“Ashes” is the word that keeps rolling into Sophie Cuckoo's head as she watches footage of the humans falling right into the trap – just like she was told they would. She sees the Krakoan and Prodigy taken into police custody. Words like “Krakoan national” and “deportation” and “mutant exclusion zone” are thrown around, as they see every detail except the way they have been set up. All that conversation about community has gone to ashes. Kamala Khan a.k.a. Ms. Marvel passes anti-mutant protestors called Truthseekers as she heads into a police station.
Later, David Alleyne's life crumbles in front of the news cameras as he stands with his lawyer, She-Hulk, and addresses the cameras. At the same time, it is a nonstop party in Empath's penthouse – the new world is on the way. And, a law is on the floor of the city council – the votes are there. Empath has made sure of that through his puppet councilmen – replacements for the ones Julian “removed”. There are twenty-four hours until they vote themselves into their own downfall – hundreds of years of human rule in ashes.
Sophie sits in the penthouse – she should be proud and celebrating with her sisters. She should feel something – anything – but she just keeps thinking about the ashes.
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of David Alleyne's apartment that he shares with his boyfriend, Dante. Victor Borkowski a.k.a. Anole brings several drinks out to the group who has gathered on the rooftop, while Laura Kinney a.k.a. Wolverine leans against the wall surrounding the rooftop, reading a newspaper. Kamala Khan looks over to some artwork of Cyclops, while Dante sits next to David, who rests his face in his hands. 'We've been played!' Laura suddenly exclaims, before she shreds the newspaper and announces that the media knew exactly where Julian was going to hit. 'This is the Cuckoo's fault! She set us up and let the cards fall!' Laura declares.
Kamala looks over and tells Laura that this isn't Sophie, that evil conspiracies have evil leaders – and she loves Sophie, but this isn't her. 'Half the city council quietly replaced with anti-mutant hard-liners, terror attacks staged to cover it up...' David's voice trails off, as Dante rubs his shoulders and tells him that he is so tense. 'Are you sure you don't have metal Colossus muscles?' Dante jokes. David continues, adding that there is an anti-mutant media circus that triggers the minute they try to stop them. 'Who benefits?' David asks. Anole holds up his phone, showing footage of the Truthseekers at an anti-mutant protest. 'The Purifiers. They're already playing that game with this whole “Truthseekers” rebranding. And they've been live streaming the apartment of the infamous David Allyne for four hours' Anole remarks, before suggesting that Sophie working with them is too weird. 'Though not as weird as the fact that they all just stopped moving' Anole adds as he looks at his phone.
Indeed, out the front of the apartment building, the anti-mutant Truthseekers have become frozen. A telepathic voice calls out to David, Kamala, Anole and Laura. It's Sophie. 'I'm not... look, I'm not great at like 99 percent of things that you can be great at. In fact, I'm patently fabulous. But there is one thing I'm really terrible at saying' Sophie Cuckoo announces as she passes the Truthseekers while using her psionic powers to force them to remain frozen. Sophie admits that there is one thing she is really terrible at saying – and it is also something she is right now. 'And that's very, very sorry' Sophie announces. Sophie tells her companions that she is sending all the bigots outside back to their homes with an instruction to rethink their lives. 'Consider that a small token of my desire to change before it's too late' Sophie asks them, while adding that she knows they will probably never want to see her again, and she gets that – if that's what they decide, then this is goodbye.
'But I've thrown up a psi-shield to protect us from them. And if you can ever find it in your hearts to forgive me, I'd really appreciate the chance to make this right -' Sophie continues, before she is interrupted: 'Oh my gosh, Sophie Cuckoo. Shup up... you had me at patently fabulous!' Kamala exclaims as she rushes out the front of the apartment and leaps into Sophie's arms. Tears in her eyes, Kamala tells her friend that she genuinely cannot believe she went all double-cross super villain on her. 'I'm...I said I'm sorry' Sophie responds. 'Wow, you are bad at apologies' Kamala remarks, before asking Sophie if she is serious about switching sides for real. 'Cus if someone doesn't give Professor Alleyne an explanation soon, I think his head is gonna straight-up explode' Kamala smiles. 'Well, we wouldn't want that' Sophie notes. Kamala extends her legs and carries Sophie upwards, as she tells her that everyone is on the roof, while remarking that she imagines this was what it was like on a bad day at Xavier's – but she missed out on that whole experience. 'Well, on that one, you should count yourself lucky...because you've never had to be in the same room as Manuel de la Rocha' Sophie frowns.
