It's an old city, and a proud one at that. Some say it's a gloomy place: All winter long, the skies can be grey . . . All summer long, the nights can be foggy. Others say it's a beautiful place: Rich traditions and architecture stand after so many years. But one thing about London, and the United Kingdom in general, is that religion has always played a major part in its daily existence. Hundreds of churches could be found in London itself.

And it's in one such church on the lower south side of London that our story begins. The members of Excalibur (Kurt Wagner - Nightcrawler, teleporter; Piotr Rasputin - Colossus, organic steel body; Meggan, elemental control; Pete Wisdom, hot knife hands; Tinya Wazzo - Apparition, intangibility) learned that this specific church was the base camp of a group of super powered terrorists called the Neo. They decided that it was time to make a stand . . .

A flash of light, the sound of imploding air and the stench of brimstone accompanied the arrival of team-leader Nightcrawler. His ability to teleport got him through the 'living stone' barrier created around the skin of the church. He was a man of faith, and to see a church so defiled was disgusting to him, an outright insult. He would stand for it no less than he would for the Neo's attack on the Parliament, or on his own person.

He ducked low into a shadow, quickly becoming one with darkness. In his young life, he had had plenty of time to develop and explore his powers. He knew that, besides his agility and teleporting, all he needed was darkness to become virtually invisible.

"I'm in," he spoke. To anyone else, he would be inaudible. However, as a precaution, he had the team put micro-transceivers inside their mouths on their cheeks, allowing them to speak into earpieces by using the faintest whisper. He looked both ways carefully, his eyes seeing clearly in the darkness. "There appears to be no one in the immediate vicinity . . . I'm scanning for a body count . . . I'm reading at least eleven . . . but I can't be certain."

"Suggestions?" the voice of Colossus came back into his ear piece.

"Yes," he said. "You and Meggan are incredibly strong . . . Tinya will get you two and Wisdom inside the front door. Tinya will keep Wisdom alive while you and Meggan do as much damage as possible, draw their attention. I'm going to swing around the back, outflank them if needed . . . if not, I'll do some exploring, try and find their purpose here."

"Perhaps we should call Brian?"

"He's got his own problems . . . we can handle this. Go."

"God speed, Kurt."

"Good luck, Piotr," Kurt said. We're going to need it . . .

"Kurt left a message," Doctor Rory Campbell said. "They're engaging the Neo."

"Bloody hell," Doctor Moira MacTaggert frowned. "If they get themselves killed . . . "

"They'll be all right," Rory shrugged. "They've been training long hours to become a team."

"It seems like only last week that boy Havok walked onto the island and beat the tar out of 'em . . . "

"It's been nearly a month," Rory frowned. "And besides, since then, we've completely updated our defense grid here. The only thing that can possibly still cause us harm is your coffee."

"Why you little--"

Suddenly, with blaring intensity, the alarms went off.

"What the hell?" Moira asked.

"Defense grid is activated," Rory said, running over to a computer. "Multiple targets engaged, all on hovercraft . . . scans match the one Colossus brought back. We're under attack by the Neo!"

"What's going on?" Doug Ramsey asked as he, Rahne Sinclair, and the purple dragon Lockheed rushed into the room.

"We're under attack," Moira said. She pressed a few buttons on a control panel on the wall. It slid open, revealing a shelf of plasma assault rifles. She checked one, then tossed it to Rory. "You'll need one." She tossed one to Doug, one to Rahne. She took the fourth.

"I . . . I dinnae ken how to use this!" Rahne said.

"With any luck, ye won't need to," Moira said. "Doug, Rahne . . . get to the brig. Lock every door on the way down . . . take Lockheed, too. Should they make it to the brig, feel free to lock yourselves in a cell and close it from the inside. Rory an' I . . . We'll stop 'em, with help from the island's defenses."

"You two don't stand a chance alone!" Doug exclaimed.

"Do as you're told, boy," Rory said. "There isn't much time . . . go!"

Doug reluctantly turned away, leading Rahne and Lockheed towards the brig.

"How're the defenses fairing?" Moira asked.

"They're being overwhelmed," Rory frowned. "They'll be completely wiped out in less than a minute. Should I put in a distress call to the team?"

"No," Moira frowned. "They're where they're needed. We'll handle this . . . or die trying."

"Avon calling!" Apparition said as she led Meggan, Colossus and Wisdom in through the front door. "Umm . . . hello."

