Main plot
Amidst an argument between 3K's members, the Chairman prepares to release the X-Virus from 3K's airship headquarters above Philadelphia. In the Baxter Building, Beast and Ben Liu meet with Mister Fantastic to tend to Magneto, whose condition is stable, yet critical. Mister Fantastic states that he will help save Magneto's life, but refuses to restore Magneto's powers, believing that Magneto is too dangerous to be left alone. In Philadelphia, Quentin Quire locates 3K's airship, allowing the X-Men to attack. Psylocke initiates a special protocol to take out Timebomb as 3K's forces arrive. After learning that the X-Men have breached the airship, the Chairman plans to release a series of bombs containing the X-Virus. However, he begins to worry that 3K's infighting will lead to their downfall. The bridge is then attacked by Human Torch and Thing. [3]
On the 3K mothership, Human Torch and Thing struggle against Joseph. The Chairman attempts to launch the virus, only for an error to occur. The Chairman dispatches Wyre to secure the virus batteries and launch it manually. Wyre makes it to the launch batteries, but is attacked by Juggernaut, who sabotages the process and prevents 3K from releasing the X-Virus on a large scale. However, the Chairman activates a backup that releases the X-Virus in Juniper, Pennsylvania, mutating those exposed to it. [4]
At the launch bay, Wyre takes out the airship's anti-gravity engines over Philadelphia while locking the X-Men out of the systems. At the Baxter Building, Beast, Magik, Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, and Ben Liu hear about what happened. After Thing and Human Torch return, Invisible Woman states that the Fantastic Four are going to enter Magneto's body to treat him. Below deck, Wyre awakens Timebomb so that they can get to an escape pod. Quentin Quire works on evacuating Philadelphia as Liu holds back the falling airship. Magneto, cured of his sickness, helps stop the airship from crashing. Back at the Baxter Building, the Fantastic Four are back to their normal size as Mister Fantastic states that he has the information necessary to stop the X-Virus. [5]
Subplots
X-Men
During the X-Men's attack on 3K, Quentin Quire and Cassandra Nova engage in a psychic battle. Quire impales Nova, who retaliates and begins drowning him in a pool of blood until Quire pulls her in. Quire and Nova begin sinking into the subconscious layer of the mindscape, which will gradually kill them both. Quire opens Nova's brain and reaches out to Jean Grey in Shi'ar space, who takes down Nova. Returning to consciousness, Quire is left with mental damage as a result of the fight. Cyclops contacts Quire, telling him that the battle with 3K has gone downhill, and tells him to initiate the Telepathic Evacuation Protocol. [6]
While comatose, Magneto relives the memory of the Chairman's attack on him. He is approached by a telepathic projection of Professor X, who shows him a world where Magneto was killed, leaving the X-Men without his guidance. When Magneto asks Professor X if he is real or was talking to himself, Professor X states that he can ask him they when they meet again and to start living. [4]
In the X-Men's absence, their home base in the Factory is attacked by the forces of Z*E*R*O*. Xorn contacts John Greycrow, enlisting him to protect the Factory. Z*E*R*O* agents invade the Factory and cause the Shi'ar star drive within to overload, which will destroy the Factory by the time the X-Men return. Greycrow goes on the attack and kills several of the Z*E*R*O* agents. He also finds that Xorn had taken out the Z*E*R*O* agents who tried to attack the comatose Glob Herman. With the Shi'ar star drive reclaimed and reinstalled, Xorn reveals that he never went to the medical wing where Herman was held. A flashback reveals that Herman briefly regained consciousness and took out his attackers. [5]
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four wake up underground with amnesia. While Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman run from Thing, Human Torch walks with Thing through the caverns. They meet up with Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman, stating that they are friendly. Mister Fantastic notes that he found a writing on his arm stating "Survive". The Fantastic Four each re-discover their powers as they fight off an invisible opponent. Mister Fantastic figures out that the Fantastic Four are inside a human body, revealed to be that of Magneto. [4]
