The New Mutants (1983)

The final confrontation with the sadistic Gladiators! As the New Mutants' combat ability is put to the test, so too is their mental resistance as the mysterious mind-controlling leader of the Gladiator is revealed.

As Sunspot & Magma fought the gigantic monster for their lives, Dazzler sung her heart out on stage. Their mysterious obese captor was partially hidden in the shadows, feasting on luxurious foods and wine. The creature turned out to be mechanical, but it was intangible to punch. when Magma shook the earth from underneath it, the machine seemed to walk on air. Sunspot recognized Shadowcat's powers & deduced that she must be held hostage inside the mechanical giant. As the giant grabbed him, he implored Shadowcat to come to her senses. The obese leader of the Gladiators screamed for her to kill him, but Shadowcat phased out of the robot to join the New Mutants side-by-side. Dazzler began to attack them, but Shadowcat used one of the armored spikes off the robot as a projectile and threw it towards their mysterious kidnapper.

At that moment, Cannonball arrived carrying Magik & Rachel Summers. Dazzler's attack continued, so Magik had one of her demons grab Dazzler & dragged her into Limbo. Dazzler's Gladiator friend Ivich believed Dazzler had been killed and dived into the fight. The fight was chaotic until Magik returned Dazzler from Limbo and the police arrived (scaring off the crowd). The jaunt to Limbo had broken the telepathic hold on Dazzler, and she implored Ivich to run away & lead a decent life.

Meanwhile the fat proprietor of the Gladiators' arena had disappeared. Magma used her powers to tunnel them out of the complex. Just as Sunspot realized that Dazzler & Shadowcat had been under some sort of possession, he was possessed and turned to fight the others. Rachel used her telepathy to reach out to Sunspot, but was also possessed instead. Dazzler was determined not to be caught again and used her lights to dazzle the others back into sense.

Cannonball then took the lead, and flew into their obese tormentor. As he pushed her into the air he was shocked to find that it was his old classmate, Karma! The holographic images of Alexander Flynn had merely been a front to hide her true identity. The shock halted his attack, and she landed on the ground to torment the others. Shadowcat had realized that they were fighting the first New Mutant, but didn't tell the others. Karma ensured her escape by threatening to have innocent bystanders slit their own throats.

She escaped, and framed the Gladiator's illegal activities on her uncle, General Ngyuyen Ngoc Coy. With the General arrested, the mutants considered what to do next. They weren't sure if the X-Men had survived their fight against the Beyond (see Secret Wars II #1), and Shadowcat consoled Dazzler.

Additional: In the back of this issue were pin-up fact files drawn by Bill Sienkiewicz. One per Hellions member; these featured Empath & Catseye.

Karma's betrayal of the New Mutants remains a mystery, one that Magik and Mirage are determined to unravel.

Sunspot recalled the explosion at Big Sur when the team thought that Karma had died (see New Mutants #6). The New Mutants had returned to the beach at Big Sur and Cannonball consoled Sunspot.

The New Mutants had all reunited, and used Professor Xavier's funds to cover the cost of a plane to Madripoor. Cypher used his laptop to dig up as much information on the past events, General Nguyen Ngoc Coy, the Viper & Karma. Sunspot was angered that Professor Xavier must have known that Karma was still alive, and Cypher accidentally suffered Sunspot's rage for suggesting that the Professor must have had a good reason for hiding the truth from them. Wolfsbane was upset that her first friend had turned on them. They scarpered back to bed when a stewardess overheard them, but Mirage used an illusion of them all sleeping to keep them from being lectured.

Arriving in Madripoor Magma created a light earthquake as a distraction. They slipped by the airport security unnoticed before flying away in Warlock who had changed into a helicopter. Later they tried to act casually at a beach-side diner, and Cypher attempted to apologise for upsetting Sunspot on the plane, but accidentally caused another argument. Karma's limousine cavalcade drove by, and her security cameras recognised the New Mutants. Cypher and Warlock were left by the beach, causing Cypher great frustration.

The others went to sneak into Karma's mansion and were attacked by the Gladiators who were hired as security. During the fight, Wolfsbane caught Karma's scent and ran inside. Mirage & the others followed, but were soon attacked by Wolfsbane. She had been possessed, and Karma appeared at the top of the stairs to torment her old friends. Just as she was about to possess the entire team, Magik teleported herself and Mirage to Limbo. They gathered Magik's demon forces and teleported back to Madripoor. However, time had shifted so when they returned they had missed the fight. The bloody and mauled remains of the Gladiators bodies were left strewn around the property, with signs that the New Mutants had caused the slaughter. When the police arrived, Magik tried to talk to them, but they began shooting at her instead. Immediately they teleported back to Limbo.

Mirage was furious, and recalled Cypher's research from the plane flight. She demanded that Magik teleport them to Cairo, where Karma had a nightclub. Magik was concerned that when she teleported over greater distances she had less control over time. Mirage insisted and they found themselves lost in Cairo, at night. There they were found by Ashante, Storm's maternal grandmother many times removed. She gave them shelter and used her own magic spells to send them into the future.

However, they found themselves too far in the future. There Wolfsbane's telepathic rapport with Mirage tipped her and the other New Mutants off to their presence. Mirage and Magik were suddenly confronted with evil, twisted adult versions of Cannonball, Magma, Sunspot & Wolfsbane. Before they could do anything, Magik summoned up another teleportation stepping disc. Upon arriving in modern day Cairo, Mirage burst into tears. She was angry with herself and partially blamed Magik for what had happened to their friends. Magik wished her soul could feel the same pain and torment over losing their friends, but she still felt angry at the accusation Just as the girls were about to fight they were interrupted. At first they thought it was Ashake again. Then they realised it was the powerless X-Men leader, Storm.

Warlock's alien biology meant that he was immune to Karma's powers. He had sought out Storm's help, and when the girls arrived in the present he was able to locate them. Once they were all together, Storm admitted that she was afraid but was determined to fight nonetheless. Seeing Storm's fighting Spirit, both Mirage and Magik decided to continue the fight to save their friends. All four mutants joined hands.

The remaining New Mutants not under Karma's control are aided by Storm in launching their counterattack against their former ally.

Karma used her control of the New Mutants to torment the customers in her nightclub Pharaoh. Lives and marriages were destroyed in moments. Storm's sudden appearance in the club caught Karma's attention. Storm claimed that she knew who Karma really was. When Karma sent the New Mutants to capture Storm, both Magik & Mirage appeared. Mirage used her rapport with Wolfsbane to shock her back to normal, but the revelation of being in a skimpy dress in a nightclub caused her to run & cry. Mirage used a psychic nightmare to shock Karma, and a large dominating image of the Professor appeared over their obese foe. Angered, Karma possessed the entire population of the nightclub, which startled Mirage as Karma had only been able to posses a couple of people at a time. As Mirage & Wolfsbane ran away Warlock scooped them up, transformed into a rocket and flew them to safety.

When Storm and the others arrived at their safe-house, they had to explain to Wolfsbane what had happened. Warlock transformed himself into an array of comical animals to cheer her up, but she could not wash away the dirty feeling in her soul. The New Mutants couldn't believe that Storm really had been a thief in Cairo, and as they swapped stories Storm spied Mirage admiring the slinky green dress that Karma had dressed Wolfsbane in. Her guilt was immediate, and Storm consoled her in private. They discussed responsibility, and how it was only natural to desire beauty & strength which their enemy was perverting to make into something to be ashamed of.

However, they were suddenly attacked by Karma's possessed New Mutants. Warlock managed to save Magik from Cannonball, but knocked him unconscious into the air. Storm made Warlock catch his old team-mate, who was in mortal danger while he wasn't blasting. Sunspot was easily duped by Magik & Mirage, but they soon came under attack by Magma.

Magik teleported them both to Limbo, and then inside Pharaoh. Leaving Mirage inside the nightclub, Magik returned to the fight while her team-mate was immediately possessed by Karma. Magik then returned to the fight to take Warlock away. She left him in Limbo with Sym. However, Sym chose to show Warlock the remains of Colossus who he had killed in an alternative future. Warlock screamed in terror at the information that his friend had already killed some of the X-Men (See the Storm & Illyana: Magik mini series).

Back in Cairo, Mirage and Wolfsbane were both possessed, and they posed an offer for Magik to join forces with Karma. They left to join the other New Mutants as they cornered Storm. Storm used her staff and the local surroundings to defeat the New Mutants. Storm thought that Magik was going to teleport them both to safety, but she took her to Pharaoh just as she had done with Mirage.

From Limbo, Magik remembered the moment when she was forced to kill Storm (see the Storm & Illyana: Magik mini series). She considered how big of a gamble her plan was when Warlock suddenly appeared. He was enraged, grown in size and called her a traitor. Warlock had successfully knocked Sym unconscious, and threatened to kill Magik.

The true menace behind Karma's treachery is revealed. Which of the X-Men's classic foes is the true enemy?

Warlock refused to listen to Magik, and absorbed the life glow of two demons. Just as she looked like she was about to attack, Magik transformed her outfit into that of a normal little girl. She refused to attack Warlock. Since he could not betray his own pacifist mutation, Warlock melted into a useless puddle. Magik picked him up & began to explain her plan. Using a scrying pool to watch Storm fighting Karma's hold, Magik observed as Karma threatened to permanently twist the souls of Storm & the New Mutants so they would behave like this normally.

Approximately 20 years earlier, a little African girl with white hair & blue eyes stole the wallet of a bald American man. Professor Xavier used his telepathic powers to retrieve his wallet, and sent Storm on her way. His attention was then drawn by a telepathic being inside a local saloon. Magik & Warlock observed events from a side-alley, amazed that Storm really had been a thief. They moved over to a window and watched as the Professor telepathically defeated Amahl Farouk. Both New Mutants observed the high energy levels, even though they didn't truly understand what had been happening. Magik correctly deduced that Farouk's consciousness didn't die and that it was his consciousness that he had become the Shadow King, who currently held Karma in his thrall. Magik relied heavily on Warlock for her plan, and when he agreed she gave him a big kiss of thanks.

Back in the present day, the Shadow King released his grip on Storm briefly to torment her with his plans to permanently change her personality. He planned to use Storm & the New Mutants to defeat Charles Xavier, but was interrupted by Magik's appearance. Magik said that she was willing to join the Shadow King, and they shook hands in agreement. However, the Shadow King refused to let go until Magik opened her mind to him. As the two struggled, the other New Mutants slowly teleported away. Once they had all been sent to Limbo, "Magik" melted and transformed into Warlock.

The Shadow King realized that he had been tricked, but it was too late. The teleportation back to Limbo had broken the telepathic control over the mutants. They quickly attacked. The Shadow King briefly attempted to take control of Wolfsbane, but Mirage tried to use her power against him again. However, instead of an image of Professor Xavier, they saw a scene of war torn Vietnam.

Karma had been returned to her own mind, and briefly it appeared that they had defeated the Shadow King. However, they realized that it had been too easy, and that the Shadow King must have been hiding inside the mind of one of them. Magik drew out her Soulsword, claiming that if she concentrated hard enough she could use it to kill. She went to lunge at Storm, but changed direction at the last minute. Cypher reeled in horror as she slashed him, and the New Mutants could all see that he was really possessed by the Shadow King. Storm then leapt on Cypher, while Karma finally managed to attack the entity who had turned her own power against her.

Karma faced the Shadow King on the Astral Plane. There he presented her with her own glutinous desires to tempt her back into his control. Even on the Astral Plane her body was obese, but sheer strength of will made her break from from the hold the Shadow King had on her. Her Astral form shattered, revealing a skinnier version of herself underneath. She then punched the Shadow King in the stomach, causing him to balloon in size & eventually explode.

The Shadow King had fled. However, upon returning to the physical world Karma was still hideously obese. The nightclub had burst into flames during the fight, and Karma begged to be left to die. However, all the New Mutants and Storm escaped. As they watched Pharaoh burn from a nearby rooftop, Storm invited them all to stay with her on the Aegean island of Kirinos for a brief vacation.

Note: The events here are directly followed up in New Mutants Special Edition #1, followed by Giant-Sized X-Men Annual #9. These should (ideally) be read before New Mutants #35.

Note: Although the New Mutants only briefly appeared in it, this follows events from Uncanny X-Men #200.

After returning from Asgard, the New Mutants are stunned to discover that Magneto has been appointed their new headmaster. The team is sharply divided over whether he can be trusted, with Sunspot openly hostile while others argue that people deserve second chances. Personal tensions flare as each member reacts to the change, and Magneto wastes no time asserting authority by ordering a Danger Room session.

Magneto challenges the team to defeat him in combat, a task that quickly proves impossible. One by one, the New Mutants’ abilities are neutralized, leaving them trapped and frustrated. The exercise highlights both Magneto's overwhelming power and the team’s lack of cohesion under his leadership.

Later, the group continues their debate over burgers at Harry’s Hideout, still uncertain about their new mentor. Mirage chooses to walk home alone rather than ride back with the others, and she is attacked by a group of men in a dark alley. Brightwind's sudden arrival drives the attackers away, leaving Mirage shaken but alive.

When Magneto learns what happened, he tracks the men down and confronts them, demonstrating both ruthless efficiency and restraint. The New Mutants witness his response and see a more complex side of him -- one capable of protection as well as intimidation. Back at the school, Magneto quietly sends the team to bed without punishment. By the end of the night, even Sunspot begins to question whether his distrust of Magneto was justified.

Note: Although the New Mutants have a minor appearance, the events of Uncanny X-Men #202 take place after this issue, and are connected to Sunspot's behaviour in New Mutants #36.

Note: Although the New Mutants only briefly appeared in it, this follows events from The Uncanny X-Men #201.

Sunspot’s strength is tested in the Danger Room when Magneto doubles the weight he is lifting, ignoring Sharon Friedlander’s objections. As Sunspot struggles, Tom Corsi moves to help but is ordered to stand down. Fueled by anger, Sunspot pushes past his limits and rips the weight apart before storming out, insisting he only wants control of his powers so he can live a normal life. Though Magneto proves Sunspot is capable of more, he remains troubled by the pain driving him.

Afterwards, Sunspot breaks down alone in the locker room, clutching a photo of his murdered girlfriend, Juliana. He is shaken by the realization that the Beyonder could have killed them effortlessly if he had chosen to.

In New York, Shadowcat relaxes in the public library while Magik travels by subway to meet her. A power outage signals the Beyonder’s arrival, and Magik attacks with the Soulsword, only for him to catch it effortlessly, immune to its restrictions. He transforms her into Darkchild, then purges the demonic magic from her soul and seals her inside a subway car that rockets into the sky toward the Xavier school.

Back at the library, the Soulsword lands in front of Shadowcat who picks it up, forming Eldritch armor around her arm just as demons attack. Meanwhile, at the school, the New Mutants are ambushed by another demon at the pool, which is defeated only when Warlock absorbs its lifeglow. Their relief ends when the flying subway car crashes onto the lawn, carrying an entranced Illyana who speaks of the Beyonder’s perfect world and attempts to spread his influence. Cannonball attempts to talk to her, but he also becomes entranced by Illyana's message.

