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[Assistant]
You’re supposed to be dead!
At Summers Cove, the battle between the Marauders against the X-Men and Starjammers still rages. For one X-Man, there is a very vicious surprise, though. Shadowcat has just been severely wounded by a clone of Wolverine whom Sinister has created. As he stands above her, ready to kill her, her mind still refuses to believe it.
Luckily, Sabretooth finds them and attacks his “son.” “Wolverine” swats him aside. He’s gotta be kidding! He ain’t his boy! He doesn’t even get to lay a glove on him!
Having only boneclaws, “Wolverine” enviously ogles Kitty’s admantium claw. Something that dangerous should belong to someone who knows how to use it…. He has all of Wolverine’s rage but none of his honor, Kitty realizes. If he wants her claws, he can come and take them, she snarls, getting ready for a fight and the fingernails on her left hand turn to boneclaws. She slices at him without mercy but he dodges her attacks. He reminds her that he can heal from anything. He bets she ain’t so lucky.
That moment, Gambit attacks, hitting him in the head with a kinetically charged bo staff. He tells Kitty she is safe now and to take a breath. Still charged, she tells him she needs to finish this, even though she can barely stand. He promises it’s over. He fought Logan often for training. He knows full well how to make this one dead.
Sabretooth tells her not to get upset. He’d know Logan’s scent anywhere. This ain’t him. Just another of Sinister’s clones. He steps on the clone’s boneclaws  and they break off. Now he only has to take care of the Sabretooth clone, he figures.
Gambit carries Kitty a bit away and tells her he has to go find Nathan. He suggests she stay here and remain intangible. Her powers protected her from serous injury but he still managed to get a piece of her somehow. They’ll figure this out later. She asks to come with him. She’s done enough, he tells her and kisses her forehead.
Sabretooth tells her she will heal. It may hurt but the powers she got from his boy will put her right in no time. She has Logan’s claw, his attitude, a fraction of his healing… what is left of her? she asks. Gambit asks Sabretooth to take care of her. He will be back soon.
Not far away, Cyclops, Corsair and Havok battle side by side. Corsair warns his sons that if they keep fighting by conventional rules they may win but that victory will bleed them dry. They need to change the dynamic of that fight.
Suddenly, Hepzibah is chased outside the house followed by a blast of fire that levels her. Havok fears the worst. After all, Hepzibah was supposed to protect his grandma. He tells his dad to work on his plan and Scott to keep after the Marauders. He’ll deal with Hepzibah’s attacker.
He helps her up. That little creature tried to kill her! she moans. The attacker turns out to be Lockheed. Behind the small dragon, ‘Ro shouts that Lockheed was protecting them from Hepzibah! Hepizbah’s on their side! Havok protests. Not anymore, pet, she replies and draws a gun on him, Time to die!
Ladies first! Polaris shouts and levels her. She tells Alex to look at Hepzibah’s neck, she is wearing the choker Lorna wore when she was possessed by Malice! Don’t touch it or it could grab control of him! Just cut it loose to set Hepizbah free! Alex carefully cuts it loose without touching it. They see Harpoon nearby and Havok and Polaris give chase. Alex orders ‘Ro and his grandma to help Hepzibah. Both groups leave.
Mystique steps into the clearing, takes up the Malice choker and stashes it away. This should be delightful fun to play with, she figures.
On the airstrip, Robyn orders Nate to put on his seatbelt. However, Scalphunter blocks their path and shoots at the wings, crippling the plane. He opens the cockpit, announcing he’s come for the boy. Robyn in panic shouts he’s making a mistake. Scalphunter doesn’t care. He plans to kill her. Suddenly, though, a charged-up card hits him and explodes a moment later.
Gambit kicks him in the face, then hits him with his bo staff. Scalphunter wipes away some blood, admitting he’s impressed, bur warns Gambit he is  a killer. So is he, Gambit retorts, when there is a need. Scalphunter can ask his version of Wolverine when he meets him in hell! He charges up the staff and kills him with it, then tells Robyn and Nate they can get out, there’s nothing more to fear.
Leading them away, he muses aloud that Sinister seems to have eyes everywhere. They had Nate’s presence covered but he was found anyway. Robyn wonders if he is suspecting her.
When they find Kitty, Gambit suggests he carry her. She declines; her nerves are so raw she couldn’t stand it. He knows he can’t, Sabretooth announces as he joins them. He thought fighting clones was bad. But it’s better than listening to them flirt. He brings a souvenir, the right hand of the clone Sabretooth. He figures Dr. MacTaggert could try to attach it to him. Maybe even transplant his eyes. Gambit covers Nate’s eyes.
Meanwhile, an enraged Corsair is aboard the Starjammer. He contacts Scott and Havok, telling them to get everyone close. Cyclops orders everyone together around him. Make it look like their last stand! When everyone’s accounted for Jean puts a telekinetic field around the remaining Marauders who find that suddenly the ground is shaking below them. Then the Starjammer comes up much to their terror and Corsair fires at the Marauders till there is no trace left.
Dad never did subtle, Cyclops sighs and asks Jean to check if any of the Marauders are left alive. Nothing left, Jean replies. They were completely consumed by the blast. But she was telepathically scanning right to the end. Their minds went dark and they died a split-second before the energy blast hit. Like someone turning off the light.
Which means they will be back, Cyclops fears. Which means they will kill them for good, Raza announces. Easier said than done, Cyclops warns him.
Sikorsky examines Kitty’s wounds which on first look seemed fatal but have actually caused minimal damage. Sikorsky figures she instantly phased when the blades began to cut. And the experience only felt real. He warns her however to be careful and not make the wounds worse.
Jean wonders what happened to Kitty. She can’t get inside her head. But there is something familiar about these wounds and Kitty is trying to hide it…
Scott asks his son if he is all right. Nate tells him he thought he was dead and left him all alone. He had the rest of his family, Scott points out. That’s not the same, Nate tells him, he wanted his dad! Scott apologizes. He only wanted to keep him safe. Corsair, Deborah and Alex join them and Corsair suggests he think about that. Scott asks if Nate wants to come live with the X-Men but Nate wants to stay with the family.
Scott turns to Robyn who introduces herself. Robyn explains she panicked and tried to get Nate to safety. She thought a plane would be the easiest way. She apologizes to Nate who has no hard feelings.
Nathan aka Sinister watches the scene through Robyn’s eyes, congratulating her on her performance. He walks through a room full of life-sized tubes in which the next batch of Marauders is already growing. He muses that the X-Men still live… and they appear to have such fascinating friends. The spacecraft was incredible! But such things are trivial compared to the boy. The key to ending Burnout is in him. Yet another reason, he decides, to keep news of the X-Men’s survival to himself. He wants to keep this conflict private. It makes things more fun…
A few days later, most of the X-Men leave, as apparently Fury and Daisy need them back. Cyclops says goodbye to Nate, however Kitty stays to recover, causing Gambit, Jean and ‘Ro to stay as well to keep an eye on her.
In the meantime in the woods, the clone Wolverine, badly burned but still alive, slowly awakes…


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[Assistant]
Friends – No More!
Japan, the ancestral home of Clan Yashida. Hidden in the shadows, Kitty Pryde and ‘Ro witness something unexpected, namely how Mariko Yashida’s half-brother, the Silver Samurai, is cementing an alliance between Clan Yashida and another enemy of the X-Men, Matsu’o Tsurabaya, premier Oyabun of the Hand. Matsu’o remarks he’d hoped that Lady Mariko would join them. His sister is occupied with more pressing concerns of her own, the Silver Samurai states. He handles the Clan’s affairs in her absence. Of course, Matsu’o agrees. He has always been willing to make the tough choices his sister could not. The clan will thrive in her absence.
A shame really, a voice announces from above. He was looking forward to seeing the lady one last time, the clone Wolverine announces. The men are flabbergasted, knowing of his death. What can he say? He got better, he replies as he begins slicing into the guards, (with only one set of claws).
He sniffs, then addresses Kitty, telling her she can hide from these thugs, but never from him. He’ll be nice and kill her quick. He’s a real gentleman, she mocks. But compared to Logan he’ll always be nothing but a cheap fake. “Laugh it up, Sprite!” he warns her. He’s done playing nice!
’Ro asks her what she is doing. Kitty orders her to leave. This isn’t her fight. ‘Ro asks her to remember last time. How is she gonna beat him? Clone Wolverine suggests she listen. Kitty orders ‘Ro to hold on to her and takes the two of them out of phase with the world. While the Earth spins on its axis, they stay in place. In a matter of heartbeats, they’re miles away and only stop at a train station.
Kitty takes them aboard a bullet train which goes better than 300 miles per hour. They are heading for Tokyo. Best place to hide. She’s only doing this because of her, ‘Ro sulks. Kitty wants to fight!
Kitty admits to herself that what she wants is… complicated. This Wolverine may be a monster but he is wrapped in the body of a man who is like her second father. She knows she may have to fight him to the death but part of her wants to save him, to bring Logan back to life. So until she makes up her mind they keep running!
Meanwhile, another ship, with Gambit and Jean aboard, is trying to find the girls. They wonder about the trick, how Kitty so quickly moved from one place to another. She is full of surprises, Jean remarks. Thinking back on the moment they almost kissed, Gambit agrees.
Kitty and ‘Ro try to rest aboard the train. ‘Ro remarks at least as an X-Man you get to see the world. Unfortunately, it’s rarely a vacation, Kitty retorts. ‘Ro suggests they take one. She, Kitty, Remy. Kitty hesitates when she hears his name, also thinking back on the almost kiss. Not a good idea, she decides. ‘Ro accuses her of liking him and is quite enthusiastic about it. The three of them would make the perfect team!
