In the stench of the Paris sewer, the X-Men Storm (Ororo Munroe), Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner) and Wolverine (James Howlett/Logan) lay defeated. Their teammate Bishop (Lucas Bishop) stands over them with his guns smoking. Bishop is from the future and has a more detailed knowledge of many things than these fallen heroes. It was this knowledge that allowed him to identify the threat to the X-Men even before they did. He chose this course of action instinctively and hoped for the best.
Nightcrawler begins to stir and, after gaining his senses, attacks Bishop. He demands to know why Bishop attacked his teammates and shot them down. Nightcrawler quickly disarms Bishop and throws him to the ground. Bishop pleads with Nightcrawler to listen to him and follow his instructions. He makes it clear that if Kurt does not follow his instructions he may have to take his teammates down yet again. Kurt listens as Bishop gives him clear instructions to teleport the entire group in the exact direction that he specifies. Nightcrawler hesitantly agrees, and the team shortly materializes in the ancient Roman baths of the museum at Cluny. Bishop knows exactly where he is due to his mutant ability to always know his exact location and the time of day. As he and Storm begin to stir, Wolverine explains that Bishop was not attacking the X-Men but rather cleansing them from the nannite infection that someone had left waiting for them in the sewer. Someone knew they were coming and laid a trap. Wolverine’s healing factor was hit particularly hard by the nannites, and he has been left extremely weak.
The X-Men together deduce that although it is possible that the trap was laid by Sage, she would have known about Bishop’s immunity to nannites. It is more likely that the trap was left by Sebastian Shaw. Bishop has Shaw’s bio-tag recorded from an earlier altercation, thus making it simple for him to be tracked. The heroes are hopeful that Sage is with Shaw and that they will be able to find both of them.
Storm tells Nightcrawler to get Logan to X-Corp Paris to recover from his wounds while she and Bishop track down Shaw and Sage.
Meanwhile in the Hellfire Club, Hong Kong, Emma Frost and Courtney Ross continue their card game to determine who will rule as White Queen. Courtney has drawn the ace of spades—the highest card in the deck. Emma surprises Viper by pulling a joker—the wild card. The duel is a tie!
Marvel Girl (Rachel Grey) using her newfound ability to make herself telepathically invisible searches the Club for evidence of the mutant slaves being sold at auction. She finds nothing particularly interesting until she comes across a door protected by a psi-shield that she cannot penetrate. From behind the door, come an Asian man and woman. They can not only see Rachel, but the woman demands to know what she is doing in this restricted area. Rachel attempts to cover with her false identity of Warrior White Princess of the Hellfire Club, but the woman wants to verify this before she will let her go. When Rachel tries to leave, the woman attacks her with a mental image of Rachel in rags—utterly worthless. The woman has the ability to identify everyone’s flaws and turn them against her opponent as a psychic attack.
Just before Rachel is overwhelmed by this woman, Red Lotus rushes in to her rescue. He continues the charade of Rachel’s White Princess status and informs her that the White Queen is asking for her. The Asian woman commands them both to stop and is about to attack when she is stopped by Selene, the Black Queen. Selene plans to claim Rachel, the “starchylde”, for her own.
Back in Paris, Wolverine and Nightcrawler enjoy a cup of coffee and some conversation at a bookstore. Kurt is nervous about being in public as himself, but no one at the coffeehouse seems to mind. In fact, one particularly flirtatious female leaves Kurt her phone number and an invitation. The conversation turns to Sage. Wolverine sees her much like himself: damaged goods with lots of scars on her soul that aren’t her fault. He wants her to be innocent in this mess, because she is so much like him.
They continue to talk about relationships. Logan and Kurt both have feelings for Ororo. Logan claims that they just enjoy each other’s company, while Kurt claims that dancing with Ororo seemed like the most natural thing in the world. At the same time, Kurt maintains that he has feelings for Rachel. Both he and she have changed so much since their time in Excalibur. Wolverine wonders why X-Men can conquer any super foe, but dating is another matter entirely. Suddenly the sky clouds and darkens. Logan suspects that Ororo has learned something she didn’t like.
Moments earlier, Storm and Bishop had successfully tracked down Shaw and Sage. They land in the inner courtyard of a large mansion; Sage and Shaw stand waiting for them. Shaw welcomes them with champagne, caviar, and open arms. The X-Men are taken aback by this welcome, but Shaw insists his hospitality is genuine. When Bishop addresses Sage, Shaw reminds him that her name is Tessa. Sage says nothing.
Suddenly, Sunspot, Roberto DaCosta appears. He introduced by Shaw as the newest Black King of the Hellfire Club. ‘Berto insists that this is all on the up-and-up. The Hellfire Club has turned over a new leaf. Just as Emma Frost has reformed, Shaw claims, so have the remaining members of the Lords Cardinal.
Sage remains silent.
In Hong Kong, Red Lotus (Paul Hark) begins to explain the idea of the new Hellfire Club to Rachel. He, Courtney Ross and Viper are working together to put the mutant slavers out of business. In Paris, Shaw explains the same thing to Storm and Bishop. He is turning over a new leaf just as Emma did. Shaw mentions the fact that he, Xavier, and Tessa go back before the beginning. They met in Afghanistan years ago and Shaw has decided now to embrace the ideals of Xavier that he rejected then. Rachel doubts what Paul is saying just as Storm and Bishop doubt the words of Shaw. ‘Berto explains that there is a growing market for mutant slaves, and the Hellfire Club wants to put it out of business. Shaw claims that Courtney’ boundless ambition makes her perfect for the Club and Viper should be granted immunity for past indiscretions because of her efforts now to free the enslaved mutants. Bishop vehemently objects reminding everyone present that Viper attempted to nuke London, and Storm asks ‘Berto if he cleared this new membership with Cyclops; ‘Berto claims that he can make decisions on his own.
Sage continues to remain silent.
Back at the bookstore, Logan and Kurt are suddenly attacked by a large group of armed soldiers. Logan’s plan all along was to make themselves and easy target with the hopes of drawing out the person who attacked them in the sewers. His plan worked. Kurt teleports into action as Logan charges the group of soldiers.
At Shaw’s mansion, ‘Berto continues to explain the new concept of the Hellfire Club. He invites the X.S.E. to join them from a law enforcement standpoint. Suddenly from the roof, the group is attacked. Tantalus webs are launched at each of them, and in a matter of moments the entire group lie paralyzed at the feet of none other than…Donald Pierce.
