1st Story:
In St. Ann’s church located in the Bronx, Kurt Wagner, Nightcrawler, is in prayer when a voice from behind him says ‘bless me father for I have sinned.’ Without turning around, Kurt tells them that he afraid they’ve come to the wrong man. His days as a man of the cloth are behind him. But perhaps Father Hidalgo can be of some…
Just then, a metal coil wraps around his neck and proceeds to toss him through a nearby window. Looking up, Kurt sees Omega Red and Lady Deathstrike, wearing a mask covering her mouth, standing before him. He asks them what he owes this displeasure to. Leaping at him, Deathstrike tells him the only things he owes is his death rattle.
Teleporting out of harm’s way, Kurt states that he fears he will have to take a raincheck on that or has she forgotten about his ability to teleport away from danger. Blocking his way, Omega Red tells him that they are well aware of his little parlor trick, it just won’t do him any good. With that, Omega Red extends his coils in the direction of Kurt’s. Dodging them, Kurt heads through the hole in the wall they created and says to Red that he may be right which is why he’s all too willing to take the convenient opening he’s so nicely provided.
Giving chase, Deathstrike informs Red to stop their prey before he reaches the water. Red says to her fear not, for he assures her that Comrade Wagner isn’t going anywhere. Just then, Omega Red wraps his coils around Kurt’s waist, giving Deathstrike a chance to strike. Teleporting again out of harm’s way and again, knocking Deathstrike down in the process, Kurt asks what that was about his teleporting not doing him any good. Before long, Kurt begins to feel woozy and falls to the ground. As he does, Omega Red tells him that he’s not in the habit of repeating himself. Not when he can let his death spores do the talking for him. He then asks Deathstrike if she would like to do the honors. As she knocks Kurt into the water, they remark that one, Wolverine’s best friend, is down. With this, they begin to laugh.
At Alpha Flight headquarters, Michael Twoyoungmen uses his magic to conjure up a flame to reveal many of Logan’s enemies. He then tells Logan that he’s sorry. While his conjurings in the flame do reveal many who wish to do him harm, who or what in particular this newest threat may be eludes him. Logan thanks him and says that he knows prophecies ain’t really his strong point but he has to admit he was hopin’ he’d come up with somethin’. Mauvais premonition a’ “doom” has been weighin’ heavily on his mind. Leaving the room, Mike tells him understandably so. That, coupled with Aurora’s mental relapse and certainly their victory over Mauvais proved to be a costly one. Logan replies yeah, just another day in the life of Alpha Flight and Wolverine.
Just then, Logan points out to Mike that a transmission is coming in. Looking at the monitor, Logan recognizes it as Mac and says to him not to tell him that he’s on his way, ain’t he seen enough a his mug these last few days? James laughs and tells Logan that he loves him too. He then adds that he may change his tune when he takes a gander at who he brought with him. Seeing Heather on the screen, Logan states that he was hopin’ she’d show before he left. In fact, he was wonderin’ whey she wasn’t there the other day dukin’ it out as Vindicator alongside the rest o’ Alpha. Heather replies that she would’ve liked nothing better but she can’t very well spend her days going toe-to-toe with ancient French sorcerers anymore, not when she’s eating for two. Logan asks that she’s pregnant? That’s about the best news he…
Before he can finish his thought, Heather and Mac’s plane lose the use of engine three and shortly after engine four. Unbeknownst to them, the culprits are Lady Deathstrike and Omega Red, perched underneath their plane. Heather then tells Logan that she hates to cut the conversation short but it looks like it’s time for an emergency crash landing and a whole lot of praying. As they crash, Wolverine’s surrogate parents have been taken out by the duo of Deathstrike and Omega Red have been taken out. When the monitor goes fuzzy, Logan calls out Heather’s and Mac’s name. Mike tells him that Sasquatch is near that area, he will contact him and tell him to…
Mike stops mid-sentence and says to Logan that, what if this prediction Mauvais made, the impending danger he’s about to face – what if it doesn’t directly involve him at all. What if it’s his loved ones who are at risk instead?
In Japan, Yukio is steamed. Walking down the streets with a purpose, she says that she’s going to get it now. Reaching an establishment, Yukio finds who she’s looking for. After tossing two men out the window, she grabs Amiko by the collar and drags her down the street. As she does, she tells her that if she’s told her once she’s told her a thousand times, she does not want her associating with those hooligans. Amiko defiantly tells her that she’s one to talk. She doesn’t exactly hang out with choir boys herself. Yukio replies that is no concern of hers. She is responsible for her safety, not the other way around. If she ever mentioned this to Logan…
Amiko angrily says again with what Logan wants. Why should he even care? It’s not like he’s ever around anyway. Yukio proceeds to tell her that Logan loves her very much but his life is… complicated. If he…
Before she can finish her thought, Lady Deathstrike remarks what a touching family moment and asks Omega Red what he thinks. Red agrees and says that it’s a shame they must disrupt it. Deathstrike then tells Yukio to not resist and she promises this will be easier on both of them. Yukio asks easier and laughs. If they really knew anything about her, they’d already know she never much went in for “easier.” Pulling out a blade from her wrist, Yukio slashes Deathstrike across the face. As she does, Deathstrike tells her on the contrary. She knows full well about the many stories they tell of the “wild one.” She, for one, wouldn’t mind personally disproving them.
Wrapping his coil around Amiko’s neck and knocking Yukio against the wall, Red tells Deathstrike maybe some other time. They should both finish her off and be done with this. As it is, he already has what he came for. Seeing Red’s coil around Amiko’s neck, Yukio rushes to her aid. Before she can get there, Deathstrike grabs her face and proceeds to jam her claws into Yukio’s back. With that, Wolverine’s foster daughter and friend and sometime lover has been taken out.
