Chapter Summaries

Henry studied how the Kree maintained the health of the brains in the Supreme Intelligence and decided to focus on researching treatments for brain disorders and degeneration. He abandoned building the Kree’s enormous Universal Pharmaceutical Machine and instead began investigating how to synthesize the drug he needed himself.

• Henry learned that the Kree preserved the brains in the Supreme Intelligence through DNA repair and treatments for lesions, degeneration, and functional disorders.
• Henry rejected the idea of pursuing cybernetic immortality and decided to focus only on maintaining brain health and repairing existing problems.
• Henry discovered that Kree and Skrull biochemical technology used basic elements and synthesis formulas, making it easier to adapt than their mechanical technology.
• Henry found that the Kree’s formulas relied on a Universal Pharmaceutical Machine whose construction and operation he did not understand.
• Henry reviewed the machine’s size, requirements, and energy consumption, then chose to research the target drug’s synthesis process instead.

Henry and Kitty joined a group of young men playing soccer in Central Park, entertaining a crowd with Kitty’s powerful ball returns. Henry left after explaining that mutant bans would make his participation unfair to the team, and he took Katharine Hepburn home.

• Kitty knocked a stray soccer ball back toward Henry, who deftly kicked it to the young men playing nearby.
• The young men invited Henry and Kitty to join their game, and Henry told Katharine Hepburn he would play for a while.
• Kitty learned to pass the ball to different players, and her flashy returns drew a growing crowd.
• Henry ended the game and warned a spectator not to pet Kitty when she roared and swiped at him.
• A young man invited Henry to play in an amateur match, but Henry declined after explaining that mutant players could get their teams disqualified.
• Henry said goodbye to the players and headed off with Katharine Hepburn.

Henry received a call from Mystique and Magneto, who wanted to meet him about dangerous signs connected to Phoenix. He declined to agree to a meeting, but Magneto hinted at a location tied to the Phoenix Force before Henry returned to preparing dinner.

• Henry and Catherine Hepburn returned home with Kitty after collecting their painting supplies.
• Mystique called Henry and said Magneto wanted to see him, but Henry mocked her and resisted meeting the Mutants.
• Magneto took the phone and hinted that Phoenix was in danger, naming a place where the Phoenix Force had been absorbed.
• Henry learned no more about the threat before Catherine Hepburn asked who had called, and he resumed cooking.
• Maria Thomson declined Catherine Hepburn's invitation to stay for dinner because she needed to cook for her family.

Henry met Magneto as Black Super at a secret Brotherhood of Mutants base, where Magneto and Mystique confronted him over his actions in Los Angeles. The argument ended with Black Super sarcastically refusing to accept blame for worsening Mutants’ situation.

• Henry left home, changed into his Black Super disguise, and met Magneto beneath an elevated railway.
• Magneto took Black Super to a hidden Brotherhood of Mutants base inside a seaside cliff.
• Black Super found Mystique upset because Beast had left the Brotherhood, and joked that she had been dumped.
• Magneto explained that Beast had rejected the Brotherhood’s ideals, while Black Super questioned whether Beast’s caution deserved blame.
• Mystique accused Black Super of making public opinion toward Mutants worse through his actions in Los Angeles.
• Black Super sarcastically asked whether he was expected to accept mistreatment without fighting back.

Magneto proposed turning all humans into Mutants to end persecution, but Black Super challenged him to consider the discrimination and hierarchy that would persist among Mutants. The chapter left Magneto facing the possibility that his plan would create a new order ruled by the strong.

• Mystique angrily reminded Magneto that he had once tried to kill her, then left the meeting room.
• Black Super teased Magneto about Mystique’s anger, and Magneto asked where Mutants’ predicament came from.
• Magneto suggested making every human a Mutant so that Mutant status could no longer be a reason for persecution.
• Black Super argued that shared Mutant status would not end discrimination and pointed to differences in power and ability among Mutants.
• Black Super warned that Magneto’s plan could reshape society into a hierarchy where the strong ruled and power was assigned by chance.

