Leaning Towards Oneself

• Writer - Fabian Nicieza
• Penciler - Andy Kubert
• Inker - Mark Pennington
• Lettering - Bill Oakley
• Colorist - Joe Rosas
• Editor - Bob Harras
• Editor in Chief - Tom Defalco

Summary

  Scott blasts Sinister and the trees behind him, but he just recorporates, which is how he survived before (X-Factor 39). He takes Scott for a stroll, saying he may have unwittingly unleashed a plague that kills only mutants (X- Force 18), while trying to get Stryfe's DNA (iss. 14). He shows him Gordon's grave, and says now he wants to protect Scott and his brothers (see iss. 39). The Dark Riders show up and want to test them.

  Kwannon holds Nyoirin hostage, while Betsy keeps the Samurai at bay. Nyoirin says he just wanted his assassin and love, Kwannon, returned to him. He puts the X-Men onto Matsu'o and Shinobi.

  Logan tells Xavier Magneto is alive; Brainchild said so in Antarctica. They are both worried.

  Scott and Sinister fight side-by-side; Sinister tells the Dark Riders Scott is not to be killed, but maybe roughed up a little. He disappears.

  Hank and Remy interrupt Shinobi in the hot tub and interrogate him about the Upstarts; he claims they're just a little club of rich brats.

  Betsy and Kwannon go to Matsu'o, who attacks them from behind but still gets clobbered. He claims to have merged them, and Betsy uses her psychic knife on him.

  The Dark Riders knock off Scott's glasses and instantly regret it. They give them back and say he passed his test: he is ready for the apocalypse of the High Lord ascension. He blames them for making him send his baby into the future to start that struggle, and they say they knew all along. They leave him in the woods.