X-Factor (5th series) #1

An advert plays, with a gray-haired man standing in front of the United States' flag, he smiles and introduces himself as Rodger Broderick, and states that he is the producer of hit shows like Jail Chef and Marriage Ape. He announces that he has a special message for mutants born here in the United States: 'The mutant nation of Krakoa may be over, but your life is just beginning! They say you can't go home again. We say you never left!' The advert depicts a farmer on some farm equipment ploughing wheat as Rodger tells the mutants listening that no matter where they are or how long they have been away, this is their homeland. The ad cuts to an anti-mutant protest, where humans hold up signs that read “Mutants OUT!” and two humans hold a mutant while another human is about to run at them with a flagpole attached to the U.S. flag. 'The America of today is different than the one you grew up in' Rodger tells the mutants, claiming that in today's America, mutants are accepted and respected. The advert cuts to an image of a mutant with a cloud-like face sitting on a chair on his front lawn, while his human neighbor mows his lawn next door. 'Morning, McCloud!' the human waves over at the mutant. 'And for mutants with the right set of skills, new opportunities await you... in X-Factor!'

'So, whaddya think, General Mills?' Rodger Broderick grins as he motions to the tablet that a woman in a green military uniform looks at. General Mills looks at the tablet and tells Rodger that she supposes they have survived worse recruiting. Rodger follows General Mills down a cold, lifeless corridor within Nevermor military base, which is located at somewhere undisclosed, possibly an island as water can be seen a short distance from the high-security fence that surrounds Nevermor. 'Worse? I've got a dozen mutants just waiting to become soldier-tainment! I'm building you an elite strike force!' Rodger exclaims. General Mills frowns as she turns back to Rodger and tells him that the United States is not at war. 'Yeah, for what – like the last five minutes?' Rodger responds sarcastically, before boasting that he is a visionary, and that war will come. 'And when it does... it will be the first one in history where we control the I.P. rights!'

General Mills carries on down the corridor, several doors line the corridor as Rodger boasts that X-Factor could be as big as Frappuccino. 'I just need support!' he remarks. General Mills stops at one of the doors and looks through the window panel on the door as she tells Rodger that she doesn't think he appreciates how much the public dislikes mutants. 'They like the famous ones' Rodger responds. Inside the room, is McCloud, who lies on a bed reading a weather-related magazine. 'People will come around to mutants. All our focus groups say so. We just gotta show them something they want' Rodger comments. General Mills continues down the corridor, and stops in front of a large set of doors. A sign that reads “Top Secret. Level 4 Security Clearance Only” is printed across the door, as General Mills tells Rodger that people can pretend to be different, they can pretend that they've grown, but who people say they are isn't who they really are. 'It's who they wished they were...if only they weren't so afraid' she scowls.

An image of the advert is displayed, featuring the all-new X-Factor team in spectacular glory...  Angel! Firefist! Feral! Cameo! Xyber! Angel holds a flagpole with the U.S. Flag flowing between his wings as three jetfighter aircraft streak across the sky, red, white and blue jetstream behind them. The blank-faced Cameo stands near Angel, while Firefist smiles as he stands in the middle of the group, wearing his trademark brown trousers over the new blue and gold X-Factor uniform, which resembles classic X-Factor costumes of old. Xyber crouches in front of the group and smiles, while Feral, wearing a blue and gold version of her classic pink outfit, frowns.

Later, photogtaphers, reporters, fans and others gather at a red carpet event, where a young reporter hosting the event announces that joining him here on the Clikbaitz red carpet is X-Factor team leader, Warren Worthington III a.k.a. Angel. 'Whatcha gotta say to your millions of fans out there?' the reporter smiles. Angel waves at the crowd and states that they are all putting their lives on the line out there, and that there is a good chance they could die on these missions. 'Sp please subscribe' he asks. 'And here we have, uh... Rusty Collins' the reporter remarks, quickly checking his cue card. 'Actually, I go by Firefist' Rusty responds. 'So, tell me, Fistfire, is joining X-Factor the end of a lifelong dream or what?' the reporter smiles. 'Actually, I was an original member of X-Factor. So... no' Rusty frowns.