A massive shadow demon soon appears, bearing Shadowcat imprisoned within a grotesque medallion. He reveals that she was to be the new Guardian of Limbo, but Shadowcat lacked the experience to wield the Soulsword and was defeated. The demon then begins an incantation to transform Shadowcat into a bloodstone inside the Beatrice Medallion. Unable to command the demon without her magic, Illyana breaks free from the Beyonder's influence and tearfully reclaims the Darkchild within herself; sacrificing her peace to save her friend. Using the Soulsword, she drives the demon back to Limbo, freeing Shadowcat's bloodstone essence. Magik craddles Shadowcat's unconscious body on the lawn. When Shadowcat wakes, she assures them that she knew they'd save the day.

Note: For the sake of understanding the character change, the name 'Illyana' temporarily replaces 'Magik'. This signifies the influence the Beyonder had over her, removing her status as the ruler of Limbo and therefore leaving her without any 'Magic' powers. The name 'Magik' is therefore used when the character re-absorbed the demonic influence in her soul.

While the X-Men were in San Francisco, the New Mutants had the mansion to themselves.  While an old Western movie played in the background, Magik pretend to fall down dead from Cannonball's imaginary gunshots.  Wolfsbane objected as she wanted to enjoy the movie, Karma confessed to having a crush on John Wayne when she was a little girl, and Magma used her fiery power to make popcorn.  Wolfsbne complained that the movies demonised Native Americans, and that they should have been more considerate of Mirage's feelings.  Mirage was on the phone to her mother when she began to see different ghostly images above each of the New Mutants.  Each of her friends had different images of death according to their own religious and personal beliefs.  It frightened her so much that she ran out of the room.

As she ran passed a mirror she realised that he reflection was of the Valkyrie head-dress she'd received in Asgard.  The reflection then transformed into Hela who announced that as a Valkyrie Mirage could detect when a person would soon die.  Hela also told Mirage that she had the power to fight death and save her friends.  However, Mirage ran screaming, too frightened to admit the truth.  She rode on Brightwind's back up through the clouds.  There her power began to interact with her own mind.  Reflected against the clouds she saw an image of her grandfather Black Eagle.  It was a memory of him teaching her how the Cheyenne spared their victims as a sign that they were better than them.  She was then shocked by Cannonball's sudden appearance, flying through the clouds.  He apologised on behalf of the team, thinking that the movie had upset her like Wolfsbane had warned.  Then they both began to fly back down to Earth.

Meanwhile in Midtown Manhattan, Sunspot's chauffeur driven car was stuck in traffic.  He deicded to get out and see what the problem was.  He came across a toppled Caterpillar digger.  The crowd watched, trying to see the girl trapped underneath.  Sunspot crossed the police line and offered his super strength to help lift the digger.  He quickly helped take the weight of the digger.  A policeman slid underneath and grabbed the little girl just as the jack stands buckled under the weight.  Sunspot began to struggle just as She-Hulk suddenly hoisted the whole machine off his shoulders.  Immediately she became the centre of attention offering interviews and photographs for the local press.  The sergeant who had been underneath the crane comforted Sunspot.  He said that Sunspot had held the crane long enough for him and the girl to survive in those crucial seconds between the jack stands collapsing, and She-Hulk arriving.  He was clear that Sunspot had helped to save their lives.  When he returned to the car, Sunspot asked to be taken home.  He wasn't sure whether he wanted to return to the school or go to his father.  He asked the chauffeur where his mother was, and upon learning that she was at their family home in Rio De Janeiro he immediately decided to go to the airport.

Back at the mansion, Mirage regretted not saying good-bye to her mother when she had the chance.  Brightwind landed and the other New Mutants ran outside to see the arrival of the Beyonder.  He was quietly angry that the New Mutants had rejected his path to glory (see New Mutants #36).  

Immediately Magik stepped forward claiming that she was responsible, and therefore asked to suffer his wrath alone.  Her body repidly disintegrated into dust as soon as she had finished speaking.  The others screamed in horror and Magma tried her best to burn the Beyonder.  Cannonball swiftly followed her lead, but was soon knocked backwards through the mansion.  The Beyonder attacked Mirage's mind, flooding her head with images of both the beauties & horrors of the world.  In an attempt to save her, Karma tried to posses the Beyonder's mind.  Instead, he reflected her mind back on he, instantly killing Karma.  Wolfsbane was reduced to tears and Mirage felt powerless to fight back.  

Magma poured another volcanic assault on the Beyonder.  Warlock followed the attack unleashing some of the natural capabilities of her tehnocratic race.  Magma resumed her attack and appeared to have defeated the Beyonder.  They stood victorious, but felt empty for the loss of their friends.  However, Mirage remembered how she was unable to defeat the Demon Bear with arrows alone, and just as she had warned the Beyonder rose to his feet.  

Removing Magma's powers, he hurled her underground.  Cannonball flew to save her, but their escape route was covered up and they were buried alive.  The Beyonder struck Warlock, and his lifeforce faded as he bounced along the floor.  As Cypher offered Warlock to share his lifeglow, the Beyonder made his body turn into dust.  Wolfsbane shivered & prayed as the Beyonder disintegrated the flesh from her bones.  In one last ditch effort Mirage mounted Brightwind, but as soon as they were in the sky the Beyonder turned her body in to dust.

As Mirage's ashes floated away in the wind, the entire population of the world forgot about the existence of the New Mutants.  They had been erased from the minds of everyone they loved and from history.

Note:  Secret Wars II #9 details the events between New Mutants issues 37 & 38.  

Note:  Events in this issue follow directly from the New Mutants' resurrection in Secret Wars II #9.

The New Mutants easily defeated a group of Sentinels.  Almost immediately they were faced with the White Queen & her Hellions.  During the fight Karma possessed Jatstream, sending him colliding into the White Qeeen.  Empath commanded Magik to teleport them to Limbo where she revealed her dark side, while on Earth Mirage's power produced an image of Tarot's true desire which resulted in the Hellion kissing a mysteriously tall New Mutant with black hair.  Magneto demanded that the training session had ended and sent them to bed.  They then peeled away their uniforms.  Warlock wore Cypher's body, while Cypher was made completely of circuitry from the neck-down.  The New Mutants bade each other a good night and climbed into graves marked with each of their names.

In the morning Magneto confessed to Sharon Friedlander that he'd had the dream again.  He knew that he was psychically receiving the dream from the New Mutants, and that it was an after effect of their encounter with the Beyonder (see New Mutants #37 and Secret Wars II #9 for further details).  When the New Mutants arrive for breakfast Sharon offered to cook anything they wanted, but they all refused breakfast.  They all sat in depressed silence until Tom Corsi arrived.  He asked Magma for her help to clear snow from the driveway.  She agreed, but Tom saw how there was no change in the New Mutants' condition.

That evening, Magneto poured himself an alcoholic drink to unwind.  However, a match was struck in the dark, revealing the White Queen sat at his desk.  `they were non-courteous to each other, but the White Queen made her intentions clear.  She offered Magneto a chance to help the New Mutants.  She would be willing to accept them as students in the Massachusetts Academy, but Magneto refused her offer.

The next day he grew increasingly frustrated.  During a Danger Room session Cannonball didn't care that his performance had decreased to level of when he first joined the school.  In dance class Magneto chastised the students for not putting their heart into the routine.  It drove Magik to teleport to Limbo, and caused Stevie Hunter to berate him for interfering with her lessons.

Out in the stable, Mirage consoled herself in Brightwind's company.  Suddenly Brightwind began to bow in reverence to a frog.  Just as Mirage began to puzzle over what she was seeing, the frog began to glow.  Suddenly Thor began to address her.  He told her that a warrior's greatest enemy was despair and that she must overcome it.  Thor's image vanished and the frog went to hop away.  Mirage begged him to stay, offering him help t otransform him to normal.  However, Brightwind blocked her way making it clear that Thor didn't need her help, but had paid her a visit to give Mirage help.

At the weekend the New Mutants attended a dance at Salem Centre High School.  Still distant, the other kids mistook their trauma for snobbish attitudes.  The principle of Salem High addressed Magneto s Michael Xavier, an identity that Professor Xavier had left for him.  She enquired after Charles Xavier's health, and offered Magneto any assistance with the sudents should he need it.  

The next day, Magneto thought about Mirage might not return from her visit to see her parents.  As he sat down his chair began to change and talk.  He attacked Warlock, but immediately apologised for old habits.  He enquired as to why Warlock wasn't lethargic & apathetic like the others.  Warlock did not know, as he recalled that he didn't exist & then he did in very simple terms.  Warlock transformed back into Magneto's chair at the arrival of Cypher's parents.  They didn't know about the school's true mission to help young mutants.  Instead they were concerned that Cypher's decline in mental health might have something to with the school's recent change in administration.

The meeting was being spied on from outside.  Empath had been watching Magneto when he was confronted by Tom Corsi & Sharon Friedlander.  Tom recognised Empath from Xaviers files on the Hellions, and was about to throw him off the grounds when Empath used his powers on them.  Suddenly Sharon & Tom were consumed with an over-riding passion.  They immediately kissed and dropped to the floor.  While they began to make love in the snow, Empath returned to watching Magneto, filling him with despair & self-doubt.

In the morning, Magneto called the students together for a meeting with him and the White Queen.  He announced that they were all to be transferred to the Massachusetts Academy and Xavier's School for the Gifted was to  be closed immediately.  Mirage was the only one who objected.  Magneto accepted defeat as the other students left his office with the White Queen.

Note:  The cover to this issue was used as a basis for the cover to New X-Men #27, where the Purifiers kills dozens of members of the Xavier Institute.

All of the New Mutants bar Mirage, Sunspot & Warlock had been sent to the Massachusett's Academy. The White Queen welcomed the New Mutants and ordered them to change into their new uniforms. She was pleased that she had stolen Xavier's students, but realised that it would involve a lot of work to restore their minds.

The other Hellions greeted their new team-members. Thunderbird was the first to give Cannonball and Cypher a warm welcome. Jetstream challenged Cannonball to a rematch (from New Mutants #17) and tried to tease Cypher over the passive nature of his power. However, the apathetic nature of the two New Mutants was quickly observed by the two Hellions. In the girls' locker room Empath tried to turn his power against the New Mutant girls, however his mutant emotion manipulation had no effect on them. He was scared by Magik's sudden appearance. Her hair was decorated with braids & skulls, and her uniform was half Hellion and Half New Mutant. She threatened to send him to Limbo, causing him to scream. The noise drew the attention of the Hellion girls who soon drove him out of their changing room. When he landed on his feet, he was confronted by the White Queen who demanded an explanation from him.

Both teams of young mutants were wearing the Hellions uniform and posed for a photo in the Training Hall. A week later Magneto received the photograph in the mail and compared it to a joyous photograph of the New Mutants. He was still wracked with self-doubt over losing his students.

In the Danger Room's observation booth Mirage purposefully used her power on herself. She created a dream of the New Mutants in a successful Danger Room scenario that ended with Magneto being pleased with them. She left the room crying.

In Snow Valley, the White Queen finished psionic surgery on Wolfsbane. She ws the last of the New Mutants to be cured of the Beyonder's lasting effects. The White Queen mused at how Wolfsbane'd personality hid a ferocious side that was more suited to the Hellfire Club. When Wolfsbane awaoke she was full of life and pleased to see the White Queen. The former New Mutants reunited with much glee and the White Queen was exceptionally pleased with herself.

Back in New York, Mirage entered Magneto's office without knocking, which irritated him. She chided him over the messy condition of the office and for giving up on the New Mutants too easily. Mirage confided in him the adventure that she and Magik had, where they accidentally returned to the Massachusetts Academy a year in the future and the New Mutants had been turned into Hellions (see New Mutants #17). She had believed that they managed to avoid that future, but it turned out that Magneto was responsible for it. He admitted that it was his failure & shame. Mirage left in tears to make preparations for her journey home. Left alone, Magneto threw his empty liquor bottle against the wall in rage. Meanwhile, downstairs Mirage and Stevie Hunter hugged good-bye. They discussed what had happened, and Mirage admitted that she'd given up, but left messages for the X-Men everywhere. She then gave Warlock a quick kiss good-bye before she mounted Brightwind & they flew off.

In the middle of the night at the Massachusetts Academy, Wolfsbane screamed in her sleep. Catseye, her room-mate, rushed to her air but Wolfsbane hit her sending her flying across the room. Awake, and realising what she'd done, Wolfsbane desperately apologised. Catseye was forgiving, and teased that she would get even. However, both Jetstream and Cannonball came flying through the window (while the others used the door). Thunderbird threw a jacket over Wolfsbane's shoulders as they explained what happened. Catseye then invited Wolfsbane outside for a run around in the snow to cheer her up, and both of them transformed into their animal forms. Still inside the bedroom, the others wondered what to do next. The former New Mutants had shared the same nightmare that disturbed Wolfsbane's sleep. Then they realised that Magik was missing. She teleported into the room when they mentioned her name and revealed that her sleep had not been disturbed as she hadn't been to sleep. However, Magik had been rapidly transforming into the Darkchild without any worries or attempts to hide it. Sat in her office, the White Queen realised that she still hadn't cured the former New Mutants.

Magneto swam and showered. He was disturbed by the sudden reappearance of Tom Corsi & Sharon Friedlander. They were virtually naked, wearing torn leather and slavish chains. Both of them had shaved heads with punk style hair. Sharon was already unconscious, and Tom immediately collapsed on the floor. Magneto took them to the infirmary and waited on them with Stevie's help. While Tom lay unconscious Sharon explained what Empath had done to them. At first it was wonderful to share each other's love, but the desire for more ecstasy drove them both crazy. They went missing from the school while they continued to pursue more and more stimulating experiences. When Magneto learnt that it was Empath's doing he realised that he too had been manipulated.

Furious he created images of both Empath & the White Queen, only to destroy them.

The White Queen knew that Magneto had uncovered her plan. She considered which forces would be best to send after Magneto; the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle, the Hellions and the New Mutants. Eventually she called the local sheriff's office and reported that the mutant terrorist Magneto intended to kidnap some of her students.

Note: After the story, there is a page-sized advert for the Firestar mini-series. The tag-line read 'Torn between the X-Men and the Hellfire Club', mirroring the current story line in the New Mutants. The New Mutants also made appearances in the Firestar mini-series.

In the middl e of the night the Snow Valley sheriff placed a call to the Avengers to help.  Wasp claimed that she knew of Emma Frost as a genius business woman, and that she had nearly attended Massachusetts Academy.  They discussed what Magneto's motives might be, and began to assemble all their members.  Photon joined them as they landed the quinjet to pick Namor up.

In the Massachusetts Academy training hall, Cannonball and Jetstream raced through Magma's fiery hoops.  Cannonball crashed as he was not as agile in the air.  Jetstream demanded a kiss from Magma as his prize for winning, which she agreed to only while she was in her molten magma form.  The White Queen found them in the training hall and demanded an explanation of what was going on.  Cannonball tried to gloss over the funny feeling he and Magma had been experiencing, saying that they felt like practising.  However, Jetstream confessed that the former New Mutants had been experiencing nightmares.  The White Queen telepathically probed Magma, but was still at a loss as to why her new students were still being haunted.

