issue summaries

Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix 4 Through The Years Writer: Scott Lobdell Penciler: Gene Ha Inkers: Al Vey, Bill Anderson, Al Milgrom and Joe Rubinstein Colorist: Kevin Somers Letterer: Richard Starkings / Comicraft Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Date: August 1994

Jean and Scott stand beside Nathan's bedside, holding his hand. Turrin apologizes and says there is nothing that can be done for Nate. His condition is terminal. Nate is a mesh of organic material and metal.

Jean doesn't understand, since Nathan's techno-organic virus has been in remission. But Nate starting to go through puberty has caused changes in his mutant powers that are agitating the virus.

Scott isn't giving up hope that Nate will recover. Nate hasn't stopped fighting, so none of them should stop trying to save him.

The healer is surprised that the metal in Nate's body is actually alive. But he thinks that Nate is beyond help and they should consider ending the boy's suffering. Scott replies that that isn't an option.

Jean hopes that if she could reach him telepathically, she could help him use his biokinetic abilities to control the TO virus.

At Apocalypse’s citadel, Ch'vayre tries to convince Apocalypse to send the madness, but Apocalypse continues to begin the process to use Stryfe as his final vessel.

The pain Nate has been experiences subsides. He can see his parents in the distance. He calls out to them not to leave him.

Rachel appears to him, and tells him that they can't hear him. She explains that this is her favorite version of herself - at age 14 - before Charles Xavier was assassinated, before Ahab and his Hounds and before the power of the Phoenix. Nate doesn't understand what she is talking about or why she called him brother.

Rachel replies that she doesn't have much time to explain, but tells him that he has a much larger family that he ever imagined.

He hugs her and asks if she is there to take him home. She tells him that it is just the opposite- she is there to explain why he will never have a home.

Jean tells Scott that they have to get going. The raid tonight is the accumulation of three years of work to stop the Legacy virus. But Scott refuses to leave Nathan. He won't leave him alone again. He tells her to go without him.

At Apocalypse’s citadel, flames fill the sky as Apocalypse continues Stryfe’s transformation.

Turrin and Redd teleport inside the Citadel, but interference prevents them from scanning the area. Ch'vayre blasts Turrin, and tells Redd that they are going to stop Apocalypse.

Rachel shows Nate his "home" - the TO infected, metal part of his body. He asks why he is separated from him.

From a distance, Nate can see Slym asking the healer what is happening. The healer shouts that Nate has gone into convulsions and that they are loosing his vital signs.

Rachel says they are worried about Nate and there isn't much time. The reason he is suffering is that he isn't trying hard enough.

Nate doesn't know what he is suppose to try harder to do, since his body is at war with itself. Rachel explains that he possesses as much power as any other telepath combined. He is strong enough to sense a stray thought a continent away and can telekinetically extinguish a star.

Nate says she must be crazy. Rachel explains that that is why Apocalypse wanted him in the first place. Even though he won't remember any of this, she wants him to know in his heart why she brought him to this place, that she created a clone as a decoy and that for 10 years their mother has been educating him in using his abilities - which he will need to telekinetically hold the TO virus back.

He asks if he can do that. Rachel says that he will have to, since the world is counting on him. He will have to sacrifice his other abilities and literally fight on a cellular level every day to survive, but he can do it. She tells him, "You're a Summers. You can do anything."

As Nate begins to pull himself together, the healer says that they've lost him. Nate shouts that he isn't dead and he won't give up.

Scott says that he is Nathan’s father, so he would know if he died. As long as there is a spark of life within him, he won't leave him or give up on him.

Pulling himself together, Nate sites up and is surprised that Slym is still there and didn't leave him. Nate tells him that they have to do. He can sense Redd’s thoughts and knows she’s in danger.

At the citadel, Apocalypse tells Stryfe to take comfort in knowing that his sacrifice is ushering in the final age of mutant kind. He chides Xavier, Magneto, Sinister, Holocaust and the Askani. He has outlived all of them.

Ch'vayre and Redd interrupt Apocalypse and tell him to step away from the boy. No matter how sick and twisted Apocalypse has made Stryfe, he still deserves to live his own life.

Apocalypse blasts them and grabs Stryfe, preparing to make him his final vessel. He realizes that Stryfe is a clone. But he can still use Stryfe’s body until he can find a suitable vessel. But Stryfe resists him. No one has ever been able to resist him before.

Scott and Nathan arrived, and Apocalypse realizes who they and Jean are. He curses Mother Askani for bringing them there and knows she is the one who fooled him with Stryfe.

The Summers family strikes at Apocalypse. But as they do, Scott feels a tug at the base of his skull - just like what he felt when he and Jean were yanked to the future. Their time there is over, but Scott doesn't want to go home.

Scott telepathically asks how much time they have. Jean replies that a power much greater than hers has been anchoring them to this era. That power is now gone. It could be a matter of minutes that they are sent home.

While Ch'vayre distracts Apocalypse, Scott tells Nate to disrupt the bond between Stryfe and Apocalypse. Apocalypse’s host drops to the floor, writhing in agony.

Nate runs to Redd, asking that’s happening to her and telling her not to leave him. She tries to hug him one last time, but can't.

Rachel appears to Jean and explains that Nathan can't hear her. They are on another plain of existence. Jean and Scott are on their way home and she is on her way to who knows where.

Jean is surprised to see Rachel and realizes what Nathan told them must be true. Rachel has been with him all these years. Rachel replies that she’s been watching over her parents and brother - what big sisters are for.

She explains that five minutes ago, her physical body died. She tells Jean not to waste a single tear over him, since she has lived more than her share of life and fought more than her share of battles - including the 50 years she spent forging the Clan Askani.

She wants to ask for one last favor. Jean says to name it. Rachel replies that all of them accomplished a lot there. Apocalypse had practically destroyed their family - but they took it back from him. They rose from the ashes.

She won't be here for the rest of the fight, but she would like Jean to take back the one thing she took from her, and carry it with her in memory of her- the Phoenix name. She knows there is a lot of pain and hurt attached to the name, but a lot of good as well. Jean replies that she would consider it an honor.

Rachel hugs her and tells her that she loves her.

Meanwhile, Scott says his goodbyes to Nathan. He says there is so much he wants to say and so many things he wanted to teach him about life and the people who love him. He wishes he could explain why they have to go, but they don't have a choice.

Nate begs Scott to stay and not leave him. He pleads that he can take on the TO virus and a dozen Apocalypses, but he can't do it alone.

Scott tries to reach out to him, and tells him that he will never be alone, at least not in his heart. He says to remember that he will always love him. Nate will be many things- loved, respected, feared, hated, and always misunderstood. Someday, he will be a cable that unites that past with the present and future. He will be all of those things, but will never be alone.

Scott disappears.

Ch'vayre, holding Stryfe, tells Nathan that it all doesn't end there. There are still many of Apocalypse’s loyal followers who will search for Apocalypse and Stryfe.

Nate tells Ch'vayre not to worry about him. From what Redd and Slym told him, Apocalypse went a long way to take apart a dream, and he’s going to put it back together again.