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Sometimes They Come Back
The cosmic being known as the Watcher sits in a strange facility on Earth's moon. He notes that the universe is filled with wonder, and states that he has made it his labor to record all that intrigues him herein. It is from this lab on the moon that he studies the myriad secrets that have bedeviled gods and mortals alike. However, it isn't merely this cosmos which so fascinate him – for there are an infinite number of alternate realities – realities which diverge from their own when crucial events spawn different outcomes, like one such universe, where the much-maligned mutants known as the X-Men, formed under much different circumstances than the ones on this world, and where a well-known political figure has run for the highest office in the land – and won the presidency – former Senator Robert Kelly, has assumed the office of the Chief Executive. The Watcher looks at an image of President Kelly celebrating his win, and notes that as a senator, Kelly's views were thoroughly anti-mutant, and shared by many – but his life was saved by the mutant band called the X-Men, and so his beliefs have altered significantly. The Watcher decides to look in on this group of misfits as they prepare for a joyous occasion, one which will ultimately involve far more than the joining of two people in matrimony. He knows this, because he is the Watcher.
Meantime, at a country church in the town of Brewster, New York, the wedding ceremony joining two of Professor Xavier's Gifted Youngsters concludes, as Jean Grey, wearing a wedding dress, stands before Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops as she utters 'I do'. Professor Charles Xavier sits in his hoverchair off to the side of Scott, while Jubilee, Rogue and Ororo Munroe a.k.a. Storm are all wearing pink dresses as they stand near Jean. The priest standing before Jean and Scott then pronounces Scott and Jean as husband and wife, and tells Scott that he may kiss his bride. Scott smiles and thinks to himself that he has never been happier, but is sorry that Wolverine didn't make the wedding He wonders where Logan is.
At that moment, Wolverine, wearing the suit he was supposed to wear to the wedding, is back at the X-Mansion, inside the Danger Room, engaging in a less than festive way of celebrating the blessed day – programming a solidified hologram sequence featuring Cyclops in attack mode. 'C'mon, Summers – give it yer best shot! Don't hold back!' Wolverine snarls, as the faux Cyclops fires an optic blast towards him. Logan easily dodges the blast and tells the faux Cyclops that he had his blasted chance and fouled up. 'Hate to do this on yer wedding day...but I just can't stand the sight of you! Wonder why!' Logan shouts as he slices his claws through the Cyclops construct.
Back in the church, Remy LeBeau a.k.a. Gambit approaches Jean and takes her hand, 'Where I come from, we always kiss de bride – and all de bridesmaids! Can't offend, non?' Gambit remarks. 'Oh, Remy you'll never change' Jean smiles, to which Gambit tells her that it is nice to know there are things you can count on. Gambit notices Jean's eyes and asks her if she is troubled, to which the wide-eyed, distracted Jean tells him that it is nothing, that she was thihnking of someone. She apologizes for seeming distracted, while sensing that something is wrong with Wolverine back at the X-Mansion.
Nearby, Cyclops farewells the priest, asking him if he won't stay for the reception. Reverend Fischer thanks Scott, but informs him that he has promises to keep. The priest leaves the church, thinking to himself that he has miles to go before he sleeps, but that it was such a lovely ceremony. 'Wouldn't these grinning fools be shocked to learn the good Reverend Fischer – was their long-lost fellow X-Man with the power to alter his shape at will?' the priest thinks to himself, as he suddenly transforms into Morph! Morph grins, thinking that it would throw the X-Men for a loop to know the mutant called Morph was back from the dead!
One hour later, back at Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters in New York's Westchester County. Jean appears on a staircase, holding her bouquet of flowers, she tells the ladies that it is time – and that this is the only scientific method they know to find out who will be tying the knot next. 'Ready?' she asks. Rogue tells Jubilee that she is too young to think about getting hitched, to which Jubilee asks Rogue to bite her tongue, and boasts that Christian Slater is all hers. 'Gotcha!' Jubilee exclaims as the bouquet is tossed her way – only a large furry blue hand grabs it before Jubilee can lay claim to it. 'Looks as if the mesmerizing Mister Slater remains a free man a wee bit longer' Henry McCoy a.k.a. the Beast jokes. 'Hey! No fair!' Jubilee protests. The Beast then hands the flowers to Jubilee, apologizing to her. 'Beast! It's you!' Jubilee gasps. 'In the somewhat furry flesh!' the Beast replies, handing Jean a wedding gift, and apologizing for missing the ceremony. Jean smiles and tells him not to explain, as they know he just got out of jail and that there were a million things to take care of. She adds gthat they are just glad to see him safe and sound.
Meanwhile, in the White House Press Room, Washington DC, where President Kelly addresses a crowd, informing them that before the election, he actively sought to end the injustice of Henry McCoy's imprisonment, and announces that as President, he intends to pursue a policy of conciliation towards mutants – providing they be law-abiding citizens. He states that they must put an end to the divisions in society and bring outsiders into the mainstream. Amongst thr crowd is a man wearing a t-shirt that has “Friends of Humanity” printed on it. 'Sorry, Mr President – time's up on the malarky meter. Now Graydon Creed gets his turn to truth-tell' the man, Graydon Creed, thinks to himself. He then speaks quietly into a small communication device and announces that Operation: Disrupt commences.
A moment later, a large bald man rushes towards the stage and hurls a chair at the President, who steps back just in time, as the man shouts 'That's all outta you, Prez! You were elected to protect us from mutants – not kiss their butts!' One of the President's guards tells the President gto get down, while the bald man shouts that the Friend of Humanity have only begun to fight. 'Better mend your ways, mutant lover, or else!' he warns the President as he rushes from the room. One of the guards declares that they can't fire until he is out of the crowd of reporters, while another guard states that he will contact security at the front entrance. Gaydon Creed watches all of this and speaks into the communicator again, remarking that state one is successful, so it is time to begin stage two.
At the X-Mansion, Jean Grey is still wearing her wedding dress as she enters the Danger Room to find Logan sitting on the floor. She tells him that they were wondering where he was, and that she was concerned. 'You didn't -' Jean begins, as Logan tells her that he was working up a little sweat, and must have got carried away and lost track of time. 'Don't worry, I'm fine' Logan adds. Jean kneels beside Logan, whose shirt has been torn to shreds, and she tells him that she wanted to be the one to tell him that Hank has been released from prison thanks to President Kelly. 'So the old furball's gonna be rejoining us spouting fifty-buck words nobody else knows, huh?' Logan replies, telling Jean that is great news, just great.
Jean looks forlorn as she tells Logan that she knows how this must hurt him, and admits to the  attraction between the two of them – but that it is Scott who she loves. 'I'm so sorry for you' Jean adds. Logan doesn't look at Jean as he tells her that pity is the worst thing, and points out that he didn't even have the guts to show up at her wedding – instead, he flips out here feeling sorry for himself – a good man would have been there supporting her. Logan tells Jean that she made the right choice, and to enjoy her honeymoon. 'Hope you and the Boy Scout live happily ever after' he adds. Jean turns and walks out of the Danger Room, while Logan watches her leave, he thinks to himself that he should have made his moves months earlier, as it might have been he and her today, going off to some island, married. He tells himself that there is no use, as what's done is done – he is outside looking in – for good.
Meanwhile, in a seedy hotel room in downtown Salem Center: 'Why?' Morph asks, clutching his head, he appears in agony. 'Why? They were my friends! Why did they abandon me – leave me to die and run away?!' he wonders, while his head hurts badly, with pictures swimming around inside. Bad pictures – ugly – but true. Images flood his mind, he remembers the Sentinels coming out of the woods and attacking the X-Men. He remembers offering to draw the Sentinels' fire, while his teammates split. 'I ain't leaving ya, Morph!' Logan called out. Morph recalls being hit by an optic blast from one of the Sentinels – he thought it was all over. But he didn't die – as a man with a white took him in his arms and carried him to safety, who told him that the X-Men ran like rats after Morph had been hit and they never looked back. 'I'll destroy them all for that! All of them!' Morph exclaims in anguish. Morph declares that the X-Men are not his friends, they are his enemies. He then wonders what is making him do this, and realizing his head hurts bad, he decides to lie down and sleep.
