Muir Island, or what's left of it. Buildings are shattered and left in ruins, while some are left standing, yet wobble like rubber. The landscape has been blasted and reshaped by an unsteady hand, leaving hills with holes through them and twisting bridges of soil and grass.

The dead are the worse however. Many of the guards are just dead, killed by Onslaught's artificial soldiers. But most of the dead, including the soldiers, lie dead in numerous places and ways, if they can even be called dead. About a dozen are nothing but lifeless husks, the life ripped out of them. Others have had more ripped out of them, leaving them nothing but piles of skin and blood. A number of scientists near the centre of the compound have been smashed together into one ball of flesh and blood and organs. From the occasional screams and weeping, it would seem that several of those unfortunate scientists are still alive.

"That is what has been happening these past few hours," Jean Grey, Head Prelate of Onslaught, states. As she continues to show these images in the minds of the New Mutants, she can't help feel a tremble of fear. "Whoever did this to Muir Island did more than kill and destroy. It shifted and manipulated reality around it like a child with clay. We may very well be witnessing the arrival of the most powerful mutant in the world, save for Onslaught himself."

Gideon sees these images in his mind's eye with horror in his eyes, sweat pouring down his face. A creature that could manipulate reality could alter all the laws through which mutant powers depend on. This creature could very well remove his immortality, granting him total and permanent death.

The assembled New Mutants experienced similar reactions.

Alchemy's power is the most similar to this reshaping of reality, yet now the element-changing mutant feels truly small in the face of such true and massive power.

Moonstar, who so enjoys playing with the minds of others, finally knows true fear at the thought of facing a mutant that could play with so much more.

Mondo, capable of absorbing and altering the earth around him, nearly weeps at the thought of what this being could do to him.

Sunspot, so dependent on the power of the sun for his powers, wonders just how far this mutant's power could reach. Could he even remove the sun itself from the sky?

Wolfsbane, a limited mutant with base wants and needs, feels her blood run cold at the thought of facing a mutant that could do far more than kill her.

Blink, the newest of the New Mutants, possessing the power to shunt around pieced of reality to teleport, no longer feels that her powers are so special.

Cypher just has a small smile on his face, observing the carnage and figuring out exactly what the mutant did to achieve such results.

After a few more moments of showing the young team the scenes, Jean takes the images from their minds. "Several weeks ago, Prelate Changeling was successful in infiltrating Muir Island, with the assignment of sabotaging its defences so that our forces to attack. While there, he learned of an imprisoned mutant with great power. Of course, he tried to free this mutant, but the security protocols around it were too much even for him."

Taking a moment to catch her breath, Jean Grey continued. "When Onslaught learned of this mutant, he ordered the immediate attack." The prelate allows a smile to cross her lips. "The attack was a success, and we slaughtered the pathetic guards. Unfortunately, the prelate we had sent to control the mutant found his mind too chaotic, filled to the brim with a hatred for all live. The imprisoned mutant, once freed, possessed the prelate, using his body as a vessel for it's vast power. It then gleefully committed the acts I showed you."

Jean Grey slowly approached each New Mutant, touching his or her face lightly. "That is where you come in, little children. Currently, Onslaught's prelates are spread too thin, and he is unwilling to waste precious resources on a suicide mission. Your orders are simple: access the records at Muir Island to ascertain the origins and weaknesses of the mutant, then destroy the mutant."

Fires of anger burn in Sunspot's eyes. "So that's all we are to you? Worthless sheep that can be squandered without a second thought."

Jean smiles and lightly kisses Roberto on the lips. "Why of course you silly child. I couldn't care less about your welfare, and you know that Onslaught wouldn't even notice if you all died today. Complete this mission, however, and you will prove us wrong. You will finally gain the notice of Lord Onslaught and rise to the rank of true prelate." Leaning forward, Jean whispers in his ear. "And I so love playing with the new prelates."

Pushing the boy back, Jean turns, swirling her magnificent cape and sways towards the door. Before she leaves, she turns back to the New Mutants and smiles. "Live to enjoy power and pleasure beyond your wildest dreams, or die in the gutter like flatscans. Either way is fine, so long as that mutant dies." Shortly after Jean Grey leaves, Gideon regains his composure and sets about seeing his charges on their way. "You all know what to do, so get moving. Blink's power is still unpredictable, so-"

"Shut up Gideon," Sunspot quietly growls. Angry at the humiliation Jean Grey made him feel, he needs to lash out. "It's our lives on the line here, not yours. This is our mission, and we'll carry it out our way."

As Sunspot began to give his orders, Gideon glared at him, barely containing his rage. He would have attacked Roberto right then if not for one thing. Cypher caught Gideon's eye and merely shook his head. Gideon tries to retain the heat of his anger and rage, but his fear of the powerful mutant chills him to the core. He steps back as the New Mutants leave the room for the hanger. Inside the jet, Cypher settles himself into the pilot's seat. Sunspot may be the resident flyer, but Cypher is the master of languages, including that of computers. Pressing his hands against the impressions on the console, he closes his eyes and goes limp. Within seconds the engines roar to life and the jet is hurtling through the runway at breakneck speed. Soon they are over the Atlantic.