Angel looks over at Rusty being interviewed, and tells Rodger, who stands nearby on the red carpet, that he is starting to think this is a bad idea. 'Well, it's a disaster you own eight percent of... so smile!' Rodger responds, while an exasperated Rusty repeats 'Firefist! Fire-fist!' over and over at the reporter. Angel asks how much of that eight percent is in coffins, to which Rodger assures him he will be fine. 'I need you alive and profitable' Rodger declares. He grins as he puts a hand on Warren's shoulder and tells him that their interests are aligned. The red carpet spectacular continues as the reporter introduces everyone to the team's youngest member, Daniel Choi a.k.a. Xyber. Wearing a matching jacket over his team uniform, Xyber waves at the crowd. 'Who?' a woman asks, confused, before the reporter moves to Feral, calling her a fan-favorite. 'BOOOOOO!' the crowd calls out as Feral a.k.a. Maria Callasantos waves nervously.

'I'm not getting paid by the like, am I?' Angel frowns at Rodger. 'Sorta?' Rodger responds, before the reporter motions to the limo that pulls up at the red carpet. 'Oh, and here's an unexpected treat!' he calls out as the Beast steps out of the limo. The woman who didn't know who Xyber was suddenly becomes hysteric, 'Oh my god! Beast! We love you!' she shrieks, as the reporter continues: '... our resident shape-shifting mutant...Cameo!' the Beast's form fades away, as the blank-faced Cameo waves: 'Hi, friends' he calls out, while the resounding cries of disappointment echo across the gathered crowd. 'This is not going well' Angel remarks to Rodger, while a dejected Cameo hangs his head. 'We did not get the a-list mutants. I freely admit that. But, hey! That's why you're the star' Rodger remarks. 'People love you' he adds, before an egg is thrown at Angel's chest. 'I specifically told them...no fans within egg distance!' Rodger snarls as he gabs Angel and pulls him away from the crowd of mutants wearing yellow t-shirts with an image of a man with a patch over one eye and the name Jovius printed on them.

'TRAITOR!' one of the mutants shouts, while several others look angry. 'Who are they?' Angel asks, to which Rodger informs him that they are called Refusenix, an underground mutant group. Rodger explains that Refusenix hold on to the idea of Krakoa like it was a utopia that everyone has somehow misremembered. 'They think all mutants should boycott human nation-states. As if that's possible' Rodger remarks. He tells Angel that it is utter fantasy, but a fantasy that Refusenix believes. 'So you can see why recruiting has been a problem' he adds. 'That one's got hot dogs!' Angel warns, as one of the members of Refusenix shouts 'Don't fight their wars!' 'Open a food bank, already!' Rodger retorts, before turning to Angel and suggesting they take a team photo and get outta here.

With egg splattered across his chest, Angel frowns as he stands between an unimpressed Feral and an unhappy Rusty. Even Xyber and Cameo can barely smile, as the reporter calls out 'Let's hear it for freedom's newest defenders... X-Factor! Brought to you by ClikClok!' 'Sellouts!' someone shouts as the reporters take several photographs. 'GO BACK TO KRAKOA!' one of the Refusenix shouts at the same time as one of the anti-mutant protestors. 'Next person who boos me goes home in a ca trunk!' Feral warns the crowd, raising her claws, while Rusty remarks that he thinks he would like to go back to being ignored. 'I'm pretty sure they're posting mean things about us on the internet' Xyber tells Rusty, before Rodger instructs everyone to get into the van – and not to worry about social media, as it isn't real life.

Shortly, Rodger Broderick drives a dark van across the Hollywood Hills, and as Angel sits in the front passenger seat, Feral leans forward and tells Rodger 'Those were people in real life!' while Xyber complains that he is 17 years old and already a pariah. 'Sometimes it pays to be a shape-shifter' Cameo responds, to which Rodger tells everyone to just wait until they get a mission or two under their belt, and then people will come around. 'The U.S. Military and its partners at ClikClok still have faith in you...I mean, just look at where we're putting you up!' Rodger announces as secure gates part, and the dark van drives into the compound, where a sprawling house is set among a lush landscape. It is the X-Factor House, headquarters of X-Factor, at an undisclosed location in the Hollywood Hills, or somewhere just as nice.