Room for one more? a voice asks as clone Wolverine’s claws open the roof. ‘Ro panics while Kitty slashes at him with her Adamantium claw. He slices back, announcing she has something of his and he’s not particular about how he gets it back.
‘Ro suddenly steps up defending the weakened Kitty with lightning. Wolverine threatens he will always heal and how long can she throw lightning? ‘Ro instead manifests winds to keep him back and fog, giving Lockheed the opportunity to set him on fire.
Kitty has caught her second wind and kicks Wolverine out of the train. He’ll be back stronger than ever, she warns ‘Ro, who wonders when it will end. Kitty admits she doesn’t know. The real Logan was near impossible to kill and even if they found a way, she admits she is still not sure she could bring herself to do it. Not even to his evil twin.
‘Ro worries bout her injuries. She is a mess but will survive, Kitty assures her. Her healing is not quite as efficient as Logan’s so it’ll take a while longer…
By the time the train reaches the capital, Kitty is pretty much right as rain, just in time for them being arrested.
In Genosha, the Ghost Panther plans ahead, trying to be whole again and return from the dead.
Back in Tokyo, Kitty and ’Ro are in a cell. While Kitty is relaxed just waiting, ‘Ro wants to break out. Kitty assures her they are safer here. Soon a cop tells them they are free to go. There are no charges.
In the lobby, Mariko Yashida is expecting them. Kitty hugs her, relieved that her friend is here. She is soon taught she is wrong, when she sees who Mariko has brought along: Sigrid Trask and SHIELD troops.
Trask warns Kitty they will open fire if she makes any moves. Phasing may save Kitty, but her little friend will not be that lucky. How could she sell them out? Kitty asks Mariko. The Consortium has been hunting mutants like animals! Then it would seem a fitting end for those with the honor of dogs, the other woman replies coldly. She pledged her heart and life to Logan but he abandoned her for Jean Grey. That insult cannot be forgiven. The X-Men have all sown this wind and now they shall reap the whirlwind! As her brother cements their alliance with the Hand, so she has assumed control over the Consortium. And through them, power over SHIELD. Before she is done, they will learn the true cost of their friend’s betrayal.
That moment, Gambit and Jean Grey come down from the Skimmer. Seems a tad harsh, Gambit comments. Is this vengeance truly worth all this pain? Sigrid snarls that the X-Men killed her mother. They deserve every ounce of pain they get! Silently, she figures that, once they are out of the way, she will reclaim her mother’s seat at the head of the Consortium and show Yashida who’s really in control.
‘Ro takes out some SHIELD goons asking Kitty if she is still mad she tagged along. A few mores bursts of lightning could change her mind, Kitty admits.
Jean tells Mariko her conflict is with her and asks her to leave the others and Kitty out of this. She’s always been Jean’s friend, Mariko replies, let her pay the price! Jean gathers her powers to stop this but Trask shoots her in the back with a power neutralizer. And soon she also shoots Gambit, Kitty and ‘Ro.
Does she think that makes them helpless? Jean mocks as she hits her hard. The others also fall back on their fighting skills quite successfully. Very quickly, Gambit, Kitty and Jean have the SHIELD agents down, only to find that ‘Ro is missing… as is Mariko.
At the Embassy of Wakanda in Tokyo: Hand leader Matsu’o Tsurabaya and the Silver Samurai are having a holovid conference with Wakandan ruler “perfect” Storm. The two of them ask her to join their alliance with the Consortium. Storm points out Tsurabaya is a consummate liar. Why should she trust them, what’s in it for her? There is nothing they can offer that is not already within her grasp.
She wouldn’t be sure of that, Mariko announces as she steps in, holding fast to ‘Ro. Finally, a tribute worthy of a queen, Storm admits. Their offer has suddenly become far more tempting. She thinks they may all be able to forge a most profitable alliance.
From outside the window, an angry Lockheed watches.


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[Assistant]
December 2010
Kitty Pryde is resting at Summers Cove, trying to recover from her injuries, more or less guarded by Lockheed, Gambit and ‘Ro. Kitty catches herself thinking in Japanese, as she is more and doing lately. It seems to become her natural language like intangibility has become the normal state of her body. At least that’s what she believed until the fight at Summers Cove. Those wounds were a nasty shock.
Suddenly, a splatter of blood falls on her face. Surprised, she opens her eyes to see Lockheed and ‘Ro slain by claws, Gambit is next in front of her eyes. The Wolverine clone has found her and threatens her. Before he is upon her, Kitty phases through the bed and the floor. Downstairs she finds the Starjammers crew, as well as Jean Grey, dead.
Wolverine has caught up and slashes her back. He suggests she see them as showing her the way. She slashes back with the natural claws she’s developed on her left hand as well as the Adamantium claw on her right. She keeps cutting, figuring to do so until there is nothing left to heal.
Someone cheers her on. She turns around to see an evil and completely feral version of herself that she might develop into. She refuses to believe this is the shape of what she’ll become. That’s not her and yet-- She loses consciousness, muttering that Logan was her friend. What has he done to her.
end of the dream
Kitty wakes up with a scream. Gambit rushes to her side. She babbles everything seemed so real. He comforts her that the nightmare is over and they are all safe. If he says, so, she sighs, knowing it isn’t true.
At Xavier’s, Rogue and Nightcrawler are practicing in the Danger Room. As Rogue gets Kurt out of a deathtrap, Mystique warns them they cannot rely anymore on their former abilities. Kurt swings to safety and tells his mother (now sporting a new black and gold costume) she needn’t remind him of his new capabilities. She notices something is bothering him. He tells her she has made her peace with Rogue, but his questions remain unanswered. Rogue too insists she trust them. Surely Alaska showed them, Mystique begins that she has moved beyond empty promises and gestures. Not nearly enough, Kurt replies, but it’s a start.
She thinks to herself that she kept her secrets for the same reason she joined the X-Men, to keep her son safe! Is Destiny laughing at her, at how her past mistakes have come to haunt her? Irene warned her this day would come, but never gave her a hint how it would end. She told herself she stayed clear of Kurt all his life to keep him safe. Now everything’s changed, he and Rogue are both at risk. Whatever the cost, she has to find a way to save them.
Back at Summers Cove, Kitty makes use of houseguest Robyn Hanover, who happens to be a psychiatrist, to talk about her problems. Kitty tells Robyn she faced scarier guys. How many left scars? Robyn asks. Sikorsky agrees that the fight was recent, yet Kitty’s wounds have healed substantially. Robyn warns her that her mind works at a different pace, perhaps the way to deal with her memories is by going to where it all started. She needs closure. Then she can feel safe again.
Until another clone shows up, Kitty silently figures. She can feel Jean’s eyes on her. Can she read her thoughts or just her body language? Kitty heads outside the house where Jean is waiting for her. Kitty assures her she is okay. As much as any of them, Jean replies. Has she done something wrong? Is she angry? Kitty asks. Of course not, the other woman assures her. She’s just concerned. Kitty has taken some hard hits. She wants to help. “Trust me, red, when I need it, I’ll yell.” That’s what Logan used to say, and the way he used to say it, Jean muses.
Terrific, Kitty thinks as she steps into the forest. Not only is she thinking like Logan she is stealing his lines. Her life just gets better and better. Except she’s not really sure its hers anymore.
Gambit looks after her, concerned, while ‘Ro is playing tag with Nate. For the next round, she figures, she knows the perfect place to hide.
As she makes her way through the wood, Kitty recalls the first time they met and fought the Marauders. She was nearly killed by Harpoon. This is twice now that Sinister’s goons left their mark on her. She doesn’t want there to be a third.
She kneels down, finding some bone claws. Here’s where the Wolverine clone tagged her and where Remy killed him. Sabes shattered his one set of claws… What happened to the body? She takes a look around and senses a faint blood trail. No surprise. Logan’s survived near death wounds. Why not his evil twin?
She hears something and unsheathes her claw. Someone downwind. She jumps at the stranger to find Gambit! He rolls with her attack and suddenly she is under him. He orders her t get a hold of herself before someone gets hurt. She babbles she thought he was. She was afraid. He assures her she’s safe.
She cradles his head closer only wanting to follow her instincts but he gently rebuffs her. Don’t they both want this? she asks surprised. He asks if she is the person making that choice. There is a lot of confusion in her head. She’s just a kid and this is the kind of choice you can’t call back if you realize later you made a mistake. Is she ready to trust her instincts, body and soul? She runs away ashamed, feeling he is right.
Back at the X-Mansion, Scott is playing a round of basketball with Daisy Dugan. Scott wonders why there is no news from Alaska yet. She tells him no news is good news and to get his head in the game before she knocks it off. Not sure he likes how her new pal, Sabretooth, is rubbing off on her… She shoves him aside before he can score a goal, reminding him she was one of Fury’s best soldiers long before she met Victor.
Scott falls and Daisy apologizes. Except the fall knocked something loose like old memories, and Scott suddenly realizes he knows Robyn Hanover from when he was a kid at the orphanage. If that’s really her that can’t just be a coincidence, can it?
Meanwhile, in Alaska aboard the Starjammer, Kitty works the computers. Having slipped back into Japanese, she wonders whether she will ever be free of the nightmares. She tracked Wolverine to Anchorage but lost him down on the docks. She figures he’s slipped on a boat. And soon after she monitors reports of a missing fishing boat that shows up abandoned off the coast of Japan. With a sense of where to look she uses the Starjammer’s scanners to register Wolverine’s genetic signature and gets a solid trace.
She wonders why he is there. Does he know about Mariko? She’s Kitty’s friend as well as Logan’s She owes her a lot. She won’t let him hurt her! However, Mariko doesn’t take her calls. Kitty wonders if she is furious with the X-Men for what happened between Logan and Jean.