(Weeks ago)
At the Quiet Council of Krakoa's penthouse, where Manuel de la Rocha sits on his “throne” several men wait on him, bringing him food and drink and kneel at his feet so he can rest his feet on them. 'It's simple, really. This brilliant plan of mine' he declares. He drinks a cocktail and explains that they drum up fear in the human world and eliminate the ones they can't turn – that is Julian's part. They will fund their little social networks and turn the guns on a few unlucky mutants – Empath himself can handle that. 'We lure everyone's favorite mutant Ms. Marvel into a public confrontation, wreck Times Square, blur the lines. That's the Cuckoos – you'll have to pick one to go undercover. I suggest Sophie' Empath announces. He decides that in the aftermath, their pawn humans will vote for the ghettos – they can have a little mutant oppression, as a treat, and their diaspora becomes a huddled mass, yearning to breathe free – a new Krakoa, just one revolution from reality. 'And then everyone finds the leadership they've been looking for in us'. Empath throws his cocktail at one of his servants and grins. 'They won't be able to help themselves. I guarantee it'.
(Now)
'And you were down with this plan?' Anole asks, pointing a finger at Sophie after Empath's plot was revealed to the others. 'The Five-in-One voted. It wasn't just my call' Sophie responds. 'And when it was, she made the right choice eventually. So maybe we move forward?' Kamala suggests. Laura scowls as she sniffs Sophie and remarks that the Cuckoo is telling the truth – which means they are already in Empath's little endgame. 'That psycho has the whole city dancing to his beat. What are we supposed to do? Storm his penthouse and prove his pawns right about all these dangerous mutants? On the eve of his big vote?' David asks. Kamala smiles and suggests they play Empath's song better. 'We have 24 hours till the vote? Those jerks are going to be mwahaha—ing and patting themselves on their bad-guy backs. But us? We're gonna organize!'
And indeed, they do. 'We're gonna pull in every human with two brain cells in their head...we're not gonna let the Truthseekers get a monopoly on representing folks born without an X-gene' Kamala exclaims, adding that they are going to get to every ally, no matter how estranged, and let them know exactly what Empath's planning, something her friend Nadia calls “intersectional solidarity”. She adds that they are going to be loud – going to be bold – going to be fearless. 'Empath thinks he's made an argument, but all he's done is make people feel scared and small. But this is NYC... and we're gonna remind him just how big this city really is'.
So, Kamala, Sophie and Anole hand out flyers. Kamala and her friend Nakia Bahadir begin making protest signs, while Kamala's brother, Aamir, looks on. Prodigy continues to paint elaborate artwork on the sides of buldings, while Wolverine meets with her associate Local, and his allies. The protests begin, with Anole walking alongside Caliban and other Morlocks. They begin marching, while, up ahead, a Truthseekers gathering is taking place. One of the Truthseekers stands on a makeshift stage as police officers observe the gathering from nearby. 'To me, my Truthseekers!' the Truthseeker on the stage, carrying a chainsaw, calls out. 'Today, we tell Mayor Cage that enough is enough! Today, we speak with one voice as we tell the world – say it with me – NEW YORK IS FOR HUMANS!'
Others in the crowd join the chant, including Kamala's cousin, Bilal. Her brother is with Bilal, but he doesn't repeat the chant. Suddenly, amongst the signs that read “No more mutants” and other hateful slogans, a voice calls out, 'Oh, shoot. Wow. Really? Then this is gonna be pretty awkward!' It's Sophie, who is speaking through a loudspeaker, as a giant-sized Kamala carries her friend down the street. Anole leads the march, holding up a sign in Krakoan, while Caliban walks on one side of him, and Wolverine on the other. Prodigy is accompanied by his partner, Dante, and Kamala's friend Nakia is behind him. Mammomax can be seen among the group, and Doop flies above them, holding a “heart mutant” sign.
'You've got no place here' one of the Truthseekers shouts as he waves about a sign that reads “Stryker was Right”. 'Mutant rights are human rights!' one of the mutants marching responds. 'That's enough. I need you to stand down' a police officer announces as he approaches Caliban, who replies 'And I believe we must stand up'. Kamala's cousin Bilal sees this and frowns as he remarks to Amir that mutant kind escalates things. 'Their kind always do' he adds. 'But... Bilal...' Amir begins, while Anole suggests to Prodigy that this seems extremely prone to violence. 'Are we sure this was such a good idea?' he asks. 'Change can't happen without critical mass' Prodigy frowns.
