Return to Hellfire!

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

Summary

  Betsy spars with Sabretooth, who is chained and muzzled, while Xavier monitors, and Warren and Hank fret and joke. Xavier: "Sometimes, I long for the days when your report cards could be used as blackmail." They're trying to teach Sabretooth to control his homicidal rages; he flirts with Betsy, and Warren seems jealous. He goes to watch Jean and Scott prepare the grounds for their wedding. Jubilee rollerblades by with the mail and hands him an envelope. It's an invitation to the Hellfire Club, from Shinobi. Betsy has fond memories of going to the London branch with her father. She asks Warren about the Inner Circle (see the Dark Phoenix saga), who have been killed one by one, and now Sebastian's heir Shinobi has formed the Upstarts (first in iss. 4). They decide to check it out.

  She keeps her purple hair, but Warren masks his blue face, and in their best wardrobes they attend the gala. They meet Taylor, Parvenue, and Tessa, the last of whom takes them aside and then knocks them out.

  They awaken in archaic clothing. Shinobi, who knew Warren as a child, wants him to be White King. Warren remembers him hating the Club and calling his father a monster, and he wants no part of this. Shinobi phases his hand through Betsy, showing himself to be a mutant; Warren arrays his wings, shoots metal feathers, and accuses him of murdering his father (X-Factor 67). Shinobi says he's not a weak child any more; Warren warns him not to push him or the X-Men, but he presses his attack, phasing through Warren's wings and skull. But by then Betsy has recovered, and her psi-blade sends Shinobi to dreamland, where he remembers his father beating him.

  Shinobi insists he doesn't want Warren's pity; he says he already used his up on himself (X- Factor 10 to present) and walks away, Betsy on his arm.