"We will reach Muir Island in approximately forty-five minutes." The other New Mutants start at the sound of Cypher's electronic voice over the speakers. Even after all this time, they still aren't used to it. Blink lets out a quiet yelp, having not experienced it before.

With nothing to do but wait, each of the pre-prelates sits around the jet, each doing his/her own thing. As always, Dani stabs a psi-arrow through Mondo, knocking him out. Whenever he's separated from the ground, he often needs to be contained. With her one task done, Moonstar stalks towards Sunspot. He doesn't notice her until it's too late, as he's looking out the window at the clouds.

"You know Cypher always cloaks the jet, and the radar will pick up anything before it gets in sight. Now stop watching the clouds stroll by like a baby and face me like a man."

Sunspot turns to her, his jet black eyes boring into her soul. While he's currently powered down, his bearing more than makes up for whatever intimidation his energy sheathed form would have provided. "And who says I have any fear of facing you? I'm not the one that Cypher dropped without a fight." Moonstar tightens her jaw, fighting the urge to mentally strike him.

"While my power is nothing to him, remember that at any time I could have you on the ground, drooling like an invalid and begging for death. And not like last night either," She responds to his barely perceivable smirk. "What exactly did you think of that slut Grey coming on to you?"

Roberto snorts, obviously not thinking much of that. "What should I think? Jean Grey, first prelate of Onslaught and the most powerful woman in the world, made the same proposition to me that she makes to dozens of other young men. Whether or not I make anything out of it isn't really any business of yours."

Moonstar presses herself closer to Sunspot. Normally he'd enjoy this, but the feeling of a knife near his most tender area puts a damper on the situation. Lightly pressing the point of the knife against him, Dani whispers in his ear. "You are mine Roberto. Never forget that. I'd sooner kill you than give you up to anyone for even a second." She smiles slightly, "but if you require more convincing..." Pushing away from him, Moonstar turns and sways into the back of the jet, closing the door after a quick beckoning. A smirk on his face, Sunspot follows, eager to be 'convinced'.

A considerable time later, a soft beeping fills the interior of the jet, awaking the New Mutants from their stupor. Sunspot bursts out of the back room, following by a half-dressed Moonstar.

"What's coming Cypher?" Sunspot asks, black solar energy emanating from his body.

"Nothing is coming at the moment, Roberto," an electronic version of Cypher's voice responds. "I'm merely alerting the team that we are nearing Muir Island, and that a small force of Sentinels inhabit the air space around the facility."

"Perfect," Sunspot mutters. "Here's what we'll do then. Cypher, activate the weapons systems and try to take out as many as you can before they detect us. Then I'll go out there and, between the two of us, destroy what's left."

Suddenly, Cypher sits up in his chair and removes his hands. "No need Roberto. I found our quarry's energy signature and programmed the autopilot to follow it. I also hacked into the Sentinels' mainframe, disabling many of their secondary systems. I'll be able to find what I need in the facility without trouble, and I'll meet up with the rest of you when I do."

For a moment Sunspot is stunned. Cypher's always been an independent member, often ignoring orders. But this blatant insubordination...

Holding his fiery temper in check, Sunspot nods. "Excellent thinking Cypher. Just be sure to self-destruct those Sentinels before you go. We'd better send Blink with you too. There's no telling where that mutant will lead us, and your immediate presence could make all the difference."

Cypher smiles and nods his approval. He'd specifically left out his suggestion of Blink so that Roberto would be able to start healing his battered ego. "An admirable suggestion Roberto. Perhaps with my assistance, her difficulty in teleporting organics can be overcome."

Stepping aside so that Sunspot can take the pilot's seat, Cypher steps up to Blink and extends his hand. "Come Clarice. There is much to do and little time to do it in." Nervous, Blink accepts Cypher's hand, and allows him to lead her to the exit hatch.

Before she can react, Cypher wraps his arm around her waist, opens the hatch, and hurls them both out of the jet.

"AAAaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Blink screams at the top of her lungs, all the while fighting against Cypher's embrace. With a steel grip, Cypher clamps his free hand over her mouth.

"The winds carries sound, and there are more than Sentinels in the remains of that facility." Both hands tied up, Blink has no idea how Cypher did what he did next. One minute, they were in total freefall, hurtling towards the ground at a fantastic speed. The next, they were slowly gliding towards the earth, thanks to the odd parachute that sprang from Cypher's uniform. "Now just hold on and try not to squirm, and we'll land all right."

After a few moments, the two landed to the ground harshly.

