Phalanx Covenant : Life Signs

"The Phalanx have nothing left to live for.
They have no reason to exist. I do."

Chapter 1, X-Factor 106 -
Life Signs
X-Factor arrives at Mont Saint Francis, after receiving an emergency summons from Professor X. There, they find themselves confronted by both Excalibur and X-Force. The three teams, but are stopped by Professor X, who tells them why they are there. The Phalanx, an alien race who have seemingly began to transform the planet into their techno-organics, have captured the X-Men. It is up to the other X-teams to save themselves and find the X-Men. However, in the basement of the sanctuary, Wolfsbane finds the Phalanx creature called Douglock, who may be a combination of Warlock and Cypher. Wolfsbane believes it truly is Cypher, the man who saved her life by sacrificing his. Cannonball and Forge find her, only to see as Forge's mutant power interacts with Douglock's techno-organics. Douglock frees himself, and sets out to capture the three mutants. The teams try to save them, but Douglock escapes into the night.

Chapter 2, X-Force 38 -
The Faith Dancers
Forge, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, and Douglock find themselves in a small town that Douglock claims is the root of all the Phalanx evil. Wolfsbane is still convinced of Douglock's innocence, and the four set out to find the truth. Back at the sanctuary, Dr. Mactaggert uses the technology left by the Acolytes to scour Shadowcat for traces of the Phalanx. Meanwhile, Professor X searches with his telepathy for the missing. He finds them safe, but conflicted. Professor X makes mental contact with Forge, and Douglock, to show them what he means, infects Forge with the transmode virus. They find the Babel Spire, made of the people of the town. They fight and lose, and Professor X's contact is snapped. A group of mutants (Siryn, Polaris, Shadowcat, Boomer, Daytripper, and Rictor) are led by Nightcrawler to hunt down the missing and destroy the tower.

Chapter 3, Excalibur 82 -
The Light of a Tainted Dawn
Shinar, leader of the Phalanx of the spire, attacks the foursome, trying to stop them from destroying it. They attack, but Shinar causes Douglock to turn on them, and they are soon out. Meanwhile, the team of mutants led by Nightcrawler are closing in, while Shinar forces Forge to protect the Phalanx's eggs. Cannonball, Wolfsbane, and Douglock break free as the team arrives, smashing a large portion of the spire. Shinar returns to take down the mutants, but he can not be stopped. Meanwhile, Nightcrawler tries to stop Forge. Douglock knows what he must do to stop the madness, and he jumps into the tower's power source, sacrificing himself. The Phalanx are destroyed, but Douglock mananges to pull himself back together, and Forge, knowing in his heart that this technology is evil, destroys the Phalanx children.

Creators -
Writers: Todd DeZago, Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza
Artists: Roger Cruz, Tony Daniel, Jan Duursema, Steve Epting, Ken Lashley
Inkers: Kevin Conrad, Al Milgrom
Colorists: Marie Javins, Chris Matthys, Glynis Oliver
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos, Dave Sharpe, Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Editors: Kelly Corverse, Suzanne Gaffney, Bob Harras

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Polaris