Tell your masters that this mutant is under the protection of the X-Men... and if that's not good enough, then he's under my protection. Either as a temporary member of the Fantastic Four... or as the Queen of Wakanda... or perhaps the Office of National Emergency would prefer a diplomatic incident? 
Appearing in "The Extremists Part 1 of 5"
Featured Characters:
- X-Men
- Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner)
- Professor X (Charles Xavier)
- Hepzibah (Joins team)
- Warpath (James Proudstar)
- Storm (Ororo Munroe) (Rejoins Team)
Beast (Hank McCoy) 
Supporting Characters:
- Caliban
- Leech
- O*N*E
- Sentinel Squad
- Sentinel 4
- Control (Appears on a computer screen, TV, or hologram only)
- Valerie Cooper
- Sentinel Squad
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Lilandra Neramani (Mentioned)
- Starjammers (Mentioned)
- S.H.I.E.L.D. (Mentioned)
- Magneto (Erik Lensherr) (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "The Extremists Part 1 of 5"
Below the streets of New York City, several of the Morlocks conspire to attack some of their own. Erg places a detonator charge on a sewer wall, while Bliss helps Litterbug with more explosives. Bliss criticizes Erg for mocking Litterbug’s speech impediment. Moments later, Caliban and Leech are walking down the Alley when one of the charges explodes, knocking them backwards. Caliban takes the brunt of the blast, but Leech is relatively unharmed. Bliss incapacitates Leech and brings him to Masque.
At the Xavier Institute, Nightcrawler meets with Professor X inside of Cerebra. Xavier is having difficulty adapting to the recent return of his telepathic abilities. By accident, he read the thoughts of Valerie Cooper, and has learned that Magneto is still alive. S.H.I.E.L.D. and the O.N.E. are actively attempting to track him down. Xavier realizes that it would be better for all concerned if the X-Men found him before S.H.I.E.L.D. He dons the Cerebra helmet and begins looking for Magneto.
On the grounds of the estate, Warpath and Hepzibah go through a training exercise. She expertly catches two large daggers hurled in her direction. Warpath compliments her, but also points out that she is having difficulty with Earth grammar. Warpath is concerned that she has not properly grieved over the recent death of her beloved Corsair.
Moments later, an injured Caliban stumbles onto the school grounds. One of the Sentinels moves to intercept but Warpath reaches him first. The Sentinel orders Warpath to step aside, stating that Caliban has connections to mutant terrorists. Suddenly, Storm arrives and commands the Sentinel to stand down. She warns him about instigating an international incident. Warpath brings Caliban into the medical center and Hank McCoy puts him through a battery of tests. Xavier had a chance to mind-scan Caliban before he fell unconscious, and he tells Hank and Ororo that Masque is responsible for his present condition.
Back in New York, Masque and his followers gather behind an abandoned apartment complex. He speaks cryptically of a prophecy and his intent to use Leech to help him find Magneto.
Notes
- Professor X regained his telepathic abilities after emerging from the M'Krann Crystal in Uncanny X-Men #486.
- Storm and her husband, King T'Challa, joined the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four (Volume 1) #545.
- Masque was last seen in X-Treme X-Men #39.
Trivia
- Warpath compares Hepzibah's grammar to an unspecified movie character. He is likely making reference to Yoda, the alien Jedi Master from the Star Wars film franchise.