In the skies to the south of Snow Valley Warlock had assumed the shape of the X-Men's blackbird.  He carried Magneto, unaware that the Avengers were approaching.  When Hercules smashed his club into the roof of the 'blackbird' he as startled that it screamed in pain and suddenly seemed to disintegrate.  Magneto used his own power to fly to the ground.  He attempted to feed Warlock a little energy, worried he would overload him, when he was challenged by Hercules & the Black Knight.  Magneto used the Knight's sled to attack Hercules, but Wasp distracted him long enough for Namor to attack.  Hercules held Magneto in a bear hug, but his cape was laced with metal and forced the Greek God's arms open.  Fleeing the Avengers, Magneto fell off a cliff, but manage to encase Hercules in a cocoon of rock and flung him into the air.  Photon was forced to fly after Hercules, so he wouldn't crash on innocent homes.

Back in the canteen hall of the Massachusetts Academy, Magma could sense the seismic disturbance and believed it had been caused by Magneto.  The former New Mutants muse over the reasons why he would be in the area.  After some chiding remarks from Empath, Magik teleported to investigate.

Appearing in the snowy woods, Black Knight warned her to flee.  Magneto recognised Magik, but refused to give away her identity.  Instead he called out for her to flee.  Captain America threw his shield at Magneto, but Magik teleported it away before disappearing back to the Academy.  There she showed the others the shield.  Empath was vocal about how they were betraying the White Queen's kindness.  However, together the New Mutants decided that they would go to aid their former Head Master.

As the Wasp & Namor teamed up on Magneto, he finally appeared defeated.  However, Warlock regained consciousness and saw his Head Master was being attacked.  He reached out to grab the heroes.  Before they had a chance to attack his pupil, Magneto used his power to stop Warlock.  The Avengers were shocked that he didn't destroy them while he had the chance, and he explained that they had attacked him before checking to see if he really had changed.  The New Mutants teleported into the woods and teleported straight out again, but this time with Magneto.  The Avengers were left thinking that Magneto had established a young Brotherhood.

Back at the Academy, Magneto worked with the White Queen to completely heal the New Mutants.  Wolfsbane cried on Magneto's lap, begging to go home to her mother, while Karma sat alone on the windowsill, Magma cried on Cannonball's shoulder. Warlock sat with Cypher and Magik contemplated how Magneto had come through for them in the end.  

The White Queen parted from the New Mutants reminding them that her Hellions were only meant to be a rival team, not enemies.  She conceded that she had lost the battle for the New Mutants, but was ready to try again in future.

Mirage left Xavier's School for the Gifted to return home (see New Mutants #39). She flew through the clouds on Brightwind, but her powers began to project images on the clouds (like in New Mutants #37). She saw a Valkyrie warrior, Cheyenne warriors and finally herself dressed as a New Mutant. Brightwind descended and Mirage dismounted on a rocky peak, she didn't realize that she had arrived home until the sun rose revealing the Colorado Rockies.

It was snowing heavily when she landed in he family ranch. Mirage literally bumped into her father as her parents came running out of the house. They quickly hugged, and had to leave to help a many people trapped in the snow. Mirage took Brightwind into the stable and fell asleep in the hay. She woke in her old bedroom, wandered around the house and showered. She even considered having her hair cut, and used her power to create an image of what she would look like (and promptly changed her mind). Mirage offered to help her mother, but was told that she should go to the mall to buy something to wear instead. At the mall, Mirage enjoyed buying daring & revealing outfits, but she could not take her mind off the New Mutants. She was disturbed Pat Roberts, an old childhood friend, who began to hassle her. He shoved her and grabbed her shopping bags, virtually daring her to fight him back. However, Mirage was scared by the ghostly image of a gun-toting skeleton above Pat. She ran away as he shouted death threats after her. Mirage hid out of site on the mall roof with Brightwind, thinking of how Pat's family had taken her in when she was little. Pat drove away, spilling his beer all over his insulin. In the morning, Mirage groomed Brightwind. She received a broken up distress call over the radio and flew out to help with a first aid kit. When Mirage found the crashed car, she also found Pat's battered body covered in glass. She dragged him to a nearby cave for shelter, but her powers began to react instinctively like when she first joined the school and couldn't control them. She thought that Pat was attacking her, but suddenly it shifted to an image of him kissing her on their wedding day. However, Pay had regained consciousness and he was angry that she had betrayed his trust. Suddenly thunder crashed directly overhead causing rocks to fall in the cave. Mirage ventured further into the cave where she was met by a lone gunman. Suddenly Pat was by her side, and she had pistols. Mirage recognized that the gunman was Pat's concept of Death, and she was expected to duel with him. It was a quick drawn, and Mirage was the quickest; she had defeated Death. However, Pat disappeared as he was another illusion. Mirage waited nervously in Denver Memorial Hospital. An old Cheyenne woman sat next to her and told Mirage that Pat had already entered into a diabetic coma. Mirage recognized the woman as another of Death's incarnations, and argued that she wouldn't let Death take her friend. However, this incarnation of Death reasoned with Mirage explaining that death was only natural and could bring peace to the suffering. Mirage broke down into tears and said goodbye to her old friend just as he started to flatline. Back at the family ranch, Mirage broke down into tears and her parents comforted her in her grief.

Cannonball battled aliens outside with the help of Magma, Sunspot & Wolfsbane, while Lila Cheney's band played inside. They managed to stop a revenge assassination attempt from Charasulla (see The New Mutants Annual #1) and Cannonball kissed Lila. They stopped kissing when his mother appeared on the porch screaming his name and how he had hurt her. His mom slammed the door shut in his face, and Lila mysteriously disappeared.

Cannonball woke from his dream and endured the rest of his bus journey to Cumberland. When he reached the bus terminal, Cannonball took the first opportunity to call Lila from a Pay phone. She was excited at the prospect of meeting his mother, but Cannonball was still shaken by his dream. He flew the rest of the way to the family home, landing at his father's gravestone. There he confessed to his father that he'd been unsure about his new Head Master and told his father about his new girlfriend. Cannonball admitted that she was a wonderful person, but that he was worried about what his mother would think. However, his mother had overheard him and reassured him that if she was good enough for him, then she was bound to love her too.

Back in the house all the kids were excited and rushed around hoping that he'd have presents. They ran off to school, but Josh refused to talk to his older brother and stormed off with his guitar. His mom informed him that Josh was now of an age when he was worried a mutation might begin to develop.

That night Cannonball flew all the way to Lila's concert in Charlotte. He missed the show, but arrived in time to catch up with Dazzler in disguise. He was then pounced on by Lila who was so excited to see him. She showed him a crystal figurine she had as a gift for his mother and confessed how rare the item was. The crystal was alien, and would sparkle whenever someone was singing. Cannonball grew angry and demanded to know where she had stolen it from. Lila was hurt, and the shine left the figurine. She began to cry and he flew away ending the relationship.

The next morning Cannonball tried to talk to Josh, but Josh left for school. Angered, Cannonball followed his little brother outside and they began to fight. Josh shocked his brother by saying how he wasn't needed there anymore. He stormed off to school blaming Cannonball for making him late and angry that his teachers would continue to compare him to his older brother.

Cannonball reminisced by the old baseball diamond before whiling the morning away in the local diner. At lunch time Josh entered the diner surrounded by lots of friends. He was clearly popular and became the center of attention when he began singing along to his guitar. Their mother joined Cannonball and they discussed how the family had coped while he had been living in New York. Suddenly Josh ran up screaming for Cannonball; Lila's plane had crashed and they needed all the help they could get to find her.

Josh asked to help, and agreed to climb on Sam's back to fly to the crash site. At first he felt ridiculous, but when they took off her was amazed by his brother's powers. They soon reached the crash site, but Cannonball didn't dare use his power to pummel a tunnel through the wreckage for fear of causing an avalanche on top of them. Josh crawled through a tiny gap until he saw a light. Inside the wreckage he met Dazzler who said she could create a laser to burn their way out but she needed sound to fuel her power. She asked if Josh had a radio, but instead he began to sing. Outside of the wreckage, Cannonball heard his brother's beautiful singing and saw the laser herald their arrival. Josh accepted Cannonball's praise for his beautiful singing voice, and said that their mother believed it to be his power and compared it to Sam's flight.

Dazzler dragged Lila's body out of the wreckage and chastised Cannonball for the way that they had broken up earlier. She informed him that Lila had dug her own way into he alien mines and carved the crystal figurine herself. An avalanche began above them, and Cannonball relied on his brother and Dazzler to hold on to Lila while he flew them to safety. Once back on the ground he cradled Lila's unconscious body confessing how he'd been an idiot. Lila slowly woke and forgave him with a kiss.

That Sunday she teleported on to the porch of the Guthrie family home. Her hair was blonde and spikey, and she wore outrageous revealing clothes. She still had the crystal figure, and thought about how there was still beauty for flawed things. Cannonball greeted her, and was ready to take her inside when she suddenly vanished. Moments later Lila teleported back with black hair and a more conservative outfit. She had been testing him to see if he's accept her no matter what, and he passed the test.

When the front door opened, Cannonball introduced Lila to his mother and she presented the figurine as a gift.

Notes:

• The cover is a homage of the cover of Baffling Mysteries #7.

Having departed the New Mutants to spend time with his mother (see New Mutants #37), Sunspot returned to New York. While his mother was flying the plane, Cannonball, Mirage, Warlock & Cypher all flew up to greet them, and Magik teleported him out of the plane to the school. The whole team gathered around him and they played about with their powers. Sunspot handed a letter & a gift to Magma from her father in Nova Roma.

Stevie Hunter teased Sunspot that his dance posture was sloppy, and let slip that the New Mutants had been attending the Massachusetts Academy while he was gone. Sunspot was furious to hear that Magneto had handed them over to their greatest enemy, but was even more disturbed to see how empty & hollow both Tom Corsi & Sharon Friedlander had become. Upon interrogation Stevie revealed that it was Empath who had traumatized them. Later that night the New Mutants gathered in the attic to discuss what had happened, and what to do next. Sunspot demanded retribution. At first some of the others had their doubts, but ultimately they agreed to have their revenge on Empath.

As Empath strolled through the grounds of Massachusetts Academy, a group of children were playing 'X-Factor the mutant hunters'. He used his power to make them scared of the girl who was the 'mutie' in their game. They ran away, and would never be friends again. The New Mutants watched from a nearby rooftop, and grew eager to give Empath a dose of his own medicine.

That night Empath went to bed as normal. As he drifted off to sleep he suddenly found himself in Limbo at the foot of Magik's throne. Monstrous hands grew out of his bed and pinned him down while Sym tormented him. Magik grew several feet taller and was prepared to slash him with her Soulsword as he began to scream to himself to wake up.

Back in Empath's bedroom the other Hellions discovered that he and his bed were missing. Catseye's animal senses detected Magik's scent, and Jetstream suggested that they should leave Empath to Magik's mercies. Thunderbird took the lead saying that they were to look after each other, including Empath. They changed into their uniforms and used Cyberiad's system to locate him.

In an abandoned mansion, Empath cowered in a dark & dusty bedroom. As he stepped out onto the landing, a giant volcano grew up the center of the building. A giant fiery demon grew out of the volcano causing Empath to flee down the stairs. He fell down the last flight of stairs, but was picked up off his feet by Sunspot. Sunspot threw him towards Cannonball who flew Empath into a spiked wall. None of the spikes pierced Empath and he collapsed on the floor in relief. When Mirage approached him, Empath decided to use his power on her to make her adore him. However, just as she began to confess her love for him, Mirage's fingers grew into long entangling vines around his fingers and she turned into a demon.

From the sideline, Mirage & Karma giggled at Mirage's clever use of her powers, how she started with his greatest desire & turned it to his nightmare. All the New Mutants appeared, causing Empath to stagger backwards and into the spiked wall. The spikes wriggled until they covered Empath with Warlock's malleable circuitry. Cypher grabbed Empath by the scruff of his pajamas and threatened to punch him. However, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Empath was dropped to the floor while the New Mutants discussed what to do with him. Sunspot argued that they were all cowards, and that only he had the courage to physically beat Empath. However, the Hellions arrived before he could do anything about it.

Mirage explained that the New Mutants didn't have any issues with the Hellions, and that they had settled the score with Empath. Mirage & Thunderbird shook on it as they accepted the truce. The New Mutants teleported away leaving the Hellions behind. As soon as they'd vanished, Empath began to plan his revenge. However, Thunderbird punched him across the chin to straighten him out before turning to leave.

As a heavy piece of Moira MacTaggert's laboratory equipment was about to fall on top of her & Wolfsbane, David Haller gave control of his body to Jack Wayne the telekinetic. Jack teased them saying how David had a soft sport for Wolfsbane & therefore wanted to save her. However, Jack wouldn't relinquish control over David's body. Instead he had Cyndi ignite the lab and left Moira & Wolfsbane behind as the room exploded.

It was middle of the night back at Xavier's School for the Gifted, and Mirage had fallen asleep in her clothes. She woke screaming for Moira MacTaggert with the same words Wolfsbane had screamed back on Muir Isle. Mirage's body was then thrown up into the air and against the wall. Realizing that it was her telepathic connection with Wolfsbane that had spurred the attack, she ran for the phone. She couldn't get an answer from anyone on Muir Isle. Struggling not to give up hope on Wolfsbane, and struggling not to give in to her injuries from the psychic attack, Mirage staggered to the other side of the mansion to wake Magik. She didn't read the warning signs on the door and burst in on the Darkchild surrounded by demons. Mirage collapsed from fright. Magik helped her up and listened to her concerns about Wolfsbane until the rest of the New Mutants came running in after hearing Mirage's screams.

Sunspot was annoyed that he'd been woken up for a dream. However, the others believed Mirage and didn't dare chance the risk that Wolfsbane really was in trouble. They left Magik's bedroom to get ready for the journey, taunting Sunspot that he wouldn't be less of a man if he stayed behind.

By the time they teleported to Muir Isle, the sun was setting & they realized that they had travelled forward in time by at least a day. Sunspot, who still doubted Mirage's claims, wore a Hawaiian shirt & trucker cap while the others were in their uniforms. They ran through the remains of Moira laboratory and found Wolfsbane's unconscious body lying on the floor. They soon revived her and hugged. Sunspot gave her his shirt as she explained what had happened.

The New Mutants travelled to the local port of Ullapool. They passed around micro-transceivers so they could communicate. Warlock suggested that he could absorb Legion's life-glow, but Mirage expressly forbade him from harming another living being, especially the son of their mentor Professor Xavier. Warlock & Wolfsbane then competed against each other to locate Legion first. They chased after Wolfsbane and arrived at a local bar. A patron was through out of the window, but none of the other customers seemed bothered. Cannonball & Karma were ready to go inside and contact Legion, since he hadn't met either of them before. Magik conjured up some regular clothes for them, as they were the only ones old enough to enter a pub without drawing attention.

