Cyclops trains in the Danger Room, proving married
life has not dulled his skills any, before meeting with Wolverine and Moira
MacTaggert. Moira reveals the reason she called Cyclops back; Professor Xavier
is dying! Xavier hasn’t been taking it easy since his near-fatal mugging,
trying to get as much done as possible with the time he has left. Moira also
theorizes that’s why Xavier invited Magneto to the mansion, to take over for
him once he’s gone. Cyclops objects to this, refusing to take the risk that Magneto
really is on their side. When Scott asks how much time Xavier has, Moira feels
optimistic that he may live long enough to see the birth of Scott and
Madelyne’s upcoming child, which is psychically overheard by Rachel. In
Washinton D.C., Valerie Cooper returns to her apartment to find Mystique
waiting there for her with a proposition. As a matter of self-preservation,
with life for mutants as dangerous as ever, Mystique offers the services of
herself and the Brotherhood to the U.S. government, as their personal mutant
task force. Cooper accepts the idea, rebranding them Freedom Force, and tasks
them with a trial run: hunt down and capture Magneto!
Meanwhile, Rachel visits the cemetery where her mother,
Jean Grey, is buried. She apologizes for not visiting sooner, before wandering
into her grandparents’ nearby house. Rachel experiences psychic visions of
their memories of Dark Phoenix, as well as her own of her parents and her time
as a hound. Wanting to honor her mother’s memory, Rachel takes on the mantle
and power of the Phoenix! She sees herself as the only one powerful enough who
can protect mutantkind from the prejudices they face and the world from the
power of the Beyonder, as well as atone for her mother’s actions as Dark
Phoenix! Back in Washington D.C., Magneto and Kitty attend a reception at the
National Holocaust Memorial. Magneto explains that Holocaust survivors take the
podium and talk about a former friend or family member they’re looking for. Often,
there is silence, but occasionally they either receive news or a joyous reunion
with their loved ones. Kitty takes the podium and talks about her Great-Aunt
Chava, who was separated from her grandfather during the war.
Magneto realizes he knew someone by that name, before
they’re approached by two of Magneto’s old friends who recognized him and knew
Chava. They reveal she died in the concentration camps but state that Magneto
had helped them and many others to escape. Kitty considers him a hero but
Magneto states that he’s no one special and that anyone who survived was as
much a hero as he. Just then, Mystique and the other members of Freedom Force
arrive to apprehend Magneto. He uses his powers to defend himself and get
everyone else out to safety, but his display still ends up scaring the crowd.
In the confusion, Kitty had slipped away and radioed the X-Men to come assist.
She returns with Colossus, and Destiny uses her powers to alert her teammates
to the other X-Men’s imminent movements. As a result, Blob is able to grab
Nightcrawler, and Avalanche surprises Cyclops and Wolverine.
Magneto tangles with Mystique and the enigmatic new
member Spiral, while Kitty sneaks up behind Destiny and takes her out of the
equation. With their actions no longer being telegraphed, the X-Men are able to
turn the tide. Colossus knocks out Pyro and Nightcrawler teleports Blob to the
top of the Washington monument! Rogue swoops down and takes out Avalanche,
leaving Cyclops and Wolverine to deal with Spiral and Mystique. Cyclops
suggests getting out of there before the police arrive, and Mystique reveals to
them that they now are the police! Magneto realizes how much his power
scared his former friends and wonders if perhaps he has become the very symbol
of everything he once hated. Feeling that this is what’s best for his
atonement, as well as the safety of mutantkind, Magneto surrenders himself to
Freedom Force, to be put on trial for his past crimes! To be continued!