Fontanelle moved through the crowds in Sacramento with one intent on her mind. She was in search of her newest and first students. The goals of Exodus were soon to be ignited once these six children were enlisted into the ranks of the Exiles. As Fontanelle was in thought she cautiously moved into a part of the mall where the teenagers usually hung out. When she took
her first step into the arcade she saw a charming young man wearing blue sunglasses in the corner playing some type of shooting game. Fontanelle sneakily as possible moved to the game the "New X-Man" was playing with great rigor and enthusiasm.

"Hello Author," Fontanelle whispered into the young boy's ear. He leaped back from her with shock plastered on his face. Before he could even ask the question Fontanelle cut him off.

"As of right now I'm probably the closest thing to an X-Man you're ever going to see."

"Are you here to shut us down then?" Brian asked pushing his glasses up deeply disheartened.

"Not at all Author. In fact I'm here to extend an invitation for you and your team to train under my…"

"YES!! Oops…sorry about that," Brian apologized for having cut Gloria off. The middle-aged woman smiled back at him remembering the energy she had in the days of her youth. Mission was for the most part accomplished. Now it was time to see if the other New X-Men shared Author's enthusiasm.

Morocco

Yurike moved as silently as a grain of rice down a hill when she moved into the inner sanctum of her master and savior, Mr. Sinister. The room seemed to bleed a menacing feeling from the walls and the floor shined brightly very much like Sinister's teeth when he smiled. Yurike hated every second of being in this room that Sinister adored so greatly. What made him love this room so much? Maybe it reminded him of some thing in his past. Whatever it was Yurike couldn't understand Sinister's infatuation with it.

"What do you have to report to me?" Sinister asked. Yurike looked all around to see where he was at, but to no avail. He obviously didn't want to be seen so Yurike was glad to oblige him. She knew that Sinister could be very eccentric at times for reasons all his own. To be quite honest she never wanted to learn his reasons. They were all probably too twisted and bizarre for even the most insane to understand.

"Domino knows part of her history now. It has left her a devastated husk so she will be easy to mold into your servitude,"* Yurike said off in the black abyss that was Sinister's personal labyrinth. She personally was very pleased with the way things were going for Domino. She was finally going to pay for her past grievances mainly killing Yurike's father and raping her.

( *See last issue for details - Dino )

"I'm not quite yet done with my manipulation of Beatrice just yet. Let a tad more of her past be revealed to her in full and then you shall make your move. So onto other matters. How goes the growth of G8?" Sinister inquired coming out the shadows behind Yurike causing her to leap back nearly falling over her own two feet.

"Her growth goes well my lord. She's 88% done and once again due to your use of Neo gene therapy her powers are a combination of her parents," Yurike reported swallowing a lump of dry spit down her throat. Sweat beaded down her forehead as she stared into Sinister's red eyes.

"A combination of the young Jubilee and Maggott's powers shall be interesting to see indeed. Of course J12's powers could be interesting as well if he is a success. Marrow and Beast's combined powers have potential to create mutants perfect for assassins," Sinister mused with a devious smile.

Suddenly Slab burst into the room panting loudly. His eyes were spread wide and his nostrils were flaring. He tried to speak, but words wouldn't deliver themselves from his mouth.

"What is it you insolent whelp?! If you do not answer I'll have Yurike sending your head rolling across the floor and then mop the floor with your bloody cranium!"

Slab tensed up immediately and gained his composure quickly. He moved slowly towards his master's impatient scowl. Slab wanted to close his eyes so badly, but he knew fear was not a trait the master liked to see in his servants.

"The Externals wish to speak to you about a matter of the utmost importance," Slab said trying to sound confident. Sinister waved his hand and Slab had to practically stop himself from running out of the master's sanctum. Sinister then turned to Yurike and pointed towards the door. The Asian woman, though insulted, left the room. After she departed to be his future throne when his mutants would rule all.