Black Super challenged Magneto’s plan to overthrow the existing order, arguing that Genosha Island’s failures showed how a Mutant society could collapse without education, infrastructure, and productive use of Mutant abilities. Magneto defended his desperate gamble to leave the island and revealed that Congress was drafting the Mutant Registration Act.

• Magneto defended radical change by recounting how restrictions, isolation, shortages, and starvation had turned Genosha Island into a threat to Mutants’ survival.
• Black Super considered how Genosha’s population and primitive production had caused its crisis, then criticized Magneto’s followers for lacking education and practical skills.
• Black Super urged Magneto to use Mutant abilities, including his control of magnetic fields, to build energy supplies and public infrastructure.
• Magneto said remaining on Genosha meant his people would die, while leaving gave them time to adapt, and asked what choice Black Super would make.
• Magneto warned that Congress was drafting the Mutant Registration Act to record Mutants’ identities and abilities and legalize research into their powers.

Magneto explained his fears that humanity would strip Mutants of their rights and eventually exterminate them, then asked Black Super to help transform ordinary humans into Mutants. Black Super agreed in exchange for compensation and equipment, and flew off to prepare, leaving Magneto waiting for his return.

• Magneto outlined how humans might segregate, disenfranchise, exploit, and ultimately exterminate Mutants, drawing comparisons to the Holocaust.
• Magneto challenged Black Super to help him oppose those in power and revealed his plan to turn ordinary humans into Mutants by strengthening their brains’ magnetic fields.
• Magneto showed Black Super his research on experiments that had temporarily increased Mutants’ abilities, and Black Super examined the detailed notes.
• Black Super agreed to assist for compensation and sketched blueprints for a multifunctional electron microscope for Magneto to build.
• Black Super said he would return the following night, then flew away while Magneto remained deep in thought.

Henry studied Mar-Vell’s Kree research on the Inhumans and planned to adapt its methods for Magneto’s request, aiming to awaken older people safely without causing genetic collapse. With Magneto’s consent, he set up a temporary laboratory at the Brotherhood of Mutants’ base and brought over additional research.

• Henry reviewed Kree records describing the Inhumans’ origins, Terrigen transformation, and inherited Kree Genetic Lock.
• Henry concluded that the Inhuman process could offer a safer way to give older people abilities than awakening their X-Gene.
• Henry prepared equipment and established a temporary laboratory at the Brotherhood of Mutants’ secret base.
• Henry connected his laptop to his private server through satellites and moved his Alzheimer’s drug research into the lab.
• Magneto approved Henry’s work, trusting him because their interests did not conflict.

Black Super presented his research on activating the X-Gene to Magneto and the gathered Mutants, explaining that ordinary humans and Mutants shared the gene but differed in whether it had awakened. He outlined a theory for safely triggering it and left the group with a research direction rather than a proven method.

• Black Super arranged a briefing at the Brotherhood of Mutants' secret base and discussed with Magneto the difficulties of organizing work on Genosha Island.
• Black Super showed genetic maps from twenty blood samples and said everyone possessed an X-Gene, with Mutants distinguished by having activated it.
• Black Super shared preliminary Kree research on the Inhumans and said the goal was to find a harmless, reliable way to activate the X-Gene.
• Black Super proposed studying substances secreted by the brain during adolescence and combining large doses of a key substance with external stimulation to trigger activation.

Black Super explained his plan to develop a substance that could activate the X-Gene, using Kree research and Magneto’s magnetic powers, while stressing the need to test its safety on ordinary humans. Selene Gallio recognized the Kree origins of his information, and Magneto relaxed after learning it had not come from harming Mutants.

• Black Super described how he could use Kree research and Magneto’s magnetic stimulation to activate X-Genes, but said they still needed to synthesize the substance and verify it was safe for ordinary humans.
• Most of the Mutants left Black Super’s lecture, while Magneto stayed and demanded to know where the information came from.
• Selene Gallio identified the research as information about the Inhumans and greeted Black Super, who recognized her from their earlier encounter.
• Selene explained her long history and powerful abilities, then suggested she could cooperate with Black Super now that certain restrictions had lifted.
• Black Super said he had obtained the research as compensation after being caught in the Kree-Skrull conflict on Earth in 1995, easing Magneto’s suspicions.

