Chapter Summaries

Henry escaped the illegal Mutant laboratory with the Brotherhood of Mutants and traveled aboard their concealed oil tanker. Magneto addressed the rescued Mutants, calling for a revolution against humanity’s treatment of them.

• The Brotherhood of Mutants evacuated the laboratory survivors in stolen vehicles and headed for the coast while Henry learned they were still in the Middle East.
• The Mutants boarded a hidden oil tanker using small boats and mutant powers, then relaxed once the ship reached international waters.
• Henry noticed the usual deck activities had stopped and watched Magneto emerge with a group of people.
• Magneto apologized for the survivors’ suffering and described the history of human persecution of Mutants.
• Magneto urged the Mutants to make their suffering known and declared that their revolution had begun.

Magneto urged the Mutants to assassinate President George Bush and chose Henry Brown for the mission, but Henry refused and recognized the increasingly irrational scene as an illusion shaped by Super Brain. As the Mutants threw him into the sea, the illusion began to crack, though Henry remained determined not to yield.

• Magneto declared that the Mutants would make their demands known by killing President George Bush and nominated Henry Brown to carry out the assassination.
• Henry refused the mission, and Magneto's followers denounced him as a traitor and threatened to kill him.
• Henry identified the strange behavior of Magneto and the other Mutants as evidence that Super Brain's illusion was distorting reality.
• The Mutants bound Henry and carried him toward the ship's rail, demanding that he accept the mission.
• The Mutants threw Henry into the sea, and he saw the sky crack and the ocean sink inward as the illusion pushed him toward death while seeming to offer rescue if he surrendered.

Henry Brown resisted Mastermind’s illusion until the struggle overwhelmed his body and left him unconscious outside Katharine Hepburn’s home. The alarm and approaching police forced William Stryker’s group to abandon their attempt to abduct Henry and retreat.

• Henry Brown resisted Mastermind’s control, but their mental struggle sent his bioelectricity out of control and knocked him unconscious.
• The house alarm alerted the police system and drew neighbors outside as Skye and Katharine Hepburn noticed Henry’s collapse.
• William Stryker ordered Jason Stryker to control the building’s residents, but Mastermind could not control enough people to contain the commotion.
• When Stryker’s subordinate warned that police and an ambulance were arriving in the Upper East Side, Stryker decided to retreat.
• Stryker’s group left Henry behind and hurried away with Jason Stryker.

Henry collapsed after resisting Mastermind’s psychic attack and was taken to the hospital, where his unusual Kryptonian body baffled the medical staff. Katharine Hepburn chose conservative treatment, and Henry remained unconscious as the doctors waited for him to wake.

• Henry’s alarm system alerted the neighbors and emergency services when he collapsed, while the military personnel who had come looking for trouble retreated.
• Cassie Webb examined Henry and could not pierce his skin with a needle, so she and the police carried him to the ambulance on a stretcher.
• Katharine Hepburn and Skye followed Henry to the hospital, while Kitty stayed home.
• The doctors explained that a Mutant suppression device might help but could not guarantee treatment, and that Henry’s X-ray showed nothing through the equipment.
• Katharine Hepburn rejected the suppression device and chose IV fluids and conservative care while the doctors waited for Henry to wake.

Henry woke in the hospital after collapsing and joked with his visitors while learning he had been brought in the previous day. After asking John Wick about the Continental Hotel’s stance toward the military, Henry hoped to leave as soon as the doctor cleared him.

• Henry woke in the ward, pulled out his feeding tube, and complained as Gilgamesh, Thena, and Cassandra offered him fruit.
• Skye arrived, awkwardly pretended to be upset, and admitted she had wanted to take advantage of Henry while he was unconscious.
• John Wick entered with flowers for someone else and greeted Cassandra, who said she lived in Henry’s house as his tenant.
• Henry asked John about the Continental Hotel’s attitude toward the military, and John offered to contact Winston or handle the matter.
• Henry told John not to worry about his affairs and said he hoped the doctor would discharge him soon because he lacked health insurance.