They found a group of Neo waiting for their arrival.

"I am Jaeger," the lead male Neo said. "The hunter. I will kill you. As will Kilmer, Rax, Anteus, Salvo, Static, and, of course . . . Domina."

"Talk is cheap, bub," Wisdom said, his fingers glowing red-orange as his hotknives began to emerge.

"Then let actions do the talking!" Rax yelled. In one fast, fluid motion, he pulled down his crossbow and fired a trio of arrows.

Tinya phased herself and Wisdom, letting the arrows pass through them. The fight had begun.

"Die, spike!" Salvo yelled. His arms were guns, spewing hundreds of bullets directly at Colossus. "I am Salvo, the living gun! I shall kill you!"

"You shall do no more killing," Colossus said. He punched Salvo across the face, knocking him back several feet. "By the White Wolf . . . that punch should have sent you flying through the wall!"

"We're stronger than you, spike," Anteus said. "You appear to be made of metal . . . as am I. Shall we dance?"

"You think being a ghost will make you safe?" Static asked, attempting to punch Apparition.

"Always has," she replied.

"All I need do is touch you and your powers will be eliminated!" he yelled.

"Really? Well, thanks for that tidbit . . . I can't have that happen. Wisdom! Hit this guy!"

"I'm busy," he exclaimed, dodging another arrow from Rax.

"I've got it," Meggan said. She clobbered Static with her toughest punch, knocking him back into the wall. Before she could celebrate, however, a telekinetic pulse knocked her back into a wall.

"I am Kilmer," another Neo said. "My telekinesis will crush your puny body . . . "

"You telekinesis is nothing," the pointy-eared beauty answered, "to one who can control the elements!"

With an intense focus, she called upon the very stone floor Kilmer stood on the reach up and suck him down into it, trapping him.

"Whoa," Wisdom said. An arrow skimmed his head. "WHOA! Enough already, you damn bloody git!"

"Face me like a man!" Rax demanded.

"When you decide to ditch the bow and arrows!"

Jaeger and Domina watched from the end of the room.

"I would have imagined four spikes could have been defeated by now," Domina frowned.

"We have drawn them apart," Jaeger said. "They shall fall."

"See to it that they do," Domina answered. "In the meantime . . . I shall go check on the fifth spike in our base . . . "

A loud crash was heard after Brian Braddock threw his computer at a wall.

It's true . . . he was breathing heavily, obviously upset. My father not only worked for the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club . . . and not only did he have ties to Black Air . . . but with the two, he laid the groundwork for every major mutant killing and controlling device in the entire nation of Genosha! My father was working towards the genocide of an entire race . . . one of which his children belong to!

There was a knock at the door, then a voice: "Is everything all right?"

"Umm . . . fine," Brian frowned. "Just . . . computer trouble."

"I see," Terra Markov said, opening the door to Brian's room and entering.

"You don't believe in privacy?"

"Not if you don't believe in locks," she answered. She saw the computer. "I've been tempted before, but I've never done it . . . that must've been some throw by the looks of it."

"I was very angry," he answered.

"What are your mutant powers, exactly?" she asked. "Super strength?"

"Yes," he replied.

"So then it wasn't some throw, huh?"

"I suppose not. Was there a purpose for this visit, or were you just concerned by the noise?"

"A little of both," Terra said. "Concern from the noise, of course. You're the only member of this little club that's got me at all interested. I just wanted to drop by a copy of the London Times . . . look at the front page."

"Hmm?" Brian asked, taking the paper. On it was a picture of someone wearing a costume that looked like a British flag. "Union Jack?" Brian read.

"Yup," Terra said. "Perhaps these 'Excalibur' people we've been hearing about inspired someone?"

"Union Jack was the name of a British super-hero during World War II," Brian said. "It couldn't be the same . . . "

"It's doubtful. But something worth looking in to, no?" she grinned. "I'll send someone to clean up the mess, mister Braddock. And I'll . . . see you later."

"Right," Brian said. "Right . . . "

"Their defenses are down," A Shockwave Rider said.

"Excellent," a Neo grinned. He was the only Neo amongst the Riders, and was in charge. They resented it, but went along with it in the spirit of their pact.

"Orders, Seth?" the Rider asked.

"What do you think, Galadriel?" Seth asked. "We'll destroy this island and kill everyone on it!"

"Riders . . . destroy at will!"

