar and Rahne Sinclair a.k.a. Wolfsbane at her side. As the rain beats down, they look down at the fallen Reaper.
Cyclops explains to Val that they are asking her discreetly, and points out that working for the State Department gives her access to things that could be very useful to them – intelligence reports, classified information – things that can be useful in times when one's government doesn't, as Val put it, look kindly on mutant groups. Scott tells Val that if she does things for them, when the time is right, they return the favor – unless, of course, he is mistaken, and she won't ever have a need for a group of big scary mutants. 'Dammit, Summers. I'm going to regret this, aren't I?' Val replies as she sips her drink. Scott tells Val that his motto always used to be “On their deathbed, no one ever regrets doing the right thing”. Val asks Scott why that used to be his motto – what changed? 'I died with a lot of regrets' Scott admits.
Later, in the basement of Harry's Hideaway: 'After I talk to a lawyer, you are all gonna regret this! I didn't do anything!' Reaper calls out from where he is chained to the wall near a stack of boxes. 'You robbed a pharmacy' Cyclops points as he and Jamie Madrox the Multiple Man stand before him. 'Well... yeah... but that's Spider-Man stuff. That's not you guys. You can't just lock me up in a basement! I have rights!' Pantu protests. Cyclops reminds Reaper that he is a mutant and declares that they police their own. Madrox asks Scott how it went with Cooper, to which Scott tells him that the jury is out, before asking how this went with Reaper. 'Piece of cake he put up a fight but I brought him down easily enough' Madrox replies. 'You know I read Dani's field report, right?' Scott asks, turning to Madrox. 'Obviously I did not know that...' Madrox responds, before reporting that there is some good news – the Mutant Liberation Front did reach out to their little felon here, and he declined to join them. 'And that's good news because...?' Cyclops asks.  'Hope gave him a burner phone. Said she'd be in touch before their next mission if he wants to reconsider' Madrox reveals.
Blood dripping from his nose, Reaper tells Cyclops and Madrox that he doesn't have anything to do with the MLF anymore, and doesn't even have powers. 'I told them no!' he calls out. 'Well, next time you're going to say yes' Cyclops informs Reaper, before he and Madrox walk away from him, 'Hey! You can't just keep me here forever!' Reaper protests. Wolverine and Xi'an Coy Manh a.k.a. Karma are waiting. Someone else call out from the other side of the warehouse, 'He's right you know. On a moral level, I love that you're back to a place where your take prisoners. But on a practical level, you're going to run out of room if  you continue your little crusade, Scotty'. It is the Dark Beast, who looks up from the makeshift lab positioned in one corner of the basement. 'I know a way we can thin the population' Logan replies as he and Cyclops walk towards the Dark Beast, who grins and tells Logan that he loves being teammates with him. 'I could banter with you for days and days' the Dark Beast adds. 'On one of those days I'm gonna be done bantering' Logan replies.
Cyclops turns to Karma and asks her how Dark Beast is doing. 'He works all day and night. Like Self, he does not sleep or eat' the Transmode-infected Karma responds. 'He's working on what we asked him to?' Cyclops enquires. 'Who can say?' Karma replies. 'Oh, Scotty?' the Dark Beast calls out. Karma spins around to him and takes a defensive stance, but Dark Beast tells her to take it easy, that he is not going anywhere, and that she should keep her infection away from him. 'Since I'm now an official X-Man -' Dark Beast begins, 'No, you aren't' Scott interrupts him. 'Sure, I am. And I want to demonstrate my loyalty...and what better way to show my loyalty than by betraying some of my old, evil compatriots. You are after the Marauders, aren't you?' Dark Beast asks.
Soon, an abandoned factory in Tremont, the Bronx, Magik's Soulsword cuts through the darkness as she, Wolverine, Cyclops, Havok, Moonstar, Madrox and Wolfsbane appear. 'It's empty Dark Beast is playing pranks now? Havok remarks, while Wolverine sniffs the air, then quickly pops his claws, while Moonstar readies a psionic arrow. 'Not empty. Someone's here' Wolverine snarls, when suddenly, Wolfsbane is yanked backwards, then screams as her body is twisted, the Transmode reaching out of her, as the mutant Kim Il  Sung a.k.a. Scrambler stands behind her. 'This is unexpected! These aren't your normal powers!' Scrambler detects, while one of the X-Men recognizes him. 'His powers are making the Techno-Organic entity inside Rahne-friend lose control of itself!' Moonstar calls out. Havok sees that Scrambler is making a run for it, and Cyclops tries to take him down, but doesn't have a clear shot, as Wolfsbane's body flails around in front of him.