Immediately Legion rejected the advances of the local girls to flirt with Karma. She flirted with him briefly before possessing him. However, as she went to walk away with Legion under her command, the local girl who had been spurred attacked Karma. The slap across the face broke her concentration and Jack Wayne therefore used his telekinesis to stop her from possessing him again. Cannonball flew into Legion, knocking him threw a wall and out into the open. A police car arrived, but Legion caused it to spontaneously combust. Wolfsbane & Warlock saved the policemen before they were caught in the explosion. However, before they had the chance to regroup and plan the next step they were attacked by a telekinetic blast.

When they regained consciousness Reverence Craig appeared. He spouted his usual hateful sermons towards Wolfsbane, but Cannonball stood up for her.

They soon tracked Legion to a nearby oil refinery. He set one tanker on fire, which Magma extinguished by covering it with rocks & soil. Sunspot grabbed Legion in a powerful embrace and refused to let go when they both fell into a patch of fire. Despite the burning on his skin, Sunspot kept his hold over Legion. He then called to Magik to teleport them to Limbo.

Once they arrived in Limbo, Magik transformed into Darkchild. Sunspot revealed that she was mistress of the magical domain and that while there she would have the power to extract Jack Wayne from David Haller's body leaving him at the mercy of her demons. Jack screamed in terror and retreated back inside David's mind. Returning to Earth, Sunspot cradled David Haller as he shrunk to the floor scared & confused.

The next morning, Moira MacTaggert talked with Cannonball & Sunspot about how she had hoped David's mind would eventually be restored. Sunspot observed that would mean the death of Legion's multiple personalities & understood why they were scared. Mirage comforted Wolfsbane. They talked about Reverend Craig, and Mirage questioned Wolfsbane about her threats of deadly violence against Legion.

Note: Although it is not essential reading, the New Mutants Annual #2 fits in between New Mutants issues 44 & 45. It features the first appearance of Psylocke in an American comic.

The New Mutants raced out of school and teleported away. Arriving in town, they changed into regular clothes and attended a high school dance at Salem Centre High School. Sunspot immediately found girls to dance with, but Cannonball received vocal taunts about being a dweeb. Magma called them dogs, but Cannonball shrugged it off caliming that they would all die of jealousy if they knew he was dating rock star Lila Cheney. They tried to dance, but the music immediately stopped.

Meanwhile, Shadowcat was angry a local high school boy who had spent time chatting her up in an attempt to get closer to Magik. Cypher had to remind Warlock to keep a human form whenever his curiosity caused him to stretch out of shape. When a local jock wouldn't accept 'No' for an answer from Mirage, Warlock grew in size and spoke like a gangster's mug to scare him away. She laughed and thanked him. However, when Warlock asked if she would show him how to dance she kindly refused and left. Stepping into the car park she could sense that something was wrong. She called for Brightwind and while waiting for him to arrive she saw an X-Factor bumper sticker which reminded her of the anti-Indian slogans she saw back home.

When Mirage flew away on Brightwind, she was spotted by a local high school student. He created a sculpture of Mirage out of light, but when he heard voices approaching he destroyed it. Magneto and Principle Hogarth appeared and asked what he as doing. He snapped he wasn't doing drugs and just wanted to be alone. Just as Principle Hogarth tried to send him back in to the dance, Shadowcat appeared. Princpal Hogarth introduced Shadowcat to Larry Bodine and suggested that they dance. Shadowcat pulled Larry back inside with great enthusiasm. Magneto complimented Princpal Hogarth on how she handled her students. She claimed she was jealous that Magneto could focus his attention on a small group of students, but he reassured her that it was just as difficult.

Larry and Shadowcat were on shaky ground. She was appalled by Sunspot making out with a girl in a shadowy corner, but she was just as offended when Larry said he wouldn't try anything like that in public. He went to get them both punch, and they both thought about how stupid they'd been because of their nerves. At the punch bowl the local students were spiking the drink. They were making 'Mutie' jokes, and when Larry approached they accused him of being a mutant. Shocked and scared that they'd discovered the truth, Larry vehemently denied it. As he left, the kids decided to play a prank on him.

Shadowcat & Larry were tipsy from the punch. They strolled through the school together, but Larry found an X-Factor flier on his desk. Someone had written a note on it threatening to call X-Factor. Nervously he shoved it in his pocket and pretended it was just first date nerves.

Later, Larry had joined Shadowcat and the New Mutants outside a nearby bar. The other New Mutants giggled and debated over how silly Larry was, and Wolfsbane stated how she thought he was a perfect gentleman. Larry and Shadowcat continued dancing, and later joined the others around the patio table. Larry was nervous and tried to make conversation. He began telling the same 'Mutie' jokes he'd heard by the punchbowl back at school. However, he didn't know that the New Mutants and his date were all secretly mutants too. With each joke they grew more offended until they just stood up and walked out on him. Shadowcat was furious with him and dumped him, but Wolfsbane looked back on him with curious certainty.

Larry went home. The house was dark and he was alone. He picked up the phone, but put it back down thinking about how it was only to be used in an emergency. Deciding to get drunk he opened his parents' liquor cabinet, but spat it back out as soon as he tasted it. He went up to his room where he admired the light sculpture of the Challenger shuttle that he'd made earlier. Thinking about Shadowcat, he created a light sculpture of her, but it soon vanished. As he thought about the X-Factor flier, Wolfsbane watched him from outside. She had confirmed her suspicions about Larry, and jumped out of the tree to go home. However, the phone began to ring and when Larry answered it a mysterious voice threatened to turn him over to X-Factor.

The next morning the New Mutants were fooling around in the kitchen, and Magma used her powers to cook breakfast. Just as Wolfsbane arrive and was about to tell them about Larry's mutant powers, Magneto entered the room with a grim expression. He announced that Larry Bodine had killed himself. The New Mutants continued with their day, each of them thinking about what had happened. During a Danger Room session, Mirage reflected on how her Valkyrie powers had given her a sickly sensation, but she didn't realize what it was to try and prevent it. Magik Teleported away just as Sunspot was about to grab her. He believed that Larry was a coward for running away from his problems, while Magik wasn't bothered by it as he had made his decision. Sunspot caught her, but she sent him to Limbo where he was tied up in chains before being returned to the Danger Room. Warlock battled with a sentinel as he tried to understand why someone would wish to extinguish their own life glow. Magma burned a sentinel as she considered how lonely Larry must have been, and that among her people suicide was an acceptable means of atonement. By the time their training session had finished, they realized that they had each other to help with any problems.

Across town, Shadowcat phased into Larry's home. His parents still hadn't returned, so she was alone. She ventured up into his bedroom where she discovered the light sculpture of the shuttle. She was touched by it's beauty and tried to touch it. However, it immediately vanished on contact. Shadowcat began to cry at how the last remnant of Larry's amazing talent was gone because of her thoughtlessness. She cried as she wandered down to the living room. When she sat on Larry's favorite chair she found the X-Factor flier stuffed down the cushions. On the back of it she read Larry's suicide note. Just as she tried to say how sorry she was, Wolfsbane appeared. She confessed that she had discovered Larry's secret and wanted to tell everyone. However, everyone was asleep by the time she got home so she just assumed it could wait until morning. When they thought about what a tragic waste of life it was, Wolfsbane began to howl in pain. Her cries were heard outside as Larry's parents arrived. They couldn't bare to go into the house where their only child had killed himself.

At Salem Centre Mall, where the New Mutants had previously made so many friends, Wolfsbane stalked her prey. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a trench-coat to hide her transitional lupine form, she had followed the scent of the people who had written on the X-Factor flier. The kids from the punch bowl gathered around a table in the food court. One of them dismissed Wolfsbane's growls as just a dog, but another wished that it was a werewolf come to tear out their hearts. They argued among themselves as they tried to justify what they had done. Just as Wolfsbane was ready to use her claws Cannonball, Mirage & Shadowcat found her. They pointed out how much pain the high school kids were already in, and that they would suffer with it for the rest of their lives. Wolfsbane was desperate for physical retribution, but they convinced her that it wouldn't be right to honor Larry in that way.

The next day Shadowcat prepared to give a speech in honor of Larry Bodine at a memorial held at Salem Centre High School. Cannonball and Mirage accompanied her for moral support and said that they would back her up if she decided to reveal the truth about them being mutants. When she took the stage, Shadowcat put on her new glasses for the first time and began to talk about how none of them really knew Larry at all. She talked about how she was labelled as flat-chested, four-eyes, a snob and Xavier freak. Her message was that although they are just words, labels can hurt people. She was clear about how Larry had been hurt by people calling him a 'Mutie' because he was one. She cried as she spoke and finished by saying that the only thing that mattered was her name. After that, everything else was just labels.

In the middle of the night, an almighty roar ripped through the mansion. The New Mutants recognised Lockheed's cry, and raced down into the underground complex. Mirage ran outside to check on Brightwind first, but when she looked back a giant image of death with antlers like an ancient tree stood miles high above the mansion.

As Moira MacTaggert had her morning shower, Magik teleported into the bedroom. Having left a note for Banshee, she teleported Moira to Limbo. Magik's spell to dress Moira had a kinky & metal-studded side effect. Magik had moved slightly backwards through time, so they observed the events back in New York. Lockheed arrived in the hanger bay, soon followed by the New Mutants. The X-Men destroyed the wall to escape the Morlock tunnels. Shadowcat was virtually transparent, Nightcrawler was unconscious, all of them had damaged clothing, and they were accompanied by various Morlocks (see Uncanny X-Men #211). As they stumbled into the hanger bay, Magik teleported them back to the school. Quick explanations were exchanged about the Marauders' attack on the Morlocks, and they could only pray for more survivors.

The underground complex became a make-shift emergency room. Sunspot bent metal beams into bed frames, Cannonball flew around carrying supplies, while Magma welded metal joints. As Sunspot carried a life-support module, his solar-powered strength began to wane. Colossus caught the module, but Magneto berated Sunspot for being careless and ordered him to stay out of the way. At that moment, Sunder began to throw a fit and even Magneto couldn't restrain him with metallic floor tiles. Karma struggled to keep Sunder under control, and collapsed in Psylocke's arms as the telepath took over. Psylocke comforted Karma, but Magneto was more concerned about the strain on Psylocke. Karma struggled to cope as the death and vast amount of injuries reminded her of life in war-torn Vietnam. Mirage, however, couldn't cope at all. Her Valkyrie gift to foresee death left her huddled in a corner. Everywhere she looked there were more images of death. She had lost all hope for the Morlocks and New Mutants when Cannonball found her and comforted her.

Upstairs in the kitchen Wolfsbane was making sandwiches for everyone. Sunspot entered in a rage after the way Magneto had treated him. When he went to take a sandwich, Wolfsbane slapped his wrist as it was for the patients downstairs. Already angry, he lost his patience and powered up and kicked the table across the room. All the sandwiches were ruined, so Wolfsbane transformed into an angry werewolf triggering her psychic link with Mirage. She and Cannonball raced upstairs to stop them from fighting. They agreed to help clear up & start make more sandwiches after a quick lecture on responsibility.

Outside, Warlock sat keeping a watch out for something on the porch. Cypher was concerned, but Warlock assured him that he was keeping an eye out for any more Marauders.

Up in the Head Master's study, Karma desperately tried to call home, but neither Leong nor Nga were answering the telephone. Magik appeared out of nowhere, swearing. She had tried to teleport Shadowcat to Limbo, but she had phased so much that Magik was unable to latch on to her. Since her magic wouldn't work on Earth, she was left powerless to help her best friend. Karma sympathised since she was worried about Leong & Nga. Magik decided to teleport them both across town when Cypher & Warlock arrived in time to see them leave. The boys raced into the kitchen to warn the other New Mutants. Mirage was concerned that the death images might have been for Karma & Magik.

Across town, the girls arrived inside Karma's apartment. It was dark & empty, but when Karma flicked the lightswitch a bomb exploded destroying the apartment.

Back in the school, the other New Mutants were debating what to do. They were under direct orders not to leave the mansion, but they also wanted to make sure their friends were safe. They realised that Magik should have teleported back immediately if something was wrong. However, Sunspot kept chiding Cypher, almost causing another fight which Cannonball threatened to straighten out. They voted on the matter and soon Magma had burned a hole out into one of the underground tunnels beneath Manhattan. Warlock then transformed into a car for them all, which seemed strange as flying to Manhattan would have been quicker. Warlock claimed his strange behaviour was an attempt to replicate the strange behaviour of regular humans during such a stressful time, but none of them seemed to believe him. As they raced away from the school, Magus appeared and planned when to strike.

Across town Sunspot broke open a manhole cover and they climbed out on to the street. He was frustrated that he couldn't punch any Marauders in the same way. Magma quoted Julius Caesar to try and make sense out of the carnage. Wolfsbane huddled by an old dumpster with Cypher & Warlock trying to comfort her. However, when they moved around the corner they found the emergency services trying to put out a fire where karma's home had been. Mirage took her anger out on Warlock, claiming that if he had flown them there, then they might have arrived in time to help. Suddenly, Magik & Karma appeared behind them. Magik had teleported them both out in time, but Karma had sustained more injuries.

Just as they began to think about Leong & Nga's whereabouts, and the possibility that it was a Marauder attack, Warlock's sensors began to react. He looked panic stricken and suddenly grabbed the entire team. He fled down into the tunnels, but then transformed into a tank. The New Mutants couldn't understand what was going on until Mirage remembered the night when Warlock arrived and explained that he was running from his father (see New Mutants #21).

Mirage was correct. The entire team was suddenly lifted off their feet by a giant technarch entity who called himself Magus. Magik teleported them all to Limbo, leaving Magus behind as he swore to find and kill them all.

Sunspot was the first New Mutant to wake.  The others lay unconscious in Limbo.  Suddenly some demons began to crawl around.  Sunspot could hear them planning to eat the New Mutants before they recognised them as Magik's friends.  He tried to conjur up his mutant strength, but was unable to and remained hidden as the demons dragged Magik away.  He considered leaving Magik to their mercy, but decided that they needed Magik to return to Earth.  He stumbled into some Limbo water, delaying him.  So by the time he arrived at the tower, Magik was stretched out on a sacrificial table.  Just as Sunspot was about to improse, Sym snatched him by the back of his collar.  Sunspot was powerless and unable to stop the demons as they plunged the Soulsword into Magik's chest. Suddenly she appeared perfectly healthy and in a demonic red & white outfit.  Sym explained that the sword cured their mistress, and Magik was clearly touched by Sunspot's efforts to 'save' her.

They teleported to the rest of the team who were starting to wake.  In an effort to make them feel a bit more at ease while in Limbo she conjured up a replica of a room from Xavier's mansion.  However, she explained that all her spells had an increasing demonic twist to them, and the room was decorated with demons and bones.  They then turned their attention to Warlock.  His fear was so raw that it accidentally triggered Mirage's power.  An image of Magus appeared and Warlock melted into a screaming puddle.  As Mirage ran crying into Cannonball's arms, Warlock begged Wolfsbane & Cypher to leave him there to die.  Mirage stated that her people were used to fighting losing battles, and Cannonball added that his ancestors had fought the Confederacy.  They had agreed to stand and fight, but they still didn't ave a plan.  However, before they had the chance to think of anything, the flood began to crumble beneath them.  

