Uncanny X-Men #270

As the conflict between the United States and Genosha continues to escalate, the Genoshan government publicly defends its campaign against mutant terrorists while the whereabouts of the X-Factor and the supposedly dead X-Men remain unknown. At the ruins of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Storm undergoes a series of tests in the Danger Room with the recently resurrected Marvel Girl. Although Nanny has reduced Ororo's body to that of a teenager, her experience and tactical ability remain undiminished. Jean initially gains the upper hand, but Storm uses her control over the weather to freeze the simulated battlefield and send her opponent over the edge of a building. Banshee and Forge are impressed by her ingenuity, while Stevie Hunter is alarmed by the strain Ororo is placing on her still-developing body. Forge's examinations offer little reassurance, suggesting that her physical growth may have stopped altogether, leaving Storm potentially trapped in her adolescent form.

The uneasy atmosphere at the school grows worse when Cable and the New Mutants demand access to the Danger Room. Their argument with the X-Men exposes the resentment that has built up during the weeks in which the senior team allowed the world to believe they were dead. The younger mutants feel abandoned, while Cable insists that someone had to look after them. Storm eventually settles the dispute by acknowledging Cable's leadership and reminding both sides that they belong to the same larger family. Later, Ororo and Jean meet at Harry's Hideaway and find some comfort in comparing their extraordinary experiences. Jean struggles with the years she lost after apparently dying, while Storm admits that she may never regain her adult body. Nevertheless, the two friends are simply grateful that they have both returned from the dead.

Unknown to them, their conversation has been overheard by a paramilitary group preparing an attack. Back at the school, Storm is confronted by Wolfsbane, who bitterly blames the X-Men for the death of Cypher. Ororo tries to explain that the X-Men believed their decision to remain hidden was necessary, but Rahne sees only the consequences and storms away. Before Storm can recover from the confrontation, the school grounds come under attack by heavily armed Genoshan forces. Boom-Boom and Rictor initially manage to disable some of the attackers, while Warlock and Wolfsbane attempt to evade the assault.

Storm quickly realizes that the apparent strike team is merely an advance force. A captured Genoshan Magistrate activates a device that brings additional troops to the scene, leaving the mutants hopelessly outnumbered. Determined to prevent the invaders from reaching the underground complex, Storm orders Stevie inside and seals the entrance behind her, knowingly leaving herself and the remaining New Mutants outside. Below ground, Banshee, Forge and Cable prepare to reach them, while Cannonball carries Forge toward the surface.

The battle quickly turns against the young mutants. Boom-Boom and Rictor are subdued by a Genoshan capture weapon, while Warlock is struck by a teleportation beam and vanishes. Believing her teammate has been killed, Wolfsbane charges the Magistrates and is captured as well. Storm attempts to protect the others but is eventually overwhelmed. During the fighting, she recognizes one of the attackers' power signatures and uses Boom-Boom's diverted explosive to bring him down. When she removes his helmet, she discovers that the Magistrate is Havok, leaving her stunned that one of the X-Men is apparently serving Genosha.

By the time Banshee and Cannonball reach the surface with Cable and Forge, the Magistrates have completed their operation and departed with their prisoners. Only traces of the teleportation process and the discarded clothing of the abducted mutants remain. Cable vows to make those responsible pay, while the others are left to wonder why Havok was among the Genoshans and what has become of Storm and the captured New Mutants.