X-Men (7th series) #6

The Factory:
Quentin Quire and Idie Okonkwo look down on a group of anti-mutant protesters that have gathered outside the Factory. What is he going to do to them? Idie demands. A listless Quentin sighs, what is the point? He reminds her they are going to be late to McCoy’s lecture and heads inside. She knows how Beast gets when he thinks nobody listens to him. When he is in a sulk, Quentin actually prefers psycho-villain Beast!

Idie looks down and notices a single woman with her young daughter. She notices the girl is looking at her and clandestinely makes the hand symbol of the Midnight Bark.

All the current denizens of the Factory have gathered, as Beast summarizes that, so far, they have encountered adult onset mutants on three occasions. Mr. Liu and Ms. Starkey have been good enough to join them here at the Factory and provide blood and tissue samples. They also have a… sample collected on Santo Marco by Magik. He refers to the arm that Magik brought. Illyana promises that the next sample she collects is going to be a head. Subtext, Juggernaut chuckles.

Beast points out they now know there is no mutant contagion. Instead, someone has developed a process to artificially encourage X-gene activation in adult Homo sapiens, causing the change to Homo sapiens superior. Someone, his ass! Quentin rudely interrupts. It’s Casandra Nova! The thoughtform that barfed in his brain said as much!

Kwannon points out this is disturbing. She was there when they stranded Cssandra Nova two billion years in the past.

What about Nova’s colleagues? Magneto inquires. She is not working alone, is she? Cyclops replies that, according to Quentin and Kwannon’s psychic exploration, she is part of a group called 3K. What they are is currently unknown.

Xorn muses what to call these new mutants: Homo sapiens superior nova? A furious Magneto shouts that they call them mutants! He spells out he makes no distinction between mutants born and mutants made. And neither will the X-Men! He pointedly welcomes Ben and Jennifer as brother and sister, and tells them they will know them by whatever names they choose for themselves.

They thank him and both of them figure they currently have nowhere else to go. Cyclops agrees with Magneto. He suggests that Ben stay until he understands more about his powers and Hank can help Jennifer understand the demands of her new physiology. There is a place in the Factory for both of them, however long they want.

Magik wonders why those two got thrown back into the world, when the Santo Marco six were teleported away. Beast admits he doesn’t know. Both Ben and Jennifer were abducted, but both activated after their processing. While the Santo Marco six all activated at once, indicating a possible partnership between 3K and Fourth School. He suggests that the six may be in 3K’s custody. He guesses that Cassadra Nova and her colleagues might be refining the process. Whether they thought of Ben and Jennifer as failures to be discarded or subjects to be monitored, he cannot tell. Can’t he do science about it? Ilyana pouts. He is the Beast – C’mon!

Hank stiffly reminds her that the Beast who was at the cutting edge of technology is dead. He is trying to catch up, but he is missing the many years of research and self-improvement his other self enjoyed.

Illyana gets up when she receives a message on her phone and repeats, she wants the Santo Marco Six. She wasn’t kidding about that head. She halfheartedly welcomes the newcomers and leaves.

Cyclops suggests a break and asks Glob if there is anything for lunch. The enthusiastic reply is there is quiche. Quentin remarks disgusted, remember when Glob was a budding mutant terrorist? And now… quiche? Glob Herman suggests Quentin needn’t have any, and Quentin quickly changes his mind. Is he saying quiche has no place in the revolution? Glob accuses Quentin who is suddenly on the defensive.

Temper hurries after Illyana, who warns her that she is not interested in quiche. Of course not, Idie smirks slyly, not when she has a new chess move. Illyana is surprised and asks what Idie wants. Idie brings her up to speed.

