issue summaries

Uncanny X-Men 470 Wand’ring Star Part 2 of 3: Gal on the Run Writer: Chris Claremont Penciler: Billy Tan Inker: Jon Sibal Colorist: Brian Haberlin & Avalon Letterer: Joe Caramagna Assist. Editor: Sean Ryan Assoc. Editor: Nick Lowe Editor: Mike Marts Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada Date: April 2006

In Africa following M-Day, Storm (Ororo Munroe) has been attempting to help depowered mutants. She finds the remains crucified of a mutant. As she is contemplating this sight, Wolverine (Logan) comes up behind her. They hug and he explains that he's there to help.

As they busy the woman, Ororo tells him that a group of raiders is terrorizing villages. This mutant had protected her village, but after left powerless following M-Day, she was slaughtered. Ororo wants revenge.

At the Xavier Institute, what appears to be Rachel looks out her bedroom window at the Sentinels guarding the campus. Rachel's narrative explains that since she grew up in a concentration camp for mutants, one of her favorite movies is the Great Escape (which is about prisoners of war during World War II), since no matter what happened to the Steve McQueen's character, the Nazis couldn't cage him or break his spirit.

While she's still working on the not letting the Sentinels break her, she is very good at not allowing herself to be caged.

"Rachel" undresses and takes a shower as the Sentinels and O*N*E personnel monitor her every movement.

Rachel's narrative continues that the Sentinels in her future nearly wiped out all mutants. These Sentinels are supposed to protect mutants at the school, but have caged them in. She hates cages. Even though she's a member of a team, she’s a rebel at heart and doesn't respond well to authority.

So, when you combine one rebel with her genius inventor friend (Kitty Pryde) and an image inducer, there are endless opportunities for causing trouble.

On the school grounds, Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner) and Lucas Bishop greet Psylocke (Betsy Braddock), who is doing her morning exercises (with Sentinels watching on).

O*N*E Assistant Director Dr. Val Cooper approaches them, bringing them coffee and donuts, in an attempt to ease the tensions between them. She and Bishop start to play a game of chess- all in their heads.

Meanwhile, in Chicago (Kitty Pryde's hometown), Rachel doesn't have much time. The image inducer was programmed to show Rachel sleeping in her room through the night, but there is not telling when O*N*E will notice she's gone and locate her.

She goes to the office of Dr. Maureen Lyszinski, the psychiatrist who helped Kitty during her sabbatical from the X-Men. Kitty trusts Dr. Lyszinski, but Rachel is frightened by the thought of talking to anyone about her problems.

As Val and Bishop finish their chess game, Val tells him that his excursion to New York City had been approved. She asks him to check on the security for the Shi'ar Death Commandos while he is there.

They are interrupted by a Sentinel and Cannonball (Sam Guthrie) playing a game of mid-air tag.

Back in Chicago, Rachel uncomfortably sits in Dr Lyszinski's office, not saying much. Dr. Lyszinski asks how Kitty is and if Rachel or Kitty was affected by M-Day. Rachel says Kitty is fine. The doctor asks if Rachel is fine, but Rachel doesn't reply and Dr. Lyszinski starts writing on her notepad. Assuming that the doctor is analyzing her silence, Rachel asks, "What?"

Lyszinski says Rachel and Kitty are very much the same. Rachel explains that they are roommates and best friends. But the doctor thinks it is more like veterans of the same war, since they both have the same haunted look in their eyes.

In New York, Bishop (escorted by a Sentinel) goes to District X, which is now desolate and abandoned, and talks to Detective Charlotte Jones.

Twenty minutes late, Rachel has started opening up more to Dr Lyszinski. She says they are all ghosts to her. She came back to make sure her future doesn't happen, except no matter what she does, history repeats itself. In her future, the Sentinels killed the Grey family. Now it was the Shi'ar.

Dr Lyszinski asks Rachel what she wants from her and from herself.

In the O*N*E mobile command center, Val looks at a computer monitor, calling Rachel a real marvel for fooling the Sentinels. Col. Reyes enters and asks if there is anything he can help her with. She tells him everything is under control.

Just as Reyes leaves, Kurt teleports onto Val’s desk and asks why she requests such a clandestine meeting.

On Val’s monitor is an image of Rachel - from the image inducer. She tells Kurt that she worked with Forge for years, so she can tell the difference between what is real and what has been produced by an image inducer. She turns the monitor around to show him, but he doesn't know what she is talking about. She asks where Rachel Grey is.

In New York at the Metro Correctional Facility, the Shi'ar Death Commandos are imprisoned. But, thanks to the deathmark, they have a lock on Rachel’s location. Sega neutralizes the prison guards with gas and they free themselves.

Outside, Kurt radios Bishop that Rachel is missing. They will be picking him up in the Blackbird in five minutes.

The Death Commandos’ escape is interrupted by Bishop. Bishop punches Krait. Then Bishop and Charlotte open fire on the Commandos and start to get the upper hand until Offset grabs Charlotte.

Suddenly, a Sentinel bursts in. But the Death Commandos are beamed out and to their target (Rachel).

Nightcrawler teleports in and ‘ports Bishop to the Blackbird. Kurt knows where the Commandos are going, but prays they aren't too late.

Hours into Rachel’s session with Dr Lyszinski, she is asked how everything she had told the doctor makes her feel. Hanging her head, Rachel replies that she feels helpless. The doctor is surprised, because of Rachel's superpowers.

Rachel explains that her powers couldn't stop M-Day or save her family. Crying, she says she hasn't stopped her future from happening. Instead, everything is turning out worse.

Again, Dr Lyszinski asks how that makes Rachel feel. Hesitant to answer, Rachel thinks that she’s tired and just wants to give up. The Phoenix symbol appears over her eye and she thinks that her mom never gave up. She starts fuming with rage and goes into her shadow form. She wants the Shi'ar to be afraid and dead. She shouts out that she want all Shi'ar to burn.

Just then, she realizes there is a serious problem. The Shi'ar Death Commandos have found their target. They crash through the windows, and Krait yells to kill Rachel.