She wants to enter the Skimmer when Nate runs into her. He asks if she knows where Lockheed and ’Ro are. Hasn’t seen them, Kitty apologizes and tells him he hasn’t seen her either, okay? She’s slipping out to check on a friend. It’s a grown up thing, she will be back soon. Nate offers to come along. She thanks him, but his dad and Granddad would kill her. As she starts the Skimmer Nate sees ‘Ro and Lockheed inside at one of the windows. ‘Ro makes a shush sign.
Soon the others wonder where Kitty is. Jean can’t get a lock on her telepathically and asks Dr. Hanover. Robyn explains that Kitty has been dealing with posttraumatic stress, but never said anything about running off. She hasn’t any clues.
Jean thinks to herself she wouldn’t be able to tell. Robyn has strong mental barriers for a regular psychiatrist.
Gambit points out that he hasn’t seen ’Ro or Lockheed since before supper. Kitty can handle herself but if anything happens to ‘Ro that’s on his shoulders.
Jean addresses Nate. She saw him playing with ‘Ro earlier. Does he know where she went? Nate hesitates. Kitty made him promise. Jean and Gambit urge him; it’s important!
Kitty lands the cloaked Skimmer atop a building in the estate of Clan Yashida. Kitty plans to warn Mariko, then look for clone Wolverine. However, she notices a familiar scent aboard the Skimmer. She finds ‘Ro and Lockheed and asks for an explanation. ‘Ro tells her she was playing with Nate; she didn’t know Kitty would steal the Skimmer. Then they decided to come with her to cover her back.
She seems properly apologetic and Kitty recalls how many times she was in exactly the same situation as ‘Ro.
She phases them outside and explains where they are, then orders ‘Ro to follow her lead and do as she told. Yashida is a friend, right? ‘Ro asks. Kitty hopes so. Mariko and Logan were in love, almost got married. She doesn’t know how she feels abut the bond between him and Jean. But if Wolvie is after Mariko she has to be warned.
‘Ro asks what kind of room they are in. Household temple, Kitty explains, it’s where you keep representations of those you cherish. She spent a lot of time in a place like this. She takes up the sliced picture of Logan. She’d been possessed by Logan’s old teacher Ogun. He tried to make her a master assassin. Logan helped her find her way back. And now he is as much part of her soul as Ogun. She’ll likely never be free of either of them. Question is who’s the dominant ghost in here? And when the karmic dust finally settles, will there be any room left for her?
Kitty hears footsteps and voices. She orders ‘Ro to stay close and quiet as they eavesdrop. She spies the meeting outside between Kenuchio Harada aka the Silver Samurai, Mariko’s half-brother and Matsu’o Tsuaraba, a premier Oyabun of the Hand. If these guys are friends, as Kitty just witnesses by their discussion, the X-Men are in big trouble…


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The Gathering Storm
Over the Indian Ocean, a plane nears its destination; its home: Wakanda. However, despite the weather forecast clouds begin to gather and a thunderstorm starts. Didn’t they have assurance by the queen that their weather would be clear? one of the pilots nervously asks. He thinks someone has different ideas, the other replies and tells his colleague to look. Standing in the air is a being in a panther-shaped silver armor.
The Ghost Panther comes in, smashing the canopy. The men panic. They are seven miles high. At this altitude, they fear the explosive decompression will destroy the aircraft. But nothing happens. The Ghost Panther reminds them that the Panther doesn’t bring harm to the people of his realm. The men find this impossible. The Black Panther was murdered by Eric Killmonger! Which do they believe, the Panther demands – the news or their own eyes? The winds of change are blowing; the time is coming to make a choice. Who will they follow: the queen who betrayed her love or the Ghost Panther who stands against her?
The Ghost Panther walks into the cabin and orders the passengers to set down their weapons. An impostor! a Dora Milaje cries and orders the guards to take the Panther down. Easier said than done, beloved, the Ghost Panther replies, taking out the men with martial arts moves. Trying to kick the Panther, the Dora Milaje seethes at someone other than her monarch using her title. Her loyalty and skill do her credit, the Panther admits, but they are no match for the Ghost Panther. The woman is taken out.
The Ghost Panther steps into the chamber behind where a drugged ‘Ro is tied up. The girl puts up a brave front and the Ghost Panther assures her he is there to help and frees ‘Ro, then flies them off towards Genosha with her where the plane can also make an emergency landing. The Panther is unaware that they are being tracked by Lockheed.
Wakanda, a powerful state in East-Africa. Its former ruler, the Black Panther, has fallen to be replaced by a woman who everyone believes to be Storm. T’Challa gave her refuge when she fled from the X-Men and eventually asked for her hand in marriage. But on their wedding day, he was murdered. Storm, by all reports, avenged him. Because she wore the royal ring, she stood as his wife and heir and the people welcomed her. The land prospered. All was well or so it seemed.
Enraged, Storm addresses a hologram of Mariko Yashida, who had promised to deliver the mysterious young preteen version of Storm, ‘Ro, to her. Mariko reminds her she did do that when she handed the girl to the Wakandan embassy in Tokyo. She and the Consortium can hardly be blamed if Storm’s people weren’t competent enough to finish the job.
Storm calls her a traitorous witch, and reminds her of all she sacrificed for the Consortium. Has Mariko forgotten how loyally she served as their agent in the X-Men? How she killed her oldest friend Wolverine at the Consortium’s behest?
And what a fine job she did of that, Mariko sneers. The Consortium is still cleaning up the mess. Perhaps they’d be better off removing that problem at the source. Is that a threat? Ororo snaps. One she’d do well to heed, Mariko warns.
Storm gives the order to sever the com-link and get that arrogant human out of her sight! Angrily, she asks about the plan and is told that their search was hampered by weather. Perhaps she might help….
Must she do everything?! she shouts displeased, but relents. She’ll do what she can but at the same time she warns them to move ahead with their plans for Genosha. Somehow she has the feeling all their troubles come from that wretched island…
Summers Cove Alaska. At the bottom of the cove the Starjammer hides.  Inside, the X-Men, Cyclops’ father Corsair and two sometime X-Men, Havok and Polaris, are discussing the current situation. The Consortium is trying to kill them all and now one of them, ’Ro, is in serious danger and they may try to use her as a bait. He’s still no quite sure how all of this happened, Nightcrawler sighs.
Shadowcat blames herself. She went to Japan looking for answers, finding trouble instead. She never imagined Mariko would betray them. And now her Consortium has their hands on ’Ro, Gambit worries.
Jean summarizes that they shielded Ro’s bio-signature from the X-Men’s scans, both conventional and telepathic. She could be anywhere. If she’s still in this galaxy, the Starjammer can find her, Corsair assures them.
Anything to add? Corsair asks Nick Fury who along with Daisy Dugan is witnessing this via video conference. Nothing about the girl, he replies. But his sources are coming up with lots of interesting data about Yashida and the Consortium and their growing ties with SHIELD and the Hand.
While the others get up Kurt tells Kitty she can tell him the truth. Why did she really run off to Japan? It’s complicated, she replies, everything about her is changing so fast. After all he’s been through these past few months, he thinks he can relate, Kurt replies wryly. She admits he’s right. He already knows that she inherited Logan’s claw, his healing factor, even his attitude. What he didn’t know is he wants them all back along with her life!
Is she saying Logan is still alive? he bursts out, drawing the attention of the others. They have to find him and—She already did Kitty replies, and has the scars to prove it. This isn’t their friend. This is a monster!
How can she say that? Kurt insists. If he’s alive they can reach into his soul… He has no soul! she insists. If Kurt tries to reach out to him, he will slice off his hand.
Jean quickly stalks out of the room. Scott shouts her name. Sabretooth keeps him back. He tells him they are both grown up and Scott has a team to lead and a kid to save. He’ll go deal with red; Scott go take care of business! Cyclops remarks he sounds just like his son. Sabretooth warns him he’ll kill him if he says that again.
Sabretooth joins Jean, who stares out of a window. Is she okay? he asks. She is going to find Sinister and make him pay, she announces. For Logan, for Madelyne, for Scott and for herself. Does he have a problem with that? Is she kidding? Sounds like fun. She could bear losing Logan, Jean continues. She can even bear Mariko’s hatred, but to know there is a copy out there wearing his face… Then they’ll keep things simple, Sabretooth suggests, flexing his artificial hand. They find him and they carve his skull off!
Back in the meeting room, Polaris and Havok announce they have something. A lock on ‘Ro’s signature and they are not going to believe where it is. Actually, Alex amends, he’s getting two contacts, both along the east coast of Africa. One’s in Wakanda, probably the Storm who killed Logan. But there is another signal in Genosha in Hammer Bay. It seems a bit off. Most likely it’s got an echo but it’s definitely there. Since he is still officially a magistrate he can get there without any red tape.
Sounds good, Scott tells him. Knowing Ororo’s history in Genosha, there is no time to waste. The Consortium must have transferred her there for a reason and it can’t be good. Or there could be another player they don’t know about, Havok offers. Whose side are they on? Only one way to find out. They go in there together!
Genosha, a former superpower whose power was based on the slavery of mutants. Not so long ago, the X-Men hoped to bring all that to an end and set the mutants free. Now the island’s population works together, at least on the surface. Beneath the surface, things don’t look so perfect.
Somewhere in a dungeon, a Morlock asks another to check on the girl. She is still out cold, he is told. The Consortium nearly drowned her in sedatives. Best tell the Boss she’ll likely be out for hours.
Lockheed enters the cell and ‘Ro awakes too, happy he has found her. She’s been playing possum. She finds a splinter on the ground and uses it to pick the locks for her handcuffs. She and the dragon sneak outside to see the two Morlocks. She tries to pummel them with ice and snow but only manages a minor snowfall. Lockheed uses his flames to turn the snow to fog and she makes a run for it, only to run into Callisto who informs her she didn’t need to break free. All she had to do was ask.