Magus' finers ripped the ground from underneath the New Mutants and he began to attack them.  Magma failed to melt him, Karma failed to posses him, and Mirage failed to frighten him with the image of what scared him the most; Warlock.  As a final resort, Magik blindly teleported them out of Limbo.

Back at the school, Moira MacTaggert looked at a photograph of her & Wolfsbane.  Magneto startled her by floating kitchen utensils through the air.  He still held on to the hope that the New Mutants would return.  Moira was convinced that they were dead, but Magneto noted that Brightwind wouldn't have remained on Earth if Mirage had died.

The New Mutants landed in the middle fo a grassy green field.  They thought it was North America, but suddenly they were charged by English soldiers on horseback.  They were chasing two Scottish men, and quickly killed one of them.  The New Mutants quickly powered up to defend the sole survivor.  With their amazing powers they mistaken for demons.  Wolfsbane transformed into a wolfk, Sunspot rippled with crackling black energy, Karma possessed one Knight before he struck Magik, and Magik created a stepping disc into Limbo.  However, instead of summoning a demon, a techno-organic tentacle grabbed an English knight, infected him & his steed with the transmode virus and destroyed them both immediately.  The English retreated, and the New Mutants met their new comrade; Robert the Bruce.  They had travelled back in time and across the world where they had come face-to-face with the famous Scottish king.

They were taken back to a small castle nearby, where the king kindly complimented Wolfsbane.  being the only Scottish member of the New Mutants, she received greater amounts of his attention.  She received a beautiful jewelled necklace with a large emerald inset.  As Warlock cowered in the corner, the others compared their own situation to that of Robert the Bruce.  The were only small and vastly over-powered by their enemies, but the Scottish king refused to give up hope.  Sunspot, who had been dressed in a shirt and kilt, voiced the opinion that they should stay in Scotland to help Robert the Bruce.  However, the moral and historical implications were too great for their own comfort & glory.  They also realised that if Magus could follow them to Limbo, then there was the distinct possibility that he could find them in historic Scotland.  

Sunspot grew frustrated with their continual running, but Robert the Bruce gave them hope.  He wanted to flee to live an easy life, but lived up to his responsibilities.  Cypher asked why he wasn't afraid of them, having appeared out of nowhere with frightening powers.  Robert the Bruce admitted that he didn't know whether they were children or demons, but was honoured to have the New Mutants as his friends.  Sunspot stated that they wouldn't be good friends if they caused Magus to follow them there, and therefore he offered to go to Limbo first to scout for any signs of Magus.  Magik argued that as it was her realm that she should go.  However, Warlock finally spoke up and volunteered to see if his father was still in Limbo.  They wished him luck and bade farewell to Warlock as he stepped into the light disc.  Moments later his head reappeared and he gleefully announced that there was no sign of Magus.  

Just before dawn broke, Robert the Bruce set off to face his own destiny.  Wolfsbane recalled the story where Robert the Bruce found inspiration from watching a spider repeatedly build a web after having failed so many times while locked inside a prison cell.  As Mirage was about to tease Wolfsbane about her little pep talk, she noticed that Wolfsbane's belt was missing.  She confessed that it was only proper to give something in exchange for the beautiful necklace.  Robert the Bruce rode away with his new X branded belt as the sun rose, and the New Mutants teleported into Limbo.

Karma, Magma, Sunspot and Wolfsbane stared at the poster of various X-Men and grown-up New Mutants on a wanted poster.  They quickly realised that Magik's teleportation had gone wrong, but they didn't quite realise how.  They were teleported back to the location of Xavier's School for the Gifted, but it no longer existed in this alternative future.  They were unaware of the approaching sentinels as they tried to decide what to do next.  Karma was powerless against machines, but Wolfsbane protected her.  Suddenly they were saved by an adult version of Cannonball.  Magma and Sunspot had more success against the giant robots, and an adult version of Mirage arrived brandishing a plasma rifle as she flew on Brightwind's back.  Cannonball and Brightwind carried all the young & old New Mutants away.
Back in the present day, Magneto used some automated droids to help him clean Mirage's bedroom.  He was shocked at how messy the co-leader of the New Mutants was.  Just as he considered whether he should post a letter she'd written to her parents, he heard a sudden cry.  His little droids had captured Stevie Hunter as if she was a common intruder.  He apologised for what happened.  However, Stevie wondered what was the point in being a teacher in a school without students.  Magneto re-affirmed his belief that they weren't dead and would eventually return.  He confessed how much he cared for them, that he couldn't give up hope.

In the future, the sentinels were planning their strike against the mutants.  Meanwhile the mutants were living in an old abandoned Sentinel factory from Project Armageddon.  They exchanged stories.  Cannonball remembered the journey to medieval Scotland, which he claimed was how he knew they would find their team mates at the site of the old school.  Sunspot asked him what happened to make the world turn out the way it had.  Cannonball explained how anti-mutant hysteria grew out of control.  Eventually the government sent the Avengers, Freedom Force and the Fantasic Four to round up the outlaw mutants.  When the sentinels came into effect, the heroes were double crossed and soon became the next targets for the sentinels.  
After they had exchanged stories, Wolfsbane approached the mature Mirage.  She wanted to talk to her friend, however Mirage snapped at her that her Wolfsbane had died in her arms.  Young Wolfsbane ran away in tears.  The others were shocked and looked to Cannonball.  He explained that they had to grow hard through years of war, and that they had been gathering as many survivors as possible and Lila Cheney would teleport them to live in safety in her Dyson Sphere.  The young New Mutants were appalled at how their friends were planning to run away from their problems, but they were interrupted by a sentinel broadcast.  Lila had been kidnapped, and was due to be executed in the morning.  The New Mutants recognised it as a trap, with Lila as the bait.  So they began to plan the fight to free Lila Cheney.

In the morning, Magma created a devastating earthquake on the destroyed site of Marvel Comics in New York.  She was creating a diversion for the sentinels, allowing Karma, Mirange and Wolfsbane to approach the sentinels base.  Meanwhile, Sunspot was amazed at how fast Cannonball was flying in complete silence.  Suddenly an electrical tendril grabbed Cannonball, sending him crashing through an old brick wall.  The sentinel that attacked them was painted like Captain America, and Sunspot soon knocked a building on top of it.  However, the various hands and other appendages appeared out of the rubble to continue the fight with energy nets and rocket-powered propulsion.  Sunspot kicked them away like a football, and Cannonball blasted them to smithereens.

Meanwhile, the Mirage & Wolfsbane had entered the sentinel complex.  Mirage fired her plamsa rifle to give Wolfsbane enough cover.  With her lupine senses, she could detect the sentinels' ploy.  She commanded Mirage to shoot Lila, who was suspended in mid-air.  Mirage hesitated, but then did as Wolfsbane commanded.  When shot, the image of Lila faded into another sentinel.  Wolfsbane ripped the head off, revealing Lila trapped inside.  They freed Lila, and although she was still weak, she teleported them to safety.

They re-appeared on the coastline.  What should have been a jouyous moment was in fact sad as Wolfsbane revealed how the older New Mutants were playing on betraying them.  During the fight, Mirage had let her guard slip and therefore allowed Wolfsbane to look into her mind.  The young time-displaced New Mutants would be left behind in Manhattan while their older friends would travel to the Dyson Sphere.  The younger mutants were frightened, and didn't know what to do if Magik failed to appear.  They disputed the logic that their older friends knew what would happen, because their younger versions weren't there with them to recall events.  However, nothing could convince the older mutants, and therefore the four New Mutants were left behind.

They stood on the barren coastline, desperately clinging on to the hope that Magik would teleport in to save them.  Magma powered up and summoned a huge mountain in the middle of deserted Manhattan.  The mountain exploded into an almighty volcano.  The others were impressed by the strength of her power, and she admitted that she would ache the next day.

Cypher rode Warlock as a skateboard across the high-rise roads of the futuristic metropolis. Arbitrators wearing uniforms that resembled the New Mutants black & gold uniforms were chasing after him in a hover car. However, they veered off the road and Warlock swooped to catch them. Warlock carefully set them back down and Cypher left a graffittied message saying that Humans Are People Too!Across town at Heroes Plaza, Mirage looked up at a statue of herself. She was lost in thought about knowledge of how & when she was going to die when Cannonball arrived to comfort her. Later, she stole supplies from a hospital, but was caught by arbitrators as she left the building. They were surprised by her uniform underneath her trenchcoat, and caught off-guard by her mutant powers. She managed to escape ,but lost the medical supplies. Cannonball drove them both Downtown where the regular humans lived in abject poverty underneath the glittering towards of the rich mutant society. When they saw a couple of arbitrators stealing a mutant child from it's family, they were forced to intervene, save the parents, and scare away the arbitrators. However, they were suddenly joined by a superhuman who had a rainbow streak flying behind them. When they landed inside, they addressed her as Julie Power, but it was in fact her younger sister Katie. However, as this was in a distant future, Kate was an overweight elderly pensioner. She led them away to somewhere more private to exchange stories.

Uptown, the Chief Arbitrator was informed of everything that had transpired. The shadowy figure of the Chief Arbitrator change his tone when he saw the faces of the New Mutants and declared that he would deal with the matter personally.

Miles below in the Downtown, Cannonball & Cypher passed out rations to the humans, while Warlock entertained the children with comical faces. However, Mirage's Valkyrie gift meant that she could see the death image surrounding many of the malnourished & sick children. She couldn't understand why the mutants did nothing, and was visibly angry when Kate Power told her that they just didn't care. They were then joined by members of Kate Power's New Mutant Bratpack, including a Native American with white feathery wings called Archangel who Mirage was instantly smitten with. They helped to spread rations and cheer among the humans while Kate explained what had happened to society. Humans were used for menial and base chores, but weren't allowed to enter the mutant upper society. Kate was considered as a pied piper, luring mutant children away to help the humans.

Suddenly the food truck exploded, and Arbitrators began to fire among the human population. During the fight, the New Mutants noticed that Kate was using the super human abilities of all of Power Pack. However, they were soon fenced in by volcanic blasts. Warlock merged with Cypher to protect him. They were finally captured when Sunspot jumped on top of Cannonball, forcing him out of the air.

Magneto recalled the horrific events of his childhood in a Nazi concentration camp. He was buried alive, and as he burst out of the ground gasping for breath he woke screaming from his nightmares. He poured himself a drink, but as he thought about the offer to join the Hellfire Club he threw his glass at the mirror.

In the future, Kate and the New Mutants were held in an energy field. The Chief Arbitrators entered the room, and the New Mutants were shocked to see grown versions of Magma & Sunspot. Mirage & Sunspot argued; she refused to believe they were the leaders of this society, and he insisted it was the ideal drea. After Magneto joined the Hellfire Club, mutants rose to superiority. Magma & Sunspot endorsed the 'culling search' to snatch children from their families.

Warlock was still hidden inside Cypher. A tiny strand of Warlock reached out threw the containment field and bit threw the power cable. The energy field dropped and the New Mutants fought for their freedom. Kate Power blasted a hole in the window, but the others inststed that she make a run for it to lead her New Mutant Bratpack against the Chief Arbitrators. As she flew away, Kate promised to make a difference for her brothers, sister, best friend and everyone else who had died because of mutant supremacy.

The New Mutnats were soon secured by the arbitratoris. Seeing that their young friends would remain defiant, Sunspot ordered mutant-psis with telepathic powers to modify the New Mutants' memories. He threatened that they would come to accept his mutant metropolis and thank him for it.

Magik fought alone for the control of Limbo. She was manifesting her Darkchilde appearance, with natural horns on her head. Sym had been infected with the Transmode virus by Magus, and attempted to infect Magik, but when she sliced through the infected area with her Soulsword a new patch of eldritch armour would appear. Sym teased her about Belasco being her father, but she cried that the only man she considered to be her father was Charles Xavier, and she plunged the Soulsword into the ground.

The Starjammers attempted to blend in and not be identified in a bar. As Professor Xavier and Lilandra discussed their responsibilities, he received the thoughts of a familiar person. He ran out of the bar and found Magik being offered as a slave at the local market. He assaulted the slaver alien and saved Magik with some help with Binary. With their cover blown, they hurriedly beamed back on board the Starjammer where Xavier was forced to apologise & explain his actions.

When Magik woke, Lilandra began to worry that Xavier would return to Earth with his student. At the dinner table she hurriedly explained what had happened, the latest baseball results and informed Corsair that he was a grand-father (see Uncanny X-Men issues 200 & 201). The Professor was hurt to learn about the Marauders attack on the Morlocks and how his X-Men had suffered casualties (See Uncanny X-Men # 211). She then told him about Limbo, and how when she drove the Soulsword into the floor she woke up in space. She cried into the Professor's lap as he theorised that by cleansing Limbo she had driven the demonic part of her soul out. This had allowed him to read her mind, which he had never been able to do before.

They began to plan how to save the New Mutants. The professor, Lilandra and Binary would accompany Magik as she teleported to rescue the rest of the team. In Limbo, the floor was covered in beautiful green grass and the sky was filled with clouds. However, the Soulsword was burning a pitch black, like Sunspot's mutant strength. Sym appeared to taunt her, but Binary attacked him. He absorbed her power and went to attack the Professor, causing Magik to grab the Soulsword and resume her emerging Darkchilde form. Sym managed to avoid Magik's attacks because of the shapeshifting abilities that came with the transmode virus, but fled. She then lunged the sword back into the floor and teleported them into the future.

High above the mutant metropolis, Cannonball, Cypher, Mirage & Warlock were held in a glass-walled cell. When the older versions of Sunspot & Magma appeared they argued and debated the society they had built. They were ready to have the New Mutants telepathically altered into accepting their society when Magik's stepping disc appeared. The Professor imparted some wise and condemning words to Sunspot, and they teleported away before more arbitrators could appear.

On the same spot, but in a different future, they teleported on top of a dormant volcano in the middle of Manhattan. There they found Magma, Karma, Sunspot & Wolfsbane fighting for their lives against a troop of sentinels. With the added reinforcements of Binary & the other New Mutants, they soon defeated the sentinels and rushed to give the Professor a group hug. Magik teleported them away just as Mirage and Sunspot exchanged some very cold glances as they considered how each other had grown into cold & calculating people.

However, returning to the present day in space, they found the Starjammer surrounded by flames. Magus had found them, and was tearing apart a nearby planet.

Cypher argued with Warlock that he couldn't just give up. Magus grew tired of waiting for Warlock to appear, so he grabbed the Starjammer and dragged it partially underwater. As the Starjammers use their blasters against Magus' many tentacles, the Professor began to use his telepathy to co-ordinate the New Mutants. Magma leapt onto a tiny rocky island to give her a greater affinity with the planet and fight to keep it held together. Cannonball flew her to safety and found Magma new places to stand whenever she was threatened. Magik teleported part of the tentacle away, freeing the Starjammer. Sunspot was frustrated that he couldn't do anything to help, but was touched by the fatherly way the Professor instructed him to remain calm and wait his turn.

