X-Vengers (2025 series) #3

In the future Age Of Revelation an X-virus has killed millions and mutated the survivors. The eastern side of North America is now a mutant nation ruled by Revelation (Doug Ramsey), heir of Apocalypse. Many Avengers have also died and now the X-Vengers are all mutants, but still dedicated to protecting everyone. Now something made a Technarch variant of the X-virus in Philadelphia mutate and it killed mutants as well as humans. Variable Man (Scott Lang) and Vision (infected by the original Technarch variant) died stopping it as it targeted Revelation but the mutant leader detected that the change was caused by AIM, the remains of which is now part of the human US Government. Dani Moonstar and Cannonball now lead the remaining X-Vengers (6-armed Hawkeye, uncontrollably-strong Shang-Chi and Water Widow (ex Black Widow)) and have 3 hours to prevent a war between mutants and humans. And Revelation has sent Sunspot with them to keep an eye on them.

Cannonball and Sunspot fly alongside a quinjet containing the other 4, with Hawkeye at the controls. Clint Barton is worried that Revelation's voice power could make Roberto Da Costa turn on them. Roberto warns Clint that he's broadcasting his comments. He then tells his fellow ex-New Mutant and ex-New Avenger Sam Guthrie that if President Sam Wilson *does* turn out to be responsible then he'll make him pay. We see that the jet also contains the remains of Vision in a sealed container.

As they approach Fort Falcon (named after Wilson's 1st super-id) in Colorado the jet is met by a flight of Government jets dubbed Redwings (named after his old bird companion) which allow the X-V to talk to President Wilson. Moonstar asks the ex-Captain America why he wasn't at the memorial reception (in #1) for Cap (Steve Rogers) but he says it was because he was already responding to news about the new virus. He also says that his planes detect the Technarch virus (in Vision) so he can't let them land, despite Dani's protest that they have him quarantined. She hopes that examining his body might provide answers but Sam tells her to go elsewhere. She also reports that Revelation claims that the new virus was triggered by a signal from AIM, but Wilson denies knowing anything about that.

Suddenly the quinjet is hit by 'lightning' which targets Vision and reawakens the variant virus within him to blossom outwards. Grey-skinned Shang-Chi hits it hard but only succeeds in breaking the plane in 2. Cannonball and Sunspot guide the front half to a relatively safe landing but the rear containing the synthezoid and the virus slams into the Fort built in to the side of a mountain. All the X-Vengers are safe ...

... but they immediately have to spring to the defence of the Fort. Shang smashes a way in and Sunspot flies some of the staff out as others follow. Hawkeye, Moonstar and Water Widow find a pile of dead and someone mutated into an angry mud-being crackling with energy. It attacks but is killed by Sam Wilson now attired in his winged Captain America uniform. All 4 note that energy blasts from above like the 1 that destroyed the quinjet are now hitting the base. Marksman Hawkeye persuades Sam to get him to an antiair defence system so he can shoot back before he helps the X-V in evacuating staff as the Technarch growth spreads rapidly. Clint fires at where the blasts seem to be coming from ...

... and decloaks MODOK, the giant head that used to lead AIM. But the villain claims that Barton's blast has merely served to increase his power and now he takes control of all weapons made by AIM, which includes Hawkeye's cannon and Wilson's wings. As Clint runs from the virus bloom MODOK tells him he's been unconscious for a decade since he was 'decommissioned' and left in orbit. But he was awoken when Vision fought a Kree fleet (in #1). Hawkeye leaps off the Fort and Sunspot flies in to catch him. But both are hit by blasts and fall into a patch of Technarch bloom which kills them. MODOK then dives to attack the flightless President but Moonstar saves him with Steve Rogers' shield. Cannonball rockets in and smashes MODOK to the ground. Sam-Cap regains control of his wings, and he and Dani both throw their shields at the baddie. Water Widow drowns him with water and Shang-Chi smashes him to pieces, but restrains himself from killing him.

The Technarch bloom starts to die off. President Wilson promises the remaining X-Vengers all the tech and support they need. And they all hope they can negotiate peace with Revelation.