‘Ro demands answers. With a smile Callisto, tells her she is not calling the shots. She wants answers she will have to ask. The Ghost Panther introduces himself and reminds ‘Ro how he rescued her from the Wakandans. To help save two nations. From whom? ‘Ro asks. From herself, is the cryptic answer.
Back in Wakanda, Chancellor W’kabi informs Queen Storm that the courier transport has been found. It made an emergency landing on the island of Genosha. It was attacked and the prisoner was taken. By – according to all witnesses –  the Spirit of the Black Panther himself.
Angrily, Storm summons lightning, shouting she fears nothing, last of all ghost stories. Her husband died protecting her and, so long as she lives, she will protect this land he loved. She orders him to call the Dora Milaje. It is time for the hunt!


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[Assistant]
Fire -- from the sky!
Chicago, Warren Worthington III’s office. A member of the board of directors comes in, asking about the expenses. Apparently, Warren’s been diverting millions into overseas accounts and running some kind of taxi service to East Africa. With a smirk, Warren reminds Mr. Frederick, that it’s his company and money, therefore it’s his business. Frederick replies they have a right to know what they are financing. In one word, revolution! Warren replies.
In Genosha’s capital, Hammer Bay, a young mutate woman (the number 1110), pale and with feral eyes, walks the streets when two men, addressing her as genejoke, tell her they have some work for her. The glowing girl refuses and calls them flatscans. She doesn’t have to obey anymore! She is as free as them! The men become aggressive, spoiling for a fight. Angrily, the girl berates them for calling her a monster. She used to be as them, until the Genegineer changed her and took away her future! She begins to emit energy, threatening to do the same to them.
A lightning bolt separates them. From a rooftop, the Ghost Panther informs them that’s enough and tells them to look around. This was a prosperous neighborhood. Too much of Genosha looks the same now, this land is bleeding to death and all they can do is fight amongst themselves! The old days, and ways, are done. If they are to prosper, they must find a way to live and work together.
He jumps down, asking them if they are jackals or men. Do they mean to frighten children or are they willing to work together to help heal this land they all should love?
The two men run away. Apparently, they need some time to think, the Ghost Panther comments, hoping they will eventually make the right choice. He has too much faith, the mutate girl remarks. Why should she trust the flatscans after what they’ve done to her, to the country? The Ghost Panther points out those days are ended by humans and mutants who chose to work together for the common good of all. Does she want to be a part of the new future or simply let it pass her by? The girl admits she doesn’t know. She doesn’t even have a name, just a number etched across her face. She needs to find out who she is before she can think about anything more. The Ghost Panther wishes her luck.
As he flies up to the roof, he is skeptical about her making the right decision. ‘Ro, who is waiting for him, is less so and announces how awesome it was how the Ghost Panther flew down there and made his case. Except neither side seemed to listen, comes he reply. ‘Ro doesn’t believe that. She saw their faces. Those two guys may have bolted but they heard what he said. And the girl too. The Ghost Panther is still skeptical.
At the United Nations building in New York:
Everett Ross speaks as the personal representative of the president of the USA. The situation is grave. The nation of Genosha is in turmoil. The recent conflict has been devastating and now they face a threat by the queen of Wakanda to annex the island. The delegates protest. The secretary general reminds Ross that they already confronted this treat and formally declined the queen’s petition. Ross replies she has other ideas. From a strategic viewpoint, Genosha is unique. It has the world’s largest cache of super-powered mutants, all of whom are recently liberated slaves. The question is whether the queen can be trusted and what she plans to do with those mutants. Can she be stopped?
Meanwhile, the X-Men are en route to Genosha. Havok, a former Magistrate himself, establishes a comlink with Chief Magistrate Anderson, who gives them a green light for landing. Jean is suspicious. Alex tells her to give Anderson a break. She is a friend. Jean refuses to trust anyone on this rock. How about him, Alex suggests, reminding her he is a magistrate too. He assures the others the island has changed. He’s been working here for months, trying to help rebuild the country. The reality they remember is done. Everyone looks skeptical and Cyclops hopes his brother is right.
Alex suggests he have a little faith. Scott admits something else is on his mind. Alex jokes he already promised they won’t have to fight each other down there again.
Has he noticed anything strange about Robyn Hanover? Scott asks. Not a thing, Alex replies. Scott explains he remembers her from the orphanage. Alex reminds him that he was adopted early, so he wouldn’t know anyone there. But if Robyn was there, he bets she was a friend. He’s seen her with Nate. She has a natural way with kids. He thinks it’s a coincidence. Scott doubts it: the X-Men rarely do coincidence.
Nightcrawler interrupts. He is getting some ominous spikes on the scanners. Something is happening down on the island. They may have to change their plans…
Back on Genosha, ‘Ro asks the Ghost Panther who he is. He’s not really a ghost, is he? The reply is that that’s his name. And every name reveals a bit of truth. ‘Ro find this creepy. That’s the idea, comes the reply. When people are frightened, they stop thinking straight. They panic and make mistakes. But to answer her question: he is someone looking after the people entrusted to his care. The Panther leads her to a building, inside are Callisto and some other Morlocks. Not just Morlocks, the Panther explains. All mutants and humans looking to live a better life, a truly free life. The Morlocks are a perfect example and the perfect soldiers to help usher in a new dawn.
What are they doing here? ‘Ro asks and the Panther explains that a mutual ally, an X-Man named Warren Worthington aka Archangel made it possible. What’s his link with Genosha? ’Ro asks. The Panther explains that Cameron Hodge, the man who nearly destroyed Genosha, was also one of Warren’s greatest enemies, so he feels responsible for much what happened here and is trying to make things right.
‘Ro still doesn’t see where she  or that creepy grown up version of her fits in. That they are trying to determine, the Ghost Panther promises.
As if on cue, the Panther is felled by a gust of wind. Queen Storm of Wakanda and her people have found them. Angrily, Queen Storm vows this storm will not pass until Genosha bows before her new queen. The Panther strikes back and topples her. Perfect Storm orders her men to open fire. They are unsure, wondering if this is the Black Panther reborn. The Ghost Panther tells the men to trust their eyes and hearts. He isn’t their enemy.
Perfect Storm fires lightning at the Panther, shouting T’Challa is dead! The king was slain before her eyes, she avenged his murder then and will not let his memory be tainted by an imposter!
Callisto jumps and shoves the Ghost Panther to safety. The Panther tells her he owes her. He owes her more than one, Cal snorts. Not that she’s keeping count. They better settle their debts! Perfect Stom warns and zaps Callisto with lightning. However, the Morlock leader bounces back, mocking that the real Ororo knew how to fight. Even more, she knew how to lead. She had courage and honor. Queen Storm may have her body but she’ll never be her!
For once, he couldn’t agree with her more! Cyclops announces. The X-Men have arrived. Cyclops orders his team to help their friends and they jump into action.
Have herself a fun adventure? Gambit asks ‘Ro, who is happy that he is here and apologizes about Japan. Queen Storm takes Gambit out with a gust of wind and grabs ‘Ro, threatening she will kill him.
Kitty alerts the others to the kidnapping. Scott wants to order Jean to go after them but the Panther announces he will take care of that. He jumps up on the roof. “Goddess,” he whispers a moment later at the sight: ’Ro has taken to the air and is using lightning to battle Perfect Storm, who shouts angrily how dare the child think herself a match for her? She’s not her equal, she’s better’Ro mouths off. However, a moment later her control over the lightning fades.
She looks like she could use a boost, the Ghost Panther remarks and hits her with lightning. Saturating her, Perfect Storm realizes. The child can’t handle the sudden overload. Reacting from instinct ‘Ro casts the energy out of her body as a primal shockwave of force scattering both the Ghost Panther and Perfect Storm who wonders how the Ghost Panther could do that and realizes that she underestimated her foes. She threatens ‘Ro that this victory is only fleeting and flies away.
The Panther tells ‘Ro to let her go. The child gasps when she sees the damage to the armor and apologizes. The Panther replies it was his choice and responsibility. He has survived worse. ‘Ro agrees. She’s caused enough trouble already. Besides, what could she do anyway? She’s just a copy, a fake. Ghost Panther replies she is neither copy nor fake. But how can she be the real Storm? ‘Ro asks. She’s just a kid. And the life she remembers is nothing like Storm’s.
The Ghost Panther assures her that he knows whereof he speaks and takes off his – or more to the point - her helmet to reveal a mohawked Storm, made only of energy. She and ‘Ro both are the true Ororo, she announces.


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[Assistant]
I of the Storm
‘Ro stares in disbelief at the unmasked Ghost Panther. An adult version of her, yet seemingly consisting only of energy. Who is she? What is she? ‘Ro bursts out. The adult version asks what she remembers of her life. Just some of it, the girl replies. She grew up in Cairo, Illinois. But her first memory is a … nightmare she has occasionally. She sees metal monsters.
‘Ro’s memories:
An adult version of her with weather powers fights the egg-shaped metal monster and her human-shaped one. The monsters win.
Later, she’s the younger ‘Ro. She is on a job and is attacked by more monsters… Hounds! That’s where she meets Remy, who saves her. They become partners.
After that, things get blurry for a while. All of a sudden she is a prisoner of the Consortium. Those anti-mutant thugs who’ve been hunting the X-Men. They treat her like a lab rat.
 Present:
The energy Storm is disappointed that this is all. She was hoping for more. She did not expect her memory loss to be so extensive. How come her memory is so important? ‘Ro asks. And the three of them, she, the Ghost Panther, Storm, why are they so alike? Are they family? Of a kind…the Ghost Panther replies.
Looking down, seeing the X-Men fight Perfect Storm’s troops, ‘Ro suggests they do something. Their situation is serious but not dire, adult Storm decides. What is important here is ’Ro. She takes off her glove and touches ‘Ro’s forehead and that moment memories flash through the girl’s minds.