In the X-Men's War Room, Storm, Jubilee, Rogue and Professor X gather around a monitor and watch footage on screen of a pro-human demonstration which turned violent and smashed a mutant safe-house in Manhattan. 'Bummer! This is worse than a hockey game, guys!' Jubilee exclaims, while Rogue asks the Professor what is going on. Professor X states that when they saved Kelly's life before he became president, his attitudes towards mutantkind changed. Xavier reminds the others that before, Kelly was virtually anti-mutant, but now his views have softened, and he preaches tolerance, so doubtless his followers feel betrayed, enraged, and are lashing out on their own. Xavier remarks that in this time of trial, they must remain diligent and hold fast to their ideals though they be under increased assault. 'That's cool. But do you think somebody's running the  show... taking Kelly's place with the mutie-haters?' Jubilee suggests. Xavier tells her that is a very interesting question, and wonders if perhaps there is an insidious mastermind behind these “Friends of Humanity”.
Xavier suddenly excuses himself, and his hoverchair carries him across the War Room to another room off the side. 'Where yuh off to, Professor?' Rogue calls out. Xavier reports that a private video line is waiting for him, and that he will return shortly. Once inside the other room, Xavier switches on a monitor and sees Magneto staring back at him. 'Must speak with you – Xavier – I'm hurt -' Magneto's voice, somewhat fractured due to a bad link, utters. 'What's happened?' Xavier asks. But Magneto tells him that he can't talk now, that they will have to meet, and tells Xavier to look for the coordinates that appear on the screen. 'Magnus – your image is breaking up. Speak quickly' Xavier responds, but as Magneto's image fades away, his voice tells Xavier to hurry, that he can't last, there is violence that will end them all. Charles frowns as he notes the coordinates as being in Antarctica, and vows to head their immediately. But at the other end of the video connection, 'Yes... must see you immediately...' Magneto utters as he ends the video link – and is quickly revealed to be Morph, who shifts from his disguise as Magneto back to his true form, grinning, he laughs as he boasts that the sooner Xavier embarks on this wild goose chase, the  sooner his precious X-Men will meet their demise!
Later, in New Salem, Wolverine, Gambit and Beast are playing a game of pool at a pool hall. The Beast lines up to take his shoot, and Logan frowns, telling Hank that he guesses his stay in  the joint didn't do much to improve his pool-playing skills. 'Oh, ye of little faith witness now what in the parlance of the pool hall is rhapsodically referred to as – running the table' the Beast replies, and as Gambit chalks up his cue, Hank tells him that there is no need to waste the chalk, as this is a decidedly done deal. 'Big words, Beast. No balls in de pocket yet. I keep chalking' Remy responds, when suddenly, a brick is hurled through the window. Wolverine turns to the broken window and remarks that it looks like somebody doesn't want to wait in line for the table. 'Come on out and get some, muties!' a man with a baseball shouts as he and other Friends of Humanity members form a mob in front of the pool hall. 'Yeah! We wanna introduce ourselves!' another exclaims. Towards the back of the group, Graydon Creed hands one of his thugs a camera and tells him to get the camera ready for when the mutants come out, but not to start recording until he gives him the signal.
'Oh, my stars and garters! Observe this scenery-shredding scenario of civil disobedience!' the Beast remarks as he, Wolverine and Gambit emerge through the broken window. 'Do such overwhelming numbers inspire the fight or flight response, my boyos?' the Beast asks his friends. 'McCoy! We got us some mutant haters to trash!' Wolverine replies, before asking Gambit if he is up for it. Gambit responds by remarking that he doesn't have any playing cards with him to charge up and even the score, so he will have to  make do with these little billiard balls. 'Look out!' one of the thugs shouts as Gambit hurls several kinetically-charged billard balls towards the ground in front of the Friends of Humanity. 'Hope you don't mind, mes amis! I be gentle!' Gambit jokes. One of the thugs moves forward and threatens Gambit with a gun as he tells him that there is only one way to keep stinkin' muties in line. 'Whatsamatter – nothing funny to say when you're looking down the barrel of an Uzi?' the thug asks as Gambit doesn't respond. Gambit replies that he makes the jokes only when the barrel belongs to a shotgun, not an Uzi – as Uzis don't make him think funny.
'On the other hand – such a handicap has never afflicted the bouncing Beast!' the Beast exclaims as he drops down from above and grabs the Uzi from the thug. 'Give it back! You clowns are nuts!' the thug shouts. 'Au contraire! Crazy maybe... nuts – never!' Gambit replies, while at the back of the group, the Friend of Humanity with the camera asks Creed if he wants him to begin filming. Creed frowns and tells him to start filming, but he needs to be absolutely certain only to tape the scene when the mutants are acting aggressively. Another thug with a large chain swings it towards Wolverine, threatening to rap his face with the chain until it looks like a waffle. 'Nice improvement if you ask me' the thug mutters, before warning Wolverine that he will then hang him from the nearest lamppost. 'Makes me feel warm all over knowing ya got big plans for me, sonny! Warm 'n wanted!' Wolverine snarls as he pops his claws.
'Too bad I gotta put a crimp in yer cozy scenario!' Logan points out as he slices his claws through the chain, and remarks that he knows someone who has another use for this little swing-around. Wolverine tosses the chain to Gambit and tells him to make him proud. Gambit calls back that he  will give it the best shot, as he kinetically charges the chain and begins to swing it around, keeping the Friends of Humanity back as he tells them to scatter, and declares that he is not wasting no more time on the likes of them. 'Take off, scum!' Gambit shouts, while one of the Friends of Humanity looks at the chain in horror, and remarks that it is going to explode. 'Hey – I hear sirens!' one of the thugs calls out. 'Must be the cops!' another supposes, while a third suggests they get outta here, as they begin to scatter. Gambit suggests to Logan and the Beast that they do the same. 'Agreed' the Beast replies, pointing out that it would hardly do for the recent recipient of a legal pardon to be seen skulking about a crime scene – not at all. 'Yer just worried about being nailed fer unpaid parking tickets, McCoy' Logan jokes, while unseen by the X-Men, Graydon Creed smirks and thinks that he has just the footage he needs – the next stop is a network news division.
Later that evening, after the intrepid trio have returned to the X-Mansion, the assembled team learns of the Professor's whereabouts via hologram, as Wolverine, Storm, Gambit, Beast and Rogue sit around a table, while a holographic projection of the Professor appears, apologizing for his abrupt departure earlier, he reveals that he has been called away on a personal matter of the greatest urgency. He tells the X-Men that he knows these are difficult times, and tells them that they must work together in the days ahead, that nothing must divide them – too much depends on it. Xavier adds that until Cyclops returns from his honeymoon, Storm is the designated deputy leader. Xavier then bids his X-Men farewell.
Suddenly, Jubilee rushes into the room. 'Guys! You've gotta check out the tube! Like you're not gonna believe this!' Jubilee exclaims. 'Cool yer heels, Squirt. What'd they do? Cancel Beevis an' Butthead?' Logan asks, while the Beast asks her what has caught her eye. Jubilee turns on a monitor, which depicts the Beast during the fight with the Friends of Humanity. 'Your furry little blue bod did, Beastie! Somebody taped you dorks at the pool hall!' Jubilee declares, as the image shows the Beast holding one of the Friends of Humanity's guns, she points out that the recording makes it look like the three of them caused all the ruckus. Beast and Rogue look shocked, 'Of all the egregious editing! We were the ones under assault!' the Beast exclaims, adding that he refuses to believe the public will buy such a charade, such a travesty of the truth. Rogue tells the Beast that for someone who gobbles dictionaries, he sure can say some dumb things – as of course the public are going to believe the X-Men were the culprits – it's all right there in living color. Wolverine declares that they have been set up, that somebody is out to frame them. Logan gets up to leave, informing the others that he is going to take a little spin and start snooping around until he turns them up.
Outside the Mansion a short time later, Morph hides behind a tree and watches Logan speed away on his motorcycle and thinks to himself that one chump is out of the way, which will be a little easier to cause havoc without that lunatic around. Morph switches his form to resemble Wolverine and decides that it is time for the Wolvster to make his appearance and check up on the proceedings. As Morph climbs the front steps to the Mansion, he tells himself to take it easy, and that with Xavier gone, he can probably get the run of the place, but he better not get too anxious. As soon as he is inside, Morph/”Wolverine” is confronted by Rogue, who is surprised to see him back. 'Ah thought you was heading off to catch us a criminal!' Rogue exclaims, asking “Wolverine” if he forgot his galoshes or something. “Wolverine” tells Rogue that he had a sudden change of mind, deciding it was probably better to start fresh in the morning. Rogue stretches and tells “Wolverine” to change whatever tickles him, and informs him that she is going to the rec room to catch forty winks. 'Right. Good night' “Wolverine” replies, as he heads off in the other direction, Morph switches from appearing as Wolverine to appearing as Rogue, 'Last thing you'd be doing is sleeping if you knew what I had planned now' Morph thinks to himself.
