In the California desert, a gas
station attendant scoffs, hearing the news about the Fear in the East, figuring
it will never touch him. Then Juggernaut, possessed by Kuurth, Breaker of Stone, lands nearby and slams his hammer to the ground and the shockwave
destroys the gas station. Kuurth tells the attendant he will not kill him if he
accompanies Kuurth. Kuurth touches his hammer to the attendant’s head and the young
man finds he now understands everything and chooses to go with his master as
his new herald. They head for San Francisco, the capital of sin….
As anti-mutant protesters gather
outside her office, San Francisco Mayor Sadie Sinclair meets with Scott
“Cyclops” Summers to talk about the crisis in the East. Wondering why nothing
has happened in SF, Sinclair asks Scott if the mutants have made some kind of
deal with the enemy. Scott does not address that accusation directly, wishing
to avoid a fight….
In Utopia, Kitty Pryde confronts
Colossus about his sister Magik and her recent evil deeds. She points out the
depths of evil in Illyana’s soul yet Piotr remains faithful to her….
Colossus visits Magik in the X-Brig
2, the underwater prison for mutants, where she is guarded by Danger and
Mirage. She shows him her special vest, rigged to explode at the slightest sign
of her magic or teleportation powers. She is content with her lot, saying, “I
knew the cost. I’m paying it.”
Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner,
visits Emma Frost at her home, announcing he has formed his allies and is
prepared for battle. He wanted to see her and make love to her one last time.
She declines, saying she is now dating Scott; he doesn’t understand and nearly
persuades her to give in but she recoils and orders him out. Namor departs,
reminding her that Scott married the redhead….
While Mayor Sinclair and Scott are
still arguing, Sadie’s aide dashes in to show them what’s in the news: The
I-580 is a disaster zone, Kuurth coming on a path of destruction, while his
herald calls on people to join in Juggy’s judgment on the wicked city or be
destroyed, as the police open fire. Scott tells the Mayor that the X-Men have
dealt with him before and they have protocols but the Mayor notes that Scott is
deliberately avoiding telling her they can stop him….