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The Labors of Magik Book Two: Best laid Plans…
Magik, Mirage, Wolfsbane and Madelyne Pryor make their way through an icy landscape somewhere in Limbo. While Wolfsbane leads the way, Magik tries to manifest her Soulsword, but only gets a broken stump, after S’ym managed to shatter it. She figures this may also be why her teleportation is off. She decides, the sooner she figures out how to get it together, the sooner they can return to Krakoa and rally to sort out the mess in Limbo. She reaches out… and nothing happens. Angrily, she swears and kicks the dirt.Dani tells her they need a place to rest. Illyana may not be bleeding, but what happened was devastating to her. She can’t just expect to bounce back immediately. She doesn’t have the luxury of taking the knee, Magik replies stubbornly. They could be in for all-out war.Rahne shouts and points at a hill: she heard sounds of battle from behind it.The Goblin’s tale:Long ago, the Goblin exile lost a great battle against the demon usurper, and her companions were forced to flee into the shadows of the kingdom she once ruled. One by one, the small band of rebels were hunted down by the horde of demons, until only the goblin exile remained. Then something both new and ancient found its way into the land – an infection that twisted the demons into a magical hive intent on consuming everything living in its path. The goblin exile’s power somehow kept the hive trapped in the kingdom. Now at the edge of things in a cold desolate outpost the goblin exile holds the line.Reality:When they look down, they see a fortress beset by demons, though something seems off about them. Magik warns they are not in shape to take them on. Dani wants to help. lllyana figures they are outnumbered and Madelyne agrees. Wolfsbane takes the decision out of their hands by moving closer. She sniffs something familiar: the woman atop the castle is another older Illyana who holds a blaster and has a techno-organic arm-cum-sword that seems to be made of Warlock.When the demons see her, they want to rush her. She sighs, do they never learn and blasts them with her Warlock-arm.The four mutants are impressed.Old woman Illyana calls down that it usually takes three weeks for them to get themselves for another siege attempt and calls them up. She calls them to the door and offers them a tour. She explains that, after her sword shattered, she lost her ability to teleport and was trapped here. She never regained the strength to take control of Limbo back from S’ym. As far as they are concerned… her version of Dani and Rahne died together in an attack in the first year, and Madelyne in an arcane accident a year later. She’s not sure how the TO virus made its way here, but it's everywhere, and Warlock can’t absorb it.Still, they’ve been holding back the infected hordes for too many years to count. She has attempted multiple times to breach their stronghold. She thinks if she kills their leader they will scatter. From what she has been able to gather, the human world is a mess. Krakoa fell. As far as she knows, she and Warlock are the only mutant survivors. The spells she uses to destroy the demons take a lot out of her and Warlock, and she admits she is exhausted. She suggests they talk more in the morning and tells them to make themselves at home.While the others go somewhere to sleep, Madelyne ignores the hint that Illyana wants to be alone. She asks why Illyana chose her. Illyana explains she is like her and a good and stable person cannot rule this place. They have seen the darkness and survived. Neither is untouched. Madelyne still insists, why her? Illyana admits that she has left her impression on this place. She is connected to this place, but not the same way Illyana is. She lost her innocence in this place; parts were ripped away and parts she bargained to survive long enough to free herself from Belasco. It took from her, but it is the place Madelyne came to break free from the powers that controlled her.Madelyne points out what is to stop her from using this place to make everyone who slighted her pay? Illyana points out that what the contract is for. She admits that Madelyne was right: there hasn’t been a moment in Madelyne‘s life when she was free to make a choice about who she was. It disgusts her!Madelyne bristles at what she perceives as pity. Illyana corrects her that she was the same but she had the chance to put herself together before Krakoa. If Essex deserves to sit at the table, Madelyne deserves that and more!Madelyne demands, how is Illyana handing this to her different than the council resurrecting her at the whim of Alex Summers? Illyana offers her an infinity of choices out of the shadows of the men the world thinks define her.In the morning, Illyana joins her older self on the roof. They are interrupted by a flying demon, who comes under a banner of truce. It offers safe passage back to Earth for younger Magik and her companions, in return for leaving her older version behind. The two Illyanas look at each other and burst into laughter, then tell the demon to get bent. The demon warns her this is a chance to change her fate.Both old Magik and Warlock fire at the demon, which flies away. As it does, it warns young Magik that, the next time they come, their parlor tricks will not be enough. Ask her how much longer she can keep doing this!Magik suggests they all talk. Inside with the others gathered, Magik asks what the demon meant by that. Is her older counterpart dying? No, but things are complicated, old Illyana replies. What they saw when they came over that ridge was a spell she cooked up long ago. Seems like the only thing that puts them down for good, but there are always more who come. The demons are vulnerable to Warlock’s essence, so she created the spell around that. But every time they cast it, it takes something from them. When Warlock first arrived here from Krakoa, he was injured but mostly okay. Now he can’t even hold his original shape anymore.Magik asks why she is doing this and don’t say “It’s what we do.” She did tell her, her counterpart replies, she is the only one left. She believes if she kills the leader of the techno-organic demons, the powers of Limbo will revert to her and she will be able to destroy the rebellion once and for all and return to Earth.What else has she tried except letting them attack her and killing herself slowly? Madelyne demands sardonically.Warlock briefly manifests and screams at her in rage. She has tried a lot. This is the only thing that seems to make a dent in their numbers. She attacked the castle, lost her arm. She tried to return to Earth through every arcane venue left to her. They always ended up here.Magik criticizes her for doing the same thing again and again. She needs to think bigger. She’s got an idea…Krakoa, the Sextant:Colossus enters the New Mutants’ home, where he finds Karma and her girlfriend Galura happily chatting. He announces he needs to talk to his sister. Karma informs him she hasn’t seen her since yesterday but she is happy to take a message.He tries the Green Lagoon and then asks Cypher and Warlock, but the answer is always the same.Limbo:A giant demon army has gathered outside the fort. Once again, one of them makes the offer to Magik and tells her to think of her friends. Old Illyana also has an offer. A one-on-one battle between her and their leader. Don’t be ridiculous! the demon scoffs, but a voice behind him announces he will take the deal. Old Illyana smirks when she sees the leader – a techno-organic S’ym. Unimpressed, he remarks she’s got a new sword… his is bigger.Young Magik is about to go ballistic, as she swears rudely and is held back by Rahne and Dani who remind her this is her plan.Old Illyana coolly lays down the rules: one-on-one battle. No interference from either side. None of them uses magic.Amused, the demon warns that doesn’t seem very fair to her. She might as well give up now. Raising her Warlock-sword, she warns him to worry about himself. He counters her blow with his mace. She charges. S’ym strikes true and wounds her. He grabs her by the throat and infects her with the TO-virus. Pathetic! he judges as he drops her.She told him to worry about himself, she announces, as her eyes glow. A spell is cast and the TO is removed from him. All this time she spent fighting him from the outside. What better way to defeat your enemy than from the inside? She strikes her sword again, and this time he is wounded. She just needed a fresh pair of eyes to show her. This has been a long time coming, she whispers into the dying demon’s ear. Goodbye.The other demons panic as he melts down and the effect spreads. Whie the other women take care of the demons, Magik talks to old Illyana who holds a little energy ball that is left of S’ym. Old Illyana tells her to take it and, indeed, after absorbing it she is capable of forming a new Soulsword, even if not for long.Narration:After seeing the determination of the exiled goblin, the little goblin regained hope.Second story:Young Illyana Rasputin (somewhere between 9 and 11 years old) is still a prisoner in Belasco’s castle. She is running away from his servant Cat (formerly her best friend). She leads Cat into a trap and paralyzes her in a spell. The older woman threatens what she will do once she gets out.Illyana casts a spell and Cat momentarily turns into Kitty Pryde again, her humanity and personality restored. Tearfully, she asks what is happening. Illyana apologizes and dissolves the forcefield. She reaches out and Cat is back, slashing at her as she hisses to worry about herself, before she runs away. Illyana vows she will do everything in her power to save her.


