The Beast Within

• Story - Howard Mackie
• Inker - Al Milgrom
• Lettering - Richard Starkings
• Computer Color - Malibu
• Editor in Chief - Bob Harras
• Editor - Kelly Corvese
• Artist - Trimpe
• Penciler - Raffaele
• Colorist - Glynis Oliver

Summary

  Leaving Shard and Polaris to guard the captive Random and Havok, Forge leads the rest of X-Factor into the Dark Beast's base. They find a man who claims to be the real Beast imprisoned in a harness, and release him. However, Sabretooth and Wild Child both identify the man as the imposter Dark Beast and attack him. Meanwhile, Random protests his love to Polaris, who is not impressed. Havok claims to have broken free of the Dark Beast's mind control, and she releases him. Realising that it is an act, Random breaks free of his bonds and attacks Havok. However, his mutant power of invulnerability to other mutant powers inexplicably fails to work against Havok, who reduces him to a pool of sludge which flows into a drain. Meanwhile, Sabretooth smashes a wall to reveal the cell where the true Beast is held. Sabretooth releases the Beast from his restraints, and the Beast defeats his doppelganger and Fatale. The heroes leave the factory to find Havok and Random gone, and Shard attempting to resuscitate Polaris. On the Dark Beast's instructions, Fatale complies with Forge's request to teleport them all to a hospital.

Summary

  Note: this is part of Onslaught Impact 2.

  Forge reactivates Mystique and Sabretooth's restraints, angering them, of course. He takes Sabretooth, and sends Wildchild and Mystique, and try to find Hank; Polaris and Shard stay with the captive turncoats Random and Havok. Random explains that the Dark Beast took him in and helped him control his body, so he was willing to work for him, until ordered to hurt Lorna, whom he loves. He warns her that Havok is not brainwashed, and when Havok claims to be back to normal, he morphs large guns from his hands and tries to stop Lorna from freeing him. Havok, with powers boosted by the Dark Beast, attacks Random, who discorporates and oozes down the sewer drain, chased by Shard. Havok then turns on Lorna; he genuinely wants to be a villain, now.

  The rest of the team find a captive Beast, and Mystique drops Kyle on Fatale. They free the Beast, but Sabretooth, and soon Kyle, realize that he is the Dark Beast. Sabretooth breaks through a brick wall and discovers the real Hank, who bounces on the Dark Beast's back side awhile.

  Dark Beast and Fatale secured, the team then finds Lorna in need of a hospital after being blasted by Havok.