Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #257

Psylocke, as Lady Mandarin, gathers the Hong Kong crime lords for a meeting. She informs them of Mandarin’s plans to once more take over the Hong Kong crime scene, a notion of hilarity to them, with the Mandarin’s reputation in shambles after his repeated defeats to Iron Man. Insulted by her statements, they order their men to attack Psylocke and through a combination of her own prowess and the Mandarin’s rings, she easily dispatches all of her attackers. After using her telepathic powers to trick and kill the last of her attackers, Psylocke proposes a new order, telling the crime lords that they can oversee their business as usual, with the Mandarin now overseeing them as their new overlord! The crime lords reluctantly agree and Psylocke revels in her victory! Meanwhile, the Hong Kong harbor patrol pulls over a small boat on its way to the mainland, and find Jubilee and Wolverine aboard. Once they spot Wolverine, in his Patch disguise, they’re surprised enough that they let them go, Patch obviously having quite a bit of sway in these parts. Jubilee is offended that Wolverine felt she couldn’t handle the harbor patrol, when he collapses on her, still wrestling with his injuries that haven’t been healing quite right. Wolverine continues to hallucinate Carol Danvers and Nick Fury, and when Jubilee points out that they’re the only two there, Wolverine looks at her like she’s crazy, which only serves to worry her more!

Elsewhere, in Cairo, Illinois, the child Storm is still on the run. She catches a broadcast claiming she killed a doctor at the hospital and is forced to flee into an alley when she’s spotted by two cops. They chase after her, but she hides up on a roof and curls up, thinking that it’s only a matter of time until she’s caught! Back in Hong Kong, Wolverine and Jubilee stop in on an old friend of Wolverine’s named Rose, looking for information. Rose chides Logan for not writing her more often, and Logan “subtly encourages” Jubilee to go out sightseeing with Rose’s granddaughter Ruth, giving him and Rose privacy to talk. Jubilee isn’t pleased by this, but ends up complying. Wolverine fills Rose in on what he’s been dealing with and she tells him about the Mandarin’s current power-play to take over the Hong Kong mobs. Elsewhere still, at the Hand’s base in the South China sea, Psylocke trains against some Hand genin. She baits the last one into getting close, and finishes him off in style with her psychic knife. However, her telepathic abilities don’t warn her to Matsuo Tsurayaba sneaking up being her, proving she still has awhile to go in her training. As Psylocke bathes, Matsuo tells her about Wolverine’s (as Patch) arrival in Hong Kong, and tells her that they need to determine his purpose there.

In Hong Kong, Jubilee and Ruth walk around, with Jubilee pretty unimpressed with the place her parents came from. They attract the attention of a street gang, and Ruth has to pull Jubilee away from making any trouble. Just as the two decide to go get lunch, they’re both suddenly grabbed from behind! Across the world, on Muir Isle, Forge reinforces the island’s defenses for Moira MacTaggert. Once Moira has left, Banshee asks Forge to install a backdoor into the system, that only the two of them know about, worrying about what could happen, or what already has! An eavesdropping Polaris overhears the exchange and blames herself, thinking about how people have been behaving strangely and negatively around her ever since she lost her powers! Adding to that, her mind is suddenly seized by Legion, who states his plan to make Muir Isle into his own personal playground!

In Hong Kong, Wolverine stands out on his boat on the dock, contemplating who could have taken Jubilee and Ruth. The Hand begin to sneak up on him, but when they reach where he was standing, he’s gone! Wolverine turns the tides and gets the drop on them instead, leaping headlong into the group of ninja! Wolverine does what he does best against the Hand, until a blinding flash from Jubilee stuns everyone present. Wolverine can tell something isn’t right and his suspicions are confirmed when Lady Mandarin reveals herself, having taken control of Jubilee. Lady Mandarin attacks Wolverine, unable to get a read on him even with her telepathic powers. Wolverine breaks her headdress and is stunned to see that Lady Mandarin is Psylocke! Psylocke capitalizes on this moment of hesitation and strikes Wolverine down with her psychic knife. As he collapses, she tells him that she now knows who he is as well, and how the Hand will have revenge on one of their greatest foes! To be continued!