Warlock finally plucked up the courage to face Magus. He transformed into an aerial gun-tank, but was easily swatted away. Sunspot caught him while Cypher appealed to the Professor to help save his best friend. Spurred by the Professor's words, Cypher had an idea. He attempted to give Warlock some of his own life energy to restore his strength, but Binary interjected and used her starbolts to recharge him instead.

The Professor boosted the mental abilities of Karma and Mirage. An illusion of Warlock, tall and strong, scared Warlock long enough for Karma to take control of Magus' mind. While under her control, Warlock & Cypher flew onto the Magus' shoulder. However, Karma was overcome and lost control, and the surface of Magus' skin turned into laser turrets and robotic defences. Binary flew over with Sunspot, and they used their strength to distract Magus' defences long enough for Warlock to hack into Magus. Cypher then decoded the programming in Magus, and rewrote it.

Magus roared in pain, and finally exploded. Warlock safely transported Cypher back to the Starjammer. Cypher explained that once he had decyphered the code that enabled Magus to form any shape, he was able to regress his programming. He returned Magus to the Technarch as a baby waiting to be born.

Warlock approached Professor Xavier and humbly thanked him for his help. Warlock expressed that the Professor was not just a teacher, but the kind & loving father that he had never had before. They hugged and the Professor returned the compliment addressing Warlock as 'son'.

Note: The Micronauts, Herculoids, and Nexus all appear in the alien bar where Xavier and the Starjammers meet their underworld contact. They all appear as characters in the background and presumably are not really intended to "canonically" be in the scene so much as be an artistic joke about the kinds of weird people that might be in such a bar. This issue took place soon after the second Micronauts volume ended, and the Herculoids and Nexus are not Marvel characters.

Xavier's School for the Gifted was completely empty. All the bedrooms were unused. Magneto's desk had photographs of his family, and in his diary was an appointment with the Hellfire Club.

As the Starjammers carried out repairs, Professor Xavier tapped into the minds of the New Mutants. They relived the slaughtered bodies in the Morlock tunnels, seeing the X-Men emerge weary & defeated, and images of the original five X-Men dressed as X-Factor the mutant hunters. The professor couldn't bear it any longer, but Lilandra couldn't accept his desire to return to Earth.

Back on Earth, Storm rode a derelict cruise liner along the stormy coastline. She passionately defied the violent weather with the determination that one day she would have her powers restored. The old ship began to fall apart, as Magneto tore it up to create a storm-break to protect the local town of Leesford. He was concerned that the locals would tear it down if they knew it had been constructed by a mutant. They then discussed the offer to join the Hellfire Club. Storm believed it was an excellent opportunity to have one more allie and one less antagonist for the X-Men to worry about.

Back in space, the New Mutants used their powers to help repair the Starjammer. Outside, Cannonball flew equipment around, Magma spot welded, and Warlock acted as a bubble to protect Cypher. Inside, Hepzibahmade snide comments about Lilandra and her insane family members. Lilandra settled the matter by punching Hepzibah while her back was turned. The fight was interupted by the holographic image of Wolfsbane begging the Professor to come quickly.

Magik had locked herself in her quarters, and they were afraid that without her they would never go home again. The professor commanded Karma to posses Magik's mind & open the door from the inside, but Mirage objected. The Professor pulled rank, and so Magik was forced to open the door. While under Karma's influence the Professor began to interogate Magik. She began to cry and confessed that she didn't want to go back to Limbo or re-assume her Darkchilde persona. Magik blamed Karma and Mirage blamed the Professor. Before he could argue his reasons he was distracted by something unseen and telepathically commanded Cannonball & the others to return inside the Starjammer immediately.

The Starjammer began emergency procedures, and Binary pulled Cannonball & Magma back inside before the attacking nuclear explosion could reach them. On deck, the Professor gave Hepzibah instructions of where to fly, while the New Mutants were being thrown around by the erratic manoeuvres.

The Professor was wrought with doubt. He wanted to return to Earth to ensure the New Mutants' safety and confront his old pupils in X-Factor. However, Lilandra begged him to stay with her and to continue using his telepathy to help save the Starjammer. He made up his mind and commanded Magik to teleport the New Mutants back to Earth, via Limbo. When she refused, he commanded Karma to posses her again.

Back at the school, Magik screamed at her team-mates. She couldn't trust them, and threatened violence against them before teleporting back to Limbo. The others didn't blame her for being so angry, and began to wonder how long they had been gone.

In the Hellfire Club, Magneto and Storm prepared to be accepted into the Inner Circle. Magneto ripped off the frilly shirt and changed into his red & purple costume. Although Sebastian Shaw objected, the White Queen accepted them. Jointly, Storm & Magneto were accepted as the White King of the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle.

Sunspot & Magma ran through the New York streets.  They had been told to split up, and they had run into the subway station to escape their pursuers.  As the train pulled into the station, Scalphunter rode on the front of the train and immediately shot Sunspot through the stomach.  Magma powered up, but her attacks missed Scalphunter.  Instead, she was unable to maintain her magma form when Vertigo made her lose her balance.  Scrambler kissed Magma, so when she tried to turn back into her magma form, her powers turned against her and she incinerated herself.

The other New Mutants saw the resulting explosion and ran for their lives.  Despite having told Magma & Sunspot to split up, the remaining seven New Mutants were still together.  They realised that it meant their friends were most likely dead.  Magik was the only one who did not take the situation seriously and teleported away just before Sabretooth was able to grab her.  Instead he went to attack the other six New Mutants.  Karma briefly held him at bay, but lost her concentration when Warlock was struck by one of Harpoon's energy spears that was originally intended for Cypher.  With Warlock dead, Wolfsbane transformed into a wolf and attacked Sabretooth.  However, she was no match for him.  Cannonball was forced out of the sky by Vertigo's powers, and Arclight caused a building to topple over the team.  Sabretooth appeared on the rooftop and threw Wolfsbane down to the street.  Mirage screamed as she cradled Wolfsbane's dead body.  She tried to conjure up Scalphunter's worst nightmare or dream, but killing her was his dream.  So he shot her at point blank range.

Magneto ended the Danger Room session and was bitterly disappointed with the New Mutants.  His lesson was clear; that they should not have left the school during the Mutant Massacre as they would have been slaughtered by the Marauders.  It wasn't until he'd finished his lecture that he realised Magik was missing.  She didn't teleport back to the school until the sun had set.  Re-appearing in her bedroom, she caught her reflection in the mirror; she was still in her Darkchilde form.  Forcing herself to return to normal, she flung herself on the bed desperately missing her best friend, shadowcat.

Down in the stables, Mirage groomed Brightwind.  She was depressed by memories of the future she had been trapped in.  Wolfsbane appeared and admitted that she was depressed by the other alternative future she had been trapped in, where Mirage had been cold and distant.  To cheer them both up, Mirage grabbed Wolfsbane and took her flying on Brightwind.  They swooped past Sunspot who was forcing Cannonball to improve his soccer skills.  

Inside the school Karma had finished her typing and resented Magneto with his correspondence.  She spotted all of the New Mutants' files spread across his desk, and asked if he had any news of her missing brother & sister.  Magneto tried his best to reassure her that he was using all of the resources at the school and the Hellfire Club.  However, she still refused to accept that she should do nothing to find her missing family.  When she left, Magneto tried to reconstruct the broken Cerebro circuitry (see Uncanny X-Men #213), but it exploded all over the desk.  He then went up to magik's bedroom, where she was crying in bed.  At first he tried to be a strict teacher, but then he tried to understand her.  Magik sat up, and revealed some of her dark personality to him; by turning a light on Magneto could see all the demons and inverted pentagrams in the room.

Magik then teleported them both to Limbo.  Magneto had never been there before and was astounded to find a beauty landscape.  However, Magik had already reassumed her Darkchilde appearance.  Sym appeared and attempted to attack Magik.  Since Sym had been infected by Magus' transmode virus Magneto was able to keep the demon at bay with his magnetic powers.  He offered to destroy Sym for Magik, but she insisted that she should be the one to win her own fights.  

Smiling again, Magik restored her physique to that of a normal girl and teleported them back to a very normal looking bedroom.  She hugged her teacher in thanks for helping her in Limbo.  The others then began to call to her from outside, demanding that she join them in a game of soccer.

Note: The soccer game at the end of this issue serves as a starting point for Fallen Angels #1.  Sunspot and Warlock have a hiatus from the New Mutants, but can be found in the Fallen Angels mini series.

While in the shower, Cypher began to see something unusual in his right-eye. He ran out of his room, but the other New Mutants appeared in formal dress to see what was wrong. However, when Cannonball touched him they both became infected with the transmode virus. The other New Mutants panicked and reacted with their powers, but one by one he turned them into empty husks of circuitry. With all of them dead, he leapt out of the window and was confronted by Warlock. However, Warlock informed him that he was Magus since Cypher was the new Warlock, which meant that they should fight to the death.

Cypher woke up on the toilet, resting against the basin. He was relieved that it was only a dream. Deep insides Cypher's eye, so tiny that it could not be perceived by the human eye, was a microscopic piece of circuitry.

In Central Park, a taxi cab pulled up alongside a limousine. An exchange was made; a million dollars for a small statuette of a Roman woman. In another patch of the park Mirage was complaining about landing in the snow while wearing their smartest clothes. They had to teleport into the park, where no-one would see them arrive. Magma melted the snow, and they walked the rest of the way to the Hellfire Club. Magik fell to the back of the group to check on Cypher. He'd been acting skittish without Warlock around to protect him, but he aggressively reacted against Magik's concerns, and stumbled backwards into the path of an on-coming taxi cab. Magik teleported him to safety, but he was still angry that they thought of him as a helpless baby.

Inside, Magneto began to shmooze with the rest of the Inner Circle, while the New Mutants wondered if they could trust him. The Hellions entered the room, Magik felt at ease in the party because of her tainted soul, and Magma was confronted by Selene. Other Hellfire Club members enquired why Magma gave Selene such evil looks, and she began to brag about how she had killed Magma's mother. Cannonball & Mirage realised that the temperature inside the room had increased, causing mirage to confront Magma about it. She made it clear that her personal vendetta should be left for a more suitable time & place. Selene then taunted Magneto that he should have more control over his students, but he believed they were acting strangely because they were worried for Sunspot & Warlock who had run away from school (See the Fallen Angels mini series).

Tarot approached Cypher, but when she asked him to dance he openly accused her of being up to a malicious scheme. Rejected, she ran away. Empath was delighted at the hurt caused by someone else, and Magik grabbed him, pulling him into a dance. While on the dance floor she threatened to return Empath to Limbo if he abused his powers. Mirage and Thunderbird exchanged pleasantries, which became unpleasant when they accused each other of having corrupt teachers. Catseye had pounced on Wolfsbane and suggested that they transform into their animal forms to play. Although at first reticent, Wolfsbane soon agreed. Mirage's telepathic connection with Wolfsbane activated, and her argument with Thunderbird ended. With psi-dampeners all over the building, she was unable to detect where Wolfsbane had run off to. They soon found the abandoned dresses, and ran off to find the were-mutants.

Jetstream challenged Cannonball to another contest (see New Mutants #17 & #40), and although he accepted the challenge Magma seemed more impressed by Jetstream. Their conversation ended when Hellfire Club member Gerhard Von Ostamgen made an announcement. He had purchased the statuette in Central Park and presented it to the Hellfire Club. He claimed that it was of Selene, the Moon Goddess, but Magma objected. She stated that it was of her grand-mother many times removed, and that the original had been in her family home for generations. Selene delighted in correcting them both. She insisted that it was of her, and that she was Magma's ancestor. She then broke the figurine on the floor claiming it was a forgery.

Upstairs, Cypher met Roulette who accompanied him to a poker game. She draped over him, and referred to him as 'lover'. Cypher continued to win many high-stakes games, and when he had defeated all the other players Roulette kissed him. They took the winnings, grabbed a bottle of champagne from a passing waiter, and left the room. Thunderbird & Mirage had no luck tracking Catseye & Wolfsbane. They ventured down into the tunnels beneath the Hellfire Club where masked guards sent them back upstairs. Wolfsbane & Catseye had been playing in one of the bedrooms upstairs. They had ordered caviar, champagne and foie gras from room service, but scared the maid when she arrived to deliver it. As Wolfsbane ventured out on to the landing to apologise to the maid she began to scream.

The scream was felt by Mirage, and so all the New Mutants and Hellions ran after her. When they arrived upstairs, they met Wolfsbane who had been shocked by Cypher & Roulette's shameless drunken behaviour. Mirage grabbed Cypher by the scruff of the neck and ranted about how the New Mutants should behave better than Hellions. This caused another argument with Thunderbird.. However, Cypher suddenly recalled Roulette's mutant power of luck, and slapped her across the face. Thunderbird then grabbed Cypher by the scruff of the neck, which Mirage resented claiming it was her responsibility to discipline her team. Cannonball interjected giving them a chance to determine which was the superior team after all; they should hold a contest to see who could locate the people responsible for the forged statuette of Selene. Despite initial concerns about the promises they had made to their respective teachers, both teams goaded each other into participation.

As Tessa went about her duties in the complex underneath the Hellfire Club, Karma ambushed Tessa. She had to fight to take control of Tessa's mind, an then used to her perform as search on the Hellfire Club's computer for her lost brother & sister. Sebastian Shaw grabbed Karma and threatened violence against her. Tessa stood up for Karma's motives, and Magneto arrived to stop Shaw from hurting her any further. Tessa admitted that they were performing the same searches on a daily basis, but without success.

Upstairs, Mirage & Thunderbird were arguing about who was at fault for their team-mates uninhabited behaviour. They agreed that no rules would be enforceable during their context (see New Mutants #53). Magik teleported in with the New Mutants graduation uniforms, since they had masks to hide their identities. Cannonball taunted Cypher about his hangover, Wolfsbane contemplated how her behaviour was no worse than Cyphers, while Magma stood on the snow-covered balcony ledge. She couldn't feel the cold because of her mutant ability, but she was worried about Selene's claim to be her maternal grandmother many times removed (see New Mutants #53). Magik threatened to teleport Cypher to Limbo to conjure up a hang-over spell, but the prospect of going to Limbo made him run out of the room to vomit. Mirage entered the room and showed no mercy for Cypher, while Cannonball held him in a hot shower (still fully clothed) to help him sober up. Cannonball suggested that they 'call it quits', but Magma burst into flames and passionately declared that they could not bow down before the insults the Hellions had thrown at them. They got changed, and Wolfsbane used her lupine senses to find a scent on a broken fragment of the Selene statuette (which she thought greatly resembled Magma).

Karma entered the room and was surpised to see everyone in their graduation outfits. They had been waiting for her, but she apologised and said that she couldn't help the team while her heart & mind were on her brother & sister.

Outside in Central Park, Wolfsbane read the area for recognisable scents. She immediately shifted back into her human form and fell over with the shocking revelation that the Silver Samurai was the one who sold the forged statuette. Meanwhile, back at the Hellfire Club Karma lied to Magneto when he enquired where the rest of the team was. He kindly placed his cloak around her shoulders to keep her warm from the snow.