The Shockwave Riders moved in, firing energy blasts from cannons built into the high-tech suits they wore. They had breached the structure's security, and were looking for someone to kill.

Moira and Rory had holed themselves up in the control room. They found two opposite corners with good cover and waited. They could hear the Neo coming.

"I've initiated the self-destruct sequence," Moira said. "If we can't beat these Neo, then we'll take them down with us . . . "

"I pray it doesn't come to that," Rory frowned. "Of course, if you're listening to the destruction they're causing, it sounds like we'd be doing their job for them."

A Rider, off his skimmer, kicked the control room door down.

Rory and Moira instantly opened fire. They were able to catch him off guard, and the shots connected, killing the Neo. Behind him, however, a second Rider and Seth found cover.

"Surrender and we'll be merciful," Seth said. "Your deaths will be swift and painless."

"Thanks for the offer . . . but no!" Rory yelled, firing.

"Suit yourself," Seth said. With a wave of his arm, he sent a blast of electricity at Rory's corner.

Rory dove out, but the electric blast nailed his left leg, completely frying it. Rory screamed in pain as he landed near Moira.

"You've no hope, spike," Seth said.

The Rider fired his own weapon, hitting Moira's gun dead on and blowing it up. Seth leapt up from wear he sought cover and ran up to Moira. Before she could blink, her throat was in his right hand, and her feet were dangling two feet off the ground.

"Now I'll . . . " he started. "You're no spike . . . you're a flatscan genejoke! And you dared to fight the Neo?"

"This is . . . a medical facility . . . " Moira managed to get out.

"A mutant training ground is more like it."

"Sir," a Rider said. "We've scanned and found four spike bio-signatures on the lower levels."

"Excellent," Seth said.

"Leave 'em . . . be . . . " Moira struggled against losing consciousness.

"They will suffer for your transactions . . . they will die, and then I'll come back for you."

"Burn in . . . hell . . . " Moira faded out. Seth dropped her to the floor. She landed on top of Rory, who had also blacked out from the pain and blood loss from having his leg burst open by electricity.

Seth turned. "Take me to the spikes."

Nightcrawler, so far, had been doing pretty good. He managed to navigate his way to the church's basement. Hmmm . . . he pondered.

There were two Neo sitting in a small room.

"Do you suppose we'll need to teleport out, Barbican?" one asked.

"Don't be foolish, Junction," the other answered. "We're the Neo. We shall defeat any--urk!"

It was a split second; Kurt teleported in behind the two and delivered nerve pinches to their necks, causing them to fall unconscious and with great pain.

Wasn't sure if that would work . . . that technique was designed for human nerves. Perhaps these Neo aren't so different from normal people, or mutants.

"Kurt . . . ?"

"Vas?" Kurt turned around. Suddenly, the room had changed. It was brighter, happier. The voice that called to him, it was . . . Amanda Sefton, the woman he loved who had been missing since his first encounter with the Neo. "Amanda? Amanda, what are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you, silly," she answered. She looked beautiful, dressed incredibly elegantly. Her voice was soft and sweet, as if there was no sign of a battle anywhere in the building.

"Waiting for me? But . . . but, I don't understand . . . "

"I found my mother, Margali . . . she's back home, waiting for us. Come with me, Kurt . . . "

"This . . . this isn't right . . . " Kurt frowned. "Something's not right . . . "

"You can't imagine," Amanda said. Her voice was changing . . . one filled with hatred. Her features changed . . . her demeanor, her appearance, filled with evil. "I've been waiting for you all right . . . waiting to kill you! So you can know the pain I felt when you abandoned me!"

"Abandoned?!"

"When the Neo shot us down, and you didn't look for me!"

"How can you say that? We exhausted every resource . . . did everything we could! I still search for you with Cerebro daily!"

"You abandoned me! Just like you did the circus! Just like your parents did to you!"

"It's not true!" Kurt yelled.

Suddenly, everything faded. The room was back to normal. Barbican and Junction were unconscious behind him. Two Neo children stood in front of him.

"What did . . . ?" Kurt asked.

"Elysia showed you what you wanted," the young boy said of the young girl.

"Tartarus showed you what you feared," the young girl said of the young boy.

"You are but children," Kurt said. "Why would you do something so hurtful?"

"They are Neo," the voice of Domina said. She entered the room slowly, making no sudden moves whatsoever. She didn't move to defend nor attack. Her confidence changed the feeling of the room. "Neo learn very early the evil of spikes, and how they must all be dealt with."