Illyana begins accessing files and explains, once the protestors showed up, Cyclops had Psylocke immediately find out everything about them. They identify the girl as Piper Cobb, daughter of Rose Ellen Cobb, single mother. Illyana tells Idie that this is her show. What does she want to do? Idie suggests they get the girl. Illyana can teleport her. Aside from not liking being thought of as a bus, has Idie considered how likely this is to be a trap? Skeptically, Idie suggests that those clowns can’t overpower them. Not that kind of trap, Magik explains. The kind of trap where it looks like mutant creeps are coming to abduct a minor. Then their cold war with ONE turns into a hot one, where every government agency with a gun to spare is looking to get their Waco on. And the X-Men would deserve it for being so stupid.

Idie admits Illyana is a lot smarter than she lets on. Illyana shushes her. If word gets out, they’d make her take on more responsibilities. Now as she is merely a beautiful, charming bus, the decision is Idie’s. Do they go or forget about this?

At the Cobb home, Piper wolfs down her dinner. Her mom wonders if she is coming down with something and laments taht, with the way bugs sweep through school, it is a miracle they haven’t all come down with the mutant contagion yet! While Rose Ellen cleans up, she asks if Piper has asked her friends to come with them to the protest. Hesitating, Piper claims she will ask again.

In the meantime, Magik demands a secret of Idie, to be able to cast her spell. Idie admits she had a crush on Scott, when she was younger.

Rose Ellen complains about Cyclops admitting on TV that there was a mutant contagion, then tells Piper to ask if she needs help with her homework.

Disgusting, Illyana comments on Idie’s revelation. It’s perfect. She uses Idie’s secret to cast her spell and Rose Ellen suddenly falls asleep.

That was weird, Piper mutters.

Suddenly, the two young women stand in her living room and Illyana grins: no, it was Magik. Idie introduces them and tells Piper they saw her signal.

The Factory:
Kwannon and Cyclops are sparring. Magneto watches from a balcony. Beast joins him and remarks that it is not exactly the Danger Room. Magneto agrees though he cannot understand why they were all so attached to that thing. Stockholm Syndrome, Beast supposes. They were all frightened of that thing at first. As they were of him.

Magneto considers this. And now? he asks. Now he is only afraid of one thing, Beast admits. Putting his hand on Hank’s shoulder, Magneto assures him, he won’t turn into the other Beast. Neither he nor Cyclops will allow it.

Hank expresses his frustration at being so behind scientifically. He has to catch up with years of learning! Magneto asks if he thinks this artificial X-gene activation business could be used for their purpose. Beast admits that he doesn’t yet have that grasp of genetics. He is beating himself up trying to cure Max, cure them all, if need be! Looking away, Magneto admits that he is also frustrated. He is used to being so much more!

Beast adds that he has been going through their files looking for mutants with the power to manipulate others’ powers. Apparently, Magneto has history with one Fabian Cortez? Oh God! Magneto groans. He’d rather stay in the chair!

In the Cobb home, Piper screams, asking what did they do to her mom? Just a little sleep spell, Magik shrugs. The girl cowers, clearly afraid. Idie tries to calm her and explains what she thinks is going on. She figures that Piper may be a mutant and wanted them to know because she doesn’t know what to do about it, and her mother wouldn’t understand. Piper agrees. Almost. Then she defends her mother. She isn’t a bad person, but those Truthseeker videos she is watching and the mutant plague… Idie hugs her and assures her it is not her fault.

Magik reminds them that they are on a timeline and asks what Piper meant by “almost.” Piper admits she doesn’t just think she is a mutant. She is one and almost got the whole town killed!

The Factory kitchen:
Jennifer brings the dishes and Glob and Scott are doing the dishes. Glob asks if they can get a dishwasher. Scott jokes that they have one and his name is Quentin Quire. Glob is unconvinced. Jennifer almost drops the plates and Beast helps her, telling her to call him Henry.

Glob asks Jennifer what her mutant name is going to be. It’s tough to find a cool one. He should know, deadpans Illyana, who appears with Idie and Piper. Scott asks what is going on and is stressed about them bringing a minor here. The girl reveals that she was the one who caused the Iron Night. The wild Sentinel was after her.