The Crops Mature

• Writer - Fabian Nicieza
• Penciler - Andy Kubert
• Inker - Dan Panosian
• Inker - Mark Pennington
• Lettering - Chris Claremont
• Colorist - Joe Rosas
• Editor - Bob Harras
• Editor in Chief - Tom Defalco

A Skinning of Souls

Summary

  The Soul Skinner is peeling back layers of Omega Red's mind, who is still defiant and hits him with his coils, but this just gives him a more direct route to assault his weak psyche.

  Vazhin has got the X-Men to help; the government lost contact with a mutant under surveillance for 14 years, and Cerebro can't find him, either. Likewise Garnoff, Darkstar, and Omega Red. Piotr resents having his family reunion interrupted.

  They arrive in Neftelensk to find the inhabitants frozen in place; Betsy says their minds are blank. They are up against a formidable telepath. Bobby finds Darkstar, whom he once had a crush on (Champions 11), and Garnoff, likewise blank.

  In Moscow, the generals plan a desperate experiment on Illyana, over Matsu'o's objection that it may cost him Omega Red.

  In Japan, Kwannon kills Nyoirin's bodyguard to prove she is ready to regain her place. He sends her to kill her other self, Betsy.

  Omega Red catches Jubilee and says his mind is a shambles. Logan wants to kill him, but Scott says he's under the Soul Skinner's control, and Betsy tries to put him down with her psi-blade, but he has no mind left. He releases his death spores, taking out Betsy and Bobby. Logan goes to attack again, and Garnoff telepathically stops Scott; the Soul Skinner makes him relive all his worst memories. But he gets hurt himself when he sees that Scott lost a child, like he did. Omega Red has meanwhile defeated Logan.

  Piotr and Vazhin retreat and find the city's children hiding together. Piotr reverts to human form and makes Vazhin remove his armor's helmet, to try to calm them. Vazhin realizes that Illyana will also be immune to the Soul Skinner.

  Armed men break into the Rasputins' home, kill the parents, and nab Illyana.

  Piotr is furious when he realizes Vazhin is talking about his sister. Vazhin says they will accelerate her age to force her power to manifest, but the process might kill her.