Editorial Note: This issue takes place before Uncanny X-Men #5

Westchester County in Salem Center. Not much happens in this sleepy town. At least, not much that the general public is aware of.

Not too long ago, there was an event which shocked the residents. Professor Charles Xavier, the owner of the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, was shot while holding a press conference, addressing the allegations that he was a mutant. It was an event which shocked the nation, especially after discovering that Xavier was, in fact, a mutant. His funeral had a huge turnout, not only his current students, but his former students, and much of the superhero community. In addition to being a mutant, Professor Xavier was also the founder of the X-Men, a team of mutants dedicated to Xavier's dream that man and mutant can live in harmony.

However, Xavier also founded another group of mutants. This team was only to be trained in the use of their powers. It was a team composed of teenagers, called the New Mutants. In addition to being trained by Xavier, the New Mutants were also trained by Magneto, and most-recently, the time-lost mutant, Cable. Cable changed them from the New Mutants into a militant outlaw group known as X-Force. Until recently, they had followed Cable before striking out on their own.

Once Xavier was assassinated though, they rushed to the Xavier Institute, otherwise known as the X-Mansion.

They are Samuel Guthrie, Cannonball; Roberto DaCosta, Sunspot; Xi'an Coy Manh, Karma; Rahne Sinclair, Wolfsbane; Danielle Moonstar, formerly Mirage, now Moonstar; and Dr. Stevie Hunter, a former ballet teacher of Kitty Pryde (the former X-Man Shadowcat), and a former physician of the X-Men. Aside from Dr. Hunter, they are the original New Mutants.

"Ach, I still cannae believe he's gone..." Rahne said, as she looked through the picture album. Until recently, she was a member of the British team, Excalibur. She was living on Muir Island with Dr. Moira MacTaggert, her foster mother.

"Ah can still remember when we first came here," Sam said, sitting back in his chair. "Ya'll remember our first time in th' Danger Room?"

"Don't even remind me, Sam..." Bobby said, slapping his forehead. "That was embarrasing..."

"We couldn't even make it from one side of the room to the other without getting trashed," Dani laughed.

"Things are different now, though," Shan said. "After everything we've seen and done, we're not the same people everyone wants us to be. We're not the New Mutants anymore, despite what anyone might think."

"Despite what's happened, I think that Charles would've been proud of what you've all become," Stevie said. "True, you're not the same kids you used to be, but that's how life is. Especially in your line of work."

"Aye... in our line o' work..." Rahne repeated. Her words became short as her eyes fell upon a picture of Douglas Ramsey, who was once known as Cypher. Doug understood any language, no matter what it was. He was brought into the New Mutants when they met up with the Techno-Organic alien called Warlock. The team desperately needed someone to talk to Warlock, so that's how Doug came into the picture. The two instantly bonded, becoming the best of friends. Doug also meant something to Rahne, and his death really threw her, and Warlock, for a loop. She had thought him to be resurrected when she found him in the form of a Techno-Organic being called Douglock, who was part of the Phalanx.

"Rahne? What's wro--"

Sam stopped himself once he saw the picture.

"Nothin' Sam," Rahne replied.

"How is Douglock, anyway?" Bobby asked.

"Why not ask him yourself?"

The young mutants immediately stood from their seats, prepared for battle.

"Man, you guys sure have changed..."

The voice came from a techno-organic being coming from the wall.

"Whatever happened to the laid-back, fun-lovin' bunch I used to know?"

"DOUGLOCK!!!" Rahne exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.

"Whoa... nice t' see you again, too, Rahne," he said. "But, it's just Warlock now."

"What happened t' ya?" Sam asked. "Ya've really changed since last ah saw ya."

"Well, that's a long story, 'selfriend'," Warlock replied. "But, I'm back to normal. No more Douglock, no more Phalanx, just Warlock."

"No matter what the circumstances, it's good to see you again," Shan said.

"Well, now that we're all settled in..." Bobby began. "What does everyone say to a little excercise in the Danger Room?"

Fully equipped with holographic, Shi'ar technology, the Danger Room is where the inhabitants of the X-Mansion hone their mutant abilities.

For now, the former New Mutants choose not to utilize the holographic technology, instead opting to run a simple, "capture the flag" scenario. Complete with robots armed to the teeth.

Using his mutant ability to propel himself through the air at incredible speeds, Cannonball rocketed through one of the robots.

"Shan!! Over here!!"

Karma nodded to her teammate, hurling the orb-shaped "flag" at him.

"Behind you, Dani!!" Sunspot exclaimed, letting loose with an energy blast at the robot towering over Moonstar.

"Much obliged, Bobby," Moonstar replied. "'Lock!! Rahne!! Cover our tails!!"

"Aye," Wolfsbane replied, using her mutant ability to transform into a wolf-like being. "Y' ready, 'Locke?"

"When haven't I been?" Warlock asked, moment before a robot released an energy blast at him. He was thrown at the far wall. Immediately, he countered the attack by forming two, large spikes with his arms, and extending them through the robot. "Don't answer that."

Wolfsbane allowed herself a slight chuckle at Warlock's response. However, neither she nor Warlock fully realized what had just happen.

Somethin's wrong... Sam thought. These robots shouldn't be firing energy blasts. Their skill level isn't high enough, at least not for this exercise.