Memories:
She recalls being on Xavier’s grounds when she, along with several New Mutants, was attacked by Genoshan magistrates, led by a brainwashed Havok. The mutants were beaten, captured and teleported away by Pipeline to remain Genoshan prisoners in the heart of the Genegineer’s Citadel.
Quickly and with ruthless efficiency, they are taken into custody and prepared for final processing. Hodge is eventually about to kill Storm but the Genegineer intervenes, suggesting Storm should go into the genepool. Hodge demands to witness the mutate transmutation of Storm. Storm’s head is shaved and she is prepared. As Moreau describes the process she is about to undergo, Hodge is distracted by the intruders Wolverine and Psylocke and leaves to deal with them.
The moment he is gone, Moreau frees Storm, telling her she has to trust him. He explains that he and Chief Magistrate Anderson have been planning a coup ever since Hodge seized power.
Storm is suspicious but realizes Hodge is not actually giving her a choice. With that, another mutate touches her and copies her memories. Moreau helps her up and explains he will run a custom configuration of the transmode process that will allow Storm to maintain her memories and free will. But until the moment comes to reveal the truth, she must keep the secret. Storm replies she used to be a thief. Lying was one of the first things she learned.
And so, Hodge and his X-Men prisoners witnessed what seemed to be the irreversible brainwashing of Storm into Mutate 20.
While Hodge is busy playing with his prisoners, Psylocke and Wolverine, Moreau takes Storm along and another Mutate. In more private rooms he defends himself, it was never meant to be that way. The mutates were meant to save the good of their nation. Not the whims of a madman. From her perspective, he and Hodge are merely different sides of the same coin, she observes bitterly. Hodge is mad but both of them have done unspeakable evil.
Moreau still believes he does what he thinks right and is willing to accept the consequences. Normally, he’d use Wipeout to restore her teammates’ powers but he’s too terrified of Hodge to defy him. So he’ll create a biosynth, a precise replica of Storm with a portion of Wipeout’s powers. It’s the best way since he already has the genetic material on hand. Usually, Biosynths take months to gestate but they’ve been developing an experimental rapid growth matrix. With their time constraints it will have to do the trick.
With awe and horror, Storm watches herself being born. However the Genegineer is unhappy, the matrix is still unstable. Everything happened too quickly. She was meant to be adolescent like Storm, instead the clone is an adult. But they’ll have to proceed.
Storm argues that this biosynth is a living person, that his mental implant will make a second iteration of her. When all of this is done, what then? She cannot be simply cast away. She will not permit that! One challenge at a time, the Genegineer replies.
The plan is made and Storm plays her role. Later on, Magistrate Anderson orders that she attacks Cyclops. Around the two mutants, there is a burst of wild energy and, as the burning light fades, she has been replaced by the clone, seemingly Storm, now fully grown and free of Genosha’s thrall.
What actually happened was the Genegineer making a last minute switch. The real Ororo’s spectacular pyrotechnics generated such a blinding glare that nobody noticed when Pipeline teleported her away and replaced her with Moreau’s adult clone, whose modified genestructure  restored the powers of the other’s while the young Ororo would stay safely stored away until needed. A secret weapon in the Genegineer’s struggle against Hodge.
Unfortunately, all the Genegineer’s plans turned to be for nothing. Hodge had anticipated his rebellion and killed him. As the battle for Genosha raged to its conclusion, the Citadel crumbled. Among the fatalities was Pipeline, slain before he had a chance to restore the real Ororo. Her digital essence remained locked in the central lab’s memory cache. No one suspected that the Storm, who helped the X-Men in Genosha and continued to fight alongside them, was merely a copy.
Over the ensuing weeks, magistrate investigators searched the rubble and found the tranfax console. Genosha had changed, the mutants were free and many of the Magstrates didn’t like that. The Consortium seized upon the growing anti-mutant sentiment and so a mutually beneficent deal was struck. The tranfax console was transported across Hammer Bay to a secret lab complex established there.
What they found surprised them. But without Pipeline they could not reassemble the data stream. Whatever was in there looked like a ghost. The scientists called for help. To their surprise, their request was answered by Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, and Ingrid Trask. They managed to get ‘Ro out.
Ingrid figures that when the transfax was disrupted critical data was lost. Is she sure? Tony wonders. Seems to him like there’s too much raw data for this body to handle. Like trying to pour a large bottle into a small cup. What happens to the overspill?
Suddenly, a scientist warns that they are getting some powersurge; the systems are being fried! There is a thunder storm.
Soon, Iron Man flies around the complex. The lab was completely destroyed whereas nobody was hurt, like the lightning was under someone’s conscious control…. Leaving them with an unconscious girl and a mystery. At the same time, there were reports of strong electrical activity in the ruins. Worth checking out.
He finds a mohawked adult Storm made only of electrical energy. He addresses her and she asks if he can help. Is it truly her? he ask. Not entirely, Storm admits. Her memories and powers are all there. Yet her physical form seems to be elsewhere. The girl back in the lab, he realizes. But how? Trapped within the transfax matrix was a portion of life energy drained from Warlock. When they tried to reconstitute Storm’s body, they started a chain reaction that literally tore them apart. She and the child are not whole.
First thing, Iron Man figures, they have to keep her energy focused and coherent. He adjusts his armor’s chestplate and places it on her torso, to siphon off charged ions from the atmosphere. The part of the armor he gives her, he explains, will feed raw elemental energy into her system. And will help cloak her. He can’t do anything about the glow. She needs to keep out of sight.
Storm reminds him of her thief past. She is used to that. And good at it. He promises to design her something better, and after that they will set things right.
He returns to the scientists as Tony Stark, not informing Ingrid and asking if there is a problem. She replies that the Genoshan government has started asking questions. This location is no longer safe. She’s decided to transfer the subject to their facilities in Manhattan. Stark wants to know Ingrid’s plans for the girl. What does he think? she scoffs. She’s a mutant! She’s a child! Stark protests. In a few short years, she’ll be an adult. What’s his point? Evil isn’t in the genes, he insists. Ingrid is not convinced.
Time passes. ‘Ro was rescued. While Tony works he listens to the news learning that T’Challa has been murdered and is succeeded by his wife Queen Ororo. Ingrid calls him, telling him Project X is now a go. His presence is required on the satellite. Tony promises to be there as soon as he’ll wrap up one last loose end.
Iron Man catches up to the real Storm and they discuss the news. Storm bitterly remarks her double has been very busy, first betraying the X-Men and then T’Challa, a man whose only crime was to love her. Iron Man gives her a suit of armor, a second skin which he designed to honor an old friend. Storm puts on the suit, reminiscing that when she was young she and T’Challa saved each other’s life. It is fitting that she armor herself in his tribute. As far as the world is concerned, she stands before them as the Ghost Panther! But what of Tony? He’s an Avenger, he replies, he’s off to do what he does best. Try to save the day.
Present:
Flying away, he looked so beautiful, Storm muses. She never imagined she was seeing him for the last time. She had intended to return to the X-Mansion to seek Xavier’s help to set things right. But then the school was destroyed and with it all the X-Men who resided there. Her best friend Jean Grey. Kitty. Even ‘Ro, her other half. She was used to looking like a ghost. Suddenly, though, she felt like one – alone.
But she’s not ‘Ro smiles. They are all alive. They only pretended to be killed; it was a giant fake out. But how did this other Storm go so wrong if they are all the same person? Storm muses that Moreau was right. Because of her accelerated aging, the balance of the bio-synth character was inherently unstable. During the X-Men’s battle in Scotland with Legion and the Shadow King, their minds touched. Part of the abilities spliced into her genome by the Genegineer was to absorb portions of other mutants’ talents. That fleeting contact somehow grafted a measure of the Shadow king’s malevolence onto her. As the X-Men struggled to rebuild, the fake Storm sought out the Consortium. If she could not be sole leader of the team, she would destroy it and the same urge to dominate led her to destroy T’Challa, and now to confront them here on Genosha. ‘Ro fears she will never quit till she wins. She would do no less, Storm points out. Nor would ’Ro.
Perfect Storm returns to Wakanda and tells Minister W’kabi that the Ghost Panther had help from the X-Men and sooner or later the Ghost Panther and his new friends will come for her, unless they strike first. She orders W’kabi to release press reports that their aid units in Genosha have been attacked by terrorists. Wakanda has no desire to take military action in response, which is why their queen is reaching out for help to her late husband’s most trusted allies…


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[Assistant]
The Price of Life – is Death!
In a small hut in Wakanda, Dr. Stephen Strange begins his spell to merge the energy “Ghost Panther” Storm and l’il ‘Ro back to the shape they belong.
Meanwhile, in the royal palace of Wakanda, the X-Men are in for a nasty surprise as the sociopathic Queen Storm has called the Avengers for help. Sanctimoniously, she informs the X-Men present – Cyclops, Jean Grey, Havok and Polaris – that by invading her home they have committed a crime against all of Wakanda and their fabled luck has just run out, as she has powerful allies.
Angrily, Cyclops asks if those allies know the truth, that Storm was the one who attacked Genosha without warning or provocation to annex the nation? Jean stands behind him adding that her reign is based on lies. They are here to set things right! Havok helps up his lover, Polaris, who was ambushed by Storm.
They want lies? an unimpressed Captain America asks. How about the fact that the X-Men faked their death? That is reason enough to doubt their claims. They are very skilled at deception, Queen Storm adds with a smirk. If the Avengers wish answers, they’ll have to take them by force. And, so the Avengers and Storm attack.
Perfect Storm strikes at Cyclops with a knife, a blow which he dodges. Havok tries to use his blasts on Thor, but as a god he is not impressed. Polaris attempts to warp the electromagnetic fields around the Vision with her powers while Jean Grey finds a formidable adversary in the unpredictable powers of the Scarlet Witch, who manages to beat her. Jean still has the strength, though, to call the rest of the team who are loading up on weapons for help. Rogue tells them to grab some toys and teleports ahead.