The New Mutants spied on the Hellions. The Hellions were in New York harbour, where Tarot used her cards to divine where the culprits were. Thunderbird counselled her that she should have more faith in herself, seemingly unaware that Magik was spying on him with a scrying pool. The Hellions had discovered that the criminals were on Shooter's Island, but when the New Mutants went to teleport there first Cypher held back. He admitted that without Warlock's protection, he was scared.

On Shooter's Island, Mirage distracted a guard with one of her illusions, while Magik teleported behind & punched another. Magma offered to burn the whole island down, and couldn't understand Cannonball's logic that they shouldn't kill anyone. As the New Mutants used their powers to render the guards unconscious or powerless, Cypher pushed Mirage out of the way of a sniper but was shot squarely in the chest. Magma began to use her fiery powers in a more offensive manner, and created a circle of flames to pen the remaining guards in. Just as Magik was about to unleash her dark side on a hapless guard, Wolfsbane cried out with relief. She pulled open Cypher's shirt to reveal a large burn, and hugged him tightly upon the realisation that he was alive.

Just as the New Mutants were deciding how to interrogate the guards, the Hellions appeared on a gantry overhead. They had already apprehended the Viper & the Silver Samurai. Thunderbird explained that he knew the New Mutants would spy on them, therefore they purposefully fed the information about Shooter's Island to them. After that the Hellions held back, leaving the New Mutants to fight the guards while they went on ahead to defeat the Viper & Silver Samurai without any interruption. Thunderbird & Mirage shook hands; Mirage accepted that the New Mutants had been defeated. The Hellions cheered themselves, while the New Mutants were quiet & miserable.

Back at the Hellfire Club, both teams changed back into their formal dress. Neither Magneto nor the White Queen could understand why their students were so miserable and happy respectively. Thunderbird and Mirage accepted that their teams did work well together, and moved closer. They were about to kiss when Tessa arrived, interrupting the moment by handing Mirage a note from Karma. The letter on Hellfire Club headed note paper, stated that Karma was unable to sit idly by while her brother & sister could be in mortal peril. Cypher wanted to go after Karma to help her, and was angry when Cannonball said it was her decision to make. He didn't agree with that logic when Sunspot & Warlock had runaway (see Fallen Angels #1). Magik agreed with Cypher, and suggested that Wolfsbane should use her lupin senses to follow Karma. However, Mirage agreed with Cannonball, stating that Karma was the eldest f the New Mutants, and was capable of making her own decisions. Mirage then blamed herself for getting caught up with the challenge against the Hellions instead of looking after their own team mate.

Cannonball flew around his room in frustration, trying on clothes that wouldn't look embarrasing at a Lila Cheney launch party.  Meanwhile, Mirage & Magik were finalising their outfits for the evening when they decided that Wolfsbane needed something less formal.  Mirage plucked out an image of Wolfsbane in a beautiful ballgown, and Magik teleported to Limbo to create the dress.  Wolfsbane rejected it at first, nearly causing a fight with Magik by insinuating that the dress must be tainted with dark magic.  Mirage cooled them both down by suggesting that Magik was a fairy godmother.  When dressed, they all gathered on the steps of the school.  Cypher was impressed with Wolfsbane's beautiful dress, while Magneto struggled to understand the punk look that Magic & Cannonball had chosen.  On the drive through New York, Wolfsbane looked over at a tower passed the Statue of Liberty.  It was where the strange Bird Boy was reported to be held.  She wondered if Bird Boy was a mutant, and if they should investigate, but the others convinced her that it could wait till the next day.  However, inside the tower, Bird Boy screamed.

At the party, Cannonball & Magik swaggered into the party.  Lila was having an argument with Raek, turning down his proposition.  As soon as she saw Cannonball she admired his ear-cuff and gave him a huge kiss before dragging him off to dance.  While Cannonball was awkwardly dancing with Lila, Cypher and Wolfsbane attacked the buffet.  She encouraged him to eavesdrop on a conversation in a forgein language.  Cypher confirmed that it was an alien language, and that the aliens didn't like Cannonball spending time with Lila.  

Raek interfered with Cannonball & Lila's dance by dropping marbles underneath Cannonball's feet.  He ell over on top of other party-goers, and Lila giggled.  He picked himself up and feeling like he had embarrassed Lila left her to get a drink.  An alien girl offered Cannonball a spiked drink, but he refused it preferring a cola drink instead.  However, Raek convinced Cannonball that Lila would be more impressed with him if he took some pills.  Cannonball necked the tablets without knowing what they were.  Lila immediately caught up with him and started dancing again.  She said she wasn't mad at him, but her words were lost on Cannonball as his vision began to spin.  He left the dancefloor to get some fresh air on a balcony, while other aliens distracted Lila preventing her from following him.  Wolfsbane & Cypher saw Cannonball's eratic gait from the mezzanine level, and rushed to help him.  However, they were too late as Raek and his alien accomplices grew pointy-wings on their shoulders and kidnapped Cannonball.

In the air, Cannonball used his blast field to escape Raek's clutches, but he couldn't stay awake because of the drugs he'd consumed.  Asleep, falling and unprotected by his blast field, Cannonball was shot at by Raek.  The laser passed trough his leather waistcoat, but didn't injure him.  By the time Cannonball reactivated his blast field, he was sent rocketing through the top of a tower.

Back at the party, Wolfsbane regretted not shifting into her wolf form earlier to help Cannonball.  She and Cypher dragged Mirage & Magik away from the boys they were dancing with to show them the spectacular light show that Cannonball & Raek's alien friends were causing.  They saw him crash in the distance, and when Magik teleported them over to where he'd landed they found themselves stood in the middle of a garbage barge.  Seeing an alien about to shoot Cannonball, Wolfsbane transformed and pounced on him, ripping her beautiful dress in the process.  When another alien went to shoot her, Cypher clobbered him with an old piece of piping he'd found in the garbage.  However, just as he was celebrating his accomplishment, another alien grazed him across the back with their laser.  Seeing Cypher fall, Magik leapt up, grabbed an alien gun and shot Cypher's attacker.  

Cannonball punched Raek, and Mirage pulled out an image of what he was scared of.  It was a lollipop shape artefact that Lila Cheney recognised; the Bauble of Babel.  She had teleported on to the side of the barge, and with Mirage's help forced a confession from Raek.  He wanted the Jewels of Ikerno, which he wanted Lila to steal before another alien race sacrificed into an alien sun.  Lila had met Raek during her days as an inter-stellar thief, but she didn't want anything to do with that life any more.  Magik offered to send Raek and his gang to Limbo, which Lila agreed to (not knowing about the transmode infected demonds there).  Lila gave Cannonball a kiss before leaving to return to the party.  

Wolfsbane began to cry wihle in her transtitonal form.  She begged for Cannonball's forgiveness, since she believed that her own vanity had caused the mess.  The others forced her to relax, and Mirage threw her over-sized purple sequined sweater over Wolfsbane so she could transform back into a girl without exposing herself.  Cypher reassured her that she still looked like a princess to him.  Cannonball felt better as the barbiturates wore off, but couldn't believe he was so stupid to willingly take them in the first place.  The others were desperate to teleport off the barge and back to the school were they could get cleaned up.

Relaxing around the kitchen table on the morning after Lila Cheney's launch party , Mirage used her power to pluck out the image of the boys she & Magik had been dancing with before Wolfsbane & Cypher dragged them away (see New Mutants  # 55).  Magma had been too ill to go, but didn't seem to mind that she missed the party.  As she ate her toast, Magma dismissed the boys that Magik & Mirage were drooling over.  This caused Mirage to turn her power on Magma to create an image of her ideal man; to everyone's surprise she created an image of Empath!  Magma was angry, and claimed that Mirage had lost control of her power by creating the image of who she was least like.  Magma stormed out the kitchen, leaving the others behind in bewilderment.  Magik was fed up that there were no decent men around; Warlock & Sunspot had runaway (see the Fallen Angels mini series), Cannonball was dating Lila Cheney and she considered Cypher to be a baby.  

Magma was crying in her room.  She read the letter from her father over and over again.  He had summoned her back to Nova Roma to marry a boy she had never met before.  Yet she was torn with her conflicting emotions for Empath, who was a villain but was also an aristocrat of Roman descent.  

Across town at the Hellfire Club, the Hellions were enjoying breakfast.  The television showed clips from Lila's launch party, and Empath was jealous that Lila was dating Cannonball.  When Tarot tried to tease him about his emotions for Magma, he turned his powers on her causing her to love him.  Thunderbird stopped him, but they were soon interrupted by the news report; Cannonball's escape from Raek had sent him crashing through the tower that the Bird Boy was held in.  Bird Boy had escaped, and they recognised Cannonball's blast field from the news footage.  As they raced through the Hellfire Club to change into their Hellion uniforms, the White Queen pulled Empath aside.  She warned him to be more subtle with his powers to catch her a 'prize'.  Tarot over-heard and presumed that the White Queen wanted the Bird Boy.

Back at Xavier's School for the Gifted, the girls were offering the boys a chance to fight in a Star Wars simulated Danger Room sequence, but found them watching the news item about Bird Boy's escape.  realising that it was Cannonball's mistake, they all ran to change into their graduation uniforms to catch the Bird Boy.  Mirage stopped by Magma's room to tell her which outfit to wear, causing Magma to snap back at her about her use of psychic powers.

The Hellions used their powers to sneak out of the Hellfire Club, even though Empath knew that the White Queen was happy for them to go.  He turned his powers on Tarot, and again he was warned not to by Thunderbird.  Tarot then drew the Lovers card from her deck, and teased Empath that it was in honour of his feelings for Magma.  The card then manifested into a giant angel-like creature and flew the Hellions across the city.

The New Mutants flew with the help of Cannonball and Brightwind.  Magik teleported them to the World Trade Center where they soon spotted the Bird Boy as he swooped into the bay for fish.  Mirage used her power to conjure an image of fish & worms, what the Bird Boy was most hungry for.  However they were soon interrupted by the arrival of the Hellions.  The Bird Boy fled, and the Lovers card went to knock the New Mutants off Brightwind.  

They landed safely on a pier, and regrouped.  Mirage commanded Magma to climb on Brightwind, which Magma resented.  They flew off with Cannonball, instructing Cypher, Magik & Wolfsbane to find a way to lure the Bird Boy.  In the air, Cannonball & Jetstream began to race each other to get to the Bird Boy first.  Tarot summoned more cards to attack Brightwind, but Magma sent a lava blast threw the air destroying Tarot's deck.  The monsters disappeared, and the Hellions began to fall.  Using their powers they were all saved and managed to fly off on the manifested Devil card.  Mirage and Mamga flew in an opposite direction, having sent the Hellions chasing one of Mirage's illusions.  Meanwhile below, Magik had teleported huge amounts of fish to lure the Bird Boy.

Cannonball & Jetstream were still racing through the air.  Mirage & Magma joined them on Brightwind, but were soon followed by the rest of the Hellions.  The Devil card attacked Brightwind causing him to fall into an alley.  Once on the floor, Magma destroyed the rest of Tarot's deck with another lava blast.  Mirage lay unconscious so Thunderbird went to check on her.  Magma over-reacted and threatened to attack the Hellions with molten magma if he didn't put Mirage down.  Thunderbird commanded Empath to control Magma, but she fought his powers.  Since she was already conflicted over her feelings for him, she was able to fight off his amorous manipulations.  Magma then appealed to Empath, who then thurned his powers on Thunderbird instead.  Thunderbird ashamedly put Mirage back on the ground saying he didn't mean to hurt her & that he was worried for her.  Magma caught Mirage, and thanked Empath saying she had misjudged him.

The other New Mutants teleported into the alley with a huge mound of fish.  Wolfsbane rushed to Mirage's side, and began to exchange insults with Thunderbird.  The Hellions considered that they were still even with the New Mutants, but Wolfsbane snapped that Bird Boy's life wasn't a game.  However, when they looked up, Cannonball caught Bird Boy around the knees in mid flight.  They crashed into the pile of fish and Magik instantly teleported them to the Danger Room.  Tarot taunted Empath that he had lost the White Queen's prize, but he calmly assured her that it wasn't the Bird Boy who the White Queen was after.

In the Danger Room Magik teleported into the control booth and ran through a bunch of different scenarios to find one that the Bird Boy was comfortable in.  He liked a tropical island, and began to eat the fish.

Magma stepped aside form the others.  Mirage apologised for teasing her earlier, saying the way that she was able to resist Empath must mean that he wasn't her true heart's desire, after all.  However, Magma made the shocking announcement; she was leaving Xavier's School for the Gifted to attend the White Queen's Massachusetts Academy. 

At Xavier's School for the Gifted, the New Mutants were coming up with excuses not to had a Danger Room training session.  When Magneto asked Mirage to create an image of what he wanted to see, it was an image of them training in the Danger Room.  When he entered the observation booth he found a tropical island sequence running & gave them a lecture on saving energy.  To his surprise, when he switched it off a Bird Boy creature flew into the botth's glass windows.  Immediately the New Mutants teleported into the Danger Room to catch the Bird Boy & calm him down.  Magik teleported the refrigerator into the Danger Room, and Wolfsbane marvelled at how smart the Bird Boy was.  Cypher was distinctly unimpressed while Magneto was bewildered & asked for an explanation.

The New Mutants explained that they thought the Bird Boy might be a mutant, but Magneto still hadn't rebuilt Cerebro (see Uncanny X-Men  # 213).  The New Mutants were forced to continue with their studies.  Wolfsbane took the Bird Boy with her, and he tried to eat the characters on her computer monitor.  She asked Cypher to try and talk with him, but Cypher refused calling him a Bird-Brain.  When Wolfsbane & Bird-Brain left the IT room, the others teased Cypher about being jealous.

In the afternoon the New Mutants gathered on the steps of the school.  Magma implored her friends to understand her reasons for transferring to the Massachusetts Academy, and they gave her a huge group hug goodbye.  The White Queen accompanied Magma away from the school.  Magneto ordered the remaining New Mutants to continue with their studies, but Magik suggested a trip to the mall for some burgers and a movie to cheer themselves up.  

They went back down to the Danger Room where the Bird-Brain surprised them.  Wolfsbane took it to mean that he really was human, so Cypher cruelly suggested that they take Bird-Brain with them to the mall.  Soon the New Mutants had pulled on some baggy fitting jeans and a trench-coat to disguise Bird-Brain as a human.  They teleported to the mall, and sat Bird-Brain in a booth furthest away from the rest of the customers.  They ordered enough burgers for them, but Bird-Brain stole everyone else's food.  Cypher was already angry that his food had been stolen, when Magik offered Bird-Brain a milkshake.  She showed him how to slurp the shake through a straw, and after he had a taste of it he wanted everyone else's.  Immediately Bird-Brain lurched across the table and food began to fly everywhere.  They dragged him out of the burger bar, leaving Cannonball to pay the waitress for the mess they'd made.  Wolfsbane & Cypher argued all the way to the movies.  There, Mirage paid for them all to enter, but as soon as an advert for McBurgers appeared on screen the Bird-Brain flew up to try and eat it.  Cannonball flew after him, but the crowd thought that they were part of the special effects from the new 3D science fiction movie trailer.  When Cannonball managed to drag Bird-Brain to the floor, the others leapt on him and teleported back to the school.