In response, the Danger Room's gun turrets exploded with laser fire.

"SCATTER!!!" Cannonball ordered, immediately falling into the position of leader.

"Sam, what's going on?" Karma asked. "Is this supposed to be a part of the exercise?"

"It's not what ah programmed!!" Cannonball replied.

"Look!! Up in the control room!!" Moonstar exclaimed, pointing to the booth. Someone was at the controls, but none of them could make the person out.

Could it be Cyclops? Cannonball thought. Or maybe Bishop? Ah know both o' them would be willing to train us hard. But, without any warnin'?

"Want me to check it out?" Warlock asked.

"No," Cannonball replied. "It's probably just a test..."

He looked back up at the control booth. Empty.

"What in the...?"

He was cut off as the entire room began to go wild!! Pieces of metal flew all over the place. And at the center of it, a man dressed in crimson armor with a purple cape hovered.

"I apologize for the dramatic entrance," he said. "But I had to be sure that you were still skilled."

"Magneto!!"

"Precisely, Danielle," Erik Magnus Lensherr calmly stated, landing. The room grew calm again.

"What're ya doin' here?" Sam asked. "Ah saw you at th' funeral, but ah had no idea ya'd have enough guts ta invade th' Danger Room. Ya paid yer respects, so what're ya doin' here?"

"The answer to that question, Samuel, is quite simple," Magneto said, removing his crimson helmet. "I have come to recruit."

"No chance in hell we're going to join your Acolytes!!" Moonstar exclaimed.

"There is no need for you to," Magneto replied. "Don't you children see? Xavier's way was the wrong way. Despite his highly-respectable reputation, once the truth of his genetic heritage was revealed, he was killed. What does that say to you about his dream? Even a highly-respected mutant was killed because he was just that--a mutant. What do you think they would do to you? To me? To any of us? You mustn't let your past connection to Charles cloud your vision. Don't you see? Charles had a dream, yes. But, in these times, it won't work. Mankind cannot even be at peace with themselves. How then, can they be at peace with us? You have all seen firsthand the result of mankind's genetic intolerance. The Sentinels, Genosha, Project: Wideawake, Operation: ZERO Tolerance. These are all examples of what can happen if we allow the human race to continue to oppress us. You have seen the future where Ahab and his hounds hunted down mutants, when the Sentinels took over North America. After all this, can you truly tell me that you believe you are safe? That you believe Charles Xavier's dream has any hope of becoming a reality? The dream is just that, a dream. It would be wonderful if it could come to be. But it's time you all woke up to the cold, harsh reality. You are all angels who have fallen from grace. What do you say? Come with me back to Genosha. Join me in my cause."

"That's a pretty speech, sir," Sam said. "But ah think ah speak for all of us when ah say that ya've got exactly five minutes ta vacate th' premises peacefully, an' we won't let th' X-Men know ya'll were even here."

"Yuir right, Magneto," Rahne said. "We have seen what kin happen if'n mankind is allowed to oppress us. But, we've also seen what kin happen if we take yuir path. None o' us wanna see another holocaust."

"If that's your decision, then so be it," Magneto said, placing his helmet back on. "If you change your mind, you know where you can find me."

With that, he walked out of the Danger Room.

"Well, chalk that up for one of my most interesting afternoons..." Shan said. "I'd love to stay with you guys in X-Force, but it's not for me. I've got some other matters to work through."

"That's perfectly fine, Shan," Dani said. "What about you, Rahne?"

"Moira doesn't need me help on Muir, I'd just be gettin' in her way," she replied. "So y'kin count me in."

"Yeah, I'm down wit' dat," Warlock said.

"That's enough TV for you, 'Locke," Dani said with a grin.

"Aww..." Warlock said, a pouting grin on his face. Dani couldn't help but laugh.

"What do you think, Sam?" she asked.

"Well, t'tell ya th' truth, ah'm not gonna be a part o' X-Force anymore," Sam replied.

"What?" Rahne asked. "Why?"

"Ah've decided t' stay with the X-Men," Sam replied. "After th' funeral, ah talked t' Cyclops about it. He says that he's got no problem with me joinin' the team."

"It won't be the same without you, Sammy," Warlock said.

"What about you, Bobby?" Rahne asked. "Yuir gonna join us, aye?"

"I--uh...." Bobby began. "I--I'm gonna take a walk... Clear my head a bit..."

Bobby still couldn't fully understand what he was doing. In a way, he felt this was best. But, he was also a bit reluctant to continue with it.

He found himself standing before the statue erected of Professor Xavier. Beneath the ground it stood over was the body of their fallen leader. Magneto's words still rang through his head:

"Mankind cannot even be at peace with themselves. How then, can they be at peace with us?"

"You are all angels who have fallen from grace."

Fallen angels... Throughout his life, Roberto DaCoasta had often questioned many things. But this, this was different. This was a lot bigger than anything he knew.

"Out for a moonlight stroll?"

He didn't bother to turn around. He knew who the voice belonged to.

"I've considered your offer, sir," Bobby said, his head hanging. "And, I think you're right. That's why I've decided to join your Fallen Angels."

"Come," Magneto said. "There is much to be done."

NEXT ISSUE: The Beginning.