LIFE SIGNS

THE PHALANX CONVENT

Summary

  X-Factor flies to a monastery in northern France at Xavier's request and are met by suspicious members of X-Force and Excalibur. Boomer and Guido tussle, until Xavier appears. He brings them inside and explains that the X-Men were attacked by Phalanx, a techno-organic life form that is trying to replace all life on earth, and capable of cloning.

  The Phalanx was transmitted electronically from the Xavier mansion to Muir Island, where Xavier, Moira and Excalibur fought it and then fled, soon realizing that Xavier's chair and their hovercraft were also compromised and had to be destroyed. They washed ashore at Mont St. Francis, the old base of the Acolytes (Uncanny X-Men 300).

  Rahne sneaks off to see Douglock, who locked himself away to prove that he is not a threat. Xavier brings Forge to examine Douglock, to better understand the Phalanx. He is struck dumb at the beauty of the construction.

  Shinar attacks a shepherd. Inside the Phalanx, Lang argues with Hodge; it seems parts of the Phalanx are starting to think independently, and mutants cannot be absorbed into the collective consciousness.

  Douglock relates the history of the Phalanx: after the Extinction Agenda, the Genoshans sold Warlock's remains to scientists, who wanted to create a new breed of living Sentinels. They abducted Lang to be the core mind of the Phalanx, who went mad from it. Various prototypes were created, including some made by absorbing volunteers, and Douglock, who was based on Doug Ramsey's engrams, and who was able to become independent through the intervention of Zero. The Phalanx is adapting to earth, following the genetic impulse to expand, just like Warlock's race.

  Douglock "acquires" Forge, for his knowledge, Cannonball attacks, and Rahne tries to negotiate. Douglock subdues them and runs off with them to stop "Babel."