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The Labors of Magik - Book Three: Begin at the Beginning
Sometime in the past in Limbo:Night at Castle Belasco:Young Illyana Rasputin, Belasco’s prisoner and apprentice, is in the library again, writing something down, something that has given her hope that one day she will free herself of Belasco.She turns to the animated corpse of her brother, Colossus, and tells hm that she went on an adventure that day and she wrote it down. It has knights and swords and an evil red king and even magic. Would he like to hear? She pretends he answered “yes,” snuggles on his lap and begins to read:The strange group around Magik found itself attacked by another group of demons and taken prisoner.Someone shakes Magik, demanding that she wake up. She is in a psychedelic landscape, surrounded by giant mushrooms. Kneeling beside her is a younger version of herself, dressed in a blue Alice dress.Is she all right? young Illyana demands and observes she looks like her. Magik calls out for Dani and young Illyana informs her that her friends were taken. Magik swears. Illyana explains she tried a big spell to escape from Limbo, to go to the real world, but she muddled it up somehow, and instead the magic reshaped this one. No one remembers who they were before but, even though they are different, they are still the same inside. She made the Red King very angry. It is almost time for the tea party! Magik’s friends were taken by the Red King’s guards… She blames herself for this.Magik wonders why she doesn’t remember this happening to herself when she was younger… though there is something ticking at her mind. Quickly, she assures her younger self she isn’t to blame. Illyana adds that they are really after her and promises to help her get her friends back. Magik tells her what the Red King does is not her fault. He is a bad person and already was long before this. What Illyana is doing, trying to use magic to escape – when she was younger, she was in the same situation, and that’s how she escaped. Magic isn’t inherently good or bad. It’s just energy and will. The intention of the user determines that. She will make mistakes but, as long as she commits to making things right, she will be ok.Little Illyana grows hopeful and pipes up she has another spell from the library to try. Magik is nervous, no less so when the girl assures her that she trusts her.Mirage, Wolfsbane and Madelyne find themselves in separate cells in the Red King’s keep. The Red King (a changed Belasco) informs them they will soon join the tea party and they are all guests of honor. Participation and a sunny disposition are mandatory. Madelyne grumpily translates that means they are all going to get eaten by monsters, they know that right?Krakoa:Colossus leaves the Sextant when suddenly he notices a strange noise and light. A moment later, he gets drawn into a teleportation portal.Limbo:Back in the cells, Mirage suddenly states that she doesn’t think Mr. Sinister being on the Quiet Council is a good idea, referring to Madelyne’s earlier outburst. Unimpressed, Madelyne replies that she would like to sleep now before the fight. Rahne apologizes but they have seen no change in her. They believe in second chances, but…But not for her, right? Madelyne shouts. Apocalypse and Magneto and Wanda the pretender but not her! What makes her so irredeemable?Dani snaps back that Madelyne wasn’t responsible for what was done to her, but that doesn’t give her the right to victimize other people! During her original attempt to bring Limbo to Earth, she might have been mad, but she’s done horrible things again and again! Rahne points out that, while the system isn’t perfect, it functions out of a communal desire for justice. Madelyne demands where the justice is in what was done to her?Dani retorts what she has done isn’t “just” either and, to give her the power over a hell dimension when she hasn’t taken responsibility of her deeds. She believes having Sinister on the Council is a mistake, but he doesn’t have sole say. And she would. Madelyne mocks, if she would be more palatable, if she was more pious to the new gods of Krakoa and committed horrible deeds in Xavier’s name?The goblin’s story:The little goblin and the Mad Hatter found the large steel knight, once they had cast the spell. To the little goblin, he was the greatest hero, the dragonslayer she wanted to be. The Mad Hatter was less enthusiastic. There was a history of pain between them. They traveled together, the two adults not talking to each other.Reality:Colossus and the two Illyanas are heading for the Red King’s castle. Two demons dressed as Pages of Sword welcome them into the palace garden.Young Illyana, carried by Colossus, is nervous. Piotr shushes her and tells her sometimes it is best to let your adversary believe you are playing into their hands. That way they underestimate you.They are led to a giant chess board. The three prisoners are tied to stakes on the chessboard. Belasco, the Red King sits in the background, grinning.Madelyne snarls if they seriously just walked into a trap. Maybe Magik’s friends are right to be worried about her judgment!The Red King leers that they walked into his trap. While he continues ranting about young Illyana’s power, Magik rolls her eyes. Always with the monologuing, it never fails… Colossus puts young lllyana down and asks her to stay where she is.Red King continues, noting he had no idea how much power truly lay in such a small vessel. It goes beyond his wildest hopes. He had planned to kill her friends in front of her. But he thinks there is too much potential in her. He’d best keep them around for experiments…Madelyne scoffs that he is like some bad children’s books character.Magik gets ready to kick the Red King’s ass. Illyana holds her back and explains, the spell brought Colossus as their hero, so he needs to do it. Colossus politely asks if it is alright if he helps. Well, get to it, “hero,” Magik snaps then sighs and suggests he get the Red King while she frees the others.Magik races toward the others and Madelyne wryly observes it is shocking how quickly this little tangent has resolved itself. Sarcasm later, Magik orders, but Madelyne actually means it. Surprised, Magik thanks her and adds that Belasco made it easy. Rahne observes that he never understood that Illyana bested him as a child, so he stands no chance against her now.The Red King stands surprised and his guards abandon him, as Colossus gets close to attack. Before Colossus can strike, the Red King hits him with a magically created arm. With a dark smile, he announces he beat many as him and fed them to his servants as playthings. His eyes fall on little Illyana and he leers that she is special. She’s led him on a merry chase, he states with a threatening grin, making him think she didn’t like his company. That isn’t the case, is it? Illyana wilts and begs for mercy.Magik is busy freeing Dani. When she hears the young girl’s scream, she goes ballistic, about to enjoy what she is going to do again! She attacks with a spell which the Red King repels, realizing that her magic is powerful but somehow diffused. He has no use for someone so fractured.Nevertheless, she makes his way closer, holding his attention and allowing Dani to spirit away small lllyana. She manifests what is left of her soulsword and gets ready to strike.The goblin’s tale:The Mad Hatter faced the greatest enemy. Wishing to kill him but aware that this would damage all that is to come She does what she can by cleaving the spell and memories from the fiend’s mind, hoping it will help the little goblin in days to come when she will fight him.Limbo:The Alice spell is over. Illyana and the heroes (and only they) stand in a room of Belasco’s castle. While the others bring Colossus up to speed on what happened before, little Illyana thankfully hugs her older self. Madelyne and Dani point out they cannot stay here for fear of damaging the timeline, while little Illyana runs into Colossus’ arms. They smile and hug and tell each other how much they missed each other. Piotr wishes he could be with her and keep her safe always. She laughs and tells him he is and he does, while looking at adult Illyana who stands there somewhat forlorn. He gives her a kiss on the cheek and whispers in Russian that he loves her so much and no matter what, he always will.Little Illyana takes her adult self by the hand, telling her she has something for her. In her hands, she has a golden, acorn-like thing. She explains she tried so hard to make an acorn, but it never worked, but this is something she made. It is not much, but it gives her hope she will be able to leave one day. Touched, Magik refuses. Illyana needs that hope. She cannot take it. Illyana strictly tells her she is giving it to her. And it is hers too anyway. She figured out who she is and she meant what she said. She can do anything!Making a decision, Magik tells her friends they are taking little Illyana with them. Dani reminds her gently that she herself said they can’t do that. Magik doesn’t care. She can’t leave her here! She can’t do that to her – to herself – again! Little Illyana stubbornly announces, she is not going anywhere. Magik warns her she doesn’t know what’s in store for her if she stays. Illyana argues that Magik got strong enough to free herself – so will she. Magik says in a small voice she doesn’t want young Illyana to grow into her. Illyana reminds her she can’t take her. But it’s alright. Magik has already saved both of them, and she would be proud to become her. The two hug and share a moment, then Magik teleports her group away, leaving the young girl behind.Very soon, Belasco joins her. He touches her shoulder and asks where she’s been. He’s been looking for her all night.She’s been right here, she replies aggressively.Sometime later:Illyana finishes her story to the corpse of Colossus. She tells him that no one else remembers what happened and even her memory is fading, so she had to write it down. She hides the book. She knows he cannot really hear or understand her but she wanted to tell him what happened. She wanted to let him know he is still her hero, keeping her safe! She knows that raising a shade of her brother is an abomination, but she could not help herself. She had to see him, tell him one last time. Illyana tells him she loves him but she knows she has to grow up now. She releases him from the spell. The shade leaves the corpse shedding one last tear and the little girl is left alone in the library.


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The Labors of Magik, Book Four: The Queen is Dead, Long Live the Queen!
A cave, somewhere in Limbo, not far from the castle. In it, Magik and her allies have been hiding since escaping Belasco. Madelyne Pryor complains that it’s been weeks and Magik reminds her time is different in Limbo.As Illyana keeps practicing the creation of her soulweapon, which keeps on fizzing out, Madelyne asks why it is so important anyway. Illyana explains it’s the embodiment of all the years of studying and gaining power that finally allowed her to free herself of Belasco. It is the manifestation of her soul! So, without it she can’t fight? Madelyne challenges. Clearly not the case, Illyana retorts, but it is a symbol, a living metaphor. She is trying to repair what it represents, because she doesn’t think she can get them out of Limbo otherwise.They have been working on Madelyne’s arcane education, but Madelyne is fed up with waiting. Illyana tells her she needs all the tools in her toolbox at the ready and she is happy to continue giving her lessons even afterwards. She swears as her weapon fizzes out again.Appreciated, Madelyne replies that that assumes they actually do something instead of hiding. Dani agrees. They need to face S’ym and his army. Rahne summarizes they know someone is behind S’ym’s increase in power, but how can they find out without breaching the castle?Madelyne interrupts to point out everyone is agreeing with her: storm the castle!Dani corrects that isn’t what she was saying. Impatiently, Madelyne asks what is it she wants then. Illyana carefully agrees with Madelyne. They move at night and finish the ritual. Then they give the demons hell. Dani is still not happy at the idea of handing Limbo over to the Goblin Queen.Madelyne angrily explains that she has always been her own person, but never without the fingerprint of others on her person. Until she woke up in that disgusting egg, her mind had never been without her infernal maker’s fingerprints stamped across it. Copy, broodmare, pawn in the games of his plans and the plans of all the men who thought they had rights to her… no mind is unbreakable.Krakoa’s existence is partly due to the self-absorbed monster who made her. Why do they think he is more able to do what’s right? They may think her rabid or insane, but how many of their beloved heroes have fallen just as low? Why are they so resistant to the idea that given the chance she would rise to the occasion? Krakoa represents to her what Limbo represents to Illyana. But to her Limbo represents a new beginning where she cannot only be herself but be of use. Here nothing of her past will be held against her, as it is on Krakoa. She will help them, so she can finally get her chance!Illyana coldly asks if there are any other questions