Dominant Species

• Writer - Chuck Austen
• Penciler - Kia Asamiya
• Colorist - J.D. Smith
• Lettering - Paul Tutrone
• Cover Art - Steve Uy
• Ass't Editor - Mike Raicht
• Ass't Editor - Nova Suma
• Editor - Mike Marts
• Editor in Chief - Joe Quesada

Summary

  Jean-Paul rushes to the infirmary with Logan and is surprised to find Lorna confronting Annie.

  In the woods, Paige wakes, pushes unconscious Warren off her, and is surprised to see they're both alive.

  Lorna warns Jean-Paul away and claims Annie was beating Alex's head against the table; Jean-Paul doesn't believe her, so she propels him through the roof like a little Quebecois comet. Lorna calls Annie a lesser species; Annie says she can't imagine Alex loving someone like her.

  Xavier, Sammy, and Bobby arrive. Lorna is surprised to see Cain with them; he threatens her; Xaiver says he invited him into the mansion and tells Lorna to power down so he can explain everything. Lorna relents and apologizes; she was shocked at seeing Alex that way. Suddenly, Alex yells.

  Paige is proud to be a mutant, but she has realized they're not "superior" in any ethical sense. Her "gift" shreds her clothes, so she's always naked when powered up; it's her little thrill. She takes Warren's shirt to wear as she reverts to normal, but in this case she wouldn't mind being seen. Unknown to her, Warren has awakened and is watching.

  Alex asks for Carter and sees he's just a little boy. He calls to bring him back, and then asks Annie and Xavier to help. He says Carter rescued him from another consciousness in the void but is now too tired to get out.

  Paige helps Warren walk; he apologizes for endangering her, but she says she knew the score. He's an enigma to her: a handsome, charming X-Man but also a "fat-cat" polluter who let Lobo to form a power structure right under his nose. He corrects her grammar, which infuriates her; she's worked hard to lose her Southern accent and doesn't want to be called stupid. She thinks "homo superior" should be above petty in-fighting, but instead they play survival of the fittest till some group rises to the top. Warren can't get a word in edge-wise, Paige says she dreamed Betsy said he was on the wrong path with her and to say goodbye. Suddenly they hear voices repeating their words; Lobo's team attacks.

  Xavier tries to get to Carter on the astral plane, refusing to let the boy be captured. He screams, to the consternation of those watching in the infirmary. Cain asks if anyone is going to help with Jean-Paul's mission.

  Kurt tells his priest that he's lost his faith. He is a living symbol of evolution; Whitney says "Spirituality doesn't preclude science." Kurt says he stopped reading his breviary daily; Whitney reminds him the Monsignor considers that the first sign of trouble. Kurt can no longer justify the repression of desire; Whitney realizes that's because of the "recent troubles" in the church. Kurt says the church gave him much, but he's an X-Man leader now. He's seen proof of God's capricious cruelty, in giving powers to a boy which killed him (iss. 414). That's not the loving God he wanted to get close to (cf. Soldier X 5); Whitney shows him the door. Kurt sits atop the church and calls the X-Men on his intercom. Jean-Paul asks how far he can port: a half-mile, which isn't enough. The X-Men are racing to the jet to help Warren and Paige; Bobby snips at Jean-Paul for not doing it sooner, and that if anything happens Warren, he'll kill him. Before the slap-fight stars, Paige calls on the intercom but is then cut off.

  Note: a string of pedophilic priests have recently scandalized the Catholic Church. Also, Asamiya has an annoying tendency to draw beaks instead of noses.