Villain: Jason Wyngarde, Mutant X/Proteus (as Angus MacWhirter)

Guest Appearance: Moira MacTaggert, Lorna Dane, Jamie Madrox, Havok, Beast

Cameo: Lilandra, Magneto; Magda, Angel, Beast, Iceman (all in flashback)

Innovation: Wyngarde imagines Jean as the Black Queen

Letters Page: Page One

Meanwhile, Magneto orbits the planet Earth in Asteroid M, regaining his strength and reflecting on old times to renew his urge for power. Another villainous sort, Jason Wyngarde, muses about Jean Grey while resting at a Scottish in near Muir Island. He has been laying the groundwork for his brainwashing of Jean Grey, stalking her throughout her trips across the world and using his mutant power to pose as whatever Jean's emotional needs call for at that moment. His ultimate goal is to transform her into the Black Queen, so they can both gain entry into the Hellfire Club.

On Lilandra's home planet, Charles Xavier grows restless as his love's attention is demanded by an unending mountain of royal duties. As he reflects back on Jean Grey and her potential struggles with the Phoenix Force, he realizes his attention is needed there, to help her cope with them. He prepares to return to Earth.

While doing routine inspections, Moira realizes that Mutant X has escaped his holding cell. Jamie Madrox and Alex Summers realize, in interacting with Jean, that she's acting a bit arrogant, which is unnerving to them. Jean senses that Moira is in distress, and when she heads into the lab to investigate, she races around the corner and suddenly finds herself in a dream-state, clad in an 18th century gown and in some kind of Regency mansion. But suddenly, she's knocked out of her reverie, tackled by the form of Mutant X. Alex and Jamie hear her scream and go to aid her.

In New York, the Beast flies the Quinjet to the school to check on the campus after security features he had left active were triggered. He comes inside to find all his friends alive! After a happy reunion, Beast informs Cyclops that Jean is alive and on Muir Island. They all decide to go immediately out to see them. Cyclops places a call over there and Lorna Dane picks up the phone, telling him that they sense they are in great danger, and Jean and Moira are missing. Suddenly, the line goes dead....

(continued in XMEN #126)

--synopsis and panel images by Gormuu