that aren’t just a retread. Dani gives up. Colossus takes Madelyne’s side, reminding everyone that Krakoa stands for second chances. ,Touched she thanks him, then she and Magik begin the ritual.The little Goblin’s tale:After countless adventures she was ready. The Shadow would not know what was coming, and she was not alone.Limbo, Magik’s castle:Outside the throne room, a horde of unhappy demons have gathered, even more displeased with S’ym’s rule than they were with Magik’s. Suddenly, mist rises from the ground and they fall asleep, courtesy of Magik’s spell.Dani remarks she should have used magic in battle more often. She uses it more often than she thinks, Illyana retorts. They just don’t notice, because she has been doing it since she came from Limbo. What does she think her Soulsword is?Rahne is just thankful that they don’t have to fight their way to the library, which, of course, means a second demon army arrives to fight them.They make their way through the army, unaware that their foe watches them and is disappointed by their predictability.They storm the throne room and Magik shouts “no mercy.” S’ym stands there, petrified. She’s gonna enjoy the hell out of this, Magik decides. She can end this any time now, he states, frightened. She plans to, Magik replies, as she gathers a sword from the ground. Right now! He scoffs, is she seriously coming at him with a regular sword? He wrests it from her, calling her as dumb and weak as when she was a kid. He’s gonna enjoy seeing her being put in her place.There is no universe in which he could beat her twice! she snaps. She gets hit on the head from behind, courtesy of another version of herself, dressed in a regal battle armor and holding S’ym’s soul mace, while she quotes Sun Tsu: “If you know yourself, but not the enemy, for every victory gained, you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”Even Madelyne admits she did not see that coming. Mirage orders Colossus and Wolfsbane to do a fastball special and for Madelyne to separate the newcomer from her weapon.Queen Illyana anticipates their attack with a swing of her mace and leaves them trapped by a spell.So, she’s the version that exists because she forgot to flush the toilet that one time, Magik groans. Queen Illyana chuckles, then sniffs. She is the version who took her rightful place on the throne of this realm instead of playing at queen while simpering around Earth. Although she should thank Magik. She was only able to fully materialize because Magik neglected her duties. In order for her to stay, she has to ascend the throne, and for that to happen, there has to be blood - which means Magik has to die.Magik attacks, but Queen Illyana quickly wrestles her down. She raises her mace and promises to make it quick.“Be extremely subtle even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.” Magik replies with her own Sun Zu quote, a moment before Queen Illyana is impaled from behind, courtesy of Madelyne’s scythe. As it turns out, all the time in the cave Magik and Madelyne were preparing.As she dies, Queen Illyana’s energy passes into Magik, who realizes that her alter ego’s very presence had stolen energy from her. She changes and suddenly wears a version of the New Mutants uniform with golden armor and a golden Soulsword.The demons immediately assure her they were always on her side. Disinterested, she tells them that they are wasting their breath. There is a new boss now. Finally, she turns to S’ym to deal with him.Later, at the Sextant, Illyana and Piotr sit in the kitchen, silent. Finally, he announces he understands why they have not truly spoken in so long but might she find it in her heart to try anyway? Him first, she replies. He admits he has been troubled lately. There are gaps in his memory. It scares him. He does not know what is happening, but he knows the one constant in his life is his love for her. They have much to work through, but he owes it to her to try and fix things.Illyana muses she has spent so much of her life angry. Angry at what was done to her, angry at what she did to others, because she couldn’t control the darkness inside of her. But, under the anger is so much hurt. She is so tired of hurting. He failed her. But she failed too! She wants to let the ugliness inside go. What good is the promise of a new beginning, if she can’t have it with the people who have meant the most to her. So let’s air out the wound and start again, she suggests, and he promises there is nothing he wants more.In Limbo, a demon tries to rouse the others into a rebellion against their new ruler, only to be impaled by a scythe. She hears they crave strong leadership, Madelyne announces. Unlike her predecessor, she will be constantly available to them. She takes the demon’s head and puts it on a stick. Are there any others who would like to air their grievances? she asks. Long live the Queen! the demons chant and she sits back on her throne satisfied.Castle Belasco. Much earlier:From the shadows, young Illyana watches as the S’ym tortures a harmless demon. She casts a simple spell to make S’ym believe that Belasco is calling him, and he leaves his victim. Illyana helps the demon Furcas up and he thanks her profusely. He promises to be there when she has need. Bemused, Illyana tells him that she appreciates that.Years later, an adult Magik visits Limbo with Kid Cable and tells him about the book about a little goblin that she read that helped inspire her to fight against Belasco, but she never found it again.Furcas now knows what he has to do. He creates the little goblin and gives her the book and tells her to close the circle. The little goblin jumps into a teleportation circle and her adventure.The little goblin writes the book and hides it in the library. And little Illyana finds it among her hidden treasures. Curious, she begins to read…


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War Children
Evening at Xavier’s school: The New Mutants and Shadowcat are busy or sleeping. But Warlock is panicking, frightened of his father Magus. To become him, he must destroy his friends or be destroyed by them. He flies through the roof and the New Mutants and Kitty are alerted or woken up by the noise.
They run to Warlock’s room, which isn’t only a mess but also full of techno-organic material. Sunspot believes he has been touched by it. Magik tells him not to panic as she teleports the room away.
Cypher clinically points out she now infected Limbo. She corrects him; she dumped the room somewhere at the end of reality, where it will never be found (she hopes). Kitty Pryde calms Roberto’s hysteria by pointing out she phased him. He isn’t infected. Cannonball informs team leader Mirage that he has followed Warlock who left a pretty clear trail.
Dani gasps as her Asgardian paraphernalia appear and out of her wrist comm rises an appearance of Asgardian death goddess Hela, who tells her she is summoned to her destiny. She is one of her choosers of the slain. Dani switches off the hologram but notes that Hela’s appearance has changed, as though she were infected by Warlock’s TO virus. She wonders what it all means. Rahne nervously addresses her, sensing something is wrong through their psychic bond, but Dani denies this. She tells Kitty to have Lockheed follow Sam and warn everyone to keep their distance from Warlock.
Illyana comes teleporting in and reports there is no sign of infection anywhere else in the mansion, and Warlock seems to be heading for the ridgeline at the west end of the estate.
Dani gives the order for everyone to suit up. To save time Magik casts a spell, dressing them in their black and gold uniforms, including Kitty, much to her displeasure.
They enter the woods, which have been transformed by Warlock. All the animals have fled. Cypher examines some plants and announces he doesn’t believe there is any hostility. So now he can speak the language of plants? Roberto mocks. He can speak the language of Warlock’s trail, Doug retorts, and he’s scared. Roberto is not convinced. Fear can make anyone do awful things.
Rahne points to the sky. Cannonball and Lockheed are returning, but they see they have been transmuted and attack, transforming Dani, Brightwind and Kitty, turning them into part of Warlock’s TO gestalt.
Karma reacts and uses her possession power, stopping the Dani, Brightwind and Sam being, but not Lockheed and Kitty. Lockheed fires his flames at Doug and Rahne, who tells him to grab onto her so she can carry him to safety.
Magma tries to enclose her changed teammates in a sphere of lava.
Sunspot wants to hit them with a bat. Magik teleports in and grabs him away, warning him that his bat has become transformed and Magma’s lava is of them same stuff she is. She teleports the two of them to Limbo. Roberto protests they need to warn Amara.
But it’s too late, as a Warlock’s tendril has touched Magma and transformed her. She fights to keep her personality, but to no avail.
As the two return, Amara fires a blast at them. Illyana hurls Roberto aside. Fire cannot hurt her as a demon-sorceress, but instead something worse happens, as the TO-virus infects her. But unlike the others, the TO-system becomes corrupted and instead Illyana turns into her demonic Darkchilde form, but now part techno-organic. Manifesting her Soulsword, she laughs at her human self, trying to hold on to her ideals while knowing at her core she is demonic. Illyana’s true self is now freed!
Rahne, Doug and Karma see what happened. What happened to Illyana? Rahne exclaims. Doug cynically points out that’s not Illyana; she’s not even human any more. Body and soul, she’s a demon. Then what is she? Rahne snaps agitated. Way, way better, he replies. Always was, always will be. Rahne refuses to accept that. Illyana is family and she won’t give up her friend.
Karma steps in Darkchilde’s way, telling her this is as far as she will go. Darkchilde scoffs but Karma manages to paralyze her with her possession power. Darkchilde warns she won’t be able to hold her and Dani. Karma replies she is Vietnamese. Her people thrive on challenges.
Darkchilde tries to kill her. Sunspot throws something at her. Unimpressed, Darkchilde points out that they are the weakest of the New Mutants, except perhaps for him. The battle is already over, and they’ve lost.
Sunspot realizes that she doesn’t talk like the rest of Warlock’s victims. She laughs that Warlock’s attempt to coopt her failed. She will assimilate him and become the first demon magus. His tech, all their powers, her dark will. Nothing in creation will stand against her!
Her TO-virus lashes out at Wolfsbane’s feet. Doug panics, fearing that Rahne in her transitional form will be transmuted. She turns to human form and tells him not to be daft. Her uniform is still there to protect her, even in wolf form. Does he think she runs around starkers in wolf form?
Darkchilde tells them to run away, for all the good it will do them. The two run but realize that if they wait till the X-Men come, Illyana may be unbeatable. This will be up to them. The weakest ones on the team, Rahne points out.
Doug is working on a plan. He tells her that, while Kitty may be his best friend, Warlock is also part of him. He thinks Warlock is scared.
They find Warlock, who turns into a monstrous threatening shape and shouts at them to go away. Doug refuses, even when Warlock threatens to kill him. Warlock’s bluster stops as he sinks down and admits he can’t. Doug sits down next to him and asks what is going on.
Warlock admits the problem is his father, the Magus, and the battle they will eventually have to fight. He could not bear the thought of his friends dying. Doug asks why it has to be that way. Warlock it always has been. Doug points out since becoming one of them Warlock has changed for the better. Warlock insists the Magus will still come for him. Doug promises they will face him together and win. They are family. He takes off his glove and offers Warlock his hand. Warlock anxiously points out if they bond it cannot be undone. Rahne nervously asks if he is sure. Doug admits he isn’t, but he knows it is right. They are family and stand together! He takes Warlock’s hand.
The moment is interrupted when a mocking voice remarks, they are so cute - and so doomed. Darkchilde slices Wolfsbane with her Soulsword and infects her.
Doug bonds with Warlock. Warlock attacks Darkchilde, who gloats that he has no chance. Doug, sounding like Warlock, promises Rahne that everything will be okay turns her normal again. Speaking Gaelic, she burst out that she doesn’t understand what is happening. Doug / Warlock explain she is healed. Time to deal with Illyana.
Working together, Warlock and Doug set the other free. They challenge Darkchilde, who tells them she has no friends. She is the ultimate predator and her prey all of creation!
But inside her, Illyana reasserts herself and thanks Doug. In her soul, Illyana and the Darkchilde fight armed with swords. The Darkchilde boasts that Illyana cannot win, for she is the personification of her soul. Illyana refuses to accept that and stabs her through the heart. Illyana tells her she is nothing more than the shadow on her soul. When needed, she embraces her and does her best to save the world. Just like Doug. Just like Warlock. And puts her away when the battle is won! She knows what she is. She’s the demon that chooses the light!