Suddenly, 'Found you!' Sophie's sisters, the Stepford Cuckoos, telepathically announce as they project themselves to Sophie's thoughts. 'We just want to talk! We all got into this together – we all said yes together' one of the Cuckoos declares. 'Yeah...well. My position...has evolved' Sophie responds, warning her sisters that she is going “no contact”. Her sisters are at Empath's penthouse, with the maniacal Empath himself. 'We won't let you!' one of the sisters declares, while Empath tells the Cuckoos to keep Sophie busy a bit more, to keep her attention. But at that moment, 'Five-in-One, Four-in-One, Three-in-One – see what they all have in common?' Sophie asks, before she declares 'One!' The Cuckoos look to be in pain as Sophie breaks past their psychic intrusion and projects herself to the Town Hall where city officials are meeting.
'On Resolution 0553, being the relocation of individuals with confirmed X-Gene, we'll now vote. I believe in this matter, we're fairly unanimous...' a woman begins, when suddenly, 'BE FREE!' Sophie exclaims as she breaks the telepathic control that most of the officials seem to be under. The woman who was speaking earlier apologizes and, rubbing her head, remarks that she had a headache for a minute, but now it is gone.
Back at the protest, Kamala rushes over to Sophie and asks her if she is okay, as Sophie falls to the ground. Sophie assures Kamala that she is okay, but that she just burned Empath out of the Council – and now she can't hear her sisters. 'I can't hear anyone!' Sophie realizes, shocked. Anole goes over to Sophie and helps her to stand, as Sophie asks why everything is so quiet. Kamala tells her that she thinks her brain took a real whammy, and assures her that they will work it out. 'You might think you're alone, but not when you've got us, okay' Kamala tells her friend. 'Okay' Sophie responds.
'Go home!' one of the Truthseekers shouts. 'This is home!' a mutant responds. 'Humanity first!' the Truthseeker adds, while Doop waves a fist at him and says something in his native tongue. Kamala looks around, 'Public speaking class...don't fail me now' she remarks, before using the loudspeaker to get everyone's attention. Wolverine turns to Local and tells him that he knows what to do. 'Already done!' Local responds as he hacks into the city's TV network, and projects Kamala onto screens all over the city, including in the town hall, where the city officials begin to pay attention as Kamala declares that she has something to say.
Kamala introduces herself as Ms. Marvel and tells everyone that they may know her from getting her butt whooped on TV, or maybe, hopefully, because she did some good in their life. She confirms that she is also a mutant, but that these things are not connected. 'I choose to be a super hero. To put my life on the line and to do my best to save you. To save anyone. Every day'. Kamala states that just being a mutant, that's beyond her control, beyond any of their control – it is not a choice, it is just who they are. Aamir smiles as he listens to Kamala, who acknowledges that while there are mutants who are dangerous, there are humans who are even worse. 'But if we stand together...if we chose every day to protect each other... then we can be a city for everyone' Kamala suggests.
The mutants and their supporters and the Truthseekers have all fallen silent. Hushed voices can be heard. '...are we really...' one of the Truthseekers whispers. '... are they going to...' a mutant asks. '...maybe we should...' a police officer suggests. '...the city is watching...' one of the city officials notes. Bilal turns to Amir: 'Cousin?' he asks. 'No more, Bilal. No more' Aamir tells him. 'Patently fabulous' Sophie tells Kamala.
Back at the town hall, one of the city officials announces that the votes for Resolution 0553 have been calculated – with 22 yea and 29 nay – meaning the bill does not pass.
A police officer approaches the Truthseekers and informs them that their permit is revoked – and they are hereby ordered to disperse. 'Go home, everyone!' someone shouts. The Truthseekers look unhappy, while the mutants begin celebrating. Suddenly, 'NO! This city will be purified!' one of the Truthseekers shouts as he raises a gun – which Wolverine promptly slices into several pieces with her claws.
Ashes. They are what so much of the mutants' world becomes every few years. Good and bad, plans bit and small. Schools, nations, friendships. When they go up in flames – that's all that is left. And whatever is gone...it is mourned. You think it is gone forever. Meaningless. Forgotten. But that's the thing about ashes. They spread.
The police officers escort the Truthseeker who raised the gun away from the crowd, leading the other anti-mutant protestors to begin to disperse. The mutants and their allies continue to celebrate, and Sophie, Kamala, Anole, David and Laura walk on, while several skyscrapers are now covered in artwork, NYX is scrawled across one of them, along with several large X symbols, and images of both Synch and Prodigy.
Later, Cousin Bilal can be seen holding a large gun while images of Kamala, Sophie and Laura can be seen on screens.
Everett Thomas a.k.a. Synch is seen with a colorful aura around him.
Julian Keller, most recently known as the Krakoan, is in hospital, being watched by an armed guard.
Posters advertising the DAZZLER concert are being displayed around the city.
And a certain blonde woman called Kiden Nixon has appeared.