Rogue teleports atop the Scarlet Witch and ‘ports away with her, thus freeing Jean. Quicksilver becomes enraged and goes racing the palace in search for his sister, tracking her with the locator in her uniform. He vows he will rescue Wanda soon and make her abductor pay!
Freed up, Jean battles Spider-Woman while Polaris holds herself against Hawkeye. Captain America observes the battle between Cyclops and Storm, noting Storm has changed in a way he doesn’t like. But she is Wakanda’s rightful ruler and the Avengers gave their word to help. He throws his shield at Cyclops but it is diverted thanks to a shot from Nightcrawler’s gun. Heavily armed, the rest of the team have arrived and instantly join the fracas.
Nightcrawler tries to help Havok against Thor, hoping they can at least keep Thor from using his hammer. Gambit uses his vibranium spear against Cap’s shield while Lockheed fires a fiery blast at Spider-Woman.
Storm intends to gut Cyclops when Kitty challenges her, making fun of the scar she gave her months ago. What a harsh little girl she has become, Storm smirks. Savage, a beast and more like Wolverine every day. Formidable as that may sound, Kitty better remember that she killed him and happily intends to do the same to her! They cross blades and Storm disarms Kitty with a kick. Empty threats from a child without a weapon, Storm mocks. Unsheathing her claw, Kitty retorts, in case she forgot, she is the weapon now.
Hawkeye traps Sabretooth with a net arrow. He’s up against the greatest archer in the world, Hawkeye boasts. He ain’t impressed! Sabretooth snarls and tears the net apart. With a smirk, Hawkeye replies “let dance” and reaches for another arrow.
Meanwhile, Quicksilver finds his sister unconscious, lying in one of the main corridors. He realizes it’s a trap but figures his speed will protect him. He cradles her, only to have the “Scarlet Witch” hit him and kayo him. Her work done, she changes back to Mystique and tells Rogue the coast is clear. She praises Rogue for playing her part equally well. Rogue muses that, for the children of Magneto, they didn’t put up much of a fight. That’s the difference between his family and theirs, Mystique replies smugly. They were raised to believe they were the best, Rogue and her brother actually are.
Cyclops and Havok both are blasting at Thor, trying to separate him from his hammer. Calling them fools, Thor assures them that will not happen. In their last battle, he held back his full might out of respect for past battles when they fought side by side, out of hope the accusations against the X-Men might be wrong. But they did not face their accusers. They chose the path of the coward! He swats them aside, vowing they shall pay for that deception. Lightning gathers around Mjolnir.
Nightcrawler tackles him and touches Thor’s skin. When the power transfer begins, Kurt screams in agony. It’s too much! Energy crackles around him. That moment, Rogue teleports herself and Mystique to his side. Mystique exclaims that he has come into contact with a god and can’t handle the overload! If his flesh cannot sustain the power, Kurt vows, he will put it to good use and energy pours forth from him. Unconscious, he falls, his hair now white with a black streak in the middle. Pretty much everyone’s stunned as a result.
Cyclops figures he might use this opportunity to end this and addresses Captain America, asking him to listen. The X-Men are not the enemy. Storm set all this in motion when she murdered Wolverine. She was working with a clandestine outfit called the Consortium. Ziggy Trask is also their agent. They now control SHIELD. The X-Men didn’t kill Tony Stark. The Consortium had a plan to murder all the mutants in the world. Stark and Hank McCoy sacrificed their lives to save them.
Queen Storm sneaks up on them, intending to kill Cyclops with lightning. Noticing this, Havok throws himself in front of Cyclops and takes the lethal blow.
A horrified Polaris shouts her lover’s name and flies at Storm, taking her outside. Storm mocks her and repels her with her wind, calling Polaris a “commoner.” She wonders what that makes her? the Ghost Panther challenges her as she joins them in the sky and tells her she will bring her reign to its end.
Queen Storm is surprised to find that her foe can manipulate the weather as well. She betrayed the X-Men! the Ghost Panther reminds her and furiously shouts she killed Logan and T’Challa! She hurls lightning at the other woman. And now she’s added Alex Summers to her butcher’s bill! These crimes will not be forgotten or forgiven!
Who is she? Queen Storm demands. Justice! comes the reply. She has done enough harm! Her masquerade is done! Queen Storm hurls the lightning back. She has won this land with blood! And with fire she will shape it into an empire!
All but forgotten, Polaris reaches out to the giant Storm stature, manipulating it, so the giant hand reaches out and closes around Queen Storm, trapping her. Still she boasts, certain Polaris can’t hold her for long. Lorna intends to kill her but the Ghost Panther holds her back, reminding her that for X-Men there is a better way.
They land on the balcony where X-Men and Avengers both are waiting for them. Captain America reminds them all they just overthrew Wakanda’s ruler. He doesn’t see any happy outcomes here. The Ghost Panther assures him things aren’t as bad. Gambit wants to know what she did with ‘Ro. She’s right here, she replies, and thanks to the help of Dr. Strange back the way the Goddess intended. She takes off the helmet to reveal the one true (mohawked) Storm back in her body. Just as she has been restored, she promises, the throne of Wakanda shall be as well.


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[Assistant]
Shall We Rise Again?
In a war room in the Wakandan royal palace stand the Avengers, X-Men Storm and Jean Grey, Callisto and Dr. Strange, all listening to a transmission by Nick Fury who is busy trying to convince the Avengers of the conspiracy the X-Men and SHIELD were victims of. He finishes that the data confirms everything revealed by Tony Stark. Who is dead, Captain America reminds him. And the X-Men are implicated in that death. Fury’s data says one thing, the data given the Avengers says another. Who do they believe? Is that a serious question, Fury scoffs. Jean telepathically asks him to keep his temper. Cap is his friend.
Captain America sighs and admits he trusts Nick, but how do they convince everyone else? Fury and the X-Men are supposed to be dead. It’ll be said if Fury can lie about that, how can anything he says be trusted? Fury will be accused of being under Ms. Grey’s mental control.
How do they know that isn’t happening? Hawkeye asks. They all know Grey’s rep. Perhaps she is playing mind games. For goodness’ sake! Jean exclaims impatiently but Ororo calms her. He has a point.
Fury asks Cap, what next, and reminds him of when they were fighting in WW II. Did they quit simply because the Nazis were winning? Not then, not now, Cap replies. The Consortium planned to exterminate every mutant in the world, he tells Hawkeye. Tony Stark sacrificed his life to stop them. They are Avengers, they don’t back murderers!
Elsewhere, Polaris and Cyclops mourn for Havok, who died protecting his brother from Queen Storm’s lethal blow. Lorna cries that is isn’t fair. Scott recalls how as children he and Alex were thrown out of a plane with one parachute while their parents fell prey to the Shi’ar. He held tight to his kid brother to protect him from the impact. He took the hard hit when they landed. He’s tried to look after him ever since. Alex felt the same, Lorna tells him. Why else did he block Storm’s blast? He knew what it was like to grow up without a father. He wouldn’t let that happen to Scott’s son. That’s one of the reasons she loved him so! Him too, Scott agrees with a small voice.
Elsewhere, the Vision examines the comatose Nightcrawler watched by Rogue, Mystique and Thor. During the battle, Kurt tried to absorb Thor’s power. Thor recovered, Nightcrawler has not. In fact, his hair turned white. Thor praises Kurt’s courage but his flesh is mortal. Vision finds his pulse is strong and his vital signs are off the charts. The answer to his condition is not strictly medical.
Suddenly, Kurt begins to speak seeming gibberish which Mystique recognizes as Runic, the ancient formal chants of the Vikings. He is calling out to the goddess of death Hela, Thor translates, for her Valkyrior to carry him to Valhalla. The strength of flesh matters not. He fears, his soul is at an end!
Mystique refuses to accept this and asks Vision to call the X-Mansion. The Vision calls Dr. McTaggert and transfers the biomedical data. Moira orders them to get Kurt to Muir Isle. She’ll meet them there, once she’s collected Dani Moonstar. Vision doesn’t understand. Thor explains that Dani is bound to the Valkyries. With her winged stallion, Brightwind, she can transport friends to the Golden Realm and there do what is necessary to save the lad. And Hela better not try to stop them, Rogue warns.
The Storm clone “Queen Storm” is manacled to the wall with manacles that cannot be picked and which neutralize her powers. She mocks both her “guards” Gambit and Sabretooth, then reminds Sabretooth she can restore mutant powers. If he kills the Cajun and cuts her loose, she will restore his healing powers. Imagine a real hand, she suggests, and real eyes. He snarls and reminds her that she took his eyes and killed his boy. How about he pay her back in kind? That’ll make them even! The real Storm enters with Callisto and some Avengers.
Captain America gives Scott and Lorna his condolences and shakes Scott’s hand.
Storm finds Kitty and happily greets her as “Kitten.” Kitty turns away and spits she hasn’t the right to call her that. She orders Storm to stay away; she wants nothing to do with her, tears belying that claim. Ororo asks what is wrong. She is kidding, right? Kitty snarls and unsheathes her claw. Did being a ghost make her dumb? Look at her! Logan may be dead, but he left a claws and part of his soul in her. Storm was her friend and she thought she’d struck him down. She felt so stupid for being betrayed. She tried to kill her!
Ororo orders her to look into her eyes to see the truth. She danced with Doom himself to bring Kitty back from the beyond. As Kitty faced down Loki to win Storm’s freedom in Asgard. They are bound by ties nothing can break. And now, more than ever, she needs Kitty by her side. Kitty finally trusts her and they hug.