Moments later, “Rogue” enters the War Room where she finds Gambit and Jubilee playing cards. 'What's up'? She asks them. Gambit looks up and tells “Rogue” that he thought she was catching a nap. “Rogue” replies that she can't, as she has a job for one of them, reporting that they just had information that a major anti-mutant attack is expected at the old mutant halfway house – so they need to send somebody down to check it out. 'Awesome! I'm on the way, lady!' Jubilee exclaims as she gets up dropping her cards as she tells “Rogue” not to sweat it, that she will be careful. 'Ah'm sure you can handle it, youngster. We're counting on yuh' “Rogue” calls back, before turning to Gambit and telling him that it looks like it is just the two of them now. Gambit looks surprised as “Rogue” places a hand on his shoulder and remarks 'Suppose Ah said Ah been practicing controlling mah power to absorb other folks' abilities an' strength? Reached the point where Ah can touch another human being without making 'em go weak an' such like so' “Rogue” remarks, telling Remy to figure out the possibilities.
'Thinking about it, darling' Gambit utters. “Rogue” smiles and tells him that she has been thinking lots about it, and that the War Room is hardly the place to be doing more than thinking about it, though. Gambit smiles and asks her what she has in mind, and as “Rogue” heads to the door, she tells suggests to Gambit that he get himself to the rec room in five minutes. 'Waitin' gonna be tough!' Remy replies, to which “Rogue tells him that it is gonna be worth it. Exactly three hundred seconds later, 'Chere?' Gambit calls out as he enters  the darkened rec room.  He goes over to where Rogue is sleeping, and leans in towards her, supposing that he kept her waiting too long – but he has the remedy for that – a peck on the cheek.
Back in the War Room, Storm watches a monitor that shows a report of more anti-mutant violence with the Friends of Humanity, depicted outside the largest mutant counseling center. Storm thinks to herself that the situation is becoming worse than feared, and wonders what else might go wrong. As if on cue, Rogue walks into the War Room, carrying a motionless Gambit in her arms. Storm asks her what she has done, to which Rogue tells her friend that it wasn't her – she was sleeping in the rec room, and dumb Gambit came in and kissed her, so of course she absorbed his powers and he went down for the count. Rogue tells Storm that she doesn't understand – she knows Remy has a thing for her, but he knows there is no way she can be touched without this being the result. 'The danged fool' Rogue mutters as she places Remy on a table. 'With all that's happening, he picked a great time to play Romeo'.
Storm frowns and suggests that perhaps there is more to Remy's seeming foolishness than is apparent. Rogue reaches for a cup of coffee and tells Storm that she doesn't know about that, but that since she has absorbed Gambit's kinetic charging powers for a while, if she touches anything it goes kablooie, because she doesn't have it under control – which she proves as the coffee cup explodes. Storm looks down at Gambit and remarks that it is amazing how he keeps such a deadly mutant ability in check. She adds that he is a mysterious man. Storm tells Rogue that she wants her to stay at the Mansion and care for Gambit when he revives and wait for Jubilee. Storm announces that she is going to go to the mutant counseling center that is currently under assault and take a personal hand in stopping the violence. 'This ugliness will not continue while I am here to stop it' Storm declares. Rogue agrees and tells Storm that she will hold the fort while she does her thing.
Ten minutes later, Storm arrives at the besieged mutant counseling center which is now on fire. 'That should'a smoked out any lousy muties still crawling around in there!' one of the Friends of Humanity shouts. 'Let's leave 'em all for dead' another exclaims. Suddenly, rain begins to pour down. 'Outta nowhere! What's happening?' one of the thugs shouts. 'THIS VIOLENCE AGAINST MY KIND MUST CEASE!' Storm cries from above. 'IT ENDS NOW, OR YOU WILL SUFFER A DELUGE BEYOND YOUR FEEBLE IMAGININGS!' Storm warns the thugs. 'In yer ear, big mouth! Here's what I think'a you show-off mutants!' one of the Friends of Humanity shouts back as he fires a rifle at Storm – which skims across her head, causing her to drop to the ground. The Friends of Humanity hear sirens and begin to run, not wanting to be discovered by the cops.
At Sinister's lair, the diabolical villain watches a monitor that shows police officers finding Storm. One of the officers notes that she has been grazed, and is losing blood, so they need to take her to a hospital. 'Excellent' Sinister thinks to himself, deciding that yet another x-piece is removed from the board, although there are others to be neutralized, he hopes that the pathetic Morph has done his part.
Later that evening at the Veterans Club in a run-down section of New Salem, Jubilee rings the doorbell and thinks to herself that this is a spooky dump – she hopes this wasn't Rogue's idea of a dumb joke. She waits for someone to answer the door, 'Like I got all night or something' she thinks to herself, when  suddenly, Graydon Creed opens the door and asks her what he can do for her. Jubilee tells him that she understands he needs help protecting mutants from an attack, and introduces herself as Jubilee, a mutant who is here to help. 'Need some help – oh – of course. Mutants. Come right in' Graydon smirks, telling Jubilee that he thinks she will be surprised at how much they want her here – very surprised. And with that, Jubilee steps inside and the door clicks shut behind her....


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Somethin' Sinister
The islands of the South Pacific, a warm and tranquil place, the perfect setting for a couple sharing the bliss of a honeymoon. Even for two members of the much-maligned mutant band called X-Men – what could possibly go wrong in paradise? Jean Grey leans into Scott Summers a.k.a. Cyclops as they sit in a small boat that rocks on the gentle waves of the waters, the sky a bright orange above them. 'Oh, Scott, after all we've been through – from the Sentinels to Magneto – for us to be here – together... it seems like another world' Jean utters. 'It is, Jean. It is' Scott agrees, before recalling that Genosha looked pretty angelic from a distance, too. 'Leave it to my Mister Summers to drop a caveat into an otherwise perfect afternoon' Jean remakes, before she goes wide-eyed and pulls away from Scott. 'Jean – that look – what's wrong, darling?' Scott asks. Jean exclaims that she has a sense that things aren't right back at the X-Mansion – nothing definite, just a sense. Jean suggests that for now they enjoy this secluded little lagoon they have sailed into.
However, across from the lagoon is a small island, and the X-Men don't see a figure with pink hair and a long coat leap across the rocks on the edge of the island. 'Ahoy! You – on the sailboat! Ahoy!' the mysterious figure calls out. Scott and Jean look out across the lagoon, and Scott reminds Jean that they were told this island was uninhabited. 'That's what the travel agent said' Jean adds. The figure with the pink hair comes into a view – it is a man, who smirks as he tells Cyclops and Jean that it is nice of them to come ashore, and that he has a message for them. 'Listen closely!' he calls out, before he unleashes a powerful sonic scream, which ripples through the lagoon and forces the sailboat to topple, sending Jean and Cyclops falling from the boat and onto the shore of the island. 'We've capsized! Scott!' Jean calls out, while Scott tells Jean to try and ride the wave.
'Looks like you're drydocked. Permanently' a voice calls out. Jean looks up and frowns at the figure towering over her. 'You'll regret spoiling my honeymoon, whoever you are! You've messed with the wrong couple!' Jean declares. The bald, muscular figure standing over Jean tells her to watch herself, and introducing himself as Slab, boasts that he doesn't like threats. 'Doesn't like them at all!' Slab declares as he slams his fist into the sailboat, while Jean ducks from the direction of his oversized fists. 'You watch how you talk to my wife, you animal! I've a good mind to -' Scott begins as he steps between between Jean and Slab, who tells Cyclops to keep it clean. 'You don't want to offend my dainty shell-like ears!' Slab exclaims. The man with the pink hair joins Slab and tells him that they can't waste time on this. Jean suddenly alerts Scott to another mysterious mutant and  tells him that he is raising his fist. 'Looks as if he's going to -' Jean begins, before a blast strikes the two of them, destroying Cyclops' shirt and knocking the two of them out.