Even as Illyana speaks, Douglock reach out and draw all TO mode parts of their friends and the surroundings into themselves, healing everybody.
Hela appears to Moonstar and asks if she defies her. Dani replies she made a choice. They are all mortal, but nobody dies here today. Does she have a problem with that? Not today, the death goddess replies and tells her they will talk about this another day.
Dani groans that she doesn’t want another day like this ever. Kitty agrees. Rahne replies she thought it was fun. And best of all, they taught the evil creature lurking within Illyana a proper lesson. Illyana wryly thanks her. Roberto considers her weird and Sam thinks he gets it. Dani thanks Warlock and Doug and ask how they did this. The two exchange a look, then reply “luck” at the same time.
They wonder how to explain the destruction to the professor. Sunspot suggests they blame Lockheed and Warlock suggests another visit by the Impossible Man.


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Truth or <strike>Dare</strike> Death
Some years ago:
The New Mutants – Cannonball, Magik, Magma, Mirage, Sunspot, Wolfsbane and Warlock - find themselves in a tight spot, as they step out of one of Magik’s energy teleportation circles. They find themselves surrounded by leering demons. Her Soulsword blazing in her hand and with a wicked smile on her face, Illyana Rasputin rather dramatically – and redundantly – informs them that this is the nightmare she called home for seven agonizing years. This is… Limbo. Try not to get yourselves killed, she adds.
Flying up, Cannonball exclaims this looks like something out of a Stephen King novel. More like the pit of Hades from Dante’s Inferno, Wolfsbane whines. Sunspot exclaims that there must be hundreds of them. Ever the leader, Mirage tries to calm the others and reminds them to remember their training. Everybody should be fine then. Or so she hopes, Magik mocks. Dani thought her Demon Bear was tough? These guys eat monster like that for breakfast!
Well, they’re the next generation of X-Men, Cannonball boasts, as he blasts through several demons. That means they kick butt. Who says he’s X-Men material, Dani mocks, as she tries a judo move on another monster. Wolfsbane asks her not to joke at a time like this. If Reverend Craig could see her now, he’d likely damn her soul to hell with the demons. Tuning into her transitional form, she attacks the unimpressed demons. Sunspot advises her not to let the demons ride her. Does she hear fear in his voice, Amara asks. Surely someone as macho as he has nothing to fear from these shadow creatures. Her lava blasts are fairly successful against her foe. Warlock hurries to Sunspot’s side helping him.
Illyana admits to herself that she is impressed by her teammates’ prowess. But there’s still one demon unaccounted for. The huge purple brute named S’ym shows up that very moment and challenges her to see who deserves leadership of Limbo and who gets to die. Illyana kicks him in the eye and flips over him, announcing he can have Limbo if he wants it that badly. She never asked to become a “demon sorceress” or a mutant teleporter. And she never asked to sacrifice her childhood to become the ruler of some stupid mystical netherworld. She’s taking her life back, she announces, as she stabs S’ym with her Soulsword. And now that she has it, nobody’s ever going to take it away from her again!
Fate ignores the wishes of the young, the voice of a stranger suddenly announces, as a tall hooded shape appears before her. Who is he, Illyana demands. Someone who cares for her very much, the stranger assures her. Someone who wants to help her circumvent the inescapable hand of fate. Illyana reaches out for the stranger. Something about him seems familiar and she feel like she can trust him. Then she must come to him, the man tells her. But how, she asks. And where is he? When the time is right, she will know, he announces ominously before disappearing. Illyana collapses.
Dani is the first one to notice and runs to her friend’s side. She shouts up to Kitty to terminate the program and, an instant later, the demons disappear. “Limbo” was nothing but a Danger Room simulation. In the observation booth, Kitty Pryde and Doug Ramsey jump up, worried about their friend’s fate. Kitty grabs Cypher’s hand and phases them both down to find that Illyana is getting up. She remembers seeing someone and then collapsing. Manifesting her Soulsword and threatening Doug and Kitty with it, she angrily asks which of them programmed that weird guy into the simulation. Doug and Kitty look at each other helplessly, having no idea what Illyana is talking about.
Illyana turns pensive. The mystery stranger’s ominous words have awoken fears in her. Cannonball touches her shoulder, suggesting she get down to the infirmary. Hands off, she curtly tells him, unless he wants them sliced off. Then they’ll see who truly needs the Infirmary. She teleports away and, with a sigh, Kitty Pryde tells the New Mutants to let her handle this.
Later, Kitty knocks on the door of the room she shares with Magik. Being in a poor mood, Illyana orders her to go away. Fed up, Kitty phases into the room asking if she was just talking to her or if she’s being a total jerk to all her friends. They’ve got to talk. Undeterred by Illyana’s moodiness, Kitty insists they talk about what’s bothering her. Illyana admits that she feels like someone has stepped on her grave. Is it the guy she saw, the one supposedly from the future? Illyana agrees, revealing that she’s afraid of something terrible happening to her.
Kitty gives her a hug and assures her nothing will happen while she is around. Thinking a moment, Kitty asks Illyana why she doesn’t use her power to find out and put her mind at ease? Oh, and if she does go to the future, can she see if Kitty and her hunky brother ever get hitched? With a giggle, Illyana tells her to get out. She decides that Kitty is right and, if she is going to teleport into the future and try to change her fate, she’ll need all the friends she’s got.
That night, as an unexpected storm passes over Salem Center, a blackout occurs. They’re going to miss the season premier of Magnum P.I., Roberto announces, horrified. Now maybe they can do something intelligent for once, Dani replies. Anybody got any ideas? Sam asks. Illyana suggests “Truth or Dare.”
After a quick search for candles the mutants gather in a circle. Warlock chooses “truth” and Dani asks him who the real leader of the team is: Sam or her? For the sake of his health, Warlock answers Dani, much to Sam’s chagrin. The game continues with some questions being amusing, others being personal. Rahne reluctantly chooses “truth” and Illyana asks her if there’s anyone in the circle she wants to kiss right now. She really meant to say “dare,” Rahne stutters. Amara and Doug tells her not to be a spoilsport.
Roberto interrupts, telling them if Rahne doesn’t want to play the witch’s silly game, she shouldn’t have to. Turning to Illyana, he asks if she can accept as well as dish out. Why doesn’t she accept a “dare?” Unimpressed, she tells him to give her one. Roberto considers and dares her to face fate and see herself in the future. Illyana accepts, on the condition that they all come with her. Roberto is unwilling, but Rahne announces that she shouldn’t have to face that alone.
With a gesture, Magik’s stepping disc descends upon the mutants, removing them from one specific point in time and space to another. At least that’s what it’s supposed to do. However, they find they are still in the living room. Looks like they’re nowhere near the future, Amara states. Then who the heck are those kids? Dani asks, pointing at a picture of Generation X.
Meanwhile, at LaGuardia Airport, a reunion is long overdue, as four young people are waiting for a flight from Glasgow. Sam Guthrie, Roberto DaCosta, Dani Moonstar and Xi’an Coy Manh, former New Mutants, all are waiting for Rahne Sinclair to join them at their class reunion.
Rahne finally shows up in the crowd of people, causing Sam to admit that Rahne sure has changed over the years. She looks awesome. He wonders if she still has a crush on him and moves to hug her. Rahne’s first greeting is for her best friend, Dani, though.
As the five start reminiscing, a most unexpected guest joins them. Doesn’t he get a hug, too, Douglock asks. Rahne tells him he shouldn’t be here. He’s causing a scene. Shan tells her not to worry She has possessed the people in the immediate vicinity, so that they see nothing more than a normal boy.
Douglock tells Rahne that he attached himself to the bottom of the plane. Nobody saw them until after they landed. But why did he follow her from Muir Isle? He wanted to talk to her about what happened before she left, when they kissed. She’s been thinking about it herself a lot, she agrees, but it couldn’t have come at a worse time. The others have no idea what’s going on, let alone who Douglock is and Rahne explains in the car that Douglock is a former member of the Phalanx, who assumed Warlock’s and Cypher’s forms as a gesture of honor and respect. Poor Rahne, Dani thinks. She has enough trouble with her foster mother Moira MacTaggert being sick. She doesn’t need an alien boyfriend now. They arrive at the Xavier Institute.
Inside, the younger Sam observes that one of the girls in the Generation X picture looks a lot like his baby sister, Paige. Could this really be the future? Acting like a lovesick puppy, Rahne tells him how observant he is. Dani tells both of them to stop flirting. Someone’s coming. Doug asks Warlock to kill the light. Taking the order to be literal, Warclok smashes the light switch.
Outside the older mutants wonder why the lights upstairs suddenly went out. They thought the X-Men would let them have the mansion to themselves for the weekend. An intruder?
Switching to her transitional form Wolfsbane leads the way upstairs, smelling a familiar, foul smell. The kids are hiding behind the couch and are so far undiscovered. However, the younger Rahne has had enough. She isn’t going to hide from herself. She jumps up, exclaiming that she surrenders. They should really go home now, she tells the others, who reveal themselves as well.
Dumbfounded, the older Rahne returns to her human form, unable to believe what she sees. Carefully, she touches Doug’s face, asking if that’s really him. Shouldn’t it be? he asks nervously. The other former New Mutants rush in and Sam asks who conjured up all those holograms of them in their old uniforms. No holograms, Illyana announces, seemingly challenging him. And she’s the one responsible for the little temporal paradox. Is that a problem?
The former New Mutants stutter, not sure what to tell her. No problem here, Sam finally stammers. Douglock alone blurts out. Hey, aren’t you Kitty’s friend? The one who died? The New Mutants look at Illyana, shocked. Torrents of uncontrollable emotion welling up inside her, threatening to cascade over her façade of indifference, Magik teleports away, refusing to show her friends even the slightest weakness.
Yet, despite her bravado, the last thing Illyana wants right now is to be alone. She wishes for someone to hold her and tell her everything’s going to be all right. Someone who loves her.