"I don't understand," Kurt frowned. "I had never heard of the Neo until your people attacked me and destroyed the airship I was riding. Me and my people have done nothing but defend ourselves!"

"I suppose it's time for a history lesson," Domina frowned. "Run along, children."

The two children turned and walked away.

"My people used to be proud . . . strong," Domina started. "We lived in seclusion from the rest of the world. They believed themselves civilized . . . we knew they were savages. We were content to live apart from them. Early encounters with humans tended to result in our people being shot with crude weapons. It didn't take long for us to develop a hatred for mankind.

"In the last hundred or so years, we became aware of a new type of human . . . one that had super-powers. You call yourselves mutants . . . we call you spikes. We decided to avoid your kind, as well. But your kind decided not to avoid mine.

"A spike called Magneto came to us. He foolishly believed we were mutants. He extended an offer to join us. We refused. He came again later, and once again we refused. Only this time, he came with other mutants. And upon receiving our rejection, one of his followers attacked one of my kind. A fight broke out. We easily overwhelmed the mutants . . . but Magneto had more power than we dreamed. He unleashed a magnetic pulse, so powerful that it killed over half of my kind, including my daughter. The survivors were left weakened . . . unable to fight. Magneto and his people fled.

"We broke into separate factions, each having our own opinions on what should be done. My mate, Jaeger, and I, decided that revenge was needed. We did our best to unite as many clans as possible . . . and then we declared war. The world suddenly wasn't big enough for all our species. We were determined to survive."

"You can't blame an entire world for the actions of a few people!" Kurt exclaimed. "That's insane!"

"Once we've killed half the population of this planet, perhaps we will consider justice as being served . . . and perhaps then we will stop."

"You'd kill over three billion people . . . for revenge?"

"I'd kill far more than that, spike," Domina glared. "I'd sink continents into the ocean, kill ten billion humans and spikes to avenge the death of my daughter! And before I'm done . . . I shall find Magneto . . . and I shall kill him personally."

"Magneto is dead," Kurt said.

Domina's eyes went wide.

"He attacked the American capital awhile back," he explained. "Mutants - Spikes, like myself . . . rose up to defend the humans in that building. There was a fight between Magneto's people and an opposing side . . . Magneto was killed." At least, as far as anyone knows . . .

"He is dead . . . ? The murderer who killed my daughter . . . "

"Your quest for vengeance is not needed," Kurt said. "This bloodlust . . . it will only cause your people more pain . . . more suffering . . . more loss! Think about all the other Neo who are fighting here, how many of them are daughters or sons? All of them! And any one of them could die in this war you're waging!"

"It is a necessary cost," Domina spoke slow and cold. "All Spikes will die."

Burning hotknives burst through Salvo's chest, taking him out of the fight. A punch from Meggan had TKO'd Rax, and Anteus was beginning to tire from the assault from Colossus.

"We're winning," Apparition said.

"No," Colossus said, slamming both fists against Anteus' head. The Neo collapsed. "We've . . . won."

"Far from it," Jaeger said, stepping forward. "You've beaten the hatchlings . . . but now you face a real Neo."

"You're not so tough," Wisdom said. Okay, quick inventory: You're exhausted . . . Colossus looks exhausted . . . Meggan's breathing pretty heavily, and God what a sight that is . . . the American's giving me a dirty look . . . but she's tired, too. It's four on one, though . . . we can handle this . . .

Jaeger moved with blinding speed. A kick to Meggan's jaw sent her flying while a punch to Colossus' face knocked him to the ground. He grabbed Apparition, and before she could think enough to become intangible, flung her into a pile of rubble caused by previous fighting.

Pete Wisdom's eyes went wide. "Whot in the . . . ?"

All he saw was a burst of color as Jaeger slammed his body into the British man, cracking several ribs. Wisdom went down, gasping for breath.

"You were saying?" Jaeger asked, a smile spreading across his face. He raised a foot and stepped down on Wisdom's stomach, pressing hard. "Spikes will never learn . . . our thirst for vengeance is insatiable. You will all be defeated."

"Not . . . bloody . . . likely . . . " Wisdom gasped. Hotknives burst from his finger tips, tearing up through Jaeger's leg, into his chest and through his skull. Not even the tough skin of the head Neo hunter could withstand those slivers as hot as the sun itself.