'Collar them, Gorgeous George. I do not want to hurt them – yet' the pale-skinned mutant in a dark costume with a large red collar remarks, energy glowing around his fist after firing the blast. 'As you wish, Mr Sinister' the odd-looking mutant with a form that easily shifts in shape responds as  he extends his form over to the fallen X-Men, placing collars around their necks, he jokes that once the collars start to glow, their powers are a no-show. Another mutant, short and hairy, stands ready, near Sinister, before Sinister walks over to Cyclops, who shuts his eyes as he turns to Sinister. Sinister tells Cyclops that it will be easier if he doesn't resist, and explains that unless he deactivates the control unit, the collar will detonate on removal – which is most unpleasant. 'Who are you? What do you want with us?' Cyclops asks. Mr Sinister grins and introduces himself, before remarking that his companions are the Nasty Boys. 'And you, Scott Summers and Jean Grey, are the key that will unlock my glorious future. I have awaited this moment longer than you know!'
Meanwhile, at a recently smashed pool hall in New Salem, where Logan a.k.a. Wolverine, another of the X-Men, picks through the debris. He crouches among the rubble and thinks to himself that something isn't right here – and he isn't leaving until he sifts through all this junk and gets himself a clue. Logan reminds himself that he, Beast and Gambit were minding their own business, shooting pool and suddenly there was a mob outside the joint, ready to tear them limb from limb – a mob of mutant haters. Logan remembers that then, they see the whole fight that strted when they confronted the mutant haters – on television – the fracas was filmed so it looked like he, Gambit and Beast were the aggressors. Logan is convinced that they are being set up. 'And I ain't nobody's fall guy!' Logan declares, before he finds something in the rubble that has an address on it. 'Them mutie-bashers got some answering to do' Logan tells himself, boasting that he is going to be there to hear them, as he heads off away from the rubble of the pool hall.
Several blocks uptown is City Hospital, an ordinary medical establishment, with ordinary windows – about to receive several extraordinary visitors – more X-Men! Apparently, the receptionist supplied us with the proper room number on the phone' Dr Hank McCoy a.k.a. the Beast remarks as he climbs through a window, while his teammate Rogue flies through in front of him. 'Don't Storm look sad, Hank? All banged up after she was attacked by that lunatic mob yesterday' Rogue exclaims as she looks at her friend. Ororo Munroe a.k.a. Storm lays motionless in the hospital bed, connected to several tubes. The Beast examines Storm's medical chart and reports that she is out of danger and recovering rapidly. 'Thank the Lord for that one' Rogue remarks, adding that she would love to let Storm know they are here, but she knows Storm needs her rest. Rogue suggests she might come back during regular visiting hours. Suddenly, the door handle begins to turn, and Rogue hears this. She alerts the Beast and suggests they hightail it the way they came in. 'Get well, 'Roro. We're with ya' Rogue calls out as she and the Beast exit back through the window.
At that moment, in a rundown neighborhood in New Salem, New York, where behind an innocent appearing marquee, a sickening spectacle of full-blown hatred has commenced – as the Friends of Humanity gather inside. Standing on a stage before his dozens of followers, Graydon Creed calls this meeting of the Friends of Humanity to order. He tells those before him that on this evening they have been favored by the unexpected appearance of a most welcome guest. Creed's voice increases and he begins to rant: 'I give you the wretched reason for our group's very existence – in the repulsive flesh! I give you a thing which masquerades as a human being – and yet isn't remotely human!' Creed shouts, as the young X-Man called Jubilee is brought onto the stage by two armed Friends of Humanity members. 'Is this like some Friar's Roast, or something?' Jubilee asks, while one of those escorting her tells her to shut up.
Creed motions at Jubilee and shouts 'What, my friends, shall we do with this creature who carries the bad seed... this thing which will one day propagate her kind – like a maggot! What shall we do with her?' While one of the men on stage keeping watch over Jubilee holds a gun to her back, a man in the audience suggests they make an example of her: 'Rip off her head and mail it to that mutant-loving president of ours!' Another man backs up this suggestion, 'Grab her!' he calls out. But suddenly, the men on stage with Jubilee discover glass falling down from above. 'Skylight must've busted!' one of them exclaims, before Wolverine suddenly drops through the skylight above, 'Meetin's adjourned, boys! Time fer refreshments!' Wolverine exclaims, before sliding down a large curtain, using his claws to slow his descent. 'Problem with that, gents? Didn't think so' Logan snarls as he lands on the stage, then slices the guns apart with his adamantium claws, the Friends of Humanity staring at him in shock.
Wolverine then grabs the two that were holding Jubilee by their gollars: 'Couple of tough customers like you don't need guns to take out one stinkin' mutie, do you?' he asks them, adding that they did pretty well tying up the girl – it must have been a real tussle. 'I think you two need a rest after that kind o' workout' Logan suggests. The two Friends of Humanity members look concerned, while one of them tells Wolverine to get his hands off them. 'My pleasure. Take a load off yer feet!' Logan replies as he tosses them at Graydon Creed, knocking the three of them off the stage and into the audience. 'Um, Wolvie, could you cut me loose?' Jubilee asks quietly. 'We're not gonna take this! Not from mutant scum!' one of the Friends of Humanity exclaims. 'There's fifty of us! Let's rush him!' another suggests. 'Yeah! Then we'll hang him for crimes against humanity!' another declares.
Wolverine grits his teeth and responds: 'Let's dance, dirtbags! I'll shish kabob ya one at a time – or all together! Yer choice!' he calls out. 'Umm, Wolvie, could you cut -' Jubilee begins, before Logan slices the rope restraining Jubilee's hands, and tells her that he heard her. 'Don't think we'll be seeing any grief from these wimps!' Wolverine remarks, pointing out that it has got quiet as a church in here, so they should split. Wolverine picks Jubilee up and starts to run off stage, with one of the Friends of Humanity calling after him 'Loo kat him running off – scared of his own shadow. I oughtta -', but then one of the others tells his companion to zip it, as Wolverine might turn around. 'I – I... oh... right...' he agrees, while Wolverine tells Jubilee that she is keeping great company, and asks her how she fell in with this debating society. Jubilee explains that Rogue sent her, said there was going to be an attack at a mutant safehouse and that she should prevent it. Jubilee informs Logan that she came to this address and was snagged by a creep when she went inside, then they tied her up. 'Will you put me down?' Jubilee asks.
Back at the X-Mansion, 'Greetings, group. Pleased to report Ororo is holding her own at the hospital. She'll make it' the Beast announces as he and Rogue enter a meeting room, where Remy LeBeau a.k.a. Gambit is sitting, a blanket wrapped around him. Rogue remarks that Storm is one tough lady, before telling Gambit that he doesn't look so good himself and asks him how he is feeling. 'Your fault Remy's in dis condition, Rogue. You said you could be touched now. Little kiss – no danger' Gambit reminds Rogue. Rogue goes over to Gambit and tells him that she said no such thing, and calls him a “fibbing swamprat”, that he snuck up on her when she was napping, to steal a peck on the cheek – shame on him. Gambit looks up at Rogue and disagrees, telling her that the shame is on her, playing with his feelings. 'Gal, you owe dis Cajun an apology' Gambit declares. Rogue grins: 'An apology! In your dreams, Remy-Pooh! Ah got nothin' tuh state 'cept min yoh own beeswax next time!'
Professor Charles Xavier approaches the X-Men and tells him that they will sort out this situation later, as he has more pressing matters to discuss with them. At that moment, Wolverine and Jubilee join the group, and Wolverine asks the Professor when he returned, as the last they heard, he had left to take care of personal matters. 'Redhead or blonde?' Logan enquires. Charles tells Logan that he will ignore his final remark, and explains that he concluded his business and returned with this disturbing news – that they may be under attack by a neural disruptor which alters brain waves, causing its targets to behave in a strange irrational manner. Logan sniffs the air and announces that something smells funny here. 'That ain't Charlie's scent I'm picking up!' he exclaims, revealing that Charles has the stink of Morph on him. 'You ain't Xavier – yer our missin' shape-shifter!' Logan declares. Xavier points at Wolverine and instructs Beast and Rogue to restrain him, claiming that he is obviously under the influence of the disruptor. 'Hurry! He may be dangerous!' Charles adds..
