Picking up from the explosion cliffhanger last issue, firefighters are outside the His Majesty's Young Mutant Containment Facility in London. They watch as it burns one saying they pity the souls inside. But another points out that this section of the facility is for "muties", dangerous types, and that odds are one of them set the fire themselves.
Inside we see a rock mass in the middle of the flames. It starts to slightly crack as we see Rictor's power signature running through it. Within the rock mass Betsy gasps as they finally have some air noting that she was cooking in there. Rictor apologizes saying Nicodemus torched the place like a match...
"... but Rictor was not weaned in Mojoworld. His burns are deep." My boy! Star says. Julio needs medical attention immediately. Betsy says he'll get it but until Star is rested enough to teleport again she'll psychically numbs Julio's pain receptors, touching his forehead. Star says he pushed his limits for her but he has no limits for Julio and will evacuate them rested or not. He's about to open a portal when a firefighter appears, yelling and blaming them for the fire. He tells them not to hurt him. The heroes move closer to the exit where a police line is set up. Betsy reaches out telepathically to tell the first responders that they mean them no harm, that they didn't attack the facility. The police officers are not happy. "It's Braddock! Damn mutie captain's invadin' our brains! Fire! 'Fore she can sink her teeth in!" The officers immediately start shooting.
Betsy says no, that it's best they say goodbye to Britain as Star opens a portal, jumping through with Rictor.
"... but we do have another." We see Layla Miller in her quarters holding Davey and telling him that despite his cumulative century of botanical experience his father still overwaters the plants. Suddenly Star's portal opens and the heroes emerge, Star and Rictor falling to their knees. Layla calls for Jamie and immediately moves to assist Star while asking what happened. Jamie rushes in with some dupes who help carry the guys. He says they'll get them to the infirmary and is glad he sent some of his dupes to medical school. Betsy asks Layla if Dani is on-site. Layla says she is and is trying to get Thunderbird settled. Betsy says, "Not too settled, I hope. I finally know what we're up against. Mutant. Human. These people don't care. Fighting them is going to be brutal."
We're in Nova Roma now as Crule terrorizes the prisoners by raking a bone across their prison bars. He tells them he loathes their imprisonment as much as they do, that he'd rather be slaughtering them. Saul telepathically tells Crule to step away from the children, telling him that Absalom and Nicodemus are back and Selene has summoned all of them to her shrine. Crule says if Saul orders him around like a dog again he's going to be bitten. They continue to argue as Crule leaves for Selene's chambers.
When he arrives he asks his "brothers" how long must Selene lead them without delivering what she promised them in return. Nicodemus says ascension requires fuel, like a moonshot, that it is a process. He says dues must be paid and they've all collected their share of raw materials. Gideon taunts Nico saying he seems tired while he brought his tributes/prisoners without incident. Saul notes that Gideon is ever the opportunist, rivaled only by their host and carrot-dangler herself. Right on cue Selene enters. She admits that while what she and Apocalypse did to them to create the External Gate was "terrible", being horrible to each other is what immortals fancy. (She's hilarious LOL). She says Krakoa, Orchis, every mortal structure is a game board to them and nothing more. She says Candra is a coward and Apocalypse is loyal to his mutants first. But that they, the others, know a greater power awaits them. One only for them.
Selene: We've played at it before, but now the keys to ascension are ours. Soon...