The stranger who appeared to her before is suddenly standing in front of her, explaining that her brother once told him “the future is but a black canvas upon which we paint the portrait of our destiny.” Though he is not nearly as adept an artist as Piotr, he states, calling her “little snowflake,” he believes he can create a portrait more to her liking.
How does he know that nickname, she wonders. The only people who call her that are her parents, her brother Piotr and – Her eldest brother Mikhail, the stranger continues, as he removes his hood, revealing himself as Mikhail Rasputin.


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Family Matters
The younger New Mutants and their older counterparts still stare at each other in surprise before comparing notes.
Young Dani learns that she’s going to be an undercover S.H.I.E.L.D agent some day. Young Wolfsbane sniffs disapprovingly at her older self, who explains that she’s wearing perfume. The boys love it. It’s the devil’s odor, the younger Rahne protests. Young Robeto asks how his older self can still be solar-charged when the sun is down. A little Askani trick Cable taught him. Young Roberto doesn’t understand one word.
Amara compares notes with the older Karma. So she didn’t die like her friends assumed? Somberly, Shan tells her that, when she was a prisoner of the Shadow King, she was dead in many ways. Young Sam learns that his older self has become a full-fledged X-Man. Happily, he flies up and lands in the ceiling. Could somebody help him? he asks embarrassed; he’s stuck. Just as young Roberto mocks him, he’s in for a sight, as his older self suddenly flies up to get Sam down.
Sam makes fun of Dani; after all, he will become an X-Man. Amara impatiently tells them to stop their bickering, reminding them of Illyana’s situation. They have to do something about that. Perhaps that thing, she points to Douglock, can tell them something. Douglock introduces himself as a member of the Phalanx. Warlock agrees but adds that he has never seen a member of his species so advanced. Why is he wearing Doug’s face? Douglock doesn’t know what to say. He could tell them the truth. That Cypher is going to die defending his friend, Wolfsbane, and that he has assumed his face as a gesture of respect. He thinks of another way of expressing himself than words and suggests Warlock and Doug link with him, so he can show them. Why he? Doug asks suspiciously. Older Rahne intervenes, making up an excuse of wanting to show Doug the new Shi’ar computers.
The younger Rahne notices her older self being quite chummy with Doug and wonders if this is some kind of foreshadowing. The two Danis agrees that the young New Mutants should be heading home. If only they can find Illyana… Call of the search party, Magik announces, as she teleports in with a companion. She and her brother Mikhail are right there. And she’s not going anywhere! Dani and Sam are weirded out: not only is Mikhail one of the sickest foes the X-Men ever faced. Isn’t he supposed to be dead?
Mikhail notices the fear of the mutant and suggests maybe he and Illyana shouldn’t include them in their endeavor. Illyana asks him to chill. Those aren’t just her best friends; they are as much her family as he and Piotr. Surely family means as much to him as to her? More than she can imagine, he tells her, as he hugs her and asks her to introduce him to her new family.
The older New Mutants are troubled watching the youngsters fawn over Mikhail, whom they’ve only heard of as a Cosmonaut hero. Sam reminds Dani – unnecessarily - that Mikhail drowned the Morlocks, created Gene Nation and probably teleported himself here through the use of his reality-warping powers. Question is why.
Mikhail tells the younger mutant that he isn’t a hero, just a humble farm boy - a servant of the state, lucky enough to be given the chance to walk among the stars. Though now he questions his meager achievements, wondering if little Illyana might yet live, had he been here to watch over her. Like she and Piotr, he too possesses astounding abilities. Powers that make the matter in his hands as malleable as clay. Powers, he recently realized, could perhaps save their sister.
The present was too late; he had to somehow reach her in the past. So, he took an insane chance, by hurtling his consciousness into the vortex of time. His gambit paid off. He offers his hand, asking if they will help hi …their sister. The older mutants look suspicious and undecided and Douglock announces an “commercial break.”
The six put their heads together. Do they or do they not work alongside a total psycho and mess with history just to save a friend’s life, Dani asks. She votes ‘no.’ Rahne feels differently. Death scares her. She hates thinking of what happens to Illyana’s soul in the afterlife and she feels guilty for not having been a better friend to her. She votes “yes.” Sam protests: Helping Mikhail is like selling their souls to the devil. They should have heard about he ungodly things Storm told him about this freak and the dimension he was rapped in. So he votes “no.” Roberto admits that Illyana freaked him out at first, but eventually he overcame his fear. Call it a lingering guilty conscience for not having been open-minded. He votes “yes”.
Breaking the tie is up to Karma. Among the New Mutants, none understands the crippling loss of a sibling as well as her. It is a pain she long endured when her siblings were missing, presumed dead. She doesn’t know how to decide. Douglock announces that he doesn’t expect to be asked, but he is deterring some strange psionic reverberations emanating from Mikhail. He’s getting antsy. Sounds like he has something to hide, Dani decides. So they’ll attack on three…
They get ready for battle and Mikhail, panicked, tells his sister that they mustn’t stop them.
Summoning her Soulsword and gazing at the others coldly, Illyana announces that they can’t and her friends join the battle.
Younger Cannonball flies at the older one, asking how they could allow a friend to die. Older Sam understands but it’s not simple. He repels his younger version with a power stunt the other doesn’t yet know - a forcefield - as he states that everything happens for a reason. As he looks after where his younger self blasted out of the house, he wonders how none of them remember that happening. The younger Sunspot grabs him from behind, angry at the way he treated his best friend.
Younger Mirage attacks her older self with a psychic fear image of their Demon Bear, announcing that they are not getting near Illyana. Unimpressed, Moonstar manifests her psychic arrows and hits her younger self with them.
Older Wolfsbane and Sunspot consider how to reason with Magma, who has small volcanoes sprouting up everywhere. Amara haughtily informs them that she won’t reason with the likes of them. In her time, the two of them and Illyana are far less than friends. If their actions that day are any indication, they are likely responsible for her death. She hits Sunspot with a lava blast.
Wolfsbane leaps at her, assuring her she’s wrong. Illyana was a casualty of a plague called the Legacy Virus that’s now killing Rahne’s own mother. She knocks Amara out with a vase. She appeals to her younger self and Cypher, wanting to tell them the truth about Mikhail. Doug tells the young Rahne to ignore her future version. Obviously they are nothing alike. After all, what inhumane monster would let their friends die without trying to protect her? Cypher’s caustic word cut the elder Wolfsbane so deep that her younger counterpart’s senses can alsost smell the blood being drawn from her future self’s heart and it gives her pause. Surely that can’t be the reaction of a monster.
Karma and Douglock are left facing Illyana, Warlock and Mikhail. So, only some of them are allowed to come back from the dead, Illyana caustically asks Shan. And they get to decide who? Wrong! Coldly, she orders Warlock to keep the “Vietnamese hypocrite” from laying a finger on her brother. Warlock envelopes Mikhail, while assuring him he won’t affect him with the Techno-organic virus. Mikhail silently observes that Karma seems to be a reluctant warrior. Perhaps he can use that.
Karma remarks that she was gone when Illyana returned from Limbo but, surely, she has learned of her power. She attempts to possess Illyana. Angrily, the Russian girl orders her to get out of her head. Shan finds her resistance staggering and her mind foul and full of evil. Still, she tries to control Magik. As a result, the demons in Illyana spill into her conjuring images of her siblings, Leong and Nga. Overwrought with pain and guilt, Shan collapses.
Witnessing this, Douglock announces that, in the short time he’s known Kitty Pryde, he’s found her a decent judge of character. But, seeing the way Illyana’s treating her teammates for her own selfish desires, he can’t believe Kitty was stupid enough to call Illyana friend. He attacks her with techno-organic tentacles, which Illyana fends off with her Soulword, while shouting at him to shut up. Let’s see how selfish he gets when faced with his own mortality. Before she can stab him with her Soulsword, a psychic arrow, courtesy of Moonstar, makes Illyana drop her sword and she tells the New Mutants to leave.
No, Karma suddenly announces, as she tries to possess Dani. What is she doing, Dani asks, surprised. The right thing, Shan replies. She failed her twin brother, Tran. She failed her younger siblings. She won’t allow another family to be destroyed by her actions. This time, she’s saving one. Dani tries to focus and sends a Psi-arrow at Shan but, surprisingly, Karma manages to instinctively throw up a psychic shield, something she has never been able to do before. She wonders if she is now manifesting greater telepathic abilities as Xavier once predicted she might be able to. But why now?
Young Sunspot is still trying to take out the older Cannonball but, since it’s night, he is starting to lose strength and Sam’s blastfield holds. He extends it outwards and Roberto collapses. Sam flies inside to find his teammates possessed by Karma. She reminds him that he knows what it’s like to lose family. His father died senselessly in a Kentucky coalmine. Wouldn’t he have sacrificed anything to save him? That’s what Mikhail is trying to do. And she will help him. On her command, Sunspot takes out Cannonball.
Illyana and Mikhail commend her and she brushes both of them off coldly. She orders their teammates to sleep and, as Mikhail transports them away, a surprising childlike wave of optimism washes over Illyana Rasputin. He’s her big brother. There’s no thing in the whole wide universe he can’t or won’t do to save her from her fate.
As he touches her cheek, she bursts out that everything’s going to be wonderful. They’ll find Piotr and then they can all go back to their parents in Siberia. He can do that, can’t he? Of course, he assures her. All will be as he makes it. He tells the others to follow him. Much is to be done and time is not in their side. Only young Wolfsbane remains a little behind. She is still doubtful and she fears that she’s the only on left to do the right thing.


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Letting Go
In one of the X-Mansion’s labs, Illyana Rasputin lies hooked up to several devices surrounded by her teammates – like her, from the past – and the present version of Karma.  Looking at the computer screens before him, Cypher tells Illyana’s elder brother, Mikhail, that all systems are good. They can start.
Also hooked up, Mikhail announces that they will begin. First, he urges Douglas to make this as painless as possible for her. She looks frightened… Is he kidding, Doug jokes, His li’l sis is the demon queen of Limbo. Nothing scares her. Illyana gives him the thumbs-up, refusing to show the others how scared she is. Because, if Mikhail’s powers can’t teleport out the dormant cells within her that will someday become the Legacy virus, she’s as good as dead.
