Just hours ago, a group of beings called the Neo attacked the Parliament building downtown in an attempt to destabilize the central government of the United Kingdom. However, they did not do their research. Very few Parliament members were in the building. Though it was destroyed, casualties were few.

Following the assault, they retreated to the place that had become their central base in London.

"This was a waste of our talent!" one Neo, a Shockwave Rider, yelled. "We could have been used for a much larger scale attack!"

"You do as I say," a female Neo replied. "I am Domina. I am all."

"Want me to put him in his place?" another asked.

"No, Salvo," a male Neo replied, stepping beside Domina. "We value the Riders support in this endeavor. This one was just foolish enough to complain. He should be thanking Domina that she spared his life after he failed to kill the three spikes he was ordered to kill."

" . . . Yes, Jaeger," the Rider replied through gritted teeth. He turned his hand into a fist and tapped it over his heart twice. He then lifted his arm into the air, maintaining the fist.

Domina replied as was custom. She spread her palms and put her left palm atop her right, her hands directly in front of her chest. She nodded her head slightly then pulled her hands apart. With that, the Rider was dismissed.

"Barbican has the place sealed, as per your order," another said.

Domina nodded. "You may go, Rax."

He nodded back slowly, then walked away, leaving Domina and Jaeger alone.

"He is young," Jaeger frowned, speaking of Rax. "He seeks power . . . leadership. He will not rest until he is Jaeger. Or until I put him down."

"You will put him down eventually," Domina said. "But not until he has outlived his purpose. Our crusade will be a costly one. Fighting between the Neo clans must stop. It is the spikes and the humans that are our enemies."

"Yes, Domina," he nodded. "Are you worried over retaliation?"

"No. Should anyone track us to this location, we shall kill them with ease."

Pete Wisdom and Tinya Wazzo stood side-by-side, looking on.

"We're too late," Tinya frowned.

"Great eye you've got," Wisdom replied.

"Is there any way you can track 'em?" Tinya asked.

"I'm not a bleedin' telepath," Wisdom frowned. "What about that Cerebro thing you've got on the island? Would that help?"

"These Neo, according to you, aren't mutants. Cerebro's designed for locating mutants."

Pete nodded, pulling out a cigarette. He put it between his lips and lit it carefully. He took a drag, then exhaled.

"God forbid you get some fresh air in your lungs."

"I like me poison," he frowned. "We're all gonna die sometime . . . "

"Mister Wisdom . . . ?"

"Eh?" Pete turned around, his fingertips instantly glowing with his hotknives ready to lunge forward. "Jardine?"

An older, bald man with small glasses stood in the shadow of a building. "Hush, pup. The walls have ears."

"So I've heard," Wisdom replied.

"She is . . . ?" Jardine asked.

"Trustworthy," Pete replied.

"It's not safe for you in London. Air'll kill you."

"Fresh air, he seems to think," Tinya commented.

"Shut it," Pete said to her. "This is business."

"You want the Neo, right?" he asked.

Pete nodded.

"Sources tell me they're in a church of all places," Jardine continued. "Somewhere in London."

"A church in London," Wisdom frowned. "That bleedin' narrows it down, huh?"

"It's all I can do," Jardine frowned. "I wish I could do more. You know that."

"I know."

"But that's all I've got. Stay in touch, pup. Keep your head down, don't get killed."

Wisdom nodded. Jardine turned and walked away. Wisdom led Tinya in the opposite direction.

"Who was that?" she asked.

"A friend."

"You have friends?"

"Hardy-har," Wisdom frowned, taking another drag. "A few years back his daughter got messed up in something over in China. I helped her out."

"He asked you a favor and now you're buddies?"

"No. I got shot three times. She was a total stranger. I saved her life because she needed someone to."

"You threw yourself in the line of fire?"

"Not exactly. I didn't jump in front of her or anything. I just happened to get shot while saving her."

"I didn't know you had it in you . . . to help people like that."

"That's a compliment if I've ever heard one."

"I didn't mean it like that," Tinya said quietly. "I'm just . . . surprised, that's all. It's nice to know that there is a decent guy down inside you somewhere."

"Well, whatever," he sighed. "Come on . . . Kurt an' the others should be coming soon. Nothing more we can do here."

