Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #271

Story continued from X-Factor #60 

News outlets continue to report on the situation in Genosha, while in Genosha itself, Boom-Boom and Rictor are on the run from the magistrates. Just as a magistrate has a shot lined up on them, Jubilee swings down and blinds them with some of her energy flashes. As the magistrates crash to the ground, Jubilee swings back up where she’s admonished by Wolverine for her reckless stunt, though he admits she did good. The two of them, plus Psylocke, jump down to tangle with the magistrates, each in their own way and style. As they fight the magistrates, Wolverine gets caught off guard and stunned by a particularly skilled one named Tam. Just as she’s about to land a killing blow, Psylocke grabs her and stabs her right in the head with her psychic knife, to everyone else’s astonishment! As the others tie up the defeated magistrates, Jubilee checks on Wolverine, who insists he’s fine, even to her comments to the contrary! Wolverine tells Boom-Boom and Rictor to open their minds and memories to Psylocke, so they can quickly learn what’s happened. Though they’re reluctant, Psylocke accesses their memories and learns everything that they’ve experienced since being captured and taken to Genosha, as well as the fact that other X-Men and X-Factor are on the island as well. Wolverine tells Jubilee to watch over the two New Mutants while he and Psylocke head to check out the citadel.

Meanwhile, the news show All Things Considered airs a televised debate between Dr. David Moreau, the Genegineer, and Moira MacTaggert. Moreau continues Genosha’s claim to be a peaceful nation only trying to defend themselves from mutant terrorists who have declared war on them. He posits that they’re only trying to defend their way of life, and everything they hold most dear, no matter the cost. The broadcast ends, and the chief magistrate notes that something seemed off about Moira. They both worry about all-out war between Genosha and the mutants, but Moreau points out that that doesn’t seem to matter to Cameron Hodge, and he’s the one who currently controls things. Later, things are taking their toll on the Genegineer, as he agonizes over why his own son decided to turn his back on his country. He’s then snuck up on and ambushed by Storm, who threatens to kill or capture him. The Genegineer tells her that her real enemy is Hodge, who’s the one who proposed the kidnapping in the first place! The two are then surprised by the arrival of Cameron Hodge, who ends up nailing Storm to the wall! Though Hodge initially wants to kill her, the Genegineer proposes adding her to Genosha’s genepool and turning her into a mutate slave. The President agrees with this course of action and the Genegineer says he’ll start right away!

Outside the citadel, Wolverine and Psylocke ride on the vehicles they commandeered from the magistrates, when Psylocke receives a flash of psychic pain from her rapport with Storm! Psylocke, and now Wolverine, can both feel the anguish Storm is feeling from the Genegineer’s experiments, causing them to crash land, hard! Still dressed as magistrates, Wolverine bluffs that they’re in need of help and they get escorted right into the citadel. Their bluff doesn’t last long, however, when they run into Havok, who realizes that they’re not magistrates! They’re surprised to see their former teammate as a magistrate, and Havok sends an enormous blast at them that hits a power coupling and shuts out all of the lights! Wolverine barrels through the magistrates on his way to Havok and the two end up at an impasse, poised to take each other out. Psylocke once again saves Wolverine by stabbing Havok with her psychic knife, and the two make to escape. However, they’re quickly grabbed by Cameron Hodge and flung all around, despite their best efforts. Psylocke gets Hodge to draw her in close so she can stab him with her psychic knife. However, it has no effect, and Hodge sends a shock through Psylocke to incapacitate her. Just then, the Genegineer reveals that the process is complete, and Storm has been transformed into Mutate #20, as they ponder what to do with Psylocke and Wolverine! To be continued!

Story continued in New Mutants #96