She lies back.
Rahne Sinclair fears Magik. It’s a result of her staunch pious upbringing in a tradition that tells her a being like Illyana is pure evil Nevertheless, she speaks out, as she fears something goes wrong and asks Doug not to do this. When he asks her what’s wrong, she claims she just wanted to know if everything was properly calibrated. Karma tries to calm her and Cypher starts the sequence.
A quiet calm washes over Rasputin, as he initiates his mutant talent. Illyana, though, screams in pain, as the internal systems go wild. They have to get Illyana out of there before the feedback fries her brain, Doug shouts. Karma intercedes, using her newfound telepathic power to protect Illyana. Mikhail lifts up his sister, who is exhausted but still alive. Mikhail teleports to the infirmary with her and the others follow, all save Wolfsbane.
Meanwhile, in the electro-magnetically-sealed sub-basement detention block, the New Mutants’ present day counterparts, laid low by Karma, reel from the aftershock of a particularly nasty psionic hangover. Sam moves Dani off of him, joking about her having gained some weight. Looking around, he wonders how Cyclops would handle a situation like this.
He touches the forcefield that surround the cell. Enough juice to fry Sabretooth. But perhaps Douglock could jack into the alarm matrix and deactivate the electro-locks. But at first he needs a jumpstart. He heaves Douglock up and has his fingers touch the energy field.
Douglock yelps, asking if Sam wants to electrocute him. Was he conscious, Sam asks. He was pretending to be unconscious as everyone else was doing it, he replies. Sam sighs and orders him to help wake the others. Sam shakes Dani awake, admitting he needs her help. They cannot allow history to be rewritten.
In the I.C.U., Mikhail stands at his sister’s side. Illyana weakly wonders why her mystical armor and her Soulsword didn’t protect her, as they usually do. Mikhail promises he will do everything in his power to help her. She knows that, she replies weakly. She’s so glad she finally gets to know him. He had left for the stars before she was born. She asks him to tell her something of his adventures. At his sister’s behest, Mikhail’s fractured mind sails upon a tempestuous sea of memory:
(Mikhail’s memories)
From the moment of his liberation from the void of another reality at the hands of the X-Men, to his own part in the destruction of the subterranean Morlocks, to the instant when the X-Man, Storm, nearly took his life in recompense for all those he had taken on two worlds…
(the present)
Though he would grant her the world were it his to give, Mikhail denies his sister’s request. He asks her rest, as he gets up. Illyana asks him if he’ll stay with her, with Piotr and the X-Men, while she recovers. He replies that he thinks it best if he return to Russia and Illyana begs him to stay. With a hug, he assures her he’ll be with her until the very end.
In an adjacent waiting room, the younger Dani Moonstar announces that Illyana is going to die and it is all her fault. Sam and Bobby tell her that Illyana will pull through and Sam points out how illogical it is of her to automatically shoulder the blame for everything. Karma and Sam assure her that she cannot be able to predict everything. And, if she believes that makes her unqualified for being their boss, she couldn’t be farther off the mark. He’d follow her lead to hell and back. Touched, she gives him a hug.
Rasputin joins them, announcing that the initial readings indicate Magik’s body is virus free. The operation was a success. The Mutants are happy, only Cypher grows suspicious. No life-saving procedures that complicated is this neat and tidy, he decides. Time to put his hacker skills to use. He heads to the I.C.U., claiming he’s forgotten something.
Just a routine double-check he tells Illyana, as he digs into the computer files. He sees Illyana’s “pre-op” genetic structure free and clear of malignancies on the one side and the same pattern “post-op” but mutated in four key places. A horrible realization begins to dawn on him, as he starts to consider that Mikhail may have infected his own sister. Looking for more info, he digs deeper into the files and suddenly turns very pale. What’s wrong, Illyana asks. He looks like death warmed over. Maybe that’s because he is, Doug replies, as he stares at his own file, which reveals that he is deceased.
While the other New Mutants wonder where Rahne has gone off to, the girl in question moves through the mansion’s subterranean corridors, intent on freeing their future selves and end this madness. At least that’s her plan. But the moment she tries to disable the security locks, an energy blast hits her – courtesy of Mikhail. Not clever enough, he muses. Their present day counterparts might have given him pause, but it is too late now and, thanks to his sister, he is at last free of his affliction and soon she will be too. Suddenly, the door opens from within and the adult New Mutants rush out, out for blood.
Sunspot and Cannonball attack. The latter finds that Rasputin uses his powers to turn Sam’s blastfield against himself. Dani lets loose a psychic arrow at him, freeing Sam. Rahne and Douglock trip Rasputin and he lashes out. He shouts that he is trying to save his sister’s life. And nobody will prevent him from saving her!
‘Wanna bet?’ a very angry Illyana, surrounded by her fellow New Mutants, asks, as she threatens her brother with her sword. He has cured her, he reminds her. He cured her of nothing, she spits back. He condemned her. Doug tells everybody what he discovered: Mikhail assumed Magik’s mystically altered body would develop an immunity that her future de-aged self couldn’t. So he infected her with a plague he though she could handle. A plague his own body couldn’t. Before today, Illyana wasn’t cursed with the Legacy Virus, Mikhail was.
For once, he wanted to do some good, Mikhail pleads. Help instead of hurt. He failed. He asks if Illyana can ever forgive him. ‘Burn in hell,’ she coldly retorts. So be it, he states. Perhaps he will see her there, someday… He phases out. ‘Yeah… some day…,’ Illyana somberly repeats, as a tear fall from her eye.
Shortly after, comes the inevitable time to say good-bye. Future Rahne tells them to be brave. The future is not set in stone. For some of them it is, Illyana replies. Maybe if they can remember what happened, they can find a cure in the past, Rahne suggests. This is the lasts day she wants to remember, Illyana replies, as she summons a stepping disk. Now, if she’ll excuse her. She has a life to get back… whatever’s left of it…
Karma announces that she has successfully psi-wiped their past selves. They possess no recollection of ever being in the future. She assumes that they saved the timestream, but couldn’t save their friend.
The former New Mutants spend the rest of the reunion weekend together, dealing with their pain. Sam asks Shan if she is still flipping though the photo album of them as kids. Shan admits that part of her wishes they’d never found out how Illyana contracted the Legacy Virus. Dani admits to being creeped out. Who can a person trust, if not their family? Their friends, Roberto replies, while Rahne and Douglock visit the graves of their dead friends.


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[Assistant]
Shadows in the Night! – The Fall of Nova Roma: part 1
The Hellfire Club on 5th Avenue just across Central Park. On display are the current students of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, the New Mutants: Cannonball, Cypher, Wolfsbane, Magik, Mirage and Magma. The faces of Warlock, Sunspot and Karma are crossed as those three are currently absent.
Making the presentation is the newly named White King, current headmaster of Xavier’s, Magneto. Listening are his counterparts, the Black King, Sebastian Shaw, the White Queen, Emma Frost and the Black Queen, simply known as Selene and recently revealed as grandmother of Magma.
Shaw remarks Magneto should be proud of his students’ performance. But her students will always prove better, Frost gets her shot in. Magneto summarizes that he accepted this position among them at Storm’s urging to try and find a way to set aside the enmity of the past and work together for a common future. However, he warns them, he has known oppression. He grew to manhood in a concentration camp. He heard the screams of the dying. He will not see that happen again! He will not allow these children to suffer such a fate nor permit supposed friends to engage in their exploitation. He trusts he makes himself clear.
As crystal, Shaw retorts. Some of them might find such a challenge tempting. Selene snorts amuses. But he prefers to work together for their common purpose, just so long as in the end he wins.
Meanwhile, in a guestroom upstairs, Magneto’s students aren’t happy with the situation either. Why can’t Illyana just teleport them home? Cypher asks agitated. Why do they have to stay the night? Amara forcefully agrees. The sooner she puts distance between herself and Selene, the happier she’ll feel. Team leader Mirage reminds them they are kind of stuck. Magneto calls the shots. Rahne pipes up that she trusts him. Dani suggests they show a little faith. Illyana tells them all not to worry. If things go south, she’ll have them gone. Unless, of course, something happen to her, Amara points out.
She looks out at Central Park, musing how beautiful it is. She wishes they could go out walking. That moment, though, down in the park, men in paramilitary uniforms and with rifles shoot men in black business suits. Amara hears the shots and screams. The same moment, Rahne turns to her wolf form and jumps out of the window and into the park.
Upstairs, Magik calls a stepping disk and whisks her friends to Limbo, then to the park. They notice that suddenly they aren’t wearing their standard uniforms but individual variations. She figured it was time for a change, Illyana shrugs and summons her Soulsword.
The mutants join Wolfsbane in attacking the shooters. Cannonball wonders who their foes are. Their outfits and hardware are paramilitary but they opened fire here without mercy.
After the youngsters have taken them down, Mirage orders the team to tie up the prisoners and check for survivors among the victims. Shouldn’t they call the cops? Sam suggests. Plenty of time for that later, Amara replies.
Suddenly, Dani has a vision of Hela, Norse goddess of death who greets her. Hela reminds her she has earned a place for herself among the Valkyrior; she is a chooser of the slain. Hela collects their souls.
In the meantime, Rahne has found a survivor. The injured man is Magma’s father, Lucius Aquilla. That moment, Magneto, Selene, Tessa and several Hellfire Club guards arrive. Magneto immediately asks if his students are all right, then asks Selene to have her people secure the prisoners. Selene delegates the job to Tessa.
Amara explains what happened. Magneto rises into the air, announcing he will transport Aquilla to the club (while Selene is actually the one who does it) and tells Tessa to make sure the mutants return safely.
In due course, the kids are back in the guestroom. Dani wonders silently why Hela appeared. Amara’s family is Roman, not Norse. Where’s the link? Rahne senses her concern and sulks. She thought the season would be fun.