"Computer pull down the communications screen," Sinister commanded almost with a sense of boredom in his voice. Slowly a flat screen descended from the room and on it was the External, Gideon.

"So how are you all enjoying my old base?" Sinister asked since he wanted to start this conversation out on a bad note. Gideon knew the games Essex could play so he appeared not to be fazed in the slightest.

"Sinister there are much more important matters at hand which is exactly why I called you. A man from the future called the Gaunt is here and he'll end up destroying us all if he is not stopped.* That's why I suggest we have a temporary alliance until this threat is handled."

( *Check out X-Men Unlimited #19 - Dino )

"Surely Gideon you aren't scared of this Gaunt. He can't be that much of a threat," Sinister said amused. Gideon returned his amusement with a stark stare as if his face had just been photographed.

"This is deadly serious Essex. The man has already formed a group of mutants called the X-Genes and he himself has the powers of any mutant alive on this planet. You must take this seriously," Gideon implored. Sinister's eyes rose at Gideon's seriousness and he tapped his fingers on his armrest for few moments.

"Fine Gideon. Consider me and yours allies," Sinister said as he shut the communications screen off.

Sinister rose from his seat his eyes closed as he did so. If it was possible he would have had a headache right now and company was the last thing he wanted to see, but nonetheless company was what he got.

"My lord we believe the Neo are about to launch another attack. It seems their target is Domino's old friend Dominic Troy. They really are after anyone who seems in even a minor sense to know about their existence. What do you suggest we do?"

"Here is how we handle this situation young Peter. You and your mother will go to Exiles and confront your father Colossus with this information. Don't let him know in any way that you are under my tutelage. I also have another message for you to deliver. I've recently discovered through Rapture, my own version of Cerebro, that Cecilia Reyes is currently bound for New York. I want N24 and Z12 waiting for her once she arrives and I want her back here. Understood?" Sinister asked already knowing the answer. Asking questions was one of the ways that Essex kept his minions in line. He had other ways, but they all involved too much pain to use on a regular basis.

"Yes my lord I understand. Your will be done!" Solidity proclaimed as he marched out of the sliding doors. Sinister grinned as the young man departed from his sanctum. He had the same nobility and build like his father. What caused his sudden age spurt however was a still a mystery to Nathaniel.

Himuntep (the city of the Neo)

Barbican strode down the hall adorned with animal bones and skulls, symbols of conquest and strength in Neo culture. Barbican's lips were glued and his eyes focused in anticipation of the assignment New Son had in store for him. Maybe he might get another tattoo if the mission required great valor. Barbican took in a deep breath to puff up his chest and entered into the
throne room of New Son. Every square inch of the walls were covered in shimmering rubies and from all four corner hung indigo draping that had old Neo legends written all over them. The floor was tiled with beautiful, blue marble and Barbican walked on an ocean blue carpet filled with drawing of the heads of elephants. This room amazed Barbican every time he entered, but he was most dazzled by the throne of New Son, which was smothered in gold ornaments and adorned in silver trinkets. The master's glowing body seemed to add the final and perfect touch to the room.

"Welcome Barbican! Good tidings to you my warrior and friend. Do you know why I have summoned you here?"

"To destroy the flatscan Troy!" Barbican said eagerly and full of anticipation. New Son slowly shook his head. Barbican's prideful face sunk low.

"I have a much better assignment in store for you. Salvo, Anteus, and Jaeger are already on their way to handle Troy. You on the other hand have the honor of capturing an abomination to our race. The Neo/spike hybrid, Gaia, is yours to capture. I expect you to enjoy the hunt thoroughly, but I do want her bought back alive," New Son said sternly. Barbican's once low
face shined in exuberance. He had never received a more important mission than Jaeger before. All he had to do was out beat Domina and he could die a happy Neo.

"My lord you could not have picked a better person for the quest. I will not fail you or myself."