Henry investigated William Stryker and prepared to deal with the Mutant-weaponizing military unit he suspected had caused his collapse. He concluded that Jason Stryker likely had mental-control abilities, while continuing to upgrade the Boar Mech for the coming conflict.

• Henry avoided involving John Wick and focused on finding a way to confront the threat without exposing himself or his ordinary life.
• Henry estimated that William Stryker’s program could involve many weaponized Mutants, so he prepared for a larger force than the few shown in the film.
• Gilgamesh offered Henry help, but Henry refused, calling the matter a personal vendetta.
• Henry told Cassandra that surveillance footage placed the Strykers and soldiers outside the Hepburn Family home on the day he collapsed.
• Henry reasoned that Jason Stryker was likely a Mutant with mental-control abilities because the guards and neighbors remembered no visitors, despite the cameras recording them.

Henry explained that Jason and William Stryker had tried to use mind control to make him assassinate the U.S. President, likely to inflame conflict between Mutants and the government through the Weapon X Program. He intended to kill the Strykers but would wait for them to reveal themselves, even if another attack on the President occurred.

• Henry told Cassandra and Gilgamesh that the footage could not support a formal accusation and said Jason Stryker had tried to make him assassinate the U.S. President.
• Henry displayed old Weapon X Program records and speculated that William Stryker and his supporters wanted to provoke conflict between Mutants and the U.S. government.
• Cassandra noticed Jason Stryker was in a wheelchair and questioned whether William had turned his own son into a weapon.
• Henry declared that Jason and William Stryker had to die, while Cassandra warned him that his suspicions might be part of their trap.
• Henry said he would wait for another Mutant attack on the President to test his theory and would not try to prevent it.

Henry explained that he was watching Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters because he expected the U.S. military to target its Mutant students if relations with Mutants collapsed. He planned to wait for both Strykers to appear before acting, while Cassandra and the Eternals prepared to help the children if the school was raided.

• Gilgamesh and Thena agreed that they might help Henry pursue the Strykers, though Henry warned that Thena’s condition could make mind-controlling Mutants dangerous to her.
• Henry asked Miss_C to show live Sparrow Drone footage of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters and explained that he expected it to be a likely military target.
• Henry said he would act if both Strykers appeared together, using the drones to track them to their research base rather than striking an empty facility.
• Cassandra said she would help the Mutant students if the military raided the school, and Henry agreed not to stop her as long as they stayed hidden and helped the children escape.
• Cassandra said they would play it by ear, while Gilgamesh and Thena supported her plan.

Gwen visited Katharine Hepburn’s home and reunited with Henry and Skye. Skye arrived home, and Gwen asked her to teach her programming so she could build software for Professor Curt Connors’s research.

• Gwen continued balancing college, graduate-level research, self-care, and weekly tutoring for Skye.
• Gwen visited Katharine Hepburn’s home and greeted Henry, who joked that his hospital bill had taught him he needed health insurance.
• Gwen happily petted Kitty, the enormous tiger, while Henry wondered whether the animal had become too tame.
• Skye arrived home from school, hugged Gwen, and learned that Gwen wanted her help learning to program.
• Gwen explained that she wanted to create computer programs for Professor Curt Connors’s research because it was difficult to explain the lab’s needs to computer science students.

Henry watched news reports that Nightcrawler had attempted to assassinate President George Bush, confirming the event he had been waiting for. He decided to find the Strykers and settle old scores.

• Cassandra called Henry and told him to turn on the news about the White House incident.
• News reports showed Nightcrawler attacking Secret Service agents during an attempt on President George Bush's life.
• Gwen Stacy worried that the attack would intensify public debate about Mutants and affect Henry, but he dismissed her concerns.
• Henry explained to Grandma why the government had publicly confirmed the attack, noting that visitors could have spread news online.
• Henry realized the report confirmed William Stryker had controlled Nightcrawler and decided to locate the Strykers.