Later, Storm announces to X-Men and Avengers both that she intends to take “perfect Storm’s” place as ruler of Wakanda to help both Genosha and Wakanda achieve their rightful place in the world. Shades of Dumas’ “Man in the Iron Mask,” Kitty mutters. It’s a matter of honor, Storm explains. T’challa was her friend and her doppelganger betrayed him. She must set things right.
What to do with the copy? Spider-Woman asks. If they kill her, how can they call themselves heroes? Perfect Storm asks and vows she will have her revenge, if they let her live. Dr. Strange lectures that all life contains risk The Eye of Agamotto knows the truth that revenge may cost her far more than it is worth.
Cyclops warns Storm this isn’t a causal commitment but the rest of her life. Captain America takes her side: it may be their only option. If they reveal the truth, the Consortium is probably ready and waiting to move in to take over Wakanda and Genosha. That likely means complete annihilation for the island’s mutants. He has seen one holocaust in his lifetime. He won’t be party to another.
Storm continues that, whatever Perfect Storm’s intentions were, her first act was to win the love of Wakanda’s people. That she will maintain. But instead of annexing Genosha, she will approach the island as a friend to help them build a land for humans and mutants working together. From that foundation, they can reach out as allies to Africa and the world.
She asks for Callisto’s help who admits this sounds like fun but points out it won’t work the way Storm looks right now. Ororo turns to Masque and Gambit warns him what will happen if he plays them false. He asks Storm if she is sure about this as she will have to bear a scar. Masque works on Storm, changing her hairstyle and adding the scar which Storm considers a badge of honor and a very small price to pay for what they intend.
Hawkeye is still not convinced the X-Men are legit (unlike most of his teammates). Sabretooth interrupts the arguments, announcing an approaching SHIELD assault craft. Cap orders the Scarlet Witch and Dr. Strange to scramble SHIELD’s scanners so they can’t tell who they are. He tells the X-Men they’ll buy them time to get out as they are still pretending to be dead.
Remy tells Storm he wasn’t altogether sure it was her till now. He remembers her eyes. He has saved her twice now, she tells him and promises they will meet again sooner than he thinks, him and Kitty. He promises to look after Kitty until then.
Time to go, he tells Kitty as the X-Men get ready to leave. When asked what Ororo said, he replies she promised to see them soon. He and Kitty aren’t done here. Jean transports the false Ororo who still threatens them. The Scarlet Witch promises to cover their escape and promises the next time they meet it will be as friends and allies.
In Alaska, Cosair is taking his grandson and houseguest Robyn Hanover for a long promised flight. Robyn touches Corsair’s arm and suddenly he seems to be in a trance. Robyn takes over the controls and sets a new course. She promises to keep Nate safe. The boy shakes his grandfather and asks Robyn to get them back to the Starjammer. She replies she is taking them to the best doctor she has ever known, one who has wanted to meet Nate for a very long time. He ash such plans for him….
In Wakanda, the Avengers greet a heavily armed SHIELD unit led by Sigrid Trask, who demands to know what the Avengers are doing here and why SHIELD wasn’t notified. Captain America replies the Avengers are here at the request of Wakanda’s Queen. Trask demands more information. That moment, Storm arrives, suggesting she pose her questions to her.
Trask angrily berates her for the trouble she’s caused. The Dora Milaje order her to address Wakanda’s queen more carefully. Trask calls her the fool whose actions took this part of the world to the brink of war. But the crisis has passed, Storm replies mildly, and all is well again. She has been in direct communication with chief magistrate Anderson. Their differences have been resolved.  So now what? Trask asks. Now they start again, determined to build a much more solid foundation for their friendship. Sigrid admits Storm is much better at this than she thought she’d be. As is she, Storm returns the compliment. She wonders where that will lead them.
The X-Men, in the meantime, have arrived in Hammer Bay. Anderson learns that Kitty now works for Queen Ororo. Anderson tells them that the other Storm is technically a possession of state. Ideally, they want to deprogram her and give her a second chance. Callisto is doubtful that will work. Anderson points out that they should try. After all, she did help save them from Cameron Hodge. Even if they think they’ve succeeded, they can’t ever let her go, Kitty points out.
Transported away, the other Storm still makes wild threads. Callisto tells her she need fear neither Ororo nor her, but Pryde.
They join the X-Men and other mutants at Havok’s funeral service. Kitty admits to Gambit how angry she feels. He offers to make her smile. Maybe that will help the pain pass away. Despite herself, she is enchanted and takes his hand.
At his brother’s coffin, Scott wonders why he couldn’t reach his father, either by radio or telepathy. Likewise, it looks like the Starjammers have lost contact as well. Which likely means that soon they will be on the road again. Lorna tells Scott that Alex died for him, the X-Men and Genosha and asks him to make sure he didn’t die in vain.
Anderson asks Lorna if she wishes to stay in Genosha and help rebuild. Lorna replies that Alex came to love this country. She loved Alex but she doesn’t know if she loves Genosha.
Jean confides in Scott that she wishes she’d stayed dead; maybe then much of this wouldn’t have happened. He replies that in the end that’s not important. These things have happened. Life goes on. They have to find a way to cope, to live with it. Look at him, all grown up, she tells him. A leader in every sense of the word. Scott promises they are going to find a way to make this world better for the generation that succeeds them. Hugging him, she promises she will be with him every step of the way. Whatever they face, they’ll all be X-Men forever!


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Prodigal (Part 1)
The Qortex Complex
Inside David’s mindscape, dozens of weird creatures are locked away in cells. The cells are stacked in rows with row after row on top of each other. The prisoners are trapped in their cells by beams of energy that act as bars across the doorways. In the middle of the room, a tall armored man drags a small one by the arm. The man being dragged is shouting to his capture that he will kill him. This is a place of captivity. It’s a place where the vile and viscous of a dozen realities suffer for their sins.
It’s a place where Tyrannix the Abominiod swivels his mouthpiece through the bars of his cell into the cell next door. The squid-like being hisses to his neighbor that they are dragging out another one of the levitators. In the next cell a woman called Ksenia Nadejda Panov plays with iconic scalpels that come from her hands. Tyrannix tells her that it looks like Zubar, to which she seems unimpressed at having her peace disturbed. She asks if Zubar is struggling, to which Tyrannix tells her he is but the Hazeguard has hold of him tightly. Tyrannix narrates to her what is happening. He tells her that the Hazeguard has strapped Zubar down in a chair and he can see the Xtractor and the needle.
In the center of the room, Zubar has been strapped down to a chair much like one at a dentist’s surgery. The Hazeguard stands on one side of him and the Xtractor the other. The Xtractor is wearing a large suit of armor, and on the end of each of his fingers is a needle. The chest area of his armor is transparent and beneath a thin human torso can been seen wearing the suit.
Zubar screams as one of the needles pierces his neck. None of them know the truth as to why they are dragged out day after day. None of them know what sickly essence it drains from them. They can’t remember how they came to be here or even if they will see release.
Tyrannix, still with his mouthpiece poking into Ksenia’s cell, says that it sucks the badness out like it’s pure evil. Ksenia looks through her bars at the scene and says that there is plenty of evil to be found in this place but very little attention to detail. She points out to Tyrannix that beneath the Xtractor’s armor he is frail. He relies on the Hazeguard to subdue them. Only when the prisoners are emptied and exhausted does he handle them. In the middle of the room the Xtractor drags the unconscious body of Zubar back to his cell again.
Ksenia tells Tyrannix that that is the weak moment, which is the moment she waits for. She turns around and goes to the back of her cell. She waves her hand towards Tyrannix’s mouthpiece and slices the end off with her ionic scalpels.
Elsewhere in a darkened place filled with bees, a voice calls out. It seems relieved as it says that they are back with them. It says they know they might be confused but to remain calm and pay attention. They will start with the manifesto just like always.
The bees vanish and a crack of blurry colors appears. The voice starts listing off points and begins with one: things are different now and they should forget the old ways. Secondly, his isn’t the life where the guy with the biggest pecs wins, not anymore anyway. And thirdly if he is ready to think for himself then there is no end to the wonders he will achieve.
As David opens his eyes, fully standing before him is a man dressed in a monk’s robe and holding a walking cane. They are in small wooden room with a bed, washing up bowl and simple furniture. The man introduces himself as Merzah the Mystic, Chohan of the 7th Ray, Hierarch of the Age of Aquarius, old-assed spyhunter and quaffer of beer. He fixes broken things and this is their 29th session together. He then gets David to speak.
David introduces himself as David Haller. His father is Charles Xavier, the closest thing his species has to a living saint. David then asks if Merzah has heard anything from him today to which he says that he hasn’t and then gets David to get back on track. David continues and says he grew up on an island off Scotland having spent of his life in an induced coma. He exhibits a suite of omega level skills almost without limit, his hair resists all attempts at restyling and he is possibly one of the most powerful beings in the world. Also to use the scientific term he is *$&%£* insane. But today he feels good all things considered. David is shirtless and wearing loose fitting orange pants. He has his legs crossed and is floating a few feet up on the air. Merzah opens the door to the room and tells David to stop with the “floaty” and asks him to take a walk.
Kangchengyao, North Sikkim District, Himalayan India
They step outside and David comments that it’s a weird, weird place. Merzah asks what he expected; this place is full of weird folk. Around David stands an array of strangely dressed people. Tents are scattered across the snowy landscape and the whole area of surrounded by a large wooden wall. Merzah goes on and asks David if he knows how much strain a lifetime being a psyker puts on the brain. He gestures to three men in costumes standing next to him. The Telectrician, Master Mental and the Human Guess; they were the best but now they are old, confused and fragile. David solemnly chips in that they are also forgotten.