'Nice try, Morph! But yer coming clean – or else!' Wolverine responds, before the Beast grabs him from behind, holding his arms back. 'Explanations first... fisticuffs later' the Beast suggests. 'Leggo, ya hairball!' Logan snarls, before he flips the Beast over him and hurls him at Charles, knocking Charles out of his hoverchair. 'Help!' Charles calls out. Logan tells Charles to quit jivin' and get up. 'You need that wheelchair as much as me!' Logan points out, while Charles calls out to Gambit, urging him to destroy Wolverine. 'Destroy? Don't sound like Xavier to me' Gambit remarks, as he charges a playing card and tosses it to the ground, where it lands in front of Charles. 'No – one of those cards – those blasted exploding cards! Gotta get away!' Charles calls out, as he suddenly gets to his feet. 'Pretty good impression'a walking there, Professor. Nice trick, homme' Gambit declares, while Charles looks down at the card. 'Tricked me, huh, Cajun? That card didn't explode – just fizzled out' Morph mutters as he drops his disguise of Charles Xavier, revealing his true, sullen self.
Morph then throws a gas grenade towards the X-Men, boasting that it won't fizzle. 'Chew on this  one, chumps!' he calls out. 'Appears somewhat less than appetizing to me, boyo. But the sentiments are touching' the Beast jokes as he catches the gas grenade, and throws it through a doorway, remarking that he can't seem to keep his dexterous digits on it, and that it has slipped rather conveniently into an abiding corridor, before it explodes, releasing the gas. 'Catch me if you can!' Morph suddenly calls out as he runs into the gas-filled corridor, with Rogue telling her teammates that they have to go after him, even if that smoke is going to choke them. 'Lead de way!' Gambit responds as he follows Rogue off into the corridor. Wolverine turns to the Beast, who is at a console and asks him if there is any reading on the screen, or if they are going to be running in circles. The Beast reports that it seems Morph is moving rapidly in the direction of the hangar - which he thinks is a clever move. The Beast then proceeds to seal off the school's defensive perimeter. 'Figures' Wolverine replies, commenting that Morph knows the layout here, before announcing that he is headed down there. 'As I always say, two radar blips are better than one! Ciao!' the Beast responds.
Moments later, Wolverine arrives in the hangar bay, where Morph is climbing into a jet. Wolverine calls out to him, telling him that he has to understand that once they were whipped by the Sentinels, he tried to make Cyclops go back for him, but Cyclops felt he had to leave, thought Morph was dead, and needed to leave to save the rest of the team. 'I hate him for awhile, too...but we just gotta live with it! He was the boss! You turning on us ain't the answer!' Wolverine exclaims. 'Nice speech. Who're you trying to convince – me...or yourself?' Morph responds as he suddenly transforms into Wolverine. 'He's getting away!' Rogue calls out as the jet vertically takes off through a hatch in the hangar ceiling. 'Where do you think he's going?' Rogue asks. 'Take a guess' Logan tells her, to which Gambit supposes that Morph seeks out that X-Men he has the most reason to hate – Cyclops. He tells the others to come on, as they have work to go, and instructs Jubilee to stay here in case the Professor returns. 'Aw, shucks' Jubilee mutters.
Meanwhile, at a Pacific atoll just off the Solomon Islands, where the remains of a World War Two Japanese bunker houses a sinister scenario. 'Stop staring at us like some obscene voyeur, and explain why you've taken us prisoner!' Jean Grey calls out as she and Cyclops are restrained by their ankles and wrists, against panels that connect the ceiling to the floor of a strange laboratory, where tanks of green liquid house strange floating objects. Sinister stands before the two X-Men and tells Jean that “voyeur” is a fascinating word, and admits that, in a sense, he is. He calls Jean “Mrs Summers” and asks her if she doesn't object to being called by her married name. Sinister then reveals that he has watched Cyclops and Jean for their entire lives – watched them, tracked them and studied them – and they never had an inkling. He boasts that he may know them better than they know themselves.
Holographic images are projected into Sinister's lair, firstly of Scott as a child, as Sinister announces that he recalls Scott as a young boy, when the first gleam of his amazing optic power manifested itself. Another image, of a slightly older Scott meeting Charles Xavier, as Sinister remarks that he saw when Xavier took Scott under his wing, and made him the first of his gifted youngsters, then watched as he battled the Sentinels – mankind's answer to the “mutant menace”. Another image, of Cyclops and Jean kissing, as Sinister reveals that of late, he gazed at their wedding, where they exchanged vows and spoke of an optimistic future for their kind. Sinister tells Cyclops and Jean Grey that they are the prototypes – the chosen ones. Cyclops tells Sinister to skip the flattery, and points out that he still hasn't told them anything – except that he likes to watch. Sinister holds up a strange device and tells the X-Men that using this device he has extracted blood samples from them both, and that through their offspring, he will control the future of all humanity – homo sapiens and homo sapiens superior. Sinister grins as he holds up a small cubic object which contains a strand of DNA and declares that the genetic material of Cyclops and Jean Grey will be the foundation, the master bloodline, for an unstoppable race of mutants – under his complete domination! 'Through you, I shall give birth to the future! You should be pleased to partake of the grandest experiment of all!' Sinister exclaims.
Elsewhere, in Antarctica, where the mini-jet of Professor Charles Xavier descends. Wearing a thick jacket and hood pulled up over his head, Charles exits the mini-jet in his hover-chair, recalling how Magneto called on an emergency frequency, begging  him to come here to meet him. Charles decides that it is hardly character for Magneto to seek his aid, or anyone's aid for that matter, but he did seem shaken when they spoke. Charles wonders what could possibly have reduced the Master of Magnetism to such a state.
Back in the South Pacific, the stolen X-Men jet lands on the small atoll, where Morph thinks that the other X-Men will follow him as quickly as possible, and that they must be utterly distraught wondering what he will do to their precious Scott and Jean once he finds them. 'And those fools – those self-righteous bumblers have every reason for concern over the happy couple's soon-to-be-extinguished lives!' Morph thinks to himself, deciding that it is fitting that the other X-Men be here to witness it happen. 'Yoo-hoo! Anybody at home? Come out, come out wherever you are!' Morph calls out as he enters the old bunker. Morph strides towards the captive Cyclops and Jean and asks them if they are having a bit of trouble there, joking that he hates seeing friends hung-up over small things. 'Morph! You're alive!' the shocked Cyclops calls out. 'It's no wonder you're our deputy leader, Cyke... who else could be so marvelously perceptive?' Morph mutters sarcastically. 'What are you doing here?' Jean gasps.
Morph smiles and tells the X-Men that he is just checking up on their accommodations. 'I was at your wedding, you know. Probably just didn't recognize me' Morph remarks, as he switches his appearance – into that of the priest who married Scott and Jean earlier! 'I now pronounce you – betrayer and betrayee!' Morph changes his form again, into someone who recommended that Jean and Scott come to this atoll, offering to arrange the boat rental so they were all set. Morph suddenly raises a weapon and points it at Scott and Jean, revealing that he was both the minister and the travel agent. 'It was so much fun!' he exclaaims, adding that he was not as much fun as splattering their brains is going to be, though.
Suddenly, 'If you shoot, Morph, you surely end your own life by my hand!' Sinister exclaims as he enters the bunker with the Nasty Boys. 'Mr Sinister!' Morph cries out, turning to the villain, Morph explains that he has to destroy Summers. 'You know what he did to me! He must die! He must -' Morph begins, before clutching his head and screaming. 'The pain! Make it stop!' Morph pleads, to which Sinister replies 'This pain is nothing compared to the pain I released you from'. Sinister reminds Morph that he was nearly lifeless outside the Mutant Registration headquarters after his “friends” betrayed him during the Sentinel assault. Sinister explains that he healed Morph's shattered body, gave him back his life – but his mind was beyond true repair. Sinister states that Morph's personality was splintered – there was the man who yearned to be back with the X-Men, and the one who interested him – the man who craved revenge on his betrayer. 'That was the one I chose to cultivate' Sinister states, recalling how he used mind manipulation to find the means to control Morph's violent personality shifts and ensure his powers of imitation worked for Sinister's behalf.