The other three slowly gathered themselves and lifted Wisdom up.

"You killed him," Meggan said.

"Wasn't . . . any other . . . way," Pete said, breathing deeply.

"Well, come on," Tinya said. "Let's go find Kur--oh, what now?"

Swirls of black energy emerged from Jaeger's dead body, and four more Neo appeared.

"I am Dirge."

I am Requiem."

"I am Lament."

"I am Desolation. We are the Lost Souls. If you are beholden to a Deity or Deities, make your peace with them. Your time is at its end."

"They're getting closer," Doug said.

"How d'ye know?" Rahne asked.

"I'm talking with the center's computers," Doug replied. "I don't know what happened to Moira or Rory . . . but the island's in pretty bad shape, and they know we're here."

"I'm gonna get feral," Rahne said. With a shake and shudder, Rahne became half girl, half wolf . . . Wolfsbane. Her senses and agility were enhanced, and she now had claws to accompany her gun.

"We'll need more help than that," Doug said. He turned and walked through another door, leading to the two holding cells currently in us.

"What's goin' on?" the young girl Rogue asked from inside.

"We're under attack," Doug said. "And I have no idea what to do." He spoke with the computer, and shut off the energy field protecting her cell. "I'm freeing you . . . because we need your help to fight off the attackers."

"Ah . . . Ah'll do what I can . . . "

"Good," Doug said. He turned to Copycat's cell. "I'm going to free you, too."

"Why on earth would you do that?" she asked.

"Because the people after us are after all mutants. You'll help us fight them because if we die, you'll die, too."

"Good enough," Copycat answered. The field was dropped and she stepped out. "Got an extra weapon?"

Lockheed snorted.

"Here," Doug said, handing her his. He went to a panel on the wall, opened it up, and got out two more. He tossed one to Rogue.

"Ah . . . oh geez," Rogue said. "Ah'm not sure Ah can do this."

"Rogue, of anyone here, you're the most likely to make it out of this alive," Doug said. "You're super strong . . . invulnerable. You're gonna be the deciding factor in what's to come."

"Ah'll do mah best . . . "

"Here they come!" Rahne exclaimed.

The door burst in, kicked by another Shockwave Rider. The four mutants opened fire instantly, taking down the first Rider. The second and third ducked and covered, returning fire.

"This is insane," Copycat said. "There's no room to maneuver down here!"

"Hmmm," Doug pondered. "The suits they're wearing . . . they seem like they're computers. If so . . . maybe I can use my powers on 'em?"

"We'll cover you," Rogue said, firing her rifle. Copycat did as well, but Rahne continued ducking and covering, scared crazy.

Suddenly, the Riders' suits began sparking and exploding. Their systems started frying, and they fell to the floor.

"Good job," Rogue said. "Now Ah'll get us some room to maneuver!"

She smashed her fist through a steel wall, finally free of the negating devices of the cell. She flew into the next room, a hidden hallway. The others followed. The came upon one door on the right.

"'Mutant X'?" Rogue read the label on the door. "What's a Mutant X?"

"Doesn't matter right now," Doug said. "The door won't open . . . let's keep moving."

The four mutants and the dragon followed the hallway until it lead to stairs. Rogue led the way, finally making it to the clear skies of the island ground.

"Now what?" Rahne asked.

"Umm . . . " Doug pondered. "Since when am I in charge?"

"There you are," Seth's voice called. He approached the group slowly, his hands cackling with energy. "I've been looking all over for you. Drop your weapons."

"No," Doug said. "You tell your Neo to leave . . . or else."

"Please, boy," Seth said. "You're shaking with fear. Don't delay the inevitable."

"You don't scare me," Doug said.

"Fine," Seth shrugged. He fired an electric blast from his hand, knocking Rahne back twenty yards from the jolt.

Lockheed swooped down and breathed fire on the Neo, but Seth dodged with only minor burns. He blasted the purple dragon, and then Rogue as well.

Doug aimed his gun at Seth, but was hit in the back of the head with the back of a rifle.

"What?" Seth asked.

Copycat stood above the downed Doug. "I beat him for you. I'll do whatever you want . . . just get me out of here."

"Why should I help you, spike?" Seth asked.

"I hate these people," she said. "Besides, I'm a shape shifter. I can be whoever you want me to be . . . do anything you want me to."

Seth grinned. "I will help you . . . after I kill these spikes."

