The Ticking Clock

• Writer - Howard Mackie
• Artist - Al Milgrom
• Story - Jeff Matsuda
• Lettering - Richard Starkings
• Colorist - Glynis Oliver
• Editor - Kelly Corvese
• Editor in Chief - Bob Harras

Free Fall

Summary

  The Dark Beast presents Onslaught with the services of Fatale, Random and "Prelate" Alex Summers. Though at first unimpressed, Onslaught dispatches the three Dark Descendants to recover the Sentinel that is in X-Factor's custody. Fatale achieves this without difficulty, and also teleports Mystique and Sabretooth away to meet the Dark Beast. Random and the remaining members of X-Factor trace the Sentinel to the Dark Beast's headquarters in an abandoned Brand Corporation factory. Fatale and the brainwashed Havok appear to battle the team, and Random too is forced to come out against X-Factor. Meanwhile, Forge breaks into the factory and finds dozens of Sentinels being prepared to launch and attack humans. He is interrupted by an attack from Post. Random is defeated when he intervenes to stop Havok killing Polaris, and X-Factor defeat Havok and Fatale. Post teleports away to join Onslaught, and X-Factor can only watch as the Sentinels fly away from the factory.

Summary

  Mystique and Sabretooth appear in the Dark Beast's headquarters, where he identifies himself and attempts to recruit them to his side. He frees them of the inhibitor collar and the neural implant, and has Fatale teleport the unconscious Forge to him. He offers them the opportunity to kill Forge, but the two villains decide that their interests are better served for the moment by working for the government, and they refuse. A battle ensues, and the Dark Beast is forced to have Fatale teleport him away, leaving the three members of X-Factor in the catacombs.

Summary

  Note: this is part of Onslaught Impact 1.

  The Dark Beast tries to ally with Onslaught, offering him the services of Fatale, Random, and Havok.

  X-Factor defends their base against a Sentinel, the one they destroyed in iss. 117 and Forge put back together, supposedly with failsafes.

  Mystique and Sabretooth contemplate killing each other, and are then abducted by Fatale, who also ports away with the Sentinel. Random stays with X-Factor.

  Phoenix had tried to send a message to X-Factor, but Fatale disrupted their communications.

  X-Factor trace the Sentinel to a Brand Corporation building, where they find Havok a villain. He blasts Lorna, who shields herself, until Random shows his colors and threatens to kill Kyle unless they all surrender. They do, and Fatale orders Random to kill them anyway, but Forge breaks through the wall with Post and warns them that the building is full of Sentinels about to be sent against New York City.

  Lorna tries to blast Havok, but can't bring herself to do it. Before he can kill her, Random interferes, gets blasted, and has to reconstitute himself in his true, boyish form.

  Lorna approaches Havok, believing he won't kill, and then tries to contain him in a magnetic bubble, but he breaks free. Post points out that X-Factor has failed, since the Sentinels successfully launch.

Summary

  Sabretooth and Mystique find themselves falling down a shaft, and are rescued by the Dark Beast, who explains that he is not the "real McCoy" and offers to let them join Onslaught. He neutralizes their restraints and has Fatale port Forge over so they can kill him. Instead, they attack the Dark Beast, who is forced to port away, courtesy Fatale.