"Spoken like a true Neo! I know you will serve your people with pride and courage Barbican," New Son praised as he motioned for someone to enter from behind his throne. The woman's skin was white as chalk and her black eyes spoke of a hard-earned life. Her purple hair and tattoos showed an elegance and toughness of the highest order, but her attire spoke of the lowest. She was a walking contradiction. She was Domina.

"In the unlikely scenario you fail Barbican I'll be your replacement," Domina grinned smugly. Barbican tried not to show his anger, but red still managed to show through his pecan-colored skin. New Son smiled at the obvious resentment Barbican had for Domina. Ever since they were young emblings the two always had a rivalry. Of course Domina edged out Barbican in the end.

"May I leave now my lord?" Barbican huffed. New Son almost responded to his disrespectful tone, but left the subject alone. Barbican could barely hold back the urge to yell out in disgust as he left the throne room.

"Do you think we angered him?" Domina asked with a smirk planted all over her face.

"Just a tad," New Son replied with equal humor in his tone. Suddenly as the two moved in for a kiss the room began to shake violently. New Son's carpet glowed a bright yellow and it suddenly shattered. Before the two Neo was a man wearing blue and yellow armor.

"Forgive the intrusion, but I need your help. My name is Fusion and I need your help to capture the fugitive known as the Gaunt."

Tibet

"How many mutants do that make now Francis?" Deus asked as Craze bought in
two more mutants on his shoulder.

"I would say around 50 Deus."

"Make that none!" a mysterious voice yelled from nowhere as all 50 mutants, even the two that were on Craze's shoulders, disappeared.

"Impossible! All the suspended animation chambers are empty," Francis, said dumbfounded.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

"Same questions everywhere I go. I thought you might be different Deus. I've come to make a deal," Gaunt said as he stepped out of a pink portal derived from Blink's powers. Deus was taken aback by the similarity to the young girl's powers he had faced back in Antarctica.*

( *Back in X-Men Omega Annual 2001 - Dino )

"So what type of deal do you have in mind?"

"I want bring my own kind of peace to the world and you are going to help me do it. If you do I'll give you back your precious little mutants though it really doesn't matter much in the end."

"I don't like being pushed and believe me I can push back! Whoever you are give me back what's mine now before I'm forced to get physical," Deus said insulted that anyone would think so little of him.

"Oh believe me I know you can push back, but just not at the right time. I can change all that though if you give me the chance. So I say again; join me or else you'll have to start your little mutant quest all over again. I sincerely doubt you have the capacity to start that endeavor again!"

"That's it! I've had enough for your insults! Leave this place now or I'll have your nose touching your spine!"

Gaunt guffawed loudly as he began to walk away and a portal opened in front of him. Before he departed he turned around to look at an enraged Deus.

"You know you die before you even reach the age of 39 and by the hands of Dark Beast at that. How embarrassing."

"Wait! What on Earth on you talking about?" Deus asked curious. Gaunt closed the portal seeing he had Deus in his thrall now.

"After the Exiles destroy everything you own and Bennet achieves his dream of New Avalon you go to the Dark Beast a broken man. You become nothing more than his pawn and are killed by Marrow to test her ability level. So now will you join me?"

"How do I know you are not lying? What of the futures of the mutants Bishop and Cable?" Deus asked feeling a sense of insecurity creeping on him.

"Bishop's future is no longer relevant and the timeline I come from stems from Cable's. Cable existed in around the year 4000. I come from the year 5675 after the Great Rediscovery. I'm surprised you don't know more of my timeline. Lila Storm and the villains the Energy Corsairs are residents of it."

"I'm not too familiar with them and neither am I too familiar with you."

"My name is the Gaunt. I was meant to be the ultimate weapon, but I got out of hand. They created someone more powerful named Fusion who was meant to destroy me, but I escaped here. That's all you need to know and don't try to prod anymore out of me."

"Why so touchy about your past?" Deus teased.

"Will you join me or not?" Gaunt asked starting to get annoyed.

"I will join you if only for your knowledge of the future and the fact that I'm too lazy to go send Craze to find 50 mutants again."