"Witch!" Rogue yelled. She flew at Copycat and decked her.

"You're still breathing?" Seth asked. "I hit you with an intense voltage blast, point blank!"

"Yeah, well, lately I've been kinda invulnerable . . . ," she said. "And super strong."

Her punch sent Seth flying backwards.

"You'll pay for that dearly!" Seth said, feeling his broken jaw.

"Bring it on," Rogue said angrily.

"I . . . " Seth started, standing. "No. Perhaps another time. I've done more than enough." He picked up the unconscious Copycat. "Farhad . . . get us out of here. We're finished."

"You're leavin'?" Rogue asked. "After all that? You think you're just gonna walk away?"

"This isn't my first choice for an assignment, spike," Seth said. "This . . . shapeshifter . . . will help me achieve my goals more quickly than any method I could think of. I'll seize control of the Neo clans . . . and then I'll return and finish what I started."

A flash of blue light engulfed the Neo and his prisoner, and in the blink of an eye they were gone. The Neo had retreated. Muir Island was in ruins.

"And everyone's unconscious," Rogue frowned. "When the others get back, Ah'm so gonna get blamed for this . . . "

"We are the Lost Souls. If you are beholden to a Deity or Deities, make your peace with them. Your time is at its end."

"You guys just keep coming, don't you?" Wisdom asked. We're all pretty much exhausted . . . but I suppose we'll need to find the energy for one more fight . . .

Requiem was tall and strong, and leapt at Colossus. The two power-houses began trading blows, but it was quickly apparent that Colossus was the weaker of the two. Lament charged at Meggan, leading a fast and furious physical assault that the tired blonde could not properly defend against. Dirge openly welcomed a fist fight to Wisdom, who was barely able to stand straight. Desolation, with her long black cloak waving behind her, just approached Apparition.

"What're you guys supposed to be, exactly?" Apparition asked.

"The Lost Souls," Desolation answered. "Just as you shall soon be. You believe your ghosting will keep you safe . . . it will not."

Her cloak! It's wrapping around me . . . consuming me!

"Oh no!" Meggan yelled. "Desolation . . . it's engulfed Tinya . . . and now . . . Tinya's face is Desolation?"

"Just as you are now Lament," Lament said, grabbing hold of Meggan. Requiem and Dirge followed, laying hands on their opponents. The two bodies merged . . . Excalibur was gone. But their minds were in hell . . .

For Wisdom, it was the moment of his greatest shame. He had argued with his mother about coming home. And because of it, he decided not to. His mom was waiting at their front window, looking for him to arrive. It was then that a gun-toting maniac walked down the street and just opened fire. His mother was killed, all because she was at the window looking for her son.

For Meggan, it is rage. Rage against her past, her secret past, the life that she doesn't understand. Where she came from, what her true purpose is, the meaning of her powers. She knows nothing, but can feel the fury of the elements tearing her apart. She wishes to lash out!

For Colossus, it is utter pain and sadness. He saw his brother Mikhail die in a Soviet Space Mission, his life taken away at such a young age. His younger sister, Illyana, was captured by a Demon and turned into a Demon Sorceress herself. And when Piotr himself finally left home, he could hear his parent's hearts breaking, knowing that they'd be going alone . . . and that their last child was going off to die.

For Apparition, it is truth: She is Neo.

"I said I'd never forgive myself for what happened to my mother," Wisdom spoke. "But I've faced the memories, time and time again. I've dealt with my pain, my suffering. There's nothing more you can bring up to affect me!" Hotknives burst from Dirge's fingertips, tearing his body apart, leaving only Peter Wisdom.

"Everything that's ever confused me," Meggan started, "I've learned to deal with. Brian has been my rock . . . he loves me, and I love him. And love can overcome any rage." A burst of light destroyed Lament, returning Meggan to her true self.

"I have made peace with my actions," Colossus said. "Though it saddens me, the death of my brother . . . I do know that my sister is alive and well, out there somewhere. And I do also know that my parents are proud of me and what I am doing. Requiem, you seek to fill me with false emotions. They shall not work." Another burst of energy, the energy signature released when Colossus transforms his skin to steel, was all that was needed to defeat Requiem.

"You tell me I'm one of you?" Apparition asked. "And what's that supposed to do to me? Make me doubt what I'm doing? Even if I should believe that I'm one of you, I've been raised better to know that the Neo are evil, and what they're doing is wrong. Even if I am one of you, I'd gladly fight to put you down!" Desolation's cloak faded, freeing Tinya.

