Continued from last issue...

The X-Men are re-entering Earth's atmosphere aboard a crippled Starcore space shuttle with Jean Grey at the helm piloting the ship at a seeming sacrifice to herself. Jean attempts to make an emergency landing at JFK Airport, however the out of control aircraft skids off the runway and crashes into Jamaica Bay, smashing into pieces. The X-Men and Peter Corbeau rise to the surface and Scott immediately begins looking for signs of Jean. The group are all shocked when Jean suddenly rises out of the water in a new costume and proclaims herself to be power incarnate, and calls herself Phoenix. Just as she majestically rises out of the water she soon passes out and falls into the water below. Cyclops and the others pull Jean to shore and try to become as inconspicuous as possible before ambulances arrive on the scene, however the Professor uses his mental powers so that none recall the X-Men being there.

Sometime later, Wolverine admits that he has feelings for Jean and decides to pick up some flowers for her to bring to the hospital. When Wolverine arrives on the scene he sees that the other X-Men are in the waiting room and tosses out f the flowers before anyone can see. As the X-Men wait to find out how Jean will be doing, Scott takes the waiting the worst, wondering what he will do if Jean doesn't pull through. However, his fears are allayed when Dr. Corbeau and Jean's physician enter the room and tell the gathered mutants that Jean is going to be all right. This brings great cheer among the X-Men, and they soon leave Scott alone with Jean who breaks down into tears upon hearing the good news.

With the positive news, Professor X decides that it's time for the X-Men to take a much needed vacation, despite Wolverine's protests to the contrary. Sean then pipes up with just the suggestion: He has received a letter from Ireland from his solicitor Mr. Flaherty who advises Sean that he has inherited the Cassidy ancestral home. The Professor finds this a great idea and soon Sean, Kurt, Peter, Ororo and Wolverine are travelling to Sean's new castle, Cassidy Keep.

Arriving after a long journey, the group are unaware that they are being watched by Sean's evil brother, Black Tom, also a mutant. He tells the grounds keeper Eamon O'Donnell to prepare his cousin and his friends for the trap he has set for them. When Eamon refuses, Tom reminds him that he has some hostages that he will kill if he dares defy him, Eamon has no choice but to comply.

The X-Men are welcomed into the Keep by Eamon and are escorted to their rooms unaware that small creatures watch them from the shadows. They all prepare for dinner and head down to the dining hall together when suddenly a trap door opens beneath them. They fall before Black Tom and his partner the Juggernaut, the two working together to kill the X-Men. Before the group can act, Storm suddenly breaks down in a panic and begins to scream, having fallen to another bout of her crippling claustrophobia.

This story is continued next issue....

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