Black Super explained the Inhumans and Terrigen Crystals to Magneto, then demonstrated his strength when Sabretooth challenged him. The chapter left Sabretooth subdued and the other mutants wary of Black Super.

• Black Super told Magneto that the Kree had created the Inhumans through experiments and explained Terrigen Crystals, their risks, and the project’s flaws.
• Magneto approved Black Super’s plan to adapt the Inhumans research for his own purposes.
• Sabretooth challenged Black Super, and Magneto gave him permission to teach Sabretooth a lesson.
• Black Super used his speed to slam Sabretooth down and break his neck, but Sabretooth quickly regenerated.
• Black Super repeatedly tore out and froze Sabretooth’s heart to test his healing, until Magneto and Mystique ordered him to stop.

Henry completed preliminary synthesis of the X-Gene induction drug and discussed the risks of human testing with Magneto. Magneto agreed to seek a volunteer, while Henry still faced the question of how to test the dementia drug he had made for Katharine Hepburn.

• Black Super refused Mystique's request to return Sabretooth's three hearts, and Magneto accepted the outcome without intervening.
• Henry worked on the X-Gene induction drug by day and conducted experiments at the Brotherhood of Mutants' secret base at night, while Magneto checked on his progress.
• Henry completed a preliminary version of the drug before Halloween and explained that animal tests had shown no obvious harm, but could not establish whether it would induce an X-Gene.
• Henry told Magneto the drug appeared safe for Mutants on its own, though the other stimuli involved in induction could still have unpredictable effects.
• Magneto asked what kind of person should volunteer for human testing, and Henry recommended someone willing to accept an unknown ability and its possible consequences.

Black Super and the Brotherhood of Mutants attempted to activate Bill Johnson’s X-Gene with an experimental drug and Magneto’s magnetic-field manipulation. The first attempt produced no effect, so Black Super designed a helmet to help Magneto continue the experiment.

• Magneto introduced Bill Johnson, a desperate investor who volunteered for the experiment, to Black Super.
• Mystique, disguised as a nurse, reassured Bill and removed his restraints before Black Super injected him with the X-Gene inducing agent.
• When the injection caused no visible change, Magneto tried to stimulate Bill’s X-Gene by adjusting the magnetic field near his forehead.
• Black Super designed a helmet to produce a consistent magnetic field, and Magneto went to the warehouse to build it.
• Magneto returned carrying a strange-looking helmet.

Black Super and Magneto tested a helmet to activate Bill Johnson’s X-Gene, then discussed how to improve the process and convert more people. The next day, Bill awakened with brightly glowing hair and eyebrows, though his new ability remained unclear.

• Magneto used the helmet to stimulate Bill Johnson, and both men collapsed from exhaustion.
• Black Super examined Bill’s blood and concluded that his X-Gene appeared to have activated, then ordered him monitored while he recovered.
• Selene used an upright Sun card to assure Magneto that the conversion had succeeded, while warning that Bill might be disappointed by his ability.
• Black Super and Magneto revised the helmet and discussed a mass-conversion device that would disperse an activation agent and project a magnetic field.
• The next day, Black Super found a crowd gathered around Bill, whose hair and eyebrows glowed like neon lights.

Black Super examined Bill Johnson after his Mutant powers awakened, discovering that his hair changed color with his emotions and could return to his scalp after being pulled out. Magneto had Bill placed under medical observation for a month while they watched for further effects.

• Black Super questioned Bill Johnson and noticed his hair changed color with his moods, while considering why some people awakened as Mutants later than others.
• Bill Johnson learned that his hair could reveal his emotions, panicked, and tried to shave it off as the other Mutants teased him.
• Magneto stopped the crowd from bothering Bill Johnson and reminded them that his ability might have more uses.
• Black Super examined Bill Johnson, pulled out one of his hairs, and watched it burrow back into his scalp.
• Black Super told Bill Johnson to keep a normal routine and undergo medical observation for a month to check for genetic collapse or other effects.