At the X-Mansion, Scott Summers, talks to Wolverine via a monitor and tells him that they’ve been looking all over for him. Where in God’s name is he? Logan informs him that he’s with Alpha Flight but he ain’t got time t’ explain. Somethin’ just happened t’ the Hudsons an’ he’s dreadin’ it’s just the tip a’ the iceberg. Scott tells him that he’s got that right, they’re on high alert at the mansion. Nightcrawler was just fished out of the East River. He’s alive but just barely – Hank’s got him on life support. Logan remarks then it’s just as he feared. Somebody, an’ he don’t know who yet, is targetin’ those closest t’ him. He then tells Scott that he’s gotta send people t’ check on Kitty, Jubilee, Carol Danvers, anyone else he can think of. Scott replies ‘will do.’ Logan then tells him that he’s gonna take one a’ Alpha’s jets an’ head t’ Japan t’ check on Yukio an’ Amiko. He just hopes he ain’t already too late.
At the secret location of the Weapon X compound somewhere in the mountains, Dr. Windsor tells the Director that he must say, his facility there is quite remarkable. The Director replies so it is and that, if he’ll just accompany him to the next room, he’ll see something even more so. Entering the next room, the Director finds Brent Jackson and says to him that he was just giving the newest member of their team the grand tour. The Director then shows Windsor Weapon X’s latest advancement in the war on mutants. The M.P.C., or mutant power cannon, if you will.
Windsor states that it is an impressive piece of equipment but he’d be remiss if he didn’t ask. What does it do? The Director says simply put, it enables them to amplify a mutant’s power and direct it at anyone they see fit on the entire planet. In other words, the powers and abilities of mutantkind will now be at their disposal, whether they want it or not. The mutant inside the machine right now, Leech, has the ability to…
Just then, the cannon is activated and fires. The Director asks Jackson where it has been directed. Jackson tells him that it looks like Canada. In Canada, Logan feels something hit him. Grabbing hold of Jackson’s collar, the Director asks who the bloody hell fired the cannon. Jackson tells him to hold his horses, he’ll find out in a sec. Peering at the control panel, a shocked Jackson informs the Director that the codes that activated the cannon were his.
At Alpha Flight’s headquarters, Shaman tells Logan that he’s on his way to the crash site and… He then sees Logan’s condition and asks him if there is something wrong. Logan tells him that he doesn’t know. All of a sudden, he’s feelin’ woozy an’ kind of weak. With that, Logan begins to fall to the ground but is caught by Shaman. Placing him up against the wall, Shaman tells Logan to rest a moment. The stress of these events must have…
Cutting him off, Logan punches the nearby wall and yells that he knows what stress feels like and this ain’t it. Putting his head in his hand, Logan tells Shaman that he’s sorry. Maybe he’s right, not knowin’ who it is or who they’re gonna target next. At that moment, Shaman points out to Logan that he’s bleeding. Looking down at his hand, Logan says so his is, but there ain’t no reason t’ get his panties in a bunch over it. He should know by now it only takes a few seconds fer him to… He then wonders what gives. His healin’ factor shoulda taken care a’ this already but it’s actually gettin’ worse. He doesn’t know how, but his healin’ factor, an’ now he’s just realizin’, his enhanced senses as well – his mutant powers are gone!
In the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas Nevada, Victor Creed, Sabretooth, taps a disk on the desk amongst photographs of Amiko, Yukio, Nightcrawler, and James MacDonald and Heather Hudson. Laughing, he says that he almost feels sorry for his ol’ pal Logan ‘cause they’re just getting warmed up.
2nd Story:
At an Alberta medical clinic in Canada, Walter Langkowski, Eugene Judd and Narya – better known to the world as Sasquatch, Puck & Snowbird – stand outside next to an ambulance while it snows outside. Eugene tells his fellow Alphans that he doesn’t like the situation. Aurora’s one of their own, one of Alpha Flight. Lettin’ someone else take care a’ her just seems a little cold. Narya agrees – why send her away? Walter replies that this isn’t going to be easy for anyone. Besides, as much as he hates to admit it none of them are in a position to deal with Jeanne-Marie effectively right now. Mauvais did a bad number on her already fragile psyche.
Narya agrees and points out that Michael did say that the facility they’re transporting her to is excellent. Eugene states that he don’t know, he’s tellin’ them both right now, he has a real bad feelin’ about this. Entering the back of the ambulance, Walter tells him that he doesn’t think they could feel any other way about this. He’ll call them once he gets her settled in though. Eugene apologizes but he says she belongs with her family right now, Alpha Flight, not in some institution. Walter says that he wishes it was that simple. Before the ambulance takes off, Eugene warns the ambulance driver to keep it on the road or they’ll go round fer round.
After the ambulance has driven for a while, Walter receives a call and is informed by Shaman that the Hudson’s plane has gone down. He then informs the driver to pull over; he has something to deal with. Transforming into Sasquatch, Walter heads off into the mountains. As the ambulance driver continues down the road, he is ambushed by Weapon X agents, who proceed to kill him and take over the ambulance.
Elsewhere, Brent Jackson informs the Director that they’ve secured the target. Aurora’s en route to the designated facility as they speak. He then mentions that he’s still not clear why they can’t just bring her there directly. Sarcastically, the Director asks why doesn’t it surprise him that he doesn’t get it. In layman’s terms, Aurora is a hot potato. She’ll need time to cool off in a place not directly linked to Weapon X should she be discovered. Jackson replies that he sees. That’s when they send Wild Child in to retrieve her? The Director tells him precisely, it’s all about the game.
