X-Patrol (ES) Vol 5 88

Continued from last issue...

When Madelyne Pryor managed to manifest psi-powers to kill the Genoshan psi-probes, the Gengineer demands to review the recordings of the psi-probe. The footage shows a young Madelyne picking flows when she is confronted and demanded answers by a psychic representation of the Gengineer and the Magistrates. When she refuses to answer and he lashes out, she is reborn in a blaze of glory that destroys the island. The "Gengineer", decked out in a Mr. Sinister costume then would run into Madelyne in her Goblin Queen form. She warns them about igniting the match that will bring about an inferno.

This display shocks all gathered to watch the video and the real Gengineer demands to know how Wipeout failed to eliminate her mutant powers. Wipeout is as shocked as they are, telling them that he detected no mutant powers -- latent or otherwise and therefore there was nothing to wipe out. The Gengineer then goes to Madelyne's cell and demands to know who she is, however Madelyne is not forthcoming with anything but mocking answers. When she begins chastizing him for enslaving mutants, and the two debate on the use of mutants as workers in Genoshan society until Chief Anderson reports to him telling him they have word on his son.

In the Genoshan Highlands, Logan and Rogue (with the psyche of Carol Danvers in full control of her body) show Phillip Moreau the facilities where the mutant slaves are kept after their days work. Seeing it's concentration camp style layout, Phillip is shocked at the reality of Genosha's mutant population. They are soon confronted by Chief Anderson who has come to arrest all three, pointing out to Logan and Carol that their cover was blown due to the fact none of the security systems picked up the two "Magistrates" who came in with the Gengineer's son. They are promptly arrested and flown back to the Citadel for final processing. Anderson tells Phillip that due to the fact that he saw things that none save the Magistrates and the director are supposed to see he will remain in custody until his situation is sorted out. As they fly back to the Citadel they are suddenly hit by some freak weather, making both Logan and Carol smile to each other.

While inside, Madelyne listens to Jenny's lamentations of her situation telling her cellmate that all she ever wanted to do was to heal people and now she will be forced as a slave. Madelyne tells the girl to be strong, and endure when she is taken away by the Magistrates for final processing. As she is being led away, Madelyne watches coldly, telling the guards that she will see them all burn. Elsewhere in the facility, Logan and Carol see the baby that was captured in Australia being led away and learn that it's mutant parents found a way to nullify their skin suits and managed to procreate and have since been killed. When the three are brought before the Gengineer, Phillip demands to know why his father is part of a government that would enslave part of it's population. Believing that this is wrong, he tells his father that he rest of the Genoshan people would not stand for it. When David tries to explain to his son that this is for the better good of his country, Phillip realizes that both he and his father have a very different opinion on the future of their homeland.

Meanwhile, the X-Men -- having stolen Magistrate uniforms use the cover of a massive storm created by Storm to sneak into the Citadel facility unnoticed. While Logan and Carol are told that they are going to be sent for final processing. Logan tells Chief Anderson that he would rather die first and feigns succumbing to his illness to pop his claws. This causes enough distraction for both Logan and Carol to fight off their captors. As this is happening, the X-Men are making their presence known and storming through the Citadel with their powers blazing, easily fighting their way through the ranks of the Magistrates. The X-Men first go looking for Madelyne but Havok finds it empty. When he comes across Phillip Moreau while he is looking for Jenny the two agree to work together.

Madelyne however has stripped off her skin suit and come to the Creche, a place where mutant babies are genetically bred for work. She is confronted by the Gengineer who threatens her at gun point. She calls his bluff telling him she could kill him in an instant, however before he can try to shoot her he is stopped by his son and Havok. Phillip points the gun at his father and demands to be brought to Jenny. With the X-Men reunited with Logan and Carol and the Magistrates standing down due to the X-Men's hostage, they find Wipeout and with Psylocke's aid force him to restore both Logan and Rogue's powers, saving Logan's life.