'Whoa!' Xyber exclaims, wide-eyed as he examines his new home. Rodger tells the team to go ahead and pick out their own rooms, adding that there is a training facility in the basement. 'There better be a wet bar' Feral warns Rodger, while Angel approaches Rodger and tells him that he needs to speak to him. Rodger admits to Angel that they are barrel-scraping, he knows that, but tells Angel not to worry, because if these mutants wash out, he has others ready to go. 'Like who?' Angel asks. 'Like Alex Summers. You know... Havok?' Rodger responds. 'I thought he was a zombie' Angel frowns. 'Well, he's doing much better now' Rodger assures Angel, who doesn't look happy, and asks Rodger who else he has got. 'Frenzy' Rodger responds as he leads Angel past the large swimming pool. 'Are you trying to make me quit?' Angel complains. Feral reclines in a lounger, wearing a skimpy bathing suit and holds a drink in one hand, while Rusty, Xyber and Cameo are all wearing X-Factor branded shorts, and Xyber jumps into the pool.

Rodger leads Angel up a staircase and tells him that people will go nuts the first time he turns into Archangel. 'I can't turn into Archangel anymore. Did you even read my resume?' Angel asks. 'Well, whatever. What I'm saying is that they are your supporting cast. You don't need competition' Rodger tells him. 'No. I need help' Angel complains.

Meanwhile, in Malibu, California, 'You applied for what?' Lorna Dane a.k.a. Polaris gasps. 'X-Factor' Alex Summers a.k.a. Havok responds solemnly as he sits on a large sofa. Alex is wearing blue jeans and a leather jacket, while Polaris wears a green and black dress, similar to one of her recent X-Men costumes. 'X-Factor? You were just dead, Alex' Polaris remarks, before throwing her arms into the air and telling Alex that unless he happens to know another Goblin Queen, this is madness. 'Lorna, I -' Alex begins, to which she tells him that her name is Polaris. Alex wraps his arms around Polaris, who tells him that she is only Polaris now. 'I'm a mutant. And so are you' Polaris frowns. 'I know that' Alex responds, as Polaris looks him in his eyes and touches  his face, asking him how he can work for X-Factor again. 'I don't know if you've noticed... but I may be something of an idiot' Alex responds.

'They're just using you' Polaris declares. 'I know, I know' Alex responds, to which Polaris asks him why he wants to go to X-Factor. Alex explains that the fall of Krakoa has created a feeding frenzy, with nations and paramilitary groups all trying to snap up as many mutants as possible – and whoever wins the mutant arms race will probably determine what kind of world this ends up being for everyone.

(Several months earlier)

'We are called X-Term' announces Laynia Petrovna a.k.a. Darkstar. Sporting a severe short haircut, the usually kindly Russian mutant sits behind a desk and stares intensely ahead. 'Russian paramilitary?' another voice in the room asks. 'Nyet. Not Russian. Mutant. And we will decide the outcome of every armed conflict in the world' Darkstar boasts. 'For a price' she adds as she stands up and looks out of a window. 'So then...you're mercenaries?' Havok asks as he sits at the table. 'Mercenaries. Assassins. Killers without a cause' Darkstar announces, before pointing out that every nation fights for a single cause – itself. 'So why should we not fight for ourselves?' she asks.

The window that Darkstar looks out of is in a large two-story house which is currently attached to a chopper that descends towards the Yardslav nuclea power plant (decommission), on Kunashir Island, formerly part of the Soviet Union. Two nuclear reactors are positioned near a moutain range on the island, while several other buildings can be seen on the flat part of the island. Laynia tells Alex to join her, and that this can his his home. 'Why do you care what happens to their world, anyway?' she asks, frowning, while Alex looks out the window, wide-eyed at what he sees below him.

(Present)

'There's no “their world” and “our world” there's just the world' Alex tells Polaris. 'We gotta live there' he declares. Alex adds that he isn't saying its perfect, and isn't saying he believes in X-Factor, but he knows that he can't sit back and let others decide their fate – so he had to do something. Alex and Polaris hug again, and Alex explains that he figured if he was inside X-Factor then he could save mutant lives, maybe make this country a better place for their kind. 'Havok – you don't change the system from the inside. It changes you' Polaris responds. Alex turns and walks away, frowning, he closes his eyes and replies: 'It's Alex'.