Sinister stands over Morph, who clutches his head, and tells him that he became the perfect instrument in his plan. 'Without even knowing why, you placed Scott Summers and Jean Grey in my hands – and rendered the other X-Men helpless' Sinister points out, when, suddenly, there is an explosion, and part of the bunker is blown in. 'Who -?' the shocked Sinister gasps, turning to the direction of four new arrivals – Wolverine, Rogue, Gambit and the Beast, who exclaims 'Oh my stars and garters! The newlyweds appear to be strapped securely to yon tables! Perhaps an island ritual for risque honeymooners, eh my Cajun compatriot?' to which Gambit replies 'And they say ol' Remy got the way with the ladies! Got nothing on that Summers guy!' But Rogue tells Gambit to hush, and that it looks like this passel of baddies is spoiling for a fight. 'Wouldn't have it any other way!' Wolverine calls out, adding that he is itching to sink his claws into something soft. 'Nasty Boys – destroy them!' Sinister shouts.
'Without a second thought, Mr Sinister!' Ruckus responds as he unleashes a powerful sonic scream that knocks the four X-Men back out of the bunker. 'Least we looked great going in!' Wolverine jokes, while Gambit tells him that image isn't everything. 'Oh, save the pretty one for me, Hairbag. Women just love getting plants!' the Nasty Boy called Slab calls out, holding a large palm tree. 'Be my guest, Slab! I'll have me a time with the short, hairy one!' Hairbag replies as he moves towards Wolverine. But as Slab approaches Rogue with the palm tree, Rogue flies into him and slams a fist into his face, joking that she was hoping to knock him silly against that palm tree, but he snapped it off 'Some slabs got no sense o' style!' Rogue adds. 'Making faces at me, Bub, ain't gonna -' Wolverine begins as he confronts Hairbag, only to be repelled backwards by a gas that Hairbag breathes over him. 'That's lethal gas I breathed on you – Bub! And since you were so fond of my breath, big boy... let's see what you think of my pearly white teeth!' Hairbag declares as he leaps at Logan, who has collapsed to the ground.
'Keep them choppers to yer self!' Wolverine coughs, and before Hairbag lands on him, the Beast leaps in and kicks Hairbag backwards. 'Pardon the pedal extremity, sir, but it would never do to have the world and woolly Wolverine taken down by an aggressive attack of halitosis!' the Beast jokes. Nearby, Gambit throws a kinetically-charged playing card after Ruckus, who runs from him. 'Where you going, homme? Dis only one card trick! Wanna see de rest?' Gambit jokes, to which Ruckus replies 'No thanks' and jokes that he is going to make a ruckus someplace else. 'Come to Gorgeous, handsome! We must be careful where we toss our explosives now, don't we!' Gorgeous George remarks as he appears behind Gambit and wraps his malleable body around him. 'you worried about the explosives – then we see them safe and sound in your gut!' Gambit replies as he hurls a charged playing card into Gorgeous George's mouth.
Gorgeous George swallows the card – and his body blows up like a blimp, before reducing back down to his regular form. 'That wasn't fair, but y'see – I'm still standing -' Gorgeous George starts to reply, before he is knocked aside as Slab is thrown into him. 'Guess that Sinister feller's gonna holler uncle now that we whipped his troops, huh?' Rogue smiles. Gambit tells Rogue not to be too sure, before they are both knocked over by a blast that Sinister fires at them. 'Perhaps you defeated my underlings – but Sinister himself is quite another matter!' Sinister boasts.
Back inside the bunker, Jean tells Morph that it isn't too late to make amends and asks him to help them. 'Yes! You can see what a monster Sinister is – you must help! You're still part of the team!' Cyclops tells Morph. 'You're still an X-Man!' he exclaims. 'But you all left me for dead. I – I am an X-man. Yes. That's all that matters now!' Morph declares as he gets to his feet, then calls out to Sinister: 'I'M AN X-MAN! DO YOU HEAR ME!?' as he fires his gun, the blast striking Sinister's lower back. Sinister grins, and turns back to Morph, as his wound repairs itself instantly. 'You see – I cannot be injured by mere firearms! I should have let you die your lowly death, Morph' Sinister remarks, responding by firing a blast at Morph, knocking him backwards as he decides that Morph did manage to serve some small function in the overall scheme, and for that,  he shall offer him a swift death.
Suddenly, Cyclops is able to slip one arm free from the restraints. With his free hand, he snaps the power-dampener collar around his neck, then pulls his glasses off his eyes, releasing several optic blasts that shatter the other restraints. Cyclops then frees Jean, before blasting Sinister backwards with an optic blast. 'You've done enough to him, Sinister! Your fight is with me!' Cyclops shouts as Sinister falls backwards. Hairbag and Slab rush over to Sinister as Cyclops asks him if he likes playing god with the lives of other mutants – threatening him and his wife. Cyclops warns Sinister that he is going to show him the consequences of assuming the pose of a deity, and tells him to get up, as he is just starting.
'I SAID GET UP!' Cyclops shouts, to which Sinister tells Scott that there is no need to shout, as he heard him perfectly well. And as he gets to his feet, Sinister fires a blast at Gambit and Rogue, knocking them back as the Nasty Boys begin to run away. Sinister follows them, and tells the X-Men that unfortunately they have a pressing engagement elsewhere, but that they will continue their llittle lesson in genetics. 'That, I promise you!' Sinister vows. The X-Men are too slow to follow, and the Beast remarks that the jungle appears to have instantly swallowed them. He asks if they engage in pursuit, before a loud rumbling interrupts him, and the X-Men look up as a vessel rises up through the jungle. 'Why that sneaky so-and-so! He had a getaway ship hidden just in case someone got onto him' Rogue remarks, supposing that they go after him before he gets too far, but Wolverine tells here to forget it, as by the time they get to their ship, he will be gone.
Suddenly, another ship rises up from the jungle, and Wolverine identifies it as the het Morph stole from them. The Beast remarks that it appears Morph has given them the slip, before Rogue asks what they do now. Wolverine tells the others that he doesn't care what Morph did when he wasn't in his right mind, as right now he is probably scared to death. Wolverine vows that he is going to find Morph and bring him back, after all, Morph was one of them, and they have to take care of their own. 'Don't wait up for me' Logan tells the others as he heads off into the jungle. The Beast tells the others that it seems Wolverine has a strangely compassionate heart, and Cyclops points out that if it is true that you really know a man by is actions, then they have just learned a lot about Logan now. He suggests that they go home, as they still have to find the Professor. Rogue remarks that she is really  worried about the Professor's whereabouts. 'Ain't exactly sunshine for us, is it?' Rogue asks. 'Never is, petite. Never is' Gambit replies.
Meanwhile, in Antarctica, 'You seem remarkably well for a dying man, Charles. Because of our past relationship, I offer a response to your urgent summons' Magneto, the Master of Magnetism, calls out as he appears amongst the snow that blows around Charles Xavier. 'My urgent summons? It was you who contacted me, Magnus at the X-Mansion on an emergency frequency. You seemed near death' Charles replies. 'I have never been more fit' Magneto responds, narrowing his eyes. Standing next to Charles, Magneto suggests that it appears they have been the victims of a dupe, that someone wanted them here – someone who is going to be very, very sorry. Charles replies that this is obviously a trap and tells Magneto that they must be on their guard. 'I hardly need your warnings to -' Magneto begins, before there is a loud rumbling. 'The mountain is shaking! It can only mean an – AVALANCHE!' Xavier shouts, before he and Magneto are swept away in a flurry of snow and rock....


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Cast a Giant Shadow
On the border of Kenya and Tanganyika rests the largest most majestic peak in all of Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro. No written reference had been made to thermal movement there until 1927. it was not until 1942 that unmistakable signs of activity were observed. Now, in 1994, this giant among giants once againn bellows its presence to all of the dark continent – as a mighty explosion ripples up through the volcano, lightning up the night sky. But, the cause of this eruption has little to do with normal volcanic process, as a strange glowing energy form rises from the volcano, a face can be seen, and hands reach down to two local villagers who are kicking a ball around nearby. 'Look Mjnari!' one of the boys exclaims. Minjari looks up and tells the other boy, Trisan, that there are enormous hands coming from the sky. 'And more – a face of evil!' Trisan adds, while the energy creature looms down over the boys: 'There you are, young one! I have need of you!' the energy form utters. 'No! Stay back – whatever you are!' Mjnari calls out – before the energy creature strikes him, and Mjnari screams as the energy being declares 'Too late! You are mine!'
'Mjnari!' Trisan calls out to his friend, who collapses to the ground, writhing in pain, he cries out for the energy creature to stay out, and to leave  him alone. Suddenly, Mjnari rises up, glowing like the energy creature, he hovers over the ground, and the energy creature's voice can be heard from Mjnari, boasting that this form will do nicely. 'My friend – what has happened to you?' Trisan asks. Mjnari grins wickedly and replies 'Something beyond your wildest imaginings! Something wonderful!'