After completing the Mutant activation project, Henry turned to finding human subjects for testing his dementia drug and decided to seek help from his Indian connection, Kingo. The chapter ended with Kingo answering Henry’s call and inviting him to India for Christmas.

• Black Super confirmed that Bill Johnson remained healthy after the X-Gene activation and gave Magneto plans for converting people on a large scale.
• Black Super took the multifunctional electron microscope as payment, while Magneto accepted that he would stay out of the Brotherhood’s frontline battles.
• Henry worried that he could not ethically recruit people to test his dementia drug, despite its safety in animal trials.
• Henry considered India’s inexpensive, loosely regulated clinical trials as a way to test the drug and remembered his connection there.
• Henry called Kingo, who greeted him warmly and invited him to India for Christmas.

Henry asked Kingo to help find a pharmaceutical partner to test and develop his experimental dementia treatment for Katharine Hepburn. Kingo arranged an introduction through his butler and shared news about Thena and Gilgamesh’s travels, leaving Henry with their contact information and a request to help them if they visited New York.

• Henry visited Kingo in Mumbai and asked whether he knew pharmaceutical companies that could test a dementia drug.
• Henry explained that he had formulated the drug using research related to the Kree Supreme Intelligence and wanted to verify its safety for humans before pursuing profits.
• Kingo offered to introduce Henry to a suitable pharmaceutical company, and Henry gave a floppy disk to Karen Patel, who agreed to involve his nephew.
• Henry asked about Thena and Gilgamesh, and Kingo said they were traveling together because Thena wanted to see the modern world.
• Kingo gave Henry a satellite-phone number for Thena and Gilgamesh, and Henry wrote down his contact details so he could guide them in New York.

Henry waited for news about the dementia medication he had entrusted to Sujay Patel while helping Katharine Hepburn stay warm after she caught a chill on a winter walk with Kitty. He then reviewed his theoretical-science forum, where he organized old papers and judged readers’ proposed solutions.

• Henry left the dementia medication’s production and approval process to Sujay Patel and waited for updates from India.
• Henry accompanied Katharine Hepburn and Kitty on winter walks, while Kitty frightened away people who approached them.
• After Katharine Hepburn sneezed, Henry took her home to rest beside the fireplace with Kitty as her pillow.
• Henry reviewed his forum, which catalogued theoretical-science papers and conjectures with labels such as verified, disproven, disputed, and incorrect.
• Henry deleted irrelevant comments and challenged users whose arguments lacked rigor.

Henry expanded the Scientific Forum into a multilingual, tightly secured platform that indexed theoretical science papers and evaluated their claims. After Tony Stark posted a solution to a Hilbert problem, the forum attracted prominent researchers and increasingly sophisticated submissions.

• Henry built a translation system, expanded the forum’s categories and search tools, and protected its backend with eighty-one security trials.
• Tony Stark registered under his real name and posted a solution to one of Hilbert’s twenty-three mathematical problems.
• Henry created a New Discoveries category, marked Tony Stark’s article Verified, and updated the problem’s status to Solved.
• Mathematicians examined Tony Stark’s proof, confirmed it, and received verification badges on their accounts.
• Henry labeled flawed proposed solutions Falsified, flagged uncertain papers as Contested, and established standards for corrections and authorship.
• Researchers increasingly submitted substantial mathematics and physics papers, including work at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

Henry reviewed papers and comments on the Scientific Forum before the NYPD called to report a tiger loose in Central Park. Though the tiger was not Kitty, Katharine Hepburn persuaded Henry to investigate, and he set out for the park.

• Henry reviewed new Scientific Forum articles and considered whether to ban sarcastic comments disguised as academic discussion.
• The NYPD called Henry to ask whether he was near an old bridge in Central Park and whether the tiger there belonged to him.
• Henry said he was home in Turtle Bay with Katharine Hepburn and Kitty, and the police confirmed the tiger was not his.
• Katharine Hepburn urged Henry to investigate so the loose tiger would not make people distrust tigers in general.
• Henry agreed to go to Central Park, while Katharine Hepburn sent him off with, “Go, Tiger!”