1998-? X-Factor 144 "Dark Beast" acquires a sample of the Legacy Virus that Moria MacTaggert carries and infects some homo sapiens in his underground laboratory hoping to release it into the general population. The humans were wearing containment suits. One of these humans is a girl friend of Random named Mary Stewart. "Havok" and his fellow Brotherhood conspirator, "Ever," break into "Dark Beast's" experiment. One of the humans escapes, breaking her quarantine. She was recaptured by X-Factor, and after "Dark Beast" escapes, Random promises to look after the ones still in quarantine stasis.
1998-MAR Quicksilver 6 "Pyro" leads a team of mutants consisting of "Omega Red," "Feral," and "Avalanche," on a mission for "Exodus" who promises to give them a cure for the Legacy Virus using the High Evolutionary's Isotope E (which can instantly evolve any creature). Oblivious to the fact that Isotope E hasn't been tested as a cure for the Virus, his team tangles with some of the captured Knights of Wundagore. In dialogue with "Exodus," "Scanner" asks him why he is getting "impure" mutants to do work for them. This raises the suspicion: is "Pyro's" entire team infected with the virus as well, or are they just helping him out? [c.f. Quicksilver 9, X-Force #90, below]
1998-APR/MAY Excalibur 119-120 Douglock partially accesses the data on the Legacy Virus which Zero had downloaded into him [c.f. Excalibur 80], and gets the Muir Island computers to finish the isolation experiment and unseal the lab, freeing Moira and Rahne. Unfortunately, Douglock cannot or will not provide details on how much he knows about the virus.
1998-JUN Quicksilver 9 "Avalanche" claims he's trying to help is buddy "Pyro," and isn't infected himself. As for "Omega Red," he reveals that he is not infected either but rather is searching for a cure for the Russians who are infected. 1998-NOV Unc X-Men 362 "Pyro" is pursued by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the X-Men, as his flame powers seem to be out of control (again) and he is destroying acres of farmland. S.H.I.E.L.D. involved the X-Men in the pursuit as Pyro is asking for help... from Professor Xavier. Since the X-Men don't know where Xavier is, they are most interested in why Pyro is calling out for him. When the X-Men confront Pyro, part of his flame seems to take metallic form, which escapes from him when the X-Men subdue him. This entity or entities later is shown descending on two separate areas of the globe. One of them takes shape, and makes it's intentions known--to find Xavier!
1999-MAY X-Force 90 "Feral" explains her recent actions, confirming that she is infected with the Legacy Virus: "During my stay in the Vault, found out I have the Legacy Virus. Oh, don't look sad, the last thing I want is your sympathy. So I figure, if I gotta die for no reason, I'm gonna make sure a lot of people feel my pain before I go."
