New Mutants, The (1983 series) #95

Story continued from Uncanny X-Men #270 

In Genosha, the captured Storm, Boom-Boom, Wolfsbane, and Rictor get transmitted there, coming face to face with Cameron Hodge. Hodge presents Warlock as well, sent there earlier, the transmission process having greatly affected him. The captive mutants realize they’ve been drugged and Hodge orders Wipeout to come in and remove their powers. Storm and the others attempt to fight back before this can happen, but they don’t get very far before Wipeout is able to de-power them. With the captive mutants now at his mercy, Hodge tells them they are to stand trial and execution for crimes against the nation of Genosha! Meanwhile, on the grounds of what used to be Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, Sunspot and Gambit finally make it up through the hatch to join the others. Cable and Forge inform them of Storm and the New Mutants’ disappearance, as Banshee and Cannonball return from scouting the area. Having only found their teammates’ clothes left behind, Stevie Hunter joins the others to tell them that she got in contact with X-Factor, and they’re on their way there now!

Back in Gensoha, Storm and the others have been outfitted with the jumpsuits reserved for Genosha’s mutant slaves, and stuck in a cell together. Warlock reveals that the transfer there severely drained him of his energy and the others offer to share their energy with him, regardless of the risks it might present. Cameron Hodge then arrives and states his plan to steal Warlock’s ability to alter his body shape for himself! Hodge easily overpowers the powerless mutants, and tells them how he made a deal with N’Astirh to live forever, even when Archangel cut his head off! Though stuck in this ugly mechanical body, he takes Warlock to the Genegineer, in order to enlist his help with transferring Warlock’s ability to him. While Hodge and the Genegineer argue, Warlock is able to slip away in the hopes of making it back to his friends. Back in the cell, Boom-Boom blames Storm for getting them into this mess as they try and find a way out of their cell. On the other side of the cell, Rictor admits to Wolfsbane that Cameron Hodge had captured him before, and when he’d heard Hodge was dead, he was glad.

Warlock then arrives and warns his friends of the Genoshans’ plans for them, and is able to interface with the force field keeping them in, shutting it down. The others decide to split up and regroup at the American Embassy, leaving Warlock there in the hopes they can come back for him. Not long after, Hodge and his men find Warlock and he orders Havok to hunt the mutants down! Back on the Xavier School grounds, X-Factor arrive and are brought up to speed on the situation. Cannonball then informs everyone of a call from Val Cooper about an announcement of the trial and execution of some captive mutants! Back in Genosha, Rictor and Wolfsbane split up and Wolfsbane runs back to help Warlock against Rictor’s warnings. Even powerless, Wolfsbane jumps out to attack the magistrates, while Hodge transfers Warlock’s power to himself. Wolfsbane is able to sever the connection, but the energy transfer was too great for Warlock, and he slowly fades until he dies! Wolfsbane mourns the fact that she couldn’t save him, as back in Westchester, the X-Men and X-Factor see the news report of Warlock’s death and the planned execution of the others. They then get a call from Val Cooper requesting their presence in Washington, and they head out immediately. To be continued!

Story continued in X-Factor #60