After an assassin nearly killed George Bush, Dick Cheney brought Colonel William Stryker to identify the attacker. Stryker concluded that the assassin was X-Men member Nightcrawler Kurt Wagner, leaving Bush to confront the possibility that the X-Men were involved.

• Dick Cheney entered the Oval Office and found George Bush shaken after the assassination attempt.
• William Stryker introduced himself as an Army expert on Mutants and said he had identified the assassin.
• Senator Robert Kelly joined the meeting and explained why he had abandoned support for the Mutant Registration Act.
• Stryker presented records and photographs identifying the assassin as X-Men member Nightcrawler Kurt Wagner.
• George Bush studied the evidence and grew angry as the photographs matched the assassin he had seen.

William Stryker persuaded President George Bush to authorize an operation against the X-Men’s school, while Senator Robert Kelly sought access to Magneto. Dick Cheney then rebuked Stryker over the failed assassination and warned him not to fail again as Stryker headed to Lewisburg.

• William Stryker presented intelligence about the X-Men’s school and their Blackbird, using information from the imprisoned Magneto.
• George Bush authorized Stryker to arrest, detain, or interrogate the X-Men, but ordered him to ensure no mutant children died.
• Robert Kelly asked Stryker to arrange a meeting with Magneto, and Stryker agreed to contact him with a time.
• Dick Cheney rode with Stryker and Yuriko Oyama, blamed Stryker for the failed assassination attempt, and threatened to dismiss him if his next mission failed.
• Stryker told Yuriko Oyama to drive to Lewisburg before they rendezvoused with their people.

Henry, Gilgamesh, Thena, and Cassandra consulted Red Guardian about evacuating Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters before a possible U.S. military raid. Red Guardian outlined likely transport and attack methods, leaving the group with a plan to prepare for a nighttime helicopter assault.

• Gilgamesh, Thena, and Cassandra contacted Red Guardian in Europe for advice on modern retreat tactics.
• Henry joined the video call and explained that they feared the U.S. military would target Xavier’s School after Mutants allegedly tried to assassinate the President.
• Gilgamesh said the school had many children and that the military was going too far; Henry estimated the school had several dozen students and teachers.
• Red Guardian recommended using a truck to evacuate the school’s residents because it would be less conspicuous than a school bus.
• Red Guardian predicted that the U.S. military would raid at night by helicopter to capture Mutants and withdraw quickly.

Henry explained that he intended to kill William Stryker and Jason Stryker in revenge, while Alexei described the Red Room and a hunt for Michael Corvin amid the escalating Vampire-Werewolf conflict in Europe. After surveillance footage showed the X-Men leaving their school, Henry and Gilgamesh realized a U.S. military raid might be imminent and prepared to steal a truck to rescue the children.

• Henry said he had anonymously warned the X-Men and planned to retaliate against William Stryker and Jason Stryker for trying to kill him.
• Alexei revealed that he had learned about the Red Room's Black Widow spies and that Vampires and Werewolves in Europe were hunting Michael Corvin.
• Gilgamesh reasoned that the X-Men's departure from their school could signal an impending U.S. military raid.
• Cassandra had C-Sis play surveillance clips showing Professor X and Cyclops driving away and the X-Jet carrying several X-Men elsewhere.
• Henry agreed to steal a truck so the group could reach the school and transport the Mutant children, then said he would handle the theft himself.

As the U.S. military launched a covert assault on Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Henry and his allies prepared to rescue the captured Mutants using newly upgraded mechs. The three mech pilots headed for the school, ready to act when an opportunity arose.

• U.S. military soldiers infiltrated Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters with tranquilizer dart guns while Henry drove a stolen truck toward the escape tunnel exit.
• Gilgamesh, Thena, and Cassandra equipped their new mechs, each fitted with specialized capabilities and defenses.
• Cassandra tested the Skyhawk Mecha's Distortion Field cloak, which could conceal her and deflect incoming attacks but restricted her own fire.
• Henry described the mechs' untested psychic-protection helmets and their Unconsciousness Protocol for extracting incapacitated pilots.
• Gilgamesh, Thena, and Cassandra left the secret base for Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters to await a chance to rescue the Mutants.