However, Magneto was impatiently waiting for them in the Danger Room.  He had received a call from the manager of the Burger restaurant and was determined to hand Bird-Brain over to the authorities.  Magneto stormed out of the Danger Room, leaving Wolfsbane in tears.  Bird-Brain petted her on the head, while Cypher continued to protest that he wasn't human.  He ranted saying that he'd tried to talk to the creature, but then had to admit he hadn't really tried.  

Cypher turned to Bird-Brain and began to make clicking & squawking noises.  Straight away Bird-Brain began to converse with him, and hugged Cypher.  Cypher explained that where Bird-Brain was from, food was given as a reward.  Therefore Bird-Brain believed he was being rewarded whenever he saw food, and that the advert at the movies looked like the ultimate reward.  Wolfsbane was so happy that she hugged Cypher.  She implored Mirage to tell Magneto that Bird-Brain could talk, and then pointed out that he was exactly what Magik had asked for; a new male member on the team.

While the other New Mutants were studying for their mid-terms, Wolfsbne & Cypher were trying to teach Bird-Brain to speak English. Magik grew angry when they continued to use her as an example, and popped her bubblegum. Wolfsbane transformed into a wolf, and Bird-Brain reacted excitedly calling her a like-creature. However, he then flew at the window, and began making such a commotion that Cannonball had to drag him back down to the floor. Cypher translated Bird-Brain's squawking; a few phrases about a full moon, testing, and blood. He briefly settled down in front of the television, but grew agitated again when he saw pictures of Big Bird on Sesame Street with a tiger. Mirage changed the channel and Bird-Brain grew excited when he saw an advert for McBurgers. Magik teleported away and bought a meal to tempt Bird-Brain with. He wasn't allowed to eat anything until he was able to pronounce it in English. When he succeeded in saying Burger, Fries and Chocolate Shake, Bird-Brain received hugs from Cypher & Wolfsbane. Wolfsbane then hugged Magik for breaking the rules to help them.

The next morning Bird-Brain was stealing their donuts, while the New Mutants studied books and maps for ideas where he came from. The original new reports stated that he had been found in the North Atlantic, but he had recognised a Tiger on the television. Bird-Brain threw away pictures of animals in the zoo, but hugged books with pictures of Greenland. However, Mirage ordered them to let it wait until their exams had finished. The others began to study while Wolfsbane & Cypher continued to work with Bird-Brain. They established that he had no concept of numbers; only 'one' and 'many'. When he asked for many burgers, Magik teleported them to a local burger bar. When Cannonball returned to their table with a tray full of food, Bird-Brain grew restless again so Magik teleported them back home.

That night they watched a programme on television about a lion tamer. When the man used a whip against his lions, Bird-Brain grew upset again. They calmed him down by taking him to Cypher's room where they dressed him in one of Cannonball's old uniforms (Magik cut a hole down the back to make room for his wings). They pulled out a space mattress for Cypher to sleep on, while Bird-Brain had his bed. However, in the night Bird-Brain smashed through the window crying for his 'many friends'.

The five remaining New Mutants began to plan what to do. Meanwhile, Bird-Brain flew to the McBurger restaurant they'd been at earlier. There he asked for many burgers, friends and chocolate shakes. The staff were so afraid that they gave him as much food as possible. Not realising he'd stolen the food, Bird-Brain few off. The New Mutants caught up with him in mid-air, where Mirage caught him in a lasso. Magik caught the falling food, while Cannonball brought Bird-Brain crashing back down to Earth. Realising how odd it was for him to have so much food without eating, Mirage used her power to create images of what Bird-Brain desired. They say an image of a island with a steep cliff-side. Bird-Brain called to his friends on the island. Then the image changed to monstrous faces, which scared Bird-Brain. The illusion changed again, to friendly animal faces and a McBurgers meal. The New Mutants finally understood that Bird-Brain was trying to take food back to his friends on the island he'd escaped from.

The New Mutants considered what to do next. Wolfsbane was so determined to help Bird-Brain that she didn't care when Magik teased her about breaking Magneto's rules. So they all teleported into an area of the North Atlantic. There they flew around on Brightwind until Bird-Brain located his home island, Paradise.

It was still the middle of the night, and in the darkness they could hear strange hissing and rustling noises. Slowly, strange animal creatures surrounded the New Mutants...

Note: The very last panel features a glimpse of the Ani-Mator, but he does not actively appear in this issue. The events of this issue lead directly in to the Fall of the Mutants story arc.

The New Mutants arrived on Bird-Brain's home, a barren rocky island full of caves & dead trees. Quickly they were surrounded by hostile looking Ani-Mates. Meanwhile, in an underground laboratory, the Ani-Mator inspected his latest batch of embryonic ani-mates and destroyed them. An amphibian ani-mate named Bufo gained his master's attention to warn him about the New Mutants' presence on his island. He performed a computer search on them and discovered the New Mutants' identities. The Ani-Mator then decided to capture the New Mutants as specimens to be experimented on.

Outside, the New Mutants were having trouble communicating with the Ani-Mates. Mirage conjured up an image of food, and Bird-Brain gave them the stolen burgers and fries. Whenever some of the more aggressive looking Ani-Mates started to growl, the New Mutants reminded each other how they had powers to protect themselves with. The Ani-Mates didn't like Bird-Brain wearing man's clothes, and were about to attack him when Wolfsbane changed into her transitional form and jumped in to save him. The Ani-Mates stood back, and thought she was another like-creature, like them.

Meanwhile, Sunspot and Warlock returned to Xavier's School for the Gifted. When Warlock tried to pick the lock to the front door, alarms rang and Magneto trapped them. Realising he had captured his prodigal students, he gave them both a huge hug to welcome them home. However, realising that the New Mutants didn't come running to see what all the noise was tipped him off to their absence.

On the Ani-Mator's island, an alarm began to sound. The Ani-Mates and Bird-Brain reacted instinctively. They moved in a hypnotised fashion, walking into an underground maze. The New Mutants were self-assured that their powers could save them from any threats. However, they soon found the dismembered and decaying remains of old Ani-Mates. They managed to save each other from pit-falls and other booby traps, but nothing could prepare them for the sight of recently slain ani-Mates. Wolfsbane broke down in tears and began to pray, which Bird-Brain tried to comprehend. Suddenly there was a scream, and three large doors revealed monstrously huge Ani-Mates.

The New Mutants began to fight for their lives. The ground opened, but Magik teleported out of harm's way. However, the opening unleashed knock out gas, which rendered Wolfsbane unconscious. Creatures overwhelmed Bird-Brain, and Mirage was cought by a bat-like Ani-Mate. Her illusion of the Ani-Mator wasn't enough to save her from the blind bat-creature, and Cannonball was caught in a steal net when he tried to catch her. The fight came to an end when all the New Mutants were captured or unconscious, and the Ani-Mator ordered his creatures to carry them into his laboratory.

The Ani-Mator was angry at Bird-Brain. He had taken extra pride and care in creating Bird-Brain, and was furious that he had run away and begun to wear human clothes. He ranted that his creatures didn't have the right to a name until they had passed his tests, and reminded them all that they were only animals. Wolfsbane argued that they were sentient creatures who could make choices for themselves, comparing them to Adam & Eve in the garden of Eden. When the Ani-Mator grew tired of her aruments, he had one of his slave creatures hit her across the jaw.

The Ani-Mator then ordered the destruction of the Ani-Mates who had first met the New Mutants. He was angry that they had let the humans live, when his law dictated that all trespassers should be instantly killed. Upon his order to kill the creatures of 'Lot F', the animal skull on his head began to resemble one of Mirage's death warnings.

The New Mutants were unable to help. They realised that the deaths of all Bird-Brain's Ani-Mate friends was their fault for foolishly trespassing on the island without enough power or planning to save themselves, let alone the others. Bird-Brain began to pray for his slaughtered friends. This enraged the Ani-Mator even more who ripped the New Mutants uniform from him. Bird-Brain and the other New Mutants were trapped. Held hostage by a ranting & murderous madman.

The Ani-Mator violently abused Bird-Brain, handling him like a rag-doll. Cannonball tried to fly, but he couldn't steer while still contained in a metal net. Mirage conjured up an illusion of the one thing that would scare the Anim-Mator; a man he called Commander Hodge. He bgean to grovel before the illusion, but when an Ani-Mate walked through the mirage he took his anger out on Mirage and some of the smaller Ani-Mates. Bird-Brain was then separated from the other New Mutants and sent back down into the maze.

The others were kept in the laboratory. Cypher was angry at the basic animal cravings of many of the Ani-Mates, which hurt Wolfsbane who often worried about her animal instincts. When the Ani-Mate who wore an executioner's hood began to ask if Wolfsbane was the wolf-girl, Cypher was the only one who could understand the sexual threats it was making towards her. When Cypher cried out to protect Wolfsbane, the creature struck him. Wolfsbane, still in manacles, transformed into a wolf and lurched at the hooded Ani-Mate, but was soon beaten down and spat on.

The New Mutants were then locked inside giant-test tubes. Cypher apologised for what he had said earlier and begged for Wolfsbane to used her animal strength to break the glass, but she had broken down into tears afraid to become a wolf again. However, the Ani-Mator ordered that the embryonic specimens of 'Lot G' should be destroyed. His loyal Ani-Mates through the small around the room, smearing blood and tiny bodies against the glass tubes that held the New Mutants. Wolfsbane tried to change into a wolf, but she was still unable to break the glass. Cypher tried to reassure her through the glass, while Magik remained convinced that Magneto would find all the books & maps they'd left lying around at the school and find them.

Back at the school, Sunspot & Warlock were miserable while Magneto ranted about the New Mutants and Bird-Brain. He ordered the two remaining New Mutants to remain in the school while he flew to the Hellfire Club for more help. However, Sunspot & Warlock found all thebooks & maps the others left in the library. Upon hearing the news report about Bird-Brain's burger burglary from the night before they began to piece together the location of the New Mutants. Warlock transformed into a plane, and Sunspot grabbed the maps. Together they flew to find the others.

Back on Paradise, the Ani-Mator's island, he computers began to signal an in-coming transmission from Cameron Hodge. He had seen the Ani-Mator's computer search on the New Mutants and enquired why he'd done that. The New Mutants listened to the conversation as Hodge revealed the Ani-Mator's past. He had been a brilliant scientist, but when his university looked into his ethical methods, he was jailed. That was where Cameron Hodge had found him, and that was where Hodge threatened to return him. Hodge commanded that the Ani-Mator remove the animal skull from his head, and ended the transmission without revealing that he was already on his way to Paradise. Unknown to the New Mutants, Hodge or the Ani-Mator, Sunspot & Warlock were a few miles further south.

The Ani-Mator replaced the skull upon his head and ranted about how important his work was. He ordered that the New Mutants would become donors, and that he would give their powers to his Ani-Mates. As they were being carried away, Mirage commanded Cypher to talk to the Ani-Mates. He managed to convince them that the Ani-Mator would turn on them and have them all destroyed. The creatures ran for their lives, dropping the New Mutants, and freeing them from their glass cages. More vicious Ani-Mates appeared to attack the New Mutants. So Magik teleported home. She teleported all around the mansion, but failed to find Magneto. She returned to Paradise with a baseball bat to join the fight. Mirage commanded her to teleport the creatures to Limbo, while Cypher used his translation powers to hack into the Ani-Mator's computer and stop the self-destruct sequence.

The New Mutants were victorious. Over-joyed they ran for the exit. However, there they were fired upon by The Right's smile-faced soldiers.

Commander Hodge appeared. The Ani-Mator complained about Hodge's lies, but was soon physically disciplined. Hodge ordered that the New Mutants be taken away to replace the young mutants he'd recently lost (see the X-Terminators' adventures in X-Factor # 23). He then shot Bufo the frog Ani-Mate and commanded that the rest of the Ani-Mate population be slain. When the Smile-Faces approached, Bird-Brain managed to fly away in time while the other vicious Ani-Mates were shot down. He then flew up and kicked boulders down on the Right soldiers, and dropped others down into the pit-falls & booby traps of the maze. Flying down into the maze, Bird-Brain found other surviving Ani-Mates who swore to help him if he spared their lives.

Bird-Brain led a rebellion of Ani-Mates against the Right. He freed Wolfsbane and Cypher from one soldier, while others chewed through the straps on the inhibitor helmets on Cannonball and Magik.

The New Mutants began to fight back with Bird-Brain's Ani-Mates on their side. Cypher hid behind a rock when Sunspot and Warlock arrived. Seeing his soul friend, Cypher jumped up and began to wave to Warlock. Warlock was over-joyed to see Cypher, but extended his head across the battle-field to push Cypher back under a rock for his own safety. From their he watched as the New Mutants and Ani-Mates were defeating the Right's soldiers. He saw the Ani-Mator appear out of Hodge's plane with a gun, and take aim at Wolfsbane. Cypher cried out to Wolfsbane that he had a gun, but she misunderstood him and thought he meant the machine guns on the Smile-Face's armour. The Ani-Mator fired. Cypher jumped, pushing Wolfsbane ou of the way.

Wolfsbane left Cypher on the floor out of the way of danger, and rebuked him for doing something so dangerous while she leapt back into the fight. The Ani-Mator took aim again, but Bird-Brain knocked the gun out of his hand. As the darkness surrounded Cypher, he apologised to Wolfsbane and promised never to do it again His voice grew weaker. Cypher's head dropped to the floor. He lay dead, face-down on the ground.

Cameron Hodge ordered his men to retreat. The plane dropped charges on the island before taking off across the Atlantic. Sunspot and Warlock pursued the plane until a giant squid-like Ani-Mate grabbed it out of the air sending it crashing against the rocks below.

Back on shore the Ani-Mator continued to fight with Bird-Brain. Stealing the skull-crown off the Ani-Mator, Bird-Brain stood victorious. Wolfsbane was so happy with him that she ran up & hugged him. She called for Cypher to come out of his hiding place, but Mirage found him lying on the ground.

Wolfsbane screamed his name, and run to his. She begged him to stop teasing them and broke down when she realised he was dead. Warlock poured over Cypher's body begging him to rejoice in their victorious return. The Ani-Mates stood around in reverence as Cannonball realised this was the reason why Magneto continued to ground them.

The New Mutants were grief stricken and full of guilt at the cost of their recklessness. The Ani-Mator began to gloat how he had tried to kill Wolfsbane, but Cypher got in the way. Magik held him in a stepping disc, and threatened to shoot him in the head. However, Wolfsbane begged her not to for Cypher's sake. In a fit of anger, Magik sent the Ani-Mator to Limbo.

The Ani-Mates then began to tear at the bodies of their fallen comrades. Bird-Brain stopped them, telling them to honour their dead. Through his tears Cannonball explained to the Ani-Mates that making decisions and dealing with the consequences made them into men. He told them to give themselves names, as they had earned that right and it was what Cypher would have wanted.