Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #254

On Muir Isle, Moira MacTaggert runs some tests on Polaris to determine the extent and nature of her recent changes. She confirms that Malice is completely gone from her psyche and that her magnetic powers seem to be gone for good as well, but can’t determine anything about her new strength and size increase. Meanwhile, at a dock at Ullapool, Banshee picks up Amanda Sefton and Alsyande Stuart, revealing that he and Stuart already know each other from his days as a criminal. Stuart still seems all fit to arrest Banshee but they pile onto his boat, only for Banshee to get sniped from afar, knocking him into the water! Amanda dives in after him as Reese, Cole, and Macon take aim for another shot, signaling the Reavers’ arrival on Muir Isle! Amanda pulls Alysande into the water as well just before a second shot blows up the boat! In the water, Alysande discovers that Amanda’s turned herself into a mer-creature as she quickly does the same to Alysande. The two of them locate the injured Banshee and Amanda teleports the three of them right to the medical facility on Muir Isle.

Moira rushes to get Banshee medical attention, along with two of her other guests, Tom Corsi and Sharon Friedlander, and orders that someone find the Morlock Healer. Moira rightly assumes the worst, that the island is under attack, and tells everyone to get suited up in some standard protective X-Men uniforms. Amanda casts a spell to get everyone suited up quicker but it goes wrong, accidentally suiting everyone up in skimpy bondage outfits, to everyone’s embarrassment! Not long later, in the locker rooms, everyone gets suited up for real, while Amanda wonders how such an easy spell could’ve gone wrong! Tom Corsi wonders if Callisto is connected to any of this, after Moira sent her to New York to secure the destroyed Xavier School’s underground complex. In New York, we discover that Callisto has been captured by Masque, who has declared himself the new leader of what’s left of the Morlocks. Masque demands the codes to the X-Men’s basement, and when Callisto is less than forthcoming, threatens to disfigure her face permanently!

Back on Muir Isle, former Morlock Sunder, along with Legion, play with the kids Muir Isle has been housing, when the Reavers knock the wall down, continuing their attack! Bonebreaker, Skullbuster, and Pretty Boy come in guns blazing, but their shots end up getting blocked by a force field from Legion. However, Legion ends up being in one of his more vindictive identities at the moment, dropping his shield enough for Sunder to take some shots! Sunder ends up getting saved by the arrival of Tom Corsi and Polaris, who whips a chain onto Bonebreaker, ending up in a tug of war with him. Legion telekinetically snaps the chain, inconveniencing both sides, making everyone wonder whose side he’s really on! When Skullbuster sneaks up behind him, Legion activates another power and sets him on fire, while Corsi leads him away. In Washington D.C., Destiny experiences a vision of the entire world turned to crystal! Clock hands count down and she becomes aware that her time has come, as she turns to crystal as well, before shattering! She’s broken out of her reverie by Mystique just before Val Cooper calls them with a mission for Freedom Force.

Back on Muir Isle, Amanda combats Reese, Cole, and Macon as best she can, but finds her magic only partially effective due to their iron cybernetic enhancements! Alysande provides cover fire but the two of them quickly end up getting captured by the Reavers. In Washington D.C., Val Cooper wants Freedom Force to go help out Muir Isle, after Forge came to warn her about the danger. Mystique initially refuses, due to Forge’s hand in (as far as she knows) Rogue’s death, but ends up relenting. Despite her ire, Destiny implies that Mystique and Forge’s futures are more intertwined than she realizes, and sooner than she could expect! In Muir Isle’s medical center, Healer fixes up Banshee as best he can and Moira tells him that he’s needed. Banshee notes that Moira’s changed, become sterner lately, but offers any help he can provide. Elsewhere, Sunder continues to fight the Reavers, pounding into Skullbuster until he’s shot from behind by Pretty Boy! As Sunder slumps over dead, the Reavers head out to do the same to the rest of the island! To be continued!