Henry watched the U.S. military raid the school and considered intervening as Mutant children were captured. Quicksilver arrived to help the students escape, while Henry sent Gilgamesh to guide them and kept searching for Jason Stryker.

• The U.S. military attacked the school, and Wolverine fought back while many Mutant children were subdued or captured.
• Henry and the others debated whether to intervene until Henry spotted Quicksilver, Pietro Maximoff, in the drone footage.
• Quicksilver used his speed to disrupt the soldiers and help the Mutant children evade capture.
• Henry watched the children escape through a passage with help from Quicksilver and the older students.
• Henry told Gilgamesh to meet the children at the passage exit and give them a car, while he stayed hidden because Jason Stryker was still unaccounted for.

Quicksilver led the evacuated Mutant children as they decided how to escape, after Bullhead Mecha left them the keys to a truck. They set off for New York City to seek help and avoid being isolated, planning to contact Professor X once everyone was safe.

• Bullhead Mecha gave Colossus the keys to a container truck and flew away without speaking.
• Quicksilver emerged last from the passage and told the older students that some children had been captured by the military while Wolverine was looking after others.
• Quicksilver urged the group to protect the children who had escaped rather than attempt an immediate rescue, and rejected the idea of sending them home.
• Quicksilver checked the truck, read the note saying it had been stolen, and volunteered to drive despite never having driven one before.
• Quicksilver decided to take the children into New York City, where they could find help and avoid being captured in a remote location.

Quicksilver brought dozens of exhausted Mutant students to Henry’s home after their school was flooded, forcing Henry and Katharine Hepburn to find them shelter. Henry arranged to move some students to his Tribeca house, while the injured stayed behind for treatment.

• Henry answered Quicksilver’s persistent ringing and learned that he had brought a group of displaced students seeking help.
• Katharine Hepburn opened the gate and invited Quicksilver and the children inside despite Henry’s reluctance.
• The exhausted students crowded into Katharine Hepburn’s home after walking from a truck parked outside Manhattan.
• Henry proposed moving some students to his Tribeca house, and Katharine Hepburn suggested that the injured children remain for treatment.
• Quicksilver spoke with the upperclassmen, and Colossus thanked Henry for his rescue work before Henry cautioned him against speaking for others.

Henry and Quicksilver organized shelter and supplies for the sixty-seven Mutant students who had fled Xavier’s School, dividing them between a Tribeca apartment and the Hepburn Family home. After a day of work, Henry returned to find Cassie Webb helping care for the exhausted children.

• Henry took Quicksilver and two students to prepare the Tribeca apartment, then left Katharine Hepburn to help decide which children would stay there.
• Henry arranged food and supplies, while he and Quicksilver used their Super Speed cautiously and paid for what the children needed.
• Henry relied on his standing with the NYPD to keep the police from interfering with the underage Mutant refugees.
• Henry spent the day settling all sixty-seven students and returned to find Cassie Webb caring for a sleeping girl at the Hepburn Family home.
• Most of the children at the house had fallen asleep on makeshift bedding after finally feeling safe.

Cassie Webb treated the injured children sheltering at the Hepburn home and learned they were Mutants, though Henry kept the details of their escape to himself. After Cassie finished helping, she agreed to go on a date with Henry, while the children remained in Katharine Hepburn’s care.

• Cassie Webb treated the children's minor foot injuries while Henry helped at the Hepburn home.
• Cassie asked Henry what had happened to the children, and he said he did not know while acknowledging they were Mutants.
• Skye returned home loudly and woke some of the children, so Grandma put her to work helping with them.
• Cassie prepared to leave for her night shift, and Katharine Hepburn thanked her and offered to pay her.
• Henry asked Cassie out, and she reluctantly agreed, joking that her home might have a curfew.