Old Wounds, New Battles

• Writer - Judd Winick
• Penciler - Mike McKone
• Inker - Mark McKenna
• Colorist - Transparency Digital
• Lettering - Paul Tutrone
• Ass't Editor - Mike Raicht
• Editor - Mike Marts
• Editor in Chief - Joe Quesada

Summary

  The Tallus explains: the team is in an alternate world with a slower timeline. When the Phoenix made a star go nova, half the Shi'ar Imperial Guard died. In this universe, the X-Men will win the trial for her life and she will not sacrifice herself. The Exiles are to ensure she dies. Oh, and this is the real Jean Grey, the alternate of T.J.'s aunt who raised her. They hesitate, so the Tallus gives them a vision of Phoenix at her worst, destroying X-Men, Earth, and sun in the next 9 days.

  They disguise themselves as aliens and offer their services to Lilandra, claiming to have been attacked by Phoenix.

  Mariko chats with Kevin, saying in her universe, her power manifested as radiation, not fire. He says in his universe, she's Wolverine's girlfriend. Calvin says on his world, he was with the Defenders during the Dark Phoenix saga, so this is new to him. He turns leadership over to Clarice, because he is through killing people he sees as family. Anyway, she has the Tallus.

  Wolverine recognized Calvin's scent, though he tried to mask it with alien flower nectar. They're friends: indeed, in Calvin's universe, they both loved Jean. Calvin realizes Wolverine will never let them kill her, so he armors up like Colossus and attacks. The battle is fierce, and Calvin has to use Beast's acrobatics, Cyclops's beams, and Wolverine's claws. He finally knocks him out, just as T.J. and John arrive.