Brian Braddock sat in his room in the Hellfire Club mansion, watching the news.

Neo, is it? Seems they've struck again. I wonder if Excalibur's reacting to it. They should. Wisdom risked all our necks to get info on them from Black Air. They'd better find a way to deal with them. I wish I could help, but now that I'm in the thick of things here, I may not be able to get away from some time.

There came a knocking at Brian's door. He got up slowly and opened it.

No one.

He looked both ways, seeing no sign of anyone in the hallway. He looked down and noticed a brown paper envelope on the floor. He looked both ways again, then bent over and picked it up. The outside was blank. He checked once more, then closed and locked his door. He sat down on his bed and opened the envelope.

Inside was a packet of information labeled 'Classified by the government of Genosha.' He curiously looked to the first page and saw schematics for mutant locating devices.

Similar to cerebro . . . yet almost completely different.

He flipped on in the packet, looking through. It detailed the negating collars warn by Genosha mutates. It then showed the schematics of a type of bullet that was specifically designed to target and kill mutants. It was immune to mutant's powers. It couldn't be deflected by telekinesis, deflected by bio-force fields, or melted by fire projectiles.

Incredible! The Genoshans have developed the ultimate mutant-killing weapon. Far more deadly than a sentinel . . .

He looked through more.

Wait a minute . . . it says here the original design was conceived in England? By Black Air, no less! The initial designs, however, weren't made by anyone involved in Black Air, but an organization called WHO, Weird Happenings Organization. And . . . the name attached . . . the scientist whose schematics the bullets were derived from . . . Sir . . . Sir James Braddock, Sr.? My . . . my father?

The Midnight Runner took off in a blaze of motion, heading for London and the Parliament building. Nightcrawler, Colossus and Meggan were onboard, the last three members of Excalibur.

"Any word from Tinya or Pete yet?" Kurt asked as he piloted.

"Nyet," Piotr replied. "Not since the Runner arrived."

"I hope they're okay," Meggan said.

"I am sure they'll be fine," Colossus replied with a smile.

"I'm not," Kurt frowned. "We've still got very little experience fighting as a team. We're too unorganized. We need more practice."

"We have all been working hard," Piotr said. "Our practice will pay off soon."

"Not if those two decide to just leap into the fray without us," Kurt frowned again. "I don't want to think about them getting killed."

"They'll be fine," Colossus said again. "We will stop these Neo."

"I hope so . . . "

Moira MacTaggert and Rory Campbell sat, watching the news.

"By the time they get there, those Neo'll be gone," Rory frowned.

"Perhaps it's better that way," Moira said. "I dinnae want them gettin' killed."

"You sound like Kurt," Rory sighed. "They've got to risk their lives if they're going to help anyone. And we've got to stop worrying about them like sick little mothers."

"Aye," Moira nodded. "I know. It's just that the team just formed . . . they're so young . . . "

"Oh, stop. The young ones, Doug and Rahne, aren't on the team. The people on the team are consenting adults. They know the risk and have accepted it. We've just got to support them and hope for the best."

" . . . "

" . . . "

" . . . Speaking of hoping for the best," Moira started, "what about your patients?"

"Rogue's good. She'll be ready for release soon. I've already sent the papers in so that she can be cleared. I'm hoping if we have her stay here, the court's'll be fine with her early release."

"And Copycat?"

"Vanessa's a different story altogether. I can't get through to her. She's been so many different people in her life that she can't tell who she really is. Neither can I . . . there's too many other personas to sort through. I'm not equipped to deal with a multiple personality disorder like this. I'll probably be sendin' her away soon."

Moira nodded. "Ye've done all ye could."

"I know. I'm just glad I was able to get through to Rogue."

"Did you hear the good news?" Doug Ramsey asked Rogue.

"'Bout mah release?" Rogue asked.

"Yeah!"

"'S'bit early for anything definite," Rogue frowned. "The courts still have t'agree."

"But I'm sure they will, in no time," Doug grinned. "I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," Rogue grinned, shyly.

"But anyways, I better go," Doug said. "Moira doesn't like me or Rahne coming into the brig, even if it's empty. I'll . . . talk to you later?"

"Okay," Rogue nodded.

Doug turned and left. As he did, Copycat's stare followed him. That one was plotting something . . . something wicked.