Havok runs forward, but Moonstar tells him to wait, not to get too close to Wolfsbane, as she is highly contagious. Wolverine tells Havok to make him a hole, so Havok turns and blasts a narby wall open, which Wolverine quickly dives through. 'He knew we're on the fourth floor, right?' Havok asks, turning to Madrox, who shrugs. Magik and Moonstar tend to Wolfsbane, and Magik tells the others that they can go past her now.
Cyclops, Havok and Madrox make their way onto a fire escape and assume Scrambler used it to escape. Cyclops hopes that Logan caught him so they can ask him about the other Marauders. 'If Logan caught him, let's hope there's enough of him left to ask' Havok suggests. As they reach the ground below, Madrox asks if they should really be splitting up, as there could be more Marauders around. 'I'd be more worried for any Marauders Magik finds now' Havok replies. 'Good point, I -' Madrox begins, before they discover Wolverine's body laying motionless on the ground ahead of them, a knife sticking out of his head. 'Dammit' Cyclops mutters, while Havok looks up at the gaping hole in the fourth floor wall above and points out that Logan seemed to handle the fall okay. Cyclops asks Logan which way Scrambler went, to which Logan mutters that it wasn't Scrambler. 'I got him!' a voice calls out. 'And we got a special guest' Madrox remarks as he, Cyclops and Havok turn to see several Madrox dupes approaching them – with Callisto in their clutches.
'Get yer hands off me, Xerox-Boy!' Callisto snaps. 'Xerox-Boy?' one of the dupes ask. 'Cus of the copies' another dupe explains. 'Oh... that's not bad' the first dupe replies, before Cyclops instructs Madrox to let Callisto go. As Wolverine gets to his feet, Cyclops asks Callisto what she is doing up here. 'Did you really just say “up here” to me, pretty boy? You mad because I ventured into the land of the beautiful mutants?' Callisto replies. 'No, I'm mad because you stabbed my teammate in the head' Cyclops tells her. 'He can take it' Callisto mutters, pulling herself away from the Madrox dupes.
'Tell me, handsome, you ever think it's odd that you gave yourself the name of a horrifying mythological monster with one eye. And yet -' Callisto begins, before Logan interrupts her, asking her if she wants to go around killing people, she better be able to answer some questions. 'Why'd ya stab me?' Logan enquires, hurling the dagger back at Callisto, who catches it, right as it nears her face. 'Because the Marauder is mine' Callisto informs Wolverine. Callisto goes over to Logan and taps her blade on his chest, 'Your skull chipped my blade, Logan' she mutters 'Real sorry' Logan replies, before Cyclops tells Callisto that their intel said Scrambler was reformed, and asks her what he did to her. 'You wanna know what they did? Fine... I'll show you' Callisto replies.
Shortly, the X-Men join Callisto down in the tunnels beneath Manhattan, where they come upon a devastating site – dozens of Morlocks lay strewn through a sewer tunnel. 'Logan?' Cyclops asks, Logan sniffs the air, and reports that something is off. 'I'll tell you what feels off...' a telepathic voice calls out. '… you marching in here like this. We don't need their cops and we don't need their cops and we don't need you pretending to be ours' Jono Starsmore a.k.a. Chamber declares as he approaches the X-Men while holding baby Shogo Lee in his arms. Logan tells Chamber that it doesn't feel right to him, to which Chamber replies that it doesn't feel right to him, either – not at all. Chamber stands before Cyclops and exclaims 'Here they are, ladies and gents. The X-Men. A day late and a couple hundred quid short'. Scott tells Jono that he is sorry for his loss, to which Chamber replies 'You always wanted to be the mutant Moses, didn't ya, Summers? Ya wanted to lead us to the bloody promised land I thought ya were a tosser, ya know that? But ya couldn't have done worse than I did here'. Cyclops then asks Chamber what he can do now, and motioning to the Morlocks standing behind him, Chamber tells Cyclops that he can start by doing what he always promised and never delivered. 'Save us. We're all that's left' Chamber declares. Cyclops replies by announcing that he will make a phone call.
