Mortal Coils

• Writer - Scott Lobdell
• Penciler - John Romita Jr.
• Inker - Dan Green
• Lettering - Chris Eliopoulos
• Colorist - Team Bucce
• Editor - Bob Harras
• Editor in Chief - Tom Defalco

Summary

  Warren takes Jean flying in the Colorado Rockies. Playfully, he lets them drop and asks for a kiss good-bye; Jean says, "If I kissed every guy every time I almost died, my lips would have fallen off years ago," and she catches them telekinetically. He tells her Scott is a fool for not marrying her years ago, and he remembers losing his one true love, Candy Southern (killed by Cameron Hodge in X-Factor 34).

  Just then, Candy walks through the door. Warren thinks she's is a construct like the ones that attacked Bobby; Jean says she has a mind.

  Uncharacteristically, Xavier is working out with Quicksilver in the Danger Room, in a weightless environment. He finds it hard to catch his quick mind and gets a knuckle sandwich for his efforts. He comes back throwing a handful of dust and insults about Quicksilver's father; Beast calls time before it can go further.

  Ororo goes to a restaurant in the West Village to meet Forge (recently head of X-Factor, X-Factor 93). He regrets walking away mad (iss. 290) and wants her back, at least as a friend. They dance, though there is no music.

  Candy asks Jean to read her mind; she merges Warren in, as well. They see her death, and Warren realizes she was awake, and saw him kill Hodge.

  Later, she woke in a lab, but before they can identify the scientists responsible, a psionic failsafe goes off. Then Hodge reveals himself, and Warren attacks, but he is now mostly T-O, as is Candy. He tries to use her for spare parts, but she doesn't want to be used and starts to rip herself apart, so Jean shuts down her pain receptors. Hodge absorbs a lamp and a chair and says there are more like him passing as human all around the world. Candy's self-destruction overloads him and he explodes; Candy gurgles her love for Warren and dies (again).