Spoilers: After Surge’s death and Sage’s departure, the remaining X-Force members—Forge, Betsy Braddock, Rachel Summers, and Tank—spent the next month sealing fractures across the globe, including those in the Mariana Trench, Numidia, and Tibet. Aboard the X-Jet, Forge remains haunted by Surge’s death. Seeking clarity, he activates his virtual reality program featuring holographic simulations of Storm and Mystique. “Storm” tries to reassure him that he is not a bad man, while “Mystique” taunts him, insisting the X-Force members are just expendable pawns in his larger schemes.
Meanwhile, Sage infiltrates Forge’s Aerie in Texas and hacks into his virtual reality. She expresses lingering resentment toward Forge but reveals that she has spent the past few days analyzing data from the fractures they’ve encountered. She’s discovered a common link: Dr. Corazon Estrada, a scholar specializing in quantum physics and alchemy, was present at each fracture site—Japan, Wakanda, Cambodia—just days before they occurred. The twist? Dr. Estrada supposedly died in a car accident five years ago. Sage and Forge deduce that Estrada faked her death and has now resurfaced, tied to these fractures.
At that moment, Corazon Estrada hacks into Forge’s simulation, identifying herself as "La Diabla." Displeased with their interference, she takes control of Forge’s simulations, pitting “Storm” and “Mystique” against Forge and Sage. Sage manages to purge “Mystique” from the system, enraging La Diabla, who retaliates by forcefully ejecting Sage from the simulation. “Storm” turns on Forge, forcing him to confront his guilt over Surge’s death. Accepting his role in the tragedy, Forge shuts down the virtual reality, purging La Diabla from the system. Before disappearing, she ominously warns that the game isn’t over.
Forge awakens on the X-Jet and urgently alerts Tank that they are under attack. Meanwhile, Betsy and Rachel, who had been meditating together with their powers synchronized, appear to be trapped in a catatonic psychic trance.
“For so long, my life has been out of control. Chaos and serendipity, wrapped in insanity. I have suffered, I have lost. Not just my life, but my very soul, my self. But no more. Now I know who I am.” – Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Braddock, daughter of Otherworld, mutant, telepath, telekinetic, defender of the realm and, above all, X-Man.
1 comment:
It's good to know that Sage remains an ally! Better yet to see Forge's dilemma. I want to trust in him. La Diabla's manipulations skills are interesting! Looks like a new villain, not someone from the mutants past, but I may be wrong. Could La Diabla have even manipulated Forge's powers so that he could build the analog to her own benefit??
I did not understand why Nuklo was doing what he was doing in the previous issues, but now it seems a bit less unclear, as there is someone behind provoking the fractures.
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