Emma Frost's sinister claws sink deeper into Firestar's mind! Now, it's only a matter of time before Angelica Jones becomes the Hellfire Club's deadliest assassin!

Angelica Jones, now given the codename,"Firestar", completes a training exercise. Under the watchful eye of the White Queen, Firestar makes short work of laser cannons and robots. The sudden appearance of Professor Charles Xavier, however, causes Firestar to hesitate, and she is shot out of the sky. The White Queen is disappointed to confirm Firestar's lack of killer instinct. Firestar's handler, Randall Chase, doesn't trust the White Queen's intentions for the naïve young girl.

Chase guards his thoughts, for fear of reprisal from the White Queen. Chase's unease grows, after an encounter with Bruno Stein, who speaks with great relish regarding an upcoming assignment. The White Queen reports to the Black King, regarding Firestar's progress, as well as an unfortunate incident between the Hellions, and the X-men. The White Queen has a plan to hone Firestar's killer instinct. The Black Queen surprises the Black King in his private chamber.

The Black Queen was clearly eavesdropping on the Black King's conversation with the White Queen. Threatened by the Black Queen's thirst for power, the Black King schemes to do away with her. Firestar, as Jones, attends dance class. The machinations of Jones' classmates, Manuel de la Rocha and Jennifer Stavros, cause her humiliation. In accidental retaliation, Jones' mutant power triggers the water sprinklers. Jones receives a reprimand from the White Queen.

Jones is also given the news that, after two years, it's been arranged for her to visit her father, Bartholomew, at her home in New Jersey. Jones is ecstatic, but Chase doubts the White Queen's good intentions. That night, Jones has a terrible nightmare in which Nightcrawler, and Wolverine, of the X=Men, are trying to murder her. The White Queen offers Joes comfort. Unbeknownst to Jones, her nightmares are influenced by a bracelet, given to her by the White Queen.

Jones, and Chase, meet Bartholomew at the airport. Jones' father is a bit standoffish. Jones is overjoyed to be home again. Jones showers affection on her cat, Pum'kin, only to have the animal torn from her hands by her father, who fears for Pum'kin's life. Jones' father is clearly terrified of her mutant powers. Under the circumstances, Chase decides to cut their visit short. The next morning, while awaiting their departing flight, Chase is called away to a courtesy phone.

Chase is confronted by Stein, who prevents Chase from interfering in his operation. A punk bumps into Jones, and drops his radio. The radio suddenly bursts into flame. The punk accuses Jones of being a mutant, inciting a riot. Jones' father is brought to the ground, where people begin violently kicking him. Jones openly uses her mutant powers to protect herself, and her father. When the punk draw a gun on her father, Jones incinerates him.

At a that moment, Stein receives a signal to let Chase go. The White Queen reports on the success of the operation, to the Black King. Jones has taken her first step to becoming the Hellfire Club's assassin. The Black King has already selected Jones' first target... the Black Queen.