Time for another book without Hellion. But let's endure these trying times and wait patiently for his return.
Lockheed goes to some dilapidated, X-themed church in Newark, where he discovers a monstrous, giant, dead mass of flesh and body parts. Lockheed sniffs them and is disgusted.
Back in space, Xandra is not happy that they're greeting the Marauders with an armada. She's also missing her aunt Deathbird, and she's determined not to repeat her ancestors mistakes.
Back with the Marauders, they're confronted by Eric the Red. He mentions that he's from Kin Crimson and that the Shi'ar are keeping a secret from mutants. Which probably isn't the best thing to say when people are suspicious of you, but he also calls Cassandra Nova filth, so that's good. Then he summons red doppelgangers of the crew (minus Kitty) and has them fight the Marauders, while he fights Kitty himself.
Aurora determines that the the doppelgangers are holograms that run on thought. They don't have the originals' weaknesses, but they don't have all of their powers, either. Everyone but Tempo and Somnus beats the constructs, though Tempo's doing much better at fighting than Somnus. Since they're made of energy, Bishop absorbs some of them.
Back with Xandra, she's annoyed at Gladiator for siding with the Kin Crimson. He explains that the Superguardians were indoctrinated to defer to them. This was kept secret from the royals so they don't have to worry about it, man. Xandra once again says that she's against hurting the Marauders, but she also understands how serious things are.
A transmission between Delphos and another member of Kin Crimson reveals that there are Ten Shames. Among them are:
1. The First Blood Spilled, which is what Cassandra Nova has been talking about, and what Delphos showed to Xandra
2. The Theft of the Hard Skin
3. The Birth of the Wet Skin
4. Shapeless Ridge
5. The Fall of Emperiax the Red
6. The Gelding of Birj
7. The Asher Gambit
8. The Goblin Extraction
9. The Alternity Kill
10. The Tenth Shame
11. Hellion
They also compare letting the secrets out to opening Pandora's Box. They intend to retrieve that cursed box and ensure that its toxic truths stay locked inside. I don't know if this is still part of the Pandora's Box or if they're also talking about Kitty's old box. But they describe it as a Vessel (capitalized), and Eric mentions the Vessel to Cassandra Nova later, so they must be talking about Kitty's box.
Anyway, Gladiator feels bad for keeping secrets from Xandra. She's not mad at him and agrees that the truth should stay buried. Then she puts on a triangle-shaped helmet and they fly away on a ship.
Back to the mutants. Bishop's kind of messed up from the energy he absorbed and needs a minute to compose himself. Eric chokes out Cassandra and she's like "I barely feel it. Squeeze harder, dear. " Pryde tries to rescue her, but Eric reveals that many more members of Kin Crimson are already on their way. They blow up the ship, but the Marauders use their powers to create a little safe environment for themselves. But in the explosion, Kitty's box falls out and Eric grabs it.
They have about seven minutes' worth of oxygen before they're doomed. Cassandra Nova's not with them, instead doing battle with Eric.
Somnus has Psylocke bring everyone into his dream - a spaceship based on a show he likes- so they can have an emergency meeting. Somnus can stretch out time while they're in here; in the dreamscape, seven IRL minutes could last seven days. So while their bodies are unconscious and drifting in space, they have enough time to come up with a plan of action.
Xandra and her forces show up, and now she must choose what to do with them.
- Note about the doppelgangers: they have smiley faces projected over their real faces. They're usually faces, but each of the men have an X for one of their eyes.
- They were created with something called Hard Skin, which lets Kin Crimson create things with red lightforce via thought. There's something called the Wet Skin, which is a backup. But according to a data page, it hadn't been perfecting it, and the methods for creating it are "aggressive and cruel."
- Psylocke II confirmed to have telekinesis. She's also confirmed to have a really big butt in one shot.
- Remember the show Somnus likes? Not only did he dream up the ship, but also the crew. Aurora and Somnus both crush on a bald guy, though Daken thinks he's too soft. I agree with Daken on this one.