CHARACTERS: (IN X-MEN): The X-Men (Wolverine, Storm, Longshot, Dazzler, Colossus, Psylocke, Rogue, and Havok), Forge, Madelyne Prior-Summers, The Adversary, and Freedome Force (Mystique, Destiny, Blob, Pyro, Avalanche, Spiral, Crimson Commando, Stonewall, and Super Sabre, first five formerly Brotherhood of Evil Mutants IV); (IN X-FACTOR): Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Iceman (as X-Factor), Apocalypse, War, Famine, Pestilence, Death (Actualy Angel transformed into Archangel)(Later four as the Horsemen of Apocalypse).
SET-UP: The X-Men fall off a cliff. KIDDING! Anyway, Storm, who had previously lost her powers, seeks out forge to return them to her, and seeks the aid of Nazi, a friend of Forge's, to find him (who is actualy The Adverasry in disguise). "Naze" convinces Storm that Forge is trying to destroy earth. Meanwhile The Marauders are ordered to clean up Mr.Sinister's mess (Madelyne Prior), but the X-Men come to her aid. Destiny foresees that the X-Men are about to die. Valery Cooper announces that a new government super-team named freedom force has been created using known evil mutants. The FF confront the X-Men with Destiny's predictions, but they go after Storm anyway to Dallas, where it is thought they would die...
X-Factor must deal with its own loss, as Cameron Hodge had amputated Warren's wings and stolen his fortune. A botched suicide attempt put Angel into the hands of Apocalypse, who transformed him into The Archangel of death, the fourth horseman of Apocalypse...
SYNOPSIS: Colossus is revived from his paralysis, and joins the X-Men in dallas to help them out against the former Brotherhood, who incidentaly, only seeks to keep the X-Men from dying. And then, dispite the fact that it is night time, sunlight pours though the sky and the Advesary emerges, warping past, present, and futer in a peversion of physics and Wolverine declares a truce between the two teams to rescue innocent civilans. That's when Psylocke detects Roma (protector of reality) near-by, and the X-Men seek her aid. Meanwhile, The Adversary banashes Storm and forge to a decolate planet where they are trapped for a year before Forge gives storm back her powers and they are able to return home.
Meanwhile, X-Factor goes to find thier friend, but gets ambushed by Apocalypse and his men, not knowing that that's Warren with the metalic wings. X-Factor gets trounced, and retreat. Apocalypse prepares to go on the offensive...
The X-Men are forced to watch a reinactment of Vietnam, only with horrific demons. They witness Forge using his magical abilities to conjure them to avenge his platoon. The X-Men raid the citidel (forerly Forge's penthouse) where the Adversary had taken Strom, Forge, and Roma captive. Turns out The big A is vulnerable to metal and is weakened by Colossus's and Wolverine's blows. This allows Forge to free himself and to cast another spell to undo the one had cast years ago that will also get rid of the Adversary. One problem, 9 lives must parish to set things right. The eight X-Men and Maddie sacrifice themselves, and Dallas is restored to normal, as people accross the globe watch live as the X-Men seemingly die...
X-Factor gets it's hands tied trying to defeat Apocalypse, but Jean getting hurt brings Warren back to his senses, and attacks his master. The other three Horsemen turn on Archangel, and kick his butt. However, X-Factor regroups, and they take Apocalypse down. Apocalypse retreats to the moon...
However, the X-Men have friends in high places. Roma revived them, and the X-men agree to put on the charade that they are actually dead so they can strike in secret...
THE NEXT DAY: The X-men set up base in a small Austrailian town, and kick it's resident evil cyborg inhabitants, the Reavers, out. Roma re-appears and tells the X-men they are inviible to all technical and magical senses, and can only be seen by the naked eye. She also appoints them gaurdians of the Seige Perrilous, a mystic gem that allows its users a second chance at life (which the X-men eventually use on themselves)...
RAMIFICATIONS:Well, It gave the whole book a "underground, on the run" type of feel. The X-Men eventualy had to use the Seige Perrilous, which, in and of itself, had many long-lasting reprecussions. And Humanity got to see that the X-Men were heroes after all (All this time battling Magneto and evil mutants and NOW they get recognized, when they're "DEAD"?!?! What a rip...). Also, Angel is now officialy Archangel, with "living" metalic wings.