Inside the Factor House, Feral, Xyber and Angel are in the gym, training. Feral walks away from some barbells, while Xyber is working out nearby with very light weights. 'Say what you will about Mr. Broderick. It sure is nice of him to let us stay in this house free of charge' Xyber calls out. 'None of this is free, kid' Angel responds as he bench presses some weights. 'Well, still. I never lived in a house with a pool before' Xyber smiles. Suddenly, red lights glare across the room and an alarm begins to sound. 'What's happening?' Xyber asks, while Feral is in the middle of a heavy set of squats. 'Rents due. Suit up' Angel frowns.

At the Nevermor military base, Rodger Broderick sits on General Mills' desk and announces that he has confirmation from Angel that the team is on the way. General Mills frowns as she begrudgingly admits that the target Rodger selected actually makes military sense. 'How did you come up with it?' she asks. 'Using the ancient arts I learned as a TV producer...I figured that if nobody likes the characters...focus on the plot!' He tells General Mills that if people aren't excited about the team, then to show them something they are excited about!

A jet blasts through a cloud-filled sky, and as it approaches its target, the Yardslav nuclear plant, the jet nears weapons fire which is fired towards the jet from the island. 'Approaching target' someone inside the jet reports. 'You think they got radar?' someone else asks. 'All indications say yes' someone else responds as the jet is struck several times. 'Prepare to jump!' someone else calls out. Angel and Xyber stand at an open panel on the het, and Angel tells Xyber to jump. 'What's the holdup?' he asks. 'I don't want to die!' Xyber responds. 'No one's gonna die!' Angel responds as he pushes Xhyber from the jet. 'Please, god, NOOOOOOOOO!' Xyber screams as he plummets to the island below. While Rusty and Feral man the controls, Angel swoops down from the jet and catches Xyber mid-air. 'Rookies' he frowns, while Xyber continues to scream.

The jet lands and Rusty tells the others to get out, while he will protect the jet from hostiles. 'Showtime at the Apollo' Cameo declares as he switches his form to that of a soldier wearing an X-Term armor. He leaves the jet and tells Rusty not to incinerate him. 'I'll be the one with the red beard' Cameo adds. 'What if there's another guard with a red beard?' Rusty asks as flames form around his fists. 'Just take a day off from guys with red beards, okay?' Cameo suggests. 'Don't be late! I can't hold them off forever!' Rusty responds as he fires a surge of energy towards three members of X-Term who move towards him. One appears to be a vampire, another is some sort of robot, and the third is a larger man with enormous hammers for hands.

Nearby, Angel asks Xyber 'How does this work?' to which Xyber explains that he gives off a strong electromagnetic pulse, which will fly their electronics. 'You might want to stand behind something though. It's like getting a million x-rays' Xyber adds. At that moment, Rusty dodges the two large hammers as they are brought down towards him, while he engulfs the vampire in flame. Nearby, Angel is standing behind a wall as Xyber unleashes his strong electromagnetic pulse. Oh geez. My tooth fillings are starting to ache!' Angel utters, while the robot grabs Rusty by the neck and holds him up in the air. 'Great. I get the one guy who's covered in flame-retardant!' Rusty complains as he blasts the robot at close range. 'You are tickling my circuits' the robot states.

Xyber glows, revealing his skeleton as the electromagnetic pulse radiates ourwards and washes over Rusty and the robot. 'Robotony likes necks that are soft and crushable and -' the robot begins, before it appears to switch off once the electromagnetic pulse. ' Uh...a little help?' Rusty calls out as he looks around while still stuck in the robot's grasp. Angel looks around the corner and tells Xyber that he did good. 'You okay?' he asks. 'No' Xyber responds as he collapses to his knees. Angel carries on, flying between two buildings, he dodges weapons fire and asks Rusty to report. 'Firefist!' Rusty's voice can be heard over the comm-link. 'Whatever. Come get the kid' Angel responds, before instructing Feral to meet him at the primary target. 'I'm already there' Feral's voice can be heard, while Angel punches one of the X-Term soldiers.

Angel enters the compound as Feral exclaims 'You're late!' Feral exclaims as she leaps at one of the X-Term soldiers. Feral places some explosives against a wall and looks at Angel as she tells him that this is the first time she has ever detonated plastic explosives. 'Just don't forget the timer' Angel points at Feral, before stating that he will see how Cameo is doing with the secondary target. Suddenly, 'Angel. I should have known you'd go crawling back to X-Factor' Darkstar calls out as she enters the chamber, followed by several X-Term soldiers. Angel scowls at his longtime associate and former Champions teammate. 'Still killing for money, I see' he adds. 'That makes two of us, no?' Darkstar replies. 'I'm not here to kill mutants' Angel replies, before instructing Darkstar to evacuate the base. 'And I am to believe you'd just let us all walk out of here?' Darkstar smiles, touching Angel's face. 'No. Not all of you' Angel responds, before glancing past Darkstar, he acknowledges an X-Term soldier with a red beard.