Shortly, at the snow-covered Chernayan northern border. 'And he says to me “That's not a bid. It's an old man”!' an armed soldier remarks to another. 'You told me this joke already' another soldier responds, before hearing a SNAP nearby. 'Who's there? Show your-' one of the soldiers calls out, before they scream as they are taken out by Wolfsbane. 'These are no standard issue weapons' Wolfsbane reports, and Cyclops agrees. He remarks that Valerie failed to mention it, but that this group has been dealing in abandoned SHIELD tech and stolen Latverian stuff. 'You name it, they might have it. So look sharp' Cyclops tells his team. Wolverine, Wolfsbane, Moonstar, Magik, Madrox, Havok and Chamber gather around, as Madrox asks why they are here. Cyclops infoms him that there was an attempted military coup here last year, bad guys tried to seize power and failed, so what's left of them are holed up here in the mostly uninhabited mountainous region of Northern Chernaya. Cyclops reveals that Val told him that if the X-Men were willing to take care of the rebels, the Chernayan government would owe them one.
'Bloody hell, Summers. Really? We're doing hitsfor the US Army now?' Chamber asks. 'We're removing fascist forces in a mutant friendly nation in exchange for a promise of safe haven' Cyclops explains, adding that they are not killing anyone. 'This kinda sounds like a deal I'd make, Scott' Havok remarks. 'I don't think he means that as a compliment' Logan replies. 'I definitely don't' Havok confirms, when suddenly, an enormous tank that towers over the forest around the X-Men appears. 'HALT! YOU HAVE ENTERED THE SOVEREIGN LAND OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHERNAYA' a voice from within the tank calls out. 'Cooper's going to have a lot of explaining to do when we get home' Magik mutters as the X-Men look up at the behemoth, before Havok opens fire, blasting a powerful plasma surge right through the middle of the tank. 'Alex!' Cyclops exclaims. 'What? That thing wasn't on our side, was it?' Havok asks.
Several of the rebel soldiers suddenly confront the X-Men, 'Cowardly American super heroes! You are not wanted here! Avengers go home!' one of them exclaims. 'They think we're the Avengers? Magik asks, 'Magik...' Cyclops begins. '...tell them who the hell we are'. Magik raises a hand and casts several teleportation Stepping Discs that wrap around all of the rebels in the forest, makes them disappear, then re-appear in the sky where they fall to the snow-covered ground below. 'Here come reinforcements!' Cyclops calls out, instructing the X-Men to finish this. 'And no killing, Logan' Cyclops adds, as Wolverine pops his claws, Magik raises her Soulsword, Havok readies his fists, charged swith plasma energy, Madrox creates several dupes, Wolfsbane moves forward, and Moonstar readies her psi-bow and arrow. The X-Men engage the rebels, the fight is swift, and when it is over, Cyclops announces that he will let Val know that they will have the rebels delivered by sunrise, and then nobody is to step foot in this region again. 'Then what?' Chamber asks. 'Not my call. This is Morlock land now. Welcome home, Chamber' Cyclops replies.
Later back at Harry's Hideaway, 'To small victories...and to finding comfort in the fights we can win and finding courage in the ones we cannot' Havok toasts as the X-Men and Chamber gather together and raise their glasses. Cyclops tells Chamber that he is flattered he wants to stay, and asks him about Shogo and his people. Chamber responds that Jubilee's runt is with Callisto right now, that he is better with her anyway. He adds that no matter who says they lead the Morlocks, Callisto is the one really running things. 'Besides, I got something I need to do' Chamber adds, before reminding Cyclops 'You asked me in the tunnels what ya could do for me? I need one more favor'. 'Whatever you need' Cyclops replies. 'When we make our way down that li'l list of yours, and we get to the Marauders...I get ta settle up' Chamber declares.
The doorbell rings while the X-Men are taking a moment to relax, so Cyclops calls out that the bar is closed for a private party – but the door suddenly opens, and a stoic Captain America appers, informing Cyclops that they need to have a talk – now.