Merzah tells him not to be like that. There is still greatness here, that’s which he built the commune. Neuronauts deserve a dignified retirement just like everyone else. Suddenly reminded of something, David turns around to a short old man dressed in a top hat and suit. David puts his hand on his shoulder and greets him as Mr. Zardu. He asks if he has been off saving the world again. Mr. Zardu mistakes him for someone called Nogi and then says that he has triumphed over the grotesque beetlepeople. Their antenna shall adorn his trophy hall. He then excitedly asks David to fetch him chocolate and dancing girls. David says he’ll do that and then places his hand on the side of Mr. Zardu’s head. He says that they finally have his psychic tumor on the run, so why don’t they smoke it out for good? Merzah tells him he has his back as David starts to activate his power. David glows pink with energy and he projects it through his outstretched hands into Mr. Zardu’s head.
Mr. Zardu falls to the ground unconscious and Merzah asks David if he got it. David replies “like a womp rat from a T-16.” Mr. Zardu will sleep for a day but he’ll be okay. He walks away with a smile on his face and Merzah tells him that it feels good doesn’t it. When he asks what he means Merzah explains that helping someone feels good. He then calls David his father’s son, to which David suddenly looks sad. He asks Merzah if he’s sure he hasn’t sent a message. Merzah says he’s pretty sure he hasn’t sent one in the last ten minutes and then asks David what’s on his mind.
Still looking forlorn David tells him that his father wanted to fix him. But then the very moment he dumped him here it’s “oh sorry son.” David becomes angry and starts to shout at Merzah. He starts mimicking Xavier and says there are things I got to do; I can’t really talk about it. Be back before you know it; eat your greens, do as you’re told and toodle bloody pip. David calms down and apologizes for his outburst. He says he knows he’s been a terrible burden to his father. He has all these powers and bugger-all control. How does he know he hasn’t left him here with all the other scrap-brains? As he says it he starts activating another power. This power lets him create pink scalpel like energy come from his hands.
Not knowing what to say, Merzah starts mumbling and then says he wouldn’t worry about it. The great Professor X wouldn’t fail someone he loves. He tells David to stop fiddling with his powers before he goes blind… there’s something he wants to show him.
Inside David’s mindscape, Ksenia is strapped to the chair with the Xtractor and the Hazeguard standing over her. The moment has arrived and the Xtractor’s needles have taken their grizzly toll. Her power is depleted, her strength drained and her will exhausted (Though not as quite exhausted as she pretends). She’s unstrapped from the chair and the Xtractor tells the Hazeguard he has it from here. As she is returned to her hell, she feels the great Xtractor pause and his grip slacken as if distracted by a thought. As the Xtractor starts to take off his helmet to reveal his face, she hears his voice thick with bitterness. Underneath the mask is David and he whispers, “the great Professor X does not fail the ones he loves.” He laughs and scoffs at the thought but before he can do anything else Ksenia suddenly leaps into action and punches him in the face. She then bites him in the neck, deep enough to draw blood.
In the real world, David, who was walking up some stairs, suddenly shakes as Ksenia takes over him. In her voice, David proclaims that it’s his time and his moment. Knowing what’s just happened, Merzah swears as David turns around and makes energy scalpels come from his fingertips. He says that he is Ksenia Nadejda Panov and the world shall tremble before him.
Inside his mindscape, David is struggling with Ksenia. The Hazeguard rushes towards them from behind and strikes Ksenia with a scythe-like weapon, causing her to fall away from David.
In the real world, David regains control and deactivates the scalpel power. Merzah asks if he is okay and David tells he is just lost concentration for a second. Merzah asks if the jail-cell mindscape is still working out. He tells him it’s perfect, like bloody Alcatraz for the psyche. It’s a mental metaphor that helps him visualize the situation; he’s just got to concentrate. Merzah tells him that his ego is infested by hundreds of predatory dissociative personalities, visualizing it is only half the problem. David says that he knows that but, for the first time in years, he’s keeping them locked down and using their powers when he needs them. No not their powers… his powers. He’s not been this calm in forever.
The two reach the top of the stairs they were walking up and find themselves on top of the wooden wall to the compound. David tells him that he wishes he had a goal, something to keep him focused. Merzah looks out across the mountainous landscape and tells David it’s his lucky day and then directs him to look down.
Below them they see a mob with burning torches and weapons. When David asks what that is, Merzah tells him it’s what hate looks like. He explains that they’re locals; a few holy types from the mountains. He asks David to role-play. Suppose his crops fail, his ox dies, his kid gets a boil on his ass. Say no one ever told him that random %*$&£ just happens. Then say there’s a crew of weirdo wizards living in a commune in the hills. It would sound mighty suspicious. David looks down to the mob and mutters that they blame them. Merzah says that they’re human and they’ll blame whatever they don’t understand on whoever they don’t understand. It’s what his dad has been fighting his whole life.
David starts to shiver from the cold and Merzah decides to bring up the subject of Xavier again. He says he couldn’t help but notice that his lapse in concentration coincided with their discussion on Xavier. The shadow of greatness looms large. He tells David he isn’t here to tell him how to feel about his dad. But there is something Xavier understands more than most. When it comes down to it it’s not the things causing &%*$% that really matter. It’s whether the people with the means to stop it do so and how they go about it. David looks forlorn again and remains quiet. His eyes glow red and he then lifts his head up and says that he’ll need Merzah’s help, to which he replies that that is a damn good start.
Down below, the mob is suddenly distracted by David speaking to them telepathically. He tells them to listen without sound. He is the lightning in their spines and they will hear him and understand him. He floats above them, glowing brightly. Vivid colors and runic writing swirl around him as the mob looks up at him amazed. He tells them that there are two ways this can end. The first is that they can embrace them without fear, forgive their strangeness and greet them as equals. They will find they can be very grateful towards friends. With that David uses his powers to heal any wounds the mob people have and then create crops and vegetables around them.
Inside David’s mindscape, the Xtractor and the Hazeguard have subdued a number of personalities and are extracting their powers.
The second way is to hate them. Wallow in their ignorance to persecute and fear them. They will find that he can provide plentiful ground for terror if they provoke him. With that, David summons a power that creates red snake-like demons to project from his body. The mob recoils in fear as the snakes lash out towards them. David halts the power and asks them to decide. The mob stands still for a few seconds, looking at each other for a cue. Then they all kneel on the floor and bow down to David. Stunned by this, David is speechless. When he does speak, he simply tells them to go home.
The mob starts to disperse and Merzah comes out of the compound to see David. He commends David for what he did but David tells him they wanted to worship him. They would have done whatever he said. Merzah tells him there’s always a third way, the trick is not taking it. David thanks Merzah but he replies that it was nothing and someday David will be doing it solo. Merzah gingerly asks David what would have happened had the mob chosen option two. David looks at him silently but, before he can answer, he suddenly blurts out an odd sound. His eyes light up with orange energy and the energy spills out of his ears and mouth too.
The Jean Grey School For Higher Learning, Westchester, N.Y.
Inside the school a scream rings out. The precognitive mutant Blindfold is knelt down on the floor, clutching her head and screaming and saying sorry. Two other students rush to her aid and Shadowcat phases through the wall calling out Blindfold’s name. As more X-Men arrive, Blindfold, still clutching her head, tells them that someone has changed the future. One of the students points out that she’s crying but another asks where from as she has no eyes. Blindfold collapses backwards and is caught by Shadowcat. She says that the old king is dead, long live the new king.
Back in the Himalayas, David is screaming as blood gushes from his nose and his eyes light up with energy.
Inside David’s mindscape, Ksenia sits in her cell, musing over how she tasted freedom and how she vows it won’t be the last time. Suddenly, the Xtractor collapses on the floor and explodes with a bright pink energy. The energy bars keeping the prisoners in the cells are turned off as small explosions happen throughout the compound. The needles on the Xtractor’s suit activate and shoot out towards various prisoners, stabbing them and extracting their powers.
Back in the real world, David is catatonic as energy pulses from him. Suddenly, an image of his father lying dead on the floor flashes into his mind. David manages to call out to him, just before he falls unconscious on the floor.
When David comes to, he finds a gravely injured Merzah lying on the floor. He tells him not to move but the man just groans in pain. Merzah assumes that the protestors came back but David tells him, whilst stuttering, that it was him but it was an accident. Merzah realizes that David is next to him and tells him he can’t feel his legs. David tells him that it was his father and he felt him die. He felt it happen and something changed in his brain. He tells Merzah he’s scared. A weak Merzah tells him that he’s a good kid and to try and believe it. He says the X-Men will be here to collect him because they look after their own. With his dying breath, he tells David to meet them as a friend, always as a friend. With that, he passes away.
David wipes a tear away from his eye and says that they might not all be inclined to friendship; they’re a bit picky like that. With that, David stands up and surveys the damage. Dozens of bodies lie amongst the burning debris of the destroyed compound.
In David’s mindscape, there is silence. Only for a moment before the whispering begins. Everything’s changed; the prisoners are broken and drained all at once and yet they are not beaten. A weak Tyrannix struggles to his feet and realizes the doors are gone. Ksenia picks herself off the floor and Tyrannix points out that the Hazeguard is dead and the Xtractor’s unguarded. In the middle of the room, the empty armor of the Hazeguard is scattered about. The Xtractor kneels on the floor with his extendable needles lying limply around him.
Ksenia starts to lurch forward and shouts that the Xtractor is hers. Before she can make it past her cell, a yellow arm slashes at her throat with its claws. None of the others hear her aborted threats amidst the rush. Nobody notices the newborn thing squatting rat-like on the dead chest of Ksenia, slurping greedily at her flesh. After all, what’s one more friend amidst the legion? This is the Qortex Complex; place where the vile and vicious slither forth from shattered brain cells with the same sneer on every lip. Their jailer is outnumbered, alone and unprotected. As the legion of personalities advance on the weakened Xtractor he sits in the center of the room… easy prey.