X-Men #12 Spoilers/Review Thread

[Mercury]

Dr. Stasis' Lair. Scott pummels Stasis and destroys the glass chamber containing his clothing, which Stasis had stolen. Afterward, Scott tells Stasis, "I'm going to walk to Krakoa and dunk your puppet master into the volcano."

Stasis is seemingly confused and annoyed, telling Scott he has had "many names over time," but "there's only one Dr. Nathaniel Essex—and he stands before you!" He admits he's "been right here since I arrived from England and helped found this place." He then threatens to "detonate the explosives [he's] hidden around the town above" if Scott doesn't release him.

Everett arrives, Scott asks him if Stasis is bluffing, and just as Everett screams, "No," there's a massive explosion, which brings the subway ceiling down around and traps them. Stasis escapes, telling Scott, "I'm not some genocidal monster. I'm a doctor, and the only planet I have has been made very ill by you mutants. If you want some advice: You took one world. Keep going. If you have any destiny at all—it's out there. Earth belongs to humanity." As Stasis walks away, Scott warns him, "Watch your backs, Essex...all of them."

Scott and Everett escape through a sewage hole, and Scott asks Everett if he can still use Laura's abilities, which he synced with before, to find the remaining bombs throughout the town. He can.

Stasis' Home. Stasis arrives at his home and instructs it to "Burn" itself. It does. Just as he leaves, he grabs a photograph depicting a malformed child. He says to the child in the picture, "I'll fix what's broken in you...after I cut the cancer out of this world."

Gameworld. Jean is seemingly in the process of getting attacked and stabbed by Laura, as Cordyceps Jones looks on and cheers. However, we learn "the attack had begun the moment they arrived, and it centered on Jean Grey being able to move the most objects she'd ever moved at once," referring to Jones' fungal spores. As Rogue attempts to stop and is attacked by Laura, and Lorna encases Rogue in a magnetic field, we also learn that Jean has been telepathically projecting all of this into Jones' mind. Finally, Jones catches on, noting, "Aw crud. That redheaded dame is just showing me what I wanna see, ain't she?... I can hear the psi-alarms now."

Jean realizes Jones has been alerted to her illusions, noting, "I still have work to do." "Want a hand, Red," Rogue asks, and Jean accepts, telling her, "You can help ensure we get every last spore." Rogue responds, "You know what they say...two Omegas are better than one," before kissing Jean on the cheek and absorbing a fraction of her telekinesis. As Rogue helps Jean collect the spores, she notes, "Damn, Jean, I didn't know your TK could grab something as small as spores." Jean responds, "No object is too big or heavy to lift, nor too small to grasp. You just have to feel it." The spores are expelled from Laura, and Jean and Rogue continue collecting the spores from others before Lorna sweeps in to help gather them in a magnetic field.

Cordyceps Jones is confused and attempts to fight back, but Laura grabs him from behind and threatens him, saying, "Let them do their thing, or I get to do mine, and your day will get even worse.” She then screams, "Let's throw him into one of the black holes and hit the buffet," as she flings Jones into Lorna's magnetic field. "No need for that kind of rough talk," Jones responds before telling Lorna, "Plus...maybe I can squeeze through your fancy bubble." She assures him, "Dr. Polaris says: Only thing that can escape my bubble is light, and your spores are much bigger than that." As this is happening, Rogue asks Jean, "Prison?" Jean agrees: "Prison." Lorna proceeds to use the surrounding metal to wrap Jones in a makeshift prison.

Rogue puts her arms around Laura and Jean and notes, "Y'all didn't just save Earth...every table over there is a different world that was a game. There are billions of souls on each of those worlds. I remember what you said at the Gala, Jean. You wanted to be an X-Man until you saved as many lives as the Phoenix claimed. Well, you just saved trillions." "We did," Jean corrects her, noting, "And back at the Gala, you said, 'Nobody's saving nothin' without me!' You were right."

Jean proceeds to send out the following telepathic message: "To the high rollers of Gameworld without Galactic Council arrest warrants: You are free to leave, so long as you convoy every captive who wants off Gameworld." She then yells, "The rest of you are free," before continuing, "Those of you who remain have no master. This place belongs to you now, and as long as you seek no harm to defenseless worlds, you can call the X-Men of Earth your friends!"

Shaefer's Diner. New York City. Scott, Everett, and the journalist Urich are in deep discussion. Scott tells him, "I'm willing to go on record," before revealing that "mutantdom has solved death." Urich asks, "You took the story from me...why return it to me now?" Scott responds, "If we don't stand for the truth, then we're just another council, and the world has enough of those." Everett also admits, "I took your memory of the story to protect my people. I...was afraid. My friend was dead, and I was scared of what else I could lose. He offers to give Urich back his memories using Jean's telepathy, which he is still synced with, but Urich refuses the offer, telling him, "I have to keep my perspective on this moment. It can't be your interpretation over mine." "The truth is worth fighting for," Scott says, and Everett adds, "And dying for." As Urich stands to leave, he notes, "I"m gonna quote you on that," before admitting, "It might be hard on you all for a while." "Yeah, it will," Scott says, and Everett chimes in, "But what else is new?"

Daily Bugle article: We learn that Urich has indeed written an article exposing the little he knows of the resurrection protocols.

Later. New York City (?). The team is in the process of fighting Mole Man. Scott admits, "My talking to Urich might cost me my spot on the team, but if anyone would like to stay on—" "We don't have to change out every roster spot," Jean continues. Lorna responds, "I'm letting chance take me where I should go." Rogue admits she would like to stay but also notes, "My destiny lies elsewhere. Irene's in a fit, saying that only I can prevent 'mutants walking through a gate and never returning' or some such nonsense." Shiro reveals, "There is something I must do in service of Arakko, but if you need me, just ask." Laura is noncommittal, noting, "I'll let you know before the vote is called."

Finally, Scott says, "And then there were three." Jean chimes in, "Unless Synch has had enough of all of this." Everett responds, "No. I'd like to stay until I absolutely crush it." He then asks, "Cyke, are you really worried about your spot in the upcoming election?" Scott responds, "Well, the Quiet Council will be furious, but I hope our people will take a breath, and upon reflection, say, 'Cyclops was right.'"