The Puzzle Box

• Writer - Fabian Nicieza
• Penciler - Brandon Peterson
• Inker - Dan Panosian
• Lettering - Bill Oakley
• Colorist - Joe Rosas
• Editor - Bob Harras
• Editor in Chief - Tom Defalco

Summary

  Logan has claws around Betsy's throat, demanding to know who she is. The X-Men suspect that Kwannon is right, that she is a traitor and an agent of Nyoirin. Xavier says they have identical minds, on the surface, and a deeper probe might harm them. Kwannon volunteers for it, but Betsy refuses. They almost come to blows, but Xavier stops them, then Logan takes him aside for a word: both are different from Betsy before the Siege Perilous (UXM 251), and they need to go to Japan to get answers.

  Scott arrives in Anchorage, to the grandparents and home he barely remembers from childhood. He hasn't seen them since Madelyne and the baby died (X-Factor 13); he wants to tell them the truth about all that (see the Inferno crossover).

  In Seattle (making this a Pacific Rim issue), the Dark Riders find Mesmero unworthy of survival and throw him out the window. He mesmerizes Psynapse, making him mind control the rest of the team, but it doesn't work on Gauntlet, who shoots Mesmero. That's the last straw for Psynapse, who has been ill lately, so Gauntlet shoots him, too.

  Shinobi, drunk, calls for Nyoirin, to make a deal: he'll get the crime bosses to reinstate Clan Yashida under Nyoirin's control, if he uses Kwannon to kill the X-Men.

  Remy, Hank, and two Betsys infiltrate Nyoirin's estate, fighting ninjas and picking locks. In the private study, they find a portrait of Betsy's Japanese form, titled "Kwannon in Repose."

  Matsu'o confronts Shinobi, saying the Gamesmaster is allowing him to try to kill Psylocke. Shinobi acquiesces.

  Remy confronts Betsy, but the Silver Samurai interrupts, stabs Hank, and announces he will kill them all, for the good of the Clan Yashida.