| Synopsis | - A brief history of the Universe known as the Age of Apocalypse is given as a tour guide leads her tour through an area in New York City known as "The Pens". When The Exiles and the Timebroker blink in, and she evacuates the monument.
As the Exiles question the Timebroker as to why he's brought them back to Blink and Sabretooth's home reality, especially when they both thought their reality didn't exist anymore. The Timebroker explains that they refused their last mission, and they will now be punished. Namora notices that Beak is no longer with the team, and The Timebroker explains that those two proved themselves "useless" and were removed from active duty.
In blinks Holocaust, who had been absent from the Age of Apocalypse since Nate Grey stabbed him with a piece of the M'Craan Crystal. Everyone readies to fight him, but before they can, the Timebroker pulls him aside and gives him the rundown of being an Exile.
With that, Holocaust blasts The Timebroker into oblivion. Of course, the Timebroker is just a figment of their collective subconscious, and can't be harmed. He links their minds to show Holocaust that what he explained is true, and further explains that since Mister Sinister survived Apocalypse's overthrow, soon the X-Men will confront him and mistakenly doom their world, along with countless other universes in a domino-effect. He tells them their punishment is to kill Earth-295's X-Men, or everyone dies.
Holocaust decides to kill Sinister instead, ruling his homeworld in his place, and attacks the Exiles before leaving.
As he flies on his way to Sinister, he feels a harmonic frequency that is very familiar and decides to investigate.
Nearby, in the Air Force's Research Post Bravo-Echo, General Huntley is on the phone with the Secretary of defense. He reports the arrival of the Exiles, who are giving off the same frequency as the M'Craan Crystal they are guarding and experimenting on. He agrees to blow the entire facility up before the contact that is on it's way to the facility at a high rate of speed reaches the crystal. And in explodes Holocaust.
He goes on to explain that the Crystal is a Nexus of Realities, a place where different universes intersect, and that a piece of it was used to transport him to an alternate version of Earth.
The poor General comes to the realization that the crystal could be used to conquer a thousand other earths or alter history to win every battle, but the detonator to the H-Bomb under the crystal he's holding begins to feel very heavy. As he collapses to the floor, Holocaust explains that he's been snacking on the General's life energy ever since he entered the room.
Another scientist pleads for his life with information about the 'second contact' that appeared with Holocaust, but Holocaust already knows it's the Tallus.
At the Bureau of Mutant Affairs, Sabretooth and the Exiles are trying to get past security to warn Magneto and his X-Men. As they try to figure out their next move, an explosion happens outside, and they go investigate. It's Holocaust, and they ready themselves for a blow-out. Holocaust stops them.
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