Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #225

In Edinburgh, Colossus spends his time sketching, having spent the last several months there recovering from his injuries sustained during the Mutant Massacre. He’s approached by some kids, who notice that he’s drawing the X-Men’s battle with the Juggernaut that took place there weeks ago, and decide to play re-enact the battle. One of the kids says that he’s thinks the X-Men are lame, and that X-Factor are the real heroes. This results in a fight between the kids, which Colossus has to break up. He says that mutants are people too, and shouldn’t be judged just for being different. A woman nearby expresses her admiration for his attempted diplomacy, and asks to commission a sketch of herself from him. As he draws, she reads his palm, and tells him memories and feelings buried within him that she couldn’t possibly know! She foretells something catastrophic coming, before suddenly disappearing! She leaves behind a strange chess piece of Colossus in her wake and when Colossus studies his drawing of her, it looks nothing like the woman, but he knows it’s her all the same! The kids from earlier then throw firecrackers at him, causing him to lose his concentration and revert to his armored form, his default state since the Massacre. He flees the scene, knowing that all the kids must now view him as a monster.

Elsewhere, in the other dimensional domain of the cosmic Lady Roma, the Adversary returns, having made the place his own. He taunts the tied-up Roma, confident that he’s put all the pieces in place to ensure his victory, and the deaths of the X-Men! However, Lady Roma thinks to herself that he has no idea of the players she’s been putting into motion! Speaking of, back in Edinburgh, Colossus vents his frustrations on a wall regarding the X-Men still being as hated and feared as ever. He notes the irony that his display likely didn’t help any. Feeling disillusioned, he tries to revert back to human form but discovers that he can’t. Colossus feels he must still attempt to help make a better world for all, and attempts to use a payphone to call the Xavier Institute. Having gotten much stronger recently, he accidentally crushes the whole thing, but still ends up able to get a call through to the school. Just as he gets through, his sister Magik teleports to his side, just the person he was looking for. He asks her to help him locate the X-Men and then teleport him to them, knowing inherently that finding them is of the utmost importance.

Meanwhile, the X-Men check out Eagle Plaza, Forge’s old building, in an attempt to find Storm. Rogue flies all around but notes that the place seems completely empty. Not wanting to take chances, Wolverine tries walking in the front door but ends up getting blasted by the laser defenses! Longshot runs in to grab Wolverine, while Dazzler shoots back at the laser projectors. With the firepower still too much, Havok blasts the entire room and Rogue swoops in to save Wolverine and Longshot from the falling debris. She ends up flying directly into Stonewall, signaling the arrival of Freedom Force! Blob then comes riding in on a wave of rock courtesy of Avalanche, before jumping off and slamming down butt-first on the still healing Wolverine! Mystique explains that they’re just there to take them into custody, and away from whatever might cause their impending deaths! Psylocke then telepathically coordinates with Dazzler to unleash a huge blinding flash, but it’s foreseen by Destiny, starting a feverish battle between the two teams!

Super Sabre runs up and knocks out Dazzler, while Longshot squares off with Spiral. Destiny tries to look into the future but discovers everything is one big haze of confusion and death! Meanwhile, Psylocke tries to psychically compel Blob to move off of Wolverine, and pulls a slick move by setting up an illusion of herself, causing Super Sabre to miss grabbing her and pinball off of Blob and Stonewall, right into Avalanche! She’s then surprised from behind by Crimson Commando, as Wolverine pops his claws, finally getting Blob off of him. Blob jumps up in pain and lands right in the path of Colossus, having been teleported there right at that second! Storm then suddenly appears, telling the two sides to stop fighting, when she’s tackled by Rogue, revealing it was just Mystique in disguise. The two are blasted by Spiral, causing each side to take a hostage. The X-Men decide to retreat into Eagle Plaza, causing Destiny to freak out, as her vision dictates that whoever is in Eagle Plaza at dawn, will die! And just at that moment, a glowing rift opens in the sky, possibly spelling the end of the world! To be continued!