[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #294 "Overture" - Cyclops and Phoenix enjoy a day at Harry's Tavern which is, of course, disrupted by a villainous attack. This time, it comes from an unexpected source, the previously dormant Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Meanwhile, Lila Cheney puts on a free concert at Central Park to promote peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans. It is an opportunity for Professor X to give a speech on the subject to a wider audience, but he is shot and critical injured by an assassin in the crowd. The shooter is none other than X-Force's mysterious leader -- Cable.
X-Factor #84 "Tough Love" - X-Force learn about the assassination attempt from their new ad-hoc base at the Camp Verde Apache Reservation. They realize that Cable is still alive, and they need to find him before the X-Men so that they can get answers. The X-Men start their search for Cable by looking for X-Force. A small team of X-Men stay at the mansion to try to save Professor X and protect him from further attack. The Horsemen of the Apocalypse deliver Cyclops and Jean Grey to their new master, Mr. Sinister.
[4-Stars] X-Men #14 "Fingers on the Trigger" - Professor X's condition is getting worse. The assassin's bullet infected Xavier with the techno-organic virus. Cable returns from the future to learn that he is a wanted man for the assassination attempt. The X-Men close in on X-Force only to discover that the young mutant strikeforce is ready for a confrontation. Mr. Sinister delivers Cyclops and Jean Grey to the Mutant Liberation Front (MLF) in exchange for some genetic material. Apocalypse's new team, the Dark Riders, wake him from his regenerative slumber to inform him of all the things be done in his name.
[4-Stars] X-Force #16 "Jacklightening" - X-Force versus a team of X-Men and X-Factor! Another team of X-Men hunt down the Horsemen of the Apocalypse to find Cyclops and Jean Grey (both of whom are held captive by Stryfe). Mr. Sinister shows up at the Mansion easily defending himself against Bishop and other defenses. He isn't there to fight but to reveal the identify of the real assassin.
[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #295 "Familiar Refrain" - Pulled out of his regeneration chamber before he is healed, Apocalypse is still very weak. He goes to one of his safes-houses where he finds a team of X-Men who just finished their battle with the Horsemen. Apocalypse is able to fend off the X-Men attack and escape using a teleportation device inside his safe-house. He is more determined now to find out who set him up. X-Force is imprisoned until the X-Men and X-Factor can determine what to do with them, but Storm and Havok ask Cannonball if he will help them find Cable. Cannonball reluctantly agrees. Wolverine and Bishop go to Canada's black ops organization, Department K, to see if they can find more information on possible Cable safe-house locations. They find Cable already there.
X-Factor #85 "Snikts and Bones" - Bishop and Wolverine immediately attack Cable to bring him in for questioning. Wolverine ends the conflict saying that he doesn't actually believe it was Cable who tried to assassinate Professor X. The three form an uneasy truce to focus their attention on getting answers as to what really happened. Cannonball leads a team of X-Men and X-Factor to a MLF base in Arkansas. It is a big battle but no Stryfe. Stryfe is somewhere else tormenting Cyclops and Jean Grey.
[4-Stars] X-Men #15 "The Camel's Back" - X-Men, X-Factor and Cannnonball versus the MLF in a battle that ends with critical injuries and fatalities. Cable teleports Bishop and Wolverine to his hidden space station, Graymalkin, to use his system to locate Stryfe. Every effort to stop or at least slow down the techno-organic virus from spreading through Professor X has failed. Xavier has hours to live. Stryfe leaves his captives to confront Apocalypse and the Dark Riders.
[4-Stars] X-Force #17 "Sleeping with the Enemy" - Stryfe versus Apocalypse in a battle that both seemed to have known was coming. Bishop, Wolverine, and Cable begin putting some of the pieces together but not enough to get the full picture. The X-Men and X-Factor try to deal with the growing number of injured teammates, and Cyclops and Jean Grey escape from their cell.
[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #296 "Crescendo" - Bishop, Wolverine, and Cable begin their complete scan of the planet for Stryfe, Cyclops and Jean Grey. Apocalypse arrives on the X-Men's doorstep injured and offering a momentary truce. He has the cure to save Professor X from the techno-organic virus, and in exchange, he wants their help in taking down Stryfe. Cyclops and Jean Grey must pass the Dark Riders in their bid to escape.
X-Factor #86 "One of These Days" - There is no indication that Stryfe, Cyclops or Jean Grey are on Earth, Bishop, Wolverine, and Cable turn their attention to the Moon. Cyclops and Jean Grey discover that they are on the Moon when they finally escape only to find themselves in the vacuum of space. Styfe uses his immense telekentic abilities to save them and return them to their cell. Apocalypse joins the X-Men on their journey to the moon after he saves Professor X. His cure nearly kills Xavier but completely eliminates the deadly techno-organic virus from his body.
[4-Stars] X-Men #16 "Conflicting Catheoes" - Cable, Cannonball, the X-Men and X-Factor are reunited on the Moon but must face the Dark Riders before they can look for their missing teammates. Stryfe has taken Cyclops and Jean Grey to a different location preparing for the final showdown. Professor X regains consciousness with a nightmare vision. Cyclops, Jean Grey, Cable and Stryfe are all connected.
[4-Stars] X-Force #18 "Ghosts in the Machine" - Stryfe erects a barrier around himself and his captives, Cyclops and Jean Grey. This shield only allows his familial genetics to pass, so only Cable and Havok can enter for the final showdown. Cannonball and the rest of the X-Men and X-Factor can only watch from the outside as Cable and Stryfe battle one last time.
NOTE: In the final pages, it is revealed that the Stryfe did not provide the genetic material he promised to Mr. Sinister. The canister appears empty, but we later learn that by opening it, Mr. Sinister unwittingly unleashed the Legacy Virus.
[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #297 "Up and Around" - The X-Men begin to put the pieces back in this epilogue to the X-Cutioner's Song. Archangel and Beast rebuild Harry's Hideaway in the dead of the night reminiscing about the early days. Gambit offers to be Rogues "eyes" until she regains her sight. Professor X has temporary use of his legs. Jubilee takes the opportunity to spend time with him teaching him how to roller blade.
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