Cyclops desperately tries to reach out to Jean and bring her out of her dark transformation. But Mastermind has other plans and attacks Cyclops on the astral plane! Can Scott survive death in this psychic realm?

The Inner Circle has shackled up the X-Men. Cyclops tries to snap Jean Grey out of her role as Black Queen by reaching her through their rapport between them. Mastermind becomes aware of this, and kills Cyclops on the astral plane.

Wolverine attacks and badly injures several Hellfire Club mercenaries. Trying to find a way to his teammates, he runs into several Hellfire Club servants who attack him.

On Muir Island, Moira fears for Jean, as the latest tests show that Phoenix is now tapping into limitless power levels. At Angel's place, Xavier feels he had failed with Cyclops and his new X-Men.