Amara joins the others, announcing that her father is stable and the prognosis is good. Her gran must be—Doug begins. Amara cuts him off, ordering him not to call her that. She denies any connection between her and Selene. He tripped over a livewire that time Sam tells Doug. Selene and the New Mutants have a history. Doug apologizes.
Amara wonders why her father came her and why so stealthily. Perhaps Doug could help her find some answers as their computer expert. The two of them sneak away. He doesn’t think Nova Roma is on-line, Doug points out. But Brazil is, Amara retorts and so is NOAA. They can access both satellite imagery and regional news. She’ll wager his software skills can even enable him to access the National Security database. In another room they set up a notebook. What then? Doug asks. One step at a time, she replies. If she is to confront Selene she must be sure of her ground. Like it or not, she’s family, Doug reminds her. But are those not often the worst fights of all? she pouts out.
Suddenly, armed goons in black body armor covering heir whole bodies attack the Hellfire Club. The Lords Cardinal help their troops but find the goons came prepared for their powers. Enhanced armor to counter Shaw’s strength, composed of composite fiber rending it functionally immune to Magnetos powers over magnetism. Shaw suggests he be a little bit old-fashioned then and use his fists!
Nevertheless, Shaw is soon down and the goons’ helmets protect them from Emma Frost’s telepathy. One of them strikes her down. Others tell him to ignore Emma who can’t hurt them and instead help them neutralize Magneto. However, Magneto struggles free and the men are quickly taken out by Selene. Nicely done, he commends Selene who helps up Emma. They came for her son, the Black Queen replies. They will soon learn that is a mistake. At least, they’ve deal with the threat, Shaw sighs. The trouble is over.
Famous last words as it turns out, because they and Senator Aquilla weren’t the only targets. Upstairs, more armored goons are fighting the New Mutants. Dani too finds they are shielded against her powers. When one of the goons fires his weapon at her, Rahne jumps in from of Dani and is injured at the shoulder. Illyana angrily teleports the goon to Limbo and asks Dani how Rahne is. Hurt bad, comes the reply. Again, Hela appears to her, announcing the time has come for death to claim her friend. Dani shouts that she defies her.
Further upstairs in the room where Doug and Amara are working, more goons attack. Amara turns to her Magma form, telling Doug to stay back. But the men came prepared and fire gas at the two of them. Both of them fall unconscious. What are they to do with the boy? one of the men asks. Another decides to take them both and be quick about it. Sounds like things are going bad downstairs! They take the two teenagers and load them into a helicopter. Should they just leave the others? one of them protests, referring to their colleagues. He knows the orders, comes the reply. Does he want to argue with their leader? No, he replies in a small voice.
Downstairs, the Hellfire Club guards are watching their prisoners. Emma remarks that Shaw is concussed and functioning on will alone. She isn’t much better. Nevertheless, Magneto pushes, they need a mindprobe and quickly to learn who they face. Selene? he asks. She used too much power and is drained, she replies. So Emma tries to establish a psilink with the prisoners. A moment later she screams in pain and sinks down as do their prisoners. All of them dead. Their adversary apparently believes in tying up loose ends….
Lucius Aquilla has finally gained consciousness and tells Selene he came not to warn her, but his daughter. The swine are after… Amara! Selene shouts worried and runs upstairs.
What happened here? she asks agitated as she bursts into the New Mutants’ guest room. What’s it look like? Ilylana replies curtly. They just got hammered! And Doug and Amara got grabbed.
Kneeling beside Rahne, who sits in a chair, her upper right arm bandaged, Dani announces they need a doctor. The bullets she took are pushing her natural healing pretty close to the wall. Frustrated, Selene replies the situation downstairs is just as bad. Shaw and Frost are down and all their prisoners dead. They know nothing about their attackers or where they have taken her granddaughter.
Illyana reveals they have a prisoner, safe and alive in Limbo. Bring him here, Selene orders. Illyana considers this a mistake and refuses. Then take her to him, Selene orders. She will have her answers! This is personal for them as well, Sam announces. They will all go. Dani, however, refuses to leave Rahne. She’s seen Hela twice. She is the only thing keeping her away. Sam tells Rahne to take care and get better while Selene orders Tessa to inform Magneto of what happened. They will be in touch, when possible, if possible. Tessa replies that Magneto can track them via Cerebro and if necessary establish contact via the X-Men’s Psylocke. Should help be needed he will no doubt send the X-Men she wishes them good luck, as Illyana teleports herself, Cannonball and Selene away.
And so in Limbo, Selene grabs their prisoner’s head. Moments later, he is a dessicated corpse, while she is restored to full power and has her answers. Cool, Illyana states in admiration while Sam is shocked that the man is dead. Illyana remains unmoved at his fate. He shot their friends. He gets no mercy from her. She and Selene are a lot alike, Sam points out uncomfortably. Illyana takes that as a compliment.
Selene announces she knows who they face and where he has taken her granddaughter. They are going to get her back and bring this to an end. All by themselves? Sam asks. Their advantage is surprise, Selene points out. If they don’t go now, Amara and Doug are lost!
Speaking of whom, chained Doug and Amara are led through a hallway by guards. Doug feels dizzy. Amara explains it’s the heat and altitude. She thinks while they were unconscious they’ve come south. The air and ground beneath them feel familiar. She thinks they are in her home.
They enter a large Roman style hall, decked out with swastika everywhere. Tanks are waiting at the sides. Wryly, Doug remarks he doesn’t think Nova Roma ever looked like this. The guard orders them to be silent; their leader approaches.
The leader appears. Greeting Amara as the prodigal, he summaries that millennia ago her ancestors fled to this land with the dream of re-establishing a Roman republic. As did his comrades to sustain the hopes of the Third Reich. Together, they will bring both dreams to fruition. He introduces himself: he is the Red Skull!


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Fight in the Favela! – The Fall of Nova Roma part 2
Brazil: in the shantytown heights of Rocinha, one of the notorious favelas that frame the luxurious beachfront splendor of Rio de Janeiro’s famed Copacabana archeologist Nina da Costa runs for her life. No one notices or cares. It’s carnival season and there is chaos on the streets. Nina hopes in vain that she has shaken off her pursuers but knows better, really.
In the meantime, down along the Copacabana, her son Roberto has no idea of his mother’s plight, as he and his alien teammate Warlock, who has taken the shape of a handsome but somewhat stupid-looking blond hunk, are enjoying the carnival. Roberto admonishes Warlock not to stare at a half-naked dancer. He asks why it is wrong for him to stare when a significant subset of collateral lifeforms are staring at him!
Nina, in the meantime, is still followed by armed strong men. At least the crowd means they dare not open fire on her. She has an idea and snatches a cell phone away from a man. She then cuts sideways, doubles back along her own trail. She immediately calls her son and tells him she is in the Rocinha running for her life. A moment later, an armed man stands before her and she shouts they’ve found her.
Roberto tells Warlock to back track his mother’s signal and get her position. Nina tries to fight back, while Warlock tracks and locates her, announcing that she is in trouble. She can’t shake them! Nina calls over the phone.
Roberto orders Warlock to link with him. That’s the only way they can reach his mother in time. Warlock looks away, torn. Linking with another is dangerous and carries the risk of transmitting the transmode virus. He silently fears that he may already have infected Doug Ramsey. Doing the same to Roberto is inacceptable. But to refuse imperils his mother, so reluctantly the alien agrees.
He turns to his natural form, shaping himself around Roberto. Is this the way he does it with Doug? Sunspot asks. Warlock replies that this is not the case. This needs a different response. He turns into a kind of battle armor around Sunspot and explains that he integrated with Roberto’s natural biological abilities, which allows him to manifest Sunspot’s strength into propulsive force that he uses to take off as a living rocket.
Soon, they land in an alley to watch Nina being shot in the shoulder and fall down. The two boys attack angrily and against them the attackers don’t stand a chance. However, even as Sunspot deals with his adversary time is running out for Nina. Seeing that, Warlock immediately reaches out to their enemies and uses the transmode virus on them and drains them of their life force. Sunspot turns around, his foes finished, to see Warlock’s group is gone. However, he only has eyes for his mother. He shouts at Warlock who turns human again to call the police and an ambulance!
Roberto’s family belongs to the ruling elite so he gets the proper response. Like that, the villains are in custody and Nina is in the best of care, safe within the DaCosta mansion which itself is under the protection of the Batahao Especial dePronto (the quick deployment  special battalion) of Brazil’s Forca Nacional de Seguranca Publica (the national force of public security). She’s under the best of care and her prognosis is good. Robert stays by his mother’s side till she awakes while Warlock waits outside, also standing guard. Finally, Nina wakes up and smiles at her son.
The next morning, they have breakfast on the veranda. Nina remarks she never thought she’d be so happy to see this view again. Roberto thought she was happily in the high Andes. What brought her home and who were those thugs? There’s trouble in Nova Roma, she begins. The city has been invaded, its people enslaved. Amara’s father went north to New York to seek aid from the X-Men. She came here. Their family is not without influence. She thought to ask the government for help. Unfortunately, it appears their adversary has been one step ahead of them.
When Roberto wonders how Aquilla got to New York and she here, she gives him a ring, explaining that the senator got it from his mother. They may present themselves as ancient Romans but Aquilla’s people often prove full of surprises. The ring allows its wearer to teleport to and from the city. Unfortunately, their pursuers were able to follow. These villains hold the city hostage, they have to be stopped! Roberto looks at Warlock who gives him a thumbs-up. They will! be he promises his mother.
In Nova Roma, Magma and Cypher find themselves in a dungeon and outfitted with power neutralizer collars. When visiting ancient Rome, don’t forget to take in its fabled dungeons, Doug jokes. He can still makes jokes? Amara asks accusingly. It’s that or start screaming, he replies. Does he know anything about this Red Skull person? she asks. His face gives him nightmares and he’s got a voice to match, Doug replies, but aside from that the name means nothing, though he supposes his allegiance to the Third Reich is a clue. He doesn’t recall any reference to him in the X-Men database.