" . . . "

" . . . "

" . . . "

" . . . "

"Well, that wasn't so bad," Pete shrugged.

"Let's go find Kurt," Tinya frowned.

"Listen to me, Domina . . . " Kurt said, stepping back cautiously. "Your anger is misdirected . . . I won't pretend to understand your pain, as I have never had a child of my own, and I can't imagine what it would be like to lose something like that. But the main you hold responsible is gone . . . justice has been served. Any blood spilled from here on out is on your hands. This war you want, it is unnecessary. It is uncalled for and will only lead to pain. Please, see this . . . realize this!"

"What you ask is something I do not believe I can give," Domina answered, stepping closer. "The pain I feel . . . the rage . . . "

"Justice has been served, Domina," Kurt continued. "Let it go. You say your people once lived in peace, harmony, and solitude . . . you can do so again. You can rise above the pain, rise above the hatred, be the bigger person . . . Domina, this place you're in now, it is a church. It is a church of my faith. I am a Christian. My God gave up the life of His only son in order to make the world, His world, a better place. He understands your pain . . . and it is from the Bible, His Book, that we learn to turn the other cheek. Violence must not beget violence. One must be willing to rise above it all. You, and your Neo, are strong. Stronger than most. If anyone should be capable of rising above pain, it should be you. Wouldn't you rather honor your daughter's memory by continuing to live a life of peace? One of happiness? Not one of war? I bet that girl, Elysia, could show you that it is indeed what you want. And I bet even the boy, Tartarus, could tell you that he does not wish to fight. That he only wants to be home, in his bed . . . where he is safe."

"Kurt, we--" Meggan said as she and the others burst into the basement. Kurt held up a hand to stop them. "Oh."

"Impossible," Domina said. "How could you have made it past my warclan?"

"We fight for a cause more powerful than revenge," Kurt said. "We fight for hope . . . for life . . . for light. And hope triumphs above all despair. You must see this, Domina . . . please."

"I . . . " Domina started, then paused. "A prudent commander would take no chances. A slain enemy is no longer a threat. But . . . my instincts tell me otherwise. I shall, this once, grant your spikes safe conduct from here. Junction shall take my clan and I home. Time . . . and fate . . . will determine where we go from here."

In a flash of blue light, Domina, and the rest of the Neo were gone.

"That was it?" Wisdom asked. "Their leader . . . you just talked her into going away?"

"Apparently so," Kurt said. "But mein Gott, what happened to you four? It looks like you've been through a war!"

"Pretty much," Tinya said. "And you don't have a scratch on you . . . "

"Come," Colossus said. "Let us just return home. The day is won . . . there is nothing more to be accomplished here."

"Right," Kurt nodded. "Let's had back home . . . "

London. Inside the Blackwall.

Amanda Sefton sat in a holding cell, the same place she had sat for weeks. She was a prisoner of Black Air. She had had a few visitors now and then . . . Archer, the second in command . . . Fenris, the third in command twins . . . all mentioned the great plans that Nefaria had for her. She just missed Kurt.

The door at the end of the hall slid open. Archer approached with someone else behind him.

"I've brought you a visitor," the older man said.

"Great," Amanda said.

"She is the Red Rook of the Hellfire Club," he continued. "An important ally of Nefaria . . . and someone I believe you're well aquatinted with. Meet Margali . . . your mother."

"Hello, daughter," Margali Szardos grinned wickedly.

"What?" she asked. "Mother, what's going on?"

"More than you can imagine," Margali explained. "An alliance is being struck between the Hellfire Club and Black Air. With my guidance, we're going to unleash an all-powerful demon from its imprisonment underneath London. It is a force that I shall control, a force that shall bring the world to its knees."

"What?" Amanda asked. "But why?"

"Why, for the ascension on the Winding Way, the path to mystical empowerment. There's only one catch, my dear. We need a vessel to work as a host for the demon's soul . . . to contain it's evil. Someone magically adept. I've chosen you."

"Me?" Amanda asked. "But . . . I'm your daughter . . . "

"I know . . . which is why I chose you. You shall contain the evil. Though it will eventually destroy you, it will bring us closer than we have ever been . . . and it will allow me to achieve greatness. London will burn, my dear . . . and you will be responsible."