A Song of Mourning A cry of Joy

• Writer - Fabian Nicieza
• Penciler - Richard Bennett
• Inker - Bob Wiacek
• Inker - Scott Hanna
• Lettering - Bill Oakley
• Colorist - Joe Rosas
• Editor - Bob Harras
• Editor in Chief - Tom Defalco

Summary

  Threnody is a homeless woman in Los Angeles, crying about the dying. Energies explode from her, killing two policemen, and she stumbles by the General Hospital.

  Hank, Bobby, and Rogue are inside visiting Infectia, who is, ironically, dying of the Legacy Virus. Hank, whom she once tried to kill (X-Factor 31), can't help. Dr. Milbury, equally frustrated, notes the parallels between this disease and AIDS. He says Infectia had come to L.A. to find Gordon Lefferts (X-Force 18), a mutant bioresearcher. Infectia tells Hank his address and asks to be taken outside once more before she dies. A nurse comes in and says there is no Dr. Milbury.

  In Westchester, Kwannon jogs, and Betsy ambushes her, saying it's a test, now that she has the Legacy Virus.

  Hank, Rogue, and Bobby go to Lefferts' lab in a bad part of town. They find homeless people including Threnody, who babbles about taking the pain of a bubble man in the hospital and then runs away. While Hank investigates the lab, Rogue goes after her, but Sinister is with her, promising to help her control her ability to feed on the breakdown of mutant powers. Rogue knocks his head half off his shoulders.

  Just then Threnody's energies explode again, and Hank and Bobby come running. Hank confronts Sinister, who says he just wants to stop this unexpected disease. He can help Threnody while using her as a bloodhound to find Legacy Virus victims. Rogue and Bobby are shocked when Hank agrees and lets Threnody go with him. Sinister says, "Admitting it and despising the choice are the first steps toward changing the indecision which has ruled Xavier's roost of late."

  Hank, Rogue, and Bobby go back to the hospital. Hank takes Infectia outside, to prevent the last flare of her powers from infecting anyone else, and they watch her last sunrise.