When Logan tells the X-Men they should tear down the Genoshan government and ptu the island in ruins, Phillip begs for the chance to reveal the truth to the Genoshan people and make them revolt against the government. The X-Men decide to allow Phillip the oppertunity, but warn the Magistrates that should they not change their treatment of mutants, they will be back. Havok shows what the X-Men mean by using his powers to destroy the Citadel. However he realizes that Madelyne and the mutant children might have still been inside, he is surprised when Madelyne shows up alive and well and kisses him. She tells him not to worry about the mutant children in the Creche as thy have been taken care of. Storm tells Phillip that his fight to free the mutants of Genosha would be better done outside the country and he and Jenny join the X-Men in leaving through Gateway's portal. Wolverine reminds the Gengineer that if they do not change their ways on their own, the X-Men will be back and there will be blood.

Driving through the state of Texas, the Hulk, Clay Quartermain, and Rick Jones finds themselves lost in an unseasonal blizzard near the Fort Worth Airport. Their search for the government gamma bombs are starting to make the Hulk feel stir crazy and he decides to get out for some fresh air. Rick and Clay agree that the Hulk should do that, since they have no other choice in the matter. Meanwhile, the airport has picked up an incoming plane and orders it to turn back as the storm is causing a hazardous condition. The plane in question is the Blackbird jet owned by the X-Men. Aboard the ship are Wolverine, Rogue, Havok, Dazzler, Psylocke, and Longshot. Wolverine tells air traffic control that they have bigger concerns than the weather and demand to land immediately. The rest of the X-Men are concerned with finding their missing leader, Storm, as well as the premonition that the X-Men are destined to die in the city of Dallas. Longshot, however, remains optimistic, believing that his luck powers will help the team pull through this mission. Wolverine suddenly has to make evasive maneuvers as the Hulk leaps past their plane but this doesn't stop him from smashing into a commercial airliner that was also in the air. Picking up their mayday, Wolverine orders Rogue to rip off the burning engine and help the plane land. When Rogue complies, she unknowingly tosses the engine down on the Hulk. Once on the ground, Wolverine examines the damage to the commercial airliner and picks up the Hulk's scent, but finds that it is somehow different.

Meanwhile, the strange weather patterns are being observed by the Leader from his secret laboratory. His minion Half-Life asks if they are going to use this opportunity to steal a gamma bomb. The Leader does and contacts his pawn, General Hamilton to learn the location of the bombs. Back in Texas, the Hulk has found a truck full of frozen beef to eat when he is confronted by soldiers and attacked. The Hulk tosses the truck at them to send the troops scattering, but the truck's fuel tank explodes catching a nearby forest on fire. Nearby are the X-Men and Wolverine orders his teammates to help evacuate the area while he goes to hunt for the person responsible.

Although Wolverine tries to follow the Hulk's scent, the gamma-spawned monster gets the drop on him. Wolverine still manages to react quickly enough to draw first blood. Although Wolverine has managed to cut the Hulk, his rapid healing manages to seal the cuts. Wolverine realizes that he lashed out impulsively and apologizes while sheathing his claws. Wolverine explains that while he would love to fight the Hulk, he has other pressing concerns and turns to walk away. The Hulk will have none of that and, spoiling for a fight, attacks. Wolverine tries to keep himself cool and collected, but the Hulk's attack is relentless enough to cause the feral mutant to lose his control and go into a berserker rage. Wolverine impales Hulk through the stomach, but this only causes the Hulk to black out for a short period of time as he gets back up to resume the fight. Not far away, Clay and Rick try to find the Hulk. As they drive, Clay pulls out a photo of Bruce Banner and his wife Betty during happier times.

They come across Wolverine and the Hulk beating on each other and Clay breaks up the fight with a rocket launcher. Clay scolds both men: The Hulk for causing a fight that delays their search for the gamma bombs, and Wolverine for acting like an animal. Wolverine realizes that he screwed up, but the Hulk doesn't care. After slamming Wolverine into the snow, the Hulk grabs up the van carrying his friends and leaps away. As they take off, Rick asks Clay if Betty has been thinking about Bruce since she took off. Looking at the photo again, Clay hopes that if she is smart she hasn't.

However, elsewhere Betty has been staring into the same snowglobe that she is holding in the photo that Rick and Clay are now looking at it. Caught in a deep despair over the state of her marriage, Betty tosses the snowglobe across the room, shattering it, and breaks down into tears.