Blink walked forward unsteadily for several feet, still under some mild shock. Cypher merely stood by, waiting for her, the parachute once again a part of his uniform. "I must apologise for not warning you. Experiencing such a sudden change in environment, some vertigo is to be expected. It would be best if you lay down for a moment, but we lack the time."

Reaching out, Cypher takes Blink by the arm, steadying her. He then takes off towards the visible ruins of the Muir Island Facility, almost dragging her with him.

"I can walk myself! Let me go." Pushing Cypher away, Blink rubs her arm and follows. "So, um, how did you do that with the parachute?"

"My uniform is composed of trillions of microscopic nanites. Through a neural link, I can command these nanites to perform vast varieties of functions, effectively adapting to virtually any situation."

Blinks looks his uniform over. It does seem to ripple slightly, as though its alive. "Wow. You must be pretty smart to make something like that."

"My powers enable me instinctively understand any language, including the laws of science and mathematics. There are few puzzles that I cannot figure out." Sighing, Cypher holds up his hand, palm up. From his uniform, a small circuit chip appears. "Unfortunately, one of those few things is this techno-organic template."

Blink looks at the chip, a little fearful and uncomfortable. "Is-is that from the cr-creatu-"

"The techno-organic entity that attacked you? Yes." The chip is once again absorbed into Cypher's uniform. "I've been studying it for the last six months. The techno I solved without difficulty. Such information was vital to the invention of my uniform. I've even mastered the organic, to an extent. Through contact, I can inject nanites into my opponent, paralysing their muscles and rendering them immobile."

Blink turns a little pale, an admirable feat considering her normal complexion, and starts to walk a little farther away from Cypher. They shortly near the remains of the facility, at which point Cypher stops. "Wait, there is trouble."

Blink looks around fearfully. "I don't see anything."

"Neither do I. That's what's wrong." Blink looks at him strangely. "My sensors read the electronic signature of a Sentinel nearby. We should have seen it by now, unless..."

"Unless what?"

"One moment." Cypher's eyes seem to go blank for a moment. Blink faintly hears what sounds like a buzz, then is startled when Cypher suddenly shows signs of life once more. "I just did a mass scan. I detected five human-sized figures within the facility. Only one registers life signs, while the remainder appear to be electronic."

"Humanoid Sentinels?" Blink questions. Cypher nods.

Cautiously, Cypher makes his way amidst the ruins, Blink a safe distance behind him. Creeping behind what's left of a wall, Cypher motions for her to remain hidden, while he looks around the corner at the only other occupants of the former Muir Island Facility.

He sees one human female, surrounded by four things that definitely aren't human. Two stand on either side of her, while the other two stand behind her, again on either side. Cypher recognises the pattern, and quickly scans the area for further surprises.

Finding nothing, Cypher motions for Blink to remain where she is. He then steps around the corner, in plain sight of the human and her escort. "Greetings Mrs. MacTaggart. Don't worry about your new Sentinels. They've merely been programmed to rest as long as I'm within range of their sensors."

Drawing her plasma gun, Moira MacTaggart, points it unsteadily at the mutant standing within a few feet of her. "Ye stay away from me, ye beastie! T'is yuir fault e's out!"

Cypher merely smiles and steps forward. "Who's out, Mrs. MacTaggart? Another lonely, frightened mutant persecuted by your kind because of what he is? Or perhaps a secret weapon against Onslaught that you lost control of? Whatever it is, Mrs. MacTaggart, my team and I will find if, and we will kill it."

Moira fires off a burst of plasma, which is easily absorbed by Cypher's costume. The gun falling from her hands, Moira collapses to her knees, fighting back sobs. "T'was for his own good. He cae nae be stopped, only imprisoned. Cae ye nae see what he can do!?"

Cypher continues to walk towards the helpless human, contemplating what he's heard and what he sees. "What exactly did you keep here, Mrs. MacTaggart? What powers does it possess that allows it to do such things? Why are there only four Sentinels escorting you when they are programmed to be in a star formation?"

Moira looks up at the unemotional mutant. "Tis no mere thing! Tis a creature of hell itself. He lives only tae hate and torture, and he is my son!"

"Get ready team. We're almost close enough for a visual." Sunspot prepares the jet for landing as he barks out his orders.

Wolfsbane digs her claws into the floor, eager to kill. Mondo is awake and looks like he's ready to jump out of the plane at that moment. Moonstar slings her bow over her shoulder and stands by the hatch.

Sunspot stands and looks over his team. "Expect anything guys, and give no quarter. We're here to kill, plain and simple."

{What a coincidence? That's exactly what I plan to do to all of you!}

The members of the New Mutants grasp their heads with both hands, overwhelmed that someone was able to shatter through their psychic defences.

{Don't all die at once. I've gone too long without playmates, I'd hate to lose my first ones so soon!}

Before anyone can react, the jet that surrounds them simply...vanishes. Without the jet to hold them aloft, the New Mutants find themselves in freefall.

2,500 feet off the ground.