Uncanny X-Men #271

As the international dispute over Genosha escalates, the island remains defiant despite economic and diplomatic sanctions imposed by the United States. While the government insists that the captured mutants must answer for their alleged crimes, Rictor and Boom-Boom attempt to reach the American embassy, hoping to escape the authorities. Their journey ends abruptly when a Magistrate patrol discovers them, but an unexpected barrage of fireworks gives Wolverine, Psylocke and Jubilee the opportunity to intervene. The three X-Men defeat the patrol, although Logan suffers a serious injury during the fight. They explain that they have arrived on Genosha without the support of a larger rescue force, having only recently returned from South Asia. Using her telepathy, Betsy quickly learns what happened to the missing mutants and senses that other members of the X-Men and X-Factor have also reached the island. The group agrees to split up: Jubilee will protect the two powerless New Mutants, while Wolverine and Psylocke disguise themselves as Magistrates and attempt to penetrate the citadel.

Meanwhile, television journalist Manoli Wetherell hosts a debate between Genegineer David Moreau and Moira MacTaggert. Moreau argues that Genosha has every right to prosecute the X-Men for their actions on its territory, portraying mutants as a threat that the government must contain. Moira counters that Rahne Sinclair, her ward, had never even visited Genosha before being captured, making her imprisonment particularly indefensible. Moreau responds that the girl herself acknowledged her association with the X-Men and suggests that Moira should question her choice of companions. When Wetherell raises the possibility that Genosha's actions could provoke retaliation from other mutant teams, Moreau uses the question to reinforce his argument that mutants pose a danger to society. After the broadcast, Chief Magistrate Tam Anderson congratulates him on his performance, then informs him that both the X-Men and X-Factor have arrived on the island. The two officials worry that Hodge's increasingly extreme decisions, along with those of the president, could ultimately endanger Genosha itself. Moreau's private doubts are becoming harder to ignore, especially as he contemplates a photograph of his son Phillip, who left the island with Jenny Ransome.

Storm, having managed to escape her cell, confronts Moreau in his office and holds him at knifepoint. Desperate to prevent further victims from undergoing the mutate process, Ororo considers killing him, but the Genegineer insists that Cameron Hodge is the real danger. Their confrontation is interrupted by Hodge and President Reneau, and the enormous mechanical body of the mutant-hater quickly overwhelms the powerless Storm. Moreau protests that she is too valuable to be discarded, since her genetic material could be useful to Genosha's program. The president agrees, forcing Hodge to spare Ororo on the condition that her transformation into a mutate proceeds without further delay.

As Wolverine and Psylocke travel toward the Citadel on stolen Magistrate vehicles, Betsy suddenly establishes a telepathic link with Storm. The psychic connection exposes her to Ororo's agony as the mutate procedure begins, leaving Psylocke in such distress that she loses control of their vehicle. Logan attempts to help, but the two crash. Still wearing their disguises, they are mistaken for injured Magistrates and brought inside the citadel, where they demand access to Moreau. Their attempt to reach Storm is thwarted when Havok recognizes them. Having lost his memories of his former life with the X-Men, Alex attacks without hesitation, forcing Betsy to incapacitate him with her psychic blade. Horrified by what has become of her former teammate, she blames herself for sending him through the Siege Perilous, believing that his death at the hands of the Reavers might have been kinder than the fate he now endures.

Wolverine and Psylocke press on toward the processing chamber, only to find Hodge standing in their way. Despite fighting with all their remaining strength, they cannot overcome the weapons built into his mechanical body. Their resistance nevertheless buys Moreau a brief opportunity to interfere with the machinery controlling Storm's transformation. Hodge eventually defeats the two intruders and forces them to witness the completion of the procedure. When the chamber opens, he proudly presents their former leader, reduced to a mindless servant of the Genoshan state, completely bald and with the number 20 branded on her forehead, as Moreau declares that Storm is no more, all what remains is Mutate #20