'You're coming back with me!' the soldier announces, raising the weapon to Darkstar's back and tells her that she is under arrest. 'Shape-shifter!' one of the soldiers exclaims. 'No one takes the boss!' another declares as two of the soldiers grab the disguised Cameo, but in the process cause him to raise his gun upwards, and he starts firing randomly around the chamber. 'Idiots! This toom is wired with -' Darkstar begins, as one stray bullet strikes one of the explosives. Inside one of the nuclear reactors, the explosion ripples up the side of the structure. 'What's that noise?' Xyber asks as Rusty carries him over his shoulders, while the reactor begins to topple towards them. 'RUN!' Xyber screams as he leaps away from Rusty and flees away from the massive structure as it drops downv on Rusty. 'Firefist?' Xyber calls back when the smoke from clears.

Later, a newsreader reports that last night, X-Factor raided the headquarters of a mutant mercenary group known as X-Term, which left several members of the X-Factor team dead or cliniging to life. The newsreader states that the raid also caused extensive destruction to the base, including dozens of dead mutant targets, but that the base itself, along with X-Term, remains undestroyed. Footage shows a lifeless Feral with several steel beams skewered through her body, covered in blood. 'Please, of no! Please!' a horrorfied Xyber can be seen saying as he discovers Rusty's blood-covered body among the rubble, while Cameo lies facedown amongst more rubble. Underneath the rubble where Cameo lies, Darkstar emerges, seemingly unscathed. The powerful mutant looks to the sky as X-Factor's jet departs the island under the glow of the moon.

'Hey, buddy!' Rodger Broderick calls out as he enters a hospital room where Warren Worthington III lies in a bed, bandages around his face and arms. 'How we doing?' Rodger asks, sheepishly, while holding up a stuffed bear. 'I...I failed' Warren utters. 'Failed? You didn't fail. X-Factor's a hit!' Rodger exclaims as he holds up his tablet which shows some analytics of X-Factor's popularity. 'The mission was a complete success' Rodger announces, while claiming that he has figured it out – the the trick to getting America to love X-Factor. 'You see...people hate mutants. But there's nothing they love more than mutants who also hate other mutants! So I just had to make sure we sent you on the right mission. The thing you gotta understand about people, especially people drive by hate and fear...is that they only care about the story. Their narrative. To them, the characters of the story don't matter. To them, the characters, much like themselves... are completely interchangeable' Rodger declares.

Later, another red carpet event. 'YAAAY! X-FACTOR! WE LOVE YOU!' the crowd shouts as another group of mutants walk the red carpet. The same reporter is on the carpet and announces that joining him here on the Clickbaitz red carpet is the new X-Factor team, led by their new team leader – Havok. 'Hell yeah!' Pyro calls out as he aims two surges of fire upwards into the sky. 'Hm. Up two and a half points...' Rodger remarks as he walks down the runway, looking at his device. 'I can't believe I'm still alive' Xyber utters as he looks around nervously. 'That's nice, dear' an elderly woman walking beside him responds. Also on the red carpet are Joanna Cargill a.k.a. Frenzy and Dr. Cecilia Reyes.

Within the crowd of X-Factor fans and anti-mutant protestors, Polaris can be seen. She wears the t-shirt that members of the Refusenix were wearing, with dark shades over her eyes. She sees Havok and makes her way out of the crowd. Havok looks around nervously, as Rodger tells him 'They love you, champ!' The group poses for a photograph, with Havok folding his arms, Frenzy standing proud with hands on hips, Cecilia looking bemused, as Pyro points a finger in the air and pokes his tongue out. The elderly woman waves at the crowd while a scared Xyber crouches down and gives a peace-sign with his fingers.

Say hello to the all-new X-FACTOR team! Havok! Frenzy! Cecilia Reyes! Pyro! Granny Smite! Xyber! What will their next mission be? Who will fall in love? Who will get killed? Subscribe now on ClikClok and find out!