What about that kid? he asks referring to another young man in with them, also wearing a collar and a Roman tunic. Anyone she knows? Not from Nova Roma, she replies. She doesn’t recognize his face. She knows everybody? Doug asks in disbelief. They live on a mountaintop, she reminds him. Their city isn’t that big and her father is first senator.
Unaware that the Skull is watching them, they discuss what to do. Doug points out the boy didn’t react to them speaking English, so they should try Latin. Amara introduces the two of them to the stranger, who replies his name is Tiberius. He adds he has been the Skull’s captive for as long as he can remember. Nothing of his life before is clear. The Red Skull seeks restoration of someone he calls his “Führer.”
But why come here? Amara wonders. The Skull does not confide in captives, Tiberius points out. He would assume there is something of value here. Perhaps to use it as a base.
Doug silently admits Tiberius’ story sounds legit. So why can’t he shake the feeling that something about him feels totally wrong? Doesn’t help that Amara seems to like him. Which is hardly surprising. Tiberius is very charming….
He addresses Tiberius. He said Senator Aquilla escaped. That is his understanding, the boy agrees. Which explains the first attack in Central Park to stop him, Cypher remarks. But when the second crew hit Hellfire they were specifically after Amara.
Armed guards suddenly surround them and a voice announces that this was an insightful observation. He is to be commended. The Skull comes walking in, accompanied by a woman also wearing a Nazi uniform and also being a replica of the Red Skull. The Skull continues that he had initially thought to terminate Doug as a superfluous loose end but now he sees that would have been quite premature; dare he say, even foolish! What can they do? Amara ask Doug. Nothing much, he reminds her, the inhibitor collars totally block access to their mutant powers. They’ll just have to tough it out…
The Red Skull grabs Doug by the neck, announcing he might be of use to him and the great cause he champions. He presses a button and Amara’s and Tiberius’ collars are activated as their brains are painfully reprogrammed. He mocks Doug’s defiant look, one he has often seen from Captain America.
In the meantime, the Red Skull lookalike woman injects something into the base of Doug’s head. Doug begins to scream as the Skull mocks that the process is unstoppable and irreversible. He should actually consider himself honored! Doug’s skin begins to burn and finally he turns into a Red Skull lookalike, like the woman, a great honor as far as the Red Skull is concerned. He drops Doug who tears off his shirt to reveal a red muscular body. The mind will follow, the Skull adds, when the process is complete they will be as one.
In a dark alley of Nova Roma, two groups arrive via teleportation: Sunspot and Warlock thanks to the ring Nina gave them and Magik, Cannonball and Selene thanks to Illyana’s teleportation. After some surprise, the mutants happily greet each other and exchange stories.
Selene, who peers out of the alley, orders them to keep their greeting for a better time. Whoever stole her granddaughter and challenged the Hellfire Club is not someone to be taken lightly.
What is Selene doing here? Roberto demands. Sam summarizes that Amara’s kidnapping makes things personal for her. They took hits as well: Rahne’s been hurt bad and Dani is looking out for her. They are short-staffed and had no choice but to trust her.
Illyana notes that this is the central plaza. Why is it empty? A moment later, a lava blast scatters them. They turn around to see their attackers, three young people decked out in leather Nazi uniforms: Magma, Tiberius and the unrecognizable “Red Skull” Cypher who shouts they should have stayed at home. By choosing to play heroes they have guaranteed their doom!


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To Sacrifice Selene?!– The Fall of Nova Roma (part 3)
The New Mutants Cannonball, Sunspot, Magik and Warlock, as well as their former foe and current ally Selene, had learned that Nova Roma was conquered by the Red Skull and had come to rescue their abducted teammates Magma and Cypher. Instead, they find that a brainwashed Magma, a mysterious young man called Tiberius and a Red Skull lookalike (who they are unaware is actually Doug Ramsey) are ready to attack them.
Magma creates a mini volcano under their feet and effectively scatters her foes. Immediately, “Skull” Cypher and Tiberius press the attack. Doug claws Selene’s face and torso, actually managing to hurt her. Sunspot uses his super-strength to swat him away, aware of the absurdity of the situation; his fighting to save the life of a woman who not so long ago they considered one of their deadliest enemies.
When Tiberius attacks him with a sword, Sunspot dives and kicks the weapon out of his hands. Unimpressed, Tiberius strikes him with his fist.
Magma tries to bury Roberto under a ball of molten lava. Warlock attempts to physically restrain her but Doug attacks him from behind and beats him, announcing the weak have no place in the new order. On his order, Magma seemingly incinerates Warlock in a mini-volcano.
Sam is distracted when he sees what they have done to Warlock, then tries again to stay focused on battling Tiberius. He cannonballs the two of them against a wall, then asks how Illyana is. She’s still groggy. He orders her to pull herself together.
Selene too is still weak and distracted. The female Red Skull lookalike scientist sneaks behind her and injects her with the Skull serum. Selene drains the woman of her energy and kills her but finds the life force insufficient to fully counter the poison. She is still burning.
Amara gloats. Now Selene’s face can forever match the twisted evil of her soul! Having taken Sunspot prisoner, Doug reminds her that Selene’s face like his will match the visage of their master. Tiberius announces that Amara mean to no insult.
That moment, the real Red Skull arrives with his troops and asks what’s going on here. Sam bundles Illyana and Selene together, announcing they have to leave. Illyana teleports them away.
The Skull rages. He expected better of them! He did not expect casualties on his side, but, he calms down, that is the nature of war. His scientist will be replaced soon enough. The drug can perhaps be resisted but never for long. Selene’s fate is sealed! Sooner or later she will willingly, eagerly bow down before him. As will the mongrel, he refers to Sunspot. He will not permit him to share his visage but an appropriate place will be found for him to serve. Nothing in the world can save him or his friends…
In Limbo, Sam and Illyana discuss matters, while Selene sits some distance away, the left side of her face already Skull-like. Sam asks Illyana if they can help her somehow. Some spell or enchantment… Illyana points out that her transformation was being caused by science, not magic. Even if she had a spell that might work it wouldn’t have any effect outside Limbo. And, more importantly, why? Selene’s a villain, remember? They’d be doing Amara, and likely the world, a favor just by letting her die. That’s not their call, they are not killers, Sam insists. Illyana suggests he speak for himself. Some of them are actually old hands at this! Sam tries another tack: do they really stand a chance against the Skull without Selene?
Selene considers the pair transparent. The boy filled with defiant stubborn hope, the girl a total cynic. She has the more sense. Selene wonders if her beauty was just a deception. Has the Nazi stripped away her illusion, found a way to par her down to the quintessence of evil? Her entire left side begins to transform. Perhaps, she rages, she fought for Nova Roma simply to sustain a superior food source, perhaps for her they are little more than prey! But they are still hers! Flesh of her flesh, some of them, blood of her blood! She will not watch them become the Skull’s chattel. And especially not her granddaughter!
She announces she would like to go home. She will not go gently to her end. And she will not leave Amara to become a slave.
Back in Nova Roma, a training session of the Skull’s forces is held in the city forum. It’s his latest protégé, Doug Ramsey fighting a squad of the Skull’s own warriors. In the meantime, Tiberius and Amara serve the Skull food and wine. The Skull is quite taken with Doug’s performance, announcing the boy is earning the right to wear his face. He suggests Amara might get the same treatment if he considers her worthy.
In the arena, Doug almost slaughters his foes, not recalling anything of his former life. Impressed, the Skull gets up and claps. The boy has potential! But neither of them should feel denied. They both have potential… just in different areas. Amara is an exceptional creature, perfection in body with a truly breathtaking power… He is displeased when Amara doesn’t react. Her conditioning leaves something to be desired, he announces. When the Red Skull makes amorous advances she should respond in kind! Startled she gets up and kisses him. Tiberius watches them, fists clenched.
That moment, the battle comes to its end. The Skull salutes Doug. He lives to serve, the boy replies. As the Red Skull commands, he shall always obey. Sieg Heil!
They are unaware that they are being watched by the very much alive Warlock, who has come to his own conclusions, one of them being that the warrior in the arena is quite an asset for the Skull who should be deprived of that…
It is nighttime in Nova Roma. Illyana teleports herself, Sam and Selene, who is wearing a hooded cloak to hide her disfigurement into a street of the city. Sam recalls being here before. Selene pretty much ran things back then. Amara and her dad led the resistance. Selene scoffs she did then what she does now, fight as best as she can to keep her city and people safe. Even though there seems to be little left of her. Sam warns them to get to cover, a patrol is coming!
Selene leads them to a tavern. At first glance, everything seems normal and nobody seems to notice them. Actually, though, Sam realizes, every eye is on them. The people seem scared. The trio disappears into a backroom. Selene moans that the transformation is picking up speed. She can no longer resist is. She would prefer death. Fine by Illyana who manifests her Soulsword. Sam orders her to put it away. Has he got a better idea? she demands. This is way more merciful!
That moment, a man joins them and recognizes Selene. He kneels in front of her. Addressing him as Marius, Selene explains the flame of her life is near its end. He offers his life to save her. She thanks him and vows to prove worthy of that sacrifice. He replies, he is a soldier of Nova Roma. If he cannot fall in battle with their foes, let him give his life to restore the woman who is their people’s soul!
Selene kisses him, taking his life and singing his praises. As youth and health are restored, she promises he will be remembered and avenged.
Elsewhere:
Amara tried to kill Warlock by opening a volcano beneath him and then compressing rock around him. She seems to have succeeded. However he has survived and he now scans the Skull’s castle. Believing his best friend Doug Ramsey dead, he plans to even the score by killing the Skull’s latest protégé. Thing is, said protégé has trouble of his own. He feels a headache and suddenly horrifyingly begins to remember who he is. Seeing his visage in the mirror, he realizes he’s a monster. He remembers how the poison made him like the Skull. How a part of him was freed that loved it all. Somehow, he fought his way free. There is nothing he can do about his body but at least he has his mind back. But he cannot let the Skull know. Chances are, he is under constant surveillance.
Suddenly, he notices he is not alone anymore. Warlock appears, ready for battle. Angrily, he announces he serves the Red Skull, who terminated Doug Ramsey. For that, Warlock will terminate him!