Meanwhile, half a world away at Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, in Westchester County, New York, where inside the ultra high-tech War Room, two of the X-Men – Jean Grey and Hank McCoy the Beast – have taken note of the awesome occurrence. 'Extraordinary!' the Beast utters as he examines some computer readings, and asks Jean what sort of phenomenon Cerebro has ascertained. With the Cerebro helmet on her head, Jean tells Hank that she isn't quite sure, explaining that she was using the machine to attempt a comprehensive world-wide scan in hopes of discovering Professor X's location, when this appeared on a screen. She adds that it seems to be a localized reading or tearing in the Psychic Plane, which Cerebro is programmed to register. 'Perhaps if I concentrate further...' Jean begins. 'Curiouser and curiouser, as the lass through the looking glass was known to have intoned' the Beast remarks.
There is a flash on the computer screen, and the Beast asks 'What a sight for sore spectacles has just crossed the threshold to favour us, Jean...' Jean removes the Cerebro helmet, 'I hear you, Hank' she replies, before noticing Ororo Munroe a.k.a. Storm enter the War Room. 'We didn't expect to see you out of the hospital so quickly' Jean tells Storm, before asking her how she is feeling. 'Aside from some sore ribs, I am doing fine' Storm replies, touching her side, before explaining that Rogue brought her home. 'She threatened to make it rain in the operatin' rooms 'less they let her out. Ah like  her spunk!' Rogue grins as she stands nearby. Rogue then asks Jean and Hank what they are doing by Cerebro. Jean explains that they are searching for the Professor, but instead they have discovered a tear of sorts on the psychic plane – but the most fascinating part is that it seems to be shrinking – healing itself. Suddenly, Storm goes wide-eyed upon seeing the location of the tear. 'Africa – no! I must leave at once!' she announces.
Elsewhere, in an Equatorial rain forest in Central America, 'Thanks for the lift, Bub. Figure I can go it alone from here' Wolverine a.k.a. Logan tells the driver of a boat that has dropped him off on a jetty that juts out over a large river. A non-descript wooden building is at the end of the jetty, and Wolverine enters it. The building appears to be some kind of bar, and calling out to the man behind the counter Wolverine exclaims 'Game's up, Morph. I tracked yer hide clear down here – and yer coming back with me'. Wolverine tells Morph that the bartender disguise doesn't fool him – he has his scent, and you can't fake that. 'C'mon. Sure ya turned against us fer awhile, but in the end, ya went after Sinister yerself. I'll forgive an' ferget, but ya gotta meet me halfway' Logan tells Morph, asking him 'What's it gonna flippin' be?' The bartender suddenly changes form – Logan was right, it is Morph. 'Speaking of “flippin',” Logan...how do you like this flip?' Morph asks as he pushes the bar counter over, knocking Wolverine to the floor.
'So you have to take me back, eh? Just can't live without me, can you? Maybe you can't live without love, hmmm?' Morph asks, leaning over Wolverine as he shifts into the form of Jean Grey. 'What're you jabberin' about – an' what're you changing into?' Logan snarls. Morph, as Jean, leans in closer to Logan: 'Oh, just the woman you madly adore...who's always on your mind' Morph grins. 'Jeanie!' Logan gasps. 'Yes, Jean Grey, your own gtrue love, who's in love with -' Morph starts to reply, before he starts to run away, '- Cyclops! Ha ha ha! Must dash!' Morph calls back as he runs from the bar. 'You crossed the line, Bub! Better keep runnin', 'cause when I get ahold o' you – you'll be... gone. Blast!' Wolverine mutters as he claws his way through the bar counter that was pushed on him, then races out of the bar, but can't find Morph.
Two hours later, over African skies, Storm pilots one of the X-Men's Blackbird jets as Rogue asks her if she is sure this was wise of her to make the trk here, still being injured and all. Storm responds by informing Rogue that the location of the tear was in this vicinity – where her home village is located, so nothing could have kept her away. Storm adds that she shall be fine, as flying the Blackbird here has conserved her energy. Suddenly, Storm notices three villages down below that are afire. 'We must put the blazes out!' she exclaims. 'You got it, gal!' Rogue replies, offering to fly down there and take care of business while Storm lands this plane. Rogue does so, exiting the Blackbird, she flies down to the ground, knowing she has to move fast, or else the kids in the village are going to be greased by a wall that is starting to fall. 'Hang on, gang! Ah gotcha!' Rogue exclaims as she swoops down and grabs the two children, flying them out of the way of the flaming wall that collpses to the ground.
Rogue drops to the ground and tells the youngsters not to move, that she will shield them from any falling debris – when suddenly, it begins to rain, and hard. 'Never thought Ah'd feel so danged good getting wet' Rogue remarks, looking up to the sky, where Storm hovers, arms raised above her head, the rain pours down and lightning crackles behind her as she shouts ' Rains – descend and quench the flames! Do not cease until every cinder is extinguished!' Rogue calls out to Storm, telling her that not only has she got a way with water – but she does pretty fine with words, too. Storm reports that from her vantage point she can see that the other two villages have been equally inundated, and she believes all are safe. Storm then thanks Rogue, who tells Storm that it was she who did all the hard work, she just grabbed a couple of kids.
Moments later, the village leader emerges from her dwelling to greet the newcomers. 'Ororo! This is truly an unexpected surprise! You have arrived home so fortuitously... to save the lives of your people' the woman wearing a purple dress remarks. Storm grins: 'Greetings, Shani, tribal leader' before introducing Shani to Rogue, her friend and fellow X-Man. 'Pleased tuh make yoh acquaintance, ma'am' Rogue tells Shani. Shani then asks Storm what has brought her this way. Storm explains that their instruments recorded a disturbance in the etheric plane located here. 'Oh, Storm, this can only mean the problem is Mjnari' Shani utters as the two women hug. Rogue smiles and asks Shani to lead them to this Mjanri character – they will whip his butt good and teach him a few bedside manners. Storm turns to Rogue and remarks that the situation bears further scrutiny, and reveals that Mjnari is her son. 'Yoh son!?' the shocked Rogue utters, wide-eyed.
At that moment, on a rocky outcropping above the village, Mjnari holds out a hand as the rain falls down. 'Rain. She has returned. As I planned. Storm godmother to this body, slave to this soul. How will you greet us now?' he remarks. His eyes flash with the energy of his possessor as he grins, 'Soon, you will return where you belong – into the service of the Shadow King!'
Back down in the village, Rogue and Storm are working with Shani to make repairs to the damages. Rogue tells them that they have to fill her in on this situation, as there is a real gap in her understanding. Shani asks Storm if she objects to that, to which Storm tells Shani that Rogue is like a sister to her. Shani reveals that Mjnari's birth was very difficult, and although the mid-wife helped her survive it, the baby was not breathing – so young Ororo, of the tribe, sought to aid him, literally breathing life into him, a form of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Shani informs Rogue that during her recovery, Ororo cared for Mjnari, and they became almost inseparable. Then, one day, Ororo left the village that she had come into as an orphan – left as one of them, and second mother to Mjnari. Shani reveals that one year ago, Mjnari developed a special skill, as Ororo did, he ran faster than anyone – and to see him do this was both beautiful and terrifying.
Shani announces that yesterday, something horribile happened, and Mjnari changed. 'For the better, mother dear!' a voice calls out. 'Mjnari!' Storm exclaims, turning to the young man, who strides towards them. 'All for the better' Mjnari grins, his eyes flashing. 'This must be our problem child' Rogue jokes. Mjnari – or rather, the Shadow King possessing him – remarks that he is unafamiliar with Rogue: 'But Storm recognizes me, don't you?' he snarls. 'No! Shadow King!' Storm gasps in horror. 'You appear shocked. Did you think we would never meet again?' the Shadow King asks. Storm reminds the Shadow King that when they last encountered, Professor Xavier banished him to the Astral Plane. 'What has happened to my son!?' Shani utters. 'Easy, ma'am, easy' Rogue tells her as she tries to comfort her.
The Shadow King boasts that banishment ends, and proposes that he releases this child from his control, if Storm, in her infinite wisdom, volunteers to take his place. 'Your answer?' he asks. 'Yes. Yes...if it will free the boy, I accede' Storm responds, hanging her head. 'It is me you want, after all' she adds. Storm then strides towards the Shadow King-possessed Mjnari, and tells him that she is his. 'Not if this gal's got anything tuh say about it!' Rogue exclaims as she flies after her friend. 'You do not! This is my decision alone!' Storm responds, striking Rogue with a blast of lightning. Mjnari opens his mouth, and the Shadow King begins to exit his body, and starts to engulf Storm. 'My essence into you. Feel the energies coursing through you – permeating every cell – assuming absolute control! Such ecstasy!' the Shadow King declares. Rogue watches in shock, 'Oh, Storm – tell me you didn't let it happen' she utters. 'Tell me you didn't throw yoh life away! Tell me!' Rogue cries out.
Storm grins as the Shadow King controls her body, and boasts 'She has hardly thrown her life away. She has begun it anew! A glorious rebirth in the service of the Shadow King!' The Shadow King control's Storm, rising up into the air and knocking Rogue back with a surge of lightning. Mjnari goes over to Rogue and asks her to tell him what happened, as he has no memory. Rogue tells Mjnari that his mama will fill him later, but right now they have a more immediate problem. 'That fool Xavier would never dare attack me in this body!' the Shadow King declares, when suddenly, Storm is able to speak, vowing that the Shadow King will not use her for evil again – not as he did when she was a child. Storm remembers being on the streets of Cairo, a thief in the Shadow King's employ – never allowed to keep anything she acquired, she did everything in his service – and was humiliated in return.
'I will never allow that to happen again!' Storm exclaims, sweat pouring down her face. She flies high into the air, vowing that she will starve this body of oxygen, that she will fly beyond the point there is breathable air. 'Stop! You could kill us both! Succumb to my will! Succumb!' the Shadow King calls out. 'Never! I will die before remaining in your thrall!' Storm responds, before she begins to falter, she is light-headed, and dizzy – there is no more air, and she begins to fall. At this moment, the Shadow King departs Storm's body, 'Very well, Ororo. Savor your small victory in the moments of life remaining to you!' the Shadow King tells her, warning her that he will seek out a more abiding host – but that Storm will pay.
Storm begins to freefall back to Earth, but thankfully Rogue is watching and flies up to grab her friend. 'Gotcha! Good thing Ah followed yuh up heah! Ah figured you'd never let him take ovah without a scrap!' Rogue exclaims. Rogue drops back down to the village, as Mjnari rushes over to her, 'Ororo! Are you all right? Are you hurt?' he calls out. Rogue tells Mjnari to keep his shirt on, as Ororo is still among the living. 'You cannot imagine how wonderful it is to see you. But I knew there was no evil powerful enough to conquer the one who holds such a special place in my heart' Mjnari smiles. Storm touches her godson's face and smiles as she tells him that it was his love that sustained her, as she knew she would see him again in this life.
Rogue tells Storm that she doesn't have anything against touching reunions, but that she thinks they should sneak a peek at Kilimanjaro. 'Yes! There!' Mjnari shouts as he looks over at the mountain and points at the glow atop it. He explains that yesterday that glow seemed to cover the entire mountain before it exploded, and now it has lessened in size, but that is where the monster had come down from. Rogue adds that that is where the blip showed up on their Cerebro machine, so she figures the Astral Plane opening must be in the mountain. Suddenly, the fiery form of the Shadow King soars down from the mountain and shouts 'For the sin of resistance, Storm, you and these others will suffer as none before you have ever suffered! Prepare to meet your fate!'
Storm looks up in shock and tells Rogue and Mjnari that they must drive the Shadow King back behind the Astral Plane barrier before the tear re-seals. 'But it is not even certain that we can get there in time' she adds. 'I can get there in time – and I will!' Mjnari boasts as he suddenly speeds towards the mountain, despite Storm calling out after him 'No! You could be killed!' But Mjanri runs on, and when he reaches the Shadow King calls out 'Ho! This way, demon – follow the leader!' The Shadow King's astral form turns and pursues Mjnari back up the mountain, 'You cannot outrun me, strippling! I will absorb you with the others! Make it easy on yourself!' the Shadow King calls out. Storm and Rogue are following too, and Rogue tells Storm to step on it as they see Mjnari slip through the portal to the Astral Plane. 'Your fight is useless! You are mine! MINE!' the Shadow King shouts.
The Shadow King re-enters the Astral Plane behind Mjnari, 'MINE!' he booms, while Mjnari looks back and tells him 'No, demon! You are mine! Or have you been so intent on my capture that you have failed to note your surroundings?' Mjnari grins. The Shadow King is furious, 'NOOOO!' he screams. 'I'm back in the cursed limbo! I've been tricked by a child!' the Shadow King declares, while Mjnari notices that the entrance to the Astral Plane is becoming smaller. He tells the Shadow King that he will never escape now.
At that moment, Storm is furiously reaching into the ever-closing tear to the Astral Plane, calling out for Mjnari, 'Wherever you are! I can only get my arm through! Reach me – hear me!' Storm exclaims. Rogue is holding onto Storm to prevent her from climbing through the tear, and tells her that it is over, that she has to face it – Mjnari is gone. 'No! No! I can feel his hand – his small fingers grabbing, clutching mine! I will not let go!' Storm replies, while asking Rogue to help her pull back – and quickly. Rogue does so, 'Gonna give it all Ah got, lady! Just hope Ah don't rip yoh arm outta its socket!' Rogue remarks as she pulls Storm backwards – and Mjnari too, emerging through the tear to the Astral Plane. 'Storm! I'm through! I saw your hand – I knew it was you – you'd never leave me! Never!' Mjnari calls out. Storm and Mjnari embrace, 'Oh, come to me, some to me. You are safe. My son' Storm utters, while Rogue smiles as the tear to the Astral Plane closes, 'Looks like we've seen the last of ol' pop-tart head! Hope he took something to read with him... “Gone with the wind” maybe' Rogue jokes.
Shortly, Storm and Rogue stand near the Blackbird jet, as Storm embraces Shani and tells her that it is a pity she came back under such circumstances. 'Yes, but without your aid, all would have been lost. How can I ever thank you?' Shani responds. 'By seeing that our son continues to grow strong, with the power of your spirit within him' Storm tells her friend. Rogue smiles and tells Mjnari that he is one heck of a kid, and suggests that if he ever makes it Stateside, he should look them and they can show him and his mom some of the sights. Storm and Mjnari hug, as Storm smiles and declares that someday Mjnari will come to America, and a new world of experience will await him. Mjnari grins and bids Storm goodbye, assuring her that he will continue to hone his powers until that time comes – when he may become an X-Man!
Moments later, villagers gather around as the Blackbird jet rises, and inside, Rogue asks Storm if she thinks there has been any word from the Professor. Storm tells Rogue that she does not know, but that even if Xavier is absent in a physical sense, she believes that wherever he is, his thoughts were with them on this day.
Meanwhile, in Antarctica, where a hand belonging to Charles Xavier emerges from the snow. Charles pulls himself free, and looks over to see Magneto nearby. 'You survived the sudden avalanche as well, I see' Charles remarks, before asking Magneto why he asked him to meet him here. 'I was under the impression it was you who summoned me here' Magneto replies, before pointing out that it appears they have been duped by a third party. Suddenly, to his surprise, Charles is able to stand, and walk. But he realizes that his mental powers have faded. He wonders what has happened, as Magneto reveals that his magnetic powers have inexplicably disappeared, which has never happened to him before – in the Savage Land!
'Savage Land?' Charles asks as he looks out over a lush green landscape, full of jungles, mountains and rivers. Magneto reveals that has been here before, in this mysterious jungle valley beneath an opening in the antarctic ice. Magneto adds that the avalanche deposited them here, and tells Charles to gaze upon the lost world of legend. 'I have never seen such a sight! It's breathtaking!' Xavier gasps. He wonders why they were directed here and what all this means – when suddenly, Magneto is dragged into the air by a winged dinosaur called a pterodactyl that is being ridden by a warrior. 'Must rescue him!' Charles exclaims, picking up a fallen branch, he hurls it at the rider, striking the warrior, who jerks the reins, and the dinosaur pulls back, releasing Magneto from its grasp. Magneto plummets to a large river below, and realizing that he could be in shock and may drown, Xavier dives into the river after him. Xavier grabs Magneto, and starts to swim back to shore – but he isn't used to working his feet, and the current is too strong – as it forces the two over a large waterfall...!